Every inch of my skin tingled from excitement. Anticipation. We’d been toying with each other for over two hours, pretendingas if what we were doing wasn’t leading us to something inevitable.
Acts of sin.
I bit my lip from the thought as he led us outside. The air was thick with humidity, but both the breeze coming off the ocean and the desire furrowing in my system created tingles. Tiny pinpricks of iciness that had manifested the moment I’d stepped foot onto the deck.
He was even more handsome than I remembered, the light gray shirt accentuating a perfectly tailored dark suit. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was royalty.
Or mafia.
As he guided us away from the restaurant, all I could hear was the hard echo of blood pounding in my ears. I couldn’t believe I’d called him. It had been an impetuous decision fueled by the rampant news reports that had driven me crazy over the last few days. Hearing that Jacob Jones had been found guilty on all charges and would spend the rest of his life behind bars had caused a slew of reactions, intense emotions that had forced every detail of the horrific night to resurface.
Maybe I’d called Hudson because I needed someone to ground me, much like he’d done during the grand jury hearing. I’d told myself my intentions were innocent. Then I’d blurted out the invitation.
Was what we were doing wrong? Perhaps with other law enforcement members, but we didn’t feel the same pressure.
Spending time with him had been easy, at least in the sense of conversation. The entire time I’d found myself studying everyinch of him, observing every gesture. He was insanely gorgeous, even more so tonight and the way he’d commanded both the restaurant and everyone who’d offered service embroiled my fantasies with notions that would forever surprise me.
His seductive taunts had awakened me.
His dominance had thrilled me.
His mention of punishment had excited me.
His heated touches had shattered me.
With his fingers curled around mine, I sensed he was making good on his promise. Wherever he was going, so was I. There was no question, no way of denying him. At least for tonight, I belonged to him.
His strides were long, purposeful and in my heels, which I rarely wore, I had difficulty keeping up. Everyone who passed us turned, some with smiles on their faces. They obviously sensed Hudson had a purpose in mind.
I’d dressed in the color he’d requested.
I’d said yes to his choice of restaurants, which far exceeded my original invitation.
And I’d gone with him willingly, refusing to think about any possible consequences.
Who was the woman in red striving to keep up with him?
As soon as he turned the corner away from the busy street, he pushed me against the building, immediately placing one hand beside my head. The way he crowded my space left nothing to the imagination.
He was going to kiss me.
Prickles of excitement skittered through every cell as I lifted my head. He was so tall, so dynamic and I’d never felt so tiny or vulnerable in my life. Yet even though I knew very little about him, I felt so protected. As if the world around us could come crashing down and somehow, I’d be alright.
Instead of needing to worry about anyone else, my attention was pulled to him and the way he was looking at me.
Hungering for me.
Eager to devour me.
There was nothing in the world that I wanted more.
“Hudson,” I breathed.
“Shush. No more talking.”
The crash occurred only with his lips against mine. His desire was even more intense than I’d anticipated, a hunger sliding off the charts. I was shocked how earthshattering the moment felt, frozen while his tongue danced against mine.
I moaned into the kiss, which he captured. Tiny firecrackers went off in my mind, the heat from before turning red-hot. Every inch of my skin sizzled from his touch. It felt as if I was melting into him.
