With one hand pressed against his shoulder, I slipped the other to his neck and arched my back. The feeling of leaning into him, surrendering to him was freeing. It had been so long since I’d let myself feel free with anyone that I’d thought a part of me had died inside.
When I was with Hudson, every moment of conversation and every quick glance between us had been exciting. Even now, my legs were trembling and I had no doubt had he not been holding me I’d fall to the sidewalk.
As soon as he broke the kiss, a deep husky growl came from deep within his throat. He pressed his thumb under my chin lifting my head before dragging his lips from one side of my jaw to the other. I couldn’t stop shaking as he nipped my earlobe, his hot breath keeping me dancing with desire.
“I want you,” he murmured in a slow and easy manner as if we’d known each other for years, not hours.
“Then take me.”
He pulled back, shaking his head. “You’re certain.”
“Yes.”
It was easy to say yes around him. I was drunk on the exquisite scent of his aftershave. The combination of anise and citrus, something woodsy like fresh timber cut after a rainy day and other spices pushed the sense of longing. We were at the point of no return.
The ten minutes had been a blur.
That’s all the time it had taken for Hudson to pull me down the street to a quaint South Beach hotel. He’d merely tossed his credit card and less than five minutes later we were on our way to the elevator, a keycard firmly planted in his hand.
Once inside the steel box, he backed me against the wall just as he’d done before. There were no words spoken and he didn’t even touch me. He simply stood close enough I could feel the tension he exuded, the prowess that carried him through every interaction.
He’d ruled the restaurant the way he’d ruled the courtroom.
Now he was going to rule me.
“A very bad girl,” he repeated. I sensed he’d been thinking about my answer since I’d admitted my wickedness.
“Yes. Very bad.”
“You do know what happens to very bad girls. Yes?” He took a deep breath, holding it for at least three seconds. When the tickle of hot air hit my face and neck, I bit back a moan.
“No, sir.”
A single eyebrow lifted from the term of respect I’d used. Just like I had under oath. Exactly as he deserved. Yes, he was older than I was, debonair in his looks and intelligent with his words. I was enthralled by the man and his power. There was no denying it.
There was also no use in lying about the longing that had kept me awake at night, a more than welcome respite to the nightmares otherwise plaguing me.
“They get spanked.”
I wasn’t expecting his words. As almost everything he’d said during the evening, several ripples of excitement slid straight into my core. I was already overheated, incapable of thinkingclearly. Yet he knew exactly what he was doing, so much in control that he had a distinct ease about him.
Maybe he’d done this before.
Or maybe I pulled out his dominant needs.
The slow of the elevator drew my attention, but not his. He kept his full concentration on me until the doors opened.
He took my hand, leading me down the hallway. With a quick swipe of the card, we were inside.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Hudson pushed me against the wall. I was breathless, aching all over. There was no time to think clearly or react before his lips captured mine. Only this time, the crushing weight of his body was more possessive.
He reminded me once again just how huge he was, his shoulders easily filling a doorway. I was lightheaded, his demanding tongue taking my breath away. I was as desperate for him as he was for me. Within seconds, I was ripping at his jacket, needing to feel the sizzling heat of his skin against mine.
When he broke the kiss, we both gasped for air. His dark chuckle sent a wave of shivers through me. “Why is it that all bad girls enjoy teasing?”
“Because it’s something we can get away with. Men can’t resist being taunted.” I yanked at his jacket, able to drag it over his shoulders. He allowed me to take the limited control, finally shrugging off the material and pitching it to the floor.
I was shocked when he wrapped his hand around my throat, pushing me back against the wall and shaking his head. “You need to learn.”
