Her eyes opened wide and as she’d done before, she was searching my soul, curious as to what and how everything had changed. I hoped that one day when she did it again, she wouldn’t find emptiness. “Tell me something, Hudson. What do you care about?” When I didn’t answer right away, her soft lips pursed and her eyes closed. When she finally opened them again, they were more imploring than I’d seen since meeting her.
She needed answers I wasn’t certain I could provide. But standing this close to her, inhaling her perfume and feeling the heated wave of vibrations we’d shared twice before prevented me from lying.
Dear fucking God. The woman was temptation wrapped up neatly in a taste of the forbidden. One more taste and I knew inmy gut that we’d both be corrupted and unable to turn back the hands of time.
“I care about you.”
Maybe there was some sense of decency left in me after all.
CHAPTER 15
Valentina
Hudson had broken an oath not only to himself, but to everything he stood for.
For me.
A part of me wanted to be angry with him, to challenge his reasons for crossing the line, but the larger portion, the girl who’d been wallowing in fear wanted to thank him.
Over and over again.
The look in Hudson’s eyes was remarkable and very telling. He was unused to being close to anyone. I didn’t know why. We hadn’t discussed our past relationships. It wasn’t necessary. We’d never meant for what we’d shared to go this far, yet here we were.
The deluge of emotions and the intensity of his presence were overwhelming in the most delicious way. Just the electric vibrations were enough to keep my mind spiraling.
Yet I’d failed him in a way that had altered the very foundation of his soul. I’d rocked his world unknowingly because I was determined to fight my own battles. Maybe I should feel guilty.
Maybe…
His anger had surprised me and his words would haunt me for some time to come. I’d been reckless, unthinking about him coming home to an empty house. I hadn’t even left a note. I’d just disappeared.
Truth be told and I certainly wasn’t ready to admit it, I’d been terrified of the heavy emotions I’d felt about him. They’d caught me off guard, the combination of hunger and almost desperate need completely unlike me. Instead of adhering to not only his warning but also his command, I’d run like a scared rabbit.
Right into the view of four men who’d had every intention of hurting me. Hudson hadn’t needed to tell me in gory detail their plans. Whatever he’d done to protect me was something I would never forget.
My actions had been selfish and dangerous.
Something I’d never forgive myself for.
He’d become my warrior.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.” His words were barely whispered, dark and husky and with his fingers digging into the side of my neck, his thumb gently brushing across my chin, I allowed myself to fall further into the sweet abyss.
There was no sense of danger or worry that our passion would be interrupted.
I pressed both hands against his chest, the slight moan drawing a smile from his lips. Lowering his head, he captured my mouth as I’d wanted him to kiss me from the moment I’d realized he’d returned.
It had been so strange yet so comforting to walk into his house knowing that I could rest easy. I felt safe and protected, more resilient than I had before.
I’d seen my shadow in the rearview mirror, a man in a dark vehicle following me, ensuring that no one dared try to harm me. He hadn’t interfered, keeping his distance a couple of blocks away on the mostly deserted street when I’d picked up my daughter. He’d followed me here, parking close enough that he would know within seconds if I was in distress.
His face had been in silhouette, his features hidden by the darkness, but I’d felt just as protected as I did right now.
I’d felt a moment of horror in noticing the blood on Hudson’s shirt, but the feeling had been quickly replaced with satisfaction. Seeing him standing two inches away wearing nothing but a towel had rekindled the breathtaking and freeing feeling of being so close to him.
He was a powerful man, capable of demanding respect with nothing more than the look in his eyes. Yet at this moment, his expression was one of raging desire. Perhaps another taste of the forbidden was exactly what we both needed.
The kiss was sweet at first; perhaps Hudson was fearful he would damage me. There was something entirely different than either time before, the kiss sharing a meaning with life and happiness instead of merely lust.
