"Touch yourself," he ordered. "I want to feel you come around me."
I slid my hand between us, rubbing my clit in time with his thrusts, and that was all it took. I shattered, screaming his name, my whole body convulsing.
He followed me over the edge moments later, burying himself deep and groaning as he came. The feeling of him pulsing inside me sent aftershocks of pleasure rippling through me.
We lay there in comfortable silence, our heartbeats gradually slowing.
"Hudson?"
"Yeah, baby?"
"What happens now?"
He was quiet for a moment. "What do you want to happen?"
"I want you to stay. Not just for tonight. I want you to stay."
"That's convenient," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "Because I wasn't planning on going anywhere."
I lifted my head to look at him. "Really?"
"Really." He cupped my face, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone. "I meant what I said, Betty. I'm done running. Done staying away. Whatever comes next, we face it together."
"Together," I agreed.
He kissed me softly, and I felt the last of my walls crumble.
Chapter 11: Hudson
Six months later.
Iwoke up to the smell of burning toast and Betty's voice cursing from the kitchen.
Some things never changed.
I smiled and stretched, feeling the pleasant ache in muscles that had gotten a thorough workout last night. We'd celebratedthe six-month anniversary of the trial verdict, and Betty had been enthusiastic. Not that I was complaining.
I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and padded out to the kitchen, where Betty stood in front of the toaster, waving smoke away from her face with one hand while the other held open the window.
"Need some help?" I asked.
She spun around, her cheeks flushed. She was wearing one of my t-shirts and nothing else, her hair wild from sleep, and she looked so damn beautiful it made my chest ache.
"The toaster is possessed," she said. "I swear I was watching it."
"You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
I crossed to her and kissed her forehead, then reached around her to turn off the toaster. "Why don't you let me handle breakfast?"
"Because I wanted to do something nice for you for once."
"You do nice things for me all the time."
"Like what?"
I leaned in close, my lips brushing her ear. "Like the thing you did with your tongue last night."
