I exited the car and trotted up the stairs, glancing at the book in his hands. Huh, I never took him for a horror fan, but Stephen King could weave a good tale. Hudson’s eyes darted to Sebastian who’d followed me up the steps.
“Why is he here?”
Oh boy. “His parents kicked him out. He’s going to be staying here.”
Hudson rose very slowly and put the open book face down on the arm of the chair, and I winced at the cracked spine. He took a step toward me and glared at my best friend. “No,” he said.
“That is not your decision to make. It’s my home”
Hudson sucked in a breath. “Like hell is he sleeping under the same roof as you.”
“Go inside, the room next to Rebecca’s is free,” I told Sebastian. He opened the door and made his way inside. I waited until it clicked closed behind him.
I didn’t think this through in terms of Hudson’s jealousy. I kept forgetting I was dealing with a possessive shifter, but I would not be turning my friend away in his time of need. I guess I needed to compromise, and that compromise would take a leap of faith on my part.
I moved toward Hudson who was staring at the front door like he could murder Sebastian with just a thought. “Would you feel more comfortable if you moved into my room?”
Hudson’s gaze snapped to mine and a small smile crept over his lips. It was going to happen sooner rather than later, may as well be now.
“Yes,” he growled and swept me into his arms. He darted inside the house and took the stairs two at a time past a startled-looking Maggie and a smirking Rebecca. Why where the supernaturals suddenly up and around in the middle of the night? Ugh, vampire hearing, I had zero secrets in this house.
Hudson threw open my door and made his way to my bedroom. He dropped me on the bed and prowled over me. “Now, little witch, you promised me your dirty side.”
Chapter Fifteen
Live a little, for clarity, doesn’t mean getting naked on the lawn.
Hudson’s gaze lit from within, his animal was close to the surface and it drew Indigo from my depths. She pushed against my mind, and I allowed her through, becoming the passenger. She didn’t shift but I saw the recognition in Hudson’s eyes as a worthy predator sat before him. She spun onto her knees and tilted her head.
“You want me?” she purred. Oh, boy.
Hudson’s hands snapped out, ready to wrap them around her. She tensed and somersaulted through the air, landing in a crouch behind him on the floor.
“Don’t play games with him,”I warned.
“I thought the wolf explained you need to meet him on cat terms, Cora,”she answered as Hudson spun. His muscles seemed to be bulging against his shirt. He was about to hulk out.
“Yes, I’m giving him the cream, get back on the bed,”I instructed.
I felt her lips spread into a feral grin. “If you want me, Principal, you’ll have to prove you can catch me.”
Hudson’s eyes danced with amusement and excitement at the challenge Indigo was laying down. I sighed and tried to roll my eyes, but she was in full control. Hudson became very still, there were a few feet between us, and we had nowhere to run but the sitting room. I was certain this pointless game of chase was going to be over within seconds.
Indigo tensed and then dashed into the sitting room as I predicted. Hudson was a hairsbreadth behind us. Instead of turning to the door to let this insane game play out throughout the house, she spun right and lifted her hands. The French doors blew open and she dashed for the opening.
There was zero hesitation as she launched herself from the third floor. I knew we wouldn’t be hurt, but my stomach still lurched.“What are you doing?”
“Playing the cat. Don’t worry, the sex will be worth it.”
I felt the thud behind me and just like that the chase was on. Indigo laughed like a lunatic as she led the way between the trees bordering my property. I sent a silent prayer that nobody had noticed in the house, because sex in my private rooms was one thing, playing games outside was another.
“Live a little,”Indigo chastised as she narrowly missed Hudson’s hands.
He growled and the hairs on my arms stood on their ends. The footsteps stopped behind us, that feeling of being pursued halted. Somehow, we lost him from our immediate trail—which was suspicious. She spun in a circle, squinting into the darkness which was charged with our energy. There’s no way he didn’t know where we were. Indigo chuffed in agreement.What game are you playing, Principal?
Indigo crouched and her vision became hyper focused, through her I saw the world differently. Heat signatures became clear, from the little mouse scurrying along through the fallen leaves which left a faint orange trail, to the owl, emitting a golden glow from where it sat in the tree opposite me, watching us run around like children.
“That’s seriously cool,”I told her. I had no idea she could do this, not that I prowled the gardens at night regularly.
