I turned, ready to give him a piece of my mind, when he hauled me up into his arms, making me squeal in protest.
“Baby, if you think I’m leaving your side, I have more work to do than I thought.Let’s get you in the shower.You’re freezing.”He carried me toward the bathroom, his tone gentle.
I made a noise of protest, and he paused in the doorway of the bathroom, burying his nose in my hair as if scenting me.
“Lucy, I could live a thousand lives and not regret a single breath with you.You have to know that.You know that, don’t you?”he demanded.“I fucked up this morning.I was so blind with rage that your house was broken into—potentially because of me, and definitely because I didn’t take the right measures—that I didn’t think about what I was saying.I hurt you, and I’m so fucking sorry, baby, but that is not what I meant when I expressed regret.I regret being naïve.I should have known this would happen when I set my sights on you—should have known the roaches would come climbing out of the walls.I regret not preparing for that eventuality.That’s what I regret.Never you.Never us.”
He breathed into my neck as he held me close to his body.“Never, baby.You’re my fucking everything.I’ll spend the rest of my life convincing you.But right now, I gotta get you warm.”
Never you.
Never us.
With that mantra, one that could only be described as love, playing in my head, I allowed him to carry me toward the shower.
Chapter 14
She trembled in my arms as I set her down to start the shower and undress us both.Then I guided her under the spray.Her quiet exhale of relief as the water warmed her skin was like a knife in my gut.
The second I’d seen that prick on the video feed, I’d exploded.I’d been barely rational, as evidenced by the shit that came out of my mouth.I’d been so furious with myself for not taking precautions from day one.I’d never dreamed she’d take it to mean I ever regretted her.
The thought was so abhorrent, so counter to every thrum of my heart that beat for her, only for her.
I shampooed her hair before guiding her head back to rinse out the suds.I then slid conditioner into her silky strands with as much delicacy as I could manage, given the torrent of emotions running through me.
The day had been a living nightmare.Every worst-case scenario had flashed through my mind repeatedly as I’d searched every inch of the town for her.Knowing how what I’d said had come across, knowing she was out there thinking the worst, had nearly driven me insane.
Even Griffin had gone from chewing me out to assuring me she was fine, that she just needed to cool off.It had to be a crisis when Griffin tried to perform any kind of pep talk.
I knelt down, gently swiping soap over her legs before rising and pulling her against me, knowing she’d have to put up with me being more overbearing than usual until I assured myself she was whole and safe—and mine.
“Let’s get you dried off and in some clean clothes,” I said gruffly as her eyes dipped down to my obvious arousal and back to my face with a raised brow.
“What?”I asked.“Baby, you’re naked.I don’t think I have to explain beyond that.”
“You’re ridiculous.”She rolled her eyes.Seeing her fight a smile was enough to release some of the tension that had been collecting in my chest all day.
I guided her out of the shower before gently toweling off her gorgeous body, then moving up to her hair.
When she glanced up at me, her lip quivering, my control crumbled.I all but crushed her to me, holding her as close as I could.“Christ, baby.I’m so fucking sorry.It guts me that you spent even a second thinking I could regret you.Nothing could be further from the truth.My heart fucking beats for you.I want everything with you.I just lost my shit because your space was violated, potentially because of me.I lost my ability to think clearly.But it won’t happen again—I swear to you.”
With her chin pressed to my chest, she finally met by gaze as I held her close.“Hudson, you have to stop treating me like I’m a porcelain doll.And you have to stop trying to shield me from your world.Let me be a part of it instead.I know this is all new to both of us, but I’m learning that, whether you like it or not, your fame comes with an accelerated timeline.So, if we’re really doing this, we need to talk about these things together.We need to decide together how to navigate all this.”
“Oh, we’re really doing this,” I assured her firmly.“And I hear you.But you need to promise me something.”
“What?”Her caramel-colored eyes searched mine.
“Don’t run out on me again.”I tightened my hold on her.“We’re gonna fight—there’s no doubt.I promise to mind my words, but I need you to stick around and duke it out with me.I need you to promise me, Lucy.”
“I promise.I didn’t do it to hurt you.”She pressed her forehead to my bare chest, and I stroked the back of her head.“I just—well, I guess I wasn’t thinking clearly either.”
“I know you didn’t.”Begrudgingly, I pulled away and loosened my hold on her.“Bet you’re hungry.”
“Starved,” she admitted ruefully.
“Well, good thing I promised to feed you.”I grinned, nearly beside myself that we were alright.“Let’s get you packed up, and we’ll head out.”
“Head out?”She looked confused.
