by Melody Anne
She left his lips and kissed his neck as her fingers trailed down his stomach. She paused for only a second before her fingers circled around his throbbing arousal. He groaned as she squeezed the solid flesh, then trailed her thumb across the wet head.
“You’ve got seconds,” he said through gritted teeth. She looked him in the eyes and gave a mischievous smile that did funny things to his insides.
“Can’t last very long?” she taunted.
That was a dare if ever he’d heard one. He grinned back at her, truly enjoying every second they were together.
Playtime was over.
He moved so quickly all she had time to do was gasp as he flipped her onto her back, climbing on top of her. She was his — and he wasn’t sure he’d set her free.
All laughter exited her eyes as she gasped. His arousal pressed against her heat, and she opened her legs, bringing him into the cradle of her thighs. It was exactly where he belonged. He’d never felt so good.
His tip slipped inside her and he shook with the exhilaration of the moment. Then, before he could thrust inside, he realized his near mistake.
“Condom,” he groaned as he pulled back, hating to break away from her for even a moment. Though he hadn’t had sex in a very long time, he always carried protection. He never wanted to get sucked into the baby trap. It might just be worse than the marriage flu.
He jumped up, grabbed a condom from his bag, and quickly slid it on before climbing back over her. He wanted nothing between them, which shocked him as he’d never had that thought before.
He felt her heat and moisture and knew she was ready for him. He didn’t hesitate any longer. With a sure thrust, he pushed inside and they cried out together. She was hot and tight and he had to pause or risk losing control.
She pressed up against him, and he gave up trying to slow things down. Gripping her hips and pulling, she wrapped her legs around him, and he began thrusting, slow at first, then faster and faster as they breathed heavily together, both of them growling as the heat built and built.
He thrust hard and couldn’t move as she tightened around him, crying out as she shook and pulsed with her release. Her legs were vises around him, and he slowed his thrusting to give her as much pleasure as possible. When the last of her pulses stopped, he began moving again, thrusting hard and fast before he let go, crying out as his release ripped through him.
He shook so long, he wasn’t sure he’d ever stop. Then he fell against her, completely stripped of all strength. He wasn’t sure he’d ever felt anything so powerful.
He only allowed himself to lie against her for a few moments before he shifted, knowing he was crushing her. She grumbled her disapproval as he pulled from her, but he didn’t go far, needing her to stay in his arms. He turned to his side and pulled her tightly against him.
“That . . . I can’t find words to tell you how amazing that was,” he said as he ran his hand over her smooth back.
“I was going to say the same,” she told him, a smile clearly in her voice. She sounded satisfied and sleepy.
“Give me a few minutes and we’ll try it again,” he said.
She chuckled against him. “Okay, deal,” she mumbled as she pressed closer.
The talking stopped and within seconds Hudson was fast asleep.
Chapter Ten
Hudson wasn’t in the best of moods. To be this grumpy three days after he’d woken up to find Daisy gone was absurd. He knew it, but he couldn’t seem to pull himself out of a funk.
Back in Seattle, he was at a dinner, surrounded by family, and should be thrilled to be with the people he cared most about. Instead he was thinking about the girl who hadn’t even left him a note. That had never happened before. He should be relieved. It had been intense but fun. They’d both had a great time, and now it was about being back in the real world.
That sounded good, but he couldn’t get that woman off of his mind. Instead, he was standing by himself in a corner as he watched people around him laugh and chatter as they raised money for one foundation or another.
It wasn’t that he was cavalier about fundraising. It just annoyed him that they had to dress up and bump elbows to do so. Why couldn’t people just silently donate? He supposed the wealthy gave more if there were eyes on them. He made his donations on the sly from his heart.
He’d been raised by a good mother who’d taught him it meant more that way.
“What has you sulking in the corner?” Hudson smiled at his brother Finn’s words while Finn walked up with his stunning wife Brooke on his arm.
“First off, I’m not sulking. And second, you know I despise these functions,” Hudson said as he took another drink of wine. He could use a Scotch, but since this was at a vineyard, only wine was being offered, and he needed any alcohol he could get his hands on at the moment.
“Uncle Joseph wouldn’t have noticed if you weren’t here,” Finn said. Hudson raised his brows and Finn laughed. “Okay, yeah, he might’ve noticed.”
“Then he’d send Aunt Katherine in to guilt me about family being important and so on and so on,” Hudson said with a sigh.
“She’s definitely good with the guilt. But I enjoy these parties so it’s not needed on me.”
“When’s the auction? I want to leave as soon as possible without Uncle Joseph thinking I’m being rude,” Hudson said.
“I think in an hour. They just brought out appetizers, and they’re great,” Finn said.
“Ah, you know the way to my heart is with food,” Hudson replied with a wink. He hadn’t eaten much the past few days and he was hungry.
“Seriously, you look far grumpier than normal. Want to talk about it?” Finn asked.
They might flick each other a lot of crap, but they were there when the chips were down. Part of Hudson wanted to share with his brother, but he wasn’t going to. His feelings over this woman would soon disappear. He had to be patient.
“Let’s refill,” Hudson suggested. They moved to the bar and refilled their drinks before grabbing plates and loading them down.
“You two aren’t going to be hungry for the main meal, and it’s cedar salmon,” his brother Noah said as he joined them, grabbing his own plate.
“I could eat an entire buffet right now,” Hudson said. “I lose my appetite when I travel. Now that I’ve been home for a few days, it’s returning.”
“Good, let’s grab our table, and maybe they’ll bring ours out first,” Noah suggested.
“How much were these seats? I never know. Someone in our family always gets them for me and then sends the bill,” Hudson said as they sat at the decorated table. With the cost of staff and decorations he was thinking they wouldn’t be cheap.
“Ten grand a seat,” Noah said as if it was nothing. In their new reality it was nothing, but it bothered Hudson at how much money was thrown around. It was going to a good cause, but they spent so much of the money on the event that a lot less was going to whichever organization they were supporting.
“I can see the wheels turning,” Finn told him with a laugh. “Yes, this event is costing a lot, but three quarters of the people in here wouldn’t give ten thousand dollars unless it was for an event like this, so overall it raises far more money than it costs.”
“I’d give more to not have to come,” Hudson said.
“And you’re definitely the exception to the rule,” Noah told him.
“I guess that’s a good point. But do they have to do so many of these things? It’s apparently considered rude if you don’t show up according to Uncle Joseph.”
“Some of us like other people,” Noah said. “Quit being a scrooge. They’re going to have a show in a few minutes.”
“Just an auction, right?” Hudson asked.
“The auction finishes off the night. The show is singing and dancing,” Noah said.
“Joy,” Hudson muttered, wondering if he could sneak away.
The conversation continued before the lights flashed and a person stepped out on the b
ig stage. The room quieted as a local celebrity flashed his brilliantly white teeth.
“Thank you all for being here. So far with the silent auction and seat tickets we’ve raised just over three million dollars for Habitat for Humanity. That will build a lot of homes for people who truly appreciate your generosity. We have reporters coming around, giving interviews as dinner is served. You have one seat at each table reserved for media. They’ll be asking what you think about the program we’re doing, and probably trying to guilt you to volunteer your time in helping to build these homes. The money goes a long way, but for those of you with skills, your expertise is valued just as much. We don’t want to simply slap these homes together; the stronger they’re built, the longer they’ll stand. Let’s take pride in what we’re doing every single day,” the man said.
“Damn it. They’re totally going to rope us in,” Hudson murmured.
Finn and Noah laughed. “They already got to us,” Noah said. “We’re volunteering in two weeks. I’m sure you’re next.”
Hudson looked toward the exit, wondering if he could escape. He’d make a valiant effort trying. The servers began setting plates down, and Hudson took the distraction as an opportune time to slip away.
He didn’t say anything as he stood and made his way toward an exit sign. When the cool Seattle air hit his face, he sighed with relief. He knew he was being overly dramatic, but it had been a hell of a day, a hell of a week for that matter.
He moved to the corner of the building while he tried to decide if he was going to go back inside. He wasn’t worried about the food; his brothers would polish it off if he didn’t return soon. For now, he pulled out a cigar he kept with him at these events. Not only were they good conversation starters and an excuse to get away from the massive crowds, but the shot of nicotine calmed his nerves.
“I see other people like to hide out here as well,” a chuckling voice said from the corner.
Busted!
Hudson turned to find Joseph leaning against the building.
“It was pretty loud in there,” Hudson admitted as he clipped the end of his cigar and took a whiff. Delicious. He pulled out his lighter when Joseph glared at him.
“It’s rude not to share, boy,” he said with a raised brow.
Hudson laughed. “I thought Aunt Katherine banned you from cigars,” he taunted. Joseph looked around to make sure his wife wasn’t there before placing a hand on his hip.
“I’m not banned from anything. Now share,” Joseph said.
“Haha, big man when the wife isn’t nearby,” Hudson said beneath his breath which earned him another glare. It was a good thing he packed more than one. Hudson pulled another out, and handed it over. Joseph took a moment to study it.
“I see your taste has improved . . . thankfully,” he said before taking the clipper from Hudson and getting the cigar ready. Part of the fun of a good cigar was the ritual that went into preparing it.
“I never was a cigar smoker before meeting you. Now I’m hooked,” Hudson told him.
“I’ve cut back in recent years. Yes, to please my wife, but also because I want to live two hundred years, so I have to be careful,” Joseph told him.
They both sighed as they took their first puffs. A sweet, smoky flavor danced on their tongues. That first taste of a quality product never got old.
“I think if anyone can live that long, it’ll be you,” Hudson said. He couldn’t imagine the devastation to their family, or to the world, when Joseph passed. It would be worse than Elvis or Princess Diana.
“What has you looking so foul tonight? I was watching you inside,” Joseph said, not embarrassed at all about spying on his nephew. Being with his uncle was improving Hudson’s mood. The man had a way of bringing light into any situation.
Hudson didn’t know what to say. There was no way he’d share his personal problems. He knew Joseph was a matchmaker, and men didn’t share that sort of thing — at least not in his world.
“Nothing’s making me grumpy,” Hudson finally said. “I’m just not a big fan of these fundraisers.”
“I used to feel that way until I realized how much good these events do for the community. Not only do they raise a lot of funds, but they bring people together who might be stuck at home otherwise. Depression is real for many of the wealthy. They are often the loneliest people because they’re afraid to make friends. Others can’t help but want a piece of what they have. So they isolate themselves. It’s truly sad. These events are a safe place for them to come and give back where they might not otherwise.”
“I’ve never looked at it like that before,” Hudson said.
“Don’t get me wrong. There are a lot of jerks out there, rich or poor,” Joseph said with a chuckle. “But the world would be boring if everyone was the same. If all people were nice we’d have nothing to gossip about.”
“It always amazes me at some of the things that come from your mouth,” Hudson said with a laugh.
“I hear that a lot,” Joseph said, not in the least offended.
Their conversation grew lighter as they finished their cigars. Hudson decided he’d had enough for the night. His money was donated, and he’d socialized long enough.
He said goodbye to his uncle then went to find his vehicle. It was time to drive home — time to get back to peace and quiet and to leave the city behind for a while. Once he was home he was sure he’d forget all about Daisy Green.
He knew nothing about her anyway. It wasn’t as if he could find her. Well, if he really wanted to find her, of course he could. But he wasn’t going to do that. No way, no how. She’d walked out of his room and out of his life — and he was glad about that. Good riddance. He hated messy morning-afters.
He’d keep telling himself that until he believed it.
Chapter Eleven
One Month Later
Joseph, his wife, and his family had put much love, money, and time into the veteran’s center where he was now walking the same path his wife had walked the night she’d been attacked. Ever since that day, some of the solace he’d felt there was gone.
He’d beefed up security so something like that would never happen again, but being in the place someone had dared to lay a menacing hand on Katherine sent a shiver through him.
His stress eased as he spotted his family up ahead, sitting at one of the many tables on the back deck of the main hall in the center of the property. They had food and drinks before them, and two empty chairs waited.
He joined them, nodding his hello as each of his nephews greeted him. He couldn’t help but smile. His family, his and Katherine’s family, continued to grow, bringing him so much joy.
Finn, the oldest of the brothers, had been forced into taking medical leave from the military. It hadn’t been easy for a man who was born to lead, but he’d found a new purpose in life and a beautiful wife and amazing twin daughters who loved and challenged him on a daily basis.
Noah was next in line. He was the one who’d drawn the plans for this incredible facility. He’d met his wife while doing that, and he and Sarah had many more plans ahead for creating buildings all around the United States that would be admired for many years after they left this world.
Joseph had worried about Brandon for a while. He was the comedian of the family, and Joseph had wondered if he’d use that as an excuse to play his way through life. But Brandon had fallen hard for Chloe while doing all of the electrical work on the center. They were heading out soon for an around-the-world adventure.
Joseph looked over to Hudson who was inhaling a cheeseburger while listening to Brandon tell the story of a dog pushing his owner into the water when he didn’t want to play fetch anymore. Hudson choked on his food as he laughed. Joseph had plans for Hudson. It was going to be fun to watch.
He turned and gazed at Crew, who was unusually quiet. Something was going on with Crew, and none of the brothers seemed able to get through to him. Joseph would figure it out. He’d have done it already if Katherine hadn’t gotte
n sick and he hadn’t gotten involved with a Special Ops operation. Joseph had been consumed by the stress of it all. Now with his wife forcing him to live his life, the best way he could keep from driving her crazy was to meddle in his nephews’ lives.
This newest branch of his family had come with some drama — and some much-needed answers were going to be given in just a few minutes.
Damien Whitfield would be there soon. He hadn’t warned the boys of what was to come.
He cleared his throat.
“I’ve asked you all to be here today because we’re meeting with someone I think you’ll want to know,” Joseph said.
“I thought it was to congratulate us on a job well done,” Hudson piped in. It was good to see he wasn’t as mopey as he’d been a few weeks earlier. Something had happened that had displeased his nephew.
Joseph smiled. “Yes, you’ve all done very well on this project,” Joseph said. They’d been working on it for years, and it was finished for now. Lucas had begun building a senior facility, but Joseph wasn’t sure what his next big project would be. He might focus on smaller things for a while since he had his wife to care for and a special ops group that was already performing miracles.
“The man joining us in a few minutes is Damien Whitfield,” Joseph began again. If he sat there joking with these men and then broke the news, they might not be too happy with him. “I’ve always been a man who likes to rip off the bandage, so here we go.” He looked each one of them in the eye before standing up. “You’re about to meet your brother.”
Utter silence met his words. He could see the various reactions from each nephew. There was disbelief, shock, anger, and in Crew’s case, a blank expression. Before he could add more, a man walked forward, his face showing nothing of what he might be feeling.
“Hello, Joseph, you told me to meet you, so here I am,” Damien said as he approached.
All five brothers turned and stared at this man as he stood next to the table. There was no doubt of a similarity in appearance. Damien had the same eyes as Finn, the same chin as Noah, and the same wide set shoulders as Brandon. Damien didn’t know they were his brothers yet. Joseph wanted to tell them all on the same day. No one said anything as a tense silence encircled them.