She scoffed.
Then, instead of getting out of the tub, she got in, walking across the space and sitting herself across my lap.
I wrapped my arms around her frame and held her close, resting my chin on the top of her head. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
“He knows about you,” she warned. “He called you my Shark.”
“I am your Shark. I’m your anything you want.” I kissed the top of her head and blatantly ignored the way the water had turned her white tank top see-through.
“Yeah, but I didn’t want him to know that.”
“There are pictures of us everywhere, Shea. It was bound to come out eventually. Even as careful as we are, you know that’s true.”
She swallowed. “He found her at the game.”
I nodded. “He’s done research.”
“He’s not going to touch her.” She was fully soft against me, tucked into every hollow I could offer her, but her voice was pure steel.
“Agreed. I know you don’t think this is my fight—”
“Hudson, it’s not. I brought this here.”
I took her face in my hands and waited for her to meet my eyes. “If I’m your Shark, then you’re mine, too. That’s how this works. We’re together in everything, or we’re not.”
“What do you want to do?” she asked, already constructing walls behind those gray eyes.
“I want to hire the best lawyer in Seattle to start. Second, I want bodyguards on you and Elliott.”
“Absolutely not!” She pushed out of my arms and stood.
I kept my eyes on hers, and definitely not her diamond-hard nipples trying to cut through her shirt.
“Shea—”
“My turn!” she snapped. “Elliott will not live like that. What would I tell her? Hey, by the way, you’re biological father was an abusive asshole who beat and raped me whenever he felt like it? Oh, and I ran away with you, but now he’s found us because I fell for a celebrity?”
I blinked.
“Done?” I asked.
“I don’t know!”
“Well, while you’re deciding, how about this. Tell her whatever you want. Tell her the truth: that she has a bodyguard because you’re dating a celebrity. You can leave him out of it, but you might want to tell her. Because you’re leaving her just as blind as I was, and you have no guarantee that she won’t get into a car with him.”
“She’s not that reckless!” Shea sputtered.
“He’s already talked to her, Shea. She spoke to him. Yes, she looked for me, that’s how I knew to move, but she did talk to him, and now she thinks he’s the team dad, so he’s got an in with her. You both need protection. I can’t be with you every moment of the day.”
She folded her arms under her breasts, goosebumps rising on her skin from the chill of the night air.
“No. It would make her a freak at school.”
“For fuck’s sake! Better a freak than in his hands.”
Indecision flickered in her eyes, and I knew when she stepped back logically, she’d meet me at the same conclusion: they needed protection. But emotion ruled her in that moment.
“I can afford a lawyer, but not bodyguards.” she shook her head.
“Jesus, Shea! Let me take care of it! Move into my house. Drive my cars. Use my security system. Accept the fucking security! Take whatever you need. What good is all this money if I can’t help you? Protect you? Protect Elliott? Let me protect you!”
“Why?” she yelled right back. She’d flinched a little when I’d raised my voice, but she hadn’t backed away. Hadn’t run.
“Because I fucking love you! Because you and Elliott—you’re my entire heart. My soul. And if anything happened to you… God. I just can’t. You have to let me help you. If it makes me selfish to say that I have to do it to save my own soul, then fine. Because without you, I’m empty. So take the fucking security at least.”
My fingers bit into the frame of the tub, but I didn’t move.
Her mouth dropped open.
“You love me?”
I blinked rapidly. “Yeah. I do. And I know that doesn’t give me any claim on you, but please—”
She moved her hands down her legs, shucking the wet pajama bottoms, and then straddled me, stopping my words with her mouth.
She kissed me like it would be the last time, all hunger and desperation, and when I tried to soften the kiss, tried to take her slower, she pushed it, thrust her tongue harder against mine, pulling my hair, rocking against my already hard dick.
“Shea—” I muttered between kisses.
“Shut up. You love me,” she said breathlessly. Then, without preamble, she freed my cock from my shorts and sank down on me, taking me to the hilt.
“Holy shit,” I groaned, barely thinking enough to hit the buttons that would drop the shades around us.
Once we were blocked from any prying eyes—which at this height had to be helicopters or really dedicated telescope enthusiasts, I kissed her back, angling her head so I could plunge my tongue at the same rhythm I was thrusting up into her.
She squeezed me tight, all slippery and perfect.
Before I lost myself in her body, I reached between us, and brought her with me, thumbing her clit until she cried out, convulsing around me.
I gritted my teeth until my orgasm retreated.
Then I brought her to orgasm another two times before I finally gave myself over to the pleasure only she could give me, that moment where my body didn’t just find peace, but my soul.
It didn’t dawn on me until later—in the middle of the night—that I’d laid my soul bare, and told her I loved her…
And she hadn’t said it back.
Chapter 16
Shea
“I don’t know what to say,” Melissa said, her hand on the Uber I’d called for her. We’d just finished packing it up. Liam was already in the car seat, happily checking out the new book I’d brought him. “I don’t know how to thank you. How I’ll ever repay—”
“Take care of yourself,” I cut her off. “And that little one. That’s repayment enough. I promise.”
She flung her arms around me, the motion so youthful it was a reminder of how damn young she was. “I will,” she said, clutching me like a lifeline. “I promise.” I flashed the security detail a small smile over her shoulder, still getting used to his presence. Hudson had put one on Elliott too, but he was told to remain as unseen as possible. I’d tell her everything…soon. Hudson was right, I couldn’t let her be blindsided. But, as different as it was, I was slightly comforted that the detail was here. Just in case.
“And don’t underestimate yourself,” I said as she pulled back to look me in the eye. Hers were glittering with unshed tears. “You are strong and smart and fully capable of carving out a life for yourself and your baby. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”
She nodded, sucking in a sharp breath. “My aunt…” She sighed. “I never thought she’d take us in. Not when my own mother had been so cold.”
Melissa’s aunt had worked really damn hard to get in touch with her—going through me and all the proper professional channels before they were put in touch. It was admirable, and it was beyond clear how much she loved the girl. They’d lost touch when Melissa’s mother had disowned her, but she’d been fighting for her behind the scenes for longer than Melissa had even known.
And now she’d be safe and loved, and Liam would have a warm home to go to bed in every single night. A real home, not a shelter or the help house I’d set her up in.
“And,” she continued. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”
I nodded. “He’ll be in there for at least six to ten years.” Something cold flickered inside my blood, the chilling juxtaposition of this case with my past. The sole reason I was so freaking attached to this girl. Though, she had family where I didn’t, and that was something to treasure. “And you need to prepare yourself every day for the chance he gets out early,” I said, hating that I had to bring down th
e joyful moment. “Not in a way that ruins your life, but in a way that you’re prepared. Strong. Holding plans of action if he ever tries to approach you again.”
A slight flash of fear colored her eyes, and I gripped her shoulder.
“I’m not saying he will,” I said, hating that I had to speak from experience—Todd’s sudden appearance in my life fueling my warnings. “He likely won’t go to the trouble after his time is served. But, it’s good to not ignore the possibility.”
“I understand,” she said, holding her spine straight. “And I will. I won’t waste the chance you’ve given me and my son.”
I hugged her again. “You did it all,” I said. “I just helped a tiny bit.”
She chuckled. “Okay, I’m going to get out of here before I get super weepy.”
I smiled as she slipped into the car. “Good idea,” I said, and shut the door after she’d settled next to Liam. The Uber pulled away from the curb, and I waved to them both, choking back the emotion clogging my throat.
Another case closed.
This one with a happy outcome.
Not all were, and I savored the ones where I felt there was genuine hope and happiness at the end of it.
An hour later, I’d finished all the necessary paperwork on the case at my office, and skimmed the details of my next. I’d meet with a new mother on Monday. It was so late for a Friday workday that Grace had already long gone. She’d picked up both our girls and was probably enduring a squeal-fest at the sleepover. Lord be with that woman. Sleepovers were fun but exhausting, and usually you somehow had a headache at the end of them and you didn’t know why or where it came from, just that it was strong enough to make you reach for a bottle of painkillers or wine.
Shutting down my system, I clicked to my car, anxious to unwind after the emotional day. One glance at my phone had all my plans involving a book and bubble bath evaporating.
Hudson: Sleepover night. That means you sleep here, right?
Heat flared through my body, twisting and coiling tight. Hudson had told me he loved me. He’d wanted to protect me and Elliott not out of some forced obligation, but because he loved me.
And it had shocked me so much I’d pounced on him instead of telling him the truth.
That I loved him.
Had loved him for longer than I realized.
And I felt beyond unworthy.
Felt like loving me came with costs that weren’t worth what I gave in return.
He deserved to know that…
Me: You sure you want to have a sleepover?
Hudson: Of course.
Me: Should I stop by my house and grab my PJs?
Hudson: PJs are entirely optional. You know I have plenty of things for you here.
A gasp slipped through the smile I couldn’t suppress.
Me: On my way!
I pulled up Elliott’s tracker app, checking it out of habit—I trusted Grace completely, but with Todd showing up at Elliott’s game…I couldn’t stop checking it. Even with the security details.
Satisfied to see she was settled at Grace’s house, I started the car and drove toward Hudson’s.
Anxious butterflies flapped in my stomach despite the fact that we’d been official for a while now.
I needed to give him the last pieces of me—no matter how gritty they were.
The elevator doors had barely parted before Hudson yanked me inside, crushing me to his chest, his lips slanting over mine. He stole my breath, the sheer size of the man, the utter gentleness in the way he held me to him, the way his tongue danced over mine.
“Wow,” I said between his lips.
“Missed you,” he practically growled while he continued his delicious exploration of my mouth.
Tingles shot over my skin from the power in his kiss, making my head spin slightly.
“I missed you, too,” I admitted as he drew back an inch to look down at me.
A soft, nearly imperceptible smile shaped those lips as he rubbed his hands over my arms. “How’d it go?” he asked, taking a step away from me but holding my hand. Like he knew we needed the distance to have a normal conversation. Like he knew how badly I wanted him already, how badly I’d come to crave him against me.
“Good,” I said, breathless as he tugged me toward the massive marble kitchen island.
I sat on one of the stools at the island, adjusting my glasses while he went around it. “Wine?” he asked, holding up a bottle of my favorite brand.
I grinned at him. “How’d you know?”
He shrugged, filling two stemless glasses halfway. “Big case,” he said, sliding one toward me and then taking the seat right next to me. “One that you were…emotionally invested in.”
I sipped the red, letting the slight spice in the liquid slid down my throat and warm my insides. Uncoil those muscles that had been bunched all day. “You could tell?”
He cocked an eyebrow at me. “You’re not that hard to read if you know where to look.”
“Is that so?” I asked, both impressed and a bit unnerved. What if he could tell how badly I felt about the other night? How I didn’t know how to form the words to explain how much he meant to me…
He smoothed a thumb over my lips, his brow furrowed. “Like right now,” he said, confusion coating his blue eyes. “You’re scared.” He swallowed hard. “Did something happen on the case again? I thought they locked the guy up. Or did he show up—”
“No,” I said, blinking several times, trying to control the emotions he could read too clearly.
God, no one had ever so easily penetrated my walls, so easily seen through the defenses I’d kept in place for a decade. When people only saw strength and will, they never looked too closely. And I couldn’t afford to have anyone see my internal scars because I would never let anyone second guess my ability to take care of Elliott. Though, it had been years and I’d more than proven my capabilities, but when she was a baby, and I was still technically a minor, I’d lived with the fear of someone like who I was now ripping her from my arms.
“They did,” I finally said. “Catch him. A couple of nights after he hit me. He had warrants for his arrest that were a mile long. He’ll be inside for a long while.”
Hudson dropped his fingers from my lips and took a gulp of his wine. “What are you scared of then?” His tone was low and sharp like steel. “Is it Elliott? Do we need to listen to her tracker?”
I chuckled softly. “If you thought I was scared for Elliott do you think I’d be sitting here sipping wine with the sexiest Shark in the world?”
The tension in his shoulders loosened a bit before his head dropped slightly.
“I’m running out of options here, Shea.” Fear coated those blue eyes. “It’s me,” he said. “Isn’t it? Did I hurt you the last time?” Panic colored his features. “Because it seemed like you liked—”
“Oh my God, Hudson, stop,” I said, my hand on his muscled thigh. “I promise, I’m not afraid of you. And I know you’d be the last person to hurt me.”
Physically.
That’s the word I didn’t say. Because emotionally? He had the power to crush me.
I’d let him in.
I’d come to depend on him and crave him and love him.
And that was enough to destroy me if he decided to leave…
“This,” I continued, moving my hand to the center of my chest. “What you’re seeing? It’s all me. Seriously. You don’t need to worry about it.”
He narrowed his gaze at me. “It wouldn’t be the first time someone was afraid of me,” he said, still not comprehending. There was genuine worry and pain like the silent chaos inside him had driven people away before. I could see how it might be possible for those who didn’t take the time to get to know him, or his opponents, but me?
“You don’t scare me,” I said, setting my wine down and standing up.
I traced my fingertips over the scar that dissected his eyebrow before planting a light kiss on top of it. Then I reached for the hem o
f his shirt and sighed when he allowed me to tug it over his head. Again, I ran my fingers over his smooth skin, the muscles beneath tensing. I bypassed the whorls of ink decorating him and found a scar by his ribs. I knelt to kiss it, then moved on the next, and the next.
So many scars.
From childhood.
From his time on the ice.
From his time fighting because he’d always had someone to protect.
Again and again, I kissed and flicked my tongue over the long-healed puckered flesh, until I’d made it back up to his lips.
Gently, softly, I kissed him, poured all the love I felt into that kiss before drawing back. I reached for his hand, his breaths ragged as I did, and placed it on my heart.
“You don’t scare me,” I said again. “Not your size or your anger or the scars you have.” I pressed his hand harder against my chest. “I’ve got as many scars as you,” I said. “You just can’t see all of them.”
A shuddering breath flew from his lips, the longing in his eyes churning. “I see them,” he whispered. “I see all of you, Shea.”
Somehow, those were the most intimate words anyone had ever said to me.
And he loved me despite seeing all of me.
I ran my fingers through his hair, lightly scraping his scalp, the emotion building in me so much I thought I’d burst.
“I am scared,” I said, my voice breathless as I trailed my hands past his cut abdomen, and lower, until I’d reached the band of the athletic pants he wore. I tugged on the band, and he stood, his muscles flexing with each movement as I slid them down.
His hands were gentle in my hair, his head slightly tilted, waiting for me to finish my thought, as I slowly dropped to my knees.
My warm breath coated the sleek fabric of his black boxer-briefs as I grazed my teeth over the bulge that was barely contained.
“I am scared,” I whispered again, massaging his massive thighs as I continued to look up and up into his eyes. “What I feel for you…” I glanced down, planting a kiss to his hard length over the fabric. “It’s consuming and powerful, and it turns me into a madwoman most days.”
He growled as I slipped my hand through the slit in the briefs and freed his long, hard length. I used both hands to hold him, to gently grip him.
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