Embrace Me

by Ann Marie Walker

  “I don’t think you’ve ever looked more beautiful,” Hudson said as they slid into the black limousine that was waiting for them when they arrived.

  Allie gave a sleepy laugh as she curled against his side. “Yeah, right. I’m sticky and disgusting. But it’s all your fault, so you’ll just have to deal with it.”

  Hudson wrapped his arm around Allie’s shoulders. “Is that so?

  “Mmmhmm.” Her eyes drifted shut. “If you weren’t such a sex fiend I would have had a chance to take a shower before we landed.”

  A low chuckle vibrated deep in Hudson’s chest. “Guilty as charged.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Don’t get too comfortable, Mrs. Chase. We won’t be in the car for long.”

  Allie lifted her head and peered out the window. “Are we close?”

  “Hardly. But we won’t be arriving by land.”

  She sat up just as they passed through the gates of a small marina. Most of the boats had already been taken out for the day, but in the distance Allie could see a speedboat bobbing in the turquoise water.

  Once they were out of the limo, Hudson led her down the dock where a uniformed attendant waited. “Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Chase,” the man said, extending his hand. “My name is Raul and I’ll be your driver this morning.” Raul squinted up at the sky to where the sun burned bright and hot. “Although I guess it’s nearly afternoon,” he added with a small laugh. “Please, right this way.”

  Once they were safely on board, the motor roared to life and within no time they were speeding across the clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Allie wanted to stay awake so as to take in the sites, not to mention the lovely bit of scenery seated next to her with his fingers entwined with hers. But the fatigue of the sleepless night and the white noise of the boat’s engine were a hard combination to fight. The twenty-five-minute ride to the resort passed in a blur as Allie dozed in and out of sleep, and before she knew it they were pulling alongside a small dock. A winding path lined with lush foliage and brightly colored hibiscus flowers brought them to the open-air lobby. The exposed beams of the ceiling soared to a peak high above the coconut palms, and just beyond the front desk the lagoon shimmered like a field of diamonds in the late-morning sun.

  The hotel manager approached the moment they stepped through the door. “Kale ah maruhabaa,” he said, greeting them in his native tongue. “We are so pleased you chose to spend your honeymoon with us, Mr. and Mrs. Chase. I assure you we will do everything in our power to make your stay exceed your wildest expectations.”

  Hudson took his sunglasses off and shot Allie a look that made her toes curl. It was a simple glance that to anyone else would have appeared to be just a happy groom smiling warmly at his new bride. But Allie knew her husband well and that look said far more. Roughly translated, Hudson wasn’t going to need any assistance from the hotel staff. He was more than prepared to fulfill Allie’s wildest expectations all on his own. Thoroughly and repeatedly.

  Satisfied by the warm blush that had spread over Allie’s cheeks, Hudson turned his attention to the manager. “Thank you,” he said. “But we’ve traveled quite a distance and right now I think we’d like to grab a shower and relax a bit in our room.”

  “Of course, of course, right this way.” The manager continued to talk about the resort’s various amenities as he directed them to the rear of the lobby where a small launch waited at the foot of a set of flagstone steps. “This boat will take you out to your private bungalow. If you should want for anything, just let me know.”

  Their “room,” as Hudson had called it, was more like a house. On stilts. Perched above the lapping waves, their home for the next two weeks was an elegant blend of contemporary and tropical. Gleaming dark hardwood floors and marble counters contrasted beautifully with the white upholstered furniture, while in the corner a sleek metal-framed four poster bed was draped in gauzy white fabric that hung in billowy curtains around the oversize mattress. But the true focal point of the luxurious accommodations was the panoramic view of the lagoon, visible not only through the floor-to-ceiling windows that ran the stretch of the bungalow, but from the section of glass floor in the middle of the room.

  Allie stepped closer just as a manta ray swam beneath the glass. She followed its path as it glided to the water below their private deck, and as the balmy ocean breeze danced through her hair, she was hit with an overwhelming urge to join her new friend for a swim. But since she was still dressed from the flight, getting her toes wet would have to do. She kicked off her sandals and took a seat on the edge of the teak deck, letting her legs dangle in the warm water.

  “Don’t let a lack of swimsuit stop you,” Hudson said.

  Allie turned to find him standing behind her with a tropical drink in his hand. It was the kind served in a coconut shell with a tiny umbrella and it looked absolutely delicious.

  “I hear skinny dipping is permitted in these parts.” He met her raised brow with a mischievous grin. “Encouraged, even.”

  Allie laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said as he handed her the fruity cocktail. For a moment she wondered where the drink had come from. Hudson certainly hadn’t whipped it up in the kitchen. As talented as her husband was in so many areas, culinary skills were not in his repertoire. And last time she checked, Mr. Coffee didn’t make an automatic piña colada machine. Other than the manager and the two boat captains, Allie had yet to see a member of the hotel staff. Their luggage had been waiting in the bungalow when Hudson had carried her across the threshold and now a refreshing drink had somehow appeared. But Allie had learned not to question her husband’s methods. Hudson had a way of making things happen in a manner that was so seemingly effortless, it was almost magical. A smile played across her lips as she imagined a team of honeymoon elves hard at work.

  “What’s so amusing?” He took a seat next to her on the edge of the deck. Their legs touched under the water, and even that subtle contact caused a shiver of goosebumps to wash over her heated skin.

  “You, this,” she said. “It’s unbelievably perfect.” As if on cue a pod of dolphins swam by, leaping out of the water as they made their way past their deck. “I mean, look at that!”

  Hudson chuckled. “I’d like to take credit but I’m afraid even I can’t control those magnificent creatures.”

  “Well, even without them this place is still amazing.”

  “So you approve of our destination?” The relief in his face and posture was almost tangible. Had he really been worried she wouldn’t?

  Allie placed her palm against his cheek and he leaned into her touch. “Hudson, I would have been happy to spend two weeks at the lake house. Or even just locked up in my old brownstone. This is unbelievably beautiful, but it’s the uninterrupted quality time with my husband that is the real selling point.”

  “You’ll have plenty of that, I assure you.” Hudson flashed a grin she’d come to know quite well over the past three months. It was the one that said “you’re about to be naked.” His eyes were the same color as the turquoise lagoon and the tropical breeze was playing in his hair, giving it that sexy, unruly look she found so irresistible. He looked like a picture out of a magazine. In fact . . .

  Allie reached for her phone and snapped a shot of her husband.

  A crease formed between Hudson’s brows. “I’m the first photo of the trip?” he asked. “Not the view or the dolphins?”

  “Nope. They pale in comparison.”

  “Why, Mrs. Chase, are you flattering me?”

  Allie smiled. “Possibly. Is it working?”

  “Well, that depends,” he said. “What’s your end game?”

  She bit her bottom lip in an attempt to act coy. “Perhaps a few more details about our stay here?”

  “Nice try. I never reveal my plans, Alessandra, you know that.” His mouth twisted into a smirk but his eyes were lit with a warm amusement. “I will tell you this m
uch.” He stood and in one smooth movement scooped Allie into his arms. “I don’t plan to let you out of bed.”

  And for the first week he didn’t. While “freshly fucked” was the hairstyle Hudson sported on most days, whether in the boardroom or the bedroom, on their honeymoon it more than lived up to the name. It seemed like he spent the entire first week of their honeymoon buried deep inside her.

  But when the second week rolled around, Allie insisted they see something besides the inside of their bungalow. Hudson finally agreed, but only to one day. He jammed it full of everything the hotel’s concierge suggested. They started the morning bright and early, exploring a remote island hideaway before paying a visit to the Marine Discovery Center at a nearby resort. While there they learned of the center’s efforts to preserve the delicate coral reefs, as well their establishment of the Maldivian Sea Turtle Conservation Programme, a project that not only worked to increase awareness of turtle conservation throughout the Maldives, but also rescued and reared turtle hatchlings until they were strong enough to protect themselves in the wild. Allie was so moved by the plight of the young sea turtles that she suggested they make a donation to the conservation fund. Hudson agreed immediately but insisted the gift be solely in his new wife’s name, a gesture she accepted on one condition: she would choose the name of their newest rescue, a small but scrappy sea turtle with a cracked shell. By the time they finished their tour, a generous check had been written and a promise had been made to return someday soon to pay Hudson the Sea Turtle a visit.

  After lunch they went snorkeling with manta rays and strolled hand in hand along the pristine white sand that stretched the length of the atoll. Allie even gave paddle boarding a try, but she drew the line at shark feeding, stating she’d had enough danger to last her a lifetime, and if she wanted a shark encounter, the next Ingram board meeting would just have to suffice.

  The sun was sinking into the horizon amid a swirl of orange and gold by the time they finally made it back to their bungalow. Allie was hardly through the door before Hudson tackled her to the bed.

  Chapter Eight

  Hudson had won the lottery. The goddamn jackpot.

  As he sat on the edge of the private infinity pool of the over-water bungalow they’d been staying in for the past week, it was easy to see what a lucky son-of-a-bitch he was. The luckiest bastard in the whole goddamn universe. A scenario of perfection conjured in one’s mind rarely matched up to reality, but that wasn’t the case here.

  They were in the second stretch of their honeymoon and the Maldives were absofuckinglutely perfect. Situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the tropical nation known for its beaches, blue lagoons, and extensive reefs was inarguably the place to honeymoon. Within that first week it was clear they’d both fallen hard for the islands, to the point of cracking a few jokes about moving their respective HQ’s to the tropical paradise. On the down low, Hudson had followed his instincts and made a few phone calls to inquire about property of the residential variety. He was certain his new bride would have no objection to owning a house there other than the twenty-four-hour travel time. But with a jet at his disposal, not to mention creative means in which to pass the air time, he didn’t see it as a problem.

  Hudson curled his fingers around the edge of the pool and rolled his shoulders. As he stared out over the crystal-clear water, the sun flexed its strong, brilliant rays into a pattern that ebbed and flowed on the white ocean floor. Absentmindedly, he lifted a hand and ran his fingers over the scar on his torso. The doc had done a bang-up job of putting him back together, and though he’d healed from the gunshot wound that had pierced his lung, the psychological effects still lingered. At times the horror of his near-suffocation was still palpable and provided new content for his pre-existing nightmares. And wasn’t that just fucking great. Although to be fair, the shrink Allie had convinced him to see actually seemed to be making some sense. They’d had a breakthrough of sorts a few weeks back, making a connection between the shooting that took his father’s life and the one that almost claimed his own. Lying on the floor that night, Hudson had stared up at Allie just as his father had looked at him in the convenience store all those years ago. And just like his father, when he’d closed his eyes that night, he never expected to open them again. Yet there he was, alive and tickin’.

  There’d been some pretty long days in the hospital, then even longer ones working the rehab shit that was more difficult than running the Chicago Marathon. But throughout it all his Allie had been by his side, and as long has he had her, Hudson knew he could get through anything. So did he need another person to tell him he was lucky? Hell no. He knew it. He was alive and in paradise with the woman who was quite literally his beating heart.

  Hudson glanced over his shoulder at Allie, stretched out in a scrap of material she called a bikini. She looked gorgeous in it—lying there with her tanned curves, a striking contrast to the white cushions of the elliptical chaise. She was wearing earbuds and holding her iPhone in her hand, no doubt listening to the playlist she’d created especially for their trip. Again. Not that he didn’t appreciate Sinatra or Sheeran, mind you, but there was only so much a man could take. He watched as she stole a peek at the screen, knowing damn well it was his photo that graced the surface, before settling back against the pillows.

  A moment later a smile curved her lips—and man, if it wasn’t as resplendent as the sun, maybe more. It killed him every time she flashed those pearly whites in his direction. Stopped him dead in his tracks. With curiosity getting the better of him, and a straight-up need to touch her, Hudson decided to discover what inspired such a reaction. He strode over and ran a hand through his hair, still wet from an earlier swim in the pool. A bead of water dripped onto Allie’s bare stomach, and as she opened her eyes, her smile widened.

  Hudson leaned over and plucked the little white headphones from her ears. “That’s quite a satisfied grin on your face, Mrs. Chase.”

  With a knee pressed into the thick cushion, Hudson climbed onto the daybed. His lips lead the way as he ran his tongue over her stomach, following the trail of water that pooled in her navel. The contrast of her warm skin and the cool water ignited his senses, and with a quick shift upward, he sealed his mouth over hers. This was his paradise. He craved her at all hours of the day, which sometimes made working in close proximity pure torture. As his tongue slid over hers in lush strokes, his cock hardened and his only thought was getting her utterly and completely naked.

  “So what caused that look on your face?” he asked when he finally broke their kiss.

  “Huh?” It took her a moment to collect her wits. “Oh, um, just thinking about Harley.”

  Hudson’s lips brushed over her cheek. “Your nearly naked husband is kissing you and your mind is on a barking squirrel? I see.”

  “Not now, before.” Allie giggled as his lips grazed her neck. “And more the way my nearly naked husband is with said squirrel. I see right through you, Chase. You enjoy having her around.”

  A deep rumble vibrated in his chest at the ludicrous sentiment that he was attached to that yapping fur ball. And hell if he was about to admit he kept treats on hand for the thing. Then there were the squeaky toys bigger than her head that he found himself continually buying. What a fucking sap.

  “She’s good for Nick,” he deflected. “Who I’m sure has let her have the run of the penthouse while we’ve been gone.” It seemed at every turn he was locating the latest “gift” from Harley—foot first. He was getting tired of the shit, literally, and about to renovate his penthouse with wall-to-wall puppy pads. But that damn dog would still probably find the only space in the house with exposed floor to drop her bombs. “Tell the redhead to hurry up and housebreak the damn thing.” He chuckled as another thought occurred to him. “And while you’re at it, tell her to do the same for Nick.”

  “Say what you want, but you’re very sweet with Harley.” Allie’s voiced lowered
into that serious tone of hers. “You’ll make a great father.”

  Hudson stilled at the F-word. After a beat he lifted his head and looked her in the eyes. “Are you . . . ,” he finally said after swallowing the lump that was stuck in his throat and relocating his voice.

  “Oh God, no,” she said, quickly reassuring him of the contrary.

  Hudson flopped onto his back and blew out a harsh breath as relief washed over him. He wasn’t ready for diapers, bottles, or strollers. And he sure as fuck wasn’t trading in his Aston Martin for a mini-van. Like hell was he going to sport the soccer-mom special. Then there was all the shit no one told you about until you were knee-deep in it. Because if they did, you’d decide procreation was a bad idea. A really bad idea.

  Allie rolled to her side and propped herself up on her elbow. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Just took me by surprise. Hadn’t really considered the possibility.” Having thought he’d be the eternal bachelor, Hudson never really saw himself as fatherhood material. But now that he was a husband? His heart pounded with pride at the thought of Allie’s belly growing round with his child. An image of how beautiful and glowing she would be took shape in his mind and he felt a stab of disappointment.

  “Well, there’s always the possibility,” Allie remind him. “Even when you’re taking precautions.” She gave a small laugh. “And we do tend to practice quite often.”

  A few moments passed where the only sound was the lapping of the water beneath the bungalow. “I know we married in a rush, Hudson. And not under the best circumstances.” Her voice was quiet and wavered slightly. “If you’re having second thoughts about . . .”

  Hudson snapped into action and in one swift movement rose up and rolled her beneath him. “Don’t ever say that again. Don’t even think it,” he said, staring down at her. She met his gaze with wide, almost worried eyes. Come on, Chase, he thought, say something worth hearing.