Hold Me Closer (Sea Island Brides Book 1)

by Kelly, Georgia

  When she pulled away, her face was flushed. Her eyes searched his, and she could tell that Hudson was just as rattled by the depth of emotion in their kiss as she was.

  She watched as he downed his champagne, throwing his head back as the golden liquid disappeared down his throat.

  When he was finished, he raised his glass again to the happy crowd, then led the family off the stage. The moment they stepped onto the heart pine floors, they were engulfed in a sea of well-wishers. Annabelle was pulled through the crowd by a rush of people wanting to congratulate her, and before she knew it, Hudson was nowhere to be seen.

  She smiled and played the part of a blushing fiancée, answering questions about how they first met and how he had proposed. Her answers were all well-rehearsed, and thankfully, no one seemed the least bit suspicious, but she was frantic to have a moment alone with Hudson. As the crowd passed by her, her eyes searched for him in vain.

  After an exhausting hour of endless congratulations, Annabelle finally had a moment to herself. She wandered back into the ballroom where the lights were now dimmed. The band struck up a slow song that she recognized instantly as an old Etta James classic about finding your love after years of waiting. Annabelle felt the words cut straight to her heart.

  It was useless to keep denying how much she had come to care for Hudson. She had fallen in love with him.

  When she first came to Sea Island, everything had seemed so simple. Smile, answer questions, and pretend to be the doting girlfriend until the deal was finalized. Then, collect payment. A paternity test to prove Harlan Montgomery was the father of Julia’s baby. She had been so confident that her plan would work and that in the end, she would bring happiness and security to her cousin and her new niece.

  How had everything become so complicated in two short weeks? It seemed like an eternity since she’d first had the idea to blackmail Hudson with a few scandalous photographs.

  A hand reached out and caressed her lower back. She didn’t turn to see who it was. She knew his touch. No one else had ever caused such sizzling heat to stir within her. Even the simple brush of his hand on her back had her leaning into him and wishing they were alone.

  Hudson swept her into his arms and whirled her around the crowded dance floor. The singer’s smooth voice was lost under the sound of Annabelle’s racing heartbeat. She lifted her eyes to meet his and for a moment she was terrified he would see right through to her soul.

  She loved him, but she knew she could never have him. Not after all of her lies. It was only a matter of time now before he knew the truth, and losing him would break her heart.

  Everyone around them faded into the crowd, and Annabelle felt as if it were only the two of them on the dance floor. His strong arms holding her were her entire world, and she wanted nothing and no one else but him. All of her life she had longed to feel something half as strong as this, but why now? Why him?

  Trying desperately to hold back her tears, Annabelle rested her head on Hudson’s shoulder, pulling him close as they twirled around the room. When the music stopped, she had to force herself to let go, not wanting to face his inquisitive eyes and wonder what he would say or do when morning came.

  “Hudson,” she began, but he cut her off with his lips, crushing her body to his.

  She met him with eager anticipation. The warmth of his soft lips was inviting and she leaned into him. An involuntary moan escaped her and Hudson’s kiss deepened, sending streaks of warmth through her body.

  Annabelle pulled herself from Hudson’s arms, emotions rolling through her like the waves she knew were only footsteps away. Everything was different now that she had admitted her true feelings to herself. Kissing him was like tasting forbidden fruit, and she knew that it would only lead to trouble and more heartache if she gave in to him tonight.

  “I can’t,” she said, taking a step back and searching her mind for any excuse to get away from him. “If you’ll excuse me, there are some things I need to take care of before the evening is over.”

  It took every ounce of self-control in her body to walk away from him then, and she only managed to get as far as the staircase before he caught up to her again and took her in his arms.

  “You can’t walk away from me now,” he protested. “Not tonight. Tonight your walls come down, Annabelle Day. And there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”

  Hudson didn’t care that he had a house full of guests. He wanted her. Now.

  His mouth descended on hers. The sweet taste of champagne lingered on her lips. He felt her palms press against his chest in protest, but he was wild with passion. He simply couldn’t let her go. His fingers tangled around the small gathering of tiny curls at the base of her neck while the other hand caressed her lower back.

  An inferno raged within him, and he crushed her body against his own.

  He wasn’t sure where her protests ended and her passion began, but soon he felt her form melt against him, her mouth open in response. Pure adrenaline soared through him as her arms circled his neck and she gave herself over to his kiss.

  “I want you, Annabelle,” he whispered between frantic kisses. “I need you.”

  Her nod was all the permission he needed, and he scooped her into his arms and carried her up the stairs, just as he had a few short nights ago. He was careful not to step on the black lace of her gown as it trailed across the steps. All he could think about was the warmth of her breath against his neck and the feel of his heartbeat thumping against hers as he pressed her close.

  Once inside his suite, they might as well have been the last two humans alive on the planet. This was more than just a fling, and he knew pretending it was a small flame that would burn out in a few days was futile. It might take years, decades even, to sate this thirst, this throbbing need to possess her.

  Ribbons threaded through more than fifty loops held her dress together in the back. He yanked at them with impatient hands, then pushed the dress downward. He ran his palms along the smooth cool skin of her back. She wasn’t wearing a bra under the dress, but her lace panties and garter with thigh highs certainly caught his attention as the dress swished toward the floor. Now that he had her bare skin at his fingertips, he slowed, relishing the perfection of her figure.

  Kissing the back of her neck and across her shoulders, he traced a feather-soft pattern down the side of her body with his fingertips, exploring the soft curve of her breasts and the slope as her waist dipped. The moan that escaped her lips made him yearn for her. He felt his hunger for her take over as he pressed toward her back, cupping her breasts in his hands.

  When he could no longer stand it, he turned her around to face him. He watched in awe as she stepped out of the dress and made her way slowly to the bed. One hand went up to her hair and gently tugged at the pin holding it up, and he watched as her beautiful curls fell down and around her shoulders. She gave her head a slight shake and in that moment, she was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman.

  Sexy. Beautiful. Smart. Strong.

  She wasn’t afraid to stand up to him and to speak her mind. She was so easy to talk to and open up to that it scared him. He had never wanted to know a woman so completely in his life, and as she reached to untie his bow-tie, his wish to be with her outweighed any doubts or fears.

  The secrets she was hiding no longer mattered. Suddenly he felt that whatever problems she faced with Mark could be dealt with, the same way he was used to dealing with scandal and trouble in his own life. He realized that he was already starting to think of Annabelle as a part of his life. Of his family, even.

  Letting his heart fall into the wrong hands was one of his biggest fears, and even though he’d tried to be careful, he knew that it was already too late to protect his heart. He pushed all thoughts of secrets and doubt aside and thought only of tonight.

  His tuxedo shirt fell to the floor and Annabelle sat down on the bed, need shining in her eyes as she reached for his belt. Hudson groaned, his need growing once again impatient as she un
zipped his pants and pushed them down to the floor. He needed to feel her hands on him. He pulled away the final barrier, then felt her delicate hands wrap around him.

  Hudson’s breath quickened and he closed his eyes as he leaned his head back in ecstasy. God, she knew just how to touch him. He felt the heat rising inside and knew that he could wait no longer.

  Taking her hands in his own, he instructed her to lie back against the soft bed. He quickly grabbed a condom from the drawer and positioned himself above her, looking deep into her eyes.

  Their gaze stayed locked as she guided him inside of her, their chests both rising and falling together as their breath became fast and their hearts raced on. He took his time at first, sliding into her with a shudder of pleasure. The rocking of her hips as she urged him to give her more of himself drove him insane with need.

  Their bodies began to move together in a rhythm as ancient as time, her hips lifting beneath him to meet each thrust. Unable to take his eyes off of the beauty of her flushed face, he watched as their love-making took her to the brink of orgasm. Her own pleasure excited him more and he followed her lead, speeding their rhythm until they both trembled with release. His body came alive with the current of a thousand lightning storms.

  When they were both spent and exhausted, they lay together, their heartbeats mingled as he felt the soft warm kiss of her lips against his chest and neck and down his arm. His heart ached for her, and despite their naked flesh pressed close, he couldn’t seem to get close enough. He had possessed her body completely, but lying there, his body still humming with the memory of passion, he wanted more.

  He wanted her heart.

  Chapter Eleven

  Annabelle woke to the sound of Hudson’s voice. He was out on the balcony just outside his suite, the phone pressed to his ear. From the dim orange and gold light peeking through the thin fabric of the curtains, she could tell it was barely morning, and a quick glance at the bedside clock confirmed it. Who was he talking to at five-thirty in the morning?

  Wrapping a sheet around her naked body, she yawned and padded out to join him. As soon as he saw her, his face lit up with a smile. He used his spare arm to pull her close.

  “Harlan, that’s amazing news,” he said into the phone, then dipped low to kiss her cheek. “We’ll be there tonight.”

  Annabelle’s eyebrows shot up. “Japan?” she mouthed, and Hudson nodded with a smile.

  She was so excited, she had to keep herself from squealing. She had rarely left the state of Georgia, much less the country, and in less than twenty-four hours she would be in Japan.

  And she would finally get to meet the elusive Harlan Montgomery. Her stomach tangled into knots.

  Hudson said goodbye to his brother, then turned and gave her a long, passionate kiss.

  “Our engagement was headline news,” he said. “As soon as Mr. Takahashi heard about it, he called Jack to give his congratulations. He said that if Montgomery International’s CFO was ready to make such an important commitment, he was too.”

  Annabelle’s heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach. She did her best not to let her face betray her thoughts as she asked, “So, that means we’re going there so you can finalize the papers on the acquisition?”

  “Yes,” he said, kissing her again. His stride was confident and sure as he walked back into the room. He seemed to be on cloud nine, but Annabelle wasn’t sure how to react.

  The completion of the Japan deal meant the end of their agreement. Everything was coming to a head all at the same time. Mark’s blackmail demand. Japan. The engagement.

  All of the blood drained from her face, and she wondered if she might faint. Her feelings for Hudson had progressed way beyond what she ever intended or could have imagined. Losing him now would feel like losing herself.

  She didn’t see any way that she could convince him to stay with her.

  “Where did you go just now?” Hudson’s question snapped her away from her thoughts. She gave him a forced smile.

  “Sorry, it’s still so early. I don’t think I’m fully awake, yet.”

  “Well, you can sleep on the plane. It’s an eighteen-hour flight to Tokyo.” He had already laid out his suitcase and was tucking a few pairs of socks inside. “How quickly can you pack? I’d like to get up in the air as soon as possible.”

  “I don’t have a passport.”

  “Yes, you do,” he said. “I made sure of that, just in case of this exact scenario.”

  “What time is our flight?” she asked, wondering how much time she had to pull herself together.

  Hudson smiled. “We’re taking the company jet.”

  Of course, she thought. The company jet.

  Two weeks ago she was living in a one-bedroom apartment she couldn’t afford, and now she was flying in a private jet to Tokyo. Life was just full of surprises.

  Twenty minutes later, she was all packed and ready to go. Dressed comfortably in a pair of her favorite jeans and a white tank top, she threw on a jean jacket just in case it got chilly on the plane. As Hudson was making a few phone calls in his study, she slipped out by the pool and quickly dialed Mark’s number.

  “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the future Mrs. Montgomery.” Mark’s voice made her feel sick to her stomach. Just knowing what he was capable of sent a streak of anger through her.

  “I didn’t call to chit-chat,” she said, trying to keep a civil tone. “But we’re heading out of town, and I’m not sure when we’ll be back. I need you to promise me that you won’t do anything until I get back.”

  Mark coughed and she could hear him light a cigarette. “That’s gonna cost you.”

  “Look, we both know it’s the money you want,” she said. “So just give me an extra week to get something together.”

  He seemed to mull this over for a while, and Annabelle wondered if he’d hung up on her. Finally, his voice came through the phone. “Okay, princess. You got an extra week, but if I don’t hear from you by then, you know what will happen.”

  She closed her phone and sighed with relief. At least she could stop worrying about waking up to see Julia’s face on the front page of every tabloid this week. She would simply have to make the twenty grand part of her payment once the deal went through and Hudson cut her loose.

  Another quick call to Julia and she would be ready to go. Scared she might wake her, Annabelle was surprised when her cousin answered on the first ring.

  “Hey ’Belle! I thought you might be the plumber calling back. I woke up this morning to a flooded apartment. A pipe must be leaking somewhere, but I can’t find it. There’s water everywhere.”

  “Oh, no.” Annabelle got a worried knot in her stomach. She felt guilty for not being there to help take care of her cousin. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, silly. But everything’s getting wet. It’s a slow leak, but the entire bathroom is flooded and the water’s slowly snaking into the bedroom. Why are you up so early? Everything go okay with the announcement last night?”

  “More than okay,” she told her cousin. She explained their sudden trip to Japan. After making Julia promise to go stay at her empty, and dry, apartment, Annabelle glanced at her watch. “I have to get going, but I wanted to tell you I love you very much. I’ll keep you updated.”

  “You’d better,” Julia said. “And ’Belle, just remember that no matter what happens with the Montgomerys, everything is going to be okay. All we need is each other.”

  Julia’s words set her heart at ease for the first time since Hudson told her they were going to Japan.

  The sound of the helicopter caught her attention, and she ran back around the house to the helipad to meet Hudson. Seconds later, they were lifted into the air and were on their way to Savannah where the company jet was waiting to take them to Japan.

  Once inside the sleek plane, Annabelle marveled at how much room there was inside. The only traveling she had ever done in a plane involved sitting in coach on discount airlines, feeling cramped. This jet
looked more like a first class hotel room with a few plush recliners for airplane seats.

  “Wow,” she said, unable to contain her amazement. “Is this how you always travel?”

  Hudson laughed and set his briefcase down on the nearest table. “Sure beats coach, huh?”

  “You have no idea.”

  “Here,” he said, pointing to one of the recliners near the front of the cabin. “Have a seat and buckle yourself in until we get off the ground. I’ll have Laura turn on a movie for us.”

  “Fine by me, as long as it’s not one about a plane crash or a hijacking.” Annabelle winked at him and buckled herself into the leather seat.

  Hudson pushed a button on an intercom attached to the wall and a pleasant female voice spoke up. “Yes, Mr. Montgomery. What can I do for you?”

  “Hi, Laura. Can you lower the screen and put something on for us to watch?”

  “Right away.”

  Within seconds, a flat screen emerged from the ceiling to cover the wall in front of their chairs. Hudson handed her a glass of water and sat down beside her. His hand rested on hers, sending a tingle of excitement through her arm.

  “Good morning, sir.” Another voice came through the speakers as the captain introduced himself to Annabelle and gave some instructions about the flight. In another few minutes, the jet began to move and soon they were taking off. Annabelle looked at her watch. It had only been an hour and a half since she woke up and they were already in the air on their way to the opposite side of the world.

  As the movie screen lit up, Annabelle rolled her eyes when she saw the title. It was the newest Brad Pitt movie.

  “What?” Hudson asked. “If you don’t want to watch this one, I’m sure we can find something else.”

  “This movie is still in theaters,” she said with a laugh. “How did you get a copy already?”

  Hudson opened his mouth to answer but she held up her hand to stop him. “Wait. No, I don’t even want to know. But you know what, Mr. Montgomery.” She leaned as close to him as her seatbelt would allow, and gave him a long, soft kiss. Inside her heart was breaking at the thought of their inevitable separation, but she fought to hold onto what little time they had left. “I’ve already agreed to marry you, so you can stop trying so hard to impress me.”