Hold Me Closer (Sea Island Brides Book 1)

by Kelly, Georgia

  “Am I impressing you?” he said slyly. “I hadn’t noticed.”

  She punched his shoulder jokingly, then leaned back to enjoy the movie, her hand never leaving his.

  Even though he never would have admitted it, impressing Annabelle was pretty high on his list. Sure, she had agreed to be his fiancée, but they both knew that was only a temporary plan. And with the Japan deal now imminent, he knew it was only a matter of days before their agreement was fulfilled and she was free to go.

  In the dim light, he watched as her eyes shone with laughter.

  In just a few short weeks she had become a part of his life, and he wasn’t ready to give her up yet. The thought of ending their engagement also brought up another issue. Payment. She still had not told him what she wanted for living up to her end of the bargain.

  Chances were high that as soon as the papers were signed and they were back on a plane to the States, she would let him know the exact amount of money she wanted for her compliance in his fake engagement scheme, and that would be the end of it.

  Hudson was used to having people want a piece of the Montgomery fortune. It was a part of his heritage, just like the money and the fame that came along with being a Montgomery heir. But this time it was different. This time, he wished with all his heart that the woman sitting next to him didn’t care about his money. That she wouldn’t want a dime from him when this whole thing was over.

  What he wanted most was for her to look him in the eye and tell him that she only wanted him. And just once, for that to be enough.

  The rest of their journey went smoothly, and before she knew it, they were landing at Narita International Airport. A limousine was waiting to take them to their hotel, and Annabelle was glad to be able to go to the suite and rest. She barely paid any attention to the fancy hotel’s lobby or the grandeur of their room. After such a long flight and the difference in times between Japan and Georgia, she was feeling off and more than a little jet-lagged.

  As if sensing her discomfort, Hudson handed her a cool, wet towel for her head.

  “The time change can be a little rough at first, so take all the time you need to rest and get adjusted.”

  “What about you?” she asked, sitting down on the enormous bed and cooling her head with the towel.

  “I got some rest on the plane,” he said. “I’m going to be in the other room working for a little while, but come get me if you need anything.”

  The soft kiss he planted on her forehead made her feel better, and she smiled as she lay back on the bed and closed her eyes. She was once again struck by his kindness and generosity. He wasn’t at all the selfish, domineering jerk she’d once believed him to be.

  So, why had he been so cold-hearted when Julia came to him for help?

  It still didn’t make any sense to her, but now more than ever, she believed he must have had a reason for it. But what? Julia wasn’t lying about Harlan. There was no question about that in Annabelle’s mind. So why was Hudson so quick to dismiss her?

  With these questions rolling around in her mind, Annabelle drifted off to sleep. Several hours later, she woke to the more-than-pleasant sound of Hudson’s voice whispering in her ear.

  “Annabelle,” he whispered, and she opened her eyes to find him on his knees beside the bed. “Good morning.”

  She glanced around, disoriented. “Is it morning already?”

  “No,” he said, kissing her nose. “It’s actually just after five in the afternoon.”

  “What day is it?” Annabelle sat up in bed and stretched, feeling as though she was waking from the deepest sleep of her life.

  “It’s Monday.” He handed her a glass of ice water.

  “Thank you.” She took a long, refreshing drink and handed the glass back to him. “So we basically skipped an entire day?”

  “Welcome to Japan,” he said with a laugh. “Do you feel rested enough to go to dinner?”

  “I think so. Can I take a shower?”

  “Of course,” he said, eyebrows raised with a hint of mischief on his face. “But only if I can join you.”

  With a giggle, she threw off the covers and raced him to the shower. The tiled square shower was certainly big enough for the two of them. They both stripped down, and slipped into the warm water. Annabelle leaned her head back into the stream and let the warmth wash over her like a massage.

  Hudson’s arms encircled her and he pulled her close. His arousal was apparent as she pressed against his warm, wet body, and she felt the heat between them rise with the steam.

  She opened her eyes to see raw, honest passion staring back at her. She knew that she meant more than just sex to him, and the realization made her tingle all over. A part of her protested, wanting to pull back and save her heart from any further pain. The end was near, and she knew it all too well.

  But another part of her knew she couldn’t say no to him. She wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her. Any pain that would come later was well worth it. If she could have a few more hours of happiness with him, she was damn well going to enjoy it while it lasted.

  Hudson’s mouth dipped low to kiss her breast, his other hand searching for the slick spot between her legs. She responded with a soft moan, opening herself to his touch as he ran his thumb back and forth against her center.

  Fully awake now, her fingernails dug into his back, begging for him to fill her, to give her all of himself. Without hesitation, he grabbed her butt with both hands and lifted her up into the air, pressing her back against the wet tiles. She cried out as she felt the tip of him slip inside of her. Thrusting her hips forward and wrapping her legs tighter around his back, she felt him slide deep inside of her.

  The water falling onto their naked bodies only intensified her pleasure, each drop heightening the flood of passion within. As he drove himself into her again and again, she felt her body drawn closer and closer to the height of pleasure. Their kisses were hard, their need frantic as their hips moved in rhythm.

  Hudson groaned as they both neared completion, and she bit into the flesh of his shoulder. She felt him harden as his thrusts grew faster, more powerful. They came together, an explosion of bright, shattering light. For a moment, he held her close, allowing the water to pulse against their spent bodies.

  With a gentle kiss, Hudson let her down, her legs weak from exhaustion. He held her in the stream of warmth until she recovered, kissing her until the water threatened to cool. She shivered at the change in temperature and laughed, turning the knob to the off position.

  “Guess we took up all the hot water,” she said, blushing.

  “Looks like we’ll just have to wait a little while and take another shower.” Hudson covered her mouth with fresh kisses as he wrapped a plush towel around her body.

  Thirty minutes later, that’s exactly what they did.

  By eight, Annabelle was dressed in a simple but elegant pink dress and a pair of low heels. She surveyed her choice of outfit in the mirror, then added a black silk jacket with three-quarter length sleeves. Considering that she was about to meet an ultra-conservative Japanese business man on his own turf, she wanted to make sure her appearance was in line with his expectations.

  Hudson entered the bedroom and whistled his approval. “You look very elegant and beautiful this evening.”

  “You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said, taking in his black suit. He had chosen a cream colored button-up and a burgundy tie with cream stripes. To her eyes, he looked both professional and incredibly sexy.

  “Thanks. We make a nice looking couple, if you ask me.” His mouth descended on hers, and she tilted her head up to meet his.

  Yes, they did make a nice looking couple, but for how long? Another day? Then it would all be over. The thought fell like a stone to the bottom of her stomach.

  “Annabelle? What’s wrong?” Hudson’s blue-green eyes filled with concern.

  “Nothing,” she said, smiling brightly on the outside to conceal her sadness. “Just nervous.”
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  “There’s nothing to worry about,” he assured her. “I’ll be there by your side all night. Just be yourself.”

  The restaurant that Mr. Takahashi had chosen was close to the hotel, so the pair walked the two blocks rather than taking the limousine again. Tokyo at night was an amazing spectacle of billboards and lights that made the entire city seem like a futuristic version of New York or Atlanta. The street was teeming with people, and Annabelle loved the energy all around her. The city was truly alive with activity.

  A beautiful woman in a red kimono greeted them at the door and escorted them back to a private room where most of their party had already gathered. Annabelle smiled and nodded as Hudson introduced her to a staggering number of his business associates. She was happy to learn that most of them spoke fluent English. Hudson, on the other hand, surprised her by speaking in perfect Japanese to an older gentlemen that she assumed had to be Mr. Takahashi himself.

  She didn’t even know he spoke Japanese, and it made her wonder what other things she had yet to learn about him. Things she might never get the chance to know. Immediately, she forced down the sadness and regret that threatened to break the surface of her well-maintained front. This was not the time or place to think about the future. Right now, she needed to concentrate on fulfilling her final duties as Hudson’s fiancée.

  “Mr. Takahashi, I would like to introduce you to my lovely fiancée, Annabelle Day.” Hudson’s words brought her back into the moment and she smiled and bowed as Mr. Takahashi lowered his head toward her in greeting.

  “I am so happy to finally meet you, Ms. Day,” he said, beaming from ear to ear. “My congratulations to you both on this very happy announcement.”

  “Thank you.” She moved to bow her head again when a man standing in the corner of the room caught her eye.

  Harlan.

  There was no question about it. He was the spitting image of his brother, only with slightly darker hair and greener eyes. Just seeing him sent an entirely new set of emotions rolling through her.

  She still had no idea whether Hudson had even mentioned Julia to his brother or not. Did he know she was pregnant and still deny that he could be the father? Or would he be angry with his brother for not telling him the truth?

  Her only comfort was knowing that soon, all of her questions would be answered.

  Their eyes met from across the room. He smiled and nodded, said something to the man he was talking to, and immediately stepped over to greet her. Hudson had fallen back into a conversation with Mr. Takahashi, so Harlan took the liberty of introducing himself.

  Taking her hand in his, he said, “Annabelle. You have no idea how happy I am to finally meet you. Hudson has told me so much about you already.”

  “Oh, really?” She glanced at Hudson and wondered if he’d told his brother anything about their relationship other than the business side of it. “All good, I hope?”

  “Of course,” he said. “What else would there be?”

  She knew he was just teasing her, but a lump formed in her throat. Plenty, she thought.

  Before she had the chance to say much more, Jack Montgomery, the oldest of the Montgomery children, stepped forward and bowed to her.

  “So lovely to meet you,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll all have much to talk about soon.”

  His tone of voice was warm, but there was something in his eyes that was reserved. She had a feeling he was talking about her payment, which immediately made her tense. Was that all he thought she was? A debt to be owed?

  Before she could really think about what Jack had meant, Mr. Takahashi invited everyone to be seated. He made a short speech about the future of the company he’d built with his own hands, and the honor he felt at having the Montgomerys as his guests. Annabelle was touched when he specifically welcomed her as the future Mrs. Montgomery. She only wished she truly deserved it.

  The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. The food was delicious and exotic, including raw, thinly sliced sashimi. She was even brave enough to try a bite of fugu, which Hudson explained was a particularly rare delicacy as it can only be prepared by certain trained chefs who must first remove the poisonous parts of the blowfish before serving it. Since she had been with Hudson, he had opened her eyes to so many new experiences, both in and out of the bedroom. Thinking this, a blush crept across her face and Hudson smiled.

  “What are you thinking about?” he whispered in her ear, his warm breath sending a tingle down her spine.

  “Food,” she said, giggling.

  “I don’t believe you.” Under the table, he gave her leg a gentle squeeze.

  Just as the meal was winding down, Annabelle excused herself to go to the restroom. On her way back towards the private room, she quickly checked her cell phone for the time and saw that she had several missed calls from a number she didn’t recognize. She would have to remember to call them back after dinner to see who it was and to make sure that nothing was wrong. She hadn’t even realized her phone would work here in Japan. But before she had the phone back in her purse, it began to vibrate again. The call was coming from the same number, so she ducked into a quiet corner and answered it.

  “Hello?”

  “May I speak with Annabelle Day, please?” A young woman’s voice sounded urgent on the other line.

  “This is Annabelle.”

  “Ms. Day, I am so glad I was able to reach you. My name is Dr. Andrews. We’ve met before? I need you to come down to the hospital right away.”

  Annabelle’s eyes widened in panic and her heart began to beat wildly. She’d met Dr. Andrews a few times when she’d gone with Julia to her appointments earlier in her pregnancy.

  “What’s happened? Is Julia okay? The baby?”

  “I’m sorry to tell you that your cousin had a terrible accident. The baby is fine, but Julia’s still unconscious. I’d like you to come down here as soon as possible.”

  “Oh, my God, what happened?” Tears sprang to her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. She was half a world away. How was she going to get home?

  “How soon can you get down here? I’d much rather explain this in person.”

  Her breath was coming in quick bursts now, and she felt as though the room was spinning out of control. “I can’t. I’m in Tokyo. Please tell me what happened.”

  “Apparently Julia woke up in the middle of the night to find an intruder going through her home. She was quick enough to dial 911, but she was unable to tell the operator what was going on. They sent police and an ambulance right away, but Julia was unconscious and hurt pretty badly by the time they arrived.”

  At home? But Julia was staying at Annabelle’s apartment.

  Mark.

  Annabelle knew it in her heart. This was all her fault. The jerk had probably gone to her apartment looking for something to use against her, not expecting that Julia would be there. What had he done to her?

  Annabelle had to force her mind to clear so she could figure out what to do next. She was frantic with worry. “I’ll head to the hotel and pack my things right away. I don’t know how long it will be, but I’ll call back as soon as I get a flight. Do you know what happened to the intruder? Did they arrest him?”

  “I’m afraid he was gone by the time the police arrived.”

  Anger surged through her like a tsunami.

  She wasn’t sure who she was more upset with. Herself for starting this whole mess or Mark.

  As tears of fury streaked down her face, she searched for an outlet. Anywhere to focus her anger and frustrations.

  Hudson appeared around the corner and suddenly, she knew exactly who was to blame. The man who started it all with his self-serving agenda and his cold words. This was as much his fault as anyone’s, and it was high time she confronted him with the truth.

  Annabelle shot daggers at Hudson as he approached. If he had only listened to the truth and treated Julia with the respect she deserved, none of this would have happened.

  When Julia first came to hi
m with the news of her pregnancy, all she wanted was Harlan’s phone number. She wanted to tell him about the baby so they could figure out their next move together. Hudson stole that opportunity from her by keeping Harlan’s whereabouts a secret and refusing to give Julia’s story a second thought.

  As he approached the area where Annabelle stood, he kept a polite smile on his face, nodding in respect to various people as he passed. But in his eyes, she could see his dismay. After all, he expected her to give one final performance tonight so his business could reap the benefits of their lies. Instead, she was standing far from the party, red-faced and seething.

  She didn’t care one bit. Let him be upset. He brought this on himself.

  “Annabelle,” he grasped her arm and steered her toward the bathrooms where it was more private. “What happened to you? This is a very important night for me.”

  Wrenching her arm from his grasp, she stepped away. “This is all your fault.”

  “What are you talking about?” he asked, glancing back toward the private room where Mr. Takahashi was waiting. “Whatever it is that’s bothering you, this isn’t the time or the place to discuss it."

  “Believe me when I say it’s past time. There’s something I should have told you a long time ago.”

  Annabelle was shaking, her anger and fear getting the best of her. She couldn’t think straight.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked.

  “I’m talking about Julia Davis,” she said. “The young woman who came to you a few months ago, pregnant and asking for your help contacting Harlan.”

  His eyes grew wide and she knew he remembered. “What does she have to do with you?”

  “She’s my cousin, and you treated her like she was nothing. Just another annoyance you had to deal with in your fancy, busy life,” she said.