“Damn it!” I cry with laughter. “Epic fail.”
“Good thing you’re cute.” He snickers, reaching over to snag the bread off the breakfast bar before dropping it on the other side of the counter where I’m standing. “So, you gonna tell me who that guy was?” He re-approaches the subject casually, leaning forward on his elbows.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” I slide the knife through his sandwich, cutting it in half before dropping the paper plate in front of him, then doing the same to my own.
“Not a chance.” He lifts his sandwich and takes a big bite, moaning around it. “Sorry, I was fucking starving,” he says once he swallows.
“Guess I was a little excited to see you,” I say in a way of apology.
“Does it seem like I’m objecting?” He cocks his head and takes another large bite.
“You want something to drink?” I turn, opening the refrigerator. “I’ve got milk, water, tea, or tequila?” I say, popping my head up just in time to see the smile that spreads across his face.
“Water’s good.” He chuckles before taking another bite.
“I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow.” Dropping two bottles of water in front of him, I climb on the counter so that I can sit directly across from him, careful to make sure my robe doesn’t come undone as I do. Although I really don’t think he’d complain if it did.
“I couldn’t wait.” He smiles, completely unashamed. “Although maybe I should have?” he questions, quirking a brow at me. “You gonna tell me about what I walked in on or are you gonna dance around it all night?”
“I like dancing.” I crinkle my nose playfully before taking a bite of my sandwich.
Shaking his head, he continues to eat without pushing the subject further. We finish our sandwiches in a matter of minutes. After slipping on a tank and a pair of plaid pajama shorts, I find Hudson on the balcony looking out over the water.
“Hey.” I slide up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist before pressing my cheek to his back.
“Hey.” His hand slides across my arm seconds before he turns, breaking my hold on him.
“He’s my ex,” I blurt, my eyes staring at his chest rather than looking at his face. “It’s a long, complicated story.” I blow out a breath.
“He come here often?” He tips my chin, forcing my gaze upward.
“No. He’s only been here one other time since we broke up six months ago.”
“And the reason for him coming here in the middle of the night?”
“Apparently he decided he wants me back.” I kneed my lower lip between my teeth.
“And how do you feel about that?” His expression is completely relaxed but I swear I can see uncertainty in his eyes.
“Well, he cheated on me for nearly a year of our two year relationship and got the girl pregnant. Or so he thought he had. Only then did he come clean. What do you think?”
“I think your ex is certifiable.” He shakes his head, his thumb skirting along my bottom lip, replacing where my teeth had just been.
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Explain ‘or so he thought’.” It takes me a moment to realize he’s referring to what I said about getting Jenny pregnant.
“That’s why he was here. She had the baby tonight and apparently he came out looking nothing like either of them. When he questioned her about it she admitted that it is her ex-boyfriend’s baby. Probably thought Gage was the better father candidate and didn’t factor in that the baby would be darker complected like her ex.”
“Wow.” He shakes his head, his fingers going into the wet messy bun piled on the top of my head. “This is cute by the way.” He tugs playfully on it.
“You’re easily distracted,” I point out.
“Only when it comes to you.” He takes in a deep breath, dropping his hand. “So he came here to tell you the baby wasn’t his?”
“He had convinced himself in that twisted head of his that since the baby wasn’t his I would forgive him and things would go back to the way they were.”
“Certifiable,” he repeats his earlier statement.
“I think I have to agree with you there.”
Stepping past me, Hudson takes a seat in one of the lounge chairs on the balcony and reaches out, tugging me into his lap. Turning to the side, I drape my legs over his, smiling when he instantly picks up one of my hands and entwines our fingers together.
“Were you two pretty serious?” he asks, staring at our connected hands.
“We were.” I blow out a slow breath, hating that we’re sitting here talking about this when there’s a million other things I’d rather be doing. Then again, if I walked into Hudson’s place and found him in a heated exchange with a woman I think I’d want to know what was going on.
“How serious?”
“About as serious as you can get.” I trace the lines of the tattoo on his forearm with my finger tip. “We met through mutual friends and hit it off pretty quick. We moved in together after about a year. I was pretty sure we were on our way to marriage when I found out he was cheating. Guess I was lucky. I got out before I was stupid enough to marry him.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” he says, his gaze finally meeting mine again. “But I’m not sorry it happened.” The corner of his mouth twitches. “Does that make me a bad person?”
“I’m pretty sure I’d feel the same if roles were reversed, so I’m gonna go ahead and say no, it doesn’t make you a bad person.” I lean forward, pressing my lips gently to his before pulling away. “What about you? Any serious relationships to speak of?”
“None that are worth discussing.” He shrugs. “Takes a special kind of woman to tame all this.” He gestures to himself seconds before his warm laughter fills the space between us, not really giving me a concrete answer either way.
“Is that so?” I cock my head.
“Guess it’s a good thing you’re a special kind of woman.” He winks, releasing my hand to hook his fingers around my neck, pulling my face back to his.
“How special?” I whisper against his lips.
“How about I show you how special?” He slides his tongue along my bottom lip, his fingers digging into my thigh.
“I think I like the sound of that.”
Chapter Twelve
I blink against the early morning light, jumping slightly when I register a heavy arm draped over my middle.
Last night floods back to me in waves. Sex against the door. Sandwiches and laughter. Our conversation on the balcony where I told him about Gage. How he made love to me for two solid hours before finally falling asleep. Exhausted from his strenuous schedule and the fact that he drove about six hours to get here. He left Atlanta directly after his show without even knowing if I’d be home or awake for that matter. Just thinking that he wanted to see me so badly that he didn’t care brings an instant smile to my face.
Wanting to let him sleep but in serious need of the bathroom, I gently attempt to slide out from under his arm but am instantly hauled back, my back colliding with his front.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he grumbles against the back of my neck, his voice thick with sleep.
“Bathroom.” I smile as he nuzzles his face into my shoulder.
“I don’t want you to move. You feel too fucking good like this.”
“Well, this is kinda non-negotiable,” I inform him, humor etched into my voice.
“Fine.” He’s reluctant, but he releases me and I quickly slide out of bed.
“How about when I’m done, I whip us up some breakfast? I can make a pretty mean omelet.”
He rolls to his back, tucking an arm under his head, smiling at me. My eyes are momentarily distracted by the bulge of his bicep and how incredible his chest looks on full display. When my gaze finally makes its way back up to his face, it’s clear he knows he’s being ogled.
“How about when you’re done you get your ass back in this bed and let me show you wha
t I’m pretty good at whipping up.”
My insides tingle from the thought.
“And then breakfast,” I agree.
He chuckles when I turn and slip into my en suite bathroom without another word.
——
“You weren’t lying about these omelets.” Hudson groans appreciatively around his last bite, his throat flexing as he swallows.
God, he makes everything look sexy. Even though he took his time this morning, giving me three incredible orgasms, I still feel the flutter in my lower belly as I watch him.
“My mom is the queen of omelets,” I say, needing to get my mind out of the gutter to focus on something else. “You did not grow up in the Claire household without learning how to make Elise Claire approved omelets. The secret is in the seasoning.” I semi-whisper the last part like someone could be listening. “When Starr and I were kids my mom would have us take turns helping in the kitchen. Starr hated it but I always enjoyed that time with my mom.” Standing, I grab our plates before walking around the breakfast bar to set them in the sink.
“Sounds a lot like me and my siblings. My mom insisted that learning to cook was up there with things like learning to turn on a washing machine or even driving a car for that matter.”
“I didn’t know you had siblings.” I take this opportunity to try to learn a little more about the mysterious Hudson Demasi.
“Three sisters.”
“Oh lord, you poor man.” I giggle. “Older or younger?”
“One older, two younger.”
“Tell me about them.” I slide back onto the bar stool next to him and swivel in his direction. He mirrors my action, settling one of my legs between his so our knees don’t knock.
“Kelly turned thirty-three last month. She still lives in Texas close to my parents. She’s married and has two year old twin boys that keep her pretty busy.”
“Do you see her often?”
“Not as often as I’d like. I go home and visit on holidays and birthdays, but other than that the label keeps me pretty busy.”
“And your other sisters?”
“Brittany is twenty-eight.” He shakes his head, smiling. “She’s a complete and total pain in the ass. Has been since the day she was born.” He chuckles. “She lives in Alabama. Moved there a couple years ago to be with her deadbeat boyfriend.”
“I take it you’re not a fan of her choice in men?”
“That’s putting it mildly.” He shakes his head.
“And your youngest sister?”
“Sara. She’s the baby. Twenty-five years old and as wild as they come. She’s backpacking through Europe this summer, much to my parents’ dismay.”
“That’s amazing. I’ve always wanted to visit Europe. I bet it’s beautiful there.”
“I can show you pictures sometime. She sends me stuff constantly.”
“I’d like that,” I say, momentarily distracted by the way his hand brushes lazily against my leg. “Tell me about your parents. Are they still married?”
“They are. Though sometimes I wonder how. My mom is great. Sweet as they fucking come. When I was a kid, she stayed at home with us but now she dedicates a lot of time working with the church. My dad on the other hand, total opposite. Retired defense attorney and as ruthless as they come. A good man, just a little rough around the edges and sometimes hard to live with.”
“I think everyone can be hard to live with from time to time.” I take a sip of my orange juice before setting the glass back onto the breakfast bar.
“I guess that’s true.” He smiles, the action natural and easy. “What about you? Tell me about your folks.”
“Not much to tell. They’ve been married thirty years. My mom worked as a substitute teacher up until last year and my dad has worked at the same office for nearly thirty years. He’s looking to retire next year. Typical life I guess.” I shrug.
“You close to them?”
“Very. I mean, they drive me absolutely nuts most days, but I can’t imagine not having them close by. Even though I usually only go over for Sunday lunch, it’s nice knowing they’re just a few minutes away if I need them.”
“Sunday lunch?”
“My mom hosts lunch every Sunday. She throws a fit if I miss it, so I do my best not to. It’s usually just my parents, Nana, me, Starr, and more recently, Mark. Starr’s soon to be husband,” I add, not sure if he remembers who Starr’s soon to be husband is. “My Uncle Scott used to come, but he passed away a couple years ago,” I ramble, not really sure why I feel the need to throw that bit of information into the mix.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Hudson’s hand settles just above my knee, giving my leg a gentle squeeze.
“Anyway.” I shake my head. “So yeah, I usually see them every Sunday. If I don’t, my mother has a habit of showing up here and giving me a what for.”
“Sounds like our mothers would probably get along.” He chuckles, draining the rest of his orange juice in one large gulp. “So, what do you want to do today?” he asks, setting the empty glass down.
“Well, since this is one of your only breaks for the next few weeks, why don’t we pack a cooler and head down to the beach for a while? Just take it easy,” I suggest.
“Getting to spend the day with you in next to no clothing? Sounds like a pretty good first date to me.” He smiles, leaning forward to gently swipe his lips against mine.
“Good.” I return his smile, pulling back slightly. “Do you have a pair of shorts you can swim in by chance?” I scrunch my nose.
“I do. I wasn’t sure if I would need them but I brought a pair just in case. I have to run down to the rental and get my bag.” He slides off the stool, laying a soft kiss to my forehead before announcing, “I’ll be right back.”
—-
It’s nearly eleven by the time we make it to the beach. Not surprisingly, it’s packed with people. After all, it is a Saturday in the middle of July. I lead Hudson to the two lounge chairs, complete with a large umbrella, that come with my unit. One of the many perks of leasing from my boss/best friend’s father. He makes sure his tenants are well taken care of.
Dropping our towels across the back of the chairs, Hudson tucks the cooler we packed full of drinks in the small space between them.
“Do all the condos come with these?” He gestures to the long line of chairs that stretch down the sandy beach.
“Not all. Some of them come with the properties, others you can rent.” I shrug out of my white wrap and drop it on top of my towel, instantly feeling Hudson’s eyes on me.
“I know I said I was all for spending the day with you half naked, but what the fuck is that?” he asks, his voice thick.
“It’s a bikini.” I look down at the navy and white polka dot bikini that is far less revealing than some of the others I own. “You don’t like it?” I ask, sliding my sunglasses down onto my face.
“Oh, I like it all right. I’m just not sure I can be out here with you dressed in that strappy thing and not strip you bare and fuck you in front of all these people.”
I choke back a laugh, heat instantly flooding through my body at his words. If he keeps looking at me like that I just might let him do exactly what he’s threatening.
“Come on, Country Star. Let’s get you cooled off.” I nod my head toward the water.
“Good call. That way no one can see us.” He gives me the biggest shit eating smile before sliding his shirt over his head and dropping it on the chair.
“And you’re talking about my bikini.” I gesture to his chiseled abs, sculpted chest, and broad shoulders.
“Baby, if you want to strip me bare and fuck me for all these people to watch, I sure as hell am not going to stop you.” He winks before holding his hand out to me. “Shall we?”
“You’re too much, you know that?” I tell him as he leads me down to the edge of the water.
“You remember the first time we came down to this beach?” he asks, turning his sunglass covered eyes my way. “Pre
tty sure you stripped out of your bra somewhere in this general vicinity.” He points toward the water.
“Pretty sure you tossed me in the water first. All’s fair in war, baby,” I say mockingly, taking off into the water.
I make it almost to my knees before Hudson’s arm snags me around the waist, hauling me back against his hard body.
“And just where do you think you’re going?” He nips at my earlobe.
“I’m going swimming,” I remind him, trying to keep my voice unaffected by his actions even though my mind is pleading for him to slide his hand lower.
God, what does this man do to me? I’ve never wanted someone the way I want Hudson. Never craved a man’s touch the way I do his. Never knew what true desire felt like until him. No matter how close I am, it’s never close enough.
“Well then.” I hear the smile in his voice seconds before I’m spun around and hoisted over his shoulder.
“Hudson,” I squeal as he takes off through the water. “Don’t you dare,” I warn as I laugh.
“Don’t worry. I’m not gonna throw you in... Again. I just like the way your ass looks inches from my face,” he says seconds before his hand connects with my bare cheek on a firm slap.
“Hudson!” I squeal again, lifting my head to look around, certain that tons of people are probably enjoying the show right about now.
He walks several more feet, not stopping until the waves hit him right below his chest. Shifting me from his shoulder, he holds my body firm against his as he slides me down into the water, making sure I feel every ripple of his muscles against me as he does.
“See, I said I wouldn’t throw you.” When my face is level with his, he stops lowering me. I wrap my legs around his waist as his grip on me tightens. “But I sure as hell am gonna kiss you.”
And boy does he ever. He kisses me so deep I swear I can feel it all the way to my toes. It’s a mind blowing kiss. No, correction, it’s a life altering kiss. Because that’s exactly how I feel when Hudson pulls back, that sexy smirk of his firmly in place. I feel like my life has just been completely altered.
—-
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