Chapter 54
54
Molly
It’s dimly lit back here. Everything is hazy, causing my eyes to have a hard time adjusting to how dark it is.
It’s almost too dark, but maybe that’s fitting for what this is.
It’s funny that I’m not afraid.
Usually, I would be.
Darkness and isolation terrify me, but not now. Not here. Not with him. Never with him.
The little girl inside me wants to cry out in fear, but the grown Molly, wrapped up in Hudson’s arms as he whispers, he misses me , is okay.
I’m more than okay, actually. I’m excited because despite being tucked away in a shadowy pocket far from prying eyes, I’m here with Hudson. How does he make everything feel so safe yet dangerous at the same time?
After a few more seconds, we separate, and Hudson steps back, leaning casually against the wall. He crosses his arms at his chest, and his black T-shirt clings to him in all the right places.
The sight of him makes my heart race. He’s a shot of coffee to my system. A live wire ready to explode.
“Took you long enough to get here tonight.” His trademark smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. There it is. That stupid, cocky smirk should annoy me, but somehow, it only makes me want him more.
“I’ve been here the whole time. You just couldn’t find me.” I shrug.
“Damn, Hex. You always have to make things difficult.” Despite his words, I can hear the humor in his voice.
Difficult? Who’s he kidding? He loves the chase. And we both know it.
“Do you know how hard it is to sneak away without Cassidy and Josie interrogating me?” I fire back, loving the playful banter Hudson and I are known for.
Hudson pushes back off the wall, stepping closer. The dim light from the main part of the club illuminates his face. He’s smiling down at me in a way that quickens my pulse. This man does crazy things to me. Makes me feel alive and like anything is possible.
Like I’m the only person in the world for him.
“It’s worth it, though.” His hand brushes against mine, and it sends a shiver up my spine.
Such a small gesture, yet it has the ability to turn me into mush.
How does he do that? It’s just a touch, but it sets my entire body on fire.
I lean into his warmth, wanting desperately to close any distance between us. When I feel the heat of his body against mine, a sigh escapes my mouth. “It is.”
“Then why are we sneaking around?” he asks, his voice low and, if I’m not mistaken, sad.
I wish I had an answer. But I don’t. Other than to say Dane. I’m not sure how Dane would respond, but in truth, I’m not ready to find out. I don’t want to ruin this, whatever this is with Hudson, so if that means keeping us in our bubble a little longer, so be it.
I shrug. “Because if Dane finds out, he’ll kill you.” My answer is matter-of-fact, but it’s the truth. Murder wouldn’t be off the table for Dane.
Sucks.
If Dane is one thing, it’s protective.
Too protective. Sometimes, it feels like I’ll always be the little sister he had to save.
Even now that I’m an adult, he still takes his role as my guardian very seriously. “Also, let’s not kid ourselves. It’s not just Dane.” I roll my eyes despite the fact that he can’t see it since I’m pressed against his chest. “It’s the whole team. They’d never let us live it down.”
“True,” he concedes with a laugh. “But you like sneaking around. Admit it.” His voice dips into a teasing whisper.
Do I?
Or do I just tell myself that’s the best alternative?
I bite my lip, fighting back a laugh. “Maybe I just don’t want to be alone, and you’re the best option.”
“Mason or Wolfe aren’t up to your standards?” He chuckles. I love the sound. It makes me feel warm inside.
No one else comes close to you, Hudson.
Not even close.
His hands tighten around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. I can feel the hard contours of every muscle he has. Everything in the club fades away. It’s just us at this moment.
This.
This is why I can’t stay away.
“Fuck, I want you so bad right now,” Hudson groans.
“Who knew you were into that kind of thing.”
“With you, I’m into anything I can get.”
It shouldn’t be normal for my heart to beat this fast. If someone put a heart monitor on me, they’d probably think I ran a marathon when, in truth, Hudson makes me feel this way.
The touch of his fingers under my jaw, as he tilts my head up to meet his gaze, makes my breath catch.
Once I’m looking at him, he brushes a strand of loose hair from my face. His touch is light, and it lingers until goose bumps break out against my skin.
Just as he leans in to kiss me again, something vibrates between us.
Hudson’s phone.
Mason: Where the fuck did you go?
Mason: Come on, man. We’re supposed to be celebrating.
“Better get back, or he will never stop,” he mutters, stepping back reluctantly. “Mason is such a cockblock.”
I hate how much I miss him already, and he hasn’t even gone.
I nod, trying to mask the pang of frustration in my chest. “Go. Before they send a search party.”
“He would.” He shakes his head, his gaze lingering on me. He’s not ready to leave me. Good that it’s not just me. I’m not ready for him to leave either.
“This isn’t over.” He leans forward, brushing his lips over mine. I open for him, sweeping my tongue against his. I melt into his body, savoring the feeling, knowing it will end soon. When he finally does pull back, a groan escapes my mouth.
I want to say no, don’t leave me , but I don’t. As much as I want to be with him, I’m not ready to give up my control to him. My walls need to stay up. I can’t let him in, even if I want to. Even if I need to.
The movement of his body pulls me out of my thoughts. “I have to go.” His voice is soft and resigned. He doesn’t want to go. It should make me feel better to know I’m not the only one who hates this and is confused, but it doesn’t.
I nod. “Have fun with Mason.”
“I won’t,” he responds. I expect a laugh, but when none comes, I see he’s not joking. He won’t. I narrow my eyes. He’s serious that he won’t have fun without me. His answer shocks me, but at the same time, it does make sense. What I’m starting to realize is that Hudson is not who I thought he was.
I wait a few beats before stepping out of the alcove, forcing my expression into something neutral as I make my way back to the VIP section. No one seems to have noticed I was gone, and I slip into my seat, plastering on a smile like nothing happened.
The night stretches on, but I can’t stop noticing how easy it is for everyone else. Josie is curled up in Dane’s lap, laughing at something Mason said, her arm draped over his shoulders like it belongs there. Cassidy leans into Aiden, her fingers casually tracing patterns on his knee as they talk.
It looks effortless. Comfortable.
And it makes me wonder—what would it be like if Hudson and I didn’t have to sneak off to shadowy corners or keep our touches fleeting and hidden? If we could just be together like everyone else.
Would it feel easier? Harder? I don’t know. All I know is that this—stolen moments and fleeting touches—is exhausting. It’s draining me more than I expected.
As if on cue, Hudson passes by me again, heading toward the bar.
His hand skims mine for the briefest second, the touch so subtle I’m almost certain I’ve made it up. But when he looks back at me, I know I didn’t.
My breath catches in my lungs.
How does he do this to me?
Why does he take my breath away?
I exhale, sinking deeper into my seat, my gaze following him even as he disappears into the crowd.
For now, this is what we have. Stolen moments. Fleeting touches.
It’s not perfect. It’s barely enough.
But it’s enough to keep me here. At least for now.