Hudson
I woke to Lucy bolting up in bed after what felt like only just falling asleep.
“Babe?” I sat up alongside her, placing a gentle hand on her back.
“Bad dream,” she muttered, raking her hands through her hair.
It had been after midnight when we left the studio, and my entire body had been buzzing with excitement at what we’d just created. I was in complete awe of Lucy. Once we’d gotten upstairs, her expression shuttered and her body tensed, the weight of the break-in no doubt weighing on her.
“Come here, baby,” I coaxed, guiding her to lie back down beside me. She rested on my chest as I rubbed her back in soothing strokes. Then her breathing hitched for an entirely different reason, her legs shifting restlessly beneath the covers.
I was rock-hard in seconds. Clenching my jaw, I fought to control myself, not wanting to take advantage of her when she was clearly upset.
“Hudson?”
“Yeah, babe?” Hearing her soft voice tinged with need did nothing to help my self-control.
“You haven’t tried to….” She trailed off. “Do you not want to?”
“Oh, I want to,” I rasped. “I’ve never wanted a woman more than I want you.
I walk around half hard all day like a fucking teenager.
” I chuckled painfully. “But I think you get that this is serious for me. You’ve been through a lot.
I want to make sure you’re ready because, baby, once we go there, as far as I’m concerned, there’s no going back.
I know I’m intense, but I can’t seem to rein it in when it comes to you.
But what I can do is wait as long as you need me to. ”
“Hudson.” Her voice was velvet smooth as she moved up my body, her lips dancing over mine in a bid to drive me insane. “I’m done waiting.”
I flipped us instantly, caging her in as I reached over to turn on the bedside lamp. There was no way I was missing a single detail of this. “You sure?”
Her beautiful eyes gazed up at me, full of need and not an ounce of doubt. “I’m sure.”
“Thank Christ,” I groaned, more than ready to claim my girl. I leaned in, taking her mouth in an urgent kiss. If I didn’t rein myself in, this would be over far faster than I intended. No woman had ever made me as insane as she did. She turned me on just by breathing.
I trailed my tongue down her neck before gently biting her ear, eliciting a hot-as-hell mew from her parted lips.
When my mouth found her gorgeous breasts, she pressed into me, craving more as my hand slid down her flat belly and into her sleep shorts.
“So ready for me,” I rumbled in pleasure as I pinched her bundle of nerves.
“So ready,” she gasped in agreement as she gripped my shoulders.
I teased her nipple with my lips and teeth while my fingers moved between her legs.
I slipped two fingers inside her, finding her impossibly tight.
I gritted my teeth at the knowledge of how incredible she would feel wrapped around me.
Curling my fingers, I drew a sharp arch from her back and a keening cry from her lips, confirming I’d found the spot guaranteed to send her over the edge.
Her legs shook, her face flushed as she shattered moments later. I didn’t hesitate to pull her shorts down, shoving my sweats aside before entering her in one fluid thrust. Her answering cry of pleasure spurred me on as I fought the immediate tingle at the base of my spine.
“Never felt anything as good as you,” I rumbled as her legs wrapped around my waist, welcoming me deeper. “Shit, I didn’t put on a condom.”
“I’m on the pill. Unless we need one for other reasons,” she hedged.
“We don’t.” I’d never gone without protection before—would have never considered it—and I’d been tested in the months since I’d been with anyone.
“Touch yourself,” I ordered, knowing I wouldn’t last long, not this first time.
As she obeyed, the vision of her was almost too much to take. My movements became uneven and more intense as I thrust into her. The way her body welcomed mine proved that we were made for each other.
When she shuddered beneath me moments later, her body squeezing me tight, I followed her over the edge as we fell together.
It was the most incredible fall of my life.
Carefully, I collapsed on top of her, my chest heaving as she wrapped me in her arms and legs, a loving cocoon I never wanted to leave.
“Holy hell.” I chuckled as I rose up on my forearm to smile down at her. “I knew it would be good, but damn.”
Her answering grin was so gorgeous I couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that, if I played my cards right, I’d be treated to that beauty for the rest of my days.
“You good?” I nuzzled her neck like a lion, my tongue tasting the sweetness of her skin.
“More than.” Her satisfied smile was all the proof I needed.
“Good. Give me a few, and we’ll do that again. That was over far too quickly. I want you on top, riding me,” I rumbled, all too eager to play out every fantasy I’d had since first laying eyes on her.
The distant ringing of my phone woke me up after what felt like only hours later. Lucy grumbled adorably in her sleep, her arm splayed over my stomach, leg cocked over mine.
Seeing Griff’s name flashing on the screen, I fumbled for my phone. “’Lo?” I answered quietly while carefully extricating myself from Lucy’s limbs. After sliding on a pair of sweats, I left the room so as not to wake her.
“Hud, you guys good?”
“Yeah, just had a late night.” I downplayed the fact that we’d barely slept. Once I’d gotten a taste of her, I hadn’t been capable of stopping. Lucky for me, that hunger seemed to be mutual.
I headed downstairs to let Ranger out back. “You find something?” Griff wasn’t the type to just call and chat.
“Confirmed the ex is still in DC.”
“Well shit.” Though I didn’t want her ex anywhere near her, I did want to know who the hell had been in her place.
“Got a lucky break, though. The neighbor across the street gave me access to her Ring camera footage. I have a visual of a male entering her place. I’d like to show it to Lucy, see if she knows him.”
My blood ran cold with the stark reality that someone had in fact violated her space. If I had my way, she’d never spend another night there.
“All right, we’ll head down to the station as soon as we can. Thanks, bud.”
“You got it,” he replied before ending the call.
As much as I wanted to crawl back in bed with Lucy, I knew if I did that, we’d likely spend the day there. Instead, I forced myself to make coffee, which was nearly ready when she appeared a short time later, looking incredible in my tee and nothing else.
My gaze tracked her form hungrily. I thought once I’d had her, the near-desperate need for her would ebb some. In truth, it had only made it worse. Now that I knew what she felt like, what she tasted like, I wanted to spend every waking moment inside her.
Though I knew we had other things to talk about, my brain seemed only capable of focusing on one thing. “You got panties on under my tee?” I asked roughly as I advanced into her space.
She looked up at me with those gorgeous eyes and slowly shook her head.
I groaned, my hands flexing on her hips as I lifted her up, backing her into the wall and pressing into her welcoming heat. I took her mouth in a rough kiss, filled with all the insatiable need I’d felt from the moment I set eyes on her.
With her legs wrapped tightly around my waist, she ground into me. Her panting breaths urged me on as I yanked my sweats down. I was inside her in my next breath.
“God, yes,” she groaned with the same relief that I felt from being back where I wanted to spend every minute of my life. She clung to my shoulders as I took her hard and fast, holding her with one arm while protecting the back of her head with the other as I pounded into her.
She gasped her release, squeezing me so tightly my vision dimmed as I followed her over, groaning into her neck.
Holding her to me, I kissed her neck where her pulse thrummed against my lips before carefully setting her down on shaking legs.
“You okay?” I murmured, cupping her neck gently. I’d taken her hard, and after last night, she had to be sore.
“If I was any better, I’d be dead.” She grinned. “But I do need to shower.” She looked down at the evidence of us on her legs.
“Christ, that’s so fucking hot,” I growled, knowing I needed to snap out of the animalistic stupor she put me in if we were going to get anything done. “Go shower, baby. I’ll make us something to eat. And I promise to take much better care of you tonight.”
“Tonight?” She cocked her head in confusion.
“Tonight,” I confirmed, nuzzling my nose along her jaw.
“Griff called. We need to head to the station. After we’re done, I’ll cook you a proper meal.
I didn’t feed you well yesterday. Then I’m going to worship this gorgeous body of yours until you pass out into the best night’s sleep of your goddamn life. ”
“You have that pretty well planned out. But… don’t you want some space? Maybe I should stay at my place,” she added worriedly.
“Fuck space.” I shook my head. “Far as I’m concerned, I’m going to make it my goal to never go another night without you beside me. Now, if you want space, that’s something else.”
She rolled her eyes, blushing adorably. “I don’t want space from you.”
Leaning down, I took her mouth in a reverent kiss. “That’s good ’cause you wouldn’t be getting it anyway. Now shower,” I commanded, taking a step back. “We need to leave as soon as you’re ready.”
Her expression dimmed, and I hated having to put that look on her face. “Does Griff know something?”
I cupped the side of her face. “He has some Ring camera footage from your neighbor that shows who broke in. I don’t know more than that. What I do know is that I’m going to figure this out, babe.”
“I know.” Her quiet confidence in me made me feel about ten feet tall.
“I just wish….” She trailed off. “Well, I wish a lot of things, but the truth is, if things hadn’t played out the way they had—if my parents weren’t who they are, if Josh wasn’t such an asshole—then I likely wouldn’t be here with you right now.
That path led me to you. You’re my reward,” she whispered, looking up at me with what I was pretty damn sure, but was too afraid to hope, could be love.
“I’ll make it my life’s purpose to live up to that standard, baby,” I rasped.
“Crazy man.” She shook her head, grinning at my intensity.
“Fucking insane for you,” I amended as she stepped out of my embrace. “Go shower.” I swatted her ass as she walked away.
Despite what the day might bring, the fact that I’d end it with Lucy in my bed, where she belonged, had me grinning to myself as I turned to make my girl some eggs.