Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Naomi
The apartment was dimly lit, the glow of the single lamp casting soft shadows across the walls. The evening had been perfect—unexpectedly so. Hudson had brought me back to my favorite café, surprising me with memories I hadn’t realized I needed to revisit. It felt like a piece of my past had been returned to me, but more importantly, it felt like Hudson was showing me a future I wasn’t sure I deserved.
Now, as I stood in the small living room, my heart was pounding for an entirely different reason. Hudson was leaning against the counter, his arms crossed as he watched me. The tension between us was electric, charged with something unspoken but undeniable.
“Thank you,” I said softly, breaking the silence.
“For what?” he asked, his voice low and steady.
“For today,” I said, stepping closer. “For reminding me of what I’d forgotten.”
His lips curved into a small smile, but his eyes remained serious, searching mine. “You didn’t forget, Naomi. You just needed someone to show you it was still there.”
His words hit me in a way I wasn’t prepared for, and I looked away, suddenly unsure of myself. “You always know what to say.”
“Only when it comes to you,” he said, his voice dropping lower. “You make it easy.”
The heat in his tone made my breath hitch, and when I looked back at him, the intensity in his gaze sent a shiver down my spine. He pushed off the counter, closing the distance between us in a few long strides, and before I could think, he was standing inches away.
“Naomi,” he said, his voice rough. “Tell me what you want.”
My lips parted, but no words came out. The truth was, I didn’t know how to say it—not in a way that would capture everything I felt. Instead, I let my actions speak for me. I reached up, my fingers curling around the front of his shirt, and pulled him down into a kiss.
The moment our lips met, it was like a dam breaking. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. The kiss was fierce, consuming, a clash of everything we’d been holding back for so long. His hands slid to my waist, pulling me closer as his body pressed against mine. He was warm, solid, grounding me even as he set me on fire.
“Naomi,” he murmured against my lips, his voice a mix of desperation and need. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I whispered, my hands fisting in his shirt. “I’ve never been more sure.”
That was all he needed. His lips crashed against mine again, more demanding this time, and I matched his intensity, giving as much as I took. His hands roamed my back, sliding under my shirt to brush against bare skin, and the feel of his touch sent sparks racing through me.
We stumbled toward the couch, our movements frantic, driven by a hunger neither of us could contain. He sat down, pulling me onto his lap, and the position sent a jolt of heat through me. I straddled him, my knees pressing into the cushions as his hands gripped my hips, guiding me closer.
“God, Naomi,” he said, his voice rough as his lips trailed down my neck. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
“Show me,” I whispered, tilting my head to give him better access.
His growl of approval sent a thrill through me, and his hands slid under my shirt, pushing it up and over my head in one fluid motion. The air hit my skin, cool against the heat of his touch, and I shivered, my breath hitching as his lips followed the path of his hands.
He paused, his gaze raking over me, and the way he looked at me—like I was the only thing in the world that mattered—made my heart clench. “You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice rough with emotion.
I reached for him, pulling his shirt over his head, and my breath caught at the sight of him. He was all lean muscle and strength, his skin warm under my hands as I traced the lines of his shoulders, his chest. “So are you,” I said, my voice trembling.
His lips found mine again, and this time, the kiss was slower, deeper, filled with a kind of reverence that made my chest ache. He lifted me, carrying me toward the bedroom, and the world blurred as he laid me down on the bed, his body covering mine.
Time seemed to stop as we came together, every touch, every kiss a promise that neither of us would run anymore. His hands were everywhere, exploring, memorizing, worshipping, and I let myself fall into him completely, letting go of every fear, every doubt.
He whispered my name like a prayer, his voice filled with a kind of tenderness I’d never known. And when we finally gave in completely, it wasn’t just passion—it was love, raw and unguarded, a connection that went beyond words.
Afterward, we lay tangled together, the room quiet except for the sound of our breathing. His hand rested on my back, his fingers tracing lazy patterns against my skin, and I pressed my face against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.
“There’s no turning back now,” I said softly, my voice trembling with the weight of what we’d just shared.
Hudson tightened his arms around me, his lips brushing against my hair. “And I don’t want to.”
Neither did I. For the first time, I felt like I’d found where I truly belonged.