12. Evan
Chapter 12
Evan
I took the stairs two at a time up to the third floor. I didn’t really have to check on the kids, but I wanted to ensure they had no reason to come looking for us. I sure as hell didn’t want them to catch me kissing their dad. At least not yet.
“Hey, guys. How’s it going?”
Erin looked up at me with her father’s eyes and smiled. “We’re good. This game is really fun.”
“Where’s Dad?” Jack asked as he attacked a zombie in the game I’d bought for them.
“Downstairs. We’re going to get in the jacuzzi if you guys want to join us. I have a feeling he’s going to be sore tomorrow after all that surfing.”
Jack shook his head but kept his eyes on the screen. “Yeah, no. I’m good.”
Thank fuck.
“What about you, Erin? Wanna get in the hot tub?”
“Nah, I don’t like the hot water that much.”
“I understand,” I said. “Okay, then. We’re gonna talk about his Feed California initiative. You’d probably be bored.”
“Probably?” Jack asked sarcastically. “More like definitely.”
I smiled and messed up his hair. “You know where all the food is. I bought a ton of snacks. And there’s ice cream, too. Eat whatever you want.”
I stood and tried not to run for the door.
“Have fun boiling,” Erin added as I walked out.
I laughed and gave her the thumbs up. “Will do.”
Taking the stairs two at a time back down to the main floor, I stopped by the kitchen to grab two bottles of water before heading down to the lower deck.
As soon as I cleared the stairs, Hudson came out of his room wearing another pair of swim trunks. He looked hot, but I made a mental note to buy him a Speedo.
“Everything okay?”
“Yep.”
I handed over the bottles, then leaned in to kiss him just because I could.
“Do you know how to turn up the hot tub?” I asked, heading to my bedroom.
“No, but I could figure it out.”
Hudson followed me into my room but stood by the door. I could hear him from my closet, where I changed out of my shorts and T-shirt for swim trunks.
“What are they doing up there?”
“Playing video games. I invited them to join us.”
He didn’t reply for a moment. “Huh. Yeah. Okay. Good.”
Walking out, I put him out of his misery. “They declined the invitation.”
It was a beautiful thing to watch his face change to a smile. And when his eyes raked over me, I knew what people meant by butterflies.
“I told them we were talking politics.”
Hudson grinned. “Ah, kid repellant.”
I leaned in and cupped his face. He was too close not to kiss, and I had zero self-control. I could admit he’d become my kryptonite.
Our lips met in sweet exploration. His hands went to my hips, making me shiver when his fingertips ghosted across my skin.
I kept my eyes closed as I pulled back but rested my forehead against his.
“I could kiss you like this all night.”
Hudson chuckled and leaned back to look up at me.
“What happened to me making the first move?”
I smirked. “Oh, I did. And you made it. But if I’m making you uncomfortable, just say the word, and I’ll stop.”
He reached up and skated his palm along my cheek until his fingers threaded through my hair. Hudson’s left hand rose to cup my face. I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch again.
“I don’t want you to stop. I’m teasing you, Evan. But it would seem the self-control you mentioned earlier is out the window.” He shook his head in faux disgust. “Young people.”
I snorted and stepped back. He followed me out to where my hot tub sat in an alcove against the back wall. Its placement blocked the wind but gave us a view of the ocean. But the best part tonight was it would provide a modicum of privacy from the staircase. And should the kids come down, we could move apart quickly.
Reaching over, I pulled off the cover and tested the water. It was warm enough for us to enjoy, so I climbed over the edge and carefully stepped in. Making my way to the far side, I sat with my back to the wall.
Hudson held onto the edge, then got in. He chose the seat across from mine. I chuckled at him.
“Why are you sitting way over there?”
He looked at the water, then up at me. “I’m only four feet away from you.”
“Hm,” I said, rubbing my jaw. “That seems too far away.”
He smirked but didn’t move to change his seat.
I frowned. “Are you having second thoughts about this?”
He chuckled and skimmed his hands over the top of the water.
“Not at all. Just trying to climb down from the cliff you keep me on.”
“Ah,” I said. “I know that cliff very well. Seems to be my favorite place when you’re around.”
Hudson smiled as I kept my eyes on him.
“When you’re ready, why don’t you come sit next to me? The view of the ocean is better.”
Glancing over his shoulder, Hud smiled. “But it’s dark. You can’t see it.”
“I don’t intend for you to look at it.”
His smile grew wider as he moved closer. Lifting himself from the bench, he slid through the water and finally sat next to me.
Leaning closer, I spoke softly. “If the kids come out, we’re looking at the ships passing by.”
“Lame, but okay.”
When he didn’t make a move to touch me, I knew I needed to give him an out.
“If you’re uncomfortable with us sitting this close, I can move over there. I get to see the view every day.”
Hudson huffed a laugh but didn’t reply. so I shifted to change seats. But his hand caught my wrist before I could move away.
“Stay. Please,” he said softly, slipping his hand into mine. “It’s been a long time.”
“You’re doing great,” I said, taking my seat next to him.
My butterflies were fluttering around in my stomach as I left some space between us. Hudson frowned, then moved closer to me.
Smiling, I gave him the side-eye. He gave me a scolding look.
“Don’t you fucking dare make fun of me, Evan.”
I threw my head back and laughed. before erasing the last bit of distance between. I didn’t stop until we were hip to hip.
“I’d never do that to you.”
“Bullshit. You would, and we both know it.”
We sat comfortably in the water, shoulder to shoulder, with our hands clasped like two teenagers. My body tingled at every point of contact where his skin met mine, and I wanted more.
“You seem really comfortable here with me. Are you bi?”
Hudson turned to look at me. “Does it matter?”
“Absolutely not. But I’ve read nothing that would suggest you might not be straight.”
He ran his right hand across the top of the water. “There’s nothing to find because I’ve never thought about it. I met and married my college sweetheart. And she was it until you started pestering me.”
“Pestering you? You were flirting with me, governor. What’s a man to think?”
“Semantics. And I have no fucking idea. Labels mean nothing to me. I’m a firm believer in the power of attraction, and everyone’s right to love who they choose. You should know that if you’ve voted for me. Twice.”
My heart skipped a beat at the mere thought Hudson Gatlin might find it in his heart to love me.
“I am who I am,” he said. “And if that means I’m intrigued with a certain someone, then so be it. It’s my business.”
“You’re not concerned with what the public might think?”
Hudson tightened his hold on my hand. “Not at all. This is my second term. I’m not looking to run for office again.”
I grinned at him. He was amazing. “You’re a fucking badass. Do you know that?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, well, tell that to my son. I’m not sure he sees me that way.”
“He’ll come around. But in the meantime, I’d really like to kiss you again.”
Hudson smiled. “What’s stopping you?”
I raised my brows. “An invitation.”
Before I knew what was happening, my progressive governor made his move. He stood from the water, turned to face me, and crawled onto my lap.
“Hud,” I said, smiling at him.
My dick was hard again, simply from being close to him. But I didn’t let that stop me. Placing my hands on his hips, I took us down into the deepest part of the water.
Hudson wrapped his legs around my waist, bringing us chest to chest. Circling my arms around him, I smiled up at his handsome face.
“Badass.”
He grinned and circled his arms around my neck. “Shut up and kiss me.”
“Yes, sir, Governor, sir.”
When our lips met again, I took it slowly. But Hudson was like a wide receiver sprinting to the end zone. His groans and the way his tongue mapped out the interior of my mouth almost made me lose my cool. Pulling back, he followed my mouth like a baby bird, making me laugh.
Grunting, he sighed. “Why are you laughing at me?”
I bit my kiss-swollen bottom lip and ran my hands up his back and over his shoulders.
“I’m not. I’m laughing at how quickly you’re gonna make me cum if I’m not careful.”
He leaned back, wearing a smug expression. “Seriously? Just from kissing?”
I nodded as I tried to stifle my smile. “From kissing you . I’ve been dreaming about this since you tried to wipe the bourbon off my white shirt, which you didn’t return. Your hands were all over my chest, and the more you talked, the more I just wanted to grab you and kiss the fuck out of you to calm you down.”
Hudson took a moment to process my words. “I guess you’ll have to come back and get your precious shirt. It’s still in my office.”
“You holding my dirty shirt for ransom?”
His face split into a big grin and his eyes sparkled in the low light. “Yes, I am. We’ll have to work out a diplomatic agreement for the return of your garment.”
I ran my hands over his skin and pulled him back to me. “Just kiss me, and I’ll give you anything you want.”
Hudson didn’t stop moving until we came nose to nose. “Be careful what you ask for, Mr. Ellis. You might get more than you bargained for.”
“Game on, Governor.”
When his lips found mine, all was right in our little part of the world.