Chapter 3
Valentina
“Let the world see that you belong to me.”
Hudson’s deep voice and stunning words reverberated in my ears. Had he really said them?
I could tell by his possessive hold as he pushed me away from the table that he had.
His hold of my hand was firm, the pressure of strong fingers against my back exciting.
And the darkness wrapped around the smooth velvet of his voice captivating.
I was holding my breath as he weaved us through the crowd. Even with a band playing in the corner, waiters bustling back and forth, and laughter coming from every corner of the restaurant, I remained in an impenetrable vacuum.
Every inch of my skin tingled from excitement. Anticipation. We’d been toying with each other for over two hours, pretending as if what we were doing wasn’t leading us to something inevitable.
Acts of sin.
I bit my lip from the thought as he led us outside. The air was thick with humidity, but both the breeze coming off the ocean and the desire furrowing in my system created tingles. Tiny pinpricks of iciness that had manifested the moment I’d stepped foot onto the deck.
He was even more handsome than I remembered, the light gray shirt accentuating a perfectly tailored dark suit. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was royalty.
Or mafia.
As he guided us away from the restaurant, all I could hear was the hard echo of blood pounding in my ears.
I couldn’t believe I’d called him. It had been an impetuous decision fueled by the rampant news reports that had driven me crazy over the last few days.
Hearing that Jacob Jones had been found guilty on all charges and would spend the rest of his life behind bars had caused a slew of reactions, intense emotions that had forced every detail of the horrific night to resurface.
Maybe I’d called Hudson because I needed someone to ground me, much like he’d done during the grand jury hearing. I’d told myself my intentions were innocent. Then I’d blurted out the invitation.
Was what we were doing wrong? Perhaps with other law enforcement members, but we didn’t feel the same pressure.
Spending time with him had been easy, at least in the sense of conversation.
The entire time I’d found myself studying every inch of him, observing every gesture.
He was insanely gorgeous, even more so tonight and the way he’d commanded both the restaurant and everyone who’d offered service embroiled my fantasies with notions that would forever surprise me.
His seductive taunts had awakened me.
His dominance had thrilled me.
His mention of punishment had excited me.
His heated touches had shattered me.
With his fingers curled around mine, I sensed he was making good on his promise. Wherever he was going, so was I. There was no question, no way of denying him. At least for tonight, I belonged to him.
His strides were long, purposeful and in my heels, which I rarely wore, I had difficulty keeping up. Everyone who passed us turned, some with smiles on their faces. They obviously sensed Hudson had a purpose in mind.
I’d dressed in the color he’d requested.
I’d said yes to his choice of restaurants, which far exceeded my original invitation.
And I’d gone with him willingly, refusing to think about any possible consequences.
Who was the woman in red striving to keep up with him?
As soon as he turned the corner away from the busy street, he pushed me against the building, immediately placing one hand beside my head. The way he crowded my space left nothing to the imagination.
He was going to kiss me.
Prickles of excitement skittered through every cell as I lifted my head. He was so tall, so dynamic and I’d never felt so tiny or vulnerable in my life. Yet even though I knew very little about him, I felt so protected. As if the world around us could come crashing down and somehow, I’d be alright.
Instead of needing to worry about anyone else, my attention was pulled to him and the way he was looking at me.
Hungering for me.
Eager to devour me.
There was nothing in the world that I wanted more.
“Hudson,” I breathed.
“Shush. No more talking.”
The crash occurred only with his lips against mine. His desire was even more intense than I’d anticipated, a hunger sliding off the charts. I was shocked how earthshattering the moment felt, frozen while his tongue danced against mine.
I moaned into the kiss, which he captured. Tiny firecrackers went off in my mind, the heat from before turning red-hot. Every inch of my skin sizzled from his touch. It felt as if I was melting into him.
With one hand pressed against his shoulder, I slipped the other to his neck and arched my back. The feeling of leaning into him, surrendering to him was freeing. It had been so long since I’d let myself feel free with anyone that I’d thought a part of me had died inside.
When I was with Hudson, every moment of conversation and every quick glance between us had been exciting. Even now, my legs were trembling and I had no doubt had he not been holding me I’d fall to the sidewalk.
As soon as he broke the kiss, a deep husky growl came from deep within his throat. He pressed his thumb under my chin lifting my head before dragging his lips from one side of my jaw to the other. I couldn’t stop shaking as he nipped my earlobe, his hot breath keeping me dancing with desire.
“I want you,” he murmured in a slow and easy manner as if we’d known each other for years, not hours.
“Then take me.”
He pulled back, shaking his head. “You’re certain.”
“Yes.”
It was easy to say yes around him. I was drunk on the exquisite scent of his aftershave. The combination of anise and citrus, something woodsy like fresh timber cut after a rainy day and other spices pushed the sense of longing. We were at the point of no return.
The ten minutes had been a blur.
That’s all the time it had taken for Hudson to pull me down the street to a quaint South Beach hotel. He’d merely tossed his credit card and less than five minutes later we were on our way to the elevator, a keycard firmly planted in his hand.
Once inside the steel box, he backed me against the wall just as he’d done before. There were no words spoken and he didn’t even touch me. He simply stood close enough I could feel the tension he exuded, the prowess that carried him through every interaction.
He’d ruled the restaurant the way he’d ruled the courtroom.
Now he was going to rule me.
“A very bad girl,” he repeated. I sensed he’d been thinking about my answer since I’d admitted my wickedness.
“Yes. Very bad.”
“You do know what happens to very bad girls. Yes?” He took a deep breath, holding it for at least three seconds. When the tickle of hot air hit my face and neck, I bit back a moan.
“No, sir.”
A single eyebrow lifted from the term of respect I’d used. Just like I had under oath. Exactly as he deserved. Yes, he was older than I was, debonair in his looks and intelligent with his words. I was enthralled by the man and his power. There was no denying it.
There was also no use in lying about the longing that had kept me awake at night, a more than welcome respite to the nightmares otherwise plaguing me.
“They get spanked.”
I wasn’t expecting his words. As almost everything he’d said during the evening, several ripples of excitement slid straight into my core. I was already overheated, incapable of thinking clearly. Yet he knew exactly what he was doing, so much in control that he had a distinct ease about him.
Maybe he’d done this before.
Or maybe I pulled out his dominant needs.
The slow of the elevator drew my attention, but not his. He kept his full concentration on me until the doors opened.
He took my hand, leading me down the hallway. With a quick swipe of the card, we were inside.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Hudson pushed me against the wall. I was breathless, aching all over. There was no time to think clearly or react before his lips captured mine. Only this time, the crushing weight of his body was more possessive.
He reminded me once again just how huge he was, his shoulders easily filling a doorway.
I was lightheaded, his demanding tongue taking my breath away.
I was as desperate for him as he was for me.
Within seconds, I was ripping at his jacket, needing to feel the sizzling heat of his skin against mine.
When he broke the kiss, we both gasped for air. His dark chuckle sent a wave of shivers through me. “Why is it that all bad girls enjoy teasing?”
“Because it’s something we can get away with. Men can’t resist being taunted.” I yanked at his jacket, able to drag it over his shoulders. He allowed me to take the limited control, finally shrugging off the material and pitching it to the floor.
I was shocked when he wrapped his hand around my throat, pushing me back against the wall and shaking his head. “You need to learn.”
“Does that mean you’re going to teach me?”
Every word coming from his mouth was edged with a dark sense of hunger. I’d seen the look in his eyes more than once, a stark need that transcended basic passion. He had a side of him that he didn’t show to the rest of the world. Which was why I desperately longed for him to show it to me.
His other hand dragged down my arm as his nostrils flared. There was so much heat to us, a fire burning deep within and for a few seconds I feared we’d both go up in flames.
Like moths drawn too close to the fire.
Everywhere he touched me seared my skin until I was taking shallow breaths.
He wasn’t wrong in noticing I was a very bad girl.
I’d had completely inappropriate thoughts about him even while in his chambers.
He continued lowering his hand, his eyes trailing behind his actions until he wrapped his fingers around the hem of my dress.