Chapter 6 #3
Yet I could tell even from where I stood by the way he was staring at the water just how tense and angry he was.
Almost instantly, he sensed his privacy had been invaded. He took a deep breath, tilting his head over his shoulder as I walked in. His eyes were glassier than before, more focused and I had no doubt what he was thinking about.
The Undertaker’s threats.
However, when he turned all the way around, I sensed he had several things he wanted to say, but was having as much difficulty doing so as I was. We were from two different worlds, yet I felt as if I could trust him implicitly.
“I’m sorry.” My words sounded as weak as I felt physically.
Hudson took a sip of his drink. “Like I told you before, there’s nothing for you to be sorry about. You did nothing wrong.”
“It’s funny how the system supports making the victims and those trying to do the right thing feel that way.”
His scoff was full of disgust. That much I could read about the man.
He shifted so his back was against the threshold.
“Just like you, that’s what drives me crazy about the system.
There are too many loopholes, and intelligent attorneys either ride the fine line between right and wrong or obliterate it altogether just to advance their careers.
Or even worse. We need a total overhaul. ”
“What could be worse?” I walked in further, running my fingers across one of the comfy chairs surrounding a poker table. There were still chips on the smooth felt, cards lying askew as if I’d interrupted a game.
He pressed his head against the doorjamb. “Selling your soul for money or power. Greed is a commanding deterrent to doing the right thing.”
“Then why do you do it, Judge Armstrong?”
The way he turned his head, locking eyes with mine was thrilling.
Instead of being in awe of the man, which I’d been from the first time I’d met him, I was mesmerized by the complexity of who he was as well as the haunting look in his eyes.
“I’ve begun to ask myself that very question, Valentina, and the answers are even more difficult to come by.
If I were forced to give you an answer, I’d say because I still believe in right versus wrong.
I still believe in the power of the people and that there is no place in our world for criminals or corruption.
I took an oath to uphold the law and I intend on doing that until my dying breath. ”
Every word out of his mouth had a way of making me shiver. They also allowed me to believe there was a greater good. Maybe I was na?ve, but that’s the way I needed to live my life. “Admirable.”
With a laugh, he swirled his drink. “Maybe not so admirable. I could kill the motherfucker for putting you through this.”
There was utter conviction in his voice and I shuddered all over again, drawn to him in a way that I should still consider inappropriate. But here I was inside his house, taking refuge upon his insistence and all that I could think about was getting to know him better. How silly of me.
The memories lingered, aging like fine wine and I allowed myself to envision him as he’d been during our night together. Carved to perfection.
“Maybe justice will prevail.”
“Yeah,” he said, sighing and once again looking out over the water. “Maybe so.”
We’d had several awkward moments, but this one had an electric sizzle to it, as if there was an invisible tether between us.
“I’ll need to hear in detail everything that has occurred since Jacob’s release. That’s the only way I can try and legally protect you.”
Legally. Something about the way he offered the word seemed off. Maybe odd. “I know we do and I’ll give you all the details, but not tonight. Is that okay?”
With every sweeping look he gave me, every flare of his nostrils and the quirky smile as he shifted his gaze all the way down to my feet, quivers of heat exploded in my system.
“Of course. You must be tired. Unfortunately, I don’t have any rocky road ice cream, but we can still watch Netflix.
And I do have wine. At least I think I have Netflix in the hundreds of channels I have for the television I never watch.
” He laughed again as if making fun of himself.
“You remembered.” My pussy clenched, the scent of my desire catching me off guard.
“Of course I remember, Valentina. I remember everything about you from the moment you walked into my courtroom. You were trying to be so strong, holding your head high while fighting the fear so deep within. Seeing you vulnerable yet maintaining a true reflection of the woman inside was inspiring.”
“Is that all you felt, Your Honor?” I don’t know why I allowed the words to drift from my mouth. They were leading, maybe hoping.
Hudson looked at me longingly, finally taking and holding a deep breath. When he exhaled, the sound was rattled. “I’m not as honorable as you think. In fact, some might say I’m not a very good man.”
“Then those who say so are stupid.” I laughed softly, placing one hand over my mouth. He swung his head toward me, his upper lip curling.
“I think that’s the best compliment I’ve had in weeks. Maybe months.”
I allowed myself to study him, noticing the tattoo on his arm. The sudden urge to trace my tongue over the intricate design caught me off guard.
He glanced down after realizing what I was looking at. “For the Marines. I gave eight years of my life to them.”
“Something else to admire you about.”
“It was an honor to serve my country.”
Another moment of silence.
Another moment of longing.
For both of us.
I knew the signs. The electricity in the air. The scent of our combined desire.
The longing looks and breathless statements.
We were playing with fire. I wasn’t certain I cared. Tonight, it felt as if I was free for the first time in years.
Just as I’d experienced on one sultry night. Yet somehow, I felt the need to tell him I didn’t expect us to share anything like what we’d had ever again. It wasn’t fair to either one of us.
“Hudson, I—”
“There’s no need to say anything,” he interrupted. “What happened between us was something I’ve remembered fondly.”
He didn’t need to say anything else. The subtle line had been drawn.
“Yes, I understand.” He continued watching me as I moved around the room, studying photographs he’d had taken with various celebrities over the years.
He was so handsome in every one of them.
So much so, I knew a visible shudder had given my thoughts away.
Turning, I rolled my fingers across the surface of the pool table while studying the cards still strewn across one another. “Do you play?”
“Which game?”
“All of them?”
His smile was broader than before. “I do. I play poker with some buddies of mine twice a month and usually come in here after a long day and play a game of pool or two.”
Sighing, I shifted my full attention to the huge pool table, the red felt a welcome change to the usual green.
I noticed the pool cues in a rack on the wall.
Maybe I was just trying to break the ice or it was simply my nervousness in being around him, but I put my drink on the bar and headed for the rack.
After selecting one, I chalked the end, trying my best to keep from looking at him. In his judge robes, he was intimidating as hell. He had to be at least six foot four, formidable to everyone who walked into his courtroom.
Even in his casual clothes, he had an air about him that screamed of danger, his physique more muscular than I’d thought.
I’d admired his butt when he’d been walking up the stairs.
The jeans fit as if he’d been created by a Greek god perfecting the art of designing a human.
I wasn’t sure if his hand could even slide into the back pocket.
He watched me from where he was standing as I removed the triangle rack and gathered up the various balls. I moved around the table, taking my time doing so. Maybe a game would calm my nerves.
“Solids or stripes?” he asked and I hadn’t realized he’d moved right behind me.
“Solids. I’m a primal girl.”
“Really? I’ll keep that in mind. Break. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“I do like a challenge from a powerful man.”
“You think I’m a powerful man?”
I lifted my head, allowing myself to smile. “Isn’t that evident to everyone?”
“You might be surprised. Talk to my father.”
“Hmmm… I’d be happy to, only I’d explain the finer points of why his son was perfect for his role as a judge.
” Leaning over the table, I tried to concentrate.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d played pool, but I used to lose doing so when I lived in Brooklyn.
“Red ball in the top, right pocket, orange in the left-hand side.”
“Not to doubt you, but I’d be shocked if you made the shot.”
“As I said, I do so love a challenge.” When the balls started scattering across the felt, I held my breath. I’d called the shots just for fun, never expecting them to drop in the correct spots as if I was an expert player. A little squeal escaped my lips.
“Lucky shot.”
“Oh, yeah?” I said, my tone a little huffier than before. “I don’t think so.” I merely pointed to the yellow ball and moved around to the side. When I made the shot, I could tell he was floored.
“Let me guess. You’re a card shark too.”
“Only if we’re playing Go Fish. I think you’re safe with poker. Gambling isn’t in my budget. Let’s see. We’ll do the green ball next.” This time, I scratched the shot and I was rewarded with a flash of his eyes. Only then did he move toward the rack, selecting his own cue.
“Move aside and see how the expert handles it.”
I stood back yet close enough to the table he constantly glanced at me, even shifting from one side of the table to the other in trying to decide on the shot. “Is something wrong?”
“You’re a distraction.”
“Then I’m doing something right.”
He tried his best to concentrate, taking a deep breath before making the shot.
Yet he scratched.
Hanging his head, the guttural sounds were very masculine. “Remind me never to get into another game of pool with you.”
“See, here’s the thing,” I said as I chalked the tip again. “I didn’t ask you to play with me.”
“My house. My rules.”
“Why do I have a feeling you say that to all your guests?”
His snort was followed by a roll of his eyes. “Because I do. It’s not fair for you to read me so well. I’m supposed to be the one doing that. That’s part of my job.”
“Maybe you can’t read me. Most people get the wrong impression. The purple ball there and… What am I missing?” I laughed and took the shot, both balls going in as I’d stated.
I honestly couldn’t believe my good fortune. Maybe fate had stepped in to help me find comfort in the metaphorical arms of a stranger.
He crowded the table as I’d done, even daring to lean over to try to keep my attention fragmented. I barely gave him the time of day, somehow managing to concentrate on what I was doing.
When I took the last shot, sinking the eight ball, he threw his head back along with dragging the cue over his head. For a few seconds, I had a feeling he was going to snap it in two.
As soon as he lowered his head, I rubbed my knuckles across my shirt and blew on my fingers. Being able to walk away from the realization that my life was in danger allowed me to breathe a little easier. I was being silly and I knew morning would come soon enough, but being able to laugh felt good.
Which was what I did as soon as he dropped his head and I was able to see his scrunched-up features. And for some reason, I couldn’t stop. The release was strange.
“That’s not funny. You’ll ruin my reputation,” he gritted out.
I laughed even harder. “I tell you what, Your Honor. I’ll keep it a little secret just between us.” I sashayed closer, swaying my hips on purpose. Adding gasoline to the fire that could manage to get out of control very easily.
He lowered his head, his chest heaving. Then he did something completely unexpected.
He wrapped his hand around the pool cue in my hands, yanking me against him.
And in the next few seconds, everything changed.
He crushed his mouth over mine.