Chapter 26
Valentina
“And just what do you think you’re doing?” Hudson asked as I climbed into the shower.
“Anything I want.” I inched closer, taking a few seconds to lean back so the water from the shower cascaded over my head and down my shoulders.
“Is Bella asleep?”
“Yes, after conning not one but two of your buddies into reading her a story. She’s going to have them wrapped around her little finger.”
“All women have a knack of doing that.”
I pressed my palms against his chest, kneading his tight muscles. “Does that mean I have you wrapped around mine?”
“I’ll never admit it.”
“Ha. But you always tell the truth.” I lifted his arm and he narrowed his eyes.
“You do realize there are about twelve burly men inside this small house. They might come looking for you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know about burly, but if they do, so be it. I have nothing to hide. Just a girl craving a boy in the worst way.” I licked my lips on purpose and his fully aroused cock pressed hard between my legs. My mouth was also watering, the desire building to an insane precipice.
“What are you up to?”
“Just doing something I’ve wanted to do since I met you.
” After clasping our fingers together, I lowered my head, dragging my tongue along the edges of the tattoo he’d had inked for his sister.
While I was doing it, his eyes never left me, his chest rising and falling from his labored breathing.
It was cathartic, a moment of connection that transcended our physical togetherness and sheer electricity.
I was telling him I understood all the pain he’d suffered.
He’d told me about the case involving Camille’s sister and I knew the relief she’d feel once learning his plans on having Adam Abbott arrested.
While he couldn’t be tried for the murder a second time, he would face some jail time for his involvement in the cover-up of the crime.
I’d watched closely as he’d destroyed the two men who’d come after me while still resisting crossing too far over the line.
He was an amazing man that I’d fallen head over heels in love with. I think I had on the day months before when I’d been in his chambers.
When I was finished with tracing the intricates lines and curves, I lifted my head only to have my face captured by his hand.
“What am I going to do with you, lovely lady?”
Leaning in, I slowly slid my hands up and over his shoulders. “Anything you want.”
“Be careful what you wish for.”
“I’m not wishing, my hero. I’m telling you.”
“First of all,” he said in a husky voice as he lowered his head. “I’m no hero. I’m just a man. And second, you’ll never be in control.”
I adored the way he was determined to prove his point, capturing my lips and holding them as he wrapped his arm around me.
When he spun me around so my back was against the tile, I gasped, the sound collected by the powerful man.
While I wanted to explore every inch of his body, tracing more lines on the scars he’d received while serving his country, I realized we were pressed for time.
He’d be returning to Miami soon. While I didn’t want him to go, his plans were necessary. And he was a hero whether he wanted to believe so or not.
The kiss became more fervent, his tongue dominating mine as he crushed the weight of his body against my curves. The heat was explosive. I’d never felt such intense longing as I did when I was with him.
My pussy ached and my core was throbbing. He had a way of making me feel as if there was no place I’d rather be than in his arms. When he broke the kiss, he used his thumb to lift my chin, his heated breath dancing across my face creating wave after wave of tingles.
Hudson dragged his tongue from one side of my jaw to the other, every sound guttural.
Growls and moans. I was already at the point of losing my mind, the need was so intense.
He nipped my lower lip and slipped his hand around my breast. The way his fingers caressed my skin made me feel so alive and adored.
Even as he pinched and twisted my nipple, my moans were ones of deep yearning, delight at the kiss of pain. He knew exactly what I needed and how my body responded to his. As he slowly dropped to his knees, I ran my fingers through his hair, pressing the back of my head against the shower wall.
The water continued to trickle down my body. My skin was sensitive, so much so I was quivering.
“Relax, baby. I’m going to make you feel very good.” His deep voice was smoother than velvet, the slight echo in the confined space sweet music.
He rubbed his lips on the inside of one thigh then the other. I threw one arm over my head, fearful I’d fall. Somehow, he sensed my concern, wrapping his arms around my legs and spreading them wide open.
Now all of me was captured by the powerful man and I loved every second of what he was doing. I kept my fingers tangled in his hair, closing my eyes when he blew across my pussy. Teasing me. Just like I’d done to him more than once.
His hold on me was powerful, more so than what he was doing physically. In letting go, I’d never felt more protected. All the horrible things that had occurred should keep me terrified, but I wasn’t. He made me feel safe no matter the villain hiding in the shadows.
When his tongue flicked across my clit, the moan floating from my mouth could easily bring a pile of men into the tiny bathroom with weapons exposed. I bit my lower lip to keep from doing it again, panting instead.
He rolled his thumbs in the perfect place in the sensitive crease of my legs. I slid down the wall, every inch of skin on fire.
His hold tightened, his possessive nature taking over. He swiped his tongue down the entire length of my pussy and I almost lost it. There was something magical about his tongue and mouth and I was left shivering to my core.
The moment he buried his face into my cunt, I wrapped one arm around his head, holding him right where he was. Within seconds, I was slapping the wall, tossing my head back and forth.
My pussy throbbed, the clench and release pulling me into the sweet darkness. When he lifted one leg, placing my thigh over his shoulder, I laughed out loud. “Oh, God. You are so very bad.”
He growled in response, taking his time to feast on me while I was writhing in extreme pleasure. Seconds turned into exciting minutes. He refused to stop, shifting from feasting as a famished man then slowing, merely caressing my clit with his tongue.
I was losing my mind, especially when he repeated the actions several times. There was a point I couldn’t see anything in front of me because of the intense haze. Stars in vibrant colors became the only thing I could focus on.
And try as I may, I couldn’t keep from moaning loudly.
“I can’t hold it. I just…”
“Then come for me, baby. Go ahead and come.”
His voice was dark and gravelly, as commanding as the man and I arched my back, fisting his hair. He drove his fingers and tongue deep inside and that was it. I lost all sense of control, the sweet release of an orgasm stealing my breath and my voice.
He refused to stop, flexing his fingers open while swirling his thumb around my clit. The combination was irresistible and another climax swept through me.
Every moan was breathless, the fog continuing. When I finally started to come down, I also realized I was sliding down the wall.
With a darker chuckle on his lips, he refused to allow that to happen. Suddenly, he was right in front of me, lifting me completely off my feet.
His cockhead was perfectly placed between my swollen folds and just before he thrust the entire length inside, I wrapped my legs around his hips.
As soon as he plunged deep inside, tiny pinpricks of light exploded all around me. My muscles stretched to accept his huge cock and the feeling of being completely full was more incredible than anything I’d felt in a very long time.
I laughed and sighed, clinging to him as he pulled out, driving into me again. With the steam in the shower, the water close to scalding every inch of my skin, beads of perspiration rolled down both sides of my face and I loved it.
Just like I loved him.
The tender side of him failed, the roughness we’d shared and savored taking over. He pumped hard and deep, jerking one arm over my head then the other. With a sly smile on his face, he wrapped one huge hand around my wrists, holding me in place. Preventing me from escaping.
As if I ever wanted to.
The steam continued to rise, the sweat slickening our bodies. Every sound was exaggerated, every breath taken labored. But we weren’t in pain. This was exactly what we both needed, the closeness something that would defy evil and the demons lurking in the shadows.
If only for a little while we could pretend nothing could hurt us.
Just as it felt as if I was spinning out of control, another moment of magic rushed through me, the sweet release of yet another orgasm stealing every sound.
As he lowered his head until our lips were barely touching, he captured a single, strangled moan, holding it as his own.
Then he erupted deep inside, filling me with his seed. And the words he spoke weren’t meant as simply an act of possession. They were ones meant as a reminder.
“You’re all mine.”
As I stood in the living room, I realized I was quite possibly the safest person in the city and perhaps the state of Florida.
There were twelve men inside the house, all of whom were carrying weapons.
While I was grateful that they were doing their best to keep the guns from being too obvious because of Bella, there was no hiding who and what they were.
Or perhaps what they’d become.
Protectors.
Not only of two human beings, but also of justice.
Attorneys.
Judges.
Federal agents.
Corporate moguls.
Career military.
And even a cold-blooded criminal I’d learned had a heart of gold and an intense love of children and families.
They were dressed in black as if hired mercenaries.
Threatening in a way that comforted me. Most were tall and muscular, their shoulders filling doorways, their carved faces meant for the covers of magazines.
But it was their subtle yet powerful actions and forever watchful eyes that allowed anyone paying attention to realize they were dangerous.
Each one of them had also been mindful of my daughter.
Every one of them had a story to tell, their scars and tattoos an indication of how much peril they’d experienced over the years.
I’d overheard a few stories regarding their pasts and experiences they’d had with criminals skating the system as they’d discussed plans, not bothering to try to keep what they intended from me.
I was a part of this, a foray into a darker side of the law.
They were far more organized than I’d initially realized, discussing their upcoming mission as if it were a top-secret military action. All with Hudson remaining in charge, directing them as he would team members in the Marines.
I was in awe of all of them but only had eyes for Hudson.
Now eight of them were preparing to leave, double-checking their supplies and discussing the route taken in returning to Miami.
“You all know what we’re facing and the goals we all agreed upon. Don’t stray from the mission unless absolutely necessary.” Hudson’s words were stark and cold, yet the warmth in his eyes as he looked at me stronger than even the time spent in the shower.
“Any questions?” Maverick asked. I’d met three of the four poker buddies, one currently working with the DEA on a case.
I suspected given what Hudson had slyly told me that Chase and his team were working in tandem with the behind-the-scenes mission Hudson had undertaken.
Maverick was a hoot and I’d read at least one of his bestselling books.
What a small world.
When no one had any, Hudson nodded as if directing them on their way. They filed past him, but he waited, taking deep breaths as he turned his full attention to me.
Sauntering closer, he finally broke into a smile. “Are you going to be alright? Four of the guys will be here, two inside and two out. No one knows the location of the house and there’s tight security, but I’m not taking a single chance. Precious cargo.”
“Oh,” I teased and palmed his chest. “I’m precious cargo now.”
“Mmm… You bet.” He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close. “Very precious. I won’t allow anything to happen to you. Never again.”
“Don’t worry about me. I think I’m overly protected. Worry about yourself. I don’t want to get some crazy phone call or to read about your heroic story in one of Maverick’s books one day. I want you back safe and sound.”
“So what are you telling me?” His face lit up once again as soon as he grinned.
“I’m telling you I’d like to keep you around for even longer than I thought. Maybe a few weeks. If I can tolerate you.”
His laugh was deep and rough, so much like the man. “I guess I need to be careful.”
My smile faded as the realization I might lose him settled in. “I’m serious. Don’t do anything crazy.”
He pinched my chin and brushed his lips across mine. “You’re going to need to learn I like crazy.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. By the way. You look like drug dealers.”
He laughed. “That’s what we’re going for. Bad ass boys with guns.”
“My bad ass boy.”
“I like the sound of that.”
As he captured my mouth, for another few beautiful seconds, I was able to fall into the sweet vacuum.
“Ahem,” another deep voice broke through the special moment. “We should get going, Cap’n. Save the kissy face stuff until we finish our mission.”
Hudson pulled away, groaning. “Fine. I’m going.”
“Now you’re a captain?” I asked, teasing.
“I am. And don’t you forget it, babe.” As he backed away, I could see the building concern, but this was something he needed to do.
Not only to right the wrong of what had happened a few months before, but also to give Camille a feeling that her sister’s and niece’s deaths hadn’t gone unnoticed or unpunished.
Hudson was perhaps the most admirable man I’d ever met.
That didn’t change the strangling terror or the ugly thoughts tickling the back of my mind.
The thought was only growing stronger. That I’d never see him again.