Chapter 10 #2
I nestle closer, tracing my finger up and down his forearm.
"You can't leave yet, we have at least an hour."
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm just glad this worked out."
"You think I'd turn you down after what you did to me at the club?"
"After what you did to me, yes, I thought you might ghost me."
"What did I do?"
"Friends with benefits…"
"I did say that. What if we upgrade? I'm not so… nervous now."
He holds me tighter. "Would this upgrade happen to involve a little commitment? No seeing anyone else?"
I laugh. "I don't have time."
"But do you want to?"
"No." I squeeze my hand on top of his. I don't know much about him, but I don't want to lose him. "This is perfect."
"I'm going to get us a drink, then I've got another present for you."
"Another one?" I watch him head to the kitchen, enjoying the flex of his butt muscles—those sexy indentions.
Alone, I roll over, spotting another gift. Different paper, but it's smaller than the first box so I must not have noticed it.
Tearing into the package, I lift the lid and pull out a rolled-up paper.
He calls from the kitchen, laughter in his voice. "Guess you're not waiting for me. I promise, there's no pressure. I'll respect whatever time you need, it’s just a symbol of commitment."
"Cups are beside the sink. Alcohol's in the pantry. Plenty of options in the fridge. Make yourself at home." I'm rattling off the directions as I unroll the paper and study the map.
It's an immaculately hand-drawn grid with roads and buildings. Streets are labeled in neat block letters. Jolene's Adventure Court and Happily Ever After Lane intersect Our Shared Path. A legend in the corner reads: Scale: Lifetime Commitment. Proposed Route: Marry Me.
My breath catches. It's so... orderly. Nerdy, even funny, like a planner mapped out his feelings. But this isn't the work of a flannel-wearing reindeer wrangler.
I glance back in the box at the unmistakable shape of a ring box. It's wrapped, but it's still obvious.
My heart pounds. I break out in a cold sweat. I've found a new level of vulnerability. At the bottom of the map key, he wrote: H + J = 4 Ever
This is from Hudson.
The reindeer wrangler sits beside me. How did I not hear him? He asks, "What's that?"
"Not your second gift?"
He crawls to the tree and reaches way under to retrieve a small box, very similar in size to the other box in Hudson's gift. "This is mine. What's that?"
I swallow the lump in my throat.
"A marriage proposal from Hudson." I don't mean to say it, but the truth tumbles out.
I think I'm going to be sick. I toss the map and box aside and rush to my bedroom. Splashing water over my face is enough to help me focus. I throw sweats on and return to the living room.
"It's really sweet." His words are nice as he studies the map but he's obviously crushed. "I didn’t realize—"
The front door creaks open. Hudson steps in. His eyes widen, shifting from me to the naked man holding his marriage proposal.
"Hudson, I'm sorry. I opened the wrong gift."
"Apparently so." He's never looked so hurt. The stepbrother who's been there for me, taken care of me… I thought he was being overly nice. He was getting ready to propose.
I rush to him. "I get it now. I'm sorry I was so dense."
"You weren't the only one who was dense." Hudson straightens his spine and gets a determined look in his eyes.
My naked friend with benefits has grabbed his clothes and dressed. "Look man, I love Jolene, but if you two need time to sort things out…"
I'm trying to process the proclamation of love while I follow Hudson's gaze to the black leather cuffs. Kicking the blanket over them, I start to defend myself, then bite my tongue. The less I say the better since I don't even know His name.
The auction was supposed to solve my problems, not create them.
Hudson’s stumbling on the proclamation for other reasons. “Love her? How long have you known her?”
I won’t let them fight. “It’s none of your business.”
Hudson’s tone is abnormally stern. He stands taller. He has a bigger presence. “You are my business, Jolene. I’ve loved you for years in so many different ways. Why do you think I asked you to live in my house? Why do I pay all of the bills?”
I fight down the wicked desires that come to life now that I know they both want me. Is it anything more than a selfish fantasy that will hurt the most caring guy in the world?
If there's one thing I've learned about timing, it’s that it can really suck.
Hudson grabs my arm and pulls me close. What has gotten into him? The possessiveness in his expression rivals the look only one other man has given me—and I seriously curse myself for not getting his name now.
"I did some research and realized I've been going about this all wrong. You don't read monster romances because you want a nice guy to make slow sweet love to you." He wraps his arms around me.
What's happening? He's rock-hard—his erection at least as big as my wrangler's. I want to say something about making slow, sweet love being a good thing… I assume sometimes I'll want that. But I can't get my mind off of his girth long enough to speak.
He continues, "You want to be ravished, claimed by the beast. The monster… the beast… they’re metaphorical."
For all of the surprise bravado, he’s still very Hudson with his analysis. Before the auction, I couldn't have been sure, but he's right. I nod, struggling to figure out how to handle having both of them want me.
How did I miss it? The most structured guy alive chasing my whirlwind? Was I too caught up in my own storm? "Is that what you've been trying to say all along? You want to marry me?"
"It was, but right now, I want to fuck you. Finally get my hands on the woman who masturbates far too loudly."
Gulp. The first part was really hot, but now he's calling me out. The only person other than myself who’s given me an orgasm laughs.
"Do you want your boy toy to watch, or is it time for him to go home?"
"I'm not just a boy toy." The man who is fabulous to play with holds out the ring box. “I had something for her too.”
Hudson's bravado falters. "Popular gift this year."
We all laugh but Hudson shoves the box-holding hand aside and resumes his sexy tone. "Do you want him to stay or go?"