Chapter Twelve #3
She thought she might finally have it.
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Hud pushed his chair back, picked up his bowl and placed it in the sink, then turned to look at her.
“I need to take a shower. Is that alright?”
“Of course. Do whatever you want.”
He crossed the kitchen in two strides and pulled her into his arms. “I want you.”
She leaned back and looked up at him. “I want you too.” A small smile played at the corner of her mouth. “What should we do about that?”
He answered by picking her up and she laughed as he carried her upstairs. He set her on her feet, untied her robe and pushed it off her shoulders. When he saw she had nothing on underneath he groaned and pulled her back against him.
“Blair.” His voice dropped. “I never want to lose you. I know I’m not an easy man to live with—” He stopped when she snorted. He smiled despite himself. “Yeah. I deserve that.”
“That was an understatement, Hud.” She touched his cheek. “But we’ll be fine. I love you enough to know we can make this work.” She tilted her head. “I’m sure I’ll get angry—” This time he snorted, which made her laugh. “But we’ll be together and that’s all I care about. I just want you with me.”
“It’s all I want too, baby.”
He kissed her slowly, then dropped to his knees and kissed his way down her stomach, his hands warm on her hips.
His tongue moved along her slit and she moaned softly, her fingers sliding into his hair as he took his time with her until she cried out.
He stood, lifted her again and carried her into the bathroom, setting her on her feet beside the shower.
He reached in to start the water, then straightened and shucked his jeans.
Blair’s eyes dropped and a grin spread across her face. “Looks like you’re not so tired after all.”
“I’m getting my second wind.” He reached for her with a look that said he was considerably less tired now.
“Lucky for me,” she said as she wrapped her hand around him. He groaned, his breath catching, and reached past her to turn the shower the rest of the way on. He waited until steam curled over the top of the stall, then opened the door and took her hand.
The hot water hit them both at once.
He backed her against the tile wall, his mouth finding hers, his hands moving down the curve of her back until he cupped her ass and lifted her in one smooth motion. She gasped as he pressed her against the wall and slid inside her, slow and deliberate, watching her face.
He felt her tighten around him and gritted his teeth, holding back, taking his time.
But then she arched against him with a soft sound low in her throat and whatever restraint he had left went with it.
He drove into her, her legs locking around his waist, the water pouring over them both as she clung to him and he buried his face in her neck.
When she was breathless he let her down, turned her gently and pressed her forward until her hands found the glass door.
He moved into her from behind, covering her hands with his, the steam thick around them.
He built a rhythm, slow at first, then faster as she pushed back against him, her fingers spreading against the glass.
He felt her clench around him as she cried out his name, and he followed her over with a groan that came from deep in his chest.
They stood there afterward, the water still running, neither of them in any hurry to move.
He kissed the back of her neck, his lips soft against her wet skin. “Are you alright?”
“I’m wonderful,” she murmured.
He chuckled. “Yes, you are.” He reached past her and turned off the water.
They dried off and dressed without hurry, with the kind of comfortable quiet between two people who had stopped needing to fill the silence.
Back downstairs they settled onto the sofa, Blair tucked against his side, the television on low.
He wasn’t paying much attention to what was playing.
He was too aware of her, the warmth of her against him, the way she fit there like she’d always belonged.
He wanted her in his life. Not just today, not just for a while. For as long as she’d have him.
“I love you, Hudson,” she whispered.
The words moved through him like something settling into place. He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I love you too.” He was quiet for a moment. “What’s the next step for us?”
She tilted her head back to look at him. “What do you want?”
“I want you to move in with me.”
Blair sat up. “Really?”
“Yes. If you want to.”
She studied him the way she did when she was thinking something through. “Don’t you think it’s a little soon?”
“We love each other.” He held her gaze. “Why wait?”
She frowned softly, considering it, then nodded once. “Okay.”
He smiled. “Good.” He pulled her back against him and settled his chin on top of her head. “I can’t wait to come home to you every night.”
“I’ll always be there waiting.”
Hud exhaled slowly and held her a little tighter.
He’d been stubborn and proud and slow to get out of his own way, and it had almost cost him everything.
But Blair was everything he hadn’t known to look for, or known he needed, and he intended to spend however long she gave him making sure she never had a reason to walk away.