Chapter 13
PIPER
He kisses me, and it’s as warm as the summer air. Hudson’s hand roams down my body and then slides up my thigh, dragging the fabric of my skirt with it on the journey.
“You know how much damn control it’s taken to be this fucking patient since you arrived?” He speaks against my lips before nipping the corner of my mouth.
I bite my bottom lip as I smile to myself and press my fingertips against his chest to allow me to see his face. He adjusts to lying on his side, but his hand doesn’t leave my thigh.
“Want to take this back inside?” I ask.
“No, I don’t.” Hudson’s tone is so matter-of-fact, and his eyes pierce me as the sunset casts an orange hue over his face.
“The thing is, it’ll be dark the moment that sun disappears over the pines, but I’m not going to wait.
You were a good girl and came prepared by wearing a skirt to cover where I put my fingers, and I have every intention of making you come because I’ve smelled your arousal all afternoon. ”
His fingers inch closer to the line of my panties and I feel my breath catch. My nipples turn rock hard, and my clit swells from a desperate need for him to touch me.
“That’s some statement there, Coach.”
He growls into my neck and uses his teeth to grab hold of some skin in a playful manner. “I haven’t heard you call me that yet, but I’m in favor of it.”
I instantly reach my hand down to touch the bulge in his pants. “Let’s go inside so I can taste you.”
He tsks me just as his fingers curl around the fabric of my panties and pull them to the side. “I said here, Piper. Trust me, nobody will know, and later you can ride me, with your beautiful tits bouncing… Nah, scratch that, I want to see your latest creation.”
My laugh turns to a hitched surprised whimper, and my head falls back because he’s running his long finger along my pussy then circling my clit.
“Soaking wet.” His finger enters me, and he pumps his hand. “I have every intention to lick you later, preferably while you sit on my face, lean over, and suck my cock, but we don’t need to get into logistics now.”
There it is. Hudson’s ability to sound serious but always bring humor to the moment makes me smile.
“Whatever you say, Coach.” My voice is breathy because another finger is inside of me, and his thumb gives attention to my little bud.
My body moves with his fingers, finding a rhythm, and I look down to see his hand moving under my skirt, and I part my thighs wider.
I moan as he picks up the pace, and I’m not sure if it’s Hudson or the thrill of anyone being able to see this, but I feel that I’m on a cusp of an orgasm already.
“You are so fucking beautiful when you let go.”
Our eyes are fixed as his hand and fingers work their magic.
“Take me,” I insist, and it surprises even me. But I’m about to burst because I feel my inhibitions letting go and my trust is literally in Hudson’s hands. “Slide into me from behind.” It’ll look like we’re cuddling.
He chuckles softly under his breath. “Impatient.”
“I’m serious,” I wail a plea, and I reach for the button of his pants. “I’ve been waiting for you all week too.”
Hudson ignores my request and focuses on making me come. “You are something magnificent, and don’t you worry, I plan on living inside of you tonight. But right now, come so we can enjoy this sunset.”
I can’t answer as I begin to unravel around his fingers, my entire body’s senses heightened.
And when I finally succumb from my orgasm and his fingers leave me, he lifts my skirt slightly and tilts his head down to inspect. That smirk forms with pride before he covers me again and straightens my skirt.
While I recover my breath, I watch him taste his fingers, and I nearly pant again. Then when he gives me a bruising kiss, concern hits me that maybe we are more passionate than anything.
That thought scares me, because you can’t build a relationship on passion alone.
But then he tenderly kisses me, with his palm cupping my face.
“See? Your name suits you. What I like about you Piper is that even if you hesitate, you are brave enough to try things. You just need the reminder that you are willing to try, and I mean with everything in life. Me, your work, me again, and if you want to attempt to cook dinner then I wouldn’t say no. ”
I laugh, so ridiculously happy. “I think I’m only more willing to try things when I’m around you.”
“That’s called trust, and I’ll be damned, but you also bring out a trusting side of me too. Now before you overthink it, lie with me and let’s look at that damn sky.”
The feeling of his arms wrapping around me erases any doubts.
“Did they seriously put a jellybean in your coffee instead of sugar?” I ask in awe as Hudson and I walk out of Jolly Joe’s.
“Yep.” Hudson proudly takes a sip of coffee.
Last night after staying a little longer out on the dock, we went upstairs.
He was very pleased with my choice of a cotton-and-lace black nightie.
It was one of my simple designs, but the material feels like heaven on your skin, and it easily falls off too.
Rolling around in bed with Hudson was a wonderful way to spend a Friday night, even if I’m slightly sore today.
We slept in—well, to us, nine is sleeping in—got dressed and headed into town to beat the crowds.
I reach into the paper bag and take out a cinnamon roll from the bakery next door and bite into the sticky dough. “Yum! Wow, this is… what? I mean, is this magic?”
It’s a damn good cinnamon roll, which people forget is not an easy thing to make. Any sign of dry dough and it’s game over.
“Probably. Sometimes they have orange rolls and those things… Christ, I’m gone.”
Hudson offers me his arm, and I accept without thought. Well, not entirely true, but I throw caution to the wind.
“We can hit up the farmers’ market and pick out some stuff for dinner, then maybe go for a walk up in the state park,” he suggests.
“Sounds perfect.”
I look around and see that nobody is taking much notice of us. The occasional passerby says good morning, but people seem to do that for everyone here.
“I kind of hate myself for living in the city and not trying to live in a small town. But my friends and grandmother are there, and I’m not sure delivery logistics would be as good as same-day delivery in the city.”
“Surely, I’m not that old and need to explain that modern advancement means they don’t rely on a horse-drawn carriage to deliver mail here, right?”
I swat his arm with my hand. “Funny.”
“I need to enjoy this peace before my schedule gets crazy,” he mentions. “Coaching staff have meetings all next week since summer training starts in two weeks.”
“And then you have to travel for football season,” I add on. The thought has crossed my mind that the luxury of our time and place has a running clock.
“Give me your phone later and I’ll add the security system app for my house so I don’t need to be home when you visit,” Hudson states as if it’s nothing, and we continue to stroll down the sidewalk.
“What do you mean?” I feel my chest tightening.
“You can come and go as you please. My house is your house, right? That’s the saying.”
I stop and tug him back when he tries to continue to walk. “That’s kind of… for you not crazy, but for me…”
His eyes squint and lines form on his forehead. “It isn’t a big deal.”
“It’s…” I can’t get the words out, but I want to tell him. “A step.”
“It’s practical,” he counters and touches my arm like I’m being ridiculous.
I nod quickly. “You’re right. I’m being silly.” I begin to walk, but this time it’s Hudson who reels me back in like a yo-yo.
“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”
I glance away then back to him. I feel my leg twitch because I’m debating telling him something I’ve barely told anyone, but damn, honesty with Hudson comes so easily.
“Remember how I said that I lived with an ex?”
“Yeah.”
“It was only for two months, and it just isn’t a great memory.”
Maybe he hears sadness in my voice, but concern spreads across Hudson’s face and his eyes scan the scene.
The coffee that is only half-empty in his hand is quickly thrown into the nearby trash can so fast that I can’t comprehend time, but all I know is Hudson’s hands are on my face, with the pads of his thumbs rubbing my cheeks, every circle filled with care.
“What happened?”
“It’s not a big deal. I mean, it’s not tiny either. Let’s just say that one day when I decided to explore other types of nightwear, Vince wasn’t thrilled. As in he ripped up my entire book of sketches not thrilled.”
Hudson steps closer. “Go on.” He sounds like he may kill someone, and I haven’t even finished the story.
“He threw the remainder of the book at me, missed, but still. I don’t even remember all he said, but I decided that seeing my papers crumpled on the floor was enough. I wasn’t going to stick around to find out if his temper could get worse.”
“Shit.” He pulls me into a hug.
I place my hand against his chest to push him back because I want to finish my story.
“It was a few years ago, and we had been dating for a year, taking things slow, then suddenly when I lived with him, I saw a different side. I know my worth and moved out that night, and I decided that my focus would be on my career.”
“Dapper, right? Brave you are,” he whispers, and he doesn’t blink, instead staring at me almost… in admiration.
I scoff a laugh. “Maybe. But Vince’s parents, friends, our mutual friends, and everyone including the mailman didn’t see it that way.
He’d been deployed in the military before we met and maybe even blamed his experiences overseas for his outburst. Everyone felt I abandoned him in his hour of need.
I was the one destroying his happiness after his military tour, they all said, and I was called plenty of things. ”
“Is that maybe why you’re afraid of people’s opinions?”
“Probably. And for whatever reason, your simple suggestion reminded me of living with someone, and then my mind went from one dot to the next, and here I am before you like a nutcase.”
“Not at all. The exact opposite. You are fucking amazing, and I get it. I understand what you’re saying.”
I smile softly in appreciation.
“But I’m not him. You’re safe, and I love your career choice, as long as nobody ever sees your late-night creations on you except me.
” His tone is assuring, yet he brings a comforting lightness to the topic.
But his eyes grow dark with a protectiveness.
“I’m not going to back away from my offer.
” His hands grip my shoulders to ensure I stay perfectly in front of him, and I can’t escape.
“Because in football we sometimes run with the ball. We go for it, run and run, don’t toss it or pass it, we don’t even blink an eye, we just see an opportunity and race to get the touchdown.
You, Piper Dapper, are my rush. I couldn’t stop this play even if I tried. ”
We walked quietly down to the lake at the end of Main Street.
There’s a gazebo and a small park. There was a little food truck with coffee, and we got another one, which was more than half-decent brew.
For the most part, we didn’t say much, just enjoyed each other’s presence and the summer air.
By the time we were driving back to the house, my thoughts were running rapidly as we rode on the winding road, with the beautiful green trees blocking the sun.
The same journey that I’ve taken a few times now.
Several occasions.
And I know that indicates the obvious.
Which is exactly why I feel like a smile wants to break through. My daze is interrupted by the feeling of the car parking, and I see that we’re back at Hudson’s.
Getting out of the car, I circle around until I’m staring at Hudson, and we both stand in front of the path to the front door, looking at one another.
Hudson is quick to jump to the side and wave his arm when a pinecone falls near him. “That damn tree has got to go.”
“You should call a tree person and see about cutting it down to use it for firewood.”
“Good point. So, hot tub or bottle of wine?”
I take hold of his arm and pull him to me. “I was kind of thinking you could set up that app on my phone so I can walk into your house whenever I please.” A confident look floods my face since I’m satisfied with my decision.
And I need that app too, as I have every intention of surprising him.