Chapter 27
HUDSON
Ever since her brothers left a few days ago, Andrea has been a little grumpy. I realized seeing her family might be making her a little homesick. I tried to distract her by offering to give her a tour of the mansion this morning, which she refused.
“Where is Andrea?” I ask Eli as I walk into the house later that evening.
“Diane just finished giving her a tour of the house, so she should be in your bedroom. Or the kitchen with Diane,” he answers. So she agreed to a tour with Diane? Is she avoiding me?
I sigh as I take the steps two at a time to get to our bedroom, but she isn’t there. I tug at my tie on my way to the closet. It’s like I take a step toward her and she takes several back. Quite frankly, it’s annoying, and I’m starting to get impatient. So what, I kidnapped her. She has been allowed to roam the house since her third day here, hasn’t she? And as my fiancée, she is well fed and respected by everyone here. How long does she plan to hold on to this grudge of hers?
I swiftly take off my suit and make my way to the ensuite naked. I’ve missed the powerful jet spray in my bathroom. The shower in the guest bedroom I’ve been staying in just isn’t that pleasurable. I turn my head up so the water hits my face. I catch sight of her body wash. I pick up the deep blue bottle and pour a little into my palm. The citrus smell immediately permeates the enclosed shower; my cock stiffens, identifying the scent with Andrea. I glance at the bathroom door. Did I lock it? So what if I didn’t. Honestly, I hope she walks in.
I return the bottle to the shelf and bring my soapy hand down to my cock. I shouldn’t, but I’ve been in a constant state of arousal ever since I met her. I’ve always held myself to a standard of rigid control, but I’m unable to resist the release. I let out a quiet grunt as sexual pleasure courses through me.
The sound of the bedroom door being opened snaps me out of it. It’s quiet, as are the footsteps walking into the room. I’ve trained myself to be hyper aware of my surroundings: it’s the only way I’ve kept my head attached to my neck this long. I let go of my cock with not a small amount of regret and leisurely rinse my body, hoping she’ll peep in, but she doesn’t. When my body is clean enough, I get out of the shower and wrap a towel around my waist.
“Why are you showering here?” Andrea is standing next to the fireplace, her arms folded tightly over each other as I exit the bathroom. Her gaze stays on mine for a few seconds, but then it dips to my chest…to my cock tenting the towel. It flies back to my eyes just as quickly, her face turning a deep crimson.
“You have the sunset on your face, pet. Just what are you thinking about?” I tease and walk to her. She immediately spins away and makes a beeline for the door. “Stop. Don’t go. I’ll get dressed in the closet. We need to talk.” That stops her in her tracks.
I sigh as I walk into my closet, putting on casual pants and a shirt for her benefit. When I go back into the bedroom, she’s perched on the edge of the armchair with a frown on her face.
“Why are you here Hudson?”
“This is my bedroom,” I remind her, which only makes her frown deepen. “You’ve been avoiding me. Why?”
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe because you kidnapped me and are holding me hostage? And you threatened to hurt my brothers yet again?” But her voice holds no heat. Is she finally resigning herself to her fate?
“I’m not holding you hostage. Not anymore,” I point out.
“Just say what you have to say and leave Hudson. I’m not in the mood.”
That would be a “no” then. A frustrated growl escapes my lips, and I walk up to her. She flinches when I grab her hand; it’s like my emotions flip. I grab her by the shoulders and lift her off the chair and into my chest. She stiffens in my arms and raises her head to give me a wilting glare, but her chest is heaving and her pupils are dilated.
Her hair falls to her back exposing the slender length of her neck. My hand twitches with the urge to wrap itself around the flesh and squeeze while I fuck the attitude right out of her.
Her mouth is so close that her warm breath fans my chin. My gaze drops to it. She licks her lips nervously, knowing what I want. “Don’t,” she protests weakly.
“You enjoyed it when I kissed you the night we got engaged. So, give me one good reason why I shouldn’t now.”
She gazes at my lips as she considers what to say. I don’t wait for her to gather her wits before crushing my lips against hers. I slant my mouth over hers and push my tongue forcefully into her mouth. Andrea gasps, her whole body melting into mine.
My right hand snakes up her shoulders and circles around her throat. Her pulse flutters frantically against my thumb. I deepen the kiss, tightening my hand around her throat, careful not to cut off her air supply. Her hands come up and clench my shirt as she shifts into me.
That’s right, pet. Touch me. Show me you want this too.
She caresses my chest, her hands sliding up to my shoulders as she lets out a low moan. Just when I think I have her, she pushes me away. We stare at each other, lips parted, chests heaving.
“Oh fuck,” she groans, sinking her hand into her hair. “What the hell do you want from me, Hudson?”
It sounds like a rhetorical question, but I answer anyway, “You. I want you.”
She drops her hand from her hair with an audible sigh. “Well, unfortunately for you. That’s the one thing you can’t have.”
I raise a brow. “I always get what I want.”
“Oh, alright then. I’ll just take off my clothes and bend over for you to have your way with me,” she snaps.
I chuckle. If only it were as easy as just having sex. What I want with her is a lot more complicated. It scares even me the intensity of which I want to chain her to me. Trap her until she no longer wants to leave. “The engagement dinner is this Friday.” I inform her.
She gives me a flinty stare, “Okay and?”
I chuckle again. “Just letting you know so you can prepare. Well, see you around then.” I give her a small wave as I leave the room. Her frown follows me, and I grin as I close the door behind me.
When I get to my study, Crew is already there, waiting for me.
“She hasn’t accepted her situation yet. How do I make her want to stay, Crew?” I ask without delay as I make my way to my desk.
“My, are you asking me for relationship advice, H?” His voice sounds like he might be enjoying this too much, so I glance up to see him grinning at me, the fucker.
“Do you have something to advise?”
“In my experience, women tend to be reluctant to leave a man they care for. They always find a way to be with the one they love.”
I pause. So, make her fall for me? I smile. “How do I make her fall in love with me?”
“By creating situations that’ll make her heart pound when she sees you,” he answers. Make her heart pound? Somehow, I doubt he means that in a purely sexual context.
“I have an idea,” Crew says and grins. “We’ll have to enlist the help of some of the men. By the time we’re done with her, she’ll be eating out of your palm.”
I give him a skeptical glance, not sure how this will work exactly. But at this point, I’m desperate enough to agree to anything.