Chapter 8 #2
“Hey,” Hudson said, coming over to her and Tyson.
Paige reached for his hand, tucking herself into Hudson’s side. “Everything okay over there?” she asked, dying to know what they’d said.
Hudson nodded, giving her nothing. “Yep. All fine. Just wanted to let you know the hot dogs and hamburgers are ready if you want to tell everyone to dig in.”
Paige tried to stare him down, hoping he would relent, but she should’ve known better. Hudson just doubled down, winking at her, then chuckling as he walked away.
Tyson watched the exchange, amused. “Why don’t you go ask Dad what they talked about?” And because he knew she wouldn’t, her rascal of a brother leaned closer and murmured, “Dare ya,” in her ear.
She swatted at him playfully. “Idiot. I’ll get it out of Hudson later. I’ll wear him down with my feminine wiles.”
Tyson groaned. “I really don’t want to think about my kid sister’s wiles, Paigie Poo.”
She snorted when he whipped out the silly nickname he’d used for her when they were growing up. It used to annoy her, but now it made her laugh.
“Okay,” she called out loudly. “Soup’s on.”
Her family immediately started jostling for position, everyone lining up at the end of the picnic table, anxious to fill their plates with all the delicious food. Her family put on one hell of a potluck.
Because she didn’t have enough seats for everyone, she’d asked folks to bring their own camp chairs, so they sat in small groupings, balancing plates on their laps as they talked.
Paige realized she probably should have warned her neighbors she was having a picnic, given the ever-rising volume.
She sat next to Hudson and his granddad, the three of them laughing their asses off as Macie, Adele, and TJ entertained everyone with their tall tales.
Paige and Mom had just finished bringing out desserts when a loud “Oh my God!” captured everyone’s attention.
The entire family turned as Lacy said, “My water just broke!”
Logan, who’d been singing along with Harley and Cal as Tyson strummed his guitar, bolted from his chair. Chaos ensued, as everyone rushed to help Lacy and Logan to their car, reassuring them everything would be okay. Evan promised to stop by their place to pick up the hospital bag to bring to them.
After that, everyone excitedly placed guesses on when the babies would be born and what their names would be. Logan and Lacy had refused to tell anyone the names, wanting them to be a surprise.
Soon after all the dishes were cleaned up and the leftover packed away, people started heading home. Gia and Xander offered Hudson’s granddad a ride, so before Paige knew it, it was just the two of them.
Hudson took the dishcloth from her hand as she finished wiping the counters, tossing it into the sink. “Come sit with me.”
She followed him to the front porch just as the sun dipped behind the houses across the street.
They swung back and forth in silence for a little while, both of them relaxing after a busy, hectic afternoon.
“You know,” Paige said. “We must be getting old. It’s only seven p.m. and everyone has gone home. I can remember when our family celebrations lasted for hours, the parties never winding down before midnight.”
Hudson chuckled. “The Sparks family has entered the Kids Era. Might be a while before you get your all-night parties back.”
Paige shrugged. “I don’t mind things this way. It’s fun having babies around again.”
“They are cute,” Hudson agreed. “You know. It occurs to me that we probably don’t want to hop into this new Sparks era too late.”
Paige looked at him, curious. “What do you mean?”
Rather than respond, he stood, and as he turned to face her, he reached into his pocket.
Paige gasped when he knelt before the porch swing, lifting his hand to reveal the most beautiful engagement ring she’d ever seen.
“Oh my God,” she said, hand outstretched. “Put it on me!”
Hudson chuckled. “I haven’t even asked you yet.”
Paige wiggled her fingers. “Put it on while you ask.”
Hudson, the shameless tease, closed his hand around the ring. “That defeats the purpose of the question. Now, be patient.”
She narrowed her eyes, letting him know he needed to get the lead out.
Hudson took the hand she extended and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “I love you, Paige Sparks. More than I ever thought I could love another person. Would you do me the honor…”
Paige nodded. “Yes.”
Hudson rolled his eyes but didn’t relent, didn’t give up the goods yet. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” she said, as he slid the ring on her finger. “A million times yes!”
Hudson rose, helping her stand as well, the two of them sealing the proposal with the greatest kiss in the history of kisses.
When they parted, and her wits slowly began to return, she remembered the conversation between Hudson and Dad from the picnic. “Did you ask my dad for his blessing this afternoon?”
Hudson nodded.
“And he gave it to you?”
“Why the tone of surprise?” he asked, laugh lines crinkled by his eyes.
“Have you met my dad?”
Hudson laughed, then picked her up, spinning her around. “The guy’s starting to warm up to me. Of course, it probably helps that I built him one hell of a new courtroom. He kept sneaking me suggested tweaks, and I made every single one happen, despite them not being part of the plans.”
Paige cupped Hudson’s cheek. “Clever man.”
Hudson lifted her ring finger, looking at the diamond and smiling. “You make me so damn happy.”
“Ditto,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion.
They kissed again, then Hudson took her hand and led her upstairs to her—their—bedroom.
Together, they undressed each other, moving more slowly than they usually did. Hell, typically their lovemaking was a mad dash, the two of them coming together in a rush of passion, their needs making them too hungry.
Tonight felt different. Like they were standing on the very first square, about to embark on the greatest adventure—a lifetime together.
Once they were naked, Hudson walked to the bed, sitting down on the side. Paige followed, but rather than sit next to him, she straddled his lap, her knees resting on the mattress as his hands found her ass.
Lifting slightly, she guided Hudson’s thick erection inside her, kissing him as she slowly began to rock back and forth on his cock, the motion reminding her of the porch swing they’d just left.
Hudson stroked her ass and back, his touches gentle, almost soothing.
Neither of them sought to break the kiss, satisfied to be connected…just like this.
Minutes passed as they explored each other with hands and lips and tongues. When Paige reached behind her, slipping her hand between his outstretched thighs and cupping his balls, Hudson’s control began to falter.
And because he never went down alone, he brought her with him, his fingers teasing her clit in the way he knew drove her out of her mind with desire.
Their kisses got harder, their breathing heavier.
One second, Paige was on top and in control, the next she was on her back in the middle of the mattress, Hudson above her, fucking her like it was his last night on earth.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and tilted her hips, crying out his name as she begged him to fuck her harder, deeper.
Hudson gave her what she wanted and then some, his fingers stroking her clit until she fell over the cliff.
Her back arched as her orgasm washed through her like a tsunami. Hudson, however, was back in control, and while he slowed his motions a bit, he fucked her through her climax, not stopping until she slumped beneath him, boneless.
Hudson pulled out, ignoring her frown. “Roll over, Princess.”
Paige didn’t know where she found the strength, but somehow, she managed to make it to her hands and knees, grunting when Hudson slammed back into her from behind.
“God! Yes!” she screamed.
Hudson took her with the force of a freight train, the two of them climaxing together in a flurry of curses and tremors. They held still as statues for all of thirty seconds before Paige fell to her stomach, Hudson dropping to her side.
His hand rested on her ass as they fought to calm their breathing and racing hearts. Before Hudson reappeared in her life, she’d considered taking up jogging. Now, she decided, why bother?
Sex with this man was the world’s greatest cardio.
They lay in silence for long enough that Paige thought he’d drifted off to sleep, so she was surprised when he stirred, sitting, his feet hitting the floor next to the bed. “Take a shower with me.”
She didn’t need to be asked twice. Standing, she followed him to the master bathroom, admiring his naked ass as he bent over to turn on the water.
She was grateful they’d tackled the bathroom renovations after their leap from friends to lovers, because Hudson had convinced her to put in a bigger shower with a rain showerhead in addition to the regular one.
Showering with Hudson was quickly climbing the list of her favorite things, as the two of them had taken advantage of the steamy space many, many times.
They’d done it enough that they’d even established a routine, with him washing and conditioning her hair—he was seriously obsessed with her hair—before she returned the favor.
Because he was taller than her, Hudson sat on the bench while she washed his hair, taking advantage of that vantage point, sucking on her nipples as she worked.
After that, they scrubbed each other’s bodies before sluicing the suds off with their hands. Showering with Hudson was sensual and sexy—a carnal heaven.
Once they were clean, Hudson turned off the water and reached for a towel, drying her, then wrapping her in it before drying himself.
Paige stood in front of the mirror, reaching for her brush.
“Let me?” he asked.
She smiled at him through their foggy reflections in the mirror, then handed him the brush. He stroked it carefully, the steady rhythm creating a peace inside her unlike anything she’d ever known.
“I should braid it or it’ll be a rat’s nest come morning.”
“Show me how,” Hudson asked.
Paige thought he was joking at first, then realized he really did want to braid her hair. She broke the thick mass into three chunks, showing him the pattern, then allowing him to take over. Once it was finished, he slipped a band around the end, then kissed the top of her head.
They walked back to the bed together, crawling under the covers, him on his side, Paige on hers. She loved that they had their own established sides, just like she loved that they had a standard way of falling asleep each night.
Paige scooted across the mattress, Hudson’s arm already outstretched and waiting for her. She curled into him, resting her head on his chest, as he placed his arm around her waist.
Paige lifted her leg, looping it over one of his.
“I feel like I’ve been waiting for this, for you, forever,” she whispered.
Hudson’s arm tightened around her. “The waiting is over, Princess. Next stop…” he began.
Paige lifted her head and smiled. “Happily ever after.”