Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. Right now.
Her gaze dropped to the floor, but it wasn’t Hudson’s shirt that had her attention. I followed her line of sight and promptly wished for death. She pointedly lifted her brows at my hot-pink thong. “And good for you, Hudson.”
“Eva!” My voice cracked.
“Right.” She turned her back on us. “Sorry to interrupt what was clearly a good time. I saw you race out of the gala and left right after dinner in case you needed an ear, but clearly you have something much better to comfort you.”
I buried my head in Hudson’s chest, and he pressed his mouth to my hair.
“Anyway, I guess I’ll head up to bed.” She walked down the hall toward the steps that led upstairs. “I think Anne is staying at her place tonight, so feel free to continue the kitchen escapades. Just keep it down. The walls are thin, and I do not need that in my life. Oh, and for fuck’s sake, bleach those counters before you cook anything on them.”
The sound of her bedroom door closing let me finally take a full breath.
“That didn’t just happen.” I lifted my head.
“Oh, it did.” Hudson grabbed his clothes off the floor, then handed me my underwear. “Which is precisely why I live alone.”
Because he didn’t want to be interrupted with the multitude of women he brought home?
The thought gave me the instant ick.
But he was entitled to do whatever he wanted, as soon as our charade was up. In seven weeks he’d be free and clear . . . because I wasn’t going to keep him. I couldn’t. There was no way to trust someone who’d already abandoned me at my most vulnerable.
And yet, I’d just blatantly used him. Twice. And he’d let me.
What the hell was wrong with me?
“Whatever you’re thinking, stop.” He took my chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted my face toward his. He really did have the most remarkable eyes.
“I used you to quell my anger.” Guilt twisted around my rib cage. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” He backed up a step, letting his hand fall from my face. “But I am glad we stopped. I’d like you to fuck me because you want me.”
Mortification curved my shoulders. “I did want—”
“Only want,” he clarified, tilting his head to the side. “No, need. Need is better. None of the other bullshit, just need.” He glanced down the hall. “I’m going to sleep in the guest bedroom. Don’t worry, I’ll be up before Eva notices.”
“Are you . . .” God, I’d felt how hard he was. “Okay?”
He nodded once. “Nothing deflates me faster than the sight of your little sister.”
“Right.” I wrapped my arms around my waist. “I’m really sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“Don’t threaten that.” He shoved his arms through his shirt and crossed the distance between us. “I meant what I said. Every word of it. And if you want to use someone for an escape, then it’s me you’ll be using. Sure, I’d like you to fuck me because you need me, but I’ll take you however I can get you, Allie.”
“I feel like an ass.”
“Really?” He glanced down my body like he’d seen me naked. Which he kind of had. “I would think you’d be feeling nice and relaxed after I got you there twice.”
My lips parted.
A cocky smirk played across his face as he backed away. “What was it you said I should do? Fuck you so well that you’d never want to leave my bed, and dish out orgasms? Two down, and infinity to go. Sounds to me like it’s going according to plan.” He turned away and walked down the hall to the guest bedroom.
Ugh. He’d definitely delivered on the orgasms.
Present me officially hated past me. We couldn’t do that again.
This time I meant it.
Chapter Twenty-One
Allie
TigerPrideTendu: Incredible technique. They should have put You in as understudy, or just given you the role to start with.
June rolled into July, and I settled into what I’d called my Haven Cove routine, rehearsing all day, teaching Juniper in the evenings, and keeping at least ten feet away from Hudson at all times.
Especially right now, since he was working out shirtless in our pool as Juniper moved through a new routine in the studio. Thank God the only windows that looked into the backyard were at the end of the room—the gym, and not up here, where I needed to concentrate.
He hadn’t brought up our night in New York, probably because we hadn’t had a reason to be alone, nor had we faked it, since there were no family events for Caroline to pick at me. Then again, no family events meant I hadn’t had a chance to win Caroline over yet either. We were getting further and further into this charade, and all I’d done was get way too attached to a little girl I had no right to. At least three times a week, Hudson brought Juniper by the house after work, then swam until it was time for her to head home.