Page 21

Twenty-One

Dash

Something delicious hits my nostrils the minute I come through the door, and my feet propel me toward the kitchen. I don’t know what’s cooking but I hope it’s done because it’s been a long day and I’m tired, starving, and a little frustrated.

I was mad earlier but now that I’ve had time to think, I understand why she flinched. Why she needs more time—and probably a fuck ton of therapy—to move past the emotional and physical abuse Dylan put her through. Years of abuse isn’t going to disappear overnight, and I have to remember that.

And give us both a little grace.

“Hi.” She whirls as I walk into the kitchen, but there’s no fear in her eyes now.

Now all I see is…regret?

I hate that too.

“Hey. I just wanted—” I begin.

“I need to—” She starts talking at the same time.

We both smile.

“Ladies first,” I say politely.

“I need to apologize. I’m so sorry I reacted the way I did. It wasn’t about you so much as what Dylan said and?—”

“It was absolutely about him.” I cut her off and slowly hold out my hand, waiting for her to take it. “I understand that now, princess.”

Instead of taking my hand, she throws herself against my chest.

“I’m sorry, Hudson. Truly sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

My arms close around her, and I inhale the scent of her hair, pressing soft kisses on her temple. She feels so damn good. “Shh. You don’t have to apologize. I’m the one who’s sorry. I was mad at him, but I took it out on you. That was wrong.”

“It’s okay. I guess we both freaked out a little.” She rests her head against my chest, and everything falls into place. This is how it’s supposed to be.

We’re quiet for a minute or so before she whispers, “I missed you all day.”

“I missed you too.”

And I did.

Normally, when I’m at work, I don’t think about anyone or anything else—but today, Willow was basically all I thought about.

Suddenly she whirls. “Shit! The garlic bread.” She grabs a pot holder and throws open the oven, pulling out a tray of cheese-covered bread. It’s a little brown but still makes my mouth water.

“That looks awesome,” I say, leaning over with interest.

“Briar told me veal parmesan was your favorite.” She lifts a platter out of the lower oven, since the garlic bread was in the upper.

“God, that looks amazing. Let me wash my hands and we can eat.”

“Perfect. I set the table in the dining room…I thought we’d be a little fancy tonight.”

“Sounds great.” I move to the sink and have just put my hands under the water when I hear her gasp.

“Where’s your boot?!”

I chuckle. “That’s one of the reasons I had to leave in such a hurry—I was late for my appointment to find out if I can stop wearing it and didn’t want to miss it. I’ll need some PT for the ankle, but Doc says I’m good to go.”

“That’s wonderful.” She smiles, and it lights up the fucking room.

I am so gone for this woman.

Watching her in my kitchen putting the garlic bread in a bread basket, wearing jeans and a T-shirt with bare feet, just pounds home the fact that she’s where she belongs—with me.

Dinner is amazing, and I can’t help but shake my head.

“I thought you didn’t know how to cook.”

Pink cheeks. “Briar dished on the recipe…and some YouTube videos I could follow step-by-step.”

I grin. For a rich, spoiled Hollywood starlet, she’s full of surprises. Of course, I now know her public persona is nothing like the woman she really is. That other person is who Dylan Durand wants everyone to think she is, but I know better.

I know more about her after six weeks than the rest of the world knows despite watching her since she was a child. It’s a little heady to have this kind of intimacy with one of the most famous women in Hollywood, but it also feels comfortable. Like we’ve been together a lot longer than we have.

I’ve never experienced this with another woman.

Never imagined it could feel like this to be with someone special.

“I did some redecorating while you were gone,” she says as we eat.

“Oh?” I arch a brow. I don’t care if she painted the whole house purple, as long as she’s happy.

“I moved out of the guest room.” Her eyes meet mine, and the fire there is both satisfying and sexy.

“Yeah?” I feign nonchalance. “Where’d you move to?”

She makes a playful face. “Your room, silly.”

I frown like I’m confused. “Which room is that?”

She momentarily falters. “Wh-what do you mean?”

I shrug. “I don’t have a room. We have a room, though.”

Her face softens and tears glisten in her eyes. “Hudson…” She puts down her fork and blinks a few times. But I don’t want her to be upset.

“Don’t cry, princess.” I reach out and run my knuckles across her cheek.

“I want you here. You know that, don’t you?

This isn’t about being your bodyguard. I have half a dozen safe houses and corporate apartments all over the state where I could put you, where you would be safe.

There’s only one reason I’d keep you here—with me. ”

She swallows, eyes never leaving mine. “Are we… is this…” She stops talking and closes her eyes, as if rethinking what she wants to say.

“I mean, I feel it too. I just don’t want to assume…

Dylan is the only man I’ve ever been in a relationship with as an adult.

And I don’t want you to feel trapped because you feel?—”

“Trapped?” I stare at her. “Are you serious, princess? You think I’d let myself be trapped if I didn’t want to be?

I’m crazy about you. From the minute I saw you lying there in that hospital bed, something pulled at me.

And that was before I knew you were Willow St. Claire.

The woman lying there spoke to my soul. Believe me, I know how ridiculous that sounds but?—”

“It’s not ridiculous. From the moment you started to read to me, I knew you were special.

I didn’t know you, but your voice broke through the coma, the subconscious part of me that was too afraid to come out of the darkness because I knew what was waiting for me.

But then there was you. You were waiting in the light and that gave me the strength to come back.

” Her eyes glisten with tears again. “My soul was listening, Hudson.”

I lean over and brush my lips across hers.

We stare at each other for a beat, and then dinner is forgotten. I get to my feet and then lift her right out of her chair. Her legs close around me as our mouths fuse together.

Fuck, I want her all the damn time.

I push her against the nearest wall, kissing her like I’m about to stake a claim.

Her lips are sweet, the faint taste of wine from dinner lingering, and our tongues swirl with familiarity and heat.

She’s so passionate when she lets herself go, and watching her come undone has become my favorite pastime.

“Bedroom,” I grunt, letting her slide to the ground. I’m not supposed to carry more than fifty pounds yet—and while she’s slender, I don’t want to risk it.

She doesn’t seem to be worried about whether or not I carry her, because she grabs my hand and we practically fly up the stairs.

We’re ripping each other’s clothes off the minute we get to my— our —room, and she grabs a condom before throwing herself on the bed.

We’re a tangle of limbs and lips and groping hands, touching and kissing and climbing all over each other.

She’s finding herself again, and I love being the man who brings out her passionate side.

She has one long leg wrapped around my middle and I grind my cock against her core, making her moan.

“Hudson, I need you…”

I just kiss her some more in response, plunging my tongue deep into her mouth as she wiggles and writhes against me.

I slip two fingers between her legs and she’s drenched—for me.

This never gets old, knowing—feeling—how much she wants me.

She may look fragile and delicate, but when we’re together like this, she burns with sensuality and passion.

So maybe it’s time to up the intensity.

I like it a little rough, but I’ve held back with Willow, wanting to earn her trust and learn what she likes. But it feels like she needs more from me and I want to give her anything and everything she needs.

I grab her hands, lifting them over her head, and holding them firmly in one of mine as I roll us over so I’m on top.

She wiggles and twists her head. “Hudson, don’t?—”

“My hip is fine, princess,” I growl. “Now let me?—”

“Hudson, no!” Her cry of distress pierces my lusty haze and I freeze.

“Princess?”

“Stop, no! Let me go!” Her eyes are wide and no longer filled with the desire of a few seconds ago.

I immediately let go of her hands. “Willow, what’s?—”

“Get off me!” She pushes at my chest and I roll to the side, trying to figure out what’s going on.

“Honey, can you please?—”

She’s not listening.

In fact, she’s in full-on panic mode.

The moment she’s free of me she practically leaps off the bed and runs to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

Leaving me staring in confusion.

What the hell just happened?