Page 39

Chapter thirty-eight

Daphne

I’ve never felt so much for someone as I do for Hudson. It’s like all these baby hormones are heightening everything I feel, taking it to a whole new level. But deep down, it’s more than that. It’s not just hormones or the baby binding us. It’s the way he’s sweet and kind, soft when he knows I need it, and protective when the world feels too big.

I shift my hips over his, the friction sparking something electric between us. His hands tighten, his fingertips digging in through the fabric of my clothes. I want those hands everywhere, touching me, claiming me, pulling me apart and putting me back together.

“Hudson?” I pant, my fingers tangling in his hair, tugging just enough to make his head tilt back. I felt his nerves just now, but I also feel other things. I know he wants this too. “Did you hear me? I want you.”

His breathing is ragged, chest rising and falling in uneven gasps before he captures my mouth again. Pulling my hips harder against him, he slips his hands under my shirt, warming my skin, and drags me over the growing hardness beneath him. The maddening friction sends jolts of pleasure through me with every movement, leaving me moaning and wanting more.

“I heard you,” he rasps, his voice low and guttural, almost a growl.

He doesn’t stop, guiding me rougher now, his control slipping as much as mine. The tension between us builds to a fever pitch, every movement pushing me closer. His hands wander to my chest, brushing the underside of my breast, and I buck against him as he dives beneath my shirt, finding me bare for him.

Cursing quietly, his thumb rubs over my hypersensitive nipple. But he doesn’t take anything off. He’s in this with me, yet I’m partially surprised that we’re not both naked.

I lean back, needing to see him, to understand why he’s holding back. The loss of friction makes us both groan, but I force myself to stop. Looking down, his hazel eyes are dark and wild, swirling with intensity. His lips are parted, his chest heaving, and he looks at me like I’m the only thing in the universe.

“Fuck,” he groans, his voice raw, the words spilling out like he can’t hold them back. “I want you too, princess. So bad.” His hands slide higher up my waist, trembling as if he’s barely holding himself together. “But I’m about to come in my pants if you keep moving like that.”

The admission sends a rush of heat through my body, and I smile, teasing him as I slowly shift my hips again.

Hudson releases a deep groan, his head tipping back, the masculine curve of his throat exposed. His grip tightens like he’s caught between holding me still and pulling me closer. “Daph,” he growls, looking at me again, his tone thick with warning. “Did you hear me?”

“I heard you.” I repeat his words to me, breathier than I expect. But there’s a wicked edge to it. “The thing is, Hudson, I like how close you are.”

I shift again, grinding down, and he lets out another sound that’s raw and unrestrained. I like this control I have over him. His hands fly to my hips, trying to still me, but they tremble, betraying his struggle.

“Daphne,” he rasps, his voice cracking as his body tenses and his eyes close. “You’re… Fuuuuuck.”

“I know,” I reply, my lips brushing his jaw, trailing to his neck. “But I don’t think you’d stop me even if you could.”

His eyes snap open at that, burning with intensity. “You’re right,” he admits, his voice gravelly and so damn hot. “I wouldn’t.”

I press my lips to his, and I dip my center to drag against him. The kiss quickly turns frantic and wild, all teeth and tongues, like we’re trying to consume each other. His hands tangle in my hair, pulling and pushing me closer as I move against him again.

This time, his hips buck up involuntarily, drawing a gasp from both of us. The sensation is overwhelming, dizzying in its intensity.

“Daph, baby,” he groans, desperate. “You’re killing me.”

I smirk at that, dragging my lips down his neck. When I nip at his skin, his head falls back, a deep sound ripping from his throat. God, I love how vocal he is. It’s sensual and sexy and makes everything inside me come to life.

His grip on me tightens, his fingers pressing into my hips.

“I’m… Fuck, I’m right there,” he rasps, hanging by a thread.

“Then let go,” I whisper against his ear. “I want you to, Hudson.”

At my words, his restraint shatters. His hips snap up, his hands pull me closer, his body tensing as a low groan tears from him. The raw intensity of his release shakes through his body, and me. I hold him as he falls apart.

But it’s not just him. Every movement, every sound pushes me higher until I break, the tension inside me beginning to snap.

“Look at me, princess,” he growls, his voice rough and desperate, like the words are dragged straight from his soul. “I fucking need you to.”

Pleasure crashes over me as soon as our eyes meet, leaving me trembling in his arms, my gaze searing into his. His hands steady me, holding me through it as his name slips from my lips like a prayer.

When it ebbs, I collapse against him, my head resting on his shoulder. Our breathing slows, uneven but steadying. His arms circle me tightly, one hand skimming my back in soothing strokes.

The room is silent except for the sound of our breaths, the air heaving from both of us. He presses a soft kiss to my temple, and his lips linger as he murmurs, “You okay?”

I nod, smiling faintly. “Yeah. More than okay.”

He leans back just enough to meet my gaze once more, his hazel eyes warm and tender. “Good,” he says, his lips curving into a grin. “Now let’s go shower, because I want to do that all over again, but this time, I need to feel your pussy choke me.”

I should play it cool, but after that, I’m scrambling to get to that shower.

***

Hudson

The way Daphne rushes off my lap has my ego well and truly stroked. She wants this, she wants me.

She just completely unraveled me in a way I’ve never experienced before and I just couldn’t hold back. I didn’t want to stop because I finally had her all in with me.

And I’m about to have her again.

Watching her perfectly peachy ass sprint away from me makes something primal rush through my veins. I pick up my pace, my body already thrumming with the need to touch her again, to hear the way my name falls from her lips. She’s a few steps ahead, glancing back over her shoulder with a wicked little grin, and it’s like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.

I reach her in a few strides. “Come here,” I say, guiding her closer until her body presses fully against mine. My lips find hers, slow and deliberate, coaxing her into the moment.

I scoop her up without breaking the kiss, her legs wrapping around my waist instinctively as I carry her into the bathroom. The soft click of the door shutting behind us echoes in the quiet, and I set her down gently on the counter. My hands stay on her, holding her steady, my thumb brushing along her jaw as I tip her chin up to meet my gaze.

“You okay?” I ask.

She nods, her fingers still clutching at my shirt. “Yeah,” she whispers.

I let my hands drift, sliding them from her face to her waist, feeling the way she leans into my touch. My eyes stay locked on hers. “I need to see you.”

Her cheeks flush, and she bites her bottom lip, giving the smallest nod. When she reaches for her shirt, I shake my head, my fingers sliding to replace hers. “Let me,” I say softly, giving her time to stop me if she wants to.

She hesitates for the briefest moment before lifting her arms. I pull the fabric up and over her head slowly, letting it fall to the floor. Her breathing changes, a little uneven, and I notice how quickly her hands come up to cross over her stomach, shielding herself.

“Daphne.” My hands cover hers over the tiny swell of her belly. She shakes her head slightly, not meeting my eyes.

“I know I’m different now.” She sighs. “I’m not… I don’t look like I used to. I’m bloated all the time. The baby is the size of an apricot, yet my stomach feels big already.”

The vulnerability in her voice cuts through me. My hands trail up to her waist, my thumbs brushing along her skin. “Hey,” I wait for her to look at me. When her eyes finally lift, I hold her gaze. “You’re not different. You’re still you . Beautiful, strong, and so fucking perfect it takes my breath away.”

Her lips tremble, and I can see the doubt lingering in her eyes. Gently, I let my hands glide to her stomach, resting there, feeling the weight of the life we created together. It doesn’t matter if this all started as an accident; it’s coming close to being the best thing in my life. I look forward to seeing her grow, to watching her body change because she’s quickly become someone incredibly important to me.

“This? This is part of us now,” I say. “And it makes me want you even more, not less.”

Breath catching, her hands uncross slowly as she watches me. “You mean that?”

I nod, leaning down to press a kiss just above her belly button, letting my lips linger. “Every word, princess.”

Her hands lift to my shoulders, her grip steadying her as she exhales, her body relaxing under my touch. “Thank you.”

I straighten and brush a strand of hair from her face as I grin. “No, thank you . For trusting me with all of you.”

I can’t wait any longer to kiss her again, trying to let her feel everything I don’t know how to say. Her fingers dig into my shoulders, pulling me closer, like she can’t stand even an inch between us. I guide her off the counter, my hands at her waist, the steam curling around us. The sound of the water fills the space, but it’s all background noise. None of it matters compared to her. The way she feels, the heat of her skin, the way she looks at me like I’m the only thing she’s thinking about.

I take a step back, my hands lingering on her hips before I force myself to let go. My chest heaves as I look at her, standing there in the dim, misty light, waiting for me to move, to close the space again. But I don’t, not yet. Instead, I reach for the hem of my shirt, dragging it over my head and letting it drop to the tiled floor.

As her gaze roams over me, I feel it like a physical touch. My skin burns under her attention, every inch of me hyperaware of the way she’s drinking me in. My hands move to the waistband of my pants. I hesitate for half a beat, her eyes flicking up to meet mine, but the hunger there spurs me on. I unbutton them, pushing them down over my hips. They fall to the floor, joining the shirt, and I step out of them, standing before her, completely bare.

Biting her lip, she doesn’t look away as she removes her leggings too.

I take her hand, leading her toward the shower, my pulse pounding with every step. We step under the spray together, the warm water cascading over us, but it might as well be cold for all the difference it makes. The fire between us is all-consuming, drowning out everything else. I cradle her face in my hands, kissing her again, deeper this time, as the water washes over us, our skin slick and heated.

I let my forehead rest against hers, my breathing rough and uneven. “You know,” I rasp. “If I had known you were a virgin that night, things would’ve been different.”

“H-how?”

“For one, I would’ve taken my time with you.” My hands slide down to grip her thighs, and I lift her, her legs wrapping around my hips. “Been more attentive.” Her nails dig into my shoulders as I push her gently back against the cool tile. “Just…more for you.”

She gasps, arching into me, and that sound? I’ll never get enough of it.

Her head shakes. “That night was incredible. You did everything right.” But then her breath catches in her throat, and I sense hesitation.

“But?”

A small smile tugs at her lips. “But, hypothetically, what would you have done differently?”

I can’t stop the rumble that starts in my chest and moves into my throat. “Hypothetically?” I growl, my voice gravelly yet teasing. I nuzzle into the curve of her neck, letting my lips skim her skin just enough to feel the way she shivers in response. “If we’re talking hypotheticals, I’d have started slower. Made damn sure you knew how much I wanted you before I even touched you.”

She moans breathily, and it’s addictive hearing the noises I pull from her.

“I’d have taken my time kissing you everywhere, places you didn’t even know could feel that good.” My hands tighten on her thighs, and I lift her a little higher. Her legs squeeze around me, her center so close to my cock, and I let out a low groan. “I’d have whispered in your ear exactly what I was going to do to you, made you wait for it, made you crave it.”

Her head tilts slightly, and I can see the blush creeping up her neck, feel her pulse racing against me. “And when we got to the good part? I wouldn’t have rushed it, not for anything. I’d have taken my time making you fall apart over and over again, just to see that look on your face. Then when I sunk my cock inside you, there’s no denying that you’d be ready for me.”

Her mouth parts, waiting for me to kiss her, but I grin, brushing my lips over hers but not closing the gap entirely. “You’d be wrecked, princess. You wouldn’t have been able to think straight for days.”

As her eyes meet mine, wide and dark, I swear I could drown in them. “I couldn’t think straight. You already wrecked me.”

I pause, my fingers clutching the bare skin of her thighs, my lips still skimming hers. “I want you like this. Completely. No barriers. I’m clean. Can I?”

Her eyes flick up to mine, and I feel the tiniest shift in her body, but it’s not fear. She bites her lip, then nods. “Yes, I’m clean too. You know you’re the only one I’ve been with,” she whispers.

And fuck. Her words hit me like a shot of adrenaline. Knowing that I’m the only one who’s been inside of her? I’m a fucking mess.

I kiss her hard, urgency taking over as she melts into me. Gripping her tighter, I adjust her in my arms as I press forward, sinking into her slowly and fully. Bare. And Jesus, does she feel incredible.

Her head falls back against the tile with a soft cry, her body clenching around me, and I swear I’ve never felt anything like this. Like her. “Fuck, princess,” I groan, her name breaking from my lips as I start to move. Her nails dig into my skin, her body meeting mine in a rhythm that’s desperate and needy.

The water streams over us, heating the room, but it’s nothing compared to this feeling. Every gasp, every breathy moan, every whispered “Hudson” pulls me deeper, drives me harder. I kiss her neck, her jaw, her lips, unable to stop touching and tasting her.

“You feel so fucking good,” I growl, my fingers digging into her thighs, holding her steady as I drive into her. “So good.”

I press her harder against the tile, my movements rougher now, but I’m still aware that I don’t want to hurt her.

The control I’m barely holding on to slips with every second I get closer.

She dips her head, her lips brushing my ear as she whispers, “Don’t stop.”

Like I ever could. There’s no holding back now, no hesitation, just her, just us, taking and giving exactly what we both need.

And as I fill her up, and she cries out my name, it’s fucking everything.

***

An hour or so later, we’re both clean and in pajamas. It feels incredibly domestic and I’m loving it, I’ve never experienced this with anyone before but I’m all in. Daphne stands by the dresser, running a towel over her damp hair. Then the hum of the hairdryer fills the room for a little bit before suddenly stopping.

I glance over. “Done already?”

She scrunches her nose, looking a little pale. “The heat. I don’t know. The whole moving my arm with the brush is making me feel sick. I’ll just go to bed with it damp.”

I’m already moving, her eyes follow me as I grab the hairdryer. “Hudson…” she starts to say, confused.

Dropping a pillow on the floor in front of the edge of the bed, I plug the hairdryer in and gesture to her. “Come here.”

Her eyebrows knit. “What are you doing?”

“Sit,” I say, grinning. “I’ll dry it for you.”

She blinks. “You— What?”

“Yeah, I used to dry Rory’s hair for her all the time when she was little. She’d always fall asleep straight afterward.” The memory tugs at my heartstrings. “She hated going to bed with wet hair and used to say that I dried it the best.”

Daphne hesitates for half a second, then with a little shake of her head and a smile, she sinks down onto the pillow between my legs. “This is…really sweet of you. I’m going to have to do something to thank you.”

Her words are innocent enough, but I can’t just leave that open like that.

Threading my fingers through her damp strands, I spread them over her scalp, letting my fingertips glide over pressure points. I tilt her head back just enough that her mouth parts and her eyes flutter closed. “I can think of a few ways you can thank me, princess.”

Her lips curve. “Anything you want, so long as you keep doing that.”

I chuckle. “Big promises to keep.”

I click on the dryer and get to work before I make good on those promises again tonight.