Page 16 of The Prey (The Hillers of Barratt County #6)

Gia just stayed where she was, shivering. His hands scorched her, even as she felt the cool plaster of his cast where her shirt had ridden up just a little. She could smell him all around her. Somehow, she ended up leaning against the kitchen island, with Hudson right in front of her.

She was five-nine—not exactly short. He had a good eight inches on her. He was a big man. No denying that. Even bigger than any of her brothers. Bigger, stronger, more intense—Hudson just dominated other men so effortlessly.

His arms were strong around her, his chest felt far too hard and strong to belong to Hudson Hanan. This man had been her enemy for three years.

He didn’t feel like an enemy right now. Far from it.

“Why? What has changed so suddenly? Did you realize I’m not really Gia-Satan after all?”

“Something like that.” His hand was on her cheek. His thumb brushed her bottom lip. Sheer fire shot straight through her. Her stomach tightened.

It had been a long, long time since a man had made her feel like this.

What was she doing here again? This was…crazy. Utterly crazy. And everything was changing. Because of him. She stared into dark eyes, her breath caught. And she just waited.

“If we’re not arguing, I am not sure what I am supposed to do with you,” he whispered, almost against her lips. “But there are things I want to try. Things that have been consuming me since those nights I was here. So can I kiss you?”

She nodded before she even realized what she was doing. What she was agreeing to.

Then it sank in: she had just told him he could…kiss her.

What was she doing? She had utterly lost her mind. No other explanation possible.

Pride had her not stopping him. Not showing him that he’d rattled her. Then his lips were on hers, and the entire world just went sideways.

Gia’s arms went around his neck as he pulled her closer.

She heard the little sound that came from her own throat.

His arm tightened on her, she could feel the cast behind her back.

His entire body surrounded her somehow. The edge of the kitchen island was behind her. Anyone could walk in at any moment.

But…even though they were in the kitchen and he had her against the island—she didn’t feel trapped.

She didn’t feel trapped at all.

She could turn, and walk away, and be…okay. He wouldn’t stop her. Not this man. He’d probably follow her out, taunting and challenging her—but he wouldn’t physically stop her at all. He wouldn’t.

Hudson wouldn’t hurt her.

She knew that.

Trusted that.

He might fight and yell—and yes, call her the devil spawn of Satan, like he had so many times before—but he wouldn’t hurt her. Ever.

She just…knew it.

Tears hit her eyes at what that meant. Her hands tightened on the fabric over his shoulders. He had really toned shoulders. His chest was hard and broad and strong. She could feel his heart pounding against her chest. She wanted to touch him. To cling like an idiot.

Gia wanted to stay right there, pressed against him. For as long as she could. It had been two and a half years since she’d felt safe in a man’s arms.

She’d really thought she never would again.

Gia just kissed him right back.

There was nothing she wanted more in that moment, than to kiss him back.