Page 40 of Tangled Fates

He peered at me from over his shoulder. “What?”

I drew in a deep breath. “You were so different when we were kids.”

He paused. “You remember us from those years?”

“Of course, I do. What makes you think I don’t?”

“Your actions.”

I winced at his words. “I guess you’ve got me there.”

He turned to face me. “What do you remember?”

I grinned. “I remember that you were a cocky bastard of a kid that used to shamelessly flirt with me just to piss off Dad.”

He chuckled. “And now, I’m just a jokester that can’t get enough of?—”

I paused. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“No. Hudson, really. You can’t get enough of… what?”

And as I searched his gaze, his voice dawned upon my ears.

“Your smile,” he said as his stare dropped to my lips. “I can’t get enough of your smile, Ray.”

Holy shit, he’s falling for me.

“You know,” I said as I walked toward him and stood at his side, “there was a time in my childhood where I thought you were pretty sexy.”

He grinned. “I know.”

I snickered and rolled my eyes. “Such a confident little prick.”

That smirk of his left me breathless. “Don’t act like you don’t enjoy it.”

I shrugged. “Then again, I was pretty hormonal. I basically felt the same way about Dean and Levi, too. Mom used to always tease me for it. She used to say, ‘Raven, you can give those boys a run for their money all you want. But choose wisely when the time comes.’”

His smirk faltered. “All of us?”

I held his gaze as his snapped back to mine. “I just… chalked it up to being a pre-teen with raging hormones. But with all of this fated mate stuff, it sort of reframes things. If that makes any sense.”

He turned his entire body toward me. “What do you mean?”

I shrugged. “I mean, maybe there’s something to Dean’s vision? I don’t know. I know it sounds so crazy, and feels even crazier, but I’ve always been drawn to you guys. For different reasons, of course, but you guys have always been there. Even after Mom took me to L.A. and left, I thought about you guys on and off for years. I never understood why I couldn’t just… shake you guys.”

“You’re still not being very clear with things. What does all of this mean, coming from you?”

I managed to look up at him. “It means that I’m beginning to realize how much each of you mean to me. So, if you guys are willing to give this a shot, then I am as well. Both as Alpha, and as your fated mate.”

He blinked. “And you’re being serious?”

I drew in a deep breath and closed my eyes. “I mean, it’ll take some time getting used to. I know I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I’m willing to tr—mmph!”

His lips were the first thing I tasted before his tongue shoved its way into my mouth. He cloaked me with his arms, picking me up against his strong body before pressing me into something that felt cold, and wet, and rough. With my feet dangling and his knee pressed between my thighs, he devoured me. His tongue took control of my mouth, sliding along the roof of it and shivering me from head to toe.

And as the world drenched itself in rain, I buried my hands into Hudson’s dripping wet hair.

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