Page 18 of Peaked Desires

Panic fills my body, but Huxton doesn’t get the memo. He just leans back in bed and takes another bite of his toast.

I slap his arm. “Huxton, I need to go! Tracy will be wondering where I am… and…and…” I look around, not anywhere in particular, but into the racing dread in my mind. “Fuck! Huxton what do I tell Tracy?”

He cocks a brow at me. “About what?”

“About this!” My eyes bulge as I wave a finger between us. “Us! What happened here last night!”

His expression fades to that familiar emotionless gaze he holds so well. Those piercing eyes drop to the tray in front of us as he places his toast on the plate, turning ever so slowly to face me.

My heart is pounding, panic coursing through my veins.

But Huxton…

“Us?” he grunts, his lips ever so slowly curving into a smile. “There’s an… us?”

Huxton’s face is so close to mine. I’m mid-panic attack, but somehow, staring into those steely eyes makes everything go away.

We move towards each other at the same time, and our lips collide. The tray goes flying off the bed as Huxton wraps his big arms around me, lifting me up and tossing me beneath him. My hands slide down his ridged body and he grunts against my skin.

“Elise, I was going to wait to tell you,” Huxton nuzzles into me, biting and nibbling as his voice vibrates against my skin. “But I can’t. I can’t wait.”

“What?” I breathe, lifting his handsome face to meet his heated gaze. “What is it?”

He shakes his head, something like disbelief in his eyes. “Elise, I’m in love with you. It sounds ridiculous, but I don’t care. The moment I saw you, I knew it. I knew you were the one for me. And I don’t expect you to-”

“I love you too,” I interrupt, grabbing both sides of his face. “Oh my god. I thought I was crazy, because it’s too soon. It’s too soon, right? But I love you. I love you too, Huxton.”

We stare at each other for a moment. Hudson smiles and we just sit there, gawking like some kind of loved up fools. It’s all happened so quick, but maybe that doesn’t matter.

We can enjoy this for what it is.

But then a buzzing noise breaks the silence.

Huxton pushes off the bed and grabs his cell. He stares at the screen and then to me. One side of his mouth lifts in a sardonic smile.

“It’s your boss,” he teases, turning the screen so I see ‘Tracy’ reflected. My eyes go wide as he swipes and answers the call. “Tracy, how’s the morning going?”

I shake my head. Typical Huxton, straight to the point.

Did he just tell me he loves me? He loves me!

I should be shitting myself that I’m late for work. Tracy is probably reporting me right this second.

I slide out of bed and go to grab my work shirt. But something in Huxton’s tone catches me in my tracks.

“Shit,” Huxton says, his tone sounding unfamiliar. He paces back and forth, the hand at his side clenching to a fist. “Fuck. Alright, I’ll be down as soon as I can.”

Huxton hangs up and slides his phone into his pocket.

“Huxton, is everything ok?” I ask, buttoning my top quickly. “Is she mad I’m late?”

He shakes his head. “No, no. It’s not that.”

I move over and grab his hands, pulling his frazzled eyes to mine. “What is it?”

When his eyes lock on mine, I see something I’ve never seen before. My blood runs cold the moment he catches my gaze, a frightening feeling that I never want to experience again.

Fear.

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