Page 45 of A Pen Pal for Christmas

CHAPTER 16

Hudson

Her eyes flicked backto mine, and there was something hopeful and open there, like she wanted to believe me but didn’t quite know how.

My hand inched closer to hers. “You’re not stuck, Sofia.”

For a moment, she didn’t move. Then, slowly, one of her hands released the edge of the bed, and her fingers brushed against mine. The contact was so light it was barely there, but it sent a jolt through me all the same.

Then, her fingers curled around mine just enough to hold on, but as I rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand, the air between us shifted, growing heavier, quieter. Her gaze stayed on mine, and I could see the hesitation there—the uncertainty warring with something that looked like anticipation. Excitement, even, though I was almost afraid to believe that, considering what she was going through.

“Sofia…” I said, giving her the space to pull back, to change the subject, to say anything to stop me.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she leaned forward, her hand tightening on mine. It was the smallest movement, but it was all the signal I needed.

I closed the distance between us, tilting my head as my lips met hers. The kiss was soft, tentative—just enough to test the waters, to make sure this was what she wanted. And when she kissed me back in a way that was somehow both tentative and fierce, it sent shivers down my spine. Then her free hand made its way up my chest, coming to rest at the base of my neck.

She squeezed, gripping me hard, and suddenly I was on my knees in front of her. Something about the way she leaned in and held me to her lit a fire under me like I’d never known.

I deepened the kiss, my other hand folding against her cheek. The pad of my thumb brushed against her skin, and I let out a soft groan before pulling away to capture her lower lip between my teeth—just a gentle nip that made her gasp. Her fingers dug into my shoulder in response, and she matched my intensity breath for breath.

When we finally pulled back, her forehead rested against mine, her eyes fluttering open to meet my gaze. Neither of us said anything at first, the weight of the moment sinking in.

And then, a sharp knock at the door shattered the quiet like glass hitting the floor, and I pulled back from Sofia, both of us blinking as the spell broke. Her lips were parted, her breath uneven, and her gaze zipped to the door.

“Stay here,” I murmured, standing and running a hand over the back of my neck as I crossed the room.

I opened the door to find a uniformed officer I didn’t recognize waiting in the hallway. He was young, his posture stiff but professional. He looked past me briefly, likely assessing the situation.

“Hudson Green?” he asked.

“That’s me,” I replied, my tone sharp with the adrenaline still coursing through me.

“Officer Carter,” he introduced himself. “I’m here about the report of the break-in. Officer Sullivan is off duty, but he’s on his way. He called it in so we could secure the scene.”

“Thanks,” I said, glancing back toward Sofia. She was still sitting on the edge of the bed, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. “Give me a moment.”

The officer nodded and stepped back as I closed the door. Turning back to Sofia, I kept my tone calm. “That was one of the officers. They’re here to check your room and start the report. Tommy’s on his way.”

She nodded slowly, her expression unreadable, but I could see the tension in the way her shoulders hunched slightly. She didn’t want to face the mess that had been left behind, and I couldn’t blame her.

“You’ll need to give a statement, but I’ll handle everything else with the cops,” I said gently. “But first, we need to talk about where you’re staying tonight.”

Her brows drew together. “I can stay with Tommy?—”

“No.” The firmness of my tone surprised even me, and I softened it immediately as I crossed the room. “Sofia, it’s not that Tommy wouldn’t keep you safe. It’s just… I’d feel better if you stayed here.”

She rose from the bed, clearly alarmed. “Here? As in, my room?”

I shook my head. “Here, as in…here.”

Her eyes flitted around the room before locking onto mine. “Why? Because of the break-in or… because of the other thing?”

I let out a short, quiet laugh. “Which answer gets you to stay?”

Her lips twitched like she wanted to smile but couldn’t quite manage it. “Hudson, I can’t stay here. There’s only one bed, and while I’ll admit I don’t hate the idea of us sharing space…” Her cheeks flushed and she pursed her lips.

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