Page 65 of Tough Love

Fire has consumed every inch of me. Desperation is taking over my mind, traveling through my body.

When his hand traces the inside of my thigh, my breathing shatters. He slips my panties to one side and sinks a finger inside me, rubbing his thumb over my throbbing clit. I grip his face with both hands, kissing him hard. He opens for me and my heart almost cracks. Now hungry and insatiable, I taste him.

Tracing a thumb over my nipple, he breaks from the kiss. “Addy, come for me. I wanna see that beautiful face of yours turn desperate. It’s my favorite fucking thing.” His voice is gravel.

And I desperately need to give him what he wants. Whatever he wants. He drops his mouth to my breast, flicking his tongue over the hard peak before sucking it. He releases it with a pop. I cry out. He smiles and gently puts a hand over my mouth. I grab it and suck his fingers, closing my eyes.

“Jesus, Addy,” he rasps.

“Huddy, I’m going to?—”

“Good girl. Let me watch you.”

He intensifies the movements of his fingers, sweeping his thumb over my clit. He kisses my neck, and when I release the first whimper as I constrict around his fingers, his heated gaze finds mine. Whimpers turn to moans and his hand readjusts over my mouth.

God, all I want to do is eat him.

Starting with his long, strong fingers and making my way to the head of his gorgeous hard cock. Oh god. I ride out the waves of one of the most intense orgasms I’ve ever had. When I settleand my breathing slows, he adjusts the top of my dress. He kisses my nose, planting one on my lips before he withdraws his hand from my panties. I gasp and he smiles. I shuffle off his lap and sink to my knees, very much wanting to repay the favor. He sucks his fingers clean before offering his other hand to me.

“Come on, Ma will be waiting for us to start the food.”

“Are you going out to the party with that?” I nod to the enormous bulge in his jeans. “I can take care of that.”

“I know you can, Addy. But I got what I wanted.” He tugs me to my feet and traces a hand over my cheek. “Come on, let’s wash up and get back out there.”

We walk down the hallway to the bathroom. Hudson washes his hands and fixes his messy hair. I stare at him in the mirror. At the two of us. And when I find his blue eyes, my gut flips, my heart aches, and tears burn. He dots a kiss to my head and walks out. My chest caves as I realize I am completely and irrevocably in love with Hudson Rawlins.

Eyes falling shut, I grip the edge of the sink and fight back the tears that swell. In a few short months, I will have to leave him and all this behind. I give myself exactly five minutes to have a pity party before I pull my big-girl pants on and go back to the actual party. Tonight is about Louisa.

Happiness, Addy. Radiate goddamn happiness.

For Louisa’s sake.

Absentmindedly, I make my way back to the yard for the meal. Everyone is mulling around the long tables, finding seats. I find Ruby and Reed and they point me to the other end of the table where Hudson stands waiting, a chair pulled out. Harry’s stern focus tracks me as I walk to where Hudson stands.

“Sit with me, Howard.”

I smile at him and drop into the seat, rising slightly as he lifts it and edges it toward the table. Mack is opposite me at the table. “Where have you been?” I ask.

He pulls an innocent face and tilts his head to Louisa, who sits by Harry a few seats down. Secret, right. My lips are sealed. I purse my lips and pretend to lock a key and throw it away over my shoulder. Now I am intrigued.

Mack smiles. “You got it, Addy. Just wait.”

Chapter Nineteen

HUDSON

Food lines the center of each table. Piles of roasted meats, grilled steaks, chicken, and sausages. Salads, rice dishes, creamy potato bakes, and so much more. Every place setting is topped with a napkin wrapped elegantly around silver cutlery. Fairy lights and candles are strewn through the dishes of food, along with small glass vases of Ma’s favorite flowers and baby’s breath. Ruby has outdone herself. She really is amazing at this.

I lean over to Addy. “You’re flushed, Howard.”

She gives me an incredulous glance.

“I like it. We will have to put that color on your cheeks again later.”

“You first, Rawlins.”

I straighten and slide a hand into hers under the table; her fingers lace through mine. My cock hardens. When someone clinks a glass, chatting fades to silence, and Harry stands.

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