Page 103 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson
I wrapped my hands around my stomach, “I don’t know. Maybe due to what happened at the party?”
Hudson wiped his hands on his game pants. His thighs were thick with muscle. I kept my gaze away from his crotch. “I apologised for that and you accepted it, remember. Besides, it wasn’t how it looked.”
Interesting. “And how did it look?”
Hudson shifted on his feet, clearly uncomfortable. “I don’t know. Like I was jealous or something.”
I gave him an ‘are you for real’ look. “And you’re saying you weren’t?”
“Yep. The day doesn’t exist that I would be jealous of that drug dealing douche. British translation being prick.” Hudson stepped toward me, his large body shadowing me from the others. Now Storm, Reed, and a handful of others were all kicking off.
“I know what a douche is.”
“I watched you dancing.”
“And?”
Hudson took a step forward and ran one finger down my cheek. “Molly Miller, are you fishing for compliments?”
“Maybe I am,” I replied with a shrug.
He glanced over towards the group. “Well, you certainly got the seal of approval from the team. Did you enjoy shaking your ass and tits for the boys?”
A shard of fury shot into me. “That wasn’t what I was doing, Hudson.”
“Whatever, why would you want to join the cheer sluts, unless it’s to get attention from the team?”
“Fuck, Hudson. Does every conversation have to be such a struggle with you?”
“If you want to know if I enjoyed the show. Of course I did. I’m not made of stone, plus I know how you taste.”
The bad feeling churning in my stomach continued to do its thing. “I thought we were done with this shit?”
“What shit is that, kitten?”
“You, being mean to me,” I explained, ringing my hands together in frustration.
His brow pinched. “Why would you think that?”
“Well. You appeared to have called off your dogs,” I said with a wave of my hand towards the cheer squad and jocks.
“Nope. Not me. They heard about the kiss, then put two and two together and as for being mean. I’m a treat them mean keep them keen type. You know that.”
My stomach dropped.
“I remember your deranged system of pushing people away.” I took a deep breath as I made my decision. I too had shit to deal with and I remember my mother saying that you cannot help someone who does not want to help themselves. “Well, as far as I am concerned, that’s one way to put me off. I prefer normal, nice guys.”
“Then you’re looking in the wrong place with me, English.”
You think? I wanted to shout, but it was no good. It was like there were two sides to my mind, and they were not in agreement.
My shoulders slumped, and I felt drained of all energy.
Hudson took in my body language, his nostrils flaring, and he pinched the bridge of his nose.
There was a short silence as he inhaled, his large chest moving in and out. He then dropped his hand and gave me a hooded look.
It felt like he took forever to respond. “Maybe I don’t want to be the first boy to break your heart? I’m certainly no deflowerer of virgins.”
