Page 89 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson
The way he said England with his sexy accent gave me goosebumps, but I hated how he so easily imparted that information. “So, you’re just sleeping with her?” I said, crossing my arms over my chest to stop myself from raking my nails down his face. The beer I clutched sloshed in the bottle, but didn’t spill, thank goodness.
Hudson cleared his throat and gave me a condescending look. “I wouldn’t put it quite like that. We fuck. End of. Although it won’t be happening here. We need more privacy. Tate’s a screamer.” He tacked on the last part, watching me intently for my reaction. The guy could goad a saint. Why didn’t I walk away and find Harper and Nick was anyone’s guess. It was like my feet had grown roots.
Hudson chugged some of his beer and then pressed his lips together. “You know what that means, kitten?”
Jerking back, I looked at him like he’d suddenly grown two heads. I felt that remark in the pit of my stomach, and it hurt. “Yes. I get it.” I then huffed partly to myself. “I can’tbelieveI was worried about you.” Hiding my emotions was becoming something I was good at, but I was lost at that moment.
Hudson’s smirk vanished, and he cleared his throat. “Why were you worried about me?”
At that moment, I wanted to slap some sense into him, but instead went with
“Because I’m an idiot. Clearly.”
I took a deep breath and another drink before placing the bottle on the table. I was done.
“I think you need to stay away from me.”
“But you're my teacher?” he said with a feigned innocent expression.
“You bailed on me and skipped class, remember. You can find another tutor. I want nothing to do with you.”
“You’re such a liar. I think you want to be my sole focus. That’s why you’ve been worried about me. You see me as a project.” Americans and their bloody projects!
He was trying to water down my concern about him. As if it wasn’t a selfless thought. Bloody hell,anotheruntrusting person. And they were all living under the same roof as each other. There was only one way to describe that;fucking toxic.
Hudson was trying to cast me into a mould; I wouldn’t allow it. “I know you’re not used to it, but learn to recognise a genuine caring person when you meet one.”
“I must hold my hands up there. I’ve not met many of those in my lifetime,” he pointed out, with a twisted smile. He was telling the truth.
Someone bumped into me as they passed, which jolted me forward. Hudson caught me by the arms and steadied me. At least he didn’t let me fall flat on my face.
“You good?”
“Yes. I was surprised you didn’t let me fall,” I scowled as he let go of my arms.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because I’m my father’s daughter.”
“Well, there is that. Maybe being your saviour is all part of this foreplay between us?”
Yes, if foreplay included me punching him in the nuts. I batted the thought away. “So, you’ve decided to lure me in with your attention and then spit me back out again. I don’t think so. That’s not what I want at all.” I murmured.
“So, you’re admitting you want my attention?”
I swallowed before managing to push out a “No.”
Hudson released a disbelieving grunt. “Now say it like you mean it.”
My eyes roamed over his perfect features, looking for a sign of the boy I knew was under that mask. “Just leave it alone, Hudson.”
Lowering the bottle, he cradled it against his chest and quirked me an amused look. “Why would I do that?”
Huffing, I pointed out. “Because it would be the decent thing to do, instead of sending me mixed messages.”
“Maybe I enjoy torturing you too much?” he replied with a devious smile.
“Because of my dad?”
