Page 91 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson
Hudson growled deep in his chest, grabbed my arm, and tugged me towards him. He lowered his head and got in my face, snapping in my ear. “Don’t do something you’ll regret just because you think it will spite me.” There was a warning note in his tone, but I ignored it.
“Fuck you, Hudson.”
Placing the flat of my palm against his chest, I shoved him, but he didn’t move a step. Hudson just rasped, “So violent,justMolly. Are you trying to fight me, or tickle me?” His entire focus was riveted on my hand touching his skin. “Or just generally trying to piss me off?”
“Let go of me,” I panted, struggling against his hold.
He then leaned in and ran his nose up and down my jawline before nibbling my neck. “No need to get your panties in such a twist.”
I hated my body's reaction to his arseholeness, and I dropped my hand like I’d been burned. The tension was so thick between us that you could choke on it.
After one last tug, he released me.
Taking a step back, I delivered him my best take-no-prisoners glare, “I’m not doing this. We’re done, Hudson. You’re not worth the fucking hassle and I have somewhere else I need to be.” I turned and started to walk away.
“What doesthatmean? Molly?” The music and a girl screaming in glee at the change in song drowned out his next words.
As I glanced back, it looked like he wanted to come after me, but Micah’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. Hudson’s hands were balled into fists by his sides, his muscles locked into place. I shot him my version of cocky over my shoulder as I made my way to meet Xander across the room.
I allowed a guy who was basically a stranger to put his arm around me and steer me away, knowing that Hudson’s eyes weredrillinginto the back of my head.
I was fed up with his games. It was time to try out a few of my own.
His nondate, Tate, shoulder-skimmed me on purpose as she passed with a smug expression. She hit me, and yet she’s the one who said, “Watch it, skank.”
“I thought you didn’t do high school parties?” I questioned Xander breezily.
“I don’t, but the thought of you here as a third wheel forced me to turn the car around.”
“Well, I’m glad you did.”
“That guy you were talking to?” Xander said, glancing behind me with a sour look.
“He’s no one,” I huffed.
“His name’s Hudson, right?”
My brow scrunched. “Yes, do you know each other?”
Xander cleared his throat. “Not really. He and my brother were at school in the early days. Hudson used to give Nick shit all the time.”
“Now that I can believe.” I hated that thought of Hudson throwing his weight around with a guy who would be no match for him in strength. Nick was tall but scrawny in comparison; it wouldn’t have been hard for any older guy to bully him.
When I didn’t respond, Xander nudged me with his elbow. “Hey, are you OK?”
That was the final straw. Fuck Hudson Gage.
“I am now,” I replied, beaming at him, welcoming the warmth of his body as he tugged me further against his side.
“Drink?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
I didn’t turn back towards Hudson, but I could feel him watching us. He was probably pissed that he didn’t get the last word in.
That saying, your best dreams are sometimes your worst nightmares, flashed into my mind as that isexactlywhat Hudson was. Wrong for me in every possible way, but he stoked something inside me. Made me want to stand up and fight instead of dwelling in the dark.
HUDSON
