Page 82 of What About Us
We both fall silent, probably thinking back to that night and all the others that came after it. Man, we had fun together back then. It makes me think of other things I’d like to do with him now, and they don’t involve his brother and Wren or cows.
That has me wondering something else, though.
“Why did you stop me last night?” The quick change of topic catches him off guard and there’s a questioning bend to his brow when he glances at me. “From touching you, I mean.”
He’s quiet for a few moments before answering, “Our friendship means everything to me. We’d both been drinking, and you’re a lightweight.” He smirks and I smack his arm playfully. He clears his throat and shrugs before continuing. “We were already crossing a new line, but we haven’t talked about how far over it we’re going. I didn’t want to take advantage of you.”
I nod and bite the inside of my cheek, trying and failing to stifle my smile. Hudson is probably one of the most foul-mouthed, outspoken men I know, but he’s still a gentleman. Not to mention, he hadmaybea couple sips of alcohol.
“Even though I was the one taking advantage?”
“So, youwereawake.” His eyes hold a playful accusation as he shakes his head.
I crack a grin, taking in the long line of his body as he drives. His light gray T-shirt hugs him in all the right places, stretching across his biceps and making my mouth water. “Hey, a girl has needs.”
He chuckles, looking shy.Shy. I didn’t know that was something Hudson was even capable of. But it doesn’t last long because when he looks back at me, there is nothing but heat in his gaze.
“I should get a fucking medal for keeping my hands off you, then,” he says, and his eyes do a quick sweep of my body, heating me all the way to my toes.
Pulling the ends of my braid through my fingers and feeling a little shy myself, I grimace with a chuckle when my next words tumble out involuntarily. “I can’t believe I dry humped your leg.”
Several beats pass and he smirks. “There was nothing dry about you last night.” His voice is all gravel.
I nod a little sheepishly and chance a flick of my gaze in his direction. “You either.”
He huffs out a chuckle. “Fuck.” He rakes a hand through his hair, messing the slightly curly waves just enough, and a light pink stains his cheeks. The combination ramps up the whole fuck-me factor he’s got going for him to one million.
“What? Don’t be embarrassed.”
He shakes his head. “Easy for you to say. You didn’t blow your load like a fifteen-year-old on a first date.”
I really laugh now. So much that tears are streaming down my face. When I finally get them under control, he still looks embarrassed.
“Oh, come on,” I tease. “Hudson Hayes creaming his jeans without even touching me? Insanely hot.”
“I wasn’t wearing jeans. And more like insanely mortifying,” he says with another shake of his head.
“Stop.” I nudge his arm. “That was one of the hottest things I’ve experienced in a long time.”
That shy smile hits me in the chest when he turns it on me. “Me too.” He adjusts his grip on the steering wheel, making those veins in his arm pop again.
I tuck my lip between my teeth and smile. His eyes drop to my mouth, and they darken while a muscle in his jaw ticks.
“Sorry. Forgot about the lip thing,” I say. But it’s like the damn thing just wants to live between my teeth. So, I slap a hand over my mouth with a laugh.
He huffs out another chuckle, before his tone turns serious. “We really should talk about it, though. Before anything happens again.”.
I nod. “Ok.”
“What does this look like for you? The friends with benefits thing.”
My stomach flip-flops. Is it really friends with benefits if we’re married? Do we really need a label? Especially if there are clear boundaries?
“I’m not sure,” I admit, casting a glance his way. “You’re the one who’s done this kind of thing before. What does it look like for you?” Reaching over, I snap off the stereo.
He’s quiet, watching the road for a while. I let my gaze drift over him. I wish I could tell what he is thinking. Is he worried about getting too close, like I am? Or is this an easy decision for him because he’s done it dozens of times?
My mind drifts to all the other women he’s possibly been with in this exact way. Ok, not in thisexactway, because he never married any of his friends with benefits girls. Just thinking about him with someone else makes my stomach turn. So, I shove the thoughts away and decide rightthen that it doesn’t really matter, because I’d absolutely love to get another look at the heat he’s packing.
