Page 47 of Coming Home

“So what happened?” Austin asks.

We’re all standing around the island listening to Huddy as he talks about what happened. “It was actually pretty low key. The waiting for him to get there is what took so much time. Walker wanted to get him for stalking too, and the only way to do that was for him to actually break into Elle’s apartment. He crossed the threshold of the apartment, and I apprehended him while the others arrested the dad in the car.”

Austin points at Huddy. “You did? Why didn’t a cop or something do it?”

Huddy shrugs. “It took some convincing, but there was no way I was going to lose this guy. I convinced them to let me do it. Of course, Walker told me I couldn’t kill him. He may have come out with a few bruises, but he’s alive.” He turns to me and puts his hand to my cheek. “He and his father are going away for a long time.”

I search his eyes, and we stand here, looking at each other. It’s quiet in the room, and I almost forget we’re not alone until Austin says, “Well, we’re going to get out of here.”

It pulls me out of my trance, and I stand back as Huddy goes to each of his brothers and thanks them for staying. I echo the sentiment, and they all take turns hugging me too.

As soon as they leave and Huddy closes the door behind them, I wrap my hands around his waist and bury myself into this side. “Hey, hey… it’s okay now. You’re going to be okay. No more running.”

My hand is in a fist, and I hit it against his chest gently. “It’s not that. I mean of course, I’m happy about that, but I hate that you did this for me. I was so worried about you, Huddy.”

He walks me to the couch and sits down, pulling me into his lap. “I’m fine.”

I take a deep breath and try to let it calm me. “You are now. For five hours, I didn’t know what was happening to you.”

He pulls me in tighter, and I put my hand on his arm to turn around. He lets out a small grunt, but what is most noticeable is the way I can feel his body as he inhales deeply. I rear back and look at him. “What’s wrong?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing’s wrong.”

I climb off his lap and stand over him. “Hudson Blaze, you’re hurt. Where are you hurt?”

He shakes his head as he slides to the end of the couch. “I’m fine.”

I tap my foot on the ground, and my arms are crossed over my chest. “Stand up.”

He smiles and stands up.

I reach for the thin jacket he’s wearing and pull it off. “Honey, if you want me naked, all you have to do is say so.”

I ignore his flirting and reach for the hem of his shirt. I tug it up as high as I can until he has to help me get it off his arms. When he lowers his arms, I see it. His upper left arm has a white bandage wrapped around it. I gasp and cover my mouth with my hands. “You’re hurt.”

He reaches for me, and I take a step back. “Ellie, honey. Come here.”

I don’t move. I can’t.

He takes a step toward me, and I still don’t move. I’m frozen in my spot, my gaze locked on to that white bandage. He reaches for it. “Do you want to see it? I’ll show you it’s nothing.”

I shake my head. Just imagining what’s underneath has me wanting to pass out. I walk away, my arms around my middle. Huddy was hurt, and it’s all my fault.

He walks toward me and stops in front of me. One hand goes to my shoulder, and the other tips my chin up. “It’s nothing. I only had to get ten stitches.”

My mouth falls open. “Stitches! You had to get stitches?”

I start to ramble, and he stops me by slamming his lips to mine. There’s no fighting it. Everything that I’ve been through the past few months has come to a head. All my pent-up worry, anxiety, and fear has been released, and now I’m projecting it all into the kiss with Huddy. He groans, and I pull away. “Did I hurt you?”

He shakes his head and nudges his waist against mine. “It’s not that kind of hurt. Let’s go to bed.”

He tries to pick me up, but I stop him. “Don’t do that. You’ll pull your stitches.”

He snarls his nose up and starts walking me backwards toward the bedroom. I slap him on the uninjured arm. “You do know it’s not bedtime, right?”

“Ha ha, that’s funny because whenever I’m with you, it’s bedtime.”

“You’re insatiable, Huddy.”

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