Hudson Read online

Though the attendant had served them breakfast, with the time changes, it was actually late evening in the city. He wondered if her flight wasn’t until morning. That would work out very well for him.

  “You might be stuck with me for the evening,” he said, very pleased at the thought.

  She set down her phone, losing all interest in the pretense of looking at it so she could ignore him. “I’m perfectly fine on my own. I don’t get stuck with people.”

  “I have a hotel reservation on the water. Come with me. Let’s finish that kiss,” he said, reaching out and brushing his finger down her arm. She tensed. Though she was trying to play it cool, he could see the desire lighting her eyes. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her. She was obviously a woman who used a hell of a lot more restraint than he did when he was going after something he desperately wanted.

  “I’m not spending the night with you,” she said. The huskiness in her voice countered her refusal.

  He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Yes, you will because you need to do this as much as I do.” Then he cupped her cheek and turned her head, giving her only a second to stop him if she really wanted to. She didn’t. He finally tasted her lips again, something he’d wanted to do from the second he’d woken up to find her missing.

  He hadn’t slept that well in a very long time. He had no doubt it was because she’d been in his arms. What an odd sensation; he didn’t like sleeping with anybody. He’d always do the deed, and then he was gone. They’d both be satisfied. There’d been no need to cuddle and pretend it had meant something more than it had.

  But for the first time he’d actually cuddled and slept with a woman — and it had happened before they’d even had sex. An odd sensation indeed. He should already regret it, but he didn’t. Instead he wanted more.

  He released her lips, loving the flush on her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes.

  “Damn, you’re beautiful,” he whispered, making her sigh.

  “I’m not this girl. I don’t have one-night stands.”

  He wanted to throw his hands in the air in victory. She’d go to his room with him. He felt it. She was trying to justify it to him and to herself.

  “I know you aren’t,” he assured her. “I’m not going to lie and say I’m a saint, but believe it or not, I don’t normally pick up women at an airport and beg them to go to a hotel with me.” As a matter of fact, it had been a while since he’d been with any woman. He wasn’t going to add that and lead to a road where she wanted to know how many he had been with. That might end his night before it even started.

  “I wouldn’t mind getting a real shower. It would be better than hanging out at the airport all night again,” she finally said.

  “There’s definitely a shower in my room. And I can reach places on your body you can’t,” he told her. The door to the plane opened and people all around them stood. He needed to lock this in before they exited.

  She looked around before her gaze locked with his again.

  “I’ll come to your room, but that doesn’t mean I’m having sex with you. I have nothing better to do, and I wouldn’t mind a hot shower after all of this traveling,” she said. Her eyes were firm.

  Hudson should’ve refused her right then and there because he knew he was in super dangerous territory. The woman had just told him she might not have sex with him, and . . . he was actually okay with it. He’d be okay if they did nothing more than talk all night like they had on the plane.

  Something was wrong with him. He was sure it would clear up the minute she was out of his presence. But for now, something was seriously wrong with him. He sure as hell hoped it got fixed sooner rather than later.

  “Let’s go then. I’m ready to move my legs.”

  He wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. With this woman, that might be a normal feeling. What wasn’t normal was how okay he was with it.

  Chapter Eight

  Daisy couldn’t believe she’d agreed to come to Hudson’s hotel. What was she thinking? She could tell herself all day long it was because she needed a hot shower and a comfortable bed, but she knew she was lying.

  The truth was she wasn’t ready to part ways with him just yet. She should do it fast before they were with each other long enough for it to hurt when he was no longer there. But there was no way she could fall for the guy in one or two days. That was impossible. It took longer than that to feel those kinds of emotions toward another person. She didn’t believe in love at first sight, or even friendship at first glance. It took time to build a real relationship.

  As if they were both afraid of breaking this weird truce they’d declared, they didn’t speak more than a few words going through customs, grabbing their bags, or making their way outside. Of course he had a car waiting, so it was a quick and painless exit from the busy airport.

  She sat away from him in the backseat of the large Lincoln SUV, gazing out at the beautiful lights of San Francisco as they made their way toward the bay. She wasn’t a huge fan of crowds, but this was one of her favorite places. There was so much culture, diversity, and interesting sites in this historic place. She truly hoped it wasn’t all erased by bad policy decisions. People were beginning to flee as it got more and more overpopulated and expensive. Her father had told her of being on the hill with the hippies. She’d been a little horrified to imagine her dad as a free-love spirit.

  He’d told her that, sadly, a lot of them had stepped away from the summer of love, grown up, become responsible, and lived the nine-to-five life. He’d looked wistful as he’d told her about it. Her parents hadn’t changed much from those days. Maybe they were more responsible, but they’d traveled the world helping those who chose freedom instead of tyranny. It was a journalist’s dream come true to interview people during times of peaceful revolution and change.

  “We’re here,” the driver said as he pulled up to the curb.

  Heat suffused Daisy’s cheeks as she climbed from the vehicle. The doorman was right there loading their bags onto a cart.

  “Welcome back, Mr. Anderson. I hope your travels were good,” the man said.

  “It was too fast, but nice, Gene. I’m ready for another week of nothing but the lake and my fishing pole. Recovering from jet lag won’t be fun after a round trip in less than a week,” he replied.

  “I wouldn’t mind doing that myself,” Gene said with a chuckle.

  “This way,” Hudson said, placing his hand on her back. Daisy looked at the ground, embarrassed at going into this hotel where they obviously knew Hudson and knew she hadn’t been there before with him. What were these people thinking of her? Did he bring a new girl with him every time he arrived? Did they think she was a cheap call girl? She obviously couldn’t be a high-priced one in the clothes she was wearing. This might be a mistake. It wasn’t too late to turn back, she assured herself. She’d said she wasn’t guaranteeing sex. She just wanted a shower and a bed — an empty bed if she so chose.

  “Apparently you travel here a lot,” she said as they slipped inside.

  “No, not really,” he told her as he moved through the lobby. He barely had to pause to get his key before they were off again. “But I was here last week, and I sat outside with Gene for about an hour. He has a couple of kids going to college. He’s a good man.”

  She would’ve never taken him as a man to sit and chat with the hotel staff. She wasn’t sure what to think of this man. It was all so dang confusing.

  “You must meet a lot of people. I’m impressed you remember his name.”

  “You must think I’m a real snob,” he said. He didn’t look angry, more amused.

  They entered the elevator, he inserted his key, and pushed the top floor button. She wasn’t shocked. This guy obviously had more money than she’d first assumed by his clothes.

  But he was used to first-class treatment, so much so he didn’t even appear to notice how lucky he was. She’d been to a penthouse suite one time for a meeting with some bigwigs she was trying to convince to not tear
down an old cathedral. She’d lost that one too. She hadn’t even gotten to see the bedroom. She might not get to see the main bedroom this time either. She wasn’t sure.

  “No, I don’t think you’re a snob, you just obviously live at the top of the food chain,” she said. He took a few seconds to think about her words before he spoke next. He seemed to be measuring what she’d said.

  “I like being the best at what I do. But that doesn’t mean I’m above anyone. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am. I’ll admit I’ve had some lucky breaks in life, but it wasn’t that way from birth. I also really like being with my family more than anything or anyone else.”

  The elevator stopped, and they stepped out. There was only one door with a key slot. He moved to it, then pushed the door open. She stepped inside, trying not to show a reaction to how beautiful and luxurious the room was. There were people who lived this lifestyle daily. She couldn’t comprehend it.

  She walked through the large living area, straight to the balcony doors. It didn’t take long to open them and step outside. The sea and pier lights were below them, and it was amazing.

  “There’s Ghirardelli,” she said with a real smile in her voice. “They have the best chocolate ever.”

  He was still inside, but called out to her. “I can’t say I’ve ever tried it.”

  “That’s a true tragedy,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who hasn’t had it.”

  “Now you have,” he said. “I’m going to order appetizers. We had a large breakfast so it won’t take much to sate us to sleep all night.” There was a wicked note in his tone that told her he didn’t think it would be the food sating either one of them.

  “Okay,” she answered. Then she gazed out over the water, seeing the lights of Alcatraz, and watching people as they milled about on the pier. Some cities were beautiful, others were a nightmare. San Francisco was gorgeous. If she had more time, she’d go exploring. But without the funds or a place to stay after tonight, that wasn’t going to happen.

  “I’ve never been to Alcatraz. I think that would be fun,” she said after several minutes had passed.

  “Cancel your flight and I’ll take you tomorrow,” he said, his voice much closer. She didn’t reply. The offer was so tempting she was afraid she might comply. He moved closer and handed her a glass of wine. “I thought we’d share a toast.”

  “To what?” she asked. The entire setting was set perfectly; wine, lights, a view and a breeze, the ultimate seduction.

  It was working.

  “Let’s toast to happiness, strangers meeting, new beginnings, and enlightened tomorrows,” he said as he held up his glass.

  “And to world peace?” she asked with a giggle. He looked at her with a raised brow.

  “That goes without saying,” he said.

  “It’s from one of my favorite movies, Miss Congeniality. They all want world peace,” she offered. “And since we’re in San Francisco, I thought it was quite fitting.”

  “Can you imagine how different it looked back in the sixties?” he asked.

  “I think it would’ve been a lot better then. Maybe all of the people didn’t share the same values or ideas, but they certainly shared a lot of love,” she said a bit dreamily.

  “And a lot of babies came out of that love,” he said with a laugh.

  “I love the sound of your laughter. It’s so joyful,” she said.

  She was glad she’d swallowed the last of her wine, because the light in his eyes as he gazed intensely at her would’ve made her choke. It went from lighthearted to heavy in the blink of an eye.

  “Say yes,” he suddenly said as he took her wine glass and set it aside.

  She wasn’t going to pretend she didn’t know what he was asking for. She gave herself a split second to decide . . .

  Chapter Nine

  Hudson was shocked at his desire for this woman after less than twenty-four hours. He wanted her body, but there was something else drawing him in even more. He couldn’t figure out what that was.

  Shaking his head, he tried to clear the buzz. It wasn’t from alcohol; he was drunk on her. She was an enigma, a puzzle he had to solve. Could he do that in one short night together? If not, could he talk her into staying? Never would he have questioned his ability to get a woman to stay before he’d met Daisy Green.

  It wouldn’t be an issue, he reassured himself. They’d have a terrific night, and he would be purged of her, leaving nothing but a fond memory that would soon fade. It always faded, usually quickly. Great sex was a necessary fuel for survival. Relationships weren’t on the horizon though. He’d sworn to his brothers he’d never succumb to the marriage flu three of them had already fallen prey to.

  Hudson pushed all thoughts from his head as he pulled her close, giving her time to say no if this wasn’t what she wanted — or more accurately if she chose to deny both of them of what they truly needed. He saw the desire in her eyes. She wanted this as much as he did.

  He knew the second she decided — and he didn’t hesitate.

  His lips touched hers, and it was pure magic. For a moment their eyes met, the connection almost too much for him to handle. He was both disappointed and relieved when her lids lowered and she fell into the kiss.

  Her hot breath brushed his lips as her arms wound around his waist and tightened. It was taking massive willpower on his part not to rip away her clothes and see what she’d been hiding from him all day. But he didn’t want this to be over in the blink of an eye, and as hard as he’d been from the moment he’d met her, he feared that could very well happen.

  The kiss deepened as she grew more confident. He could feel it in the way she pressed against him, her breasts crushing against his chest as she pulled his bottom lip between her teeth and took a little nibble that went straight to his groin.

  They were still on the balcony, and he pushed her against the rail as their hands trailed each other’s backs, and their mouths danced together. It was a give and take that had him wondering if he’d ever get enough.

  She reached up and ran her hands through his hair, tightening her fingers and tugging, keeping him locked to her. This woman who’d seemed so reserved the entire flight was completely different the moment her passion was stoked.

  Almost painfully, he ripped his mouth from hers and stepped back so he could look at her and truly see how beautiful she was with her flushed skin and heaving chest.

  “You’re stunning,” he whispered in awe. Her eyes opened a tiny bit as she gave him a hint of a smile.

  “And you’re making me hot,” she said.

  He reached up and began undoing the buttons on her shirt. He’d always hated buttoned shirts. It was taking some mass restraint to not rip the thing open. But he reminded himself to take it slow and easy. He wasn’t worried he’d scare her away, but he wanted to remember every single moment of this night.

  He pulled off her shirt and looked at her lightly tanned skin . . . and the surprisingly bright pink lacy bra highlighting her gorgeous chest.

  Reaching forward, he ran his fingers across the top of her chest, her skin like silk, and hot to the touch. He was sure her blood was as hot as his. She groaned as his fingers traced the lace of her bra, lightly skimming across her nipples which were hard and pressing against the delicate material.

  Wanting a bed, he lifted her, then kissed her hard before stepping into the suite and carrying her to the bedroom. He barely paused as he set her feet on the floor and began removing the rest of her clothes.

  Her pants came off, revealing long, toned legs, and the matching bright pink panties. He took a step back to gaze at her, thrilled at the sight. He wouldn’t mind gazing at her body for a few hours as he traced every square inch with his fingers and mouth. She was absolutely delicious.

  As much as he was enjoying her lingerie, he wanted to see the rest of her, so he reached behind and undid the clasp of her bra, losing his breath as he pulled it away, taking the weight of her breasts in his hands and squeezi
ng, making her cry out in pleasure.

  “I . . . I . . . my legs are going to buckle,” she huskily warned. He was in awe that he was causing her to tremble so — and he’d barely begun.

  He laid her down on the bed, removing the only barrier left: those amazingly delicate pink panties. He ran his tongue down the side of her neck and over her breasts, circling her nipples for long, agonizing seconds before finally getting his first taste. Her back arched off of the bed as he sucked and nibbled one and then the other, going back and forth for several moments. He didn’t ever want to stop.

  “You have too many clothes,” she gasped as she pressed closer to him, reaching down and tugging on his hair.

  “I agree,” he said.

  He leaned back and began stripping, too impatient to wait for her to do it. Maybe next time. He refused to believe there wouldn’t be a next time.

  When his clothes were off, she sat up, her eyes rounding as she gazed down at him. He reached for her, and she pushed his hand away. He tried again and she held it down as her eyes caressed him from head to toe. He shook beneath her gaze, the look so intense it felt as if her hands were touching him.

  “I can’t think when you touch me, and I want to memorize every perfect inch of you,” she said. She reached out and ran her hands over his chest, her fingers circling his nipples, making him jump. Leaning down, she swiped her tongue over a nipple, making him moan. Nobody had ever done that to him — he liked it — a lot.

  Each time he reached for her she pushed his hands away as she kissed his neck, his chest, and his abs, her tongue sweeping along his skin as she hummed her approval. He was so hard it was painful.

  He tried to grab her and she gazed at him as she hovered. “Please,” she said, stopping him. Her sweet plea was nearly his undoing. He clenched his fingers into fists to keep from grabbing her.

  She leaned down, slightly hesitant, but growing bolder as she kissed his jaw, moving to his lips and running her tongue across his mouth. He kissed her back, but let her control what they were doing — for a few more seconds at least.