“No, it doesn’t.” He shakes his head. “It adds up to me being a workaholic. I told you the day we met that I wasn’t married because I work too much. I promise you, I’m not married.”
“You’re not married? You swear.” I point my finger at him. I trust Hudson and if he gives me his word, I’ll believe him.
“I swear. I’m not currently married, I’ve never been married, and I’m not engaged. There’s only you, Ellie. I promise.” He steps closer to me, wrapping his arms around me.
“I was talking to Lacey and everything started to make sense. I’m sorry. I just thought that you were married,” I say into his chest.
“It’s okay. I understand.” He smooths my hair.
“I was so upset thinking you were married, that I didn’t even cook anything.” I look up at him.
He gives me a sideways grin and kisses my forehead. “I’m not really all that hungry, but how about we start the movie, and if we’re hungry afterwards, we go grab something?”
I fake a shocked gasp and step out of his arms. “In public?”
He throws his head back and laughs. “Yes, in public.” He holds out his hand, and we go into the living room. I sit in my usual spot, as he puts the movie in. When he sits on the couch, I automatically curl up to him.
As the movie starts, I stare at the TV screen, not really watching it. I start to think about the past two months. We’ve been seeing each other for two months. In that time, I’ve accused him of being married, almost pepper sprayed him, whipped him in the face with my hair, and he’s still here.
I start to think about the night on the porch. The way I felt kissing him, straddling his lap. I had kissed a few guys in my past, but none of them made my knees weak like Hudson does. I look up at him, and I realize that his scruff is becoming thicker.
“Are you growing a beard?” I inquire.
“Um, yeah.”
I sit up and touch his face, feeling the softness of his face. “I like it.”
He smiles, takes my hand, and kisses the inside of my wrist. The tenderness of his lips makes my heart race. He turns back to the TV, but I can’t stop looking at him.
“Hudson,” I say softly.
He turns to me. “Yes?”
I touch his face and pull his lips to me. I’ve never been so bold with anyone, ever. He moans as I push my tongue into his mouth. I pull him closer to me as I lay back. He cradles himself between my legs. My skirt hikes up as I open my legs for him. I run my hands through his soft hair and rest them on his neck. His fingertips softly trace my thigh, and my body shivers.
‘Hudson.” I break our kiss.
“Sorry, I got carried away.” He goes to pull away from me, but I stop him.
I let my trust and hormones take over for me because I know Hudson won’t hurt me. “Hudson, don’t stop.”
“What?”
“Don’t stop.”
“Ellie.” He closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens them, he is searching my face. “I need to ask you one thing, and it’s personal.” I nod. “How far have you gone with a guy?”
I feel my face heat up. “Not very far. But for the first time ever, I trust someone and I know that you wouldn’t hurt me. I know that you’re not after just one thing.”
“I told you that I would never ask you to do anything that you didn’t want to do.”
I thought for a moment and courage built up in me. “How about we make a deal?”
“A deal?” He looks perplexed.
I nod. “We continue, as far as it goes, until I say stop.”
“Ellie, I’m not letting you lose your virginity on a couch. I want it to be special for you.”