Endangered Heiress Page 14
Before he reminded her that this was a bad idea or brought them both back to their senses, she kissed him. The heat in that kiss robbed her breath as she tunneled her fingers into his thick hair.
There was so much heat roaring through her body, seeking an outlet, that her body ached. Ached with need for Hudson. She needed to feel him moving inside her and needed the bliss that would follow getting completely lost with him. She needed to feel her naked skin against his strong, hard body.
He smelled of coffee and outdoors and spice. Just the scent of him turned her on and had her craving more. More of him. More of this moment. Just more until they rose to the sky before exploding into a thousand pieces of light and drifting to the earth like confetti during a celebration parade.
His hands searched her body, roaming over her stomach.
And the next thing she realized was the door to the truck flying open and Hudson wrapping his hands around her bottom as he twisted around until his boots were on the pavement. He carried her to the front door, couldn’t seem to get the key in the lock fast enough, and then rushed inside. He kicked the door closed and then spun around until her back was against it. She found the lock, making sure they were safe. His body was flush with hers, her legs wrapped around his midsection, and she could feel his thick erection pulsing, denim against denim.
“You’re beautiful,” he said as he planted kisses along her neck. His hot breath sliding through her, causing a deep well of need to rise from within.
“So are you,” she said, and he laughed, his chest rumbling against her body.
She matched his enthusiasm. His lips found hers and she thrust her tongue in his mouth. He groaned as his hands cupped her bottom and he pressed harder against her.
All she could do was surrender to the flames engulfing her. Madelyn gripped both of Hudson’s shoulders and he pulled back enough to look her in the eyes.
“We’re wearing far too many clothes,” she said.
“You’re sure this is a good idea?” he asked, the hunger in his gaze almost feral. His voice was low, husky and sexy.
Madelyn answered by urging her feet to the floor and pulling the hem of her blouse over her head.
His tongue slicked across his bottom lip and he groaned as his eyes roamed her body, hungry, seeking. He brought his hand up, using his index finger to outline her lacy bra. Her nipples pebbled and her breasts swelled under his touch.
He cupped her breasts and she reached in back for the release. He slid the straps over her shoulders, groaning again when her breasts were free. He dipped his head and captured her nipple in his mouth. Her body ached for him to touch more. His tongue slicked a hot trail circling around her nipple until he took her in his mouth.
Madelyn tugged at the hem of his T-shirt and he aided her in removing it with one swift motion. Her hands were already on the fastener of his jeans by the time his joined hers. He fumbled with one of the buttons as his hands trembled with the same need coursing through her.
Their rapid breaths mingled and she was ready to taste him. So, she did. Madelyn dropped down to her knees and gripped his length after he stepped out of his denim. She teased his tip with her tongue, drawing a guttural groan from deep in his chest. Working her hand along the shaft as she alternately licked and teased caused his muscles to cord.
“We need to slow down,” he said, and she liked being the one in control.
She eased her closed hand around him, sliding up and down in unison with her tongue. And when she brought him to the brink, he helped her up and out of her jeans.
“Hold on,” he said, disappearing for a second down the hallway and returning with a condom already secured. His body was perfection as he moved, his muscles flexing and releasing with every intentional stride toward her.
Madelyn had already slid her panties off and tossed them with the pile of clothes on the floor.
Hudson was making a beeline toward her and her heart stuttered at the hungry look on his face. She wrapped her arms around him as soon as he was close and he picked her up. She expected him to ease into her but instead he walked her over to the massive handmade wooden table and cleared it in one swipe. With her back on the table, he trailed kisses down her neck, around her breasts and then farther down still. Down her stomach toward her wet heat. He drove his tongue inside her as he worked her mound with his fingers. Her back arched as pleasure rippled through her from her thighs to her crown as he brought her closer to the tipping point.
When she couldn’t take it any longer, she tugged him over her, loving the feel of his muscled body on top of her, pressing her back into the table. She wrapped her legs around his toned stomach as he dipped his tip inside her heat. She was so ready for him, and the second he realized it, he drove himself deep inside. She moaned as the electric current pinging inside her reached fever pitch with each long stride.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she tried to brace herself for the moment when she would soar over the edge. His pace was frantic and she matched each stroke until they both exploded in an inferno of bliss as bombs detonated inside her. She could feel his length pulsing as he reached the same sweet release until all that was left inside them were heavy breaths.
She didn’t say that was amazing, but it was. In fact, that was the best sex of her life, and it was so much more than the physical act. The emotional connection she felt brought it to a whole new level, and she hoped—maybe sensed—he had the same experience.
His lips found hers and she got lost in that sensation of being with Hudson. And then he gently wrapped his arms around her bottom as she put her arms around his neck. He lifted her and held her tight as he brought her to his bedroom.
The bed was easily large enough for two people and the room was comfortably furnished. But that was not what she was focused on. All she could think about was how right she felt in his arms and how much she’d needed that release to break the sexual current that had been sizzling between them since she first met him.
She dressed in time for the sheriff to show up and then take their statements.
But when she got back into bed and pulled up the covers, she didn’t think about being shot at or the white sedan.
She thought about Hudson as she fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
HUDSON PUT ON a pot of coffee. Seven hours was the most sleep he’d gotten since...
He didn’t want to go there. Not after having the best sex of his life and especially not after his heart stirred in ways it hadn’t in... He paused. Ever.
A wave of guilt crashed into him. He muttered a curse under his breath. The last thing he wanted to think about was the past when he’d had a short reprieve while he was with Madelyn and, for once, he felt good.
“What’s wrong?” Madelyn said from the doorway. The sound of her voice shocked him out of his reverie. He turned toward her and the shot that pierced him was like a bullet to the heart. It also told him that he was in deep trouble. It was too soon to try to figure out what exactly that meant.
“Nothing,” he lied, making a straight line toward her and not stopping until she was in his arms and he’d kissed her. All he could think about now was just how shattered he’d been after they’d made love and how much he was ready to do it again.
She pushed up to her tiptoes to deepen the kiss and that was all the encouragement he needed to pick her up and take her back to bed.
They’d made love at a frantic pace last night and this time he wanted to take his time, explore her body and feel her soft creamy skin against his. He broke off the kiss long enough to place a condom on his tip and she rolled it down his shaft for him. All he could think was how much trouble he was in because he couldn’t get enough of the wheat-haired beauty as she straddled him and pushed him down on the bed.
This time, she climbed on top of him and set the pace. Long, slow strokes caused the tension to build inside h
im until he was on the edge again. Her pert breasts bounced as she rode him, and his hands roamed her flat stomach before gripping her sweet bottom. He could feel the tension building inside her as she increased her speed, grinding her sex on top of him. The sweet feel of her muscles tightening around him and her body cording with tension until she exploded in sweet release.
He flipped her onto her back and she smiled up at him—right then he knew that he was a goner. Once, twice... Hell, three times would never be enough.
She pulled him down on top of her, wrapped her legs around him and he drove himself home. It might be temporary, but it was home.
Chapter Fifteen
Madelyn woke reaching for Hudson and felt cold sheets instead where he’d been. The sun was bright in the sky and she couldn’t believe it when she checked the clock and realized that she’d slept until ten thirty, a luxury she couldn’t remember when she’d indulged last. She stretched, feeling the happy soreness that always seemed to accompany multiple rounds of back-to-back good sex. Really good sex. Okay, mind-blowing sex. And something else?
The feeling was foreign because she’d never been this connected to anyone else or felt this at home. Heck, her own place didn’t make her feel this safe and comfortable. Ever since this whole episode with Owen had started, she’d been lucky to get five hours of sleep in a row. And before that, needing to find the truth, to give others answers she’d never known, had driven her to work fourteen-hour days. Her father popped into her thoughts. She needed to circle back and speak to him. She didn’t like the way they’d left things. He had been her dad for almost three decades.
Coffee. She needed coffee. She didn’t need to overanalyze her life and especially not whatever was happening between her and Hudson. Her heart tried to argue but a strong need for caffeine momentarily silenced all protests. She threw on Hudson’s white button-down collared shirt, the one that had been flung over the chair in his room, and fastened a couple of buttons.
A pot was already on, so she poured a cup. The hot liquid burned her throat in the best possible way as she took her first sip. Palming her mug, enjoying the warmth, she moved toward the window to see if she could see him. He was most likely feeding animals, checking the fence for breaks or exercising his horse, Bullseye.
She located him almost immediately in the practice ring, and watched the grace with which the animal and rider moved. Thoughts of the feel of his rugged hands all over her skin brought a tingling sensation to her arms. She moved to the screened-in patio on the back porch, enjoying the bright sunshine and the beauty of the land.
There was something right about being here. Madelyn didn’t want to get inside her head about what that meant. She just sat there, admiring the ease with which Hudson guided his horse around the ring. She was on her second cup when her stomach decided food needed to be a priority. It took great effort to force herself up off the comfortable Adirondack chair. She fluffed the pillow and picked up her empty mug, not quite ready to leave the quiet, the stillness of the place. Because she was calm on the inside and she hadn’t experienced that since long before Owen. Probably never when she really thought about it and she was reluctant to let this moment end.
She lingered, looking out onto the land.
As she scanned the horizon, she saw someone about Owen’s size and build stalking toward Hudson from the tree line. Her heart leaped to her throat. At first, she thought she was seeing things. It couldn’t be him. And even if it was, how would Owen know where she was?
A dark feeling came over her as she watched the figure move toward the exercise ring. Did he have something in his hand? A weapon?
She flew to the screen door, flung it open and screamed at Hudson. Her finger was pointed directly at the approaching figure when he looked at her. He froze for a split second before spinning around and retreating.
Hudson wasted no time breaking his horse out of the corral. A shot was fired, and to Bullseye’s credit, he didn’t panic. Hudson had to stop long enough to open the gate but he was skilled on horseback and broke his mare into a full run toward the trees, aiming Bullseye at the spot she’d indicated. Her heart galloped at the thought he was heading toward the danger. She scanned his white T-shirt for signs of blood.
The figure had disappeared. She searched the trees, looking for any sign of him. He could be anywhere. She regretted yelling out in panic. If she’d kept a cool head, she might’ve been able to sneak up on him. And then do what? Confront a man who had a gun?
Another shot rang out and Madelyn gasped. Instinct took over and she dropped down to all fours.
If it was Owen, and she couldn’t confirm that it was, he’d lost his mind if he followed her to Cattle Barge. Hudson and Bullseye had disappeared into the trees and her heart free-fell at the possibility he wouldn’t come out.
It seemed like forever but was probably only ten or fifteen minutes by the time Hudson emerged. He and his horse broke from the tree line at a solid trot. She ran toward them, desperately searching his shirt for blood, but Hudson motioned for her to go back.
“Stay in the house,” he shouted. He hopped off his horse and secured Bullseye before dashing onto the porch. “What did you see?”
“A man about my ex’s height and build,” she started.
“Was it him?”
“I can’t be certain. I mean, a lot of men are around five foot ten and a hundred fifty pounds, right?”
Hudson nodded.
“He could come back, couldn’t he?” She hated the way her voice trembled.
“Yes. And we’ll be ready for him.” His jaw ticked.
“How? You can’t stay awake all the time and this whole situation is escalating.” Her fingers twisted thinking about the danger she’d put him in. “Maybe I should go to the Butler ranch. You could come with me.”
He paused like he was considering it. “I can’t leave my horses.”
“Could Doris stay with them?” Madelyn already knew the answer. He would never risk involving another person, and neither would she, now that she really thought about it. She was having a knee-jerk reaction and needed to calm down so she could think clearly.
Her ringtone sounded in the other room.
“I better answer that.” She dashed into the kitchen and located her cell. Owen. “You’re not supposed to call me anymore.”
“I have to see you,” he said, and she listened for any signs of him being out of breath or sounds of nature in the background. If it had been him a little while ago, there’d be something to give him away. Right? Owen was sneaky, a little voice reminded her.
“We both know that’s not going to happen.” A frustrated sigh slipped out when she could detect nothing. It couldn’t have been him. There was no way he’d be this calm and there was no noise other than a TV.
“It doesn’t have to be this way, Madelyn. I mean, the restraining order. I was a jerk and said things I didn’t mean. I’ll never make that mistake again. If you say it’s over and you’re done I’ll respect it. But at least see me one more time,” he begged. There was more than a hint of desperation in his tone.
“You’re right. We didn’t have to get to this place. But this was the path you chose and you need to explain yourself to a judge. If he thinks you should get off for what you did, that’s up to him. I’m not withdrawing the court order.”
“It’s a mistake on your part.” Was he threatening her? Again?
“Believe me when I tell you that you need to leave it alone. Walk away,” she said.
“I can’t. We’ll see each other again,” he stated.
Didn’t that send creepy crawlies down her spine?
“If that was you, Owen, you need to cut it out. Keep your distance or you’ll have even more to regret,” she warned.
“What are you talking about?” He was either a very good actor or he really didn’t know. With Owen, she couldn’t be sure.
“What do you think I’m doing now?” he shot back. There was a lot of confidence in his tone and that had her leaning toward the trespasser being someone else. But who? One of the Butlers? Someone from the media? A fresh wave of panic washed over her. Another thought struck. Trent?
“Violating a court order,” she stated.
“That, I’m not doing. Madelyn, it’s me. We had something good together. Don’t ruin it now with all this legal mess. Just have dinner with me and we’ll talk it out. You’ll see that I’m ready and willing to respect your boundaries.”
A frustrated sound tore from her throat. “Like you are right now?”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “And you’re right. I’m trying to get you to agree to see me and here I am being a total jerk. But it’s only because I still care about you. That has to be a little charming, right?”
She wasn’t about to fall into that trap with him. “I already said that’s not possible. Contact me through your attorney from now on.”
“You’re going to regret this, Madelyn,” he said, all the charm in his voice long gone.
“The only regret I have is getting involved with you in the first place, Owen.”
The line went dead.
“Who was that?” Hudson asked, startling her.
“Owen.”
Hudson’s hands fisted at his sides. “Wish you’d let me talk to him.”
She had no doubt that Hudson wouldn’t take lightly a man who threatened women. “I’m trying to let the law handle him.”
“Where was he?” Hudson was most likely thinking along the same lines as her.
“I heard a TV in the background and he wasn’t out of breath.” She wished there’d been more clues.
“Doesn’t rule him out.”
“Have you heard word from the sheriff today?” she asked.
“There’s no news of the white sedan.” Hudson moved to the coffee maker. “You want a cup?”
“I’d like that. Can we take it to go? There’s someone I need to talk to this morning.”