Laurelin Paige - Forever with You

“Alayna…” Hudson warned.

I let go of Jack’s hand and turned to look at my man who was now standing. His stance was foreboding, even with his hand tucked casually in his pocket. His jaw flexed and his eyes darkened with warning. It was surprisingly hot.

“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, son.”

I disagreed. Jealousy did look good on Hudson. Quite good indeed.

A low grumble came from the back of his throat.

Jack cocked his head. “Did he just growl?”

Though Jack was clearly not Hudson’s competition, I understood his reasons for feeling that way. It wasn’t worth it to try to convince him otherwise. “Obviously I’d love to talk more, Jack, but it doesn’t seem like it would be a good idea.”

He took a sip from the clear drink in his hand as he eyed his son. “No, it doesn’t.” Again, he addressed me, his free hand on my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re still here. In his life, I mean. Even though he’s a stubborn oaf that blames me for all the wrongs in my relationship with his mother—”

“Are you saying that you aren’t at fault?” Hudson challenged.

Jack’s face lit up. “He’s speaking to me!”

Hudson wiped his brow. “Ah, Jesus.”

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re with him, Laynie. He needs you more than he probably realizes. And there’s no doubt he recognizes your worth. That boy has real feelings for you.” His eyes drifted to Hudson. “Look. He’s blushing.”

“He is!” Mira exclaimed excitedly. She was a hopeless romantic and never pretended otherwise.

“I am not.” But Hudson’s protest only darkened the red in his cheeks.

Jack laughed. “See? His love for you is written all over his face.”

Hudson stepped forward and put his arm possessively around my waist. “Could you stop pawing my girlfriend?”

Jack rolled his eyes but removed his hand from my shoulder.

The whole scene was amusing, not to mention a big a turn-on. I didn’t at all mind when Hudson got all alpha male on me. In fact, I may have even provoked it in him. “I’ll have to tell you more how appreciative I am when we get together sometime.”

“No, no, no. Not happening,” Hudson fumed.

Jack chuckled. “Look at you rile him up on purpose. You’re a wicked little woman, Alayna Withers.” He looked us over, as if taking in all of who we are and what we meant to each other. “Perfect.”

“That’s it. We’re done here.” Hudson turned me away from his family.

“Talk later,” I called over my shoulder.

“Monday!” Mira reminded after me.

Yes, Monday. At the boutique. With Stacy.

A knot formed in my gut. The thought crossed my mind without permission—what was on that video? Was there actually something I should be concerned with?

I wouldn’t watch it, whatever it was. I’d said I didn’t need to.

But wondering about it still—that I couldn’t help. I was only human, after all.

Hudson escorted me out to the deck and I let thoughts of the video float away in the breeze.

I turned into him and surprised him with a deep kiss.

“What was that for?” he asked when I came up for air.

“No reason.” Except that I needed it. He seemed to need it as well. “You know there’s no reason to be jealous of me and your father, right?”

“Uh huh.” He pushed out of my arms and took my hand, leading me up the deck.

“He’s attractive. I won’t deny that.”

“Not helping.”

He was in front of me and couldn’t see my smile. I was only teasing him, but he needed to know that I’d never betray him with Jack. “There’s nothing between us. No chemistry at all. And if you stopped wanting me, I’d never retaliate against you like that. I’m not Celia.”

He spun toward me. “I know you’re not Celia. You don’t think I fucking know that?”

His heated reaction threw me off guard. “I…didn’t…”

He pulled me back into his arms, clutching me tightly. “And don’t talk about me not wanting you. Ever. It’s not even a breath of a possibility.”

I wrapped my arms around him, shocked by his desperate tone. “Okay. I won’t.”

He kissed my temple. “Thank you.” He held me like that for a long beat before he relaxed his grip on me. “The fireworks are getting ready to start. I have a spot reserved for us at the bow.”

“The bow?” I was so not a boat person.

“The front of the yacht. We’ll have an excellent view.” Though his eyes were perusing my body, and I wondered if he wasn’t talking about the view of the sky.

“Awesome.” I let my own eyes graze his perfect form before shaking myself out of my lustful stare. “I need to use the restroom before the show starts. I’ll meet you there?”

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a key. “Use the one in our stateroom. No lines. Number Three. It’s just in there.” He nodded toward an entry back into the ship. “Oh, and when you come back, I’d like you not to be wearing any panties.”

I grinned as I took the key from him. “You got it, H.” I knew what that was about. He’d felt threatened by his father and by talk of not being together. Having me at his beck and call was another way for him to feel reassured. Silly man with his insecurities. How did he not know that I completely belonged to him?

It only took a few minutes to find our stateroom. It was beautiful and grand like the rest of the ship and as large as our bedroom back at The Bowery. I didn’t linger, eager to get back to the show and, more importantly, Hudson. I used the bathroom, leaving my underwear hanging off the side of the tub, and returned to the deck just as the sky lit up with the first explosion of light.

Hudson was waiting for me at the front—the bow—of the ship. He’d acquired a spot at the railing between two small caterer stands where partiers could set empty glasses. Though there were still people everywhere, it gave us a little bit of seclusion, as bodies weren’t pressed right up against us like they were around the rest of the yacht.

Not that I minded a body pressed up against mine. As long as it was Hudson’s.

His eyes lit up when he saw me. I handed him the stateroom key, which he pocketed, then he held out his hand for mine. “Come here.” He tugged me in front of him.

I waited for his arms to circle around me, but instead he grabbed my ass through my dress, squeezing my cheeks. A breeze blew over the river and the feel of the air against my very bare pussy, plus Hudson’s massage of my behind, had me feeling aroused.

“Good,” he whispered. “You obeyed.”

Ah, so the butt rub was simply a panty check. Whatever the reason, I’d take it.

Hudson propped his leg on the lower rail and continued caressing my behind while, overhead, the sky lit up again and again. Each time the sparks caused cheers from the crowd, drowning out the sound of the music blaring from inside the ship. I’d never been so close to the Macy’s Annual Fireworks, and I was mesmerized. They shot above the river from at least seven different barges, simultaneously turning the darkness into a flash of color—magical.

Things got even more magical when Hudson’s arms wrapped around me. And then his hand made its way under my skirt, hiking the fabric up around my waist, flirting with the skin above my pubic bone.

I was exposed to the night. Though Hudson’s propped leg covered the view on one side of us, the crowd on the other side of me only had to move their interest from the sky to us, and they’d see.

I inhaled sharply. “What are you doing?”

“Setting off fireworks.” His mouth was at my ear, rumbling with the rockets in the sky.

Fuck, I didn’t care who could see—I was turned on.

My eyes burned from the blaze overhead, my nerves lit from Hudson’s touch, my lower belly sparking with need.

“Spread,” he commanded.

I obeyed, lifting my left foot onto the lower rail, mirroring his stance. It gave more privacy, blocking the view from the other side of us. Yet it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out what he was doing to me—all anyone had to do was pay attention.

With full access, Hudson stroked over my pussy, sweetly grazing the newly exposed area. “Ever since you told me you were bare, I’ve been thinking about touching you.” His breath at my neck drove a shiver down my spine.

Then his fingers slid between my lips, finding the sensitive nub, and I thought I might burst—burst with the fireworks above me. He settled his thumb on my clit, circling with expert pressure. “God, precious, I couldn’t keep my hands off you if I tried. You’re so slick already.”

“Hudson.” It was barely a word, more of a cry, really. Louder than I’d intended, drawing a glance from a couple not far from us.

Hudson’s hand froze. “If you want to come, Alayna, you have to promise me you can be quiet.”

“Okay.” Anything. Anything to make him keep touching me.

He started his movement again, his thumb dancing over my clit as his fingers went lower. “Do you know what it does to me to see you come apart?” he taunted, his touch now spiraling around my hole. “Do you?”

How did he think I could talk? “No,” I managed on a breathy exhale.

“It drives me fucking insane.” He jabbed two fingers inside. At least, it felt like two fingers. It was difficult to be certain. All I knew for sure was that it felt amazing.

He plunged again as his thumb resumed whirling over my clit. Swirling and plunging, he fucked me with his hand, right there, in the open air, as the crowd around us stared upward in a patriotic daze.

So. Fucking. Hot.

The tension was building, tightening in my womb.

Then his lips were moving at my ear again. “Sometimes it’s all I think about. Taking you to the edge. Watching you spill over. It’s the most goddamned beautiful thing there is.”