“Hudson,” Jax said. “Haley. I believe you two have already met.”
“Um.” I scanned the guy from head to toe and back again, which took a long time because dude wasmassive. Six-and-a-half feet of solid muscle, white V-neck tee stretched across a torso that looked like it was sculpted from marble, every inch of visible skin on his arms and neck covered in tattoos. Sun-streaked, messy blond hair fell to his shoulders, setting off eyes the color of milk chocolate. He had a beard too, slightly darker than his hair and just this side of scruffy, practicallybeggingfor someone to run her fingers through it.
Not that I was volunteering.
Out loud.
Anyway…
“Pretty sure I’d remember if I’d metyou,” I said, heading over to shake his hand.
The moment our palms connected, an electric zap shot up my arm, straight to my heart.
I let out a gasp, and Hudson’s lips twitched. Not quite a smile, but close.
There was something oddly familiar about him. About that little spark.
“Are you going to tell her,” Jax said to Elian, “or should I? Preferably before he proposes?”
“Oh, for fuck’s…” Elian sighed. “Haley, you spent the afternoon mooning over him in the garden. Hudson’s the gargoyle. That’s how we’re getting over the wall—gargoyles fly.”
“Like the one out by the pond?” I asked, still dazed by his hulking presence. “And the one at Saints and Sinners?”
“Sameone,” Elian said, gesturing at Hudson like he was Vanna freaking White showing the good people what they’d won. “Garden statue, cathedral ornament, man about town.”
A hot rush raced up my entire body, toes to eyeballs. “Wow. So that whole time I was out there spilling my guts, you were just… And I… Right. This issuperfucking awkward.”
He squeezed my hand and winked, both gestures so quick and easy I almost missed them.
He still hadn’t spoken a word, but somehow, I understood him.
Don’t worry,he seemed to be telling me.Your secrets are safe with me.
I relaxed and finally released his hand, but that little spark lingered in my heart.
Jax grabbed a beer from the fridge and tossed it to Hudson, who caught it with one hand and popped the top in a move so smooth I felt like I was in a beer commercial.
Good with his hands, check and check…
“Are you from New Orleans originally?” I asked, and he shook his head.
“He’s not much of a talker,” Jax said, and I wondered if that applied in all situations or just social ones.
Like, did he talk in bed? In a dirty way?Couldhe? If I strategically positioned myself beneath him without clothes on and asked nicely?
I wonder how that scruffy beard would feel between my thighs…
God, what was wrong with me? First I was lusting after the demon, and now the gargoyle too?
This was all Elian’s fault. Why the hell did he have such hot friends?
I glared at him as if he might answer my unspoken question.
He glared right back, firm and commanding andnotfucking around.
My thighs clenched.
Shit. How the hell did he still have that effect on me?
