AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Eventually, Becks takes Juliette, Blaise, and Kenzie home. Lindy goes to her room to study, and I fill my teapot with water and set it on the stove as I glare at Hudson, who’s cleaning up the mess Becks and he made during the game. “You know you only live next door, Hud. You can go home. I’m sure Maddie misses you.”
He chokes.
“Hud... It’s okay. We’re safe. Lindy’s upstairs. The security system is armed. We’re good. I can call you if I need anything, and you’d be here in minutes, wouldn’t you?”
Hudson considers it for a moment before he shakes his head.
“You know I’m right. Just go home.”
He puffs out his cheeks, like he’s going to answer me but doesn’t. Instead, Kingston blue eyes stare at me for a long moment before Hudson finally breaks the tension. “Just let me hang out a little longer, okay?” He wraps one of his massive arms around me and drags me in for a bear hug. “This is as much for me as it is you and Lindy.”
Tears sting the backs of my eyes.
All these years, and I’m still not completely comfortable with the kind of all-accepting love the Kingstons show to their circle. “I’m lucky to have you, Hud.”
“Try to remember that the next time I piss you off,” he chuckles.
“Fine,” I shove him back and hand him the full trash bag. “You might as well make yourself useful.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The goofball salutes me, my teapot whistles, and the doorbell rings all at once.
Shit.
I accidentally graze the palm of my hand on the hot kettle, and pain shoots through my skin.
Shit.Shit. Shit.
Cold water. I need cold water. I turn the faucet on and shove my hand under it for relief, but apparently whoever’s at the door is inpatient because they ring the damn bell again.
“Mom,” Lindy comes skipping down the staircase leading into the kitchen but stops when she sees my hand under the water. “Did you burn yourself again?”
“I’m okay,” I lie. “Go back upstairs. You’ve got a test tomorrow.”
“Fine,” she agrees in that way only a teenage girl can, and I wrap ice in a towel and gently hold it in my hand before walking to the door and peeking through the peephole.
Okay, this guest is welcome.
Brandon stands on the other side, the same gray sweats from last night hanging low on his hips. His black Philadelphia Kings tee stretches across his incredible chest and fits nice and tight on his bulging biceps. A brown leather weekender bag is thrown over one shoulder, and a thick, chunky watch is wrapped around his wrist. The whole package is sinfully delicious, but it’s the smile on his face with that little hint of a single dimple that makes butterflies take flight in my stomach. “What are you doing here?”
He drops the bag at our feet and takes my face in his hands. “I quit.”
Then he kisses me.
There’s nothing soft or tentative about the way he claims my mouth. His lips crush against mine. Commanding mine. Good lord, he’s good at that.
It’s like I have no control over the way I respond to him.
And oh my, do I respond.
Chills skate down my skin as my pulse spikes and my nipples peak.
Brandon sweeps his tongue along my lower lip as he drops his hands to my ass and lifts me. My legs circle his waist, and there he is. His dick is hard and heavy, straining against his sweats. Right against my core.
With one foot, he kicks the door closed behind us and takes a few steps into my living room, then sits on the couch with me in his lap. One hand slides up my back, and his fingers dig into my hair, then someone moans. I think it’s me.
“Wait.” My brain tries to play catch-up to his words, but I’m not sure I’m firing on all cylinders at this exact moment. Not when I’m in his arms. Not when all I can think about is how much I want this man inside my body.
Wait...wait. “What do you mean you quit?”
