She kissed and sucked a path along his stubbled jaw. “That was before you turned me into a quivering mess during dinner.”
Hudson wrenched open her blouse and dipped his finger into the lace cup of her bra, freeing her breast. “It’s only two blocks. Surely you can make it that far,” he teased, just before sucking her nipple into his mouth. She swore she felt him smile against her skin.
Bastard.
“Enough is enough, Hudson. You’ve wined me and dined me, now fuck me . . . please.”
He chuckled. “Ever the romantic, Miss Sinclair.”
Allie took his face between her hands and lifted his head to look at her. The light from a passing car flashed across his blue eyes. They flickered with amusement but reflected the same carnal intent she felt. “This has been the most romantic night of my life, Hudson. And I promise, we can make love till the sun comes up. But I need you inside me. Right here, right now.”
As if to make her point, she rocked against him, his breath hissing as she stroked herself along his hardened length. This time when her fingers went to his buckle he didn’t stop her. He merely reached for the button on the panel above them.
“Take the long way home, Max.”
“Sir?” came the reply. Allie looked out the window. The limo was half a block from the Palmolive Building. No wonder he was confused.
“He thinks you’ve lost your mind,” Allie whispered.
“Not far from it,” Hudson muttered under his breath before hitting the intercom button again. “Take us up Lake Shore. To the end and back, please.”
The light turned green and the car sped past Hudson’s building. “Seems I’m all yours for the next fifty-eight blocks and back.” He smirked. “Whatever will you do with me?”
Allie bit down on her lip. “I can think of a few things,” she said, lowering his zipper and freeing him from the confines of his boxers. He groaned as she caressed him, velvet soft and yet hard as stone. His hips flexed against her hand and instinctively she tightened her grip, stroking him from root to tip. Her thumb brushed over his sensitive head, collecting the evidence of his arousal. Holding his gaze, she brought her thumb to her lips, slowly licking his taste from her skin.
“Fuck, Allie. Put me inside you. I want to feel you riding my cock.”
Rising up on her knees, she positioned him at her entrance. Her body ached for him, but she took her time, wanting to make the moment last. Wrapping her hand around his length, she rubbed him back and forth between her slick folds, teasing them both as she coated him with her wetness.
“Go slow,” he ground out, his voice thick with restraint. “I want to feel you taking every inch.”
Just the thought of him filling and stretching her made her body quiver. Then his thick head penetrated her, spreading her open, and she gasped. His hands went to her hips, guiding her descent at an excruciatingly slow pace.
Her gaze never left his. She watched him, his lips parting and his chest expanding on heavy breaths, as she lowered her body onto his. This was the connection she’d missed. This is what she’d craved all those lonely nights. When they were together like this, nothing else in the world mattered. Nothing could touch them.
His head pressed back into the seat when she’d taken him fully. He was so deep, she thought she might come from the fullness alone. Then he shifted, his hips flexing, and she knew she needed more. More friction, more of him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rose up and down in fluid movements that started slow but grew more frantic with every stroke.
“Fuck, you feel so good.” His mouth was on her, leaving a trail of searing kisses as he worked his way down her neck.
She groaned and her head fell back, offering him her aching breasts. Her hands went to his hair, her fingers twisting in the wavy locks, holding him to her as his teeth closed around her nipple. She gasped as he bit down, then soothed her with laps of his tongue. Then his hand slipped between their bodies, his thumb rubbing her in circles that had her core clenching around his cock.
“Yes, like that, make me come.” The words had no sooner left her mouth when a massive orgasm overtook her body in a dizzying rush. It went on and on, pulsing through her like waves as his hips pumped up, riding out the spasms of his own release.
Allie collapsed against the heavy rise and fall of Hudson’s chest. “Sorry about that,” she said. Her breathing was as erratic as his.
Hudson’s hand stroked up and down her back. “Sorry?”
“For jumping you the minute we got in the car.” She peeked up at him. “I sort of derailed your plan.”
A chuckle rumbled deep within him. “It’s quite all right. Besides, if memory serves, there were certain promises made.” He smirked. “Till the sun comes up, if I’m not mistaken.”
She couldn’t stop the wide grin that spread across her face. “Planning to keep me up all night, Mr. Chase?”
“Indeed I am, Miss Sinclair.” He lifted his head from the back of the seat and looked out the window. The limo had reached the end of Lake Shore Drive and was turning around. “But for now . . .” The arm banded around her waist tightened. Without breaking their connection, Hudson rose and in one swift move had her beneath him on the leather bench. “We still have the ride home.”
Hudson woke to the sensation of a soft hand sliding around his waist and a smooth leg hooking over his thigh.
“Play hooky with me,” Allie said.
“Sounds like an offer I can’t refuse. What did you have in mind?” He hitched her higher on his chest and pressed his lips to her temple. Her curves fit perfectly against the hard edges of his muscles. He couldn’t contain the hum of a content and happy man that vibrated in his chest as his long fingers caressed up and down Allie’s naked spine.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged and her soft skin shifted against his, instantly waking his body and shooting the blood feeding his brain cells straight down to his cock. “We have a lot of wasted time to make up for. Maybe we could spend the weekend together.” Allie moved her leg up his thigh, her knee making direct contact with the head of his hard on. “Starting now.”
Hudson hissed and rolled her beneath him. “I’d love nothing more than to be locked up with you all weekend.” He leaned down and brushed his lips along her jaw. “But I have plans with Nick after his AA meeting tonight.”
“I didn’t realize he was out of rehab.”
“Just this week.” Hudson met her stare, his eyes tracing the delicate contours of her face. “I would cancel, but it’s the first time we’re getting together since they sprung him.”
“Don’t be silly. Nick has to come first right now.” Her gaze softened. “How’s he doing?” With any other woman he might have registered disappointment in her expression or tone, but with Allie there was nothing but sincerity and genuine interest.
“So far so good. He seems to be taking to the program. Although I think he’s concerned about the holidays, called them a trigger. Not that they were ever a big deal growing up.” Hudson’s brow furrowed and a frown pulled at the corners of his mouth. “Then again, maybe that’s why . . .”
With a hard slam, the steel gates opened and memories of the holidays he and Nick had shared were unleashed like a criminal out of jail. Most adults loved to recount their holiday traditions, but Hudson wasn’t one of them. For him there were no happy memories of singing the Twelve-fucking-Days-of-Christmas, or of opening presents the morning of rather than Christmas Eve. And there certainly wasn’t a mother in the kitchen, frying bacon as her smiling kids played with the toys she’d labored over selecting.
In the early days things had been different, but those memories were blurred and faded to the point that sometimes he wondered if they were just a figment of his imagination. After his father died everything had changed, and those were the images that filled his mind when he thought of the holidays: his mother, counting the days of Christmas by the number of pills she had left in the bottle; Nick, begging him to get them a tree and being thrilled with the discarded Charlie Brown version Hudson would drag home from some dumpster; or him, scraping enough cash together to buy Nick something to open the morning other kids would wake to a living room full of toys. These were the memories he couldn’t shake. They were like the black mold that crept up a wall and slowly took over.
Allie framed his face with her hands, anchoring him in the moment. “You know, they have meetings you can go to as well. Family support groups.”
“Your concern is one of the things I love about you.” Hudson’s lips curved sinfully before he dropped his head to her neck, sucking the sensitive skin. “But I’d like to know more about this hooky idea.”
Her fingers threaded into his hair, her nails raking against his scalp. Goddamn it, she knew all his trigger points.
Allie gasped and yanked his head up. “Let’s go Christmas shopping,” she said, her face lighting up with a smile that was her fucking Hail Mary.
“I have people who do that.” He lowered his head again, his tongue flickering over the hollow of her throat.
“Don’t be such a Grinch. It’s not Christmas without a trip to Macy’s on State Street.”
Hudson smiled against her skin. “Ah, I do enjoy Macy’s.”
She laughed. “I wasn’t talking about the dressing rooms.”
“Damn.” His fingers flexed as he shoved the thirteen-million-thread sheet count down, exposing her body.
“I meant the Walnut Room, lunch under the giant tree . . . Oh! Let’s get a tree.”
He palmed her breast, his thumb brushing over her nipple. “I don’t usually decorate the penthouse.” He exchanged his thumb for his index finger, stroking until her nipple hardened under his touch.”There’s a service that does that at the office. I could call them.”
“What fun would that be?”
Hudson didn’t reply. Instead he claimed her nipple with a gentle bite.
Her hands shot to his face, and his lips tugged free of her breast. “I want to do this, Hudson. I want to make this special forNick.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “Besides, this will be the first holiday without my family.” Her eyes were haunted by both the reality of being alone and the gruesome scene continually on replay. But as he stared at her he saw hope flicker in their depths, igniting her to move forward and create new memories. Memories with him in it.
Just like that, Allie had located the crack in the foundation of his hardened heart, the tiny fissure that allowed her to squeeze her way past his dark memories that were the antithesis of a Norman Rockwell painting. Hudson’s perspective shifted as he realized he couldn’t see beyond the two people who were his life. He couldn’t imagine living out his days in the darkness that shadowed him like the Grim-fucking-Reaper. But like death, his memories were always there, lingering in the background, waiting for the opportunity to slam him into a brick wall.
Shaking off the residual feelings from his trip into Christmas past, Hudson engaged himself in Christmas present. Allie need him, needed the distraction of throwing herself headlong into the holidays. And fuck him, he’d wear a goddamn Santa suit if it would keep a smile on her face.
“Okay.” He brushed his lips against hers, then teased her with slow flicks of his tongue.
Allie smiled broadly against his mouth. “And when we’re done shopping we can swing by Daley Plaza . . .” She rambled as he dipped his head and his tongue did a slow sweep across her collarbone. “The Christkindlmarket is open.”
“The what?” He moved lower, his tongue curling around her nipple, his mouth enveloping the taught peak, then sucking.
“The Christmas village. The tents are all set up. We can get a tree there, I think . . .” When her nipple tightened and swelled in his mouth, he shifted to give her other breast the same attention. “And maybe pick out an ornament,” she continued, carrying on a conversation with herself.
“Jesus Christ, woman. I’m hard as a rock here. Can we talk about this shit later?” He moved down her stomach, leaving a trail of kisses in his wake.
“I wonder if they can deliver it this weekend?”
He flattened his tongue and licked leisurely through her slick lips. As he circled her opening, Allie’s breath hitched and a soft moan rushed out of her mouth. “Oh . . . okay . . .”
Jackpot.
He felt her muscles tighten around his tongue as he tormented her tender flesh, completely seduced by her taste.
“That’s it . . .” He glanced up from between her legs, across all that perfect female skin. He wanted to see her face, but her back was arched and all he could see was the tips of her nipples as her chest heaved.
“Don’t stop,” Allie begged. Her fingers twisted almost painfully in his hair.
“Wouldn’t even if I could, baby,” he said, smiling to himself as he hooked her leg over his shoulder.
Allie stared up at the fifty-foot spruce that towered over Daley Plaza. All at once memories of her as a small girl, wearing a white fur coat and standing on a dais between her parents as the mayor flipped the switch to light the city’s official Christmas tree, filled her mind. She remembered the collective gasp from the people who gathered in front of the stage and the hundreds more who milled around the Christkindlmarket. Year after year she’d had the best seat in the house. But secretly she’d longed to join the other children, eating fried dough covered in powdered sugar while watching with wide eyes as glassblowers created ornaments for their parents to take home and hang on the family tree.
“So what exactly is a Christkind?” Hudson asked, pulling her from her childhood memories. He’d groused about their little holiday adventure, lobbying hard for a day in bed as opposed to one spent among “the masses of people buying items they neither need nor really want.” But he’d come around once they were out on the snow-covered streets. And looking at him now, his hand linked with hers as they stood side by side amidst complete holiday mayhem, Allie couldn’t help but smile. For as different as their backgrounds were, when it came to the holidays at least, they had one thing in common: neither of them had fond memories. As she reveled in the love reflected in his warm gaze, Allie realized this was a second chance for both of them. They had each other now, and together they could create new memories that would slowly replace the old ones. Together they would find their way.
“Well, the Christkind,” she began, reciting the story she’d heard dozens of times growing up, “is a fairylike angel, dressed in white-and-gold robes and wearing a crown on top of her long golden hair. According to folklore, she is the bearer of gifts to children in German-speaking countries, leaving the presents under the Christmas tree and disappearing before they can catch a glimpse of her.”
“So a cross between the tooth fairy and Santa Claus?” Hudson somehow managed to keep a straight face, but the amusement in his eyes was evident.
Allie laughed. “Something like that.”
“And all this?” He gestured to the red-and-white striped tents arranged in rows under the shadow of the steel Picasso.
“This is the Christkindlmarket.”
He lifted a dark brow. “Which is?”
“C’mon,” she said, tugging him. “I’ll show you.”
Hudson chuckled quietly as she pulled him into the crowd. Although only a few blocks away in actual proximity, the Christkindlmarket seemed a world away from the retail giants of State Street and the Magnificent Mile. In the plaza outside Daley Center, dozens of merchants sat in small tents selling classic German products like nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, and beer steins, while others offered handmade jewelry, clothes, and toys. Some even demonstrated their handiwork for customers, carving wood or blowing glass for those captivated by the idea of purchasing items directly from their workbenches.
They strolled hand in hand through the maze of tents until Hudson paused in front of one selling what appeared to be small wooden carousels. Each had several tiers decorated with intricately carved figurines and were surrounded by small white candles at their base. On top sat what looked like helicopter blades.
“We had one of these when I was a kid,” he said. His voice was so soft, Allie barely heard him.
When he was a kid.
Hudson hardly ever mentioned his past, must less his childhood. A hundred questions popped into Allie’s head. But wanting to take things at the pace he needed, she kept herself from bombarding him and instead asked only one. “What is it?”
“A Christmas pyramid. When the candles are lit the heat rises and spins the propellers.” He reached out and with one finger gave the delicate paddles a gentle push. All at once the tiers began to rotate in alternating directions.
“It’s beautiful.” Growing up, her house had been decorated by the same people who did the windows at Marshall Field’s. And yet as she watched the pyramid turn, picturing a wide-eyed Hudson watching it as a child, she realized she’d never seen a holiday decoration she liked more.
“Nicky was obsessed with the damn thing, constantly trying to figure out what made it work. Only problem was, as soon as he touched it all the blades would fall out.” His lips were pressed together in a hard line, but at the mention of his brother a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “He would get so frustrated. But then I’d rebuild it for him and he’d do it again not five minutes later.”
Allie touched Hudson’s arm. “You’ve always been so good with him.”
Hudson frowned. “My mom used to put it on the table like a centerpiece. Even after . . .” His voice trailed off and they stood quietly for several moments until the spinning slowed to a stop.
“Let’s get one,” Allie said. “We can put it on the dining room table at your penthouse.”
He shook his head. “I don’t need a bunch of clutter. I like things simple, orderly.”
She placed her hand on the side of his face, urging him to look at her. “I’d like to have one. And imagine how excited Nick will be to see it.” She could see the internal debate flit across his eyes. “And as for clutter, you better get over that right now, Chase, because I have carte blanche when it comes to decorating.”
He lifted a brow. “Carte blanche?”
“Well, for the next few weeks, at least.”
“On whose approval?” he asked, unable to hide his grin.
“Mine. Didn’t you get that memo?” she teased.
“No, I must have missed that one among the hundred or so others.” He brushed his lips across hers. “You’re quite remarkable, do you know that?”
Allie leaned back to look at him. “Does this mean we’re getting one?”
“Hmm. Seems I’m incapable of denying you anything. Pick your favorite.”
“Oh no,” she said. “You’re the resident pyramid expert. You choose.” She smacked a swift kiss against his lips. “Meet me at the wrapping paper tent when you’re done.”
Hudson groaned, but as she walked away she stole a glance over her shoulder. He looked relaxed and happy as he chatted with the woman boxing up the pyramid he’d selected. Allie wondered idly if it was similar to the one he’d had as a child. Not that it mattered. The important thing was he’d faced a memory from his past. And more than that, he’d been willing to share it with her.
She smiled to herself as she wandered over to a table covered with every type of wrapping paper and ribbon imaginable. For several minutes she sifted through the rolls of brightly colored foils and prints, debating which ones would be best suited for the gifts they’d selected earlier for Harper and Nick.
“You didn’t tell me they sold beer,” Hudson said, strolling up beside her. He was holding a stein of beer in one hand and what appeared to be a tiny boot in the other. “Genius, really. Makes the Christmas shopping experience all the more tolerable.” He held out the boot for her to take.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Something called gluehwein, which according to the man dressed in lederhosen, is a hot spiced wine. Complete with a souvenir cup,” he added with a smirk. “That I somehow suspect is going to end up on display in my game room.”
Allie smiled. “What a wonderful idea. It will look great behind the bar. You can put it on one of the glass shelves right next to the Baccarat.”
“Keep teasing me and I won’t buy you that fried dough you’ve had your eye on since we arrived.”
Allie’s mouth popped open. How in the world did he always seem to know exactly what she was thinking?
Hudson’s mouth twisted into a wry grin. “Like I said, Alessandra, I’ve become quite adept at reading your body.” He dropped his lips to her ear. “Especially what it hungers for.” His words were like an incendiary device, setting her every nerve aflame. “Drink your wine.”
She took a sip of wine from the small boot, letting the spiced liquid warm her insides. Something on the display in front of them caught Hudson’s eye. He lifted a wide spool of red satin ribbon from the table.
“This looks promising,” he murmured, adding it to the pile of wrapping paper Allie had already selected. He dug his wallet out of his back pocket and handed his credit card over to a woman in a green elf hat.
“Planning to wrap a few presents, Mr. Chase?”
“One in particular.” A wicked gleam flashed in his eyes. “And I plan to unwrap it as well.”
Allie smiled over the rim of her cup, loving his playful, happy mood.
Hudson gathered their bags. “Now tell me, what’s left on your list of Christmas torture?”
“Why can’t you just admit you’ve enjoyed this?”
“While I’ll admit I have enjoyed spending time with you, I’m ready to get you home.” He lowered his voice to a rough whisper. “And naked.”
Allie looked around and was relieved to find no one within earshot.
“I let you convince me the ride to State Street was too quick for a limo reenactment, and I was even on my best behavior at Macy’s, despite some very fond memories making me inconveniently hard while you debated two shades of blue I’m quite certain were exactly the same. But if I’m out here much longer I won’t be held accountable for my actions. There’s bound to be an empty tent somewhere in this village, and if you don’t let me take you home soon, I’m going to fuck you in one of them and I don’t care who hears us.”
Allie nearly choked on her wine. “You wouldn’t dare.” The words left her mouth without much forethought and she regretted it the moment they did. The look on Hudson’s face told her not only would he absolutely follow through on that dark promise, but that he was seriously considering acting on it at that very moment. He opened his mouth to reply and she pressed her fingers to his lips. “Don’t answer that.”
He lifted an impatient brow.
“I need to get a gift for my new assistant and I really should get something for Ben Weiss. But other than that, just the tree.”
Hudson groaned against her fingertips.
“Two hours, tops.” She lifted her fingers from his lips and replaced them with a soft kiss. “Then I’m all yours for the rest of the night.”
“You’re all mine for a hell of a lot longer than that,” he murmured against her lips before pulling back and making his counter offer. “I’ll agree to ninety minutes and not a second more.”
She was about to lodge a protest but he cut her off.
“Relax. They’re selling trees at the far corner of the plaza and I’m fairly sure even your Olympic caliber debating skills can decide on a tree and two gifts in an hour and a half.”
“Hudson, I can’t possibly do all that in ninety minutes.”
He looked at his watch. “Eighty-nine. Do you really want to stand here discussing this?” he asked with a smirk.
Oh, he was impossible. And aggravating. And . . . and what the hell was wrong with her? The man standing in front of her, looking unbelievably sexy in dark jeans, a black leather jacket, and perfectly mussed hair, wanted to take her home and fuck her senseless and she was negotiating shopping time?
Seriously, Sinclair, pick your battles.
Hudson wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her tight against him as he led her to the far side of the plaza where she selected an evergreen tree in record time. She checked her phone while Hudson paid the salesman and arranged for the delivery. There were a few e-mails from work, a list of messages from Colin, all of which could wait until Monday, and a text from Harper.
Assuming lack of call = hot night of unbridled passion?
Allie laughed as she replied:
You read too many romance novels.
Little dots appeared almost immediately to indicate Harper was typing. Allie shook her head. Sometimes it seemed like that phone was surgically attached to her.
1.You can NEVER read too many romance novels.
2.How are you texting me with your hands cuffed to a headboard?
Allie felt her face blush a deep red. She’d never divulged the kinkier details of her time with Hudson. Actually, come to think of it, she’d never really divulged any details at all. But Harper had a vivid imagination and no qualms about sharing it. Only problem was, this time she was right.
We’re shopping for a tree.
Her phone lit up with:
Assuming shopping for tree = hot afternoon of unbridled passion?
Which was followed almost immediately by:
Have I asked you if the Buff Billionaire has a brother?
Call you Monday.
Monday?! Wow, this is gonna be good. I better hear the whole . . .
Harper was still typing as Allie tucked her phone back into the pocket of her jeans. Hudson was suddenly behind her, his arm wrapped around her waist and his lips at her ear. “You disappoint me, Miss Sinclair.”
Allie turned to find his other hand holding a sprig of mistletoe high above their heads.
“All this talk of Christmas traditions and you failed to mention the most important one.” His lips hovered just above hers. “I’d have thought you more thorough than that.”
“Whatever will I do to make it up to you?” she breathed. Cupping the nape of his neck, she pulled his mouth down to hers. She’d meant for it to be nothing more than a sweet, tender kiss, something suitable for public consumption. But then her lips parted and his tongue slid inside, savoring her in lush, deep strokes, and all thought of where they were left her. All she could think about was this man, this moment, and how desperately she wanted him.
He groaned into her mouth as he deepened the kiss, his tongue licking, tasting, teasing in that way that made her long to feel him kiss the rest of her body with the same fervor. And when his hand slid down her backside, urging her tight against him, she raked her fingers into his hair.
His head lifted and he gazed down at her with hooded blue eyes. “Christ, Allie, please tell me we can go home now.”
“Miss Sinclair?”
Allie turned to find her assistant standing not three feet away. “Colin,” was all she said, then they stared at each other for several beats of awkward silence. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Hudson attempt to discreetly rub her lipstick from his bottom lip with the side of his index finger. While she appreciated the effort, after what Colin had just witnessed, it was way too late for discreet. And what the heck was Colin doing at the Christmas village in the middle of the afternoon, anyway?