No more sleeping together, not in this apartment anyway.
I shake my head as I stand and gather my clothes. It’s been a long time since my body has been claimed like that. It feels sore and tired. I need some hot water to relieve the stiffness and soreness.
I get into the shower and wash off quickly. I wash my hair and shave my legs, then take a seat on the bottom of it. I lean my back against the tub and rest my head against the wall, enjoying the quiet time to reflect back on my night. The hot water does just as I’d hoped. It relaxes me and eases away the sore tired muscles. I smile to myself when I think back on the hours I spent with Hudson. I don’t know how he manages to be so sweet and so damn hot at the same time, but I know with each encounter, I’m only getting more and more addicted to him. I couldn’t walk away before. I sure as fuck can’t now. I’m a goner.
I mean, if Brad sees that he and I really love one another, can he really demand we stay apart? Shouldn’t he want me to be happy? I understand him chasing off the guys I’ve been with the last few years. They were all worthless, but Hudson, he’s good. He’s been in the military and now, he works for the fire department. If we decide to stay together, he will take care of me, protect me, and love me because that’s who he is. I know him being friends with my brother complicates things, but deep down, Brad knows Hudson better than anyone else. He should know he’s not my usual fling.
I shake my head clear, knowing that all these thoughts are pointless at the moment. I have no idea where things with me and Hudson are going to end up. We may stay together, get married, and have kids, or we may never move past what we’re doing right now. The only way to know is to wait and see. And until I have something concrete, I won’t be trying to change Brad’s mind.
I stand up and shut off the shower, grabbing my towel and drying off. I dress in a pair of leggings with a tank top and brush the knots from my hair. Since it’s already so late, I don’t bother drying it. I’m too tired, and Brad and Hudson are both probably asleep. There’s no need for me to be any louder than I have to be.
I exit the bathroom and move back to my bed, the couch. I pull the folded-up blanket off the back and cover myself as I flip through the channels. I always need something to watch, some kind of noise to put me to sleep. I stop on some reality show and curl myself into a ball. The junction between my legs is still sore and throbbing, and as uncomfortable as that is, I like it. I like having the soreness as a way to remember who I was just with. With every throb, I think of Hudson.
Sunday rolls around, and the three of us just hang out at home for the day. We sit and watch TV. We talk and joke. We eat and relax. Around three in the afternoon, Brad excuses himself to go take a nap to prepare for his midnight shift at the brewery. It’s always hard on him going from his midnight schedule to a normal schedule and then back to midnights, which is what happens every weekend. With him no longer in the room, Hudson comes to sit on the opposite end of the couch. He picks up my foot that’s between us. He pulls it into his lap and starts massaging it.
“Mmmmm, that feels good,” I say softly, my eyes fluttering closed.
He wags his eyebrows at me. “Just wait until later.”
My stomach tightens with the unsaid promises. “I can’t wait.”
I hear Brad’s bedroom door open and I quickly jerk my foot away, just in time. He comes walking into the living room, grabs his bottle of water off the coffee table, and heads back to his room.
Hudson and I look at one another with wide eyes. That was a close one.
7
Hudson
Fuck. I’m in deep. I wanted to keep my distance. I did. But it was impossible. She’s too perfect. I couldn’t resist. Even now, I’m glad I didn’t. But I also wish I had. This whole thing is