Page 90 of Abyss

Surprise and disbelief tussle inside me as my eyes float back to the man whose layers I can’t seem to peel back, no matter how hard I try.

After both brides dance with their fathers, and my eyeswell watching Hudson spin Madison around before kissing her on the cheek, cake is served and the newly wedded couple make their way to all the tables to greet the guests.

It’s only a few minutes before they make it to our table, and I’ve got Madison in a warm embrace, congratulating her.

“Thank you so much for being here. You look absolutely ravishing in pink, Kavi.” Madison says, holding my hand. Her platinum blonde hair is done up in a beautiful chignon. She tilts her head conspicuously at Adam, who is engaged in a conversation with Brie. “And what do you think about Brie’s friend?”

“He’s . . . nice.” I was hoping to come up with a better adjective, but it’s the best I can do, given my gaze is now connected with the man who left more than just delicious bruises all over my body not long ago. My mind feels like mush as his eyes skim down the length of me, laden with promises I’m ready to let him make.

How is it that he can make my skin heat and my heart race with nothing more than a look from all the way across a room?

“Just nice? Well, if that isn’t the most compelling review.” Madison giggles.

I squeeze her hand. “No, he’s great. It’s just . . . I’m not sure he’s my type.”

She leans into me. “I get it, but if nothing else, you’ll have an acquaintance in Portland when you move.”

I try to cover my frown with a forced smile, even if the weight on my chest suddenly feels heavier at the thought of moving. “Yeah, that’s true.”

As Madison and Brie move away from our table, Belinda turns to me, making sure her voice stays low. “Just a word of unsolicited advice. If whatever this is between you and Hudson continues, make sure you tell her yourself.” Her eyes bounce around my face. “Madison wants nothing more thanfor her dad to be happy, butthisis not something she’ll expect. And though she’s incredibly reasonable and cares about both of you, I’d assume she’d be hurt if she found out any other way.”

Guilt pools in my stomach like it’s corrosive. What will Madison think? Will she be disgusted, disappointed in me? What if she thinks I’ve betrayed her trust in some way.

Taking a sip of my water, I make a silent vow to tell her as soon as she’s back from her honeymoon. They’ll be gone for almost four weeks. If things are still progressing with Hudson, I’ll have no reason not to tell her. In fact, maybe Hudson and I can tell her together.

I’m just about to take a forkful of the cake that’s magically appeared in front of me when Belinda swivels her head to look at me aghast, as if realizing something for the first time. “Oh my God! I just thought of something.”

My brows furrow. “What?”

Her mouth turns downwards. “You guys haven’t . . .” her brows rise to meet her hairline and somehow, she still keeps her voice to a whisper, “in the office, have you?”

I pull my lips into my mouth, holding back any sort of response, to which Belinda says, “Oh, God. I’m going to have to ask maintenance to sanitize everything before I get back!”

I can’t help but giggle. Despite how crazy this situation must be to her, I, thankfully, don’t find any judgment from her, and that’s an unexpected boon in itself.

Nudging her shoulder with mine before taking a bite of my cake, I decide to tease her, now that the cat’s out of the bag. “You’ll need to tell them to pay specific attention to his desk.”

Her mouth practically falls to the floor while I’m practically in stitches. “Oh, you have got to be kidding me!”

“I loved your ranch.There was something so serene and magical about it.” I brush my hand over his bare chest, outlining his armor tattoo with my index finger. I love how just that small touch has goosebumps forming over his skin. “And all those wildflowers.”

“You’re a fan of wildflowers,” he murmurs, coasting his fingers over my arm.

We’re back in his condo, our bodies still slick from our lovemaking as we lay on his bed. We ripped each other’s clothes off as soon as we got home. Thirty seconds after that, he was buried inside me again, taking me from behind with my hair wrapped around his fist.

I wouldn’t say I was very experienced sexually until now, but after a summer with him, I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to write a thesis or the revised version of the Kama Sutra.

“They’re the most honest, unpretentious, and soft-spoken flowers,” I muse, delighting in how they were spread all over the grassy patches at his ranch—yellow poppies and baby blue irises.

He tilts his head, looking down at me, his blue-gray eyes less stormy than usual. “They’re like you. They’re the most beautiful.”

Feeling a flush work up my neck, I bury my face in his chest, kissing his pec, and Hudson wraps his arms around me, kissing my forehead.

While I’ve worked through many of the cruel remarks hurled at me in my teen years—Have you seen how her thighs jiggle when she walks?—I can admit they’ve resurfaced at times I haven’t felt my best. It’s not that I dislike the way I look. I’m quite comfortable in my own skin, in fact. But with the way Hudson looks at me—lust and admiration in perfect balance—I can’t help but feel . . . perfect. Desired.

“What did you say to the Justin Timberlake wannabe toget him off your back?” Hudson’s body stiffens under me and I suppress my giggle.

“Oh, you know. I just told him I’m more inclined toward the grumpy, stick-up-their-ass kind of men, preferably ones who’re twenty years older than me. He was a little put off, but took the hint. He was sweet, though.”

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