Page 24 of The Prey
“This one is wet, too,” Hala said, in a strange tone that had Hudson studying her for a moment. “I’ll be right back. Hudson…behave yourself or else. No arguing with Gia today.”
“I haven’t argued with my favorite female demon in more than a week. Other than aboutMartinell vs. the State of Texas, anyway. And she was right about that. I just liked making her mad at me so her gorgeous eyes shoot fire.”
His sister shot him a pointed look, cuddled the baby girl in her arms closer, and took off after Gia’s brother. Probably to tell him exactly what she thought.
Then, just like that, he and the woman he was after were alone in the Hillers’ kitchen. He took his first really good look at the woman he’d had some seriously heated dreams about the night before. She wore a tank top. Pink. Apparently, she liked that color outside of the office. And jeans that were ripped in the best places. “I like the hair like that.”
Two braids hung down, one behind her right shoulder, and the other over her left breast. Talk about teasing a man. She looked gorgeous and so damned tempting, he almost couldn’t breathe.
“I’ve learned my lesson with kids around. Otherwise, it gets pulled and tangled…”
“And covered in pancake syrup?” He couldn’t help himself; he grabbed one braid gently—not the one hanging down herfront, he wasn’t crazy—and ran the satin through his fingers. “You have gorgeous hair. I learned that when I stayed here. It tempts me…no denying that.”
“Well, grow some will-power, then, Hanan. It’s justhair.It’s very impractical. I thought about cutting it again, but I just haven’t had the time for the appointment. What do you want?” She crossed her arms under her breasts. Defensively?
He shifted his hand, running his fingers over her bare arm instead. Hell, he wanted to touch her all over. “No…you shouldn’t cut it…I think…that if I told you what I really want, you’d disappear to the furthest reaches of your ranch and hide from me forever. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head lately.”
“I think that accident you were in scrambled your brains, then.” That particular snappish tone snuck in immediately.
Now he recognized what it was. A defense mechanism. Nerves. Fear. He cupped her neck in his hand. She had the softest skin. He couldn’t wait to touch her all over. He just had to figure out how to make that happen. “Why are you so afraid of me? I promise, I willneverhurt you. You have my word. But you…I can’t get you out of my head; not since the night I found you holding my son in the moonlight. I’m going crazy now.”
“No kidding.” Her words were light and breathless. He slipped his hands down to her waist. He wasn’t the kind of man whowaitedfor what he wanted. But he wanted to be so gentle with her. Hewouldbe gentle and unthreatening, even when he just wanted to carry her off and show her the animal side of him that she triggered so effortlessly.
He leaned down. Brushed his lips lightly against hers. So lightly, she might not have even felt it. “Let me kiss you? Please.”
He had been waiting to kiss her for what seemed like forever.
16
Gia just stayedwhere she was, shivering. His hands scorched her, even as she felt the cool plaster of his cast where her shirt had ridden up just a little. She could smell him all around her. Somehow, she ended up leaning against the kitchen island, with Hudson right in front of her.
She was five-nine—not exactly short. He had a good eight inches on her. He was a big man. No denying that. Even bigger than any of her brothers. Bigger, stronger, more intense—Hudson just dominated other men so effortlessly.
His arms were strong around her, his chest felt far too hard and strong to belong toHudson Hanan.This man had been her enemy for three years.
He didn’t feel like anenemyright now. Far from it.
“Why? What has changed so suddenly? Did you realize I’m not really Gia-Satan after all?”
“Something like that.” His hand was on her cheek. His thumb brushed her bottom lip. Sheerfireshot straight through her. Her stomach tightened.
It had been a long, long time since a man had made her feel likethis.
What was she doing here again? This was…crazy. Utterly crazy. And everything was changing. Because of him. She stared into dark eyes, her breath caught. And she just waited.
“If we’re not arguing, I am not sure what I am supposed to do with you,” he whispered, almost against her lips. “But there are things I want to try. Things that have been consuming me since those nights I was here. So can I kiss you?”
She nodded before she even realized what she was doing. What she was agreeing to.
Then it sank in: she had just told him he could…kiss her.
What was she doing? She had utterly lost her mind. No other explanation possible.
Pride had her not stopping him. Not showing him that he’d rattled her. Then his lips were on hers, and the entire world just went sideways.
Gia’s arms went around his neck as he pulled her closer. She heard the little sound that came from her own throat. His arm tightened on her, she could feel the cast behind her back. His entire body surrounded her somehow. The edge of the kitchen island was behind her. Anyone could walk in at any moment.
But…even though they were in the kitchen and he had her against the island—she didn’t feel trapped.
