Page 80 of Brat Baby
“Did you know that Xavier has been sneaking into my bed? I think he has done it every night since that first weekend, but I can’t be sure.”
Hudson’s hands tighten on the steering wheel, but he says nothing.
“At first, I had no idea. But then little things started showing up in my dorm that I know weren’t there before. New textbooks. Groceries. And, recently, a pink insulated mug for my hot chocolate in the morning. A prepaid Grinder card.”
Tight lines have formed at the corner of Hudson’s eye.
“I started waking up and noticing the blankets on the side of the bed that I don’t sleep on were ruffled. Which is weird, right?” I glance at Hudson again, but he gives me nothing. “Well, anyway, I thought it was weird. At first, I assumed it was my roommate, but I realized I could smell men’s cologne.
“It took me a few more nights, but eventually, I woke up just as someone was leaving my room. I only got a quick look, but I knew it was Xavier.”
I pull a section of my hair forward and start to braid the end of it, like all I’m talking about is the list of things I’m going to let him pay for. “It wasn’t until Friday night at the apartment that I woke up as he was arriving. He’s the reason I got to use the Sybian yesterday. I tried to figure out how to put it together, but I got nervous I was going to break it. He must have built it while I was sleeping. Did you enjoy the call?”
Again, absolutely nothing. The man is stone cold.
If not for the death grip on the steering wheel and the tightness around his jaw and temple, I would think he’s completely unaffected.
“Oh, and in case you were worried about all the marks and things from that first weekend, Xavier helped me out with those too. Had me sending him pictures morning and night to track the healing process. And there was one time, I was a little late, and he turned up to physically inspect them himself. He ate out my ass until I came, so I’m thinking I might be inclined to put anal on the table, eventually. Maybe. We’d need to—”
“He fucking what?” The vehicle comes to a very harsh stop at a set of lights that just turned yellow. That, and the way he practically yells the words as he turns to face me, has a tiny scream escaping my lips.
With a huff, I face him. “He ate out my ass, which was a much more pleasant experience than that stop was. Sheesh.”
The way Hudson’s face turns red is so fucking amusing.
“Oh, and last night, he attacked me in the shower with a knife, then made me give him a blow job while he used the blade to keep my tongue down and out of the way. Was so fucking hot. I basically came the moment his dick slid into my pussy.”
A horn blasts behind us, and I glance out the windshield. Green light. But Hudson just stares at me, well, maybethroughme. I’m not exactly sure what he’s staring at, to be honest, but his light blue eyes have gone distant while they look in my direction.
Another horn blast, longer this time. Hudson jolts and turns forward again, accelerating the car.
I give it a minute, to make sure we aren’t going to crash, before I start up again.
“Did Darcy show you the pictu—”
“Not another word, Emery.” The growled order would have been scary, if it wasn’t for the way my name cracked, just the tiniest bit.
“But—”
“Not another fucking word.”
I grin, a massive fucking grin, and wait patiently for the rest of the drive to be over. We’ve been traveling closer to the center of the city, so we must be getting close to wherever he is taking me.
Not long after that, Hudson pulls into a parking garage. We go through the gate and up a few levels until he finds a spot. We sit in perfect silence, which continues as we get out, take an elevator ride back down to the ground floor, then head out onto the street, turning to walk along the main side of the block.
My hand twitches at my side as I force myself not to reach for his hand. And I am so incredibly glad that I don’t reach for his because after he pulls his sunglasses over his eyes, he stuffs both into the pockets of his chinos.
Hudson stops when we get to the corner and looks up at the building.
I swallow, because I caught a glimpse of the building’s sign, but I can’t bring myself to look at it. It’s not even the fucking discount outlet version, where all last season’s stock goes to be sold for more appropriate prices. “No.”
His eyebrow raises above the rim of his glasses. “No?”
Shaking my head, I gesture over my thumb. “I’m not going in there. It is way too much. Just take me to Target or something. I really don’t need anything this extravagant, seriously.”
I didn’t even like the thought of walking past the fancy glass display cabinets and the racks of clothes that have exactly one of each size, with price tags that should get you an entire wardrobe of clothes. And why the hell are there six levels? What is even on those?
Hudson takes his glasses off and looks at me with concern. “Emery, if you truly don’t want to go in there, we won’t. This last shopping trip is to clear out the last of your rewards from our weekend before… well, just to clear them out. If you are concerned about the money, don’t be. I have a budget in mind, and I’ll let you know if you are getting close to it.”
