Текст книги "Reclaim Me"

Автор книги: Ann Marie Walker

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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

Chapter Twenty-nine

Hudson woke, and his first instinct was to sit up. Shit, not a good fucking idea. His side let out a scream that hit him with a shot of pain so intense, he had to draw in a shallow breath. Because anything deeper was going to feel like a nail gun between the ribs.

Gun . . . Julian . . . Allie . . .

What had that fucker done to her? He fought the urge to go full throttle out of . . . where the hell was he? The place had about as much warmth as a meat locker and looked like a cross between a flower shop and a funeral home. Christ, was he dead? No, the pain shooting through his whole body was a reminder that he was very much alive. His head and chest ached and his lids were heavy, but he was alive. So fucking alive.

He needed to get to his wife.

Instead of making another attempt to sit up, Hudson turned his head. The face of an angel rested on the hospital grade blanket, her blond hair fanned out, her lips slightly parted. His gaze shifted to a delicate hand encompassing his, and his fingers squeezed with what little strength he had.

“Allie . . .” he rasped. His throat felt raw.

She lifted her head and blinked. “Hudson . . .” As awareness seeped in, tears brimmed her eyes. “Oh, thank God.”

“Where am I?”

“Northwestern. You’re in the ICU.”

“How long have I been out of it?”

“A day.” She started to pull away, but his grip tightened.

“No. Stay.” His hoarse voice sounded louder than he’d have thought possible.

“Shh, it’s okay.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. But I need to let them know you’re awake. They’ll want to check your vitals, and from the looks of it, you could use another dose of morphine. “

“No, don’t. I want to be lucid for this. Tell me what happened.”

“How much do you remember?” she asked.

“I remember seeing the two of you through the window.” The image of Julian with his hands all over his wife caused an ache in Hudson’s chest worse than anything he’d felt since he came to. “And I remember struggling for the gun. After that, it’s a blank.”

“The gun went off between you.” She paused for a beat, and Hudson knew she was fighting to control her emotions. It killed him to think about what she’d been through in the last twenty-four hours. If the situation had been reversed, he would have gone out of his mind.

“Did they arrest Julian?” Hudson winced as a sharp pain stabbed him, then receded.

“He’s dead.” The color drained from Allie’s face. “You were bleeding to death on the floor and he was making me leave you there. If I hadn’t stopped him . . .” Her voice trailed off, but then she cleared her throat. When she spoke again, it was with an unquestionable resolve. “I’d do it again if it meant saving your life.”

He reached for her. “Come here.” Allie leaned down, and with a shaky hand he pulled her closer. “You’re so brave. You amaze me,” he said, pressing a tender kiss to her lips. “Thank you.” The sense of relief he felt over Julian being out of the picture was short-lived as reality bombarded him from every direction.

“Fuck,” he said. “What about Nick? Did they find out about him? The video?” He made a move to get out of bed. “Where’s my phone?”

“Oh no, you don’t.” Allie pressed a gentle hand against his shoulder. “No moving. Doctor’s orders.”

“Fine.” Hudson lowered his head. As if he was going anywhere hooked up to miles of tubing and a goddamn catheter anyway. “Now answer me.”

“Your phone is with me.” Before he could speak, she added, “And you don’t need it. Darren is taking care of everything at the office. As for Nick.” She lowered her voice. “Max arrived shortly after I called 911. I don’t know the details, nor do I think we should discuss it here, but he assured me the threat no longer exists.”

“Have the police been here?”

“Detective Green came by yesterday. She took my statement and I gave her the recording.”

“You got him to admit what he did?”

Allie nodded. “Everything. From the sound of it, wrapping up the case is just a matter of a few formalities now. Although I believe you still have some explaining to do.”

“Explaining? I was fucking shot, what’s there to explain?”

“Not to the detective, to your brother. He’s rather pissed.”

Hudson lifted a brow. “And why’s that?”

“In the chaos he may have heard me blurt out that I was your next of kin.”

“Is that so?

The smile she’d been fighting curved her lips. “Mmmhmm. And he may be a little pissed there wasn’t a bachelor party.”

“Shit.” Hudson rubbed the stubble on his chin. No doubt Nick would have tried to recreate the Playboy club right in the middle of Hudson’s penthouse. Yeah, not a chance in hell.

“He’s out in the waiting room with Harper. Neither of them would go home.”

A vague memory flashed through Hudson’s mind, and he shot her an amused look. “Was I hallucinating on painkillers or did you pull the do-you-know-who-I-am card?”

She blushed. “I did, shamelessly. But there was no way they were keeping me out of that recovery room, no matter how scary that nurse was.”

He laughed, then winced as his chest erupted in pain.

Allie frowned. “Are you sure you don’t want me to call for meds?”

“Not yet. I’m not ready to go back to sleep. But water would be good. My throat feels like fire.”

“That’s from the intubation. They said it would feel better in a couple days.” Allie poured water into a plastic cup and held the bent straw to his lips.

“What about the rest of me?”

“A few weeks. And before you say another word, it will be spent resting.”

“With you as my nurse?”

“If you promise to behave.”

“Not a fucking chance.”

She grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“I love you.”

“I was hoping you’d say that even more.” Allie leaned down to kiss him again. “I love you, too.”

“How about you get up here with me?”

“Oh no.” Allie let out a throaty laugh. “Save it for when you’re all better.”

“I assure you we won’t be waiting that long, Mrs. Chase. But how about a honeymoon when I’m better?”

“Sounds perfect.”

Hudson’s hand stroked Allie’s hair. “Where would you like to go?”

She placed another kiss on his lips. “Anywhere but Paris.”

Chapter Thirty

Allie peeked up through the canopy of the elliptical chaise. The month of April was said to be one of the most desirable times to visit the Maldives, and so far it had lived up to its reputation. In fact, after a solid week of blue skies and sunshine, she and Hudson were seriously considering moving their corporate headquarters to the remote island chain. At least for the winter months.

She popped her earbuds in and settled back against a cluster of white pillows. With its thick cushion, the dark wicker lounger was more of a pod-shaped daybed than a chaise per se, making it the perfect choice for two people on their honeymoon. Sunbathing side by side with their fingers entwined had become a daily ritual, as had stargazing at night. Although to be fair, that usually involved a lot more than holding hands.

With a swipe of her thumb, Allie pulled up the playlist she’d created especially for the trip. Ed Sheeran began to sing and she closed her eyes, picturing the dances she and Hudson had shared not only when they eloped in January, but at the small reception they’d had with family and friends the night before their trip. Originally they’d discussed having a big society event, something befitting the union of a billionaire tycoon and his heiress bride. But in the end that wasn’t the type of celebration either of them really wanted. So instead of a ballroom full of five hundred people they cared little to nothing about, Hudson and Allie renewed their wedding vows in an intimate ceremony attended by the people who mattered most to them.

The first song rolled into the second, and Sinatra crooned about summer winds. Allie pressed the center button on her phone and stole a glance at the lock screen photo. It was a picture of Hudson she’d taken when they first arrived on the island. They’d been sitting on the deck that ran the length of their over-water bungalow, enjoying a fruity cocktail, the kind served in a coconut shell with a tiny umbrella. The panoramic view was right out of a travel brochure, but it wasn’t the breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean or even the pod of curious dolphins that inspired Allie to take the first snapshot of the trip. It was Hudson, flashing a grin she’d come to know quite well over the three months they’d been married; the one that said “you’re about to be naked.” His eyes were the same blue as the turquoise lagoon, and the tropical breeze was playing in his hair, giving it that sexy, unruly look she found so irresistible. “Freshly fucked” was the style Hudson sported most days, whether in the boardroom or the bedroom, but recently, at least, it had lived up to the name. It seemed her new husband had spent the entire first week of their honeymoon buried deep inside her.

When the second week began she’d insisted they see something besides the inside of their bungalow. Hudson had finally agreed, but only to one day. He jammed it full of everything the resort’s concierge suggested. They’d spent the previous morning exploring the remote island hideaway and visited the Marine Discovery Center where Hudson made a generous donation to the sea turtle fund in his new bride’s name. After lunch they went snorkeling with manta rays and strolled hand in hand along the pristine white sand that stretched the length of the atoll. Allie even gave paddle boarding a try, but she drew the line at shark feeding, stating she’d had enough danger to last her a lifetime. When they finally made it back to the room, she was hardly through the door before Hudson tackled her to the oversize canopy bed. They’d fallen asleep sometime just before dawn and she’d barely dragged herself to the chaise by noon. Honestly, the man was insatiable.

Instinctively, her gaze shifted to the sex god himself. He was sitting on the edge of their private infinity pool, staring out across the lagoon wearing nothing but a pair of black swim trunks. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she took a moment to appreciate her husband, drinking in every detail, from the hard planes of his tanned chest to the rippling muscles of his abs to the super sexy V of his hips. The only imperfection on his otherwise flawless body was the small scar where a bullet had pierced his lung. The sight of it should have brought a pang of sorrow, triggering the memories of that horrible night. Instead it centered her and gave her a sense of calm. Because as much as she hated to be reminded of the night she almost lost her husband, that scar was also a reminder that he’d survived.

His emotional scars were healing as well. Hudson had been more open with her since the conversation on the couch the night before their wedding. He was still hesitant to talk about his past, but little by little he was sharing details of his childhood, both the happy and the sad. Nick had even been able to convince him to give a few sessions of therapy a try. Hudson grumbled about having his head shrunk, but Allie could already tell the burden he carried had lessened. Of course some of that had to do with how Nick was doing. Six months of sobriety had done wonders for him. Not only was he holding down his job at the coffee shop, but he was even being considered for a management position. Hudson had asked him numerous times to join him at Chase Industries, but Nick insisted he had to take responsibility for his own life. Allie imagined the two brothers would eventually end up in the same building, but she respected the fact that Nick wanted to do it on his own terms. When the time came, he would no doubt insist on starting at the bottom, and she would no doubt have to convince Hudson to go along with the idea, but in the end they would be just fine.

Allie wondered if Nick’s presence would be enough incentive to persuade Harper to join her at Ingram headquarters as well. While Allie continued to work closely with the foundation, she missed day-to-day contact with her best friend. Now that Allie was married and Harper was spending nearly every night with Nick, their girl time was far less frequent. Her best friend and her brother-in-law had become fairly serious over the past three months, and even though their relationship thrilled Allie to no end, she still missed their chats over cocktails at Tavern or a salad at her desk. These days Harper was a homebody, opting for a quiet night of Netflix with Nick and Harley over a night out with just about anyone else.

Allie closed her eyes again and a smile stretched across her face at the thought of her canine “niece.” Little Harley had not only been a welcome addition to the family, she’d taken quite a liking to her Uncle Hudson. Despite his best efforts to keep the Yorkie at arm’s length, Harley always managed to find her way onto Hudson’s lap. He would roll his eyes and pet her as though she were hazardous material, but deep down Allie knew Hudson not only liked the effect the tiny dog had on Nick, but that he’d grown fond of her as well. He might refer to her as a barking squirrel or curse about a chewed up shoe, but no amount of protesting could offset the secret stash of doggy treats she had discovered in his desk drawer.

A shadow crossed Allie’s face and water dripped onto her bare stomach. She opened her eyes to see Hudson looming over her, his body glistening in the late afternoon sun, and her smile widened.

He plucked the tiny headphones from her ears. “That’s quite a satisfied grin, Mrs. Chase.”

The thick cushion dipped as he climbed onto the daybed. He pressed his lips to her stomach, licking a bead of water that rolled across her skin, and then a heartbeat later sealed his mouth over hers, kissing her passionately. As if he had to. As if the fifteen minutes without touching her had been excruciating. And as if he hadn’t had her in every way possible the night before.

Allie moaned, and when her lips parted, his tongue thrust into her mouth, stroking hers with lush, velvety strokes. She craved her husband constantly, but when he was like this, his lust for her so raw and untamed, it made every cell in her body come alive.

“So what caused that look on your face?” he asked when he finally broke their kiss.

“Huh?” she asked, her senses momentarily stunned. “Oh, um, just thinking about Harley.”

His lips brushed across her cheek. The stubble on his jaw brought with it a reminder of how it felt between her thighs, and a jolt of pleasure shot through her core.

“Your nearly naked husband is kissing you and your mind is on a barking squirrel? I see.”

“Not now, before.” She giggled as his lips found her neck. “And more the way my nearly naked husband is with said squirrel. I see right through you, Chase. You enjoy having her around.”

He made a noise that was more grunt than agreement as his mouth moved across her collarbone. “She’s good for Nick, who I’m sure has let her have the run of the penthouse while we’re gone.”

Nick and Harper made good use of the third floor when she and Hudson were out of town. Despite their best efforts to train and clean up after Harley, there always seemed to be one puppy puddle left behind. One that Hudson would undoubtedly discover with his bare foot.

“Tell the redhead to hurry up and house-break the damn thing.” He chuckled against Allie’s skin. “And while you’re at it, tell her to do the same for Nick.”

Allie rolled her eyes, though she knew he couldn’t see. “Say what you want, but you’re very sweet with Harley.” Her voice grew serious. “You’ll make a great father.”

Hudson stilled. After a beat he lifted his head, and when his eyes met hers they conveyed a look that was a mixture of loving concern and sheer panic. “Are you . . .” He swallowed hard.

“Oh God, no,” she said, realizing she had inadvertently given him the impression she was pregnant.

Hudson rolled onto his back and exhaled. She hadn’t meant to scare him, and she could certainly understand his relief from a timing perspective. They hadn’t been together that long and most of that time had been spent dealing with situations far beyond those any normal couple would face. Wanting time to enjoy each other was understandable; desirable even.

But then again, they weren’t teenagers anymore. And they were married. Would it really have been so bad if she had been pregnant? The image of a little boy with Hudson’s blue eyes and dark wavy hair filled her mind, and a warm sensation washed over her before settling right in her belly. She hadn’t thought even for a moment that she might be pregnant, nor was she ready to be a mother just yet, but she couldn’t deny the twinge of disappointment she felt over not carrying Hudson’s baby. More than that, she couldn’t deny the concern she felt over the contrast in their reactions.

She gazed across the chaise at her husband, his arm resting across his eyes, and her heart sank. They hadn’t really discussed the topic of children before they got married. Hell, they hadn’t discussed marriage before they got married.

Allie shifted to her side and propped herself up on one elbow. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Just took me by surprise. Hadn’t really considered the possibility.”

“Well, there’s always the possibility, even when you’re taking precautions.” She gave a small laugh. “And we do tend to practice quite often.” Her lame joke earned no reaction, causing her even greater concern. She took a deep breath, and when she spoke, her voice was small. “I know we married in a rush, Hudson. And not under the best circumstances.” Her throat tightened. “If you’re having second thoughts about . . .” She stopped talking, unwilling or unable to finish the sentence.

Hudson lifted his arm. In one swift move he rolled her beneath him. “Don’t ever say that again. Don’t even think it.” He bore his weight on his elbows so he could look into her eyes. The intensity she saw there was rivaled only by the emphatic tone of his voice. “You’re my fucking world, Allie. The air I breathe. You are the love of my life. You were ten years ago, you are now, and you always will be. Forever.”

“But you were so relieved—”

He shook his head. “You caught me off guard, that’s all. Of course I want children with you. Do you have any idea what it does to me to think of my child growing inside you?” He reached between them and his fingers brushed her stomach, sending goose bumps racing across her skin. “Christ Allie, I want that. But I’m a selfish bastard and I’m not ready to share you yet.”

“I was afraid maybe now that the dust had settled—” This time it was Hudson’s raised eyebrow that kept Allie from finishing her thought. His gaze was dark and playful all at once, and if it was any other topic she would have pushed the envelope a bit to see how the scenario played out. But their future wasn’t a joking matter. So even though her body was already responding to the thought of whatever delicious torture he might punish her with, she let the naughty fantasy go. “Fine,” she said, blushing under the heat of his stare. “I won’t say it.”

Hudson grinned down at her. “Progress.” He reached for her hand and brought their entwined fingers to his lips, pressing a kiss to her wedding band. “You’re stuck with me. I would have thought the vows, not to mention these rings, would have proven that point.” A crease formed briefly between his brows, then a knowing smile curved his lips. “Don’t move,” he said, dropping a quick kiss to her mouth before climbing out of the daybed.

Allie rolled onto her stomach and watched him through the glass walls of their villa. He was on the far side of the room, partially obscured by the gauzy white fabric that hung in billowy curtains around the bed. She couldn’t quite make out what he was looking for, but whatever it was had something to do with his suitcase. She flipped over when he turned back toward the glass, but not fast enough. Busted.

“Do you ever do as you’re told?” he asked. His voice was meant to convey disappointment but amusement lit his eyes.

“What?” Allie asked in feigned innocence. “I didn’t move.” She grinned. “Much.”

Hudson smiled and shook his head. “I had these drawn up before we left.” In his hand he held a thick document, folded into thirds and tied with a white satin ribbon. Without opening it, she knew it was a legal document, but what she didn’t know was what kind. It wasn’t a prenup, that was for sure. They’d married not only once without one, but twice. Ben had urged her to allow him to draft something that would protect her family assets, but she’d assured him no such paperwork was necessary. She planned to be married to Hudson for the rest of her life. If their relationship ended, losing half of the assets she acquired during the course of their marriage would be the least of her concerns. Besides, with Hudson’s net worth topping into the billions, he was the party with more on the line. Which is why she’d asked him if he wanted her to sign a prenuptial agreement. That conversation had lasted approximately ten seconds. Just long enough for Hudson to say the words “No fucking way.”

“Consider this a belated wedding gift,” he said, passing her the document then stretching out alongside her on the chaise.

“What is it?”

“A stock transfer.”

“Hudson, I don’t want your shares of Ingram. How they were acquired is irrelevant now. And I rather like being Mr. and Mrs. CEO. I want us to remain partners.” She fixed him with a teasing grin. “Assuming of course you can handle it when I dominate the boardroom.”

Something dark flashed in his eyes. “Bring it on. Just be prepared for a rough night in the bedroom.”

Her breath caught. While Hudson loved to go toe-to-toe with her in the boardroom, he made no apologies for his caveman tendencies once he had her alone in their bed. Or bent over her desk. Or chained to the ceiling. And truth be told, she fucking loved it. “If that was supposed to be a deterrent—”

“It’s wasn’t.”

She cocked her head to one side. “Then what’s all this about?”

“Open it,” he mouthed.

Allie tugged the ribbon free and unfolded the pages. What she saw stopped her cold. As promised, it was indeed a document authorizing a transfer of stock to Allie’s name. But the company in question wasn’t Ingram Media. It was Chase Industries. Her eyes were wide when she met his steady gaze. “I can’t accept this.”

“You can and you will,” he said matter-of-factly. As if he was offering her a Mai Tai and not fifty percent of a multibillion dollar empire.

“You built Chase Industries from the ground up. I can’t let you sign half of it over to me.”

“The company wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t met you,” he said. “The first time I saw you, my world shifted on its axis. Quite simply, you made me want to be a better man. For you.” The breeze kicked up, rustling the thatch roof above their heads and blowing a loose curl across Allie’s face. Hudson tucked it behind her ear, letting his knuckles brush across her cheek after he did. “And besides, that’s your name on the building too, Mrs. Chase.” He leaned closer so his mouth hovered mere inches from hers. “You’re my wife, my lover, and my partner. Not just at Ingram or Chase. In everything,” he whispered just before their lips met.

The word partner echoed in Allie’s heart and mind as Hudson deepened their kiss. He was right: no matter what obstacles or hardships they faced, they had each other, and they always would.

Forever.