Текст книги "Release Me"

Автор книги: Ann Marie Walker

Соавторы: Amy K. Rogers
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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

The vibrations of the train hummed through her entire body, taking her need for him to an almost unbearable level. She wanted him so badly she trembled. Even though he stood on the other side of the cabin, she could feel the attraction that pulsed between them, same as it had been since the very first time she saw him on the beach all those years ago, a magnetic pull drawing her to him. But she fought the urge to reach for him, choosing instead to let the moment build as she waited for him to make his move.

His fingers flexed at his sides, but other than that he remained perfectly still. “This won’t be gentle,” he warned.

The rough, barely reined timbre of his voice made her core clench with greedy anticipation. She loved him gentle but she might have loved him wild even more. Because in those moments she knew he craved her with the same overwhelming desire she felt for him; knew he needed to be with her, against her, inside her, more than he needed his next breath. It was that knowledge that made the intensity of the feelings she had for him bearable. And it was what allowed her to trust him completely.

She lifted her chin. “Do it.”

He reached her in two strides, shoving both hands into her hair and tilting her head to the angle he wanted. His mouth covered hers, his skilled tongue invading, exploring, dominating. She clutched his hair with both hands and kissed him back, holding him to her as if he could somehow vanish into thin air.

“Too many clothes,” she breathed between desperate kisses. She shoved his jacket from his shoulders as he backed her against the wall of the small cabin. But when she reached for his belt he grabbed her hands, pinning both of them above her head with one of his while his other hand reached between her legs. With a tug he tore the scrap of lace away and then thrust two fingers deep inside her. Allie’s head fell back against the window on a low moan. She closed her eyes and focused on the sensations. The pulsing click of the wheels on the tracks, the howl of the wind rushing by the glass, and Hudson’s fingers pumping hard and quick into her quivering flesh.

“You want me.” The roughly spoken words were more statement than question, but she answered anyway.

“Yes. Now,” she panted.

He spun her, his weight pressing her against the cold glass, and she gasped from the feel of it on her overheated skin. It was dark outside the windows, nothing to see but the shadowed countryside lit by a sliver of moon. And no one to see them. Still, the thought of how they must look with Hudson’s body caging hers against the glass sent a thrill through her body.

“Ask me,” he growled.

“Please, Hudson, fuck me. Hard.”

He reached between them to unzip his fly and a heartbeat later he was grasping her hips and plunging forward, filling her in one long, punishing thrust. He groaned as he pulled out, then drove deep again and again. As promised, the sex was hard and fast. And exactly what she needed. The whole time his voice rasped against her ear, telling her how good it felt to push his cock into her, how he’d never been so hard, and no matter how many times he fucked her, it would never be enough.

His hand slid around her, his fingertips giving her the friction she craved. But still she wanted more. Mindless in her need to come, she arched into the glass, the rumbling motion of the train moving through his hand as he pressed hard against her sex. The rhythm of the metal moving beneath her while Hudson moved inside her was too much. Her legs shook and her fingers clawed at the glass, grasping in vain for something to steady herself as she spiraled into an orgasm that had her entire body quaking.

Hudson’s arm banded around her waist, supporting her weight as he drove to the hilt once more, then stilled. “Allie,” he cried out, her name a passionate plea as he emptied himself inside her. His head dropped to her shoulder, his breath heavy in her ear, his heart thudding against her back.

Unable to move, Allie lay limp against the window, her ragged breath fogging the glass. When she found the strength, she turned her head and pressed her lips to his temple. “You’re still dressed,” she murmured against his damp skin.

A deep chuckle vibrated in his chest. “Well then,” he said, turning her in his arms. “What are you waiting for?”

Chapter Twenty-seven

The early morning sunlight streamed through the window, waking Allie. As her eyes fluttered open she became aware of her surroundings: a too-tiny bunk bed in a small cabin, the floor cluttered with frantically discarded formalwear and the air heavy with the lingering scent of sweat and hard sex. A slow, sleepy smile formed on her lips. She couldn’t think of more decadent accommodations if she tried.

Hudson was still sound asleep with his head on her chest, one arm wrapped possessively around her waist and his legs tangled with hers. Allie loved these quiet moments before he woke. It was a rare occasion that she was up before him, but when it happened she relished the chance to focus on nothing but the feel of his body against hers, the warmth of his skin, the easy rhythm of his breath and the steady beat of his heart.

“Hmm,” a low sound vibrated in his throat as he began to stir. His arm tightened around her waist and he nuzzled her chest. “Something to be said for close quarters after all.”

Allie stroked her fingers down his back. “Good morning. Sleep well?”

“Surprisingly yes,” he murmured against her skin. His voice was rough with sleep, but his body was wide awake, an impressive erection already prodding against her hip. One hand palmed her right breast, his thumb brushing back and forth across the nipple, while his lips and tongue paid homage to the other. Allie’s back arched as his teeth nipped and his fingers tugged. When he bit down she groaned, the sweet sensation echoing through her core. He’d only been awake for a few minutes and already she was melting in his hands.

The solid weight of Hudson’s body shifted over hers and she spread her legs for him, wanting to feel him inside her despite the lingering soreness she still felt from the night before.

There was a knock on the door and Allie stilled. Hudson raised himself on one arm, no doubt ready to tell whoever it was to get lost. But after a second knock it became clear the sound was coming from the cabin next to theirs.

“Just a minute,” said a muffled voice on the other side of the wall.

Hudson looked down at her, clearly amused. “They didn’t invest much in sound insulation back in the roaring twenties, did they?”

Allie had expected Hudson to be annoyed, aggravated, or maybe even angry. But certainly not amused. She frowned, confused by his reaction until realization dawned.

“Oh, shit!” She clasped her hand over her mouth for a moment, then whispered, “If we can hear them, then . . . that means they heard . . .”

Hudson’s blue eyes gleamed as he nodded slowly.

Allie felt her face heat. “This is mortifying.”

He dipped his head to press a soft kiss to her shoulder. “Perhaps they just think you’re very religious.” She felt him smile against her skin as his lips drifted up her neck. “All those shouts to God and whatnot.” He chuckled.

Allie swatted him on the shoulder. “That’s not funny.”

“Oh, but it is.”

She pushed him back so she could look him in the eye. “And it doesn’t bother you in the slightest?”

The sound of squeaking cart wheels could be heard through the wall, followed by more muffled conversation.

“No, but the thought of our ever efficient steward interrupting for a breakfast delivery does.”

Oh jeez, as if she wasn’t already embarrassed enough. The last thing Allie needed was another “in flagrante delicto” moment with poor Andrew. “Let’s get dressed and head to one of the dining cars.” She managed to wriggle out from under Hudson, but when she tried to scramble out of the bunk his arm banded around her waist, pulling her back.

“Don’t move. I finally got you into this tiny bed. I’m not letting you out.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but Hudson silenced her by pressing his finger to her lips. “I will tell the steward you are sleeping in and not to be disturbed. Then I’ll go to one of the dining cars and bring you breakfast in bed.”

“Breakfast in bed?” She glanced around the tiny cot. “There’s not really room for plates.”

Hudson’s eyes flashed with a wicked gleam. “Who said anything about using a plate?” He trailed his fingertips across her belly and she shivered. “I think I’ll ask the chef to prepare strawberry crepes, extra whipped cream.”

Allie watched as he gracefully climbed out of the bunk. “Don’t move.” He dug a pair of jeans out of his suitcase and pulled them on, commando, then donned a T-shirt and shoes. When he was finished dressing he leaned down and grasped her face with both hands. “I mean it,” he said before dropping a quick kiss to her lips. “Don’t get out of this bed.”

He’d been gone just a few minutes when Allie’s phoned pinged with an incoming text. She rolled out of the bunk and pulled her phone out of the beaded clutch she’d used the night before. The screen was lit with a text from Hudson.

Andrew has been instructed to not disturb you.

She laughed as she typed her response. After yesterday he was probably relieved.

True.

The message had no sooner filled the screen when dots appeared to indicate he was typing. Allie climbed back into the bunk as she waited for the reply.

I told you not to get out of bed.

She rolled her eyes. Then why did you send me a text?

A test.

Looks like I failed. She lay back on the mattress, grinning at the phone. Am I in trouble?

Indeed you are, Miss Sinclair.

Whoa, Miss Sinclair. Allie knew exactly where this was headed, and the realization had her biting her lip as she read his next message.

Now you will come twice for me before I share these crepes with you.

Holy hell, he was good at this. Allie propped up on her elbow, trying to think of some sort of sexy response that would even attempt to rival his. But everything that came to mind sounded like a cheesy pick-up line. She typed and deleted three different replies before finally settling on:

Hurry or I’m starting without you.

She put her phone down on the floor beside her bunk and waited, convinced Hudson would be arriving any minute. Then again, she thought, maybe he wouldn’t. He’d once told her it was a fantasy of his to watch her pleasure herself. If he thought taking his time would encourage her to put on such a display, he might intentionally delay his return.

A surge of heated pleasure shot straight to her core as she imagined Hudson opening the door to find her lying on the bed with her fingers between her thighs. She pushed the sheet lower, imagining it was Hudson who was baring her body, and drew a deep breath. Her hand skimmed over the soft skin of her stomach, her hips lifting almost involuntarily when she reached the top of her sex, already slick from anticipation.

When she closed her eyes, she could hear his voice, deep and soft, commanding her. Spread your legs wider. Show me how wet it makes you to think about having my cock. She could picture the look on his face, see his tongue dart out to wet his lips as her fingers stroked through her silky folds. She could feel his hand on her, his finger gliding up the inside of her thigh before plunging in and out alongside her own. That’s it, Allie, come for me.

The phone pinged on the floor.

Allie’s eyes flew open and her thighs instinctively closed. She’d been so lost to the fantasy of Hudson she’d nearly come before he even arrived. Her face flushed as she sat up and reached for the phone.

But instead of another naughty message from Hudson, the screen displayed an incoming text from an unknown number. When she opened it, an image appeared. It was a grainy, black-and-white photo of two men standing side by side with a third lying on the floor. A crease formed between Allie’s brows as she stared at her phone, and she startled when it suddenly rang in her hand. The call was from the same number that had sent the mysterious photo.

“Hello,” she said. Her voice was soft and tentative.

“Good morning, Alessandra,” a French accent purred.

Allie’s breath caught in her throat. Julian.

“Are you enjoying the train? I found the accommodations quite lacking myself.”

Her entire body tensed and her heart raced with the adrenaline that coursed through her veins. She pulled the sheet higher and swallowed hard. “What do you want?” she managed to choke out.

“I trust you received my text?” he asked, ignoring her question. “I know it’s hard to make out what you’re seeing. The video is much better.”

The back of Allie’s neck prickled with apprehension. “What video?”

“The one that shows your white knight for the vermin he really is.”

“Go to hell, Julian,” she bit out between clenched teeth. “I thought I made it clear I never wanted to hear from you again.”

From the other end of the line came a mocking laugh. “Now, now, ma petite cherie, is that anyway to speak to your fiancé?”

“We’re not engaged anymore.”

“Only because you failed to hold up your end of the bargain.” She could hear the snarl in his voice.

“I was never part of that and you know it.”

“No, but promises were made. And now Ingram is in the hands of an imbecile and her murdering lover.” His words hung in the air. “What’s the matter, mon amore, cat got your tongue, as they say?”

She knew he was baiting her, trying to get a reaction. But she couldn’t help it. She had to know what he was up to. “What are you talking about, Julian?”

“Look closely at the photo, Alessandra. Surely you recognize the two men standing over the lifeless body.”

Allie zoomed in on the photo and a gasp escaped her lips. The image was even grainier when enlarged, but it was clearly a picture of Hudson and Nick.”

“I will give him credit,” Julian said. “He was able to cover his tracks. For the most part. Thanks to his money the case has been filed as nothing more than a tragic accident. Would be a shame to have this surface and dredge the whole mess up. I’m sure the other news outlets would love to sink their claws into this story.”

Allie’s grip tightened around the phone.

“Of course they’d find more than just this skeleton if they start to dig,” he said. His words reeked of condescension. “The brother alone could fill an entire tabloid.”

Every fiber of her being had instinctively reacted to a threat against the man she loved. But to drag Nick into this as well? Her heart ached every time she thought of the trauma he’d faced as a child, the grips of which he was just beginning to work his way free. A trial, or worse, jail time, would surely seal his fate. She would do anything to protect Nick, and in a moment of clarity she realized that was exactly what Hudson had done. Whatever happened to the man in the photo, there was only one reason Hudson would have covered it up. To protect Nick.

And now Julian was threatening to hurt them both out of some twisted need for revenge against her. “You’re blackmailing me?” she asked, although in reality it was more of a statement than a question.

“Ah, you’re a quick study, Alessandra. Of course you’re no stranger to the concept. I seem to recall you did the same when pushing me out of Ingram.”

“You attacked me,” she said. Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Semantics.”

Allie’s blood seethed at his cavalier tone. But she knew she needed to remain calm, she needed to think of Hudson and Nick. She needed to get Julian out of their lives once and for all. She took a deep breath. “What do you want?”

“My ring.”

“What?”

“The ring I gave you. It’s rightfully mine. I want it back.”

That’s what this is about, that stupid ring? Allie exhaled a sigh of relief. She knew Julian was obsessed with the twelve-carat diamond Louis XIV had bestowed upon the first Marquis Laurent. But as far as she was concerned, she’d be happy to never lay eyes on it again, much less wear it on her finger. But could she trust Julian to hold up his end of the bargain? “How do I know you’re giving me the only copy of the file?”

“I will give you the original. Copies can be discredited as doctored. They’re useless.”

“Fine. I’ll send it to you.”

“Send?” He let out a harsh laugh. “You do not send a priceless heirloom.” A cigarette lighter clicked to life near the mouthpiece of his phone. “Your train is about to arrive at Gare de Paris-Est station. Cancel the last leg of your journey and bring the ring to my chateau this evening.”

“I don’t have the ring with me.”

“Then I suggest you make the necessary arrangements.”

“When I get back to Chicago, I’ll have my assistant fly it over.”

“Not good enough. You will deliver it to me personally. Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? I need more time, Julian.”

“You have until noon, Alessandra. That’s it, not a minute more. And if I find out you’ve told that prick you’re currently fucking about any of this, then the deal is off.”

Her mind raced with questions, and without thinking she spoke some of them out loud. “How am I supposed to get it here that fast . . . and what reason do I give for getting off the train?”

“Not my problem.” She heard the heavy exhale of a steady plume of smoke. “Tick tock, Alessandra. You have until tomorrow. After that this little film goes viral.”

The line went dead.

“Who was that?”

Allie’s head snapped up to find Hudson standing in the doorway of their cabin holding a dome-covered plate. “Um, nothing, just checking my voicemail.” She dropped her gaze, unable to look him in the eye. How she was going to pull this off if a small lie about a phone call had her thrown for a loop?

Hudson stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. “Everything okay?”

Allie looked up and gave him a reassuring smile. “Absolutely.” She forced herself to hold his gaze, her smile firmly in place. Hudson knew her better than anyone. If he even suspected something was amiss he’d ask questions she couldn’t answer.

He studied her face as he set the plate of food down on the small table and joined her on the bunk. “You look like you have something to say.”

Fuck. She couldn’t blow this. She had to convince him everything was fine. She didn’t want to lie to him, but if he knew the truth he’d never allow her to meet with Julian. And then everything would blow up and it would be all her fault. She couldn’t let that happen.

“I do, actually.” To her great relief she somehow managed to keep her voice level.

“Tell me.”

“I was thinking about Paris,” she said, trying to be as casual as possible.

His brow rose. “Is that so?”

“Mmmhmm. How would you feel about spending the night there instead of going directly to London? New Year’s Eve in the City of Lights?”

A warm smile formed on his lips. “Whatever makes you happy, Allie.”

“I want you to be happy, too, Hudson.”

“With the exception of perhaps a communal kiss,” he smirked, “I’m happy being anywhere with you.” He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss just below her ear.

In spite of everything, Allie let out a small laugh, partly from the memory of Hudson’s reaction to the Venice celebration and partly from the sensation of his lips and tongue, sucking and kissing her sensitive skin. “No, no communal kiss under the Eiffel Tower, I promise.” Her hands found their way into his hair as his lips drifted down the column of her throat.

“Hmm, perhaps a king-size bed with a view of the Eiffel Tower instead.”

She tugged his hair until he raised his head to look at her. “Are you sure?” she asked. “We’d miss the lovely evening you planned on the River Thames.”

“We can charter the boat next week if you’d like?”

“I’d like. Very much.” A genuine smile stretched across her face at the thought of romantic dinner cruise with Hudson the following week. By then all of this mess with Julian would be behind them and they could get back to enjoying the new life they were building together.

“Then it’s decided. I’ll notify the conductor and arrange to have our bags unloaded at the next stop.” He stood and dug his phone out of the front pocket of his jeans. “Penthouse at the George V sound good?” he asked.

She smiled. “Sounds perfect.”

Hudson lifted the silver dome and snagged a piece of bacon before strolling out of the room with the phone pressed to his ear. Allie was dialing Harper’s number before the door had even fully closed.

After what seemed like a dozen rings, the call was finally answered.

“Hello.” The voice on the other line was so quiet, for a moment Allie thought in her haste she’d dialed the wrong number.

“Harper?”

“Who is it, babe?” a deep voice, thick with sleep, asked from somewhere close to the phone. Allie glanced at the time. It was just past noon in Chicago.

A few muffled words were spoken before Harper came back to the line. Normally Allie would have been all about asking for details about the mysterious man, but there was no time for that now.

“Hey you, aren’t you supposed to be sipping champagne in the French countryside?”

“I need your help.”Allie’s tone must have conveyed the urgency and anxiety she felt, because Harper was completely alert the next time she spoke.

“Give me one second,” she told her overnight guest. After a bit of shuffling she was back. “What’s wrong?”

The alarm in her friend’s voice brought the reality of the situation crashing down around her. Allie squeezed her eyes shut to stem the tears that stung her eyes. “It’s Julian,” she said past the lump in her throat.

“What’s that fucker done now?”

“He wants me to return his ring and he’s threatening to make trouble if I don’t.”

“Did you tell Hudson?” She let out a decisive snort. “I’m sure he could show Julian a whole new meaning for the word.”

Allie wanted nothing more than to tell Hudson everything. He would know the best way to handle Julian. But more than that, because it was killing her to lie to him. Secrets and lies had torn them apart. The last thing she wanted to do was have something else wedged between them. But this was different. This was about protecting Hudson and Nick.

“I don’t want to drag Hudson into this. Julian is my problem. I’ll give him his precious ring and then he’ll be out of my life. For good.”

“You can’t trust him.”

No, she couldn’t. But he’d left her no choice. “Will you bring me the ring?”

“To Paris?” Harper squeaked.

“Yes. I’ll take care of everything. All you have to do is get the ring from my brownstone and head to O’Hare with your passport. I think there’s a British Airways flight leaving around five thirty.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes, it should get you into de Gaulle around nine tomorrow morning. I’ll meet you there.”

“Whoa, slow down. Believe me, I’d like nothing more than to hop a jet to France. And you know I’d do anything for you. But I’m not so sure this is a good—”

“I wouldn’t ask if there was any other way,” Allie interrupted, her voice wavering with emotion. “Please.”

A moment of silence hung on the line. “Tell me what I need to do,” Harper said.

Allie gave her a quick rundown of the ring’s location, and after thanking her profusely and swearing her to secrecy, hung up to make the necessary arrangements. When she was done, she dressed quickly and packed up the rest of their things. As she zipped the suitcase she couldn’t help but wonder how she was going to make it through the next thirty hours. Hudson knew her so well, knew her moods, her expressions. It was going to be damn near impossible to act as though nothing was wrong. She took a deep breath. Somehow she’d find a way. She had to. Hudson and Nick’s very lives depended on it.