Текст книги "Release Me"

Автор книги: Ann Marie Walker

Соавторы: Amy K. Rogers
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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

Chapter Twenty-eight

Paris had no shortage of luxury hotels, but the George V was inarguably the place to stay. An eight-story landmark just minutes from the Champs-Élysées, the hotel was the epitome of elegant sophistication. And after being crammed into a boxcar with goddamn bunk beds, Hudson was more than happy—make that thrilled—to trade in the one-of-a-kind experience through the European countryside for a king-size bed with sheets having a thread count to match the U.S. national debt. Not to mention a place where he didn’t have to walk down the hall to take a piss.

The concierge had greeted them immediately, taken care of checking them in, and quickly instructed a bellhop to escort them to their room. The private elevator with secure access had shot them up to the penthouse smoothly and efficiently. And the room itself was even better than advertised with a view that offered the perfect vantage point for enjoying New Year’s Eve fireworks from the comfort of a luxurious king size bed. But as the day wore on, the sixteen-hundred-square-foot space began to feel like a shoebox.

As the morning had turned into an afternoon that darkened into night, Allie seemed to withdraw. She became more isolated, offering what felt like forced laughs or strained smiles. Something was off. Logic told him it was nothing, that it was all a matter of his own perception. But the pit of his stomach told him otherwise.

Hudson fought the feeling and took a deep breath, trying to relax.

Hell of a lot of good that did.

In the bathroom, he planted his left palm on the marble while his right cranked the hot and cold. In a rush, water cascaded out of the faucet and began to fill the oversize infinity tub that was smack in the middle of the room. Turning his head, he saw Allie in the living room, staring out the double doors that openedto a terrace with three-hundred-and-sixty-degree views of the city. But she seemed oblivious to the night sky, the ambient glow of the city humming below her, and the Eiffel Tower glittering in the distance. Instead her empty gaze was indicative of someone stuck between two polars, concentrating hard on something while at the same time trying to get away from it. Hudson knew all about that; he was a pro at shutting down and sending out the hands-off message when the world was getting a little too clear.

The level of the water rose and steam began to billow from the tub. As it did, he replayed the past few hours, then the past few days, trying to figure out what, if anything, he could have said or done to cause this disconnect. On the train he’d left in search of confections with extra whipped cream, and when he’d returned the air had shifted and the mood had altered.

It didn’t make sense.

Any of it.

When it came to her, his senses were sharp. But right now he couldn’t nail the source of her reserve to anything specific.

“Allie?”

Her head turned. God, she was beautiful and the one woman he’d always wanted. In her white waffle-cut robe with her blonde hair loose around her shoulders, she struck him stupid. Still.

Hudson strode across the room. The candles he’d lit wafted in his wake, but did nothing to infiltrate the distinct chill in the air. Without a word he slipped his arms around her waist. She turned, running her hands up to his shoulders and linking them behind his neck. When her hazel eyes finally met his, there was honest-to-God emotion in them. His hands clasped the sides of her face and tilted her head before sealing his lips over hers. His tongue licked inside her mouth in lazy glides, tantalizing her as he waited for her to respond. And when she finally did, when she finally gave herself over to him, he groaned, drinking in the taste of her.

“Take a bath with me,” he whispered against her lips.

“Okay.” Her breathy voice was the only green light he needed. Hudson embraced her tightly and lifted her off her feet. His cock throbbed for attention, pounding between them as he carried her to the bathroom. The water was still running and the place had gone tropical, but the fog forming on the mirrors that covered the walls did nothing to hide their reflections.

In a coordinated sequence he set her on her feet, pulled the sash of her robe, and peeled the fabric off her creamy shoulders, letting it pool at her feet. She was just so goddamn beautiful. Although not in a modern, overdone way that was all about excess—too much makeup, fake nails, and over-the-top extensions. Allie was naturally beautiful, with delicate features reminiscent of Grace Kelly.

He spun her around to face the mirror above the twin sinks. The candlelight reflected off the beveled edgesand bathed her skin from head to toe. He lifted a hand and brushed his knuckles up the contours of her ribcage then along the gentle slope of her breast. Her eyes drifted to his hand, tracking its movement. The tension in her body was unbearable; she seemed anxious.

“Look at me. Don’t drop your eyes.” He dipped his head but his gaze remained locked to hers as he ran his tongue along the planes of her shoulders. Her skin was soft, smooth as satin under the caresses of his hands and against his tongue, and gradually he felt the strain ease out of her muscles.

His hand dropped between her thighs and a groan rumbled deep in his chest. Christ, she was wet. He had command of her body but he wanted her mind along with it. He slid his middle finger inside her, eased it out, then back in with a second.

Allie moaned and pushed back against his hand. “Hudson,” she whispered.

His tongue traced the pulsing vein in her neck. “I know what you want, but I need to hear you say it.” He was rock-hard and dying to be inside her, to feel her sliding slick, hot, and wet around his cock. But despite the burn that was spreading up his legs and through his groin, he held back, wanting her with him. He pulled his fingers out and thrust gently back into her. “Say it, Allie.”

“Take me.” Allie’s back arched and she clenched around him. In that moment he knew she needed the connection as much as he did.

Hudson reached for the belt of his robe and yanked it from the loops. The fabric split wide and his cock jutted out from his hips, hard, strong, and proud. He gripped himself and slid the tip between her glistening lips. The first touch against her slick sex nearly made him lose it.

In a split second the tension in the room was replaced with raw lust. He seized her hips, and when his fingers sank into her flesh he felt the need to tether them there, as if he was grounding them both in the moment. With a hiss, he entered her on a solid stroke that brought his body flush against her ass. Allie cried out, her fingers curling around the lip of the counter. He pulled out to the tip, then thrust sharply back inside her. The groan he let out vibrated throughout his whole body, and a harsh breath rushed out of her mouth.

Steam slicked their skin and the sound of water trickling over the edges of the tub behind them mingled with their collective moans. Glancing to the side, Hudson caught their reflection. He watched his hips roll and then pump into her, his lower abs flex and then release, as his cock was stroked from every angle. “Look at us,” he ground out. Each word was punctuated with a thrust of his hips. “Watch me fuck you.”

Her gaze landed on one mirror then the next and the next, and he knew she saw what he did in the multiple reflections. They were a prism of naked bodies all moving in unison, working together. Sweet hell, an orgasm was already perched at the head of his cock and the slow burn was creeping up his spine.

“Give me your mouth,” he growled. Allie craned her head back and he forced her chin up. He locked onto her mouth without apology, his lips crushing against hers in a desperate attempt to seal the fissure he feared was growing into a canyon between them. His tongue slid over hers in lush strokes and his hips moved in relentless drives.

When he felt her impending orgasm begin to coil around his cock, he moved his hand around her and massaged his fingers over the top of her sex.

“Please,”she begged.

“I have you.” Hudson bit down on his molars and locked his lower back in order to keep the steady pace. “Look at yourself. Look how beautiful you are. See what I see as you come.”

Allie arched her back, and as if on cue her release snapped free. “Hudson,” she cried out, his name a plea. The breathlessness of her voice surged the need in him and his body took over. There was nothing slow and easy, he was all rough and raw.

“That’s it. Give me what’s mine.” He gripped her hips and yanked her back along his length, feeling her pulse along his shaft and fucking her with the desire to erase anything and everything that was threatening to stand between them.

As he focused on the way his body slid and fit inside of her, he felt a wave of pleasure move up his legs and vibrate in his balls. But at the same time he felt the treasonous shift of her mind as her head dropped forward, hiding her eyes from his view. He smoothed his palm up her spine, wrapped her hair around his wrist, and gently pulled her head back up. “Don’t you fucking look away, I’m about to come for you.” Their eyes met in the mirror but he still felt like he was clawing through the fog to reach her.

“Fuck.” The word shot out of his mouth as he began to come, his body rearing back and his cock kicking deep within her. Allie dropped forward on her elbows and he caught her around the waist. He leaned over her, pressing a kiss between her shoulders, and they stood there for a moment with nothing but the sounds of their panting breaths echoing off the cold marble.

It was Hudson who finally spoke. “I’ll never let you go,” he murmured against her skin. “Never.”

Chapter Twenty-nine

Allie had spent the entire night staring at the ceiling of their penthouse suite. She knew every detail of the ornate cornice moldings and exactly how many crystal teardrops hung from the chandelier above the bed. But when the sun began to peek through the silk curtains, she was still no closer to coming up with a plan.

What reason could she possibly give Hudson for leaving him alone in one of the world’s most romantic cities? This was their first trip together. Under any other circumstances, nothing could convince her to leave his side. But her circumstances were anything but normal. And as much as she hated the thought of being away from Hudson for half the day, much less lying to him about where she was going, Julian had left her no choice. He was threatening to hurt the man she loved. If delivering a ring to Julian’s chateau would keep Hudson safe, then so be it.

The irony of the location Julian had picked for the exchange was not lost on her. Had she married him as planned, then they would have just been wrapping up their three-week honeymoon. The extensive itinerary had allowed for the last leg of the trip to include a weeklong stay at his chateau, culminating in a second reception her mother planned to host for Julian’s extended family, as well as their European friends who were unable to make it to the ceremony.

While it was true that many on the guest list would have been unable to attend either due to the holidays or the short notice, Allie suspected her mother’s motivation had more to do with impressing Bernadette Beauchene than it did with entertaining Julian’s distant cousins. Bernadette had been her mother’s roommate at Vassar. And while the Ingram name was often said in the same breath as Vanderbilt, Kennedy, and Rockefeller, it lacked the pedigree that came with hundreds of years of nobility and wealth. Hosting a ball at the country estate of her daughter, the new Marquise Laurent, would have no doubt been a means of leveling that field. The idea would have bothered Allie more but her mother’s motivation for planning a party at Julian’s estate paled in comparison to the lengths which her parents had gone to arrange the marriage in the first place. Not that any of it mattered anymore. Her parents were gone, as was her mother’s unspoken rivalry with Bernadette Beauchene.

And then it hit her. Bernadette was the perfect excuse to slip away for a few hours.

Careful not to disturb Hudson, Allie reached for her phone. She typed a quick e-mail to Bernadette, and had just returned her phone to the nightstand when Hudson stirred.

“I know what you’re doing,” he murmured from behind her.

Allie stilled. “You do?”

“Hmm.” He reached for her, one arm sliding around her waist as he pulled her to him, his chest against her back. “You’re checking your e-mail, something I’m quite sure I was told was off-limits while in bed. And besides, it’s a holiday. Nothing urgent to attend to.” He pressed his lips to her shoulder and she felt him smile against her skin. With a shift of his hips, an impressive erection prodded her backside. “Other than this.”

Arousal surged through her body. With no more than a few words and the feel of his skin against hers, she was slick and ready. All it would take was a subtle flex of her hips and he would be inside her, filling her, stretching her. She ached for him the way she always did, her body a slave to his. More than that she craved the connection of being one with him on the most intimate level. But there were arrangements to be made and a plane to meet.

It was just as well. Because as amazing as the night before had been, what lay ahead had weighed heavily on her mind, and she knew Hudson had picked up on it. He had sensed it in her mood, in the tension radiating through her body. And even though he’d eventually broken through and reached that part of her only he could touch, the fact that it had been so difficult brought a sadness all its own. She needed to deal with Julian. Once he was out of their lives, everything would go back to the way it was.

Hudson nuzzled against her neck while he began tugging and rolling her nipple between two fingers. She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the wave of pleasure and gathering the strength to move away from the man who owned her, body and soul.

“It wasn’t work.”

He nibbled and sucked the sensitive skin beneath her ear. “Well, whatever Harper’s latest man crisis is can wait, too.”

It took every ounce of self-control, but somehow she managed to place her hand over Hudson’s, halting his amorous assault. “Actually, it was a friend of my mother’s. Sort of like an aunt to me.” That was a ridiculous exaggeration, but she had to make the story believable.

Allie sat up, pulling the sheet around her as she moved to the edge of the bed. “She wasn’t able to make it for the funeral, so when Ben told her I was in Europe, she started e-mailing, asking to get together.” Hudson’s watchful gaze made her suddenly aware of how quickly she was speaking. She took a steadying breath, using the time to do a quick calculation. Assuming her flight was on time, Harper was due to land just before nine. Allowing for customs, then the round-trip drive to Julian’s chateau, she should have no problem making it to the station by two. It wasn’t as though she and Julian would be having small talk over tea. “Anyway, I thought maybe I could have brunch with her this morning and meet you at the station later?”

Hudson swung his legs over the other side of the bed. “I’ll go with you.”

“Don’t be silly.” She darted across the room, gathering clothing off the floor as she made her way to the suitcases that sat propped open on brass luggage racks. “I would never dream of subjecting you to brunch with Bernadette. I mean, I love her like family, but she’s my mother on steroids.” She laughed nervously. “Only with a cigarette and a thick accent.”

Hudson stared at her from across the room, looking more than a bit annoyed. “I think I can tolerate one brunch.”

“I love you for offering, but it’s not necessary. Enjoy a lazy morning, go to the hotel gym, read those e-mails you keep sneaking peeks at.” She smiled over her shoulder. “I’ll meet you at the station at two and we’ll be in London in time for cocktails.” Clean clothes in hand, she dashed toward the bathroom, pausing briefly in front of Hudson. “Thank you, though,” she said, pressing a swift kiss to his lips.

Hudson caught her wrist as she turned away. “If you think I’m letting you go without a proper good-bye,” he said, tugging her sharply into his lap. One of his hands cupped her nape, holding her in place as his mouth claimed hers in a passionate kiss. And for one blissful moment, all thoughts of Julian and threats of blackmail left her and she kissed him back. As if nothing existed but the two of them.

“Now you can get ready.” He set her back on her feet and swatted her behind. “I’d join you in the shower, but then poor Aunt Bernadette would be dining on croissants alone,” he added with a knowing smirk.

Allie showered and dressed while Hudson ordered room service. It was being delivered just as she was about to leave, but food was the last thing on her mind. At the moment all she could think about was getting to the airport. According to the airline’s website, Harper’s flight was on time. With any luck she’d breeze through customs and Allie could stay on schedule. Julian hadn’t given her much time, but if all went according to plan, the whole mess would be behind her in a few hours.

“Dining room, s’il vous plaît.” Hudson held the door open for the young man as he wheeled in a linen-draped cart. Allie was by his side before he had a chance to close it.

“I wish you’d reconsider and take Max with you,” he said as she shrugged into her coat.

“I’ll be fine with the hotel’s car and driver.” She offered him a seemingly lighthearted smile. “And this way Max can get you and all of my luggage to the station on time.”

Hudson pulled her coat closed and began to fasten the buttons. “You do give new meaning to the term ‘packing light.’ I think the concierge thought a UN delegation had arrived last night.” His tone was teasing, but his eyes were full of concern. “No detours. Straight to the station after brunch with your aunt.”

“I’ll be fine, Hudson. Try not to worry so much.”

A deep frown creased his brow as he gazed down at her. The intensity of his scrutiny was unnerving, and for a moment she feared he’d seen right through her flimsy excuse. “I will worry until you’re back in my arms,” he finally said. He leaned down, his lips gently touching hers. “You’re my life, Alessandra. I would do anything for you. All you need to do is ask.”

Allie’s chest tightened. “I know,” she murmured against his lips. “I’ll see you soon.”

She kept her eyes trained on the elevator as she made her way down the long hall. Hudson was watching her from the doorway of their suite. She could feel it. If she stole even so much as a glance over her shoulder, she knew she’d run back into his arms and tell him everything. But Julian had been adamant she handle this alone, and so that was exactly what she had to do.

Whatever it takes to keep them safe.

Over and over the words played in her head during the ride to the airport, and as she waited in the concourse, anxiously checking her watch. When Harper finally came through the doors, Allie pushed her way through the exiting passengers and threw her arms around her friend.

“Whoa, glad to see you, too,” Harper laughed.

Allie squeezed her tight. “Thank you.”

“No problem. Never celebrated New Year’s Eve at thirty-five thousand feet. Not exactly the mile-high club I had in mind, but . . .”

An overwhelming sense of gratitude collided with the tension coiled deep within her, and a strangled sob escaped Allie’s lips.

Harper leaned back to look at her. “Oh hey, it’s okay.” She wiped the tear that slipped down Allie’s cheek. “Although, can I say for the bazillionth time, that I think meeting with Julian is a terrible idea?”

“I know. But it has to be this way.” People surged past them, rushing to meet family members or connecting flights. “Come on, let’s get out of this mess.” Looping her arm though Harper’s, she lead her to a cluster of chairs near the windows. “Did you have any trouble finding it?”

Harper shook her head. “No, it was right where you said it would be. But it was terrifying traveling with this rock.” She pulled a leather box out of her carry-on bag and pressed it into Allie’s trembling hands. “How in the world did you walk around wearing it? I’d be afraid someone would chop my finger off to steal it.”

The image Harper conjured only added to the nausea rolling in the pit of Allie’s stomach, but she kept her focus on the task at hand. “I have a driver from the George V waiting for you downstairs, but he’s going to drop you at the Ritz Carlton. I booked you a room there because with my luck you’d run into Hudson in the lobby.”

“Where does he think you are now?”

Allie frowned. “I told him I was visiting one of my mother’s friends.”

“I’d point out the many ways this whole thing is a bad idea, like how lies are what tore you two apart the first time, or how Julian is a snake in the grass, or how Hudson is going to flip when he finds out . . .” Harper paused and her expression softened. “But I’m guessing you already know all that.”

Allie nodded and swallowed past the lump in her throat. When she spoke, her voice was barely a whisper. “He’s threatening to hurt Hudson. And Nick.”

Harper’s eyes grew wide. “All over that ring? I mean, it’s a freaking monster, but couldn’t he afford, like, a dozen more?”

“He could, but according to him, this one is priceless.”

“Jeesh, glad I didn’t know that part on the flight over.”

“Good riddance to both of them, as far as I’m concerned.” She tucked the ring box into her purse and handed Harper a large manila envelope. “Everything you need is in here. The hotel registration is under your name but I gave them my credit card, so raid the mini bar, go to the spa, order room service, whatever you want.”

Harper peeked into the envelope. “You didn’t need to do all this.”

“Yes, I did. You dropped everything and flew to Paris on literally a moment’s notice. The least I can do is make sure you enjoy yourself while you’re here.”

“So what’s the plan?”

“Not much, really. I’m going to grab a cab to take me out to Julian’s, then stop by Bernadette’s on the way to meet Hudson at the train station.” Allie was a horrible liar. If she had any hope of pulling this off, she’d have to actually sit down for a quick cup of tea with her mother’s friend. “With any luck this will all be over in an about two hours.”

“Call me on your way to the train?”

“Will do.” After one last hug, Allie hurried through the crowded concourse to the nearest taxi stand. During the drive she gazed out the window as the scenery changed from bustling urban to scenic vista, bracing herself for the inevitable. She’d hoped to never lay eyes on Julian Laurent again, and for a short time it seemed like that might be possible. But now she was not only going to see him again, she was going to be alone with him.

Her heart rate spiked and her skin broke out in a cold sheen of sweat as memories of the last time they were together flooded her mind. She could see his face, contorted with anger, his nostrils flared with rage. She could smell the sour stench of alcohol mixed with the sweet scent of his cologne. She could feel his hands on her and the blood that dripped down her face. But most of all she could hear him. The snarls and grunts and harsh breaths as he bent her over the couch and forced her legs apart.

“We’re here, Mademoiselle.”

Allie startled. “Pardonnez-moi?”

The driver nodded to the iron gates in front of the car. “This is as far as the car can go. The road is too narrow.”

“Too narrow?”

“Oui, Mademoiselle. It was built for horses, not automobiles.”

She peered through the window. Beyond the gates was a cobblestone bridge that stretched across . . . a moat? Allie couldn’t believe her eyes. She knew the chateau had been in Julian’s family since the sixteenth century, but an actual moat? While she’d expected it to be as ostentatious as everything else in Julian’s life, she had to admit that took her by surprise.

“Do you still want me to wait?”

“Absolutely. This shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.” She tossed fifty euros on the front seat and slid out of the taxi.

The iron gates seemed even more foreboding once she was out of the car. They towered over her in a flourish of swirls and interlocking scrolls that met in the middle to form a giant letter L. Taking a deep breath, she somehow managed to propel herself forward on shaking legs.

As she moved across the weathered stones, she took in her surroundings. Below her the water moved under the bridge in slow ripples, with lily pads and moss floating along the gentle current. In the distance she could see meticulously trimmed topiary dotting the elaborate gardens, and beyond that a large stable and several smaller houses she assumed to be servant quarters. But the true focal point was the main house. The massive three-story home loomed in front of her like a scene from a movie. With its towers and spires and flags it more closely resembled a castle than a chateau. As she neared the entrance she wondered idly if under different circumstances she’d consider the whole scene to be straight out of a fairy tale instead of ripped from her worst nightmare.

The oversize wood door swung open as she approached. When she reached the top stair, Julian appeared in the doorway. He was holding a crystal glass that undoubtedly contained straight vodka and wearing a pair of tan pants and a blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.

“Alessandra.” His lips drew back in an expression that was decidedly more sneer than smile. He gestured for her to enter then stepped aside to let her pass, taking a sip from the crystal glass as she did. “Welcome home,” he murmured.

Allie stepped into the dark, dimly lit foyer. She’d barely had time to process his words before the heavy door closed behind her with a resounding thud.