by Renee Roman
Chapter Twenty-three
Hudson wiped her hands on her pants again and took a deep breath. She glanced at the clock on the dashboard and turned off the ignition. Let’s do this. She had no idea if Pam was inside. She’d never been prompt when they were together, thinking it was unsophisticated to show up on time. Pam had a knack for making people wonder if she’d show, waiting to make her grand entrance. She entered and waited for her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit interior and was surprised when she spotted Pam already seated, a partial glass of wine on the table.
“Hello, Pam.”
Pam’s eyes met hers, and she seemed genuinely glad she was there. “Hudson.”
Pam stood and pulled her into a warm embrace, taking Hudson off guard. She’d never been publicly demonstrative, unless it was to impress someone.
“It’s good to see you. Please.” Pam gestured to the chair across from her and sat. “I wasn’t sure what you were drinking these days. I was here a bit early.” Pam pointed to her wine.
“It’s nice to see you, too.” Hudson studied her face. Although it had been almost two years since she’d last seen her, Pam seemed older. There were a few more lines around her eyes, and she’d lost weight, bordering on anemic. Hudson gestured to the waiter.
“We’ll have a bottle of whatever my companion is drinking.”
“Are you trying to get me drunk?” Pam said, poking fun at her.
Hudson held her tongue. She didn’t want their meeting to be antagonistic, even though she hoped it was the last time they’d ever see each other. She was about to recount their last encounter before realizing it wasn’t necessary. Tonight was about the future. Not hers and Pam’s, but hers and Ari’s.
“You seem different. Is everything okay?” Although they’d parted with angry words, she still cared for the woman that she’d spent part of her life with.
“It’s kind of you to ask.” Pam’s cheeks pinked. She was clearly uncomfortable. “My dream job has turned into a nightmare, and my latest ex was cheating on me for the last six months.” She finished off her wine and forced a smile. “Other than that, life is great.”
“I’m sorry to hear about both. You were so excited about the promotion.”
“Yes, well…things change.” Pam leaned forward. “Speaking of change, Ari seems like a wonderful person.”
“Yes, she is.”
“She loves you.” Pam sat back. “Hasn’t she told you? Oh my, did I let the cat out of the bag?”
“Well…no, it’s just…” Hudson had to take a minute to recover. She’d been pretty sure Ari loved her, but for it to be that obvious to Pam made her head spin.
“You and I had issues because we never said what was on our mind. I know we had our differences, but I never thought you deserved the purgatory you put yourself in when we split,” Pam said without malice.
Hudson was confused. When she’d moved away, she had the impression Pam couldn’t care less. That she was happy Hudson was out of her life. Now it appeared as though Pam was doing a one-eighty, and she wasn’t sure she could trust what she was hearing.
“I’m not following you.”
Pam poured more wine and took a sip.
“That happened a lot.” She swallowed and went on. “Here’s the thing. We were good together, but we weren’t good for each other. You did your thing, I did mine, but aside from sex…which by the way was mind-blowing, at least for me…we never…” She paused and stared ahead, as though needing to find the right word.
“Meshed?”
“Yes!” she exclaimed, drawing the attention of nearby diners. She looked at them and mouthed “sorry” and Hudson had to laugh. She liked this Pam. This stranger across from her was demonstrative and funny, and a little outrageous. Not at all like the stuffy, snobbish woman she remembered.
“What’s happened to you? You aren’t anything like I remember.”
“You want the truth?” Pam asked.
“Yes.”
“I was a rich bitch. I put on a show and knew I could get anything I wanted. All I had to do was demand it, expect it, or pay for it.”
“Are you broke?” She didn’t mean to pry, but she needed to understand what had caused Pam’s miraculous transformation.
Pam laughed so hard she almost spit her wine. “Lord, no.” She met Hudson’s gaze and held it. “I’m still rich. I’ve just decided I don’t have to be a bitch to get what I want. All I have to do is ask for it.”
Hudson ate while she considered her next question. She’d come here for a reason and she couldn’t leave without knowing.
“Then why wouldn’t you give me my things? Why threaten me with wanting my trust fund?”
Pam waved her off. “You really don’t know, do you?”
She shook her head, totally confused.
“I wanted to see you again. I thought you’d show up at the door demanding your things—take what was yours and end all the drama. That didn’t happen. Then out of the blue you send a lawyer after me. I got pissed. I dug a little deeper, thinking I needed something more to get you face-to-face, and the trust fund served the purpose.” She motioned between them. “Here we are.”
“So you don’t want my inheritance?”
“Hell no. I pay enough damn taxes.” She giggled. “But seriously, that’s yours and no court in the world would give it to me.” Pam must have recognized the distress she’d caused. “I had no intention of going through with it. It was a bluff and you called it.”
Hudson sat back, letting everything Pam said sink in. If only she’d faced her one more time, this past couple of years could have been spent healing and moving on. Instead, she’d managed to sink into depression. All because she didn’t want to hear what Pam had to say. She felt even more of a coward than she had before. But she could change the course of her life going forward. Everything was in her hands; all she had to do was move on without fear. She knew what she wanted. She knew who she wanted to spend it with. Nothing was impossible.
“You’ve certainly taken the wind out of my sails. I came here expecting a clash of wills, and instead, I find myself liking you more than when we were together.” She winced at the crude admission. Embarrassed, she felt her face heat. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
“Pshaw. You’re not the first person to tell me how I come across. I’d like to think I’ve changed for the better.”
Hudson reached for her and stroked the back of her hand. “If you don’t mind me saying, I can tell how much you have.”
“Thank you.” Pam became quiet and Hudson believed she’d offended her again. Pam finally met her gaze, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I’m sorry I broke your spirit. I know how much you wanted a family, but that was never in my future. Still isn’t.” Pam leaned closer. “Can you forgive me?”
“Yes, if you’ll forgive me for assuming we were on the same page.”
Pam put her other hand over the top of their joined ones. “I never blamed you for our troubles.”
* * *
Her cell phone’s loud tone brought Ari to a stop. She’d been binge cleaning ever since Hudson left to meet Pam. Every time she finished a task, she’d look at the clock and wonder how things were going before moving on to the next project. The house hadn’t been this clean since she’d moved in. She picked up the phone knowing it was Hudson and dreading what she might tell her. Maybe they’d talked about how much they’d enjoyed each other’s company and perhaps they should try to make it work. Maybe Pam had threatened to take Hudson for a proverbial ride until she was so beat down she’d do anything Pam asked. No. A few months ago, that might have been the outcome, but Hudson had regained her confidence, and Ari was sure she would stand up for herself. Still, when faced with fight or flight, Hudson had a history. She took a deep breath and prepared for the worst.
“Hello?”
“Hi,” Hudson said. “I’m glad you’re still up. Can I come and talk with you?”
Her heart sank. She dreaded whatever Hudson had
to tell her, but just like when she was a child, she’d rather have the bandage ripped off than slowly peeled away. Swallowing hard, she tried to sound poised.
“Okay.” She felt anything but. “Would you like coffee?”
“Sounds good. I’ll be there in about ten.”
She closed her eyes. There wasn’t anything in Hudson’s tone to give away the reason she wanted to talk, but her chest filled with dread. “See you then.”
Her hands shook as she filled the carafe, spilling it down the side. Leaning on the counter, she gulped in air, feeling like she couldn’t breathe. She had it bad for Hudson and that wasn’t going to change no matter what the outcome of her and Pam’s meeting. If it was bad news, she’d deal with it. It’s what her parents had taught her when she’d had no choice. Coping was the one characteristic they forced her to master, and master it she had.
Ari didn’t want to seem too anxious. Hudson’s evening had to have been emotional whether it had been amicable or contentious. She opened the door and stepped back. Hudson met her gaze and held it before stepping in and wrapped her arms around Ari. She covered Ari’s lips with her warm mouth. The kiss turned into a slow, gentle burn, kindling the heat in her groin. She didn’t want to have a visceral reaction, but when it came to Hudson, she had little control over her body. Hudson backed away.
She held her breath. She thought it was a good-bye kiss until she saw relief on her face.
“Things went okay?”
Hudson nodded. “The kiss was my feeble attempt to thank you for giving me the push I needed to find closure with Pam.” Hudson stepped closer. “Pam doesn’t want anything. All she wanted was to say good-bye. Wish me well.” Hudson’s eyes filled with tears. “I never gave her the opportunity to tell me. I walked away and carried the hurt with me until tonight.” She let out a breath. “I promise not to let that happen to us.”
“Us?” Dare she hope this meant what she thought?
Hudson took her hand and led her down the hall to her bedroom. They stood facing each other, and Hudson’s hands moved to the buttons of her blouse. One button flicked open, then the next. Their gaze never wavered. Hudson slid the material off her shoulders, leaned over, and kissed the flesh of her neck, collarbone, and chest. She shivered with delight. The sensual nature of Hudson’s deliberate, slow movements sent her pulse racing. She heard her heart pound in her ears. Hudson hadn’t even touched her yet. Her sex clutched with longing. She watched Hudson’s long fingers unbutton her jeans and the zipper moved downward at a maddening pace. The lack of urgency was infuriating. She needed to be touched, wanted to feel Hudson inside her. When the zipper stopped, a gush of wet flooded her undies.
“Hudson…” She trembled, her legs shaking in anticipation.
Hudson nuzzled her neck. “You smell good,” she said, wrapping an arm around Ari’s waist. “I can’t wait to touch you.”
She moaned. “I need…”
Hudson’s lips latched onto the pulse point of her neck, sucking the tender flesh. Her legs gave out and Hudson lifted her to the bed, her jeans pooled at her feet. She finished undressing her and stood at the side of the bed. Her eyes filled with adoration.
“You’re so beautiful, Ari.” Hudson shed her own clothes and lowered herself until their skin melded together.
She caressed Hudson’s face and pulled her down until their mouths met once more. Her world exploded into white-hot light. The beauty of the moment wasn’t lost in the sensations surrounding her. Tears fell from the corners of her eyes. She’d waited all her life to feel the connection she had with Hudson. No one had ever come close. She’d never let anyone this close.
Hudson’s lips moved over her chin and down her chest until they reached her nipple. As soon as her lips closed over it, it tightened. She pressed upward, forcing more of her breast into Hudson’s mouth.
She lavished attention on one, then the other.
Ari growled. “I need you. Now.”
Hudson moved against her flesh. Their eyes had locked before Hudson slid two fingers inside and she gasped when they rubbed the inner ridges. The slow rhythm in and out, alternating with pressing her clit, made her hips jerk. The heat rose in her abdomen, her climax edging closer. Hudson withdrew and spread her quivering thighs wider, her hungry mouth ravishing her swollen flesh. When she pressed her tongue into Ari’s opening, she cried out, the orgasm ripping the breath from her chest.
Hudson cradled her in her arms, her body shaking as wave after wave crashed against her. Minutes passed before she could move.
“My God, what you do to me.”
Smoothing her hands along Ari’s back, Hudson kissed the top of her head. “There’s nothing I enjoy more than spending time with you, no matter what we’re doing.”
The sincerity of her words touched her heart. “We have such a special connection.”
“Yes, we do.”
She waited for Hudson to say more. When she didn’t, she knew it was up to her to draw out what she longed to hear.
* * *
Hudson’s breath caught in her throat. Her body reacted to the intense pleasure and arched off the bed. She hung on the crest of orgasm for long minutes before falling into the abyss. Crying out Ari’s name, she grabbed at the sheets, needing to find an anchor as she tumbled. Ari brought her to the crest again. Breathing hard, she looked along her body to watch Ari lap her juices and saw her satisfaction when their eyes met. Her oversensitive flesh forced her to squirm out of Ari’s grasp.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Ari climbed along her body and settled over her thighs.
Hudson languidly kissed her. Ari’s lips still tasted of her essence. She relaxed into the warmth that enveloped her as they continued to move against each other.
“I’m not going anywhere.” She plucked at Ari’s nipple with her fingertips.
“Let me feel you.”
“I think you already have.”
Ari ground her hip against her center and her clitoris twitched from the pressure. Ari stopped moving and leaned back.
“You’re so beautiful. Inside and out. I’ve embraced all the things that make you you. I know that there’s another piece.” Ari placed a hand over Hudson’s heart.
“I need to have all of you. Trust me. I’ve got you, baby, and I’m not going to hurt you. Stop holding back. Please.”
The plea reached Ari’s eyes.
Hudson palmed Ari’s cheek. So it had come to this. Ari was asking for her heart. For months, they’d been moving toward this moment. For months, they’d grown closer and closer. And while the sex had always been fantastic, the last couple times had felt deeply intimate. When they touched, it was more than with their mouths and hands. Their souls touched. Hudson wanted to feel this intimacy with Ari every day.
Her heart had been pushing forward, even when her mind tried to find reasons why it should stay locked away. She’d been avoiding the inevitable even though she knew she wanted to love and be loved again. She didn’t know if Ari could feel her inner struggle, but she was determined to stop being a coward. Ari deserved a fulfilling life. She deserved to be loved.
“I never thought I’d want to love again. You’ve helped me see there’s always a chance for love. I know we didn’t meet by accident. Fate had other plans for me. For us.” She stroked Ari’s face. Traced her lips. Felt her heart pound against her chest. “I won’t waste another minute. Not this time. I love you, Ari. I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you.”
“I’ve waited so long to hear those words from you. I tried to be patient.” Tears filled Ari’s eyes.
“No. You were perfect. You are perfect.”
Ari slowly rolled them, exchanging positions. “I love you, Hudson Frost.”
Their lips met and all the doubt she’d had fell away.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“You look so handsome.” Ari smoothed the shoulder material of Hudson’s tux and adjusted her bowtie.
“Don’t think I’m going to
do this forever. I love helping out, but I’m stretched thin.” Hudson finished filling the tray with bacon-wrapped scallops and balanced it on her hand.
Ari was looking forward to the birth of their child. At first, she’d worried it was too soon for them to start a family, but they weren’t getting any younger, and she’d assured Hudson there wasn’t anything they couldn’t handle together. Dale and Gina had heard from Sid and told him to call his sister right away. She’d been excited by the idea of Hudson’s brother being the sperm donor. The baby would have characteristics of both her and Hudson. A month later, her eggs had been fertilized, followed by a successful implantation.
Hudson ran her hand over Ari’s swollen abdomen. She hadn’t thought Ari could be any more beautiful, but pregnancy brought out the beauty she already possessed. She’d moved in with Ari, and they were turning the guest bedroom into a nursery. The full-time accounting job came with benefits so she could provide health insurance for her family. Her parents would come in shifts to help out after the baby was born. She’d asked Ari if she wanted to include her parents, but she’d outright refused, saying she didn’t want their negativity ruining their family.
Ari patted her ass and smiled. “I know, darling, and as soon as I’m done with the interviews, I’ll have a sous chef, and you can go back to finishing the baby’s room. Now go serve the masses. I expect you to share stories of the women who flirt with you.”
Hudson brushed her lips over Ari’s and smiled. “Okay, but I’m not sharing my tips.” She headed out the door and into the bright light of her future.
THE END
About the Author
Renee Roman has lived in Albany, New York, her entire life. Raised with a book in one hand and a dictionary in the other, she credits her mother for nurturing her craving for the written word. Her home is filled with the books she and her wife, Sue, try to find space for. Her second passion is cooking, and she enjoys entertaining friends and family as often as time allows. She even manages to give attention to their two frisky felines. You can find Renee on Facebook, on her website at: www.reneeromanwrites.com, or you can email her at [email protected].
