by Kara Lennox
“You’d do that? With me?”
Would she? Life as a fugitive wouldn’t be any picnic. But if it saved Hudson from being murdered in prison... “I don’t know. I’m confused. One minute I feel strong, the next I’m sure I wouldn’t last a day in prison. But it’s bound to be worse for you. You’d probably rather not be saddled with me, anyway. I’d just slow you down.”
“I wouldn’t leave you to take the rap alone.”
“That’s very noble.” She sighed, feeling a false sense of contentment pressed up against Hudson’s body, still hot from his workout. “I’d be too scared to run.”
“Running would just make us look guilty. Even if they arrest us, even if the worst happens...Project Justice will keep working to exonerate us. Once Daniel believes someone is innocent, it takes a lot to change his mind. He’ll stand by us.”
That was only slightly reassuring. If their witnesses kept dying, their evidence disappearing, how could anyone, no matter how brilliant, no matter how many resources he had at his disposal, prove they were innocent?
“Hudson?”
“Yes, Liz?”
“If this is possibly our last night of freedom, don’t you think we should do something special? Something we’ll remember for a long time?”
“You mean, like, borrow a couple of Daniel’s polo ponies and ride naked through the woods?”
She swatted him on his rock-hard backside, probably hurting her hand more than his butt. “That’s not what I meant.”
He laughed softly. “I know what you mean. Last time I wanted to go there, you shot me down.”
“Because of the implication that it was leading somewhere. Somewhere I couldn’t promise to go. Tonight, I just want to connect with something positive. I want to remember how good we are together. And I want to think about life, instead of death.”
His answer was to tip her head up and kiss her. “We started things with a night of shallow, meaningless sex. It’s fitting we end things that way, too.”
She didn’t take offense, though she considered nothing about their first night together shallow. She’d started caring for him from the moment they’d met, and her feelings had only deepened.
However, lasting relationships relied on more than caring. Everything had got messy. Their situation had brought them closer, but it had also highlighted their differences—core beliefs that wouldn’t change overnight.
No point worrying about anything long-term. They could hardly work out their differences from separate cell blocks. Prison letters weren’t going to cut it for them. The buck stopped here; tonight was probably all they had.
Hudson tugged at the belt of her cotton robe. The half bow she’d hastily tied a few minutes ago came loose and the robe fell open, revealing the barely there silk nightshirt, which was all she had on underneath. He traced the outline of her breasts with a delicate touch; her nipples rose into hard peaks clearly visible through the thin material.
“I’ve never seen anyone respond the way you do.” His voice was thick, husky.
“You think that’s fast, you should feel what’s going on below the waist.”
“I intend to.”
It wasn’t lost on her that his reaction to her was just as fast, just as visceral. Those teeny little shorts didn’t hide much.
Suddenly he scooped her up in his arms. Both her slippers fell off. “What are you doing?” Lord, he was strong. He’d picked her up as if she was no bigger than a kitten. She might be thin, but at five foot nine no one ever accused her of being petite.
“Have you ever made love in a Jacuzzi?”
One door down from the workout room was a wet area with a whirlpool bath and ice plunge. The mosaic-tiled walls depicted underwater scenes in shades of blue and green. Just when she’d thought she’d seen it all, the opulence of this place surprised her. The whirlpool could have accommodated six or eight people. The glowing water steamed.
“Does he keep this thing hot all the time?” She couldn’t help thinking about the energy waste.
“No, I turned it on when I came down. It should be about perfect.” He set her down on the cool tile and quickly untied his shoes. Feeling self-conscious standing there in her jammies, she decided to get in. The water was perfect—just about body temperature. She descended the steps, not bothering to remove the nightshirt. As she submerged her body, the nightshirt floated up, becoming all but invisible.
So much for modesty.
Hudson was watching every move she made. “Nice look.”
She pulled the now-useless nightshirt over her head and onto the tile deck, sinking to neck-deep in the water and finding a ledge to sit on. Hudson, now naked himself, joined her, but not before turning on the jets.
The water churned and foamed all around her, the bubbles caressing her already-supersensitive skin. She closed her eyes, relishing the sensation. Tonight was all about living in the moment.
“How’s that?” he asked.
“Mmm.” When she opened her eyes, he was standing before her waist-high in the water, looking like a sexy god of the sea about to ravish a mermaid. With a wicked grin he leaned down to kiss her, then wrapped his hands around her rib cage and lifted her up. Seeing his intention, she wrapped her legs around his hips and he moved his hands to support her bottom.
His erection teased between her legs but he made no move to enter her. “Now, let’s see...” He moved around the hot tub until he found exactly the right spot. A strong jet of water and bubbles rushed against the most sensitive part of her body.
“Oh.” So that was what he was after. “Oh, my. Wait, Hudson, I’m going to—” Too late. With almost no warning she climaxed with a sharp, semihysterical shriek while he laughed wickedly.
She bit his shoulder.
“Ow!” But he wouldn’t stop laughing. His sheer delight was contagious, and once her body had stopped convulsing quite so wildly she laughed, too.
“That was so unfair.”
“Want to do it again?” He maneuvered her just an inch or two and then back so that wicked jet brushed between her legs for half a second.
“Oh, yessss— I mean, no.” She sobered, and her eyes unexpectedly filled with tears. She leaned in so he couldn’t see her face and whispered in his ear. “I want you inside me. I need to feel you, all of you.”
“But we don’t have—”
“I don’t care.”
If getting pregnant was the worst thing that happened to her, she would count herself lucky.
The thought shocked her. But there it was. Having Hudson’s baby actually sounded attractive to her.
She didn’t have time to think about it any further, because he was quick to obey, his erection pressing against her, seeking entrance.
Slowly he lowered her onto him. She’d never felt anything as good as filling herself with Hudson, with his essence, both of them cocooned in the warm, swirling waters.
He turned and sat on one of the underwater benches. She folded her legs, supporting herself on her knees in a position that might have been uncomfortable were they not nearly weightless. Widening her legs, she grasped his shoulders and pulled herself closer until she literally felt his hip bones on the backs of her thighs.
Since he no longer needed to support her weight with his hands, he busied them with other activities, like squeezing her breasts together and dipping his tongue into the cleavage.
With small movements, she could control their sexual dance, and she moved up and down, sliding him in and out of her, slowly, intending to drive him as crazy as he’d driven her. Since she’d just climaxed, she had more control. This was the first time she’d maintained any presence of mind when they made love, and she used it to the fullest, choreographing the rhythm, the depth, kissing him, taking the slight hint when he thrust his tongue into her mouth.
She brought him just to the edge of losing control, then slowed and let him cool slightly, only to repeat the process. The third time, he made a strangled noise in his throat.
�
�Have mercy, woman.”
“Maybe you’ll think twice before you make me come before I’m ready.” But it was all good. She’d loved it.
“How about now, huh? Can I make you come now?”
“You don’t need to do a thing.”
She moved a little faster, just a little, and she felt the passion rising in her body again, a gallon of warm honey coursing through her veins, culminating in the most delicious crash of sensations.
As soon as her body began to pulsate with her second climax, he joined her with a triumphant cry.
Elizabeth let her tears flow this time. She couldn’t even put a name to what she felt, only that it was intense and out of her control. He put his arms around her and held her tight.
“It’s gonna be okay, baby. Somehow. We have to make it okay.”
For a moment, she let herself believe him.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CARLA ARRIVED EARLY to work, hoping for a few minutes of peace and quiet to get her head on straight.
She used to love her job. Now every day was a chore as she did all the things necessary to build a case against a man she knew wasn’t guilty of anything.
She’d just brewed herself a cup of herbal tea—nasty stuff—when Todd strode into the bull pen. She hadn’t realized he was already at work, but she shouldn’t be surprised. He was always punctual, always putting in the extra hours. Whether he was trying to impress the brass, or he really had a strong work ethic, she wasn’t sure. But it was very different than Hudson, who sometimes skated in thirty seconds before their shift began.
She found herself missing Hudson’s laid-back ways. She didn’t like the way Todd questioned every move she made, the constant note-taking.
Everything about Todd Knightly grated on her nerves. She’d told the lieutenant she could stomach partnering with Todd for a few weeks. But if this partnership with Todd became permanent...
She shuddered. If that were the case, she’d have to put in for a transfer. She’d go back to working Vice if she had to.
Todd had his cell phone clamped between his ear and his shoulder, a doughnut in one hand, a mug of coffee in the other.
He set his coffee down, finished his phone call, then turned to Carla with a triumphant grin. “That was the crime lab calling.”
“What do they have to say?” Carla held her breath.
“Hudson Vale’s DNA was found all over Franklin Mandalay’s car. Since he claimed to have had no contact with the man other than when he arrested him, I do believe that gives me probable cause.”
“You’re going to arrest him?” Carla couldn’t believe this was happening. She’d wanted Hudson to suffer...a little...but she’d never wanted it to go this far.
“It’s not a pleasant duty, but it’s one I take seriously. Yes, I’ll take him into custody.”
Carla decided right then she’d have no part of this. Hudson wasn’t capable of murder. Did Todd have no instincts? Then again, Todd didn’t know Hudson the way she did, and she hadn’t exactly been defending him.
Todd brushed some doughnut sugar off his uniform. “He’s staying at Daniel Logan’s estate, you know.”
“Yes, I know,” she said drily.
“I hope that smug billionaire doesn’t try to block us. Him and all his fancy lawyers.”
Carla kind of hoped he did.
* * *
HUDSON WOKE THE next morning with a smile on his face, and it took him a few seconds to get up to speed and realize why.
Liz.
She hadn’t spent the night with him. Much as he’d wanted her to, she’d decided to keep last night’s events private, and he had to respect that. But the fact they’d had to part ways with a few heated kisses in a hallway didn’t detract from all that had happened.
He hadn’t imagined the unique connection between them. It was way more than physical; they’d connected clear down to the soul. There’d been no barriers between them, physical or emotional.
He knew why she’d done it. She thought this was goodbye. They both could feel the noose tightening around their necks. Though Knightly hadn’t bothered them, hadn’t demanded they answer any more questions, they knew he was watching their every move.
It was only a matter of time before Knightly and Sanchez pounced.
Rather than feel resigned to his fate, Hudson got out of bed with a renewed sense of purpose. He was not going to let that son of a bitch get the best of him. He was close to figuring it all out, but he couldn’t do it with his hands tied.
It might be time to cut ties with Project Justice. As much as he appreciated Daniel’s generous help, Daniel had certain standards to maintain, certain lines he couldn’t cross if he intended to preserve the foundation’s reputation and continue to help other blameless people sitting in prison, waiting for someone to prove their innocence.
Hudson understood that. But he suspected his survival depended on his ability to cross those lines, to find out what he needed to know no matter what.
Someone at Munch’s apartment complex had to have seen something. That was where Hudson intended to start. The cops were probably done processing the crime scene, so they wouldn’t bother him.
Then he was going to find Jazz. Hudson was sure she knew more than she’d been willing to tell Liz. In fact, Hudson had been thinking about Carlos. He vaguely matched Nellie’s description of the man who’d paid her a visit. He certainly had a motive to kill Mandalay, if the millionaire lawyer was interfering with his business.
A text from Elena on his silver phone informed him that breakfast was at eight. Hudson showered and dressed, intending to eat a huge breakfast. God knew how or when he’d eat in the coming days. It would be catch-as-catch-can.
Breakfast was on the patio. Although there was a slight fall chill in the air, Daniel had one of those tall space heaters like restaurants used, so the area was perfectly comfortable.
Liz was already seated at the table, looking fresh as a new bar of soap. She wore jeans and a little white sweater with pearl buttons, and her face was relaxed, her hair loose around her shoulders.
She looked like a woman who’d been well loved.
As soon as she saw him she smiled, a secret smile just for him, and his heart bloomed inside his chest. Maybe they weren’t totally compatible in every area, but what couple was? That didn’t stop him from feeling something very deep for her, like nothing he’d ever felt before.
He’d stopped short of trying to tell her how he felt last night. That could wait until they’d dealt with this albatross around their necks. He refused to tie her to him with declarations if he was going to prison.
“Good morning, Liz. Sleep well?”
“Not at all,” she said easily. “You?”
“Caught a couple of hours this morning.” He sat across from her and poured himself some coffee. “What’s on the breakfast menu today?”
“I heard something about a cheese-and-mushroom frittata.”
Staying at Daniel’s was like staying free at a four-star hotel. He thought about how nice it would be to take Liz to a fancy resort sometime, where they could do whatever they pleased, eat whatever they wanted and make love three times a day.
But unlike here, it would be just them, he thought as Elena showed Joe to the table. They all greeted each other uneasily.
“Do you have a plan for today?” Liz asked the two men politely.
“Actually, I have some good news,” Joe said. “I went back to the Bella Breeze apartments and waited until the cops were done processing the scene—then I started talking to people.”
Amazing. That was exactly what Hudson had been planning to do. Maybe he hadn’t given Joe enough credit for his investigative skills.
“Did they talk to you?”
“Most didn’t. Even though I told them I wasn’t a cop, most still thought I was. But I did find one older woman who was willing to open up—the kind who spends most of her time peeking through the curtains to discover what her neighbors are up to. I knew she had t
o have seen something.”
“I love those old ladies,” Hudson said. “There’s one in every neighborhood. What did she have to say?”
“Nothing, at first. But after I petted her cat for a while and told her about my own cats, she opened right up. She has no love for the police.”
“And...?” Liz leaned forward, her eyes bright with anticipation.
“She heard gunfire in that upstairs apartment. She remembered it was very late on a Saturday night, about a week earlier.”
“The same night my father was killed,” Liz said.
Suddenly a look of concern came over Joe’s face. “Elizabeth, are you sure you want to hear this part? It might be uncomfortable for you.”
“We can go in the other room.” Hudson was already pushing away from the table. He had no desire to cause her further emotional distress.
“No, please, I want to hear.”
Joe looked at Hudson, and he nodded, pulling his chair back in. Though he wanted to protect Liz, she was a big girl. She probably knew what was coming.
Joe continued. “The woman heard two shots—a few seconds apart. So she watched out the window. She saw a man leaving Munch’s apartment with...with a large, heavy-looking bundle, which he put into the back of his car and drove off.”
Holy Mazola. “Can she describe the man?”
“Tall. White. Wearing glasses, a hat and a bulky jacket.”
“Damn, that doesn’t really rule me out, does it?” Hudson said. “Does she think she can identify him in a lineup?”
“She said probably not.”
“What about his car?” Hudson asked eagerly. No way it was an old 280Z. You could barely fit a loaf of bread in the trunk, much less a dead body.
“Big SUV. Dark color. You don’t own anything like that, do you? Either of you?” Joe looked at Hudson and Liz in turn.
“No,” they said at the same time.
“Easy access to such a vehicle?”
Again, they answered in the negative.
“Elizabeth, it’s possible—no, probable—that Munch’s apartment was where your father was killed. Whoever took that body drove a long way to dump it. Probably intentionally, to set Hudson up as the prime suspect.”
