Remind Me

by Ann Marie Walker

  The last line was said with complete finality. Allie knew from past experience her mother considered the conversation over, but she was far from done discussing the matter. “I haven’t decided what—”

  The sound of Allie’s cell phone stopped her midsentence.

  Victoria’s face lit up. “Oh, is that Julian? Be sure to tell him how much he’s missed this evening.”

  The screen read “private caller,” but Allie seriously doubted the call was from Julian. Other then the message he’d left on her answering machine, she hadn’t heard from him since he arrived in Paris. “Hello?”

  “Excuse yourself.” The sound of Hudson’s deep voice sent a chill down her spine.

  “I . . . um,” Allie’s eyes darted to her mother. “I’ll need to call you back later.”

  Victoria tsked. “It’s late in Paris. Talk to the man.”

  “Tell whomever you’re with that you need to take this call,” he instructed. “Move to some place private.”

  Allie waited until her mother drifted out of earshot. “Can we discuss this after the party?”

  “No.”

  “Hudson, I can’t—”

  “I’m not a patient man, Alessandra. Don’t keep me waiting.”

  She turned away from the crowd and lowered her voice. “There are people everywhere. Where exactly do you suggest I go?”

  “I’m sure there are at least a dozen rooms upstairs,” he said through clenched teeth. “Pick one.”

  “I can’t just disappear. My parents are hosting the event.” She stole a glance over her shoulder. “They’ll be looking for me”

  “Do. It. Now.”

  His command made her knees go weak. What was it about this man that could be so aggravating one minute and so unbelievably hot the next? Allie gave a resigned sigh and, against her better judgment, started toward the house. She kept her head down, trying not to draw attention to herself as she weaved through the mingling guests. Fearing her mother might be consulting with the caterer, she avoided the kitchen and dining room altogether and slipped through the glass doors of the conservatory instead.

  When she reached the foyer she paused briefly to make sure no one was watching before dashing up the stairs to her childhood bedroom. It looked exactly as it had when she was a little girl: French provincial furniture, lace bedspread, porcelain dolls. God, how she’d hated those porcelain dolls.

  “Okay, I’m in my old room. What was so important I had to—”

  “Take your panties off.”

  “What?”

  His voice dropped. “You heard me.”

  Allie felt her face flame. “Hudson . . . I can’t do that.”

  “After some of the stuff we’ve done, don’t get squeamish now. I had you cuffed to my ceiling, Alessandra. Something I hope to do again.” His words were more promise than threat. A promise she suddenly found herself wanting to hold him to. “Or maybe next time I’ll cuff you to my bed, every inch of your fuckable body at my disposal.”

  His possessive tone sent of rush of heat through Allie’s body and a flood of erotic images along with it. She envisioned herself tied to Hudson’s bed, completely at his mercy and delirious with pleasure.

  “You’re picturing that, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Because right now I can’t stop picturing you bent over my desk, naked and wet. Your hips lifting in anticipation, greedy to have me inside you. The hell if my assistant is mere feet away, because it has to be here. It has to be now.”

  A small gasp escaped her lips. “You’re at work?”

  “Yes. I kicked everyone out of my office in the middle of a deal.”

  “You did?” Her heart beat faster. “Why?”

  “I started thinking about last night, how you were spread out on my dining room table, rocking against my mouth. Fifteen hundred dollars an hour for the best legal opinions money can buy and I couldn’t focus on a damn word they were saying. All I could hear were the sounds you make when I’m inside you, those little moans of pleasure when you’re about to come.”

  Allie’s breath hitched. His confession shocked her and at the same time she found herself incredibly aroused. She pressed her thighs together, amazed at how a simple phone conversation could have her aching with need.

  “I cleared the room to call you and at the moment I’m looking out the window with my cock laying hard against my stomach. Does that turn you on, Allie, knowing my cock is out and ready for you?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was barely a whisper as she pictured him stretched back in his chair. Jacket off, tie loosened, pants unzipped.

  “Now do as you’re told and take your panties off.”

  Allie drew a deep breath and reached under her dress. Her fingers trembled as she hooked her thumbs into her lace panties and swept them down her legs.

  “Are they off?”

  “Yes.”

  Hudson’s voice was low and rough, but his tone turned sensual. “Lie down on the bed.”

  She flipped the lock on the door, the small click echoing in the darkness. A sliver of moonlight guided her to the bed, where she followed his instructions, lying back against the ruffled pillows.

  “Pull your dress around your hips.”

  Her fingers curled into the green fabric as she inched her dress over her hips. Cool air rushed against her naked core, making her feel vulnerable and exposed. She knew what he wanted, what he would ask for next, and she braced for his instructions.

  “Touch yourself. Feel how hot and wet you are.”

  Allie hesitated before tentatively brushing her fingers up the inside of her thigh. The sound of laughter floated up from the patio and she tensed. Even if she could somehow manage to block out the rest of the world, it wouldn’t be enough. The ache between her legs begged for his touch, not hers. “I can’t,” she whispered.

  Hudson groaned. “Fuck, Allie. I’ve never been so hard and thick. I need my fist gripping and stroking my cock like I’m inside you.”

  The thought of Hudson pleasuring himself sent an unexpected wave of excitement coursing through her. She swallowed hard. “What’s stopping you?”

  “Because I want you right there with me, baby. We’ll take it nice and slow. Close your eyes and caress your hands down your neck, let them cup your breasts. Feel how perfect they are.”

  Allie’s eyes drifted shut. She followed his directions, letting her hands glide down her throat past the neckline of her dress. Her breath caught as she cupped her breasts.

  He was quick with his next command. “Squeeze them how I would.”

  She did as he described, and in the darkness he was with her. His warm body pressed against the length of hers. His hands squeezing and kneading her breasts. His lips trailing down her neck.

  “That’s it. Get your nipples nice and hard for my mouth.” His deep voice resonated through her body, magnifying every sensation as she drew her fingertips across her breasts. Her nipples strained against the thin fabric of her dress as she slowly circled them. “Pinch them, as if I’m dragging my tongue from one to the other and pulling them between my teeth.”

  She trapped her nipples between her fingers and thumbs, imagining Hudson’s teeth grazing her skin as she tugged and pulled.

  “Now feel my hands sliding over your stomach and trailing soft kisses as I go.” Her breathing grew louder as his words caressed her skin. “That’s it, baby, I can hear how turned on you are.” Every inch of her body hummed with anticipation. “Now touch yourself for me. Feel my fingers parting you, sliding over your skin.”

  Music wafted up the stairs, a distant reminder that they weren’t alone, but Allie no longer cared. She was far beyond shyness or shame. She was lost in the moment, focused solely on Hudson’s voice as she slid her hand between her thighs. She gasped from her own touch and moaned his name.

  “Tell me what you feel, Allie. Are you ready for me?”

  “Oh God, yes.” She was so wet, so ready. She needed him there with her, filling her,
possessing her.

  “Stroke yourself, feel my cock rubbing against you.” His voice was tight with restraint and she knew he was fighting his own release, waiting for her to join him. “Let me hear how good it feels. You want me inside you, don’t you?”

  “Please,” she moaned his name and was lost, surrendering to each of his commands as he brought them both closer to the edge.

  “Come with me, Allie.” His words pushed out on an explosive breath. “Fuck.”

  White knuckles gripped the bedspread as searing pleasure ripped through her. She turned her head toward the pillow, letting it absorb her cries.

  “This is what you do to me, Allie.” Hudson’s breath was still harsh in her ear. “You have the power to make me come harder than anyone and yet it’s never enough. Come to my place tonight, I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

  “Yes,” she managed to say, still trying to collect her wits. Allie sat up and ran her fingers through her hair. She didn’t need a mirror to know her face was flushed.

  “Oh, and one more thing, Alessandra.” She could hear his grin through the phone. “Enjoy the rest of the party.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  The limo moved at a crawl down Astor. Hudson straightened his tie for what must have been the tenth time since they’d turned down the street. When they finally came to a stop in front of Allie’s brownstone, he forced his hands to give the tie a rest and gripped the lever on the door at the same time his driver opened his.

  “I got this, Max.”

  “Yes, sir.” Max nodded and pulled his door shut.

  Hudson got out of the limo and buttoned his jacket. God, he was nervous. Like first date, sweaty palms nervous. He moved toward the brownstone in powerful strides, taking the stairs two at a time until he was standing in front of her door. He punched the doorbell, then ran a hand through his hair.

  The door swung open and Hudson’s breath came short and fast at the sight of her in an elegant, charcoal-gray gown that was clinging for its life to each of her lush curves. He wasn’t sure what was holding it all together as his eyes drifted over every inch of Allie’s exposed skin. He couldn’t tear his greedy gaze away from her, and his thoughts immediately went to the images that had been permanently burned into his mind. What she looked like under him with her blond hair spilling over the pillows; over him with her hands splayed on his chest as she took him; or in front of him as he pushed in deep from behind. Christ, he could practically feel her soft ass against his groin as he moved in and out of her tight, hot body. He was getting hard just thinking about it. Thank fuck he buttoned his jacket so his dick didn’t arrive at the door before he did. He wanted tonight to be about her. To be perfect.

  Allie pinched the diamond chandelier earring dangling from her left lobe between her fingers. “Hi.”

  “Hi, yourself. You look beautiful. That dress is making me want to either cover you up or revise our plans for the evening.”

  “Your message was very mysterious, Mr. Chase. Why did I need to get so dressed up?”

  “It’s a surprise.” Hudson took the wrap from Allie’s hands and draped it around her shoulders. He pulled her hair out from underneath it, and when his index finger grazed the back of her neck he had to fight the impulse to press his lips to her nape.

  His hand fell to the small of her back, skin-to-skin, and he led her to the limo where Max was waiting with an open door. Allie slid across the bench and Hudson moved in beside her. As he did, he became acutely aware of how incredible she smelled, and it was doing nothing to ease the ache between his legs. He dragged in a deep breath. This was going to be a long night, and he wasn’t exactly the kind of guy used to keeping his hands to himself. Especially when she was looking sexy as hell in a dress that was begging to be unzipped.

  Allie stared out the window as the limo picked up speed. Hudson could sense her wheels turning, trying to figure out where he was taking her based on their location. Nervous anticipation crackled between them as he watched her try to put the pieces of the puzzle together in her head.

  He reached for her, curling his fingers around her hand and rhythmically brushing his thumb over the inside of her palm. It was a simple gesture meant to soothe her and reassure him, but all it did was drive him crazy and make him focus on the potential disaster waiting to knock him on his ass.

  The limo rolled to a stop. Traffic surrounded them and pedestrians parted around the car, all squinting to figure out what hotshot was in the ride while trying to play it cool as they did so. Allie ducked her head, peering out the window at the front of a large building with Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach blasted into stone. Recognition spread across her face and she turned to him and smiled. “The symphony?”

  Hudson breathed a silent sigh of relief at her reaction. “I was able to pull a few strings and score tickets.”

  Allie leaned across the seat and pressed her lips against his. “Thank you.”

  His index finger caressed her jaw, then slipped underneath her chin. “It’s my pleasure.” Taking advantage of the tinted windows, he slanted his mouth over hers. Her lips parted and his tongue slid inside, savoring her softly and slowly. He heard the muted click of her seat belt, the equivalent of a green light, and tugged her into his lap. She was the most incredible thing he’d ever known. He groaned into her mouth, deepening the kiss—licking, teasing, tasting. And it made him want to kiss her elsewhere with the same eagerness. His hands slid down the bare skin of her back as her fingers raked into his hair, pulling just how he liked it.

  On the verge of losing control, he dragged his mouth away from hers. His breath was harsh against her lips. “Christ, Allie, I need to get you out of this limo before I tell my driver to keep going.”

  She hesitated for a moment with her lips hovering over his before sliding off his lap. Hudson hissed as she shifted over the erection beating like a drum against his fly. He adjusted himself and thought how he’d misjudged in thinking this was going to be a long night. It was going to be excruciating.

  The door opened, and when she stepped onto the sidewalk he was right behind her, catching her wrap as the wind blew it off her bare shoulders. He draped it across her and then placed his hand discreetly beneath it, stroking his thumb down her spine. His fingers lingered at the top of her zipper and all he could think about was peeling her out of that dress, laying her back on the leather seats, and spreading her wide. Fuck. He ran a hand through his hair and slammed the door to the limo shut to keep from yanking her back into the car and enjoying the hell out of her in the middle of Chicago.

  Walking up to the brick and stone orchestra hall, Hudson placed his hand on the small of Allie’s back. When he did, he couldn’t help but notice the sudden stiffness in her body.

  “Don’t,” she murmured under her breath.

  He held the door open and dropped his hand from her back. The tension in her shoulders visibly eased as if it was his hand that had held it there. As they crossed the gold CSO emblem hammered into the marble tile, he reminded himself that this kind of place was as regular a joint to her as McDonalds had been to a guy like him.

  They started up the stairs and Hudson watched her hand drift up the varnished banister. He wanted her gentle hand to be on his arm, her delicate fingers curled around his bicep. God, he wanted that connection; to feel her hand close the distance he suddenly felt between them. But he understood her trepidation. Being here with him and displaying anything other than a professional front was guaranteed to make the damn society pages. She was an engaged heiress and he was the playboy billionaire. A dark secret once again.

  When they reached the top, Hudson guided her through the mingling crowd, all humming about this year’s “season.” Man, the people surrounding them were colder than the ice they wore on their ears and around their necks. When her gaze swept the room, his followed, stopping short on the bar across the room. He dipped his mouth to Allie’s ear.

  “Would you like a drink?” He straightened back up. “I know I could use one.” O
r five.

  Allie nodded.

  “Be right back.”

  Women turned as he walked through the room, their stares following him to the bar; no doubt curious about all the recent press or wagering his net worth. To them he’d just gotten lucky. Funny how the harder he worked, the luckier he seemed.

  “Pinot Grigio and Blue Label, neat.”

  When the bartender set his order on the bar, Hudson curled his fingers around a crystal glass filled with the finest scotch, and yet he still felt like he was holding a can of Budweiser. He tossed back his drink and ordered another, the heat of the recognizing stares burning into his back.

  Fuck, this was becoming an increasingly bad idea.

  He dropped a fifty on the bar and worked his way back through the throngs of people. The closer he got, the more he could see the nervousness on Allie’s face, the way she fidgeted with her clutch.

  “I’m sorry if this was a mistake,” he said, handing her the glass of white wine.

  Allie’s eyes shot up to his and softened. “I love that you surprised me with these tickets, that you remembered . . .” Her voice trailed off. “It was very thoughtful of you.”

  “We can leave if you’d like.”

  “No, I want to be here.”

  “Would you rather I leave? I can pick you up after the show if that—”

  She placed her hand on his forearm. “I want to be here with you.”

  The contact was casual, but the intimacy made his chest hurt as she if she was squeezing his heart. He lowered his head and everything around them faded. The clanking of glasses, the murmurs of conversation, the sounds of the orchestra warming up. All of it disappeared. In that moment she was his whole world.

  His lips inched closer to hers, and at the same time she lifted onto her toes.

  The overhead lights began to flicker the five-minute warning, and all sound returned to the room. Allie dropped smoothly back on her heels and Hudson straightened. What the fuck was he doing? They were in public, for Christ’s sake. Yet with her, everything around him evaporated.