The Art of You

“Yes, of course I’ll be safe. Love you, too. Talk soon.” Roman ended the call with his wife, catching my eyes as I entered the living room of the suite. “Are you doing okay?”

“I’ll be better when I know what’s going on,” I said as someone knocked.

“It’s me,” Hudson called out.

Wasting no time, I ran over and flung the door open, my breath catching at the sight of him.

He offered me a semi-smile, which set off a stone of hope skipping into my stomach. He then peeked around me, eyes on our third wheel. “We’re rolling out soon. Alfie claims he’s on our side, but we should verify the backstory he just gave us and check out his team, too.”

I did a little fist pump in my head at the news and let go of the door and lunged for him.

Without missing a beat, he slapped his palm to the door to keep it from whacking into me, and I looped my arms around his waist.

“My team will fill you in,” he told Roman. “They’re waiting for you next door. We’ll join you soon.” He moved his free hand up and down my back and whispered, “We need to move so he can exit.”

I blinked back tears and pulled away, nearly colliding with Roman, who was patiently waiting behind me to leave.

Once it was just the two of us, Hudson deadbolted the door and pulled me against him, quickly relaying what Alfie had told him and my brothers.

I took a few quiet moments to process it all. Daylight op? That meant an on-foot approach without cover.

“We’ll be fine,” he said, reading my mind as I turned away from him and faced the window.

My stomach twisted, and I banded my forearm across it, trying to work through all the what-ifs that could happen on an op that’d be taking place soon.

“Rose’s husband is using us to take out his enemy, but it doesn’t sit well with me that we’re operating before we know the full story,” he continued, likely recognizing I was uncomfortable and concerned about the op. “But one step at a time. We’ll figure out why he hates us, and what his plans are after, and stop him.”

I faced him, rubbing my hands up and down my arms, suddenly freezing cold.

“But since there are still so many unknowns, you need to stay here with security rather than joining us on comms.”

That got me moving, and I quickly erased the space between us. “Oh, hell no. I’m coming. I’ve proved myself to be a valuable resource and asset. I’ll stay a safe distance away, but I will be there to support you.”

He laid the whole broody-scowly look he did so well on me. “We back to this again? When it comes to your safety, I will veto any decisions that put you in harm’s way.”

My hand skated along the ridges of his muscular arm before I slowly walked my fingers up and over to his chest. “Oh yeah? How’d that work out for you when trying to stop me from getting on the plane?” I used my sexy “radio” voice, as I liked to call it, knowing it always made him glitch and give in to me. “What if while you’re on the mission, Green comes after me here? What if that’s what he wants? For you all to be distracted so he can get to me?”

His nostrils flared, and I lifted my gaze, trying not to focus on the bruises still marring his skin.

“Wouldn’t you rather have me within arm’s reach so you can get to me if need be? Within a mile of the op?”

He continued to stare at me. Processing. The simmer of rage percolating behind those blues as he marinated in the what-ifs himself.

“I can’t handle someone coming into this hotel and killing innocent people just to get to me.” It was a very real possibility, and one I knew we both wouldn’t be able to live with.

He lifted his chin, eyes on the ceiling while stretching his neck so his Adam’s apple was visible as he swallowed.

“Put me on comms with this teammate of Alfie’s you mentioned. And if you can spare them, post our two operators with me. But either way, I’m going.” I removed my hand from his chest and turned, prepared to go change into something more mission appropriate.

He seized hold of my wrist and spun me around, gathering me in his embrace in one fast motion. “You’re a stubborn pain in my ass.”

“And you love me, don’t even pretend you⁠—”

He cut off my words, crashing his mouth down over mine. He was using his special power over me now. Turning me into putty in his hands when that was supposed to be my job.

Freeing my wrist when he felt my arms go limp, he palmed my ass with both hands and squeezed, drawing me tight against his erection. This conversation had taken quite the turn.

“Tell me what I want to hear,” he rasped between kisses.

“That I’ll behave?” I murmured. “Not on your life, mister.”

“No, the other thing.”

Before I could answer, he caught me off guard, lifting me into the air, and my legs wrapped around his body like they’d been made to fit there.

Holding me, he walked forward until I was up against the wall. I kept my ankles linked at his back, and he held my ass with one hand and rested his other against the wall over my shoulder.

“I need to hear the words before I go out.” His plea had me pulling back, nearly slipping free from his hold as I began to panic, but he wouldn’t let me go.

“Don’t act like you may not come back.” With our lips broken apart, and my eyes on his, I whispered, “Don’t you dare ask me for those words as if they may be the only time you’ll hear them.”

He allowed my feet to find the ground, but he kept my back to the wall, leaning forward to maintain our connection. “There are no guarantees in life.”

Well, I had a lot to say about that. Like, screw that entire sentence and then some. “No, this is one thing I need you to guarantee.”

He uttered a few choice words in frustration, more than likely at this whole situation.

“Tell me, please. Promise me you’ll be okay. And you’ll hear those words over and over when you return. And when you come back to me, I’ll give you everything, including my body and my heart.”

“You and I both know damn well I already have your heart.” The edges of his lips lifted into a dark, unexpected smile. “And, darlin’, you do realize I’m already highly motivated to survive, don’t you? Knowing you want me, and feel ditto for me, has me wanting to live. Forever, actually.”

Well, that was incredibly beautiful and romantic. “Sixty seconds of airport time, then,” I relented. “Use it wisely.”

He shot me a cute lopsided grin, reading me perfectly. He knew I wanted a hell of a lot more than a minute, and he’d be getting it. We both deserved it.

“Yes, ma’am.” He scooped me into his arms and wasted no time carrying me into the bedroom.

“Careful with your arm.”

“I don’t give a damn about my arm,” he said while walking with me.

He set me down in front of the bed, then he immediately knelt before me, taking both my sweatpants and panties along with him.

“And what are you doing?” I asked teasingly.

“You know exactly what I’m doing. What I’ve been thinking about doing for damn near forever.” He buried his fingertips into the sides of my hips and lifted his blues up to my face. “And you know what I’m waiting to hear.” Eyes returning between my legs, he demanded, “Use your words. Tell me what you want.”

“Oh, God.”

“I’d prefer my name instead.” He smirked. “Now, tell me you want me to slide my tongue over your cunt. Lick your pussy for just sixty seconds. Tell me. I need to hear you say it. Do you want me to eat you out?”

This man and his mouth would do me in. “I want you to go down on me,” I murmured, bringing my hands to his shoulders, bracing for the impact of his tongue. I felt his warm breath skate across my heated skin.

He leaned closer, eyes locked on mine, then slowly dragged his tongue along my slit. After only one expert stroke of his tongue, I saw the other side. It was pretty and colorful. Radiating light. It was art in its purest form.

“Be more explicit,” he commanded.

My thighs tensed and tightened with need. I was soaking wet. “Fuck my pussy with your mouth,” I finally admitted, feeling shy but also empowered.

“Attagirl,” he remarked in a deep, sensual voice before lowering back between my legs.

With every flick of his tongue, and groan of pleasure from him, I lost my control, unable to hold back anymore. “Do you have a condom?” I cried out, digging my fingernails into his shoulders when he sent me even higher, brushing against the pinnacle of orgasm heaven.

He swirled his tongue at my most sensitive spot before stopping. “Maybe.” The word rolled from his lips, teasing my clit.

Oh jeez. He was massaging my center with his tongue again, and I wasn’t going to last. Chills swept over my skin and I held on to him even tighter.

He kept going, not missing a beat. His hungry moans as he licked and sucked matched my cries of ecstasy.

My nipples hardened, and the muscles in my legs tensed as my toes curled. I threw my head back as a feral scream ripped from deep within my lungs as he made me come harder than I ever had. Releasing his shoulders, falling onto my forearms on the bed, I writhed against his face, riding out the orgasm even longer.

“That’s my girl,” he said huskily, not stopping until I was totally spent. He dragged his finger down the inside of my thigh to my knee before standing.

I slowly sat upright, finding his cock strained against his jeans as he stared at me. The man was sin in the most beautiful form. And all mine.

I left the bed, kicking my sweats and panties free from where they sat around my ankles as I eliminated the space between us.

“And what do you think you’re doing?”

I reached for his button and zipper. “I’m getting you off, too.”

He took hold of my chin, urging my eyes up to meet his. I’d bow to this man every day of the week. Happily be his own personal canvas to create beauty from if he’d be mine.

“Don’t want your cock in my mouth?” I arched my brow, then licked my lips, and he growled out something too low for me to hear. Maybe it was only a string of sounds.

“Fuck yes, I do.” He nodded. “But you’re not getting me off that way.”

I swallowed, continuing to work down his zipper even as he held me captive with his eyes. I didn’t need to see what I was doing to make it happen. “No?”

He shook his head, gaze flying to my mouth as I licked my lips again. “You have my word, by the way. Before we do this . . .” He cleared his throat. “I promise you I’ll come back.”

My hand went still, and my heart jumped at what he was saying. Tears of relief snuck in, as if his word really could cement his invincibility in battle in stone.

He held my chin a bit tighter and bent forward to brush his lips over mine. “Now, may I make love to you, sweetheart?”

“After I get a taste, yes, please.”

“May I take more than sixty seconds with you?” His lips stretched into a sexy, knowing smile, and I gave him an eager nod.

My chest tightened, trapping the breath in my lungs before he kissed me and freed it. Letting go of my chin, he stood tall, towering over me like a masculine block of rigid muscles.

This is happening. And now of all times. But I didn’t care, I needed him, and he needed me. I was so anxiously excited I was actually shaking as I worked down his jeans and briefs.

His cock was big, thick and veiny, and I circled both hands around his shaft. He reached down and tangled his hand in my hair and held on as I circled my tongue around his crown, tasting a drop of precum. “Tell me what you want me to do.” I sent his words back at him and lifted my chin to find his eyes piercing mine.

“Use that naughty mouth of yours to fuck my cock,” he ordered. “Take it all.”

I shivered in reaction to his delicious demand as I dropped my mouth over him like a good girl and deep-throated the hell out of him.

“Fuccccck,” he hissed as I swallowed as much of him as I could, trying not to choke as tears pricked my eyes. “Breathe, darlin’.” Pulling my hair, he gently tugged. “Breathe.”

Still caring about me while I had him in this position.

I pulled up to breathe as he’d instructed before sliding my mouth up and down over his length. Taking my time. Torturing him the way he’d done to me.

“I’m gonna come. You have to stop,” he commanded a minute later, then gently yanked my hair. “I need to be inside you.”

It took me a few more seconds to heed his words, then I finally lifted my mouth and dragged my hand across my swollen lips.

“So fucking bad, I swear,” he remarked in a strained tone before taking me by surprise, dropping to his knees in front of me. He snatched my face between his palms and kissed me hard. Tongues dueling with overwhelming intensity. He pulled away, eyes closed, seeming to live in the same land of ecstasy as I was. “I need to feel you.”

And at that, he had me naked on the bed so fast I barely realized it’d happened. He produced a condom from his wallet and rid himself of every article of clothing he had on.

I rested on my forearms as he stared at me while he stroked his cock. “If only you hadn’t missed a few days of your pill. I want to feel you bare so goddamn bad it hurts.” His voice was rough and raw, and it made me want to throw logic out the window. I’d give anything to carry this man’s child, but I also didn’t want my traditional parents hating him for getting me pregnant prior to marriage.

“Get over here,” I pleaded as he rolled the condom over his shaft.

He climbed on top of me, holding the weight of his body on his good arm. “So beautiful. God, I love you so much,” he said before kissing me.

He’d given me his word, and I couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Hudson,” I cried while he nudged himself between my thighs. He pushed inside me, and I gave him my truth. “I love you, too.”

He lifted his head, going still as he kept our bodies deeply connected.

He smoothed the back of his hand across my cheek as his eyes glossed over. “I could die a happy man.” His lip briefly caught between his teeth, probably sensing my panic at his words. “But I’m not going anywhere, I promise. You have me for as long as you want me.”

A few tears escaped my eyes as I held on to his arms and demanded, “Stay with me forever and ever and ever.” I sniffled. “That’s an order.”

“Roger that, ma’am.” An adorable smile cut across his lips.

As he slowly began moving inside me, opening my tight walls, I also felt myself moving on. Moving forward. Becoming free of the cage of my past, certain I could finally even learn to love myself again.