Chapter 28

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Hudson

T he fear fades from her eyes, replaced by quiet curiosity as she gazes back at me.

She lets go of her legs, and I pull back. Sitting up, she slides her fingers into my hair and kisses me.

Shocked, it takes me a moment to react. I wrap my arms around her and hold her close. I don't question her sudden change of heart. I'm not an idiot, and I'm sure as fuck not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"I need to be inside you," I growl against her lips, lifting her off the ledge.

"Yes," she whispers, making my dick throb.

I spin her around. "Hold on to the ledge."

She does as I ask as I move behind her and free my cock from my boxers. I pull her panties aside again and ease myself between her legs, stroking my shaft against her pussy.

"Tell me you want me."

Her breath catches in her chest as she gasps. "Hudson," she whimpers my name, but it's not enough. I need more.

I lean over her and kiss a trail across her shoulder to her neck, feeling her shiver under my touch. "Tell me you want me to fuck you."

She doesn't say anything, so I sink my teeth into her skin, making her scream. A rush of cream coats my cock, and I swear to fucking God, I almost come then and there.

Reaching around, I yank her bra up, freeing her breasts. I cup one with my hand and roll her nipple between my thumb and index finger, applying just enough pressure to make her squirm. I glide my cock back and forth across her pussy, bumping her clit again and again until she's panting.

"Please, Hudson, please fuck me," she groans in defeat, which quickly morphs into a scream as I surge inside her.

"Goddamn you, Starling. What the fuck have you done to me?" I moan, pulling out slowly before thrusting back into her.

I reach around and stroke her clit as she holds onto the ledge for dear life. I pump my hips hard and fast, stretching her open as I force her to take every inch of me.

"Who's fucking you, Birdie?"

"You are, Hudson."

"And who am I?" I demand as I pump in and out of her.

"My husband," she cries out as movement catches my eye.

I turn my head and see some motherfucker sitting on the rocks at the edge of the cave, stroking his cock. I'm too far gone to do anything about it now, thrusting harder and deeper into Starling's wet pussy.

I nip her ear with my teeth as I pinch her clit, her back arching as she cries out. "Come for me, Birdie. Come all over my cock."

Her pussy clamps down tightly around me as she comes, whimpering my name, yanking me over the edge with her. I pump my cum into her now limp body, feeling lightheaded for a moment.

Pulling free, I cover her pussy with her panties before turning her in my arms. I kiss her gently, slipping my watch off behind her back and sliding it onto the ledge.

"You're so fucking beautiful," I tell her, smoothing the hair from her face and kissing the tip of her nose. "Come on." I turn, and she wraps her arms around my neck. I keep my eye on the guy watching us as he eases behind a large boulder, waiting for us to pass him.

I angle us so Starling doesn't notice him and swim with her out of the cave and back to shore. Once she's safely on dry land, I lift my arm and curse. "Fuck."

"What's wrong?"

"I lost my watch. It must have fallen off in the cave. I'm going to swim back real quick and take a look. You okay here for a minute?"

"Your Rolex? Holy crap. Yes, go. I'll be fine." She shoos me away before adjusting her bra to make sure her breasts are covered. Unfortunately.

I swim back to the waterfall and dive under. I hold my breath, swimming underwater until I need air. Lo and behold, I come up a few feet from the ledge, and who do I find? None other than the Peeping Tom holding my Rolex.

"Why am I not surprised?"

He jumps at my voice and almost loses his footing. "Shit, I wasn't going to steal it. I saw you dropped it and was going to return it," he stammers as I swim closer.

"Really?" I say, reaching out for him to give it to me.

"Of course," he replies, holding it out.

As soon as he's within reach, I grab the Rolex with one hand, his wrist with the other, and yank him into the water. It happens so fast that he doesn't even have time to scream.

I place the Rolex on the ledge before grabbing the pervert by his hair and smashing his head into the rocks. He goes limp in my arms, and I hold his head underwater until I'm sure he's dead, and then let him go. He floats for a few minutes, bumping into the rocks with the force of the waterfall. I slip on the watch and fasten it as he slowly sinks beneath the water.

Happy, I swim back out to Starling. When I get close enough, I hold my wrist up for her to see, and she smiles widely.

"Oh, thank God. Honestly, I thought it was gone for good. You got lucky."

I wiggle my eyebrows. "I think we both did."

She laughs, giving me the same curious look as before.

"What?"

"You're different than I thought. Maybe different is the wrong word. You're more than what I thought."

I reach for her hand and press a kiss to her palm. "It's you, Starling. You make me feel like a king." I pull her close and toss her over my shoulder, making her squeal with laughter. "Let's go get some food. I don't know about you, but I'm starving all of a sudden."

I carry her all the way back to the car, slapping her ass when she orders me to put her down because she's too heavy. Once I place her on her feet, she looks at me and rolls her eyes.

"You left our clothes behind, doofus."

I stare at her in disbelief. "Did you just call me a doofus?" I press her against the car.

She rolls her eyes again. I dip my head and drag my nose across her cheek.

"You looking to get spanked, Birdie?" She gasps as I pull back and grin. "I'll get our clothes. There should be a couple of towels in the trunk. Grab them and dry off."

I jog back down to grab our clothes and see someone at the edge of the lake performing chest compressions on someone else.

"That didn't take long," I grumble. The bastard couldn't even sink properly.

"God, what happened?" I ask, picking up our clothes.

"I don't know, but he's not breathing."

"Looks like he hit his head. Shit, I'll go call 911." I jog away before he can say anything.

When I get to the car, I take off my wet boxers and put on my shorts and T-shirt. Starling leaves her underwear on and puts her clothes back on over them, making me chuckle.

"You could have taken them off."

"Here? Seriously?" She looks around and notices a crowd forming at the edge of the cliff.

"Good point. Come on, let's get out of here."

"I wonder what's going on over there," she murmurs as she climbs in, her eyes on the crowd.

"A couple of paddleboarders were racing when I grabbed our clothes," I lie.

"Ah, okay. I thought it was something interesting."

"Not a sports fan?" I ask as I drive away from the lake and the dead body I left behind.

"I will be, just as soon as napping becomes an Olympic sport."

I laugh, and she smiles before joining in with me. Reaching over, I lace my fingers through hers.

"I had fun today, Hudson. Thank you."

I lift her hand and kiss it. Damn, I'm getting good at this romantic shit. "It's not over yet." I'm not ready for us to go home, even though I'll have her all to myself there.

She's more distant at the house. She's reminded while she's there that Abbot isn't, and every day, it's a strain on her.

I like this carefree version of her. I wonder if this is who she would have been if she wasn't haunted by ghosts.

I take her to a bar called Milligan's, which gets busted at least twice a year for underage drinking, but they make the best burger this side of the state line. She looks at the place, unsure, as I lead her inside and walk her to a table in the corner. The dance floor is filled with eager line dancers trying to impress, and the tables are filled with men looking to drown their sorrows in cheap beer and loose women.

"Did everyone finish work early or something?" Starling asks, looking around.

"I think most people here are in between jobs right now."

"What can I get you?" a server asks, walking over to us.

Starling looks at me wide-eyed.

"Trust me to order for you?"

She nods, looking relieved.

"We'll take two burgers with everything."

"No onions on mine, please," Starling throws out, which the server jots down.

"Sides?"

"I'd like fries and an order of onion rings. Can I also get a beer and a Coke as well?"

"You got it." She walks away without looking at us once.

"I could rob this place, and she'd never be able to pick me out of a lineup," Starling jokes, having noticed too.

"That's what I like about this place. Everybody minds their own business."

We sit and talk, keeping things light until the food comes out.

Starling takes a bite of her burger and groans. "Oh, my God."

"Good, right?"

She nods, taking another bite.

I grab a napkin and wipe my fingers before taking a swig of my beer. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"What happened to your mom?"

She pauses for a moment before finishing her bite. "She died when I was a baby. Complications from childbirth."

"I'm sorry."

She shrugs. "It was a long time ago."

"I lost my mom to cancer when I was in elementary school. My father died when I was in the ninth grade. After that, I went a little wild. Eloise was pregnant before the year was out, and in a way, it forced me to grow up. Shame it didn't stick." I sigh. "Anyway, my point is, it doesn't matter how long ago it was, it still hurts."

"Yeah," she agrees softly.

"Look, we dug into your dad. We wanted to see if his issues would affect you and Abbot. He spent a lot of time in jail, most of your life."

Again, she nods, placing the burger on her plate.

"So who did you live with? Or did you end up in the system?"

She looks around the room, like she's looking for an escape, before her eyes meet mine. "My uncle. I'm going to go to the restroom. Be right back."

She stands, but I grab her wrist before she leaves. Every muscle in her body is tense.

"Did he hurt you, Birdie?"

She yanks her arm free. "What do you think?"

"I think I need his full name and address so I can return the favor."

"It doesn't matter anymore, Hudson. He's dead. I'll be right back." She's gone before I can stop her.

I sigh and bang my head against the wall behind me before following her. I catch up to her before she reaches the restroom and drag her into the men's room instead.

"Hudson! What the hell?"

A guy at the urinal zips up and walks over, a smirk on his face. "Now that's what I'm talking about," he says, rubbing his hands together.

I pull back my arm and punch him in the face, knocking him out cold.

"Oh my God," Starling gasps.

I spin around, pick her up, and set her on the counter next to the sink.

"I didn't mean to upset you."

"You just knocked someone out!"

"What? Oh, don't worry about him." I cup her face. "Your uncle?" I prompt.

"I don't want to talk about it, Hudson. It doesn't matter anymore."

"Of course it matters. It's?—"

The door opens, and a drunk guy stumbles in. I storm over and smash the door into his face—once, twice—before he drops to the floor unconscious.

I turn back to Starling and run my fingers through my hair. "I don't want to upset you," I tell her as her mouth drops open.

"Did you just?—"

I place my finger over her lips. "Did I…" I shake my head, trying to find the right words. "Do I remind you of him?" I grit my teeth.

She rears back. "What?"

"I'm an older man. I forced you into this. I?—"

Now it's her turn to cover my mouth. "You scare me. I won't lie about that. But there was never a moment when I ever thought you were like him."

Before she can say anything else, another man walks into the restroom, stepping over the body on the floor and pulling his gun.

"Now, what kind of party is this?" he asks with a twang in his voice.

God, spare me from rednecks.

"The private kind. Now, fuck off."

The guy laughs, his gun pointed at my head as he steps closer. "Sure, I'll get right on that—just as soon as you give me the girl. Don't worry. Once I'm done with her, I'll leave her in the parking lot for you."

"You really don't want to do this," Starling tries to warn him, but the cocky motherfucker doesn't listen.

He laughs before clicking the safety off. "Get on your fucking knees. You first. Your girl can suck me off when I'm done with you."

A red haze clouds my judgment. I stare at Starling's pale face. "Close your eyes for me, Birdie, and no matter what you hear, don't open them."

"Hudson," she chokes out, and I squeeze her knee.

"Trust me, little bird," I murmur.

She swallows and closes her eyes. The moment she does, I whirl around and grab the gun with one hand while twisting his wrist with the other, forcing the gun back on him. He panics and releases his hold, allowing me to pull his gun from his hand and point it at him.

All this happens in seconds. Once the guy realizes he's lost the upper hand, a wet patch appears on the crotch of his pants. I pistol-whip him, knocking him to the floor, then use my T-shirt to wipe my prints from the gun.

Bending down, I place the gun into the first guy's hand, wrap his finger around the trigger, and aim it at the last guy before shooting him in the side of his head.

Starling cries out at the sound, but when I stand up and look at her, she still has her eyes closed. Tears run down her face as she fights the urge to open them and flee. The fact that she trusts me enough to do as I ask, despite all her fear, is humbling.

"I'm okay, Birdie. Just keep your eyes closed a little longer."

"Oh, thank God," she cries as I sweep her up into my arms and cradle her against my chest.

I carry her out into the hallway, the music from the bar drowning out everything else. Turning the other way, I take Starling out the fire exit and head straight to the car.

Once I have her strapped into the passenger seat, I lean over and kiss her before pulling back. "You can open your eyes now."

She does, her eyes raking over me to make sure I'm okay before she throws her arms around my neck and squeezes me tight. "You scared the shit out of me," she mumbles into my throat as I rub my hand up and down her back.

"I'm okay, I promise."

She lets go of me and turns to look at the bar, her fingers playing with the hem of her skirt. "What about cameras?"

"There are no cameras. That's why it's so popular with a certain kind of clientele."

"Okay, good. Can we go home now?"

Something settles in me when she calls my house home. "Yeah, Birdie, we can go home now."

I reverse out of my spot and head home, looking over at Starling every few minutes, wondering if she's going to fall apart or if she's in shock.

She says nothing, does nothing, and by the time we make it home, I brace myself for the worst. I turn the engine off and sit silently beside her, anxiously waiting for her to say something, anything. I'll even take screaming and crying at this point.

"You terrify me, Hudson," she says quietly, her eyes on her lap.

I clench my fists, fighting the urge to reach for her.

"I've danced with monsters my whole life. I've been dressed up and stripped bare, shown off like some shiny trophy, and hidden away like a dirty little secret." She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. "I'm the one who's always alone in the middle of a crowd. I'm watched and judged and found not good enough. And yet, I'm exactly what they made me. I made peace with it and learned to accept who I am, flaws and all. But then you came into my life and shook everything up again."

My fingers twitch, wanting to wipe the tears from her face, but I hold back, knowing she has more to say.

"Everything you do, everything you say breaks me a little bit more, and a part of me is so fucking angry with you, with Abbot, with everything. You don't just walk all over me, you stomp. You make me feel helpless and weak and like a little girl all over again."

She reaches over and slides her hand on top of my fist, her eyes lifting to mine. "But nobody has ever looked at me the way you do. You seem hopelessly drawn to all my broken parts and sharp edges. You don't see flaws; you see beauty, and you've made it clear you have no desire to hide me away. All of this has been spinning around in my head, and I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that I hate you, but I also kinda don't. Not really," she whispers, her voice trembling.

"There were so many monsters, but none of them stepped in to protect me. None of them tattooed themselves for me," she says, rubbing her thumb over my wedding band.

"None of them bought me a birthday cake," she sobs.

"Fuck it." I undo her seat belt and pull her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her as she cries.

I rub my hand up and down her back until she calms down and lifts her head. Her skin is pale, her eyes red, and her lips puffy from biting them. But she's never looked more beautiful than she does right now.

"I don't hate you," she says, her forehead resting against mine.

"I know."

"It gets worse."

"Oh, yeah?"

"I think I'm falling in like with you."

I grin, sliding my hand into her hair. "It's about damn time you caught up. I'm way ahead of you, little bird."