Chapter 15

HUDSON

The moment her hand slipped into mine, something electric sparked between us. I could feel her pulse racing just as wildly as mine. She was right beside me, her shoulder brushing against mine as we started to move away from the lively crowd.

I couldn't believe how easily I had fit in with these people. They lived for the thrill of it, much like me. Except they didn't need the drugs or alcohol. A little alcohol but nothing like the way I used to party.

There was a fire in Diana's eyes that was contagious, an energy that drew me in. The way she had looked at me back there, it was almost as if she was challenging me to make my move.

Troy's truck was parked nearby with the tailgate open. I grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her up. I stood between her legs, our height almost level now.

"Having fun?" she asked in a low voice.

"I am. More fun than I've had in a long, long time," I said.

Her hand cupped my face. I leaned into it, looking into her eyes in the faint moonlight. I could hear the party behind us, but we were essentially alone.

I reached up and pulled her head a little closer to mine. I was pretty sure I was picking up on the vibe but I wouldn't push her. She was the one to close the gap, her lips meeting mine.

The taste of beer lingered on her lips, bittersweet with a hint of the mint gum she'd been chewing. It was tempting me to ask for more.

Her hands gripped my shirt, pulling me closer. I deepened the kiss. My mind raced, filled with thoughts of her. This woman whose energy was intoxicating, whose spirit was infectious.

The music from the party seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the pounding rhythm of my own heart. We pulled apart for a moment, our foreheads touching as we caught our breath.

"Hop up," she murmured.

I climbed up, sitting beside her. We stared out at the patchy night sky partially obscured by the towering trees that surrounded us. The air had a chill to it, but I barely felt it.

"Look," she whispered, her fingers pointing upward, drawing my attention to a shooting star that streaked across the sky.

"I never thought I could find tranquility in my life," I said quietly after a while, not taking my eyes off the stars.

I couldn't remember the last time I just sat and looked up at the sky. Too many birds with bladder control issues. But out in Cold Springs, I found myself doing a lot more sitting and doing nothing. Sitting and thinking. Sitting and getting into my head. I had spent the last years trying to dull that voice in my head. Now, it was screaming.

I leaned over and kissed her. It was a languid kiss. I took my time to explore her lips, to feel her response to my touch. She kissed me back, slowly at first and then with a heat that matched my own. Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer.

We ended up lying down on the hard truck bed, but I barely felt it. We were entwined in each other's arms, our mouths hungry for each other.

Even the crisp night air couldn't cool the heat between us. Every touch, every look was charged with an electricity that crackled in the silence of our secluded spot. Her hands ventured to my back, her fingers tracing the contours of my muscles through the thin fabric of my shirt.

"Hudson," she breathed out, her voice barely a whisper. The way she said my name held countless desires, making me want to give in and lose myself in her.

"Yeah?" I whispered back, not wanting to disrupt this fragile bubble we found ourselves in.

She answered by kissing me. I responded by sliding my hand down to cup her breasts, groaning into her mouth with the weight in my hand.

I could feel her heart pounding beneath my touch, just as frantic and wild as mine. Her fingers slid into my hair, clutching me closer to her. The heat of her body beneath mine was intoxicating. I had been with plenty of women, but I couldn't remember ever being this turned on by someone. It was beyond lust. It was something so much more powerful.

She was pulling me closer. It was a silent invitation that I eagerly accepted. Her hands roamed my back, tracing patterns that sent shivers down my spine. Every touch was like a spark of electricity that danced over my skin, leaving me breathless and wanting more.

I reached down and unbuttoned her jeans. Just when I was about to push my hand down her pants, she stopped me.

"Wait," she whispered.

I immediately stopped. "Sorry."

"No," she said. "I have to tell you something."

It was like ice had been dumped over us. I pulled back, waiting for her to tell me whatever her secret was. I should have known she was too good to be true. She was probably involved with someone. I mentally kicked myself in the ass. I was a damn fool. There was no way a woman like this would want to mess with me. She was a queen and I was a dude with a shady past. A past that wasn't all that old.

"I should go," I said.

"No, wait," she said.

"I'm sorry, Diana. I shouldn't have done that."

"No, I wanted it. It's just, well, I have to tell you something."

"Diana, what is it?" I asked with concern. In the back of my mind, I was thinking all kinds of things. I reminded myself she wasn't like the other women I knew.

"Um, I've never done this," she said.

I nodded. "Me neither. I've never done it in a truck before."

"No, I mean, I've never done it all," she said. "Sex. I've never had sex. I assume that's where this is going. And I just, well, I haven't."

"You're a virgin?" I asked in disbelief.

"Guilty," she murmured.

"Damn."

Virgin. It was a word that carried weight, a word that changed everything in an instant. I looked at her and could see the vulnerability there, the uncertainty, and I knew I had to tread carefully. She had just shared something with me that was very personal.

For a moment, I was lost in memories of my own past, of the first time I stumbled blindly into the world of sex. The first girl I was with was a virgin. We were both virgins. That was a lifetime ago. I was so far removed from virgins I didn't even know what it meant. Virgins were like unicorns—lovely to look at but I wasn't sure I wanted to ride one.

And Diana? Shit. She feels different somehow, more delicate, more precious. I can't touch her. I'm not worthy. She's too innocent.

I leaned back, reeling from Diana's confession. Her eyes searched mine, filled with a mix of emotions I couldn't quite decipher. It felt like the air around us had shifted. The charged atmosphere from moments ago dissipated into a cloud of uncertainty.

"I didn't know," I finally managed to say, my voice rough.

Diana bit her lip nervously, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her shirt. "It's not something I talk about," she admitted softly. "I'm kind of embarrassed, I guess."

"Don't be," I said. "Be proud. That's cool."

"Does that mean this stops?" she asked quietly.

"No. It just means there's no pressure from me. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to. I'm right here. Whatever you want or don't want. We don't have to rush anything."

She leaned in to kiss me, her lips soft and sweet against mine. Tenderness filled me. This wasn't about lust or desire, but something deeper, something more meaningful.

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close, savoring the warmth of her body against mine. Peace settled over me. In Diana's arms, I had found something rare and beautiful, something worth cherishing. I could honestly say there had never been a woman like that in my life.

Yes, I would love to have sex with her, but I was perfectly content to hold her.

She kissed my neck, then my jaw and up to my ear. She might be a virgin, but she knew how to get a man fired up. She whispered softly in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. Her touch was gentle yet electrifying, igniting a flame within me.

I held her face in my hands, tracing the lines of her jaw with my fingertips. My lips brushed over hers in a feather-light kiss. I pressed a little firmer. She opened her mouth, letting my tongue sweep in.

I pulled away, my breath ragged. "I need to take a minute."

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I don't want to tease."

I grinned. "I like the tease. Too much. That's why I need to take a minute."

"Oh yeah." She smiled. "I like it, too. I like touching you."

I groaned. "You have no idea what you're doing to me."

"Maybe. Or maybe I do." She waggled her brows at me and grinned evilly.

"Saucy." I laughed and reached around to grab her ass. The firm, solid chunk in my hand made my dick so hard it could shatter a diamond.

"Hey!" A voice cut through the dark and our quiet little moment.

Diana and I both jumped back from one another. Troy held up his phone, shining the flashlight on us. When he shone the light on us, his eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in disapproval. I didn't care that I got caught fooling around but Diana didn't have the experience I did.

She pulled away from me, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she quickly slid out of the truck bed.

"I'm going to find Rachel," she murmured without looking at me.

I wanted to reach out to her, to reassure her that everything would be okay, but the words stuck in my throat. Instead, I watched in silence as she walked away, leaving me alone with Troy.

Troy looked a little pissed.

"Sorry, man," I said.

"No worries. But this is my truck. I'm just grabbing my chapstick."

I hopped out of the bed, feeling bad that Diana had gotten embarrassed. She didn't seem like the type to make out in public. I, on the other hand, had once been caught on camera, balls deep in a moaning Instagram model. The internet had had a field day with that one. For me, getting caught kissing was nothing. To Diana, it was a big deal.

Troy and I walked back to the group, which had thinned out a lot. Diana was walking away with Rachel. I had a feeling I had messed things up with her.

I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Was it a mistake to take Diana into the truck with so many people around? This was her community, and I couldn't help but feel like I had somehow intruded on something sacred. Her reputation mattered to her. She was an elementary school teacher, after all.

Troy's expression was unreadable but I felt like he was silently judging me.

"Sorry," I muttered.

"Don't worry about it, man," he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "It happens to the best of us. Just give her some space, let her cool off, and she'll come around."

I didn't know why she needed to cool off. Did Troy know about her virgin situation? Did I just commit some kind of major sin? I liked these people.

I didn't want to fuck up here too and have them hate me.