Georgia-Blue & Hudson (Stoney Creek #5)

Chapter 13

13

Georgia

We hit the ground running in Florida. The resort is absolutely beautiful and set right on the beach. We barely unpack, or spend any time in the luxurious suite, before I’m already in my bathing suit and ready to walk down to the beach, scoping out the grounds on the way.

The rooms are plush and both have their own ensuite with gold fixtures and a jetted tub in each and balconies facing the beach. The four poster beds with white floaty netting are completely something else.

“You sure you didn’t book us the honeymoon suites?” Hudson comments as we walk down through the lobby. He’s changed into a t-shirt and a pair of long shorts. It’s the first time I think I’ve seen his bare legs; I’ve never seen him wear shorts before. He should wear them more often, he has great legs. That’s also why I’ve never noticed the tattoo of a bull on the back of his right calf.

I swallow hard at his words and I don’t know why it brings a little bit of heat to my face. I waft off the notion quickly with my hand. “Nothing but the best for us country folk,” I chortle.

He keeps looking at me.

“And I thought it would be a good idea for us to stay where the wedding is being held. There was a chance we’d be stumbling back to our rooms before the drinking ban was placed on us.”

The corner of his mouth pulls up in an almost smile. He's cute when he smiles, I don’t know why he doesn’t show it more. He’s pretty easy to travel with. He loaded all my bags onto the trolley with ease and wouldn’t let me carry anything. Having a guy haulin’ for you on vacation is actually a huge plus I never knew existed.

“You’re not gonna let the drinking thing slide, are you?”

I give him my sweetest smile as we walk down a paved pathway off the open lobby, surrounded by palm trees and fragrant frangipani. “I’m having a cocktail the minute we get back from the beach, and you can’t stop me.”

He gives me a look before he slides his dark shades over his eyes. A look that tells me I’d better toe the line with his stupid rules. The man is acting like I’m a rebellious alcoholic teenager.

I want to have fun this weekend, and something that’s been simmering inside me wants Hudson to find me irresistible. Whether Ronnie actually shows up to the wedding or not.

The thought of Hudson getting all broody and defensive over me is actually a turn on. Not something I am willing to admit to him, but it’s there all the same.

I’m going to have a little too much fun with this, I can feel it in my bones. If he wants to be a jerk and not admit we have chemistry, and that the kiss was something else way beyond anything either of us anticipated, then he can knock himself out for all I care.

I have no intention of sticking to anything he says and I’m sure it’s the same for him.

I just hope to God he meant what he said about laying off the ladies this weekend.

I couldn’t handle it if one of the wedding guests took a shining to him. But since he’s supposed to be my plus one, I don’t think I have too much to worry about.

I’m definitely going to make a show of it, if and when I have to.

I text Liz while we’re walking, admiring the lush tropical grounds and the balminess in the air. It’s a whole other contrast to Stoney Creek.

ME

Hey Liz, me and Huds are here. It’s gorgeous. Let me know if you have time for a quick drink later x

I have to say it’s weird being here with Hudson outside of the distillery or his farm. It’s not like I’ve ever done anything like this before with him or been on vacation, or even a weekend.

“You alright?” he asks me as we walk as if he senses me adjusting to his presence, but I wave that off as stupid because he doesn’t believe in all that stuff.

“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” I threw on a flowy summer dress over my bathing suit and a pair of Havaianas and a wide-brimmed hat.

“Just my way of asking if you are.”

“Oh. Well, thanks. I’m good.”

“Are you hungry?”

“A little.” We ate on the plane but it wasn’t anything to write home about.

“Let’s get some food on the way back.”

“Sounds good.” I can’t help but like the way he’s checking in on me already, if I’m ok and if I’m hungry. I guess he’s really going to be hamming up his little promise to Gray about looking after me and it looks like it’s started already.

As soon as we get down to the beach, I kick off my flip flops and make my way down to the gorgeous blue water, dipping my feet into the foam while I hold my dress up to save from getting wet. “Ahhh,” I moan when cool of the water touches my toes, refreshing me instantly from the outside in. “Come stick your feet in, Huds. It feels amazing.”

He surprises me by doing just that.

I watch in amazement as he kicks off his shoes and rips his t-shirt off over his head, tossing it down on the sand next to our beach towels we borrowed on our way past the pool. My eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets as he turns and I see confirmation of what I suspected underneath those clothes: a finely tuned and absolutely ripped body. It’s almost like his mid-section has been artfully sculptured. He also has tattoos skating up the sides of his ribs I never knew existed.

One side is dark with a swirling pattern design that wraps around his ribs and continues all the way up to his armpit.There’s an outline of a dark blue dragon weaving his way through to the top with a blast of fire artfully permeating from the dragon’s mouth. My eyes are glued to it as he walks toward me, reaching a muscled arm up to his head, and running a hand over his hair. The other side of his body appears softer somehow with the swirls shaped as feathers from his ribs to his armpit. The focal point is a timeless looking clock face, which looks like it’s from another era, situated at the bottom of his ribs. My eyes trail the intricate pattern of the blue and green feathers all the way up to his armpit where they stop at a large red rose at the top.

“What?” He interrupts my gaping with a tilt of his head when he stops in front of me. For once, I’m absolutely speechless and I hope he can’t see where my eyes are looking. Luckily I still have my shades on.

“Nothing. I just never knew you had those tatts.”

He smirks and pulls his sunglasses off, handing them to me as he walks right on by. Then he takes a few steps into the ocean and plunges straight under water. I watch him as he stays underneath the blue waves for a few seconds, then emerges into the white foam of the wave breaking and turns to look at me, flicking water from his eyes. “You coming in, Blue?”

My mouth must be hanging open, in fact I’m sure of it. But I quickly recover and take a few steps back to the pool towels. I slide my hat off and reach for the hem of my dress, pulling it up over my head. I drop everything down on my towel, keeping mysunglasses on and tying my hair up into a bun, as I look toward where Hudson is just bobbing in the water waiting for me.

I try my best to keep my head high as I walk toward the ocean where he’s still watching me. I’m not worried or self-conscious about him looking at my body, not that he is, but I work out so I know I’m in good shape.

I was really flat chested growing up and I didn’t have a lot of confidence. But when I finally blossomed to a D-cup, it really helped with my self-esteem.

I wonder what Hudson thinks of them now that they’re popping out of my bikini, but as I glance over to him making my way into the water, he dives back in again and disappears. When he emerges, feet from me, he flicks the water out of his eyes again and looks up at me. His dark pupils are shining and I see something in Huds I’ve not seen for a long time. Calmness?Is Hudson relaxed?

“You were right, the water is amazing,” he says.

I’m glad he doesn’t try to splash me as I lower my body in and dunk my shoulders under water, trying to adjust to the coolness. “Did you just say I’m right?”

There’s that smirk again; not quite a smile, but I’ll take it. “First time for everything, huh?”

I part my lips to respond but close them again.

“Did you put sunblock on?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I say. “I’d be burnt to a crisp otherwise.” It’s early afternoon, but I didn’t want to take any chances.

“We really should go eat something,” he says.

We swim toward the shoreline and both lay low in the water as the waves gently lap over us. I sit up with a little bounce as he lays there like a turtle and I swear to God I finally see his eyes dip down to my chest. I was beginning to think my little hot pink polka dot bikini had no effect on him. And I don’t really know if it does now, but I did just catch him looking.

I have a vision in my brain, something absurd but it’s nibbling away at me; I have the immediate urge to pull the strings of my bikini top loose, letting my breasts pop out so he can see them. I would give anything to see his reaction to seeing me semi-naked.

What a weird thought to have. Just because we’re enjoying the beach and having a good time, and Hudson isn’t being his usual broody self, is no reason for my brain to go running off into lala-land with its own thoughts.

I would never strip in public either. Especially with so many people on the beach, or in front of Hudson; a man who has repeatedly said kissing me was a mistake. But I’d still love him to caress my body. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like.

Would he have a soft touch? Or would he be the rough and ready type that I’d expect him to be?

What would those hot lips feel like kissing my breasts and teasing my nipples, pulling them and using his tongue to flick them back and forth while he rode me to orgasm? I’d love to see them bouncing in his face while he lapped it up.

I squirm uncomfortably as I look down at him from the shoreline, wanting some relief as my nipples pebble in my bikini top.

“You ready?” I ask.

He glances up at me, blinking as he swipes a hand over his face. “In a second, you go ahead.”

It’s probably a good idea to give myself some space before my thoughts run rampant again. One thing I know for sure is that his body shouldn't look like this at thirty-eight.

It’s better than any body I’ve ever seen of men in their twenties.

Jesus, Hudson. What the hell have you been hiding under there?

I reach for my towel, aware he’s probably watching me and make more of a show of drying myself, jostling the towel over my breasts as my hands cup over them. The friction actually feels good for a moment but it’s obviously not enough.

The buzzing between my thighs is going to be one for the vibrator tonight. Yes, I brought it along for the ride just in case. Knowing Hudson is sleeping one room away from me makes it all the more exciting.

I glance back to where he’s still letting the water run over him. I wonder why he’s making no attempt to move. And is it just my imagination or has his look grown a little… dark?

??

“Liz, oh my God!” I slide off my stool and give my high school friend a big hug while Hudson and James get reacquainted. They’ve just finished their walk through for tomorrow and are about to call it a night.

She hugs me tight before I stand back to look at her. She’s a beauty with long, blonde hair, sparkling green eyes and what I’m sure is a year-round tan from living here.

“Look at you, Georgia!” she squeals. “It’s been too long!”

“It has. Thank you so much for inviting me.”

She squeezes my hands still holding onto them. “And to think, you and Huds, huh?”

“Well, we’re not really a thing,” I say behind the back of my hand. “It’s all fairly new.” God, I’m so going to Hell for this white lie I’m stringing out to my friend. I can’t exactly fake the fact we’re a couple to her, I mean, how far is Hudson going to take this fake plus-one thing?

She giggles, leaning into me. “I bet you wouldn’t mind if things get a little raunchy with him this weekend.”

I laugh. “You never know.”

“James said Ronnie was asking about you.”

“Oh God, don’t remind me. He messaged me on Facebook recently, just random and out of the blue. Maybe him knowing I’d be here stirred up old things, I don’t know.”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure when he sees you and Hudson here together, he’ll get the message.”

I don’t know why I feel my cheeks flame at the idea, but they do. I guess I’m still coming to terms with the fact I’m here with Hudson at all. Even in the water this afternoon was a delight that I was not expecting. But I want more of it.

And stuff his stupid rules about not drinking, dancing or having any fun, up his butt.

I’m going to show this man how to have a good time if it’s the last thing I do.