Free Web NovelChapter 125: Chapter 125 Liquid Courage
Christina’s POV
It took me a long moment to realize Hudson’s question wasn’t part of some weird dream.
"Do you still have feelings for him?" he repeated, his voice cutting through the fog in my head.
"Who?" I mumbled against his thigh.
"Niall."
"Niall who?"
"Granger."
"Granger who?"
Hudson’s chest rumbled with what might have been a laugh.
I blinked, trying to focus on something, anything, in the blur around me. "Who’s that?"
His grip on my hip loosened slightly. "A nobody."
"Who’s nobody?"
"Never mind."
My sluggish brain finally caught up with the bar events and landed on a question I probably should have asked ten minutes ago."What were you doing at the bar anyway?"
"Dominic mind-linked me," he answered, fingers still massaging my temple. "Said he spotted you there. With company."
"I wasn’t with Niall," I frowned, suddenly defensive. "That jerk just showed up."
"I know." His voice softened. "It’s just... seeing him there..."
Akira stirred inside me. "He’s jealous. This is good."
"Shh, not now," I told her silently.
"Look," Hudson said after a moment, "I’m not trying to control you. But Niall is causing enough drama already. If anyone from either of our packs sees you together..."
"I’m not with him," I repeated, hating even the suggestion.
I tried to pull myself up to meet his eyes but failed miserably. Instead, I yanked him down toward me.
"Okay, I think I remember who Niall Granger is now."
"Who is he?" Hudson asked, playing along.
"Gum on my shoe. Can’t get rid of him. Everywhere I go, he keeps showing up." freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"I like that answer."
I yawned widely. "He wants a refund, you know."
"What refund?"
"On the wedding. Beatrice isn’t who she claims to be, so he doesn’t want her anymore. He wants a re-" I snapped my fingers, searching for the word. "A return. Yes, a return."
Hudson’s fingers froze mid-massage.
"He wants a return? To you?"
Rolling my eyes seemed like too much effort, so I settled for a derisive snort that sounded more like a piglet.
"He wishes."
"Do you wish the same?"
"Wish what thing?" The conversation was slipping through my fingers like water.
"Getting back together with Niall."
"Why do you keep bringing him up?" I scrunched my face in disgust.
"Because he keeps showing up in your life, and I’m afraid you..." He muttered something too low for me to catch.
"I what?"
"Never mind."
"What?" I reached up and tickled his chin. He was staring out the window now, jaw tight. "Are you mad?"
"No."
"Your jaw says otherwise."
"I’m not mad. Not at you."
"Hmm." I waited a beat before saying, "Hudson."
He looked down.
I looped an arm around his neck, pulled him close, and planted a loud, exaggerated kiss on his lips. "Mwah! There. Don’t be mad."
Then I released him, satisfied with my solution.
He reached over and hit a button. The privacy divider between us and the driver clicked into place.
Then his mouth was on mine. Hard. Demanding.
It sucked all the oxygen right out of my lungs.
I couldn’t breathe except by stealing air from him.
He gave generously.
Hudson kissed me like there were important things he needed to say but words weren’t enough.
I kissed back like I understood perfectly.
I could feel the vibrations where our chests pressed together.
I pushed him back, panting. "No."
His lips were still parted, eyes dark with want, but his hands instantly stilled. "Sorry, I—"
"No, I don’t."
"What?"
I struggled to catch my breath. "No, I don’t have feelings for him."
I clarified, "Your question. Earlier. You asked if I still have feelings for him. The answer’s no."
For a second, everything was still.
Then, with a quiet exhale, he murmured, "Chrissy."
The way he said my nickname sent shivers down my spine.
I flopped back onto his lap like a rag doll. "For Niall Granger, I mean. I don’t have feelings for Niall Granger."
He chuckled, chest rumbling against me. "I know, Chrissy. I understand now."
"I have feelings. Just not for him."
"Hmm." He nodded, patting my hand as if humoring a child.
"For you."
"Hmm—what?"
"I have feelings for you." I licked my lips, tasting the lingering heat of that kiss. "For you. Hudson Laurent."
"Yes, that’s my name." His voice got deeper.
"I have feelings, and those feelings are for you, Hudson Laurent," I clarified, just in case the Peat & Zest had scrambled my words.
"I hear you. Loud and clear." He leaned in again, but I pressed a hand against his chest.
"No oxygen," I complained. "Do it later."
He laughed and straightened. "As you wish."
The car came to a smooth stop.
Hudson lifted me into his arms again, carrying me out.
The driver might have been watching, but honestly, who cares? Why walk when you can be carried by an Alpha?
My head was still fuzzy, but at least the world had stopped spinning.
Hudson laid me down on what I recognized as my bed at his house.
I sighed into the soft mattress.
"Shower?" he asked. "Or dinner? Rest? I can ask Geoffrey to make you something. Soup, maybe."
"No."
"No soup, or no shower?"
"No nothing." I kicked off the blanket he’d tucked around me. "Hot."
"Would you like some water?" He brought me a glass from the bedside carafe.
I drained it in seconds.
"More?"
I nodded eagerly.
He refilled the glass and handed it back.
I emptied that one too.
"Still thirsty?" He frowned. "What exactly did you drink at that bar?" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"Drink, yes, I want," I mumbled, my grammar deteriorating with every passing second.
"No more alcohol. I can get you more water."
"Plain." I wrinkled my nose. "Bland. Boring."
"Or sparkling? Maybe lemonade?"
"I know!" I snapped my fingers as a brilliant idea struck. "I want..."
"Yes?" He leaned closer, concerned.
I grabbed his tie and pulled him down to me, capturing his lips in another kiss. "You."
