Free Web NovelChapter 71: Chapter 71 A Hug
Christina’s POV
We danced from the door to the sofa and back. Twice.
"No," Hudson stopped suddenly. "This won’t work. We’re too stiff. Anyone will see through us."
I licked my lips nervously. "So what’s the solution?"
"We can’t walk like strangers and expect no one to notice. For this to be convincing, we need chemistry. Real intimacy. We need to develop that."
"And how exactly do we ’develop’ that?" I asked, making air quotes.
"Maybe we should start smaller... a hug before we try dancing."
I stared at him. First he said practice the entrance, then he wanted to practice dancing, now it was hugging. Were all Alphas this unpredictable?
Technically, he was my husband now, but mentally we were just awkward roommates whose deepest connection was sharing the same WiFi password.
A hug?
I wasn’t prepared for this. Even with Niall, who was my fated mate, he barely liked touching me. When he did show affection, it was rare and usually performed for an audience.
Dancing required necessary physical contact, but a hug? That felt too intimate.
I stepped back. Hudson stepped forward.
I retreated again. He advanced.
This ridiculous dance continued until my back hit the kitchen island and I had nowhere left to go.
Hudson leaned in, bringing his face level with mine.
"Would you try it, as a favor to me?" His voice was low, almost a purr. "Please?"
The hairs on my neck stood up. My skin tingled.
"He’s asking nicely," Akira purred. "When was the last time Niall ever said please?"
I felt my face flush red. Why was this man so effortlessly seductive? Was it an Alpha thing, or just a Hudson thing?
"Fine," I agreed, jaw clenched. "Let’s do it."
It was just acting. Nothing more.
I’d watched enough romantic movies to fake a convincing embrace.
Hudson opened his arms, waiting patiently.
Taking a deep breath, I muttered something under my breath and stepped into his embrace.
And wow, he felt... expensive. His cotton henley was soft, but the body underneath was hard as steel. My arms wrapped around his waist and met solid muscle. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Sweet goddess," I thought. "He’s built like a weapon."
His hands settled on my back, one at my waist, one near my shoulder, and he gave me a light pat. "Relax."
Easy for him to say when he wasn’t the one trying not to pass out from pheromone overdose.
Hudson’s hand moved in slow circles against my back. After what felt like twenty minutes, my spine finally loosened up a bit.
I noticed how soft his shirt was.
The fabric felt expensive under my fingertips and somehow calmed my nerves.
I actually liked it. And the hug was starting to feel nice too.
Just as I began to relax, Hudson ruined it by speaking.
"You’re still too rigid, Christina. If you’re this uncomfortable with me in private, you’ll never convince anyone at the party."
Seriously?
I thought I was doing great. If I relaxed any more, I’d be unconscious.
What more did he want? I tightened my arms around him like I was trying to break his ribcage and buried my face deeper into his chest.
I accidentally breathed directly into his pectoral. His shirt warmed instantly from my breath.
Great. My embarrassment now had physical evidence.
"Your posture is too formal," he said, his voice rumbling against my ear. "The way you’re clutching me feels like you’re making an arrest, not embracing your mate. Let’s try sitting down."
My lips twitched.
I never thought I’d get a performance review on my hugging technique. And apparently, I wasn’t scoring well.
I marched over to the sofa where Hudson had already seated himself. Leaning forward, I awkwardly flung my arms around his neck.
"Better?" I asked.
He patted my arm. "There’s enough space between us to fit a bear." free𝑤ebnovel.com
Right. Because bending forward with my arms around his neck while my lower body stayed three feet away wasn’t intimate enough.
I tried again, attempting to press my chest against him while keeping my legs as far away as possible.
My thighs started burning from the awkward position. I looked ridiculous - top half engaged, bottom half completely disengaged.
"Can we just call it a night?" I asked, pulling away.
"No. The party’s coming up soon, and this wouldn’t fool a blind person."
I stared at him. "It’s just your grandfather’s birthday. We don’t need to make out in front of the cake."
"No, but we shouldn’t look like we’re already filing for divorce either."
"That’s how bad my hug was?"
Hudson nodded. "We could ask Geoffrey for feedback if you’d like."
"Absolutely not!"
But he had a point. He’d been patient with me so far. All he asked was for me to look convincingly like his Luna at his grandfather’s party. And I needed him to do the same with my family.
The fake intimacy had to look real.
"Screw it," I muttered, climbing onto his lap and straddling him. "How’s this?"
His lips curved against my temple.
He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer. "That works."
I exhaled.
If this didn’t satisfy him, I was completely out of ideas.
"True intimacy isn’t just physical," he murmured. "It’s about trust. You need to trust me completely."
"Mm." I made the most noncommittal sound possible.
Akira stirred within me. "He’s right, you know. Your body won’t relax if your mind doesn’t."
"Easy for you to say," I shot back mentally. "You already like him."
He was right, of course. But knowing something and doing it are entirely different.
It reminded me of summer camp years ago. We did trust exercises where one person fell backward while their partner caught them.
Simple concept. Terrifying execution.
I couldn’t do it. Not even after extensive mental preparation.
My partner was one of my closest friends, and still I froze.
What if she missed? What if she secretly resented me and let me fall? What if she pretended to let me crash before catching me at the last second?
The more I thought, the more paralyzed I became.
And now, sitting on Hudson’s lap, those same fears rushed back. I wasn’t falling backward, but I was still vulnerable.
He couldn’t drop me. But what if he suddenly stood up? What if I tumbled to the floor? What if my head hit the coffee table?
I closed my eyes tight and told my brain to shut up.
Akira sighed. "You’re overthinking again. He’s our mate, even if you won’t admit it."
"He is NOT our mate,we just had a contract." I snapped internally.
I recognized my trust issues. I knew Hudson wasn’t wrong.
But I couldn’t just flip a switch and suddenly trust someone.
Five minutes passed. Or maybe it was fifty.
"Can I get up now?" I mumbled against his neck.
"Not yet."
So we stayed there. His hands stroked my back gently. He could tell I was still tense.
The longer I sat there, the stiffer I became. My legs felt like concrete, and my neck started to cramp.
Finally, he spoke. "That’s enough for today. We’ll continue tomorrow."
"Great!"I launched off his lap like I’d been catapulted."I’m going upstairs. Goodnight."
I practically ran for the stairs, eager to escape the confusing feelings swirling inside me. Trust wasn’t something I gave easily anymore. Not after Niall.
But as I reached my bedroom, I couldn’t help but notice that Hudson’s scent lingered on my clothes. And weirdly, I didn’t mind it at all.
