“With other men,” Connor emphasized when he caught her confused expression. “They only share with each other.”
It was so hard to make sense of that. To make sense of anything she’d seen tonight. She’d never heard anyone talk so openly about sex, at least not in West City. Sure, everyone there engaged in it, but it was done and discussed behind closed doors. At the Enforcer compound it was out in the open, but there’d been something filthy and violent about the way the Enforcers treated their women.
Hudson had been caught in the middle of both worlds. Too knowledgeable for the city, but too sheltered for the compound.
Except now there was a third world available to her. The outlaw world, where people had sex because they liked it and advertised their “kinks” without giving a damn what other people thought about them.
“There’s one last rule,” Connor said. “When one or both of us is no longer interested in the sex, then we call it. No arguments, no tears. We shake hands and life goes on.”
She studied him. “Do you lay down these ground rules for everyone you sleep with?”
“No.”
“Why me?”
“Because this isn’t a whorehouse. I won’t be able to sleep with you and then walk away. You’ll be living in this camp, sharing meals with me, working beside me. I won’t let sex complicate my life here.”
“How long can I stay?” She couldn’t contain the happy quaver in her voice.
“As long as you’re useful.”
“As long as I please you sexually, you mean?”
He gave a harsh laugh. “I told you, sex has nothing to do with camp. It’s your other skills I’m concerned about. If you don’t pull your own weight, you’re gone. If I decide you’re more of a threat than an asset, you’re gone. If Knox comes pounding on my door, you’re gone. Are we in agreement?”
Since it was the best offer she was going to get from this man, she nodded in response.
“Good. Now go back to your cabin. It’s late.”
Surprise rippled through her. He wanted her to go? Now? After they’d just struck a bargain that gave her permission to put her hands all over him?
She took a step closer. “Or… you could kiss me.”
He touched her chin, his thumb drawing a teasing line up her jaw, leaving shivers in its wake. “Yeah? Is that what you think I should do?”
His mouth lowered, and warm lips brushed her cheek before retreating.
A frustrated noise slipped out. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
Something sinful passed through his eyes as he brought his lips to her ear. She gasped when his tongue darted out to circle her earlobe. “You already came once tonight, greedy girl.” He drew back slightly, his breath a warm tease on her skin. “I’m sure that’ll tide you over until I’m ready for you.”
8
The sound of male voices and low chuckles outside her cabin woke Hudson up the next morning, a stark contrast from the foghorn that always blasted through the Enforcer compound at the crack of dawn. She definitely preferred waking up to Connor’s husky laughter.
She didn’t linger in her cabin long – she was too curious to see how the men passed their time when they weren’t robbing supply compounds. Hudson took a quick shower, her teeth chattering under the icy-cold spray, but she was in too good of a mood to care that her lips were turning blue. Besides, the cabin didn’t have air-conditioning, so she had a feeling she’d be welcoming the cold showers once the summer kicked into full gear.
Either way, she didn’t care. Because Connor was letting her stay.
Not even last night’s mocking parting words could dim the joy and relief swirling inside her. For the first time since she’d left the Enforcer compound, she felt… safe. Grounded. Her life had been spinning out of control before she’d escaped, moving in a direction she’d never expected, never wanted.
Even the guilt of abandoning her brother was beginning to wear off, because the twin she’d idolized growing up didn’t exist anymore. He’d turned into a violent, reckless man. A man who’d been willing to hand his own sister over to a monster.
She swallowed a lump of resentment and focused on getting dressed. She threw on cutoff denim shorts, a tank top, and the sneakers that had been stashed in her bag.
Another wave of laughter rolled past her window, and her body heated in response. She’d noticed that Connor didn’t laugh much, but he seemed to do it a lot when he was around Rylan.