Despite the grumbled demand, Hudson didn’t miss the flash of concern that passed through his eyes. It disappeared the second their gazes locked, but not quickly enough. He could act like a heartless bastard all he wanted, but she was onto him. Just because she’d stopped pushing him to talk didn’t mean she hadn’t been watching him carefully the past few days. And she’d discovered that Rylan was right. Connor really was easy to figure out if you looked hard enough.
He cared deeply about his men, but he tried valiantly to hide it. He barked out orders like a military leader, but he wasn’t comfortable doing it. And whatever inner battle he was fighting… well, it obviously took a toll on him. It made him moody at times and somber at others, but Hudson didn’t walk on eggshells around him the way his friends did. Turned out she and Pike had at least one thing in common – they weren’t afraid to call Connor out when he was acting like an ass.
“What makes you think it was my fault?” Rylan said with a scowl.
“Because it always is.” Connor glanced at Hudson. “Is he gonna live?”
She grinned. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“Shit. We were this close to being rid of him.”
The lighthearted quip made her heart somersault. It happened so infrequently, seeing him let down his guard and actually laugh about things.
“Fuck you both very much,” Rylan muttered.
Hudson slapped some antibiotic gel on his arm and bandaged it up. “There. All done.”
She stood up, and was surprised when Connor walked up and kissed her. Which was equally infrequent – he kissed her only during sex, and if he touched her during the day, it was only to tease and taunt and drive her wild with anticipation for sex.
It was almost pathetic how eagerly she snatched up the affection he was dangling. She deepened the kiss before he could pull back, her tongue sneaking into his mouth and summoning a groan from him.
The naughty swirl of her tongue got her a groan from Rylan too. “Hell. You two are so hot together.”
She broke the kiss at the sound of his voice, but when she turned toward him, she saw no trace of jealousy. Simply appreciation, as if he genuinely enjoyed the sight of them kissing. A glance at his crotch revealed how much he liked it.
Connor followed her gaze, and Hudson held her breath. She and Rylan hadn’t messed around since the day in the garden. She’d wondered if maybe Connor had decided he wasn’t interested in company anymore, but now his eyes gleamed thoughtfully.
“How’s your dick doing?” he asked his friend. “Or did you injure that too?”
Rylan flipped up his middle finger. “My dick is just fine, asshole.”
“Yeah? Then pull it out.” Connor’s voice went raspy. “I’m in the mood for an audience tonight.”
Hudson’s breath flew out. She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to the frank way these men talked about sex.
Connor raised his eyebrows at her, as if asking for permission. When her head jerked in a nod, he stepped closer and swiftly rid her of her shirt. She shivered when his rough hands cupped her aching breasts, and her nipples instantly puckered against his palms.
“What do you say, Ry? Should I make her come fast, or torment her for a bit?” Laughing softly, he drew her leggings and panties off her body.
Rylan grinned. “You already know the answer to that, brother.”
Fast, she prayed. Oh God, please let him do it fast. They hadn’t even gotten started yet and she was already a bundle of hot, tight nerves, so close to detonating she had to squeeze her thighs together to ease the burn.
“Torment, it is,” Connor decided.
Hudson gulped as he led her to the armchair across from the bed and forced her to sit. Strong hands parted her legs as he knelt in front of her, and then his heavy-lidded gaze settled on her pussy. “Christ. You’re already so wet.”
She gasped when he slipped one finger inside her. Her nerve endings crackled to life, pulses of heat prickling along her skin.
Her gaze shifted to Rylan, who’d eased his pants down and was now gripping his very impressive erection. There was a rakish glimmer in his eyes as he stared at Connor’s finger buried inside her.
Then that finger moved, and Hudson gasped again, because Connor had switched from a motionless tease to a furious tempo in the blink of an eye. Two fingers now, fucking her hard enough to bring a jolt of pain-laced pleasure.
Thank God. He wasn’t following through on the threat to torture her. He was going to let her come. Hudson squeezed her eyes shut and gave herself over to the mounting sensations. She was close. So close. Her breath spiraled out in a rush as her pussy contracted and —
Connor’s fingers abruptly disappeared.
Her eyes shot open. “You fucking bastard.”
He clicked his tongue mockingly before looking at Rylan. “We’ve created a monster. She’s gotten so much greedier since she sucked you off, man.”
“Greedy,” Rylan agreed. He gave his cock a lazy stroke as he glanced at Hudson. “Shame on you, gorgeous, calling him a bastard. You know he’ll punish you for that.”
He was right. The smoldering look on Connor’s face confirmed it.