“Shit,” I cursed under my breath. If I wasn’t careful my ‘plan’ was going to become much more reality-based than I’d intended.
Romeo barked from where I’d stranded him on the other side of Wood Mountain. After making it safely over the treacherous terrain, I arranged the scene and pulled out my phone. I was tempted to write: HELP! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up. But I figured he would see right through that. Instead I settled on: Help
One word. No punctuation. Short. Sweet. And to the point. Since Hud was a man of few words, I figured he might appreciate the fact that I hadn’t added more for dramatic flair.
Setting the phone down, I rested my head against the dirt floor and did the only thing I could do. I waited. Since I had no idea where he was, I had no idea how long of a wait I was in for so I tried to get comfortable. That was easier said than done. I was sure that this little stunt was going to end with multiple splinters, but that was a small price to pay for…
“Harmony!” Hud’s voice filled the large barn.
Damn. He got here fast. Which means he must’ve been close. How did I miss him?
“Harmony!”
When he shouted my name this time, I heard the strain in it.
Good.
“I’m here.” I called out sounding every bit the damsel in distress I was trying to portray.
A grin tugged on my lips as I pictured big ol’ Hud trying to navigate his way over the large pile as he came to rescue me. That smirk fell the instant I saw him do what could only be described as a Spiderman-esque parkour move. He basically jumped off the side of the barn and landed beside me. Shirtless.
Sure, the shirtless detail wasn’t a particularly pertinent detail, but it had a lot to do with the reason I was struck momentarily speechless. The next thing I knew, the woodpile I’d carefully assembled to lie beneath was gone, and I was up on my feet. Hud’s hands were touching me. Everywhere. Brushing over my arms, my legs, my back, my stomach. When they brushed my hair to the side and his fingers ran up my neck before he grazed his hands through my hair I was pretty sure I was in danger of having an orgasm on the spot.
All I could hear was a loud buzzing sound that I assumed was arousal. I noticed that Hud’s mouth was moving, but for the life of me I couldn’t hear what he was saying. His shirtless body was inches from mine. His hands were touching me. His clean, masculine, soap scent surrounded me, and I found myself lost in his nearness.
I’d only smoked weed once in college, and quickly discovered it wasn’t for me. Not only was I paranoid, I also felt disconnected. Like I was flying but I wasn’t the pilot. Since I was somewhat of a control freak, it hadn’t been something that I’d wanted to do again.
That same feeling of flying, of being out of control, washed over me now. This time, I didn’t mind it so much.
“Harmony, talk to me!” Hud’s voice rose as he inspected my eyes and started pulling out his phone.
It was only when both of his hands weren’t in contact with me that I was able to find my voice. “I’m fine. I’m okay.”
His golden eyes locked with mine, searching them for signs that I was really okay. The intensity in his gaze stole my breath right out of my lungs. The energy between us was palpable. His jaw tensed and his fingers flexed around my arms. The roughened pads of his fingers against my skin sent a shock of bliss straight to my core. Every cell in my body came to life.
I knew that part of the reason it felt like a current of electricity rushing between us was the attraction we felt, but I sensed from the fear in his eyes that it was more. That he actually thought I was hurt.
My hand lifted as if it was being controlled by a puppeteer and I touched the hard planes of his sculpted chest. His skin was hot to the touch and I spread my fingers out. My palms tingled at the contact and I stilled.
“I’m good. Really. I’m okay,” my voice was barely louder than a whisper.
Hud’s hands lifted to cup my face and his forehead rested against mine. In that moment the entire world ceased to exist. Everything disappeared.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak.
All I could do was feel. I was suspended in a dream-like haze where Hud and I were the only two people on the earth, and I never wanted to wake up and return to reality.
Chapter 12
Hudson
“Sometimes you don’t know the value of a penny until you come up two cents short at the register.”
~ Loretta Reed