Christina’s POV
The comnts kept flooding in, even the critical ones now being quickly shut down by others.
Hudson tossed his phone onto the bed and caught before I could slip away. His strong arms locked around my waist, pulling back against his chest. I felt his breath on my neck, warm and familiar.
"I hate watching strangers trash talk my Luna," he murmured, his voice rumbling with that protective Alpha tone.
"You’ve been avoiding interviews for years," I frowned. "Now suddenly you’re posting back-to-back like so social dia influencer. That’s not exactly on-brand for Alpha Hudson Laurent."
"Who gives a damn about brand right now?"
He dragged the duvet up and over both of us, snatched my phone as I reached for it, and tossed it to the far side of the mattress. His body pressed against mine, warm and insistent.
His voice dropped to whisper near my ear. "No more distractions. We have ti now."
Ti to finish what we’d started last night and tried to pick up this morning. His eyes told everything about what he had planned.
Hudson pulled the covers up higher, wrapping us in our own little world. His lips found my neck, leaving hot kisses along the sensitive skin. I tilted my head without thinking, giving him more room.
"You sll incredible," he growled, breathing in.
His tongue traced a line from my collarbone up to my ear, making shiver. One hand slipped under my shirt, palm pressed flat against my stomach before moving up. The other hand wound through my hair, pulling my head back gently.
"Hudson," I gasped as his teeth scraped the spot where a mating mark would go. The feeling shot straight down my spine.
His tongue kept working that sa spot, getting it ready. Each touch made my body press against his. I knew what his wolf was after. The mating mark would tie us together forever, stronger than any piece of paper.
"Christina," Hudson groaned against my skin. "I want you. Everything."
His hand moved down, fingers sliding under the waistband of my shorts. I felt myself giving in, lting into the want building between us.
But then soone started pounding on the door.
Hudson cursed.
"Christina? You up?" Daniel’s voice called through the door. "There’s a car downstairs already. The charity organizers want us at the venue soon!"
Shit.
I wiggled out from under the covers and lunged for my phone. The screen lit up: 9:32.
The shuttle for the charity event was arriving at ten. How had I forgotten?
I slapped Hudson’s arm. "Get up. I’m late."
I raised my voice toward the door. "One sec, Daniel! I’ll be down soon!"
I jumped out of bed and bolted for the bathroom. "I’ve got less than thirty minutes. Don’t distract ."
I caught his reflection in the mirror as I spread moisturizer across my face. "Seriously. Don’t start anything. I don’t have ti."
He leaned against the doorfra, arms crossed. "Relax. I’m just admiring the view."
He didn’t move closer, just stood there watching with those intense eyes as I rushed through my routine.
I finished in record ti. Hair pinned back, breath minty, light makeup—just enough to look presentable. I slid on a pair of earrings and swiped lipstick across my mouth.
"Ti check?" I asked.
Hudson glanced at his watch. "Nine fifty."
"Perfect. I can still make it."
I strode toward the door but Hudson stepped in front of it, blocking my exit.
"Move," I demanded.
"Not yet."
I frowned. "What are you doing? I’m seriously out of ti."
He tapped the corner of his mouth with his finger, eyes twinkling with mischief.
I went up on my toes and planted a quick kiss where he indicated. It left a perfect red smudge of lipstick on his skin, making him look slightly ridiculous.
I laughed. "Happy now?"
He put on an exaggerated scowl, then grabbed my waist and pushed against the door. His mouth captured mine before I could dodge.
My breath caught in my throat. I half-heartedly slapped his chest.
Between kisses, I protested, "Lipstick. That’s my lipstick, you possessive wolf."
He ignored my protests completely. One arm locked around my back, the other gripping my wrist as he deepened the kiss.
I squird against him, but he kept going like a man possessed. His mouth moved to my neck again, tongue tracing that sa spot.
Then ca another knock.
"Christina? Are you ready? It’s nearly ten!" Daniel’s voice broke through our haze.
I made a muffled noise, finally wrestled Hudson’s hands off my waist and shouted, "Coming!"
He stepped back, lips stained red with my lipstick. I looked up at him and burst out laughing.
"You look ridiculous," I told him, rushing to the mirror.
My makeup had barely survived, but most of my lipstick was now on Hudson’s mouth and neck. I reached for the tube to reapply.
"You made waste all that lipstick."
Hudson ca up behind , wiped my lower lip with his thumb. "There, better like that. The natural pink suits you."
"You serious?" I checked my reflection.
He wasn’t wrong. It didn’t look bad, and I didn’t have ti to fix it properly anyway.
"Fine. I’m heading out. Are you flying back today?" I asked, shrugging on a jacket.
"Maybe," he shrugged noncommittally.
I dashed toward the door, grabbing my purse. "Text if you head back to Highrise City. I’ll be busy all day."
"Will do."
I reached for the handle, then glanced over my shoulder with a finger to my lips, silently asking him to keep quiet about being in my room.
But the second I opened the door, he called out loudly, "I’ll miss you!"
Daniel stood outside, gaping. "Is... is soone in your room?"
"Nope. Co on. We’re late."
I slamd the door and strode past him, heels thudding against the carpet.
The lift dinged.
I stepped in and turned.
Daniel was still dawdling in the hallway.
I jabbed the open-door button. "Move it!"
"Coming!" He jogged over, an awkward smile plastered on his face.
I stared at the changing numbers. "Had a good night’s sleep?"
"Yeah."
"But you have circles under your eyes."
He raked a finger under his eyes. "Yeah, I stayed up a bit. Gas. And you don’t look so hot yourself, either." He hastened to add, "I an, you look hot, just not... well-rested."
I thought back to last night.
From the ti Hudson showed up at my doorstep, to our conversation, then the aborted attempt at sex, then this morning...
Yeah, definitely not well-rested.
"I don’t like the hotel mattress," I lied.
"Oh." He stared at the floor.
The door opened.
I strode out.
He hurried to catch up.
"Wait, um..." Daniel cleared his throat.
"Yeah?" I didn’t slow down.
"I thought I heard soone in your room earlier."
"A hotel staff. To check the plumbing." The lies ca more easily now.
"Really? Sothing wrong with it?"
"Don’t know. The shower’s cold. I called the front desk. They sent soone up." I spun around to face him. "Why are you so interested in knowing who it was?"
"I just thought..." He smiled, sheepish. Then he held up his phone. "I saw your post. Everyone’s talking about it."
"Oh, that."
"Yeah." He nodded.
"But you already know I’m married."
"I know. That’s why I thought it was him in your room."
I thought of Hudson in his silk pajamas, of the small mountain of condoms on the nightstand.
"Nope. Not him." I turned around. "Let’s go. We’re late."
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