Christina’s POV
I rembered the incident vaguely. It was a sketchy part of town, near the red-light district. The man, tall, gorgeous, clearly intoxicated, had looked like one of those high-end male escorts.
No judgnt from , but I’d had zero interest in being dragged into whatever ss he was caught in. My friends and I had left right after he was seen by the hospital staff, and I’d promptly pushed the whole thing out of my mind.
Hudson kissed the back of my hand. "Yeah. You disappeared from my life. Twice. We barely said ten words, but I rembered every one."
My mind rewound, fumbling for details I’d never paid attention to.
"After that, you know most of it. My business was mostly in Europe, but I visited Highrise City now and then. I saw you with Niall. You looked happy. I didn’t want to ruin it. So I stayed away. But I still wanted you. Even when I had no right. I wanted to be near you. Make you mine." His voice hardened. "If I’d known Niall was treating you like that, I would have stepped in sooner."
I pressed my face into his palm. A slow ache blood in my chest.
"No. You stepped in at exactly the right ti."
If we’d t while I was still engaged to Niall, while Niall and I were still fated mates, I wouldn’t have given Hudson a second glance.
Akira whined in agreent.
"He showed up exactly when we needed him," she whispered inside .
"When did you realize I was your fated mate?" I asked.
He smiled. "The first day you officially t , I felt the pull imdiately. I was over the moon that the girl I’d been crushing on and secretly protecting turned out to be my fated mate. I thought the Moon Goddess was being incredibly kind to ."
I pretended to be annoyed. "Then why didn’t you tell right away?"
"If I’d told you imdiately, would you have believed ? Plus you’d just broken up with Niall and looked completely devastated. When I saw you at that bar, drowning your sorrows over him, I was both furious and jealous. Furious that you didn’t recognize as your second chance, and jealous that you were crying over that bastard."
"So that night at the bar, you being there, that wasn’t random, was it?"
"Not even close." His voice had a definite smug edge to it now.
"Stalker," I muttered.
"Guilty as charged. But I don’t feel guilty." Hudson pinched my cheek. "If I hadn’t turned up, would you really have picked so random guy to sleep with?"
I considered it. "Maybe."
He pinched harder.
"Ow!" I batted his hand away. "Fine. Probably not. None of the other guys had your face. Besides, I already knew you, kind of. After all, you were the kind stranger who told I had the wrong door. I trusted you."
That seed to satisfy him.
"You never marked either. Was that so I’d figure out you were my second chance?" I wanted to get all my questions out at once.
He imdiately said, "No, that’s not it. What if you never recognized ? Then I’d never be able to mark you. I wanted you to accept my proposal first, have a grand mating ceremony, then mark you. Besides, once I mark you, even if you and your wolf are slow on the uptake, you’ll realize we’re fated mates."
I cupped my chin, pretending to think. "That actually makes sense."
He pulled close, one arm wrapped tight around , fingers threading through my hair.
We stayed like that for a while, long enough for his body heat to soak through the thin cotton of my shirt. Long enough for to make up my mind.
"Tell him yes," Akira urged, her excitent bubbling through . "He’s our mate, our second chance."
I broke the silence. "The ring. Are you giving it to or not?"
He pulled back fast. "You’re saying yes?"
"I thought that was obvious."
"No more doubts?"
"No more doubts." I only hoped I sounded more certain than I felt.
He opened his palm. The ring lay flat in his hand, a faint dent circling his skin from where he’d clutched it too tightly.
He got out of bed and dropped to one knee. Sohow, he managed to look both utterly ridiculous in his boxer briefs and absurdly handso.
"Christina Vance, will you marry ?"
"Yes." I held out my hand.
His fingers trembled so much, he missed three tis.
I bent down, wrapped my hand around his wrist, and slid the ring on myself.
"There. Done."
I turned my hand, watching the way the light slipped through the curtains and bounced off the diamond.
Hudson stood. I pulled him down and kissed him.
"It looks good," I murmured against his lips.
Hudson grabbed my head, kissing possessively and dominantly.
His tongue slipped into my mouth. When it touched mine, he swirled it gently, rhythmically sucking on my lips. A tingling sensation rose from deep within , like an invisible hand teasing my heart.
I couldn’t resist anymore and wrapped my tongue around his, deepening the kiss.
Hudson paused briefly, his lips curving into a slight smile, desire and tenderness flashing in his eyes. He followed my rhythm, entwining his tongue more deeply with mine. His hand slid from my hair to my waist, palm pressing against as he tightened his grip.
Our breathing grew more rapid, and Hudson’s scent surrounded completely. I could feel his heartbeat through his chest, mingling with mine.
I couldn’t help but moan, and only then did Hudson slightly loosen his hold.
His gaze fell on sothing behind . Adjacent to our bedroom was a large walk-in closet with a full-length mirror.
Before I could react, Hudson carried there, holding against him and forcing to face the mirror.
The mirror reflected us. I was tightly held in his arms, cheeks flushed, lips moist and swollen, eyes hazy with desire. Hudson stood behind , his tall fra nearly engulfing mine as he bent to kiss my neck.
"You know what?" he whispered in my ear. "Mirrors often show the most honest view."
"Hudson..." my voice tightened.
He smiled, lips pressed together. "Why so shy suddenly? You’re my wife. Isn’t it good to do sothing more... intimate?"
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