Chapter Twenty-four
The limo moved at a crawl down Astor. Hudson straightened his tie for what must have been the tenth time since they’d turned down the street. When they finally came to a stop in front of Allie’s brownstone, he forced his hands to give the tie a rest and gripped the lever on the door at the same time his driver opened his.
“I got this, Max.”
“Yes, sir.” Max nodded and pulled his door shut.
Hudson got out of the limo and buttoned his jacket. God, he was nervous. Like first date, sweaty palms nervous. He moved toward the brownstone in powerful strides, taking the stairs two at a time until he was standing in front of her door. He punched the doorbell, then ran a hand through his hair.
The door swung open and Hudson’s breath came short and fast at the sight of her in an elegant, charcoal-gray gown that was clinging for its life to each of her lush curves. He wasn’t sure what was holding it all together as his eyes drifted over every inch of Allie’s exposed skin. He couldn’t tear his greedy gaze away from her, and his thoughts immediately went to the images that had been permanently burned into his mind. What she looked like under him with her blond hair spilling over the pillows; over him with her hands splayed on his chest as she took him; or in front of him as he pushed in deep from behind. Christ, he could practically feel her soft ass against his groin as he moved in and out of her tight, hot body. He was getting hard just thinking about it. Thank fuck he buttoned his jacket so his dick didn’t arrive at the door before he did. He wanted tonight to be about her. To be perfect.
Allie pinched the diamond chandelier earring dangling from her left lobe between her fingers. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself. You look beautiful. That dress is making me want to either cover you up or revise our plans for the evening.”
“Your message was very mysterious, Mr. Chase. Why did I need to get so dressed up?”
“It’s a surprise.” Hudson took the wrap from Allie’s hands and draped it around her shoulders. He pulled her hair out from underneath it, and when his index finger grazed the back of her neck he had to fight the impulse to press his lips to her nape.
His hand fell to the small of her back, skin-to-skin, and he led her to the limo where Max was waiting with an open door. Allie slid across the bench and Hudson moved in beside her. As he did, he became acutely aware of how incredible she smelled, and it was doing nothing to ease the ache between his legs. He dragged in a deep breath. This was going to be a long night, and he wasn’t exactly the kind of guy used to keeping his hands to himself. Especially when she was looking sexy as hell in a dress that was begging to be unzipped.
Allie stared out the window as the limo picked up speed. Hudson could sense her wheels turning, trying to figure out where he was taking her based on their location. Nervous anticipation crackled between them as he watched her try to put the pieces of the puzzle together in her head.
He reached for her, curling his fingers around her hand and rhythmically brushing his thumb over the inside of her palm. It was a simple gesture meant to soothe her and reassure him, but all it did was drive him crazy and make him focus on the potential disaster waiting to knock him on his ass.
The limo rolled to a stop. Traffic surrounded them and pedestrians parted around the car, all squinting to figure out what hotshot was in the ride while trying to play it cool as they did so. Allie ducked her head, peering out the window at the front of a large building with Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach blasted into stone. Recognition spread across her face and she turned to him and smiled. “The symphony?”
Hudson breathed a silent sigh of relief at her reaction. “I was able to pull a few strings and score tickets.”
Allie leaned across the seat and pressed her lips against his. “Thank you.”
His index finger caressed her jaw, then slipped underneath her chin. “It’s my pleasure.” Taking advantage of the tinted windows, he slanted his mouth over hers. Her lips parted and his tongue slid inside, savoring her softly and slowly. He heard the muted click of her seat belt, the equivalent of a green light, and tugged her into his lap. She was the most incredible thing he’d ever known. He groaned into her mouth, deepening the kiss—licking, teasing, tasting. And it made him want to kiss her elsewhere with the same eagerness. His hands slid down the bare skin of her back as her fingers raked into his hair, pulling just how he liked it.
On the verge of losing control, he dragged his mouth away from hers. His breath was harsh against her lips. “Christ, Allie, I need to get you out of this limo before I tell my driver to keep going.”
She hesitated for a moment with her lips hovering over his before sliding off his lap. Hudson hissed as she shifted over the erection beating like a drum against his fly. He adjusted himself and thought how he’d misjudged in thinking this was going to be a long night. It was going to be excruciating.
The door opened, and when she stepped onto the sidewalk he was right behind her, catching her wrap as the wind blew it off her bare shoulders. He draped it across her and then placed his hand discreetly beneath it, stroking his thumb down her spine. His fingers lingered at the top of her zipper and all he could think about was peeling her out of that dress, laying her back on the leather seats, and spreading her wide. Fuck. He ran a hand through his hair and slammed the door to the limo shut to keep from yanking her back into the car and enjoying the hell out of her in the middle of Chicago.
Walking up to the brick and stone orchestra hall, Hudson placed his hand on the small of Allie’s back. When he did, he couldn’t help but notice the sudden stiffness in her body.
“Don’t,” she murmured under her breath.
He held the door open and dropped his hand from her back. The tension in her shoulders visibly eased as if it was his hand that had held it there. As they crossed the gold CSO emblem hammered into the marble tile, he reminded himself that this kind of place was as regular a joint to her as McDonalds had been to a guy like him.
They started up the stairs and Hudson watched her hand drift up the varnished banister. He wanted her gentle hand to be on his arm, her delicate fingers curled around his bicep. God, he wanted that connection; to feel her hand close the distance he suddenly felt between them. But he understood her trepidation. Being here with him and displaying anything other than a professional front was guaranteed to make the damn society pages. She was an engaged heiress and he was the playboy billionaire. A dark secret once again.
When they reached the top, Hudson guided her through the mingling crowd, all humming about this year’s “season.” Man, the people surrounding them were colder than the ice they wore on their ears and around their necks. When her gaze swept the room, his followed, stopping short on the bar across the room. He dipped his mouth to Allie’s ear.
“Would you like a drink?” He straightened back up. “I know I could use one.” Or five.
Allie nodded.
“Be right back.”
Women turned as he walked through the room, their stares following him to the bar; no doubt curious about all the recent press or wagering his net worth. To them he’d just gotten lucky. Funny how the harder he worked, the luckier he seemed.
“Pinot Grigio and Blue Label, neat.”
When the bartender set his order on the bar, Hudson curled his fingers around a crystal glass filled with the finest scotch, and yet he still felt like he was holding a can of Budweiser. He tossed back his drink and ordered another, the heat of the recognizing stares burning into his back.
Fuck, this was becoming an increasingly bad idea.
He dropped a fifty on the bar and worked his way back through the throngs of people. The closer he got, the more he could see the nervousness on Allie’s face, the way she fidgeted with her clutch.
“I’m sorry if this was a mistake,” he said, handing her the glass of white wine.