Allie gazed across the water as the SUV sped along the shoreline. The sun was just beginning its descent and the late afternoon rays made the surface of the lake sparkle like silver glitter. In the distance, the paddle wheel of a double-decker steamboat churned through the water. The old-fashioned riverboat looked like it would be more at home on the mighty Mississippi than a nine-mile lake, but it was charming nonetheless.
“We’re here,” Hudson said. The Autobiography took a sharp left through a set of stone walls flanking either side of a winding drive that led to a clearing at the top of a hill. Allie peered out the window. A wood and stone house towered above her with a high-peaked roof and windows that soared over two stories. Hudson parked the car in front of the house alongside a wide staircase. At the top was a wood plank door with a glass inset. Allie leaned forward, her eyes following the lines of a wide deck that wrapped around the entire house. When she looked back, she found Hudson watching her expectantly.
“It’s lovely,” she offered.
The corner of his mouth turned up in a shy smile. “I can’t wait to show you the rest. Wait there.” A moment later he was at her door, taking her hand as she stepped out of the car. He led her up the stairs with an almost childlike excitement, but stopped abruptly when they reached the top. Allie heard the faint buzzing of a cell phone as Hudson reached into the pocket of his jeans. He frowned when he read the screen, then silenced it with a push of his thumb. Clearly not the call he’d been hoping for.
“Give me a minute to grab the bags and check my messages, then I’ll show you around.” He unlocked the door and flipped on a few lights before disappearing down the stairs with his phone pressed to his ear. Allie hoped he’d be able to reach Nick, even if only to hear his voice and know he was okay. But as she thought the words, she realized the odds of that were slim. Nick wasn’t ready to accept Hudson’s help. She shuddered at the thought of how much worse things might get before he was.
Allie wandered around the great room as she waited for Hudson to return. The modern rustic style was the complete opposite of his sprawling penthouse. Dark beams of distressed wood crisscrossed overhead while wide planks spanned the length of the floors. A fireplace made of tan and gray stones ran the full height of the two-story ceiling, as did the windows that looked out over the treetops. A row of bookshelves held an impressive collection of hardbacks, but the centerpiece of the room was the oversize leather sectional that curved around a tufted ottoman. It was weathered brown leather, the kind she knew without touching would be buttery soft, with tapestry pillows piled on each end.
To her right was the kitchen. The beamed ceiling and planked floors flowed into the open space, and the same stones that were on the fireplace created a similar hearth around a twelve-burner cooktop. A large island sat in the middle of the room with copper lights strung from the ceiling above it. There was a slab of marble on top that was bigger than most dining room tables, and six barstools were arranged around two of the sides. It was obvious the house had been designed for entertaining.
A set of glass doors led to an expansive deck off the kitchen. Allie opened them to find a cluster of teak chairs with green-and-tan cushions facing an outdoor fireplace. There were gas torches placed at intervals along railing posts, and in the corner a large hot tub sat perched atop a platform.
Bet that could tell some stories.
An unwelcome pang of jealousy twisted in her stomach and she turned her attention back to the view. The sun was beginning its descent and the fading rays cast a gold reflection on the lake below. She sighed. It was the perfect romantic getaway. She knew it was ridiculous, but as she leaned against the railing and gazed out over the tops of the pine trees, part of her couldn’t help but wonder how many other women had enjoyed the same view.
The door opened behind her. “There you are,” Hudson said.
“Gorgeous view. How long have you owned the place?”
“About six months. I bought it in the spring about the same time I bought the penthouse.”
“Must be a hit with all the ladies.” The words slipped out before she could stop them. She was about to tell him she was sorry and that it was none of her business when his answer left her with nothing but a gaping mouth.
“You’re the only person I’ve ever brought up here.”
He held her stare for a long moment, so much going unsaid between them, until Allie broke the awkward silence. “How about that tour?”
His lips pressed together in a thin line and he nodded. “Right. A tour.”
She followed him through the kitchen, where he pointed out more high-end appliances she suspected got little to no use, and back into the Great Room. He showed her the two guest suites that made up the rest of the main floor and then held out his hand.
“Would you like to see the upstairs?” he asked. Seven words that held such promise.
She placed her hand in his and he gave it a gentle squeeze before leading her up the staircase to the master suite. Hudson’s bedroom had the same devastating view as the great room, even more so given the added height. Leather club chairs sat in front of a fireplace that opened on the other side to what she presumed was the master bathroom, and an acoustic guitar sat propped against the hearth. She would have asked if that was an instrument he actually played, but her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of his larger-than-life bed.
The headboard and footboard were covered in rich dark-brown leather that was tufted to mimic a chesterfield sofa. As she trailed her hand over the rolled padded edge of the footboard, she couldn’t help but think how similar it looked to the arm of the sofa in Hudson’s game room. Images of blindfolds and leather cuffs consumed her thoughts, and her heart began to pound. A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped. Hudson was suddenly behind her, sweeping her hair to one side as his lips found the curve of her neck.
“Put this on.” He held out his arm and her babydoll nightgown dropped down from his hand. “And when you return, I want to tie you to my bed.”
A soft moan escaped her lips as he ran the tip of his tongue up the column of her throat.
“Look at the bed, Allie.” Her heart raced with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. “Imagine yourself completely at my mercy. Now go change.”
Chapter Thirty
Allie kept her eyes closed, doing her best to block out the sunlight flooding the room. She wasn’t ready to wake up. Not when her dreams brought images of silk ties and satin blindfolds. And had that been a feather? And ice? The barrage on her senses had been overwhelming, exhilarating . . . mind-blowing. Her blood began to heat from the memories, and a sleepy smile stretched across her face. She reached out, her hand sliding across the cool sheets, but found nothing but an empty bed.
She blinked a few times as the room came into focus, then stretched her deliciously sore muscles. Allie had always prided herself on keeping in good shape, even in college when pizza was its own food group, but the past week with Hudson had brought its own unique form of exercise. And speaking of Mr. Insatiable, where was he?
The bathroom door stood open, with no sounds of running water coming from inside. In fact, the whole room was quiet except for the intermittent chirping of a few birds.
And a revving engine.
What the hell?
Allie sat up, the sheet slipping from her naked body, and looked toward the large picture window. All she could see from her vantage point was a clear blue sky. She peered over the bed where her lace nightie lay in a pile on the floor. Hudson had been so intent on bringing it with him and then had barely left it on her.