Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28 

Hudson cursed under his breath and cranked the shower handle, forcing the water even colder. 

The icy blast finally managed to extinguish the raging inferno in his blood. 

By the time he stepped back into the bedroom, the space was cast in the dim, golden glow of a single nightlight. 

Nora had already fallen asleep. She lay on her side, facing away from him, her breathing soft and rhythmic. 

One strap of her silk nightgown had slipped completely off her shoulder, leaving an expanse of flawless, luminous skin exposed, glowing softly in the shadows. 

Hudson’s throat bobbed. He stood perfectly still, watching her for several long seconds before quietly slipping back into bed. 

The mattress dipped slightly under his weight. 

The moment he settled in, the sleeping woman beside him unconsciously rolled over, slotting herself perfectly into his arms. 

Her soft body pressed flush against him. One of her legs casually threw itself over his waist, causing the silk hem to ride up entirely, her bare, smooth skin sliding agonizingly against his sleep pants. 

Hudson went completely rigid. 

The fire he had just drowned under freezing water violently roared back to life. 

He squeezed his eyes shut, carefully wrapping his arms around her waist, desperately trying to push her just an inch away. 

But she was deeply asleep. Annoyed by the movement, she let out a soft whine of protest and aggressively snuggled right back against his chest. 

This time, she plastered herself even closer. 

Hudson took a ragged breath. 

This was absolute torture. 

He lay paralyzed in the dark for three agonizing minutes before admitting defeat. He carefully peeled her off him and practically threw himself out of bed. 

The bathroom door clicked shut. The shower roared to life once again. 

This time, he stayed under the ice much longer. 

When Hudson finally emerged for the second time, the sky outside the window was beginning to turn a pale, hazy blue. 

He looked at the tiny woman sleeping peacefully in his bed and let out a tired, incredulous laugh. 

Two freezing showers in one night. He was utterly exhausted. 

He cautiously slid back into bed, this time making absolutely sure to maintain a safe distance from her. 

But it didn’t take long. Like a magnet, the sleeping Nora rolled over once again, burying her face straight into his chest. 

Today was her job interview. 

She was a top-tier music conservatory graduate who had studied under world-renowned professors. Several of her former classmates were currently dominating the music industry. 

But when she lost her hearing, her career completely flatlined. 

Though she had fully recovered, that gap year in her resume was a massive liability. 

She had to start from the bottom all over again. 

Nora fixed her hair in the mirror, applied a light layer of makeup, grabbed her purse, and headed downstairs. 

In the dining room, Hudson was already seated at the table. 

He was wearing a dark-gray lounge set. His hair was still slightly damp from a shower, swept back carelessly to reveal his sharp brows and striking features. 

Except… there were undeniable dark circles under his eyes. 

Nora’s steps faltered. A spike of guilt hit her, and she quickly looked away. 

It really was true. He was completely incapable. 

Just one kiss had drained him so badly he looked like he hadn’t slept for days…