Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 607

Nora fell silent for a long time. "...No."

She was well past the age of needing her parents.

Even without them, she could live a perfectly good life.

More importantly...

She looked up at him, her dark eyes shimmering brightly. "I have you now. That's enough."

Hudson's breath hitched.

In the dimly lit room, his gaze inevitably fell on her soft, moist lips.

He had tasted them countless times. He knew exactly how intoxicatingly sweet they were.

Hudson stared at her deeply, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Nora was no longer naive; she recognized that predatory gaze perfectly.

Her breath caught in her throat, her chest feeling tight.

Just as she tried to turn her face away, Hudson had already hooked his fingers under her chin, capturing her lips in a deep, consuming kiss.

Everything that followed was as natural as breathing.

Nora was incredibly responsive tonight, as if she were pouring every unsettled emotion into the kiss.

Hudson was instantly set ablaze by her rare, desperate initiative. Stripped of all patience, he shoved the flimsy fabric of her robe aside and—

"Hudson!"

Nora gasped, startled by his rough intensity, crying out his name.

"Don't be scared, baby. We've done this so many times..."

The heavy mattress groaned in protest, the rhythmic sounds echoing deep into the night.

By the end, Nora was completely drained. She passed out from sheer exhaustion, sinking into a heavy, dreamless sleep before she could even process how tired she was.

Hudson carried her to the bathroom for a quick wash. She didn't stir once, her body soft and pliant against his chest.

She trusted him completely.

Hudson chuckled softly, carried her back to bed, and pulled the covers over her. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before walking out onto the balcony.

The winter air in San Francisco was biting, the wind carrying a sharp chill.

Hudson leaned against the railing and pulled out his phone. His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before he typed out a message and hit send.

[Look into Nora's biological parents.]

He didn't put the phone away immediately, staring at the words on the screen before finally shutting it off and gripping it tightly in his hand.

He couldn't stay by her side forever.

"Changing next door." River walked in easily, dropping into an empty chair and crossing his legs. "By the way, Auntie Nora, Leo and I agreed to grab dinner after the shoot. You should come with us. I'll invite my mentor, too."

Nora took the lipstick from the makeup artist and carefully applied a layer in the mirror before pausing to think. "I'll pass tonight. You guys go have fun."

"Auntie Nora, you've turned me down so many times. Is Mr. Lancaster keeping you on that tight of a leash? He doesn't even give you any personal space..."

River paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and let out a soft laugh. "My mentor told me Mr. Lancaster showed up to your conservatory reunion last week. Apparently, it instantly turned into a corporate networking event?"

"..."

Nora let out an awkward laugh. Thinking back to the reunion, it really had been a disaster.

Everyone hadn't seen each other in years. They were just eating, chatting, and having a great time. But the second Hudson walked in, the entire vibe shifted. People immediately started trying to pitch business ideas to him or ask for his contact info. Even the waiters serving the food asked for a picture with him.

After all, who wouldn't want to get on Hudson Lancaster's good side?

Seeing her stay silent, River leaned a little closer. "Auntie Nora, you need your own social life. Married couples still need breathing room. You have to give yourself a break, don't you think?"

Nora hesitated. It really had been a long time since she had properly caught up with Zachary.

"Alright. Let me just text Hudson to let him know."

River tilted his head. "Auntie Nora, why do you have to report to him just to get dinner? Living like that, constantly having to check in... doesn't it get exhausting?"

Nora looked at him, not entirely sure how to respond.

His words sounded caring, but for some reason, they rubbed her the wrong way...