Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 634

"He's got a death wish."

Hudson narrowed his eyes, a violent storm brewing in his dark gaze.

Nora nodded rapidly. "He also threatened me. He said if I told you about his identity or the deal, he'd destroy the Ivory Pill..."

She paused, adding with utmost seriousness, "So we need a solid plan. We have to put on a show for him."

Hudson looked down at her earnest, rambling expression, and the murderous intent in his chest instantly melted away.

The next second, he leaned in and captured her lips.

He kissed her deeply, thoroughly, savoring the taste of her with a seductive tension that left her breathless and dizzy.

When he finally pulled back, their foreheads rested together, their breaths mingling. "My wife is so smart..." he murmured, his voice husky.

Nora shot him a mild glare, but her gaze inadvertently drifted downward.

She froze, and a second later, her face erupted in a fiery blush.

"...Hudson!"

"Hmm?"

"How are you..."

She pointed a trembling finger toward his lower half, the tips of her ears burning hot.

A single kiss and he was already like this?

He really had zero self-control.

Hudson glanced down, then looked back up at her, a faint, entirely unashamed smile playing on his lips.

"I can't help it. You smell too damn good. It's not my fault."

"..."

Talk about blaming the victim!

"We have the Venison Feast in a bit," she stammered. "How... how are you going to go out looking like that?"

Hudson chuckled low in his throat. He leaned in, his breath brushing the shell of her ear, sending a flurry of shivers down her spine. "Then take pity on me, honey?"

Nora bit her lip. "I... I sprained my ankle."

"I know." His voice dropped an octave, laced with a wicked, teasing edge. "You won't have to move a muscle."

"..."

Nora was so flustered her ears were practically glowing. It took her a long moment to squeeze out a response. "You... handle that yourself."

Seeing her curled up, looking as though she wanted to bury herself in the cushions, Hudson's smile widened. He leaned back against the sofa and actually reached for his belt buckle.

But his dark eyes stayed glued to her face. "Then watch me, honey..."

"..."

"Nora, try a shot of the Hunter's Reserve! It's fantastic for your health!" Grant Hamilton offered cheerfully, pushing a small crystal glass toward her.

Hudson intercepted it effortlessly. "She'll stick to juice."

Grant rolled his eyes but didn't push the issue. He tossed the dark, spiced liquor back in one go, then winced as the heavy vintage burned down his throat. "Damn, that packs a punch!"

Sitting across from them, Spencer Sawyer stood up, glass in hand, and offered Nora a slight bow. "Mrs. Lancaster, the Sawyer family failed to keep Scarlett in check today, and it caused you harm. I offer you my deepest apologies."

Nora raised her glass of juice. She didn't mince words, accepting the apology with grace. "You're too polite, Spencer. This has nothing to do with the Sawyer family as a whole. Hudson and I won't hold it against you."

Seeing her calm demeanor and total lack of lingering hostility, Spencer finally let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. His smile grew infinitely more genuine. "You are incredibly gracious, Mrs. Lancaster. To you."

They clinked their glasses in the air, and the tension at the table noticeably eased.

Sitting diagonally from them, Finnian casually swirled the wine in his glass. He watched the warm glow of the overhead lights reflect off Nora's flawless skin. His gaze lingered on her features for a moment before he quickly looked away, as if he'd been burned.

He didn't know what was wrong with him lately.

Every time he looked at her, he felt a strange, inexplicable tug in his chest.

"Finnian?" Jude noticed his distracted expression and frowned slightly. "Are you alright?"

Just earlier, Finnian had been lecturing him about staring at Nora...

And now Finnian was doing the exact same thing?

What a hypocrite.