hit Hudson a few more times.
Hudson just let him. I watched in horror, and Hud just watched Steve do his thing. I wanted to reach out, I wanted to say something, but when Hudson and I locked eyes, he just cocked his head to the side and winked at me. I gasped, shocked at this brazen display of strength.
If there was anything on earth that could make my crush on Hudson Asher grow even a little bit, this was it. I hated to admit it even to myself, but I was more than a little turned on.
Hudson let Steve tire himself out for a few more seconds before he almost casually raised his arm, sweeping Steve’s last punches out of the way. “My turn,” Hudson almost whispered, and reached back while stepping in, gut punching Steve right in the midsection.
From behind I saw Steve double over, and I heard the wind get knocked out of him. Hudson followed up with another punch, same spot, and Steve crumpled to the floor, moaning softly in a fetal position.
Hudson kicked him out of the way, then stepped over where Steve had been lying. Reaching out to me, Hudson put his arms around my shoulders. I felt the warmth of his touch and for the first time since Steve and I had come into this room I felt safe. “Are you alright, Mack?”
I threw my arms around him. “Yes, yes, Hudson, I’m alright, thank you so much.” I stuck my head into the space between his neck and right shoulder, breathing in his manly scent.
I heard Steve stirring below us, and Hudson looked down. “You should leave here while you still can, Steve.” Steve moaned something unintelligible, and Hud leaned down, his hand running down my arm to grab mine. “And don’t even think about even talking to Mackenzie again. Ever.” He said, finally.
In response, Steve started crawling toward the doorway. Hud laughed and locked eyes with me, asking whether I was OK without actually saying anything. I wiped the tears that had started forming from my eyes and nodded, taking a deep breath, and Hudson stepped over Steve again and led me out of the room.
We walked back toward the main hall for about thirty feet before I stopped in my tracks, Hudson still holding my hand. When our arms stretched out and he realized I wasn’t moving forward anymore. “Mack? Everything OK?”
I sighed, closing my eyes and holding them closed before opening them again. “I don’t want to go back in there, Hudson.”
He looked away, back toward the door to the main hall about a hundred feet away, before looking back at me. “Where do you want to go?”
I hesitated, and my eyes traveled to the nearest door. It was someone’s office. I stepped toward the door and tried it; it was unlocked. “Can we just sit in here for a few minutes, first?” I asked, hopefully.
In the low haze of the dimly lit corridor, I saw Hudson’s eyes flicker with understanding, and he squeezed my hand, walking toward the door. “Of course, Mack, we can sit here as long as you like.”
I nodded, again reaching up to wipe my face, and I went into the office after Hudson. As soon as we got inside, Hudson moved two chairs together and motioned me toward one. “Here, Mack, sit down.” Gratefully, I sat down, sighing and feeling the weight of the last few minutes start to break apart, so I could relax, or, at least, begin to relax.
Hudson took the other chair and sat down, our knees touching, looking at me intently, like he was trying to see through my eyes to the inside of my head. It was more than a little intimidating, but at the same time, more than a lot endearing too.
I took a moment to look around the office we’d planted ourselves in. It was a little drab and unexciting, posters and photos on the wall in between bookshelves and papers stacked up all over the place, but after what I had just gone through, drab and unexciting was just what I needed.
Except now I was alone in a small room with a gorgeous man that I had a huge crush on, who had just saved me from a date
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