There was a shift in the atmosphere.
“Well, I suppose I should be glad about that,” I muttered.
“Yes, you should be. You should also begladabout something else,” Hudson pointed out indignantly.
My stomach tightened. “What?”
“Me saving your ass for a start. I haven’t even heard ahintof a thank you.”
“Sorry, I’m still in shock,” I said, exhaling a shaky breath.
“Or you take things for granted like most of your sex,” he rasped with a glimmer in his gaze.
I reared back. “No, I don’t. I’m not like most girls.”
Hudson’s features twisted, and I saw a glimpse of the boy I’d met in the library. Before I could read into that, it was gone.
Taking a deep breath, I forced the words from my mouth, “Thank you for saving me, Hudson. I suppose it means I’m in your debt again now.”
His dark eyes flashed. “Abso-fucking-lutely, and Ialwayscollect what I’m owed,justMolly.”
The way he said my name made my tummy flutter. “I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I batted back on a swallow.
Hudson then unashamedly undressed me with his eyes and I felt a burst of awareness of how little I was wearing. Half my body was submerged, but that made no difference. Everything was on show if he peeked down.
My eyes dipped to Hudson’s mouth as he moved forward in the water, his thumb stroking his bottom lip as he contemplated his next words. “Now, let me see. What could I possibly want from the half-drowned little Molly Miller?”
I recrossed my arms over my chest defensively and quirked him a look, “Well, I’m not going to sleep with you if that’s what you’re suggesting.”
He grinned. “What makes you think I’d ask for anything sexual?”
Shooting him an ‘are you kidding’ expression, I said with a flick of my hand, “You’re a guy.”
His smile widened. “I’m glad you noticed,” he said with a wicked smirk. We both knew howmuchI’d noticed.
“And,” he prompted, mirroring my stance by folding his own arms. His biceps were huge, and his forearms were full of pumped-up veins.
Chewing my lip, I took my time to respond. “That means you have a one-track mind.”
Hudson’s eyesburnedinto mine, the promise there making me feel hot all over, “Indeed. And by the way—Ineversuggest. It’s too mild a word to come from my lips.”
The way he saidcomewas sheer smut, and I knew he was trying to unnerve me.
I glanced around the space. The water appeared so calm now. “Well, I won’t allow you topimpme to the team either.”
His face clouded over as if he had no idea what that meant. “What the hell are you talking about?” The way he jumped from one emotional state to the next was making my head spin. It made me acknowledge that there was a good chance Hudson Gagewas having an identity crisis. Was he the mule-headed, arrogant bully or the caring saviour who would ensure justice prevailed?
I realised he was still waiting for an answer, and I had no problem reminding him. “I’m talking about our little chat in the boys’ locker room. Remember Sasha? Isn’t that what you were doing with her?”
The silence stretched before realisation dawned. It was blatantly written across his face. Hudson briefly closed his eyes, and his lips curled. It wasn’t a full smile, almost like he’d kept something from me. The heat from his eyes blasted into me as he opened them, “You’ll have to wait and see,JustMolly,” he taunted.
“Well, neither of those scenarios works for me.” My words came out with a wobble.
“You’re a shit liar. I’ve seen you checking me out,” Hudson husked, his expression one of pure sin. “I’ve also heard what they’re saying about you.”
“Yes. Stuff that you made up, no doubt?”
Oh my God. If he didn’t stop looking at me like that—I would burst into flames. The intensity in his eyes was overwhelming.
