Page 45 of Too Broken to Love

“Good, on both counts.” He moved his thumb against the swollen nub he could feel through her thin pants. “What do you do when you’re alone? When you’re wet and thinking about me? Do you⁠—"

Hudson stiffened and whipped his head toward the side of the house. Snatching his hand up, he pressed a finger to her lips.

Even with her heart pounding in her ears and her muscles primed to run if danger rounded the corner, she could smell her arousal on his skin.

“Hudson?” Footsteps sounded on the stone. “You back here?”

Hudson dropped his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fuck.”

Tessa scrambled off Hudson’s lap, cheeks burning as she teetered on the edge of the chaise. “Who’s that?”

Hudson wrapped an arm around her and tucked her into his side. “Ready to meet the General?”

“Who’s the General?”

“My parents’ old friend. Retired intel officer and the contact I asked to look into some things.”

She pulled away but he held her tighter. “Let me up. I can’t meet anyone like this, especially not a general. I look like⁠—”

“Like I was about to slide my hand into your pants and get to work on making you come like it was a mission from the president himself?”

She almost came from his dirty words. That thought intensified the unsatisfied pulse that originated between her thighs. The hungry need throbbed in her belly as she tried to untangle her hair with her fingers.

Hudson gripped her hand. “Stop. You look beautiful.”

“I’m a mess.”

“I know. I made you that way.”

A figure emerged from the shadows as the heat lamp clicked on.

Great. Like she needed a spotlight for this ill-timed meeting with a man who appeared as intimidating as his rank. If Hudson wasn’t friends with the older man in the black overcoat with the silver buzzcut, she’d question if he was the villain or the hero.

Hudson stood and gave the General a relaxed salute. “Front door broken?”

“Malcolm said you were back here. I could hear Vivian and her new husband fighting all the way from the kitchen. Sounds like he’s not happy about how the will reading went. I didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire.” He peered around Hudson. “You must be Tessa?”

She stood next to Hudson. “It’s nice to meet you…um.”

Hudson chuckled as he gathered her into his side, pleased she didn’t resist. “This is Major General Albert Roberts.”

The General saluted. “From what Malcolm tells me, you’re family now. What do you think Hudson? Has she earned the right to just call me General?”

She held her breath, waiting for his answer. This wasn’t only about how to address the imposing man with the sharp gray eyes the color of a battleship. This was about being worthy.

Hudson nudged her hip with his. “Yeah, she’s earned it.”

It was her turn to relax.

The General gripped the back of a chair with both hands. “Sorry it took me so long to come. I had a few things to tie up.”

“I didn’t know you were coming, but I’m glad you did.”

“I have information.” He reached into his overcoat and pulled out a file.

The door to the terrace creaked open. The General slipped the file back and faced the door. “Vivian. Are you okay?”

“No.” She sniffed. “Nathaniel stormed out, and Josie went to bed, and Shayla went out with some friends and I can’t get the cappuccino machine to work.”