Page 67 of Axe-Rated Lumberjack

The sound of his voice, close and rough with sleep, pushed me quickly toward the edge. I tightened my leg around him and moved faster, and he met every movement, one hand firm at my back. My orgasm came on bright and sudden, a hard clench that pulled a gasp out of me and then a helpless laugh, and I pressed my mouth to his to keep from waking the neighbors, who were presumably squirrels.

Hudson followed a moment later. I felt his arm tighten around me and his breath stutter against my lips, and he said my name in a low, shaken voice before he went still and held me close. His pulse beat hard against my chest. For a long moment, we stayed exactly as we were, breathing, smiling, and wrapped around each other in a tangle of sheets.

“Well,” he said finally. “That’s a better alarm than the one on my phone.”

“I’ll gladly accept the position.”

“You’re hired.” He kissed the tip of my nose and pulled the quilt up over both of us, and I settled in against his side, perfectly content to stay exactly where I was.

Hudson reached for the water on the nightstand.

“Still hungry?” he asked, handing me the glass.

“Considerably. Although I regret nothing about postponing breakfast. I believe the scones will be just as delicious in another half hour.”

He laughed and kissed my forehead.

“Good. Because I’ve been looking forward to those things since we bought them yesterday. Stormi knows what she’s doing, and I’ve got some decent coffee to go with them.”

I took another drink, then set the glass down and stretched beneath the covers.

“Shall we shower first? Then we can make coffee and see whether your kitchen has anything else interesting hiding in the cupboards.”

Hudson smiled as he got out of bed.

“Sounds like a plan.”

I sat up, watching him gather the clothes he’d left near the dresser. My overnight bag stood beside it, and I could see the neatly folded outfit I’d brought for Sunday resting on top.

I was looking forward to a leisurely breakfast before we headed back to the cottage to finish recording. We’d already accomplished so much, and the final scene was one of my favorites.

I wanted to hear how Hudson would deliver it.

His phone beeped from the dresser.

Hudson glanced toward the sound.

“Hang on a second, honey. I ought to check that. Could be Lyle or somebody from the crew. Would you mind starting the shower? I’ll be right there once I know everything’s all right.”

“Of course.” I collected my toiletries and smiled at him as I headed toward the attached bathroom. “But don’t be too long. I’m developing rather high expectations of your showering abilities.”

He gave a short laugh.

“I’ll do my best.”

I closed the bathroom door and turned on the water.

The shower warmed quickly, filling the room with steam. I stepped beneath the spray and let the hot water run over my shoulders, enjoying the comfortable sensation of waking up in a place that was beginning to feel familiar.

Hudson had left a fresh towel for me on a wooden shelf beside the shower, along with a clean washcloth. His ordinary toiletries occupied one end of the counter, and my small travel bag rested beside them. I smiled at the sight of our things sharing the space.

I took my time washing my hair, expecting Hudson to join me any moment.

After several minutes, I called his name.

“Hudson? Everything all right?”

I couldn’t make out an answer over the running water.