Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 138

He paused, his voice dropping low, laced with dangerous allure.

"I'll pull it down from the sky for you."

Nora's heart skipped a beat.

It was such an intoxicating promise...

Intoxicating enough that she almost believed him.

She lowered her eyelashes, forcing down the turbulent, messy emotions welling up inside her.

Stop letting your imagination run wild.

Their marriage was nothing but a contractual arrangement—a mutual transaction.

A year from now, they would go their separate ways.

He was only teasing her with pretty words...

She couldn't take them seriously.

Seeing her fall silent for so long, Hudson's voice grew husky. "What are you thinking about?"

Snapping back to reality, Nora shook her head. "Nothing."

Hudson stared at her for a few seconds. Suddenly, he bent down, swept one arm behind her knees and the other around her waist, and lifted her effortlessly into the air.

Startled, Nora instinctively threw her arms around his neck.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking you up to bed." He carried her toward the stairs.

"P-Put me down, I can walk myself."

He looked down at her, a smile playing on his lips and amusement dancing in his eyes. "No can do. Didn't you say you wanted to be Music Director? I have to give you a proper chance to whisper sweet nothings in your boss's ear."

Nora's face ignited all over again.

"Stop messing around... It's my time of the month."

"What filthy things are running through that head of yours now?"

Hudson laid her gently on the bed, bracing himself over her. Their noses brushed, their breaths tangling together. "I won't touch you."

His voice was impossibly raspy, each word ground out from the depths of his throat, vibrating with absolute, agonizing restraint.

"But kisses and cuddles are still allowed, right?"

Before Nora could respond, his lips came crashing down.

It wasn't the predatory, demanding kiss from before. It was impossibly light—a feather brushing across water, a spring breeze sweeping over flower petals.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he leaned down, pressing his lips to her forehead with an almost reverent tenderness.

Goodnight.

My girl.

...

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the floorboards in a warm, golden glow.

Nora opened her eyes to find the space beside her empty.

The memories of last night played back in her mind like a movie reel...

She rolled over, hugging the blanket and burying her face into the soft cotton, her ears burning furiously.

Just as her thoughts were spiraling, a sudden wave of warmth pooled in her lower abdomen.

Nora froze, then instantly scrambled out of bed and dashed into the bathroom.

When she came out, freshened up, she stared at her flushed face in the mirror and took a deep breath, trying to push down the lingering heat.

Her flow was much heavier than usual.

It was practically a bloodbath.