Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 149

"Why did you drink so much?"

Nora leaned heavily against his chest, tilting her head back to look up at him. Her eyes were bright and swimming with intoxication.

Her voice was as soft as cotton candy, drawing out every syllable in an outrageously sweet, whiny drawl. "Because... I wanted to..."

Hudson's brow locked into a severe scowl.

He glanced down at the half-empty bottle sitting on the table—130-proof liquor.

His expression instantly darkened.

"Are you out of your mind? Drinking this garbage?"

Startled by his harsh tone, Nora shrank back. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears, brimming on her lashes as if she were about to sob.

"You're yelling at me..."

Hudson took a deep, steadying breath, forcing the furious panic down into his chest. Without another word, he bent down and swept her up into his arms.

Nora immediately threw her arms around his neck, burying her flushed, hot face into the crook of his shoulder. Her scorching breath ghosted over his collarbone, sending an involuntary, electric shiver through his skin.

Hudson's body went completely rigid for a split second. He paused, glancing down at the drunk girl in his arms, before tightening his grip and striding right out the door.

...

The black Maybach cruised smoothly on the way back to Cloudwater Estate.

Nora was slumped sideways in the passenger seat, her head resting against the cold window. Her eyes were barely open, and she was still mumbling quiet nonsense to herself.

Hudson drove with one hand on the steering wheel, reaching over with the other to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

The moment his fingertips brushed her burning skin, his frown deepened even further.

"Jade?"

"Mhmm?" Nora gave a fuzzy, delayed hum, not bothering to open her eyes.

"Are you feeling sick?"

She shook her head slowly, rubbing her cheek against the glass window before slurring out, "Just... a little dizzy..."

Nora was completely out, slumped against the leather seat. Her chest rose and fell in slow, rhythmic breaths against the seatbelt.

Hudson leaned in, unclicked the seatbelt, slipped one arm under her knees and the other around her waist, and lifted her out of the car.

Nora instinctively latched onto his neck, burying her face into his chest, her breathing still fiery hot.

"Are we home?" she mumbled into his shirt.

"Yeah."

Hudson carried her toward the front doors, his steps perfectly steady so as not to jostle her.

Bane trotted excitedly behind them. He tried to sneak a few licks at Nora's dangling feet, but a single, lethal glare from Hudson sent the massive dog whining and backing away, though he still stubbornly followed at a safe distance.

Stepping into the entryway, Hudson leaned down and placed her onto the massive living room sofa.

The second Nora's body hit the plush cushions, she completely melted, sprawling out like a puddle of warm syrup, sinking deeply into the fabric.

Hudson stood by the couch, staring down at her with an unreadable expression.