Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 162

While she was lost in her frantic thoughts, a beam of light sliced through the darkness outside, illuminating the palm trees in the courtyard.

Bane stood up from his kennel, his ears perking up for a couple of seconds before his tail began to wag happily.

Nora took a deep breath.

He was here.

The black Maybach pulled into the driveway. The headlights cut off, and the low purr of the engine faded into silence.

Hudson stepped out of the car. His pace was steady, his expression utterly unreadable.

Bane trotted over, tail thumping excitedly. The massive dog circled his legs twice and looked up, letting out an affectionate whine.

But Hudson didn't spare him a single glance as he strode purposefully toward the main house.

Arthur followed behind but wisely stopped at the entrance, playing the role of a silent sentinel.

Bane tried to follow his master inside, but Arthur grabbed his collar and pulled him back.

"Don't go making things worse, buddy," he muttered.

Bane bared his teeth in annoyance before flicking his tail and trotting off.

Hudson headed up to the second floor.

The warm glow of the sconces in the hallway cast long, stretched shadows behind him.

The bedroom door was slightly ajar, a sliver of light spilling out from within.

He reached out and pushed it open.

A slender figure launched herself from the shadows near the bed and crashed straight into his chest.

"Hudson..."

Nora clung to his neck, burying her face into his chest. Her voice was muffled and laced with a tearful tremor, like a terrified little animal. "I was so scared. What took you so long?"

Hudson had left in such a hurry that he was only wearing a thin dress shirt.

She practically climbed back up his body, trying to wrap her arms around his neck once more.

"I'm not leaving. Just let go," Hudson said through gritted teeth. His self-control was hanging by a thread, and her pressing herself against him was absolute torture.

"No, I'm too scared."

Her voice was soft and pleading. She buried her face back into his chest, rubbing her tears against his shirt.

Hudson went completely rigid, afraid to move a single muscle.

The woman in his arms smelled intoxicating. Her frantic breaths seeped through the thin fabric of his shirt, burning against his skin.

Hudson's breathing grew shallow.

The girl he had loved since he was a teenager was willingly nestled in his embrace, her face pressed to his heart, her hands clutching his shirt with absolute trust.

It was a scene he hadn't even dared to fantasize about in his dreams.

He was rapidly losing the battle against his own restraint.