Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 197

Before Nora could even process what was happening, she was pressed firmly against the glass, the panoramic night view of Azure Bay sprawling before her.

It wasn't a glaring, brightly lit skyline.

It was dark and atmospheric.

The ocean was pitch black, with only a few distant lights flickering like scattered diamonds on black velvet.

The moonlight flooded through the windows, bathing her entirely in a surreal silver glow.

Nora's cheek rested against the cool glass, her ragged breathing leaving a faint patch of fog on the pane.

In the reflection, she could see their silhouettes—messy, completely intertwined, and hazy with heat.

"Hudson..."

She wanted to tell him to stop, but the moment she opened her mouth, the sound shattered into a desperate gasp.

...

Hours later, Nora was buried under the covers, with nothing but the flushed tips of her ears exposed.

Hudson leaned back against the headboard, idly twirling an unlit cigarette between his fingers.

He turned his head, staring at her cute, reddened ears. A soft smile tugged at his lips as he reached out and gently pulled the blanket down a fraction.

Nora's face was revealed, glowing completely red.

"What?" she glared at him, her voice still rough and raspy from crying.

She had literally begged him...

He told her to call him 'husband,' and she did. He told her to call him 'Sir,' and she did...

She had humored every single shameless title he demanded.

And yet, he still refused to let her off the hook...

He was a total jerk!

Absolutely ruthless!

This man had spent the entire night calling her 'honey' and 'darling' in that dark, coaxing whisper of his.

But he never, ever stopped!

Hudson chuckled softly. "Just making sure you can breathe."

Nora was so dizzy and exhausted she didn't want to move a muscle. All she wanted was to sleep...

Fate hadn't let him down in the end.

...

Nora woke up to the glaring morning sun.

The sheer curtains hadn't been fully drawn, and a beam of light slipped through the gap, hitting right against her eyelids. She frowned against the glare and instinctively burrowed deeper into the covers.

She reached out a hand to feel the empty space beside her.

The sheets were already cool, meaning he had been up for a while.

Rolling over, Nora shoved her face into his pillow and took a deep breath.

It still carried his crisp, addictive scent of pine.

She lounged there for another minute before slowly pushing herself up on her arms.

The moment she sat up, she completely froze.

It ached.

It wasn't a sharp pain, but a deep, bone-weary soreness. She felt like she had been hit by a freight train; every single inch of her body protested.