Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 307

Nora bit her lip and reached back for the zipper, fully intending to take the outfit off and bury the evidence forever.

She had barely unzipped it halfway...

Click.

The bedroom door swung open.

Nora's heart seized in terror.

The terrifying memory of the plaza ambush flooded her mind, and a cold sweat instantly coated her back.

She frantically snatched her bathrobe, wrapping it tightly around herself and tying the belt. Grabbing a heavy vase near the doorway as a weapon, she tiptoed to the edge of the closet, pressing herself flat against the wall.

Footsteps echoed from the bedroom entrance.

Slow, deliberate, and moving steadily closer.

Step by step.

Nora gripped the vase with white knuckles, her heart hammering in her throat.

...

At the exact same moment.

Hudson carried his suitcase up the stairs.

He had returned a day early. The first thing he did was call Arthur and order him to clear everyone out of Cloudwater Estate.

He only had twenty-four hours to spare, and every second was precious. He refused to let anyone interrupt their long-awaited reunion.

Besides, Nora was shy. She probably wouldn't be comfortable getting intimate in broad daylight with people around...

But with the house completely empty, some gentle coaxing would definitely do the trick.

He pushed open the bedroom door with his luggage, heard the rustling from the closet, and smiled, fully prepared to surprise her.

But the moment he pushed the closet door open, a heavy vase came hurtling straight at his head.

Hudson dodged on pure instinct. The ceramic projectile narrowly clipped his shoulder before shattering violently against the floor.

"Hud... Hudson?"

Nora's eyes were wide as saucers, utterly unable to process what she was seeing.

She knew he wasn't asking about her nearly hitting him with a vase.

They were inside Cloudwater Estate; she knew the security was practically impenetrable.

But the traumatic events at the plaza had left her terrified of her own shadow.

Hudson's large hand rubbed rhythmic, comforting circles onto her back.

"I know what happened today."

His tone darkened, a lethal chill bleeding into his words. "Arthur and Olive are already taking care of it. Don't worry, I promise to make this right. I won't let those bastards get away with this."

Nora murmured her agreement, her sweet, slightly congested voice trembling as she refused to pull away from his comforting embrace.

Hudson continued stroking her back, but his gaze slowly drifted downward.

The belt of her bathrobe was tied loosely, the fabric clinging to her frame in a way that offered tantalizing glimpses of her stunning curves.

Yet, his attention was completely monopolized by a strange, protruding lump pushing against the fabric at her lower back.

A small, round, incredibly fluffy bump positioned right above her waist.