Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 77

Nora's ears were burning.

The heat of his palm seared through the thin fabric of her blouse, sending electric tingles across the skin of her waist.

Hudson pressed the lighter into her hand, then wrapped his much larger hand completely around hers, adjusting her grip.

"Put your thumb here."

His fingertip pressed lightly against the pad of her thumb. "Brace the bottom with your index finger. Exactly like that."

His long, powerful fingers engulfed her hand completely. The faint calluses on his fingertips brushed against the back of her hand, sending a subtle shiver up her spine.

Nora tried desperately to focus all her attention on the lighter, doing her best to ignore the rock-solid, radiating heat of the chest pressed against her back.

She had never used a lighter before, let alone a classic flint wheel style.

"Now what?"

"Flick."

Nora pressed her thumb down hard, trying to spin the wheel.

Nothing.

She tried again.

Still nothing.

"Not enough pressure."

Hudson's voice was a low, rumbling purr. "Try again. Use a little muscle."

Nora pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and jammed her thumb down with force.

The wheel spun, a shower of sparks flew, but the flame didn't catch, extinguishing in a flash.

"..."

She stared at the lighter in frustration, her cheeks flushing hot.

Hudson let out a low, chest-deep laugh that vibrated against her spine.

"Relax. Don't be so tense." He rested his thumb over hers, guiding her to roll the wheel smoothly. "Slow down. There's no rush."

This time, a bright flame roared to life, burning steady and strong.

The orange light flickered, reflecting in Nora's wide eyes like twin stars.

"I did it!" she exclaimed, turning her head excitedly to look at Hudson.

But the next second, the smile froze on her face.

They were way too close.

So close she could feel the heat of his breath against her skin.

Those dark, predatory eyes were locked onto hers, something intense and dangerous churning in their depths.

Nora's heart skipped a beat.

It felt as though the very air between them had caught fire, the temperature soaring by the second.

Amidst her chaotic thoughts, the elevator chimed at her floor.

The doors opened, and she marched out, but halfway down the hall, she froze.

Wait a minute.

Just now... she hadn't had a panic attack?

She reached up and touched the back of her neck.

Bone dry.

No cold sweat.

Nora stood paralyzed in the middle of the corridor.

Had her intimacy issues...

Disappeared?

Or...

Did her body just not react that way to Hudson?

The moment the thought crossed her mind, she violently shook her head, trying to dislodge it.

What was she thinking?

She and Hudson were in a contractual arrangement. In one year, they would sign the papers and go their separate ways.