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“Best fucking view on the whole beach.” I open my eyes, shielding my face from the sun as I look up to see Hudson standing over me, a wide smile on his face.

“You’re back.” I jump up from my lounge chair, my arms going around his neck seconds later. “Why didn’t you call and tell me you were on your way?” I ask, squeezing him tightly.

“For this very reason. God you smell good.” He buries his face into the crook of my neck and inhales deeply.

“I smell like sunscreen and the ocean,” I say, pulling back to look up at him.

“You smell like fucking heaven.” He tips my chin before dropping a light kiss to my mouth.

I instantly melt into him, feeling like it’s been an eternity since I’ve felt his lips on mine even though he’s only been gone four days. I can only imagine how I will feel when he’s gone for weeks at a time.

I ignore the way my stomach twists at the thought. We still have one month –  even though I know that month is going to fly by.

“Did you just get back?” I ask, stepping out of his embrace.

“A few minutes ago. Figured I’d find you out here.”

“You know me too well.”

“And yet I want to know so much more.” He grins, smacking my bikini covered backside as I turn to grab my beach bag that’s sitting in the sand next to my chair.

“Hudson.” I whack at his chest playfully.

“What? You’re gonna have that ass on display then I’m going to touch it.” He shrugs, fighting back a laugh.

“Men.” I roll my eyes, allowing Hudson to take my bag so I can slide my bathing suit cover on. “So how was your trip? Did you get everything squared away?” I ask.

“Yep. All set. I have a few small boxes I brought with me. I went ahead and dropped them in the spare room. I don’t think there’s anything in there I’m going to need while I’m on the road. I’ll pile them in the closet out of the way or something.”

“Yeah. Whatever works.” I take his hand when he offers it, allowing him to lead me up the beach toward the condo. “So did Colton decide what he’s going to do?” I question, considering up until a couple days ago he was renting the second bedroom at Hudson’s place.

“Yeah, he’s going to camp out at his parent’s until we leave for tour.”

“He probably doesn’t know what to do with himself since you’re not around every second of the day like you used to be.”

“Honestly I think he’s enjoying being rid of my ass.” He chuckles, his hand falling to the small of my back as he guides me inside the elevator. “He’ll get more time with me than he will be able to handle once we hit the road.”

“It’s awesome that you have him there with you. Sometimes you don’t know who you can trust. But with Colton you know he’s got your back no matter what.”

“Yeah. I don’t know what I’d do without him. He isn’t just my lifelong friend. He’s my brother.”

“I happen to know he feels exactly the same about you,” I say, stepping off the elevator the moment the doors open in front of me.

“Been talking about me, have ya?” His slight southern drawl comes out thicker than normal and lord if it doesn’t make every inch of my skin prickle.

“Maybe a little.” I shrug, unlocking the front door and pushing my way inside.

I spot an old acoustic guitar leaning against the side of the couch and it instantly brings a smile to my face.

“So what do you think your parents are gonna say when they find out I’m technically living here?” He snags my wrist before I can make it to the living room, hauling me backward until my back is flush with his front. He drops an open mouth kiss against my rapid pulse, his breath hot on the side of my neck.

“Nothing, because they aren’t going to find out.”

“You’re not going to tell them?” He pulls back, spinning me around to face him.

“Not yet. I mean, yes your stuff is here but in a few weeks you won’t be,” I say, sadness hitting me like a cinder block to the face.

“Lennon.” He tips my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze.

“I know. I know. It will be fine. We’ll find every opportunity to see each other. Blah. Blah. Blah.”

“Are you being smart with me, Miss Claire?” He cocks a brow, humor etched in his features.

“Maybe.” I can’t fight my smile with the way he’s looking at me.

“Come here.” He pulls me flush with his chest, resting his chin on the top of my head as his fingers work along the exposed skin across my shoulders. “Let’s just enjoy our time together and worry about the rest when it gets here.”

“I’m trying,” I whine dramatically into his shirt causing him to chuckle against me.

“So you’re really not going to tell your parents?”

“Why would I?” I pull out of his embrace seconds before turning and plopping down on the couch with a loud humph. “I’m twenty-seven years old. I don’t need their permission.”

“I know. But don’t you feel like they have a right to know?”

“Not really, no.” I shake my head, not sure why he’s pushing this.

“Well, I told mine.” He smiles, crossing around the coffee table to take the seat next to me.

“You did?” I ask, climbing into his lap and facing him the instant he’s settled.

“Yep.” He nods, his hands sliding up my bathing suit cover and along my back. “I wanted them to know how serious I am about you.”

“And how serious is that exactly?” I question, locking my hands around the back of his neck.

“Serious enough to move in with you after only three months.”

“And what did they have to say about you moving to the good ole sunshine state?”

“My mom is over the moon.” He grins at the shocked expression that crosses my face.

“Why?”

“Because she thinks you’re amazing. She can see how much I love you. I meant it when I told you that I’ve never been this tied up over a woman before. You’ve got me, Lennon Claire. As long as you want me I’m yours.”

“I’m always going to want you.” Leaning forward, I trail my tongue gently across his bottom lip.

“Then I’m always going to be yours.” He groans when I press down onto his growing erection and slide my hips back and forth.

“I’m going to hold you to that.” I give him a wicked smile before pulling off my bathing suit cover and tossing it behind me.

“I hope you do.” His eyes go heavy as I untie my bikini top and it too goes sailing somewhere behind me.

“Now stop talking and show me how much you’ve missed me.” Cupping his cheeks in both of my hands, I lay a hot, wet kiss to his mouth.

“Yes ma’am.” He shifts his hands beneath me, forcing me upward slightly as he quickly works the clasp of his jeans open.

By the time he’s freed himself I’ve already got both sides of my bottoms untied and pulled the material out from between us. Grabbing his weight in my hand, I’m so desperate for him that I waste no time lining him at my entrance before slowly sinking down, taking him all the way inside of me.

“Fuck.” He groans, pushing my hair away from my face as he pulls my mouth to his.

He kisses me deep, his tongue sweeping across every inch of my mouth as I begin to ride him. I’m teasing, moving at a tortuously slow pace as I twirl my hips on the way up and then slide straight back down, taking him so deep.

Before long he takes control, one hand wrapped around my shoulder, the other tight on my hip as he pushes me up and pulls me back down to meet his thrusting hips.

“Hudson,” I cry, feeling myself already starting to build after just a couple of minutes.

That’s what he does to me. One touch and I feel like I’m ready to come undone. One kiss and my entire body aches for him. He consumes me in the best way possible and I know with absolute certainty that I will never be able to get enough of this feeling.

“I need to come inside you, baby. It’s been too long.” The desperation in his voice pulls my release to the forefront and before I can say anything at all, I explode around him. Hudson falls right along with me, and together we ride out the waves of pleasure.