“I’m happy for you,” I say, and I am. To talk about healing is one thing, but to actively seek it out despite the pain he will inevitably go through, is quite another. I place the board back in the box and slip on the lid. I move to stand but Hudson stops me, placing his hand on myarm.
“I’m sorry if what you heard earlier upset you. You are part of the reason I want to change, Louisa.” He says it so softly that I’m not quite certain I heard him correctly, but I don’t get a chance to ask him to repeat himself as Bryce and Max join us onceagain.
Hudson lets go of my arm and grabs the bottle of red wine from Max, pouring us both a glass. I take the one he offersme.
“Thanks.”
He nods his head and takes a sip, peering at me over the rim of his glass. He’s looking at me strangely, like I am an oddity he doesn’t quite know how to figure out. I turn away from his gaze, uncertain how to react under hisscrutiny.
“You two alright?” Max asks, noticing the strange look Hudson is givingme.
“Never better,” Hudson says, taking a seat on thesofa.
Bryce places a selection of cheese and biscuits on the table, a plate full of sliced meat, and a bunch of grapes. Max adds plates andcutlery.
“Figured we could just eat this here,” he says with a shrug. “Helpyourself.”
Max sits on the floor by the table and loads his plate with food. Bryce sits on the other side ofme.
“What would you like?” Bryce asks, taking aplate.
“Honestly, I’m not that hungry. I’m stuffed fromearlier.”
Bryce slices a slither of cheese and lifts it to my mouth. “Just try this. It’s delicious,” he says, his eyes focusing on my lips. I open my mouth and take a bite. It’s stronger than I usually like, but it isdelicious.
“Good?” heasks.
“It’s lovely,” I say, following the mouthful with a sip ofwine.
Hudson slides to the floor next to me and pulls a grape from the bunch. He places it between his teeth then leans forward. The action makes me gigglenervously.
Fuck it, what does it matter. If Hudson wants to feed me grapes from his own mouth, then who am I to deny him? Leaning over, I bite down on the proffered grape, breaking it in half. Hudson pulls back, chewing his half whilst I do the same. A little bit of grape juice slides down my chin. Hudson wipes at it with his finger. Then he leans in and presses his lips against mine. My mouth parts as his tongue slips inside. He tastes sweet, but his kiss is far from it.Hungry, comes tomind.
When he pulls back a grin spreads across his face, just as a grape comes flying towards him. He isn’t quick enough to react and it bounces off hisforehead.
“Why, youlittle…”
“Bloody hell, Hud. Smooth operator or what?” Max laughs, taking the piss. The grape missile clearly came fromhim.
Hudson shrugs. “Bryce started it.” He looks at me. “I didn’t want to missout.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure Louisa is capable of feeding herself,” Max retorts with agrin.
“Ilikedit,” I say, my own embarrassment making my face flush withheat.
Max turns to me, the smile slipping. In its place, heat sparks in his eyes. “Is thatso?”
I don’t have time to answer before he jumps up and heads into the kitchen. I watch as he starts pulling items from the fridge: a punnet of red berries, some chocolate mousse, cream, then from the cupboard he pulls a jar of honey and a bar of dark chocolate. He gathers all the items and heads back over to us, placing them all on the table with a wink. Neither Bryce or Hudson say a word as he runs out of the room. A moment later he is back with a piece of black, silk material that looks suspiciously like a blindfold. He runs it over hispalm.
“Wanna play?” heasks.
I look at all the items on the table. Then my gaze lifts to Max’s expectantone.
What thehell.
“Who’s first?” I ask, biting on mylip.