“Sit,” I tell him, pointing to one of the stools at the counter.
He doesn’t argue, just watches me like I’m the most interesting thing he’s ever seen as I pull out containers and set everything up.
“Pancakes?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“You like them,” he says simply.
“Stalker,” I mumble.
He laughs. “Only for you.”
I bite my lip, trying not to smile.
We eat, but it’s… distracting. Every time I look up, he’s already watching me. Every time our hands brush, we linger a little too long. Every time I take a bite, his gaze follows my mouth as if he’s thinking about something else entirely.
My stomach flips.
“What?” I finally ask, setting my fork down.
“You,” he says immediately.
“That’s not helpful.”
“I know,” he admits, standing slowly.
Uh-oh,I think as he rounds the counter and stops right in front of me. My breath catches as he lifts a hand and brushes his thumb along my bottom lip like he can’t help himself.
“You’ve got syrup on your lip,” he murmurs.
“Oh.” I don’t move. I can’t.
His eyes drop to my mouth, and everything goes quiet. The silence is heavy, charged with an energy that sends a shiver down my spine. My body heats, the muscles between my legs clench, and I swallow a moan.
“Hudson…” I whisper, even though I’m not sure what I’m trying to say.
“I’ve been thinking about this all night,” he admits, his voice low.
“About breakfast?” I tease in a weak attempt to ease the tension.
He doesn’t let me, though.
His intense gaze snaps back to mine. “No, not about breakfast. About you.”
Then he kisses me again. My hands slide up his chest, and I lean into him. He makes a low sound in the back of his throat, wrapping his arm around my waist to pull me closer.
Everything inside me melts.
I should stop this. I should ask questions.
What does this mean?What are we doing? What happens at work on Monday?
But every time I try to think, he kisses me again, and all those thoughts scatter. Because right now, I don’t want to think. I just want this. I want him.
I’m not thinking beyond this moment. I’m not worried about what will happen at work or how this will change things between us. I’m just focusing on his lips on mine, his hands squeezing my hips, his hard body pressed against my softness.
Hudson breaks the kiss, and we both suck in a breath. He backs me gently against the counter, his forehead resting against mine as we try to catch our breath.
“This is… probably a bad idea,” I whisper.