You Make Me Weak (The Blackwells of Crystal Lake 1)

Her eyes widened, and her kiss-swollen lips parted.

“I had this big speech prepared for you. A bunch of words that were supposed to ease my way into this. But, Becs, there are only three that make sense. Only three that I need you to know. I love you. I’ve been in love with you since that Fourth of July party, and I, well…”

Hudson held out his hand and offered her the small box. Her fingers trembled slightly when she plucked it from his palm.

“I want us to be a family. I want to marry you. I want to grow old with you. Fight with you. Make love with you. Hold you. There’s never been anyone else.”

She slowly opened the box. Nestled inside the black silk pillow was a ring. White gold with a single square-cut diamond. It was elegant and classy, and his chest welled up tight when she picked it up. Gently, Hudson took the ring from her and slid it onto her finger.

“I’m hoping that’s a yes,” he said, voice husky.

For several long moments, she said nothing and kept her head bowed. When she finally looked up at Hudson, everything inside him stilled. He wondered if she could hear how heavy his heart was beating, or how hard it was for him to draw air into his lungs.

“Yes.” She smiled through tears, and his heart melted. “It’s always been yes.”

He reached for her and drew her into his arms. For the longest time, they held each other, and then she wiggled out of his arms and got to her feet.

“I have something for you.”

Hudson watched her cross the room and pick up something from the night table beside the bed. She still clutched the blanket around her, but it had fallen, showing off a lot of skin. He liked that.

She came back and knelt in front of him, the fire once more casting shadows that only served to enhance features he could trace in his sleep. Those big eyes of hers settled on him, and there was something there…something that got his attention.

Rebecca blew out a breath and smiled. “I had Violet pick this up for me in the city. I’d ordered it special, but there was a mix-up, and I couldn’t make it in, and then she said she could do it and…” Rebecca stopped, obviously nervous, and Hudson looked down.

In her palm was an ornament. It was silver and round and engraved.

Daddy-to-be. 2017

Hudson’s eyes flew to her face. “Becca?”

She nodded and shrugged, fighting tears. “I know we never talked about it or anything, and that this is probably the biggest surprise of your life. But that first time we were together, the night of the fair dance, we didn’t…we never used any protection and well….”

He couldn’t speak. Literally couldn’t speak.

A small frown appeared on her face, and her voice shook with uncertainty. “Hudson? Are you okay with this?”

He nodded, and then, as if a rubber band pulled tight had broken, he slumped forward and grabbed her into his arms.

“Becca, I can’t wait for what’s coming. I can’t wait.” He held her and breathed her in, loving the way her body curled into his. And when she let the blanket drop and pulled him down to the fluffy rug in front of the fireplace, Hudson Blackwell knew he was a goner. His hands and his eyes hungrily swept over her body, and within seconds, he was as naked as she.

“Merry Christmas,” Rebecca whispered into his ear as she straddled him.

Hudson gazed up into the eyes of the woman he loved more than life itself and sank his hands into the hair on either side of her face.

“Thank you,” he said simply.

“For what?” Her breath hitched as his hands slid down her body to cradle her still-flat stomach.

His hands splayed across her abdomen. “For this.” He kissed her shoulder and made his way back to her mouth. “For letting me back into your life.”

“It was a no-brainer, Hudson.” She cupped his chin. “Without you, I had no life.”

Hudson reached for Rebecca. He kissed her. He loved her. He worshipped her. And much later, when they were spent and limp as noodles, he carried her to the bed and buried both of them beneath blankets and comforters. He kissed the top of her head and drew her close. And as her breathing evened out and he knew she was asleep, Hudson thought that maybe, just maybe, it was the best sound in the world.

Because it was Rebecca. And she was his. They would be a family.

They had found their way back to each other, and Hudson Blackwell would never let her go again.