“What? That my brother is a drug addict?” There was a quiet resignation in his voice and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was the first time he’d ever admitted it to himself, let alone said the words out loud.

“How long has he been using?”

Hudson scrubbed a hand down his face. “Nick had a hard time.” There was an overwhelming sadness in his eyes, and for an instant something else, something darker. “Especially after Mom died.”

Their mom died? This was news to her.

It was a while before Hudson spoke again and when he did his voice had softened to barely a whisper. “Nick’s the one who found her.” His eyes drifted shut. “He was still trying to wake her up when I got there, shaking her, shouting her name.”

Allie’s throat tightened at the thought of the moppet-haired boy she once knew clinging to his dead mother. Her eyes welled up as she imagined how scared he must have been. No little boy should have to bury his mom, let alone discover her lifeless body.

A muscle in Hudson’s jaw flexed. “This is all standard operating procedure for Nick—showing up late at night, asking for money—but tonight was the worst I’ve ever seen him.” He drew an unsteady breath. “If he keeps going the way he is, he’ll end up just like she did, overdosing on God knows what. Shit, I can’t . . .” Hudson’s voice trailed off and his body tensed. A moment later he cleared his throat, and when he continued it was with a steely determination. The CEO was back, handling the issue. “I need to get him some help.”

“Did he take the deal, agree to rehab?” she asked. Her voice was thick with unshed tears.

“He said he’d go.” Hudson didn’t sound completely convinced.

“We should cancel our trip. You need to focus on Nick right now.”

“No, I’ll take him in the morning, then swing by and pick you up. Can you leave at lunchtime?”

“That should be fine.” Allie studied his face, trying hard to gauge his expression. “Are you sure?”

“Not much I can do while he’s in detox.”

Hudson grew quiet again. She could only imagine how helpless he felt, because that was how she felt when she looked at him. Helpless to ease his worry and pain.

Allie shifted closer. Hudson wrapped his arm around her, welcoming her comfort by tucking her into his side and pressing his lips to the top of her head. She reciprocated, planting a soft kiss on his bare chest, and felt him relax beneath her touch. This was the comfort she could offer. If only for the night, he could lose himself in her.

Her hand slid across his stomach, gliding over the ripples of his abs as she left a trail of openmouthed kisses along the slope of his pecs. His chest expanded, and when her tongue flicked over his nipple, an appreciative groan vibrated in the back of his throat. Her mouth drifted further, softly sucking and nipping the skin along his ribs. Hudson ran his hand up and down her back as her questing fingers drew rhythmic patterns. She glanced up at him. His eyes blistered with heat as he watched her explore his upper body with her fingers and tongue.

Wanting more, she reached for the drawstring of his pants. When she tugged them open, his erection sprang free, hard and glistening at the tip. Featherlight touches teased him as her fingers traced the honed contour of his hips. He twitched when the back of her hand brushed the hard ridge of his arousal, and a satisfied smile tugged at her lips. Oh yes, she could do this. She could turn the tables on the game he played so well.

Allie pushed his pajamas lower. She dragged her fingernails down one thigh then back up the other. Then her hand swept across his stomach before repeating the same path, making sure her wrist brushed his straining erection before running her nails down his inner thigh. His hips flexed.

“Touch me,” he whispered.

She pressed a wet kiss to his chest and finally took him in her hand. Hudson’s breath hitched as she caressed him, so firm and yet velvety soft. His hips flexed again. Instinctively her grasp tightened, squeezing and stroking his thickening length. His eyes drifted shut, and when her tongue swirled over his navel, a low moan escaped his lips. It was the most erotic sound she’d ever heard. Her body ignited with a need for more. Touching every inch of him wasn’t enough. She wanted to taste him. All of him. She leaned forward and took the tip of him past her lips.

His eyes flew open. “Allie . . .”

He gazed down at her, his eyes burning with desire as she flicked her tongue across the head of his erection. His hand gently cradled her head as her tongue swirled round and round. Her lips slid over him and she sucked tentatively, pulling him deeper as she found a rhythm with her mouth. His lids lowered and his breath hissed between his teeth.

“Ah, fuck, just like that.”

Moving between his legs, she folded his erection against his stomach, running the flat of her tongue from root to tip before taking him fully. His hips flexed, thrusting him deeper into her mouth. She pushed him to the back of her throat then sucked hard as she drew him out. Her tongue swirled over the top before sliding him deep once again.

His fingers fisted in her hair. “God, Allie . . . that feels good.”

A warm ache spread between her thighs. Hearing her name on his lips had her practically panting with need. She had no idea giving him pleasure could be such a turn-on. But as she looked up at him, she couldn’t imagine anything more arousing than the feel of him in her mouth.

Hudson’s eyes blazed with desire as he watched her take him again and again. “Ah, Allie . . .” He ground the words out through clenched teeth. “You’re going to make me come.” He sucked in a sharp breath and exhaled a warning. “Stop now if you don’t want me to.”

Allie grabbed his hips, feeling his muscles tense beneath her hands. He twitched in her mouth and she knew he was close. She sucked harder, relishing in her ability to make him lose control. The fingers in her hair pulled tighter and the rhythm of his hips intensified.

“I’m gonna come.” He pushed the words out between harsh breaths. He thrust deeply and then stilled, shouting out as his release filled her mouth. “Fuck, Allie.”

She glanced up as the salty taste of his pleasure slipped down her throat. God, she loved watching him come. And knowing it was her touch, her mouth, that caused him to come undone made it that much sweeter. She sat back on her heels, a victorious smile spreading across her face as the tension drained from his body.

Hudson’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. “That was quite unexpected,” he said, pushing up on an elbow and bending one knee. “Exceptional, but unexpected.” He pushed up further, holding Allie’s gaze until they were sitting eye to eye. One hand supported his weight while the other began caressing her thigh. “Did it turn you on to do that?”

The simple act of his hand on her skin made her belly tighten. “What do you think?” she asked. His palm slid between her knees and she opened herself to him, spreading her legs as his hand moved higher. Her breath caught as his fingers brushed over the silk of her panties.

“Oh, I think it did. I think having my cock in your mouth made you ache to feel it between your thighs.” His crude words sent a rush of heat through her core and her entire body pulsed with need. His fingers kept up their relentless torture, stroking the damp fabric. Her eyes drifted shut as she concentrated solely on the sensation of his fingers rubbing back and forth. Back and forth. Before long her hips began to rock against his hand. “Am I right, Alessandra, are you aching to have me inside you?”

She gasped as his finger slipped under the edge of her panties. “Yes.”

He surged forward, his tongue plunging into her mouth at the same time his finger thrust inside her. Desire coursed through her veins. She reached for him, grabbing fistfuls of his hair and holding him to her. His tongue stroked over hers, mirroring the rhythm of his finger as he massaged a spot deep inside of her.