Caged (The Defiant Kings Book 1)

Hudson hovers over me, his dark blue eyes sparkling with the strength it’s taking for him to stay still while my body adjusts to his. “I’m not going to break, Hudson,” I whisper, my breath fanning over the tight line of his chiseled jaw. “Fuck me . . . Please.”

“When those filthy words leave that pretty mouth, baby . . .” His voice vibrates deep in his chest as a smile pulls at his sexy lips, and I melt.

I scrape my nails over his taut abs—all eight of them—then dig them into his back until he shifts his hips and presses in until he can’t go further.

The pressure inside me builds and pinches until I can’t find my breath or my thoughts. Until all I can do is feel. Feel him inside me. Stretching me. Filling me. Holding me.

“Breathe, baby.”

But I can’t breathe.

I can’t move.

I can’t speak.

I’m about to be split in two, and it’s the sweetest pain I’ve ever experienced.

The metal balls rub against my inner walls, igniting every nerve ending in their path.

He keeps his head pressed to mine as he devours me. Worships me. Tells me how good I’m doing. How perfect my cunt is. Gradually, every inch of discomfort eases and is replaced with pleasure.

Leaving me breathless and gasping with each snap of his hips and every hungry stroke of his tongue against mine. Electricity arcing and soaring and sparking between us. Our connection is so intense, it consumes me from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.

Pulsing against my skin.

Thrumming through my veins.

Overwhelming my senses as I wrap myself around him.

Pleasure and pain, trust and desire all join together until I can’t tell where one stops and the other starts.

Like a storm wrapping around us.

“That’s it, baby. Hold on to me.” His strong arms slide down and cup my bottom in his hands, digging into the soft skin. He pushes in torturously slow before pulling out in equally lazy movements that are intended to drive me crazy.

Each drag of his cock is more delicious than the last.

Branding me.

Breaking me.

Owning me.

Saving me.

“You’re taking my cock like such a good girl, Maddie.” He swallows my moan, and a shiver courses through me at his words. “Such a fucking good girl.”

A whimper lodges in my throat at the exquisite pain and mind-numbing pleasure.

At the dirty words and my all-consuming reaction to his praise.

I wrap my arms around his shoulders, loving the feeling of his strong muscles under my hands and the brush of his lips over mine. Our chests press together, and his weight is deliciously heavy against me.

A sound I don’t recognize tears from my throat. Raw and visceral as I shatter around him, my toes curling and my thighs shaking. “Hudson,” I shriek and inhale as he flips us over so we’re both sitting up with me in his lap. My legs wrap around his waist, and my hands fist in his hair.

“That’s good, baby. But I want more.”

Not so much as a breath of space exists between our bodies.

We’re a tangle of limbs, wrapped around each other as he moves me up and down with his strong hands. His hot mouth sucks my breast as he thrusts up, hitting an entirely new spot. My toes curl as he drives himself into me over and over until I don’t think I can take anymore.

Our rapid breathing mixes together as pleasure flows thick in my blood.

I willingly relinquish every ounce of control to this man.

Trusting him with my body and my heart.

Drowning in him.

Clinging to him.

Another orgasm builds quickly, threatening to pull me under. To suck all the oxygen from my lungs. “Oh God, Hudson. I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.” He fucks into me over and over with one hand wrapped around my hip, moving me like a rag doll, while the other snakes between us, and a callused finger presses my clit. “Give me another, Madison.”

His rough finger rubs in fast circles as he thrusts again, and my walls tighten and clamp down. “Come now, Madison,” he demands in a voice that’s raspy and sexy and so demanding.

Stars burst behind my eyes, and I come on a silent cry as wave after wave of mind-blistering pleasure courses through me.

Spent, I cling to him in his arms as his cock pulses inside me.

Never wanting to move. Not sure I could if I tried.

Seconds turn to minutes, and I lose track of time. Lose track of everything but Hudson and me and our beating hearts.

When I finally lift my head from the crook of his neck, tears threaten to spill from my eyes as my emotions overwhelm me.

Hudson doesn’t say anything. He just takes my lips in a bruising kiss, then lays me down in his arms, covering my skin with his. “Maddie . . .” he starts, then stops with a soft, reverence to his voice. He kisses me again, and I lift my hands to his face, holding them there.

Unspoken words pass between us, and I press my finger to his lips.

“Me too, Hud,” I answer and close my eyes.

“Do you want to go to sleep?” he asks as his fingers trail up and down my side, like he can’t get enough. Like he needs to touch me. Like I need him in order to breathe.

I think about that for a minute, then roll over to face him and shake my head. Not ready for the night to end. “I’ve always wanted to enjoy a hot tub in the snow.”

A wicked grin spreads across his face, and I clench my legs together.

A half an hour later, we’re bathed in the silvery moonlight as the snow falls around us, while our bodies are submerged in the warmth.

But as I straddle his lap and squeeze his big dick in my hand, Hudson nips at my lips. “You’re going to be sore tomorrow, baby.”

“Says the big bad fighter,” I tease as I lower myself onto him, welcoming the pain.

Pain reminds you you’re alive.

His rough palms squeeze my breasts as I begin to move. “Jesus Christ, Madison. Your pussy is fucking perfect.” He rolls my nipple between his thumb and finger, and I feel the pull in the very depths of my core.

I hold his shoulders for balance as I rock slowly in his lap, finding the rhythm I want and figuring out what works for me. The frigid air touches more of my skin with each lazy movement.

“Tell me how it feels, Maddie,” he demands as one hand slides down my body, gripping my bottom.

“I like that,” I murmur.

He licks along my lip before dragging it between his teeth. “Like what, sunshine? Use your words.” He thrusts up and smiles.

“Do you like my cock?” Another thrust. “Do you like the way it feels inside your cunt?”

My face heats.

“Do you like the way I stretch this pretty pussy?” This thrust is harder as I throw my head back. “Or the way I grab your ass? Because you have the most perfect fucking ass ever, baby.”

“Hud . . .” I whimper.

“I’m gonna take your ass one day, Madison. I’m going to own every inch of your beautiful body, and you’re going to fucking beg for it. Beg me to fill you everywhere.”

“Oh my God.” My breath catches in my throat. “Yes. I want that. Mmm . . . I want all of that. I want you to fill me. I want you to fuck me.”

“I want my cum dripping out of you for days. I want you so sore that every step you take makes you think of tonight and the way my cock feels inside your perfect fucking cunt.”

“Oh, God . . .” His words push me over the edge, and I cry out, “Yes. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”

Hudson stands and drops me to my feet, then turns me around and bends me over the edge of the hot tub and slams into me from behind, his lips on my spine and his hips pistoning into me. His piercing threatens to shred me to pieces, but I don’t think I could have stopped him if I wanted to. And I never want him to stop.

“Maddie . . . Fuck, Maddie.” He buries his face in my neck, sucking the soft spot there, and the now-familiar flutters that had only just died down detonate behind my eyes.

I can’t see. Can’t breathe as my climax tears through me, ripping from my lungs and coursing through my veins.

Hudson’s entire body tightens, then fills me as he comes with my name on his lips.

His voice envelops me like a warm blanket I want to wrap myself up in.

If this is a dream, I never want to wake.

We tumble into bed sated and exhausted.

My muscles are sore, and my heart pounds inside my chest.

This is crazy . . . right?

Hudson brushes over my dragonfly tattoo, tracing the lines and watercolor splashes first with his thumb, then his finger, and finally, with a delicate, worshipping kiss. “You gonna tell me about this?”

I curl into him as he fingers it lovingly. “Why a dragonfly, sunshine?”

“Why do you call me sunshine?” I counter.

“Because you are, baby. You’re sunshine and warmth. Your smile, your eyes, your entire fucking being lights up every room you walk into, and you don’t even realize it. I’ve always wanted to be near you. Been drawn to you. Always wanted just a piece of your attention, so I could feel your warmth.”

My breath is caught in my throat at his admission. “Hudson . . .” I run my nails over the sleeve tattooed on his arm. “The dragonfly is a symbol. I read about them my freshman year of high school, and it always stuck with me. They’re a symbol of change and transformation. Adaptability. All the things that were so important to surviving while I was growing up. But they’re also delicate and beautiful. Their strength is hidden. I guess I just always felt connected to that. As soon as I saved the money, a friend and I snuck out and got tattoos. I liked that I could hide it and that it was just for me.”

“I fucking love it, Maddie.” His lips press against my skin. “You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met. I hope you know that, sunshine.” He yawns and curls his arms tighter around me. “I love your strength and your warmth, and your sass.” We lie tangled in each other as I run my fingers through his hair, only stopping when he eventually falls asleep. His blond hair falls into his eyes but fails to hide the bruising that bloomed purple, high on his cheek. I was thankful the fight had only gone one round this time, since I didn’t know how I’d handle my nerves wracking me longer than that.

How are you supposed to watch someone you . . . care about . . . get hurt?

I lay awake all night, thinking about his life and what it would mean to be part of it.

How does his family do it?

How do they watch this man in fight after fight?

Year after year?

And oh God, his family.

Am I really being thrown to the wolves tomorrow? Because in a lot of ways, that’s exactly what the Kingstons are. Apex predators who run in a very elite pack. How are they going to handle him bringing someone who’s so far out of his league, let alone his tax bracket, into their inner sanctum?

They have an owner’s box at Kings Stadium, but that’s not where the family watches the games. The Kingstons like their privacy and keep a separate suite just for the family.

My stomach lurches at the thought, and I wrap my arm around Hudson’s waist, tucking my face against his chest.

I used to hold my own against new foster families, new schools, new mean girls, and new handsy boys all the time. I can handle the Kingstons. At least, that’s what I try to convince myself before I finally fall asleep.

I press my lips gently to the scrolling font inked on his chest.

Only the good die young.

I used to think that was true, but now I’m praying I’m wrong.

This man is worth living for.

When I step into the kitchen the next morning, dressed for the game, Hudson whistles like I’m wearing lingerie and high heels and not my black-and-gold Philadelphia Kings jersey with my matching black Converse sneakers sporting sparkly gold laces. He motions for me to spin around, and I laugh at him and walk into his open arms instead.

“You look damn good, sunshine. We could always skip the game.” His fingers thread through my hair as he kisses me.

I sigh, contentment in the moment flowing through me, and he deepens the kiss with a hot stroke of his tongue. Within seconds, I’m clinging to him, addicted to this feeling—this all-consuming need for Hudson Kingston. “I’m fine with staying here to watch it, but one way or another, I’m watching my brother play, King.”

“Fine,” he pouts. “Where’s your coat?”

I shrug. “I didn’t bring one.”

“Swear to God, Madison. There’s two inches of snow on the ground, and you don’t have a coat? What am I going to do with you?” He wraps his peacoat around my shoulders and kisses me again.

“I can think of a few things. But they’ll have to wait until after the game.” I brush my lips over the scruff on his chin and hum. “We’ll have a few hours before I need to get back to my house tonight.”

His face falls. “You’re not sleeping here tonight?”

“I thought I was going home.” My eyes search his face for guidance. “Hud, you’ve got to remember I’ve never done this before. This whole . . . I don’t know, relationship thing. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“That makes two of us, Mads. We’ll figure it out together. We’ll do what feels right for us.” He runs his hands over the back of my head, and I nearly swoon, unsure if he could possibly say anything more perfect than that.