Caged (Defiant Kings, #1)

by Bella Matthews

wipes her eyes. “He was so excited to get to fight you. So proud of what he’d earned. Seems kind of fitting in a really fucked up way.” “I wish . . .” I swallow, trying to keep my quickly disintegrating composure. “God, I’m just so fucking sorry.” “You couldn’t have known. We didn’t even know.” A tear slips down her cheek, and my gut clenches. “He loved what he did, King. He loved it every single day. And he was a man who lived every single day full-out. No regrets. We can’t turn back the clock, no matter how much I wish we could. Life doesn’t work that way.”

“I don’t hate you, King. I hate the sport he loved. I hate the fates that took him from us. I hate you for winning because I wish he’d gotten that belt. But I don’t hate you. I don’t even know you.”

I join her at the door. “Thank you for letting me stop by today, Leona. If you ever need anything, you’ve got my number.” She nods and opens the door. And as I slide behind the wheel of my car, my shoulders feel lighter than they have in a while. I wasn’t expecting anything from Leona McGuire. But what she just gave me was everything.

On his bicep is my dragonfly flying in front of the sun. It blends perfectly into his sleeve, like it was always supposed to be there. “Hudson,” I gasp and ghost my finger around it without touching. “It’s beautiful.” “Do you like it?” He looks nervous, like a little boy who spent all his allowance on a present and is afraid the recipient will be disappointed. “The detail is amazing. The watercolor purples and greens. They’re perfect.” Suddenly, tears sting the back of my eyes. “I can’t believe you inked me on your skin.” “I wanted us to make the next big change in our lives together, Maddie. And I wanted something to symbolize that. Every line on my skin tells a story.”

He picks me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist. “Fine,” he pouts. “But I know what I want, Mads. And I’m not good at waiting. Any idea how long it’ll be until I get my prize?” “I’ve never been anyone’s prize before.” There go those butterflies again. “I keep telling you, Maddie. You’re my everything.” When he kisses me, I think I finally believe him.

“Isn’t she the most perfect thing you’ve ever seen?” The awe in her voice shouldn’t make me hard, but basically everything Maddie does makes me hard. A fact she notices quickly as I press against her ass. “Hudson.” She glares over her shoulder, never breaking the rhythm of her sway.

When the alarm goes off again, she drapes her arm over my chest before trying to pull me closer, but I stay stiff. Stay stiff. Ha ha ha. “I’ve got to get up, Mads.” I press my lips to her spine and groan when she rolls over. Her perfect tits are begging for attention. “You’re making this hard, Mads.” Making this hard. I laugh silently again. I’ve definitely got sex on the brain.

She groans as her hand traces a path over my abs before I stop her. “No can do, babe.” And idea comes to me, and I figure why the hell not? “Cade said since you’re not my wife, no sex until the fight. But if we were married . . .” I leave the rest of the lie hanging in the air. Okay. I can cross that attempt off as a mistake when she literally kicks my ass out of bed.

Actually kicks me with her foot.

“In one of those white suits with the sparkles?” I joke because she can’t be serious. “Don’t joke with me, Maddie. Because I’m going to win this fight.” She takes a step back. “I know.” “Why now? What’s changed?” I need to know. “Marriage is a piece of paper to me, Hudson. But you . . . you’re everything, and it matters to you. So, win the damn fight, and let’s get married.”

Once the announcement is over, Cade opens the door of the cage, and Maddie is the first to run in. I lift her high in the air, then bring her down and press my lips to hers. “Looks like I won, sunshine. You gonna give me my prize?” “I’m gonna give you everything, King.”

And when Hudson takes my face in his hands and kisses me as they announce us Mr. and Mrs. Hudson Kingston, a round of cheers rings out, reminding me just how many of our friends and family are here with us. “I love you, Mr. Kingston.” I wrap my arms around Hudson’s neck and nuzzle my face against his. Hud slides his hands down my body before he picks me up and carries me out of the chapel. “I love you, Mrs. Kingston. Forever.” “Always, Hud.”