8. Evan
Chapter 8
Evan
My eyes were fixed on the TV as I ran on my treadmill. I kept a moderate five-mile-per-hour pace when I had to run indoors. I preferred the sun warming my skin while the ocean breeze cooled me off. Unfortunately, I’d waited too long, and the tide was high.
The steady rhythm of my feet hitting the belt usually allowed me time to think. But today, everything centered on the man in Sacramento who drove me to distraction. I had to get a handle on my attraction toward him. I couldn’t go into the season with him slipping into my subconscious like he did.
Bad choice of words, Ellis.
Now I was thinking about slipping somewhere else. Running with a hard-on wasn’t comfortable.
Hudson and the kids were scheduled to arrive here around noon. They were flying private, so landing close by would cut down on wasted time in traffic.
My plan was simple. We’d get lunch and spend the afternoon on the beach. Tonight we could grill some burgers and steaks and hang out. I’d invited Nick and Preston to join us, but they had plans they couldn’t cancel.
Checking my phone, I glanced down to see if I’d had any messages from him. Sadly, nothing appeared on the screen.
Over the last two weeks, our conversations had become what I looked forward to most in the day. Sometimes I’d start the messages with any excuse to talk to him, and other times, he would be the one to reach out. We’d friended each other on social media, which allowed us to share posts and videos pretty easily. It was entertaining as hell, but sometimes our texts went from joking to teasing banter before it became flirty.
According to Lennox, I had a PhD in Flirt-ology. I could flirt with anyone at any time. But the craziest thing was Hudson flirted right back, but I didn’t know if he realized he was doing it.
Either way, there was one thing we hadn’t discussed. And I had to take care of that before he came here.
I reached down and pressed the button to reduce my speed to cool down. And when that was done, I headed to my bathroom to clean up.
As I stripped out of my sweaty clothes, I reached into the shower to turn on the water. While I waited, I wondered if Hudson would want to take a run on the beach. We could run early in the morning to avoid beachgoers.
And just like that, the thought of him sweaty in running shorts had my cock thickening. I could almost smell his skin and the cologne that had penetrated my brain that night in his office. Just the possibility had me at full mast.
Stepping under the spray, I ignored my erection while I washed the perspiration away. But when it refused to be ignored, I reached for the body wash and coated my shaft.
Turning my back to the spray, I braced my left hand on the tiled wall and took myself in hand. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply as Hudson’s face appeared behind my eyelids. The heart-stopping smile when he was embarrassed coupled with the way he assessed me filled my head with thoughts of what we could be together.
I imagined him behind me, wrapping his right hand around my shaft as his left held my body against him. His cock would be wedged between my ass cheeks as he gently thrust his hips to get himself off while jerking me. My head would fall back against his shoulder as his left hand roamed my chest, teasingly brushing over my nipples.
And when we both were close to the edge, he’d push his cock against my opening and tell me to let go in his commanding voice.
“Hud,” I grunted as my breathing sped up. With each swipe, the familiar warmth and tingling in my spine started making my balls draw up. My muscles quivered as I released all over my hand and the wall.
The water cascaded down my back as my brain came back online. Sweet relief from the pressure, but my desire for him was still there.
Turning back under the water to clean up, I breathed deeply and tried to push thoughts of him away. But it was a wasted effort. The stupid smile was there because of a fantasy I had about him. And I guess I’d have to be okay with that, but I still needed to talk to him.
A little while later, I grabbed a protein shake and a bottle of water from the refrigerator and headed out onto the sundeck. It was a little after three, so hopefully he would be free to chat.
Stretching out across my chaise lounge, I drank down my shake as I spotted a pod of dolphins playing out in the water. I smiled and snapped a photo to show the kids, then opened the text thread we shared.
Taking a deep breath, I typed out a message to him.
Me: Are you busy?
I waited and stared at my screen with apprehension until the bubbles started dancing. Knowing he was on the other end of the line filled me with excitement.
Hudson: Always, but I can spare some time for you. What’s up?
I popped open the water and took a swallow before I replied.
Me: I need to tell you something before you come down.
I rolled my shoulders and stretched my neck from side to side to release some of the anxiety I was feeling.
Hudson: Okay. That sounds ominous.
Me: Not really.
Me: Just wanted you to know that I’m bisexual. And if that makes you uncomfortable, I understand.
I waited for him to read my text, but the bubbles never started. Instead, my phone rang and Hudson’s name filled the display.
Accepting the call, I put it on speakerphone.
“Hello?”
“Evan Ellis?”
I smiled at his irritated tone. “Yes, sir. That’s me.”
Hudson sighed. “What is wrong with you? Have you forgotten that I am the Governor of the state of California?”
“No, sir. Not at all,” I said, trying to suppress my amusement as I curled my lips. He was gonna make me hard again.
“Evan, what kind of leader would I be if I gave one iota about your sexuality?”
I furrowed my brow, trying to stifle a laugh. “One what?”
He released a heavy breath, and I could imagine the look on his face as he explained it. “One iota. You know, a small, tiny, miniscule amount.”
I grinned. “So you’re saying it’s okay that I like men?”
“Yes, of course it is. We’re friends. Why are you telling me this?.”
“Thought you should know.”
Hudson laughed. “Did you think it would be a game changer, Evan?”
I ran my hand over my unshaven jaw before I answered.
“I know what the press can do, and I never want to jeopardize your political career. I know we’re just friends, but I wanted to be honest. And I enjoy chatting with you.”
He chuckled, making me want him even more. “Oddly, I enjoy it too, for some reason.”
“Well, I am easy to talk to. It takes a lot to piss me off.”
“And me dousing you with bourbon didn’t?”
I settled back into the cushions. “Nope. Not at all. You’re the governor. And I’m your loyal subject. I’d never allow something embarrassing to cast you in a bad light.”
I heard the air leave his body as he chuckled under his breath. “I appreciate that.”
Looking out to the ocean, my concerns about this situation were slowly being put to rest. He knew I was bisexual, and had no problem with it.
“We can get a hotel if that is better for you.”
I furrowed my brow. “No, not at all. I’ve been to the grocery store three times, waxed all four of my surfboards, hired Lennox’s housekeeper to come clean everything, and stocked up on everyone’s favorite snacks. I even bought a load of firewood for a fire on the beach.”
“Well, that’s not much,” he teased, making me smile. “And how do you know everyone’s favorite?—”
Hudson sighed, then chuckled. “Nevermind. I know how you know.”
“Yep,” I replied. “She’s a fantastic resource for information. So you can’t leave me hanging. We’re friends. Not to mention Jack would not be happy if he found out you nixed staying here.”
He laughed. “You fucker. You’d throw me under the bus like that?”
“Damn right, I would. But I’d also pull you out from under it and apply the bandaids.”
Hudson laughed again. It was deep and rumbly, warming a place in my heart. “I bet you would.”
I smiled as my face heated. But I couldn’t stop the words that came out of my mouth. “I’d do anything for you.”
He didn’t reply but hummed. The gravity of the moment was real.
“That’s what friends do for each other.”
He remained quiet for a moment, and I imagined him running his hand over his head. But when he replied, I wasn’t expecting what he said.
“It’s been a long time since I had a real friend who wanted to help me. I’m not used to it. The situation is usually reversed. So I’m going to say thank you right now in case I forget.”
My heart throbbed at the thought of him being alone. “Are you lonely?”
He huffed out a breath again before replying. “You’d think a man who is never alone and constantly surrounded by people wouldn’t be. But the truth is, I am incredibly lonely, Evan. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have friends outside of politics.”
I rubbed at the spot over my chest and nodded wordlessly. “Then I’m glad we found each other. You’ll never feel lonely again.”
Hudson laughed, and I wished we were on a video call. I wanted to see his handsome face, even though I knew we’d never be more than friends.
“I’m going to hold you to that, Mr. Ellis.”
I grinned like a loon. “Then hurry up and get packed. The beach is waiting.”
“Yes, sir,” he said. “I’ll get right on that.”
Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough. But I was gonna have to rub one out every chance I got before they got here.