21. Hudson
Chapter 21
Hudson
W aking up with a naked man next to me is new. As awareness seeps in, it becomes clear that last night wasn’t a horny dream. I really rubbed myself all over Aster like an animal in heat. That probably won’t be awkward at all.
I take a moment to appreciate the silence of the house. No creaking wood or whining pipes, no scary ghost wreaking havoc, just Aster’s soft breath.
Damn, he’s gorgeous. Even like this, with his hair a mess and dried cum streaked across his chest. I vaguely recall what drove me into his arms. I needed comfort and he was there to provide it. Now what though? I’ve never been good at casual hookups and this one comes with more strings than I can count.
Aster stirs, slowly blinking awake, and when his gaze settles on me, a serene smile spreads across his handsome face. That’s… nice.
“Morning,” he says.
“Hi.”
Raising his arms above his head, he stretches before reaching down to scratch his belly. His morning erection slightly tents the bedding, and the urge to tug it down to reveal his body again is fierce.
“How ya feeling?” he asks. His voice is still deep and raspy from sleep, and somehow, ten times sexier than it should be.
“Good. I mostly slept well. You?”
“I did too.” He reaches out to rub my arm. “You sure you’re good? I think you had a nightmare.”
“Oh, yeah.” I twist my neck back and forth. “Sometimes, I dream about what he did.”
“Sorry.” He squeezes my forearm. “And the rest? You okay with it?”
“As long as you don’t make it weird or want to talk about it, I’m fine.”
Aster’s brow creases but he nods. “I’ll drop it as long as you assure me that you wanted what happened between us.”
Thoughts of last night rush back, making my breath hitch and my cock swell slightly. Swallowing hard to tamp down the surge of lust swirling through me, I nod.
“I wanted it. I was fully aware of what I was doing.”
“Good.”
“And you? I didn’t just throw myself at you, right?”
His gaze softens as he rubs his thumb back and forth across my forearm. “I definitely wanted it.”
Relief washes over me, and for just a moment, I allow the silly fantasy of keeping Aster to dance in my mind. “Would you like some coffee? I can get a pot started while you shower.”
I feel the shift in his demeanor. “Maybe we should avoid the kitchen for a bit.”
“Oh. Right. I almost forgot. Amazing what a good night’s sleep and a much-needed orgasm can do to make a guy lose track of reality.”
Aster smiles. “Why don’t we go out and get breakfast? I need to put together a game plan for what’s next.”
“Sounds good.”
“Meet in the living room in thirty minutes?”
“Okay.”
I sit back, unable to tear my gaze away from Aster as he slides out of my bed, his naked body on full display. What I couldn’t see in the dark of night are the miles of rippled flesh, the thighs thick enough to smash a melon, the interesting trail of ink marking his skin, and holy lover of books, his cock. Sure, I felt it, but seeing it is a visual treat. He’s a little longer than me, and less thick, but he’s uncut. He looks like he was chiseled from marble, and as I take him in with hungry eyes, his cock bounces under my attention.
I indulge in his masculine beauty, my gaze roaming up and down his body until I land on his handsome face to find him watching me with heated eyes.
“Oh god, I’m ogling you like a creep. I’m so sorry.”
Aster chuckles, dragging his hand through his hair. “Ogle away. I like it.”
It would be easy to ignore the reason Aster’s in my life in the first place. I want to invite him back to bed, cuddle next to him, explore every inch of his body and what makes him come the hardest. I want to taste his flesh, his kiss, and fuck, do I want his cum in my mouth.
“Hudson? Your cheeks are flushed.”
I blow out a breath and pull back the blankets, revealing my own erection.
“Fuck,” Aster moans, rubbing himself. “Do you know how hot you are?”
That question is almost laughable, but my head is too foggy with desire to object. I spread my legs in invitation, and despite the need for a shower, all I want to do is rub all over him again.
Aster stalks toward me, climbing across the mattress and claiming my lips in a heated kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck, falling back and moaning under his full weight. Aster hooks his hand under my knee, pulling my leg up and allowing our bodies to fully notch together. There’s no lube between us, but I’m aware of the sticky precum both of us are producing.
The scent of sex fills the space, and as Aster’s hand glides down my body and between my ass cheeks, I clench with need. It’s been years since I’ve had anal sex, and I just know Aster would do it right, but the thought of being that vulnerable with a man I barely know washes over me like a bucket of cold water.
I flinch and shrink back slightly, breaking the kiss. Aster lifts his head, gazing down at me with pure concern reflected in his eyes.
“Too fast. Sorry.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s me. Don’t be sorry. I want to. Fuck, do I want to, but…”
“I get it.”
“Do you?”
“You’ve been through a lot, and even though this feels good, I totally understand why you’d want to pump the brakes.”
His reply causes a strange reaction in me, almost like frustration. Isn’t he supposed to be a cold, selfish asshole? That’s the only kind of guy I attract.
“Did I say something wrong?” he asks.
“No. Why?”
“Your face looks like you smelled something rotten.”
Blowing out a breath, I attempt to neutralize my expression. “Sorry. I was thinking about something else.”
“Want to tell me about it?”
“Are you a licensed therapist?”
Aster chuckles, rubbing my knee. “Nope. I’m a good listener though, and I’m trying to be your friend.”
Friend? That sounds really… nice. I could use a friend. Even one I’m wildly attracted to. What would it feel like to open up and talk about all the shit in my head instead of funneling it through fictional characters? Hell, I can’t even write these days. Maybe I should give it a shot.
“It’s embarrassing, but your response rubbed me wrong. I’m used to guys being selfish and uncaring. The logical part of my brain knows there’s a strong chance you’re really good at manipulating people and I’m totally falling for your bullshit, but…”
The calm look on his face, the lack of defensiveness or need to argue with me, is all I need to continue.
“But I don’t think that’s true. I think you’re actually a good person, and maybe you really do care about what happens to me.”
“Over time you’ll figure it out. Words are just words, right? Action is what matters, and I’m confident that you’ll know without a doubt that I’m not here to hurt you. I’m actually really honored you shared your body with me.”
“Honored?”
“Yeah, honored. If it makes you feel better, it’s been a really long time for me too. I haven’t been in a relationship in years, and the hookup scene was tiring, so I’ve been going solo for a couple of years now.”
“That does make me feel oddly better. You’re so gorgeous and confident, I figured you had a guy on your arm all the time.”
“Nah. I’ve turned into a total homebody actually.” He rubs his fingers under my chin. “How about we get dressed and go get that coffee?”
“Okay.”
“If you need what happened last night to be a one-time thing, that’s okay with me.” He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “But let me be clear. It’s an open invitation. If you want me, I’m here, and I definitely want you too.”
He backs away, leaving me speechless as I watch his glorious, muscled ass retreat from my bedroom. I fall back, torn between chasing him and throwing myself at his feet and walling myself up behind the emotional fortress I’ve built brick by brick since Chester entered my life.
One option is exciting and brave, but the other is safe. Ugh.
Thirty minutes later, after a quick shower and change of clothes, I pad down the stairs to find Aster standing in my living room talking to the air while cuddling his dog. I focus on the space in front of him, catching the faint outline of Crash. I wonder why I can’t see him as clearly as I could before.
Otto launches himself out of Aster’s arms and jumps up at my legs. I bend down to scoop him up, laughing as he covers my face in dog smooches, but Aster’s heated expression when he turns toward me makes my stomach flutter.
“Ready to go?” he asks.
“Yep.”
Aster strides to the front door and opens it, ready to step out, but he smacks into some unseen barrier. “What the fuck?”
He tries again, but it’s like there’s an invisible wall. I try next but encounter the same weird sensation.
“Any clue what’s going on here, Crash?” Aster asks.
“Huh.” Crash appears fully, startling me, and tries to step through the front door, but he’s met with the same obstacle. “Be right back.”
He blinks out of sight. Otto yips but returns to his licking assault of my face.
“What’s happening?”
Aster shakes his head. “No clue.”
Before any more conversation occurs, Crash is back, his face screwed up.
“Teeny tiny problem, boys.”
Aster blows out a breath. “What now?”
“It seems this potion is stronger than you knew and it’s keeping everything, human and otherwise, inside the house.”
“Shoot.”
“I wonder if it was the powder the guy at the store gave us,” I muse.
“Maybe.” Aster nods. “I’ll just clear the threshold then.”
“No, no I wouldn’t do that,” Crash continues. “The house spirits told me the Horror is using all its energy to target you, which means getting you out of the house. If you break the barrier, it’s likely you’ll get tossed out again and blocked from coming back.”
“We’re trapped in here?” I ask.
Crash nods, a sympathetic look on his face. “’Fraid so. It’s a gnarly sitch, for sure.”
“A what now?”
Aster rubs his forehead. “So we’re stuck in here until I can get the Horror back in the Below?”
“Unless you can modify the spell.” Crash shrugs. “But magic is tricky. I’d be real careful about messing with it. It can backfire if you aren’t super specific. Case in point.”
“Great. No pressure.”
“There’s some good news,” Crash says, bouncing on his toes. “The Horror is pretty depleted right now. His hissy fit set him back and the house spirits have been using their energy to block him too. It’s buying you some time.” Crash glances at me as a wide grin spreads across his face. “He doesn’t even know what you two have been up to.”
“Oh god,” I moan.
“Please tell me we didn’t have an uninvited audience?” Aster says.
“You didn’t. I’m not that rude. As soon I saw where it was going, I bounced.” Crash waggles his eyebrows at me. “Can’t say the same for your house spirits. It’s been a while since they’ve seen any action here, and they’ve never seen men knock boots.”
Confused, I ask, “Knock boots?”
Aster exhales slowly. “We’ve got pervy ghosts. Awesome.”
Crash chuckles, reaching out to scratch Otto’s head. “Harmless pervs. So anyway, I’d say you’ve got a good day or two before the Horror makes a full comeback.”
“Great. Is the kitchen safe?”
“For you maybe. I’d keep Hudson away as long as you can.”
“Fine. I’ll investigate and make coffee, and then we’ll get to work.”
“Work?” I ask.
Aster nods, his jaw set. “Time is running out, and when the Horror regains his strength, I doubt he’s gonna take it easy on us.”
“Right.” I nod, even as a shiver of terror moves down my spine.
“Hey.”
I meet Aster’s intense gaze.
“You’re not alone. I won’t let him hurt you.”
“I know. Just don’t let him hurt you either, huh?”
Aster smiles, full of confidence that astounds me. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Best not to answer that one,” Crash says before disappearing and leaving us alone.
Aster closes the distance between us, offering a comforting smile. He reaches out to gently rub my arm. “I’m asking a lot, but try to trust me. My sole purpose in life right now is getting rid of that thing, and I’m no quitter.”
“I believe you.”
“Good.” He drops his hand, but I kind of wish I could burrow into his arms and pretend for just a little while that this is a budding relationship and nothing weird is going on.
“Cream or sugar?”
“Just black. Be careful in there, huh?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
He lingers, searching my eyes and soothing my concerns without words.
We’re trapped in this house together, with something terrible threatening our safety, and yet somehow, there’s nowhere I’d rather be.