Chapter 16
The sun had long set when Jude marched down Foster’s street.
He walked through the shadows, a hint of chill to the evening air.
About time their Indian Summer was over.
He’d already spied the leaves changing color.
While still a bit early, Halloween decorations had begun to pop up around town.
Jude didn’t mind. It meant fall was finally doing its thing.
Speaking of doing its thing, he’d never been so happy to see that text. Jude had gotten his results the day before and he was good to go, as well.
He’d waited long enough.
One week had felt like an eternity.
Jude needed another round or two with Mr. Big Dick.
Their last night together had been the most mind-blowing series of orgasms of his life…
and he’d had to wait to attempt another?
Talk about torture. There had come a point midway through their pause where he’d considered asking Foster over regardless of test results for a fuck and cuddle.
It had been a very brief consideration, and he’d spent three hours at the gym that evening, wearing himself down to the bone as punishment for even thinking it.
Fucking wasn’t really the insult. Cuddling was. That wasn’t going to happen.
They weren’t—nor would they ever be—a couple.
Jude hooked a left onto the Price’s driveway, headed for the apartment over the garage. Lifting his gaze from the pavement, he noticed the Mercedes wasn’t parked and there were no lights on upstairs.
He glanced at his phone and reread their earlier text conversation.
Foster
Results in. Good to go. Tonight?
Jude
Sure. I’ll come to you after work.
Marching up the stairs, he knocked, just in case Foster was there and sitting in the dark for some reason. Maybe someone had borrowed the SUV. Maybe he’d dozed off.
Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.
If he’d been ghosted, there would be hell to pay.
No one arrived at the door. He peeked through the narrow window beside it but there were no signs someone was home.
Fuck!
Hopes dashed, he chuckled. Foster had likely found someone else to fuck around with. It was likely for the best. He needed to end things before they got any stickier than they already were.
I thought I’d have more time…
I’m not ready to let—
Jude’s chest tightened, his next breath difficult.
Shoving that last thought from his mind, Jude spun and climbed down the stairs—just as Foster’s SUV pulled into the driveway. He paused midway down and watched as Foster got out and walked towards him. When he got to the base of the stairs, he noticed Jude. The corners of his mouth curved upwards.
What’s so funny, asshole? The fact you’ve caught me waiting? It’ll be the last fucking time I do.
Jude’s gaze drifted down Foster and back up.
He wasn’t accustomed to seeing him so well-dressed.
He was usually wearing shorts or sweats when Jude saw him.
Tonight, his clothes looked expensive. His hair was perfectly styled.
The farther he climbed up the stairs, the stronger the scent of his pricy aftershave became.
He’s been out on a date!
Jude stormed down the stairs, tossing out a “Have a nice night,” as he passed Foster.
Foster’s hand snaked out and snagged his arm.
Jude spun, glaring.
Foster’s brows furrowed. “Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Why?”
“I came and you weren’t here.”
Foster’s frown deepened. “I’m here.”
“Now—but where were you?” Jude asked.
“Out,” Foster replied. “I didn’t think you were coming over.”
“You invited me. I said I’d meet you here. I came. You weren’t here.”
Foster pulled his phone out and swiped over the screen. “I never got a reply.” He then showed his phone to Jude. His final reply wasn’t there. “I’m sorry. Like I said, I assumed you weren’t coming so I went out.”
Jude opened his phone and showed Foster. “I did reply.”
Foster leaned closer and scanned it. “It doesn’t say delivered at the bottom of your text. Maybe it never went through?”
Jude turned his phone and saw Foster was right. Maybe it hadn’t. But that didn’t resolve the question of where he’d been so Jude wasn’t yet in a forgiving mood. “Or you deleted it to cover your ass.”
“Deleted it?” Foster asked. “To what end? I invited you here. I wanted to see you tonight.”
They stared at one another, the security light outside the apartment door washing them with pale light.
“I’m glad you came,” Foster said, moving one step closer.
“Are you?” Jude asked, not convinced.
“I am,” Foster whispered.
“Where’d you go tonight?”
“Out,” Foster replied.
“Where?”
“You don’t want to know anything about me. We’re not friends,” Foster said.
Jude rolled his eyes. Fuck Foster for throwing his own words back at him. “Who was it?”
Foster frowned. “Who was who?”
“Your date. Someone local?”
A look of surprise hit Foster’s face seconds before a slow smile spread. “Are you jealous?”
“No,” Jude snapped.
Foster grabbed his hips, a hint of a smile on his lips. “You’re jealous.”
Jude brushed Foster’s hands away. “I’m not.”
Foster chuckled.
“If you’re just fucking around, fine.” Jude eyed Foster’s clothes. Effort had been made. “But if you’re dating someone and its getting serious, I don’t need them showing up in my shop and starting shit. I don’t do drama,” Jude said. “I simply want a head’s up and that’s all.”
“And if it is getting serious?”
“Then we end it now,” Jude said, his stomach lurching. He spun and walked down the driveway.
“I got a job offer. I went out to celebrate,” Foster said. “With my parents.”
Jude froze. He didn’t turn or look over his shoulder. “You were alone when you pulled in.”
“I dropped them off out front. My dad struggles with the back stairs. He’s still dragging his left foot a bit.”
Jude slowly spun to face Foster.
“You can go ask my mom, if you’d like,” Foster added. “She’s still raving about that roast you gave us, so I’m sure she’d love a chance to thank you while you’re here.”
Jude searched Foster’s face in the dim light. “What’s the job?”
Foster smiled softly, clearly pleased. “One I really wanted.”
“Where?” Jude asked before holding his breath. Was Foster leaving him?
“Manhattan.”
Okay. Workable. Jude relaxed his shoulders. “Are you moving into the city?” Before getting an answer, Jude added, “To be clear, I’m only asking because that might put a crimp in your repayment plan. We might have to make new arrangements.”
Foster’s lips quirked as if he were fighting a smile.
“The work is hybrid. Half in office, half virtual. More in-office at first, until I get a feel for things.” He took a couple of steps closer.
“For now, I plan to stay and commute. Then I can make a decision down the road. Once I see how it works for me—or doesn’t.
” He lost his battle with the smile. It spread across his handsome face.
“I should be perfectly able to fulfill my duties for the next few months, at least.”
Jude stared a moment, considering that answer. He closed the gap between them. He searched Foster’s face and saw longing there that matched his own. “You should stay until you’ve finished your duty to me. Once we’re square, you can go wherever you want.”
“Is that what you want me to do?” Foster asked, the rasp to his voice causing a tremor up Jude’s spine. “Do you want me to stay?”
Jude stared at Foster’s lips, craving a kiss, but he refused to cave. Not yet. He lifted his gaze to Foster’s. “It’s what I’m telling you to do. You still owe a debt.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” Foster said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I belong to you.”
Jude’s body tensed.
I belong to you.
That declaration shouldn’t have had as much impact on Jude as it did.
They stood in the dark, inches apart yet unmoving. Jude could feel Foster’s body heat. The scent of that fucking aftershave curled his fingers and toes. They both stared at one another with lethal intent.
Jude brought in a shuddering breath seconds before Foster grabbed the back of his head and planted a kiss on him. Instinct compelled Jude to lift his palms to push Foster away. His hands twisted in Foster’s thin sweater and brought him closer instead.
He trembled against Foster, starved for the attention.
A week. It had been too fucking long not to feel Foster against him. He didn’t want to go another week without. When Foster lifted from the kiss and gazed down at him, both of their chests rose and fell roughly.
“Do you want to come in?”
Jude wasn’t going anywhere else. He nodded.
Foster reached into his pocket, fumbling for his keys.
He marched up the steps, Jude ambling behind, and unlocked the door before turning, holding out a hand.
Jude didn’t take it. He slipped past Foster and into the darkened apartment.
The door was shut and when the foyer light flipped on, Jude spun and thrust himself against Foster.
Their lips met again, questing and hungry.
They stumbled through the apartment, clothes and shoes flying. Once naked, Foster fell onto the futon, carrying Jude with him, their lips never parting. When they finally did, he looked down into Foster’s face, his breath rough.
“I wasn’t jealous,” Jude said, their gazes meeting in the dim light from the open closet.
“I believe you,” Foster said softly.
He sensed they both knew it for the lie it was. The truth shone in Foster’s eyes and likely in his own. He’d broken his own rules and crossed the line. He’d gotten attached. Foster, ever being the affable golden retriever, was allowing him to hide under his mask of indifference a little longer.
How much longer could they both pretend there wasn’t something growing between them, he wasn’t sure. Maybe that was when the end finally came. The moment they faced the truth and admitted their transactional relationship had transformed into something else.
Something impossible.
Until that day came, Jude wasn’t letting go. He slid off Foster and stood beside the bed. He lifted one of Foster’s legs and knelt between them.
Foster tensed and pulled away a bit.