Chapter Four #3
“As a firefighter you work in shifts, correct?” Bas inquired. He wanted to know everything about his mate.
“Yes, two days at the firehouse then three days off,” Bas said. “But I live with my brother. He’s a police officer and he either works days or nights, so he’s home more. And from my research, cats are pretty self-sufficient.”
“They are.” Not that Bas wanted Hudson to have another cat but him.
“I think we could make it work,” Hudson told him. “I need to talk to my brother.”-Suddenly Hudson shook his head. “Sorry, I’m getting distracted. I wanted to discuss Bas’s habit of climbing trees in the park. I’m not sure that’s safe for him.”
This was the issue. How could Bastian reassure his mate without lying. Bastian didn’t want to say anything that would be a lie and he would have to confess later about.
He hummed to buy himself some time.
What did other cat dads do to keep their pets safe? Really, this was ridiculous. Bastian wanted to just confess everything to his mate, so this wasn’t an issue further. He couldn’t do that though. Bastian needed more time to figure out how to introduce Hudson to the paranormal world.
“Bas is a natural climber. It would be impossible to keep him from following his instincts. It would be cruel, in fact,” Bastian offered. He would promise to keep Bas away from the park but since that was the best place to watch over Hudson, that would not be happening.
“I get that,” Hudson said. “I just worry about him.”
What a sweetheart! “Bas is safe. I can only give you my word about that.”
“Does he at least have a tracker?” Hudson asked.
Bastian could track himself. “Yes.”
“Good.” Hudson rose.
Bas scrambled up. “Are you leaving?”
“After meeting you and talking, I feel better. I wasn’t trying to cause you any trouble. Bas is a sweetie. I’d hate to see him get hurt.”
“I know that you weren’t trying to cause me problems,” Bastian replied quickly. His mate didn’t have it in him to be a bad person. “I think it’s admirable.”
This time it was he who received the beaming smile.
Damn, Hudson was gorgeous. And he wanted to leave? Bastian’s mind whirled on how to keep Hudson with him. “Would you like a tour of the property?”
“I would,” Hudson told him. “I need to get home though. Maybe another time?”
“Sure,” Bastian agreed quickly. “Tomorrow night? I have a cabin here. We could have dinner and I could show you around.”
“And I can see Bas again.” Hudson’s excitement grew.
Well fuck! How was Bastian going to manage that? “Yeah.”
“What time?” Hudson asked. “And is there anything I should bring?”
“No, no.” Bas rubbed the back of his neck as what he proposed hit him. His cabin didn’t even look like he had a cat. Hudson was smart. Surely he would notice. “I’ll take care of everything. Is there anything you don’t like to eat. Shit! Do you have any allergies.”
Hudson laughed as he grabbed Bastian’s hand. “I don’t have any allergies. Thank you for asking. And I love food. I’m sure I’ll enjoy whatever you make.”
Bastian squeezed Hudson’s fingers. “How about dinner at six? We can take the tour after?” That should give him enough time to figure things out. Bas was going to need help. Help from the family. He just knew the boys were going to go crazy.
“That sounds great!” Hudson bounced a little.
Bastian could picture Hudson playing with the other boys. It would be so cute. Bastian knew as a mate he could offer Hudson a safe place to unwind, since being a firefighter came with its own dangers and stress. “Should I pick you up?” he offered.
“Don’t be silly,” Hudson told him. “I’ll drive here. There’s no point to drive all the way in town and back to return me home.”
It made sense to him. Bastian didn’t push the issue. “Six?”
“Yes.” Hudson let go of his hand.
Bastian had to curl his fingers into his palm to keep from reaching for his mate again. “I’ll walk you out.” Then follow Hudson home to make sure his mate got there safely.
They strolled down the hall and Hudson’s head turned to the left and the right, checking everything out.
“I love how bright and cheerful it is in here,” Hudson told him. “You’d expect a house this big to be full of antiques and kind of stuffy.”
“I’m pretty sure that you’re going to get along well with the guys here,” Bastian said.
“Really? You think so?”
Bastian nodded.
“I haven’t been here long and I’m still trying to make friends,” Hudson said.
“It won’t be an issue.” Bastian knew that for a fact.
They reached the front door and Bastian opened it for him.
Hudson stepped over the threshold then stopped. “Oh! I almost forgot. Bas followed me home. I wanted to make sure that you knew that too.”
Bastian chuckled. “Of course he did. You’re such a cutie, how could he resist?”
Hudson’s eyes widened. “You think I’m cute?”
He’d asked the other man on a date. Had smiled and not growled. Hadn’t Bastian made his intent clear? “I think you’re gorgeous, kind, and full of sunshine.” There. That had been clear.
“Oh!” Hudson blushed.
Bas grew nervous as Hudson just stood there. He cleared his throat. “Is…is that okay?”
“That you think all those wonderful things about me? Of course!”
Not really what Bas was asking. He nodded anyway.
“I should go.” Hudson took several steps back.
“Tomorrow?” Bas wanted to follow him so badly. He forced himself to stay still.
“Six o’clock,” Hudson said. “Are you sure I can’t bring anything?”
“Just yourself,” Bastian responded.
Hudson giggled before giving him a wave.
Bastian waited. He watched as Hudson climbed into his truck, started the engine, and drove away. Then he moved. He whipped his shirt over his head then shoved his jeans down.
Instinct drove him until Bastian shifted and was chasing after Hudson’s truck.
* * * * *
Hudson
“A date?” Carter asked.
Hudson pushed his plate away. It had been his turn to make dinner for them.
He might not be as good of a cook as his brother, but Hudson was happy with the crock-pot meal he’d thrown together that morning.
He would have loved to stay to get the tour that Bastian had offered but he’d known that Carter would be home soon and didn’t want his brother to track him down. How embarrassing would that be?
“Hud?” Carter nudged his foot under the table.
“What?” Hudson had to shake his head to force himself to stop thinking about Bastian. Bastian thought he was cute! Gorgeous. Hudson still couldn’t believe that such an attractive man thought he was gorgeous.
“Is this a date?” Carter asked with an edge to his tone.
“I don’t think so,” Hudson replied honestly. “He offered me a tour of the property. I think it’s to make me feel better about Bas.”
“And dinner is necessary?”
“It’s polite to offer to feed someone,” Hudson replied.
Carter sighed.
Hudson knew that sound. “What?”
“You know that I love you,” Carter said.
“I love you too!” Hudson was grateful that Carter always said how he felt.
“I know,” Carter said. “But sometimes you don’t recognize the cues from people who’re interested in you.”
Hudson didn’t want to talk about this. Again! He opened his mouth, but Carter shook his head.
“Remember Ashley?” Carter asked.
“That wasn’t my fault!” Hudson insisted. “I thought she knew I was gay.” His neighbor lady had been scary. And a little crazy.
“She should have,” Carter agreed. “But that didn’t stop her from climbing into your bed naked when you were sleeping.”
“True.” Hudson squirmed. That had been weird and awkward and just uncomfortable. “I don’t see what you’re getting at.”
“That wasn’t the first time that someone acted in an inappropriate way toward you. I just don’t want you to be taken advantage of.”
His brother was really the best. Carter was smart about things like this. Hudson just wanted to be friends with everyone. “Should I not go?”
“If you want to go, you should,” Carter replied. “You said that you might make friends? That’s great. I just want you to be aware that this Bastian guy might want to be more than friends.”
“He said I was cute, and gorgeous, and kind, and full of sunshine!” Hudson still couldn’t believe that Bastian thought all those things about him.
Carter huffed. “Which makes this sound like a date.”
“I should have gotten his number. Then I could ask him.” It was much easier asking silly questions over text than in person. Sometimes Hudson got embarrassed when he was having trouble figuring out what people wanted from him.
His brother insisted that Hudson wasn’t dumb and there was nothing wrong with him, but sometimes Hudson wondered. It wasn’t always easy to know when someone was being nice and wanted to be his friend or when they were flirting with him.
“I think it’ll be fine.” Reaching over, Carter patted his hand. “Just know that Bastian night be interested in you. It is possible that he’s thinking tomorrow is a date.”
“Okay. I’ll keep that in mind,” Hudson promised.
“Now it’s my turn to clean up. Why don’t you relax?”
The back door was open, allowing the cool night breeze in. “I might sit out on the back porch.”
“Good idea,” Carter said. “I’ll join you when I’m done and bring out a couple of beers.”
“Cool.” Hudson didn’t drink often. It just wasn’t something that he needed to do, but having a beer while hanging out was often expected of him. He pushed back his chair and made his way out the back door.
They were slowly fixing up their new home.
The inside of the house had been cleaned and painted, but it needed to be cheered up.
Carter had helped Hudson repaint and allowed Hudson to decorate to his hearts content.
Their shared home was much more in Hudson’s style than Carter’s, but Carter didn’t seem to mind.
Outback there was a large sturdy swing and two chairs under the tall tree. Hudson had purchased some books from the local bookstore on gardening, hoping to fix the yard up next. Carter kept the grass cut but Hudson would love to have pretty flowers around them.
It was a plan he hoped that would be easier than it seemed. Hudson didn’t understand the books’ long descriptions about fertilizer and how much sun certain types needed.
Hey! Maybe Logan could help him out. The park was amazing and the flowers there were still in bloom even though it was getting cooler as fall approached. Yes, he would try to talk to Logan and get some tips. That was a great idea. And maybe even Bastian would want to help.
He groaned as he settled on the swing.
Did they have a date or did Bastian just want to be friends? Maybe Bastian didn’t even want to be his friend and just wanted Hudson not to worry about Bas. It was all so confusing.
Thinking back on the entire interaction with Bastian made Hudson realize that it might be a good idea to clear things up right away. Before dinner. That way Hudson didn’t make a fool of himself. Even if Bastian thought he was good-looking, he might not even be gay!
Movement caught his eye and Hudson gasped. “Bas?”
Before Hudson could get up, Bas leaped from the branch above his head, landing in Hudson’s lap.
Hudson lifted Bas up, receiving a nuzzle.
“What are you doing here?” Hudson asked his little buddy. He was so happy to have the cat with him. “Does Bastian know where you are?”
Bas licked his chin as if he was reassuring Hudson.
It was like the feline understood him sometimes. Hudson needed to research more about margays. Or maybe it was because Bastian talked to the cat too? Not that it really mattered to Hudson. He just appreciated the company.
Placing Bas over his legs, Hudson began to stroke down his furry friend’s back.
“I wish you did understand me,” Hudson said. “Then maybe you could tell me if your owner was interested in me.”
Bas rolled over onto his back, wrapping both paws around the hand that Hudson had been petting him with.
“Would that be okay? Would you like it if I dated your owner?”
Bas snuggled under Hudson’s chin.
“I’m going to take that as a yes.” It was nice that he at least had his furry friend’s support.
That wasn’t fair—Carter had Hudson’s back as well, always.
Starting over in a new town had given Hudson the chance to present himself in a new way.
Where he would receive more respect from others.
It hadn’t taken long for Hudson to return to his natural state, which was happy and cheerful.
“I hope it’s a date,” Hudson confessed to his little buddy. “Your owner is an extremely attractive man. It was hard not to wonder how far down his chest the tattoos went.” He chuckled. “You probably know. You probably get to see him shirtless all the time.”
Bas did that rumble of a purr as he headbutted Hudson’s chest.
“I’m a big guy,” Hudson told the cat. “Back in the city when I tried to find a partner, the guys I was always interested in thought I was a top and didn’t feel like we’d be a good fit. You have no idea how many times that I’ve heard that I’m not meant to be a bottom. I know what I like though!”
It hurt. They said there was someone out there for everyone.
Hudson might be in his early thirties and still had time to find a partner, but he was starting to doubt that was true for him.
Women and smaller men seemed drawn to him, but Hudson was into men that wanted to dominate him.
Not meanly. He’d explored his kink side.
Being bossed around, tied up, spanked, and whipped.
Those things just weren’t what Hudson had been looking for.
There was a BDSM club in town that his brother was a member of. Carter had offered to bring Hudson as his guest if he wanted to try again. Hudson knew he hadn’t changed his mind. He wanted a partner who didn’t mind that he was bigger and would care for him.
Bastian’s face came to mind.
Bastian didn’t appear to be the type of man that would be easily intimidated. He might already have a boyfriend or girlfriend though. Some tiny little thing that Bastian doted and loved on.
“Is your owner even single?” Hudson scratched down Bas’s back.
Bas yowled.
“I don’t speak cat,” Hudson said with a laugh. “And still, I keep talking to you.”
“I wouldn’t worry unless he talks back.”
Hudson grinned at his brother as Carter carried two beers over. Carter passed Hudson a bottle then sat in the chair next to him.
“He does seem quite taken with you.” Carter waved the bottle of beer at Bas.
“We’re friends!” Hudson claimed.
Bas yowled as if he was agreeing.
Hudson kissed the top of his head. “Bas here is helping me figure out if his owner is interested in me as a boyfriend or not.”
“He called you attractive,” Carter pointed out.
“Cute and gorgeous,” Hudson corrected.
“Sounds pretty interested to me,” Carter said.
Hudson sure hoped so.