Chapter Eight #2
“Is that where Bastian is?” Hudson asked.
“Uh, I don’t think so,” Sam said. “I believe he left there earlier.”
Bas gave a big yawn before he flipped back over onto his stomach. He leapt off Hudson’s lap and took off running toward the forest before Hudson could think of catching him.
“Is that okay?” Hudson moved to the edge of his chair, planning to go after the little nuisance if necessary.
“He does that,” Noah assured him. “Now, before Bastian gets here, we need all the gossip.”
“Gossip?” he repeated.
“About you and Bastian,” Noah said. He kicked his feet from side to side. “Tell us everything!”
“Noah!” Sam shook his head. “Bas…Bastian is going to strangle you.”
“Not if he doesn’t know!” Noah argued with a grin. “Spill it, Hudson.”
Hudson laughed. “I don’t know what you want me to say. He’s genuinely nice and I’m looking forward to our date.”
“Boring!” Noah sing-songed.
He could feel his face turning red. “I…I don’t think it’s proper to talk about more intimate things.”
Noah made a face. “No! I don’t want to hear that. What is it with this family? Yuck!”
Now he was confused. Wasn’t that what Noah had been asking? EJ would demand every little detail if Hudson was a sharer.
“Noah is asexual,” Sam told him. “He loves cuddles and touching but any sex talk makes him extremely uncomfortable.”
“It’s just so freely talked about,” Noah complained. “Save some things for behind the closed door.”
“I apologize, Noah. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” Hudson said sincerely.
“You didn’t,” Noah assured him. “It’s just hard living with so many happy couples and throuples.
I mean I love that they’re in love, you know, but I might have walked in on Lawson and Drake getting it on in the kitchen earlier.
The kitchen. That’s why I had to pop over to see my friends. I just wanted a snack!”
Hudson was trying so hard not to smile. Noah was adorable as he pouted about walking in on a couple.
“I want to know how you feel about our resident grump,” Noah clarified. “Feelings! Why can’t we talk about our feelings?”
“He’s not really that grumpy. Bastian is sweet.” He’d brought Hudson and his crew pizza and donuts during a rough shift. Bastian had been protective and nice to Aspen when the young man had been scared.
“Sure, when you don’t accidentally wake him from a nap,” Noah said. “Then he’s all claws and teeth.”
“We’re talking about the human Bastian, not the cat Bas, aren’t we?” Hudson questioned with a laugh. Because he could totally see Bas being pissed off about being woken up. The yowls had been loud.
“Sometimes it’s the same,” Noah replied.
He was about to ask more about it when Bastian stepped out of the same back door that Sam and Noah had come from.
“And there goes my chance,” Noah said with a long sigh.
“He’s going to get his revenge,” Sam warned as he rose.
“You don’t have to leave,” Hudson told them even though his attention was on Bastian crossing the yard toward him.
“Nah, I think I’ll have Noah take me to Adam’s. Shawn can pick me up there.”
“It was nice talking to you,” Hudson told them.
“Next time I’ll make sure we get more time alone to gossip,” Noah whispered.
“I have Luci on speed dial,” Bastian hollered.
There was no way that Bastian could have heard Noah, so it must be a threat used often. Was Luci scary? Hudson couldn’t see anyone really able to control Noah.
Noah rolled his eyes. “No one uses speed dials anymore. Hardly anyone even has landlines! That is such an outdated expression. We use cell phones now. All the numbers are programmed in.”
Huh, Noah had a point.
“Okay, don’t make me call Luci and have him summon you,” Bastian said as he stomped up the steps.
“Fine!” Noah grabbed Sam’s hand. “Let’s go. Maybe Adam saved us some food.”
“He always has extras in case one of his minions stops by,” Sam replied.
Summoned? Minions? What was going on here? It was like they were speaking another language.
Not that it mattered when Bastian stepped in front of him, reaching automatically to pull Hudson into a hug.
Oh! Hugs were the best. Hudson wrapped his arms around Bastian’s back as he buried his face into the soft dark blue T-shirt. Bastian smelled so good. Like earth and grass.
“That looks like a very good hug!” Noah yelled. “The next time I hug you, you’d better not stand there with stiff arms.”
Bastian sighed as he pulled away. “Sorry I’m late.”
“It was fine. Bas kept me company then Sam and Noah came out.”
“I’m glad Bas was still here,” Bastian said. Leaning in, Bastian kissed him.
Hudson had enjoyed his time hanging out with his furry friend, but this was what he’d come for. Returning the kiss, Hudson put everything that he was feeling but couldn’t communicate into the movement of his lips and the stroke of his tongue.
Bastian’s strong arms gripped his ass, causing Hudson to moan into his mouth.
They’d started this earlier, and it was fantastic. Also, one-sided once again. Bastian had gotten to feel and taste Hudson. This time Hudson was going to get to do the same. The chemistry between them was off the charts.
Bastian began to slow the kiss then drew back. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
Lowering his hand, Hudson grasped Bastian’s cock through his jeans. “You know what I want.”
“I want you too, baby.” Bastian interlocked their fingers. “Come inside with me.”
“Yes please.” He allowed himself to be drawn forward then stopped. “Bas went into the forest. Should we go find him?”
Bastian shook his head. “He’s fine out there.”
“What about wild animals? He could get eaten!”
Turning, Bastian cupped his face. “He’s at home in trees. And do you really want an audience?”
No, no he did not. “I just want you.”
“Come on, baby.” Bastian was more insistent this time.
That totally worked for Hudson. He’d taken a very long and productive shower when he’d gotten home. Hudson was ready for a long night of being with Bastian. Food would have to happen later but he’d gobbled down a quickly made sandwich so his stomach wouldn’t betray him.
Bastian even locked the door after they entered the house. “Just in case.”
Hudson giggled but as he was being pulled in the direction of the bedroom, he knew that he would be thankful later for not being interrupted.
He should probably be nervous but instead anticipation filled Hudson. Bastian entered the bedroom first and this time it was Hudson who closed the door. The bedroom was done in simple warm tones that seemed standard. There were no pictures or many personal items in here.
Turning, Bastian turned to Hudson and pulled him close.
“If you want to stop at any time, just say the word. I want to make sure that you’re comfortable.”
“Same for you,” Hudson replied. “I want you to be comfortable with what we do as well.” This time it wouldn’t be just about him.
Not that he didn’t appreciate that Bastian was selfless with his affection and taking care of Hudson’s needs.
Hudson wanted their partnership to be fully equal as well.
He might crave Bastian’s dominance but that didn’t mean that he would just be a taker in the relationship.
Hudson enjoyed caring for his boyfriends too.
“I just want to be with you.” Bastian cupped his face to peer into his eyes. “From the moment I saw you I couldn’t believe my eyes. A gorgeous, sweet big boy that lit up the entire world.”
That was such a wonderful thing to say! Leaning forward, Hudson brushed their lips together before whispering, “I thought you were sexy and hot.”
Bastian chuckled. “I’m glad.”
“Although I was wondering if you were a responsible pet owner,” Hudson teased.
“I swear I am.” Running his hands over Hudson’s shoulders and down his arms was distracting.
“Bas seems very content,” he managed. Why were they even talking about his furry friend? Oh! He was the one that had brought it up. “I don’t want to talk about Bas.”
Bastian smirked. “What would you like to talk about then?”
“Nothing!” Hudson huffed.
“How about I take off your shirt?” Bastian tugged at the hem.
“Yes!” That would definitely get them going in the right direction.
Pulling at Hudson’s T-shirt, Bastian lifted the material up Hudson’s torso then over his head.
“I love your body,” Bastian said as he kissed the hollow of Hudson’s neck.
“Your turn,” Hudson ordered. This time he was going to be able to see his man.
Reaching back, Bastian grabbed the collar of his shirt before it was coming off.
The tattoos that Hudson had only seen in pictures started at Bastian’s collar, working their way down his chest, across his stomach, to stop just above his waistband.
There black ink was a mixture of swirls, circles, and gorgeous designs.
Hudson might not know what any of it meant but they went together beautifully.
His fingers shook with excitement as he placed his palm over one dark circle between Bastian’s pecs. “They say that most tattoos have a meaning. Do these?”
“Yes.” Bastian’s eyes had darkened. “My ink is about losing and finding myself.”
“Losing yourself?”
“I was incredibly young when my family was taken from me. I grew up in the same government housing as Leo and Aaron. That was how they first met,” Bastian said.
He sucked in a horrified breath. “When you say taken—”
“They were murdered. It’s a long story that I will tell you but not tonight. I want tonight to be about us.”
Hudson nodded in understanding. “But I thought Leo and Gavin were brothers? Isn’t that why you moved here?”
“It is,” Bastian confirmed. “Leo grew up thinking that Gavin had been killed. Gavin thought the same. It wasn’t until Stryker stole Leo’s RV and Aaron began to track it down that the two were reunited.”
“Stryker stole Leo’s RV?” How did someone go about stealing something that…big? And expensive.
Bastian chuckled. “I can see many nights ahead of us where I share the antics of this family.”
“But you do see them as a family?” As they spoke, Hudson couldn’t help but run his hand across Bastian’s warm chest and stomach.