Hudson led Shaney to his bed and tucked him in, but didn’t join him. He leaned down and placed a sweet kiss on Shaney’s lips.
“Sweet dreams, baby,” he whispered.
Before Hudson could pull away, Shaney gripped his upper arms. “When I first met you, I didn’t think you liked me.”
Hudson frowned. “I’m haven’t been with many people in my life. I tend to be closed off and distant due to a few failed relationships. Being gay here, well, I’m sure you know how hard that can be. Not many people know I’m gay. I’ve been alone for a long time, and I don’t want to be alone anymore. I want to try to be different.” Hudson licked nervously at his lips.
Shaney wanted to wrap the man up tight, hold him close and tell him that he didn’t have to be alone ever again. That might be a bit too presumptuous, though.
“Get some rest and yell if you need anything,” Hudson said.
Shaney smirked. “Anything?”
Hudson’s gave him a sly smile. “Rest first and then anything, okay?”
Shaney nodded and yawned widely, snuggling into the blanket and the smell of Hudson.
* * * *
The slamming of a door roused Shaney from his slumber. The large windows were dark. He must have needed the rest, but damn, he could have spent the time he’d slept with Hudson. Visions of their mutual humping flooded his groin with a rush of blood. The number of erections he’d had this week alone had to be record-breaking. Hudson calling him ‘baby’, kissing him, marking him, caring for him, would only increase the number and intensity of future hard-ons. He reached down to stroke his shaft, and then remembered there was someone who could help with his growing problem.
He clicked on the lamp on the nightstand. A note caught his attention.
“Had to run out for a bit. Dinner’s in the oven. Be back soon, Love, H.”
Oh, shit. ‘Love, H.’
A wide grin split Shaney’s face. The man had settled deep into his bones. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Hunky was every fantasy man that had ever starred in Shaney’s dreams. Could someone like Hudson really want someone as screwed up as Shaney? Just opening his mouth had sent the few dates Shaney’d had since high school running. Wait until Hudson had to endure the curiosity, the misadventures, the impulsiveness, the inability to sustain attention. Shaney’s family and Todd were the only ones who had stuck around long term, and even they needed periodic Shaney breaks.
Shaney’s elation deflated, as did his erection. He had to do something to keep Hudson from running away, screaming. Past attempts utilizing self-control to rein in those flaws had ended in failure. Maybe medication was the answer. Heaven knew pretty much everyone he’d either ever met had asked Shaney if he’d forgotten to take his meds or highly recommended them. For Hudson, Shaney would try anything.
Shaney pushed off the bed. On the dresser, he found his jeans, washed and folded. He stepped out of the ginormous sweats and slipped on his pants. Amazingly, the bloodstains were gone. Totally hot, and the man could get out stubborn stains! The images of a bare-chested Hudson, vigorously scrubbing stains, sweat glistening on his skin, assaulted Shaney. Hudson was definitely a keeper.
Shaney wandered down into the kitchen where the view of the moon sparkling on the surface of the pond caught his attention. Opening the French doors, he stepped onto the large expanse of deck. The air chilled his bare arms and feet, but he lingered at the railing, soaking in the serene calm. A light breeze carried the croaks of frogs and chirps of the crickets. Someday he would live by the water. Whether this pond, or one of the hundreds of others in the Adirondacks, he would reside wherever the chaos was calmed.
Raised voices suddenly caught his attention. He cocked his head to discern their direction. On a calm night, voices carried over the pond, but these sounded close. Walking toward the back of the house, he found the inside of the barn illuminated. Next to the barn was Hudson’s truck.
Despite lacking shoes, Shaney went down the stairs and crossed the cold, dew-covered grass, stopping at the open doors of the barn. A deep, angry voice came from the back of the barn, the words indiscernible. Shaney slipped inside, carefully avoiding the occasional nail or screw lying on the floor. There were two distinct voices, one unmistakably Hudson’s. He sounded pissed at someone. Fuck, had Todd shown up? Shaney focused on the second voice and made his way deeper inside. The voices were actually coming from above him. The loft that Hudson had warned him wasn’t safe.
Shaney paused at the bottom of the stairs. The light shining down the stairwell, illuminated shoe prints in the thick dust, which, days ago, had been undisturbed.