Page 14 of Beyond the Darkness (Basic Instincts #3)

Early Evening Heat

Once the sun left the front of the house, the temperature dropped. Molly leapt from Luke’s lap, stretched, and sauntered off in search of somewhere warmer.

“I think that’s our cue to move inside too,” Luke said.

The purpose of coming to the beach had been to help Hudson relax, and in the last hour he had achieved that. It was surprising how calming it could be chilling with a hot guy and a cute cat.

Hudson was pleased to note that Luke had locked the front door behind them.

He hadn’t wanted to spoil the mood by mentioning it, but on the wacky chance that Julian’s killer was obsessed with Red Hills Massacre, they couldn’t afford to be complacent.

It continued to rile him that the stupid old movie occupied so much space in his head.

He refused to allow it to spoil anything else today.

They slipped off their shoes at the door and he followed Luke into the kitchen, admiring the firm flex of his butt cheeks at he walked.

“Hungry?” Luke asked.

He realised it was after eight. “Actually, I’m not. Not yet anyway.”

“Me neither. Beer then.” Luke reached into the fridge. He produced and uncapped two bottles. “Cheers,” he said, handing one to Hudson.

“Cheers.” They clinked bottle necks.

The kitchen was small but stylish, with buttermilk-coloured units, black granite counters and dark oak flooring.

“You did all this?” Hudson gestured around the room with the bottle.

“It was all my idea, but I didn’t do the physical work. I’m a writer, not a joiner. This was the last part of the house to be renovated. The most expensive, too. I had to save up a while before I could afford it.”

“But worth the wait to get exactly what you wanted.”

“Exactly. Want to see the rest of the house?”

“I’d love to. Lead the way.”

Off the kitchen was a small patio area, with outdoor dining table and chairs, and views of fields and moorland behind. “The outlook can’t compete with the front, but I like it. It’s more private, too. No traffic passing in this direction.”

“It’s stunning.” The nearest properties to the rear were nothing more than tiny boxes of colour on the distant landscape. “Don’t you ever feel isolated out here?”

“Not at all. I’m just a few miles from the city. There’s even a pub in walking distance if I want to get out without taking the car.”

Upstairs there was a very small bathroom, with a shower over the tub.

“The one drawback of living in a small house. There was no way to expand on the bathroom without losing another room, but it’s a sacrifice I was prepared to make.”

Next was a compact study, with barely room for a desk and chair. The desk was piled high with books on art, theatre and history.

“That reminds me. I ordered your book about the Empire Theatre. It arrived yesterday.”

Luke’s mouth popped open. “You did?”

“I’m afraid to say I haven’t had concentration to do more than flick through it so far.”

“Hardly surprising. I would have given you a copy if I’d known you were interested.”

“No chance. I don’t want freebies. I want to support local talent.”

“Very noble of you.”

Luke’s thigh brushed against Hudson’s as they stepped back into the hall, sending a frisson of excitement all through his body.

There was a small bedroom at the rear of the house, with unspoiled views of the fields behind. “Guest room,” Luke explained. “Not that I do a lot of entertaining here.”

“You already mentioned that before. You like time by yourself on your days off.”

He grinned. “Well remembered.”

The main bedroom was the largest of the upstairs rooms. The first thing to impress was the wide window with a clear view of the sea beyond.

The evening sky was still a spectacular shade of blue.

The floor was the same dark oak as the kitchen, with a colourful rug in front of the window.

The large double bed was dressed with immaculate cream covers and pillowcases.

“This is like a luxury Airbnb,” Hudson said. “Are you sure you really live here?”

Luke laughed. “I forgot to mention I’m also a tidy freak. Never leave the house each morning without making the bed and clearing away the clutter.”

“You don’t strike me as a clutter kind of person.”

“And you’d be right.”

In the shadowy light of the room, with his strong nose and chiselled cheekbones, Luke looked like a matinee idol from Hollywood’s golden era. Hudson’s pulse, which had already been running fast, quickened further. He swallowed. “I’ve just realised where you’ve led me to.”

“Ah, and I thought my plan was watertight.”

“I guess it is. It worked, didn’t it?”

Luke’s eyes glistened. “It did. There’s something else.” He stepped around Hudson, his groin brushing against his butt as he did. He slid open the top drawer of the bedside cabinet. “I’ve been shopping.” He reached inside and produced a box of condoms.

Hudson flushed with relief, delight and pure pleasure. He pulled his wallet from his pocket and opened it. “So have I.” Inside was a strip of four condoms.

They stared at each other. Lips wide, their eyes full of hunger, they pounced across the room.

Hudson grabbed Luke’s head in both hands, fixing his mouth on top of his.

Luke’s hands went around his body, one hand gripping his shoulder, the other resting on the curve of his spine.

They kissed deeply, pushing their tongues against each other’s.

Hudson moaned as Luke ground his hardness onto him. There was no mistaking his intent.

Then Luke’s hands were under Hudson’s T-shirt, pulling it over his chest. They broke from the kiss just long enough for Luke to haul the garment over Hudson’s head and cast it to the floor.

Hudson shuddered when Luke’s hands caressed bare skin.

He’d been longing to be touched like this ever since that first time on Wednesday night.

“God, you’re gorgeous,” Luke said, pressing kisses along the side of his jaw.

Hudson gripped him, savouring his body, the heat, the smell, every part of him. He tugged at Luke’s shirt, pulling upwards until it was free. They pressed their bodies together, bare skin against skin. Hudson moved his mouth along Luke’s neck, down to his shoulder, tasting him.

Luke matched Hudson’s hunger, beat for beat, pulling at his belt and fly to release his shorts. Hudson lifted his hips, wriggling until they were clear of his ass, and kicked them off the end of the bed.

“You’ve done it again,” he said between kisses.”

“What’s that?” Luke murmured.

“I’m completely naked and you’re not.”

Luke’s hands wandered across his torso, going down, gripping his cock. “Yes, you are. I like you this way.” He tightened his hold, taking Hudson’s balls and the base of his dick in a firm grasp. Hudson was wearing his black leather strap. “Do you wear this all the time?”

“Only when I want to feel good.”

“Oh, you definitely feel good,” Luke said, squeezing him tighter.

Hudson grabbed at Luke’s belt, unfastening the buckle, tearing into his shorts. He shoved them over his ass, releasing him and getting off his underwear too. Luke squirmed until he was free and shoved them to the floor with Hudson’s.

“Better?” he asked.

“A hundred per cent.”

They pressed their naked bodies together, writhing and thrusting their hard cocks. Hudson’s abdomen was soon moist with the slick of their shared pre-cum.

“I want to fuck you,” Luke whispered as they fell onto the bed.

It wasn’t something they had discussed in any great depth—their preferred positions for sex. It didn’t matter. Hudson wanted him and would take him anyway that he could. He spread his thighs wide, arching his back to offer himself. “Have me,” he said. “Have all of me.”

Luke climbed on top of him, getting between his open legs. He slid his fingers into his crack, locating his hot opening, gently stroking and teasing. “I’ve been thinking about this since Wednesday night. Despite everything else that’s happened, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind.”

He reached across to the bedside drawers and grabbed a bottle of lube to go with the condoms. Luke put a condom on first, before dribbling lube onto his fingers and returning them to Hudson’s ass.

Hudson shivered with delight as the cool liquid made contact with his hole. Luke eased a cautious finger into him.

“Tell me if I’m going too far. If I hurt you.”

Hudson hooked his arms around the backs of his knees, rolling them into his chest to show Luke just how eager he was. “Don’t worry about me. I like it rough.”

Luke’s dark eyes widened as he squirmed another finger into him. “Is that a fact?” He slipped back and forth, opening Hudson’s tight passage.

“As rough as it gets.”

Luke poured more lube into his palm and covered his dick, before moving into position between Hudson’s thighs.

Hudson rolled his hips even higher, bringing them into perfect alignment.

He needed this. He needed Luke, more than he had on Wednesday, when they’d both been numb with shock.

He wanted to feel the fullness of this beautiful man inside him, to feel their two bodies united.

Luke pushed the head of his cock into the opening, then leaned over, pressing his mouth against Hudson’s, kissing him all the while as he thrust inside.

The stretch was intense as Hudson opened.

For a few seconds it seemed impossible that he would be able to take him.

He’d overestimated his abilities. It had been too long since he’d been fucked. He couldn’t do it.

And then there was release as Luke pushed through his body’s natural resistance. They groaned, their tongues thrusting. Luke’s balls nudged against his upturned ass, filling him completely.

Hudson had what he wanted. He let go of his legs and wrapped them around Luke’s waist, drawing him closer, deeper.

“Yes,” he groaned. “Now fuck me good.”

Luke ground into him, kissing, plunging further. In no time, their skin was wet with sweat, their bellies sliding together. Hudson arched his back, relishing the sensation of being so utterly full.

“Let me turn around,” he gasped after a while. “Take me from behind.”

Luke pulled out, leaving him temporarily empty. Hudson scrambled onto all fours and pushed his butt at Luke. Luke shoved back into him and grabbed his waist in both hands. Soon his lean hips clapped against Hudson’s ass.

Hudson had almost forgotten how great it was to surrender his body completely to another man. He dropped his head and shoulders to the bed and raised his ass. “Harder,” he demanded. “Fuck me harder.”

Luke jabbed into him with hard, staccato thrusts.

“Like this?” Luke hissed.

“Yes. Yes. Fucking destroy me.”

He would never have believed until he came into this room that he would let his guard down completely, especially to a man he’d been opposed to just a few days earlier.

Luke wrapped his arms around Hudson, pulling him upright. With his chest pressed against Hudson’s back, he buried his face in the crook of his neck. Hudson reached backwards, seizing Luke’s hips and pulling him tighter against his buttocks, wanting all of him inside.

Hudson’s hair was plastered to his face. His eyes stung with sweat. This was what he’d been missing for too long—being dominated, being ridden for someone’s else pleasure.

They changed position again and again. Hudson wanted to experience Luke and his big cock in every way he could.

Best of all was when Luke rolled him onto his back and grabbed his ankles, holding his legs high and wide, and pounded him.

The angle brought his cock in perfect alignment with Hudson’s prostate.

Hudson put his hands behind his head to avoid the temptation of touching himself.

His pleasure was already at a heightened peak.

The slightest extra stimulus would tip him over.

He gazed at Luke as they fucked. His handsome face was flushed dark with passion.

He bared his teeth and gasped with every thrust.

“Can’t hold on much longer,” Luke said.

“Come inside me,” Hudson pleaded. “Let me have it.”

Luke’s cries became louder and more desperate sounding.

Hudson watched him carefully, wanting to time it so they came together.

When Luke appeared like he could take no more, Hudson gripped his own cock.

The explosions started instantly. A profound feeling deep in his balls that pulsed all through his groin, heightened by the tight strap.

Delaying, prolonging the intense pleasure, until finally he spurted, one intense pulse of pure ecstasy after another, spewing white-hot cum across his belly.

They collapsed in a shuddering heap. Luke fell across Hudson. Their bodies were on fire. Their hearts hammered against their ribcages.

“Holy shit,” Hudson cried, gasping for air.

Luke lay helplessly on top of him. Hudson wrapped his legs around his waist again, reluctant to release him, despite being so utterly satisfied.

Luke eventually pushed up onto his elbows. His face, right above Hudson’s, seemed more beautiful than ever in the low evening light of the room.

“That was fucking hot,” Hudson said at last.

Luke kissed him on the mouth. “It sure was. I can’t remember when I last felt so in tune with anyone.”

Once they had cleaned up and disposed of the condom, they lay naked on top of the bed, above the covers.

The warmth of the day lingered in the bedroom.

Through the open window came the sound of the sea against the beach, the distant squawk of gulls.

Hudson lay beside Luke, his right leg draped across his thigh, his arm flung carefully across his chest.

“Want to spend the night?” Luke asked.

“If that’s all right with you.” Now that he was here, Hudson had no wish to return to the city. Blyham was becoming oppressive, stifling. Although they were only a few miles away, everything seemed much freer, more welcoming out here.

Less dangerous.

Luke ran his hand along the backs of Hudson’s shoulders.

“It’s more than all right. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday night than with you.”

“What about Saturday morning?”

“Well, I’ve always said the nicest part of going to bed with a man is waking up next to him.”