Page 15 of Beyond the Darkness (Basic Instincts #3)

Night into Morning

By eleven o’clock there was still a hint of daylight in the night sky.

Hudson would not have been aware of the fact if he’d been in the city.

Even from his balcony, the urban light pollution would have spoiled the sight, but from Luke’s living room, with the patio doors wide open to the elements, he had the perfect opportunity to take it all in.

They sat together on the sofa, their bare feet propped on a solid wood coffee table, drinking and enjoying the chilled-out mood.

Luke had made a light tuna Nicoise for dinner, cobbled together from the refrigerator, and they’d spent the rest of the evening just where they were. Hudson could still make out the gentle white caps of waves rippling the surface of the sea just a hundred yards away.

“Doesn’t it ever flood?” he asked. A slight promenade on the other side of the road was all that stood between the sea and the house.

“Not in the time I’ve been here. It was a worry when I first moved in, but even at high tide, the water doesn’t come anywhere close to the road. I guess it’s something to do with the local geography or seabed that I don’t understand.”

The house was small, but Hudson had to admit that what it lacked in size was more than compensated for by the spectacular locations and views.

“Do you plan to stay here long?” he asked.

“As long as I’m working in the area, I can’t see any reason to move.

I would hate to go back into the city. I used to live near to where you’re staying now when I first came to Blyham.

It was ideal at first. Close to work, to the theatre and galleries.

I was younger then, and more eager to go out on the gay scene too.

The novelty soon wore off all those things. ”

“I get that. I used to be the same. Wherever I went, I wanted to check out the gay scenes, hit the bars and clubs, meet local guys. I’ve barely seen anything since I got here.”

“I could say it’s not as good a scene as it used to be, but that’s probably more to do with me.

The bars haven’t changed much in the time I’ve lived here.

It didn’t used to be as violent as it is now.

I’m not sure how safe I’d feel in the gay triangle at night these days.

Especially on my own. I was talking to a guy at work, just a couple of weeks ago, who was followed by a group of guys in a car, taunting him and hurling insults.

He had to take shelter in a late-night coffee shop until they got bored and moved on. ”

“Assholes.”

“Absolutely. Sadly, there are a lot of them about.”

“Have you always been out to your family?”

“Not always, no. For a long time, in my late teens and early twenties, I wasn’t even out to myself.

I found it a struggle. My parents were a dream.

They’ve always been open-minded and liberal in their thinking, but it took me a long time to accept myself.

I was at uni when I had my first boyfriend. ”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Not about your parents, about your self-doubts.”

Luke laughed. “Oh, I had a lot going on as a teenager. My sexuality was a small problem next to everything else. Racism, bullying. The place we lived when I was growing up was not the most tolerant. It was only when I went to university in Manchester that I could relax and finally be myself.”

Hudson stroked his bare thigh. It was good to have Luke open up to him like this. He wanted to know so much more about him. “What did you study?”

“Literature and journalism.”

“I thought you might have said drama. Given how much you love theatre.”

“I do love theatre, but the last thing I want to do is get up on a stage.” He shuddered. “All those people watching. All that expectation. It fills me with horror. I always wanted to be a writer, so that’s the path I followed.”

“And something you’ll stick with?”

“Mmm. As long as I can. I’d like to branch out into other kinds of writing besides journalism. I’d love to do another book. I just haven’t latched onto a suitable subject yet. I’d even like to write a novel one day. How about you? Has your career panned out the way you wanted?”

Hudson laughed. “Fuck no. I mean, I’m doing all right now and love the opportunities I’ve been given to work on the stage, especially in Europe, but I can’t say my career has gone the way I envisaged.”

Luke shifted to look at him more directly. “How come? You had quite a few leading man parts in your twenties. Rom coms and such. Would you like to have continued that?”

Hudson squirmed slightly. “Those were not the happiest days of my career. Sure, I’d love to get those lead roles again in big budget movies, but not at the expense of my sanity.

” He noticed the curious look on Luke’s face and continued.

“To play those romantic leads, shit, even to play in those shitty horror films, I had to master two roles. The character in the movie and the role of straight leading man.”

“Oh,” Luke said. “I get it.”

“People say things have changed for the better, but they used to say that back then too. Sure, there are more openly queer actors working today, but how many of them are getting mainstream work, let alone playing straight leads? Maybe two. The rest are just as closeted as I had to be.”

“What made you decide to come out?”

“I didn’t decide at all. I was outed. And as soon as I was, the offers of work vanished.” He blew an imaginary puff of smoke. “Just like that. Overnight, I was nobody.”

“Shit,” Luke said. “I didn’t know it was so bad. To be honest, I’m more familiar with your theatre work than movies. Obviously, I remember you from Red Hills Massacre too.”

Hudson groaned. “Can we not talk about that shit again. Please.”

“Sorry.”

“It was a huge fucking hit. Number one at the American box office for two weeks, but I don’t want to be remembered as the dude who got chopped up with an axe by a killer in a baby mask. All while wearing a pair of underpants.” He sighed. “I wish I’d never accepted the damn part. Especially now.”

Luke squeezed his thigh. “Sorry, again. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Let’s not spoil what’s been a bloody amazing night because of it. How about a nightcap? Something to calm the nerves.”

“That sounds perfect.”

Luke stood and stretched. His body looked extraordinary, seen from behind, with the doors open to the night in front of him.

If Hudson was a director and shooting a movie right now, that was an image he’d use in the film and the trailer.

Hell, it was good enough to put on the poster.

Luke collected the empty glasses and headed to the kitchen.

Hudson inhaled the clean sea air and sank deeper in the sofa. The tension that had built over these last few days would probably never ease, but spending time with Luke this evening, enjoying his company and his beautiful house, had gone a long way towards making him feel better.

* * * *

Sunlight flooded the bedroom early the next morning.

Hudson woke around five-thirty with Luke spooning into his back, his hard cock pressing against his ass.

He rolled over into his arms and the sex that followed was spontaneous and passionate.

Afterwards they fell into a light sleep, their arms around each other.

The peace was broken by a loud knocking at the front door.

“What?” Luke grumbled, pushing onto his elbows.

“What time is it?” Hudson asked, shielding his eyes against the light.

Luke checked his watch on the bedside table. “Seven-thirty. Who the hell does that on a Saturday morning?”

More heavy banging at the door.

“It sounds like someone is trying to break in,” Hudson said.

“I’ll break something when I find out who it is.” Luke swung his legs off the bed and stood. He pulled on last night’s shorts without underwear and lunged out of the room, still half asleep and unsteady. When the knocking came again, he yelled, “Hold on. I’m coming.”

It sounded to Hudson like someone was beating in the door with their fists. It gave him an instant bad feeling. He got out of bed and pulled on his own shorts, crossing to the window.

There was an unfamiliar car on the drive, parked at an awkward angle, as though the driver had just slewed in from the main road.

Leaning forward, he could just make out the head and shoulders of a man at the door.

He had a dark blond crew cut which was heavily receded at the front. Hudson didn’t recognise him.

Luke opened the door.

“Good fucking night, was it?” The man’s voice carried clearly up to the bedroom. He took a few steps backwards, bouncing from foot to foot. His face, all the way up into the hairline, was puce.

“What are you doing here?” Luke said. Though his voice was quieter than the blond guy’s, his anger was just as clear.

“You’re fucking actors now, are you? Rich and famous. The likes of me aren’t good enough for you?”

Shit. Who is this asshole? Luke had told him more than once that he was single, so who was this prick pulling the angry boyfriend act?

“I don’t need to guess who told you,” Luke said. “But it’s neither his business nor yours. Get back in your car and get stuffed, Kris.”

Kris swept his arms around, his chest held out. Hudson could see the flare of his nostrils from above. “Benito is a mate. He cares about me. Not like you.”

Benito? The cop. What does he have to do with this?

“You’ve been drinking, haven’t you?”

Kris grimaced. “That’s all you ever say. Of course I haven’t been drinking. It’s not even eight o’clock.”

“Then you had a real skinful last night. You reek of booze. You shouldn’t be driving in this state.”

“I’m in a state because of you.” He jabbed his finger at Luke. “You. I notice you’re not denying anything. So, how long have you been fucking him?”

This has to be the ex-husband. Jesus. No wonder the marriage didn’t last.

Hudson wondered if he should go down. He wanted to back Luke up but knew nothing about this situation. Perhaps the sight of him might tip Kris completely over the edge. The man looked like he was on the verge of losing it already.

When Luke spoke again, his voice was calm. “You don’t have any claim over me, Kris. I don’t know how many times, or how many ways, I have to tell you that. We’ve been finished for a long time.”

“You’ll never be rid of me. That’s what marriage means. You’ll come back to me—we both know it. Why’d you have to spoil it by fucking that bastard Yank?”

“I’m not going to argue with you anymore. You don’t know the situation and you don’t want me to call the police.”

“For what?” he yelled. “Visiting my husband in my own fucking house?”

Hudson wondered if he should call the cops himself. This guy was so wound up he was a danger to Luke.

“I’m not your husband and this is not your house.” Luke’s voice was astonishingly composed. The more irate Kris became, the calmer Luke was. “Now go away, and don’t come back. I don’t want to see you again.”

“He’s still in there, isn’t he?” Kris looked at the bedroom window and locked eyes with Hudson. The redness in his face seemed to deepen. “He’s there. You bastard whore. He’s up there.” He waved his fist at Luke.

Hudson had heard enough. This asshole was going to hurt Luke if he wasn’t stopped. He hurried for the stairs.

“Kris, this is your last warning. You’ve got one minute to get in your car and get off my drive. If you’re still there, then I’m calling the police and I’m telling them everything.”

Luke closed the door as Hudson reached the bottom step. He put his full weight against it and turned the lock. Outside, Kris continued to shout, but any sense he might have made was lost inside his rage.

Luke’s ear was pressed against the door. They held their breath, listening.

At last, there was the roar of an engine and grinding of gears. Hudson moved to the front window and watched as the car tore off along the seafront road.

Luke was still pressed against the door. Hudson put his arms around him from behind and felt his entire body shaking.

There was nothing he could say.

Hudson hugged him silently and tried to reassure him.