Page 7 of Beyond the Darkness (Basic Instincts #3)

An Evening at Home

Hudson turned his face into the full force of the shower faucet and surrendered, allowing the heat and pressure to ease some of the tension that had developed across the day.

An hour-long neck and back massage with a sports therapist would be great right now but he had to make do with the water.

He rolled his head and shrugged his shoulders, breathing deeply.

What a day.

By the time he’d finally left the rehearsal studios at seven, the stage door had been crowded with reporters and photographers.

A riot of opportunistic chaos. Rav had already put out a statement on behalf of the team but that hadn’t been enough to placate the demand for news and gossip.

Thankfully, Rav had also arranged a car for him, and he’d dived into the back seat and kept his gaze fixed straight ahead as they’d pulled away.

Of all the garbled questions he’d heard in the few moments it took to get from the door to the car, not one of them had mentioned Julian.

“Is the production jinxed…? Will the play go ahead…? Are you going back to America…? Do you think you’ll be next…?”

Fucking piranhas.

Ordinarily he would never have considered taking a car for a journey that took ten minutes to walk, but as they approached his building and he’d seen another band of reporters waiting, he’d been grateful that Rav had had the foresight to arrange one.

The driver got him as close to the door as possible.

Hudson had managed to say something about how much Julian had meant to him and how devasted he was for his family before shoving his way inside.

Now, his temporary home was no longer a sanctuary.

Hudson scrubbed his body from top to bottom, paying close attention his cock, balls and ass. He had no real expectation that his evening with Luke would amount to anything more than company, but it would boost his confidence to know he was squeaky clean anyway.

As he stepped out of the shower, he heard the doorbell.

He checked the time. Shit.

He grabbed a towel, wrapped it around his waist and hurried out of the bathroom.

Luke’s eyes widened in surprise when he opened the door.

“Am I early?”

“No. Sorry. It’s me. I think I’ve just spent a full twenty minutes in the shower. Come in.”

He was aware of the attention Luke paid to his body and suddenly felt very self-conscious standing there still wet.

His nipples had hardened and stood erect through his chest hair.

This was not how he’d intended for the evening to start.

He tightened the towel around his waist, suddenly aware of another burgeoning erection.

“How was it downstairs?” he asked as Luke followed him into the room. “Are the reporters still there?”

He couldn’t help wondering if Luke was looking at his ass.

“There are five of them still hanging around. They were speaking to someone who might be one of your neighbours.”

“Well, I don’t really know anyone in the building so there’s nothing they can tell them.”

“Those guys looked pretty pissed off when I came inside. They must think I have some kind of exclusive.” Luke raised a takeaway carrier. “I didn’t know what you’d want so I got a selection of Italian food. It can all be reheated whenever you’re ready.”

“Thanks. Why don’t you fix us both a drink and I’ll get dressed? There’s beer and wine in the fridge over there. Vodka and whisky in the bottom cupboard.”

“Oh,” Luke said with a cheeky grin. “I’m disappointed. I thought you were dressed for the evening.”

Hudson smiled back, a frisson going all through his body and tingling in his cock. “At least let me get dried.”

“Ha, yes. It’s probably best that you do. What do you want to drink?”

“I’ll have a glass of wine. There’s chardonnay in the refrigerator door.”

Hudson went into the bedroom, still grinning.

When the mass of journalists had descended on the Concert Hall, he’d known there was no chance of them ever going out for a quiet meal as they had planned. When he’d asked Luke to rearrange the date, it was Luke who had suggested picking up some takeaway food and spending the night in.

“I need to head back to the office for a while,” he’d said. “I can collect something for dinner once I’m done.”

Hudson had been grateful for the offer. He’d go mad if he’d had to spend an evening hiding in here alone.

He pulled the towel from his waist to dry his hair and was surprised to find his dick at full mast. It seemed incredible that he could be turned on after the kind of day he’d been through, but Luke was having that effect on him. The man’s charisma and sex appeal were so overwhelming.

He hurriedly towelled off, then put on deodorant and cologne, before deciding what to wear.

Luke was still in the clothes he’d been wearing all day.

It would look off if Hudson went all out in a fancy outfit.

He pulled on a pair of jeans without underwear, stuffing his now semi-hard cock inside, and a white shirt, leaving the top three buttons undone.

He was almost at the door when he paused, glancing back to his bedside table.

Impelled by a deep impulse, he hurried back over and unfastened his jeans.

In the top drawer was a selection of stainless-steel cock rings of varying weights and thickness, and a bunch of leather straps.

He pulled out a strap and looped it under his balls then around his cock, fastening it tight.

He immediately got harder. There was no certainty that this evening with Luke would lead anywhere, but the strap gave an instant boost to his confidence.

He adored the tightness around his ball sac, how it lifted and pushed his junk forward.

The linen shirt fell loosely over his groin, concealing the enhancement. Luke would only see what Hudson chose to reveal.

Luke was standing by the window when he came out. He looked so handsome in the evening light. There were two glasses of wine on the coffee table.

“Very nice,” he said, taking in Hudson’s attire. “Though I think I preferred what you had on when I came in.”

It had been a long time since Hudson had met a guy who was so confident and self-assured without being a total asshole.

“I’m glad you came,” Hudson said, sweeping up a wine glass. All at once he felt self-conscious and off kilter. Yesterday, he’d hated Luke and now here he was in his living room coming on strong.

Luke, seeming to sense his unease, changed the subject. “I hope you don’t mind, but I put the food in your oven on low. It will keep warm for a couple of hours without spoiling.”

“Thank you. I’ve barely eaten all day and I’m still not hungry.”

“It’s understandable.” Luke picked up his glass and sipped. “Fancy stepping outside? It’s a lovely night still, and I don’t think those journos downstairs will see if you stand back from the edge.”

Hudson nodded and followed him onto the balcony.

There was a small table and two chairs. He took Luke’s advice and pulled them closer to the window before sitting down.

The sky was streaked with shades of cobalt, magenta and cerulean blue.

The temperature was surprisingly balmy. Hudson had spent so much of the day cooped up indoors, he hadn’t appreciated it until now.

“This is the first time I’ve had anyone up since I arrived,” he said.

Luke sat beside him. “How are you feeling now? Knackered, I imagine.”

“Dazed and confused is more like it.”

“How did it go this afternoon?”

“Rav and Andie are still trying to figure it out. My agent is coming up from London in the morning. I’ve no idea if we’ll continue with the play or whether the entire production will be canned. There are no rehearsals tomorrow, I know that much at least.”

“I’m not aware of this ever happening before. Actors have died during production periods of other plays and the show has continued, but when it’s part of an ongoing murder investigation, well, I could be wrong, but I think it’s unprecedented.”

Hudson groaned and took another swallow of wine. “Did you hear anything further when you were in your office?”

“Only to confirm what we already knew. Julian was found in an alley along the quayside, not too far from The Blue Pearl, in fact. The roads are still closed off down that way. He appeared to have been stabbed, and multiple witnesses have confirmed there was a lot of blood at the scene.” Luke exhaled.

“While I was in the office, I wrote up a tribute article and retrospective on his career. It should be live on the website already and will go out in the print edition tomorrow. I think people will be genuinely surprised when they learn just how many things he’d been in.

He’s one of those actors who everyone will recognise by his face without necessarily knowing his name. ”

“They’ll know his name for the wrong reasons now. But thank you, for writing what you have.”

“How is Manuella?”

“She calmed down enough to give the police a statement. They had a few drinks together last night, and then Julian took her back to her hotel around eleven. I don’t think they’d gone any further than a mild flirtation, but the news seems to have hit her hard.”

“That should all be covered by the CCTV at her hotel, so it will give the police a starting point for tracing Julian’s movements afterwards.”

“I hadn’t even thought of that.” Hudson had finished his glass. He got up. “Might as well bring the whole damn bottle out. That first drink didn’t touch the sides.”

Luke was leaning over the balcony, looking out when Hudson returned. Man, that ass is so fine. Just like the rest of him.

“I think they’ve finally got the message down there,” Luke said. “I can’t see anyone at the main entrance now. Maybe one of your neighbours had enough and has moved them on.”

Hudson sat and refreshed their glasses. “I don’t know why they were even there. We made it clear this afternoon that we wouldn’t be making any further statements until tomorrow.”

Luke turned to face him, leaning against the balcony rail. Hudson’s eyes roamed all over his body before he forced his attention back to Luke’s face. He had to get a grip. His behaviour was so inappropriate.

“I didn’t recognise any of the reporters when I came in,” Luke said. “They must be from the nationals. They’re not local guys. This is a big story.”

Hudson grimaced.

“I’d love to know what happened to make you so anti-press,” Luke said. “But tonight is not the time for you to share it. Right?”

Any other reporter and Hudson would have guessed he was fishing for a lead, but for better or worse, he was already starting to trust Luke. He didn’t think that’s what was happening here, but even still. “No. I’ll tell you about it some time, but not tonight.”

Luke held his gaze. “Okay.”

“Can we change the subject for a while? My brain feels like it will implode if I talk about this much more.”

“Sure thing.” Luke jerked his head backwards. “I didn’t realise at first, but you’re right above The Viaduct here. I don’t suppose you even know what that place is yet.” He gently bit his top lip.

“I haven’t had time to explore the nightlife but I’m not blind,” Hudson said. “I’ve seen the lines to get into that place.” His cock was swelling again. He carefully crossed his legs. “Are you familiar with it?”

“I’ve been a few times. I know a lot of guys who turn their noses up at places like that, but I don’t have a problem. After a messy divorce, I found having sex with strangers to be far more desirable than going on dates when I had no interest in another relationship just yet.”

“What’s it like? The Viaduct?”

“To tell the truth, I don’t have experience of any other sex clubs to compare it with.

But it’s well run, it’s clean. It’s safe.

After the last few years in Blyham, it’s a damn sight safer than taking a guy home or hooking up with someone on an app.

There’s security staff. Other people. A community. ”

Luke sat beside him again. His long legs were stretched in front of him, crossed at the ankle. “How was that for a change of subject?” His dark eyes shone with good humour.

Hudson would only have to move his leg an inch or two to the left for them to be touching. He resisted the temptation. Inside his jeans, he was throbbing, his mind full of images and scenes, of meeting Luke in that club and taking him into the shadows. “Tell me about yourself.”

Luke grinned at him sideways. “There’s not a lot to say. I think you know most of it already.”

“Not really. You’ve only talked about your career. Tell me something about you.”

Luke adjusted his seat so they were facing each other.

He screwed up his eyes, as though giving it some thought.

“All right. I’m thirty-eight. I’m single.

My family are originally from Morocco, but they moved to the UK three years before I was born, so this is all I’ve ever known.

I’ve got an older sister and a younger brother.

My dad’s a doctor, my mother’s an art teacher.

Is this the kind of thing you wanted to know? ”

“Actually, it is,” Hudson said. He’d been pretty close in guessing Luke’s age and his sexy regional accent made it clear that he’d grown up in this area of England.

“Okay.” He sipped his wine and gazed at the sky before continuing. “Oh, what the hell. You already know I’m divorced. Might as well get that skeleton fully out of the closet. It was a short-lived marriage that proved nothing other than I had lousy taste in men for a while.”

“We’ve all got a past,” Hudson said. “And lots of mistakes.”

“Hmm, we do. I live alone now. I enjoy it that way. When I’m not working, I like a bit of time by myself to decompress and tune out the noise of life.

That’s why I prefer living along the coast rather than here in the city.

You’re never really alone in a place like Blyham.

There’re always too many people around.”

“I get that too,” Hudson said. “I spend so much time as part of a big team, I need my own space at the end of the day… Until tonight anyway. I’m grateful you came over. This is one time I didn’t want to be alone.”

Now Luke’s expression was serious. “Me neither. I’m glad you agreed to it.

I’ve been flippant until now but I’m serious.

More than anything, I’m glad that you’re prepared to trust me.

” He reached across and took hold of Hudson’s hand.

The gesture came as a shock, but the touch sent a thrill shooting all the way through his body.

“Thanks,” Hudson said. He leaned in closer. Close enough to smell him. To feel the heat of his body.

Then he put a hand on the back of Luke’s head and drew their mouths together. When their lips touched and their tongues pressed against each other, all Hudson’s concerns shrank away. This man, and what was happening between them, was the only thing that mattered.