"Son, love is a precious gift, but love alone isn't enough to weather the storms in life. You know as well as I do that life can be hard, messy, infuriating, terrifying, and unfair, and love will certainly help ease the pain," Thomas said, taking Julia's hand in his. "But unless you use that love as a foundation to build on, you'll get swept away in the maelstrom."
Hudson nodded his understanding. He smiled warmly at Thomas before motioning to the Cornish pasties. "Your secret's safe with me."
Julia placed several pasties on a plate and handed them to Thomas with a kiss. Thomas thanked Hudson for the pasties, then declared he'd be upstairs watching his favorite TV show and instructed Julia on hiding the remaining pasties. Then he looked up at Hudson with those big green eyes filled with hope.
"Stay for dinner?"
Hudson caved so quickly it was pitiful. "Of course."
With a wink, Thomas took his plate of pasties and was off.
Hudson turned to Julia, arching an eyebrow at her. "Oh, he's good."
"Honey, that look is how we ended up with three boys. By the time Ethan was born, I made sure I was immune to it."
Hudson waggled his eyebrows. "Not completely immune, I'm sure."
Julia gasped and playfully swatted his arm with a laugh. "Hush, you." She pointed to one of the chairs at the large oak dinner table. "Sit your pretty little butt down. We have a lot of catching up to do. Tea?"
"Yes, thank you." Hudson took a seat, watching as Julia moved around the kitchen. Everything looked just how it did the last time he was here. He loved her kitchen. It was the biggest, warmest part of the large brownstone, with varnished wooden floors, white cupboards, silver-marble countertops, and state-of-the-art stainless-steel appliances. The Hobbs boys spared no expense where their family home was concerned. They might have moved out years ago, but this was still home. Even Thomas's electric wheelchair was high-end. Thomas had been reluctant at first, especially when he discovered how much it cost, but his sons refused to budge. If Thomas was going to be in a wheelchair, his boys were going to make damned sure it was the best out there.
The large brownstone had cost a mint. Seb and Rafe made the purchase after joining the THIRDS, and once Ethan had joined the organization, he chipped in to help his brothers. By the time Rafe had made it to Team Leader, the house was paid off. Thomas struggled with his pride for some time after having gone from being the sole breadwinner to having his sons take care of everything. With his family's help, Thomas learned that depending on a family who loved him and wanted to help didn't make him weak. Years later, with Therian aid, social security, and the support of their boys, Julia and Thomas lived comfortably without the fear of losing their home a second time.
The kettle boiled as a classic tune floated up from the digital radio on the counter. Hudson smiled, recalling a time when he'd spent hours at this very table in this same seat with Julia talking and laughing. Often Darla Summers would join them. That reminded him.
"How's Darla? I asked Cal about her this afternoon, and he just grunted that she was fine."
Julia chuckled as she placed Hudson's cup of tea in front of him. It was exactly the way he liked it. With a wicked smile that told Hudson some juicy gossip was forthcoming, Julia took a seat across from him with her own tea.
"Oh, honey, Darla's got herself a new man."
Hudson almost choked on his tea. He dabbed his mouth with a napkin Julia passed him before gaping at her. He leaned in. "When was this?"
"About three months now. Darla's crazy about him. He's a bear Therian. Used to coach college football. He's retired now. You should see the way he looks at her."
"And how does Cal look at him?" Hudson took a sip of his tea. As if he didn't know the answer.
"Like he wants to put him on the first ship heading into the Bermuda Triangle."
They both laughed. It was hard not to picture Calvin's face glaring daggers at his mother's new beau. Calvin was as protective of Darla as he was of Ethan. Hudson couldn't blame him. Darla was the only family Calvin had next to the Hobbs clan. It had been just the two of them for so long, making one sacrifice after another, trying their hardest to be a family, to make ends meet and survive.
"Cal's such a good boy. You know he wants her to be happy, so he's trying very hard, but trust doesn't come easy to him. He might be a grown man, but deep down, where Darla is concerned, he's still a little boy afraid of seeing his mother get hurt again. After what that bastard father of his did to them, who can blame him?"
Hudson nodded. "I wouldn't worry, love. If Cal catches so much as a hint that Darla is in distress, he will put the fear of God in that man, bear Therian or not. Cal's small, but he can be intimidating as hell."
"Are you kidding?" Julia leaned in and tapped her nail against the table. "If anyone lays a finger on Darla, my boys will be over there so fast the man won't know what hit him. Well, he will. It'll likely be Seb's fist. My boys know violence isn't the answer, especially with them being tiger Therians, but you push their buttons, and you deserve what you get. Seb has no tolerance for abuse of any kind, and you know how protective he is of his family."
Hudson took another sip of his tea. Boy, did he know it. They continued to chat and gossip, drinking copious amounts of tea and then nibbling on biscuits Julia put on the table.
"I'm so glad you came by," Julia said, smiling warmly. She placed a hand on his. "I missed this."
"I missed you," Hudson admitted. He took his teacup to the sink and rinsed it off when "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches & Herb came on the radio. Julia had told him stories of when she and Thomas dated, how much they loved to get their groove on at the discos. She'd shared pictures with Hudson, images of a twentysomething couple in love, Julia looking fabulous with her Farrah Fawcett hair and bell-bottom jeans, and Thomas with his skintight T-shirt, his feathery hair reaching his ears. They made a stunning couple. Hudson quickly dried his hands on the dish towel before rounding the counter. He took Julia's hand, walked her away from the table, then twirled her, loving the sound of her laughter.
"I haven't danced to this in years." Julia's smile was radiant. She was a beautiful woman who hadn't lost her glow despite the trials and tribulations she'd faced over the years. Hudson clapped his hands in time to the music, bumping his hips into hers. She threw her arms in the air, dancing her way back to Hudson to bump her hips to his. Hudson laughed, giving it all he had as he shimmied around the kitchen before ending in front of her again. She took his hands and turned him, right into something hard.
Hudson gave a start. "Good Lord." He put a hand to his chest and let out a shaky laugh. "For heaven's sake, Sebastian. You scared the life out of me." Blasted Felids and their stalking.
Seb chuckled, little wrinkles forming at the corners of his eyes. "Don't stop on my account. Has Mom shown you her funky chicken yet?"
Julia giggled as she danced over to Seb. She pulled him into the kitchen, and he laughed, shaking his head. "Whatever dance genes you and Dad have were not passed down to me. You both know this."
"Nonsense." She pulled him up to the left of her and held out her other hand to Hudson, who didn't hesitate in taking it, allowing her to pull him to her right. "Come on, boys. Just like I taught you."
They lined up and did the hustle, stepping forward and back in unison. They clapped before pulling a John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, followed by the roll. Hudson couldn't believe he remembered. Julia had taught him and Seb several moves for a disco-themed wedding they'd attended years ago. Hudson laughed as they started again, keeping in time with the music.
The first time he'd seen Seb dance, he'd been amazed by the fluidity of his movements. He'd been a little surprised, and a hell of a lot turned on. Tiger Therians were large, bulky, and muscular, but Seb was far better at controlling his body than he gave himself credit for. As for dancing, all he had to do was observe and follow along. He picked up the steps quickly, then adjusted them to fit his frame. The movement of Seb's hips gave Hudson terribly naughty
thoughts.
Soon Thomas wandered downstairs to see what the commotion was all about. Julia shimmied to him, and he laughed, the adoration in his eyes unmistakable. She danced around him, and he joined in, clapping along, doing the roll and pointing. Julia murmured something at him, and he grabbed her by the waist. She let out a girlish squeal as he pulled her onto his lap. He whispered in her ear, and she blushed, batting him playfully.
Seb took Hudson's hand and twirled him before dipping him, making him laugh.
"Don't you dare let me go." Hudson was going for serious reprimand, but it was cancelled out by the half laugh, half yelp he let out when Seb pretended to drop him. "Sebastian!" Hudson clutched at him, unable to help his giggles. Good Lord, he was giggling. Fine, so he could see why West had reacted the way he had. It was hard not to when Sebastian Hobbs was holding you in his strong arms. His roguish smile should be considered a lethal weapon.
"Never, Lobito," Seb promised, his voice low and husky as he brought Hudson back up.
Realization of what he'd said and Seb's reply had Hudson's cheeks growing warm. He pretended nothing had happened.
"Son, could you bring the laundry up for your mom?" Thomas asked, his arms around Julia as he kissed her cheek.
"Sure thing." Seb kissed the top of her head before giving his dad a hug. "You two behave yourselves. We have company."
Julia batted her lashes innocently. "Us? We're not the reason the basement had to be soundproofed." She and Thomas both turned their knowing gazes to Hudson.
Hudson gasped, his face going up in flames. "Oh my God!"
Thomas grinned. "Yeah, we heard a lot of that coming from downstairs."
"Oh my God!" Hudson clamped a hand over his mouth, mortified. The two broke into laughs and giggles while Seb was of no help at all, cackling his head off. Hudson smacked Seb's arm. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Ouch! I didn't want you to feel embarrassed."
"Well, that was a failure of epic proportions. I'm going to strangle you!"
Seb took off around the counter and out of the kitchen with Hudson darting after him.
"Get back here so I can wring your neck!"
"You want me to kneel so you can reach it?"
"Oh! You... you scoundrel!" Hudson chased him across the living room to the door leading down to the basement/game room. Downstairs, Seb ran around the pool table, putting it between him and Hudson. "You told me it was soundproofed so the sound system wouldn't disturb Thomas."
"True, but mostly it's because everyone could hear you...." Seb let out a low, guttural moan that went straight to Hudson's cock. Seb gripped the edge of the pool table, his face an expression of pained ecstasy. "Oh God, Seb, yes, please, oh God, yes, right there, do it again, love."
Hudson gaped at him, his face all but ready to spontaneously combust. "That's not...." He sputtered, trying to find the right words. "Your accent is terrible," he huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
Seb laughed, rounding the pool table to pull Hudson close. Hudson growled but allowed himself to be pulled into Seb's embrace. Seb kissed his cheek, his breath tickling Hudson's ear when he spoke.
"You made the most beautiful noises when you were under me."
Hudson cleared his throat and pointed off behind him. "You should, um, see to the laundry." He ignored Seb's chuckle, following him to the large cupboard set in the wall housing the washer and tumble dryer.
Hudson knew this room well. How many hours had he spent down here with Seb, playing games, laughing, making out like a couple of teenagers, and apparently treating the whole of the household to the sound of live porn?
When Thomas was having a rough week or needed extra care, Seb and Hudson would stay at the house to help Julia and offer support. He and Seb would play table tennis, snuggle together to watch a movie, or just lie together on the incredibly comfortable L-shaped couch, murmuring tender endearments while drifting off to pleasant dreams.
The Hobbs brothers had fixed up the basement not long after Ethan started at the THIRDS. It had quickly become a favorite, filled with high-tech gadgets, a pool table, an air hockey table, dartboard and darts, a big-screen TV, Blu-ray player, sound system, a bar, several video game consoles, and a couch Hudson wanted to live in. It was plush perfection. The boys had a chairlift installed so Thomas could join them during get-togethers or when he just fancied using the room.
Hudson leaned against the wall as Seb opened the tumble dryer, his shirtsleeves stretching over his biceps when he reached in to remove clothes and place them in an empty laundry basket.
"Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it. It made them both so happy," Seb said, his smile bright as he filled the basket.
Hudson swallowed past the lump in his throat and turned his gaze to the room. He hadn't expected this house to still feel like home after all this time. "I missed them," he admitted.
Julia and Thomas had been the parents he never had, which was a sad statement considering his own parents were alive and well. So much of Julia and Thomas's behavior had baffled him at first. When one of the boys broke something by accident, Julia would wave it off, her only concern that they hadn't hurt themselves. No reprimands or talk of how much something cost were forthcoming. Julia never told Ethan he was clumsy or Seb that he should pay more attention to what he was doing.
The first time Julia hugged Hudson and kissed his cheek, Hudson had frozen to the spot. When Seb asked him what was wrong, Hudson whispered that his parents never hugged or kissed him. Seb had been shocked, then saddened. Hudson hadn't understood the reaction. He could hardly miss something he never had. Seb asked Hudson if he was okay with it, and Hudson nodded. It would take some getting used to, but it was nice. It was nice how Thomas patted him on the back, a smile on his face as he wheeled by just because he was happy Hudson was there. It wasn't that Hudson's parents didn't love him, because they did, in their own way. They simply never showed affection. It wasn't who they were. Love was shown in other ways, usually involving money or boasting of achievements to other prominent figures.
"Lobito? You okay?"
"I didn't think it would feel like this. Like I never left," Hudson replied, sighing before he could stop himself. So many happy memories in this room, a safe den filled with love and laughter. In this room, Hudson had dreamed of one day being married to Sebastian Hobbs, of being husband to a man who was everything Hudson had ever wanted.
"I know."
Seb's soft-spoken admission snapped Hudson from his thoughts, and he dared to look at Seb, surprised by the love in his stunning green eyes. Why did the man have to be so beautiful, so warm, kind, and damned patient?
"We had a lot of firsts down here." Seb pointed in the direction of the TV. "That's where you kicked my ass at Mario Kart for the first time." He moved his finger to the air hockey table. "That's where you kicked my ass at air hockey." When he moved his finger again, Hudson chuckled. "That's where you kicked my ass at table tennis. What kind of nerd are you? You're not supposed to beat the jock at sports."
Hudson shrugged. "I was always rather good at sports."
Seb pointed to the pool table. "At least I kicked your butt at pool."
"Only because you cheated," Hudson reminded him, arching an eyebrow.
Seb gasped, a hand going to his chest. "Me? Cheat?" He shook his head. "I won that game fair and square."
"Pardon? Fair my arse." Hudson walked over to the pool table to stand at the end of it. He leaned in to tap a spot on the table. "Right here. I remember quite clearly. I was one perfect shot away from obliterating you, and you--"
Seb stepped up behind him and placed his hands to Hudson's hips, his groin all but pressed up to Hudson's arse. The power of speech eluded Hudson.
"That's right," Seb said, his voice a husky drawl, folding himself over Hudson's back, his warm breath against Hudson's temple. "I remember now. You were bent over, ready to take the shot, and I came up behind you just like this, and you hit the ball so hard it flew off the table and made a
big dent in the wall."
Hudson swallowed hard. Slowly he drew himself up, Seb following his movement, and Hudson's body ended up pressed against Seb's. A shiver racked through Hudson, and he closed his eyes. Being in Seb's arms brought a flood of want through him.
How many nights had he spent awake in bed, yearning for the man, wishing Seb was at his side, holding him, kissing him? How long would they be paying for their sins? Had it even been a sin? It was a tragedy, one Hudson wished with all his heart hadn't occurred, but he'd sacrificed his mate, his happiness, the other half of him in penance. Almost seven years. Seven years barely living, going through the motions, attempting to have a semblance of a life, pretending he wasn't dying a little inside with every passing day. Maybe if they hadn't bonded, if Seb hadn't reached into Hudson's soul and claimed it as his own, then maybe Hudson could have moved on, but simply being around Seb, seeing his smile, had been enough to hold him over, to keep him hoping that one day things would be different. Yet no matter the pain, not once did Hudson regret falling in love with Seb or being marked by him.
Seb gently turned Hudson to face him, their lives together reflected in his captivating eyes. Hudson put his fingers to Seb's jaw and the permanent stubble Hudson loved to feel against his bare skin. Seb had a strong nose, square jaw, and thick black eyebrows. His eyes were hooded, and his smile crooked. When he laughed, really laughed, a dimple appeared, and he put his heart into his laughter, filling with glee like a little boy. At seven feet tall and three hundred pounds, built of solid muscle, with a fierce tiger Therian lurking inside him, Sebastian Hobbs should have been frightening, and for some he was. Hudson had never felt safer than he did in Seb's embrace. He'd never felt more loved or cherished.
"I don't come down here so much anymore," Seb murmured, his hands still on Hudson's waist. His voice was gravelly, a sexy roll of sounds that formed words and promises of worship, and that's what it felt like to be loved by Sebastian Hobbs. Seb didn't love halfheartedly. He didn't hold back or hide a part of himself. He bared his soul, left himself vulnerable to those given the gift of his love.
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