Uniting the Souls

by Annabella Michaels

“Lachlan told me that you were looking for a therapist,” I answered.

  “You know someone?” He looked at me hopefully. There was something so warm and inviting about Isaac’s personality and I felt my smile widen as I looked at him.

  “Yes, me,” I told him.

  “You’re a therapist?” My eyes darted to Matt as he suddenly spoke up. His face was still guarded, but I could see his curiosity shining through. Before I could respond, he spoke again. “Oh, I’m sorry, please, come in and have a seat.”

  Isaac gestured to the seat next to his and I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard. I stepped closer, my large frame dwarfing his smaller one and my arm brushed his as I moved to sit down. My skin felt warm where we’d touched and I heard his sharp intake of air; I was definitely not the only one who’d felt it.

  We took our seats and I noticed Matt staring at Isaac and again, I wondered what he was thinking, but he brushed it off quickly and turned his attention to me. I pulled a file out of my briefcase and laid it on Matt’s desk, letting him sort through my credentials.

  After several minutes, he leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms, making his shirt stretch tightly across his broad shoulders and chest. I heard a sigh next to me and I had to fight back a grin when I glanced at Isaac and caught him staring at Matt with a look of pure longing. Matt seemed completely oblivious to our ogling however, as he chewed on his bottom lip, apparently lost in thought.

  “Well, Dr. Westley, I have to say, I’m quite impressed, but I’m not sure we could afford someone of your caliber on our payroll,” he said slowly.

  “Please, call me Hudson, and, I think you misunderstood. I have my own practice and I’m not looking to leave it. I would, however, like to volunteer my services a few evenings each week to the kids at your center,” I told them.

  “Volunteer? You mean you want to provide therapy for free?” Isaac asked.

  “Yes, exactly.” I smiled at him and nodded my head.

  “Why?” Matt asked. His head was tilted as he studied me through narrowed eyes. I could tell he was protective of the kids in his care and I respected the fact that he was choosing their future therapist carefully. I looked him directly in the eye as I gave him an honest answer.

  “I grew up in this city and I know how rough its streets can be. I was fortunate to have been raised by a grandmother and an older sister who loved and accepted me no matter what, but I knew several kids who weren’t as lucky and I wished there’d been a place like this for them to turn to.” I looked at both men as I spoke.

  “I think that Agape House is not only an amazing and inspiring place; it’s necessary. Our youth need to be shown love if they’re going to learn how to love themselves as well as others. I want to volunteer my time with your program because I believe in what you’re doing and I want to be a part of the positive changes you’re making for the next generation of the LGBTQA community.” It was quiet for a few seconds as Matt stared at me and then Isaac broke the silence.

  “Wow! You should have been a politician,” he said. Matt and I turned our heads in his direction and I chuckled when I saw the look of awe on his face.

  “No, thank you. I have no desire whatsoever to enter into politics.” I gave an exaggerated shudder and he and Matt both laughed. The previous tension in the air was gone as we smiled at each other. “In all seriousness, I would really like to volunteer at the center if you’ll have me.”

  I had to fight to keep eye contact with Matt as he considered my offer because my attention kept getting pulled down to where he was working his bottom lip between his thumb and forefinger. He was much more serious than Isaac, but I found myself equally as interested in getting to know him as I was the younger man.

  “I’m not sure how much time you have to devote to the program, but I was hoping to have a therapist available at the center at least two evenings a week as well as being on-call for any emergencies that may arise. It would be a big commitment,” Matt explained. I let my gaze drop back down to his mouth then slowly moved it back up to meet his gaze.

  “That won’t be a problem. I’m available most evenings, given the fact that I’m single,” I informed him.

  “Oh, I wasn’t…” Matt’s eyes widened and he began to shake his head.

  “I know you weren’t, but I thought you should know. Both of you,” I said boldly, turning my head towards Isaac. He stared at me unblinking, as if he were trying to piece together my words, and I could see his pulse pounding at the hollow of his throat.

  My hands fisted in my lap as I fought the urge to pull him towards me so I could press my lips to the pale flesh of his neck. His eyes darkened as they heated and I smirked at him. I loved the way he responded to me. We turned our attention to Matt who was watching us closely. I saw the flair of interest in his eyes, but it was gone a second later. He cleared his throat.

  “I appreciate your offer…to work with the children,” he clarified quickly. “We’d be honored to have you as part of our team.” Matt went over the paperwork that I would need to have on file before I could begin and then stood and thrust his hand out in front of him, effectively calling an end to the meeting.

  Isaac and I followed suit and I shook Matt’s hand, a zip of electricity flowing from his hand to mine and traveling up my arm, leaving goose bumps in its wake. Matt pulled his hand away quickly and his brows furrowed as if he couldn’t make sense of what he’d just felt. He glanced up at me with an almost pained expression and I wondered what had happened to put that look on his face.

  I turned to Isaac who stuck his hand out with a shy grin. My lips pulled up as I looked at him and I felt the same shockwave as we shook hands. He looked up at me through thick lashes and my cock twitched inside my pants. I wouldn’t mind seeing him look up at me as I fed my cock through those full, pink lips. His pale skin flushed as if he had read my thoughts and I smirked at his reaction.

  “I’ll be in touch as soon as I have my background check completed,” I told them. Matt nodded, but I noticed he wasn’t really paying attention because he was too busy staring at Isaac who was staring at me. I winked at Isaac and then stepped out of the office, closing the door behind me. I was still wearing a smile on my face as I made my way out of the building and to my car.

  My legs felt shaky and I sat back down in my chair, afraid they were about to give out on me. The door shut behind Hudson and Isaac turned to me with a small smile. His cheeks looked flushed and his blue eyes looked brighter than usual. I felt the same strange fluttering sensation in my stomach that I’d been feeling lately whenever I looked at him and I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

  “Well, it looks like we have a new therapist,” Isaac said excitedly.

  “Yes, it does. That’s good…for the kids,” I replied quietly. Isaac tilted his head at me, the look on his face changing quickly to concern.

  “Are you unsure about Hudson working with our kids? Because you need to be sure, Matt. Choosing a therapist is a big decision.” My chest felt warm when I heard Isaac refer to the kids at the center as our kids. I knew that what we were doing at the center was more than just a job to him. Isaac put his heart and soul into Agape House and he loved the teens that came to us for help, but it still meant a lot to know that he felt like they were his own, just as I did. I saw the worry in his eyes and I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.

  “No, I don’t have any concerns about Hudson’s ability to work with the kids. His portfolio was very impressive and he had several referral letters in his file, including two from Lachlan and Rylie. I’m not sure what their connection to him is, but if they were willing to refer him to us, then that’s good enough for me. I know they would never let anyone around the kids that they didn’t feel was the absolute best,” I assured him. I watched as his shoulders visibly relaxed.

  “Then what was wrong? You seemed agitated when Hudson left,” Isaac pressed.

  “Nothing was wrong, I just have a lot on my mind. I have a million things to do today.
In fact, I probably should get started on those if I don’t want to have to stay here all night,” I told him, gentling my dismissive tone with a small smile.

  I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, I just needed some time by myself to figure out what the hell was going on with me. I couldn’t make sense of the sudden onslaught of emotions that I felt every time I was in the room with the two of them. He cocked his head to the side as he studied me and I forced myself not to squirm under his knowing gaze. I’d known Isaac for six years, working closely with him for five of those years and sometimes when he looked at me, it was as if he could see my every thought.

  “Okay, I’ll let you get to work,” he said, making his way to the door. I watched him open it, but then he looked over his shoulder at me. “Hudson seems like a nice man, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, he does,” I answered honestly.

  “He’s very handsome, too,” Isaac said with a smile.

  I was shocked when he winked at me before walking out the door. My heart was racing as the door shut behind him and I wasn’t sure if it was because Isaac had been flirting with me or because of the truth to his words.

  I threw myself into my work, letting budget spreadsheets and government paperwork occupy my mind as I tried to push thoughts of Hudson and Isaac aside. I’d been working for several hours when my concentration was broken by the distant sounds of the kids laughing as they returned from school and I smiled at the sound.

  With the growing number of LGBTQA teens that had been turned away by their families and who were either mistreated or completely ignored by a society that should support them, I often wondered if the work I was doing was really making a difference at all or simply putting a Band-Aid on a wound. Then, I’d watch the kids at the center as they overcame the pain they’d been through and found a strength within themselves to carry on and it made me feel empowered. The resiliency they showed despite the adversity they faced was an inspiration to me and provided the motivation that kept me going, even when it seemed like I was fighting a losing battle.

  Many of the teens arrived at the center broken and battered; not always physically, but often in spirit. They showed up at our door searching for peace, refuge, and a sense of belonging, and it meant the world to me to hear them sounding carefree and happy, knowing that we had been able to provide them with what they needed. Although, some struggled more than others to break free of the painful past that clung to them, which was why I had felt it necessary to hire a therapist at the new center.

  I’d been unable to afford to provide that kind of service at the old center, but with the generous amount of money that Lachlan, Carter, and the rest of their friends and family had donated, I was finally able to do so. Only it didn’t seem like I would need to use the money to hire a professional after all. My mind was still reeling with the idea that a man with Hudson’s education and experience would be willing to commit that amount of time to my center, completely free of charge. That told me a lot about the type of person Hudson Westley was.

  My thoughts drifted to the man who had gotten under my skin so quickly. From the moment I’d seen Hudson across the room at the grand opening, I felt a rush of adrenaline and a surge of passion unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. The way he looked at me as he’d walked closer had taken my breath away. There had been a hunger in his eyes that I hadn’t seen directed at me in years.

  Then his eyes shifted and I’d seen the look of surprise and the sudden interest there as well. I’d glanced beside me, having forgotten that I wasn’t alone and my eyes widened when I realized that the new focus of Hudson’s sultry gaze was none other than Isaac.

  I’d been there when Isaac first arrived at Agape House, looking more lost and broken than most of the kids that had ever come there. I knew a little of what he’d been through, but for the most part, he chose not to talk about his past and I’d respected his privacy. I’d watched him as he began to trust people again and over time he had flourished into a happy, kind, and caring young man.

  I’d been there when he became an adult and he began working for me, proving to be an intelligent and vital member of my staff. We’d become friends over time, yet kept our professional distance, not spending time together outside of work activities. I knew that he wasn’t the same kid that had come to the center seeking help, but I’d always seen him as a friend and colleague, nothing more. That’s why, when I looked at him, really took the time to look at him and see what it was that had captured Hudson’s attention, I was shocked.

  How had I never noticed how vibrant blue his eyes were or the freckles that were sprinkled delicately across his nose? Had I ever paid attention to the way his jaw curved or how soft his hair looked? My hand lifted as if to run through it and test its silkiness, but I caught myself and drew my hand into a fist at my side.

  What the hell was happening to me? Not only had I reacted strongly to a complete stranger, but now I was noticing things about my coworker that I had no business noticing. Not to mention, both things had happened within mere seconds of each other.

  I somehow made it through the weighty introduction to Hudson, staring at my hand in disbelief when he shook it and a tremor of electricity traveled up the length of my arm. In that moment, I felt aroused and excited and more alive than I could remember in years. Then, just as quickly, those feelings turned to guilt and sadness and I felt the hollow ache that was my constant companion. My chest suddenly became tight and I felt like I couldn’t breathe so I made an excuse about needing to talk to the mayor and got out of there as quickly as I could without attracting too much attention.

  There were people milling about everywhere and I pasted a smile on my face as I brushed past them and made a beeline for the stairwell. I climbed the stairs quickly, opening the door at the top and stepping out on the building’s rooftop. I’d first gone up there during my walk-through of the building as a potential site for the new center and had immediately fallen in love with it.

  Since we’d made the move to the new building, I’d taken to going up there whenever I needed an escape. I spent my entire day trying to meet the demands of everyone around me and once in a while, I just needed a few moments to myself. I had never needed it more than I did right then. The tightness in my chest slowly began to ease and I made my way over to the half wall that ran the perimeter of the building and sat down, leaning my back against the higher corner pieces.

  I wasn’t sure how long I sat there until a sound from the sidewalk below caught my attention and I looked down. With the added security lights Morgan Greene had installed around the new center, I was able to make out the lone figure as he rushed out of the front door. My body hummed with an unexplained familiarity and I knew that I was watching Hudson as he leaned against the wall as if he were trying to catch his breath.

  Unable to look away, I’d continued to watch him as he stood and began walking towards the parking lot and climbed into his SUV. It wasn’t until his tail lights had completely disappeared that I was able to release the breath that I hadn’t even been aware I’d been holding.

  I’d remained on the roof awhile longer, completely bewildered by the events of the night. When I’d been standing in front of Hudson and Isaac, I’d wanted nothing more than to escape and for things to go back to the way they were supposed to be. I should have felt relieved to see him go. So, then why did it feel as if I’d missed out on something important?

  Eventually, I’d made my way back down to the party and forced a smile on my face as I showed the various politicians and media personnel around the new center. I’d done my best to stay away from Isaac the rest of that evening and had in fact been avoiding him at work ever since, but I knew I couldn’t ignore him forever. I owed it to the center’s teens to put my own feelings aside, no matter how bizarre they might have been, and focus on what was best for them.

  That was why I’d sought Isaac out and asked him to meet with me to go over the ideas I had for the community service project. I’d felt guilty
when he asked if he’d done something wrong which had caused me to avoid him, and, I realized I’d been acting like an immature asshole. Isaac was my friend and we’d worked together for years. I just needed to find the simple, easygoing friendship we usually shared and ignore the stirring in my gut that had started to occur whenever he focused his attention on me.

  Unfortunately, while that had sounded good in my head, it was actually much harder to put into practice once Isaac followed me into my office. All I could think about was how we were all alone in there, how good he smelled and the fact that I wanted to taste his full bottom lip that pushed out into an adorable pout. What the hell is wrong with me? I rarely took notice of that sort of thing anymore, especially not with someone I worked closely with every day.

  Shaking my head to clear it, I’d pushed my inappropriate thoughts aside and refocused my attention on the project. It wasn’t hard to get caught up in the plan though once Isaac showed his enthusiasm, and before I knew it, we were bouncing ideas off each other and making lists of how we were going to make them into reality. The experience reminded me of how well Isaac and I had always worked together and I felt myself relaxing and a genuine smile spreading across my face.

  We’d shared a smile when Allison had told us that someone was there for the therapist position and it seemed as if everything was finally getting back on track. That was until the person stepped into my office and I found myself staring into the warm brown eyes of the man who had sent my world spiraling out of control in the first place.

  I’d listened as he’d explained that he was a therapist and I was stunned when he stated that he wanted to work at the center free of charge. My head spun at the idea of what this would mean for the kids; the ways that this could help them get further along in their journey towards the happy and fulfilling lives they all deserved.

  I’d sifted through the stack of diplomas, references and awards he had in his file and I had to admit that I was very impressed. Dr. Hudson Westley was obviously much more than a handsome face. He was also highly educated and revered by his colleagues and friends. When I’d seen the glowing recommendations written by Lachlan and Rylie, my mind had been made up.