Hurricane Reese

by R. L. Merrill

  Mr. Matheson leaned over and caught Jude’s eye, waggling his eyebrows at the woman. Jude tried to send him a scolding look, but he couldn’t help laughing. Even with a broken bone, his beloved charge was quite the charmer.

  After a bit they moved Mr. Matheson to a private room, and he seemed to be ready for sleep. Reese assured him they’d be back in the morning to see him and make sure he didn’t get thrown out for accosting the nurses. Mr. Matheson held up his hands innocently and then waved to them as they left the room.

  The drive home was quiet. Reese stared out the window as Jude drove and tried to keep his eyes open. It was after 3:00 a.m. and the adrenaline rush that had fueled him throughout the hospital visit was wearing off. He pulled up to the cottage and shut off the car.

  “Reese, I want you to take your bed tonight. You need your rest. I’ll—”

  “Stay with me?” Reese asked in a quiet voice. He didn’t turn to look at Jude, but Jude could hear the pain and fear in his words.

  They trudged up the steps, and Jude opened the door. He followed Reese to the bedroom and chuckled when Reese began to shove all of his clothes off the bed and onto the chair in the corner.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll clean that up tomorrow.”

  “No you won’t.” Jude laughed as he slipped off his shoes. “You really are a hurricane, you know that?”

  Reese snorted. “Yeah. I suppose you’re right.” Reese kicked off his own shoes.

  Both men paused with their hands on their buckles and laughed nervously.

  “Umm,” Jude said.

  “Wow,” Reese said.

  Just a few short hours earlier they’d been ready to tear each other’s clothes off. A lot had transpired. Jude wanted to be there for Reese, but didn’t want him to think that anything had to happen.

  “Reese—”

  “You want me to go in the bathroom? Turn my back? This just got weird, huh?”

  “It doesn’t have to be weird, Reese. I won’t…. This doesn’t have to be anything.”

  “Okay. But it could?”

  Jude smiled. The poor guy was a mess. “It could. But not tonight. You need rest. I’m pulling rank here.”

  Reese blushed and shook his head. “Yeah. Understood. But I’m kind of all over the place when I sleep. I just want you to be prepared.”

  Jude laughed as he made the first move by unfastening his pants and letting them slide down. He purposely left his black trunks on and hoped the message was clear. Then he unbuttoned his shirt, folded it with his pants, and placed them on a chair. Then he crawled into bed—with Reese watching his every move. Could this be any more awkward?

  “As long as you don’t start throwing elbows, we’re cool,” Jude said, trying to keep his voice steady as Reese unbuttoned his own shirt. How he wished he were the one doing it. He stared up at the ceiling and fought to gain control of his emotions as Reese climbed in beside him.

  He wanted Reese, and he might be falling for the guy. He certainly cared about Reese’s emotional well-being.

  But he was hard as a rock.

  And wide-awake.

  Chapter Eighteen

  BY THE time Reese crawled into bed, he was almost too tired to do anything but curl up to Jude’s side and throw a leg over his—almost. Reese sighed happily at the feel of Jude’s skin. An electrical current ran through him at first touch, but as he relaxed, it soothed him. He placed his left hand over Jude’s heart and sighed happily.

  “I haven’t shared a bed with someone since before I went to London,” Reese admitted to Jude. “When Jada threw me out, I was actually relieved. I didn’t want to come home and pick up playing house with her. And she’d never have been there for me with what happened tonight.” He tilted his face up to look into Jude’s eyes. “I’m so grateful for you. I’m sorry this is how we’re spending our first night together, but I’m not sorry.”

  Reese grinned sheepishly and felt a strange mix of shyness and affection for Jude. In the past Jude never seemed to take Reese seriously. Not that he wasn’t respectful. He just seemed, well, more. More of a man than Reese. More mature, more serious and intelligent.

  Reese wasn’t an idiot by any means. He’d graduated with honors from college and hadn’t reached his level of success by being an airhead. But when it came to real-life stuff, everything came easy for him, despite losing his parents. His grandparents had always been there for him, and while his grandfather still spoiled him, he also regularly schooled him on what it meant to be an adult. After Grandma died, Reese stepped up and took over care for his grandfather. He was proud that he’d felt prepared to do so. But even though he knew what to do, he still felt lost. He needed Jude’s touch.

  Jude slid an arm around Reese’s neck and kissed his hair. “I just wish you didn’t have to go through this. Maybe I’m sorry that we met under these circumstances… but I’m really not. Watching you care for your grandfather has shown me what a good man you are.”

  “You don’t know how much it means to me to hear you say that.” Reese leaned in to kiss Jude, but Jude pulled back.

  “What’s wrong?” Reese asked, his voice cracking.

  “Nothing. I just don’t want you to think I expect anything.” Jude looked away, a frown on his face, and took a deep breath.

  “I know you don’t. But I—”

  “You need some sleep, Reese. I know you want to be there for your grandfather. That means you need to take care of yourself too. I need to take care of you. That doesn’t involve taking things any further tonight.”

  Reese exhaled and pouted. “Fine. I won’t take care of what you’ve got going on under these blankets, then. You’ll regret it in the morning, but that’s fine.”

  He made an exaggerated production of rolling over onto his side. He’d felt the heat coming from Jude’s groin and wanted to explore it—so much so that he thought about just going for it—but he stood by his desire to have Jude come to him. He smiled to himself when he felt Jude roll over and spoon him. Then he gasped when Jude pulled Reese’s hips back against his and nestled his erection right in the sweet spot.

  “I always knew you’d be a cocktease. Go to sleep, pretty boy.” Jude kissed Reese’s back and wrapped an arm around him, and Reese smiled so widely that his cheeks hurt. But he didn’t dare move. He knew exactly how Jude felt and exactly how being close to Reese made Jude feel, and that was revelation enough for one night. He let himself slip into a much-needed sleep and dreamed about Jude dancing in front of him, next to him, against him….

  THE SUN broke through the drapes and spilled light and warmth upon Reese’s and Jude’s bodies. Reese awoke in the opposite position he’d had the night before. He was pressed against Jude’s back, and, having just awakened from a pretty steamy dream, his hips were slowly, rhythmically pushing into Jude’s bottom. He paused when he realized he was dry humping a sleeping man, but then Jude reached his arm around, grabbed his ass, and pulled him closer. Apparently he didn’t mind being woken up like that.

  Reese caressed Jude’s smooth chest as he pressed kisses onto his back. Jude moaned and pulled Reese’s hips harder against his ass. Reese gasped at Jude’s strength as his length throbbed against him.

  Jude felt good under his hands, and his movements convinced Reese that he might have Jude right where he wanted him. He felt victory coming on. And then Jude grabbed the hand Reese had pressed against his chest and forcefully moved it to grasp his erection through the cloth of his underwear.

  “God, I’ve wanted to touch you,” Reese breathed. He bit down on Jude’s shoulder and snaked his other arm underneath Jude’s body to pull him even closer. They moved together, tentatively at first and then desperately. Jude thrust slowly into Reese’s hand, and his whole body trembled. Jude turned his face into the pillow and moaned as his body went rigid. Warmth spread over Reese’s hand through the material as Jude’s erection jerked. Reese was so turned on that his release came right after.

  “Fuuuuuck,” he groaned and pressed his forehead against
Jude’s back. They both breathed heavily, their bodies slick with perspiration. Reese held Jude against him, afraid that letting go would end the magic between them.

  “I really don’t mind that you hog the bed, especially if this is how you wake me up,” Jude said once his breathing had settled. Reese barked out a laugh, kissed the back of Jude’s neck, and rolled onto his back.

  “What a great fucking way to wake up. Damn, Jude. I haven’t—”

  “Me neither. Wait. You’ve never?” Jude turned to look over his shoulder with wide eyes.

  “No. I mean, I meant to say I haven’t ever had morning sex, but I could get used to this. Why? Did you think…?”

  “I don’t know what to think,” Jude said as he turned to face Reese. “I don’t want to ask you to put a label—”

  “Oh. Oh, yeah. Well… I like who I like. I want who I want. Gender doesn’t matter to me.” Reese felt his cheeks flush. “I like you a whole lot, Jude.”

  Reese loved Jude’s satisfied smile. His sleepy face was incredibly sexy and so much more relaxed than he’d ever seen him.

  “I’m glad to hear you say that. I didn’t know what to think.” Jude reached up and cupped Reese’s cheek. “I’m really glad. I like you too. A lot.”

  Reese was relieved at Jude’s confession. He was so hard to read, and given how they’d known each other previously, it made sense he might have been confused.

  “So no morning sex either, huh?” Reese asked.

  Jude shook his head. “No. No overnights. You?”

  Reese ran a finger down Jude’s chest. “Jada wasn’t exactly a morning person,” he said with a laugh.

  Jude frowned as though he wanted to ask more.

  “And she’s the only one I’ve lived with. Anyone else, well, they were ‘heat of the moment’ adventures, not necessarily folks I wanted to stick around until the sun came up.”

  Jude smirked. “You’re a curious man, Reese Matheson.”

  “Curious? I guess,” Reese said. He rolled over to caress Jude’s jaw. “What are you curious about? I know I’m curious about you, what you like, what you—”

  Reese’s phone buzzed from the bedside table. He scrambled to grab it before the call went to voicemail.

  “Hello?” His face broke into a grin. “What’s the matter, old man? Your balls getting cold in that hospital gown?” He winked at Jude and shook his head. Jude took that minute to crawl out of bed and head to the bathroom.

  “I want my pants, but they said no. Can you believe this shit? Anyway, when you come, bring your keyboard, and let’s play some music.”

  “Grandpa, I don’t know if they’ll let me. I’ll ask when I come down there. Is there something else I can bring if they don’t?”

  Grandpa cursed under his breath. “Yeah. Bring some cards, I guess. It’s high time I teach you how to play poker. Someone’s gotta carry on the Matheson name.”

  “I’ll bring the cards. Jude and I will be down soon.”

  “Oh good. Tell him I want some of them noodles. See if he’ll make me some with the hot sauce.”

  Reese heard the shower turn on, and he smiled. “Sure. I’ll tell him. Stay outta trouble, old man.”

  It was great to hear his grandfather’s voice after the harrowing night they’d had. He started to have faith that everything would work out.

  It was all going smoothly. Jude had taken him dancing, and he’d thought he’d finally be able to break through all that serious and stern crap and get Jude to loosen up. Boy, had he. Dancing with Jude at that club had been the best form of foreplay he’d had in forever. He’d never been so turned on just from watching someone dance and feeling someone move against him fully clothed. But everything about Jude had been different. Reese wanted to pull him out of the club, find some quiet corner, and take action—until he received the text from Kyla.

  His chest tightened with worry when he thought about what could have happened. He could have lost Grandpa, or at the very least, Grandpa could have been seriously hurt. A broken hip could have meant imminent death for someone in Grandpa’s situation, and as much as Reese told himself he understood what was coming, last night proved he wasn’t ready. It was only Jude’s calming presence that kept him grounded.

  Again he wondered just what was it about Jude that had him so enamored? Reese didn’t have a type, but he’d never dated someone so much younger before. He preferred the company of women his age or men a little older. Before Jada, he’d dabbled in all kinds of flavors, and she’d been the tastiest—the one who made him think he could settle down with a favorite.

  And yet his eye wandered while he was on tour, and he knew for a fact that Jada had taken lovers while he was gone. He’d had two trysts with men over the entire two years they’d been together, and neither had involved anything more than heavy petting. A lot of men didn’t know what to do with him. He didn’t subscribe to any one sort of play, and he didn’t fit stereotypes.

  Jude defied stereotypes as well. Reese thought for sure he’d be more submissive in intimate matters, but he should have known by the way Jude took charge of situations that he’d demand to have his way. It was crazy exciting to Reese. He never knew what to expect, and he loved that. He loved to challenge Jude, push him to his limits, and watch as his more dominant side took over. That could open up all kinds of possibilities Reese had never experienced before. And he couldn’t wait.

  Reese climbed out of bed and hoped to catch Jude still in the shower. He knocked just as the water turned off, and he opened the door as Jude covered himself with a towel.

  “That was the old man. He’s already putting in orders for your delicious food.”

  Jude smiled. “I’ll make him whatever he wants. Did you want to hop in here? I’ll give you space,” Jude said, his eyes traveling over Reese’s mostly naked form.

  “I’d hoped to join you,” Reese admitted. Then he frowned at the chair. “Damn. I think we need to have this bathroom enlarged. I’m thinking a tub—”

  “Reese,” Jude began slowly, seeming unsure.

  “What is it?” Reese asked. He almost slipped and called him babe. He wanted to. He wanted to be demonstrative as all get-out. He wanted to run outside and yell to anyone who would listen that he’d spent the night in Jude’s arms.

  “I don’t know what I was thinking this morning. I should have… we should have talked about being intimate before anything happened. I get tested every quarter, whether I’ve been active or not, which I haven’t been for a long time. I just don’t want you to worry about anything.”

  Reese shrugged. “I’m not. I see how you take care of everything. Other than living in your car like a troll.”

  Jude raised an eyebrow and looked as though he were going to snap Reese with the towel, but must have realized that would leave him naked. Reese jumped out of the way and raised his hands.

  “Other than that escapade, I know you take care of yourself and would be safe. It’s been about six months for me, so I’m due. I’m going to take care of it.”

  He stepped into the bathroom and crowded Jude against the wall. “I don’t want to be done with this. Please tell me you haven’t had enough yet. Tell me we can—”

  “Yes,” Jude interrupted, his eyelids heavy. “I want more of you. I want you, Reese.”

  Reese bent to kiss him, and immediately Jude clung to Reese’s back, whimpering softly. Their embrace was full of wonder, their eyes as open as their hearts were becoming. Reese could feel Jude questioning what was happening, just as he was. But he’d take Jude at his word that he wanted to explore what they could be together.

  Jude’s towel slipped, and he grabbed for it before it hit the floor. Both of them laughed nervously. Reese stepped back and ran his hands through his hair and stared longingly at Jude’s well-kissed lips.

  “I’m just going to let you… yeah,” Jude said as he left the bathroom, grinning nervously as he shut the door behind him.

  “Great fucking way to wake up,” Reese murmured to himself.
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  After Reese showered, he and Jude had breakfast together with lots of blushing and flirting. Then they dressed to visit Grandpa in the hospital. Reese decided not to bring his keyboard until he got permission. Jude let him know it would probably be more appropriate once Grandpa was in the rehab facility. He explained once again that Grandpa could very well come out fine, that going to the facility didn’t mean he would be there permanently.

  “You think you can talk him into the walker?” Reese asked Jude.

  “I’ll do my best. He’s been very resistant. I even brought up using a quad cane, and he wouldn’t have it. Maybe now he will, especially if he thinks the alternative is a wheelchair,” Jude said as he raised his eyebrow. He looked quite devious.

  Just then Jude’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out with a frown. He answered as he walked quickly into the backyard. Reese’s instinct was to follow, but he sensed Jude wanted his privacy. The easiest way for him to mess things up was to get too much into Jude’s personal space. He watched Jude go from the relaxed state he’d been in that morning to standing on the back deck with his shoulders practically up around his ears. Reese immediately thought he should bring over a massage therapist, cook Jude a nice dinner, bring him flowers….

  That was all domestic shit. Wow. Was that what was happening? Reese looked longingly out the window at the man he so desperately wanted to be close to and thought, yeah. Domestic with Jude would be pretty damn amazing.

  Jude hung up the phone, and Reese watched as he took a cleansing breath. Reese made himself busy as Jude returned to the kitchen. He hesitated by the door.

  “Umm… do you…? Would you be okay going to the hospital by yourself? Just for a bit? I have something I need to take care of.”

  He stood with his hands on his hips and Reese noted his discomfort.

  “Sure. I’ll be fine. Is everything okay?”