Hurricane Reese Read online

  REESE WRAPPED himself around Jude and savored every shiver in Jude’s body, elated he could give him such pleasure. They kissed deeply, and Jude moaned against Reese’s lips. Jude felt so good, so right, and Reese wanted him again. But Jude was exhausted.

  “I love you, Jude,” he whispered. “I love that you let me love you.”

  Jude sucked in a breath, and Reese immediately knew he’d stomped all over the moment in his desire to be completely open with him. When he started to speak, Reese shushed him.

  “Don’t. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t put that kind of pressure on things right now.”

  “Don’t fucking tell me don’t, Reese. I love you too. Don’t stop the pressure. Don’t stop any of it. I don’t want to stop.”

  Their kisses grew heated once again, and they moved clumsily across the floor and down the hall to Reese’s bed, where they spent hours touching and kissing each other. When Reese told Jude he’d been tested that morning, Jude’s man-in-charge persona took over, and he pulled Reese underneath him.

  “Jude, I….” Reese said. He was desperate to be closer to Jude, but for Reese it was unfamiliar territory. He looked up into Jude’s face and decided with certainty that he’d give him whatever he wanted. Jude must have seen hesitation in his eyes, and he paused.

  “We don’t have to if—”

  “I want to, I just. Wow….”

  “Don’t worry, pretty boy,” Jude said with a teasing smile. “I got you.”

  Reese tried to relax and let Jude work some magic with lube and his amazing hands. Reese’s eyes rolled back in his head, and he groaned. “Fuck, babe. You telling me it gets better than this?”

  Reese watched in awe as Jude carefully rolled on the condom and then winked at him. “Yeah, babe. It gets better than this.”

  And when Jude slid inside his body, Reese knew for sure that Jude was everything he’d never known he wanted and everything he’d ever need.

  Jude made love to him tenderly, taking care with each thrust until Reese reached the point where all rational thought was gone and only pure ecstasy remained. It was more intense than any sexual experience he’d had to that point and the most fulfilling. Jude didn’t stop until they were both completely spent.

  Reese was grateful for the loving way Jude tended to him afterward. They held each other and shared many “I love yous” that night, their worries temporarily forgotten.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  WHEN THEY arrived at the hospital the next morning, Grandpa was more lucid—and ornery. Reese breathed a sigh of relief to see him up with the walker, assisted by the physical therapist as he moved around the room and grumbled about the chill.

  “The least you could do is give me the dignity of wearing my damn underwear. My balls are smacking me in the kneecaps. My ass is flapping in the wind. No dignity, I swear. I used to have a nice ass, a long time ago. Everyone told me so. Now it moves like laundry on the line. Oh, hey son, come in here. Do you see what they’re doing to me?”

  Reese approached and hugged his grandfather, who seemed as strong as ever, if a little wobbly. “Damn, it’s good to see you up and around.”

  “That’s because you’re facing my front. They won’t let me wear my underwear. And where’s your keyboard? I want to work on them songs.”

  Reese was elated his grandfather was so with it. When he noticed Jude speaking softly with the physical therapist, he assumed they were talking about the kind of care Grandpa was getting, but then the guy put a hand on Jude’s arm and they laughed together. It gave Reese a sick feeling, and a slap-in-the-face reminder of what broke him and Jada up. He could see now why she would flip out over a simple laugh shared between two men. Reese would bet on the fact that Jude had slept with that guy before, and that was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after the night they’d just shared. But then Jude caught his eye and winked at him, which caused all of the air to leave Reese’s lungs, along with any anger or jealousy. God, he was in love with Jude, and that wink did plenty to reassure him.

  “Jude, my boy. Maybe you can talk some sense into these people. I want my damn underwear.”

  “Mr. Matheson,” Jude began with that musical voice Reese was so mesmerized by. “It’s hospital procedure. If I were working here, I’d have the same rules. Now, once you get to the rehab facility, you’ll be able to wear them. Maybe. I would think.”

  Grandpa hmphed at Jude and kept walking his circle around the bed and toward the bathroom. “Well, at least I don’t have to pull them down to go sit on the crapper.” He left his walker outside the bathroom and shot them irritated looks as he closed the door.

  “Make sure you use the handles, Mr. Matheson, and call for help if you need it,” the physical therapist called to the closed door. He approached Reese with his hand out.

  “I’m Roberto Valdez. I’ve been working with your grandfather.”

  Reese shook his hand and could certainly tell right away why Jude might have been attracted to the guy. He had killer hands—soft, strong, with a light dusting of dark hair on the backs. Very sexy. But Reese wanted Jude’s. He let go and reached out to grab Jude’s hand and squeezed it tightly. Jude smiled up at him, and Reese felt his heart thud wildly at the fact that he was letting him touch him in public and seemed just as happy about it.

  “Thank you for taking such good care of him. I apologize for the litany of remarks you’ve had to tolerate about his balls, though.”

  Roberto ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah. Well, he’s certainly given me one less thing to look forward to about aging. Please let me know if you have any questions. I think he’ll be able to be transferred in a couple more days. He’s doing tremendously well. We’ll take X-rays again tomorrow and determine a plan of action.”

  Reese smiled and thanked him as he left, and the air circulated a bit more freely through his lungs.

  “I’m so glad to hear that,” Jude said quietly. He linked fingers with Reese and gave a tug. “You okay?”

  Reese nodded. “Can I tell Grandpa? Can I tell him you’re mine? I’m really fighting the urge to tell every soul in this building, for starters. After that I might go stop traffic, break into a little song and dance.”

  Jude chuckled and rolled his eyes. “Hmmm. I’d like to see the song and dance, but can we change the tune for a bit? I’m just afraid…. I care about him so much, and I know that he doesn’t particularly approve—”

  “That’s right. I haven’t told you yet—”

  The toilet flushed, and Grandpa shouted for assistance. Jude beat Reese to the door and opened it to find Grandpa shakily trying to pull himself up from the seat.

  “That leg feels like it weighs about ninety pounds. Give me a hand, would ya?”

  Jude supported him as he stood and kept an arm around his back and a hand supporting his arm as he reached for the walker. Reese loved watching them together, but he also felt helpless. He knew he was stronger than Jude, but he was nowhere near as graceful. The last time he’d really had to help Grandpa, he’d given the poor man bruises on his arms from his grip. He felt awful about it.

  “Reese, will you give me a hand getting him into bed? I just need you to watch the other side.” Between the two of them, they got Grandpa in bed, and he immediately closed his eyes. He was breathing a little heavily, which concerned Reese, but Jude got him all tucked in and fixed his pillow.

  “You boys are so good to me. Thanks for coming by. Hey Jude? Will you bring me some of that chicken you get from that Joy place? It tastes so good. Reese, you gotta try it. Them Filipinos sure know how to cook.”

  Reese couldn’t help thinking of how good Jude tasted. He gave him a salacious smile that his grandfather missed because he’d started to doze off. Jude rolled his eyes at him, but he thought he noticed a little pink tinge to his cheeks. Maybe?

  They stayed for a few more minutes, and then Reese gestured for Jude to join him. “Why don’t you take off for a bit? I know you probably have school stuff or other things to do.”
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  Jude smiled at him. “Thank you, Reese. You’re so thoughtful. I think I’ll go home and cook for Mr. Matheson, and maybe I’ll get a little studying in. I’ll be back soon,” he said. His eyes darted around, and then he placed a kiss on Reese’s bottom lip. Reese couldn’t help the satisfied moan that slipped out.

  “Maybe you should take a nap, too,” Reese said in a low voice, and his lips split into a wicked grin.

  Jude smirked. “I seem to recall you fell asleep first last night.” He looked Reese up and down, raised an eyebrow, and left the room with a wave.

  God, Reese was in love.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  THE NEXT two days Jude was perpetually nauseated. He dreaded dinner with his family, and he wanted to shake his fist at the injustice of it all. He was in love. Finally. And it was reciprocated by a wonderful man. He should be ridiculously happy, and yet he was in a near panic. His careful grasp of control had unraveled. He’d let Reese in, he’d let his family have a piece of him that he’d previously kept to himself, and he couldn’t undo any of it. Reese was ecstatic, and when they were alone, it was easy. But their alone time had an expiration date.

  Mr. Matheson would come home, and then he would become their focus, their priority. Reese also had his musical to work on, and Jude assumed that meant Toby would be spending a lot of time at the house.

  Reese overwhelmed him, which was easy to do since Jude had mostly kept to himself since high school. For two years it had been work, color guard, school, repeat. Moving out had meant less time with his family, and he was okay with that, except for being away from Bailey and Brianna. He’d always been the doting older brother, and not being with them on a daily basis was rough.

  Jude reached out to the only person he knew would understand.

  “Jude, why didn’t you tell me about Reese? I’m pouting over here, you know.”

  Tita Germaine had always been there for him, and she understood just how hard the situation would be.

  “Well, one minute we were dancing around the issue, then he shoved his tongue in my mouth. Next thing I know I’m saying ‘I love you, too.’ But Germaine, Mr. Matheson and his no-filter will never stand for us being together under his roof, and let’s not even talk about our family.”

  Germaine snorted. “Gemma’s already saying, ‘He’s so handsome he turned my nephew gay.’ No reality with that one.”

  “Like he’s some sort of gay sorcerer? That’s rich. He is sort of magical.” Jude sighed and thought of the few nights they’d spent together. “He’s crazy, though. He’s ready to jump into this with both feet and no safety rope. He’s talking about forever, and I’m still trying to catch my breath.”

  And he was. But it wasn’t just physically that Reese was overwhelming. So far he’d talked of buying Jude a car, supporting him while he finished school, and he even had some crazy ideas about adding onto the house so his brother and sister could stay with them. He’d backed off a little when Jude raised an eyebrow at him… or maybe he could just sense Jude was ready to bolt.

  But then they kissed, and everything else faded away. Their intimacy had been somewhat innocent until a few nights prior. Jude had wondered how much experience Reese had had with other men, and he was pleased to discover he could be Reese’s first in some way. Reese’s curiosity and passion were refreshing. He never made Jude feel like a hookup, and he was eager to please. It was unnerving how much Reese gave of himself, and he was open to anything. He didn’t act or react like any of the men Jude had been with before.

  “So what do you think is going to happen Sunday? You do realize that’s in, like, two days?”

  “Twenty-two hours, thirty-seven minutes, and seventeen seconds, but who’s counting?”

  What was going to happen? What would Tito Rommel say? Would he make Reese feel uncomfortable? Jude doubted that was possible since Reese seemed to be the picture of confidence—the kind of guy the saying “water off a duck’s back” was written about.

  “I would tell you everything will be okay, but remember what it was like when I brought Paolo home?”

  Germaine’s husband was from Spain. They’d met in nursing school and were married a year later, no thanks to Tito Rommel. He’d only been her brother-in-law, but he had a say, and he hadn’t been happy. Thankfully Germaine convinced Paolo that they should stay in Santa Monica rather than move back to Spain. Jude would have been lost without her. But at least Paolo was Catholic. Reese didn’t even have that going for him, as far as Jude’s family was concerned.

  “Yeah. What a horror show. Well, the cat’s out of the bag, que sera sera, and what have you. I won’t completely go mental until probably four hours before we go over there.”

  Germaine sighed. “I’ll be there to hold your hand. Your other hand. Because I’m sure Reese will have a tight grip on one. He’s a good man, Jude. When are you going to tell Mr. Matheson? Because you should. It will be worse if he hears about it or—” She paused for effect. “Catches you in the act.”

  “And knowing Reese? That’s not unrealistic.”

  THAT NIGHT Toby was over again late, and he and Reese were so involved with their music, that Jude stayed in the kitchen and studied so as not to interrupt. He also needed to give himself a little breather. His final was that week, and he wanted to ace it. But it was more to prepare himself for the possibility that he wouldn’t be able to concentrate after dinner the next night.

  Jude gave up his studies and went to bed without eating. He was frightened, which made him angry. He didn’t like feeling out of control. It was his life. He should be able to do what he pleased. But he couldn’t bear the thought that his family would be hurt by his decision to be out and with Reese. Going to sleep angry was never a good idea, but Reese and Toby were still banging away on the piano, so it wasn’t like he could do yoga or meditate or anything. He tried focusing on Reese’s voice, took a deep breath, and smiled to himself. That voice was heavenly. Reese claimed to not be a spiritual person, but listening to him was a religious experience for Jude. It seemed surreal that he was in Reese’s bed, much less his life, but for whatever reason, he was, and it was what he wanted more than anything else. So no matter what happened with his family, he intended to stay. He deserved to be happy. He did.

  He finally drifted off and only vaguely remembered Reese joining him in the wee hours, snuggling up to his back and kissing his neck. It felt like a perfect dream, and when he woke, he assumed it was a dream, since Reese was nowhere to be found. Jude sat up and rubbed his face. Had Reese never come to bed? Had he chosen to sleep elsewhere?

  He wandered through the house and cleaned up enough glasses and half-eaten snacks to rival a frat-house party, and he chuckled to think that would be his life if he stayed with Reese. He might as well don an apron and be ready to serve. Kinky.

  As he entered the kitchen, he noticed a slip of paper propped up against a full pot of coffee.

  Hey Jude

  I promise I won’t sing you the song

  I’ve gone out surfing

  I won’t be long

  Can’t wait for tonight

  Can’t wait to say

  How much I love you

  And “Who cares if we’re gay?”

  Okay, I know you do

  But I solemnly swear

  To be on my best behavior

  And show them how much I care

  You’re it for me

  And I promise you this

  A lifetime of love

  Sealed with a kiss

  Love, Hurricane Reese

  Jude wiped happy tears from his face as he laughed at Reese’s corny rhyme. He was a hurricane, and Jude had told him that many times, but he loved him anyway. Jude poured himself a cup of coffee and walked out onto the back deck with a shiver. He couldn’t believe Reese would be out surfing on such a chilly day, but he claimed he barely noticed with the wetsuit on.

  Jude walked to the back gate, stood on the cliff overlooking the beach, and tried to spot Reese in the w
ater. There were three or four people on boards facing the horizon, waiting patiently for their next ride. As a swell approached, Jude spotted Reese turn toward shore and paddle smoothly. Then he was up, crouched low on his longboard, flicking his curls out of his eyes. Jude sucked in a breath as Reese gracefully rode the wave toward the shore and then fell off as another wave joined the one he was on and knocked him sideways. He didn’t breathe again for several seconds until Reese’s head popped up next to his board and he climbed back on.

  He repeated that four more times over the next hour. Then he jogged up the beach from the water carrying his board, and Jude’s mouth watered as he watched him move, the wetsuit clinging to his long limbs and broad shoulders. Reese’s lips broke out into a huge smile when he noticed Jude. He climbed the steps carefully, and Jude grabbed for his towel before he reached the top.

  “That was either the scariest thing I’ve ever watched or the most beautiful. You’re amazing,” Jude said quietly.

  Reese bent down to kiss him and then shook out his curls and splashed him with freezing water. Jude sputtered as Reese went to grab for him, and he took off running through the backyard with Reese’s laughter echoing behind him. When he turned at the back door, he saw Reese unlock the shed and gently place his board inside. He then watched with appreciation as Reese unzipped his wetsuit from behind and began to peel the black material down his arms and chest.

  “Go get the shower warmed up,” he called to Jude.

  “And miss the show?”

  Reese laughed and continued the slow process of freeing his limbs from the suit. He grabbed for his towel and wrapped it around his waist.

  Jude shook his head.

  “Really?”

  Reese then expertly reached under the towel and managed to finish undressing without showing a hint of anything inappropriate. Didn’t matter to Jude’s libido. As Reese turned to walk up the path to the deck, Jude went into the house and hurriedly disrobed. He hopped in the shower, yelped a little as the cold water hit him, and waited anxiously for Reese to join him. Moments later Reese’s big hands were all over him. Jude moaned happily.