Hurricane Reese Read online

  “You feel so good, Jude. I want you.”

  Jude smiled against Reese’s lips. The feeling was so mutual. “I want you too, but we all know you and showers are a bad mix.”

  Reese growled playfully and chased Jude into the bedroom. They fell on the bed laughing, still wet and steamy from the shower. Jude took his time exploring every inch of Reese’s tanned skin. He loved the soft curls on Reese’s chest and had forbidden him to manscape. It added a delicious friction when they moved together.

  Reese had received a clean bill of health, and Jude decided he wanted to give himself fully to his lover. He’d never allowed that level of intimacy with a partner, but everything with Reese was different, and he wanted more.

  Reese was nervous at first. His hands shook as he caressed Jude and asked him what he needed to feel good. Jude never knew that talking about the mechanics of sex could be so hot, but a lustful haze soon came over Reese’s handsome face, and Jude loved letting go for once. He faced Hurricane Reese naked and unafraid.

  Reese’s strength and size were a lot to take, and Reese soon lost control in his excitement. All Jude could do was hold on for the ride as the storm took over. Reese came with a roar as he thrust hard into Jude’s body and dug his fingers into Jude’s shoulder and hip. He collapsed on Jude’s chest with a grunt.

  “Oh, God,” Reese said as he pushed himself up when Jude struggled to breathe. “God, I’m so sorry. I hurt you, didn’t I?”

  Jude chuckled, but he winced as they separated. “Hurricane Reese,” was all he could say as he tried to catch his breath.

  Reese removed the condom. He moved to Jude’s side to caress and kiss the tender areas where he’d held on too tightly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Reese said sadly.

  Jude placed his hands firmly on either side of Reese’s face. “I’m fine. I’m actually sort of flattered.”

  Reese sat up a little and scowled at him. “How can you say that? I never—”

  “You didn’t hurt me, babe. I just wasn’t fully prepared for the Category Five. Maybe next time we can lower it to a Category Two or One, or maybe even just a tropical storm. Maybe I need to build up to the Category Five.”

  Reese dropped his head on Jude’s shoulder and barked out a laugh. “I know I’m a disaster.” He ran his fingers down Jude’s torso and made Jude hiss when he gently scored his tender flesh with his nails.

  “Let me commence with search and rescue.”

  Jude was swept away once more as Reese used everything at his disposal to bring on an orgasm more powerful than the first. He had to hand it to him. Reese might be a natural disaster, but he was thorough and attentive when it came to cleaning up his mess.

  Jude felt closer to Reese than he’d ever felt to another person in his life. It was crazy for him to be so in love. He had no way of knowing what the future held for them, but he’d given himself to Reese in a way he never had with another lover, and he trusted that Reese would truly hold his hand through the ordeals ahead.

  IT TOOK every effort Reese had to pull himself out of bed to dress and head to the hospital. He wanted to stay wrapped in Jude’s arms for days, but their reality consisted of larger priorities than themselves. Jude would go with him to visit Grandpa, and then they would go to dinner at Jude’s uncle’s for what he assumed would be some sort of vetting process.

  Reese wasn’t a fool. Jude’s family would find every reason in the world to try to keep them apart, but he knew how he felt, and he knew Jude felt just as strongly for him. Jude was more open than ever that morning, and Reese treated that vulnerability with care. He never wanted Jude to second-guess whether Reese would take care of him. He’d agreed to dinner so he could put on his best smile and reassure them that Jude was in a great place. He knew what he was up against, but he wouldn’t be deterred.

  Grandpa was in rare form when they arrived, and the three of them laughed and laughed. Reese brought along the four-track recordings that he’d made with Toby the night before. Grandpa was overjoyed.

  “Yes. That’s exactly it, my boy. You two got it just how I imagined.”

  They talked briefly about the story, but Reese didn’t let on he was having different ideas for his project. His feelings for Jude and Grandpa’s confession about the real person he met on the corner in Las Vegas, had him marinating a whole new plan for the course of the musical. He had run it by Toby, and Toby was wild about the idea.

  “We may not find anyone with the balls to produce it, but dammit, we need to write this musical.” His best friend was a smart man—a talented man—but he had no idea just how driven Reese could be.

  Before he knew it, it was nearing four o’clock, and they were expected at Jude’s uncle’s by five. Jude grew increasingly quiet as the afternoon progressed. When they said goodbye to Grandpa and explained where they were going, Jude looked ready to jump out of his skin.

  “You’re going with him to dinner? Why’s he taking you?”

  They’d been over it. Jude wasn’t ready for Grandpa to know. Reese wanted to tell him everything, but he respected Jude’s wishes. This time.

  “They want to make sure Jude’s not living with a psycho and his crazy old man. I probably won’t be able to do much to ease their minds, but I hear the food will be phenomenal.”

  Jude barked out an unexpected laugh, and Grandpa looked at him as though he’d lost his mind.

  “You sure you want to take this guy? I could probably get a day pass. I’d appreciate the food more, that’s for damn sure.”

  Crisis averted. Grandpa kissed them both on the cheek and waved to them as Camilla entered the room. Reese and Jude traded looks when Grandpa rubbed his hands together.

  “You comin’ to discharge me, pretty lady?”

  She laughed and sat on the edge of his bed. Reese thought she was being awfully cozy with one of her clients, but hey, he couldn’t deny Grandpa’s mojo, and Grandpa perked up whenever she was around. Good for him, and God bless her.

  “Ready to go?” he asked Jude quietly.

  “Maybe they need someone to help out on the floor tonight. I think I’d rather change diapers and give sponge baths than go to Tito’s.”

  “Oh, babe. It won’t be so bad. What can they possibly do that’s so horrible?”

  WHAT COULD be so horrible? Jude knew Reese would find out all too quickly just how, ah, involved Jude’s beloved family could be.

  Brianna met them at the door with a pale face and wide eyes. “Tita Giselle, Tito Mario, and Tito Joseph are here. I thought it would be bad with the usuals here, but they brought in reinforcements.”

  Of course they’d invite everyone. Jude’s coming out was huge news. Bailey sat in the corner of the front room playing video games with their cousins Marlon and Isaiah while Junior pulled his hair. Through the wide doorway, Jude could see his uncles sitting in the back room—Tito Rommel at the head of the table, Paolo and baby Antony, Tito Mario, who was married to his auntie Giselle, and Tito Joseph, his mother’s older brother.

  If Jude’s father had been there, he would have held the seat at the opposite end of the table because he was the oldest in the family. He and Rommel were brothers who married sisters, which made Jude’s family interestingly interconnected. His dad, Marvin De La Torre, would be there soon, and the whole conversation would happen again. Jude wanted to turn and leave, but Reese’s giant body blocked his exit.

  “Hello, sweetheart,” Tita Gemma said, barely glancing at Jude because she was too busy smiling up at Reese. “Introduce me to your special friend.”

  He heard a snicker from Bailey in the corner, and Brianna scolded, “Tita!”

  Jude kissed his auntie on the cheek. “This is Reese Matheson, but I guess you already know that.”

  She held out her hand and gave Reese a grin that was almost creepy. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re even more handsome in person. Giselle, come meet Jude’s special friend, Reese Matheson. You know, the one that’s on the radio?”

  Giselle came out of th
e kitchen with a glass of wine and did a double-take. “Reese Matheson. He sings that song… what is that song… Brianna?”

  Brianna rolled her eyes. “Tita, just say hello.”

  Giselle held out her hand and fluttered her eyelashes. Jesus. Were all of the women in his family going to flirt with his boyfriend? He gave Reese a side-eyed glance and sighed.

  How could they not? Reese was truly an Adonis. He’d decided to go a little dressier than his usual surfer chic, and the effect was mesmerizing. He wore black slacks and a maroon sweater with designer loafers. The clothes draped off him as though he were a damn runway model. It was disgusting how good he looked.

  Jude also wore slacks, but he paired them with a traditional barong dress shirt. Reese seemed surprised, but said he liked it. Jude was trying very hard to please his uncle, just like any child would. It shamed and angered him. He was old enough to be taken seriously as a man.

  Jude’s cousins Christian and Adrian came over and shook hands with Reese, and their smug smiles demonstrated how incredibly happy they were to not be in the hot seat that night. They were older than Jude by a couple of years and had already been busted numerous times for their wild behavior, yet neither had gone so far as to come out as gay and bring home their boyfriend for the family to meet. They were off the hook for at least the next year.

  “Why don’t you boys go say hello to your uncle, Jude? I’ll bring you a drink. Reese, would you like some wine?”

  Reese blushed at the attention. “No, thank you. I’d love some water.”

  Gemma pouted a little as she turned to Jude.

  “I suppose you won’t be having any wine either. Why does no one want to drink my wine? Germaine still abstains, the boys would prefer beer….”

  “Tita, I prefer the taste of your delicious dinner,” Jude said, trying to keep her from a full-on tantrum.

  “Oh, you hush your mouth, Jude Joseph. You go in and say hello to your uncle.”

  Great. The moment I’ve so been waiting for.

  Jude glanced over his shoulder at Reese, who was looking around the house with a huge smile on his face. Jude tugged on his sweater to get his attention.

  “This place is like a shrine. I’ve never seen so much idolatry outside of a church or a museum.”

  “Yeah. Well, I warned you we were headed into the Catholic stronghold. Now please stick close to me, or they’ll—”

  “Reese, I wonder if you could help me in the kitchen? You’re so very tall. Won’t you come help me get this platter down?” Too late. Tita Gemma had her claws out and was going to have her way regardless of how Jude felt about it.

  Reese raised his eyebrows at Jude, and Jude nodded.

  “Coming,” Reese said with a smile. He sauntered off toward Gemma’s voice. Jude proceeded to the back room. Alone.

  “Hello, Tito Rommel.” With all of his strength, Jude tried to appear confident.

  “Jude,” he said, and he looked him over as they shook hands. “You look well. How is Mr. Matheson?”

  “As good as can be expected. He’ll hopefully be transferred to a rehabilitation facility tomorrow. The physical therapist says he’s doing well.”

  Rommel appraised him skeptically. “He will be there for a long time?”

  “Hopefully no longer than four to six weeks.”

  “So what will you do while he’s there?” Tito Joseph asked. Jude glanced at Paolo, who was busy playing with baby Antony and would be no support. Christian and Adrian entered the room behind and took their seats at the table, determined to be spectators to whatever was about to go down.

  “I’m, umm… finishing up my class this week. I’ll probably try to pick up some temporary work at the nursing facility. I’ve got to finish up the choreography with the color guard before Christmas break.” He wanted to ask what the interrogation was about, but then Tito Joseph asked Christian about his job at a subsidiary of Google, which led to a discussion about the latest technology.

  Jude was able to sit down and listen rather than continue his confession. But Tito Rommel kept one eye on Jude at all times to let him know that their conversation wasn’t over.

  WHILE REESE retrieved the platter, Jude’s aunt Gemma gave him the third degree. “So tell us about you and Jude, Reese. How long have you been boyfriend and girlfriend? Wait a minute. Who’s the girlfriend? Not our Jude. He’s never been girly before.”

  Reese tried not to laugh. It would have been adorable if he weren’t speaking with grown women and if he weren’t speaking about something so serious.

  “It’s been a fairly recent development,” he answered, only slightly meaning to sound coy.

  “I told you he wasn’t dating that Kyla girl,” Jude’s aunt Giselle said, and Gemma raised an eyebrow that looked eerily similar to Jude’s.

  “Of course he wasn’t. She’s seeing that young black man from the Costco.”

  “The one who helped us out to our car? Oh, he was very handsome.”

  Reese was enchanted by the women and their banter. They continued on for another fifteen minutes about Kyla and her boyfriend and had all kinds of crazy ideas about why she was dating him. In the meantime he was ordered about the kitchen to grab things off of high shelves and cupboards, and then finally he was asked to gather up the rest of the men and join the women at the table.

  Reese walked into the back room and paused in the doorway. Jude looked very much like he had that day on the couch when Grandpa nearly caught them in an embrace. Jude’s eyes darted around the table at the other men as they spoke animatedly in a mixture of Tagalog and English. A young man Reese hadn’t met yet was seated next to Jude. He noticed Reese first and elbowed Jude, who jumped as though he were startled. He looked to Reese with wide eyes and then stood suddenly. He walked around the table toward Reese, grabbed his arm and walked him down the hallway. He pulled him into a room and closed the door. Jude looked pale.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “We should go. I… you should go.”

  “What on earth is going on?”

  Jude chewed on his bottom lip. “I don’t think this is going to be a very comfortable dinner. For you. Or me for that matter.”

  Reese reached for his hand, but Jude wrapped his arms around his midsection.

  “Jude, I don’t care. I—”

  “JUDE, ARE you ready to come eat? You and your friend?”

  Tita Gemma stuck her head in the room and looked as though she were disappointed to not have caught them doing something naughty.

  “We’ll be right there.” Jude gave Reese a warning look and shook his head. Reese had no idea what they were walking into. He just looked stupid handsome and smiled as though he hadn’t a care in the world.

  “It’ll be all right. I love you,” Reese whispered to him. Then he brushed past Jude and grabbed his hand on the way by. Jude pulled his hand back, but he worried he would hurt Reese’s feelings, and he was angry that he felt he had to. Reese glanced back with confusion in his eyes, but they proceeded.

  The rest of the family had taken their seats and deliberately left Jude and Reese to sit across the table from each other.

  Everyone held hands while Tito Rommel said grace. There was the usual chit-chat while people served themselves chicken adobo and pancit palabok, but once people dug in, the voices dwindled, and everyone prepared for the inevitable showdown.

  “So, Reese. What are you doing for work these days?” Tita Gemma asked.

  Reese took a big drink of water and smiled as he swallowed. “Spending time with my grandfather. He and I are working on cataloging the music he’s written over the years, and I’m working on a new musical with my songwriting partner.”

  “That sounds lovely. What is the musical about?”

  Reese wiped his mouth with a napkin and grinned at Jude across the table. “It’s about two kids falling in love back in the early nineteen sixties in Las Vegas.”

  The women all swooned. “That sounds very sweet,” Tita Giselle said. “I love the music fr
om that era. So glamorous. And the dresses, like Jackie O!”

  Jude looked around the table and found his uncle staring at him intently. Jude’s appetite for his tita’s cooking was gone in an instant.

  “Jude what are your plans now that Mr. Matheson is no longer living at the house?”

  The food in Jude’s stomach turned to lead. “I’ll continue to spend time with him in the rehab facility, and I’ll be looking for some temporary work until he comes home.”

  “Jude?” Reese asked and frowned at him. Jude shook his head, warning Reese not to interject.

  “You’ll make arrangements to move back here as soon as possible. Your parents will be returning soon. With Mr. Matheson in the rehab facility, there’s no longer a reason for you to be living away from home.”

  Jude’s mouth seemed to lose the ability to rebut. He refused to look at Reese.

  “Tito, I don’t want to put you and Tita Gemma out.”

  “Nonsense. We’re family. There is no question.”

  The table was deathly quiet. Until Reese spoke.

  “Jude lives in the cottage. It’s his home. Why would he need to leave?”

  Jude wished Reese would just be quiet. He had no idea what kind of land mine he was stepping on.

  “It is no longer appropriate for him to live there. My nephew should be living with family until the time when he decides to get married. To a woman.”

  Reese’s face turned red, and he gripped the edge of the table. Jude wished he were playing that childhood game once more—that he could close his eyes and no one would be able to see him.

  “Jude is an adult, Mr. De La Torre. I understand that family is important, but Jude is a part of my family too. He should be allowed to live where he wants.”