Speechless (Pier 70 #3) (26 page)

Forty

TEAGUE FELT LIKE a circus act. The kind where everyone was staring, trying to figure out what was going on and what would happen next.

Christ.

He wasn’t broken, so he didn’t know why everyone was looking at him as though he might shatter into dust and blow away on a stiff breeze.

Okay, sure, this was a conversation he’d had with his therapist. He’d been expecting this, so he wasn’t totally caught off guard. He was merely frustrated that Cam, Dare, and Roan were treating him with kid gloves.

The only person who didn’t seem to be was Hudson, but he was being a little distant. Hopefully, they’d change that as soon as they made it up to their apartments. He had honestly hoped they’d have been there by now, but they had detoured into the main office when Cam had come out to greet them in the parking lot. Everyone, including Lulu, was officially introduced to Charger.

“What d’ya think of Charger?” Dare asked, bending down to pet the dog currently sitting at Teague’s feet.

“He’s great,” Teague said fondly. He was enjoying having Charger, and they’d only known each other a short time. Having a pet would be an adjustment, but Teague welcomed it. He was looking forward to spending time with Charger just as soon as he got to spend a little time with Hudson.

“Hudson knew you’d like him,” Dare noted, looking up at Teague.

Yeah, well, Hudson knew Teague pretty well.

Why don’t we let Teague settle back in for a bit?

Teague loved that idea and he was glad Hudson suggested it.

“Absolutely. We’re probably gonna head out in a few. No appointments for the afternoon, so we’re gonna shut it down early,” Cam explained.

Good to know. It meant that Teague and Hudson could be as loud as they wanted to be.

The thought made him smile.

“Come on, Charger,” Teague called to his dog. “Let’s go check out your new digs.”

Waving off his friends, Teague made a beeline out the door and around the side of the building to the stairs that led to the second floor. Once he made it past the outside door, he felt a little more relaxed. Even more so when he stepped into his apartment.

When he opened the door, he gave the okay for Charger to go inside, but the dog remained right beside him. This was going to be interesting.

“Relax,” Teague told Charger, and instantly, he was at ease. He honestly hadn’t expected it to be that easy.

For a moment, Teague took it all in while Charger sniffed from one corner to the next. It looked the same as it had when he’d left, minus the glass shattered on the floor. Someone had cleaned that up, and if he had to guess, Hudson had done so. On the floor in the kitchen was a small metal bowl with water in it and another with dog food.

Teague turned to look at Hudson, who was standing in the doorway, leaning against the jamb.

“You thought of everything, huh?”

Hudson’s hands came up.
I thought of little else except you.

Teague felt the words all the way to his soul. For the past thirty-four days, Teague had thought about Hudson. When he was in therapy, he’d thought of Hudson. When he was eating any of his meals, he’d thought of Hudson. When he’d lain down to go to sleep at night, he’d thought of Hudson. There hadn’t been a single day that had gone by when he hadn’t thought about Hudson.

And now the man was right there, close enough for him to touch.

Teague backed up a step and leaned against the couch, crossing his arms over his chest. “Remember what you told me when I was in the emergency room?”

Hudson nodded, as though he knew exactly what Teague was referring to. Maybe he did.

“Is it still true?” He felt incredibly vulnerable asking that question, but he couldn’t help himself.

Watching Hudson closely, Teague didn’t move when Hudson pushed off the wall and stepped toward him, stopping less than a foot away. Warm hands embraced his face as Hudson tilted Teague’s head up so that he was looking him in the eye.

Hudson nodded, dropping his hands.
It’s definitely still true. Now more than ever.

“Tell me again,” Teague pleaded, meeting Hudson’s eyes once more before glancing back at Hudson’s hands.

I love you.

Unable to stop himself, Teague lunged for Hudson, throwing his arms around him and pulling Hudson’s head down so that he could meet his mouth.

A light whimper sounded from closer to the floor, forcing them both apart. Teague couldn’t help but laugh. Charger was sitting there, staring up at them. Glancing over at the couch, he then looked back at Charger.

“Sit,” Teague said, patting the couch.

Charger bounded up onto it.

“Lay,” he ordered softly.

Charger dropped to his belly.

“Stay.”

This time Charger lowered his head to the cushion, seemingly satisfied with his new bed.

“Where were we?” Teague asked, turning back to Hudson, who was now grinning from ear to ear.

Without hesitation, Hudson pulled Teague to him roughly and kissed him. The warmth of Hudson’s lips felt better than anything he’d ever known. The strength in Hudson’s arms when they wrapped around him grounded Teague, made him believe that everything might be okay.

He knew he had fucked up. Trying to take his own life had been stupid. At the time, he’d thought he had no other choice. Except he knew better because he had Hudson. Hudson had been there for him day and night for weeks on end, and Teague had never accepted what was really going on between them. Neither of them were good at communicating—something he’d learned thanks to all the damn counseling sessions—but they would have to work on that.

“I love you, too,” Teague whispered against Hudson’s lips. “God, I’ve never said those words to anyone. I thought it’d feel weird to say them, but…” Teague pressed his lips to Hudson’s once more, allowing Hudson to thrust his tongue into Teague’s mouth.

The kiss reminded him of everything he’d nearly given up. Sure, he knew there was a long road ahead of them, but they could make this work. Teague was finally open to the idea of something more than sex. He’d never thought he’d get to that point, but he had to admit, he’d been there before things had gone south. He’d simply been too stubborn to admit it.

“I want to feel you, Hudson. I want to feel you inside me.”

Hudson pulled back, his breaths rushing in and out of his lungs as he stared at Teague. The desire flashed in those brilliant emerald eyes, and Teague knew Hudson wanted him, too.

It was all still there. Everything had changed, yet in many ways, nothing had changed. And for that, he was thankful.

Then again, he’d be even more thankful if Hudson would lose the damn clothes.

HEARING THOSE WORDS from Teague’s mouth … Hudson’s knees nearly gave out on him.

All morning, he’d been mentally rehearsing how this day would go. He hadn’t been sure what to expect from Teague. They’d shared texts for the past five weeks, and Hudson had attended the one counseling session, but other than that, Hudson hadn’t seen him. The moment he’d set eyes on Teague at the hospital, he’d felt the air rush out of his lungs. The kid looked so damn good. Healthy. Strong.

And if Hudson had been worried about how to handle him, he’d been reassured when he saw the way Cam, Dare, and Roan had made Teague uncomfortable. Admittedly, Hudson had seen the way they’d treated Teague. As though he were fragile, as though he might break.

Teague Carter was anything but fragile. He was strong. He was a fighter.

And he was his.

Unable to refrain any longer, Hudson jerked Teague against him roughly, grabbing for the hem of Teague’s shirt. In a fumble of arms, they managed to strip down to bare skin before Teague—yes,
Teague
—led Hudson toward his bed.

Hudson pretended it didn’t have any significance that they were about to make love right there in the one place Teague had never wanted to be. It actually meant everything in the world to Hudson, but he knew Teague wouldn’t appreciate having it called out.

Instead, he wrapped one arm around Teague’s back, then lowered him down to the bed, crawling over him, their mouths fused together, tongues thrusting, searching, desperate for more.

“Oh, God, I’ve missed you,” Teague moaned into his mouth.

Hudson ground his hips forward, sliding his rock-hard dick against Teague’s. He needed to feel the sweet suction of his mouth on him. It felt like an eternity had passed since the last time Hudson had felt like this. So overwhelmed by everything. He was on sensory overload and he craved more.

When Hudson pulled back, Teague lay back on the bed, staring up at him with so much heat glittering in his eyes it was mesmerizing. Working his way up Teague’s body, Hudson kneeled over Teague’s chest, his legs holding Teague’s arms down by his sides.

“Glad to see I’m not the only one who’s eager.”

Hudson smirked. He grabbed a pillow and tucked it beneath Teague’s head, bringing that sexy fucking mouth closer to his dick.

“Let me feel you in my mouth,” Teague groaned as Hudson brushed the head of his cock against Teague’s smooth lips.

Teague opened his mouth, and Hudson tucked the head just inside, the gentle swipe of Teague’s tongue making the hair on his arms stand on end. The pleasure was intense. Vibrations shot through his shaft when Teague closed his lips around him and hummed.

Nice and slow,
Hudson signed.

Teague winked, then took more of Hudson in his mouth. Hudson couldn’t look away, loving the sight of Teague beneath him, sucking, licking, taking as much of him as he could. Hudson could’ve done this all day, except he wanted to give pleasure to Teague, as well. After a few minutes, he managed to scoot back down Teague’s body, lying on top of him, feasting on Teague’s mouth once more. He lingered there for long minutes before trailing his lips over Teague’s skin. He started with his jaw, then worked his way down his neck, his collarbone, then lower. Hudson paused to torment Teague’s nipples, using his lips and his teeth, drawing those sexy moans from him.

While he worshipped Teague’s body with his mouth, Teague’s hands roamed over Hudson’s head, his shoulders, his back. He never tried to hold Hudson in place, but the touching was enough. He loved the way the kid’s hands felt on him.

When Hudson made his way past Teague’s stomach, he settled between his legs, pushing them wider, forcing his knees back so that he could work him the way he knew Teague needed.

“You know if you put my dick in your mouth, I’m gonna come.” It wasn’t a warning, simply a statement.

The way Teague’s cock pulsed as Hudson brushed his lips down the length told him Teague was serious. Wanting to draw this out as much as possible, Hudson didn’t take Teague’s dick in his mouth. He nipped the inside of Teague’s thighs, brushed his nose against Teague’s balls, slid his tongue along the sensitive spot beneath, making Teague buck and moan some more.

“Hudson… Oh, God, yes… I’m not gonna last… Fuck… That feels so damn good… It’s been too long.”

Torn between wanting to be inside Teague and simply wanting to make him come apart, Hudson opted for the latter. For now. He would give Teague whatever he needed, whenever he needed it. And right now, it was evident the man needed to come.

Rising up, Hudson planted his hands on each side of Teague’s hips, then lowered his mouth over Teague’s cock. He sucked him inside, taking him to the back of his throat. Another breathy moan tore from Teague, which spurred Hudson on. He bobbed up and down, working Teague’s dick with his mouth. He didn’t stop until Teague was panting, begging, practically pleading for Hudson to send him over. When Teague began bucking his hips, Hudson held still, allowing Teague to fuck his mouth from beneath.

“Oh, fuck … oh, fuck … oh, fuck… Yes! That’s it! Almost… Suck me, Hudson. Suck hard.” Teague took a breath as his back bowed. “Fuck! Fuck!”

Hudson sucked and swallowed as Teague came, watching the way Teague’s fingers curled around Hudson’s wrists, holding on to him as he splintered into pieces.

It was so goddamn beautiful … Hudson could hardly contain the emotion churning inside him. Although they’d done plenty of things since the beginning of this arrangement, not once had Teague been so invested. The little touches, the way he looked at Hudson … it was more than he expected.