Page 19 of Love in Unexpected Places

When I make my way back to the living room, I see Hudson walking around slowly, checking out the character drawings on my wall. After my team and I finish a good animation, we like to sign each other’s character art. It’s a weird thing to do, but we love it, and it helps with our team camaraderie. He hears me coming and turns around, smiling. “You’re really good. I love all these. Can you show me your work sometime?”

Ducking my head to hide my burning cheeks I nod and sit on the couch, picking up my glass of wine. “I can arrange that. I just finished the animation for my superhero. I can show that to you after it goes live. We’re not allowed to share them until the design is approved. But I’d love for you to see him.” I hold the clothes out to him, and he raises his eyebrows. “So you can get out of your suit.”

“Nothing you have will fit me.”

“These will. They’re extra-large. Unless you wear 2XL?”

He scrunches his eyebrows but doesn’t take the clothes. “No, extra-large is fine. But …” His voice trails off and I understand.

He thinks these are another man’s clothes. There’s literally no way I can wear extra-large clothes. Hell, large sizes are too big sometimes. “Oh, no. These are mine. I like to buy clothes I hang around the house in a few sizes too big. Besides, my ex was as thin as me, but about six inches taller. He also never left his clothes over, so you don’t have to worry about wearing another man’s clothes.”

Seeming to believe me, he takes the clothes and I guide him to the bathroom. While he changes, I turn on the television and find The Matrix on a streaming service and get it started. Hudson laughs when he comes out of the bathroom, seeing what I have playing.

Man, oh man. Hudson is a sight to behold. A man has never worn my clothes—it’s usually the other way around—and I see the appeal. Knowing that he has my clothes on and is comfortable in them does weird things to my belly. It’s flipping and flopping around, with dozens of butterflies dancing in there to join the party. I try not to stare, but I can’t help it. My eyes keep going back to this man in my clothes and in my house. He appears so relaxed and comfortable. I want to see more of this.

“This is a long movie,” Hudson mentions as he sits on the couch beside me. “Sure you can stay awake for it?”

Now that he mentions it, I am a little tired. “I’ll be fine,” I lie.

I’m not fine. I don’t even remember falling asleep. I don’t think Hudson notices for a while, but he wakes me just as Agent Smith is beating Neo’s ass. “Huh?” I ask, wiping my mouth of drool. God, I can’t believe I drooled.

“You dropped off there. I’m going to head home,” Hudson says, standing over me.

“No!” I exclaim. “Not yet.”

“You were sleeping, babe.” Hudson’s eyes go wide, and I melt into the seat. Does it mean something that I got pet-named so early? “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s okay. If it’s too soon, it’s okay. But I … like it?” I pose it as a question. I don’t exactly hate it, but I don’t want him to think I’m some kind of weirdo that thinks of love at first sight and picture our wedding. Though, would it be bad if I pictured our wedding?

“I’ll let you sleep, Callum.” I pout, but I stand up to walk him to the door. He has his suit folded under his arm. I laugh at the fact that he has his dress socks and shoes on with the large white t-shirt and basketball shorts. When we stop at the door, Hudson turns to me and steps closer. “I had an amazing time tonight, Callum. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to take you out again next weekend. Or see you during the week. Whenever you’re free.”

“I’d love that.” Hudson gives me his phone and I punch my number in. To be a smart ass, I save it under “Babe.” He sees it and smirks, sliding the phone into the pocket of the shorts.

Hudson puts his clothes down on the side table beside the door and I wonder at it until he slides his hand behind my back, drawing closer to me. My hair has escaped thebun I had it in, and he pushes a lock behind my ear, putting a hand on my cheek. “I’ve been thinking about this all evening,” he says in a raspy voice.

“Yes,” I murmur, even though he didn’t ask me a question.

Slowly, he lowers his face to mine and my eyelids lower on their own accord. When his mouth meets mine, we both groan and I lean into his chest, placing my hands on his pecs. Hudson takes no time sliding his tongue into my mouth, opening me up for his exploration.

Hudson’s hand slides down to my ass, pulling me closer and I feel his hard dick against my belly. My own cock is hard against his thigh, wanting to rub against his. What I wouldn’t give to have him naked and on top of me, kissing me to within an inch of my life. Does he really have to leave? He can stay. Forever if he keeps kissing me like this.

My hands drift around his neck, pasting myself to him as he devours my mouth with intoxicating kisses. The rumble of the groan he releases flows through me, and I stand on tiptoe to get closer. I want the kiss to go on and on. I want Hudson to never stop kissing me. It feels so good to be in his arms, his tongue caressing mine languidly, his hands gripping me tight. God, where has this man been all my life?

All too soon, he pulls his tongue from my mouth, but continues to give me gentle pecks. When he pulls away, I drop down flat on my feet and move my hands from around his neck, sliding them back to his pecs. I open my eyes and notice his are a little glazed and hooded. Hudson rubs a thumb over my lower lip, then gives me one more peck before he steps back from me.

He gathers his clothes and says, “We have to do this again, Callum. I’ve never had as much fun as I did with you tonight.”

“Please,” I say, wanting nothing more than a second, third, fourth and fifth date with Hudson. “Anytime you’re free.”

Smiling, he nods and opens the door. “I’ll hold you to that. Lock up behind me.”

“Call when you get home?”

Hudson nods, gives me one more kiss and breezes out the door.

I lock the door and stand with my back flat against it. Huh, what are the odds that Rachel found the man of my dreams?

She doesn’t wait long to ask if she did good. My phone rings at nine the next morning, pulling me out of some great sleep. Hudson called me when he got home and instead of us leaving it at that and hanging up, we talked for almost two hours. We bounced around from what we do for fun to childhood memories to our favorite foods. Every part of the conversation just flowed, no searching around for what to say next. We only hung up because I started dozing off. If not for something pesky like sleep, Hudson and I would probably still be on the phone.

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