Jude got what Mathew was trying to say. Jude wasn't letting him move even a centimeter out of position. Jude just wanted to have him this way, to wrap himself in the pretense that this wasn't Mathew. If Mathew got hurt, it all came crashing down, and all Jude was left with was the suffocating shame of taking advantage of him like this.Jude let Mathew's hip go and spit on his hand and rubbed it against him. Mathew moaned loudly. At least Mathew could reciprocate the favor to Jude.Jude came back at nine. Yon was in the kitchen, leaning into the fridge to grab a beer, and grinned when he spotted Jude. Jude scowled and crossed over to lean on the kitchen counter."Where have you been?" Klaus had just returned from the gym an hour before.Jude huffed. "Having sex with Mathew," he replied.Yon had lost something in the sink with a clunk. He turned around, eyes wide. "Shit.""Is this not okay? Is it weird to discuss this with you? Talking about sex?""No, it's okay. You surprised me. I did
"Right," Jude said."He's hotter than he expected," Mathew said, tilting his head as he inspected him.A flash of residual jealousy burned through Jude. He grunted neutrally."Somebody informed him that he was bisexual. Is he?""Last he knew, yeah.""Mathew stumbled over some gossip about him once, that he had a boyfriend. Totally hot, too—" He stopped.Jude's mouth was clamped shut.Mathew glanced at him, realization dawning. "He’s your ex, isn’t he?" He was already looking pretty embarrassed."Yup, that’s the one," Jude admitted.Mathew tittered nervously. "Shit, I’m sorry.""Don’t worry about it.""Mathew couldn't believe Jude's ex was Malachi Flynn. What was that like? To date him?"It was such a loaded question. Jude could spend years trying to explain. "Traumatizing," he said instead.Mathew laughed again. "I'm sorry. Let me buy you a beer. As friends. You could use a break," he said.Jude took a breath, then nodded. "Yeah. Just one, I'm going to the gym afterwards," he told Mat
It was so difficult knowing what was appropriate, whether or not to believe Jude's friends or him. Jude had no idea what to do. Jude's intuition was nonexistent when it came to Malachi. It was as if, behind the dual masks of Malachi, existed a small little third one—the real Malachi. The one Jude knew, the one that sat across from Jude today. Not the happy mask he wore or his brooding alter ego, but this worried, scared boy who breathed his breath, hoping Jude would reach out and take his hand and be with him.The Malachi Jude he had found in his room, the one who had taken the shower that first day, and the one who had talked to Jude about missing his dad, they were the same person Jude was looking at right now. If Jude could get all the rest of the clutter out of the way, maybe this could work. When they were good, they were like on top of the world. Jude had never been happier in his life. Jude wished more than anything that he could get this to work.So Jude took his hand.It was
"You think Jude cares about your daddy's money? Jude does not care, not even where he found it in the first place," Klaus growled.Malachi's face altered. If he had been angry before, it was nothing compared to now."What did you just say?" Malachi questioned."You heard me," Klaus said.Malachi shoved him back even harder.Shit. Jude pulled him away by his waist. Klaus moved forward, but Yon grabbed him by the arm and restrained him."You're a fucking loser, Tate. You can't cope that he got bigger than you. You don't know anything about my family or my father, and if I were you, I'd shut the fuck up about it before you say something you really regret," Malachi yelled back."Yeah, Klaus is the loser here, not the college flunk-out junkie. Like Klaus is gonna hear any threats from you," Klaus shouted.Jude stood stock still. Malachi did what?Two large security guards caught up to them as Malachi shrugged Jude off of him."Mr. Flynn, is everything okay here?" One of them asked Malachi.
Jude sighed and looked around for them. Yon was half-talking, half-dancing with a girl standing slightly in the background. Klaus was on the other couch with Holly and another of Malachi's friends, laughing. They were not in a great hurry to leave either.Jude faced Malachi again, covering Jude's face in his neck again. "It's late. Jude doesn't want to leave to go to bed. Jude wants to put you in bed.""Great, and do what?" His voice teased."You know.""Yes, but Jude wants to make you say it."Jude kissed his neck again, pushing Jude's hand back underneath his shirt. "Jude already told you Jude wants to get you naked," Jude whispered, Jude's fingers tracing lines on his skin."To do what?"Jude growled in frustration again. Jude pushed Jude's hand higher up his chest, feeling his necklace before it fell lower, so Jude's palm could lay over his flat stomach."You're going to have to present Jude with something greater than that if you hope to have Jude leave my birthday celebration ea
"Yes, Jude Queens talked to Chase, and he said it was enjoyable."Yon breathed out, his eyes rolling away. He shrugged, his face incredulous."It has been enjoyable. Jude does not think Jude wants to do it again, but it's been great up till now," Jude contributed, seeing a tiny smile on Yon's face."See? Malachi Flynn is looking after him, Yon. He's okay. Malachi is a good son-in-law," Malachi contributed, making Yon chuckle."Okay, more?" Yon asked."Holly," Malachi said.Yon turned back to her, and Jude let Jude's hand slide beneath Malachi's shirt, touching his skin again and kissing his neck. Malachi turned around in Jude's arms, and Jude claimed his lips right away."Jude wants to be closer to you, but standing up is so hard," Jude told him.He smiled. "Do you want to sit down?""If Jude sits down, you’re going to climb on Jude's lap, and we’ll permanently scar our friends and get kicked out because we’ll try to have sex right here.""Smart, that’s smart." He tried to kiss Jude a