He did not show up for training, and Jude could not concentrate. Jude's mind kept wandering back to him. Yon and Klaus asked Jude to a party that night, and Jude dismissed it out of hand. All Jude could do was return to the house and make sure Malachi was okay.As soon as Jude entered, Jude spotted him sitting on the couch playing a video game."Hey," he called.The muted clicks of the controller echoed in the quiet room. Jude walked toward the fridge. The food Jude had left on the counter sat, untouched. Jude opened the trash: four empty Red Bull cans and one other on the coffee table.Jude placed Jude's bag on the counter and exhaled. "Do you want to go out?"Malachi paused the game and looked at Jude, surprised. "Where?""Yon asked Jude over for a party."Malachi was in sweats and Jude's Christmas gift of the sleeveless hoodie. He tilted his head to the side, a small smile on his mouth. "If Jude would like to, they can stay over too.""Jude called and talked with Jude's mom today,
"Are you okay?" Jude rolled on the condom and opened it."Yes, come on Malachi already."Jude pushed himself into him, gliding all the way in smoothly. Malachi let his legs drift even farther apart, supporting himself on his hands. "Jude is so sexy like this."He moaned. Jude wrapped his hand around his shoulder, pulling him back towards Jude, his back to Jude's chest. Jude started pumping Jude's hips, keeping Jude's slow tempo. One hand rested on his hip, sensing him push into Jude, and the other held his neck. Malachi arched sweetly, his head lying back onto Jude's shoulder. Jude nipped his jaw and watched him moan."This feels so fucking good, put your hand on Malachi, please." He gasped.Jude obliged, and he twisted Jude's hair, pulling and holding on to steady himself. Every time Jude moved Jude's hips, Malachi met Jude halfway, sliding Jude deeper before withdrawing and starting again."Stop, stop." He covered Jude's hand."What's wrong?""Nothing whatsoever. Malachi simply doe
Fuck.“He’s not sleeping. Has he been eating?”“Malachi doesn’t eat much, but Jude thought that was just him.”“He’s not like that, Jud. Phoenix knows Jude hasn’t known him for long, and Jude met him in the thick of it, but Malachi’s not like this. Malachi loves to eat out, and he’s addicted to sweets. He’s never been able to stop at one bite if he has chocolate in hand. He's obnoxious and boisterous, but he can sit still. These mood swings. Phoenix isn't saying he's perfect, but that trash with Klaus on his birthday? That is not him. He screams at everything. Phoenix has no idea what Jude and Malachi are dealing with, because all he says to Phoenix is Jude is perfect, but Phoenix is wagering he still argues with Jude. He loves Jude, Jud. If he's being that way with Jude, can Jude even begin to have any idea what it's like for the others?"Phoenix's words spewed out in a jumble."Phoenix…"Jude started, Jude's heart thudding against Jude's ribcage."."Phoenix isn't saying all this to
A low laugh escaped Jude as Jude closed Jude's eyes."'Well, 'cause you,'" Malachi sang again. "'You're making Malachi's dreams come true.'" He laughed as everyone else began to join in. "See, Malachi turns Jude's life into a real-life romantic musical."Jude wrapped Jude's arm around Malachi's neck and kissed him. Malachi kissed Jude back, wrapping his hands in Jude's hair.This is literally the most romantic thing Jude has ever witnessed in Jude's life," Marissa gasped.A slow smile crept over Malachi's face as he kissed Jude." Poor Yon," Phoenix joked."What do you have to do with this?" Jude asked."Do you think there's any chance he's getting any after that cock-block move Malachi just pulled? You can't hope to cop a one-night stand in the presence of true love, Jud. It's just not possible," Phoenix told Jude.Malachi was beaming at Jude. He kissed Jude's cheek and lingered by Jude's ear.“Hear that? True love,” Malachi whispered, and it felt like fireworks in Jude's heart.Malac
“They ran into Phoenix and Marissa after training, and Malachi invited them over,” Yon explained.Jude was glad to see him, even if it felt a little weird. Evidence of their shared life was everywhere—Jude's protein shakes on the counter by the blender, Jude's shoes next to Malachi’s at the entrance, and Jude's laundry folded on Malachi’s bed, waiting to be put away. Had Jude known they were coming over, Jude would have tried to make it less obvious. There were all of Jude's games sitting out on the coffee table. Malachi hadn't even bothered to put them up after having the last two nights worth of fun playing.Yon had gone out and Malachi looked at Jude. "Did you not want to have Malachi have them over? Malachi thought Jude would be happy that Yon is here," Malachi asked quietly."No, Jude is. Jude just wishes Jude had put some of Jude's stuff away.""Yon knows Jude fills all of Jude's time here. Phoenix too." Malachi had a point there.Jude still went into the apartment and started t
Jude thought about the class Jude was now getting—not an exam, but a final review. "It's Malachi, isn't it? He told Phoenix that Jude ran into him at the health center?""He doesn't know Phoenix is talking with Jude, but yeah, it's about that."Jude glanced over at the building and then at Phoenix again. "Yeah, Jude has time."Phoenix gave Jude a tight-lipped smile and then they started walking. Jude had Jude's heart in Jude's throat as Jude braced himself for whatever Phoenix was going to say. Jude knew it wasn't nothing.Jude woke up in the dark, the room silent only for the distant buzz of the city outside. Jude stretched out and discovered, anticipating touching Malachi beside Jude, that Malachi's side of the bed was cold. Jude sat up and rubbed Jude's face, trying to shake the sleep off. Jude gazed toward the bathroom, but lights were not on, causing long shadows to move about on the floor. Jude's watch read two in the morning.The living room door was ajar, and a golden light fi