Hudson went into the bedroom, still grinning.
When the mass of journalists had descended on the Concert Hall, he’d known there was no chance of them ever going out for a quiet meal as they had planned.When he’d asked Luke to rearrange the date, it was Luke who had suggested picking up some takeaway food and spending the night in.
“I need to head back to the office for a while,” he’d said.“I can collect something for dinner once I’m done.”
Hudson had been grateful for the offer.He’d go mad if he’d had to spend an evening hiding in here alone.
He pulled the towel from his waist to dry his hair and was surprised to find his dick at full mast.It seemed incredible that he could be turned on after the kind of day he’d been through, but Luke was having that effect on him.The man’s charisma and sex appeal were so overwhelming.
He hurriedly towelled off, then put on deodorant and cologne, before deciding what to wear.Luke was still in the clothes he’d been wearing all day.It would look off if Hudson went all out in a fancy outfit.He pulled on a pair of jeans without underwear, stuffing his now semi-hard cock inside, and a white shirt, leaving the top three buttons undone.
He was almost at the door when he paused, glancing back to his bedside table.Impelled by a deep impulse, he hurried back over and unfastened his jeans.In the top drawer was a selection of stainless-steel cock rings of varying weights and thickness, and a bunch of leather straps.He pulled out a strap and looped it under his balls then around his cock, fastening it tight.He immediately got harder.There was no certainty that this evening with Luke would lead anywhere, but the strap gave an instant boost to his confidence.He adored the tightness around his ball sac, how it lifted and pushed his junk forward.
The linen shirt fell loosely over his groin, concealing the enhancement.Luke would only see what Hudson chose to reveal.
Luke was standing by the window when he came out.He looked so handsome in the evening light.There were two glasses of wine on the coffee table.
“Very nice,” he said, taking in Hudson’s attire.“Though I think I preferred what you had on when I came in.”
It had been a long time since Hudson had met a guy who was so confident and self-assured without being a total asshole.
“I’m glad you came,” Hudson said, sweeping up a wine glass.All at once he felt self-conscious and off kilter.Yesterday, he’d hated Luke and now here he was in his living room coming on strong.
Luke, seeming to sense his unease, changed the subject.“I hope you don’t mind, but I put the food in your oven on low.It will keep warm for a couple of hours without spoiling.”
“Thank you.I’ve barely eaten all day and I’m still not hungry.”
“It’s understandable.”Luke picked up his glass and sipped.“Fancy stepping outside?It’s a lovely night still, and I don’t think those journos downstairs will see if you stand back from the edge.”
Hudson nodded and followed him onto the balcony.There was a small table and two chairs.He took Luke’s advice and pulled them closer to the window before sitting down.The sky was streaked with shades of cobalt, magenta and cerulean blue.The temperature was surprisingly balmy.Hudson had spent so much of the day cooped up indoors, he hadn’t appreciated it until now.
“This is the first time I’ve had anyone up since I arrived,” he said.
Luke sat beside him.“How are you feeling now?Knackered, I imagine.”
“Dazed and confused is more like it.”
“How did it go this afternoon?”
“Rav and Andie are still trying to figure it out.My agent is coming up from London in the morning.I’ve no idea if we’ll continue with the play or whether the entire production will be canned.There are no rehearsals tomorrow, I know that much at least.”
“I’m not aware of this ever happening before.Actors have died during production periods of other plays and the show has continued, but when it’s part of an ongoing murder investigation, well, I could be wrong, but I think it’s unprecedented.”
Hudson groaned and took another swallow of wine.“Did you hear anything further when you were in your office?”
“Only to confirm what we already knew.Julian was found in an alley along the quayside, not too far from The Blue Pearl, in fact.The roads are still closed off down that way.He appeared to have been stabbed, and multiple witnesses have confirmed there was a lot of blood at the scene.”Luke exhaled.“While I was in the office, I wrote up a tribute article and retrospective on his career.It should be live on the website already and will go out in the print edition tomorrow.I think people will be genuinely surprised when they learn just how many things he’d been in.He’s one of those actors who everyone will recognise by his face without necessarily knowing his name.”
“They’ll know his name for the wrong reasons now.But thank you, for writing what you have.”
“How is Manuella?”
“She calmed down enough to give the police a statement.They had a few drinks together last night, and then Julian took her back to her hotel around eleven.I don’t think they’d gone any further than a mild flirtation, but the news seems to have hit her hard.”
“That should all be covered by the CCTV at her hotel, so it will give the police a starting point for tracing Julian’s movements afterwards.”
“I hadn’t even thought of that.”Hudson had finished his glass.He got up.“Might as well bring the whole damn bottle out.That first drink didn’t touch the sides.”
Luke was leaning over the balcony, looking out when Hudson returned.Man, that ass is so fine.Just like the rest of him.
