Hudson eyed him. "No? What do you mean 'no'?"
"I'm not going to stop calling you that." Just like he'd never stop loving Hudson, or missing him, needing him, wanting him. He'd had enough of giving in to Hudson's every whim simply because Hudson asked. It was what he'd always done, and look how well that turned out. Time to do things a little different.
Hudson blinked up at him. "But... I asked you not to."
"Well, we don't always get everything we want, do we, sweetheart?"
"Why are you being so difficult?"
"Why are you determined to drive me out of my fucking mind?" Seb growled.
"I'm doing no such thing."
"Really? So you weren't letting Trent dry-hump you to make me jealous?"
Hudson's jaw dropped. "Of all the bloody cheek!" When he next spoke, it was through his teeth. "I was dancing."
"And watching me."
"Because you were watching me. Or do you think I can't feel it when your eyes are on me?"
Seb grunted. "Hard not to when you're making a spectacle of yourself."
Hudson's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, fire burning behind his eyes. "Piss off, Sebastian. I can dance with whomever I damn well please. What you choose to believe is your concern. How dare you judge me? Why don't you go find West? He couldn't keep his hands off you, and you obviously enjoyed it." Hudson was indignant, a pain in the ass, and the most beautiful thing Seb had ever seen. Since when did Hudson get jealous? Not even when they'd been together had Hudson ever become jealous. If he had, Seb never saw it. Hudson was always calm and in control, rational and sensible.
Seb placed his fingers under Hudson's chin and lifted his face so he could look into his eyes. "You've ruined me, you know. I can't love anyone else."
"You need to move on, Sebastian."
"Then give me back the heart you stole from me." Seb ran his thumb over Hudson's bottom lip. "You're a very beautiful thief. Stealing hearts, just to break them and leave them irreparable."
"If West isn't enough, I wouldn't fret. There's no shortage of cheetah Therians in Recon to fill your bed."
"Jesus, the mouth on you," Seb growled, feeling his anger rising. Hudson knew which buttons to push, and he was pushing them all mercilessly. "When are you going to grow up and stop being such a spoiled brat?"
Hudson gaped at him. "I beg your pardon?"
"You're a spoiled rich boy used to getting everything he wants. Your parents, your brothers and sisters, they all bent over backward to make you happy, but you never were. The more they gave you, the more you rebelled. Their precious little Colbourn prince. That's why you went out with me in the first place, wasn't it? One last 'fuck you' to the old man just before he disowned you. That's what your sister Evelyn told me when she had her husband's lackey track me down. What a pleasant phone conversation that was, by the way. Oh, how disappointed Mummy and Daddy were when you took up with a poor American nobody. Then your big brother had me investigated. His telling your folks I lived in a car at one point with my mother, big brother, unemployed disabled father, and spaz little brother was a nice touch. That's what George called Ethan, remember? A spaz."
"Stop it! Why are you bringing this up now? And you bloody well know that wasn't why I said yes to you."
"The only one who didn't put up with your bullshit, with your family's bullshit, was Alfie, and where did that get him? Six feet under."
The sting left behind by Hudson's hand to Seb's cheek was both startling and well deserved. What the hell was wrong with him? Seb drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."
"Is that why you brought me back here?" Hudson seethed, tears in his eyes. "To hurt me? I don't need you to remind me why my brother's dead, Sebastian. I know why he's dead."
"I didn't mean that."
"You did. You wanted to hurt me, and you have, in spectacular fashion. How could you? You know how much he meant to me. He was the only one who understood me. The only one who saw me. Before you, he was everything. He was all I had." Hudson's breath hitched, and Seb put his hand to Hudson's cheek.
"You're right. I was hurting, so I wanted to make you hurt. That was really shitty what I said. I'm so sorry. Please believe me." He meant every word. It was a low blow. Next to Seb, Hudson loved no one more than his brother Alfie. The guilt ate away at Hudson to this day. "Forgive me," Seb pleaded softly.
Hudson nodded, and he flattened his hands against the wall to his sides, his fingers splayed, as if the wall was the only thing holding him up. His eyes were hooded, his dilated pupils leaving only a sliver of pale blue rims. His lips were pink and slightly parted, his cheeks flushed, and hair tousled. Gingerly, Seb drew closer and slipped his leg between Hudson's. Their bodies were almost pressed together, the heat coming off Hudson almost choking him. Hudson's anger melted away, leaving him vulnerable and trembling in front of Seb. Hudson might make excuses, even lie, but his body would always betray him. All Seb had to do was nudge Hudson, the way he was doing with his knee against the bulge in Hudson's slacks. The way he shivered almost undid Seb.
Seb placed his hand to Hudson's cheek, his heart skipping a beat when Hudson closed his eyes and leaned into the touch ever so slightly. His skin was so soft and smooth. Images of them in bed flashed through Seb's mind. Tangled limbs, the sound of soft laughter, and the beauty of Hudson's face as Seb brought him to release. Making love to Hudson had been nothing short of a divine experience for Seb, a display of worship, of his undying adoration. Seb brushed his lips against Hudson's temple, leaving a feathery kiss behind before turning his face. God, he smelled so damned good.
Hudson tentatively moved one hand onto Seb's abdomen, drawing a quiet gasp from him. He thought Hudson might push him away, but instead Hudson slid his hand slowly up, his touch burning through Seb's T-shirt.