"Thank you," Hudson said, handing the towel to Trent. The flat was sparse but neat. A few boxes remained unpacked in one corner, but the living room was set up, for the most part. The leather couch Hudson sat on was comfortable, matching the sleek black-and-silver coffee table in front of it. A furry white rug lay elegantly beneath the coffee table, and a large flat-screen TV was nestled in a black entertainment center, its shelves occupied by video equipment, movies, and books. Everything was high-end, but a little... impersonal. No photographs of family, friends, or even art hung on the walls or sat framed on shelves. Perhaps Trent simply hadn't decorated yet.
"Be right back." Trent left the room, and seconds later returned singing "Happy Birthday" and holding a blue-frosted cupcake with a lit candle in the center.
Hudson laughed softly, touched by the gesture. Trent sat beside him and held the cupcake out. "Make a wish."
Hudson thought about it. He smiled at Trent and made his wish, the only one he'd ever wanted to come true--to find happiness once again. Trent removed the candle and tossed it onto the napkin he placed on the coffee table. He held the cupcake out to Hudson, and when he went to take it, Trent tapped the frosted peak against Hudson's nose, making him laugh.
"I'm sorry," Trent said with a chuckle. "I couldn't help it. You're so damn adorable."
Hudson felt himself blushing as he took the cupcake. He peeled back the paper and split it in half. He bit down on his and handed the other to Trent. Instead of taking it, Trent took a bite while Hudson held it. Hudson watched Trent eat from his hand as he finished off his own cupcake. Two of Hudson's fingers were covered in frosting, and he gasped as Trent pulled them into his mouth and sucked the frosting off with a decadent hum.
"I wonder if the rest of you tastes this sweet." Trent waggled his eyebrows, and Hudson's laughter was cut short by Trent kissing him again. The shock quickly wore off, and Hudson closed his eyes, parting his lips to give Trent access to his mouth. Trent tasted sweet, and Hudson leaned into him, allowing Trent to slip his hand around Hudson's nape, drawing him closer and deepening the kiss. Hudson curled his fingers into Trent's shirt, heat building inside him as Trent pushed gently. Hudson followed Trent's lead, lowering onto his back as Trent continued to kiss him. Trent shifted, bringing Hudson's leg up off the floor and over his hip so Hudson lay stretched on the couch beneath him. It felt so good to be desired, to feel Trent's ragged breath against his skin, to know Trent didn't care that Hudson had another man's mark scarred into his skin.
"You're so beautiful," Trent said against Hudson's lips before he moved his mouth to Hudson's neck. Hudson's breath hitched as Trent ground his hard erection against Hudson's. It had been so bloody long....
The doorbell startled Hudson, and he put a hand to Trent's chest.
"Shit. Sorry." Trent stood, calling out over his shoulder as he walked to the door, "I hope you don't mind, but I invited a couple of friends over."
Hudson was confused. He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. "Oh. Um.... Okay." Was their date over? Perhaps the evening hadn't gone as well as Hudson had thought. Trent seemed to have been enjoying himself. Had he not expected things to go smoothly? Why else would Trent invite friends to join them?
"Guys, this is Hudson. I told you he was gorgeous, didn't I?"
Smiling, Hudson waved at the two Therians. He wasn't quite sure what to say. Or do. This felt... odd. Trent dropped down on the couch beside him again, and the two men took a seat to Hudson's left, far too close for comfort. The one closest to Hudson put his hand on Hudson's thigh. Hudson bolted to his feet.
"I should, um, I should go, Trent." Hudson smiled apologetically. "I had a wonderful time tonight, and thank you for the cupcake, but I have a very early start tomorrow." He lied. He had a half day tomorrow and wasn't due in until noon. "You know how it is." He headed for the door, but Trent caught his hand, turning Hudson to face him. He looked disappointed.
"Don't go. Please." Trent's pupils dilated as he stepped closer to Hudson. He ran his thumb across Hudson's knuckles, his other thumb brushing Hudson's bottom lip. "I think you'll enjoy yourself."
It took Hudson a moment to catch Trent's meaning. Suddenly he felt sick to his stomach, not to mention incredibly foolish. Was that why Trent had asked him out on a date?
"Oh, I, um, I thought you--" Hudson shook his head. "Never mind. I'm sorry, Trent, but I'm not interested. I hope you have a good night." He tried to leave, but Trent gripped his wrist tightly. Hudson's inner wolf stirred, his hackles going up.
"Come on, Doc. None of us care that you're tainted. It's just a bit of fun."
Tainted.
Hudson glared at Trent. He didn't know which insult he found more disturbing. "I see. I'm tainted, so therefore I must be desperate for a shag from anyone who's willing and able to put their dick inside me." Hudson jerked his arm away, his voic
e a low growl. "Well, thank you for your charitable offer, but I would rather go celibate the rest of my life than let one of you touch me. Excuse me."
"Come on. Don't be that way. We had such a good time at dinner, which wasn't cheap, by the way."
"And neither am I," Hudson snapped. Was Trent serious? "Had you made your intentions clear from the start, I would have declined your generous offer." He ignored Trent's pleas, grabbed his jacket, and left the flat as quickly as he could, slamming the door behind him. He threw open the front door to the building and ran down the steps, then took off down the street, not caring about the rain, not caring that he had no idea where he was or where he was going. He just needed to get as far away from here as possible.
Hudson hated himself for the sting in the back of his eyes. He'd been such a bloody idiot, believing someone might love him for who he was, mark and all. What a fool. Falling for Trent's charms, for his smile and sweet words, when all Trent wanted from him was a bit of fun. Hudson had nothing against a casual hookup. He wasn't such a prude, but to believe Hudson was so desperate for intimacy he would eagerly accept what Trent offered. Because he was tainted.
Hudson had been called many names in his life. It came with being a Therian in a world that at one point believed them to be an abomination, a scientific mistake. But to be looked down upon by his own kind? It hurt more than any slur ever flung at him.
Where the hell was he? He paused long enough to glance around, and found a closed thrift store to his left and warehouses to his right. The street was poorly lit, consisting of either residential buildings or businesses closed for the day. A blow to his lower back had him reeling forward, and he hit the pavement hard, his hands getting scraped on the concrete. His glasses landed several feet away. He pushed up to his knees, but he was dragged into the thrift store's empty parking lot and tossed to the ground behind a set of huge dumpsters. He hit the asphalt, the wind knocked out of him. With a groan, he rolled over and stared up at the three hooded men.
"You think you're better than me?"
Hudson's eyes widened. "Trent?"
"You tainted piece of shit."
Hudson scrambled to get up, but Trent kicked him in the stomach. The blow had him gasping for air. The kicks were fast and fierce, and Hudson did his best to protect his head. He grabbed one guy's leg and was kicked in the face. Coughing, Hudson tasted blood.