“You think I’m fucking afraid of you or some shit?” he demanded.
“Hudson,” the man, who I assumed was Kreed, snapped. Hudson swung his gaze to Kreed, his nostrils flaring. “Rein it in. Corvus has clearly been struggling, and your actions aren’t helping him. Besides, this istheirhome. You can’t just do whatever you want solely because Corvus is here.”
Hudson clenched his jaw so tightly, his molars audibly ground together. But finally, he muttered a curse and stormed into the house, taking a seat on the loveseat.
Kreed held out his hand to me. “Kreed Emerson,” he introduced himself. “I’m sorry that we’ve interrupted your morning. But we’re very worried about Corvus.”
“Understandable,” I assured him, offering a smile. “Please come in and take a seat.”
When he walked inside, he smiled at Michelle. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” Michelle said, returning his warm smile. “Please make yourselves at home.” She took a seat beside Corvus and set her brush on the coffee table. After nudging Mercy off his lap, she pulled Corvus into her arms and pressed a kiss to his forehead. My heart warmed at the sight of them together. Corvus accepted her and her Domme side so easily—like second nature. Further proof he was perfect for us.
“You good, bub?” she gently asked him.
He shrugged, and since he was so tense, neither of us bothered reminding him to use his words. After shutting the front door, I took a seat on the other side of him. Kreed looked between the three of us, but he didn’t seem surprised. I guessed it was hard to shock a man who was literally engaged to his stepson. Hudson, however, frowned at us like he couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on.
“I need some kind of explanation,” Hudson finally said, looking at Corvus. “Andnotfrom them. I want the explanation fromyou, bro. Because just last night, you were only having afirst date, which you were being tight-lipped about, and now, you’re here.”
Corvus sighed and sat up, crossing his arms over his chest. I gripped his thigh and stroked my thumb over his pants, hoping to soothe him and help him through this. “I got drunk,” Corvus said, “and I came here.”
“Chibi…” I warned softly. He was being difficult on purpose, his defenses coming up against his best friend. If one of them didn’t give in, this could turn ugly fast, which was the last thing our boy needed.
He looked at me, frowning. “What?” he snapped, growing irate.
And I understood his irritation. He was uncomfortable. But that didn’t mean he could lash out at me.
I arched a brow. “Want to try that again?”
He scoffed. “I thought it wasmyfucking decision.”
So, we were doing this the hard way then.
“It is your decision, but that’s not nearly enough of an explanation, nor is it what Hudson is looking for after you terrified him and Kreed last night with your disappearing act,” Michelle told him, her voice firm. Corvus’s shoulders only went more rigid. He was as stiff as a board between us. “He deserves more than just you getting drunk and ending up here.”
“Finally seeing how much of an asshole he can be?” Hudson drawled.
I cut my eyes to him, not in the mood for his shit. Kreed shot Hudson a warning look, which the man promptly ignored—not that I was surprised.
“Thought he was some sweet submissive you could take advantage of?” Hudson went on.
“Fucking watch yourself,” I warned him. Corvus paled next to me. I’d warned him Hudson sensed his submissive side, but clearly, he hadn’t paid that much attention when I told him. “Weknowexactlywhat the fuck we’re getting into when it comes to Corvus. I suggest you watch your fucking tongue when talking about him.”
“He’s cornered,” Hudson told me, but he was looking at Corvus, seemingly taunting him. “‘And when he’s cornered, he biteshard.”
“Fuck you, Hudson,” Corvus snarled.
“I’m good, bro, but thanks for the offer.” He cocked his head to the side in a way that reminded me of a predator, and I decidedly didnotfucking like it when he looked at my boy like that. “Come on. Show them what you’re capable of when you get angry. When you’ve got nowhere else to run and nowhere else to hide. Show them?—”
“I ran here because I don’t know how to talk to you two!” Corvus finally shouted, his pale face now red. His hands fisted on his lap, and hot tears rolled down his cheeks.
Hudson’s eyes widened, and hurt flared in his gaze at Corvus’s words.
“I’m having flashbacks, and I can’t sleep, and now, my parents are contacting me again, and I can’t deal with it. I don’t want this anymore. I can’t—” His words abruptly cut off with a sob, and he folded in on himself like he was trying to hide from the world.
“What do you mean your parents are contacting youagain?” Kreed asked, his voice low. His hand was already latched around the back of Hudson’s neck, keeping his fiancé calm and contained. “I thought contact was cut at Thanksgiving break. That’s what you told both me and Hudson.”
“I…” Corvus hiccupped and looked at Michelle. She pulled him into her, wrapping her arms around his face and blocking him from their view as he fell apart. “I can’t tell them,” he cried into her chest, his shoulders shaking. “Please.”
