Hudson reached up and wrapped a hand around Elliot’s cock. Elliot tried to stay still but his hips stuttered and his grip in Hudson’s hair tightened past the point of politeness.
“Merde.Hud— I’m gonna come.”
Hudson’s hand picked up the pace, his tongue pressing deeper.
Elliot came apart with a broken exhale, spilling over Hudson’s fist, his whole body shuddering.
He tentatively kissed his way back up, giving Elliot time to recover. When he reached his mouth, Elliot kissed him back immediately. His hand slid between them, closing around Hudson.
Hudson’s breath left him in a rush.
He’d been so focused on Elliot, so wound up from the sounds he’d been making, that it didn't takemuch. A few strokes and Hudson was done, groaning against Elliot's mouth, forehead dropping to his shoulder.
He stayed there, not moving, while his heart rate made its way back down.
Hudson had kissed a lot of people in his life. Had wanted a lot of things with varying degrees of urgency. But it was nothing like this.
Had told himself, on more than one occasion over the last six years, that he had the situation completely under control.
He didn’t. And he never had. He was undeniably, irrevocably in love with Elliot Shaw. And there was not a damn thing he could do about it.
After a moment Elliot reached for some tissues, cleaned them both up and pulled the sheets over them. Hudson’s head rested on Elliot’s chest.
“I can’t believe I have aboyfriend.” Hudson grinned into the dark. He swore he heard Elliot’s heart skip a beat at the word.
“Don’t make me regret it.” Elliot feigned annoyance, but he didn’t fool Hudson.
“Oh, I’m totally gonna make you regret it.”
Elliot’s hand settled in his hair, fingers circling his scalp. Hudson closed his eyes, sleep washing over him.
Three quick raps on the door startled them both. Elliot was up before the third one landed—alert and professional in an instant.
“Captain Shaw.” Okafor’s voice sounded behind the door.
Elliot moved toward it, pulling on pants as he went. Hudson sat up.
When the door opened, Okafor’s eyes moved to Hudson. Then back to Elliot. “Good. This concerns both of you,” he said gravely.
Hudson pulled the sheet around his body and joined Elliot at the door. “What is it, Major?”
“I’m afraid I have some bad news. It’s about Captain Matthew Reed.”
Blood drained from Hudson’s face. He turned his head to look at Elliot, but Elliot had his gaze set on Okafor.
“Killed in action?” Elliot asked. His voice was unrecognizable, completely devoid of any emotion.
The room was spinning. Hudson gripped the sheet tight to his chest. No. No that couldn’t be.
“No,” Okafor looked between them. “But he’s MIA.”
The words hit Hudson somewhere below his ribs. Reed, who’d made Selection bearable just by existing in the same space. Who’d slow-danced with Sarah at their wedding with his whole heart on his sleeve.
Reed, who had a daughter named Mae who wasn’t even two years old.
Elliot moved, searching for clothes, boots, gear, whatever. Hudson stood pinned to the ground.
“When?” Elliot asked somewhere behind him.
