Chapter 14 (+18)

With the next place decided, the rest of the details were hashed out. Before anything else was to take place, they were to get more information. It suited Luke just fine because he needed time to prepare.

Lou cleaned up the coffee cups and other paraphernalia. Amos set up an empty room for Jud's team to work out of while they were here. Jud knew it was to keep them out of Luke's hair. He was a little on edge, and no one wanted to rile him up more than he already was. His temper was already out of hand.

Jud watched Luke fuss about the room. He put it back in order. He put the chairs back in their places and wiped down the desk. He only ever cleaned like this when he was overwhelmed. It helped ease his brain and calm his nerves. Jud had always found it endearing. Tonight, it was hard to watch.

So much information had been thrown at him.

It was understandable why he was fussy. He had grown up in a family that was not wholly on the straight and narrow. Amos had been and was a loving father. He had tried to keep most of the heartache away from his son. Even now, Jud knew Amos was still hiding things from Luke, and his gut said it could possibly break the Prince.

Luke stepped back and looked at the bedroom. It passed his OCD check so he turned and went to the bathroom. Jud heard him clattering around in the drawers. He was probably rearranging the bathroom.

Jud had enough. He tossed the blankets off and got up. He was a little unsteady on his feet, but he made it. His wound tugged a bit, but he'd had worse. This was manageable. He shoved his shorts off his hips, walking out of them and using his toes to pick them up. He dumped them in the laundry just inside the bathroom.

Luke was wiping down the quartz counter when Jud pressed up against him. His hands slid around Luke's waist, spanning his chest and abdomen. Luke felt his mouth on his neck nibbling gently.

"What are you doing?" he asked. He responded either way. Jud was his weakness.

Jud kissed his jaw. "I'm going to get a shower. Care to join me?"

"You can't get your wound wet."

"This isn't the first wound I've had like this." He hooked his fingers in Luke's shorts and pushed them down his thighs. "Come on. You're going to fuss and hover until I get out so you might as well join me."

Luke knew he was right. If Jud got in the shower, he would be sitting on his newly cleaned countertop until he was done. He was better off joining him in the shower.

He stepped out of his clothes and allowed Jud to pull him inot the stall. The water was cold at first, but it gradually warmed up. Luke stared at thewhite bandage on Jud's chest. His heart ached, throbbing in his chest. A day wouldn't go by that he wouldn't see that bandage in his memories.

Jud lifted his hands and took Luke's face. He made him look at him, waiting until the blue eyes were trained on him. He watched him closely before he kissed him. Luke sank into that kiss, reveling in it. He didn't want to lose it. He almost had, and it tortured him.

Luke reached between them and fondled them both. Jud nipped his lip accidentally, and he tasted the metallix flavor of blood. He pressed his face into his shoulder as he stroked him until they were fully erect.

"Take me," he whispered. His hips were starting to move in Jud's hand. He needed more friction.

Jud pressed his mouth to Luke's ear. "This isn't what I had in mind."

"I know, but I want to feel you inside me." He kissed the side of his head. "I won't ever ask you for anything ever again. Please do this for me."

There was desperation in his voice, like he was barely holding on to something. His eyes were wild with his pupils blown wide. It was a look the officer had never seen on him before.

"I don't want you to regret this," Jud whispered.

Luke laughed humorlessly against his shoulder. "I have plenty of regrets, Jud, but being with you is never one of them."

Believing him, Jud kissed Luke again before he turned him to the stall wall. Luke put his hands on the wall before he folded his arms against it. He sighed when Jud ran his fingers along that ring of muscles. He probed gently before his fingers pushed through. He stretched him for a few minutes before he pulled away.

The burn was more intense as Jud entered him. Luke gasped, biting his arm at the pain. Jud kissed his neck and back to soothe him. They had never done it standing up. Jud had never taken him standing up, opting to lay comfortably in bed. He wanted him as at ease as possible because he was about to rail the shit out of him. But this, this was more sensual because it took less effort to make Luke feel good.

Jud pulled Luke's hips back and adjusted his stance. Luke's back flattened as he bent his knees to keep his balance. His skin prickled as Jud ran his hand along his spine.

"Ready?" Jud asked. He rubbed Luke's back, digging his nails lightly into his skin.

Luke nodded. "Yes, I'm ready."

Jud started slow, pulling out then inching back in. He watched Luke attentively, noting how his body reacted to him. He was tight and usually loosened up rather quickly. But it had been several days since they'd last had sex. Getting shot would put a damper on anyone's sex drive. It hurt even now, but he gave Luke what he wanted.

He couldn't move very fast. His normally brutal pace was very subdued. He had to stand up straight and do what he could to make Luke feel good. He could hear Luke's gentle pants as Jud rocked into him. Despite his slower pace, he seemed to feel better than he had before.

He reached around to stroke Luke. His body twitched at the contact. His back arched, drawing Jud in even deeper and hitting his prostate. It was enough to send him spiraling out of control. He pulled Luke against him as he emptied himself inside Luke. Whatever he was feeling was channeled to Luke because he came all over the shower wall.

Jud kissed Luke's neck as he tried to catch his breath. He felt back that he couldn't do everything he usually did. He was mad he hadn't planned for a sniper, but he was even madder at himself that he'd been shot. It made him so weak that he felt like screaming.

A hand covered his bandage. Jud looked down at it before he covered it with his own. He suddenly didn't feel as angry as he had. Luke was here, and he was safe. Getting shot wasn't as bad as long as he was safe.

"Are you upset?" he asked.

"About what?" Luke replied.

"I couldn't go very long like I usually do."

Luke patted the bandage, sending a dull wave of pain through him. "You could have jerked me off or fucked my thighs. I wouldn't have minded if you couldn't have gotten inside."

"But I know how much you like having your prostate stimulated more than I could do."

The grip Luke took on his neck was painful, but the look in those blue eyes was fierce as he forced him to look at him. "Jud, you were shot. Your body can't do what it could a week ago. I have no right to be mad." He dropped his hand and turned off the water. "Stay here."

Jud did as he was told. He watched Luke step out of the shower and walk to the cabinet against the wall. He grabbed two gray towels. One he wrapped around his waist. The other he brought back. Instead of handing it to Jud, he dabbed at the bandage to make sure it was dry. Then he wrapped it around his waist.

Luke pulled him from the shower and led him back into the room. Jud sat in a chair and let Luke towel dry his hair. He got the feeling Luke needed to do something with his hands or he was going to fall apart. His hands were shaky yet gentle as he rubbed his hair. It felt good, and Jud leaned back inot his touch.

"How long are you planning to stay with the police?" Luke asked.

"Are you scared?" Jud asked.

"No; I was terrified."

Jud drew Luke into his lap and kissed his nose. He took Luke's hand and pressed it to the bandage again. "It did not hit my heart."

Luke took that same hand and pressed it to his chest. His heart thumped wildly under Jud's palm. "It may have missed yours, but it hit my heart."

"Baby," the older man rested his head against the younger's, "I didn't realize how traumatized you were."

"Of course I would be. This is the second time someone I loved has been shot in front of me."

It took a minute before it registered what Luke had just said. Slowly, he lifted his head and looked into Luke's tortured eyes. He licked his lips slowly as he tried to find the correct words. They all failed him at this crucial moment.

"Who was the other?" he whispered. He ran his hands along Luke's back because he knew he was not going to like the answer.

"My mom. We were on a field trip and someone opened fire on the park in which we were having lunch. My mom shielded all four kids under her care. She died in the hospital." Luke brushed his wet hair from his face. "Don't make light of this. I knew a long time ago I could never live without you. Now that you're close to my family, I'm not a pleasant person. I will kill someone who hurts you."

Jud kissed him, drawing him as close to him as he could. Luke responded, nipping his bottom lip harshly. Jud winced but he understood. He licked his lip when he pulled away.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I won't make light of this again."

Luke nodded and kissed him again. "I don't want you to quit what you love, Captain. But you know my family and their enemies. Mainly my dad's enemy. We both can become targets at any moment."

Jud ran his fingers through Luke's hair. "Okay, okay. I get it. I'll be as careful as I can be."

The younger man nodded. "You should lay back down and rest. Sleep naked if you want."

He stood up and let his towel fall away. Jud smiled at his unashamed personality. In the confines of his room, Luke was uninhibited. He was comfortable in his own skin. He usually was anyway, but here his body wasn't as tense.

Jud did as he was told and stood up. He let his towel fall then kicked it to Luke. as the younger man picked up the damp towels, the older got back in bed. He was tired as he lay back down. So tired in fact that he fell asleep almost immediately.

Luke laughed as he saw sleep claim Jud. His body was worn out. It was only natural that his mind would require just as much rest as his body.

He went to his desk to do some paperwork and fill out the orders forms and payroll. Raymond would take the checks to his employees tomorrow. By doing it now, he could give Jud time to fall into a deep sleep.

An hour or so later, Luke turned off the lights and climbed in the bed as well. He lay on his side away from Jud and relaxed. He was going to let him sleep as comfortably as possible.

Jud had other ideas. As soon as he felt Luke's presence, he rolled to him. He plastered his body against Luke's. Luke tried to push him away so he would be more comfortable, but Jud wasn't having it.

Finally, Luke faced Jud and pulled him into his arms. Jud nuzzled his face into Luke's neck and sighed contentedly. Luke smiled into his hair. As big and bad as he was, Jud turned into a child when he was with Luke, and Luke was just fine with that.