Chapter 22 (+18)

Jud walked into the Meyers' house unopposed. He'd just spent the last eight hours giving testimony. Mostly people just wanted to know why he wasn't dead. Others were surprised he had taken down a multimillion dollar drug operation without his entire team. Cameron took responsibility for it, but Jud was the one who had saved the kids of the Kings. He had a lot to answer for.

Chief Reynolds had not been happy. He had brought an impossible amount of danger to himself by acting without authority. He had known his relationship with Luke was deep, but he hadn't realized how deep. Jud had been honest when he said he would do anything to keep the young Meyers safe, even if it meant he died. Reynolds hadn't liked that and put him on mandatory leave.

They had received the call about Miguel Arturo's attempted suicide. The police had searched the mansion in South Bay and had found nearly five million dollars worth of cocaine in the residence. It had been packaged and tagged to sell. Those who had been in residence had been arrested and charged with intent to sell and possession.

Several people had also confessed to a possible takeover of Baymont and conspiracy to commit murder. Eddie James had been hauled in and charged with attempted murder of a cop. The DA was going to seek the death penalty as a statement to those who would try to do the same at a later time. He was not going to get off easily.

With his formal reprimand filed, he had no place to go right now. He couldn't go home because he was afraid his team would bombard his home. And if he went back to the Meyers' house, he would probably get accosted by those who had no idea he was dating Luke. But if he didn't go back, Luke would come searching for him, and that would end in another bloodbath and probably tears.

In the end, he went back to the Meyers' house to get his things and try to calm his soon-to-be riled up partner. Luke had behaved when he'd found out Jud had come to his rescue, but that wasn't going to last. Once this was all over, he was going to be as mad as a hornet.

He met Raymond first. Luke's best friend stared at him and tried his best to keep a straight face. It was hard because he already knew what his friend was about to do.

Jud was grateful to the man. Raymond had told the entire story with such finesse that even Chief Reynolds had been impressed. The chief had known Cameron had been up to something, but he hadn't been able to figure out what. Since Jud had been technically dead, he hadn't been able to plan the attack and his team had been pulled off of it supposedly. But Raymond had been able to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth easily. It also helped that he had been telling the truth.

"If I were you," Raymond whispered, "I'd run away right now."

Jud looked at him, eyebrows pulled together in confusion. What was he blabbering about? He turned to ask him when his shoulder was pulled violently. He spun around, but before he could see who it was, a fist connected with his jaw. There was shouting as Jud held his face then turned around. He stared into the raging blue eyes of Luke Meyers as he stared at him with hatred and anger.

"I told you," Raymond said.

"How dare you?!" Luke raged. "You were not supposed to be at the warehouse! You were supposed to be here where you were safe! What the fuck were you thinking?!"

Jud rubbed his jaw. Luke had never hit him before, but he packed quite a wallop. No wonder most of his friends and family were cautious around him when he was volatile. Had he known he was going to be attacked when he returned, he would have done what Raymond had suggested.

Amos put a hand to his son's shoulder. "You need to calm down. You'll bust your wounds again."

"Do you think you're not at fault as well?" Luke turned on his father. "You were supposed to watch him while I was out taking care of things. Yet, he showed up and showed out. You were supposed to confine him to my room!"

They argued for a few moments. When Jud's face stopped throbbing, he looked between father and son. Amos was trying to calm his son, but Luke wasn't having any of it. He was scared and wound up once again. He had lost Jud in the warehouse, the man in question was sure he would have razed South Bay to the ground.

Tired of the bickering, Jud strode forward and grabbed Luke. He spun him around and took his battered face in his hands. Luke started to say something, but Jud silenced him with a kiss. Right in front of everyone. He pulled away for a brief second then went in for a second. Luke batted at his chest, careful not to hit him in the ribs. He made a noise before Jud realized he was overwhelmed and very upset.

"You're an asshole," Luke replied. Jud pulled his mouth away and pressed his forehead to Luke's. "You weren't supposed to be there. Raymond was supposed to be the only left. You were supposed to stay here."

Jud patted his head gently, fingers tangling in his hair. "I knew Cameron was up to something so I wanted to make sure everything was alright. Had I not shown up you would have been beaten worse than you were."

Luke shoved him away. "You should have stayed home!"

Angry tears pooled in his eyes. Jud realized how frustrated and scared he truly was. He had been since that one night, but tonight had proven just how much Luke wanted him safe. Had he followed orders, he would have been visiting him in the hospital instead of coming back to his home.

"Jud, maybe you should take this to his room," Amos suggested. "Not everyone here knows about all of this."

Realizing what Amos was saying, Jud didn't waste any time. He grabbed Luke's hand and hauled him up the stairs. Luke argued the entire time, calling him names and cursing him with everything he had. Those who knew about them could only watch in fascination and amusement.

Luke landed harshly on his bed and rolled over to continue berating Jud when he slammed the door to the bedroom. He didn't have time because Jud's mouth covered his own. It hurt his busted lip, but he kissed him back with as much fervor. He tugged at his clothes, ripping his shirt all the way down the back. It was a t-shirt and could never be mended, but Luke didn't care.

Jud's hands were hotter than usual, or it was Luke whose body was too hot. Either way when he was touched, his skin prickled and his body nearly came off the bed. The thought of potentially losing Jud again had sent Luke into the darkest place he had ever fallen into in his entire life.

His heart thundered in his chest as Jud wasted no time in divested both of them of their clothes. As he was straightening back out, Luke touched the bandage on his left side. He felt the anger and hatred start bubbling up again. All of the dangerous thoughts he had been having over the last couple of days, over the last week were rolling around his head again. He wanted to go back and beat the shit out of Eddie James. It was the first time in his life he actually wanted to kill someone.

Jud's hand hooked under his knee and brought it up to his chest. Luke diverted his gaze from the white bandage to the man he was in bed with. He watched the green-grey eyes as he kissed and nibbled on his knee and thigh. He blinked slowly at him, bottom lip rolling into his mouth as he fought desperately to banish the dark thoughts.

Jud bit into his hip, leaving a deep indentation with his teeth. Luke made a strangled noise that the other man took and ran with it. He trailed along his hip biting gently into his skin. When he got to the other hip, he made a twin mark.

"You scared me," Luke whispered. Jud dropped his chin to the center of his pelvis and looked up at him. His thumbs rubbed gently circles into the marks. "When I looked up into the eyes that I had known for four years, my heart stopped. You were not supposed to be there, and when everyone else found out you were alive, they could have gutted you right in front of me. Again."

He reached down the framed Jud's face with shaky hands. His lip quivered as he stared in the man's eyes. "If you ever do that again, I will kill you myself. Don't ever put me through this again."

Jud kissed Luke's lower stomach in apology. Then he started back down his body again. This time his mouth didn't stop. He let his tongue trail along Luke's erection before he covered the head with his mouth.

Luke almost came off the bed at the sensation that rolled through him. His hands landed on Jud's shoulders as he started bobbing his head up and down, bringing Luke to completion quickly. Usually Luke would feel embarrassed by coming so quickly, but he didn't care whatsoever.

Slowly he was coming out of whatever funk he had slipped into while he'd been out. Having Jud here doing the things he always did to get him in the mood made him feel torn yet relieved. He didn't want to project those feelings on Jud, but he wasn't stupid. He had lived with Luke for four years. He knew what he was capable of.

Jud surprised him by rolling onto his back. Luke looked at him for a minute before he rolled atop him. Jud's smile was slight as he ran his hands along his thighs. Luke watched him as he tried to figure out what Jud really wanted. Usually he was very forceful in bed, but he just lay on his back watching Luke.

Taking the initiative, Luke reached behind him and stroked Jud gently. He felt the heat in his hand as he pleasured him. But he knew it wasn't enough for the man. Lifting his hips, he positioned the throbbing erection at his entrance and slowly sat back. He started to feel full, but it wasn't enough for him this time. He needed more friction. As he started moving, he did whatever he could to get the best reaction from Jud.

But the reaction he got was not the one he wanted. He moved fluidly, pulling up and dropping down steadily. He twisted slightly and made sure the tip of Jud's erection hit his prostate. He enjoyed the feeling so much he wanted more. He started moving faster and faster. Soon his body was moving on its own accord and he could barely stop.

He pulled his knees in as close as he could to get to where he wanted. When he dropped down, he squeezed. Jud cried out in pain. Luke stopped, rolling off him completely. His whole body froze as he stopped at the edge of the bed.

Jud held his ribs as he sat up slowly. He looked at Luke, noticing the terrified look on his face. He reached over and took his hands. Luke looked at those hands then looked back up into the face of the man they belonged to.

"I'm not hurt," he reassured. "It just caught me off guard. My stamina isn't back just yet."

Luke cleared his throat. "Maybe… maybe we should wait until your stitches come out to do more. I can't…" He paused as more emotions seeped through. "I can't be the one to hurt you, not when we're supposed to be having an intimate moment."

Jud sighed and took his face. He rubbed his face gently. He wouldn't be able to change his mind. As long as Jud had this wound on his body, Luke wouldn't have sex with him. They would be relegated to oral only unless Jud decided to let Luke take him. That wasn't a discussion they had had before, but he would be open for it if it satisfied Luke.

"Look," he said. He wiped at the tears that threatened to fall once again. "We don't have to do anything. We can wait until the bandage comes off and I'm given a clean bill of health. But, Luke, you didn't do any damage."

Luke watched him, tilting his head into his big hand. "It has taken a toll on me. Watching you get shot was hard enough, but seeing you at the warehouse nearly broke me. Eddie James was there, and if he had done something more to you…" He broke off and looked down at the bed. "I seriously cannot lose you. I felt the darkness that my dad had warned us all about. The thoughts of doing whatever I can to make sure you don't get hurt are so much more palpable right now. I feel like I'm teetering on the edge."

Jud heard the struggle in his voice. He shifted forward and pulled Luke into his arms. He felt him shudder as he sank into his embrace. He kissed Jud's shoulder a couple of times before he pressed his face into his neck.

"Luke, I love you so much," he said. "All you have to do is tell me what you're feeling and I will do my damnedest to help you. I will do what I can to stay safe, but you know the dangers of my job."

Luke nodded. "I know. I don't want you to make a decision that will make you unhappy. But I can't shake the feeling that something worse could happen."

"Luke," Jud pulled away to look at him, "Eddie Jones shooting me was a gang war incident. He has been neutralized, and from what Myka said, Miguel Arturo has been removed from his position. Whoever Daniel Garcia puts in place now will do as he's told or will have the same fate. But in reality, I could die at any time. I'm human."

Luke sighed and pressed his face into Jud's chest. He rubbed his forehead from side to side. Jud couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. Luke did this when he was trying to make a point.

"Alright, I get it," he gave in. "We'll discuss this later. Right now, I'm tired. You're tired, and your emotions are at the highest I have ever seen them in four years."

Luke laughed dryly. "If I was shot, what would you think?"

"Lukas, I watched Eddie James punch you in the face and did nothing about it." He rubbed his thumb along the weeping wound at the dge of his mouth. "It may not have been as traumatic, but it was enough to piss me off. I don't want anything to happen to this perfect face."

"Fair enough." Luke crawled up the bed and slipped under the covers. He patted the empty side of the bed and waited for Jud to do the same. When Jud did, he slid over and put his head on his chest. "You need to hurry up and get better. I miss my side of the bed."

Jud laughed and kissed the side of his head. "I'll do the best I can."

Luke draped his arm across his waist and nuzzled in. Jud warped his arm around his shoulders and pulled him in as close as he could.

He was glad they had had this discussion. It was one they had put off since the day Jud had woken up in Luke's room. If he could ease Luke's worries, he would be happy. They just had to get on the same page once again. Once they did that, he was sure they would be fine. Relationships weren't cut and dry, but he had to believe they had enough faith in each other to talk things out. Luke wasn't unreasonable, but he did worry more than most.

Jud sighed even though he couldn't sleep. He could feel Luke blinking against his chest. Neither said anything, just enjoying each other's presence. It may be awhile before they could do this again.