Personal Shopper (4 page)

“Acquisitions and development, which means?”

“I travel eleven months out of twelve, I can go to the moon with my frequent flyer miles and haven’t eaten outside a restaurant or room service in almost a year.” Hudson looked slightly embarrassed by the recitation.

“But you look hot in a suit, so that’s something.” Will kicked him lightly under the table. “Are you having any fun at all?”

Hudson seemed to honestly consider the question but shook his head in the end. “Not really. I’m good at it at least.”

Will made a face. “Okay, that sucks. Sorry.”

“No, it’s all right. Honestly Will, in my family, one does not pick a career that promises fun and fulfillment. You just walk into the office the day after graduation and start working. It’s been that way for a long, long time. I’m grateful for the chance to have a career and be successful at it.”

It sounded awful, at least to Will. He came from a family of artists; they may not ever end up rich but they did what they loved. The sacrifices of a regular life didn’t seem worth it. And certainly not worth the money Hudson was clearly making.

“I feel much better about my career choices right now.”

“So, at this moment, you still consider life to be fun?”

Will rubbed at his left eye, which was starting to develop a twitch. “I have writer’s block. I’m so freaking late with this book my agent is about to take a hit out on me. And this holiday thing is just…” He made a mushroom cloud motion with his hands. “I want my sister to be happy. I want to finish my book. I want these things to somehow mesh and blend together into a happy ending.”

“You could tell her you’re busy – perhaps everyone would understand,” Hudson said but Will was already shaking his head.

“I am busy being blocked. And let’s face it, I would drop everything to help Veronica whether or not my agent was burning me in effigy. I figure it’ll get fun again eventually.”

Hudson smiled at that, sexy and pleased at once, which in turn made Will study his cutlery at a food inspector level.

Their food arrived shortly after, along with refills of their drinks. They made small talk about weather and Rugby. Actually, Hudson discussed Rugby and Will nodded while he shoved pizza into his mouth. Will explained his books to Hudson, who made him then type the titles into his smart phone for purchase later.

“I was totally joking before. I can give you free copies you know,” Will said as he handed the phone back.

“That would cut into your profit margins – wouldn’t be very nice of me.” Hudson finished his wine, seeming more relaxed.

They finished their lunches, now and again their knees touching under the table. It started out accidental on Will’s side but soon it became clear they were trading brushes, the pressure increasing with each passing minute.

The sneaking of looks became more blatant, until it was out and out mutual staring. Everything was buzzy and mellow, the food, company and liquor erasing the hard edges until Will almost forgot he’d just picked this man up in a clothing store.

It felt like a date, a date with potential and promise. It felt like any second Hudson was going to reach across the table and pull Will into his lap – or maybe that was wishful fantasizing.

“Excuse me,” Will murmured as he stood up. “Men’s room.” He gestured down the small hallway behind them, with doors for the bathrooms on either side.

Hudson nodded, leaning back in chair as he watched Will intently. Breaking the eye contact wasn’t easy and Will ran his hands through his hair when he finally turned and walked away.

The bathroom was small and poorly lit. Will washed his hands and pressed his increasing hard on against the cool porcelain counter. This guy…this guy had him conflicted in the worst way. There was clearly an attraction. Hudson had spent half the meal watching Will’s mouth. The touching under the table. The whole “hey, flirting over suits let’s have lunch let’s hang out for the day” didn’t speak to a lack of interest.

But the problem was – hook up or date?

Will did better with hook ups in general but they’d skated into date and were hovering. If he wanted this to transition, he needed to do it soon.

After a long deep breath, Will opened the door and stepped back into the hall – where he promptly bumped into Hudson.

“Oh sorry. You need to use the rest room?” Will tried to navigate the narrow space and Hudson’s broad shouldered body and all but hit the wall.

And tried not to make any sort of moaning sound.

They were in this frozen tableau of suspended animation. Close, breathing in each other’s space and Will suddenly felt less self-conscious about his own erection when his thigh brushed against Hudson’s.

He bit the inside of his mouth.

“Can I…” Hudson started, his voice hoarse.

“Yes, absolutely,” Will murmured, pushing off the wall and against Hudson’s body.

Hudson laughed breathlessly. His hands brushed against Will’s hips. “I was going to say spend the day with you.”

“Yes, absolutely,” Will repeated. Their mouths were so damned close. “But please tell me this is going to end somewhere with a bed.”

Hudson’s blush made Will’s mouth water. “At the risk of being forward – absolutely.”

“Thank God.” Will didn’t let the conversation go on. He pressed forward and caught Hudson’s mouth in a closed-mouth kiss. Warm and dry, just enough to whet his appetite – and that sexy mouth didn’t disappoint. Hudson kissed back, his lips parting every so slightly, hands brushing against the seat of Will’s jeans.

Will saw stars.

“Hallway,” he muttered, pushing away with far too much willpower. “Gay friendly spot but I’m pretty sure they frown on making out in front of their bathroom,” Will said, rubbing his fingers over his lips.

Hudson looked equally stunned, which made Will feel good at least. He wasn’t the only one straining at the seams.

“Let’s pay the check then? I think we need some bracing air,” Hudson murmured. He licked his lips and Will reconsidered testing the Grapa management’s policy on bathroom blowjobs.

“I need a bucket of ice for my pants.”

They separated – Hudson to the men’s room, Will to the table to pray for Carla to come over so they could get the hell out of there.

By the time Hudson returned – flushed but pulled together – Will had paid the bill and was putting his coat on.

Their gazes locked together like magnets and Will forgot his agenda entirely.

“Shopping then?” Hudson asked, his accent slurred to something spine-meltingly sexy.

They were toe to toe, almost exactly equal in height and the current of electricity was frying Will’s brain.

“At the risk of sounding whorish – where’s your hotel?”

Hudson’s tongue flirted with the corner of his mouth and Will’s soul.

“The Cassa on 45th.”

Will’s loft was closer but he hesitated for a moment with an invite. “I’ve never been inside – heard it was nice,” he said with a grin.

“It would be my pleasure to show you.” Hudson brushed past Will to grab his bags.

CHAPTER FIVE

The cab ride was uneventful – long, cramped, lacking conversation, the driver’s radio blaring out talk radio in angry French, but Will took the quiet time to center his head. He didn’t understand his inner chatter. Pick-up dates with British strangers was outside his norm but there were no warning bells at the moment. More like…chiming. Happy little chimes.

Hudson paid the cab driver and they piled out into the throng of midtown December tourists. The Cassa rose tall above the rest of the adjacent buildings, new and shiny and beckoning. Will followed Hudson through the front doors and to the elevator bank, dodging check ins and check outs.

“I have a suite.” Hudson spoke softly as they waited for the elevator. “Is that bragging?”

“I don’t actually care.”

The elevator opened and they loaded on with their bags, an elderly couple and enough luggage to test the weight limit. Pressed against the back wall, Will and Hudson stood shoulder to shoulder, passing tiny shrugs back and forth.

Will wanted to say something ridiculous out loud like, ‘You’re adorable. Where have you been all my life? And how are you even real?’

On the 25
th
floor, they stepped over Mr. and Mrs. Howell and all their possessions, tripping into the elegantly carpeted hallway.

“How much clean underwear does a person need?” Will bitched.

“Maybe they brought along all the family diamonds on vacation.” Hudson said. He took off down the hallway.

“Is that what rich people do?”

“Yes.”

“You’re super rich, aren’t you?”

Hudson’s fabulous shoulders gave a shrug. “My family has money.”

“My family has dysfunction.”

“All families have dysfunction.” Hudson stopped at his door and waited until Will caught up with him. “It’s the balance of love and dysfunction that matters.”

Will couldn’t help himself – he kissed Hudson on the nose.

“I might steal that.”

“It’s yours.” Hudson opened the door with his key card, ushering Will in like this wasn’t the world’s most expensive booty call.

The suite was heaven, shades of cream and brown with a modern edge and subdued lighting. It also didn’t look lived in at the least – not even a magazine on the glass coffee table.

“When did you check in?”

“A few days ago.” Hudson dropped the bags on the couch then started taking his coat off.

Will kept looking around but he put his bags down.

“It’s so…clean.”

“Maid service you know.” Hudson unbuttoned his jacket and took off his tie, everything neatly placed on the back of the camel colored armchair.

Hudson Smith, it appeared, coordinated with everything, even fancy hotel rooms.

Will reached for the zipper on his coat, using touch only because his eyes were locked on Hudson’s form revealing itself. The button down, four buttons undone, revealing an absolutely sculpted neck and upper chest. Arms like…

“You played Rugby as a kid?”

“Whenever I could.” Hudson began undoing his cufflinks as he walked over to where Will was still rooted in the spot.

Will’s coat got tossed on the couch and he rubbed his hands on his jeans. Hudson – shy, elegant, charming as he was – had a certain loose hipped sway as he got closer.

“I’m going to have to start following that sport if any of the players look like you.”

Head ducked, Hudson got close enough to touch, his hands automatically going to Will’s slender hips. The air sucked out of the room with a whoosh and Will went in for a kiss before his brain melted out of his ears.

This kiss wasn’t something reserved for a semi-public hallway.

Will loved to kiss and he wasn’t disappointed in Hudson’s without reservations offering. His full mouth devoured Will’s tongue, sucking slow and sexy on the tip.

“God, seriously?” Will moaned as Hudson pulled away, just enough to dive into the curve his neck. Soft kisses, a rub of teeth against his jaw line. Will ran his hands encouragingly over Hudson’s shoulders, his muscular back.

“What do you like Will?” Hudson asked against the skin of his neck.

Will saw the ceiling of the hotel room and lost his breath for a second as Hudson’s warm hands cupped his ass.

“Your mouth,” was an exhale and Hudson apparently didn’t need more hints. He felt himself being maneuvered onto the couch, slowly lowered down to sit.

“One second, okay?” Hudson leaned down to kiss him again, hard and rough, his tongue invading Will’s mouth.

When he pulled away again, Will’s hands went to his own fly. He wasn’t being shy about this and Hudson didn’t seem to mind.

He smiled, sexy and sweet, and walked back around to the far door.

Will unbuttoned his jeans. His cock was relieved. Deeply.

A minute later, Hudson was back, a condom package nipped in his teeth and his shirt gone. A singlet was tucked into those delicious trousers, belt missing. Will bit his tongue as he pulled his sweater over his head.

“You’re literally the sexiest thing I’ve laid eyes on in…forever.”

Hudson tilted his head to one side as he unhooked his pants. When they were down around his ankles, he stepped out, taking the condom out of his mouth.

“Thank you.” In just his underwear – silk boxers, quelle surprise – Hudson returned to the open vee of Will’s legs, smirking. “So far I’ve seen you in a sweater and a suit – I vote for this look to be honest.”

Will slid down, slumping to open his legs wider. He reached out to grasp Hudson’s hips, brushing his fingers over the silk cover hard muscle with a growl in his throat. All he had to do is pull a little and lean a little and that straining cock – desperate to get out of those boxers – would be in his mouth.

“How many condoms do you have?” Will asked, looking up with his best bedroom eyes.

“One for now. That’s for you,” Hudson said softly. “Then more in the bedroom when you get your go at me.”

“Bossy? I like it.” Hudson was moving now, out of Will’s hands to kneel down between his legs with intent.

He handed Will the condom and went to work on his opened jeans. They came off without much difficulty and Will was down to his briefs in a few quick moments. Every move they made seemed charged, the air in the room thick with anticipation. Hudson was efficient but didn’t hesitate to linger touches against the inside of Will’s thighs and across his stomach.

The briefs were next and here Hudson clearly decided that less was more; he manhandled Will in a way that most men couldn’t get away with, but Hudson wasn’t showing off all those well-earned muscles. He was eager in a way that made Will moan with anticipation.

“Here, let me…” Words were just a nuisance right now for Will’s mouth. Hudson was staring at him with those long-lashed hazel eyes. And that full mouth… There was only one thing Will wanted right now and he didn’t think Hudson had any objections.

The condom was opened, smoothed over Will’s aching cock. His hands shook as Hudson stroked his palms against his inner thighs, teasing and gentle.

“Hmmm,” he murmured, as if considering the tableau in front of him. Hudson leaned over Will, flicking his tongue over the swollen head of Will’s cock, teasing for a long, cruel moment, as if to make sure that Will’s eyes were 
begging
 and then swallowed him deeply.