Once he finished, Jude nuzzled Felix’s neck, turning him into complete mush. “You’ll do the right thing, Ace. You always do.”
“No solution feels a hundred percent right,” Felix admitted.
His ambitions were at war with his conscience. Felix had made a career out of exposing people like Cameron Spencer, who used their advantage and privilege to avoid getting punished for their evil deeds. Keeping quiet made him feel like a hypocrite. But Felix couldn’t dismiss the sacrifices Spencer was making to get his second chance. Spencer would be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life, even if the feds were able to make a case against Mercy without his testimony. He’d had to humble himself in front of his wife and children, and that couldn’t be ignored either.
“You’ll pick the option you can live with the easiest,” Jude said, squirting bodywash into his hand. “And I’ll support whatever you decide.”
They took turns washing each other in between kisses, sighs, and moans. Felix ran his thumb over the spot where he’d left his love bite on Jude’s neck. The mark had faded since then, but Felix loved the memory of seeing it peeking above Jude’s shirt collar while he was on air. Felix pressed his lips to Jude’s neck and swirled his tongue over tender skin, feeling Jude’s pulse dance in response.
“Do it,” Jude growled, sliding his hand into Felix’s hair.
Felix chuckled. “You going to cover it up with makeup this time?”
Jude reached down to grip Felix’s ass with his other hand. “Maybe.”
“I think maybe we should take this into my bedroom where we have enough room to do it right.”
Jude shut off the water while Felix grabbed two towels off the rack. Neither of them spent much time drying off before falling onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and a symphony of moans.
Jude pinned Felix to the bed before he remembered Felix’s back. “Ace, I’m sorry.”
“Huh-uh,” Felix said, tightening his legs around Jude’s waist when he tried to roll off. “I want you just like this.”
Jude started to protest until Felix latched his mouth on to the spot that drove the big man nuts. Felix continued to suck, lick, and bite Jude’s neck while Jude stretched Felix’s ass with lubed fingers.
Then Jude rolled on a condom and repositioned himself between Felix’s legs. He paused after breaching the first ring of muscles to allow Felix time to adjust. Instead of kissing him like he normally would, Jude hovered over his mouth.
“Say it again,” Jude whispered.
Felix smiled. “I love you.”
A shiver rolled through Jude’s body. “I love you too. So fucking much.” Jude fully joined their bodies with one deep thrust. Brushing his fingers over Felix’s cheekbones, he said, “You’re more important to me than any scoop. Your heart is more valuable than any award.”
“Jude,” Felix whispered thickly, as tears formed in his eyes.
“You’re my home, Ace. That’s what I should’ve told you all those years ago.”
Before Jude, Felix hadn’t realized a person could be a home. Now he understood. Once Jude started moving inside him, the time for talking ended. Felix communicated by touching and kissing. He held on to Jude as if the man were his lifeboat in a riptide of chaos, and they clung to one another afterward like shipwreck survivors washed up on the beach. Jude nuzzled his neck, sending warmth throughout Felix’s body.
“I could stay like this all day,” Jude whispered in his ear.
“Me too,” Felix said sleepily.
He debated calling in sick to catch up on sleep but decided to go in after all. It was unlikely he’d get any real rest until he made a decision on what to do about Spencer. When Felix wasn’t thinking about his article, he was wondering when the news about the family would break. And what about the subsequent raids and arrests at Mercy’s home and businesses, as well as those of his associates? It was better to keep his mind busy so he didn’t drive himself crazy. Like Jude had said, he’d know the right thing to do when the situation presented itself.
Felix refilled his travel mug in the break room before continuing to his office. The familiar sounds of a bustling newsroom eased his tiredness, and he was glad he’d decided to work. He was even happier when he saw an email from Darnell Cahill in his inbox.
Felix,
My family met with Jose Ramirez last night and began the process for a posthumous pardon for my father. I think my mother has a little crush