He Took Jude's Money, Ken Won His Heart novel · Chapter 17 of 40

Chapter 17: The Narrow Bed

Ken lay on his back in the bed he had slept in since he was nine.

Jude Parker filled the rest of it.

The mattress sagged toward the middle.

There was no way to lie in it without touching.

Through the wall, he could hear William snoring, and the old clock in the hall, and the cows shifting in the dark.

The window was open.

The room smelled of hay and warm skin.

"I'm sorry," Jude said into the dark.

"You didn't do anything."

"I offered your grandmother a house, and you walked out of the kitchen."

"You offered her a gift."

"That's not what it was."

Ken stared at the ceiling.

He knew exactly what it had been.

Jude had said in the tent that all he wanted was someone who didn't want his money.

Then he had looked at a bucket under a stain and reached for his wallet.

It had felt like being priced.

He didn't have the words to say it without sounding ungrateful, so he said nothing.

"I wasn't trying to buy her," Jude said. "I just can't stand the bucket."

"I know."

"Do you?"

"I know you can't stand it." Ken turned his head on the pillow.

"I can't either. I've been hearing it for twelve years."

Jude was quiet.

Then a hand found his in the dark and held on.

"I'll never do it again without asking you."

"Okay."

"Is it okay?"

"It's okay."

It was not all the way okay.

But Jude was warm and close and shaking a little.

Ken found he wanted the man more than he wanted the wound.

"Ken." Jude's voice was very small. "I brought some stuff."

"What stuff?"

"In my bag. The, um. The kind you need."

Ken's whole body went still.

"I packed it before I called her," Jude whispered. "I wasn't sure."

"I just wanted it there if we wanted it."

"Your parents are across the hall."

"And Grandma's deaf in one ear."

"Jude."

"I want you, Ken. In me. Tonight. In your bed. I've wanted it since the library."

Ken heard a sound come out of his own throat that he did not recognize.

He sat up, and found the lamp with his hand, and did not turn it on.

"Be quiet," he said. "Be so quiet."

"I'll be quiet."

"I mean it."

"I know you do."

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