Jumping Into Things

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JumpingIntoThings : A Double Novella featuring Hot Shots and Ciphers Copyright © 2003 Julia Talbot

Illustration Copyright © SA Clements

All rights reserved. No part of thiseBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information addressTorquere Press, PO Box 4351, Grand Junction, CO 81502.

ISBN: 0-9748202-1-0

Printed in theUnited States of America .

TorquerePress electronic edition / August 2003

TorquerePresseBooks are published byTorquere Press, PO Box 4351, Grand Junction, CO 81502. http://www.torquerepress.com

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Dedication

To the real Colorado men who taught me to admire the breed, W. and R. Thank You Hot Shots

Chapter One

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Whatever Eli Marshall was expecting out of the Delta County, Colorado airstrip, it wasn't this. Wildfire season was wide open, some of the biggest fires Colorado had ever seen blowing up this year, and whole crews were coming down from Oregon to help out. He'd flown into a small airport the day before, in someplace called Montrose, and thought it was the back of beyond. He was wrong. The back of beyond was crouching behind Montrose in a town called Delta. His crew was supposed to come down and join him tomorrow, and Hell if he knew where they were all going to sleep. The airstrip was just that. One tiny strip of badly graded dirt, just big enough for a puddle jumper but better suited to a crop duster, a joke of a tower that looked like it should have a fire lookout or a water tank on top of it, and a prefab shed made out of aluminum and plywood with a brand spanking new porch attached to it. The wood was still oozing in places, it was so new. Under the porch overhang sat a broken down couch and an old-fashioned oak rocker, along with a barcalounger and a few aluminum lawn chairs. A hand lettered sign hanging from the roof proclaimed "Airport Lounge". On the other side of the covered space sat a camp table with a Coleman stove on it, and a big camp cooler under it. Another sign, hanging off the table this time, read "Restaurant". Somebody had a sense of humor at, at least. The place was deserted, or at least Eli thought so at first, but then he heard whistling, clear and tuneful, coming from the depths of the shed. "Hey! Anybody home?" The whistling stopped abruptly, and furious barking started, and the ugliest damned dog he'd ever seen came tearing out to bounce around his legs and make some serious noise. Might have worried him if the tail on samesaid dog wasn't wagging right off its butt. "Alright, already, you stupid mutt. I'm coming." The voice preceded the man, but the dog shut up anyway, and sat at Eli's feet, whining. "Oh hey. You're actually a person, not a prairie dog. What can I do for you?" "Your name Jed?" "That's me. You must be the fella from Oregon?" "Yeah. Eli Marshall." "Jed Thatcher. And that's Spot." They shook hands, and Eli glanced at the dog. "Suits him." "Yeah. Half Dalmatian, half basset hound." "Weirdest damned dog I've ever seen." "You bet. That's why I took him from the pound. You want something to drink?" "Sure." "Beer? Pop? Or just water."

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"Water'd be good." And it would. Eli didn't think he'd ever been so dry, not even in a fire pocket with trees going up all around him. This must be what they meant by a "dry heat". Ninety-five in the shade and dry enough to make his nose hurt. Jed walked over to the cooler and Eli sized him up a bit. Not tall, but not really short, just smaller than Eli himself was. Lean, wiry muscles encased in a white t-shirt, faded Wranglers, and beat to Hell ropers. Sandy brown hair cut ruthlessly short, and he hadn't caught the eye color. All in all, not bad to look at; just better make sure he wasn't caught looking. The dog chose that moment to lean against his legs and snuffle him, knocking him off balance, which meant he wasn't looking at that tiny little hieney when Jed straightened up from bending over the cooler. And that was a good thing. The mutt was surprisingly heavy. "Watch it. He'll knock you down and lick you to death." "Would that cool me off? It's damned hot here." "Hey, this still nice balmy spring weather. Sit down, take a load off." "Thanks." Eli chose the couch, and Jed took the rocker, which fit him like the grooves were made for his butt, which they very well might be. The dog promptly sat on Eli's feet and started drooling on his boots. "So, my crew's down tomorrow. Think maybe I could meet the pilot and see our plane before then?" "Plane's out back," Jed said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder. "And you've met the pilot." "Yeah? Spot here going to fly us?" "Nah." Stretching his feet out and folding his hands over his belly, Jed grinned. "That'd be me." Man had the laziest, most genuine grin Eli had seen in a long while. And blue. Jed's eyes were blue.

Chapter Two

The plane was a little smaller than Eli was used to, but it'd do. And Jed had all the right qualifications to fly her, so he couldn't complain. Well, he could, but he wouldn't. The rest of the airfield tour took no time at all, just a quick run-through the shed, where Jed was working on an ancient pick-up truck, and a point toward the facilities with a, "Bathroom's over there." He needed more water by the time they were done, though. Goddamn, it was hot. "You got a place to bunk down for the night?" "No. Never did find out where we were staying." "Well, we'll get a hold of the fire chief tomorrow, see what he says. He's probably out guzzling beer with the sheriff by now. You can crash at my place if you want. I'll even cook, you being the guest and all." "Sounds good. I'll follow you?" With a warm chuckle, Jed waved toward the back of the airfield shed. "Rather you drove me home.

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That's my truck in there. Kinda hard to drive it, parts all over like it is." "I can do that." Before they left, Jed had him help haul the "restaurant" equipment into the office. Just in case. Then he and the dog piled into Eli's rented suv and off they went. Turned out Jed didn't live in Delta, he lived half-hour up the road in Cedaredge. And up was the operative word. Almost 2000 feet in all, and the landscape changed dramatically from what Jed called the "stinkin' desert" to green grass and tall trees. Twenty degrees cooler up there too. They went through three little towns on the way up, Cory, Orchard City, and Eckert, and Jed laughingly told him the only way to tell them apart was the names on the gas stations. Jed had a place outside of town a ways, back behind a little museum that had log cabins and twig silos that looked really cool. Jed actually had to get out and open a fence to get in, and the little frame arts and crafts style cottage sat back behind a pasture with two horses and a cantankerous looking goat in it. As they pulled up just outside the garage they were greeted by a pair of furiously barking dogs, and Eli mentally took back what he'd said about Spot being the ugliest mutt he'd ever seen. The other two were just as bad, if not worse. "Shut up, you great big dumbasses," Jed hollered. "It's just me and Spot. Don't worry. Just hop on out. They don't bite." Well, thank goodness for that. One of 'em had teeth big enough to take Eli's leg off at the thigh. Once Jed got out of the vehicle, though, they changed from barking watchdogs to belly groveling softies. Had to like a man who got down in the dirt with his dogs and rolled around like he was a puppy himself. Jed showed Eli where to drop his duffel, and cleaned up while Eli took in the guest room. It, like the rest of the house (on first impression anyway) was neat, clean, and simply set up with old, dark wood furniture and a handmade quilt on the bed. And if the bed didn't look quite big enough, oh well. It was cheaper than a motel and dinner was included. One of the dogs had latched onto him right away, Ojo he thought he was called, probably because the rangy, coyote looking mutt was missing an eye. The other two had gone with Jed, nipping at each other playfully and tumbling into Jed's legs, making him curse them good-naturedly. By the time he had a belly full of steak and potatoes and salad, Eli was feeling almost mellow. The company wasn't half bad if you didn't count Jumbo, the third dog, who was half wolfhound and half Great Pyrenees of all damned things, and had taken an instant dislike to him. Maybe he didn't like the way Eli looked at his human. But it was hard not to look at the man. The crinkles at the corners of his eyes when he smiled made him seriously damned cute, but that wasn't really the word for the man. And that butt was even more phenomenal in a pair of ragged sweats that were so thin they were practically non-existent. They bullshitted about everything and nothing, and Eli decided he liked Jed about as much as anyone he'd met in years, and it was shame, because the guy seemed about as straight as they came. Damn it.

Something woke Eli early the next morning. Probably the diagonal stretch his long body had to do to fit on the bed, which was a late 1800s torture rack for sure. The internal clock he counted on told him it was about 4:30 am. Which meant it was 5:30, because he was in Colorado, not Oregon. And he had to piss. Now, which way was the bathroom? The bathroom was at the end of the hall, just as he thought. On the way he had to pass Jed's bedroom,

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and he was grateful the guy had put the dogs out for the night, or they would've been all over him. Claimed if he let them stay in they started growing out more hair, thanks to the cooler. Which wasn't an air conditioner like Eli thought of them. Not refrigerated air, but a swamp cooler, as Jed called it, that pushed air in from outside through water-filled pads. It cooled off the house right nicely, but man, when Jed had first turned on the pump there was the skankiest fish smell. Anyway, cooler or no, Eli was still hot, and Jed must have been at one time too. Because when Eli passed his room the door was open (you had to keep it open and the windows cracked to vent the cooler apparently) and Jed was sprawled out all over his big bed, buck naked. And Eli wasn't above stopping to look his fill. Shit, the guy was hot. Hotter without his clothes than with them, and that was a rare thing, because usually pure nakedness revealed all sorts of flaws. But in the early dawn, any flaws Jed had were intriguing, not detracting. Well made, solid shoulders. Nicely filled out chest, with dark nipples standing out in the slight chill of the room. Layers of muscle over ribs and belly, and the kind that came from hard work, not a gym. Hipbones like a funnel, pointing straight down the line of hair from belly to... Eli's mouth went dry. Jed's cock was hard, standing out from his body in a slight curve, and one big hand fondled it sleepily. Not awake, really, and Eli had no illusions that Jed knew he was there. Man would probably kick his ass if he knew, or maybe laugh it off and make a joke about guys jerking off, but good God he was gorgeous. Long legs for a guy his height shifted restlessly, and a small noise escaped Jed's throat as he stroked harder. His balls and ass were a shadowy enticement between his spread legs, and Eli was hard himself, trying not to make noise, pushing at his own cock through his boxers with the heel of his hand. Soon Jed had set up a real rhythm, pumping his hips up into his hand, toes curling into the sheets, and Eli knew he had to get away. Not because he wanted to, or because he was ashamed of his impromptu voyeurism, but because Jed was awake now and would see him sooner or later. Hell, he was surprised the man couldn'tsmell him as hot as he was, as much as he was leaking. Shaky legs took him on to the bathroom, where he barely got the door closed behind him before he was ripping off his shorts and attacking his own prick with sharp pulls. It didn't take long for him to come all over himself. picturing Jed doing the same thing and thinking about licking come off that flat belly.

Chapter Three

The landscape looked like a miniature train set, with its hills and valleys dotted with scrub brush and cottonwood trees. When Eli told Jed that it got a laugh and a shake of the head. They were buzzing to the fire site now in the little two-seater Jed had at the airfield, and while the puny plane was noisy, they could still manage a conversation. He'd found out that while Jed was born in the Cedaredge area, he'd gone all over in an eight year stint in the Army before settling back in Colorado. Now he flew whenever and whatever was needed, from search and rescue to crop dusting. And he'd told Jed about his five years as a city fireman in Portland and his three years as a ground crew liner, digging firelines and running like Hell when the flames got too close. They talked about why Delta stank (beet sugar plant, apparently) and how amazing it was that the place still had a drive in theater that was open to the public. And they talked about other things too. "You got a girlfriend?" Jed asked him and he wanted to cringe, because if he needed proof that the guy didn't do other guys, there it was.

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"No. Don't really have time. You?" "Don't swing that way myself." Eli almost swallowed his tongue. He was staring, he knew he was, but he thought maybe he was hearing things because he desperately wanted to or maybe he was on Candid Camera or something. Then Jed spared a glance away from the controls and quirked an eyebrow at him. "That bother you?" "Never took you for the type is all." "Yeah, well. Women are nice, but there's nothing better than a man's mouth on your dick, you know?" Jesus. Now was not the time for the hard dickhe suddenly had. And he was afraid to open his mouth because he might babble. Or maybe just whimper. So he settled for a non-committal, "That right?" And Jed just nodded cheerfully and said, "Sure enough. Men aren't afraid to suck. There's your big red monster." Following Jed's pointing finger, Eli saw the beginning glow of the fire they would be in the thick of the next day and felt a familiar surge in his gut, the one that came with the anticipation of facing down a wall of flame higher than his fucking head. Time to go to work, and Eli pulled out the binoculars and his charts and got ready to make his spotter's notations. But Jed's oh-so-casual comments were not forgotten. And as soon as he got his job done Eli'd see about reminding him about them.

Chapter Four

"Goddamnit kid! What the fuck were you trying to do? Get us all killed?" Jed had no idea why Eli was reaming Don a new one, but the whole eight man crew was waiting for him to quit so they could go back to the hotel. So was Jed, because he'd met them with the van at the rendezvous point well outside the fireline, and was ready to haul the sooty, stinky bunch of them back to Delta. "I'm sorry, Eli. I thought." "You don't fucking think, okay? I'm the crew boss for a reason. When I tell you to drop and run, you fucking drop pack and run. Heroes get dead in this business. Got it?" "Yeah." The kid looked miserable, and under the black of ash and singed gear, he looked so tired that he might puke. Time to step in. "You folks ready to get a hot shower and some food?" Eli whirled on him, probably to tell him to keep out of the way until he was done, but Jed held up a hand.

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"You ain't my boss. Right now I'm on contract with the Forest Service, and they tell me I gotta get you ready to go again in less than twelve hours. Can't do that if you're jawing." Nodding tightly, Eli motioned his crew into the van. The trip back to Delta was tense and silent, and Eli practically vibrated the whole way, jaw set. They got to the hotel and Jed put a hand on Eli's arm, holding him in the van as the others got out. "You boys get a shower and some food. Starvin' Arvin's across the road's not bad. The boss here left his duffel at my place, so he's coming with me." Looking relieved, the men piled out and headed to their rooms. The kid, Don, was the last one to leave, muttering a heartfelt, "Sorry, boss." The explosion couldn't wait much longer, and Jed was just pulling out into traffic again when it came. "I don't know who the Hell you think you are..." "Those men were tired. And whatever Don did to get your underwear in a wad, he's sorry. You can see it on his face if you look." "You've got no right to interfere." "You're right. But you aren't thinking straight. You knock that kid into the middle of next week and you'll have crew of surly, resentful guys tomorrow, and that could get you all killed. You want to talk to him about it? Do it tomorrow when you can be human." Surprisingly enough, Eli subsided at that, and the rest of the twenty minutes to home were quiet. Not a tense quiet this time so much as damn tired. The man looked gray with fatigue and every so often Jed could see his frame shake with an involuntary muscle spasm. Whatever had happened today had taken its toll. Back at his house, Jed stuffed Eli into the shower, exchanging no more than a few grunts. Then he went to the kitchen and heated up a couple of big bowls of elk stew from the pot old Mrs. Austin sent down the hill and sliced a loaf of bread. When Eli came back out he looked and smelled better, and good Lord Almighty he was wearing nothing more than a towel and some water droplets. Trying not to drool, Jed motioned him to the kitchen table. "Dinner's heating up." "Could you give me a hand then?" It galled to ask, that much was obvious, but he nodded and Eli turned a chair about and straddled it. The sight of his back made Jed suck in a breath and not because of the smooth muscles and straight spine. "What the Hell?" "Got a little singed holding the kid down. He didn't drop and run fast enough, and when I tackled him and tried to pull the fire sheet over us he panicked. Fought like a wildcat." "Shit." The blisters weren't bad, probably wouldn't get infected, but they had to hurt, and Jed had the urge to go yell at Don himself. Poor kid. But damn. He really did get almost get himself killed. Along with the big guy too, and that would purely be a waste.

Chapter Five

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The burn cream felt wonderful against his blisters. So did Jed's hands. Man had a wonderfully gentle touch, really. When he commented on it, Jed just laughed. "Dosed a lot of animals over the years." The stew tasted as good as it smelled and he was glad Jed didn't tell him it was elk until he'd eaten some. Not that he was squeamish about hunting if you were going to use what you killed, but he couldn't recall ever eating wild game before. And now that he was bathed and fed and mellow he had to admit that Jed was right. Damn it. Donwas sorry, and he knew what he'd done had almost cost them lives, and that was punishment enough. The whole business had scared at least a year off Eli's life, though. Reading his mind, Jed grinned and handed him a beer. "You better now?" "Yeah. Only thing that would make it better than it is would be getting laid." The minute the words were out, Eli wished he could take them back. That kind of banter was something he used with other men often, nudge nudge, wink wink. Finding common ground. But with Jed he was very afraid that might be taken as a request, and that wasn't what he meant at all. "Yeah. Nothing like a good round of hot fucking to relax a guy, is there?" Jed sounded completely at ease, lazily amused, just like he was one of the guys Eli worked with or hung out with and Eli relaxed. No harm done. Then Jed turned a challenging grin on him. "You want a blow job?" He almost sent beer shooting out his nose. "What?" he asked, sputtering. "You do know what that is? It's like whistling. Put your lips together and..." "Yeah," Eli interrupted. "I know what. What the fuck made you ask that?" "Mister, if you have to ask that you're more clueless than I thought." The man had balls of solid brass, Eli had to give him that. "Aren't you moving a little fast?" "You're only here a few weeks. I'm on a time limit. Personally? I think you're sex on two legs and I want to get me some of that before you go. Your call." Jesus. His dick was getting hard just thinking about it, and Jed wasn't grinning now, was just watching him with a curiously intent look on his face and he was still just fucking stunned that the man would just lay it out like that. But he kept seeing the man jerking off in the watery light of dawn, and when his mouth opened of it's own accord he wasn't surprised. "Yeah. Yeah, okay."

***

Oh the look on Eli's face was damn near priceless. Truly a Kodak moment. 'Course, it wasn't like Jed wasn't serious. He was. He wanted a taste of that. And he wasn't much given to wasting time or fancy dancing around. So when Eli said yes Jed wasn't about to give the man time to get cold footed. Just got

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right up out of his chair and pulled Eli up out of his. No way he could get to his prize otherwise, with the man straddling his chair that way. Stepping into Eli's personal space, Jed put his hands on those wide, bare shoulders and leaned in for a kiss. Damn that boy was tall. Lips warm and dry and just a hint of beer and wild game and surprise. Maybe he was thinkin' Jed wouldn't like the kissing, but he did. Oh, he did. He liked the difference between the rough shaven chin and the soft, soft lips and the slick inside of Eli's mouth. He liked the feel of another tongue against his, and the thrill of finding out how someone new liked it. Rough and fast? Or slow and easy, with a lot of rubbing and licking and nipping. Once Eli got over his shock and started kissing back Jed decided that the fella liked the latter. Lord above the man could kiss. Firm, not sloppy, but willing to explore, like kissing itself could just be the main event, and oh yeah, that was good. One big hand came up to cup the back of his skull, and the other flattened against the small of his back and pulled him closer. Damn. He wanted to touch back, to feel all that smooth skin under his hands, but those blisters were a lurid image in his mind and he couldn't. So he'd just have to go for the front. Pushing away a bit, Jed looked down at his Sunday dinner and tried to decide where to begin. The neck maybe, because it was strong and thick and the hollow at the bottom of it had the tiniest bead of sweat in it. Yeah, that'd work, and he attached his mouth there, sucking strongly. Eli moaned, and his hands tightened on Jed, and Jed thought maybe the nipples next, because they were just too sweet to miss. Man still tasted slightly of smoke, and Jed thought irreverently of hickory smoked Eli, laughing a little against the skin he was licking and nibbling. 'Time he got to the edge of Eli's towel the man was into it the whole way, pushing in to each touch and making these lush noises that Jed never would've expected in a guy that controlled. Resting his cheek against Eli's belly Jed licked at the tiny trail of hair there and marveled at the muscles that clenched and released against him. But the hot bulge beneath the soft terry under his chin called to him and he pulled the towel open greedily, eager to see if that cock lived up to the promise of the rest of that big body. The scent was pure man, animal musk and sweat and sex, and Jed pressed his face into Eli's skin and breathed deeply, feeling his own cock throb in anticipation. And yeah, it was a thing of beauty, sure enough. Hot and hard, with a sweetly flared head and prominent veins and God there was nothing better than a stiff cock, was there? He licked at it, base to tip, then swirled his tongue around the head and the thighs on either side of his head shook with strain and Eli groaned, the sound low and deep and heartfelt. Couldn't wait any more, so Jed sucked Eli's cock into his mouth and let it rub along his tongue, all the way to the back of throat in one smooth motion. Hey, he figured if you had a talent you might as well show it off, and most guys never experienced someone who could not only take it all in, but love it. Eli's skin was hot enough to brand his lips and the guy was humping his face now, hands scrabbling for purchase and finding none in Jed's short hair. Finally decided to go for a grip on Jed's shoulders and that was fine by him, because it curled that big body over him some, surrounded him with the smell and feel of Eli's skin and that was better than lemonade on a hot day. Sucking rhythmically, Jed wrapped one hand around the base of Eli's cock and twisted, just a little, so gently. And he could feel the moan this time, vibrating through Eli's belly against the top of his head; he could feel Eli's balls draw up against his hand. Wouldn't be long now, and Jed dropped his other hand to his own crotch to rub and push through his jeans, not even able to think about getting them open. Once more to the root, his lips meeting his own hand, and Eli was coming, flooding his mouth and throat with bitter, salty heat. The sound he made couldn't even be described, but it was pure slut, and it made Jed buck into his own hand and come in his damned pants, like he hadn't since he was a horny fifteen

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year old with his first stolen copy of Blueboy magazine. Eli staggered, and Jed righted him, nearly ending up on his butt on the floor as they jostled. Looked like the big guy was almost asleep on his feet, blinking dazedly down at Jed with a sort of bemused goofiness. Time for all good firefighters to be in bed. Jed wrestled him into the bedroom, Hell with the guest room, and tucked him into bed, leaving the man snoring contentedly into his pillow. Time to go wash up and feed the dogs and put the horses in for the night. And heck, maybe time he got back Eli'd be ready for round two.

Chapter Six

Waking up was something that Eli usually did quickly, just a blink or two and he was awake and aware. This morning he felt like an overcooked noodle, warm and mushy. Trying to stretch tangled him more tightly with the warm body pressed along his side, and sent hard twinges along his sore back. Wait. The warm body? Shit. It was Jed, all curled up against him, head on one of his shoulders. Shit. Trying to move out from under the man's weight stealthily didn't work, he just flowed like warm honey to fit against the newly opened places. Finally Eli had to give him a good shove. Which, of course, woke him up. "Mmmm. Mornin'." "Let me up. I've got to piss." Jed looked at him carefully for a minute, and the lazy morning grin faded to a neutral expression. "Sure. I'll go make some coffee." He rolled out one side of the bed and Eli hit the other side practically running. The dubious safety of the bathroom was a welcome thing, and Eli took his time. How fucking stupid could he be? What the Hell had he been thinking? Well, obviously he hadn't thought with anything but his dick, but it just made him shake his head and mutter, thinking about the things they'd done the night before. He didn't even know the man! When he couldn't put it off anymore he went back out and headed for the guest room to pack his duffel. He'd move into the hotel today before they left for the next jump. Shit. What a freaking idiot. The dogs came tearing in, chasing each other, circled him, then tore out. Damned mutts. He could smell coffee and frying bacon and figured if Jed was going to feed him the least he could do was be civil, but he was having the worst surge of cowardliness he'd had in years. "Breakfast in five," Jed called, and Eli took a deep breath and headed for the kitchen. "Smells good." "Have a seat. Be up in a few. Want me to look at that back?" "No! I mean, it's fine this morning." "Fine." Pots and pans clanked and Jed kept his back to Eli, shoulders stiff, the silence uncomfortable.

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"I'll be staying at the hotel from now on." Jed turned and looked at him, saying nothing, just looking and somewhere behind him Jumbo growled, having picked up on the tension. Eli fought the urge to babble, waiting quietly for Jed to set his plate in front of him. They both dug in, still silent, and Jed got up when he was done and put his plate and coffee cup in the sink. "You can do the dishes. I need to see to the animals and then I'll give you a lift into town. And you can damned well stop treating me like a rapist." Whistling for the dogs, Jed left him, and damn. Not like he meant to act that way, but he couldn't help it. Second thoughts didn't begin to cover what was going on in his head, and he just needed out of there. Go back to work and get his job done and go back to Oregon where he belonged and forget all about blue-eyed men who sucked like the very Devil.

Chapter Seven

Jed got the call about four in the afternoon. Sanding the floorboards on the back porch was doing wonders for his shitty mood, working out all sorts of aggression. He'd been as happy to see Eli go as a man on the south end of a north bound mule was apt to be to get out of the pack line. If he hadn't been the one flying the plane he might have pushed the fella out with his own two hands. By the time he'd gotten home and put in a few hours of hard work and had some lunch he was feeling better. Gotten what he wanted, hadn't he? A taste, no more, no less. Should damn well be more careful what he wished for. Anyway, he was just thinking longingly of a warm shower and a cold beer when the phone rang. Thought about ignoring it, but he was on contract this summer, so he thought he'd better answer it. And a good thing too, because his whole crew had been shipped to the Delta hospital and were waiting there for him to pick them up. No life-threatening injuries, they said, but lots of scrapes, burns and bruises. Shit. Took him less than fifteen minutes to get down the side of the mountain and to the hospital, where he was met by a tired looking bunch of guys with singed eyebrows and blisters peppered across their faces. "Looks like you boys have been through the wringer." Don was out front, looking the least worse for wear, and he grinned tiredly. "Damn thing blew up on us. Luckily we were on the tail end of the backlash." "Small favors, huh?" Six, seven. Shit. No Eli. Dread curled in his belly. "Where's the boss?" Jerking his head toward the emergency room, Don grinned even more. "Still in with the docs. Broke his ankle." Jed blinked. Then grinned back. "No shit? He not drop and run in time?" "Kinda. He was making sure we were all out. Then he caught a tree root and went down hard. I think they're still testing his lungs too. They're sending us all home for at least two weeks. Too much smoke inhalation." "Well, I'll be damned. Van's outside, but I'll let you sit here in the air 'til I find out about the bossman. Be right back."

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Ended up that he had to go drop the rest of the guys off and go back for Eli. And he still had to wait when he got there so he grabbed a hot dog from the cafeteria and wolfed it down. Time he got back to Eli's little cubby they were finishing up. He knew because he could hear the man cursing. "So what's the verdict, Doc?" "Oh hey, Jed. You here to take this one off my hands?" "Sure enough." "Well, you're welcome to him. Get him a room at the hotel and keep him there. His crew can go tomorrow as long as they drive. No one travels air with fried lungs, got it?" "Sure. But he can't leave?" "No. With his ankle the way it is he risks blood clots on that long of a ride. And he can't fly. You're stuck with him for at least two weeks." Well, Jed thought, fuck a duck. That was just what he needed.

***

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me." The girl behind the counter looked sympathetic, but that didn't change her answer. "I'm sorry. But they did say they'd all be checking out in the morning. And what with the rodeo coming to town, I booked those rooms. I'm sorry." Well, shit. Stuck here in bum fuck while his crew went home without him and no he couldn't even have a hotel room? Eli tried not to curse at the girl. Not her fault really. "That's okay, Sallie. He can stay with me." That would be Jed, of course, butting in where he wasn't wanted, but Sandy looked so grateful he thought he'd wait until they were outside to blast the man into oblivion. "Really, Jed? That would rock. Because otherwise he'd have to go to the Junction." "Nah. He'll be fine at my place. How's your gramma?" Oh God. He didn't want to hear about Sallie's gramma's arthritis. He wanted to sit down and put his foot up. Or maybe die. Death would probably be one step up from the grinding, throbbing pain in his ankle. Drugs must be wearing off. "Are there any other hotels?" They both blinked at him. "Sure," Sallie said. "But with the rodeo in you can bet they're all full up too."

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"Yeah. Great." "C'mon macho man. Let's get you home." And since he didn't have any other choice, Eli went. Feeling like a pouty two year old. God he was tired, and that shit eating grin Jed had on his face didn't help. They loaded him and his ankle into the van and off they went, and Eli sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, I know you don't like it, but my place is a good place to hole up while you heal up. And I know it's luxurious accommodations for you. I've seen the hot shot shed over at Grand Junction. Happen to know that this trip has been like the Hilton for you boys." "You know that's not why." "I do know." The smile was gone from Jed's face and voice, just like that. "But you don't have to worry about that at all. You ain't a blushing virgin and I'm not the big bad wolf and I've never had to force myself on anyone. Got it? I won't touch you again unless you fucking beg me to." For the first time in probably ten years, Eli blushed. "Yeah. I got it." "Good."

Chapter Eight

Two days. The bad tempered coyote also known as Eli Marshall had been at Jed's house for two days. Mostly the man stayed in bed, or on the couch watching the TV. Jed put Jumbo outside most of the time now, as he'd taken a dislike to Eli and Jed got tired of them growling at each other. Damn them both. Sick to death of playing nursemaid to a whiny-butt thirty-some year old man, Jed finally had all he could swallow. The afternoon of the second day, he left a batch of burritos on the stove along with a warmer of tortillas and a pot of beans, fed the dogs and went in to see Eli. "I'm going to town. Probably be gone for a goodly bit. Gonna stop in at Collbran and see my mom, then go on into Grand Junction, maybe do some shopping. Take you with me, but that's a good bit of riding. Dogs are fed and out. You want anything from the store?" He got stared at for a good minute, then Eli shrugged a bit. "I could use some magazines or books or something. Maybe a crossword puzzle. Let me get you some money." "Nah. I'll borrow some reading materials from mom. Some puzzle books too. Don't expect me back 'til late tonight." "Sure. Whatever." Asshole. Gritting his teeth only made them hurt though, so he didn't. Just hopped in the newly fixed up truck and made his way over Grand Mesa, taking the switchbacks way too fast and cranking up the

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George Strait tape he had in. Signing along at the top of lungs made him grin, and by the time he got to his mom's new mini ranch outside of the tiny town of Collbran he felt much better. Big dogs met him in the yard, indeterminable mutts all, and he scratched ears and backs before heading inside, letting the screen door bang shut behind him and hollering. "Mom?" "She's out in the woodshop, Jed. How's it going son?" "Oh hey, Lloyd." Lloyd was his mother's soon to be husband, a laid back, handsome cowboy of about sixty. Good man, and the reason Jed had his house, because his mom had moved in with Lloyd about six months before. "She cursing or singing?" "Singing. Which means she hasn't cut nothin' off. I'm making chicken and dumplings for dinner. You staying?" Jed inhaled deeply. Oh, damn his mom could pick 'em. Man could cook like a dream. "You bet. Want me to drag her in to wash up?" "Yep." Nodding, Jed headed out the back to and down to the sweet little workshop his mom had set up for her woodworking. She made wooden toys and carved things and all around had a ball. When she wasn't trying to lop off appendages, that was. Nancy Thatcher was a tall, striking woman with golden brown hair just going to gray, and blue eyes set in a face that had the look of smooth, old leather. Too much time in the sun and a love of life as big as the mesa she lived on had given her laugh lines around her eyes and mouth, and Jed thought his mom was the prettiest thing going. And she was, indeed, singing. Which was a good sign. "Hey, mom." "Well, if it isn't my baby boy. C'mere you." She hugged him tight and he smelled wood shavings and glue and cigarette smoke. "This is a surprise, baby. You staying for dinner?" "Yeah. Lloyd invited me already." "Okay." Studying him silently for a minute, his mom reached over and turned off her glue pot, then lit a cigarette. "So, what's got you so tense? You look like you could take on a grizzly and win." Never could fool his mom. But this was what he'd come for, admit it or not. With a deep sigh, Jed settled on a stool across from her and shook his head. "Well, mom, there's this man." She grinned suddenly, then laughed out loud. "Oh, baby. Isn't a man always involved when something goes screwy?" Already relaxing, Jed chuckled. "Yeah. Guess there is."

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Chapter Nine

Well, now that Jed was gone, Eli could relax. For the first time in days. Wasn't Jed's fault, really, but the tension between them was a palpable thing, and it grated. The man had opened his home to Eli all the same, and that said a lot, but Eli just couldn't help being stiff and weird around him. Grabbing his crutches, he hobbled to the kitchen and grabbed some food. No doubt about it, Jed was a good cook. Well, as long as it had meat and potatoes in it. Spot whined at the back door, and Eli let him in, hoping the damned mutt wouldn't get under his feet and knock him down, but happy for the bright, slobbering presence. The house was so empty it echoed. Damn Jed Thatcher anyway for making him feel guilty. Here he was, laid up and hurting, not able to do the one thing he loved more than anything in the world, lusting after some guy he hardly knew. Made him insane. Maybe he had treated Jed like some kind of rapist, and fuck, that wasn't fair, but it downright terrified him how easy it was to be stupid with the man. That night, after Jed had slipped into bed with him, fresh from the shower and warm against him they did a good bit more than that single blow job. And it was good. Mind-blowing good. So good that Eli hadn't even thought about little details like, oh, protection. He had never, ever failed to use a condom in his life. Ever. Until right then. Fuck. Logically he knew Jed had to be clean. Man had to get tested to even contract with the Forest Service. It was part of the mandatory physical. But. But that didn't change the fact that he'd been downright stupid, and now he didn't know how to ask. He'd made a damned mess of it all. Shit. He wandered around the house for several hours, not really snooping but looking at the few personal items Jed had out. Pictures of family and Army buddies and friends. He checked out Jed's CD collection, and his movies and napped on the couch for a while. Okay, a long while. It was about eleven o'clock when joyous, deep-throated barking woke him up and he knew that Jed was home. He felt loggy headed and totally out of it, and if he could've moved he'd high-tail it to bed, so he didn't have to see Jed at all. The man himself sailed into the living room, cursing the dogs affectionately and chuckling. He stopped at the sight of Eli struggling to a sitting position and raised an eyebrow. "You mean I gave up my bed to sleep in the guestroom so you could have leg room and you're sleepin' on the couch? All the gods and little fishes you're hard to please." Feeling his ears heat up, Eli grunted. "Sorry, I." "Just teasing you, man. Breaking bones takes a lot out of you. You want some help up?" Well, he certainly seemed to be in a better mood. Which, perversely, put Eli in a worse one. "That'd be good, yeah." "Okay." Whistling cheerfully, Jed hauled Eli up off the couch and helped him to the bathroom, then took him to the bedroom so he could strip down and go to bed. "Night, Eli. See you in the morning." Still whistling, the man headed off to do dishes and clean up some. And no wonder the son-of-a-bitch was in a better mood. He fucking reeked of beer and cigarette smoke. And sex.

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Chapter Ten

The next morning found Jed feeling better than he had in who knew how long. His mom had kicked him right in the ass, verbally anyway, forcing him to see Eli's point of view. "Think about it, baby," she'd said. "You must've scared the bejeezus out of him. And honey, sex isn't worth dying for and now he's got to be thinking he might, because did you talk about it? No you did not. Cut the boy some slack." She was right. So Jed decided to go on and talk to Eli about it in the morning. And then he'd gone down to Grand Junction and whooped it up a little, hitting the Q and meeting up with Will and having a little rubby bumpy fun. A few beers, a little hand job in the bathroom, and he'd gone home a much happier man. So happy, in fact, that he got up and made eggs and sausage and hash browns and took Eli breakfast in bed. "Hey there, Mr. Fireman. How's the ankle this morning?" That got him nothing more than a snarl and a hand reaching out for coffee and he obligingly handed it over. Along with the food and the Daily Sentinel. Pulling up a chair, Jed sat at the side of the bed and ate his own breakfast, patting his belly when he was done and grinning. "I might live." Eli gave him an evil glare. "Don't try on my account." "Well, now. You ain't much on mornings are you? Look, I wanted to say something. I." "Did you have a good time last night?" Eli cut him off, and Jed blinked, something in the man's tone catching him off guard. "I did. Went to see my mom. Had a few beers at the bar. Why?" "That's not all you had at the bar." It came out almost a sub vocal grumble, but Jed heard it, and it was his turn to stare. "What the Hell?" "Nothing. You mind? I need to go to the bathroom." "Sorry. But I wanted to." "Now." Looking at Eli's set face, Jed shrugged and moved aside so the man could swing himself out of bed and hobble off to the john. Man was worse than a bee stung bull. Hopping mad all the time without the slightest provocation. Still, Jed meant to have his say, so he waited, and was still sitting there with Ojo licking his bare toes when Eli came back.

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"What?" "Well, I wanted to apologize." That put Eli's eyebrows up at his hairline. "Really? What for?" "For pushing you into something you weren't comfortable with. And for not telling you after. I mean for not. Oh, Hell. I'm clean." "You mean you were up until last night." Baffled, Jed just shook his head. "What does last night have to do with it? I wasn't even here." "Exactly." "Jesus H. fucking Christ on a Goddamned crutch. You are one contrary son of a bitch. I give up. I'll go start callin' hotels." Jed clumped out of his (his!) bedroom, good mood evaporated just that quickly. *** After stewing for the better part of an hour, Eli hobbled out of the bedroom, balancing his duffel and his crutches and a sheaf of insurance paperwork. Jed was at the kitchen table, head in hands, elbows resting on the phone book. "Find a hotel?" "All full up. Deltarado Days. Damn it." "Shit." Jed finally looked up and his expression darkened. "You trying to kill yourself? I mean, I know you want to get away from me but jeez." Juggling and teetering, Eli set everything down and dropped into a chair. He sighed. "Look, it's not. I mean, I don't. Crap. Look, I'm sorry, okay?" "That mean it's my turn to ask what for?" "I guess I deserved that. Look, I really appreciate everything you've done for me. Can we just leave it at that?" "Sure. All part of the services we offer here at Hotel Thatcher. Bed, bath, blow." Every muscle in his body tensed up, and Eli blew out a frustrated breath. "That's not what I meant and you know it. I just meant." "And what was with the cracks about last night. Made it pretty clear you didn't want it. What's it matter to you if I have some fun with a friend?" Oh now, that just pissed Eli off. Every time he thought about it, it made him crazed. And that was stupid,

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because he had no hold over Jed, didn't want one, didn't know him. Had treated him like shit, and stepped on his toes at every turn and okay so it made him damned jealous, but so what? Or maybe it just made him feel like maybe he was too easy to forget. "Don't suppose there's anyone else I could stay with?" "Nope." They sat there in a morose silence for a good while, not willing to break the uneasy quiet. Sat there, in fact, until the screen door banged behind them. "Jed, honey? You home?" Eli saw Jed's eyes widen, and the man's face took on a chagrined expression. "Yeah, mom. I'm in here." And under his breath, "Damn her hide anyway." Chapter Eleven

Why was he surprised? Sure as God made little green apples, Jed should've known his mom would show up today to see what had him all atwitter. "Hey, baby. Lloyd baked this morning. I swear I need to fire Rob and Sherm so that man will have more work to do. Brought you blueberry muffins and an apricot cobbler. Oh and he sent that bale of barbed wire over for you, too. It's in the back of the truck. Why don't you go unload it and I'll just put this food away. Brought you a turkey casserole too. Cleaning out the freezer, you know? That Lloyd sure can cook. And this must be Eli. Pleased to meet you." Time his mom was done with her opening salvo, Jed was grinning like an idiot and Eli looked shellshocked as all get out. Might be a good thing to leave the man with his mom for a few minutes. He whistled up the dogs and out they went, and sure enough, there was barbed wire in the truck, along with a load of wood and two tail-wagging dogs. "C'mon, you lot. You can come out and play." The dogs bounded out and had a joyous reunion with his mutts and they all tore off to terrorize the horses out in the pasture out front. The sun was hot, and Jed worked up a good sweat unloading the wire and wrestling it into the barn, and stacking the wood next to the shed. There was nothing he loved more than flying, but he'd grown up on a ranch, and good hard work, the kind that made your muscles burn, felt good to him. Made the tension melt right off. Made him laugh out loud at the thought of what his mom might be doing to poor Eli in there. *** "He left me," was the first thought in Eli's head. Luckily, it didn't make it out of his mouth. He just smiled and nodded and said, "Nice to meet you." when Nancy if you call me Mrs. I'll kick your ass Thatcher introduced herself and started unpacking enough food to feed the Russian army. A muffin appeared under his nose. "You want butter on that, hon?"

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"Yes? I mean, yes. Thank you." Grown men did not quail before other men's mothers Did they? They would before this one. She was like a one of those mini tornados Coloradoans called dust devils. Whoosh. "There you go hon. So, you're the firefighter? Jed stopped in yesterday, told me all about how you hurt your ankle and was staying with him. Gotta tell you, son, you're jumping out of an airplane into a fire, you've gotta be crazy or stupid. You want some more coffee?" "Sure." Eli was literally reduced to one word replies. Not that he was Oprah Winfrey at the best of times, but shit, this woman just sucked all the air right out of the room. She got them both a cup of coffee and got herself a muffin and slathered it with rich butter. Then she sat down across from him at the table and went quiet, studying him with an intensity he found unnerving to say the least. Reminded him of how Jed had looked at him right before he asked if Eli wanted a blow job. A little hysterically, he hoped she wasn't going to offer too. "Can I tell you a story, Eli?" Well, that wasn't exactly what he thought she was going to say, was it? But he nodded, and she inhaled half of her muffin, chewing thoroughly before closing her eyes and making a hmmm-ing noise. "Love that man. Now, where was I? Oh yeah." Sitting back in her seat, Nancy pulled out a pack of cigarettes and went through the process of lighting one and blowing a long stream of smoke out her nose. "Filthy habit. Anyway, when I was eighteen years old, I met a young man of twenty two. Rodeo cowboy from Salida. Sweetest little ass in Wranglers I'd ever seen. Smart as a fox, so bowlegged he couldn't hem a hog in a ditch, and dead charming. I married him two weeks later, and by then I was already pregnant with that boy out there." His mouth was hanging open, he knew it was. And his eyes were bugging out in what was probably a really unattractive fucking way. But Jesus. And she wasn't done. Taking another long drag on her cigarette, she smiled in memory. "Took me a long time to go looking after Jed's daddy died. Long time. Then I met Lloyd. At a barn dance over in Lazear. Took less than a month for me to move in with him. Sure, it's taken him a while to convince me to make an honest man of him. But it didn't take any time for me to know he was the man for me." Trying not to squeak, or maybe shout, Eli cleared his throat. "Fascinating stories Mrs., I mean Nancy. But what have they got to do with me?" She stabbed out her cigarette and finished her muffin and coffee before she answered. "From what Jed told me, you're running scared. Now he's thinking that it's because you decided you didn't like him. All I'm saying is that maybe it's because you do. Sometimes you've got to just roll with it. Not let it scare you off. Like riding a horse. Just because it bucks a little at first doesn't mean you can't settle into the saddle right nice later on." "I don't know what you're talking about." To Eli's surprise, Nancy threw back her head and laughed, a robust sound that made him wonder if Jed had the same belly laugh. "Sure, honey. You just tell yourself that. You decide it was all about your dick, that's fine too. Just hate to see you leave without giving it some thought. Haven't seen my baby this

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twisted about anything since he decided he liked bulls instead of cows. I'm going to go help him cut some of those boards. Nice to met you, Eli." And she was gone, leaving Eli with the feeling that he'd been run over by truck. And leaving him a lot to think about. Chapter Twelve Jed watched his mom's truck speed off like a bat out of Hell, then looked back at his house. He really ought to go in there. Make sure Eli was okay, maybe call a few bed and breakfast places and see if they had rooms. But, oh, he didn't want to. His mom had come out and rubbed shoulders with him for awhile, sawing boards out of the wood Lloyd sent over, and helping him nail them in place on his shed wall. She'd grinned at him when she came out of the house, and given him a thumbs up. "I like your young man, Jed." "He's not mine, mom. And he's older than me." "Minor technicalities, baby. Move over. And hand me a saw." And that was the last she had to say about Eli. They chatted while they worked, and his mom bitched good naturedly about Lloyd not having enough to do now that he'd hired hands, but those boys deserved a good break and Lloyd couldn't bring himself to let them go. She told him about his niece's first place ribbon at the fair over in Gunnison county, and reminded him that his brother's wife was about to pop out another one, so he needed to get a card. They talked about anything and everything, except Eli, and she kissed him on the cheek before she left and said, "You stink. Go take a shower. And don't let this one get away, baby." And off she went. So now he had to go face the music. "C'mon Jumbo. Let's go get some lunch and check on the mule." The big dog padded along beside him, tongue lolling. Had no idea where Ojo and Spot were. Probably off rolling in something dead. When he stepped through the back door he smelled food, good food, something with beef and peppers and onions, and he couldn't help but stare at Eli, who was assembling fajitas at the stove, sitting on a tall stool with his foot propped up on Spot's back. (So that's where Spot went. Traitor.) Spot wagged at him, but didn't get up. "Oh hey." Eli said, without looking up. "Was just about to send out the search party. Your mom still here?" "Nah. She said something about afternoon nookie and took off." Eli's hands stopped moving for a minute and he made a choking sound, but he recovered quickly. "Well, I made lunch." "I see that. I'll just go wash up." "Yeah, you do that." Eli glanced over his shoulder at Jed, and the way his eyes widened was gratifying. Nice to see he hadn't completely lost it, after all. If the sight of him naked to the waist and sheened with sweat didn't move Eli a bit, well then, the man had to be made of stone. The interest was certainly there, like it or not on Eli's part. Jed would just have to play it by ear. ***

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Jed went to clean up a little before lunch, and Eli sighed, letting the tension in his shoulders and neck release. After Nancy left, Eli sat there for awhile, just letting his mind wander, and he finally made the decision to stay at Jed's for the rest of his two weeks and try to get along. Nancy's comments were way off base, he thought, but they did make him think about the day he met Jed, about how likeable he found the man as well as how attractive. Sure, they'd been really stupid, but that didn't mean they had to be at odds. So he made lunch. Food was the great social equalizer to Eli. Made people more comfortable. And judging from the way first Jed and the Nancy had shoved food down his throat, Jed was probably raised to feel the same way. "Okay, you spotted lump. Move it or lose it." He didn't want to trip over his footrest while he carefully ferried lunch from the stove to the table, so Eli nudged Spot lightly with the bare toes that hung out his cast. Wagging wildly, Spot moved over to the back door and whined, and Eli shoved it open for him with a push of his crutch. Then he laid the food out on the big oak trestle table and hollered for Jed. Oh man. This was worse than the sweaty bare-chested look. The just dunked my head in the sink, water spotted, bare-chested look. Shit. Eli tried very hard not to stare. "Smells good." "Thanks. Just need to get the salsa." "No. You sit, get off that foot. I'll get it." Eli sat. It gave him and opportunity to ogle a little without Jed knowing it. Damn it, he'd lusted after guys before. Had a few he could count on for discreet, horny sex. But he never felt such immediateattraction to anyone before. Liking combined with the lusting. Made him surly, because it scared the heck out of him. Thanks to Jed's mom, though, he realized that was hardly Jed's fault, and was trying not to take it out on him anymore. Lunch was accomplished in companionable silence, quite a feat for them, and Eli waited until they were both picking through the bones of dead fajitas before broaching the subject of him staying. "I was thinking." "Thought I smelled something burning." That surprised a bit of a laugh out of him. "Guess it does seem like I talk before I think a lot of the time. Anyway, if you don't mind I think I'd like to stay here until I can go back to Oregon. If that's not a problem." Those blue, blue eyes fastened on his face and stayed there, searching his own eyes for god knew what kind of answers. "I don't know if that's such a good idea, Eli. You don't seem to like me much. Make for a miserable few weeks if you ask me." Ouch. But he deserved it. Right. Deep breath, Eli. "It's not that I don't like you. It's that I do." A skeptical look met that statement. "Right. That's why we can't manage a simple conversation."

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"We are now." "Suppose we are. Well, if you want to stay I won't kick you out." Something loosened in Eli's chest. Something he didn't know was tight. "Cool. And just so you know, I'm clean too, just like you are. Were. Whatever. So no worries about that." Crap. That must've been the wrong thing to say, because Jed's expression darkened. "What do you mean "were". Only person I've done it with lately's you. If I ain't clean anymore, it'd be your fault." God that man could stir him to anger faster than anyone he'd ever met. "Hey, I'm not the one who came home smelling like the host of a circle jerk party the other night." "The host of a... You son of a bitch. Not that it's any fucking business of yours who or what I do, but just because I had a little grope session with a friend doesn't mean I had a fucking orgy complete with small goats. Where the Hell do you get off, Mister?" Yeah, that went well. Once more into the fray. "You're right, it's none of my business." "Damn straight. I suggest you leave it be." "Fine." "Fine." Except Eli couldn't leave it alone. It made him crazy, thinking that it was so easy for Jed, to go from having him in bed to fooling around with another guy, even if he had no reason to feel that way. "Just wondering how much of a slut a guy has to be to have two or three guys in less than twenty four hours." Oh, God. He said that out loud, and Jed flushed a hard red, and his eyes snapped fire. "You stubborn, jealous, self-righteous asshole." Jed was out of his chair, pulling Eli up out of his with one fist twisted in his shirt front. "What do you want to hear? That I was so pissed off and twisted up about you that I went and got a little drunk? That the whole time I was up against the wall getting myself stroked off I was thinking about you? That make you feel better? I'm not the one who hopped out of bed like my ass was on fire, am I? Seems to me if I'm a slut, then you're the biggest fucking cock tease between Hell and half of Georgia." By the time Jed was finished they were both breathing hard, staring each other down, and Eli was hard enough to pound nails. He really ought to fight back, to argue about that cock tease accusation, but he couldn't. All he could do was smell the hot musk of Jed's skin and see the softness of his lips and the long, smooth expanse of the skin of Jed's chest in front of him. Jed moaned, the sound loud and shocking in the ringing quiet, and lunged forward, planting his lips on Eli's in a solid, invasive kiss. A hot, wonderful, deep kiss that went on and on and Eli did the only thing he could do. He put his hands on Jed's wide, bare shoulders and kissed the son of a bitch right back. Chapter Thirteen

The kiss made Jed's head spin. He'd wanted to taste Eli again ever since that first night, and thought

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maybe he'd idealized it a bit too much. But if anything he'd underestimated the power those lips would have pressed against him, how they'd send a jolt right to his dick. And the man just kissed him back like Eli was starving, like none of the shit they said to each other mattered, like he was just as hot for Jed as Jed was for him. Goddamn but the man was hotter than a two-dollar pistol and Jed had to have him. Now. Turning, he shoved Eli down on the kitchen table, scattering dishes everywhere. Those sounds the man had made the first time, when Jed had held him in his mouth, were back. Pure need those sounds, and who could resist that? He had just enough presence of mind to prop Eli's bad foot on a chair, then he had to feel skin against his. He grabbed Eli's shirt in both hand and yanked, sending buttons off into the air like a tiny hailstorm. Oh yeah. Now that was a feast of tight muscles and rough hair and tiny little nipples that peaked under his palms and he leaned down to take one into his mouth, sucking hard on it. Panting and arching beneath his touch, Eli made a tearing, disbelieving sound and Jed looked up into wide, wide eyes that were more gold than green just then. Took every bit of control he had to pause then and look the man right in the eye and say, "You want me to stop, hot shot, you say so now. Otherwise I'm fucking you into the middle of next week. Speak now or forever hold your peace." Swallowing hard, Eli reached up and put a hand to Jed's face, rubbing his rough stubble back and forth. "Don't stop." Oh damn. A heartfelt groan tore out of Jed's chest, and he kissed Eli again, pressing down between the man's spread thighs and rubbing them together through their jeans. Too much, but fucking not enough and the kiss went on and on and Jed just lost himself in it. Eli's hands were hot on his back, sliding down to delve under the waistband of his jeans to get to his ass, but stymied by the tight fit. Man pulled away from the kiss and pushed at Jed's chest and he resisted, no way he could stop now, but Eli just grimaced and pushed harder. "Take the jeans off, damn it. Wanna feel your ass. You have a fucking unbelievable ass, Jed. Saw that the first day we met. Please." Holy shit. Jed levered himself up and skinned out of his jeans so fast he nearly fell over, only vaguely noticing Jumbo and Ojo scarfing up fajita scraps off the floor, and then he was tearing into Eli's jeans too, pulling them down and off and thanking every god and saint he could think of that the jeans were cut up the bad leg so they just flew right away. Shit, yeah. He'd admired that fat cock before, and now was no different, better even because he knew how sensitive the spot just below the head was and how that one place at the base just made Eli fucking howl, and he bent to take it in his mouth and got a sharp smack to the head for his trouble. "No. Not... just c'mere." Eli's eyes were wild, almost blind with need, and Jed went, pressing their naked bodies together, rubbing and twisting to get more, closer, now. Those big, hard hands settled on his ass, hot as brands, and Jed just bucked into the touch and almost fucking lost it. Couldn't remember the last time he was this hot for someone, maybe never, but it didn't scare him like it did Eli. Just made him feel like a freaking god, standing on top of his mountain and screaming into the wind. Sucking a mark up on Eli's neck made those hands clench harder on him, thumbs pressing into his hips, fingers curling into his crack. "Want in you," he said, growling against Eli's ear and the man whimpered, freaking whimpered and hooked his good leg around the back of Jed's thighs. "Yes. Please. Anything, just, God."

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So damned sexy, all spread out for him, and Jed pulled back just enough to get a hand between them, fingering Eli's hole, looking around wildly for something, anything to use and his eyes lit on the butter tub. It'd do. Slicking a couple of fingers, Jed slid them easily into Eli's body, gasping right along with him at how tight and hot and just damned perfect it felt. "Can't wait, Eli. Got to, now." "Uhnnhh," was all Eli seemed to be able to force out and Jed had his cock slicked and he almost came right then and there just from touching it, from having Eli's glazed eyes on him while he did, blazing hot and pleading and he just pushed in. It was like coming home. Just like that. Eli made the hottest sound he'd ever heard in his life, a hoarse shout that trailed off into a moan and Jed started moving, leaning up to taste the end of that amazing noise and they rode back and forth, rocking the table under them, Eli's hands clutching him desperately. Hot, so hot, and tight and Eli was sobbing into his mouth and the hard cock between their bellies jerked and throbbed and Eli was coming. That fast, without ever being touched and his ass squeezed tight and Jed just lost it. Went off like the Fourth of July, firecracker sudden, all the way up his spine into his skull. The orgasm went on and on, and Jed finally slumped down over Eli, feeling the man shake beneath him every so often, both of them trying to suck in some air in the suddenly airless room. Once they recovered enough to breathe, Jed pulled back enough to look at Eli, just enough to put an inch or two of space there. "You okay?" "There's a tortilla stuck to my back." Jed laughed, surprised, and his softened cock slid out of Eli's body. "That's okay. We had an audience too." He nodded and Eli swiveled around to look at Jumbo and Ojo, who sat on the floor looking at them, heads tilted, tails wagging. Spot was just outside the screen door, staring at them with the same "huh?" expression as the other two. Eli surprised him again by chuckling. "Doggie dinner theater." Jed stared at him, then burst out laughing. Deep, belly laughter that felt damned good, and Eli joined him, breathlessly, until the dogs started barking and bouncing around their feet. "How 'bout we move this into the bedroom?" Nodding, Eli struggled to sit up. "Or the bathroom. Unless you like a little Pace picante with your sex." Snorting Jed stood and helped Eli up. "I think we have enough spice as it is. You through fighting with me?" "For the next hour, at least. Yeah." "Good." Chapter Fourteen The shower was an exercise in ingenuity. They had to keep Eli's cast dry and get the sticky stuff off everything else, and they laughed a lot at the contortions they went through. After they were clean Jed got

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Eli settled on the bed, then went back to the kitchen to clean up the mess from lunch. If he didn't, he said, the dogs would have it spread everywhere in no time. He looked reluctant, and Eli couldn't blame him. Last time he'd given Eli time to think about things it had gotten bad. If he thought about it too much now it might get bad. The kitchen table and a tub of butter for God's sake. But Eli determinedly pushed it away. There was only so much time left to spend here. Might as well make the most of it. Stretching hugely, Eli winced a little at the pull and flex of sore muscles. And other sore things. Making the most of it should include him fucking Jed for a change, he figured. He could hear Jed whistling what sounded like an old bluegrass tune in the kitchen, and Eli had to smile. The man was just downright uncomplicated in some ways. Give him some sex to relieve his tension, and he was happy as a clam. None of the doubts that assailed Eli seemed to give him a twinge. One by one, the three dogs appeared in the bedroom, sneak sneak and before he knew it, Eli had an entire bed full of drooling, wagging mutt. Jeez. Pushing Jumbo's nose out of his lap, he hollered for Jed. "You wanna come get these hounds off me?" Appearing in the doorway, Jed crossed his arms and grinned, leaning against the frame. "I don't know. You look cute." "Very funny. You didn't tell me Jumbo was a crotch sniffer. And if Spot licks my toes one more time." "He likes Irish Spring. And that just means Jumbo has decided you're okay now. Off the bed, guys." One sharp clap of Jed's hands and all three dogs were off the bed and out the door. And not much later, Jed was on the bed with him instead. "Now, I won't lick your toes, but I might be convinced to lick other parts. How's that sound?" Whoa. Eli couldn't remember having a recovery time that fast in at least ten years. But the stirring in his cock proved that it was there. "Sounds like a plan." Chapter Fifteen Things were going so well that they were bound to crash eventually. For almost two weeks he and Eli got along, in and out of bed. They fucked like rabbits, discovered that they both played a mean game of Scrabble, and found out they both liked southern fried rock and roll. They had a lot in common, and a lot they argued about good-naturedly, and Jed found out that the promise of wicked humor he saw in Eli a few times those first days was well and truly delivered on. The man was damned funny. And damned sexy, too. Just couldn't get enough of him, like peach cobbler with ice cream on a Sunday picnic after church. The taste and feel of Eli was addictive. Sure, he knew he had it bad. That was as plain as the nose on his face. But he didn't care. Eli was something special. Which made reality that much worse when it finally came back with a vengeance. He took Eli down into Delta for a check-up about twelve days after his initial trip to the hospital. Eli went in grumbling and growling, and came out grinning like a fool. "Guess this means you got good news?" Jed asked with a grin of his own. "Yeah. My lungs are cleared. Ankle still needs another four weeks in this cast, but I can fly now. I can go home tomorrow."

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Something turned over in Jed's belly and became a hard knot. "Oh. Well. Good for you. I'll wait for you out in the truck." Turning on his heel, Jed made for the door and the relative safety of his pick-up truck. The glove compartment yielded a pack of cigarettes he hadn't touched in months and he lit one up and sucked in the smoke greedily. Damn. Felt like the man had taken a hammer to his chest. Why he was surprised he didn't know, but he was. Guess that shows me where I stand, he thought, and watched Eli hobble out on his crutches, feeling smoke burn at the back of his throat. "What the heck's gotten into you?" Eli asked, and Jed just shook his head. "Don't like hospitals. You ready? I've gotta help Mrs. Lomax with her beans today, and you need to call the airport, I reckon." "Yeah. I'm ready." The ride home was silent, and purely agonizing on Jed's part. There was a lot he wanted to say, maybe some he wanted to yell, and Eli kept sneaking sidelong glances at him, genuinely baffled it looked like, and that was even worse. They got back to the house, and the dogs met them with a happy ruckus and Jed just shoved them off, gathering up his garden tools and tossing them in the back of the truck. "You do what you have to do as far as arrangements. I'll drive you to the airport one way or the other. I'll be back for dinner." And just like that, Jed was back in the truck and back down the lane, leaving Eli and all of the problems that came with him behind. Almost broke a finger punching the dashboard but it felt good, the burn of physical pain, real good. And working his ass off in the heat of the day for old lady Lomax would feel good too. And so would that six pack of beer he was gonna buy on the way home. *** Standing in the driveway, Eli watched Jed speed off in the truck and shook his head. Yeah. That went well. Okay, maybe not the way he should've handled it, but maybe Jed could've stuck around too. Heaving a sigh, he headed inside. "Come on, you great big bunch of tails. Get out of my way before I trip over you." Since he had nothing else to do, Eli did call the airports, getting himself a flight out of Montrose the next day just before noon. He packed. And while he did, he stewed. What did Jed want from him, anyway? Sure, they'd had some fun, and they got along well enough, but it wasn't like he lived there. Wasn't like Jed didn't know he was going to be leaving. He waited as long as he could for Jed to get back, but Eli started to get hungry around five, and was rummaging through cabinets when Spot and Jumbo started whining outside, and Ojo perked up from where he slept on the kitchen floor. Jed. The old pick-up rumbled to a stop just outside the back door, and Jed came in, looking a little sunburned and a lot dirty, and bearing several grocery bags. "Mrs. Lomax sent a baked chicken. And some snap beans she cooked up. And an apple pie. There's beer too. Gonna go take a shower. Would you get some plates?" Jed's voice was carefully neutral, and Eli strove for the same mien. "Sure."

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"Thanks." Setting the table gave him time to think up all sorts of easy, gentle ways to say "hey, it was fun" and they all flew out of his head the minute Jed came back out of the bathroom wearing a baggy pair of cargo shorts and nothing else. Damn, that man had a fine body. "Thanks. You get a flight?" "Yeah. Montrose at 11:45 am." "Okay. Way things are, you need to get there about ten. Means we have to leave here 'bout eight thirty." "Right." They ate the rest of the meal in relative silence, saying only things like, "Pass the salt, please." The strained atmosphere grated on Eli's nerves and he finally had to do something to break it. "Look, Jed." "That was good, wasn't it? I need to go feed the animals. Back in a bit. If you don't feel up to the dishes just leave 'em in the sink. There's some ice cream in the freezer. Maybe you could get that out, let it soften up. We'll have some pie when I get back." Goddamn that man was slippery. Out the door before Eli could even open his mouth to say something, and with a long-suffering groan he got up and cleared the table and washed dishes. He set the ice cream out, too, and pondered shoving the whole frozen mess down Jed's shorts. Just to get his attention. The pie looked good, though, crusty and juicy, and Eli cut it into slices and waited some more. Sooner or later, he'd have his say. Chapter Sixteen

Jed knew he was being an asshole. Didn't take a genius to tell that Eli had something he wanted to say. Probably wanted to tell him how much he'd enjoyed his stay, it'd been fun, blah blah blah. Tie that loose end up nice and tight. And Jed figured he really ought to let him; it would be the best thing to do. Easier said than done, though. Finally there was no more work to do, and Jed knew he had to go face the music. When he got back into the house he figured Eli must've heard him coming, because the man had dished up two pieces of pie and was dipping ice cream to put on it. And Jed just couldn't help himself. He walked up behind Eli and slid his arms around the man from behind, nibbling on his neck. "Looks good." Laughter rumbled in Eli's belly, under his searching hands. "Me or the pie?" "Both." Eli's earlobe got attention, then the spot under his jaw that Jed admired so much. "But you taste better." "You keep that up and the ice cream will melt all over."

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"Wouldn't be a tragedy." Turning, Eli leaned down and kissed him hard on the lips, and the pie and ice cream were forgotten. One kiss turned into two, then three, deep hungry kisses. How they made it to the bedroom without Eli tripping over his cast or them both going down in a tangle of twisted clothes Jed would never know. But their arrival there coincided with them being naked and Jed pushed Eli down on the big bed and crawled on top of him, kissing him deeply. Their loving was a struggle, first one then the other taking control. Skin and sweat and desperation and Jed knew it was stupid, knew it was pointless but he had to try to memorize the feel of Eli's hands on him and of that too pretty for a man hair in his hands and the sweet salty taste of Eli's lips. And finally there was one thing he could still give Eli that he hadn't before, so he did. "Want you in me, Eli." Oh, that surprised the man, Jed could tell. Hadn't done that the whole time they'd been together, had always been Jed doing the doing, and Eli pulled back to look at him. "You sure?" "Yeah." There was lube on the bedside table and Jed grabbed it, handing it to Eli before rolling to his back and spreading his legs in a wanton sprawl. "I'm sure." "Oh God." Yeah, he'd have to store up that look, that tone in Eli's voice. That oh shit, oh yeah, oh damn feeling. Very deliberately, Jed pulled his legs back toward his chest, opening himself to someone more fully than he ever had before. "C'mon Eli. Please." Snapping out of his shock, Eli popped the lube open and slicked his fingers up, pushing them inside Jed's body a little too hard and fast, eager and needy. Ride it, Jed, he thought, and breathed deeply, relaxing as much as he could. Wasn't long before Eli was pushing in, slow but sure and Jesus that burned, but it was Eli so he just couldn't care if it hurt. "Jed," Eli said, and it was one long, drawn out sound. "So damned tight." "Just, God. Eli. Please." He wasn't real coherent, but Eli didn't care, just kissed him and started moving, and it was completely overwhelming. Like his body just wasn't his anymore, it was Eli's, did whatever Eli wanted, and he felt himself relax and roll with it. Just let Eli fuck him into the mattress and it felt so good Jed thought he might just die happy. And then Eli was coming, shouting out his name and shooting inside him and the impossible sweetness was more than he could handle, sending him right over the edge too. In the silence that followed Jed did the only thing he could do. He asked. "Stay." Eli stiffened, every muscle in that big body going tight, and rolled off Jed to stare at the ceiling. "What?" "Stay here for a while. Not like you can go back to work 'til that ankle heals. We've been having a good time. Just a few more days." "I can't, Jed."

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"Why not?" Turning to him, eyes as flat as his voice, Eli said, "Because it has been fun, but that's all it's been. I have a life to get back to. Got it?" That hit like a hammer to the chest. Sure, he knew that's all it was to Eli, knew it the minute he'd smiled like a five year old at the thought of going home. But it still fucking hurt. Jed felt like an old man climbing out of the bed, stiff and aching. "Yeah. I got it. I'll make sure you're up for your flight in the morning. I'm gonna go sleep in the guest room." "Yeah, okay." Eli's voice was emotionless, and Jed left the man lying there, on his bed, one arm thrown over his face. Chapter Seventeen

"Jed, honey? You home?" Shit. It was his mom. Not that he didn't want to see her. Hadn't seen her in almost two weeks. But he wasn't much for company these days. "Back here, mom." He was on the back porch, feet up on the rail, beer bottle cold against his bare belly. The dogs were sprawled around his feet, noses on tails, and they wagged a bit for his mom, but it was too hot to get up. "There you are. Stopped by Sheriff Blair's. He said you'd quit your forest service contract." His mom looked good. From the critical once over she gave him Jed figured he didn't. "Yeah. Fires are mostly contained and no new ones have started. Got some work with Mrs. Lomax though, so I'm not hurtin'." "How's your young man? Eli?" The sympathetic look in his mother's eyes told him she knew that Eli'd left, but she had to play the game. "He's gone, mom. Left for home last week." "I figured. You didn't call, but Louise Lomax did. Lousy old bitch." "Mom!" "Well she is. Nosy old gossip. Good thing I brought you some company, then." "You did what?" 'Your brother's here. Medical leave. Cracked some ribs out on field maneuvers, of all things." "Wonderful." That was all he needed. "Guess that's why you had to stop and see the sheriff? Let him know Ross was back?"

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The screen door opened and shut and the dogs jumped up, barking and bouncing like they did when someone had been gone too long. "Yep. You know he's got a hard on for me. Heya, Jed." Not bothering to get up, Jed saluted with his beer. "Morning, Ross." "So, mom tells me you've got a new fella. When do I get to meet him?" Ross wasn't careful, Jed was going to get up and wipe that shit eating grin right off his face. "He left. Went back to Oregon. And he wasn't my fella. He was just a friend." Out of the corner of his eye Jed could see his mom backing away down the steps, patting her leg for the dogs to follow. But he was looking right at Ross, waiting for the next shot. Didn't take long. "You mean Mister Love 'em and Leave 'em Jed Thatcher got left? What's the matter? He want more than a few rolls in the hay?" Ping. Jed was up and out of his chair before he thought, beer bottle dropping unnoticed to the porch. His fist felt really good connecting with Ross's jaw, and cracked ribs or no it looked like his baby brother was going to give as good as he got. And maybe when they were done some of his overwhelming hurt and anger would be gone. Chapter Eighteen

The lunch date with his mother loomed on Eli's horizon like a black cloud. God, he hated dancing to her little tune. But it was easier to give in than to fight, so he made reservations and told her he'd pick her up and take her on in to Bend to have lunch at the Pine Tavern, then settled himself into the blue funk that always came with a mother excursion. Promptly at 11:30 Eli arrived at his mother's door and she met him just outside, neatly done up in a daytime suit and perfectly coiffed hair. She offered her cheek for a kiss and he dutifully pursed his lips an inch above her skin. "Hello, Mother." "Hello, Elias." A slight frown creased her shaped and colored eyebrows. "What did you to yourself now?" "Broke my ankle in a gopher hole. Or was it a tree root? You ready to go?" "Yes, of course." Eli held her car door for her and drove the fifteen miles to Bend at a sedate pace. And counted to fifty in both Spanish and French while his mother chatted about her book club meeting and her garden club gossip circle. Somehow or another he had less patience for her cattiness today. Luckily since they had a reservation they didn't have to wait for a table, and finally she was absorbed with the menu, even though she knew it by heart. "The salmon? Or the chicken pasta. What do you think, Eli?" Tearing himself away from the view of the twisted pine trees that formed the center of the restaurant, he shook his head at her. "Last time you had the chicken pasta you complained about the cream sauce all

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the way home. Get the salmon." Jed would like those trees. "There's no reason to snap at me, Eli." "Sorry, Mother." He ordered a burger, and his Mother got the chicken pasta just like she always did, and time just dragged on and on. After expressing her disapproval of his meaty lunch his mother chatted desultorily, picking at her lunch, finally coming around to her favorite subject. "You know, Anne Killian's daughter just had a baby. And Alice Moss's son just got married to a very sweet girl from Portland." "Really." Noncommittal was the best he could manage, and he hoped she would leave it alone, but of course, she didn't. "I don't see why you don't even try, Elias." This conversation came up every time they got together, and he normally just deflected her with a bunch of nonsense about his job, but he just seemed to lose the ability to take the bullshit anymore, right then and there. "You know perfectly well that I'm gay, Mother." Every bit of color in his mother's face drained away, only to rush back in a hectic display, and for three or four tables in any given direction there was a sudden silence, followed by a quick flood of polite conversation. God, he thought his mother might just faint on him, and he felt like shit for doing it this way, but he also had a sense that he'd finally latched onto an idea whose time had come. "You've known it for years. Ever since you caught me and Bobby Luenis on the couch down in the basement when I was seventeen. Please stop acting like that's going to change." "I think perhaps you should take me home." "Of course." The ride home was silent and tense, reminding him of almost every ride he'd taken with Jed and how stupid could he be, doing that? But he just couldn't sit there and listen to her ramble on about grandchildren she didn't really want, just figured he ought to have to make her life normal and not say anything. Not ever again. He dropped her off at her house, and she didn't wait for him to get out and open her door. Standing beside the car, back to him and straight as a ramrod she said, "I imagine we won't be seeing one another for some time, Eli. Not until you decide to be civil." "Then it's going to be a long, long time Mother. Goodbye." And she just walked off, and he felt the acid build in his stomach, his fine lunch fucking sitting there like lead. And goddamned if he didn't feel like calling Jed. Chapter Nineteen

The fight didn't break up until the bucket of water hit them, and tap water up where Jed came from was always cold, leaving h and Ross gasping for air and blinking at their mom. "Well, the dogs are getting drunk aren't they?" she said, pointing to the porch where Spot and Ojo were busily licking up spilled

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beer. "Besides, you boys have fought long enough." Dabbing blood from his split lip, Jed looked at Ross and smiled a little. "Had enough?" "Yeah. Wouldn't want you to think you're losing your touch, even if you are old." If he looked as bad as Ross he figured he'd gotten his money's worth. Jed held down a hand to help his baby brother up off the ground, then enveloped him in a bear hug. "Good to see you home, Ross." "Oof. Go easy on the ribs, will ya?" But Ross hugged him back, an embrace that two weaker men couldn't have managed. "Now, you wanna tell me why you're out here drinking beer at eleven in the morning?" "He's not. The dogs are." Their mom snorted and Jed shooed the boys away from the beer, but it was too late. Ojo burped happily and fell right over were he stood, asleep instantly. Spot just wandered off, listing to port and sniffing everything as he went. "Now, Jed, if you're done feeling sorry for yourself, I can make us some lunch." He wasn't done by a long shot, but the company helped a lot. When his mom left, Ross stayed, thanks to the fact that the hands over at Lloyd's were still sleeping in the guest bedrooms until they got the cabin done for them. After that first day he and Ross got along like they always had, and he spent a lot more time with his family instead of hiding out and drinking. Lloyd had that new fence to put up and Ken asked him to come over to Gunnison to help put a new roof on and he and Ross went into Delta a few nights and got rip roaring drunk and it didn't make the constant ache he felt for Eli go away, but it did help make it less noticeable. Chapter Twenty

Eli made it two days after his mother before he called Jed. The first day was spent arguing (unsuccessfully) with his boss about letting him fly spotter for the rest of the season, and catching up with the guys. The second was spent moping around the house, watching talk shows and eating green beans right out of the can. The third day dawned bright and early and he couldn't take it anymore. He'd call, just to let Jed know he got home okay. The phone rang and stupid butterflies got into his belly while he waited to hear Jed's voice. The man that answered the phone had a warm, sleep-husky voice with a hint of drawl. And was emphatically not Jed. "Hello?" the guy said again when Eli failed to answer. "Anybody there?" Finding his voice where it was buried under the lump in his throat, Eli asked, "May I speak to Jed please?" "Sorry, he's in the shower." There was the sound of a huge yawn and a "geroff Jumbo" and the guy continued, "I can get him if you want." "No, that's okay. I'll just.." Eli tried to be polite, but he was fucking pissed off, and he couldn't be. "Who

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the fuck are you?" "Who the fuck is asking?" Okay he deserved that, but it didn't make it easier to stand that some guy was in Jed's house, obviously in Jed's bed, so damned soon. "Just tell Jed that Eli called. And that I'm damned glad I didn't stay." And he hung up. He had no claim on Jed. He was the one who walked away. But that didn't stop him from feeling betrayed and hurt. And very alone. *** Still toweling his wet hair, Jed stopped in the hall and stared at Ross, who he almost bumped into. "You're naked." "So are you. And I just got out of bed." "I just got out of the shower. That the phone?" "Yeah. Some asshole. Really pissed me off. Woke me up then snarled at me." Telemarketers, Jed thought. Always pissed Ross off. "Who was it?" "Some guy named Eli." Dropping the towel on the floor Jed grabbed Ross by the shoulders and shook him. "Eli? What did he say? What did you say?" "I told him where to stick it. Ow." Ross stared at him and Jed realized his fingers had tightened until they hurt. "Oh shit. He was your guy, wasn't he?" "Yeah." "Yeah, and now he thinks. Shit Jed, I'm sorry." "Me too." Stalking back to his bedroom, Jed pulled out some sweats yanked them on, fixing to go down into the basement and beat the heck out of his big bag. Ross stood in the doorway, watching, and suddenly his brother grinned and Jed was just gonna smack his ass into the middle of next week. His brother held up his hands and backed up a step. "Not the ribs. And hey, look at it this way. He called. That means he's still thinking about you. And he got pissed too. Means he's jealous." Jed stopped. Thought about it. Started grinning too. "Yeah. He did." "So are you going to call him back?" Jed was positively beaming now. "Hell, no. I'm an unemployed pilot with my own plane. I'm gonna fly up there and camp on his freakin' doorstep."

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Ross laughed aloud. "Go get 'im tiger." Chapter Twenty One

Whoever was knocking on his damned door at 6:30 in the morning was going to die. Eli was going to shove his cast so far up their ass that would be all they'd taste for a week. No sleep, thanks to Jed Fuck Anything that Walks Thatcher, and now someone wanted him awake. Dead meat. They were fucking dead meat. Ripping the door open, Eli got ready to blast them into orbit, but what he saw stopped him dead. Jed. Like thinking about him all night had conjured him up. Standing right there outside his doorway with a McDonald's bag and two coffees. Nobody had ever looked better, and Eli just blinked at him until Jed started grinning. "You gonna ask me in?" That snapped him out of his happy stupor, and Eli was mad all over again all of the sudden. "Fuck no." And he tried to slam the door shut, but it caught hard on the heel of Jed's cowboy boot. "Unless you want an ankle as broken as mine I suggest you get the fuck out of here." "Oh, now, don't be that way, Eli. You could at least let me tell you who answered the phone." "I don't care. I don't give a shit what you do." "Then I suppose you're just mad at the world and that hard-on in your shorts is for someone else." "Jesus." "No. Jed." Waggling the McDonald's bag Jed raised his eyebrows. "Sausage egg and cheese and you don't have to share with Jumbo." God. Did the guy really think Eli was just going to let him in? Yeah, okay he looked good enough to eat. And Eli wanted him. Badly. But another man had taken his place awful damn quick, and that was something he couldn't forgive easily. Even if he was the one to blame, ultimately. And even if Jed had come all the way up to see him. Damn it. "No." He tried to close the door again, but Jed just shoved harder. Normally he'd outdistance Jed in the bulk department, but his ankle left him off balance and he stumbled back. Quick as a wink, Jed set breakfast on the table beside the door and grabbed his arms to steady him. They were face to face, sharing breath, and Jed's eyes were blue. How had he forgotten that blue? "It was my brother. Ross. The idiot that jumps out of planes. Where do you think I got the bruises?" Now that Jed was close Eli could see the faint tracery of bruises around his eye and mouth, see the scraped knuckles on the hands holding his upper arms. He was afraid to say anything, because he had no idea what would come out but he wanted to believe. "I missed you."

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Shit. That popped out and he didn't want it to, but Jed must've thought it sounded good because he groaned, and leaned in to kiss Eli like there was no tomorrow. A deep, hard kiss that set his head spinning, made his cock try to tear its way out of his boxers. A coffee with cream and two sugars kiss. Oh yeah, that was what he needed, that was what he'd wanted when he called Jed, what he missed. Jed's fingers in his hair and on his neck and Jed's lean body pressed against his, and ohh. Jed chuckled against his lips, a happy sound, not a smug one and turned and pushed and bullied him until he was pressed up against the wall behind the door, and the Jed was on his knees, rubbing his cheek against Eli's cock through the fabric of his shorts, making a purring noise deep in his throat. When Jed pulled it out and sucked the head into his mouth Eli thought he might just faint. It put him back in time to that first night, when Jed did the very same thing and he couldn't help himself. One, two, three helpless thrusts and he was coming in great, heaving bursts that he thought might just snap him in two. And when he was done Jed licked him clean and laid his face against Eli's hip and murmured, "I missed you too." *** The biscuits weren't quite as good when you had to heat them in the microwave, but Jed wasn't complaining. He'd just made a meal of Eli after all, and they were both a little goofy and happy, so he just alternated a bite with a sip of coffee and it went down real smooth. He kept sneaking glances at Eli, trying to make sure he caught the man at the exact moment he started to panic, or get mad again, because it would happen, and Jed didn't want it to get on a roll. Things were looking up and he wanted to keep it that way. They sat at the tiny dinette in Eli's tiny apartment, and Jed thought it was just a joyless place that didn't reflect Eli's personality at all. The only thing that spoke of him was the huge, blown-up photo over the couch that showed a raging wildfire burning at night, against a backdrop of stars and smoke. "So, who's watching the dogs?" "Huh?" Caught staring at Eli, Jed flushed and grinned. "Sorry. My brother Ross. He's on medical leave." His grin widened because Eli started to look kinda pissy at that. "You were jealous." "I was mad as Hell. There's a difference." "A hair's width of difference maybe." "Watch it Thatcher." "Yes, sir." Eli just glared at him, all narrow eyes and pursed lips and Jed couldn't take it anymore. He had to touch Eli again. Had to assure himself that he was there, and they were okay, at least until the next hard question came up, so he stood and scooted around the table to stand behind Eli and wrap his arms around Eli's neck, dropping a kiss on his ear. "You done with breakfast?" "Yeah." "Got anywhere to be right now?"

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"Nope." "Wanna go back to bed?" Eli turned his face up and caught Jed's lips in a slow kiss. "Yeah. I could do that. Someone woke me up too damned early." Chapter Twenty Two

The sex was incredible. Actually, Eli thought, calling it just "sex" was kinda crass. But his mind shied away from naming it anything else. Jed was warm and solid against him and he could just stay in bed all day like that. Except that he was hungry again, which could've been because it was almost two in the afternoon. Right about then Jed's stomach rumbled, and Eli laughed. "Guess that's two votes for lunch, because I'm starving. What do you want? Pizza or Chinese? That's all that delivers here." "Mmmm." Jed turned slightly and nibbled on the closest piece of flesh, which happened to be where Eli's chest and arm met. "How about Eli a la mode?" "Don't have any ice cream." "Oh." Jed sighed and leaned up to kiss him. "Well then, get the phone book and order me some Szechwan pork." Eli laughed. "Right. Fried or white rice?" "Fried. Clog the arteries so I can use some exercise to clear them out." Jed waggled a lewd eyebrow and headed off to the bathroom. The food got ordered and they got cleaned up and mostly decent in boxers and t-shirts and Eli changed the sheets before they crawled right back into bed and, well, cuddled. And didn't that feel fucking weird? Jed's ear rested over his heart, and Eli ran his hand over Jed's too short hair, and he finally had to ask. "So, you flew all the way up here because I called?" "Well, I was gonna anyway, sooner or later. But you calling gave me a good excuse." "So. Now what?" Huffing a short laugh, Jed bit Eli's nipple through his t-shirt. "Now I kidnap you and take you home with me." "Funny." "I'm serious." Jed raised his head to look at him head on, those blue eyes serious as a heart attack. "You can't work for a while. You got nothing else to do. Come back with me and stay a bit." "It's not that easy, Jed."

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"Why does it have to be hard?" Eli knew he was withdrawing, could feel it in his muscles. Knew Jed could feel it too because those eyes went dark and hurt and Jed pulled away and sat up. Eli sat up too, scooting back against the headboard and crossing his arms. "You've known me less than a month." "So? Doesn't mean I don't know what I really need to know." "I can't just throw my life out the door and come live with you." "Did I ask you to?" Jed moved away, scrabbling through his discarded clothes and pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He lit one, then searched around for something to use as an ashtray. Eli didn't offer anything, but it didn't seem to matter. Jed finally found a dinner plate under the bed. "Just want you to come down and spend some time. You decide to stay, well that works too." "I can't." "Why not? Not like you actually live here. You just crash." Opening his mouth to reply, Eli caught the look Jed threw around his sterile apartment, and what could he say? The man was right about that much. "I have family here." "Right. And you'd miss your monthly meetings with her, wouldja?" "That's none of your fucking business." The last meeting with his mother still stung, and that just helped to rub the wound raw. Blowing the last of the smoke out of his nose, Jed crushed the cigarette out and sighed. "You're right. Sorry. I had no call to say that. Just, tell me you'll think about it and I'll shut up." He meant to tell Jed to fuck off, but when he opened his mouth what came out was, "Yeah. I'll think about it." And then the food was there and they could act like the strain of the last few minutes was long gone. *** Jed coulda kicked himself the minute he asked Eli to come home with him. That was just pushing to far, too fast and it made Eli lock up on him, get all sober and defensive. But he knew, just knew it in his bones, that it was the right thing. So he munched his way through wontons and rice and veggies in sauce hot enough to take his head off and thought about how to push from another angle. "You hated the house." "What?" Looking up from where he studiously contemplated his cashew chicken, Eli frowned. "What the Hell are you talking about?" "You hated my house. That's why you won't come back with me." "That's stupid. I like the house. Well, except the bed in the guest room is too short."

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Nodding solemnly, Jed tried again. "Must be the dogs then. Jumbo makes you nervous? Or is it Spot and the toe licking? Or, you know, Ojo doesn't mean to fart like that." He stifled a laugh when Eli blew out a frustrated breath. "No. It's not the dogs. I like the dogs." "My cookin' then." "No." "My mom? She's pushy, I know..." "No! Will you stop it?!" "Well, if it's not all that then it must be me you don't like well enough, and then that's a good enough reason not to come back with me, I guess." Hoping, waiting, and Eli fell neatly into the trap. "I like you better than I have anyone in years," he snapped. "So why won't you just come down for a vacation?" Eli opened his mouth. Closed it. Chewed carefully and slowly for at least a minute and then cleared his throat. "You. Are. An asshole." "Never claimed not to be. But I know what I want. And I want you. Come home with me. Just for a bit?" Oh, it hurt, that lost look Eli got on his face. That longing mixed with outright fear. "Okay. I'll come. But just for a week or two." "Good. Now get your ass over here and kiss me." And Eli did, and Jed knew it was gonna be alright. He'd make it so. Chapter Twenty Three

That was a neat trap, Eli thought, and yet somehow once he agreed to go home with Jed he felt relieved, not panicked. The actual agreeing part made him feel like he was going to piss himself, but the minute he said it, he felt better. And then Jed kissed him, and it was all good. It always was when Jed kissed him, strong and good and right. He loved the taste of Jed, the feel of the man under his hands, the way Jed moaned when Eli touched the small of his back. He had no illusions that it would last. God knew he was no prize, and Jed would see that. Was amazed the man hadn't seen it yet, but he'd take what he could get. In a split second, when Jed had looked at him all serious and pleading, Eli had decided to spend at least one or two weeks living for him. Not his mother, not his job. For him. So he said yes, and then he took Jed back to bed and fucked him into a freaking puddle. His boss was relieved when he called. Eli heard it in his voice. Probably thought he was going to have to

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deal with a pissed-off Eli trying to get back to work on a daily basis. Hearing that Eli would like to stay on contract but wouldn't be back to work until next season made him happy. Hooray for making someone happy, even if it was by getting the Hell out of Dodge. His mother he just left a message for. Going out of town. Back sometime. She'd be thrilled. They left the next morning. Eli woke to breakfast again, homemade this time, not McDonalds, and it consisted of coffee and toast with peanut butter. Jed grinned at him when he staggered out of the bathroom. "You need more groceries. Well, you did. 'Can see why you like my cookin'." His bags were packed, set neatly against the wall by the door, along with his big night fire picture, wrapped in a blanket. "Am I moving?" Serving up his toast like it was a five star meal, Jed sat and tucked into his. "Thought we'd bring it with us. Make you feel more at home while you visited." Jed's voice was studiously casual, and he wouldn't quite look at Eli, and Eli had to laugh. "You're not fooling anyone, you know?" "Yeah? Well, if you know that and you're still coming with me then I got a chance to keep you, don't I?" "Jed. Don't." "I'm just saying, is all. I'll shut up about it now. Eat your toast." So he did, and shared a peanutty kiss and then they were off to the airport, and heading back to Jed's house, and his dogs, and his mom. And oh god, what was he getting himself into? But it felt good, so he went with it. Chapter Twenty Four

Damn, it was good to be home. The minute they'd pulled up in the drive the dogs had gone crazy, tearing around the truck, wagging and barking in that high pitched dad's home way. What really got Jed, though, was the way all three dogs went after Eli. Like he was back from the dead or something. With his bad ankle he was no match for them either, and soon enough Eli was on the ground with Jumbo sitting on his chest and Spot licking his feet and Ojo trying to fit in anywhere he could. He liked to bust a gut laughing. "Not funny, Thatcher!" Eli yelled, spitting out dog drool. "Call them off." When Jed could breathe again he did just that, whistling sharply and slapping his thigh. The boys tumbled over themselves to get to him and sit at his feet, tails thumping madly. He scratched ears and praised, and finally told them to go get a ball, which had them tearing off in all directions. Then he hauled Eli up off the ground and brushed his back off for him. Taking care to do a good job on the butt. "So. This your fella?" Ah, crap. He'd clean forgot about Ross doing the house-sitting. Eli stiffened up under his hands and turned, giving Ross an equal of the slow, disapproving appraisal he was getting and Jed waited for the fireworks to start. His Eli was no shrinking violet.

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"You Ross?" he asked. "Yeah. And you must be Eli. Got a bone to pick with you." "Is that so? I've got one I'd like to gnaw over with you." "Yeah?" Jed started laughing, he couldn't help it. Even the dogs had gone quiet, watching the mounting testosterone battle. Ross and Eli turned on him with matching looks of righteous indignation and he just doubled over and howled, making Spot lick his nose in concern. "What the fuck is wrong with you, Thatcher?" "Jesus, Jed. Can you be serious a minute?" "Shut up." The last was said simultaneously and Jed thought he might just keel over from oxygen deprivation he was laughing so hard. When he finally stopped he was actually on the ground, wheezing, wiping tears and doggy concern off his face. "Oh," he said in between great gulps of air, "I can see you two are going to get along just fine." Scowling, Eli limped into the house, his derisive snort lingering in the air behind him. Ross just walked over to help Jed up, grinning hugely. "I like him." "Knew you would." Chapter Twenty Five

Jed was right. Eli hated to admit it, but he and Ross got along really well. They shared the same snide sense of humor, and they both liked beer and baseball. And Hell, among guys that made you practically family. Besides, the man could cook. He made them enchiladas and rice and refried beans. They fed tidbits to the dogs and drank Dos Equis and watched the Rockies on TV. At first he was a little self-conscious, because Jed made no effort to hide the fact the he was indeed Jed's new "fella". He touched Eli often, nothing overtly sexual, just a hand on the shoulder or thigh, or a rubbing of hips as they passed in the kitchen. It flustered him all to Hell. But he soon found out that Ross didn't give a shit, and Eli decided to enjoy it. By the time they were sitting on the couch with Spot licking his toes, left bare by the cast, and Jumbo trying to crawl into Jed's lap and Ojo asleep under the coffee table, farting his little head off, Eli was feeling almost mellow. It came as kind of a surprise when Ross stood and stretched and grabbed his boots. "I'm gonna go down to Critters for a bit, see who's around. Okay with you if I take the truck, Jed?" Glancing up from the double play the Rockies had just hit into, Jed nodded. "You know where the keys are. And don't you drink so much that you get caught dui. Mom'd have my ass ifSherrifSheriff Blair called her in the morning."

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Grinning, Ross fired off a snappy salute. "Yessir." The door closed behind him not long after that and Eli blinked, looking over at Jed, who smiled widely. "Was it something I said?" "Nah. He's being sappy and romantic. Giving us some time to make some noise." "Oh. Oh!" Eli blushed. "Really?" "Yeah. Whattaya say we let the boys have the couch and we take this to the bedroom?" "I say that's a great idea." *** Usually his brother wasn't so nice about things, so Jed figured Ross must really like Eli. Either that or he really hated the idea of listening to them. One way or the other, he and Eli had some time alone, and Jed was ready to go off faster than a fuck-starved jack rabbit. He practically did a caveman and dragged Eli back to the bedroom, closing the door in Jumbo's face and turning to attack Eli's clothes. Laughing breathlessly, Eli grabbed his hands. "Whoa. Slow down, Jed. We've got a good long while to do this." "Want you now." He pushed their joined hands down to his hard dick, rubbing Eli's fingers over it through his jeans. "Want you so bad." "Jesus. You sure you're not eighteen?" "Feels like it when I'm with you." They were talking too much, and Eli must've been thinking the same thing because he leaned forward at the same time and they just flowed into the kiss like water over a rock. Smooth and pure and easy. There was chili and beer in the kiss, and Eli, salty and tangy and right. It was slow and searching, despite his need, and the tip of Eli's tongue tracing his lips made him groan. Back to work on Eli's clothes, but not so fast this time. The base of Eli's neck was hot and damp. The bone and muscle of his shoulders was rock hard, and his arms bulged when he shifted to start removing Jed's clothes. The taste was good, so good, and Jed slid his lips down to cover the pulse at the base of Eli's throat, sucking strong enough to leave a mark, making Eli jerk and moan. The pace of their loving ebbed and flowed, quickening to get them out of their jeans and shoes, slowing again once they were on the bed. Lazy kisses and touches went on and on, Jed sliding down Eli's body to test the texture of the hair on his chest, the smooth skin around his nipples, the ungiving muscles at his belly. His prize for his patience was Eli's hefty cock, hot and hard and throbbing for him and the sounds Eli made when he took it in his mouth made up for weeks of pain. Before he was ready to move on Eli was thrashing and babbling, and it was sweet to hear. One last long lick and Jed moved back up, taking Eli's mouth fiercely, fucking it with his tongue before pulling back to look at Eli. Man looked positively dazed. "Want in you, Eli."

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"Yeah. Yes. Jed." Just that, and Eli wiggled until he could get his legs wide, inviting Jed to settle between them with a look so hot he almost combusted from it. Took about a half a minute to rummage in the nightstand for some lube, think about and discard a condom, and turn back, only to stop and stare. Big body damp with sweat, long muscles twitching and jumping, hot, beaten gold eyes staring at him, Eli was a damned sight to behold. "You look good in my bed, Eli." A deep, rough sound came from Eli's chest, and his cock jumped visibly against his belly. "Just fuck me, already." Oh yes. Hell yes, he could do that. Should probably spend more time on the preparation, but he just couldn't make himself do more than a couple quick stretches, twisting his fingers deep into Eli's body and finding the spot that made the man buck and cry out and then he was in. Pushing his cock into that tight hot place he'd missed so damned much and Eli was wrapping one leg around his back and not letting him go slow at all, just pushing and pulling and cursing him for holding back. The time for slow and steady was over and Jed surged into Eli, pushing long and strong, hard thrusts that made them both grunt, and it was hot and sweaty and messy and so damned good that Jed just wanted to howl. And he did make a sound almost like that when Eli clamped down on him and shuddered, whole frame shaking with the release that splashed against Jed's belly. Without even being touched. Goddamn that man was hot as a firecracker, and Jed went off too, slamming into Eli and tasting blood where he bit his lip to keep from screaming. "Goddamn Eli," he finally managed, long after they had collapsed together in a sticky pile of limbs. "Yeah. Think your brother probably heard that all the way down in Delta." Jed laughed. "Think so? I'm glad you came home with me, Marshall." There was a long silence, but Eli didn't stiffen or draw away as he had, so Jed saw that as a small victory. "Yeah," Eli finally said. "Me too." Chapter Twenty Six

Eli awoke the next morning to the smell of breakfast cooking and a warm body snuggled up to him in bed. A quick grope with the hand not trapped under that warm body proved it to be only mildly fuzzy in places, mostly hot, smooth skin, so it couldn't be one of the dogs. Which meant, "The dogs are making breakfast?" Blue eyes blinked open and lazy morning laughter filled the room. "No, lover. Ross, remember? He's an even better cook than I am." "Maybe I should be shacking up with him." A vicious pinch to the ass made him yelp, but it did nothing to soften his insistent morning hard-on. "Not funny," Jed said. "So not funny I think I'll go to the bathroom and leave you here to take care of that yourself."

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"He's not as pretty as you are." "Flatterer." They kissed, slow and easy, none of the desperate urgency, just you were here when I woke up happiness, and rough beard stubble and soft, hot touches. Eli figured he would never get enough of kissing Jed. That mouth just made him so damned hungry. It was the mouth of a man who liked to fuck, liked to kiss and suck and bite and knew how to do it. They rocked together, cocks sliding alongside each other, Eli's hands settling on Jed's ass, Jed's tangling in Eli's hair. God, it felt good. Fucking addictive good, and it scared him but he was through running. When it went sour Eli would leave. But not until then. Pushing the dark thoughts away, Eli hooked a foot around one of Jed's legs and pulled him closer, letting the kiss go on and on, breaking only to breathe. Jed touched his neck, pressing against the mark he'd left there and Eli moaned, feeling the tiny pain zing all the way down his spine. Jesus. Thrusting harder, Eli pushed for the friction he needed, biting at Jed's lips, digging his fingers into the muscles of Jed's ass and then Jed was coming, splashing him with liquid heat and that was just what he needed, what he craved and soon he was pumping out his own release against Jed's belly. They drifted for awhile, and Eli figured he'd have to get up soon to piss, or at least brush his teeth and wash his lower half when a loud pounding on the door made both he and Jed start violently. "You two got fifteen minutes before breakfast is ready. Be out here or I feed it to the dogs. And for God's sake take a shower!." *** Breakfast was good, better with Eli at the table with him. Ross made eggs and baking powder biscuits and bacon and fried potatoes, and the conversation was companionable and light. Jesus, it felt good, and Jed tried real hard not too get his hopes up that it would stay that way. He had some projects planned for the day, getting some work done that had been neglected in the two days he'd been away, but he figured he could get that in between torturing Ross and loving Eli into pudding, so he wasn't too worried about it. Better to spend his morning rubbing feet with Eli under the table and laughing his ass off when Spot licked his toes and fighting over who wasn't going to do the dishes. Once they got the mess from breakfast cleared off, Jed nudged Eli in the ribs. "C'mon and give me a hand." "What?" "Just come on." He led the way to the living room and everyone else followed and he chuckled, because Ross and Eli had the same curious expressions as the dogs. "Help me get this thing down, will you?" Over the mantle there was a great big deer head that Jed had never really liked, but it was his grandpa's so he'd never taken it down. Seemed to him like that was a fine place to put Eli's picture. He'd converted the fireplace to gas a few years back so he didn't have to worry about the high heat or a stray spark ruining it, and you'd be able to see it there from almost anywhere in the house.

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"Jed. You don't have to." Frowning, Jed set his jaw and stared at Eli until the man reached up and helped him take the stuffed head off the wall. It was funny as Hell, the look on Eli's face but it also made him hurt for the man. He was so damned scared of all of this and hadn't anyone ever loved him before? And if not, why the Hell not? Eli was funny, and hot and had an awful lot to give and anyone who couldn't see that was blind and he was getting himself all worked up over nothing, wasn't he? Wordlessly, Jed went to the front hall and got the big frame, and they hung it together. It was a perfect fit for that piece of wall, just like Eli was for him, and when the Hell did he turn into such a sap? Well, he might as well go with it, and he slid an arm around Eli's waist and rested against his side. "Looks nice." Shit. He'd forgotten Ross was even there, and so had Eli obviously, because he stiffened and pulled away. "Yeah, it does, doesn't it? Don't you have something to do? Maybe go see Ken over in Gunnison for a few days?" Ross just laughed, but Eli scowled at him. "You shouldn't run him off, Jed. You said yourself he was only going to be here a week or two more. How often do you get to see each other? Maybe once a year?" "Well, yeah." "Then spend some time with your brother. I'll be here when. I mean, he won't be here forever." Oh, he figured it was time to stop fighting that big, fat grin that wanted to slide over his face and just let it come. And maybe just give Eli that big 'ol kiss he'd wanted to plant on him since they sat down to eat. Eli made to pull away, but then just gave it up and kissed him back and Jed figured he'd made a good start making Eli feel at home. Chapter Twenty Seven

Ross stayed for the better part of three weeks. Eli could tell Jed was chafing under it a bit, having his little brother underfoot, but Eli couldn't help but like the man. They did have jumping out of airplanes in common, after all. Matter of fact, Ross worked at the jumpmaster school, which really gave them some stories to trade. And although he'd never, ever admit it to Jed, Eli had entertained some energetic fantasies about a Thatcher brother sandwich. All and all when Ross packed up his duffel and announced that he was leaving the next morning, Eli was disappointed, even if he was excited that he and Jed would have the house to themselves. Mostly. Considering the dogs. When they dropped Ross off at the airport, Jed got a bone crunching bear hug, and Eli got a handshake and an affectionate cuff on his shoulder. Along with the warning, "You hurt him again like you did and I'll hunt you down and break more than your ankle. Got it?" Nodding, Eli looked him square in the eye. "Got it. Won't be me doing the leaving next time."

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"Good. In that case I'll see you at Christmas." The drive back to Cedaredge was quiet, and tense, which Eli couldn't figure out. He was pretty sure that Jed hadn't heard his exchange with Ross, so he wondered what the fuck was wrong now. He opened his mouth to ask three times, but thought better of it each time. Wasn't like Jed couldn't open his own freaking mouth and talk about it if he really wanted to, damn him. Working himself into a righteous snit, Eli figured he'd just go take a nap when they got back to the house and to Hell with all of it. Before the truck even rocked back on its springs in the driveway, Eli was out and hobbling into the house. He heard Jed whistle up the dogs, but ignored them as they tore past him, figuring Jed could work out some of his whatever the heck it was playing ball. He was standing in front of the refrigerator, hanging on the open door, when Jed caught up with him. Without any warning, he was whirled, twirled, and pressed up against the kitchen counter. Then Jed kissed him until little black dots swam in front of his eyes and he thought maybe he might just tear the zipper right out of his jeans. Without hardly stopping to let him breathe, Jed worked Eli's shirt off over his head, stopping to pinch and pull his nipples. Jed popped the button on his jeans, busy hands unzipping and delving beneath fabric to roughly fondle his cock. Took him awhile to realize Jed was talking in between kisses, but he was, telling him all about how he'd almost attacked Eli right there in the airport, how he'd been afraid to even talk to him in the truck for fear he'd have to pull right over and crawl into Eli's lap, and then Jed was on his knees on the floor, nuzzling Eli's freed erection, yanking his jeans down his legs. It was so damned good that Eli almost screamed when Jed took him in that wet, hot mouth. So hungry, that mouth, so good. Never anywhere as good as that, except maybe Jed's ass, and just the thought of that had him grabbing Jed's shoulders and thrusting like a man possessed, closer, more, now. And Jed just swallowed him whole, taking him in so deep he could feel those lips in places he'd never felt any before and Jed stroked a finger over the sensitive skin between his balls and ass and it was all over. Panting, yelling, Eli came like a freight train, thundering to a finish in great, forceful jerks. Jed took everything he had, and went searching for more, cleaning Eli thoroughly with his tongue. Then he climbed to his feet and kissed Eli deeply, sharing his own flavor with him. "Been wanting to do that since you came back. Having Ross visit was nice and all, but being able to have you anywhere I want is a good thing. Might just have to keep you naked for a week or two. Get my fill." The low, husky tone and the meaning of the words themselves gave Eli a renewed interest in the proceedings, which was a good thing, because Jed was rubbing against him in the best possible way, still hard for him. "Whatever you want, Jed. But could we move this to the bedroom before my legs give out?" "How about we make for the couch. It's closer." "Sounds good to me." Chapter Twenty Eight

Not long after Ross left, Jed took Eli in to the hospital to get his cast taken off. Compared to the rest of that tight, muscular body the shrunken ankle looked awfully funny, and they had a good laugh about Eli's

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chicken leg. Laughing with Eli was only one step behind loving him into a puddle. Well, maybe one and a half steps, but still. The routine they'd settled into suited him right down to the ground, and he was happier than he'd ever been. The doc wrapped Eli's ankle up and told him to take it easy, but that he could gradually start doing all of his normal activities again. Which just made Jed happy as a lark. The doc didn't need to know what those activities consisted of. They got home just about supper time, but Jed figured food could wait. First thing he did when they got inside the house was drag Eli to the bedroom. "Jed. What the Hell?" "Shut up." He made short work of Eli's clothes and pushed the man down on the bed, kissing him breathless. Lube. Where the fuck.. ah. There it was. Twisting the cap open, Jed slicked his fingers and pushed two into Eli's body, making the man yelp, then groan as he moved them in and out. He'd been wanting to do this ever since that first time, before the broken ankle, when he didn't have to worry about hurting Eli, and as soon as he felt Eli start to ride up against his hand he pulled his fingers out and tore at his own jeans. "Can't wait, Eli. Gotta now." Slicking himself up was almost more than he could stand, and then he grabbed those long, long legs and hoisted them over his shoulders, bending Eli nearly double and sliding into his body on a single, hard thrust. They both moaned at the feeling, and Jed wished he'd thought to take off his shirt so he could feel Eli's skin, but he couldn't slow down. Couldn't stop. The angle must've been damned good for Eli too, because he grabbed the bed sheets and hung on tight and just went nuts under Jed, and that had to be the hottest damned thing he'd ever seen. This was rutting, plain and simple. Hot and tight and better than anything Jed had ever had and that was saying something. He just kept banging into Eli, making the man's eyes roll up in his head, making them both pant, making the bed rock. "Jed. Jesus. Please." Eli was tight as a bowstring, quivering with every thrust Jed made into his body and he couldn't seem to let go of the sheets so Jed braced himself on one hand and pushed the other down between them, stroking Eli roughly, loving the feel of that heavy cock in his hand. Eli just damn near screamed, whole body winding up like a too tight spring and then he was coming, flooding the space between them with heat and spunk and Jed just couldn't stand it. He blew like a volcano. When they recovered, Jed found himself curled up using Eli as a mattress, Eli stroking idle fingers through his hair. "You think the doc would consider that normal activity?" Eli chuckled. "Doubtful. But hey, I can go back to Oregon now." From boneless and sated to every muscle tensed in six point five seconds. "What? Thought you were staying." Jed pushed off of Eli's chest and sat up, tucking himself back into uncomfortably sticky clothes. "You said you weren't leaving again. I heard you. Goddamn it, Eli. What does it take with you?" He stood, crossing his arms and glaring down at a bewildered looking Eli. "Jed," Eli began, but Jed cut him off. "No. You leave this time, you don't bother coming back. Just 'cause I'm in love with you, doesn't mean I'm gonna sit around and wait for you to get your head out of your ass. If I gotta worry about you leaving every time I turn around you can just stay gone." "Jed!" Eli shouted bringing the dogs to the bedroom door to look on curiously. Somewhere in the back of

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his mind, Jed thought hysterically that it was funny as Hell that they never came looking anymore when he and Eli had sex. Just when they argued. Calming himself visibly, Eli went on in a normal tone. "I just meant I could go back for a few days, pack up some stuff, see about getting out of my lease, maybe. You love me?" "Well, Hell. What kind of an idiot are you? Of course I do." Eli grinned, and the tips of his ears went red. "Really?" "Yeah." "Cool."

Chapter Twenty Nine

Eli was still riding the high from Jed's impromptu declaration when he got back from Oregon four days later. He'd wanted Jed to fly him up, but the Forestry Service had called Jed in to do a search and rescue fly over for a missing kid, and he'd had to leave. Rather than stay at the house alone, Eli loaded up all the dogs and took them to Nancy's house, then headed out. He needed to pack up all of his stuff, and sell the furniture and talk to his mother. He packed. Pathetically little. His landlord took the furniture in place of a penalty and lost deposit for breaking the lease. And his mother. Well, she was stiff and cold and disapproving, and he took way too much pleasure in giving her Jed's name and address as his contact should something come up. Her white face and tight lips made him feel bad, not because he told her and it upset her, but because he didn't like to think of himself as cruel, and he'd enjoyed that. Finally, before he left, he talked to his boss about relocating to the Western Colorado Fire center in Grand Junction. And God bless 'im, his boss said he'd make the call. By the time he'd spent two days there he was itching to get home. Home. To Jed and the dogs and the little frame house that he'd gotten so used to. And fuck. Wasn't that scary as Hell? He was grinning, though, as he hit the road up to Cedaredge, past the bowling alley and the self-storage that marked the turn off. Okay, so he was happy. What was wrong with that? Distracted by his thoughts, and vision impaired just enough by the late twilight, Eli didn't see the dark shape that darted out from the side of the road until it was too late. He slammed on the brakes and swerved sharply, but still heard the high-pitched yelp of an injured dog. "Oh fuck. Shit. Shit shit shit." Pulling over to the shoulder, Eli slammed the truck into park and scrambled out, stopping at the bed of the truck to grad a pair of work gloves and a blanket. The dog was off to one side of the road, whimpering pathetically and Eli had never felt so awful in his life. Oh, man, the poor thing was bleeding pretty heavily from its nose, and struggling to get up, and Eli talked as soothingly as he could while he moved in so he could wrap the poor thing up in the blanket. "Good boy. Good dog. S'okay. I'm not going to hurt you."

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Hey, if it could wag like that maybe it wasn't as hurt as he feared. Thump thump went the tail and wag wag went the butt and the puppy (because it was all ears and feet) never even tried to growl at him, just let him pick it up and carry it to the truck. Black lab mix, he cataloged absently as he carefully laid his bundle down. Then he tore back down the mountain to the twenty-four hour vet clinic Jed took his mutts to. Of course, the pup shit himself all over Eli's blanket. Good thing it was an old one. He wasn't whimpering anymore, just snuffling, but didn't seem to be having trouble breathing or anything. He made the vet's in record time, and took the dog in and they leaped to his assistance, taking the dog and leaving him out in the lobby to wait, blinking. Once he filled out the paperwork he could have left. Didn't know why he didn't. Not like it was his dog. But he waited anyway, and the doc came out about half hour later, smiling. "That's one lucky pup." "Yeah?" "Yes. Just a broken nose. You must have just clipped him. And you were very quick to get him help. So, are you going to take him home, or do I need to have someone take him over to the shelter?" "He doesn't have tags?" "No. No tags, no collar, and from the way his ribs stick out, I'd say he was a stray." Well, shit. The last thing in the world they needed was another mutt. Really. Three was enough. Maybe Jed's mom would want it. "I'll take him, I guess. Maybe Jed's mom will want it." "Jed Thatcher? Oh Hell, he can find it a home if anyone can. If you like I can post an ad too, see if he went missing on anyone. I can call you if they make a claim." "Yeah. That'd be good. You can call me at Jed's." "Fine, fine. Just need to sign this, and you can have him. We'll even throw in a new blanket and a collar." "Gee, thanks." Eli signed the forms, and too the dog with him when he went and when the stupid drugged up mutt oozed from the passenger seat to his lap and started licking his leg he sighed and shook his head. Just what he fucking needed. And Jed would never let him live it down, especially since he teased the man so unmercifully about his own strays. He would be glad to be home all the same. *** Jed looked at the poor pup Eli had dragged home with him and grinned. "His nose looks like an apple fritter. All bumpy and out of shape." "Ha ha, very funny. Ho ho, it is to laugh. I feel bad enough as it is, Thatcher. And he does not look like a fritter."

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Stifling a chuckle, Jed nodded seriously. "Actually, he does. Maybe that's what you ought to name him. Fritter." "Oh Hell, no. His name is Scorch." "Scorch? What the heck kind of name is that?" "No worse than Spot or Jumbo. He's black. And I'm a firefighter. What do you think I'm gonna name him?" "Fritter," Jed replied promptly, then went down under Eli's tackle, laughing his head off. Strong fingers dug into his ribs and he kicked and flailed, trying to catch his breath. "All right already! You win." Eli got to his feet and held out a hand, hauling Jed to his. "Thought you'd see it my way." "Yep. We'll call him Fritter." "Oh, you sonofabitch." Jed took off at a dead run, boot heels thumping against the floor, and shot out the back door. He heard Eli, hot on his heels, and whistled up the dogs, who came running, tails wagging, tongues lolling. "Get him, boys! Go get Eli." The boys veered, running past him to jump on Eli, and took the man down with a clothesline move worthy of Saturday night wrestling. By the time the dust cleared, Spot was gnawing on Eli's boots, trying to get to his feet and Jumbo was sitting on his chest, licking his face. Ojo had fallen over asleep from all the excitement and little Fritter was so worked up that he peed all over. Good thing they were outside. "You give up yet, Marshall?" "No fair. And his name is Scorch." "How about we agree to disagree and go take a shower. I'll even wash your back." "You just don't want to kiss me with your dog's spit all over me." "Well there is that." Was there any better sight than a happy, laughing Eli Marshall? Jed didn't think so. "C'mon. We'll have a shower, fool around a little. Maybe take a nap. Then I'll feed you. I missed you." Shoving Jumbo off and crawling to his feet once more, Eli nodded, suddenly serious. "I missed you too. Let's go get clean so we can get all messy again." "Sounds like a plan to me." *** The shower was hot and soapy and slick. They shared kisses and washed each other and Eli forgot all about Scorch or Fritter or whatever and forgave Jed for siccing the dogs on him. When a man had your cock in his mouth, he thought, you could forgive him just about anything. He shook in the aftermath of his orgasm and let Jed dry him, then followed on unsure legs to the bedroom, where Jed laid him out and slid

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inside him and fucked him until he screamed. Until all that was left was light and sound and the sight of Jed above him, loving him. God he'd missed that man while they were apart. So much that it hurt his chest just thinking about it. When Jed came, it was a violent, needy thing, biting down on the skin of Eli's upper arm, yelling into it, and as Eli realized only later, drawing blood. Marking him as Jed's. They slept together until Jed starting giggling and kicking his feet, and Eli woke up to it, grinning as he realized Spot was getting in some licking time. Grinning even wider when it occurred to him Jed must have ticklish feet. Oh yeah. There was fun to be had there. Hot damn. Chapter Thirty

The dogs barking like maniacs was what clued Eli in that something was going on in the kitchen, and he went to check it out, wondering what the Hell Jed was doing. The boys were all jumping around wagging, and Eli figured it must be because Jed was literally on the floor, laughing his ass off. Holding his ribs and just fucking howling. It took him almost five minutes to get enough breath back to answer Eli's half amused, half alarmed inquiries. "Okay, Jed. What on earth?" Wheezing, Jed hauled himself up by means of a chair and let the dogs out, still chuckling in short bursts. Finally, he calmed enough to talk. "That was Ross." "Oh. So was that some Thatcher ritual I don't know about?" "No." Jed started laughing, then caught himself. "Sorry. That was just... God that was funny as Hell." "What!" "Oh, now. No need to snap at me, mister." Eli was gonna kill the man. Or maybe kiss him, the way he looked with his eyes sparkling like that, big grin on his face. "Sorry. But what's so damned funny?" "Ross. He called to talk to me about sex." Well, that was mind-boggling. "Somehow I think he could teach you a few things, Thatcher. And that's saying something." "Yeah?" Jed was off again, laughing his damned fool head off. "Yeah. Jed. C'mon." "Sorry." Taking a deep breath, Jed leaned back against the kitchen counter. "Well, he's never had sex with a man before, and he was asking for some advice."

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"So does this mean he's thinking about it?" Grinning hugely, Jed nodded. "He's met someone who made him think about it. He was a little worried I think. But he'd pretty much made up his mind, too. God, I love that man. I mean, no waffling for my baby brother. I said flat out, that usually means you might be bisexual, Ross. And he just laughed and said not until he 's had sex with both sexes, and he was gonna give it a shot. This is gonna be fun. God, can you imagine how much shit I can give him?" "Unless the other person feels like it should be more than giving it a shot." Jed sobered. "Yeah, well. We talked about that. Told me that the kid was gay, and old enough to know his own mind, but I reminded him that people tend to get all moony over him, and not to hurt the guy." "Good for you. Your brother is sex on two legs. The kid could get really fond in a hurry." That glint was back in Jed's eyes. "You think my brother's hot?" "Hell yes. If it wouldn't make him die of embarrassment, I'd say that Ken was too. 'Cause he is. Of course, then his wife would hit me with a frying pan. But you Thatchers have good genes." Batting his eyelashes, Jed blew him a kiss. "You sweet talker you." "C'mere and I'll show you how sweet I can be, Thatcher." "Yeah?" Jed walked right up to him, stopping when their bodies rubbed together. "Yeah." He kissed Jed long and hard, until they were both breathing heavily and Jed was moaning against his lips. "So you think Ross would want a threesome?" he asked, and he would've laughed his butt off at Jed's expression if he'd had any air in him after Jed hit him right in the breadbasket with a balled up fist. Chapter Thirty One

"Eli, I swear to God if you don't settle somewhere I'm going to throw you in Plateau Creek." He would, too, see if he didn't. Jed loved Eli to death, but Eli was all healed and touchier than a grizzly with a burr up it's butt. Early fall was on them, still warm but fire season was well over, and Eli just didn't seem to know what to do with himself. "Damn it, Jed. I'm bored." "I know that." Wiping sweat off his forehead, Jed glared at the six foot some odd source of irritation. "You could deign to help me with this fence you know. Or take the dogs out to that creek I'm gonna dunk you in and play." Just like the weather changed in Colorado, so did Eli's mood, and the idiot up and grinned at him, bigger'n Hell. "You could come with us. Be a nice way to cool off. I'll help you work on that fence this evening when it's not so hot."

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Now, there was an idea. Still made him look at Eli suspiciously, though. "You promise?" "Yes. Two of us working on it, we can get it done much faster." "Okay, Mister, you got a deal." A cold creek sounded damned nice. "Just let me get some water and a couple of sandwiches." Eli nodded and called up the dogs ad Jed went and exchanged his boots for old sneakers, grabbing some bottled water and some bread and cheese before heading back out. They hiked up to the far edge of the property, where the cottonwoods and Russian olives and big spruce grew along the banks of the creek. If you ever needed water in the west, you just looked for trees. It was cool and quiet up there, and Scorch and Jumbo ran after the ball Eli'd brought along and Ojo curled up for a nap, and Spot set to chasing grasshoppers, stubby legs and flat butt just a'bouncing. And damn, didn't Eli look good in a pair of jeans so old they were practically non-existent and a thin white t-shirt. Jed admired the view until he got caught, Eli looking over at him and raising an eyebrow. "What?" "Nothing, Mister. Just looking." "Yeah?" Those dark eyes twinkled, and Eli crooked a finger. "You can get a close up, if you want, Thatcher." Well, then. How could a man resist an offer like that? Jed moved close, noting the way that thick black hair started to curl up at the sudden addition of humidity, fingers itching to slide in and feel. The dogs hied off after a rabbit, barking their fool heads off, and Jed grinned. "Alone at last." Eli nodded. "Well, except for Ojo, but he'll sleep through anything." "Good thing, too," Jed agreed, just before taking a kiss that curled his toes and made Eli moan into his mouth. That big body felt better than it looked, and Jed rubbed a little, getting them both revved up, and nothing felt better than Eli under his hands and lips. Nothing in this world. They were on the ground in the grass and leaves before either of them even knew it, his hand down the front of Eli's jeans and Eli's hands wrapped around his asscheeks, just pulling and humping, kissing like they hadn't seen each other in days, like they hadn't touched in an age. Hot and good in his hand, Eli's cock jumped at his touch, and his own pressed against his zipper, like to drive him crazy, until Eli took pity on him, or maybe got the point of his squirming and cursing and opened up his jeans, getting a good handful of him and pulling. "Shit, Jed. You're so goddamned hot." Hot. Hell, yes he was hot, sweat just dripping off him, and Eli was sweating too, shirt clinging to him in all the right ways, almost sexier than skin. Almost, and Jed grabbed a double handful of that shirt and yanked it off, nuzzling against Eli's neck, licking at the salt on that smooth skin. Eli sat back, pulling Jed

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onto those heavy thighs, and Jed straddled Eli happily, rubbing their cocks together. Oh, Hell yes. Then Eli grabbed both their pricks and started working them and Jed's head like to come off, and he humped and moaned and bit into Eli's shoulder and soon they were both roaring toward the finish, Jed coming like a ton of bricks, feeling Eli's come splash on him seconds later. They wheezed, panting, and Jed figured it was good they were in the shade, or he woulda had sunstroke by now. Eli chuckled, something striking the man as funny, and Jed found the energy to raise his head, going for an affronted look. "What's so funny, mister?" "Nothing, Thatcher. Except I'm sure as Hell not bored now." And thank God for that. Chapter Thirty Two

Much to Eli's everlasting mortification, Jed liked to watch porn. Hot, sweaty, foul-mouthed gay porn. The kind where the guys on screen did things to each other that Eli had never even thought about, let alone done. And he got off on Eli watching it with him. Really fucking got off on it, which was why Eli did it. He'd never in his life watched gay porn before he met Jed. Sure, he'd watched a few guy-gal movies with his buddies, because they thought he was weird if he didn't. But he could never bring himself to rent any gay stuff. Hell, he'd had a hard enough time admitting he was a full time player for the all male team. Now, though, he watched porn whenever Jed wanted to. Because it got Jed, his uncomplicated, horny Jed, all hot and bothered. It got Eli hotter to watch Jed watching the movie, usually, but today he was glued to the screen, fascinated in spite of himself. One of the guys was on his hands and knees, and the other guy had his whole hand up the first one's ass. It made him squirm. "You okay?" Jed asked. Sometimes those damn movies just made him uncomfortable, and Jed was always willing to turn it off and save it for later, which was so cool, but this time the squirming wasn't about that. "Yeah. I just... you ever done that?" Laughing, Jed shook his head. "No way in Hell. Lord knows I never let anyone put so much as a finger up my ass before I met you." Eli turned and stared at Jed. Then he grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. "What?" "What what?" A wrestling match over the remote ensued, but Eli's superior size and strength won out, and Jed ended up on his back with Eli on top of him. "You never. But you. I mean, you certainly weren't a virgin. You sucked me off like a pro."

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"Never said I hadn't done more men than you've worked with. I just do the doing. Or hands and mouths are good, you know? Just never met anyone I trusted that much. Surprised as many guys let me do it to them, to tell the truth. Almost melted my damned boots when you spread for me." Well, now. Eli didn't think he'd blushed like that since, oh, grade school. But still, the thought that he's been the only man to ever actually fuck Jed was like Viagra without the bad Bob Dole ads. Jesus. "So would you let me do that?" he asked, nodding to the blank TV screen. "Would you want to?" Their faces were only inches apart and damn Jed's eyes were blue this close up. He wondered what his own looked like right then. Probably lust crazed. "I might. If you wanted to. It looked. It was hot." Jed slid one hand up to twine into Eli's hair and used it to pull him down for a kiss. A long, lingering tasting of his lips that left him gasping. "Anything you want, Mister. However you want me." They kissed again. long and slow, like they had all day. Which they did. Jed had told him that Jed could tell he liked kissing the first time they ever did it because he didn't rush it, he was willing to just let it ride. And it was true. He loved kissing Jed. The taste was fucking addictive. The feeling was amazing, too. And to know that Jed trusted him like that, more than any other lover Jed' ever had, sent him to the fucking moon. Wasn't long before the kiss took on an urgent pitch, and they moved against each other furiously, moaning. Eli shoved his hand down between them, struggling with two pairs of boxer briefs and finally freed their cocks, bringing them together in one hand and pumping as they rubbed. "Fuck. Yes. Eli. Please." Fuck he loved it when he reduced Jed to incoherent babbling. The man was a slut, no doubt about it. But he was Eli's slut these days, and no one else's. Harder, faster, they moved together and Eli just fucking squeezed and that bit of rough was enough to make Jed come, hollering his name and almost bucking him off. One, two, not quite three more thrusts and Eli came too, biting down hard on Jed's collarbone, making him groan. "Mmmm," Jed said on a sigh. "Love you." "Yeah." They never did finish that movie, going back to bed instead and spending the rest of the day there. *** Eli didn't mention the whole fisting thing again until a few weeks later. And then he didn't really mention it. Jed was fixing to head down to Delta to go to the Safeway when Eli caught him on the way out the door. "We need more lube." "We do. Something really slick." Damn that blush was cute. Grinning, Jed grabbed Eli by the belt buckle (hey that was *his* belt!) and hauled the sexiest man ever over for a kiss. "You could come with me. Pick it out yourself. We'll live dangerous and make out in the parking lot."

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Eli kissed him back, but then disappointed him by pushing him firmly away. "Nope. Staying here. Have things. To get ready. To do, I mean. Go on." Wondering what had reduced Eli to cave speak, Jed shrugged and loaded the dogs in the truck and went off for their weekly adventure. He'd find out soon enough, he reckoned. When he got back home an hour and a half later there was a note on the refrigerator door telling him to let the dogs back out when he was done unloading and meet Eli in the bathroom. Hot damn. Man had a bright idea every once in awhile. He made sure to take the new lube with him. The bathroom door was open a crack and he pushed it all the way open and oh goddamn. The one thing that really made the house was the huge bathtub and Eli was in it, waiting for him, up to his chest in gently steaming water. No bubbles or anything, just water, so his big body was clearly outlined in there, leaning his head back on a rolled towel, one arm thrown over the side of the tub, the other hand down in the water, pulling at his hard cock. Jed almost had a heart attack. "You started without me," he said, stripping off clothes faster than a man with fire ants in his shorts. One eye popped open and Eli regarded him with a lecherous expression. "Just getting warmed up for you. Come on in. Water's good." Oh Hell yeah. The water was good, just right for him. Almost hot enough to scald but cooling off and Eli being in it made it damn near heaven. That big, hard body cradled him perfectly as he straddled Eli's hips and laid his head against Eli's neck. "Mmmmm. S'nice." "Oh yeah," Eli said, the words rumbling deep in his chest. That big, fat cock was hard between his thighs and he sighed and rubbed and wanted to just purr with contented lust when Eli lathered up those strong hands and started washing his back. He was hard pressed to remember anything that had ever felt better. When those hands shaped themselves to his ass he moaned and bit down on the sensitive skin of Eli's neck. Eli returned the moan, seeking out his mouth and stealing a kiss, before returning to his washing duties. "Gonna clean you inside and out, Jed. Be good and hold still for me." Oh Jesus. He held as still as he could while Eli stroked two fingers into his ass, but there was no way he could be completely motionless because it felt too good and they floated together, kissing languidly, then feverishly as they rocked and Eli fucked him with those thick fingers and he was happier than a damned bug in a rug wasn't he? Then Eli flattened the fingers of his free hand against the skin behind Jed's balls and crooked the fingers inside him against that one sweet spot and Jed flew. Just goddamned flew and came in great, forceful jerks against Eli's belly. Wasn't long before Eli came too, sliding his fingers out of Jed's body before he could hurt him. "Mmmm." Jed felt limp and boneless, like steamed cabbage. "What was that for?" "Soften you up for the main event. You get the lube?" "Yeah." "Good." Eli raised his chin and kissed him. God what that man could do with a kiss. "Because I'm going to put my hand in you." "Oh God." The thought might have scared the Hell out of him if he wasn't so relaxed, and Eli called him a manipulative bastard? Yeah, right. "Come on, you have to get up, Thatcher. I can't carry you. Well, I can, but you have to get off me first.

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Getting out of the tub wasn't nearly as easy, or as much fun, as getting in. They managed, slipping and sliding and Jed leaned against the sink on wobbly legs while Eli drained the tub. Then almost busted a gut laughing when Eli picked him up in a shoulder carry and hauled him to the bedroom. "That's why you wanted the dogs out," he said, laughing unevenly as he bounced on the bed. "So you wouldn't trip over them." Plopping down beside him, Eli propped his head on his hand and grinned down at him. "Nah. It was so they wouldn't try to drink the bathwater while we were in it." Jed wheezed, holding his ribs, and Eli laughed with him and then they were kissing again, chuckling in between and it was good. Real good. Always happened that their kissing got serious though, and it did again, lips and tongue searching and needy. Eli's whiskey eyes were serious as a heart attack when he pulled away. "You okay with this?" "Yeah." If he thought on it too much he'd chicken out, and Eli wanted this. So he just said yeah and pulled his legs up and back, spreading himself open in ways he never, ever had before. "I'm good." Eli just got this *look*, the one he got every once in awhile. The one that said he couldn't believe Jed was real. And then he reached for the lube, wordlessly preparing himself and Jed. The first two fingers were like old friends, easy and good. The third was harder, and Jed gasped, trying to not tense up. That would just make it worse. Then Eli bent his head and took one of Jed's nipples in his mouth and the stretched, full feeling wasn't so bad after all. The burn was kinda nice, actually. He wanted to touch Eli, so he put a hand in that gorgeous hair and ruffled. Husking a laugh, Eli blew air on Jed's wet nipple and twisted his fingers just so and Jed shouted with surprised pleasure. Whoa. He was riding Eli's hand now, really getting into it, and of course that's when the contrary asshole pulled away. Slack and empty suddenly and Jed followed with his body until Eli pushed him back down. "Easy, lover. Just getting more lube." And then the fingers were back, all three, with a fourth sliding in on his indrawn breath and Eli had a look of wonder on his face that was a sight to behold. Made him nuts, and he tried to move but Eli wouldn't let him. "You're gonna hurt yourself. Hold still." "Eli. Jesus. Please. I need." "I know." Whatever it was he needed, Eli did know, because he folded his hand in half and pushed that thumb in and then whoosh, his whole hand was in. Fucking *in* him, just like that and Jed started gasping, afraid he wouldn't remember how to breathe and Eli soothed him with light kisses on his cheeks and lips and chin and chest. "Shhhh. You gotta calm down, Jed. Don't want to hurt you." "Not hurting. Eli. God." If it weren't for the iron pressure of Eli's forearm across his belly he'd be thrashing, flailing. As it was he just had to sit there and take it and it was going to kill him for sure. He'd almost forgotten about his cock, but as he started breathing again he remembered, and it felt like it was just gonna explode all over, like it couldn't possibly get any harder without splitting open. "Love you." It slipped out, and he hated to do that to Eli, to make him feel uncomfortable, because in all the time they'd been together, Eli had never said it back. He didn't have to hear it, knew it was true, but he knew it made Eli uneasy to have it out like that. The man was moving inside him now, pulling his hand into a fist and pumping in time with Jed's heartbeat, which he could surely feel and it was enough to make everything gray out around the edges. Something had to give soon or this was going to do him in. He

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whimpered. Actually fucking whimpered and Eli just kissed him like he was made of glass and looked him right in the eye. "Love you, Jed." That was it. Jed soared, coming so hard he couldn't see or hear, shuddering and jerking against the pressure of Eli's arm and legs and body pinning him down. When it was over he thought he might understand the orgasm as a religious experience. Once his eyes finally rolled back down he opened them to look at Eli, and the man looked almost scared. "M'okay." "Thought maybe I'd hurt you." "Nope. Give me a minute, I'll make it up to you." "Too late. Came all over myself. God you're something else, Jed Thatcher." "Yeah?" "Fucking A." Chapter Thirty Three

"Eli. Eli, wake up." Jed was trying to shake Eli awake, and the man was just not moving. Grunting, yes. Occasionally cussing. But not moving. "Don't make me get Spot up here to lick you. I'll cover your feet so he can't get to them and he'll go for the only other thing that sticks out." Eli's eyes popped open and he sat up. "You wouldn't dare." Grinning, Jed leaned over and kissed him. "You bet I would, mister. Now up. Got something I want you to see." Leaning back against the pillows, Eli folded his arms behind his head and let the covers slide to his waist. Shit, he was a sexy son-of-a-bitch. The room was cold, so those fat little nipples were hard and tight, and Jed couldn't help but reach out and pinch one. Which made Eli grin at him, too. "What you've got you can show me right here in bed, Thatcher." "Ha ha. Fine, I'll just go on and take the dogs with me and you can stay in here and be stubborn." Rolling his eyes, Eli slid out of bed and pulled on his sweats, almost falling over as Jed pinched his ass. "Jesus! First you wake me up, then you try to kill me. Okay, so what's so all-fired important?" "Put on some shoes."

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Sliding his feet into a pair of old sneakers took only a moment, and Eli was ready, so Jed grabbed his hand and dragged him through the house to the kitchen, and opened the back door. The dogs danced around them, and Jed scratched ears and bellies on the way. "There. Look." Eli looked outside, then looked back at him incredulously. "It's snow. You woke me up for snow?" Jed bounced on his toes, smiling in anticipation. "Yeah. Isn't it gorgeous? Got almost five inches overnight." "Snow is cold." That sounded kinda outraged, and Jed glanced at Eli out of the corner of his eye, smile fading. Yep. Outrage. "Yeah, I guess it is. Just wanted you to see it. I'm gonna take the dogs out, now. You can go on back to bed." He'd really wanted to share the first good snow of the season with Eli. Didn't know it would piss the man off, somehow. The dogs bounded out the minute he opened the screen, and he pulled his jacket on along with his gloves. "Gotta feed everyone too, out at the shed. I'll be awhile. You get a wild hair you can make us breakfast." Not that he meant to sound short, or anything, but Jed knew he did. He wasn't pissed, just kinda disappointed, but it wasn't Eli's fault he didn't like snow. Trying to push aside his sudden funk, Jed romped with the dogs and confused the heck out of Fritter by throwing snowballs for him, which of course he couldn't fetch, then headed out to feed and water everyone. He was about halfway through his chores, and was out checking the fence, which had sections that tended to fall down when it snowed, when something cold and damned wet hit him right in the back of the neck. He turned around and caught another snowball in the face. Well, shit. Eli was just laughing like a loon, packing another ball and Jed was already two behind. That meant war. Now, Jed had been pretty good at baseball in high school. But Eli must have a ninety mile an hour fastball. And he was damned accurate, too. Jed was taking a pounding, and maybe one of his hit to every five of Eli's. Clearly the only way to win was to get close enough to render that pitching arm useless. Giving a whoop, Jed rushed Eli, tackling him to the ground before the man even knew what hit him. He rolled Eli over and over until he looked like more like a snowman than a real one, and then sat on him so he couldn't get up, laughing triumphantly. "I was right," Eli said. "Snow's cold." "But fun. Thanks for coming out to play." Eli blinked snow from his eyelashes and laughed back at him. "Well, since I was awake..." "Yeah." Couldn't help but kiss the man, could he? Kiss him long and hard. Eli kissed him back, just as deeply, hands coming up to touch his cheeks. Which made him yelp. "Jesus. I think we need to go inside, have a hot shower and some hot chocolate."

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"How about hot sex?" "That too. You played my game. Least I can do is play yours." "Sounds like that'll be worth getting up for." "Good." Chapter Thirty Four

Eli woke to the smell of pumpkin pie baking. He turned over, instinctively reaching for Jed, and found empty sheets instead. He looked toward the door, and almost wet himself laughing. A row of curious canine faces stared back at him, and four tails started to thump as he rolled out of bed. "What's the matter, boys? He abandon you too?" They all followed him to the bathroom, where he shut the door on them before doing his thing, then followed him to the kitchen, where coffee waited for him in the pot and the oven was full of pie and a basket of biscuits and a pan of sausage gravy waited on the back of the stove. There was a note from Jed on the kitchen table. "Back in a few. Went to Safeway to get Cool Whip. Fed the dogs. Don't let them fool you." Grinning, he let the dogs out, shooing them out into the snow before settling in to eat his breakfast. He wondered what the occasion was, to have pie and whipped cream, but he wasn't going to complain. He'd just ask Jed when he got back, which was just about then if the ruckus the dogs were raising was any indication. Jed came in with a swirl of cold air and ice crystals, stomping his feet and stripping off his gloves to put his cold hands on Eli's bare back. "Jesus, Thatcher. Your hands are like fucking ice." "And you're my very own Eli furnace. Nice and warm. You eat?" "Yeah. What's with you this morning? Pecan pie, pumpkin pie, banana nut bread, cool whip? What's the occasion?" Jed stared at him disbelievingly, then shook his head. "It's Thanksgiving, Eli. Didn't you know?" "Oh." Eli shrugged. "I guess I didn't pay much attention." "I guess not." Rubbing his shoulders, Jed dropped a kiss on top of his head. "I didn't think to ask if it was okay, but I thought we'd go to mom and Lloyd's. He always makes this huge spread. I bring the dessert. His hands will be there, and Ken and Ally and the kids. Is that okay?" "Sure." He leaned back into Jed's hands, warm now from contact with his own skin, and let him soothe his tense muscles. "Sounds like a plan."

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"Guess your folks never did much." Eli shrugged, trying hard not to think too much about it. "Mother and I usually went out to eat. It was never a big day for us." "Well, it is for me this year." Jed grabbed his chair and pulled it back from the table fast enough to make him yelp, then came around and straddled his lap, jeans rough against his bare legs. "Yeah?" He smiled up at Jed, loving the way they fit together, the solid feel of Jed's lean body against him. "Yeah. I have a lot to be thankful for. Starting and ending with you." "Now that I can agree with. How long 'til the pies come out?" A light kiss, and Jed asked, "Why?" "Because if we do what I want us to and they only have a few minutes they'll burn." A much deeper kiss, with Jed rubbing against him, and grinning. "They have another half hour at least." "Perfect. Happy Thanksgiving, Thatcher." "You know it.

Ciphers Chapter One

The beer was flat and a little warm, and Ross missed fresh Coors. Ship it over the mountains and it went bad in a hurry. 'Course even flat and piss warm it was better than Bud or Schaeffer, so he didn't complain to the bored looking bartender. Damn, he was getting tired of this. He was back at base after recovering from his broken ribs, and Ross missed Jed and his mom and Lloyd and Ken's kids and those damned slobbering dogs. Hell, he even missed Eli and he'd only known the guy a couple of weeks. Truth was he was lonely. Not that he ever lacked for female companionship, but his buddies shipped in and out so fast that he never got to know anyone that he could just hang out with. Being a jump instructor with ten years under his belt made him less than approachable to the newbies, and he had little enough in common with them anyway. He'd gotten a reputation as a tough-but-fair son-of-bitch, and it made for some distance between he and the guys in his school. Shit. Maybe it was time to rethink the whole career man thing and opt out at his next reenlistment. He could get work with any number of people back home, including Lloyd and Jed. Hell, he could even teach skydiving to rich Aspen folks. One way or the other, sitting there at tavern number eight hundred and forty three on Bragg Blvd., drinking beer all by himself made him tired. "Hey, you little asshole. You're sitting in my seat." The words weren't directed at Ross, been a long time since anyone called him little, so he hunched his

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shoulders over his beer and ignored it. The taunts continued, and Ross fought against turning around to see what was going on, not because he didn't want to get into a fight, but because he was spoiling for one, and it really wasn't his business. The sounds of a scuffle reached him just about the time, "You fucking little cocksucking faggot" did, and he gave a mental shrug, turned, and waded into the fray. Some shrink somewhere would have a field day with his fighting impulses, but it felt good to get it all out of his system, like a pressure valve being released, and when he was done the only people left standing were him and a skinny dark-haired kid with a bloody nose, who was staring at him. "You okay?" "Yeah." The kid wiped his nose and looked ruefully at his clothes. "But I think my shirt has seen better days." "You could probably call it a loss." One of the guys on the floor was starting to stir and moan. Must not have hit him hard enough. "Look, kid. These assholes are gonna wake up in a few. I don't plan to be here. Maybe you ought to hit the road too." Rueful melted in to bitter, and the kid shrugged. "I'd love to, but my roomie left while I was in the bathroom. Took off with some girl and the car. I'd call a cab, but I just spent my last twenty paying off his tab. He was buying her the good stuff I guess." Jesus H. Christ on a wooden crutch. That's what happened when you did a good deed. Lord dropped another opportunity to do one right in your lap, even if you didn't want it. Without even thinking, Ross opened his mouth, "My truck's outside. I'll give you a lift. You live on base?" Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, the kid laughed. "No. I'm a civilian, thank God. I live over off of Reilly Road in that subdivision across from the elementary school." "Yeah? Well, that's right on my way back into base. I'll take you." "Thanks." They hustled out of there before the less than stellar mental capacities of the bartender rolled into action and he called the cops. The heat hit Ross like a ton of bricks when they got outside and he chalked the damned humidity up as reason number one hundred and fifty eight to get the Hell out of Dodge and go home to nice, dry Colorado. He piled the kid into his pick-up and headed out, looking him over carefully out of the corner of his eye. "You're not hurt are you, kid?" "No. Thanks to you. And my name is Kevin, not kid. I'm probably only about five years younger than you." "You think? Probably a bit more wet behind the ears, though." Kid crossed his arms and stared out through the windshield. "Maybe. Doesn't matter. I appreciate the save, though. Fox-trotting with Neanderthals isn't my style." "Never woulda guessed. Was planning on minding my own business, but that kind of name calling pisses

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me off." There was dead silence from the other side of the truck cab and Ross glanced over to see the weirdest expression pass over the kid's face, finally settling into something mulish, with outthrust chin and a not quite a pout. "What if they were right?" "Huh?" "What if I am a fag? Queer? A cocksucker?" Ross started laughing, much to the kid's obvious chagrin. "Kevin, right?" "Yeah." There was a world of challenge in that one word, and Ross tried to stifle more chuckles. "Well, Kev, you can suck all the cock you want. Doesn't bother me. Still doesn't give them the right to call you names and try to beat you into the ground." Now the kid just looked floored. "You mean you don't care? If I'm gay?" "I think I might be insulted. But no, kid. I haven't cared about a man's sexual orientation since my brother came out when I was ten. You want dick? Knock yourself out."

***

He was staring. He knew he was, but he couldn't help it. No way was this guy for real. And why the Hell had he gotten in the truck in the first place? Well, maybe because the guy was so hot he was melting Kevin's underwear. Which was wishful thinking, and not terribly bright and there was another fine mess. He'd just admitted being gay to one of the manliest, butt kicking guys he'd ever seen and, what was his name? Damn. The guy, whatever his name was, didn't bat an eye. Had a gay brother, even. No way. Okay, deep breath, Kev, he thought. Coherence is our friend. Really. In thinking as well as speaking. You have a degree in communications. Use it. "But you're not. Gay, I mean?" Oh, God. Oh God oh God oh God. Where did that come from? He'd meant to ask what the man's name was, maybe what his M.O. was, since he was obviously a soldier, and that was what came out? Oh, he was an idiot. "Never have been, no. You okay, kid? Kevin, I mean. You kinda gurgled there." "I'm fine." First a gurgle, now a squeak. Lovely. Kevin cleared his throat. "What's your name, anyway?" "Ross. Ross Thatcher."

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He even had a manly name. Made Kevin O'Donnell sound kind of childish, didn't it? Oh well. God help him but Ross Thatcher was incredibly hot. "Well, thanks Ross. Again. I mean for not letting me get my ass kicked and for not kicking my ass about the whole, thing... You know. The admitting. And the asking of dumb questions. There's my turn," he finished, pointing. Turning easily despite the late warning, Ross glanced over at him again, and the look was definitely amused. Pure cat and canary grin. "You through making an ass of yourself now?" "Sure. As long as you're done being the asshole." Mouth opened, brain flew out. What was it about this guy? Who was definitely laughing at him now, but the sound was warm and friendly, not mocking. "Which house is yours?" "That one." They pulled into the drive and Kevin was relieved to notice that his roommate wasn't home. Small favors. "Thanks." "No problem. Hey," Ross stopped him from piling out of the truck with one large, warm hand on his shoulder. "You work on base?" "Huh? Oh. Yeah. Communications center. Crypto." Nodding like he'd made up his mind about something, Ross let him go. "Maybe I'll see you around." And maybe pigs would fly. But a boy could wish, and maybe dream a little, and have a really nice session with his hand in the shower. "Yeah. Maybe. Thanks again." And Ross Thatcher was gone. Damn it.

Chapter Two

Late Friday afternoon, Ross strolled up to the security counter at the comm. center and smiled at the pretty corporal on duty. She smiled back, giving him a thorough once over, which made him laugh out loud. "What can I do for you, Sergeant?" "I'm looking for a kid named Kevin O'Donnell. Civilian." "Yeah? In crypto? I'll call him up." "Thanks darlin'." She grinned at him. "Watch it, Sarge. I'll have you up for harassment." "Yeah, yeah. Tell me you don't like it."

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Laughing, she dialed up an extension. "Hey. O'Donnell has a visitor. Send him up, will ya?" They chatted amiably while they waited, because Ross had never met a stranger, really. Then the kid was there and the look on his face was priceless. "Hey! What are you doing here? I mean, hi. I mean, um, yeah. Hi." "Hey kid. You about to shut it down for the day?" "Yes." "Cool. Was thinking maybe we could go to ChiChi's, get some Mexican food and some beer. What do you say?" "Yes?" The kid seemed to be sticking with one-word answers. Of course with the way he spouted off that might be smart. "Don't have to. Just thought we'd hang for a bit." "Okay. Um. Yeah. Just let me go clear my desk." He turned tail and ran, leaving Ross and the pretty young corporal grinning at each other. "You know, he's always like that. You know what you're getting yourself into, going out with him?" "Think I do." Winking at her, he nodded. "Nice kid. Needs some male bonding. And he's not scared of me. Makes it easier." "Sure you wouldn't rather bond with me?" He laughed outright again. "Watch it, or I'll have you up on sexual harassment." "I should be so lucky." "Are you ready?" Kevin was back and he sounded annoyed.

Unfazed, Ross just grinned. "Sure thing. Let's go." They took Ross' truck, and headed off to eat. The kid was quiet for a long while, and Ross started to worry. Maybe he'd bullied the kid into going out, made him feel like he had to. They didn't know each other after all, not really. "You okay, Kev? I thought you were an okay guy, you know? Thought maybe we could go out, shoot some pool. But I don't want you to feel like you have to. You can tell me to take a flying leap if you want." "No! I mean, yes. I mean, I want to hang out. I just worry that I'm going to say something stupid, and you know, most straight guys don't want to hang out with gay guys." Sighing, Ross pulled into the restaurant parking lot. He put the truck in park and turned to Kevin. "I won't make an issue of it if you won't, Kev. You're not afraid of me, you're a nice kid, and you're funny as Hell. I don't get to just play much, and I imagine you don't either. Just thought it would be good. Okay?"

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A wide grin split Kevin's face, and Ross blinked. "Sure. Okay. Just so we're both on the same page." Dinner was good -- enchiladas and rice and beans and Dos Equis and lots of bullshitting. He was right, the kid was fun to be around, and it was good to have someone to just talk with. They talked about family and work and where to find the best pool game, and drank just enough beer to be mellow and happy. It was damned nice. The kid had no filters, either. Whatever he thought just popped right out, and Ross hadn't laughed like that with anyone but Jed in a month of Sundays. Felt really fucking good to let his hair down. It was a shame when dinner was over. "You want a ride back to your car? Or you want to go play some pool?" Ross asked the question casually enough, but he was too damned interested in the answer. And far too disappointed when the kid said no. "But I could go for a movie or something. My roommate is bound to be out. We could go watch a video. I don't think I'm coordinated enough for pool." "I could do that." They went back to base so Kevin could pick up his car, and Ross stopped on the way to the kid's house to get munchies and beer while Kev stopped to pick up a movie. They both agreed, nothing sappy, and no war movies. Hopefully it would be a thriller of some kind, or a Jackie Chan flick or something. As long as it wasn't gay porn, which was something Jed would spring on him, just to see him squirm. Turned out the kid did okay, with the Count of Monte Cristo and Panic Room - one of his favorite stories in the first, and not a bad looking chick in the second, even if she was on the skinny side. Ross liked a little more meat on his women. They threw popcorn at each other and drank a Hell of a lot of beer and Kevin started snoring about two thirds of the way through the double feature. Lightweight. Not that he was much better. By the time the second movie ended and he stood up, intending to wake Kevin and leave, he was a little woozy himself. "Hey. Kev. Wakey wakey. You need to get up and lock up after me." "Mmmph?" Stretching and blinking, Kevin sat up and stared at him. "You sure you should drive?" Kevin asked, indicating the empty beer bottles strewn around. "No. Not sure I should at all." "Well. Help me clean up the mess and you can crash here on the couch." Ross was surprised, but pleased. That was downright nice of the kid. "Thanks. Think I will." A trip to the bathroom to piss and brush his teeth with his finger and he was done, and Kevin had a pillow and blanket all ready for him. The couch was a little short, but it would do, and Ross settled in, shifting around until his still-sore ribs were as comfortable as they were likely to get. All in all, it was a good night, and he was pretty damned glad to be alive. Something woke Ross in the wee hours of the morning. Movement, not sound, but Ross was a light sleeper and the odd breeze might pull him out of a sound snooze. Disoriented, with a stiff neck that was going to kill him the next day, he squinted into the dark, trying to figure out where in Hell he was. A thin sliver of light from the direction of the kitchen illuminated the scene and he remembered. Yeah, he stayed

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the night at Kev's, on the kid's couch. Right. The light went out, and Ross figured Kev must have had the munchies or something. He never knew what Kevin wound up eating though, because when the kid came out of the kitchen, Ross wasn't paying any attention to Kev's hands. His eyes had adjusted to the dark, and Kev was clearly outlined in the weak light from an outside street lamp. The kid was naked as the day he was born, stumbling back through the living room to the hall, and as he passed he afforded Ross a stunning view of his tight, round ass. Stunning because, sure, Ross was an ass man, but male asses didn't usually do it for him. Had, in fact, never done anything for him at all. Not that he'd ever understood why it was such a bad thing to say, "Hey, that's a good looking guy." Maybe that was because of Jed, but that had always been a sort of mild aesthetic appreciation, like looking at a painting or something. This, well... This was something he'd have to think about. Kev didn't have a girly butt, necessarily, but it wasn't the manly ideal with side dents and top dimple like his own was. This was tight, but round and high and full, almost boyish but not, and shit he was getting hard. Maybe it had been too long since he'd gotten laid. Or, he thought ruefully, he should just admit that he thought Kev had a fine ass. Not like there was any stress in that. Well, except maybe for his dick. There was some stress there, because the more he mulled it over, the harder he got. Well, Hell. He'd just have to jerk off and think about it all later. A box of tissues by his head and a little spit were all he needed to get him going, and Ross squirmed around until he could plant his feet on the couch and man, it had been too long since he did that, because it felt damned good, made the muscles in his belly jump and twitch, made his toes curl. Yeah, just like that. Sometimes do-it-yourself just felt good, simple, because damn, he knew what he liked didn't he? He started at the base and worked his way to the head on every stroke, in long, easy pulls. He let his mind wander, grooving on whatever came to, and after running through a series of his favorite women, Ross was unsurprised to find that he settled on Kevin's amazing ass. Not that the kid's front was bad, he thought, but all that dangly stuff he saw in the mirror every day. Oh yeah. That made him throb, thinking about putting Kev down on his hands and knees in front of a mirror. Later that would probably worry him a little, you know? But damn, not at the moment. Not when he dick was just pounding with his pulse and his hand moved faster and faster, hips pumping up and up, teeth gritting, can't breathe pleasure going through him as he came in great, forceful jerks. As quietly as he could. Cleaning up with the tissues, Ross got up and went to the bathroom, washing a little and getting a drink of water. It was too damned late at night for him to think about it. It really was. He would though, because he wasn't big on denial. That only led to a trip to the post office later on in life, Uzi in tow. Nah, he'd call Jed tomorrow, much as it pained him, because Jed would give him all manner of Hell, and talk to him about it. Until then he was just going to get some more sleep and enjoy the lassitude that came with a good session with his hand.

*** Kevin made it back to his bedroom before he came. Barely. Two rough strokes and he was shooting all over the door he barely managed to close without a huge noise. Oh, God. Ross, naked, jerking off on his couch. Oh, God.

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He made his way back to bed on shaky legs and sat, trying very hard to get rid of the image burned on the back of his eyelids. That's what he got for getting tipsy. He'd been so thirsty that he went to the kitchen to get water, and had promptly forgotten to take it with him when he left the kitchen, giving in to the lure of chocolate instead. So he'd turned right around to go back to the kitchen and get his water and boom. Naked, hard Ross. Very large, naked, hard Ross. Oh, God. Bad enough he was hot for Ross. Now he knew what he was missing. How was he ever going to face the man over breakfast? He'd die of embarrassment. Or maybe come in his pants. Or something equally stupid. Jeez. It took him a long while to get back to sleep. And when he slept, he dreamed of Ross.

Chapter Three

Ross woke up feeling pretty good for man sleeping on a couch a foot too short for him. The crick in his neck was a minor thing, there was no hangover, and the sun was bright outside. Not bad. He yawned and stretched until his joints popped, hit the bathroom, then decided breakfast was the least he could do for his host. So he went and rummaged in Kevin's refrigerator. You could tell a lot about a guy from his refrigerator. Take Lloyd's for instance. Lloyd's was full of unsalted cream butter and fancy brown mustard and things like heavy whipping cream and neatly stacked boxes of leftover beef bourguignon. A peek in Kevin's fridge revealed a man who may be twenty-five, but who had the metabolism and appetite of a nineteen year old boy. Coke, beer, a loaf of white bread, take-out containers and fast food bags. There was even a box of Zingers, which were tempting, but Ross knew he needed something to fill his stomach after the beer. There were eggs. And milk. And in the cupboard he found flour and salt and baking soda. No potatoes, but he did find a box of grits, and there were sausage links in the freezer. That would make a pretty good breakfast. Everything was just about done cooking and he was ready to go roust the kid out of bed when Kevin appeared in the kitchen doorway, wrapped from chin to ankles in sweats and a bathrobe. Made him feel overdressed in his boxer-briefs. "Hey, Kev. Want some coffee?" "Yeah." The kid's cheeks were flaming red and he wouldn't meet Ross' eyes. What the Hell was up with him? "Here you go. Breakfast in a few." "You didn't have to." "I like cooking breakfast." "Oh."

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Kevin retreated to the kitchen table and buried his face in the newspaper. Maybe he just wasn't a morning person. He slid a plateful down in front of Kev and plopped his own food next to Kev and sat, determined to make the kid acknowledge him. "So, you hung over or something? Regretting letting me stay because you usually sacrifice small goats Saturday morning? Wanting to watch cartoons but afraid I'll laugh? C'mon. What's up?" "Up? Nothing!" The kid finally looked at him, and his expression was kinda panicked. "Nothing's up. I'm just not used to waking up with someone. Here I mean. You. Whatever. Um, this looks great." "Thanks." Watching as the kid tucked into his food, Ross considered that Kev might be embarrassed because Ross was mostly unclothed. The kid had admitted to liking guys, after all. "You want me to go put some clothes on?" Kevin choked on his eggs and turned a really interesting shade of red. Ross whapped him on the back and waited for the coughing to subside. "Yes? Would you?" "No problem." And it wasn't either. He went and pulled on his jeans and his shirt, and came back to finish his breakfast. "Sorry, Kev. Didn't think about it." "Why would you? These biscuits are really good." "Thanks. And hey, maybe you should have worn fewer clothes. Okay with you if I leave you to do the dishes? I gotta check in on base and then I have some major errands to run." That made the kid blink at him, and made the flush that was just subsiding come back. Which made Ross grin. "Why would you want me to wear less?" Ross dumped his dishes in the sink. "Because you have a stellar ass, kid. See you around. Maybe Sunday? You watch football at all? Good. I'll bring the food." Time to make a strategic retreat before Kevin got his powers of speech back. Ross made a run for it, holding in his chuckles until he made it outside to his truck. *** Kev must've sat there for a full five minutes, mouth hanging open, before he went and did the dishes. Good Lord. How the Hell was he supposed to deal with that? Not the dishes, the ass comment. Ross thought he had a nice ass. Ross thought he had a stellar ass! Ross must be joking. There was no way he could be serious. The man was as straight as a ruler. And it couldn't be the beer talking because he'd been stone sober when he said it, having slept the alcohol right off. So it had to be a joke. Kevin hoped to heck Ross did show up the next day for football, because he was going to give the guy one big piece of his mind.

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All through the day, Kevin steamed about it. Through cleaning his house and doing laundry and making huge mistakes on his crossword puzzle, which he never did, he steamed about it. It kept him up that night, tossing and turning, thinking about it. The next morning he looked himself in the eye in the mirror and practiced his speech, about how damned mean that was. Because it was. By the time the doorbell rang around three he'd worked himself into a good foam, and when he opened the door and it was Ross, Kev just blasted him. "That was a shitty thing to do. You know that? I know you don't like guys that way. So why would you make that kind of a joke? That really pissed me off, you know? I mean, there was no reason to say that. It's bad enough that I like you that way and you're straight. You don't have to make fun of me, too." Ross just stood there and blinked at him for a moment, then held out a handful of grocery bags. "Help me out here, would you Kev?" Well, that took the wind right out of his sails. Kevin took the bags without a word, and marched through the house to the kitchen. Dropping the bags on the counter, Kev gripped the edge of the sink and took a deep breath. What the Hell was wrong with him, anyway? It was just a dumb joke. A warm hand clasped his shoulder, and Ross pulled, turning Kevin around to face him. His eyes, when Kevin met them, were just as warm, and concerned. "Kev? I didn't mean to upset you, okay? And I wasn't making fun of you." "Yeah right." "Seriously, you have a great ass, but I shouldn't have done that. So let me fix you some dinner and we'll hang out, and I'll make it up to you, okay?" He looked and sounded so earnest that Kevin couldn't say no. "Okay. But no more cracks about my ass." Oh God, could he get any more stupid. Cracks? Ass? Jeesh. "Okay, Kev. Promise." Ross grinned, but let it pass. "Now go find something good to watch on TV and I'll get cooking." How he'd moved from furious to confused and blinky, he didn't know, but somehow or another he had, and Kevin did as he was told, and took the Coke Ross handed him and went to watch TV without even asking what was for dinner. *** Ross cooked. That he figured he could do without screwing up. Poor Kev was really upset about the dumb ass comment, and Ross couldn't blame him. Okay, it had been damned funny at the time, but Ross had to remember that not everyone took things as easily as he did. And Kev really was that not everyone. Not that he'd taken it without some thought. Sure enough, he'd called on brother Jed, and as soon as Jed had stopped laughing his ass off, they'd talked about maybe he should just go with it. Wasn't nothing wrong with playing on both teams for a while. The big thing Jed was worried about was him hurting the kid, because, well, Ross' track record didn't hold much with staying past the first bloom. Lord, knew, it was no wonder Kev was upset.

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So he cooked. Fried chicken and mashed potatoes and green beans and biscuits. And a blackberry cobbler. Lloyd would be proud. The kitchen smelled heavenly by the time he was done, and Kevin had drifted back in, sniffing happily. "If that tastes as good as it smells you're forgiven." "Yeah? Good thing I know how to cook, huh? Your kitchen is pitiful, though, kid. You don't even have a potato masher." "Don't all mashed potatoes come in a box?" "Blasphemer." They grinned at each other, and Ross was happy to see that the joking and teasing was back. Meant the kid really had decided to forgive and forget, and that was a damned good thing. Nice to know Kev didn't hold a grudge, because that would cause serious friction in the long run. "Give me a hand, will you?" He put Kev to work, washing up what pots and pans he was done with while he plated everything up and put it on the table. They worked well together, and Ross grinned at himself. He was thinking like a man looking at something serious. They ate in a companionable silence, mainly because Kev was too busy stuffing his mouth to talk. With seconds, and then thirds and two helpings of cobbler and cream to boot. The kid looked like a boa constrictor. You could see the bulge in his belly from the meal. Kev leaned back from the table when he was done, groaning. "God. That was amazing. I think I'll keep you." Ross laughed out loud. "That's the plan, Kev." The kid chose to ignore that, or at least not acknowledge it. It did make his eyes open wide, and his mouth fall open, but he didn't reply. He simply got up to clear the table and did the dishes. The he hightailed it back to the living room to turn on the TV. Ross sighed. Kid was pricklier than a porcupine. "Kev? You okay? I'd tell you I won't say stuff like that anymore, but it's second nature. I flirt. That's the way I am." He sat down next to Kevin on the couch, and the kid looked at him, all pouty lips and big eyes. "I know. I just. I don't know what to make of you Ross." "Well, as long as you're willing to make something of me. What do you say we wing it?" "I'll try." "Fair enough."

Chapter Four

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They went out together a lot in the next few weeks. Well, not went out as in dating, Kev thought. Definitely not dating Ross. Nope, nope. But they did go out for pizza, and for beer, and Ross was teaching him how to play better pool. But really, Ross was okay with the fact that sometimes Kev was a homebody. They would watch movies, or play Scrabble (and Ross was as gracious a loser as he was a winner, which was to say, very gracious) or one time Ross brought one of those 3D jigsaw puzzles and they worked on it all weekend, with Ross crashing out on his couch again. Somehow or another Ross had taken over his kitchen too. No, really. Seriously taken over. He'd rearranged things in a way that made sense and stocked the pantry and fridge with real food, so he could cook. Without either of them realizing it, he was coming by a few nights a week after work and making simple meals and brewing up unsweetened iced tea, which was how they drank it in Colorado and just generally being there with him. Kevin was terrified. He was falling in love with Ross and that was bad news. Very, very bad news. Ross was straight. Ross was a military man. And Ross was smart and funny and devastatingly beautiful. Oh God. The night he decided it was all wrong for him to be mooning over Ross, the man himself showed up with a pot of chili, a coconut cream pie, and a book of cool new logic puzzles. Kevin didn't know what to say. He wanted to say thank you, and he did, but it came out stiff and reserved, and he hated the sound of his own voice. Clever Ross. He knew right away something was wrong. Brows drawn together in a frown, he sat down across from Kevin in the living room and asked point blank. "What's wrong, Kev? Did I come at a bad time? I can go." "No. I just. It's. Well, I think maybe." Kev blew out a sharp breath. "Why?" "Why what, exactly?" "Why are you here? Why do you keep showing up?" Now Ross looked kinda upset. Maybe a little hurt. "Because I like you, kid. I enjoy hanging out with you. I didn't know it was bothering you. You shoulda told me to back off, I would have." "I don't want you to... look, I just wonder why you're spending so much time with me. I don't want you to go, I just want to be ready when whatever it is wears off and you disappear." Ross sighed. "You're worse than a bear getting hit in the butt with a .22. What's the real problem?" His stomach felt gross, and he didn't want have this conversation anymore. "I just don't get it, is all. And you keep bringing me presents! Puzzles and books and food. You don't have to do that. Why do you do that?" Awareness dawned on Ross' face, and his expression went from confused and unhappy to smiling in a way that made Kevin's toes tingle. One smooth move and he was up out of his chair and walking over to

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the couch where Kev sat. Or maybe stalking. Or slinky hip moving. Kevin was mesmerized. Ross sat next to him, one long arm sliding up along the back of the couch behind him. "Why do I do that? 'Cause I'm wooing you, of course." There he went again with the bad jokes, just like the ass thing. "That's not funny. I told you those kinds of things weren't funny. Please don't..." Cutting him off with a look, Ross shook his head. "I'm not joking Kev. I'm very, very serious." And with that, the hand that was behind his head on the couch was on his neck, sliding up into his hair to tilt his head back, and Ross leaned over and kissed him. Oh, God. He was in love. *** The kid tasted just like Ross thought he would. Sweet. Kev's lips were soft and dry and warm, and open to him out of sheer surprise. He didn't push the advantage. Much. He tried real hard to keep the kiss light, non-threatening, just a gentle press of lips and a soft touch of tongue. What surprised him was how he felt about it. The kiss. He wanted to eat the kid whole, just push him back against the back of the couch and kiss him until they both passed out. Which wasn't his usual thing, normally he had a lot more control, but it was kinda nice. Would scare Kev silly if he did, though, so he kept it easy and slow. By the time the kiss ended, though, he could feel a fine tremor in his hands, and his dick was hard enough to pound nails. He sat back and waited to get smacked, or cursed, or something. Kev just stared at him, mouth opening and closing like a fish. "You. You. Why? You." "Me. You. Yeah. You okay?" "No. You kissed me!" "Yeah, I did. I'm fixing to do it again, unless you tell me to stop." "But you... you're straight." "Ummhmm. So?" Ross was distracted by the fact that Kev had freckles. How had he never noticed that before. Just a few, right across the bridge of his nose. "So? So!" Kev's voice rising with a sort of panicked indignation snapped him back to the there and then. "So you can't kiss me! You don't like guys that way. So it's bogus, and mean to boot, because you're amazing and hot and I really like you and that's just not fair." Moving his hand to cup Kev's cheek, Ross put a thumb over Kev's mouth to stop the flow of words. "I like you that way, baby. I like you all to Hell and back." "But you can't. I mean, you don't really. I won't be your science experiment." "My science... oh, I get it. You think this is about me being curious? Baby, I'm just this side of thirty. I have a gay brother. And I love sex more than ice cream or beer. If it was just about curious I would have

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done it a long damned time before now." And he would have too. He'd thought idly about it before, but in very non-specific ways. With Kev it was real specific. Him. Now. "Oh. So what... what do you want? I mean, I don't think I can so this. If we get all, and you leave. You know?" Poor kid had no sense of self worth. Still. "Baby, what I want is for you to take it one day at a time, just like we talked about before. And you know what else I want?" "What?" It kinda came out of Kev as a squeak, most likely because Ross was rubbing his thumb over Kev's lip, and he knew his stare had to be full on hungry man. Because that's what he was. "I want to kiss you again." "Oh. Okay." It came out as a whisper, just before Ross closed his lips over Kev's, and he figured if he could get the kid to stop thinking, they might just have something there. ***

Oh. Oh Ross kissed like he did everything else, full out, no holding back. He kissed like he cooked, or like he watched a ball game, with his full attention. Kev had never had that kind of attention focused on him before he met Ross, and it was as disturbing as it was exhilarating. The kiss blew his mind. There was no other way to put it. The first kiss had been soft, light, like Ross was holding back in case he went all weird. The second was a full out military attack, with Ross' lips opening his and Ross' tongue plunging deep into his mouth. It made his head spin, made him clutch Ross' shoulders, looking for something solid to hold on to. Ross just murmured something encouraging and edged him back, pushing a little at a time until Kevin was on his back on the couch, one of Ross' legs between his, rubbing against his cock, which he suddenly realized was hard. Really, really, hard. Couldn't ever remember it feeling that way hard. He'd noticed before, in a sort of detached way, that Ross like to touch things. He was always stroking and feeling things, tapping his fingers on tables and peeling labels off his beer bottles. Now the interest was far from detached, because he was the object that Ross was stroking and touching and feeling, all over, wherever those fingers could get to his skin. His face, his neck, the back of his head, Ross rubbed and petted until he thought he was just going to explode. It wasn't fair, just wasn't fair at all that Ross could do that to him, and Kev wanted to resent it, but he couldn't. Not with Ross between his thighs, rubbing their cocks together through stiff denim, not with his leg coming up to wrap around Ross' hip, humping like some kind of animal. As long as Ross kissed him that way, he just couldn't help himself. And when Ross nipped at his lower lip with sharp teeth, and plucked at one of his nipples with those clever fingers, Kev just arched up against Ross and came in his pants. Definitely not fair at all.

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*** Ross was feeling pretty smug. Well, damned horny and hard as a brick, but smug too. Once he got Kev into the kiss, the kid had gone all moany and sex kitten and it was just about perfect. Making love to a man wasn't all that different after all, at least not when it came to the dry humping stage. Hell, it was easier. He just hoped Kev wouldn't mind if he went ahead and got off too. He was just about to ease off Kev and see if he could get a hand into his jeans when Kev gave a mighty heave and shove. Off balance already, Ross went tumbling ass over teakettle and landed on the floor hard enough to hurt, leaving him blinking and rubbing something besides his cock. "What the Hell did you do that for?" "So I could get to you, dummy. I can't if you're on top of me." Kev slid off the couch and gave him another good shove, putting him on his back on the floor, and attacked his jeans with determination.

Kev had this mutinous, stuck-out-lower-lip look on his face that Ross thought was damned cute, and he worked button and zipper and yanked Ross' jeans down in a flash. Looking up at him, Kev grinned, and Ross was almost afraid, because damn, that was an evil look. "You know what the big difference is with the whole gay sex thing, Ross?" Mute, Ross shook his head. "Blow jobs. Here, I'll show you." And with that, Kev leaned over and sucked him in. Just whoosh, into that hot, wet mouth he went, and Kev sucked like a fucking pro. Stood to reason, he guessed, since Kev had been gay a lot longer than he'd thought about sex with men, but damn. Then he wasn't thinking at all, because the kid was good at it. Really good. It was a Hell of a lot better to enjoy it than it was to think about it. The underside of his cock got a good tongue bathing, and the head got some amazing suction, and Kev may have just been right. He couldn't ever remember having a blow that felt like that. Ever. 'Course that could've been because it was Kev, too. Not that he would tell the kid that yet. It would scare him too bad. So he just twined his fingers in Kev's dark mess of hair, and lifted his hips into the sweet sensation, and rode it for all it was worth. Kev made noises around his cock, and he figured the boy would be babbling his head off if he had his mouth and then Kev out a hand on his balls and he was flying. Like the first time he ever fell out of a damn plane at full speed. He came like he hadn't since he was a damned teenager, hard enough to make his ears ring, hard enough that he could barely hear himself yell. When he came down it was Kev that looked smug, grinning at him from where he knelt by Ross' legs, lips swollen and eyes heavy. "You're damn good at that, baby."

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"Don't call me baby. And I have to prove that I can hold my own, don't I? Because you'd trample all over me if I didn't and you said you liked that I wasn't afraid of you and I don't want you thinking I'm some kind of backwards virgin." Slowly, carefully, Ross sat up wincing as his back protested the hard floor. He reached out and cupped Kevin's face with one hand, forcing Kev to meet his eyes. "I'd rather you did stuff like that because you wanted to, baby. Or not at all." Eyes wide and dark, Kev stared back at him. "I wanted to," he all but whispered. "I still want to. Kiss me?" "Hell yes."

Chapter Five

Three days later Kev was still walking in the clouds. Ross kissed him again, just like he asked, and oh God, that man could kiss. Surely it wasn't fair that anyone could kiss like that. Made him forget all about his objections, made him willing to do whatever the man asked. Not to mention made him horny as Hell, just thinking about it. "You know, you really look like you finally got some. Who is she?" Kev's face heated almost painfully and he looked at his fellow crypto geek, Todd, grimacing. "That bad?" "Yes. Anyone we know?" "No. And even if it was, it would be none of your business." Which in and of itself was the truth, Todd's disappointment notwithstanding. It was so not anyone else's business. Not only for his sake, but for Ross'. Oh, God. Ross could get discharged for it. Or, you know, worse. Like get his ass kicked so hard that he ended up in the hospital. Kev grinned at the thought. He figured it would take an awful lot to kick Ross' ass, with the shape it was in. Oh, it was in fine shape. So round, so firm, so fully packed. Heh. Shit. Todd was grinning at him again, nudging him with one elbow. The problem with working with geeks was that they tended to live vicariously through whoever was getting some. Kev knew. He'd done it himself. Ross was coming over again tonight. They'd have to talk about how they were going to keep it to themselves, what they were doing. After the kissing. Yeah. That sounded like a plan. *** His hands were busy stripping down his rifle, but Ross' mind was on other things. Kevin things. Goddamn what that boy could do with his mouth. And that round little ass gave him palpitations. Just, damn, he'd

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never been big on the backend stuff with women, he liked it sure, and hewas an ass man, for aesthetics. But while he liked all sorts of sex, it was never a priority. Now, he wanted in that ass. Bad. They'd been past the kissing and hand jobs and sucking for a while. Well, Kev sucking him. Not like he didn't want to, but Kev seemed uncomfortable with it. One of these days he'd just have to throw the boy down and do it. But the other stuff, the fucking, they were taking that slow. Which was good. For everything but his dick. "Hey, Sarge, fondling your weapon always give you wood or is today a special occasion?" Ross snapped back to the present, looking over at his fellow instructor, Davis, SFC. Good guy, Davis, and as close to a friend as Ross had at jump training. 'Course he was also an asshole, who loved to rib people, and it looked like he was about to start, his ebony-skinned face split by a wide, white grin. "I was just thinking of you, Davis." "Yeah. I'm flattered, seeing as how you were stroking that thing so hard I thought you'd start sucking it off any minute." Ross laughed and shook his head, checking parts for damage and dirt. "Yeah, yeah. What, you've never seen a man bond with his weapon before?" "Not like that." Davis chuckled too. "Seriously, who is she?" Ross opened his mouth to say "he", and clamped it shut a moment later. Jesus. It hit him, right then as it never had before, why Kev worried so much sometimes about them being together. Baby might be younger than him, but he'd been batting for the other team a Hell of a lot longer, and knew that shit like this was gonna come up, something that Ross had never really considered. Well, at least he didn't have to worry about the hard-on anymore. He shrugged casually, hoping nothing showed on his face. "Not anyone you would know. And you know I'm not the kind to kiss and tell." "Yeah. Well, she must be pretty special to get to you that way." Davis winked, and walked off to yell at a few just out of basic dickwads. Yeah, Ross thought. Kevin was damned special. Even more than he'd thought.

Chapter Six

"Tell me something, baby?" They were on the couch, watching a movie, and Kev was still kinda wallowing in the newness of being able to sit there and lean on Ross and not worry about the where are my hands thing. "Mmmhmm?"

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"Didn't you have a roommate?" "Huh? Oh. Yeah." He did have one. Or rather, he had. "He moved in with that girl." Kev chuckled. "The one he met the night I met you." "Yeah? Imagine that." Ross shifted, and oh! Hands. Maybe it was Ross' hands he needed to worry about. "So I guess that's why you didn't mind me staying the night?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, if he was still here, you wouldn't have wanted to, trust me." "That good, huh?" "Yeah." Oh, that was nice. The lipsand hands thing, because Ross nibbled his neck as well as touched him. They were well past the wooing, he thought, and into the honeymoon stage. Of course, someone should tell Ross that, because Ross was still bringing him silly presents and cooking for him and taking him out to dinner. That someone sure as heck wouldn't be him, though. "So, if I wanted to bring my shaving kit and my toothbrush over you wouldn't say no?" Kev went still. Oh. Ross wanted to, well, not move in, but to be with him in a semi-permanent way. Okay, that sounded like his mom's hair color. But wow. "Um, no?" "No, I can't? Or no you wouldn't say no?" "Yes." A gusty sigh hit his ear. "Baby…”

"I mean, yes, I wouldn't say no. Or no, I wouldn't. Or yes, you can." He was babbling. Lovely. "Cool. Then I'll get them out of the truck before we go to bed." That made him turn to look up at Ross. "Pretty sure of me, weren't you?" Blue, blue eyes looked back at him, serious as a heart attack. "Nope. I carry them so I can do my thing at base without having to go back to the barracks in the morning. I'm not about to push you to do something you don't want to, baby." "Stop calling me that." It made him all swimmy headed when Ross called him that and grinned at him that way.

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"Okay." Soft and hot, Ross's lips found his and opened them, tongue pushing in. And that made him more than swimmy. Made him dizzy. Giddy. Hungry. All he could do was hang on and kiss back. What Ross lacked in the way of boy-boy experience he made up in pure inborn talent, and his kisses were lethal. Kev decided that it was time his own hands did some exploring, and when he and Ross were done they were naked and sticky and breathing hard, and Kev rubbed his poor abraded cheeks and ruefully decided it was a good thing he was going to let Ross bring his kit bag in. The man needed a shave. ***

The sight of his toothbrush and shaving kit sitting alongside Kev's toiletries gave Ross a deep sense of satisfaction. The kid may not know it yet, but he was Ross', lock, stock and barrel. Definitely the barrel. Soon as he could swing it without scaring the kid half to death he was moving in, permanent like. Oh, he wouldn't give up his space on base. First off, that would look suspicious, and second it would freak Kev right out. Ross had seen the fear in the kid's eyes when Kev thought he wasn't looking, knew Kev expected him to up and leave. It was gonna take some time to get Kev used to Ross sticking around. He knew too that Kev worried about the whole ‘I wasn't gay but now I'm into guys’ thing. And there was no way he could explain the idea that he was into Kev, not guys, 'cause that would only make it worse. Kid was skittish as a balky mule. Good thing for both of them that Ross knew what he wanted, what they both needed. Because once Ross made up his mind, that was that. "Hey." Kev's smile was reflected back at him in the bathroom mirror, and Ross grinned too. "Hey, baby. I think you have plenty of room in here for my stuff." "Yeah." Red spots appeared on Kev's cheeks. "I um, kinda cleaned some stuff out last night, so maybe there would be, since you said you wanted to bring some things. And I, possibly? Yeah, um, maybe I cleaned out a bit of space in my closet, too, so you wouldn't have to worry about keeping your uniform in the truck where it gets all wrinkly and stuff. And I, um, have an iron." Oh. His baby was the cutest babbly thing ever. "Thanks, Kev. That's really good of you." "Not really. I'm just selfish." The kid clapped a hand over that babbly mouth but Ross wasn't going to let him get away with it. He turned and grabbed Kev's hands, holding them down so he could lean in for a kiss. "Why?" "I like you here. And this way you get to spend more time snuggling in the morning." Ross laughed aloud. "Oh, baby. I like the way you think."

Chapter Seven

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Somehow or another, Kevin really didn't figure Ross would be much on doing guy sex things. He knew Ross would like the fucking. He did that with women. The touching, and the kissing. Those were a given. But things like going down on him? It never occurred to him that Ross might like that. So the first time he did it, Kevin nearly keeled right over and died. Ross was very physical. Really, really tactile. Sometimes it made Kevin self-conscious. Not uncomfortable, just a little too aware of his too skinny chest and too round butt and his chicken legs. Not that Ross seemed to mind; in fact he made it a point to admire Kevin's body. Often. They were in bed, lounging, watching TV, and Ross was pressed up against his side. He was kind of engrossed in the History channel, and Ross seemed content to just be there, and pet him, so he wasn't paying a whole lot of attention. Which was always a bad idea, because Ross hated being ignored. Well, maybe not a bad thing, but always an interesting one. Anyway, while Kevin was concentrating on the invention of the printing press, Ross was pressing little kisses to the side of his neck, his chest, and the muscles in his arm. Some stung, some tickled, but they were all light enough to hover on the edge of his awareness, just enough to make him happy and a little tingly. The tongue in his belly button actually made him laugh, and push at Ross, because he really did want to hear about that first Bible. The only warning he got after that was the feel of rough beard stubble on his hipbone, and then Ross wrapped hot, wet lips around the tip of his mostly hard dick. "Jesus!" A deep, happy sound came from Ross' throat and he explored every bit of skin on Kevin's cock with his lips and tongue. The sensitive underside of the head got a long, lingering lick, and the heavy vein underneath got a sucking nibble, and the base of his cock got a nuzzle and he'd dropped the remote somewhere and TV show? What TV show? Oh God, Ross even mouthed his balls before moving back up to test the flavor of him with a swirl of that talented tongue and then he just opened up and sucked Kevin in. Just like that. Like he'd done it a hundred times, when Kevin knew Ross'd never done anything like that in his life, and it almost killed him. And it was a damned good thing that Ross thought it was funny when he babbled, 'cause that's what he was doing now, just oh, yeah, and hot and holy shit deep and Ross was just slurping away like a porn star and Kevin couldn't believe his eyes. That had to be the hottest thing he'd ever seen, that sandy blonde head of hair bent over his lap, bobbing up and down and when those blue, blue eyes met his he just lost it. No warning, no time to pull away, he just came buckets, shooting into that talented, unbelievable mouth hard and fast. Ohhhh. God. And Ross just swallowed it all, too, like it was nothing, then slid up beside him and palmed the remote, turning the TV off. "You liked that, huh?" "That would be the understatement of the century. Have you been watching gay porn while I'm out?" Laughing, Ross rubbed his own hard cock against Kevin's hip. Felt good. Ross always felt good. "Nah. Called Jed for some pointers." "You're kidding." "Yeah, I am. No way would I do that. I just figured after going down on a woman, a man would be a damned sight easier. And I was right. You just stick right out. Don't have to go searching. And besides."

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Ross kissed him, hard and deep. "I like the way you taste." "Oh. Good."

Chapter Eight

The house was comfy. Ross couldn't help but think that, the more time he spent there. Not like the barracks at base, where you never had any privacy, or time alone. Kev's house was, well, cozy, especially after the kid got rid of all the odd crap his roommate had left behind, including the ugliest lamp Ross ever did see, and considering some of the things his brother Ken had over at his ranch in Gunnison, that was saying something. He was pleased that small touches of his own personality were starting to blend in as well. His mom had sent a quilt from the Cedaredge quilting society, all deep reds and greens and blues, in a star pattern, and Kev had promptly commandeered it for the bed. It looked good there, and Kev looked good under it, and it gave him a damned happy feeling to see. His boots sat next to the door and his fatigues hung in the closet and there were pictures of Jed and Ken and Mandy and his mom and Lloyd scattered about the living room. The biggest change was in the kitchen. Obviously, Kev didn't cook much, and if the ex-roommate ever did anything at all, it was heat up a frozen pizza. Ross could tell that from the pan that he threw away. Meat lovers, from the looks of it. He went out to Costco one weekend and got some Calphalon pans and some good bake ware, and one of those little grills, and before Kev could sneeze, Ross had the kitchen set up to do some good cooking. Which Kev certainly seemed to appreciate. If he could just sneak it all in that easy, he'd be living there, right enough. The thought made him smile wide and happy. And plan his next avenue of attack. *** Ross was going to drive him crazy. The man was bored, and a bored Ross was a dangerous thing. But he wasn't being helpful at all. If he were, he would give Kevin a three letter Egyptian god. Or maybe make breakfast. But no, Ross was bored, so Ross was playing cat and mouse with him, brushing his shoulder as he went past, giving Kev a view of his flat belly and strong chest above a low-slung towel when Kev happened to look up. It was just mean. It was. Because Ross *knew* he had to finish the crossword with his coffee, especially the Sunday one. Knew it, and was trying to distract him. And Ross was succeeding. Kevin sighed, and put his pen down. "Ross. Did you want something?" "Hmmmm?" Ross looked over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow, giving Kev all sorts of thoughts with the way his ass stuck out and his long spine flexed. "What, baby?" Ross' look was bland as butter, but Kev knew better. It was a nefarious plot to make him insane. "Did

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you want something? You've been bugging me for a half hour. I mean, if you want something, you should just say so. I would much rather you did that than hang around, making noises and touching me and parading around in a towel, which you know make me nuts, and..." Blinking at him, Ross carefully set aside the muffin mix he had pulled from the cabinet and turned to him, face blank. "Sorry, baby. I didn't know sharing space with you would piss you off. I'll go get dressed and leave you alone, how's that?" Oh. Ross stalked out of the kitchen, and Kev thought maybe he'd hurt Ross' feelings. Maybe Ross really was just trying to share some space, be with him while he did his thing. And he'd screwed that up royally. Way to go, Kev. With one last, longing glance at his crossword, Kev got up and went to the bedroom, getting there just in time to catch Ross bent over, putting on his underwear. Oh. Oh my. He had to clear his throat, and he still felt like he squeaked when he talked. "Ross? I'm sorry." Ross didn't turn around or stop dressing, but he did answer, voice gruff. "It's okay, baby. I just forget that not everyone does mornings like I do." He had hurt Ross' feelings. Damn it. They were still pretty new at this whole waking up together thing, and it was hard sometimes to know what to do. At least it was for Kev, who had never lived with anyone before that wasn't related to him, or wasn't like his long gone and unlamented roommate, who was just a ship that passed in the night. Stepping forward, Kevin put a hand on Ross' bare back, soaking in the man's warmth, his strength. "It's not okay. I pissed you off." The muscles under his back quivered for a moment, then Ross turned to him with a rueful grin. "Really, baby. It's okay. I just... I forget that we haven't ironed all this shit out yet. We'll get there, okay?" "Yeah." The weight on his chest eased up considerably. "Yeah. We'll figure it all out." Nodding, Ross gave him a slow, sweet kiss. "Now, how about you go finish your puzzle, and I'll make some muffins?" "Sounds like a plan."

Chapter Nine

Things were good. Damned good. They were learning each other, learning the little details that made being a couple so cool. Ross was thrilled. He wasn't sure Kev was so thrilled, because every so often he would catch his baby looking at him with big haunted eyes. Kev was just waiting for him to up and decide he didn't want dick anymore, and he wasn't sure what to do about it, aside from love the kid into pudding every chance he got and just be there. So he mowed the lawn and cooked and just hung out, and only went back to base when he had to.

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He found out that Kev loved action movies, but not whodunits, because he figured them out too easy. In turn, he let Kev in on the fact that he liked quirky movies by folks like David Lynch as much as he liked shoot ‘em ups. And westerns. Ross loved westerns. They disagreed on modern music, but agreed on vintage Motown. Kev liked Mexican food, which Ross loved, but also liked Thai and Vietnamese, which Ross was okay with, but not huge on. Ross liked burnt meat on the grill, which Kev was okay with, but, well… yeah. They were learning. He liked the way Kev smelled fresh out of the shower. Kev liked the way he smelled after he cut the grass. As summer waned they put a big old rocking porch swing out in the back yard and took to sitting together at night, watching the stars, and of course, watching the damned helicopters go over as Kev's house was right smack in the flight path. From Kev's house they could also hear the artillery practice, and Ross learned quick not to leave anything breakable on the edge of a shelf. All in all, it was good. He still hadn't convinced Kev he was gonna stay around, but they were learning. *** Ross rolled out of bed, stopping by the bathroom before wandering out to the kitchen to see where Kev was. Kid was hunched over his coffee, and Ross knew better to bother him when he was like that. If Kev got up and got the paper, he was okay. If he made coffee first, he was grouchy boy. Might as well go get the paper himself. 'Course that meant clothes, and he just didn't have too many besides his uniform. He went back and rummaged in Kev's chest of drawers and pulled on a t-shirt and some white cotton sleep pants that the kid never wore anymore. That made him grin, thinking aboutwhy the kid never dressed for bed these days. He still had that fuzzy old bathrobe, though, and Ross thought it was damned cute in the morning. He stepped outside to get the paper and was immediately soaked to the skin. Well, Hell. Looked like it was raining. Good thing it wasn't too cold. And of course, the damned paper delivery guy had thrown the damned thing under his truck, so he had to scramble around in the rain and get the damned thing. By the time he got back inside he was dripping worse than a frozen aspen in the spring. At least the newspaper was in a plastic bag. "Kev? Baby? Can you bring me a towel? It's raining." Better to stand there in the living room and drip than to track it all over the house. That all depended on Kev bringing him a towel, but it was worth a try. "Baby?" "I'm coming! Jeez." Oh, yeah, grumpy Kev. Maybe the crossword puzzle and daily cryptogram would cheer him up. "Well, I'm dripping on your floor, baby. So maybe you could get a move on?" "Here, here's your damned... oh." Kev stared at him like Kev'd never seen him before, and Ross looked down at himself to see why. Well. He guessed his outfit didn't leave much to the imagination, being thin white fabric that was all wet. Looked like Kev liked what he saw too, because his baby was awake now. Or at least parts of him

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were, Ross could tell that even through the bathrobe. "You want the paper? Or something else?" Ross spread his arms and turned a full circle, only to land against the front door with a breathless "oof" as he finished his rotation. "Fuck the paper," Kev said, as he pinned Ross in place with one hand and struggled out of one arm of his robe with the other. "I'd much rather you fucked me, baby." His baby bared his teeth and growled and it was the cutest damned thing he'd ever seen. Then Kevin was naked and cute didn't cut it anymore. Fucking breathtaking maybe. Goddamn, the kid made him hot. The paper hit the floor with a loud plop, and Ross reached around to grab Kev's butt, filling his hands with firm muscle and soft skin. Oh yeah. Hell yeah. Kev just moaned and pressed close for a kiss, warming Ross' cold chest, getting just as wet as Ross was. They kissed long, and hard, and Ross was sure he could feel Kevin's lips bruising under his. He broke the kiss when Kev sagged against him, needing air, and latched onto the side of Kev's neck, leaving a lurid hickey. Keening, Kevin reared back and started wrestling with Ross' shirt. "Off. Now." Ross helped, and they finally got the t-shirt up over his head and down his arms, but it stuck there, and Kevin made no move to help him get free of it. Matter of fact, the kid wasn't much help at all, because he shoved, and Ross stumbled, and he bounced off the door and went down on his knees on the floor. Kev dropped to his knees too, in front of Ross, and leaned forward to mouth his cock through the wet cotton covering his dick and Ross moaned, arching his hips. "Jesus, baby." He felt teeth then, followed by the rough scrape of Kev's unshaven chin and somehow the soaked cotton made it more erotic. Heightened the sensation. Soon it was too much for him, though, and he knew he had to feel Kev against his skin. "Baby. My pants. I can't... my arms are stuck." Looking up at him with hot eyes, Kevin yanked his pants down around his thighs, effectively tethering Ross' legs too. Then he went back to work, licking and nibbling and kissing Ross' cock from tip to base, killing him with tiny, gentle touches, then making him cry out with a deep bite to his inner thigh. "Suck me, baby. Please? You're killing me. Want you to suck me." "God, I love it when you do that." It came out as a whisper, then Kev braced his hands on Ross' thighs and took him in fast and deep, one long movement of lips and tongue. The top of his damned head was gonna come off any minute. His Kev was damned good at that, too damned good, and his hips moved as much as they could, shallow thrusts that made it worse instead of better. Ross thought he might just fucking die when Kev stepped up the pace, sucking strongly, making him crazy. He humped furiously, but that was all he could do. Couldn't touch Kev, couldn't wrap his arms or his legs around Kev and damn it drove him nuts when Kev took over like that, made his balls draw up, made his cock like fucking steel.

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"Gonna blow, baby." Kevin just hummed, and looked up at him with those big eyes and Ross felt like his spine was going to snap, he came so hard. Hard enough to whack his head against the door behind him and not even feel it. And Kev, shit, he just drank Ross down and then climbed up against him to kiss him, and to rub against Ross' belly until he came all over the damned place, which had Ross halfway to hard again in no time. Licking a trace of himself off his lips, Ross nudged Kevin with his shoulder. "No napping, baby. You gotta let me up before I get cramps. Let's go get a shower. Then I can make you breakfast while you nap, and then we can read the damned paper. Okay?" "Mmm. Sounds good." And it did. And it was. Ross was a lucky man.

Chapter Ten

"Ross? Have you seen my…oh."

Ross. Naked. In his bathroom. Shaving.

"Seen your what, baby?"

"Um. My, um." God. That was just. "Can I shave you sometime?"

"Depends on what you want to shave, Kev."

Those blue, blue eyes twinkled at him in the mirror, and Kev laughed right out loud. "Just your face. To start with."

"Sure."

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Oh wow. Now that was trust. "Cool. Have you seen my secret decoder ring? I'm giving a thing at the elementary school on codes and language."

"You are one of a kind, baby."

Kev grinned, and bounced and ogled. "I know."

*** "Kev? Baby? Did you know your kitchen sink leaks?" Kev's face appeared in the gap between the cabinet doors, the kid squatting off to one side of his hip. "Yeah. I never did get around to calling a plumber. What are you doing under there?" "Fixing it. Hand me the small pipe wrench will you?" Kev handed it over, staring at him. "You can fix that?" "Just needs a new O ring and some duct tape, baby." "Wow." Kev looked amazed. "I can see there are going to be some benefits to having you around." "I can change the oil in your car, too," he said, nudging Kev's leg with his. "Oooh. I'm keeping you." "Good

Chapter Eleven

Ross wasn't living with him. Wasn't. Not. His clothes and stuff were in Kev's closet, sure. And in the bathroom. Oh, and the kitchen was Ross approved. But that was it. Except Ross slept there most nights, and made him breakfast on the weekend and packed him those cool bag lunches during the week and ironed his shirts at the same time as Ross' uniforms. So it was like Ross lived there, except Kevin hadn't actually asked him. It wasn't like Ross pushed; he never mentioned it. Still, it made Kevin wonder sometimes if it didn't hurt Ross' feelings, or if he resented it.

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Mainly, Kevin just didn't want to ask. He'd gotten over the ohmyGodwhatamIdoing thing. Kinda. If Ross was going to leave him, it would hurt just as much if they lived together than it would if they didn't, because Kev had it so bad it hurt already. So. He just had to figure out how to say it. Which shouldn't be so hard on a Sunday afternoon, with Ross stretched out on his couch in nothing but a pair of cut-off sweats, feet hanging over the edge and bopping along in time to the Eagles. Ross had a surprisingly nice voice. Well, not so much surprising, because he liked the way Ross sounded when he talked. Kev just never thought of him singing before. And he was stalling. Kev opened his mouth. "Have you ever given any thought to fucking me, Ross?" Ross choked on his beer, and Kev clapped a hand over his mouth. Holy shit. Where did that come from? "Baby? I thought we were sorta sleeping together?" Ross got up, dabbing at the beer on his chest and belly (nice Ross, nice chest and belly) and staring at him like he'd lost it. Heck, maybe he had. "Well, yeah. But we haven't done it done it. You know? You've never, yeah. And I'm beginning to wonder if you want to. I mean, if that freaks you out, I can understand it, you know? I don't want you to do anything you don't want to. But I thought you might like it and…" He trailed off, because Ross was suddenly right there, putting a finger to his lips. "Oh, baby. You got no idea how much I want to. But I've pushed you a lot. You said so yourself, that I was always pushing. Didn't want to freakyou out." Oh. Those blue eyes were so serious, not laughing at him at all. Wow. "Okay. Well. I think we should." "Right now? No. You're all stiff and nervous and I'm not having any martyrs in bed with me, baby." Was he that… well. Maybe he was. Why on earth his brain decided to do that, now, he had no idea. "Okay. But soon?" "Yeah, baby. Soon." "Good." Ross' skin was warm, and damp from the beer, and tasted like sweat and hops. "You want to move in with me?"

The muscles under his cheek jumped, and he heard Ross take a deep breath. "Thought you'd never ask, baby." *** It took Ross about a week after he moved in to feel like Kev was relaxed enough to do the deed. Do the deed. Lord that made him feel like a fifteen year old kid, talking to Ken and Jed about the first time he

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got inside Betty McCluen at the Paonia contra dance. That's kinda what he felt like, though. Kev was gonna let him. In all the time they'd been together, they'd used hands and mouths and they'd rubbed off a lot, and fingers and such had gone all over, but he'd never gotten to be inside his baby, and he was going to be now. He should probably be more excited about moving in, but he already felt like he had when Kev let him rearrange all sorts of stuff to fit him. This, well, this felt more like trust than letting him park his toothbrush in the bathroom. So he went and got condoms, though really that was kinda a moot point after the sucking and swallowing, even if they both were clean. He figured that showed a willingness on his part to think ahead, and Lord knew he did care enough to do his part for that. Kev would probably be more comfortable with it the first time if he wrapped it up, too. And he got lube. One disadvantage to men was they didn’t make their own lube, but since the advantages far outweighed that he would overlook it. So. Candlelight dinner. Rubbers. Lube. He figured he was ready. Now if Kev would just show up from work, he would be good. By the time Kev walked in the door, Ross was ready to bust just thinking about it, and dinner was a little tough from sitting in the oven to stay warm. Damn. His baby looked so tired. Maybe they'd just skip it. "Hey, baby." Kev smiled at him, dark eyes lighting up, and Ross was damned glad he was there. "Hi. Man, that was a long day. Ooh, dinner smells good." Kev's face fell. "I was late. I didn't ruin it did I? I mean, I know some things don't re-heat well, and I didn't mean to be late but there was a lock down and this message was repeating all over in weird colors on every screen and I'm sorry if I ruined it." The only way to stop babble of that caliber was to kiss it away, so that's what Ross did, leaning down to brush his lips against Kev's. "No, you didn't, and damn, that sounds rotten, and go change while I dish up." That got him another one of those blinding grins. "'Kay." That sweet little butt looked good in chinos, and Ross watched it disappear before heading to the kitchen to light candles and dish up chicken Kiev. His baby came back out in a pair of obnoxious plaid sleep pants and a UNC t-shirt. "Oh. Wow. Candles." "Yeah." Oh, here was a chance to disprove premeditation. "You looked like you needed something special." "Thanks." Kev gave him a quick hug, and they settled to eat. God, he was a sap, if he even liked to watch the kid munch overdone chicken. Ross let it go until well after dinner. In fact, he let it go until he did the dishes and Kev napped a little in front of the TV. Then, and only then, did he figure it was a good time. Kev was all warm and snuggly against him, pure sleepy sex kitten and he went from zero to hard as a rock at the thought of what he'd

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been trying not to think about. "Mmm. Hi." Big, dark eyes blinked up at him from under floppy bangs, and Ross grinned, thinking how old he suddenly felt. Hell, he felt as old as Jed. Which made him snort. Like Jed was ancient and Kev was a baby. "Are you laughing at me?"

"Nope. Just thinking about Jed." Kev grinned, a wicked twinkle in his eye. "And it gave you wood? I'm worried." Laughing right out loud, Ross smacked Kev's butt through his flannel pants. "One of these days I'm gonna get you for being a smart-ass." "Promise?" Then Kev looked at him, all serious. "You've got me already." "Yeah. And I'm ready to have you." There was a hitch in Kev's breathing as that sunk in. "Yeah? Because I am so ready." "Good. Let's take this to the bed?" Nodding, Kev clambered off him and yanked him right up off the couch, tugging him into the bedroom at warp speed. Damn, but his baby was hot, because as soon as they got in there Kev was tugging at his sweats and tank, getting him naked and pulling at his cock and he had to slow this down or it was all gonna be over way too fast. "Whoa, baby. Slow down." He grabbed those fast hands and kissed each one in turn, pulling Kev close and kissing his mouth too. "Let me get you naked, okay?" "Okay." Pouty, kiss-swollen lips and big brown eyes dominated Kev's face, and shit but that made him throb. "Okay." T-shirt and pants went fast, and Kev's cock was right there and he had to touch it a bit, so he guessed he could understand what Kev was all about a few minutes before. You just had to touch and feel and smell and, yeah. Bed. They moved on his cue, Kev following him, flowing with him like water. Little noises were already coming from his baby. Soft words about how good he felt. Kev babble. Made him hot as Hell. They got stretched out on the bed and they rocked together, kissing like teenagers, hands moving all over. That little bubble butt finally got him, and he grabbed it, squeezing hard, fingertips sliding in to the crease. Kev moaned and wiggled and bit him, right on the shoulder, and Ross knew the foreplay was probably over. "Baby? How do you want to do this? How would be more comfortable for you?"

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Kev kissed him hard on the mouth. "Those would be two entirely different things." "What?" He frowned and Kev grinned, and he figured this was not the time for jokes. Maybe it showed on his face, because Kev kissed him again, and again, sobering. "I just mean I'd be most comfortable on my hands and knees but I want to see you, so I'm going to be on my back. 'Kay?" And just like that Kev rolled away, spreading out on the bed on his back, legs falling open wide. "You said you got lube, right?" "Yeah." Fuck, but that almost left him speechless. Lube, rubbers, Kevin; he was ready. Those long legs moved restlessly, causing Kev's butt to rise and fall, Kev's cock bobbing, and it hit him that he was really gonna do this and Kev was gonna let him and it just seemed unbearably intimate. "Fingers." "Huh?"

"You gotta put fingers in me, Ross. Get me ready." That wicked twinkle was back. Lord, his baby was a hot one when he forgot to blush and worry. "I know that, smart-mouth." And he did. The lube was right there, and he opened it and got his fingers wet, pushing one gently into Kev. Hot and tight, that little hole just pulling at him. Kev pulled his legs back and everything shifted and showed and Ross moaned, moving his finger in and out as Kev opened for him so easy and right. So trusting. The second finger slid in just as easy, and Kev moaned and squirmed and pushed and babbled some more. "Ross. Ooh. Now. That's enough. I need. In me. Please?" It didn't feel like enough. He wasn't exactly small, and Kev felt tiny. "You sure, baby?" "Yes. Please. Very, like now." He could do now. His cock could have done it yesterday, from the feel of it, like he'd been hard forever. He reached for the condom and Kev kicked at him. "Don't be a doof, Ross." He laughed. So much for him making Kev feel better. But his baby had a point. They were both clean. They both knew it, could both prove it. So he went with it, just squirted out more lube and got himself as slick as he could stand without coming all over and got good and lined up, pushing into the tightest, hottest place he'd ever been in his life. Kev's face was all screwed up when he looked down, but in that hoo boy sort of way, not the oh, ow way so Ross figured he was doing okay. Better than okay. Jesus, he was gonna just explode. He stayed still, real still, just trying to take it all in until he realized Kev was moving, humping himself up and back, fucking himself on Ross' cock. That just sent Ross flying, a low groan forcing itself out of him as he started moving, hips rolling as he pushed in and out.

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"Ross! Good. So good." Kev was panting, petting him, tearing at the sheets, making some serious noise. Just going as crazy beneath him as he was on top, and they started just smacking together, no rhythm or finesse, just need. "Baby." "Touch me. Please. Your hand, Ross. I need, please, touch." Oh. Hell yes. It never even occurred to him. Ross braced himself on one arm and touched Kev with the other, grabbing that long cock and jerking furiously as he thrust and he actually saw Kev's eyes roll back as his baby just whimpered and gave it up, hot spunk spilling over his fingers. "Fuck! Kev..." Yeah. A few more sharp thrusts and Ross was coming too, Kev's hole tight around him, the top of his head just flying right off it was so good. Scary good. They flopped together, breathing hard, and Kev giggled. "Wow." "Hell, yes." Kev petted his back, drawing patterns in the damp sweat there, kissing him clumsily. "Welcome home, Ross." Shit. The kid was gonna be the death of him. Or at least of his tomcatting reputation, 'cause he surely was in love. "Thanks, baby." Chapter Twelve

"Hello?" Kev answered the phone absently, eyes still glued to his acrostic. "Hey. May I speak to Ross, please?" Kevin was speechless for a long moment, never having had anyone call for Ross at his house. Their house. "Uh. He's not in right now. Can I take a message?" "Sure." The voice reminded him of Ross, in both tone and accent. "Could you tell him Jed called?" "Sure. You want him to give you a call back?" "You bet." There was a pause, and a chuckle, and then, "So you must be Kev, huh?"

"Yep. And you're the gay brother." Oh God. He could beat himself over the head with the phone for saying something so stupid. It didn't seem to bother Jed, though. In fact, it earned him a deep, rich laugh. "That'd be me. Nice to meet you Kevin."

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"You too." Right. Polite. Normal. Not stupid. He could do that. "He treating you good?" What did he say to that? "Uh…" "Yeah, I know, none of my business, right? Well, it's good to know you exist for real, Kev. Tell him to give me a holler." "Okay," he said weakly. "Bye." The line went dead, and Kev stared at it for long moments. Lord help him if he ever met Ross' family face to face. He would become a complete blithering idiot.

***

"Jed called."

"Yeah?" Ross didn't really care, what with Kev half on his lap and them kissing to beat the band. But he could at least act like he did.

"Yeah. I called him your gay brother."

That made him laugh and squeeze Kev tighter. "Well, Hell, baby. He is. Ken now, you called him that he'd hunt you down and kill you."

"Is it nice?"

"Is what nice, baby?" Ross stroked circles on Kev's back, and Kev's head drooped to his shoulder hiding those hole in the blanket eyes.

"Having brothers."

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"Oh." Poor kid sounded downright sad. "Mostly. Sometimes you just want to kill them." Lord knew he and Jed and Ken fought often enough.

"Will you tell me stories sometime?"

"Sure, baby. But I'd much rather kiss now."

Kev bit him, teeth sharp and lips hot at the base of his throat. "Me too." Chapter Thirteen

Ross' kisses were like dark chocolate, creamy and sweet, but with a sharp edge. They bruised Kevin's lips, stole his breath, and yet they could gentle him, make him warm and safe and happy. They were exchanging kisses, had been for almost a half hour, necking Ross called it. Kevin just laughed and told him that was an old-fashioned term. And what did Ross say? "I'm an old fashioned man," of course. It was good, though. Then Ross had latched onto his neck and sucked, hard enough to sting, enough to bring blood up and suddenly it wasn't so leisurely. Was more, oh man, yeah. Right there. All of a sudden the clothes they still had on were too scratchy and hot and just making it way too hard to get to Ross' skin. "Clothes," he said, gasping against the pressure of Ross' teeth on his collarbone. "Bed. C'mon baby. Let's go get down to business." "Did you talk to your women that way, too?" Ross laughed, warm and sure, just like the hands that pulled Kev to his feet and lifted him to carry him to the bedroom. "Nah. That's one of the great pleasures of fucking a man, baby. Don't have to worry about being crude." Floating. That's what it was like when Ross carried him. Felt kinda girly, but damn it was nice. Not so nice when Ross dumped him on the bed, but that was made up by Ross struggling out of his own clothes and attacking Kevin's. Ross got the lube out of the bedside table and came down on top of him, one hand cradling his head, the other smoothing along his body. The kiss was hot, hotter than hot. Ross just opened Kevin up and poured himself inside. Not just lips and tongue but his *desire* for Kevin. His need. It made him crazy. He traced the strong planes of Ross'

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back with his fingers, the hard muscles in his shoulders and arms, the ropey muscles covering his ribs. Then he pulled a Ross and grabbed a double handful of ass, squeezing hard. "Oh yeah, baby. Just like that." Kevin did some biting of his own, closing his teeth around one hard little nipple, and Ross moaned. That sound was so good that he had to do it again, and Ross ground down into Kevin's thigh, grunting his pleasure. "Want you to fuck me, baby." Was that the sound made when all the air in the room was sucked out? That ringing noise? Kevin went absolutely still under Ross and looked at him with wide eyes. "What? What's wrong, Kev?" "Have you ever? I mean, it hurts the first time. And I..." "Shh. Baby. I hate to bust your bubble, but I have done that before." "But you said. No men before. And I thought." Ross kissed him hard to shut him up, propping himself up on his elbows to look down at him. "That's what strap-ons are for, Kev. You'll still be the first man I've ever been with in any way." "Strap-ons?" Squeaking was something he really, really needed to get over. Made him sound like a thirteen year old during voice change. "Yeah." A warm, calloused hand closed around his cock, pumping it back to full hardness. "But no way can a cold dildo compare to this, baby. Want this in me." "O-okay."

Lube. Right. Lube, fingers in Ross' ass. Oh wow. Tight. So tight. He was going to hurt Ross for sure, and Ross insisted on being on his back so he could see and Kevin's brain went rabbit rabbit rabbit, and he finally stopped himself and looked at Ross. Really looked. Kevin had three fingers buried in Ross' body and Ross was just loving it, pushing up with his hips, total body flush going, legs spread, feet planted. He really wanted this. So Kev gave it to him, sliding in carefully, feeling like he might just die from it, and it was the best place he'd ever been. Ever. Hot and tight, so tight and he wasn't going to last, was just going to shoot every bit of come he had in him into Ross' ass, and Ross opened his eyes, dazed, hot blue, and smiled. "Gonna come soon, baby. Fuck me good and hard." Did he ever. All conscious thought went out the door, and he snapped his hips, fucking Ross with a brutal, desperate need. His soft noises blended with Ross' hoarse, deep sounds and they worked toward it together, pushing as hard as they could. Ross came first, just groaned and exploded without Kev even touching his cock and it was too much. And just enough. He came hard enough to see stars on his closed eyelids.

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When they came down they were sticky and sore and happy. Ross had enough brainpower left to clean them up, but Kev was just gone. And somewhere, in the back of his mind, a little possessive voice said, "Me. I had him first." And that was a damned good feeling. ***

"What the Hell is wrong with you, baby?" Kevin was pretty much not talking to him, stalking to the truck, ignoring him. Lord above, sometimes that boy was worse than a skittish pony. You never knew what was going to set him off. They were having a pizza and some beer at Z's, playing songs on the jukebox and talking when a pretty girl came along, flirting with Kev like there was no tomorrow. Once she realized he was going to remain stubbornly oblivious she turned her wiles on Ross, who flirted back with amusement. She finally took off in search of greener pastures, leaving Ross grinning. Until he realized that his baby was in a champion snit. They got into the truck and Ross put the keys in the ignition, but he turned to Kev instead of starting her up. "Okay, baby. What?" Oh, that little crossed-armed, pouty-lipped look was edible. Not that he'd ever tell Kev that. "Just wondering if you'd rather go home with her than with me." "Who?" Then the light dawned. "What? With Lauren the cheerleader? Baby, she was there for you, not me." "Yeah. Right.' "Yes. She was. And when she figured you weren't going to play, she flirted with me a bit. That's all." "No, flirting is subtle. That was about as subtle as the proverbial ton of bricks." "Baby, you've got no reason to be jealous." "I am not jealous!" The words rang loud in the cab of the truck, bouncing off the windshield like bullets. Kev jumped, surprised and continued in a tiny voice. "She was just really pretty." Time to play a little hardball. Lunging across the bench seat, Ross pulled Kevin up onto his lap sideways, manhandling them both so that he sat with his feet firmly planted, spreading Kevin's legs with his, holding his baby with one arm around the chest. He opened Kev's jeans with his free hand, pulling out that pretty cock and stroking it hard, pulling and pumping until it was fully erect. Lowering his voice to a growl Ross pressed his lips to Kevin's ear. "Does this look like I want to go home with somebody else, Kev? Does it feel like it?" Pulling Kev back and down, Ross arched his hips up into Kevin's sweet little ass, grinding hard. Too hard, maybe, just like his grip, which was bound to leave bruises, but he figured it might get his point across. And it wasn't like Kev minded. The kid let his head fall back against Ross' shoulder, baring his

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throat, and moaned, shaking his head. "Didn't think so. I'm yours, baby. Just like you're mine. Got it?" The cock in his hand jumped and twitched and Kev pressed tighter against him, gasping for breath. "Yours." "Yeah. Mine." Nuzzling Kevin's collar aside, Ross put his lips to that soft, pale skin and sucked hard, bringing up a lurid mark, pumping Kevin's cock in time with the movements of his lips and tongue. Kev went nuts, humping his hand, rubbing back against his lap, struggling with an overload of sensation and Ross just kept at him, biting and sucking at that same hot spot on Kevin's neck, pumping and rubbing that sweet cock, really giving him what for. "You going to give me any more shit about who I want to go home with?" A frantic shake of the head was all he got; Kev was beyond speech aside from the gasping pleas for "more" and the affirmation "yours." Satisfied, Ross bit down hard on Kev's neck, squeezing tight with his fingers at the same time, and Kevin just lost it, all over his hand, all over the dashboard of the truck. Ross himself was shaking, every muscle in his body screaming for him to take Kev now, just push him up and open his jeans and let him have it, but it would be better if he could wait until they got home. Better if he could spread Kevin out on their bed and mark him all over. Near his nipple, on his belly, on the inside of one thigh. Hotter. And more useful as a way to prove his point. Because every time his baby moved for the next few days he'd remember who he belonged to. And hopefully that it was a two way street.

Chapter Fourteen

They fought over it again, of course. Well, not fought. But Kev accused Ross of flirting and Ross got mad, and they went to bed angry for the first time. Or Ross went to bed angry and Kev went to bed worried and hurt and wondering why he just couldn't believe Ross when the man said he wasn't going to go anywhere. It didn't help that Ross had been really snarly lately, anyway, for a few weeks at least, and the only reason Ross could give him was that he didn't feel one hundred percent. Kev just figured that was a nice way of saying, "I 'm not feeling the love anymore, baby." Which was really paranoid, but there it was. His paranoia was only slightly lessened by Ross waking him up with a kiss at the crack of dawn. "Gotta go, baby. I'm sorry I yelled at you last night. I just don't feel worth a damn. Got early maneuvers. See you back here late tonight, okay?" "Okay. Wait. Kiss me one more time." Ross kissed him, nice and slow, and it was really good and hot. Kev frowned. Too hot.

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"Ross? You feel really hot. You should go to the doctor, maybe." "Nah. I'm all right, Kev. I'll see you tonight." Some little spike of uneasiness prompted him to a childish, "Promise?" "Promise." Another kiss and Ross was gone, and Kev stayed in bed for a little while staring at the ceiling, then he hauled his butt up and went to work. He'd yell at Ross later for being a stubborn poop head. When eleven p.m. rolled around, and there was still no Ross, Kev was willing to forgo the poop head in favor of asshole. Where the Hell was he? It was bad enough they still had unresolved stuff going on, and that Kev had eaten canned ravioli for dinner instead of something yummy, but now he was really starting to worry. Not that Ross was leaving him, because it was stupid to think that the man would go off and move back to base without his pictures of his mom and his quilt, but that Ross was hurt or sick or lying in a ditch someplace. And it wasn't like he could call Ross at work. Because for all they knew Ross didn't have a roommate, and it wasn't like he could say, "Oh, I'm his boyfriend, have him call me." The maneuvers were probably just running long. If they were doing touch and goes, or even HALO jumping, Ross might not be home until morning. So maybe he should just get over himself and get some sleep. That was the hazard of living with an Army jump instructor, right? Right. Of course, he slept on the couch. Badly. Because he didn't mean to fall asleep at all. He meant to stay up and wait for Ross, but somewhere around two am, in the middle of a documentary on code talkers, he fell asleep.

He woke up about six, and there was no Ross. No Ross in the bathroom, no Ross in the bedroom, no voicemail, no note. Something had to have happened, and that was irony for you, because no way no day did Kev believe Ross was out with someone else, or leaving him, even with their arguing and frustration. The man would tell him if he was, and take that picture of his mom with him, and oh God, Ross wasn't feeling good. What if he'd gotten hurt, or was really sick?

Kevin actually picked up the phone to call Ross' Division before thinking about what he would say. Right. He should call Ross' cell first. If he was still working it would be turned off, but there was a chance. No answer, and Kev didn't bother to leave a voicemail. This was going to drive him crazy.

Maybe he could call and say he was Ross' brother. Except, well, Ross' brother wouldn't have a southern accent from Hell, would he? So that was out. Kev pondered. But maybe Ross' brother could call. Bouncing up off the couch, Kev went for Ross' little black book, which was actually a big camo book, a gift from one of Ross' nephews, and dialed Jed Thatcher's number.

"'Lo?"

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Oops. Six am his time? Was about four mountain time, as Jed was in Colorado, and it sounded like he'd woken the guy up.

"Um. Jed?"

There was a snort and a clunk and a distinct "ow" and then, "Hello?"

Oh. Crap. He'd woken Jed and Jed's… boyfriend? Lover? Bed-sharing person.

"Uh. Hi. Jed? This is Kevin O'Donnell. Ross', umm…" Yeah. Bed-sharing person.

"Oh, hey." God, Jed sounded just like Ross. Sleep-rough and deep, that voice, and the tone sounded just like it was perfectly reasonable that Ross' boyfriend should be waking him at four am. Must be a Thatcher thing.

"Hi. Um. Ross didn't come home last night. And I was wondering if you could call his Division and see. I mean, he wasn't feeling well, and I can't just call and ask and I know you can, even though it's really early and I'm sorry I woke you up but I'm really worried about him and I need to know what's going on, you know?"

"Whoa. Hold up." Jed sounded a little more awake. "Sure he's not just out on maneuvers?"

"Well, he said it was just touch and goes and he would be back by late last night, and he was running a fever, and he was kinda grumpy." God, he sounded like an idiot.

"Okay. You just sit tight. I'll call his work up and find out what's what."

"'Kay."

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They hung up, and Kev marveled at the whole Thatcher clan. Really. Because that was very cool of Jed, not to blast him for this. Maybe if Ross stuck around Kev would get used to it and just deal, because, hello, Army guy here, but he was too worried this time to care that he was a wuss. Kev paced, running through a terrible word game in his head, trying not to do word association instead like Ross and plane crash or something and he thought about turning on the news but he was a coward. When the phone rang about twenty minutes later he leapt for it, heart thumping.

"Hey, Kev?"

"Yeah?"

"I talked to his CO. He's in the infirmary on base."

"Oh, God." He sat with a thump. There had been an accident and Ross was hurt and maybe dying, he just knew it.

"So I called the infirmary and talked to him."

"Oh…" Kev thought he might faint with relief. God, he was a doof.

Jed chuckled. "Sorry, kid, didn't mean to scare you. Anyway, he's gonna be okay, but they're doing surgery first thing this morning, so you might want to go see him when he gets out."

"Wait. Surgery what?" He was going to strangle Jed if he ever met him. He was worse than Ross with the infuriating.

"Oh, shit. Sorry, Kev, I haven't had any coffee. His appendix is coming out. It's appendicitis. Anyway, I asked him if he wanted me to come on out and he told me no way in Hell, he was counting on you to take care of you in his hour of need."

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"Oh." He said it faintly, relief and anger and a goofy sort of pride that Ross knew he could count on him making him lightheaded. "So. Um. Am I supposed to call him?"

"Yeah. He's in a room down there. He's kinda drugged up right now. But he'll be out of surgery by no later than ten. Look, you keep us posted, okay? And don't be surprised if my mom calls, or my brother Ken."

"Um. Okay."

"Lemme give you my cell phone." He took Jed's cell number and they talked a few minutes more and Kevin got the distinct impression that Jed thought he was in shock and was kinda afraid to let him go. Which he was, so it was good. When he got off the phone he went and made himself a cup of tea with lots of sugar, and sat at the kitchen table, planning what to pack besides Ross' toothbrush.

***

Ross woke up in what he was supposed was the infirmary, sore as Hell and fuzzy as three-month-old cheese. They kept telling him the drugs were necessary to keep him still and quiet and pain free so he could heal. He just figured they drugged him up so they didn't have to listen to him bitch.

There were flowers by his bed, a fact that gave his roomies in the big bay no end of amusement. Two privates, a sergeant and some LT who looked like he didn't even shave yet, and every last one of them gave him shit about being a momma's boy, since the huge bouquet of sprayed OD-green carnations was from his mom. Lord have mercy that woman had a terrible sense of humor.

Kev would be there to pick him up soon, and boy was he looking forward to going home with his baby. He was sick to death of not being able to touch, and of having to watch what he said. Besides, he had an apology or two to make if Kev's recent mood was any indication, not for being sick, of course, but for not telling Kev he really wasn't feeling good and for not going to the doctor. That was what he got for ignoring a low-grade fever and that itching and burning, and okay stabbing pain in his side, but man, he hated to go to the damned doctor. The worst thing about it, in his estimation, was that he promised to come home to the kid and ended up breaking that promise, and for that he had some sucking up to do.

"Hey, Ross."

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Speak of the Devil. "Hey, Kev."

"You ready to get out of here? I brought you clothes."

"Hell, yes. Let's do it."

There was much wrangling with the clothes, and much joking from his erstwhile roommates while he struggled to get into the wheelchair they were hauling his ass out in, but Ross ignored it all while the Doc signed him out, happy as buck farting sage. Home sounded so damned good he could hardly stand it.

They got him out an into the truck and Ross managed to stay upright, mostly, though he couldn't drive like he wanted to, and it hurt to laugh, so watching Kev struggle with his stick shift was troublesome. When they got all parked in the driveway and Kev came around to help him out of the passenger side, Ross grinned and stayed right where he was.

"C'mere, Kev."

Kevin leaned into the cab. "What? Are you having trouble? I can mmfh."

Oh yeah. That was what he needed. Kevin kisses. Perfect.

When his baby pulled back he was all flushed, lips swollen, expression mutinous. "You're not well enough for that."

"No one ever keeled over from a kiss, baby. And I missed you something fierce."

That got him a quick smile and sweet blush. "I missed you too. I was worried."

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"I know."

They got him inside and he put his foot down about going to the bed. He'd had enough of bed. So Kev put him on the couch and got him a blanket, refused him a beer, and helped him get his shoes off and get settled. Then Kev stood there, shifting from foot to foot and staring at him.

"Get your ass over here, baby. I want to snuggle."

"But. I could hurt you." Poor baby, he looked so nervous and upset and Ross knew the best way to soothe was physical contact.

"Well then, you come here and sit behind me and let me rest on you. Bet that would keep me much warmer than this blanket."

"Okay." Still looking suspicious, Kev did just that, sliding in behind him, holding him loosely. Felt so good. He petted whatever he could reach, Kev's arm, his leg, and Kev sighed and relaxed under him, kissing his neck lightly.

"Anything we need to talk about, Kev? Aside from me being sorry for being such a stubborn cuss and not going to the doctor? And not coming home like I promised?"

"You should have gone to the doctor. But you know? It's funny. I knew something was wrong. Because even though we went to bed mad? I knew you were coming home. I just knew it."

That was all there was to say about that, wasn't it? "Damn straight, baby. Damn straight." Chapter Fifteen

"C'mon, baby. It's a gorgeous day out there. Let's go play."

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Bare toes reached out and grabbed the hair on his legs, making Kevin look up from his book of cryptograms. He squinted at the window and frowned. "There's sun out there." Ross must be feeling better. Well, Kev knew he was, had found that out in bed several times in the last week. "Yeah. That's part of the beautiful day part, Kev." "Yuck." Nope. Not even for feeling better Ross. With a put upon sigh, Ross heaved himself to his feet. "Fine. You mind if I pull the truck around to the back and wash it, then? It really needs it." Ross still asked the weirdest questions. Because, you know, he lived there. "Sure." It came out distracted as Kev buried his nose in his puzzle again. He knew Ross was bored, but he really liked the little bit of time he got to spend doing his puzzles and drinking coffee on Sunday morning. There was no other day that he could start out just sitting around in his boxer shorts, doing whatever he wanted. He wasn't going to let Ross being a morning person and an outdoorsy type stop him from having his geek time. Losing himself in his jumble of letters was easy, and it was probably an hour later when his butt fell asleep, and the uncomfortable sensation made him get up and move. Besides, his coffee was cold. The kitchen window was open and he heard Ross whistling a jaunty tune, so he looked out, and oh. Oh God. Sometimes he wondered if Ross was real. Really really real and not just a figment of his imagination. No one who looked that good could possibly his. Not that he ever told Ross that because then Ross would whap his ass and call him a doofus, which, come to think of it, had its good points. The butt whapping. Not the doofus part. But oh. Barefoot and bare-chested, Ross wore a pair of jeans so old they were white in places. The most interesting places. They rode low on his hips and when he leaned over the hood of the truck to scrub, Kevin got a view of the smooth, smooth skin at the base of Ross' spine, just at the top of his ass. Made Kev's knees all squooshy. And made his dick not squooshy. Just the opposite. The sight drew him outside like his very own true north, and he stopped on the way out to get a bottle of water to take to Ross. That way he'd have an excuse. Ross would laugh at that, say that fucking was its own excuse, but Kevin was still too new at all of this to just lay it out like that. But he had to touch that skin, had to feel it under his fingers. Ross was humming along to the truck radio in his surprisingly melodious voice, so he didn't hear Kevin coming. Which made Kevin grin and stick his cold water bottle right against the hollow at the base of that long spine. Quicker than blink Ross turned and sprayed him full on with the hose, both of them bellowing in shock. "Jesus, kid!" Ross started laughing, and that made Kevin chuckle, figuring he must look like a drowned rat. "Sorry." "Sure you are." Ross looked him over, nude except for his boxers, his very wet transparent boxers, and his eyes went hot. "You come out to help? Or just taunt me with that?" "I came to bring you a drink."

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"Well," Ross said, tossing the hose aside. "Wasn't that considerate of you, baby." "I thought so." Not whimpering. Not gonna. Nope, nope. Not even when Ross stepped up and put his hands on Kevin's waist and stripped those boxers right off of him. In the backyard! In full daylight! "Um, Ross? Is this a good idea?" "Sure seems like one to me." Worn denim rubbed against his bare skin and Kevin moaned. "Well, yeah. But I mean here, out in the open." "That's what you have a privacy fence for baby." God. The man was just an expert at anything sex. Even if he'd never done it before, like the blowjob thing, Ross was good at it. But his kisses! Oh, man, they were a work of art. Somewhere there was a perfect world, a nirvana, where all Kevin would ever have to do was kiss Ross Thatcher. Being naked out in the sunlight felt illicit. Even more so because Ross was still clothed, and while it made him self-conscious, it also aroused him to the point of pain. He gave himself to the kiss with everything he had, felt Ross wrap big hands around his ass, and just rode it. When Ross tugged and turned, Kevin went with it, and suddenly he was face down against the hood of the truck. "Ross? What?" "Shhh." Stroking his back, Ross shushed him. "S'okay, Kev. Just let me get out of these damned jeans. Somehow or other they're too tight." Hearing but not seeing as Ross struggled out of his jeans made Kevin squirm. The image in his mind's eye of his own body spread against the front of the truck didn't help. Pale and scrawny and oooh, God. Ross rubbed against Kevin's ass and leaned in to bite the nape of his neck and he forgot all about self-consciousness. Forgot everything but how that hard, sun-warmed body and even harder, hotter cock felt against him. "You didn't bring the lube, did you?" Ross sounded both amused and vaguely accusing and Kevin would've loved to answer but the hot whisper against his ear made him whimper instead, which made Ross chuckle. "Guess I'll just have to make my own." Before he could even imagine what the heck that meant, Ross was sliding down his legs and spreading his ass with big hands and holy moly! That couldn't be right, could it? Certainly not sanitary. And where the heck did Ross learn this stuff? Because Kevin had been gay a lot longer and he'd heard of it but never, ever done it and oooooh God. Ross' tongue. Right there. In and out, wetting his hole and all of the little nerve endings there screamed Ross' name right along with his vocal chords. "Oh no you don't, baby. Not yet." Ow! Ross pulled at his balls, bringing him back from the edge of orgasm and a spit slick finger joined the tongue doing really unspeakably good things to his ass and Kevin could barely stand up, let alone stand still and he knew he was going to start begging any minute. Or maybe he already was. He was that far gone. Finally, finally, Ross stood, and put an arm around his chest, cushioning him from the hard metal in front of him. "You ready, Kev?"

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"God! yes. Please. Ross..." And Ross was in. Hot and hard and almost unbearably huge, but it felt so good. Not gentle at all, just a long, hard slide, right into his gut and nothing ever felt like that. Ever. It took no time to set a rhythm, Ross' hips slapping against his ass, balls swinging, his own hard cock begging for something, anything and Ross knew, he always seemed to have this impeccable timing, because he grabbed Kevin's dick and started pumping in time with his thrusts. It didn't last long. Ross made him feel like a teenager all over again, because the first time never lasted long, and when Ross changed the angle and stabbed up into him, Kevin threw back his head and yelled, coming so hard he saw stars. Biting hard into his shoulder, that was going to leave a mark, he thought, Ross came too, spilling inside him with rough, jerky thrusts. They rested like that for a while, then Ross moved them both, getting the hose and rinsing them off, along with the truck. Then he grinned at Kevin. "Well. We played. Now we ought to go inside and clean up a bit. What do you say? How about a shower?" The man was insatiable. But Kevin grinned and tried to ignore his pleased blush. "Sounds like a good idea." "Yeah. It does." Chapter Sixteen

"Where are we going?"

Ross grinned over at Kev as they went speeding down the highway. He'd deliberately waited to spring it on Kev until it was too late to turn back. "Rockingham."

"Why would we go there?" Those big eyes were confused, but then they widened comically. "Oh, no! We are not going to the speedway. No way. Uh uh."

"Why not?" Damn, but those chuckles were trying to get out.

"Because that's like, a redneck thing to do. I don't like cars. I don't like watching cars go round and round."

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"But I do. And if it makes me happy it will make you happy, right?"

A derisive snort was his answer. "That applies to sex and ice cream. Not rubbing shoulders with people who think UFOs visited them at the trailer park."

"Meow." Laughter spilled out. "I'll buy you Hardees."

"Be still my heart."

"Okay, baby. You do this and next week we do what you want."

"Anything?"

A tiny qualm popped up, but he squashed it. "Anything."

That cream licking cat smile made him worried as Hell. Lord, the speedway had better be worth whatever that kid was gonna spring on him. Kev nodded. "Deal."

***

Kev bounced out of bed on Saturday morning, grinning at a sleepy Ross, which was a nice change. Time for Ross to pay up, even though Kev had enjoyed the speedway. Not that he would admit it. Because ew.

Ross got up and headed out to make breakfast and Kev grabbed him and kissed him. "No. Get dressed. Put on good walking shoes."

"Mmm. Can't we stay home and snuggle, baby." Oh, no fair. Ross was all big blue eyes and rugged grin

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and naked. Did he mention the naked?

"We could, but I want to go to the kid's museum."

"The science and learning center?"

He beamed. "Yes."

Ross nodded and bussed his cheek. "Okay. You want Hardee's biscuits I take it?"

"Yes." Ross was wonderful. He really was. But sometimes Kevin wished Ross would whine a little like he did so he didn't feel so guilty when he did it. "Could you maybe complain, just a little?"

"I could." Grabbing him, Ross kissed him silly. "But I get to spend a whole day with you. I'm not gonna complain."

"Oh." Blushing, grinning, Kev kissed Ross back, hoping to make Ross just as silly. "Cool." Chapter Seventeen

"Hey, baby. 'Bout time you got home." Kevin made a face at him and dropped his grocery bags on the kitchen counter. Ross just smiled and started rummaging. "I stopped and did some shopping." "Hey. Cupcakes. Cool." "Yeah. And those are for after dinner!" Snatching the cupcakes, Kevin retreated, putting them in the fridge. He liked them cold so the frosting peeled off in one big layer. Ross thought it was cute. "Okay, okay. What's for dinner?" "Whatever you cook. I got the cupcakes." Laughing, Ross quickly and efficiently put the groceries away. Took no time at all now that he'd gotten

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Kev to stop moving things to the back an letting them spoil. Putting away the gallon of milk last, Ross wiped his hand on his jeans and straightened. "Well if I'm cooking then dinner can wait about, oh, half an hour." Before he finished talking he was backing away toward the bedroom, pleased as punch when Kevin followed without thinking about it. "Yeah?" "Yeah. Or maybe an hour." He pulled his shirt off over his head. "I did some shopping on my way home too, lover." He started on his jeans, loving the way Kevin's eyes followed his hands, putting on a show wiggling out of the washed-thin denim. "What'd you get?" "C'mere and see." Ending just where he's planned to, Ross stood beside the bed and waited for Kevin to come to him. And he did, pulling off his clothes as he did, baring that long body to Ross' appreciative gaze. Oh yeah. That was just what he needed. Now he just had to wait to spring the trap. "Come here and kiss me, Kev." Obedient, eager, Kevin joined him at the bedside, putting his hands on Ross' hips and kissing him in the sweet earnest way he had. Sliding one hand around to that amazing ass, Ross pulled him close and kissed him deep and hard, fucking Kev 's mouth with his tongue. The kiss went on and on and Kevin was distracted just like he planned, so much that he didn't even notice the cuff Ross snapped around his wrist until it was too late.

Kevin's reaction wasn't exactly what Ross planned though. Kid went absolutely still for a minute and then exploded into action, struggling against Ross' embrace fiercely, making them both stagger. They went over, and Ross directed their downward rush to toward the bed and wham. His baby was shouting too, yelling his head off. "Lemmegolemmegolemmego! Get it off! Let ME GO!" "Okay. Okay baby, just hold still." Trying to hold an eel like Kevin long enough to take the cuff off and not hurt him was tough, but Ross did it. Finally. And just like that, Kevin went limp, breathing like he'd run a four-minute mile. Cautious, but unable to just sit there, Ross gathered him into a loose embrace. "You okay now, Kev?" "Yeah." Only he still sounded scared and Ross felt like the biggest asshole in the world. "I'm sorry, Kev. I never thought. Well, I just never thought. You want to tell me about it?" Turning, Kevin burrowed into his arms, scrubbing his face against Ross' neck. "No. Not right now. I will. I promise." "Okay. As long as you do." They were silent for a long while, Ross stroking Kev's back and hair, listening to his breathing slow. Then he sat them up, slow and careful, and pulled away. "I'd hate for these to go to waste though." He deliberately kept his voice light, and ignored the way Kevin stiffened and put some distance between them. "Not going to use them on you Kev. But I like them, you know?"

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Wrapping one cuff around his left wrist, Ross dangled it in front of Kev's face. "So why don't we use them on me?" Kevin's head snapped up and he looked at Ross with wide eyes. "You're joking, right?" "Hell no." Flipping the other cuff into Kevin's lap, Ross stretched out on the bed, settling back and putting his hands over his head, splaying his legs. Yeah, that was more like it. A blush filled Kev's pale cheeks and his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. Might still be a little nervous, the way he was turning the cuff over and over in his hand, but the kid was sporting wood again, and looking at Ross like he was the dessert tray at a swanky restaurant. "Well. Okay. I mean, if you're sure." Wiggling a little, Ross planted himself a little better and tilted his hips. "I'm sure, baby. But we don't do anything you don't want to do. You scared me some back there, way you went all crazy. Thought I'd hurt you." "No. I'm okay. I just... so you want me to put them both on you?" "I really want you to touch me Kev. However you want." It was working, slow but sure, giving Kevin the control. He was relaxing, looking more and more intrigued, and his movements when he latched the other cuff to Ross' free wrist and tied them both to the headboard were much more sure. More decisive. Once he had Ross secure, Kevin sat back and grinned, a spark of mischief lighting his face. "Maybe I should go make dinner now." "Not funny, kid. Don't you want some of this?" Ross tightened against the cuffs, pulling, making every muscle in his body flex. Even better, it made Kevin's eyes go dark and wild, made him reach out and put a hand on Ross' chest. And Ross all but purred. "I think I do, Ross." "Well, I'm all yours, baby. What're you going to do with me?" "I think I'm going to kiss you." "Oh good." Kev's mouth was soft, and tentative at first. Then he flattened his hands on Ross' chest and just fucking *took* the kiss instead of giving it, and Ross wondered what he'd gotten himself into. Like having Ross at his mercy was all he'd needed, Kevin explored Ross in ways he never had before. Biting, sucking kisses at his neck. Pinching, then kissing his nipples, a stinging pain followed by a sweet, soothing warmth. He nuzzled Ross' armpits, and tickled ribs, and stuck his tongue in Ross' navel. It felt fucking amazing, and looked pretty damned good too. That tight little ass waved in the air as Kevin bent to his task and Ross figured he'd outsmarted himself, because he would be in it right now if it weren't for the damned cuffs. By the time Kevin got to his cock Ross was breathing hard, arching up to get more contact, cursing a blue streak. Kevin just laughed and gave him the most delicate touches of lips and tongue before pulling away, making him moan. "Just hold on, Ross. I'll be right back."

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What the fuck? Kevin hopped off the bed and Ross strained against the fucking cuffs. Goddamnit, where the Hell did the kid get off? And just about that time he came back with the lube, and Ross was instantly willing to forgive him. "Oh yeah, baby. Good idea." "I thought so." But Kevin didn't slick himself up. He spread the lube nice and thick on Ross' twitching cock and pumped a few good hard strokes, then lubed his fingers again and reached down to push two fingers into his own body. Ross thought he might just expire on the spot. A few minutes later he was glad he hadn't, because the kid straddled him and lined Ross' cock up with his ass and just sank down and took him in. Just like that. Who knew all he had to do was give the boy a bit of control? Then he stopped thinking and his eyes fucking rolled back in his head because Kev fuckingsqueezed . It was one Hell of a wild ride. Kevin braced himself and set a pace that Ross could barely stand, humping up and down like mad. Wanting to touch Kev so bad, but he couldn't and Ross knew he was making crazy noises, but he couldn't stop. Kev didn't stop either, which was a damned good thing, just kept the rhythm, up and down. Didn't touch his own cock, just bore down on Ross' and it was the most fucking amazing thing ever. Finally Kevin just looked at him with dazed eyes and smiled. And said, "Come for me, Ross. Now." And fuck! He came like a ton of bricks, just let his orgasm slam through him and above him Kevin stiffened, throwing his head back and just yelling as he came, and nothing had ever looked better. Kev collapsed on him and they stayed that way until Ross' arms began to ache. And until Kevin's stomach rumbled, which was when the kid finally let him loose. "You okay now, baby?" "Yeah." "You gonna tell me about it?" "After dinner?" "Only if you do the dishes." Drawing circles on Ross' chest, Kevin nodded. "Deal."

*** Cooking was something Ross enjoyed, and that night he outdid himself. Simple and quick, but one of Kevin's favorites, he made chicken parmesan and pasta, with bread and salad. Kevin loved Ross' sauce, because he made it himself and it was the best. Kev figured he might get spoiled, but that was probably the point. Because as good a time as he'd had, Ross probably felt guilty. Which meant he needed to explain. They ate, had some wine, and settled on the couch afterward, ignoring the dishes in favor of a good

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cuddle. Ross was tactile. He liked the touching and the snuggling and at first it had kinda embarrassed Kevin, because no one had touched him like that for a long while. But then he got used to it, and missed it a lot when Ross was out in the field or TDY. Once they were comfy, and he was firmly turned away from Ross, resting his back against the other man's chest, Kevin cleared his throat. "So. I guess I should tell you. Um, before it gets too hard to do it. Okay? But. Just let me do it all before you say anything. Okay?" Firm muscles went tense under him and a rumbly noise came from Ross' chest. "Is it that bad, Kev?" Running a hand down Kevin's arm, Ross twined their fingers together, and it warmed him. "More like stupid. But it still gets to me." "I'll say. You went nuts baby." "Yeah." Even though he wasn't looking at Ross, Kevin felt his face heat. His reaction to those silly play cuffs had been so dumb. But he just couldn't help it. "Anyway, when I was in college I had this roommate. He knew I was gay. And he didn't seem to be freaked by it, you know?" He felt Ross nod against his head, but he didn't interrupt. "So he had this friend. His best friend I guess, and he knew I was gay too, thanks to Joe, and he was okay with it too. Or he seemed to be. He flirted with me a lot, and I figured maybe that's why Joe, my roomie, was cool with it, because his friend was. You know? So the friend and I started seeing each other. Or, well, I thought we were. I mean, we never went out. Just hung out in the room when Joe wasn't there, made out. Whatever." The embrace they shared tightened with Ross' silent support, and Kevin took a deep breath and plunged on. "So, one night we were fooling around, the first time we'd gotten naked and on the bed and he pulls out these handcuffs, says he wants to see what they look like. I was mostly drunk and a lot infatuated, so I said yeah, sure. So he cuffed me to the bed. Both hands, and these were like real cuffs, made out of metal. I was like ha ha, don't I look cute, now let me up." Oh wow. Ross actually kinda growled. It was neat, how protective he was, even about something he couldn't do anything about. "Only he didn't let me up. My roommate came in while his friend was getting dressed and laughed his ass off and was like he hoped the little faggot enjoyed his fall break. It was a long weekend, four days, and they just… left me there. Naked. Tied up to the bed. They locked the door behind them." Ross swore viciously, and dropped a warm kiss on the back of his neck, rubbing his arms soothingly. "No wonder you freaked, baby. What happened then? They didn't actually make you stay there all weekend?" "Oh, I think they would have. But I screamed myself hoarse after a while. My RA heard me, and let himself in with the master key. They left the key right there in plain sight, so I could see it but not get to it, so it wasn't hard to let me loose. But you know, by the time fall break was over, everyone knew about it. And they all knew I was gay. It was tough. I ended up moving off campus." "Assholes." "Yeah. But you know, you gave me a good memory to replace it with. And you liked the cuffs so much… maybe I could try them, you know? I mean, now that I've looked at them I figure I could break

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out of them anytime. Not like, well, before." "Anything you want, baby. Anyway you want it." "I know. That's why I love you." Oh shit! Kevin clapped his free hand over his mouth. He hadn't meant to say that out loud. Crap.

Chapter Eighteen

A few beers were okay. But if you gave Kev more than that, the kid got downright goofy. Giddy. Drunk as a skunk. Which led, on more than one occasion, to Ross calling him a lightweight. This time, Kev chose to take exception to it. "Am not." His baby frowned at him, lower lip sticking out in the cutest damned way. "Are too. Lucky for you I think it's adorable, baby." "I am not," proclaimed Kev, with great dignity, "adorable. Nor am I a baby. I'll have you know that I graduated early from college. I was the youngest civilian crypto person ever hired here. I speak five languages fluently, and I can change a flat tire. I'm a responsible adult!" The speech was marred only slightly by the fact that it ended on a hiccup. Stifling his chuckle, Ross stroked Kev's back. "You're still adorable. And still my baby." Kev got all mutinous looking, crossing his arms and frowning. Ross pecked a kiss to his nose. "That's why I love you." Whatever Kev had planned to say stalled as he stared at Ross, his mouth hanging open. Ross took advantage, kissing his baby deep and hard, slipping him tongue. "You love me?" "Oh, yeah." "Oh. Well. Then you can call me adorable." That got a laugh and another kiss. "That's my baby." *** "Baby, what are you doing?" Lugging a huge plastic basket and two bottles, Kevin was trying to maneuver through the front door.

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Ross was not helping, literally or figuratively. Not helping at all. In fact he was very, very bad for Kevin's productivity. Nude, still wet from the shower, he leaned in the opening of the hallway to the bedrooms, arms crossed over his chest, smiling at Kevin. Who was frozen, feet on strike against his brain. Staring. "Um." Kevin looked at the laundry basket in his hands with considerable surprise. "Laundromat?" Pushing off the wall, Ross walked over to him, powerful muscles shifting under his skin with every move. Jesus. Kevin could come in his pants just looking at him. Neatly bypassing the basket and fabric softener, Ross slid his arms around Kevin's waist, nibbling one ear with devastating skill. "Baby. You need to let me buy you a washer and dryer. Let's go to Sears today, okay?" "Mmmm. I mean no! You don't need to buy me things." "Kev, I live here. You don't let me help with the bills except food. Let me, okay?" Ross' lips and tongue worked against his neck and Kevin couldn't put two words together. Or one. Which would have been no, about the washer and dryer, not the kissing, which moved to his mouth. Then he couldn't say anything because Ross was fucking Kev's mouth with his tongue, which was Ross' phrase and made him feel kind of naughty to even think it and his arms were shaking. Maybe he should put the basket down? Obviously Ross agreed, because he pulled away, leaving Kevin dazed and blinking and sad that the kisses were gone and oh, man. Naked Ross. Bending over to put the laundry basket on the floor. Oh that hurt. His dick, he meant. Because, you know, Ross went on and on about Kev's butt, but Ross himself had this tight male ass, perfectly round cheeks with a dimple at the top where they met, and the Tide and the Downy went thudding to the floor and Kev used his newly free hands to cup Ross' ass in his hands, one cheek to one palm, and he squeezed. Making a humming noise that vibrated in Kev's cock, Ross planted his hands on the floor and titled his ass up, spreading his legs for balance. "You like what you see, baby?" "Yes?" Kev cleared his throat. "Oh yeah. Yes. So hot. Wanna do you." And Ross just arched his spine, pushing his ass back into Kev's hands and making muscles in his back twitch and pull. Making his balls swing. Oh jeez. He was going to blow before he ever got close to getting his jeans open. And his hands were just super glued to Ross' butt, pushing and pulling, not going anywhere but there. "Kev. Darlin'. We gotta get that front door closed and get over to the couch. That's where the lube is." Lube. Door. Right. Kev kicked the front door closed with his heel and contemplated the distance to the couch. Oh, no way. His hands were still locked to Ross' ass, pinkie fingers meeting at the middle, pushing at that tight, hot hole. That was another one of Ross' words, hole, and it made him feel like a porn star. He gave Ross a shove, knowing he would land soft on the mound of laundry spilling out of the basket beneath him. Surprised, Ross grunted and stumbled, going down on his hands and knees. Kev tore at his jeans, working them down, almost falling over as they hung up on his sneakers. Shit, shoes. Right. He hobbled to the end table by the couch and dug out the lube, turning back just in time to see Ross regain his balance and sit back on his heels, stroking his cock. His own cock jumped, and he though he must look so stupid with his jeans around his ankles and his cock standing out and his shirt half off and a tube of lube in his hand.

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But Ross smiled at him, that slow, come get me smile and he knew Ross didn't see him that way. Ross thought he was sexy, so he was. "Gonna come fuck me, baby?" "Yes. Hell yes." The couch was just the place to sit and get rid of those pesky sneakers and he did, not even realizing what kind of a show he must be giving Ross until he heard Ross moan, looked up to see Ross' hand moving faster and faster. "No! You save that for me." "Come and take it, baby. Or I'll do it myself." Grabbing the lube again, Kevin practically ran back across the room, dropping to his knees behind Ross and pushing him back down to his hands and knees. "Mine." He fumbled with the cap which seemed tiny all of a sudden and got his fingers good and slick and slid two into that glorious ass, shoving them in deep, making Ross cry out. He leaned against Ross' back while he worked those fingers in and out, reaching under Ross' body to grab that hard, hard cock. "Mine." "Oh God, baby. Yours. Now. Don't wait, just, God." Oh he loved how Ross just went with it, so sensual, so hot for him. Him! Sliding his fingers out and carefully oiling his cock, Kevin pushed into Ross' body, deep and fast and Ross rocked back on him, head thrown back, muscles tight and Kevin could've cried it was so good, and he started moving. Because he couldn't hold still one minute longer, not the way Ross was sawing back and forth, pulling him in, breath hitching in his chest on every thrust. Kev could barely breathe himself, could hardly see, and his sweat was probably scalding Ross' skin where it landed in droplets against his back. Scalding was a good word for where he was, too. So was oh and uh and Jesus Christ almighty and his mom would whap him for that but then he was having sex with a man and she wouldn't like that either and oh, he was gonna come. Gonna just explode and Ross was reaching for his own cock again because Kevin had forgotten, was just gripping Ross' hips in an unbreakable hold and he got there just in time to block that big hand from its target. "Mine." "Baby. Kev. Kevin. Please." Nothing, nothing ever in the whole world was as beautiful as Ross when he begged. For him. For what Kevin alone could give him right then. And he gave it, thrusting and pulling and biting down into the long muscles of that tight back and Ross howled, letting his pleasure out in great bursts of sound and spunk. And Kevin thought how that was Ross' word too as he came himself, slamming into Ross like a jackhammer, wildly, out of control. Kev collapsed against Ross' back, pushing the air out of him and sending them both crashing down, bouncing off the laundry basket onto the floor. They lay there, wheezing, then napping, until they were both stiff and uncomfortable. Which was when Ross poked him in the ribs. "C'mon baby. We'll take a nap, and a shower, and go to Sears."

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"Ross. You are not buying me appliances." "Baby," Ross drawled, running a hand up his side. "I'm doing it for selfish reasons. We have this much fun with the dirty laundry, think what we could do with a washer on spin cycle." Kev felt his cock stir at the thought. "Oh. Okay. Let's go to the mall." ***

The new washer and dryer were broken in the next week. Ross thought it was a damned good set, the way the washer did them when he pushed Kev up against it. Kev told him that meant it wasn't level, and Ross reasonably pointed out that it would never be level, the way they were using it.

Kev pouted, Ross called him baby, and they went at it again, the second time on the dryer, with Ross on the bottom. Hot damn.

Sure, he probably bullied Kev a little. Well, bullied was the wrong word. More like pushed until he got his way. His baby seemed to enjoy it, though, so that was all that mattered. They were learning to talk about things, anyway. Slowly.

Ross had to admit he wasn't used to talking things out, but for Kev he was making the effort. Sometimes he did better than others, but he did try. Hell, it amazed even him. Made Jed laugh like a loon. But it made Kev smile at him when he did, in that big brown-eyed admiring way, and that made it all worthwhile. Chapter Nineteen

Ross was like a whirlwind sometimes. He swept Kevin along until he wasn't sure which end was up, confused and dazzled him. He mentioned it once, and Ross got very serious, putting both hands on Kev's shoulders and looking him in the eye. "Baby, in the Army you either give orders, or you take them. I've tried to make sure I'm the one giving them. So I've gotten used to it. I ever push you into doing something you don't want, you have to tell me, okay?" He looked so earnest, so honest, and Kev just nodded, and kissed him, and promised himself from then on, he'd tell Ross whenever he felt overwhelmed. Well, by something besides his amazing kisses. Like right then.

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*** "You want me to do what?" Ross gave him a wolfish grin in reply. "I want you to jerk off. Now. For me. I want to watch you baby. I never get to just watch, you know?" Kev thought he was gonna combust. He was hot then cold, and his face hurt it was so red. No way. Okay. Which, that was stupid, because he and Ross had done much worse things, well not worse, because nothing they did was bad, but much scarier if he stopped and thought about it, but sitting there with his dick in his hand while Ross watched just seemed more than scary, more like embarrassing and maybe a lot hot. "I can't do that." He hated his squeaky silly voice when Ross asked him to do something and he wanted to be all babbly and he tried to hold it in. Ross called it his scandalized voice. "Why not? Baby, I love everything about your body. Why would you hide it from me?" Oh. Not fair. Not at all, for Ross to use those big blue eyes on him, all hot and needy. "I'm not hiding!" The skeptical look on Ross' face matched the little voice in his head chanting, "Liar, liar pants on fire." "Baby." Ross' voice turned all throaty growl. "I can't think if anything hotter than watching you put your hands on yourself and knowing you're doing it for me." Ross just stared at him, thumbs in his belt loops, fingers framing a hard, hard cock. "Really?" "Really." When Ross looked at him like that, all serious and eat you up, he felt like the king of the world. Like he could do anything. Even this. "Okay." Oh. The look went even hotter. "Yeah? Oh, baby, you're too good to me." "I know. It's a bad habit." Throwing his head back to laugh, Ross slapped one thigh. "Prickly as a porcupine. Take it off, Kev. Take it all of and start yanking." God. Ross had a filthy mouth, he really did, though Ross just called it plain speaking. Kev thought it was really, really hot. No one had ever talked to him that way before. Like he was it. Just the only thing on their mind.

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Since he wasn't the master of the strip tease, Kev just took his clothes off like normal, folding them compulsively, which might at least amuse Ross. But when he looked up there was no laughter in those eyes he so loved, just heat. "Oh, baby. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." "Really?" He didn’t mean for it to come out plaintive, didn't mean for it to come out at all. Be he didn't feel it at all until Ross said it; questioned it even then. "Well, Hell. Yes, Kev. Want to touch you so bad. Only thing stopping me is I want to see you do it, touch yourself. Want that so bad." "You said." "Bears repeating. You're stalling." He was stalling. Which was silly, since he was naked. So he grabbed his cock and pulled, which made him feel even sillier, until Ross laughed and shook his head. "Slow down, baby. Feel it." Ross started stripping off too, shirt, jeans, shorts, until Ross was just as naked as he was. "Like this, Kev." Slow and mesmerizing, Ross ran those lean hands over that flat belly and trim hips, then up to squeeze tight little nipples. It made Kev's nipples just as hard, and he mirrored Ross' actions, taking his nipples between his fingers and squeezing. Felt so good, really good, but it felt even better watching Ross' face as Ross watched. The those hands went back down, belly, hips, thighs and up to close around Ross' fat cock and Kev moaned. Loud. "Oh, wow." "Yeah, oh, wow. Now you know how I feel when you do it. Do it, baby. Touch yourself." "Okay." Breathless and hot all over, he touched himself. Not like he could believe Ross ever got this hot over him. But how could he. Just look at Ross, he thought. A virgin angel would cream over that man's body. Still, he followed along, his dick so hard in his hand that he couldn't believe it hadn't just exploded. He stroked in time to Ross' strokes, and was suddenly a lot less self-conscious, like if they were in it together it was all good. More like making love than putting on a show. Faster and faster they went, and he almost closed his eyes, but Ross barely blinked, watching him so hard, and Kev managed to keep his open too, to see. "I love you, Ross." "Oh, shit! Baby!" Ross shouted, body bucking as he came, making the biggest mess, but Kev didn't

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really care, because he came too, the feeling crackling up and down his spine like fireworks. Wow. He kinda sat down harder than he meant to, plop, because he was all melty in the knees and before he knew it Ross was there, arms around him, pressing kisses to his face. "I love you too, baby. Thank you." "Mmm. You're welcome." He ought to thank Ross, too, for pushing him and loving him and making him try new things. But the way Ross smiled at him? He figured Ross already knew. Chapter Twenty

"Hey, baby. Thought you were going down to the bar for that costume party with the folks from work." It was Halloween and Ross was surprised to see Kevin emerge from the bathroom in his sweats and a t-shirt instead of his Dracula cape and fangs. Kev just grinned at him, a little uncertainty lurking behind his eyes. "That was before you got the night off. I mean, if you'd rather stay home and watch the game while I go out, I can." "Nah." Ross reached out and snagged Kev's waistband, pulling him close for a kiss. "I was just going to stay home and hand out candy to the kids. But if you're going to stay too we'll turn the porch light out and play find the treat instead." "Oh, that's easy. Here, right here." Kev grabbed his hand and shoved it down the front of those sweats until it brushed against his baby's cock. Laughing, Ross gave it a playful squeeze before pulling away and slapping Kev on the ass. "Too easy. This is Halloween, baby. I should have to trick for my treat." Kev sniggered. "That shouldn't be hard. You're such a slut." "Oh, now. I think you've issued me a challenge." He crossed his arms and did his best to look belligerent. Didn't do a very good job, but he tried. Damned well wouldn't do for Kev to get all complacent on him. "How about we test that theory with a little game? Something traditional to the holiday." Slanting a glance at Ross' crotch, Kev waggled his eyebrows. "You mean like bobbing for apples?" Lord above, he loved sex-kitten Kevin. Hell, who was he kidding? He loved the boy any way he could get him. "I was thinking more like Truth or Dare." "Oh, uh-uh. No way." "Why not?"

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"Because you'll have me doing all sorts of stupid and or dangerous things. And you ask hard questions. So, no." "How about I just issue you one dare, and you can say yes or no?" Ross pulled Kevin in again, dropping his voice to a low, intimate growl. "I dare you to do the one thing to me that you think I'd least expect." Eyelids drooping, head tipping back, Kevin leaned in for a kiss. Ross loved how responsive Kevin was, how bold he got when it was just the two of them. The kiss was searching and sweet, then hard and taking. Kevin tasted like caramel and cider and hot, horny male. "Okay," Kev said when they broke for air. "You have a deal. Get naked and go get on the bed." Surprised, Ross grinned and started unbuttoning his shirt. "You going all dom on me, baby?" "No." Kevin flushed a deep red, but stuck to his guns. "Something much worse. No go get horizontal." He did, stripping off his jeans and climbing into bed, settling on his back, spreading his arms and legs comfortably. Kevin followed him more slowly, stopping at the dresser to dig out the cuffs Ross had bought a few months back. "You're gonna tie me up? No offense baby, but that's not the last thing I'd expect. You've done that to me once already." "I know." Kev rearranged Ross to his satisfaction, then cuffed him firmly to the bedposts. "That's not the main event Ross. Give me a little credit will you?" "I will if you give me a kiss." Laughing, Kev leaned down and planted a hot kiss on his mouth. "You really are easy, you know?" "You complaining?" "Heck, no. But you look really hot like that. Kinda distracting. I mean, really really hot. Can we forgo the game and just, you know? I think that would be nice." "Baby. You're babbling." Which told Ross that whatever Kev had planned embarrassed him enough to lose himself in babble. That intrigued the heck out him. "I want to play." "Fine. Be that way. Okay, here goes." Kev pulled off his t-shirt, and shimmied out of his sweats. Oh that was damned nice. Kid was still a little nervous sometimes, a lot self-conscious, and Ross rarely got to just look at him. Really look. Still a little too skinny, but perfect, nonetheless, and Ross could just stay there are look at him all day. "God, you're pretty, baby." The flush on Kevin's cheeks deepened, spreading down his neck to his chest. His nipples were dark and hard and his cock was standing at attention, just waiting for Ross' mouth and damn, his arms just reminded him that he was tied to the bed. When Kevin turned around and walked to the armchair in the corner of the room, that ass almost gave him palpitations.

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Kev pulled the chair over near the bed, right in Ross' line of sight, and after rummaging a bit in the nightstand, sprawled in it, giving Ross a phenomenal view. "Thanks. But you're much nicer to look at, Ross." "That what you're going to do, baby? Sit there and look at me?" "Nope. I'm going to read to you." Well, Hell. "Read to me? That's it?" Hardbound book in hand, Kevin peered over the top of it and gave him an arch look. "Just listen, will you?" Shit. The kid really was going to read to him. God knew what he was going to read. Probably Moby Dick or something equally dull, just se he could watch Ross deflate. Sure fit the unexpected label, and he had to give his baby points for deviousness. When Kevin finally started reading, Ross was surprised. Poetry. Erotic poetry. It was filthy. Hell, he hadn't even known that Kev knew that kind of stuff existed, let alone owned any. It was hot. Damned hot. Even hotter, because Kev was turned on by it, too. He held the book up with one hand and dropped the other to his lap to stroke his cock. Ross' shoulders gave him what for when he tried to sit up, pulled back to the bed with a painful thump. Cuffs, right. Kev made it through three poems, his voice going husky by the time he was on number two, his breathing hitching in his chest by number three. Ross could smell him, could almost feel the heat of him from three feet away. He wanted to touch Kevin, to taste his baby, and his game had backfired on him in a big way, hadn't it? Kev was sneaking hot little glances at him over the top of the book, and each one made his cock fucking throb. "Baby. Okay. You win. You did something I never would've thought of in a million years. You got me. Now come and do something with me." Closing the book with a tiny snap, Kev set it aside and looked at him. That look was hot enough to burn him to a crisp, and Ross arched under it, feeling it like a physical touch. His baby stood, and stretched, all the way up on his toes, arms over his head. His nipples stood out and his cock bobbed in front of him and Ross almost came then and there, lust clenching hard in his belly. "Baby, I swear to God, if you don't get your ass over here…" "This ass?" And with that Kevin turned around and bent over, bracing his arms on the chair, giving Ross a perfect view of his round, full butt. Oh, God. Almost gave him a fucking heart attack. "Yeah." His own voice sounded strangled, and he gave the cuffs a sharp tug, hoping to spring the quick release. It didn't work. "Kev. Please." "Please what? Please do this?" Kev reached behind himself, straightening just enough to get a good angle, and slid one finger into his own ass. Ross moaned. Thrashing on the bed, trying to get free. Shit. His baby never did shit like that. He knew it had to embarrass Kev no end, because his whole freaking body was flushed and he was shaking, but he was into it too, pushing back on his own fingers and groaning, making

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those sexy little noises that just made Ross want to bubble over. "Kevin." "Oh God, Ross. Feels so good. You like it? Do you? I do. I figured I'd take a page from your book, just ignore the whole self-consciousness thing. I mean, you're always telling me how pretty I am, right? Which is kinda embarrassing, because guys aren't pretty…" He was babbling. Oh, God, his Kev was babbling. That just drove him nuts. "Baby. You're perfect. Fucking perfect. But if you don't get over here I'm gonna go off without you." Kevin just looked at him over his shoulder, eyes heavy-lidded and dark. The he spread his legs a little wider and stuck another finger in. "Yeah? That would be so hot, Ross, so hot." Kev moaned, head falling forward, humping his own hand like crazy. "Come for me, Ross. Please?" Well, Hell. Back arching ears ringing, Ross came, spraying his chest and belly, yelling loud enough to be heard in the next county. Kev whimpered, knowing it even with his back turned, and pulled his fingers out, turning to face him before pumping his cock once, twice, shooting hot spunk all over Ross and the bed. It was the sexiest damned thing he'd ever seen in his life, and his spent cock gave one more twitch at the sight. Kev staggered back to his chair and sat down with a thump, wincing a little as his butt hit. "Did I do the unexpected?" "Oh, Hell yes baby. You win. Game over. Now come over here and I'll give you your treat." Kev grinned happily. "Sounds like the perfect Halloween to me."

Chapter Twenty One

He had no idea. Ross didn't. No idea at all what he did to Kevin, sprawled out on the couch like that, mostly naked, cock and balls bulging under his boxer briefs. Not that Kev could blame him for stripping down. The furnace had gone all fluky and it was hot as Hell in there, but if he turned it off they froze. Ross suggested a hotel room, which somehow scandalized him. Ever good-natured, Ross simply shrugged and stripped and settled down with a beer to watch the UNC vs. NC State game. Still, the man had no idea. Sheened with sweat, beer bottle resting lightly against his belly, Ross watched his ballgame, completely oblivious to Kev's shifting and squirming. Too bad he couldn't tune out Ross that way. Instead, he was hyper aware of the man's every move. Damn it. Ross moved, settling a little further into the couch, legs falling open just so, and Kevin snapped. He lunged out of his easy chair, straight into Ross' lap, taking the beer and setting on the end table. Ross just grinned at him, one eyebrow rising. "Something you want, baby?" "No fair," he all but growled, just before he took Ross' mouth in a hot, hard kiss. Ross called him sex kitten Kevin when he did stuff like that, and it embarrassed the heck out of him. Ross just had that affect

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on him. His pushed the fingers of one hand through Ross' cropped hair and used the other to pinch and pull Ross' nipples. That got him a groan, and all teasing was gone. Sometimes Ross was content to let him take the lead, but not this time. The world tilted and spun and he was on his back on the couch with Ross kissing him furiously, tearing at his clothes. Ross' shoulders were warm and sweat damp under his fingers, his skin hot and smooth. His mouth tasted like beer and like lust and his clothes just melted away under the force of Ross, and soon Ross was naked too, rearing back to strip off his shorts. "God, baby. You make me so hot. Let me fuck you?" "Oooh. Yes. Please. Right here. Like this. So hot. You make me hot too. Please? You just, I need... oooh." Kevin knew he was babbling, but it didn't turn Ross off. In fact, it made him crazy. Made him grab for the lube they kept beside the couch and bend Kevin's knees back almost to his ears and stick two slick fingers in his ass, and Kevin rode it, crying out into the sensation, humping up and up against it until Ross was inside him, cock hard and hot and impossibly huge. Grunting, Ross began to move inside him, on top of him, and he was sweating too, both of them so warm he thought they might just burst into flame. Oh, God, Ross felt good like that, so big, so hard, and Kev was begging, he could hear himself, and he didn't care. More, please, now, and Ross' hand found his cock and maybe he might have screamed. Nothing that urgent could last, and Ross thrust faster and faster, pumping Kev's cock hard, moaning his pleasure. "Come for me, baby," Ross said. "Want to feel it. Want to feel you around me when you come." He just wailed, whole body rocking with the force of his orgasm, shooting all over Ross' hand and his own chest and Ross made that face, the one that meant it was so good it hurt and he roared and filled Kev's ass with spunk and it made him moan and shake. "Mmmm." Kev was so sleepy. Ross shifted off to one side and let his cramped legs down and Kev curled into him, ready to nap. "You did that on purpose." "Did what, baby?" "That thing. That you do to me." Ross just laughed, and settled them together more firmly. "It was hot in here, baby." "Always is with you around," Kev managed, just before he drifted off to take a little nap. Being that hot always made him sleepy.

***

Ross was happy as a goat with a tin can. Thanksgiving dinner was ready to go, all he had to do was cook it. Turkey was thawed and ready to be stuffed, pan dressing was ready to bake, rolls were done, pie was in the oven, green beans and corn were ready to cook up. He put the last bit of it away in the

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fridge and got himself a beer. All was ready for the next morning, so he could get up and watch parades and not worry about the food. Thank God for his mom and her good training when he was a kid.

Grinning to himself, Ross figured that Lloyd would be doing the cooking this year, not his mom, but that was okay. And he would bet Jed and his man were spending their first Thanksgiving there too. He was gonna miss them, but he had Kev this year, and it made it all worthwhile.

"Ross? Oh, hey. What are you doing in here?"

Kev was so damned cute in his plaid robe and mallard duck slippers. Silly, but cute, and who could complain when the slippers were a gift from a third grade class? "Just getting dinner ready for tomorrow."

"Dinner?

"Yeah. Turkey and all the trimmings."

Dark eyes wide, Kev opened the fridge and looked in. "Oh."

"Kev? You okay?"

"You're making me Thanksgiving dinner."

"Yeah."

"That's. Wow."

His beer hit the floor with a foamy thud as Kev turned and jumped on him, kissing him hard. "I love you."

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"I love you too, baby." Lord, if Kev was this excited over a turkey, Ross wondered what the kid was gonna do when Ross asked him to come to Colorado with him for Christmas.

He couldn't wait to find out.

End

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