Mountain Trails

Mountain Trails - 1

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

Mountain Trails TOP SHELF An imprint of Torquere Press Publishers PO Box 2545 Round Rock, TX 78680 Copyright 2007 © by Julia Talbot Cover illustration by S. Clements Published with permission ISBN: 978-1-60370-348-2, 1-60370-348-9 www.torquerepress.com All rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law. For information address Torquere Press. Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680. First Torquere Press Printing: April 2008 Printed in the USA

Mountain Trails - 2

Chapter One "Okay, so how many of you have gone rafting before? Raise your hands."

Carlo hoped the kid didn't notice the lack of hands from his team-building group. Team building.

Yeah, take a bunch of suits from Denver and Salt Lake City and plop them down in the

wilderness of Western Colorado and see how good a team they became.

Shit.

More like tag-team bitch fighting.

"So, if you end up outside the boat, and we don't get you back in, point your feet downstream, lie

on your back, and cross your arms. Keep your legs together. No romancing the stone, gentlemen. Wait until you get into shallow water, then swim for shore as hard as you can. Do not stand up. This water runs fast enough to cut your legs right off." Lovely. Carlo just loved the idea of losing his legs for a trip that was going to lose them money anyway. At least the kid, what was his name? Chip. At least he was good to look at. Curly brown hair and bright blue eyes topped a sturdy, tanned body, nicely muscled. Even the little float vest the kid wore didn't cover that up. "You got that?"

Carlo's eyes snapped up, meeting Chip's. The kid stood right in front of him, grinning hugely.

"Huh?"

"I was giving you a little spiel on oar safety. I think you missed it."

"Sorry. I... sorry."

"No problem, man. Just keep this hand here, and this one over the end like this." Chip

demonstrated the two-hand hold, one hand halfway down the oar, the other covering the t-grip handle. "That way no one loses teeth." "Got it." First his legs, then his teeth. Why couldn't they play soccer? That he was good at. "Cool." The kid turned, giving him a fine view of that amazing ass, thinly covered by a pair of low-slung board shorts. "Now remember, folks, the Upper Taylor isn't for sissies. It's cold, it's shallow, and the rocks will give you a wild ride. But you know what?" Everyone stared as Chip turned in a circle, grinning impartially. "It's fun. Now, the guys will call you out to your boat. I gotta go get suited up."

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They had all received Neoprene socks and life vests, and the option of a wetsuit. Carlo had no intention of going into the water, so he had refused that. Apparently it was their feet that stood the chance of frostbite, even in July. That seemed somehow terribly wrong. "Dominguez, Drake and Gedrin, you're with me!" Chip called out, coming out in a wetsuit that hugged his every muscle and ripple. Good God.

Carlo went over to him, getting a friendly smile. "So, you're with the team-building thing, yeah?

For the engineering firm?"

"Uh-huh." Carlo rolled his eyes. "I can't see how this will help us build team spirit, but it's not a

day at the office."

"Oh, dude, this is the best job in the world. You're gonna love it. It's like going over a waterfall

in a bathtub."

"That's not much of a recommendation."

"Sure it is. Everyone needs excitement. Let me check your vest."

Chip had nice hands, strong and brown, and they skimmed his torso when the kid tightened all

the straps on his vest. It gave him goose bumps that had nothing to do with the cool air that came

off the water.

"Can you breathe?" Chip asked.

"Barely."

"Good. It has to be tight, because if you fall out it will slip up around your neck and smother you

if it's loose."

"Sounds like a lot of things can kill me here."

"No more than driving on the freeway in Denver."

"I guess." What Chip would know about traffic, Carlo didn't have any clue. Gunnison, Colorado

had like, one stoplight. Maybe two.

"Just give it a chance. Okay, guys, we get to carry our own raft down to the river. Come on and give me a hand." They carried the raft down to the edge of the water, and wow that was a shock, when he stepped in. Cold. Damned cold. But the sun shone warm and good, and Chip assured them that out on the river, they'd actually get hot, and be glad to get splashed.

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"So what do you do besides raft guiding?" Lance Gedrin asked the kid.

"Oh, I'm a student at Western State. The local college? I'm in the outdoor hospitality program."

"Yeah? Is that a big thing here?"

God, Lance was a horn dog. Flirting so obviously. Oh, Floyd might not see it, but he was

straight. Carlo knew Lance wasn't, and he was about to growl.

Chip seemed oblivious, though, just nodding. "Sure. I mean, look around. It's all outdoors, right?

And if you think that means I spend my winter snowboarding and my summer rafting? You're right." They laughed, and talk stopped when they hit a patch of rapids that left them gasping with the way the raft bucked and rocked.

Only Lance fell out of the raft, and they had a hearty lunch afterward of sandwiches and

chocolate cake, and all in all, it was a fun day. Sunburned and pleasantly sore, Carlo headed back

to the Days Inn, intent on the hot tub.

"Hey, man. You want to get a drink?" Lance asked him on the way in to the hotel.

He and Lance had tried that going out thing once. They had found out they both liked to top too

much, and that was that. He didn't want to repeat the mistake.

"Nah. You go ahead."

"Oh, come on," Lance said, blue eyes dancing. "That river kid, Chip? He said he'd be at this

place called the Trough."

"Yeah? Huh."

"Uh-huh. Come on, man. We could have fun with this one."

Oh, surely Lance didn't mean what he thought. But what the Hell?

"Okay, let me get a shower and I'll meet you down here in about twenty?" They could grab a bite

to eat, too. Just as friends. As team building.

"Cool."

They split up and went to their rooms, and Carlo actually found himself looking forward to

something on this godforsaken trip. It might be fun to go up against Lance in the flirting department, see if one of them, and which one, could get Chip to come back to the hotel with him.

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He showered, shaved with his electric and slapped on some skin conditioner that his sister had gotten him before tugging on a pair of jeans and a dark blue shirt. He was only one generation removed from goat roper hats and pointy boots, so he ought to fit in well enough. Lance looked dapper in a pair of gray pants and a maroon shirt, but man, that look might just get

his ass kicked. Hey, that would be entertaining, too.

"You ready?"

"Sure." He shot his cuff back and looked at his watch. "Supper first?"

"They tell me Italian Mike's is good."

"Sounds like a plan."

The food was surprisingly good for a town as small as Gunnison, and Carlo surprised himself by

enjoying the company, too. He and Lance had just competed too much, lately. Carlo had needed

the reminder that he thought Lance was smart as a whip and twice as pretty.

Even if he didn't want to date the man.

They went to the Trough about eight, and it was pretty dead, the cool summer evening just

starting to darken. They had the patio open, and that looked to be where the action was, so he got

a Dos Equis and Lance got a Fat Tire and they went out to see if their river guide was there.

"It’s like the garden of earthy delights," Lance said, grinning hugely at the group of tanned, lithe

young men that sat around one round table, beer bottles scattered around in front of them.

"You're a pig, man."

"Oh, come on, don't tell me you didn't think the same damned thing."

Actually, he'd been searching for Chip, and was disappointed that the kid wasn't there. Until he

saw Chip bounce out of the bar, grinning like a newborn fool.

"Hey! I was in the john. Hope you guys haven't been waiting long. Come meet the guys." Chip

shook hands with both of them, then dragged them over to the table with all of the hot manflesh.

Jesus, Carlo felt old.

"Guys, this is Lance and this is Carlo. They were in my raft today."

They met Danny the rock climber and Gage the Jeep guide and about six other young men that

became a blur. Lance flirted impartially. Carlo concentrated on Chip. The kid was engaging and quick on the comeback, and Carlo liked his smile. A lot. It came complete with dimples and a little dip in the lower lip that he kind of wanted to lick.

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"...rafting again?"

"Huh?" Carlo asked, snapping back to reality.

"Would you go rafting again, I said." Chip gave him a sunny grin, toasting him with his beer.

"If I had you as my guide, sure." There. That was flirting, right?

"Hey, that can be arranged. You're a natural."

"Thanks. It was fun. Life-threatening, but fun."

"Yeah, but, dude. That's when you feel most alive." That was from uh...Tom. His name was

Tom.

Lance winked. "Not me. I feel more alive doing something else."

A chorus of groans and “I need another beer” sounded, and before he knew it, he and Lance and

Chip sat alone.

"So, Chip," Lance began, "do you have a girlfriend?"

"Huh? No. No boyfriend either. Single and fancy free." Those long eyelashes fluttered. "You

applying?"

Oh, the kid had a serious overload of hotness. Really. Carlo shifted in his chair, his cock taking a

real interest.

Lance just laughed. "I'm not looking to be Mr. Right."

"Just Mr. Right Now? Well, dude, you're not my type." Chip said it with a smile, his hand

coming up to pat Lance's. "I like 'em dark and mysterious, like Carlo here."

Oh. Hola, full on hard-on. "Yeah? Well, I'm in the market for a night..."

"Cool." Chip grinned at Lance. "Danny is gay, the rest are all ladies' men. Danny likes it a little

rough, so ride him like a balky pony, okay? Come on, man, let's go before they come back."

Just like that. Damn. Chip grabbed his hand and pulled him out into the night, teeth flashing

white in the dark. "Seriously, man, you don't have to if you don't want to. That Lance guy just

wasn't gonna give up unless I did something, though."

"What if I want to?" he asked, trying to keep his disappointment from showing.

Chip's grin turned downright lecherous. "I wasn't lying when I said you were my type."

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"Oh. Okay, then." They didn't say a lot on the way to the hotel, just peeked at each other sideways, both of them already breathing hard. There was something illicit about it, something that just made Carlo's pulse speed up. The hotel room seemed too bright and sterile after the river and the bar, but it was all he had, and he'd bet Chip had roommates, so they'd make do. Chip seemed to think it was just fine, and he started stripping down right away. It didn't take much, with the baggy cargo shorts and T-shirt hitting the floor, leaving Chip naked as the day he was born. Carlo stared. "Uh. You know, I didn't ask; hope this is okay." It was a heck of a lot better than okay. It was glorious. It had been a long time since he'd been with anyone but high-powered businessmen, since he'd seen a body forged from hard work like this one. And that cock... "You're amazing." "Yeah?" Chip grinned, stretching out for him. "Thanks. So, are you ready to show me yours?" Was he? He suddenly felt heavy. Dense. Lord knew, he worked hard on his body, but he wasn't a twenty-something anymore. He was full-grown and starting to spread a little. Carlo shifted from one foot to the other. "Hey, you don't have to. You could just come over here and touch me." Chip was not only lovely, he was kind, it would seem. Carlo took off his shirt, but left the jeans on, going to sit next to Chip on the bed. "I'm a little self-conscious. I suppose I don't want to know how I compare to your college friends." "You? Shit, man, you leave them in the dust." One of Chip's hands came up to touch him, fingers tracing his collarbones before dipping to brush through the hair on his chest. "I like what I see so far, okay?" "Oh, good." Grinning at himself, Carlo touched right back, his hand sliding up Chip's thigh. Such soft skin on the inside of that leg, so sweet in the hidden places where it met Chip's torso and groin. "Mmm. Yeah. I like that."

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So sensual. The way Chip slid on the sheets told him a great deal about how the kid liked his touch. Carlo stroked Chip's belly, searching for more sweet sounds, more hot rolls of that muscular frame. Chip took his exploration for maybe a minute and a half before grabbing his hand and pushing it down, so the backs of his fingers brushed Chip's cock. "Oh. Damn. Sorry, but I need... oh, yeah."

He laughed, curling his hand around Chip's hot length. "Have you ever seen an uncut cock,

Chip?"

The kid popped up like a Jack-in-the-Box. "No. Dude! Are you uncut? Lemme see!"

Chip dove for his button and zipper, practically hurting them both in his scramble to get to

Carlo's cock. It would have been funny if it hadn't been so damned hot.

"Oh, man, look at that."

He'd thought it might be a novelty for Chip, his foreskin. Something to break the ice with.

Though the thought of ice fishing by using his cock as a pole was not something he wanted to pop up while Chip was holding him in that square, tanned hand. "Push it back with your thumb."

Chip did as he asked, and the pleasure slammed into him, the rasp of that callused touch making

him moan.

"That is so cool," Chip said. "Like super-cool." He got a laughing look, Chip's blue eyes dancing.

"I'm not twelve, I swear. I'm twenty-three. But, damn, this is too neat."

He had to smile back, arching into Chip's touch. "It's okay. I've had this reaction before."

"I bet you have, man." Crowding close, Chip pushed their cocks together, half straddling him to

push him back on the bed. It took some squirming, but they settled with Chip astride him,

humping their pricks alongside each other, working them with his hands. "I'm gonna need to

blow soon. Can you hold on?"

"For your round two? Yes."

"Excellent." Chip grinned wildly, then closed his eyes and grunted, hips spanking air and Carlo's

skin and wham, Chip came like a ton of bricks. Just like that.

"Chip..." That left him speechless, staring down at where Chip still held them together.

"You really got to me, man. Want me to suck you?" Without waiting for an answer, Chip slid

down and started working him, lips and tongue playing him with enthusiasm, if not a lot of skill.

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"Here." Carlo reached down and guided Chip right where he needed him, pushing that mouth up around the head of his cock, then down. God, that was good. Fucking amazing. Chip caught on quickly, like all good boys who excelled at sports and other physical things. Carlo let the kid suck him, let himself hump that pretty mouth, his cock sliding in and out of those wet lips like crazy. All he could do was stop thinking and go with it. Chip pushed his hips down and pulled back just enough to tongue his skinned-back foreskin, and Carlo lost it, crying out and thrashing, his head tossing back and forth as he came and came His balls felt empty by the time he was done, shudders wracking his whole body as he settled back on the bed. "Wow."

"Wasn't that what I said?" Chip asked, grinning up at him, sun-bleached brown curls bouncing.

"No, I think you said 'cool' or 'neat'."

"Yeah, well, there's a reason I'm not an English major. Is this a smoking room?"

"Uh. No." The kid kept him off balance, that was for sure.

"Well, in that case." Chip hopped up, all sorts of things bouncing. "Come out with me while I

have one outside."

"You're hardly dressed for it."

"Well, duh." Grabbing his loose shorts, Chip yanked them on before pulling out a battered pack

of Lucky Strikes. "Come on, man. It'll be nice and cool."

Hell, why not? "Okay." He pulled on his jeans, feeling Chip's admiring look like a physical

touch.

They went down the back stairs and outside, and it was cool enough to draw his bare nipples up

pretty tight.

Chip hooted. "God, you gotta love Colorado." The kid jumped up and down a few times before

lighting up.

"Gimme one," Carlo said, holding out a hand.

"You smoke?"

"No, I quit four years ago. But if you're going to, I'm not gonna kiss you without having one."

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"Dude. I don't wanna be responsible for a relapse." "I've quit three times in the last year." Grinning, he took the cigarette and lighter Chip offered over and sucked in a stream of smoke. "Oh, that hit the spot." "Yeah? Which one? You got a pretty tummy." Chip proved it by reaching out to stroke his belly, fingers catching on the trail of hair just below his navel. His muscles clenched, his skin shivering and his cock twitching. How long had it been since he'd tried to raise the dead twice in one night? Lord. "That's a fine touch, Chip. Real fine." "Yeah?" Those fingers wandered to his waistband, teasing by dipping just under. The kid blew out a stream of smoke then dumped the cigarette and stomped on the asphalt. Then he grabbed Carlo's jeans and pulled him close. "Time for you to quit again, man." "Uh-huh." His own smoke dropped to the ground and Carlo grabbed Chip and pushed him up against the back wall of the hotel, kissing him hard. They both tasted a little smoky, so it worked perfectly. "Mmmnh." The kid went right with it, struggling with Carlo's jeans again, popping the button and getting him out. Chip went right for his foreskin, pushing it back and forth. Jesus. It took him right up on his tiptoes, right up so Chip could cup him and pull and go to town on him. His balls drew up and his breath whooshed out, and wow. Fucking A. "Want to get off with you," Chip said, kissing the side of his neck. "Then let me..." Carlo stuffed his hand inside Chip's baggy shorts, grabbing that hot cock and tugging. They got a rhythm going, and Carlo stood there, hips moving, and wondered at himself. He was acting like a horny teenager. This whole trip was supposed to build leadership and shit. Jacking off outside a hotel so wasn't mature. A few seconds later he stopped thinking altogether, because Chip kissed him hard, squeezing all the way down at the base, and he was roaring toward the finish, his cock twitching madly as he came into Chip's waiting hand. "Oh. Oh, goddamn." He looked up just in time to see Chip's eyes go wide, those brown curls bouncing as Chip rocked, shooting for him, coating his hand with come. Chip laughed right out loud, kissing him deep. "Man, you really get to me." "Same here." Carlo grinned back, feeling it stretch his cheeks.

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"Chip! Dude, is that you back there?"

They sprang apart, staring at each other before stuffing their pricks away in their pants. They

zipped up just in time to turn and see two of the kids from the bar come around the corner.

"There you are. Oh, and you got the other dude, too. Cool."

Tom and Gage. He remembered. Go him.

"What's up, guys?" Chip asked, and got a mixed babble in return until he raised his hands.

"Whoa. Back up. What?"

"Danny. He took that Lance guy out for a little rock climbing lesson. His directional beeper just

went off, man. I think he and this one's friend may be in trouble."

"Shit." Chip looked at him, eyes dark and serious. "We need to get some clothes on, man. Gage,

you got the Jeep?"

"Yeah. We just needed the navigator."

"Give me two shakes and you got me. You coming, Carlo?"

His heart had set up a terrible pounding, and Carlo nodded. "If Lance is in trouble, I'm coming

along."

"Then let's get."

Man, if something had happened to Lance he would feel like shit, Carlo thought as they ran

around the building and hopped on the elevator inside.

That rotten bastard always was one to spoil Carlo's fun. Seemed like this trip was no exception.

He only hoped Lance was still alive so he could give the man hell about it.

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Chapter Two The whole thing was a giant cluster fuck.

What had possessed him to take a greenhorn rock climbing, he just didn't know. Okay, so Danny

knew why he had. It was the flirting and cute older guy thing. But now he wished he and Lance had just gone back to the hotel and fucked like bunnies. Beer. He'd blame it on the beer. And the cool summer night. Hell, maybe he just had a hole where his brain should be.

If he got Lance killed, he was gonna jump off the fucking cliff himself.

"You still hanging in there, man?"

He'd turned on his beeper. Surely someone would come. His buds rocked that way. Like

seriously. He waited for Lance to answer him, holding his breath. It might not be winter, so

exposure or frostbite wasn't a worry, but altitude and dehydration would be.

Lance was stuck on a ledge about fifteen feet below Danny, having slid off just before making

the damned summit of the beginner cliff they'd been working on in Big Horn canyon. Danny had

tried three times to get there, but he couldn't get the angle.

How Lance had managed to land there...

"My ankle is really starting to hurt, man."

Shit. That wasn't good. Though to give the guy credit, he wasn't whining. He sounded a little

rough, but also sounded like he was just bucking up.

"Okay, I'm gonna try to get down there again, yeah?"

"Don't hurt yourself," came the reply. "Then we're both fucked."

That was so true. He checked the area, just hoping that the guys would appear out of thin air.

When they didn't, Danny went ahead and tested his lines before slithering over the edge of the

cliff.

Good thing he wasn't afraid of heights. Danny chuffed a laugh. Rock climber, afraid of heights.

"Are you laughing at me, man?" Lance hollered, all growly and shit.

"Nope. Laughing at me. Stupidity must run in the family or something."

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"This is not your fault, Danny."

"Did you learn that encouraging tone at your team building dealie?" He'd heard all about the

team building thing from Lance, about what a crock it was, but how Carlo was cool. Which he

supposed was good for Chip, who had probably had the sense to just go fuck like bunnies.

"No, I learned it while I was dating this guy... come on, man. I'm hurting."

"I'm coming."

If he swung around to the east, maybe he could come at the ledge from the bottom, scaling down

to climb up. His feet struggled to find purchase, and his already torn gloves ripped just enough

more that his hands started to tear and bleed.

Goddamn.

"Just hold on, Lance. I sure am sorry."

"Oh, just shut up and come make out with me."

He had to laugh. He really did like this guy. Too bad he'd probably never see Lance again. After

they got off the cliff, that was.

Grunting, Danny swung, moving a few feet to the right, sliding down the slope. Then he started the climb back to Lance, hoping to hell he didn't fall right off the face of the mountain and leave the guy to starve and dry up and blow away. His muscles stood out, straining, his lungs screaming at him. Damn. His legs shook, his whole body overworked and underpaid. But finally Danny got his fingers hooked over the ledge that Lance sat on, and a strong hand wrapped around his, yanking him up so he could dangle right off the edge, his butt barely fitting. "Well, now we're both here," Lance said, his eyes twinkling in the gloom. "We are. You look better than I thought." Banged up and bruised, but mostly intact, it seemed.

Hallelujah.

"Yeah. Aside from my ankle, I'm not bad. So what do we do now?" Lance asked, reaching out

again, fingers sliding down Danny's cheek.

At least the guy was good at forgive and forget.

"Well..." Danny peered up the face of the cliff. His rope was attached just fine, but without

someone to help belay, and without a harness, he wasn't sure they could...

"DANNY! YOU DOWN THERE?"

Mountain Trails - 14

Oh, thank God. That was Gage. He could hear many more feet scrabbling above them, too.

"Down here! You guys bring the cradle?" He sure as shit hoped they had, because no one else

was gonna fit on this ledge.

Lance looked over, brows raised. "Your friends?"

"Uh-huh. I had my directional beeper."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't want to get your hopes up."

"Coming down!"

Gage, man. He was a stud. Even if he was straight, as far as Danny knew, he was the best bud a

guy could have. Oh, the only reason he wished Gage wasn't was because he wanted to hump him

like a puppy who'd just found his penis...

That nut-brown body slid right down next to the ledge, that damned daredevil just hanging there,

Gage's face split in a huge grin. "Thought you were supposed to be the rock climber, man. I'm

the Jeep guide, remember?"

"Uh-huh. Fuck you. Help me get him harnessed up. His ankle is a mess, but he's been a trooper."

He gave Lance a grin, a thumbs-up, and Lance just smiled back, looking a little wobbly now that

help had arrived.

Together they got Lance in the bucket and off he went, like a baby bird in its momma's claws.

Gage looked him over real close, waiting until Lance was out of earshot to ask, "You okay?

Nothing hurt?"

"Just my hands. They're a little torn. Man, when he slipped off the edge, I thought he was a

goner. Scared the bejesus out of me."

"I bet. Hell, a rich type that has to have family that will sue. Wanna piggyback, man?"

"If I could, yeah. You secure?"

"I am."

Strong hands. Gage had the strongest, squarest hands. They got Danny settled on Gage's back,

straps locked together with carabineers, and Gage tugged and hollered. "Get us out of here, guys!"

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The trip up seemed about three times shorter than the trip down had been, and when they popped over the edge of the cliff, everyone was clapping him on the back and grinning, and there was Chip and that guy Carlo and Tom and Aaron. And Gage, who kinda did a fireman's check of him, patting him down and looking for broken shit. Danny shrugged away, relief making him skittery. "It's Lance we need to get to the hospital." "No, I'm good," Lance said. "It's just a sprain, and I'm a little bruised, but good." Shit, he felt like crap for letting all that happen. Danny spread his hands. "I'm sorry I ruined it all, man." "Oh, hell, that was more fun than I've had in ages. Got the adrenaline going. But if you don't mind... Carlo, can you run me back to the hotel?" The hot executive with the jeans and cowboy boots nodded, giving Chip an apologetic look. "Sure, buddy. I can do that." "I'll have to drop you off," Chip said. "He rode with me. Come on, I'll get you to a hot shower and a stiff drink." "Sounds like a plan." Lance gave him a man hug, the handshake and back slap thing. "Don't worry about it, okay? I had a great time. If I get back this way, though, we're going to have a beer and do something less dangerous." "You got it." Then everyone bugged out and it was just him and Gage. That was sort of head tilty, because Gage let Tom take the Jeep, and he never did that. Danny stared, shifting from foot to foot. "You gonna read me the riot act?" he asked, figuring he deserved it. "I'm thinking on it. But I figured you'd need me to drive. And someone needs to doctor your hands." They'd been friends a long time, good friends, despite the fact that Gage was from cowboy country and Danny was from Boulder. Hell, Gage was an animal husbandry major, and a good four years older than him, to boot. But they managed to be best buds, anyway, and he kinda let his shoulders slump, let the tired take him over, trusting Gage. "Thanks, man. I appreciate it." "Then let's go."

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Gage was weirdly quiet the whole way back to their crash, and Danny tried not to bounce his leg too much or anything, not wanting to let Gage see how freaked out he was. Now that the emergency boost was out of his system he was all wired and weird and jazzed. They got inside and Gage got them both a beer before setting out warm water, bandages, and triple antibiotic goo. "Come on, man. Let me look at your hands." "Okay." He sat across the little kitchen table from Gage and held out his hands. Man, he'd chewed 'em up good. "Where the hell were your gloves?" Gage barked, and Danny jumped. "What? I had them on until I was afraid the torn shit would get embedded in my hands. Lay off." "Lay off?" Gage was all red cheeks and blazing gray eyes. Danny thought it went well with the brown hair and square jaw. "You almost get yourself and some random fuck tourist killed and you want me to lay off? Jesus fuck, Danny! We're supposed to be working toward building a business when we all get out of school, remember? That kind of shit could make sure we never get insured." Danny yanked his hands back, hissing when rubbing alcohol spilled from the bottle Gage held right onto his palms. "I should have known this was all about your bottom line." "Someone has to worry about it while Chip is out boinking his customers and you're letting them fall off the cliff." "Jesus." No way was he gonna sit there and take that. He was too damned tired. "I'm going to bed." Danny stood up and headed for his little bedroom, but Gage grabbed his arm and yanked him around. "I was worried about you, asshole." Yanking only got him shoved back against the wall, where he hit with a splat, his breath whooshing out. Oh, fuck. Fuck a duck. He was gonna spring a boner if Gage wasn't careful. He loved it a little rough, loved the rush of a tough guy. "Well, I'm sorry," he said. "Now can I go to bed?" "Asshole." But Gage let him go, and he breathed a sigh of relief. No boners. Go him. His room was depressingly messy, but Danny scraped the dirty clothes and geology books off his bed and settled in, looking at his hands and grumbling. So much for helping him out... The door popped open like he'd thought it open, and Gage came in, trailing first aid supplies. "Dickhead. Let me fix you up."

Mountain Trails - 17

"Not if you're gonna holler at me. I gave you a chance back at Big Horn."

"Christ, you're a queen." Plopping down, Gage grabbed his hands and started working on them,

eyes down, lashes shadowing his cheek.

"Uh-huh. So?" Gage teased him about that a lot. But this time he didn't seem to be joshing.

"Nothing," Gage mumbled, fixing the last of his scrapes. "There. All set."

"Uh. Thanks." What else was he supposed to say when Gage was still sitting there, rubbing his

hand with one rough thumb? Like slow and meditative.

"No problem."

"Gage? Dude? Can I have my hand back?" It felt weird to just sit there and let the man pet him.

Especially when his cock was determined to go, hey, look, someone is touching...

"Nope."

"Huh?"

"I said no. I bandaged them up, now you're gonna let me use them for a bit."

Danny shook his head, wondering if maybe he'd fallen asleep while Gage was working on his

hands. "Use them for what?"

Gage scooted closer, legs parting, baggy shorts outlining a hard-on like Danny couldn't believe at

the crotch. Man, how had he missed that before now? Then Gage pushed Danny's poor hand

right down against the cloth covered ridge. "For this, man."

His mouth must have dropped open a mile. "You don't swing that way."

"You have no idea which way I swing. You just assumed since I wasn't picking up tourists like

the rest of you heathens that I don't have sex."

Without even thinking about it, Danny started tracing that hardness, squeezing and testing. "No, I

just figured you didn't have sex with guys."

"Well, you figured wrong." Gage pushed at his hand, making the touch harder, deeper. Those

gray eyes had gone almost black. Almost as dark as his own damned brown eyes. Bizarre.

"I guess I did. Do you, uh. Do you kiss? I know some guys..."

"Shut up." Gage grinned a moment before pushing him down on the bed and kissing his breath

right out of him, hard enough to bruise his lips.

Mountain Trails - 18

Oh, sproing. His cock rose like a flag going up a flagpole, whoosh, right on up. God, he did love a little manhandling. He didn't know how Gage knew, but the man was hitting his buttons like crazy. Pushing his legs wide, Gage slipped in between, rubbing down against his cock, grinding them together good and hard. Gasping, Danny grabbed Gage's shoulders and held on for dear life, fucking amazed at the taste and feel of a guy he'd had very private fantasies about for like, two years. Gage never let up. Hell, if anything he got even more intense, humping like crazy, growling low, filthy words every time they broke for air. Then Gage sorta reared up on his knees and started stripping them down so fast that Danny heard cloth rip. "Shit, man. Watch it." "No." He got a determined look. "Not going to watch what I say or do anymore. Chip says you

like it rough, which is a damned good thing, because I can't be nice."

"Feels nice to me." God, look at Gage! Fucker was beautiful like this.

"I'm doing something wrong, then. I want it to blow your mind."

"Then come and get me." He sprawled back and spread his arms and legs, all but daring Gage.

It worked. The man lunged, whipping him over on his belly and smacking his ass. "Where's the

lube?"

Damn, that stung. "It's by the bed. In the stone box."

"Man, I thought that was your weed stash."

"Ha. Come on." His cock throbbed, hot and damp against the sheets, with every wiggle of his

hips. His ass stung where Gage has smacked him. And he was more excited than he could ever

remember being.

"Yeah." Two cool fingers pressed against his ass, the slick lube easing them right into his body,

and Danny bowed right up, his hips lifting, his back tight as anything.

"Jesus, Gage."

"Well, you said."

Gage worked him hard, opening him up, getting him good and ready. Then the man grabbed his

hips in a bruising grip and lined up behind him. He heard the tiny, metallic crinkle of the condom wrapper, and Gage was pushing into him, hard and wide and almost too much.

Mountain Trails - 19

But only almost.

Goddamn. He couldn't ask for more than that. If he'd been able to touch himself, Danny would

have gone off like a firecracker. He couldn't let go of his clawed up grip on the sheets and

mattress, though, not without sliding right into the headboard. That was how fast and deep Gage

was going at it.

The man was just gonna split him in two.

Sharp teeth set against his shoulder. "Don't ever do that to me again, babe. Scared me."

If it got him this? He'd do it once a week. Not that he wanted to upset anyone. Oh. Oh, damn.

Gage changed angles, hitting him just right, and fuck, he saw stars.

"Come on, babe. I can't hold on much longer."

That ragged note in Gage's voice about sent him over, but he just couldn't get enough. "Need you

to touch me, man."

"What, here?" That big hand cupped his cock, going right beneath to his balls to squeeze them a

little, too.

Oh, hell yes. That was it. Gage inside him, scraping every last nerve ending, and a hand working

its way back to his cock, stroking hard, and that was it. Danny came like a ton of bricks, crying

out, his bruised, sore fingers grabbing at the bed.

Gage came for him, too, just grunting and moaning, sounding like a bull elk in rut or something.

Which was too damned funny. Danny would have laughed if he'd had the breath.

"You laughing at me?" Gage asked, breathing damp puffs of air against the back of his neck

when they collapsed.

"What do you think?"

"I think you are. Fuckhead."

"Nope. Fucked ass. Goddamn, Gage."

"Yeah. I know..."

Gage pulled away carefully, rolling him to his side so they could slide together like a couple of

tectonic plates or something. Maybe something that fit better than that. Like... well, he was way

too sleepy to think of what. He'd save that for another time.

***

Mountain Trails - 20

Chip came back to the apartment the next morning, just in time to get some of the coffee Gage had made for them. Danny grinned at him, humming and pouring Chip a big cup with milk and some hefty sugar. "You're awful cheerful this morning," Chip said, yawning like a bear on valium. "I had a good night. How was the tourist?" "Yours or mine?" A low growl came from Gage, making Chip look at him with a frown. "Yours," Danny said quickly. "I never had the other one. But is he okay?" "Well, that Lance guy is just fine. Carlo was amazing; I'm meeting him for skiing in October.

And they both went away this morning."

"Excellent," Gage said. "No more tourists, Danny."

"You got it, babe."

When Chip gave him a surprised stare, Danny just let his grin slide wider until he figured he'd

need a smile-ectomy. "Me and Gage, we got an agreement. By the way, man, thanks for telling

him how I liked it."

Chip just hooted. "Well, I'll be damned. You fall off the cliff into the shit pile and come out

smelling like a rose."

Danny lifted an arm and sniffed. "Nah. Just like Gage. Want some scrambled eggs?"

"Hell, yes."

Chip got plates, and Gage cooked the bacon, and it was good to be just them and a day off, the way they all liked it. The only difference was the way Gage touched him and looked at him

every time he passed by.

And he'd take that over a random tourist any day.

Mountain Trails - 21

Chapter Three Chip checked his look in the mirror one more time. He didn't look much like a snowboarder, but he could shred okay. He wasn't really in Snowmass to board, though. It was Thanksgiving break and he was up here to meet with Carlo. Yeah, he and Carlo had kept in touch. They'd met in Grand Junction for fall break and hit the Colorado National Monument and all, just touristing and having fun. And now they were going to ski and shit. It was the 'and' part he was really interested in, though. They were supposed to ski back over fall break, but the snows had been too light and most of the slopes had just opened. Chip kinda hoped the few trails that were open were disappointing, so he and Carlo could be snow bunnies at the lodge. When he found himself staring in the mirror again, Chip left the lodge's public restroom and went looking for Carlo. The man should be out there now, searching the crowd for him. There. He saw that curly black hair and the tanned face and headed over. Dark brown eyes lit up for him when he walked up, and Chip grinned, taking in the expensive, designer ski gear. "Hey, buddy" he said, holding out a hand to shake and or man hug.

"Hey, Querido."

Oh, man, that had him blushing. He loved it when Carlo called him pet names in public. It was

too hot.

"How's it going?"

"Better, now that you're here. I checked the slope report. It's sucktastic, but it's supposed to snow

tonight. Want to just hang out until tomorrow, maybe have some supper and..."

"There's that and again."

"Huh?"

Chip grinned. "Nothing. I want. Let's rustle up some food and then we can go hide and I can play

find the foreskin." He whispered the last part, lowering his voice so only Carlo could hear him.

Those brown cheeks heated, going bright rose, and Carlo nodded. "You got it, Querido." Carlo's

eyes went serious and one hand reached out to touch Chip's. "I missed you."

"You, too. For sure. Now come on."

Mountain Trails - 22

They actually walked hand in hand for a moment, before the crowd registered and they let go at the same time. It felt pretty damned good. Chip would bet he could come up with a lot of 'and'. *** Shit. The kid and the pretty Hispanic businessman looked good together.

Beau sat back and pulled his hat down farther over his eyes. Too bad he didn't have anyone to

look good with anymore. Sean had kicked his ass right out of their house, the one they'd bought

together, and paid him off like he was some kind of backstreet whore.

That was what a cowboy got for taking up with a ski lodge manager.

Tossing back his drink, Beau pondered what he ought to do. He needed to find work, not live at

the damned lodge on Sean's bill. That was what he was doing. Taking the money like a dog took

a beating lying down.

It had been three months. Where the hell was his pride?

"Tequila, please, ma'am."

The voice made him look over, his listless soul taking an interest for the first time in three

months. Another cowboy had taken a seat at the bar, hat pulled down low, tanned skin kinda gray

underneath, dark circles under the all but hidden eyes.

Like him.

There was something familiar about the guy, too, so Beau took a chance and spoke. "You okay?"

"Huh?" The guy looked up, shocking bottle green eyes meeting his. "Well, I'll be damned. Beau

Morgan."

It just went to show how much both of them had changed that he hadn't recognized Troy right away. He hadn't seen the man in nigh on five years. "Hey, you old Texan. How's it going?"

Troy's face actually lit in a smile, one hand reaching out to shake Beau's. "Pretty rotten, all things

considered. You?"

"Got dumped. Need to find work. How's..." Lord, what had that feller's name been? He and Troy

had dated off and on until Troy had met... Kane? Kale?

"Kent. He's dead, honey."

Mountain Trails - 23

Oh. Oh, shit. Man, just when you thought you had it bad, someone proved to you that it could get worse. "I'm sorry. Fuck. When?" "About six months ago." "Shit, man. I'm sorry." "Me too." Those eyes just glittered. "So Sean dumped you, huh?" "Yeah. Kicked me to the curb and paid me off." Raising his glass of tequila, Troy nodded. "Well, here's to sorrow, buddy." "Yeah. I'll drink to that." They both slammed back a shot, the little glasses smacking down on the bar. "Again," Troy said, and the bartender filled them up.

They drank together until Beau worried that Troy was gonna poison himself. They didn't talk

much, either. He wondered why Troy was there, wondered if his old friend was broken, and

wondered if this was his sign from the universe to get his shit together.

Then he stopped wondering and started doing. "You got a room, man?"

"Huh? No. I was just on my way through. I stopped because..."

"Because?"

Those green eyes burned into him, Troy looking like he was pissed as hell at the whole world.

"Kent loved this place. Asshole."

"Yeah. Well, then you don't need to drive. Come on. I got a room. On the house, even."

"I'm not done yet."

"Sure you are. You've had enough." Hell, even the pretty little bartender was nodding, giving

him the 'cut the guy off' look.

"No. Another one, honey." The glass smacked on the bar again, Troy wavering in his seat.

"That's enough." Hell, he'd been Troy's trail boss once. He could still put command in his voice.

Mountain Trails - 24

"Fuck you!" Troy stood up, weaving back and forth, hands up and clenched, ready to fight. "I

said I'm not done yet. You gonna make me stop?"

He wasn't so drunk that he couldn't. Not even close. So Beau stood up in one smooth motion, his

arm cocking back and swinging like a rusty gate. He took Troy right on that glass chin, his fist

smacking like a freight train. Then he caught the man as Troy fell like a sack of potatoes.

He looked down on that shorn blond hair, the hat rolling across the floor. Beau nodded. "Guess I

am."

*** Troy Farrell woke up with an aching head and a sour mouth, his bladder about to bust from sleeping too damned long on a gut full of tequila. Jesus, his jaw hurt.

He remembered hitting the ski lodge. Remembered drinking. And Beau! Who woulda thought

he'd meet Beau here? After that, it was all kinda... shit. The man had hit him. Knocked him clean out. Rolling, he got up on his hands and knees on the softest damned bed he'd ever felt and tried to get his bearings. It was a hotel room, one of the really swanky ones at the lodge. He and Kent had stayed in the cheap seats, and Troy'd only ever seen these rooms in the brochures. He guessed if you had to get dumped, you might as well get a rich man to do it to you.

"You okay?" That voice was whiskey and cigarette rough, coming from a chair in the corner.

Those blue eyes looked out from under the brim at him, calm and tired.

"Yeah. You clocked me hard."

"You were being an ass. What else was I gonna do?"

"Well, help me to the bathroom, honey."

It was embarrassing as hell, having someone there after one of his binges, but it was kinda nice,

too. Beau was gentle, helping him stand, helping him clean up, and he remembered why he

missed the man like a sore tooth sometimes.

It had just been too long, both of them wandering off to their own lives. He was shaking by the

time he got back to the bed to sit down.

"Get some more sleep, babe. I'll wake you when the room service comes."

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La di da. But he sure as hell didn't argue. He just rolled right over and went back to sleep. He'd figure the rest later. *** Beau lifted little lids and looked at the food. It may have been noon, but it was still breakfast he was craving. He figured that would be the easiest thing on poor Troy's stomach, too. He got everything laid out on the table, including the milk he knew Troy would want instead of

coffee, and went to shake his old buddy awake.

"Troy? Come on, man. Food."

"Boo?" Troy blinked, and the nickname had Beau blinking, too.

No one had called him that since he took up with Sean. Sean had hated that silly name.

"Yeah. You feeling better?"

"Uh-huh." Troy crawled out of bed, hitching up his boxers. "Damn, I'm foul."

"You can shower when you're done. I called down and got you some deodorant and a

toothbrush."

"You can tell you're used to living with the high class set, huh?" He got a look, one that almost looked like the man was joshing with him. That would be a damned good sign. For some reason, Troy's smile meant a lot to him.

He was pleased with the way Troy tucked into the food, too, eating the eggs and potatoes and

pancakes, leaving just the greasy bacon and sausage. Which didn't bother Beau a bit.

Troy leaned back, hands crossing on his belly. "Oh, that was just fine, Boo."

"Uh-huh. I liked it." The last of the coffee was a little gross, but he sucked it down anyway,

clearing the last of the tequila haze.

"Well." Stretching, Troy stood, joints popping. "I'm gonna hit the shower."

"No problem. You want some jeans and a shirt?"

"That'd be good. You think they'll wash mine?"

"You bet." He'd call down to laundry and get them to pick them up. Lord, he needed to get out of

the lodge. He surely did.

Mountain Trails - 26

Troy headed for the bathroom, the boxer shorts dropping to the floor just before the door closed, and Beau sat there at the table, kind of in shock. That hard, tight brown ass... well, it stirred things he thought sure were dead. "Damn." The word echoed out loud in the empty room, and Beau finally made himself get up and call down to get Troy's clothes picked up and get some clean ones for the man to wear. They were of a size pretty much, even if he was two inches taller. With boots it wouldn't matter. Ten minutes later, Troy was back, wrapped in a towel and still dripping a little. That blond hair was all mussed from a towel drying, and even if he was skinny and too pale, Troy was still a damned fine looking man. Beau shifted, trying to get his old body to settle down.

"You okay, Boo?" Troy asked, looking at him curiously.

"Uh-huh. Just a little restless. I need to get out of this place. Get back to work."

"I hear you. I need to hit the road, too. But I'll wait for my clothes."

"Yeah..."

They sat and stared a minute, Troy reaching for the TV remote, before Beau had a thought.

"How about we play cards?"

He and Troy had loved to play cards once, from poker to crazy eights.

That lean face lit up, and Troy nodded. "Yeah. Okay."

"Cool." The cards took a minute to find, but they got going, and they were on game three by the

time he figured it was safe to ask some of the questions he wanted to ask.

"So what happened with Kent?"

Troy bit his lip a moment, finally playing a black eight. "Spades. He had a stroke."

"Shit. You're kidding." Kent hadn't been that old...

"Nope. Just boom."

"That sucks."

"Well, it sure beat a long, lingering thing, I guess. But it was hard."

Yeah. The catch in Troy's voice told him how hard it had been. Hell, Sean wasn't dead, and Beau

had felt that sense of loss.

Mountain Trails - 27

"So you gonna head back to Texas?"

"Maybe. Not now. If I do it will wait until spring. I'm Christmassing at a dude ranch up near

Rangely. They need winter help."

"Yeah?" Well, that would be a fine way to keep busy.

"Yup. You might ought to come with me, if you're needing a job."

"I didn't want to invite myself along." Grinning, he played out a card and gave Troy the chance

to play his last card, damn it.

"Well, you're invited." Those green eyes met his, twinkling with more life than they'd had the

whole time they'd been together the last day.

"Thanks, man."

"No problem, Boo. No problem at all."

*** It took two forevers for his laundry. Hell, it was near five o'clock and it still wasn't back. Not that Troy was in any hurry. He'd given himself a week to get to Rangely, and it was only a day away. The laundry time amazed him, but not as much as the fact that he'd asked Boo to come with him. It was weird, how they bounced back and forth between awkward and just like old times. Playing cards, watching those blue eyes and ready grin, well, it had been good for his soul. Beau was sleeping now, napping a little, lying on the bed where he'd been watching TV. Relaxed in sleep, the lines on Beau's face smoothed out a little, the tight brackets about the mouth and nose just going away. The man looked like he'd suffered. Oh, he probably felt guilty because no one had died, but Boo had some low self-esteem, for sure. That Sean had always been a bastard.

Without even thinking, Troy crossed the room and sat on the bed next to Beau, his hand

automatically moving to stroke the dark hair. There was a lot more gray in there, now, just

sprinkled through, giving the nut brown some texture.

"Hmm? Oh, shit, babe. Did I fall asleep?"

"Yeah. You can make it up to me by buying me steak."

"I can do that. You want to go down to the restaurant?"

Mountain Trails - 28

He thought about that, thought about facing all those folks, and shook his head. "No, Boo. Do

you mind?"

"Hell, no. If we get room service, I don't have to move."

"Well, all right, then." Troy grinned and handed Beau the phone. They ordered steaks and baked

potatoes and salads and pie, and he felt better than he had in weeks. So good that it seemed

perfectly natural to just slide down next to Boo on the bed and sorta... snuggle.

Beau went still, only his head turning so their eyes met.

"This okay, Boo?"

"Better than okay," Beau said. "I just don't want to upset you, or nothing."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because you're giving me a hard on."

"Oh." That rueful smile had him smiling back before leaning in to put his lips to Beau's just

tasting, feeling alive.

Really alive.

Beau moaned for him, kissing him back, one hand sliding up to cup his head and keep him close.

He had a moment of feeling dishonest, of feeling disloyal. Then he just closed his eyes and went

with it, letting Boo love on him.

They rolled to their sides, still kissing, just slow and leisurely, learning each others' tastes again.

Beau still tasted like sunshine and whiskey, which shouldn't surprise him, but it did. The man

was still hot as a furnace, too, which was nice because Colorado was damned cold.

Things had just started to go from slow to go when the knock came on the door. Room service.

And his laundry. Hoo boy.

He was sorry for it, actually. So was his cock. Who woulda thunk it?

Beau sighed, rolling away, his wood obvious as hell in his jeans. "Steak."

"Uh-huh." Oh, Jesus fuck, that smelled good. His stomach growled and Troy stared down at his

belly, amazed that his appetite was right there. It hadn't been for a bit.

They dug in and chattered like the old friends they were, and if neither of them mentioned their

little make out session, well, that was okay. It had felt too damned good to regret it.

Mountain Trails - 29

***

Beau woke sometime in the wee hours before dawn, starting right out of a sound sleep when something hit his ribs. Couldn't be Ghost, because that old hound had died last year. And it couldn't be Sean... Troy. The man snuffled and squirmed against him, and suddenly Beau was hard and needing, sweat beading on his upper lip. Wouldn't be right to do nothin', but damn. He was kind of amazed at himself. Beau pushed away a little, trying to get some breathing room, but Troy followed, burrowing into his warmth. That man had always been cold blooded as a lizard. "Troy." He groaned it when Troy's hands slipped between them, sliding down his belly. Those poor hands were cold as a witch's tit, but they made goose bumps of pleasure rise on his skin, not of chill. "Hey, Boo." Sleep rough and husky, Troy's voice scraped right over his nerves. "Hey. If you're gonna feel me up, at least be awake." "Oh. Sorry." But Troy wasn't moving away. Nope, he was moving closer, fingers grazing Beau's cock through his shorts. His cock rose even harder, curling up toward that touch, and before he could even blink that hand was in his shorts and closing around his cock and oh, oh, God. "This all right, Boo? I just need to... I need." "Yeah. Yeah, it's okay." His own hand slid down under the covers and Troy's boxers to curl around one tight ass cheek, and they were moving together, humping and stroking. The cloth disappeared, both of them wiggling it right off, and suddenly their cocks met, hot and slick, sliding right alongside each other. Beau moaned and thrust, kissing Troy good and hard, and it was like the years just fell away, and he was just as hot for the man as he had ever been. "Damn. Damn, Boo." Oh, that voice. It did a number on him, making him cry out and jerk, his cock so close to going off, his balls pulled up tight. He reached down again, tugging at both of them, his thumb pushing at Troy's slit, and that was it. That was all she wrote. Troy came for him, hot and wet and slick, and Beau shot so hard his eyes crossed, all but biting a chunk out of his tongue.

Mountain Trails - 30

They lay together, neither of them saying a word, until they drifted off to sleep. Holding each other tight as could be. *** Troy woke up early, like he usually did when he wasn't drinking. He was warm and happy for the first time in... well. Since Kent. He didn't figure he was ready to get serious or nothin', but he sure did like having Beau with him.

Boo woke up and blinked at him, and that smile was like dawn breaking over the mountains.

"Hey, babe."

"Hey. This doesn't mean..."

"I know. Can we just take it a day at a time?"

"You know it. You still want to come with me?"

"I do." He got a tiny kiss, right at the corner of his mouth.

Throwing caution to the wind, Troy took the kiss hard and deep, tasting hope. "Then come on

and get up. We need to get a move on." Beau got up, whistling as he went to grab a shower, and Troy watched, a smile on his face and deep inside him for the first time in a long time." *** Chip paused with his fork halfway to his mouth, watching the two pretty, bowlegged cowboys

walk out of the lobby together, shoulders rubbing, duffel bags bumping on their backs.

"Dude. That's pretty."

Carlo glanced up and grinned. "It is."

"You think they're together?"

"They sure do look it, huh?" Carlo ought to know. His family was kind of country or something.

Chip would bet he could read cowboy body language.

"You think they're as happy to be together as we are?" he asked, licking syrup off his lip.

Carlo stared at him, eyes going hot in like a second flat, that solid body shifting for him, the

smell of man suddenly strong. Then Carlo shook his head.

Mountain Trails - 31

"Not a chance, Querido. Not a chance."

Mountain Trails - 32

Chapter Four “Hey, Gage. Is there such a thing as a kinky cowboy?” Chip asked, slapping burgers together as fast as he could. The party was in full swing, about fifty fellow students milling around sucking down beer from the kegs and eating Gage’s famous chili burgers. Chip just burned meat. That was his main talent. “Huh?” Gage glanced over, up to his elbows in hamburger meat and Worcestershire sauce and onions. “What? Why?” “Oh, I’m not asking about you and Danny.” Hell, he could hear Gage and Danny through the wall. And occasionally see them on the couch. Gage wasn’t kinky, really, but he would give Danny what he needed. A lot. “You’d best not be...” Gage thought on it a moment, head tilted, hands stilled. “I guess there could be. I mean, I’ve never met one. But I’m young.” That grin had Chip hooting. “You’re not that young. Older than me.” Those gray eyes narrowed, Gage giving him a look. “I was never as young as you, buddy.” “Don’t be a bitch, Gage,” Danny said, patting the man’s ass on the way by, coming to grab Chip’s flipper. “My turn to uh, turn. You go play nice with the guests.” “Aw, man.” He didn’t mingle well. At least not with people he didn’t know. With his guys, yeah. “Go. Come on, we all agreed to do some time.” “Yeah, yeah.” Chip wished to hell that Carlo was there. That man could charm anyone, even a bunch of drunk college students. He just had to remember that some of these guys might be working for him later. With the business and all. Him and Gage and Danny and Tom, they wanted to do an adventure type thing. “Chip! Hey, man!” As soon as he was out among the crowd he was accosted by... Andy? Anthony? Aaron! “Hey, Aaron.” Chip liked Aaron. The guy was a lot like Gage, if younger. He had that quiet cowboy way, the strong jaw, clean-shaven under the cowboy hat. “How goes it?” “Okay. Look, man, can I talk to you in private?” Weird. He had some classes with Aaron, had hung out some, but they’d never been close. Jeez, he hoped the guy wasn’t going to hit on him. He’d have to say no. He and Carlo were a thing.

Mountain Trails - 33

“Sure.” Grabbing another beer (in a can, because after a certain time of night he didn’t trust the keg) Chip pulled Aaron to the back of the patio, both of them shivering like crazy. Only in Colorado would you have an outdoor picnic in December, when it was like, fifteen degrees. “What’s up?” “Well, it’s about Gage.” His eyebrows went up. “What about him?” Gage was the solid one, the never get in trouble one,

so Chip couldn’t figure what might bother Aaron about the man.

“Are he and Danny, like... a thing?”

Ah. Well, he hadn’t been sure about Aaron, but now he guessed he was. “Uh-huh. Pretty solid.

Gage went after him, if you get me.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I get you.” Aaron looked right sad for a moment, blue eyes cloudy. Then he

shrugged. “Right. Thanks, Chip.”

“No problem.” Man, look at the guy go, all slumped shoulders and hands in his pockets. Chip

headed back to the grill, nudging Danny out of the way. “I’ve had all the nice I can handle. You

know Aaron, man?”

“Sure. He’s a good guy.”

“Yeah, well, he’s got it bad for your man.”

“No shit?” Danny’s eyes went wide. “Well, he can’t have him.”

“Right here. Listening,” Gage said, laughing. “No, he can’t have me. But we can find him a

friend. Chip, can you get Tom to take over burger mixing? I need to wash my hands. Danny,

come help.”

“Why would I...” Danny trailed off, cheeks heating at the look Gage gave him. “Oh. Right.”

“Uh-huh.”

Chip laughed. Horn dogs. “Danny getting all possessive does it for you, huh man?”

Gage nodded, grinned hugely. “You know it. Oh, and Chip?”

“What?”

“There might just be a kinky cowboy out there. You never know.”

***

Mountain Trails - 34

God, did he feel like an idiot.

Aaron had thought maybe something was up with Gage and Danny. Good thing he’d asked

before making a pass at the man.

Always a day late and a fucking dollar short.

Somehow he didn’t feel like partying anymore, so he headed home. His roommate, Chris, was

gone, a note tacked to the phone in the tiny living room. “Went to Gina’s. Stop moping over Gage,” it said, and Aaron shook his head. Even Chris was getting laid. Horndog cowboy. And he didn’t even know Chris knew about Gage. Goddamn. The light on the phone was blinking, and hoping against hope it was something that would shake the funk, Aaron hit the button “Hey, Aaron? Hi, this is Bryce Myler. I’m a friend of Chris’. He says you know a good bit about the trails around here, and I’m looking for someone to lead a trail ride. If you’re interested, call me back tomorrow.” The phone number came next, and the machine clicked off. Well. It wasn’t a date, but a job was almost as good. Aaron made a note to call the guy back. And damned if the funk didn’t lift. Just a bit. *** A week later, Aaron was leading a trail ride, starting out at the stable where he boarded his roping horse. Bryce turned out to be the hottest, blond cowboy Aaron had seen in a coon’s age. Tall, lean, even in the heavy coat and boots, the man was just... well. Yeah. Thank God it was so cold.

Too bad the guy had like, three college-aged girls with him.

“You go to Western?” he asked. He didn’t think so, ‘cause a guy like that would be on the rodeo

team, and Aaron had never seen him before.

“Nope.” Bryce grinned over the back of a pretty little gelding he was saddling up for one of the

girls. “That’s my sister, Ashley. I’m down to see her before she goes away for the holidays, and

she said she wanted to go trail riding... I could bring the horses, but man, I didn’t want to try to

read topos in December. Thanks for leading us out, man.”

“No problem. Where’re you from?”

“Just over next to Montrose.”

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“Yeah? I wondered why I’d never met you, if you’re a friend of Chris’.” He knew Chris was

from Paonia or someplace like that, and his old buddies hardly ever came over the Blue.

“Well, I work a lot, you know? And I’m on the circuit eight months out of the year.”

Oh, oh damn. He had himself a real rodeo cowboy. “Yeah? What events?”

“Here, honey, saddle up.” Bryce helped Ashley up on the gelding before ducking under the

gelding’s neck to get to his own big, rawboned mare. “Rough stock. Broncs and bulls.”

“No shit? I’m a roper, myself.”

“I know. Chris has told me all about you.” Green eyes, pretty as the first leaves in the spring,

looked over at him. Looked him over good, too.

“Chris is always matchmaking for Bryce.” The sister, who was just cute as a button, giggled,

nudging her horse away from the big mare, who looked ready to lash out with a nasty kick.

“Matchmaking...”

It could have been the cold, but he thought Bryce blushed hard. “Yeah, well. Can we get going?

The girls are gonna freeze.”

“Marie has never been on a trail ride,” Ashley added.

Well, shit. He hoped he hadn’t planned too difficult a route. “We’re all ready. Everyone comfy?

If anything is rubbing now, it’s gonna be raw by the time we get back. Honey, are your stirrups

okay length-wise?”

The one girl seemed to be struggling a little. They got her fixed up all good to go, and Aaron led

the way out to the tree line, mulling over that whole matchmaking comment. Was Chris always

trying to matchmake him, too? Hell, it had been Chris who had suggested he ask Gage out...

“...mentioned me at all?”

Snapping back to reality, Aaron glanced back at Bryce. “Huh?”

“I asked if Chris had ever talked about me.”

“Oh.” Well, no. Chris never talked about anything. Especially not the whole gay thing. Even if

he was cooler with it than any roommate really had been in Aaron’s life. “No. Hell, he never

talks about anything but school and Gina.”

Hooting, Bryce nodded. “Well, that’s true enough, I guess. I bet he was hedging his bets, too.”

“Stop flirting, Bryce!” one of the girls hollered. “We want to enjoy the scenery!”

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“Shit, girl, you wouldn’t know a good view if it hit you upside the head. You hush.” Laughing, feeling way better than he had the night before, Aaron started pointing out the different kinds of trees and shit, acting like the trail guide he was. Hopefully he’d have time for

flirting later.

Maybe something more than flirting.

*** The girls were clean froze through when they got back, and they all piled into Ashley’s Jeep and

headed off to find coffee and dry clothes, leaving Bryce to deal with the horses.

“Let me help, man. You stabling them here tonight or going home?” It was Sunday, he could

always run over to Montrose with Bryce and help him put the horses up, if need be.

“I’m taking them on home,” Bryce said, looking a little disappointed. But a man had to take care

of his animals, and Aaron admired the hell out of that.

“I could come with you...”

“Yeah?” Those green eyes met his, happy and hot. “We could have some supper, maybe watch a

movie.”

“That would rock. Let me just put Scooter away.”

“Scooter, huh?”

“Uh-huh.” His ears heated, and Aaron ducked his head. “I got him when I was like, fifteen. I

wasn’t all that original.”

“Yeah, I hear you. My first mare was named Spot.”

They worked together to get the horses cleaned up and loaded, then headed on out, Aaron

waving at Bryce and following that trailer all the way back to a little place on the road to Paonia. They got the horses put up, and Aaron helped with the rest of the chores before they settled in for supper. It was a lot like being at home, and he hadn’t realized how much he missed it all, being at school.

“So do you cook, or did someone else make the mac and cheese for you?”

Bryce grinned over, making a little green salad, chopping so vigorously that carrots flew all over.

“My mom makes it for all of us. We just freeze it.”

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“Well, it smells amazing.”

It was a little awkward, now that he didn’t have anything to do. “Were you really flirting with

me?”

“Well, sure. You’re a good looking guy. And you’re not twelve, like so many of Chris’ friends.

You know?”

“They’re eighteen...” Yeah, he was twenty two. Old enough to know better. “That’s good. The

flirting.”

“Yeah? Well, maybe we’ll get to stage two...” Winking, Bryce dished up the food. “But we can

eat first.”

“Cool...” Lord, look at him, acting like a girl going to her first dance. “Oh, man, that’s good mac

and cheese.”

They sprawled on the couch, both of them scarfing down food, the TV just a low noise in the

background.

“Yeah. Mom puts some green chile in it. She’s from New Mexico, you know?”

“Green chile goes in everything down there...”

“Uh-huh.”

Well, hell. Now that they’d put their plates aside, Aaron didn’t know what to do with his hands.

He folded them in his lap.

Bryce glanced over. “You okay, man? I don’t want you to feel like you owe me nookie for supper or nothin’.” “No! I mean, I don’t feel like I have to, man. I’m cool. I’m just a little... I don’t know anything about you.”

“Well, what do you want to know?”

That smile encouraged him to ask, and Bryce’s hand came down to rest on his knee, and

suddenly the only thing Aaron wanted to know was how Bryce tasted. So he leaned in close and

put his mouth against Bryce’s, taking a long, slow kiss.

Moaning for him, Bryce grabbed his shoulders, pulling him closer, the kiss going deep, and

boom. They were off and running.

It had been awhile for Aaron, and his cock just went hard and throbbing in what seemed like seconds. It left his balls aching, in fact.

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“Mmm. You taste good, man. Feel good.” Bryce wasn’t shy at all, no sir. That rough tongue pushed into his mouth, tasting him all through. “Mac and cheese...” Okay, that was the stupidest thing to say, but it made Bryce laugh, so he was happy. “Can we get naked?” “Do you have a bed?” They wrestled all the way down the hall, clothes flying, and they hit the bed naked, bouncing next to each other, hands on skin. God, yeah. Gage had just left his mind completely. All there was room for was Bryce. The man kissed like a fiend, and those rough hands closed on his ass, pulling him close. Hell, he didn’t even have time to look, so Aaron went by touch. Bryce had pretty, lean muscles, but his shoulders were broad. His ass was narrow, muscled, and hot as anything. Yeah. Just, hell yeah. Their cocks slid together, making him grunt. “Jesus, man. I... It’s been a bit. I might blow.” Grinning at him a moment, Bryce nodded. “Okay. Okay, we’ll do this...” And then Bryce was sliding down Aaron’s body, taking his raging hard on right into that mouth and sucking, just licking and squeezing like there was no tomorrow. His head whacked against the headboard, and his hips flew right up, pushing his cock into that ravenous mouth. Jesus, he wasn’t gonna last five seconds. Five, four, three... The flat of Bryce’s tongue rubbed the underside of his cock, and Aaron blew like a train whistle, coming so hard that a sharp cry escaped him, rough and deep and desperate. “Oh, yeah.” Bryce slid up his body, smiling, kissing the corner of his mouth, those lean hips rocking against him. “Better?” His hands felt numb. Like all the blood in them had gone to his cock. He patted Bryce very clumsily. “This isn’t a pity fuck, is it? Chris didn’t just say, ‘I got this gay friend’, did he?” “No. No, he’s been telling me about you for weeks.” Growling, Bryce got that hard cock right in the hollow of his hip, rubbing back and forth. “Hell, I’ve been jacking off to you.” “Oh, God.” That had his cock twitching again, had it rising like it had never gone soft, and Aaron humped, his hands sliding all over Bryce’s back and butt. “I wish I’d known...” “Now you do. Harder.” One hand wiggled under his ass, pulling him up, and Aaron gave Bryce what he asked for, humping harder, rolling up into the kiss of that wet cock.

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It was crazy. He’d never just gone to town like this with anyone, never thrown caution right out the window like dishwater. Fucking A, Bryce was hot. They rocked together, working up a sweat, and Aaron finally snapped, rolling Bryce onto his back and grabbing that amazing prick, working it with his thumb. “Come on, man. Come on. We can do it slow later.”

Bryce nodded, panting, grabbing him and holding on tight. “Yeah. Yeah, I can. God. Gonna.”

That was all the warning he got before Bryce was coming for him, hot and wet, spunk just

spilling over his hand. Oh, God. His own cock jerked again, weaker this time, but still fucking

good, his balls empty as could be.

They collapsed together on the big, grown up bed Bryce had, both of them panting. “Dude. That

was...”

“Uh-huh. Good.” Smiling, nuzzling, Bryce held him close, kissing his throat. “Stay the night and do it again?” “I think I will, man. I think I will.”

Who would have thought a week ago when he was lonely and grumpy that he would have this

now?

Well. Maybe his roommate would have. Chris thought of everything. *** Chip watched Aaron and his new man belly up to the bar and order some beers. It was almost Christmas holiday time, but they’d had time to meet Bryce, get to know and like him. “They look good, huh?” Danny said, smiling the smile of a taken man, arm on the back of Gage’s chair.

“They do. Especially considering just a few weeks ago the man was mooning over Gage.”

He got one of Gage’s patented cowboy stares. “No shit? You never said.”

“I didn’t want to embarrass Aaron. But now he’s got a guy.”

“A good ‘un,” Gage agreed. “Was that why you were asking about kinky cowboys?”

“Huh?” Oh, that. “No, that was prurient curiosity. I mean, you guys make a lot of noise.”

Danny laughed, cheeks pink. “That’s not kink. That’s just hot and rough.”

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“La la la, not listening.” Chip grinned, covering his ears for a moment. “I still think we need to do a survey or something, though. I mean, there has to be one out there somewhere.” “Carlo needs to keep you busier, man,” Danny said, poking his arm.

“He’s coming down for Christmas.” Chip couldn’t wait. He was needing his man in the worst

way.

“Excellent! Maybe you can ask him.”

Bryce and Aaron came over with a pitcher for them all to share. “Ask who what?” Aaron asked.

They all looked at each other, grinning to beat the band. “Ask the cowboy if there’s such a think

as a kinky rodeo rider.”

Bryce hooted. “You got no idea, man. There’s this guy I know? Yeah, he fits the bill...”

Oh, they were all gonna have to hear about that. Chip grinned, settling in, missing Carlo, but glad

as hell to have his friends. Kinky cowboys. Or just regular old guys. Either way, he had a feeling he’d hear some great stories tonight.

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Chapter Five “So, babe.” Carlo looked over at Chip, pausing in unpacking the box of Christmas shit he’d brought for all of the college guys Chip hung out with. “What?” “I have this question. Gage never answered me, but I thought you would know.” Look at those pretty eyes twinkle. Someone was about to be had.

Carlo was pretty sure it was him. “What question?”

“Is there such a thing as a kinky cowboy?”

Carlo stared, his hands stopping what they were doing. “No,” he answered. “Because even if

they were, they wouldn’t admit it.”

“No? Is that a Mexican cowboy thing? Or a general cowboy statement?”

“I’d say it’s a general statement. Why? You fixin’ to break out the handcuffs?”

“Huh? No.” Chip wandered over, hands trailing over his back, his ass. The kid was just

affectionate as hell. It was one of the many things that kept Carlo coming back. “I just wondered.

Random question. Somehow I know so many.”

“Kinky people?” he teased, turning to slide his arms around Chip’s waist.

“No, dork. Cowboys.”

“Ah. I was worried you were going to slap handcuffs on me.”

“Nope. I would rather just sit on you and ride.” Chip kissed him, lips hard and happy on his. “Oh, I like that idea.” His family had been less than thrilled with him leaving for Christmas, but Chip had to stay at school, and Carlo needed their time together. When Chip got out of school... Well, that was probably an old fool’s dream. “The presents can wait, man,” Chip said, rubbing up on him. “I want to unwrap you, instead.” “Yeah? Sounds like a plan.” Carlo gave up on trying to be all civilized and shit and wait. He gave in, letting Chip eat him up, taking everything he wanted and giving it right back.

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They moved together, heading for the bedroom. Chip’s little house was amazingly clean, something he had teased Chip about unmercifully. Chip had just said that without all the other guys around it was a lot easier to keep clean. The sheets were fresh, too. “It’s like a hotel, babe,” Carlo said, working at Chip’s heavy sweater. “Uh-huh. Only kinda mis-matched and with an odd smell.” “Oh, it’s not too funky.” Chip laughed, wiggling against him, pulling at his wool jacket and button down shirt. “Gee, thanks.” “No problem.” There. Chest bare. Now the jeans. Luckily those jeans were pretty loose, and he could just push them right down so they puddled on the floor. He ran his hands over Chip’s body, enjoying the lean muscles, the light sprinkling of pale hair. So damned pretty. “Oh, man, that feels good. But I’m cold.” As soon as Chip got Carlo naked, Chip pulled him into bed, burrowing under the covers. “Wimp.” But that was okay, he’d been cold as hell, too. They needed to talk about things like turning up the heat. That could wait, but it went on his mental list. “Yeah, yeah. Feel how cold.” Freakishly cold hands landed on his ass, and Carlo yelped like a bad puppy. “Jesus. Let’s warm you up, huh?” Yeah. That sounded good. Carlo kissed Chip’s throat, down that well-muscled chest to the concave belly, licking and biting all the way. Grunting, Chip moved against his mouth, thrusting into his lips and tongue like they were somewhere else entirely. Hoo yeah, the kid was hot now, skin flushing deep pink. Cupping his hands under Chip’s butt, Carlo moved farther down, nuzzling against Chip’s pubes. “Want you, man. Been waiting and waiting for you. That ski trip wasn’t nearly enough.” Chip stroked his hair, staring down at him, eyes serious as a heart attack. “I know. I know, babe.” He bent and took Chip’s straining cock into his mouth, licking and sucking around the head, then going right down. His mouth closed hard around the base of Chip’s cock, going to town. “Shit!” Chip struggled, moving away, then up into his mouth, starting up that greedy rhythm that Carlo loved. “Fucking A, man.”

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So delicate. Carlo fought a grin, knowing that would make him toothy, and kept on sucking, his

own hands warm enough now to roll Chip’s balls in their delicate sac.

“Oh. Oh, man. Gonna blow, Carlo. Been waiting too long. Haven’t even jacked off, thanks to

exams.”

“Mmmhmm.” He nodded, encouraging Chip to take what he needed. Then they could go slow,

get some fucking in.

Chip shouted, that fine body bucking under him, and that sweet cock jerked in his mouth, giving

it up for him. Salty, bitter, Chip filled him right up, making him swallow desperately to keep up.

“Better, babe?” he asked, finally pulling off with a last lick.

“So much better, you got no idea. Come up here and kiss me.”

Carlo went, pulling the covers around himself, cocooning them in warmth. His own cock was

hard as nails, but he could wait for Chip to recover.

It was always better that way.

“You good?” Chip asked, stroking his back.

“I’ll be better soon, but I can hold on.”

He got a bright grin. “You’re the king of that, man. One of the many things I love about you.”

Carlo went still, trying to tell himself that Chip didn’t mean anything by that, that it was just a

figure of speech. Too bad his trip-hammering heart didn’t believe it. *** Oh, now he’d gone and done it. Carlo had gone completely still against him, sort of staring at him with those dark eyes. Looking almost wary.

“I’m sorry, man,” Chip said. “I didn’t mean to spoil the mood.”

“Are you?”

“What?”

“Sorry?” Looking very invested in the answer, Carlo propped up on his elbows, staring harder.

“Well, no. I mean, not that I said it. But I didn’t want to spoil shit.”

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“You didn’t.” Kissing him hard, Carlo pressed him down against the bed, sturdy body covering his, that hard cock drilling into his belly. Okay. Okay, maybe someone liked that. Chip knew he sure as hell did.

His hands slid down and grabbed Carlo’ solid, muscled ass, pulling them together. Yeah, his

cock was rising again already, just like that, ready to get the show on the road.

“Want you in me, man. Want to feel you. There’s rubbers in the nightstand.”

“You got a nightstand. Good boy.” Laughter brushed his cheek before Carlo leaned to one side to

get to his drawer and pull out the condoms and lube. Then Carlo’s knees spread his legs wide so

Carlo could kneel between them, the man looking like a fine statue sitting there.

“You’re fucking hot, man. So fucking hot.”

“You bring out the best in me, babe.” Slick fingers found his hole, stretching him wide, making

him groan and twitch. It was almost too much, but then his body loosened, opening up, letting Carlo in. “In, babe.”

“Let me get you ready, impatient boy.” A grin stretched Carlo’s cheeks and those fingers hit a

spot inside him that made him growl and wiggle.

“More.”

“Soon.” Again and again, Carlo’s fingers hit that spot, pegging his gland until he saw stars, his

hands reaching out to grab Carlo’s arms.

“Please. Come on, I’m ready.”

Nodding, Carlo smoothed on a condom, fingers pulling free and cock sliding right in. They both

moaned when Carlo slid home.

“Oh, God,” Carlo said, eyes closing for a moment. “Oh, honey.”

“Uh-huh. Move, damn it.”

Carlo’s eyes snapped open, staring right into his, and the man moved for him, shoving in, and

then pulling almost all the way out.

“Like that, babe?”

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“Uh-huh. Oh, fuck yes.” He was going crazy, shaking apart, his hips rocking up to get more of that amazing, thick cock. Hell, he hadn’t even taken time to worship that foreskin like he always wanted to. Later. He’d do all of that later. Right now all Chip could do was feel Carlo in him, spreading him so wide he thought he’d snap. “Not gonna last, babe. Need to...” It was like, seconds. Really. But Chip was ready to go off again, too. So he just grabbed his swinging cock and stroked, clamping down with all of his muscles. “Come for me, then,” he said, pulling at his own flesh, desperate to see Carlo’s face when he came. “Love it when you come. Love how you look. How you smell.” “Oh, Jesus fuck!” Carlo shouted it, head snapping back, hips driving that cock into him over and over until Carlo finally stilled, prick throbbing deep inside him. Chip mourned the damned condom, not letting him feel how wet and hot Carlo was. He only had a minute, maybe less, to think about that. Because then Chip was coming again, his whole body shaking, jerking, come jetting over his fist. “Oh. Oh, damn,” Carlo said, collapsing against him. “That was...” “Uh-huh. Good, babe.” He got a kiss, sweet and sloppy, lazy as all fuck. “Better than good,” Carlo murmured, lips against his. “I love you too, babe.” Oh. Hello. Merry Christmas to him. *** “So, do you think your folks will like me?” Danny asked Gage, fingers tapping on the dashboard of Gage’s old Jeep. “I think they’re gonna love you. Of course, they’re not going to know...” “I know, I know. I’ll keep my hands to myself.” It was only for one day. Just for Christmas dinner. Then they were going to go ski, and he could touch all he wanted. “I won’t make a fuss.” Gage glanced over, shaking his head. “I know you won’t, honey. I’m sorry you have to... well, that I haven’t told them.” “Your folks own a ranch, man. I don’t expect them to be all flower power, gay marriage, here fuck my son.” That was the way of things. Colorado ranch folk could be pretty conservative. Danny held no grudges, there. It was what it was.

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“You rock, honey. You really do.” Gage’s hand landed on his thigh, and he grinned, bouncing

his leg up and down.

“Nah. Wait until you meet my folks. The first time my dad calls you 'dude' your eyes will roll

back in your head.”

“Probably. Here we are. Everything you can see? Is Mom and Dad’s.”

“Wow.” Gage’s folks owned a huge amount of land. They turned into a dirt and snow packed

drive, bumping over a cattle guard, and headed down toward a pretty, old frame house.

“Yeah. It was a great place to be a kid.”

“I bet.” He knew a lot about Gage, had known about the ranch, but somehow the reality of it just

seemed... bigger.

They pulled up next to the house, a bunch of dogs barking and milling around the Jeep, and boy

did they all go crazy when Gage got out.

“Hey, boys. Hey, dogs. Good boys...” Gage gave scratches all around, all of those butts wagging

and wiggling.

“Gage! Hi, honey.”

“Hi, Mom. How’s it going?” Oh, Gage looked like his momma. He really did. Danny grinned,

watching them share a big hug. That was too cute.

“It’s good, honey. I’m so glad you came. Let’s go inside where it’s warm and I can meet your friend.” Gage’s mom smiled at him, waving him in. Danny waded through the dogs, shaking hands with Alice, as she told him to call her, once he got inside.

“Oh, it feels good in here,” Danny said. “Smells good, too, huh?”

“Well, thank you, honey. Gage, your dad is out in the barn. If you go help him, I’ll rope Danny

into helping me set the table.”

“Sure.” Gage clapped him on the back on the way by, giving him a wry look. Then he was gone.

“So you met at school, hmm? Aren’t you one of Gage’s roommates?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Taking the plates she handed over, Danny started setting out places. “He’s a good

guy.”

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“He is. Are you sleeping together?”

Danny almost dropped the plate he held, juggling it awkwardly. “Uh...”

“Oh, like I don’t know my son is queer as a three dollar bill.”

He just stared, his mouth hanging open. She smiled, handing him silverware.

“So, are you?”

“That’s not really for me to say,” Danny answered, just flummoxed.

“Ah! You are. Well, good on you.”

That was the start of the most surreal Christmas dinner Danny had ever had.

Gage’s father was really cool. An old cowboy, salt of the earth type. But Gage’s mom kept

winking, smiling, nudging him when they passed in the kitchen.

Hell, even Gage noticed, and kinda cornered him in the kitchen.

“What’s with you and my mom?” Gage asked, looking downright perplexed.

“She likes me? Hell, Gage, she flat out asked if we were... you know.”

“No way. What did you say?”

“I said it wasn’t my place to say.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Uh-huh.”

They ate a big roast beef, a ton of pie, and opened presents. Gage’s mom had gotten him a nice

sweater and a pair of gloves. Danny felt bad that all he’d brought was a box of Russell Stovers,

but Alice seemed to like it.

Then there was hugging all around and he and Gage escaped, heading back out to the Jeep to

start their long weekend of skiing and, hopefully, fucking.

Even if Danny did think Gage’s mom had scarred him for life.

“That was the weirdest day, man,” he told Gage, grinning a little.

“No shit. I had no idea my folks knew.”

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“Well, that’s kind of cool, though, right? Takes the pressure off.”

Nodding, Gage broke into a huge grin. “You got a point. Thanks, baby.”

“For what?”

“For going with me.” Gage patted his leg. “I really appreciate it.”

“Hey, I’m with you. Period. ‘Kay?”

“You know, it, honey. You know it.”

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Chapter Six Danny hummed out loud, dancing around the kitchen. The whole Christmas thing was nice, but he was glad to be back in the swing, headed toward

spring and eventually summer and doing all the rock climbing he could stand.

For now he’d settle for non-Christmas music, something he could shake his ass to, and a good

cup of coffee. The bass got low and dirty, and he did a little air guitar, flourishing it with a tiny

windmill at the end.

Which was when the music came to a screeching halt as someone changed the channel.

“Dude! I was getting my groove on!”

Danny figured it was Chip, who had the most similar class schedule to his.

“Well, you need to get it on with me instead of Aerosmith, babe,” Gage said, wandering right

over to give him a kiss, hand cupping the back of his neck, fingers digging in just enough to send

little chills up and down his spine.

“You think so?” Man, he loved it when Gage got home before anyone else.

“I do. I think, in fact, that you need to do that right now.” Without waiting for an answer, Gage

grabbed his hand and pulled him right through the front room, back to their bedroom, where he

landed on the bed with a bounce.

Blinking, Danny stared right up into those gray eyes. “Forceful.”

“Been too long, babe.” Gage started at his feet, yanking his boots off, and then his jeans, making

him shiver in the cold air. “Besides, you like it.”

That was true enough. He loved it when Gage got all manly and hard-handed and shit. Danny

wiggled, pulling off his shirt and showing off, even if he was winter pasty.

“Like what you see, babe?” he asked, hands running down over his own belly.

Gage nodded, and then shook his head. “You look cold, baby. Turn over.”

He kinda gave Gage a look. “How is turning over gonna warm me up?”

“Doof.” Crawling up on the bed, Gage put a hand under his hip and flipped him over so he was

face down, kinda like a pancake. Then his legs got spread wide, Gage settling between them.

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“Oh, that’s a nice start.”

“Yeah? Wait until I show you what happens next.” One big hand landed hard against his ass,

Gage just smacking the fire out of him.

“Ow! Babe. Come on, that’s not funny.”

”No, but it’s warming you up, isn’t it?”

Hell, yeah, it was. His whole body arched, his ass stinging, his cock perking right up and

forgetting all about the goose bumps. Goddamn. Gage got a little rough with him a lot, but this was like... the Blue Plate special rough. It only happened on so many days a month. Maybe so many days a year. “Yeah, babe. S’good,” he finally gasped out, arching again, begging for more. He got it, Gage whapping him again, right across the back of one thigh. “Needed to get your

attention, baby. You’ve been very busy.”

“Not too... Oh. Not too busy for you.” He wiggled, taking the next slap up on his left ass cheek,

right below his back.

“You have been, though. Studying, partying. I’ve seen you looking out the window, waiting for

spring. Want you right here. Right here with me, not out there on the rocks in your head.”

“Oh-okay...” His breath hitched every time Gage whomped on him, his skin stinging, his whole

body jerking. So good. Giving him just what he needed. “Love you.”

“Good.” Another stinging slap came before Gage cupped his balls in one rough hand, not too

hard, but enough to have his toes drawing up and curling. And his balls, well, they went tight as

a drum.

“More. Oh, babe. Gage. More.”

“More what? More this?” Gage’s thumb pressed hard at the thin skin just behind his balls,

making him cry out.

“Uh-huh. Want you.” Man, he was just needing, ninety to nothing.

“Want you, too. Been so damned busy.”

Yeah, yeah, he hadn’t been the only one who was busy. Gage had been doing some damned

project...

“Need you naked, man.” The fabric of Gage’s jeans scraped at his legs, maddening him.

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“Don’t think I can wait that long, baby.” He heard the zipper going down, heard Gage scrabbling around for something, then those fingers were back, slick and cool, sliding right up against his hole. “Need you now.” Oh, that was a little freaky, just weird enough to make him moan and hump, that whole cloth against his skin thing. That and the fingers pushing inside him. Goddamn, that felt good. Just two fingers, without any kind of slow or easy. Yeah. Oh, yeah. “Got me. Oh, come on, babe. Got me so hot. Gonna explode.” His cock rubbed against the sheets, wet and hot. Gage opened him right up, fast and furious, then muscled right up between his thighs, lifting his ass and spreading him. “Now, Danny?”

“Now. Yeah.” Panting, he tilted up, just fucking begging for it.

“Oh, God.” He got one more slap, right at the bottom of one cheek, before Gage was sliding into

him, hot as fire, bigger than he thought he could take. The threat of that zipper was right there, so Gage had barely managed to get his jeans down enough to get his cock out, and it was fucking amazing, that he made the man so hot for him. “In, babe. In.”

“All the fucking way,” Gage agreed, pushing right into him, both of them groaning and pushing.

So hot. Just fucking burning up, hotter than summer in Utah. God.

Then Gage started to move, hands on his hips, bruising the hell out of him.

Grunting, Danny pushed back and up, meeting each thrust with his own, his skin so tight and hot

he figured he’d burst. The things this man did to him, for him...

“Gage...”

“Danny. Love. Jesus, I... Yeah.”

His balls drew up even tighter, and he moved faster, needed to get some more friction on his

poor cock, not able to reach down and touch it. Gage bent over his back, shirt rubbing his bare

skin, jeans scraping his stinging ass. Then the man bit him, right on the back of the neck. “Shit! Gage. Oh, God. I can’t...” He hung there, his ass getting pummeled, his cock not touching the bed anymore, his head spinning. “Yes, you can.” One hand left his hip, reached under him to pull at his cock, and Danny hollered, his head snapping back.

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Okay, okay, maybe he could. He humped into Gage’s hand, his hips just rolling, his ass

clenching down. Gage moaned for him, moving harder, squeezing his cock, biting his neck

again. Just giving it to him.

Danny finally lost it, humping and wailing, shooting like crazy, his eyes rolling in his head like a

bad pony’s.

“Uhn.” That was all the warning he got before Gage shot for him, too, filling him deep, just

pushing against him, inside of him. Making him crazy with it. When Gage fell on him, that

ridiculous cotton and too-light-for-spring-in-Colorado shirt stuck to his back.

“Dude. You need to get naked.”

Gage chuckled, warm and good on his neck. “If I do, can we do it again?”

“Hell, yes. I got time if you do.”

“I do. I skipped my last class.”

“Bad Gage.” But Danny didn’t mean it. He was damned glad to have the time to spend. “We can

even do it in the shower.”

“Oh, warm. Cool.” Gage kissed his shoulder before getting up to strip off clothes. “Come on,

baby. I want to take you up on that right now...”

Oh, yeah. He was definitely getting his groove on.

*** Chip paused outside the bathroom door, head tilting. Man, it sounded like he wasn’t the only one skipping an afternoon class. Of course, Gage had been growly as a Grizzly with a sore paw, so

maybe it was a good thing.

It was too damned early to call Carlo, though, Too early for any kind of phone sex or anything.

The man would still be at the office. Sometimes he envied Gage and Danny their easy access.

He settled for writing Carlo one heck of a sexy email, detailing all the shit they’d do when they

met for spring break. ‘Course by the time he was done with that he was hard and needing, and he

hoped to hell that Gage and Danny had cleaned up the bathroom.

He’d heard the water click off, so he knew it was safe to go in and have a little jack off party.

When Carlo called tonight he could do it again. His hand wasn’t as warm as Carlo’s, and he

wished he had smooth skin to touch that wasn’t his, but he’d live.

Carlo was just too important to him to fuck it up now.

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Chapter Seven “We can’t wait until spring break, honey,” Carlo said, running his hand up and down his pants

leg. Just talking to Chip these days made him sweat.

“We can’t?” Chip sounded a little breathless. Carlo couldn’t blame him. They’d been indulging

in a heck of a dirty talk session when he’d abruptly changed the subject.

“No. Can you take a long weekend at the end of the month?”

“I dunno. I mean, we usually get a little break on MLK day, but we just got back from

Christmas.”

Carlo nodded, even though Chip couldn’t see him. “I know, babe, but I need to see you. I could

fly you up for the stock show...” Carlo paused a moment. “My family will be coming up.”

“Yeah?” He could hear the indrawn breath there, hear the way Chip went very still.

“Yeah. I thought... maybe you’d like to hang out and meet them. I mean, they’re willing if you

are.”

“Wait. You told... You told your family?”

“I told them I had met someone special. They know about my preferences.” He grinned a little,

picking at a piece of lint. “I admit, I didn’t tell them how young you were.”

“Ah.” Chip chuckled for him. “Yeah, well, you’ve got that whole gay thing out of the way. The rest will come.” “It should, yeah.” He didn’t want to think of what would happen if his family freaked out. But then he was old enough to take the heat if they did.

“Cool. Then give me a date and I’ll come.”

“I’ll fly you out of Montrose, okay?”

“Sure. I can get there. If it snows hard I’ll get Gage to Jeep me.”

“Cool.”

“Can we uh...” Chip stuttered a little. “You killed the mood, man.”

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Busting his gut laughing wasn’t gonna bring the mood back, but Carlo couldn’t help it. Man, it was just too funny. Sometimes Chip was so damned young. Like Energizer bunny young. But it sure did make him feel like a stud. “I’d hate to bust your mood, Querido. Where were we?” “Well, you were going to let me meet your family. But aside from that, you were gonna tear my

ass up.”

“Oh, right.” His cheeks heated. Despite all the emails and phone calls he and Chip had shared,

there was still an element of naughty about the whole phone sex thing. He just wasn’t used to

sitting there talking about sex instead of doing it.

Chip didn’t have his trouble with it. “You want me to start, babe? I will. I want you to touch

yourself. When was the last time you did that, huh?”

“Uh. The last time we talked?” That had been after, though. Like after they got off the phone.

“Well, I want you to do it now.”

“Now.”

Chip’s low laughter had chills running up and down his spine. “Now, babe. I want you to take

out that amazing uncut cock I love so much and pull on it.”

Carlo cleared his throat. “You been reading those dirty books again?”

“Maybe. Are you getting naked?”

He actually looked around his living room before he unzipped. Lord, like he was worried there

was someone else there, or something. He knew better.

His cock had gone from mostly limp to all the way hard by the time he pulled it out, rubbing the

foreskin back and forth over the head. “I am now, Querido.”

“Oh, good. Because I love how you look like that. All hot and red and sweet. Run your thumb

over the head and push that skin.”

“I am.” Chip knew how much he loved that, always did it fucking perfectly for him. If he closed

his eyes and listened he could almost pretend it was Chip touching him. Almost.

“Now squeeze a little up and down.”

You’d think Chip was the older, more experienced one. Or that he’d been a phone sex worker in

another life or something. The kid just didn’t have a shy bone. Carlo stroked up and down, squeezing at the base and at the tip on every run. A moan escaped him, deep and harsh.

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“Oh, fuck, I love how you sound when you do that. Love it. Like you just can’t hold it in. I want

more.”

“Yeah,” he gasped, his whole body arching. “I need you to be with me, Querido. Are you

touching yourself?”

“Uh-huh.” Chip was starting to pant. “I’m stroking off, too.”

“What else are you going to do for me, Chip?” There were a million more things Chip could do,

and Carlo wanted to hear about all of them.

“What do you want, babe? Want me to get the lube?”

His eyes tried to roll back in his head. “Yeah. Oh, God, you gonna put your fingers inside?

Gonna ride them for me?”

“I am, babe.” He could hear Chip shifting around, hear the digging through the mess that was a

college student’s bedroom. Then he got a crow, and Chip’s mattress squeaked. “Found it.”

“Good. Tell me about it.”

“Um. Well.” A long silence came across the line. “The lube is cold. Kinda slickery but a little

sticky. I’m warming it up between my fingers.”

Carlo could just see Chip all naked and pretty, spread out on the bed, rubbing slick liquid

between his fingers to get it warmed up, that flushed-faced and half-closed eyes thing a good

look for him. The red tint to the skin all over the rest of Chip’s body would make him want to

lick it, to touch all of that hot, young flesh.

“What now?” he asked, needing Chip to do the talking. He was running out of air.

“Now I’m pushing them back, like as in over my balls. I’ll reach round in a minute but right now

this feels awfully good.”

“I can see it, Querido. Making me so hard. So wet.”

“Oh, Carlo. Yeah, man. That’s... oh, fuck. Gonna put ‘em in me now, okay?”

“Better than okay.” He was sweating now, the collar of his dress shirt scratching at him until he

tore it open and shrugged out of the cloth entirely. Then he went right back to jacking off.

“Oh. Oh, I can hear you,” Chip said, grunting.

“You, too.” Carlo would swear he could hear the wet sound of those fingers sliding in and out of

Chip’s ass. “More, baby.”

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“More? I’ve got three in there already.”

“Oh, Jesus. Chip.” His balls were all drawn up and his cock was thumping madly and Carlo

pulled harder, needing to get off in the worst way. He loved Chip. He was going to take the man to meet his family. Oh. Oh, fuck. Carlo came hard, his toes curled, and his spine arched, and he shot all over his hand, his belly and his thighs.

“Carlo!” Chip shouted in his ear, the sound freakishly loud over the phone, and he heard

thrashing and grunting as his Querido came. He only wished he was there to smell and touch and

taste it, too.

“Oh, babe.” Chip said, breathless as anything. “That hit the spot. Literally.”

“The sweet spot, huh?” He laughed out loud, all relaxed in his bones. “I’ll get you the dates. You

let me know when I can get you a flight and I’ll set it up, okay?”

“Sure, babe. I love you.”

“Love you too, Querido. I’ll see you soon.”

“You know it.” Chip sighed. “I know; we gotta get off, huh?”

Carlo grinned, wiping his hands on his pants. “I think we just did, baby. I think we just did.” *** “Gage, man. Will you Jeep me to Montrose next weekend?” “Huh?” Gage glanced up at Chip, noting the red cheeks and too-bright grin. “I need to get to Montrose. I’m going to Denver to the stock show.” “No shit?” Gage folded up the newspaper. “Meeting Carlo?” “Yeah. He wants me to meet his family.” Bouncing, Chip puffed out a sharp breath. “Kinda scary.”

“Well, at least there will be corn dogs and fried Twinkies.”

That full head of brown curls tilted to one side, Chip’s blue eyes lighting up. “They deep fry

Twinkies?”

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“Dude,” Danny said, coming in and wandering over to give Gage a kiss. “How many fairs have

you been to?”

“A lot. I’ve had a fried Snickers.”

“Well, it’s the same concept.”

“Oh.” Chip shrugged. “Well, will you?”

Gage thought a minute. “You want to go to the stock show, Danny? We could just drive Chip

over to Denver.”

“That would rock!”

“Oof.” Gage caught Danny, who’d bounced right on his lap, and grinned at Chip. “Is that okay

with you?”

“You know it.” Chip nodded, and then stared at Danny. “Are you two gonna have sex now?

‘Cause I can leave.”

“Shut up,” Gage said.

Danny chimed in with a, “Yeah, we are.”

“Shit, I’m outta here.” Chip fled like the hounds of hell were on his heels, but not before Danny

hollered after him.

“Better than listening to you have phone sex!”

Gage popped that little round ass. “You shouldn’t give him such a hard time.”

Growling a little, Danny wiggled against him. “Do that again.”

“No.”

“Ooooh. Sadist. Are we really going to Denver?”

“We are. I think it would be fun, and you can see the rodeo and shit.” He’d never pushed any of

that on Danny, but he enjoyed it. The rodeo and all. Gage loved to go, and he hoped Danny would like it, too. “I’ll call and get us tickets.” “Cool. You’re awesome, you know?”

“Kiss me and show me how much.” Grabbing a double handful of ass, Gage pulled Danny up,

begging another kiss, needing it way more than he needed the daily news.

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He got it, too, Danny’s lips on his, good and hard and pushy, like his man always was. Pushy

little bottom, that’s what Danny was made of.

“Mmm. Man, I could sit and kiss you forever, but I’ve got to get a paper done.”

“Butthead. What are you doing sitting here, then?”

“I like the way you feel, is all.” Danny gave him a bright grin, dark eyes just shining. “Okay. I’m

off.”

“’Kay.” Damn, that ass was as cute walking away as it was good in his hands. Nice.

Gage picked up his cell and called his mom. She would get them some tickets to the stock show. She’d probably want to go, too. But that was okay. According to Chip it was gonna be a family

affair.

That was kind of cool.

*** ”Hey, Aaron, man. Are you going to the stock show?” “Hey, Gage!” Aaron still thought Gage was hot, even if he did have Bryce now. Not in like an “I’d fool around with him” way, but in a general hot-guy way.

“I was thinking about it, yeah. Why?”

“A bunch of us are driving over, so I thought I’d see if you wanted to go.”

“Sure.” He’d see if Bryce wanted to go. That would be cool. “I mean, I might not ride with y’all

if Bryce wants to hang out, but I’d love to all go to the rodeo.”

“Cool.” Gage clapped him on the back before hefting his backpack. “See you in soils.”

“See you.”

He pulled out his cell to call Bryce. It occurred to him that if it was going to be a rodeo, Bryce

might be riding in it. Bryce loved to ride. It made him happy. Very happy. Like sproing happy.

“Hello?”

“Hey, hon.” God, he loved Bryce’s voice. All smooth and pretty.

“Hey, are you riding at the stock show in Denver?”

“I am. You coming?”

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“Shit, yes. I love how you are right after you ride.” “Yeah? Woot.” That laugh made him happy deep down in his gut. “Then I’ll get us a hotel room instead of driving back home.” “Cool. I’ll be coming over with Gage and all. Maybe we could all have supper.” “Sure. That sounds like fun, man.” “Excellent. How’re you doing?” “Missing you. Getting ready for the stock show season. I’ll be in Fort Worth, then Houston, and then San Antonio and Austin.” “Wow.” They’d better make their weekend in Denver count, then. “Get lots of lube for the Denver show, will you?” Bryce all but cackled. “I will. I promise.” “Love you. I’ve got to get to class.” He didn’t want to go, but yeah. He kinda had to. “Go. I’ll call you tonight.” Oh, he could so handle that. “All right, babe. Talk to you, then.” He hung up, grinning like a fool. He was gonna get to see Bryce ride. And Aaron was pretty sure that wasn’t all he was going to get to see. Damn. He couldn’t wait.

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Chapter Eight Aaron munched on his nachos, sitting in the stands with Danny and Gage and Gage’s mom and the whole crowd. Well, not the whole crowd, because Chip and Carlo were off having supper with an incredibly handsome and or beautiful Mexican couple. He assumed that was Carlo’s folks, and they’d been incredibly nice, but he’d kinda hung back when they all met, as he figured all that gay might be a bit overwhelming. You had to ease families into that shit. Bryce was up soon. God, Aaron loved that man. It was kinda weird how much he did in such a short time. It wasn’t just the pretty blond hair and the bright green eyes, or even the way Bryce held himself in the saddle. Nope. He liked Bryce’s smile and the way he helped little girls into the saddle on trail rides and the way the man tucked snuff into his lip. And that last nasty shit had to be love, right? Bouncing his leg, Aaron bit at a hangnail, waiting. This was the bareback bronc competition, and Bryce was going for all around, so Aaron would get to see him ride three times. Two more after this, in the saddle broncs, and the bull riding. He just hoped the man didn’t get his ass stomped by an angry Brahma. Because, you know, Aaron had plans for that ass. Maybe when he got out of school he could try his hand at the roping circuit, and he and Bryce could travel together. Shit fire, that would be amazing. He’d have to see what Bryce thought about it when they headed off to the hotel later. They’d gotten a place at a Super 8, not able to afford staying at the swanky places closer to the stock show. Hell, Chip didn’t even have to get a hotel. He was staying with Carlo at the condo. Carlo had offered and all, which was really nice, but the way he wanted to tear into Bryce, Aaron figured anonymous strangers being bugged by their noise was better than friends. That, and he didn’t really want to have to share Bryce and socialize if the man was going to be off on circuit for at least two months. He missed Bryce enough, just being over the Blue from him. “Man, it smells like poop,” Danny said, grinning hugely when Gage whapped his arm. “That’s because cows and horses shit, man,” Gage said, making him mom hoot. “Watch your mouth, son,” Gage’s mom said. She was a super nice lady, and she sure did like Danny.

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“Tell him to stop then,” Gage said, swatting Danny again. Lord, they were like two little kids.

“You’re pretty quiet, Aaron,” Gage said, smiling over at him.

“Waiting for Bryce. He’s up soon, you know?”

“I know. We’re ready to root for him.”

He got a grin that made him blink and grin back. That was one heck of a good looking man.

Danny gave him a knowing smile, and Aaron fought off a blush. He was just looking, after all.

Nothing else.

They announced Bryce after that, on a horse named Whirlwind, and Aaron forgot about Gage

altogether, leaning forward in his seat and watching intently.

Bareback riding was the craziest of the rough stock sports, as far as Aaron was concerned. Bull riding at least let you sit upright. But man, bareback riding laid you right out on your back with your head hitting the back of the animal on every buck. Even with a neck brace, a man’s body took a beating doing that shit. The horse came out of the chute like a shot, and damn, that mare could buck like crazy. Her back end tried to wrap around her head on every buck, but damned if Bryce didn’t hang on, spurs marking out just fine, and knees coming up on every lurch. Jesus, he looked good. Aaron’s hands clenched around the rail in front of him, and he bounced the whole last five of the

eight second ride, hollering his head off.

The other guys were screaming right along with him, and everyone hopped out of their seat when

the buzzer went off, yelling and high-fiving. Man, when Bryce hit the ground and tossed his hat

in the air, Aaron had a serious attack of the proud.

“Seventy-nine points folks. That puts him in second place in the go-round, and in fourth place

overall. Good going to the cowboy from Montrose!”

Whooping, Aaron high-fived Gage’s mom before he even thought of it, then burst out laughing

when she hugged him.

“One down, two to go,” she said, grinning to beat the band.

“Yes, ma’am. All he needs to do is bear down and get Western.”

“He’ll do.”

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Yeah. Yeah, Aaron figured Bryce would do, for sure. He was it for Aaron. That was all there was to it. *** Chip rubbed his hands on his pants, his sweaty palms as embarrassing as all get out. But look at Carlo’s momma and daddy. Classy looking folks, for all that they were dressed like ranchers. Carlo’s momma was just beautiful, her dark eyes and long hair streaked with gray just enough to leave Chip a little speechless. They’d gone out to Aurora to Emil Lene’s, a steakhouse that Chip had heard of but had never been to. They had this amazing pepper grinder that was like, three feet tall, and they served spaghetti as an appetizer. The salad was amazing, the steaks good, and as long as he didn’t talk with his mouth full, Chip figured he was good. The steaks came, smelling like heaven, and Chip dug in, letting Carlo do all the talking. Until Carlo’s momma looked at him and smiled. “Are you terribly uncomfortable, Chip?” “Mmfh?” There he went, trying to talk with his mouth full. He felt Carlo’s hand on his back, and he chewed and swallowed before answering. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little wigged out, ma’am.” “Wigged out?” Carlo’s daddy’s eyes twinkled at him, so much like his son’s. Or vice versa. “Is that a technical term?” “Yessir.” He grinned back, shifting in his chair. He liked Carlo’s folks. Hell, he liked Carlo’s sisters, who hadn’t come to dinner, going to put the kids to bed instead. But man, he felt like the odd man out. “Well, don’t be. We’re happy if Carlo is.” “Yeah? Well, I just don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable back.” That came out wrong. Damn it. “Stop. Just eat, Querido. Leave him alone, Mama. He’s doing well, I think.” “Of course he is,” Carlo’s momma answered. “He’s a lovely boy.” His chest swelled up, and Chip almost spouted that he wasn’t that young, but that would just make him look like he was, wouldn’t it? So he ate his words and ate his steak, and just smiled.

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Conversation moved on, they settled in over dessert, and Chip did a lot of nodding and smiling. When they split up to go their separate ways after supper, though, he couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief. “Was it that hard?” Carlo asked him, slinging an arm around him to lead him into Carlo’s condo. “No. No, they were super nice.” Chip swallowed on his dry throat. “I just... They’re as old as my

grandparents,” he finally blurted out, feeling horrible for saying it.

“I know. Hell, Querido, I’m near old enough to be your papa.”

“But you’re not! I mean, I don’t think of you that way.”

“You don’t have to. These are my parents, Querido.”

“I know.” He shrugged, snuggling a little closer. “And logically, I know some of my friends my

age have folks as old, if not older, than yours. It just... I felt like they were really making an

effort, but that it was too weird.”

“Well, I am glad you tried, Chip.” Carlo didn’t look upset at all. Not one bit. So he relaxed a

little.

“Thanks. What’s my reward?”

“What would you like?”

Oh, look at that evil smile. The elevator ride seemed to take forever, but they finally got to

Carlo’s place, and as soon as they were inside, he turned and grabbed Carlo’s ears, pulling the

man down for a kiss. “How about this first?”

“Oh, I can so do that.” Carlo kissed him, lips warm and firm and tasting a little like coffee and

cream. They kissed long and hard, their mouths meshing wetly, lips and tongues working.

God almighty. Whenever he wondered what he was doing in this relationship, they had a fucking moment like this. Not just the sex, though that blew his mind. But the other stuff he could feel in every kiss blew him away. They rocked back and forth, just standing there kissing. It was fucking amazing. Every time.

“Love you, Querido,” Carlo said, making him melt into a little puddle.

“Love you, too, babe.” He did. A lot. Chip took another kiss, knowing he had a lot to think

about, but not willing to do it right now. “Missed you.”

“Uh-huh. We’re not getting naked. Did you notice that?” Carlo laughed for him, the sound deep

and intimate, making his cock go sproing.

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“We can work on that, yeah?” His fingers started moving, working at buttons and zippers and all,

trying to get to skin. Oh, so hot.

“We can,” Carlo agreed, working at his clothes, too. Woo.

They kinda staggered into the bedroom, both of them grunting and groping and going to town.

The bed felt like clouds, and Chip snuggled right in, pulling Carlo into the cradle of his arms and

legs.

“Good, man.”

“Indeed, Querido.” Carlo smiled, rubbing against him, and Chip reached for that uncut cock,

completely unable to resist playing with it. His thumb pushed at the foreskin, back and forth,

making Carlo moan.

“I love this, man. I really do.” He really did. Catching his lower lip between his teeth, Chip gave

Carlo all sorts of love, rubbing and pulling.

“I was supposed to be giving you a reward,” Carlo said, stroking his cheek.

“You are. I want this.” Chip slid down, his lips trailing down Carlo’s chest and abs, and then

closing right around the head of that pretty cock. Oh, hell yes.

“Fuck!” Carlo bucked for him, that sturdy body making the best sound against the sheets,

scratching a little. The comforter felt good against his cock, and Chip rubbed there, too, while he

sucked as hard as he could.

Salt and heat, just good enough to eat. That was Carlo. Chip worked that foreskin up and back,

then down with his tongue, savoring every drop of precome he managed to get out.

“Querido. Going to... I can’t...”

Nodding, he sucked harder. He wanted that. Wanted everything Carlo gave him.

When Carlo groaned and shot for him, Chip sucked it all down, swallowing hard, massaging

those heavy balls to get every bit.

Damn, he did love getting a reward for good behavior.

He figured he’d have to play that card at least a few more times. Tonight.

*** Gage gave his mom a kiss on the cheek outside her hotel room door. “Thanks for supper, Mom. It was good.”

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She’d bought them steak on a stick and fried Twinkies and corny dogs. A man couldn’t ask for

much more than that. “I’ll see you in the morning when we go see the capitol.”

“Good night, honey. Night, Danny.”

Danny waved and grinned. “Night! This is the best.”

“Good.” She winked. “Remember, you have to go with me to the yak show.”

“You got it.”

She went into her room and closed the door, and Gage turned a grin on Danny. “She really likes

you, you know?”

Danny shrugged, but that blush wasn’t gonna hide. “I like her, too. And today was fun! Why

haven’t you taken me to a rodeo before?”

“Because I didn’t know if you’d want to go.” They headed for their own room, thankfully not

right next door to his mom’s. “Now I know.”

”Dude. You so do. That was incredibly cool. I liked the roping.”

“Yeah? Aaron is a roper.”

“Uh-huh.” Once inside their room, Danny was all over him, like an octopus. “Were you flirting

with Aaron?”

“Huh?” Okay, that was impossible to take seriously with Danny grinning at him that way. “No.

We just kinda bonded. You saw the way he looked at Bryce.”

“I did. It was kinda hot.”

“You are a weirdsmobile.” But Danny was his weirdsmobile, so he’d take it.

“But you love me.”

“I do.” It just came naturally these days, to say it. “I really do.”

“And that’s cooler than any rodeo, man.”

Gage nodded and grinned, kissing Danny hard. Yeah, that was cooler than just about anything.

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Chapter Nine Spring break.

Chip loved spring break.

He usually went skiing or snowboarding for the last time in the season, maybe to Utah or Idaho

where the snow was deeper. This year he was doing something most kids had already done. Chip

was going somewhere warm. One a cruise, in fact.

Carlo had asked, saying he wanted Chip all to himself, kinda, and could they go somewhere his

buddies weren’t likely to. The conversation had gotten a little heated then.

“So, what? You don’t like my friends?”

Carlo sighed, the sound coming easily across the crackly connection. “No, Querido. I like them

just fine, as you should know by now.”

He’d thought so, for sure. “So what’s the deal? I mean, I thought you wanted to go skiing.”

“What I want is to be alone with you, Chip. Just you and me. The last time we went somewhere,

all of your friends and all of my family came along.”

Oh, man. That was true enough. Carlo’s folks were seriously nice, but very scary. And having all

of his buddies in Denver for the stock show had been buck-wild fun, but kind of crowded until

they all went to bed at night.

“So a cruise, huh? Where?”

“Oh, we have some options, but I thought you might like the Bahamas instead of Mexico.”

“Not as many college kids, huh?”

“Querido...”

“Nah, that’s cool, man.” Chip knew it. Really, he knew that it was hard for Carlo to hang out

with a bunch of kids nearly twenty years younger than him. “I know it bugs you.”

“Chip, stop. If you want to go to Cancun, we can. I just thought it would be nice.”

“What? Stop what? It doesn’t bother me, babe. As long as it’s not my friends you object to. Hell,

I’m not big on huge crowds of bikini bunnies, either.”

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“So you want to go?” Oh, listen to that. It sounded like Carlo was smiling that sweet, sweet

smile, just for him. The one Carlo smiled only when they were together.

“Yeah. I do. I mean, I’ll have to pay you back after the summer tourist season.” But he could

make that much in one season and still pay for his books, he was pretty sure.

“Honey, you don’t have to...”

”I can’t keep sponging off of you.” Okay, that came out way louder than he meant it to, but he

couldn’t. Oh, he knew Carlo didn’t mind that, either, but Chip really wanted this whole thing to

work, and for a long time. Not just for now. So, he’d have to start acting like an equal. And an

adult, not a sugar baby.

“Okay. We can talk about that later, I guess. I’ll go ahead and make the arrangements,”

So, he’d told Carlo the dates, and now he was packing to drive over to Denver to fly out to Fort

Lauderdale. It was too cool and kinda scary, all at once.

“Hey, man. You about ready to go?” Danny asked, popping his head through Chip’s bedroom

door, dark eyes twinkling.

“You bet.” The last pair of underwear went in before Chip zipped up his big duffel. “Carlo says

this cruise doesn’t have a formal night, so I should be cool with one pair of khakis, yeah?”

“Hell if I know, man. I’ve never gone on a boat that big. It’s cool.”

“I guess.” Danny wasn’t the deepest of Chip’s friends, but he was the least cowboy of all of

them, so the man had more patience for psycho babble. “Do you think I’m making a mistake?”

“Huh? What, not going skiing? Dude.”

“No, dork. Dating Carlo.”

“Oh.” Plopping on his bed, Danny stared at him, picking idly at his bedspread. “Well, Gage’s

Mom would say you have a hard row to hoe, but you like him a lot, right?”

“I love him. I just don’t want to get so invested in him and me that both of us end up miserable.”

“Uh-huh. Too late, man.” Danny popped back up off the bed. “Come on, man. Let’s hit the

road.”

Danny was going to Denver for some trade show or something for his major, which worked out really well for Chip. One less thing to worry about, not having to leave his old junker at Carlo’s. “Sure. Can we stop at Pleasant Valley for pie?”

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“Shit yes, man. I got a jones for pecan.”

“Oh, no. The caramel apple. I could get a whole one to take to Carlo.”

“Works for me.”

They headed out to Danny’s truck, Danny whistling, Chip grinning a little at his buddy. No,

Danny wasn’t the deepest of guys, but he knew how to enjoy life without worrying too much.

Maybe Chip needed to take a page out of Danny’s book.

*** Oh, this was the life. Carlo stretched a little, moaning when the sun hit a spot that wasn’t sweaty yet. The deck chair was fairly comfy with the towel under his body, and he had the best view. The blue sky and sea

and sand were nice, too, but mostly naked and tanned Chip?

Superb.

“Glad we came?” Chip asked when he sighed happily.

“Hell, yes. I’m having a ball.”

They’d gone into Nassau that morning, wandering through the shops right next to the dock, then

getting a pair of scooters to wander farther afield. That had been a hoot, weaving all over the

streets, trying to get the scooters to do what they wanted.

Now they were just hanging out by the pool and hot tub, jumping in every so often as the

afternoon sun waned.

“Me, too,” Chip agreed, grinning over at him. “Thanks, babe.”

“Not missing your friends?” That little snarl bothered him more than he wanted to admit. He

hated that Chip felt self-conscious about something that was so good. And he hated that he got

tired of being around twenty-somethings with endless energy.

“Not a bit. You okay, honey? I mean, I didn’t piss you off, right?” Now Chip slid those dark

glasses down to stare at him over them, blue eyes dark and serious.

“No, but I think we need to talk on some things before they do become an issue.”

“Like, now? We could go get room service.”

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Sweet man. Carlo shook his head. “Nope. Not now. I’m way too involved in watching you in

those baggy trunks. Did you know they almost give me a crack shot?”

“Dude! There are kids out here.” Chip blushed, cute as anything, and Carlo hooted.

“Hey, I didn’t touch. I’m just watching.”

“Well, go cool off or something.” Turning to his belly, Chip glared at him. “You’re giving me

wood.”

His own cock was a little twitchy, so Carlo hitched up his own trunks and headed for the pool,

letting the cool water soothe away anything that might get embarrassing.

Floating, keeping only half an eye on the kids who were starting to file out of the pool to be

wrapped in fluffy towels and led off to supper, Carlo relaxed completely, just letting everything

else wash away.

Until a wave of water rushed over his face, making him splutter and flail.

“Boo!” Chip hollered, before bouncing away to the deep end, swimming strongly. Such an

athlete.

Carlo had to do a little swimming himself, just to calm down a bit.

“You still want to do room service?” Carlo asked when he and Chip crossed paths. “We could

get cookies...”

“Yeah,” Chip said, hand sliding along Carlo’s side. “Oh, yeah.”

The heavy towels went a long way toward hiding anything inconvenient when they went back to

their little cabin, and Carlo and Chip took turns in the tiny shower. That was the one bad thing

about the cruise: no bathing together.

Chip waited for him when Carlo got out of the steamy little bathroom, stretched out on the

double bunk, naked as the day he was born.

“Pretty man,” Carlo said, sliding down to touch and nuzzle.

“Me? I’m okay. You’re the hot one.” One square hand reached for Carlo’s cock, thumb pushing

his foreskin back and forth, making his toes curl.

“We’ll agree to... oh. There. Disagree.”

“Mmmhmm. Did you call room service?” Nuzzling right down his belly, Chip headed south, and

Carlo’s breath caught in his chest.

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“I did. We have maybe twenty minutes.”

“Oh, hot as you make me, that’s plenty of time.” Soft, hot lips wrapped right around his hard

prick, Chip starting to suck softly, then with more intent.

Plenty of time? Hell, yes. Carlo figured he was gonna come in record time with that mouth doing

what it was doing. Hot, wet, sucking hard... Hard. Fuck, he was so hard a cat couldn’t scratch

him, just like that.

Chip sucked and licked, bobbing up and down on his cock like there was no tomorrow. He could

see those lean hips bucking, rubbing against the bed, but Carlo couldn’t think, could barely

move, his hands and arms suddenly clumsy as a newborn’s.

“Mmm.” Moaning around him, Chip reached for his balls, weighing them in one hand.

His toes drew up, his muscles straining, and Carlo finally got moving, his hips humping up.

“Querido... Good.”

That dark head bobbed, Chip moving faster and faster. God, that man loved to suck, loved to feel

him go crazy, and Carlo never complained, because Jesus it felt good.

When he came it was almost a surprise, the scrape of Chip’s teeth on the underside of his cock

making him shout and push up off the bed, his whole body shaking with it. He filled Chip’s

mouth, and that tongue cleaned him like a cat, in soft, delicate sweeps.

“Mmm. Better than room service, man.”

“We still have time for you to have some fun, too.” Pulling, tugging, Carlo got Chip right up next

to him, that hard cock against his thigh.

“Oh, I like fun,” Chip said, straddling his leg and humping, rubbing hot and wet against him.

“Good. I like you liking it. Let me just...” His hand found Chip’s prick, closing around the wide

length, pulling up, pushing down.

“That’s... Oh, fuck yeah.”

Sometimes it was good that Chip was so young. The man could go zero to sixty in no time,

revving up so hard and fast that it just amazed him. Chip pushed against him, cock rubbing through his fingers, really going for it. “Come on, love. Come on. Need to see...”

“Carlo!” Chip came hard for him, giving him wetness and heat and a soft moan. He rubbed the

come into Chip’s skin, and his own, the scent of them making his head spin.

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They rested, both of them breathing hard, until their hearts slowed. Which was when the knock

sounded on the door, their coffee and cookies arriving.

Chip bounced up to grab the stuff, putting his robe on before he answered the door. The man

tipped the waiter like he always lived that way, grinning as he opened the cover on the plate of

pastry.

”Dude, we have chocolate chips and white with macadamia and all that.”

“And good coffee,” Carlo agreed, sniffing hard.

“Uh-huh. Better than a burger at the pool, though that’s cool, too.”

They munched in a companionable silence, both of them sucking down cookies and coffee, and

then they sat, sort of staring at each other.

Chip finally grinned at him, reaching out to brush some crumbs off his knee.

“So, now we talk, babe?’

Now was as good a time as any. Carlo nodded, smiling right into those pretty eyes. “Yeah. Now

we talk.”

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Chapter Ten Chip picked at the bedspread with his fingernail. The whole talking thing was rough. They hadn’t even started yet. Carlo stared at the floor, sort of poking at the things like the suitcase handle and the cookie tray. Someone had to start. Chip figured it might as well be him.

“So...”

Carlo glanced up, smiling a little, dark eyes dancing. “Buttons.”

“Ha-ha.” Asshole. Only not, because he loved Carlo a lot.

“So,” Carlo repeated. “Where do we start?”

“Um.” Well, that was actually pretty easy. “We start with I want to make this work.”

The look Carlo gave him curled his toes. “So do I, Querido. I really do.”

“Well, then.” He took a deep breath. “I need to be able to pay more of my own way, Carlo. I

know you say I don’t have to, but I know I can’t be just a loafer, you know?”

Nodding slowly, Carlo said, “I can tell it’s important to you.” Holding up a hand when he would

have interrupted, Carlo went on, “At my age, it’s not as important. I have no desire to be a sugar daddy. I’m just at a place where I have more income than I spend.” “Yeah, but I’m not, you know? I know we won’t be equal, maybe for a long time, but I have to contribute.” “All right. You can pay me back for some things a little at a time. If you want I can set up a schedule.” “That would work.” He thought he might be able to swing like a hundred bucks a month. “I’ll graduate in a bit. I’ll never make as much money as you, if I stay on doing outdoor stuff.” Shifting, Carlo rested one hand on Chip’s knee. “You need to do what you love. I don’t care how much money you make, Querido.” “For real?” He’d read online that money was the biggest contention between people who lived together.

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“For real. I just don’t want it to be a thing for you.” Smile lines creased around Carlo’s eyes. “A lot of this is theoretical until you graduate. I’m more worried now that you think I hate your friends.” “Nah. I mean, I get why it’s hard...”

“No. It’s not that hard. Really.” Shrugging, Carlo sat back, his body language a lot less

comfortable. “It’s... Well. Most of your friends are cowboys. I know them, deep down. This

makes it easy. What is hard is that they come in a pack, you know? I’m sort of past the age

where I want more than two or three friends over at a time.”

“Oh. I never thought of it that way.” He really hadn’t.

“I know, love. I don’t expect you to.”

“No, but that’s like a perfectly reasonable compromise.” Really. When Carlo came down that

was something he could, like, do. Just have one or two guys around. “I’d rather you not be uncomfortable, and I see them a lot more than I do you.” Carlo gave him a kiss, just a short, happy one. “Okay. What else?”

“Well...” He leaned back now himself. Chewing his thumbnail, he thought on it. “Can I meet

some of your friends?”

“You’ve met Lance. Then my family...”

“That’s it?” Wow. Okay, he thought Carlo was just ashamed of him or something. Good to

know.

“I’ve always been something of a loner. When we met I was dreading that team building thing.”

The wry grin told him as much as the little wave of Carlo’s hand.

“Well, that’s kind of a relief.” His grin stretched his cheeks. “So, what else?”

“I suppose now I ask what you’re doing this summer?”

“Um. Working? I mean I have to work somewhere. Make money for the next semester.”

“Would you consider working closer to Denver? Maybe Glenwood or Vail?”

“Possibly? Depends on whether the guys would make me pay absentee rent. I can’t afford to lose

my place with Danny and Gage and all.” That would suck. They guys might not be able to afford

him not being there, either.

“Well, think about it. Ask the guys. I would love to be able to see you more.” Carlo tilted his

head. “Though I can fly over to Montrose, if I have to.”

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“I’ll ask.” Chip watched his own leg bounce, about done with the talking. He wasn’t much for

deep introspection or whatever, and this was getting him antsy. “Kiss me?”

"You know it," Carlo said, leaning in to kiss him like the man meant it. It sent heat back down

into his belly and groin again, just like that. Damn, Carlo turned him on.

They kissed long and slow, searching each other's lips, tongues moving lazily. So good, so hot.

So much better than talking.

Carlo hummed, kissing him harder. The man just had this whole oral thing going on. Plus a cock

that was poking up, the foreskin pushing back. Chip loved that little bit of skin. It called his

fingers, making him pull and push at it.

Arching, Carlo grunted and pushed into his touch, muscles pulling tight, bunching up.

Goddamn.

Chip wrapped his hand around Carlo's cock and pulled, arm swinging. He got a nice rhythm

going, licking his lips as he pulled. Woo. Look at that cock throb for him.

"Chip! Fuck."

"No, I'm jacking you off."

Carlo laughed for him, but the expression in those eyes was nothing short of scorching. Yeah.

Someone was about to get off for him. He could actually see Carlo's balls draw up when the man spread and tilted for him, could see the skin shiver. "Come on, babe. Show me," he said, panting, trembling on the edge again himself.

"Oh, Jesus, lover." Carlo shot hard, belly rippling, skin just on fire for him, and it pulled his own

orgasm out, not as strong as the first, but still a little planet tilting.

"I do love you, you know," Chip said, holding Carlo in the palm of his hand. Carlo nodded, eyelids heavy. "I know, Querido. Thank God for that." *** "Danny, honey. You're a million miles away." "Huh?" Grinning at Gage, Danny shook his head. "Sorry, babe." "We're supposed to be having fun. Fire. Hot buttered rum. Where are you?"

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"Oh, I was thinking about Chip, you know?"

Gage stretched, Wranglers sliding down over his bare belly, just showing the glory trail. "Uh. If

you're thinking on him, I'm doing something wrong."

"No! I mean, I am, but only because he asked me a weird question." Gage was right. They were

in a mountain ski lodge with all the lube they could carry, and he was dwelling on Chip

wondering if he'd made a mistake with Carlo.

"So, tell me, and then we can move on to feeding each other marshmallows."

Danny loved that grin, loved those gray eyes when they were so clear and happy.

"He wanted to know if he and Carlo were making a mistake. What do you think?"

That too old to be so young face deepened with lines when Gage frowned. "I don't know. I think

they got a hard row to hoe."

Danny cackled. "That's what I said you'd say. Or your mom, at least."

"Heh. Well, it's not gonna be easy." Gage stroked his belly, fingers moving slow, making Danny

watch and drool.

"You think they can do it?"

"Sure, if Carlo backs off the money thing and Chip grows up some. They have time."

"Oh. Okay." It kinda made him wonder if Gage thought they'd be a thing after college. Like if

they had time.

"What?" Nudging him with bare, cold toes, Gage stared at him. "You worried?"

"A little."

"Well, don't. Come here and love on me, instead."

Bossy man. Danny went, though, loving it when Gage got that growly thing going on.

Gage grabbed his hips to pull him down across those lean thighs, and he got all shivery and hot,

his nipples drawing up. "Sometimes you just have to let go and not worry, baby," Gage said, grinning at him. "I usually do. You know thinking isn't my strong suit."

A stinging slap landed on his ass, making him jump, even with the sweats in the way. "Stop that.

You're just as smart as anyone. Mine."

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"Yours," Danny agreed, leaning to kiss that fine mouth.

The kiss went hard in an instant, and before he knew it Gage had him on his back on the bed, that

lean body deceptive, the strength right there under the surface.

"Gonna use some of that lube?" he asked.

"You know it," Gage said, roughly stripping off his sweats. The jeans hit the floor, too, Gage

naked in front of him, and apparently not cold anymore. Not a bit.

They moved together, Gage's hands hard on him, all but leaving bruises. Danny struggled a little,

wanting the marks, wanting to soak Gage into his skin.

"Want more, huh? I got what you want, baby." Gage flipped him on his belly, bending to bite at

his ass hard on one cheek.

Danny moaned, arching up, needing that. Yeah, that was the way past the doubt. Gage smacked

him again, this time with no cloth between them, and Danny moaned. "Gage. Just like that."

"Yeah." He got more bites, more stinging slaps, and then Gage was pushing two lubed fingers

into him, opening him up hard and fast. Goddamn. The burn made him squirm, had his legs

moving restlessly and his hips pushing back.

Pushing him hard, Gage worked him, spread him, free hand working his swinging balls in

between pinches and blows.

Panting, gasping, Danny started begging. "Please. Gage. In me."

"Yeah. Now."

Hot, damp, and huge, Gage slid inside him where those fingers had opened him up. His eyes

rolled, his head lolling on his neck. Every muscle seemed to go weak, and Danny tried hard to stay up on his hands and knees, tried not to collapse with the heat of it. "That what you want, Danny? That what makes you crazy?"

He would have agreed, but Gage's cock slid across his gland, and all he could do was holler and

nod wildly.

Someone had been told to ride Danny like a balky pony once. Gage did it with style, and with

some damned fine enthusiasm.

His ass stung, his cock was gonna explode, and Danny's thighs sung with tension. He rocked

back as hard as he could, meeting Gage thrust for thrust, and feeling that amazing cock expand

inside him.

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"Gonna come, Danny. Gonna," Gage moaned in his ear, and Danny reached for his own cock,

unbalancing them a little. That made Gage's cock scrape his gland again. Oh, Jesus Christ.

Clawing at the sheets, Danny moved faster, stroking his cock with his other hand. "Now, babe.

Now. Please."

"Yeah. Oh, yeah." Gage growled it against his neck, teeth stinging his nape, and Danny shot hard

enough to see stars, his teeth clacking together on a shout.

"Fuck!" Gage came inside him, breath rasping against his neck, body moving in graceless jerks

that had nothing on bronc riders and other assorted cowboys.

"Oh, damn. I needed that." Danny felt boneless and fucking happy, all right with his universe.

Gage laughed against his shoulder. "Better, honey?"

"God, yes. I'm sorry I'm such a dork." He knew whatever happened would happen, and usually

he was okay with that. He sure did love Gage, though, and it kind of terrified him to think that

they'd drift apart.

"Not a dork. It's just all that unaccustomed thinking. Ow!"

He'd gotten in a good pinch of his own, not bad for having to reach back to get to Gage's skin.

"I think, you know."

"I know." That was much more serious, accompanied by a kiss to his neck. "Just don't think

about anything past this weekend right now, though, okay? We're here to have fun."

"Yeah. Yeah. Like you said about Chip, huh? We have time to think about the other shit, right?" "You know it, lover," Gage said, settling against him. "We have all the time in the world."

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Chapter Eleven Summer was coming. There was no denying it, and Chip was kind of stressing it. The flowers were out. The sun was getting warm, and even in Gunnison it was getting up in the sixties during the day. That meant school was about to get out, and that meant he had to decide what to do. He figured he had three choices: he could go to summer school and work in Gunnison, he could just work in Gunnison full time, or he could go closer to Denver for Carlo. The last one would mean he'd be without his buddies all summer. Okay, so he could live with that. Wherever he went, he'd be working with water guides and shit. Plenty of people would be willing to be summer buds, just hanging out and drinking beer... Still, it would cost him. The guys couldn't afford to keep the apartment without him, and while they'd said he didn't have to pay full rent, they still needed him to pay some. And then there would be the place he had to get wherever he went. The phone rang while Chip was chewing his pencil, circling apartment ads in Glenwood Springs, figuring he'd already made up his mind. He'd just have to work. A lot. "Hello?" "Hey, Querido. I was thinking about you." "Carlo." His whole body warmed up faster than the spring. Way faster. "Hey, honey. I was thinking about you, too." "Yeah? What about?" Chuckling, Chip tried to ignore the way Carlo's voice went all smoky and hot. Carlo's Chipotle Voice. "About what I'm gonna do this summer." "Oh, good. I wanted to talk to you about that." "Yeah?" He put down his pen and paper and sat back against his headboard, staring at the ceiling. No sense in trying to concentrate on anything but Carlo. It was pretty much impossible for him. "Uh-huh. My buddy Lance, you remember him?" "Sure." Who could forget the guy Danny was gonna screw and then ended up dropping off a cliff? He was Carlo's friend, too, apparently all the better for the experience.

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"Well, he has a cabin in Glenwood he usually rents for the summer, as he uses it in the winter for

the hot springs..."

"Yeah?" Chip asked, chewing a thumbnail. "How much does he want for it?"

"What? Oh. He doesn't." Damn, Carlo sounded so cheerful, but Chip couldn't take charity.

"I can't do that, babe..."

"No, no," Carlo was quick to break in. "He's going to Paris for the summer. He can't rent it if he's

not here to check on it and clean it in between renters, so he needs a caretaker. He's willing to

pay a hundred a month."

"No shit?" He had his suspicions that Carlo had set this up for him, but Lance didn't seem like the kind of guy to do things out of the kindness of his heart, so it had to be at least a little legit. "No shit, Querido. I told him you might be willing, but I couldn't answer for you."

"Really?" That brightened him up a bit. It tickled him that Carlo was really thinking about it,

about not just steamrollering him.

"Yep. You want his number? You two can iron out the details."

God. Maybe this could all work. "Sure. I'll call him tomorrow. It's late today."

"Sure, Querido. So, do you have a lot of schoolwork?"

Chip laughed, rolling to his belly, kicking his feet behind him. "Yeah. I mean, I got most of it

done, but it’s that time of the semester. All of the profs know we're itching to get out, and they

pile it on."

"Are exams coming up?"

"Close. Maybe two weeks. I was stressing..."

"And now you're not? I told you I would try to stop pushing, Querido."

He rolled his eyes. Carlo the psychic. "I know. And you totally have. You can't be responsible

for my weirdness."

"No, but I would happily be responsible for you being here. Tell me you'll take a week with me

before you start working."

Carlo's voice had taken on that happy, husky note that Chip loved. It meant naughtiness was

going to be perpetrated.

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"You know I'll try." Chip heard the front door open and close, and the sound of a basketball dribbling on the kitchen floor made him cringe. "I gotta go, babe. Someone is trying to keep us from getting our deposit back." "Okay, Querido. I love you." "Love you, too." And he meant it. No matter what. *** Danny bebopped in and started dribbling his basketball on the kitchen floor, doing a turnaround sky hook into the sink. Something crashed, and he ducked, automatically looking around to make sure no one was in the living room watching TV or anything. Whew. Safe. Of course, that was when the door to Chip's bedroom opened and the guy came out to frown at him, dark brows lowered. "Dude, what are you doing? Trying to get us evicted?" "No. I was just..." Bored. Wanting attention. Missing Gage who was off on some three day biology thing. "Don't make me spank you," Chip said, going to peer in the sink and sigh. "You broke Aaron's cup. "Yeah, well, Aaron doesn't live here. Why is his cup in our sink?" That was low, but since Aaron had once had a crush on Gage and Aaron was the one off on the three day biology thing...

"At least tell me you didn't do it on purpose."

Danny sighed. He just wasn't made to be mean. "Of course I didn't, dork. Would you really

spank me?" He turned hopeful eyes on Chip, only half-joking.

"No. You know Carlo and me. We're solid."

"I know." Grabbing a beer, he headed to the couch. "I'll get Aaron a new cup, I promise. You

know, sometimes it was easier when we were playing the field."

Carlo wandered in, plopping down next to him. "You think? I mean, it was less complicated,

sure."

"Yeah. Still, I get the urge to go play, and I think of Gage, and I just can't. You know? So it must

be the real deal." He loved Gage with a passion. He really did.

"So, yeah, buddy. No spanking." Chip grinned, toasting him with the longneck Chip had taken

away from him and drinking deep.

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"You decide what to do for the summer?" Danny asked, changing the subject a little, still

wondering what Gage was doing right now.

"I think so? I mean, you remember Lance?"

Grimacing, he nodded. "Sure, I threw him off a cliff."

"Dude, you didn't throw him. Anyway, he has a place in Glenwood he wants a caretaker for."

"No shit. Well, that's closer to Carlo. You're uh... not moving out permanently, right?" That

would suck.

"No. No, I'd pay the rent you and Gage said you'd ask for and maybe sublet my room for the

summer or something. Or not. Just come back in the fall to a nice clean room..."

He blew out a breath of relief. "Oh, cool. And we could come party in the hip pools, huh?"

"Anytime. You just can't come inside Lance's house."

"What? Dude..." Laughing, he reached over to tickle Chip's ribs, lunging and trying to get his

beer back.

"You're a menace, man!" Chip chortled, holding the beer up so it wouldn't spill. "Stop it!"

"Gimme my beer." They struggled until they were both laughing so hard that they couldn't

breathe. Then they sort of wheezed to a stop, hanging on each other and panting.

The beer was still intact. Amazing.

"Is it gonna be totally out of line if I ask if we can snuggle and watch a movie or something?"

Danny asked finally, just resting against Chip. "Nothing hinky. I just... I miss Gage, you know?"

"Uh-huh." Chip wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close, letting their legs tangle a little. "I

miss Carlo. What do you want to watch?"

"I was thinking that big bug movie. You know, with the brain eating."

Chip nodded, handing him the remote. "It's still in the player."

Danny grinned, feeling a little better than he had when he got home. Okay, a lot better. "Cool."

***

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Gage got home about four in the morning, grumbling under his breath about assholes who couldn't be decent and got the whole group thrown out of the Days Inn in Montrose at two. He'd dropped Aaron off at home before heading back to the apartment. He let himself in, staggering a little over someone's sneakers. He reached out to turn on a light, but he stopped himself when he saw the quilt covered figure on the couch, and his eyes adjusted enough to see the glow of the TV, the little DVD image bouncing around slowly. Wandering over, Gage peered down to see who had fallen asleep out there, hoping it was Danny, because he needed a hello and howdy and a kiss.

What he got had him stepping back instinctively. It wasn't Danny. Well, it was. But it was Danny

and Chip. Together.

His next step back had him crunching something with his boot heel, something glass.

Danny popped up like a jack in the box, reaching to turn on a light and blink at him. Then a

smile dawned, Danny flinging himself right into Gage's arms.

"Gage! Oh, babe. You're home early."

"Too early, from the looks of it," he snapped, starting to push Danny away, but missing his grip a

little. Danny slid right in for a kiss.

"Huh?" came from the couch. "Oh, dude! Gage. Hey, man." Chip was grinning like a fool, and

Gage relaxed a little, thinking maybe he'd misjudged things.

"Hey, Chip... mph." Danny was kissing him again, making it hard to talk.

Chip laughed, dragging his fully-clothed ass up off the couch. "Excellent. You can snuggle with

Danny now. He drools. Did you know?"

And then Chip was gone, bebopping off to his own room, leaving him with a wiggling, smiling

Danny.

"Baby," Gage said, holding Danny at arm's length.

"What?" Danny wriggled some more, trying to get to him.

"What were you doing on the couch with Chip?"

"Huh? Oh, man, I was just worrying on you and wondering what you were doing and I just

needed to snuggle and watch a movie and Chip was there and we didn't do anything or anything..." Those dark eyes met his, serious as a heart attack. "I was jealous of Aaron and I broke his cup, but that's all..."

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"Broke his..."

"Not on purpose. Really. It was in the sink and I bounced the ball and it went in and."

He put one hand over Danny's mouth. "Hush, baby. I get it. It's cool."

"Mph." Danny licked his palm, making him pull back from the tickle. "Could you maybe take

me to bed, then? We still have a few hours to sleep."

Gage nodded, still bemused by it all, but willing to let it go for now. He was fucking exhausted.

"Yeah, baby. I think that's a good idea."

"Cool. So why are you home so early?" Danny asked, wrapping an arm around him and pulling

him toward their bedroom.

Gage chuckled a little, still mad as hell, but glad to be home. "Well, there was this guy with a

twelve pack of beer and a motor scooter..."

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Chapter Twelve Aaron popped his back, moaning a little. Man, it was good to be home, but it was really too late to go back to bed, and too early to call Bryce. He missed Bryce something fierce. The man had been on tour now for two months, only coming home once every three weeks or so, and then he had a lot of work to do on the ranch, not having a lot of time to spend over in Gunnison with Aaron. The phone rang just as Aaron was about to hit the shower, and he bounced to get it before it woke Chris up, the clock showing three forty five. Shit, he hoped Chris didn't have an eight o'clock today. "'Lo?"

"Hey, babe. How's it going?"

"Bryce! I was just thinking about you. Where are you, man?"

"I'm about an hour out of Gunnison. In Pleasant Valley. I was hoping we could do breakfast."

Oh. Oh, hell yes.

"You know it. I don’t have classes today because I didn't think I'd get back until late today, so we

could..."

"We could. I'd like that, honey."

"Cool. Come on, then. I'll hang out in the living room, so you don’t have to knock. Chris is still

asleep."

Well, duh, of course Chris was still asleep. It was like, four a.m.

They hung up after a bit of awkward throat clearing. Oh, man. He needed a shower.

By the time he got cleaned up, got dressed again in his soft pants and a t-shirt, and got some food

made, his hour was almost up. Aaron started watching anxiously for Bryce's truck, his foot

bouncing a little against the floor.

"Are you on crack, man?" Chris asked from the hallway that led to the bedrooms.

"Oh, jeez. I'm sorry, man. I'm waiting on Bryce."

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"I thought you weren't even getting home until, like, three." Chris was a good guy, but grumpy as hell when someone woke him up before he got his full eight hours in. Aaron felt a stab of serious guilt. "We got kicked out. Gage brought me back." "Dude. How did you get kicked out?" Chris actually grinned, coming to steal a Dorito from the

bag he'd put out, dipping it in the queso he'd heated up.

"There was a guy on a Moped and a case of beer..."

The lights from Bryce's truck saved him from having to tell the whole sordid tale, which was a

blessing.

"Well, you guys keep it down, huh?" Chris said when Aaron went to answer the door, giving

Bryce a wave. "Good to see you, man. I'm going to bed. Again."

"Oh." Bryce kind of blinked, watching Chris go. "I woke him up calling, huh?"

"Maybe. I bet it was more me. I kinda took a shower and made food." Rubbing his hand over his

chin, Aaron chuckled. "Hey, you."

"Hey. Come and give me a kiss." That mouth curved up at the corners, inviting him to do all

manner of naughty things.

So what else could he do? Aaron went and gave Bryce a kiss, moaning at the smoke and sweat

and cowboy taste of his man. So, so hot. So good.

They kissed for a long while, standing right there in the front hall, Bryce's hands on his ass,

holding him close. They swayed, both of them groaning, which was when Aaron snapped out of

it.

"We got to keep it quiet," he said, panting when they broke the kiss.

"Okay." Bryce kissed him again, then again, the only sound the swish of their lips and tongues

moving together.

"You hungry?" Aaron asked when they again broke for air.

"We can heat it up later. Come on. We can be quiet in the bedroom."

Nodding, he wrapped an arm around Bryce's waist, pulling his lover along. "You know it. And if

we can't? Chris can just go to class tired. ***

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"So, what are we doing for supper, guys?" Chip asked, tossing the basketball at Danny. So close.

They were so close to exams that they were all going crazy, stir crazy and ready to bolt.

"We could get pizza," Gage said, and he and Danny both groaned.

"You always want pizza, babe," Danny said, whapping Gage's ass.

"Uh-huh. You always want hamburgers."

"And Chip always wants Mexican food," they all said together, cracking themselves up.

"What about pasta, man? We could go to Ricky's?" Ricky's was a tiny place, open for lunch and

supper, and they had amazing red sauce.

"Sounds like a plan. That way Gage can have a pizza. One of those personal ones," Danny

agreed, bouncing the ball back to him.

"Cool."

"What plan?" The door opened and Aaron came in, Bryce at his heels.

"Hey, man!" Gage said, grinning to beat the band, and Chip watched Danny's face fall a little.

"Hey, guys. I hope it's okay we stopped by. I skipped class today, just wanted to see if I missed

anything."

"Not a problem," Chip chimed in. "Right, Danny?"

"Sure. I broke your cup, Aaron. I'm sorry." Danny kinda blurted it out, and Chip wanted to

smack his forehead like in the V8 commercials. Jeez.

"Huh? Oh, that big mug? No big, man. I'm forever leaving cups all over." Aaron smiled at

Danny, but it dimmed a bit when Danny just stared at him. "What's with you, man?"

"He's jealous of you and Gage, dude." Chip figured it was best to get it out and over with.

"Chip!" Danny exclaimed, just about the time Gage growled.

Aaron blinked. "Man, I got Bryce. I like Gage and all, but you got nothing to worry about."

"I know that! I just... I was missing him and you were with him and..."

"And I've been missing Bryce for months. Selfish brat."

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"Whoa, now," Bryce broke in with his slow cowboy voice and Chip wanted to cheer at the way everyone calmed down and stared at him. "Ain't no reason to be jealous, you," Bryce went on, pointing to Danny. Then he turned on Aaron. "You apologize." Aaron flushed. "Sorry, Dan."

Danny nodded, head bobbing. "Me, too. I didn't mean to be nasty. We good?"

Aaron grinned, the expression open and easy. "We're good. So, what are we doing for supper?"

They all laughed, Chip rolling his eyes. "Ricky's?"

"That definitely sounds like a plan."

*** The food rocked, the company was good once they got the awkwardness over, and Bryce figured

he was in pretty good shape when they got back to the apartment and Chris was gone.

"Does this mean we don’t have to be quiet, honey?" he asked Aaron, who was wandering a little.

"Huh? Oh. You know it." Aaron finally came on over and kissed him, arms wrapping around his

neck. "You're not worried about me and Gage, are you?"

"No. Should I be?" Hell, he knew Aaron was solid as a rock. So was Gage. Danny was the

insecure one, and that was just because he was such a kid.

"Hell, no. I'm with you."

"I know. In fact, I was gonna ask..."

"What?" Aaron pulled back to look at him, eyes so dark and pretty he got lost a minute.

"You gonna come with me on the circuit this summer? We could even rope some."

"Me?" Aaron stared at him, and then started smiling. "I do love to rope."

"Yeah. I bet we'd be a good team. There's a roping pen over to Montrose that we could practice

in."

"Sounds good, honey. I was thinking on summer school, but I could skip it." That smile told him

that someone had been wanting a reason to duck out of classes anyway.

"Yeah. That way Danny can have Gage all to himself, huh?"

"You know it. We can have some hotels and you can show me Texas and New Mexico..."

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Bryce thought that sounded like heaven. He pulled Aaron real close, taking a kiss that made him moan, the sound loud in the empty apartment. Aaron kissed him back, and he had to wonder how anyone could think Aaron had eyes for anybody that wasn't him. They hit the couch, both of them humping like crazy, and Bryce figured he didn't need to take Aaron on tour to find heaven. He had it, right here and now.

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Chapter Thirteen Chip looked around Lance's cabin. It was sweet, really. Not so much a cabin as a log home condo kind of thing. The guys would be so jealous. No, really. The place was swank. There was a hot tub. A huge bed. A super-chef kitchen. When Chip thought cabin, he thought rustic. This was like decorator magazine rustic. "How do you like it?" Carlo asked, sliding both arms around Chip from behind. "It's cool, man. A heck of a lot nicer than our place at school." He hadn't had time to miss Danny and Gage, at least not yet. He probably would when Carlo had to go back to work. "Oh, your place has its charm." Kissing the back of his neck, Carlo chuckled. "All that nubile flesh hanging around." He pinched one tanned forearm. "You're only supposed to be looking at my nubile flesh." "Oh, right. Only you, Querido." "Asshole." It was so damned good to have Carlo there, though, that the complaint had no sting. Oh, he'd still only see the man a few times a month, maybe once a week, but it was only a two hour drive, now. That made it a heck of a lot easier. "I am. I've never denied it." Turning him, Carlo gave him a kiss on his mouth this time, warm and sweet. "I'm glad you're closer." "Oh, me, too." He had the job with Lance, and he'd gotten on at a river rafting outfit. The river wasn't nearly as challenging as the Upper Taylor up in Gunnison, but it was pretty cool, and the gig paid pretty well. "Good. You can come see me during the week. Maybe overnight. And I can come wallow here on the weekends." "There you go." They kissed again, the feeling good and right. Chip's cock perked right up, reminding him that finals had been long and involved, with no time for even phone or email sex. Chip rubbed up a little, his arms around Carlo's neck, his leg wrapping around Carlo's hip. "Need you, babe."

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"Same here. Wanna break in the bed in the guest room?" They'd both agreed that the even bigger bed in the master bedroom was gonna be out of the question. That was Lance's love nest, and it would be gross to have sex in there. Not just for them, but for Lance, later. "I do. Come on." He led Carlo to the bedroom, not worrying if anyone was there, not feeling like it wasn't his place to be, like his sometimes did at Carlo's condo. They sank down on the bed, both of them working at their clothes, which were a little sweaty from cleaning the cabin and moving in Chip's shit. The shirts went, then the jeans, and Chip hummed, sliding his hands over Carlo's dark skin. "Man, I'd almost forgotten." "Well, let me remind you, Querido." Carlo looked so damned happy. It was a look Chip wanted to see more of, so he worked his hands even lower while Carlo kissed him breathless, cupping that uncut cock in his hands. "Chip! Damn, honey. I don't know how much of that I can take." Stropping up against him like a big old cat, Carlo moaned, rocking into his touch. "What? We can take the edge off. Then you can fuck me." "Oh, Christ!" Carlo started babbling, giving him all sorts of words, but it wasn't the words that meant so much. It was the way Carlo's foreskin pulled back, the way those lean hips punched up and up for him. Licking his lips, Chip slid down and took Carlo into his mouth, licking and pushing, gathering up every bit of flavor he could. "Querido..." The sound was barely a word, Carlo pushing into his lips, taking his mouth all the way. Breathing deep, Chip took Carlo down to the root, his nose buried in black curls, his hands working those heavy balls, giving Carlo what he needed. It was like, maybe a minute, maybe less, before Carlo was coming for him, hard and fast, hot pulses that fed his own need like nothing else. Carlo went a little soft, but Chip knew he could get it back. It would just take a minute. So it was time to work off his own edge. He moved up to straddle Carlo's hips, his cock against that flat belly. He grabbed Carlo's hands and put them on his prick. "Help me out here, babe," he said, smiling into those dark, drugged looking eyes. "I can do that." Strong fingers closed around him, Carlo watching where their flesh met, and Chip started rocking, riding, feeling good and free and damned horny.

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He moved faster and faster, his cock pushing into Carlo's hands, his head falling back as he braced himself for more. Chip could feel Carlo rising again, pressing against his ass, and he was proud. He did that. Him. "Gonna come, babe," he said, panting like a dog out in the sun.

"So come for me," Carlo growled, pulling him down for a kiss that just rocked his world. It also

pressed his cock and Carlo's hands between their bellies, which gave him just what he needed in

friction, and Chip grunted and came, his seed hot and wet between them.

"Damn. Oh, damn, Querido. What you do to me."

"Uh-huh." He didn't have enough air to say much more.

"You want a shower before round two?"

"Huh?" Raising his head, he stared into those pretty eyes, tickled as hell that he could. "Nah.

We'd just get messy again."

"I kind of like you messy," Carlo agreed, kissing him again and again. "I like you here, too."

"Yeah. I was thinking, if we decide to get a place together, maybe we could get out of town a

ways. I mean, not this town, but out of Denver."

Carlo considered that, mulling it over slow enough that Chip knew the man was looking at every

angle. "You'd want to do that? Get something that's us?"

"I would." He held his breath, hoping that wasn't too damned presumptuous of him.

"I could see that, Querido. When you get closer to graduating, we'll start looking."

"You rock." He took another kiss before pushing his ass back to rub against a very interested

Carlo cock. "So, you ready for round two?"

Carlo rubbed right back, grinning hugely. "You know it, honey. I was born ready."

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Chapter Fourteen The summer was winding down, and Danny was kinda happy. He loved the summer, loved doing his rock climbing and trail guide gig, but he was kinda missing everyone. Oh, not Gage. He had his Gage, sure enough. But he missed Chip. Hell, they'd seen each other like, three times all summer. He missed Aaron, even, who was off on the circuit with his rodeo man. It was like a weird preview of what life would be like after graduation, and Danny wasn't sure he was ready to end his college years yet. "Hey, baby. What's got you so glum?" Gage asked, coming in and whacking the back of his head. "Huh? Actually, things are looking up." "Yeah? Has it been so bad, having the place to ourselves?" They'd both looked for jobs somewhere closer to Glenwood, but in the end they'd stayed in Gunnison and held down the fort. "No! God, no. It's been too cool. It really has, man. But I miss hanging with the guys, you know?" "I know." Flopping next to him on the couch, Gage reached over and patted his knee. "You miss Chip, huh?" "Sure. I mean, he and I talk a lot, you know?" "I know." They sat for a bit, neither of them talking much. Then Gage chuckled. "He'll be back soon. Even Carlo won't tempt him out of finishing his degree." "Nah. I know that." Shit, he didn't know what was wrong with him. Maybe he just needed to get out, since it was his day off, get out and enjoy the sun and the summer and shit. What was he thinking, missing school? That was like work. "Wanna go out?" Gage asked, hand sliding up his thigh. Hoo! His body went sproing, reminding him of why he hadn't really missed anyone until today. Gage was like a drug or something. "Wanna stay in, instead?" Danny turned, straddling Gage in a flash, his legs sliding down on Gage's thighs.

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"I do. I was hoping you'd ask." Grinning, Gage pulled him down for a kiss, hands on his cheeks. Those rough thumbs rubbed his cheekbones, Gage's mouth covering his, making him moan. Fuck yes. He'd needed this. How did Gage always know what he needed?

"Got you, baby. I got you. You're gonna forget your own name, let alone the end of summer.

You hear me?"

Oh, someone wanted to play-play. Well, that was okay with him. "Make me."

"Honey, I'll make you scream."

Danny fucking loved it when Gage got all growly and lost the quiet cowboy thing. Of course, he

loved the quiet cowboy thing, too...

"Ow!" Gage had rolled him to one side, pushing him down on the couch in a heartbeat and

smacking his ass.

"You're supposed to be paying attention to me, baby."

"I said, make me."

"Oh, you're cruising for a bruising." His cargo shorts slid down over his ass, Gage getting him

naked, tossing the cloth aside. Then before he could even drag in another breath, one big hand

landed on his ass over and over.

"Fuck!" Squirming, moaning, Danny took every blow, letting it force everything out of his mind.

All he felt was the sting of Gage's hand against his skin, the spreading burn, the way his muscles

jumped and twitched. So damned good.

"Not going to stop until you beg." Rising and falling, Gage's hand hit him over and over, and he

couldn't hardly take how fucking amazing it was. They'd never pushed his limits quite so hard.

No way was he gonna beg, though.

At least until who knew how long later when Gage was still whaling on him. His cock was hard

enough to drive nails, his ass on fire, and he wanted to beg Gage to keep going and to stop. Stop

to fuck him, anyway.

"Gonna beg me?"

"No. Yes, Gage. Please." All he could do was try to get closer, get more, get Gage to understand

what he wanted.

One last slap fell on his ass, making him cry out, and then Gage was pushing him. "Lube, baby."

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"Right. Lube. Oh, fuck."

Scrabbling, he tried to find the lube, coming up with a tube he didn't even recognize from the

table by the couch. "You think it's gross to use Chip's?" he asked, bouncing back to Gabe,

gasping every time he moved.

"Not if it's not past its freshness date. Hand it over."

Danny grinned and gave it over before turning around and bending, waggling his sore butt right

in Gage's face.

"I can't decide if that's funny or sexy, baby," Gage said, touching his right cheek with hot fingers.

Moaning, Danny fell forward on his hands, legs straight, everything in him shivering. "I vote for

sexy."

"I second that, now. Shit, you make the best noises."

"Th-thanks." His breath caught when Gage spread him, pushing his cheeks apart. One finger

pushed into him, slick with the lube, and damn. Damn. Danny pushed back into the touch,

needing more than he had in... Hours, at least.

"Almost ready, baby. Almost." One more finger in, stretching him almost impossibly, but that

was probably just the tight, hot feeling in his skin.

"Ready now. Come on, Gage. Fuck me."

Groaning, Gage moved up behind him, fingers slipping out, cock slipping in. Fucking heaven.

Really.

When Gage's hips hit his sore ass, Danny hollered his head off, and he was damned glad that

Chip wasn't home. Man, they sure couldn't do this in the living room if the roomies were in.

Oh. Oh, yeah. He tried to put one hand up to touch his cock, but Gage really got moving, rocking

him forward, and he needed both hands for balance. Danny whimpered.

"Gage. Oh, babe. Please. Please. Touch me."

"Where, baby? Here?" One hand slid from his hip up his back, giving him the shivers. His whole

body swayed under the power of Gage's thrusts.

"No... No. Lower."

Those teasing fingers came around to pinch his nipple. "Here?" Gage asked.

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"Closer." That sent sparks right up his spine to his brain, but it wasn't what he needed. His ass

burned, his cock leaked, and he thought he might die.

"More like here?" Oh. Bitch. Gage's hand rested low on his belly, almost there. Almost.

"I'm begging, okay?"

"Begging for what?"

"My dick, Gage. Please touch my dick. I need it." There. He'd said exactly what Gage wanted to

hear, he knew it.

"I got you, baby. I know." Finally, finally Gage pushed down to cup his cock, and the whole

world shorted out.

All Danny knew was heat and need and the prickle of his sore ass and his aching cock. That was

it. The living room disappeared, and his college thing went away and all he knew was Gage.

When he came it was like a tidal wave. Boom. Crash.

Gage grunted and pushed and almost knocked him down, but it was worth it all to feel that

amazing heat flood him when Gage came for him.

They ended up in a sweaty tangle on the floor, Gage on top of him, Danny sort of folded in half.

"Better, baby?" Gage asked.

Danny nodded. "So much better. Wanna go get a beer?"

"You're the Energizer bunny, man. You really want to go sit at a bar with that ass of yours on

fire?"

Danny ducked his head, his cheeks heating. His face cheeks. "I'll think of you all night."

Gage pondered that a moment. "Yeah, okay. Let's go."

Danny laughed. "Cool."

Who needed roommates?

*** "So what did you think of New Mexico?" Bryce asked, watching Aaron eat too many Apple-Os

and bounce in the passenger seat of the truck.

"Oh, it was too cool. I liked Carlsbad best. Or maybe White Sands."

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Aaron had been the best traveling partner Bryce had ever had, even if the man didn't ride in the rodeos. He sang with the radio, he gave blow jobs on demand, and he was smart and funny and... Yeah. Bryce had it bad. They were on their way to Durango for the invitational roping thing that Bryce had been invited to, though, so they were back in Colorado, and he thought Aaron might be tickled.

"How'd you like the circuit?" Bryce carried on, trying to fill the silence while the radio didn't

work.

"Oh, everyone was really nice. I don't know that I liked seeing you with Bill."

Bill had roped with him a couple times during the big Fourth of July push, and Aaron had been a

little eagle-eyed about that. It kinda made Bryce proud, that someone would want him that much.

"He's a nice guy, honey, but he's not you."

Aaron gave him that look, that hot but shy look that meant a hand job was his if he just found a

place to stop. Hoo yeah. Bryce was all for that.

"You want some food?" he asked casually, trying to work up to the we got picnic stuff in the

cooler, let's just stop and have a quick snack.

"Sure. Want to stop at a pull off? There's plenty of scenic byway shit around here." Oh, man,

someone knew what he was thinking. Aaron's cheeks and ears were flaming red, but his man was

smiling.

"Yeah." He found a likely spot, one that didn't look like people had been dumping trash, and

pulled off. There was a lone shade tree and a trash can, so he didn't think they'd get in too much

trouble unless someone caught them doing the nasty.

They got the cooler out and had some ham sandwiches and some Cokes, both of them digging

into the cheddar and pretzel Combos.

"So, you ready to get back to school?" he asked, finally, wiping his mouth on his bandana,

because they'd run out of Taco Bell napkins.

"Kinda. I mean, I miss the guys. But we're not going to have much time together, you know?"

"Just another year, huh?"

"Yeah. It seems hard to believe."

"You gonna move in with Danny and Gage if Chip moves out?"

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Aaron gave him the wide-eyed stare. "Why would Chip move out?"

"Well, he and Carlo seem pretty tight." Hell, a blind fool could see that. Was Chip really gonna

be able to stay that far away for another year?

"They are, I guess." Aaron shifted around to grin at him, one booted foot propping on the

tailgate. "But I'd rather move in with you."

"Yeah?" His heart set up a hard beat. "That would be a heck of a commute over the Blue every

day." From Montrose to Gunnison in the snow, twice a day? Ech.

"I know. But I'd do it for you. At least when you weren't on the circuit."

Bryce reached out and touched Aaron's cheek, thumb sliding to the corner of those pretty lips to

brush off a crumb. "I'd let you."

"No shit?" Bouncing, Aaron leaned over and kissed him, breaking away when a big dualie came

screaming around the bend in the road. "I so would."

"Then we'll talk about it come Christmas, yeah? I get off the tour in December, and don't go back

on until March or April. That'd be plenty of time for us to set up housekeeping."

"My domestic cowboy. You rock."

"Nah. I just covet another pair of hands to do work around the place." His cheeks heated, though,

and he took another soda pop and cheese kiss. "Sounds like a grand plan, huh?"

"Yeah. It's good, Bryce." Aaron was all serious, all of a sudden. "Want to be with you. I know

that much. No matter what else."

"Well, I won't let your school suffer, but I want that, too." He so did. Like right now, with a hard

knot of longing in his belly.

"We'll figure it," Aaron said, crumpling up his Coke can. "Now that we know what we want to

do, huh?"

"You know it, honey. We're smart dogs. We'll get there."

Aaron got that really hot grin on his face, nodding and tossing the trash, only to come back and

push him down in the bed of the truck. "So, I say we've done enough living for the future. How

about we dwell in the now."

"Lord, you sound like Danny," Bryce said, wrapping his arms around Aaron and pulling him

close.

Aaron chuckled, nodding, and then shaking his head.

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"What's the no for?"

"Well," Aaron said. "I may sound like Danny, but I don't want you to beat my ass."

Bryce burst out laughing, kissing Aaron hard, happy to be alive. "Yeah, buddy. Thank God for

that."

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Chapter Fifteen "Carlo! Have you seen my other boot?" Chip turned in a full circle, holding his one hiking boot

in his hand. Goddamn, how had he made such a mess in such a short time?

"No, Querido. I have your hat, though." The hat in question was a giant foam thing that said, "Go

Rockies" on it. It looked ridiculous in Carlo's grip, all purple and floppy.

"You can throw that away, man," Chip said, turning in another half circle.

"What? You got this at the game with me!" Dark eyes twinkling, Carlo popped the silly hat on

his head. "What do you think?"

"I think it's silly, and I need to get packed!" His voice rose a lot more than Chip wanted it to, but

he couldn't help it. School was starting again in a week, and he had to close up Lance’s summer house and get back to Gunnison. It kind of sucked, and it was making him squirrelly, going so far away from Carlo again... "Querido, you have to stop being so upset." The hat landed on the floor and Carlo reached for him, wrapping around him, warm and firm. "This is not going to set us back that much, huh?" "I can't go back to having phone sex three times a week and seeing you once a quarter, man."

Carlo blinked. "You can't? I mean, I would like to see you more than that, but the phone sex

thing sounds..."

He pinched Carlo's ass. "Very funny. I mean it. I don't want to sit around and miss you. I've

gotten spoiled."

Sighing, Carlo led him to the couch, sitting him down and settling next to him. "We've talked

about this, Querido. You wanted to go back to Western to finish up."

"I know." He did. He didn't want to transfer or something. Chip didn't want to be a quitter, or transfer someplace that didn't have his major, but he already felt the lack of Carlo like a sharp pain. "Baby, come on. It'll be fine. I told you I figured out a nice cheap flight plan to Montrose, right?"

"Yeah." Flights. Cars. Trains. Whatever, it still meant they had to travel to see each other.

"Chip, look at me."

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He met Carlo's dark eyes, his fingers automatically going to stroke one stubbled cheek.

"Hmmm?"

"Do we really want to spend our last night doing this? Let's finish up here and go to the hotel,

huh? Spend a night in luxury."

Carlo had gotten them a night at the Hotel Colorado. Supposedly Teddy Roosevelt had loved the

place. It was swank, but it was a really neat idea, and he was coming awfully close to ruining it.

"Yeah. Okay, yeah. Let me just find that other boot and we can take the trash out and then it'll be

done."

"Cool." He got a kiss, soft and slow, and Chip relaxed, trying to let go of all his stress. It was silly. It really was. Winding an arm around Carlo, he kissed back, sliding right into the warm, happy place that was them together. Carlo hummed and kissed him harder, pressing him back against the leather couch, but Chip

broke away. "Let's get out of here, huh? Just in case."

"You think Lance will show up to inspect?"

"No, but he knows I'm out today. He might bring someone over."

"Oh, gross." Carlo's soft laughter stirred his hair, reminding him that he needed a haircut.

"Yeah. Let me get my boots." The cabin had been a nice summer place, but it was time. No

matter what he wanted or didn't want.

"You bet. I'll load those last boxes, huh?" Carlo left him to say his goodbyes, kinda.

Chip just grinned and shook his head at himself. The summer had been a blast, but he had to

think ahead. One more year. Two more semesters. He'd redone his schedule two weeks ago,

loaded up on twenty one credits. That way he could just finish up, just get it done and figure out

the rest of his life.

They locked up finally, both of his boots hanging over his shoulder, tied together by the laces.

The trip to the hotel took maybe ten minutes, and it was pretty damned grand on the inside.

"Are you sure they'll let me stay?" he whispered to Carlo, moving close.

"Of course they will, Querido." Carlo popped his ass, leaving him with the bags to go check in,

and he felt weird, standing there with his boots and his backpack.

He didn't feel weird once they got upstairs and saw the bed, though. That and the whirlpool bath.

"Oh, rockin' cool. Hey, are we going to the hot springs later?"

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"Sure. The actual pool, or would you rather find an out of the way hip pool and..." "And. Definitely and." Hell, he wasn't going to turn down a private hot springs and a naked Carlo. Of course, right now, he could just have a naked Carlo and a hot tub bath thing. "You want to go get something to eat?" Carlo asked, stripping off his shirt and turning up the air conditioner.

"No. No, I want you right now." They had time to eat later. Much later.

"Yeah?" Oh, look at those eyes sparkle. Carlo's barrel chest looked amazing against the stark

white of the bed canopy, against the snowy linens on the mattress. Chip walked over and pushed Carlo right down on the bed, hands falling to undo that cowboy belt buckle, the fancy assed leather belt. "Yeah," he agreed, stripping off his t-shirt and shorts, kicking off his flip-flops. "Want you bad, baby."

"Then come and get me." Those big hands helped, Carlo pulling off his jeans and shorts, getting

them buck naked so he could straddle Carlo's hips and grin down at him.

"Gotcha."

"You do." Carlo's hands rubbed up and down his back. "What are you gonna do with me?"

"I think I'll start with sucking up a little." Chip knew how much Carlo loved that, and he wanted

a piece of that pretty, uncut cock. He slid down, pushing between Carlo's thighs, hands on those heavy muscles. He rubbed his cheek against Carlo's cock, and then licked all the way up the shaft, the taste of salt exploding on his tongue. "Love the way you taste," he murmured, before sucking the head right into his mouth, pushing Carlo's foreskin back with his tongue. "Chip..." Someone liked that, Carlo bucking up into his mouth, hands coming to rest on his head. Yes. Oh, yeah. Come on. Chip sucked harder, wanting to feel Carlo's pleasure, wanting to just rush to the end so they could do it again and again all night. All day the next day. "Querido. Too much. I'm gonna..."

Nodding, Chip licked and pulled, looking up to meet Carlo's eyes. Yes. Please. Oh, please.

Carlo came for him, hips pumping up, hot come spilling into his mouth and down across his

chin. Chip took it all, breathing through his nose, swallowing hard.

"Love it when you come for me," he said, letting Carlo slip out of his mouth.

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"You're a little wild, lover." Carlo stroked his cheek. "You sure you're okay?" "I'm better than okay. I just decided not to worry on it. We have this great place... You want a bath?" He bounced up, popping into the bath to get the water running so he could start the jets. "Querido." Carlo came and grabbed him, holding him still. "Don't, okay? You're still stressing it."

He chewed his lip. "I can't help it. I'm going to miss you."

"You're going to be a lot busier than you think. And it's not like I won't be available."

Oh, fuck, he was just a nutcase. "I know. I'm sorry."

"No sorry. Just come and kiss me."

Chip did, letting Carlo hold him, letting the man kiss the worry away.

"I love you, Querido. We'll make it work, just like we have for the last year."

Had it been almost a year? God. "I love you, too."

Carlo grinned, nodding. "I know. Now, let's try out that tub."

Chip laughed, kissing Carlo's mouth before leading him to the bathroom. "You know it."

They would work it out. Carlo was committed to it, and Chip just needed to stop worrying on it

before he ruined everything.

They'd been together almost a year. One more wasn't going to be the end of the world. And if it

was, well, he'd deal with it when it happened.

Today he should just wallow in the happy while he could.

That and the cool hot tub.

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Chapter Sixteen "Hey, Chip! Man, you're looking good! How was Glenwood this summer?" Aaron asked, coming

over to shake his hand and clap him on the back.

"Good. It was real good. Hear you hit some circuit dates with Bryce." Man, Aaron was looking

hot, all cowboyed up and shit. It was amazing how a few months away changed your perception

of your friends.

"I did. It was cool, man." Aaron lowered his voice. "He wants me to move in with him."

"Dude!" When heads turned, people staring at them, Chip lowered his voice, too. "That's a hell

of a commute."

"Uh-huh. And for a while in the winter it might just be on weekends, but I miss him, you know?"

Chip nodded, thinking about his beautiful man back in Denver, a good eight hours away by car.

"Yeah. I know that one. Want a beer?"

Him and Danny and Gage had decided to throw a back to school bash, because none of them

were really ready to go back to school. Gage's logic was that if they acted like they wanted to go

back, they'd gain some genuine desire along the way. It was working for the folks they'd invited,

if not for them.

"How's Carlo, speaking of." Aaron was a really decent guy, asking after that way.

"He's good. We spent most of the week together and all. He took me to the Hotel Colorado."

"Wow. Is it cool? I've only ever been in the lobby."

"It's cushy, man. Here." He pumped Aaron a cup of beer from the keg.

"Thanks! Well, I got to go track down Gage about a biology trip. Already." Aaron gave him a

one-armed hug. "See you later, Chip."

"Yeah. Later."

Not two seconds after Aaron left him, his roommate Danny wandered over, slapping him on the

ass. "Me too, me too."

"With the beer, you mean?"

"Well, duh." Danny grinned at him. "Glad you're back, buddy."

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"Yeah."

"Hey, don't sound so thrilled." Danny's dark brown eyes twinkled for him.

"Sorry. I mean, it's not you guys. I just got spoiled, you know?"

"Hell, yes. I didn't even go anywhere and I got spoiled. Not having to worry about it, being able

to do it on the couch..."

"Lalala, not listening. Do I need to steam clean the damned couch?"

"Nope. I did it last week and we showed remarkable restraint after that." Leaning in, Danny

rested against his left side, sipping at the beer Chip had drawn. "It's gonna be weird, huh?

Weirder than last year."

"It'll be good, though, huh?"

"I guess." Danny grinned. "Gage wants to go to Mexico for fall break."

"No shit? How'd he get made of money?" Mexico could be nice. Chip wondered if Carlo would

go.

"Jeep season was good up here this year, man. He did some overnight trail rides, too. Saved

some up."

"Cool." Gage was way better at money shit than the rest of them. Of course, he thought Gage

really wanted to keep doing what he was doing, only for himself. Like own his own company.

The geology major was more for rockhounding later in life. People paid for that, too.

"You okay, man?" Danny smiled up at him, moving in an inch or so. Snuggle butt.

"Sure. I'm just getting acclimatized, you know?" He really was okay, even if he missed Carlo

like a sore tooth.

"Uh-huh. Why don't you slip away and call Carlo, honey. I'll watch the keg."

Oh, bless him. "You mean it?"

"You bet." Danny gave him a quick hug.

"You don't think I'm a weenie?"

"Nope. Hell, Chip, Gage goes away for a day and I freak out." That grin was rueful as hell, and

twice as sweet. "Go."

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"Thanks, man." Chip hugged Danny right back before heading down the hall to his room, locking the door behind him. The music and loud voices were muted now, letting him hear himself think. Chip took a deep breath, scrubbing his hands over his face. He couldn't spend his whole semester this way. He had to get a fucking grip. *** "Hey, baby," Gage said, wandering over to the keg. "How did you get stuck on keg duty?" Danny grinned and handed him a beer. "Chip wanted to call Carlo." "Yeah? Man, he's going to explode before Halloween, he keeps going this way."

"You know it. I can't blame him, though." Glancing around at the dwindling party crowd, Danny

leaned up and kissed him, right on the mouth. "I would freak out if you weren't here."

"Good. You know I love you, baby. I want to be here with you."

"Yeah? Man, these people need to leave."

Gage thought about that for a few. "Hey, Aaron!"

"What, dude?"

"You waiting on Bryce?"

"Yeah." Aaron chuckled, coming on over to them. "You guys want to disappear?"

"Would you mind?" It was rude as hell to leave Aaron with the rest of the party when the guy

didn't even live there, but damn. He wanted Danny now.

"I got it. Y'all go."

"Thanks man." Gage grabbed Danny's hand and pulled, leaving Aaron by the keg.

They stumbled to their bedroom, already groping, feeling each other up. Danny was kind of

desperate against him, hard and hot, yanking at his clothes even as Gage locked the door behind

him.

"You think Chip is having phone sex right now?" Danny asked, grinning hugely and yanking

down his jeans.

"I think I want you to think about me, not about Chip," Gage replied, pulling Danny up for a kiss that liked to burn them to the ground.

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Damn. Oh, damn, that was good.

Danny hummed, humping against him, cock hard through his jeans. Gage reached down and

squeezed.

"Naked, baby."

"Oh... Okay. Naked." Danny stripped down, giving him a show and a half, bending over to get

his boots off.

Gage grinned and smacked that fine, tight ass, watching his handprint rise up on the smooth skin.

Red, hot, it was the perfect contrast to Danny's white butt.

Danny jumped, moaning, and finished getting bare, turning to him and begging another kiss.

Gage gave it, but he gave another smack, too, needing to feel his lover jerk, needing to hear that

gasp.

"Gage. More."

"On the bed, baby. Face down." It had been too long if Danny was begging for it like that.

Goddamn. So he got Danny down, got situated behind him, and started whomping that ass but

good, over and over.

Danny moaned and squirmed and panted, pushing up into each blow. Gage could feel his hand

going numb, could feel each blow vibrate up his arm. His own skin felt hot, tight, his cock as

hard as he could remember being.

The last slap rang through the room for what seemed like forever. Gage groaned, pushing up

between Danny's legs. "Need you now, baby."

"Lube's on the table." Spreading like a two-dollar whore, Danny rubbed back against him,

begging for it.

Gage grabbed the lube and opened it, squirting it on his shaking fingers. Danny's ass was on fire

for him, and when he slid his fingers in, that sweet hole was hot and tight. Goddamn. He spent a

few scant minutes stretching and pushing before lubing up his cock.

"You ready, baby?"

"Fuck, yes. Gage. Please."

Gage nodded, licking his lips, lining his cock up at Danny's entrance. Then he pushed forward,

his cock sliding right in, his hips smacking against Danny's tender ass.

"Gage! Oh, God."

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"Baby. Gotta move now, okay?" "Anything. Anything you want, Gage." Squirming, Danny pushed back against him, hands braced on the bed to get more leverage. Gage started moving, in and out, hard and fast. He knew he wasn't gonna last long, not with Danny talking dirty, hollering love words at him.

"More. Gage. Love you. Need it. More."

He gave all he could, beads of sweat rolling down his chest, his hands holding Danny's hips so

he could pound the man. Gage could feel it building up in his balls, knew he was about to blow, and he hauled Danny up, reaching beneath him for Danny's cock. "Come on, baby. Come for me. Need to know you're with me."

"With you!" Danny arched and cried out for him, ass clamping down hard around his prick. Wet

heat flooded his hand, his baby shooting with everything he had in him.

Gage grunted, his hips smacking Danny's ass when he came, his whole body shaking with it, his

teeth clenching on a harsh cry.

"Jesus, baby. That was fine."

Danny just nodded, slumping to the bed.

"I'm here," Gage whispered. "For as long as you want me. Got it?"

"I got it, Gage," Danny agreed, fingers sliding along Gage’s arm to twine with his. "I really,

really got it."

Gage kissed the back of Danny's neck, humming at the taste of salt, at the smell of them together.

As long as Danny knew how he felt, he couldn't go wrong.

Thank God he was right there instead of all the way across the state like Chip and his man.

That would drive him fucking crazy.

*** Aaron sat on the couch at Danny and Chip's place, waiting for Bryce. He was the only one there, and the keg was skunked, but that was where he'd told Bryce he would wait.

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It probably sucked for him to expect Bryce to come in from Montrose, but Aaron had promised Danny and Gage and all that he'd come to the party, and he'd wanted to see Bryce again right before classes started. Bryce had been the one to offer to come up. Headlights flashed outside as a big old pickup pulled up, and Aaron stood, going to the kitchen

to get two of the leftover longnecks.

He met Bryce at the door.

"Hey, honey," Bryce said, coming to give him a kiss, lips cool from the late summer night air.

"Hey. Your drive go okay?"

"It did. I told you it would." Grinning, Bryce kissed him again, squeezing his butt. "Can we close

it down here and go make out?"

"Hell, yes." Aaron wrapped an arm around Bryce's waist. "Chip left hours ago, and Danny and

Gage are having sex."

"Oh, God. I so don't want to hear that. Come on, honey. Let's go get dirty together."

"That's the best offer I've had all week."

They left together, Aaron making sure the handle was locked on the door on the way out.

He adored the guys, loved Danny and Chip and Gage, but Bryce was the one thing in his life that

he needed like air or water.

Aaron figured that was the thing he ought to focus his attention on from now on.

Good thing he was a smart boy. He could spend years figuring out how to make Bryce feel like

the center of the universe.

Happily.

*** "Hello?" Carlo sounded sleepy and a little grumpy. Chip couldn't blame him. He'd waited forever to call, trying to talk himself out of it, but needing to hear Carlo's voice anyway. "Tell me it will all be okay, Carlo."

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"Querido? What is it? What's wrong?"

"I'm not ready to spend another year without you. Aaron and Bryce just left. Danny and Gage

had the loudest sex ever, and I'm sitting here all alone. I hate to be a whiny brat, but tell me it

will be okay."

Chip listened hard, trying to hear Carlo sigh or curse, trying to make sure he wasn't screwing up.

What he got was a warm chuckle.

"Do you love me, Querido?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I do." He did. So much.

"And I love you. I think no matter what happens, that is the important thing, huh?"

"What if you find someone else? Someone more like you?" God, he was obsessing. Jesus.

"What if you do? If it all falls apart tomorrow I won't be sorry I had you, Chip. Now, stop

worrying. I am older than you. I have more patience. I will wait."

"You promise?" Chip picked at the comforter. "You remember those two cowboys we saw at the

ski resort that time? You remember how happy they looked when they left?"

"Uh-huh." Now Carlo's laugh went deep. Sexy. "I remember how pretty you thought they were."

"Oh, hush. I was thinking of how happy. Not hot."

"Of course, Querido."

Chip rolled his eyes. He was never gonna live that down. "Well, when I'm their age, I want to see

you look at me like that, okay?"

"Of course, love. I shall peer up at you from my wheelchair..."

"Would you quit it?" But that had him laughing like a loon. "Just promise me everything will be

okay." Carlo sobered, voice steady and sure, and Chip could see that much loved face in his head, all straight faced and growly. "I promise it will, Querido. No matter what happens, I am as solid as those mountains you love so. And you are loyal as a mountain stream to its path. We will make it work." Chip let the words sink in, let them crawl right into his skin and make everything good, at least for a little while. "I love you, Carlo."

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"I love you, too, Querido. Soon it will be over and we'll be ready to start new."

"Yeah. Soon." Soon couldn't come soon enough. For right now, though, he'd settle for listening

to Carlo over the phone and knowing deep down that it would work out.

Somehow, it would. Chip was willing to trust in fate.

It had brought him Carlo in the first place, hadn't it?

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