
"When was the last time you jumped?"
"What?"
Eli Marshal loved to put that look on Jed Thatcher's face. They were still new enough together that he loved putting any look there, especially well fucked, but Jed was usually so with it that when he got that befuddled look Eli thought it was fucking hilarious. He repeated and expanded the question. "When was the last time you went skydiving?"
The look went from befuddled to no way. "That's your job, Mister. You and Ross. I fly the plane. I don't jump out of it."
"Oh come on." This? Was fun. "Are you afraid of it? I know you had to learn in the Army."
"You're right. I had to. Stands to reason I wouldn't want to again." Jed flipped Jumbo the giant wolfhound a piece of bacon, making the rest of their menagerie wag their tails and drool. Those bright blue eyes met his, serious and repressive. "So no."
"Oh." Well. Damn. Just like that. He hid his disappointment in his coffee cup. Fire season was over, but Eli needed to do some jump training thanks to being out half the season with his bad ankle. He'd hoped Jed would jump with him.
Jed just put the leftovers on his plate down on the floor so the dogs could have at and peered at him. "You're serious? You want me to jump with you?"
"Well, I thought it might be fun to go together. But if you don't want to." Eli grimaced. He sounded like he was whining. Jesus. He was a big boy. He could jump without help. Maybe Jed would fly him.
"Well, I know a guy. He'd be willing to fly for us."
The grin that spread over Eli's face felt huge. "You'll go?"
"Yeah. If you want. Reckon it'd be cool to see you jump from up there."
The man constantly amazed him. Eli often wondered if that would rub off when Jed got to know him better. Sometimes he still couldn't believe that he got to sit and look at that lean, muscled, and at the moment mostly naked form over breakfast every morning. Even with scruffy blonde morning whiskers, Jed was a sight that made his belly tight and his cock stir.
"So you want me to call Ed?"
"Sure. Not right now, though."
Jed looked over at him, grinning at whatever he saw. Eli decided he must have that look. The one that said do me do me do me. "Right. Not right now. If we let the dogs lick the plates they'll be easier to wash and we can go get busy for a while."
"Oh, good idea,"
Eli stood, still savoring not having that damned cast on. He grabbed the plates and laid them on the floor before grabbing Jed and hustling down the hall. They'd had sex on the kitchen table more than once, but he really wasn't in the mood for a canine audience this morning.
They made the bedroom in record time, latching the door behind them because Jumbo had learned how to nose open the handle. Damned mutts. Eli loved them, but he loved having Jed to himself more and there was nothing worse that Ojo farting on you while you were trying to get it on.
The bed squeaked as Eli all but picked Jed up and tossed him on it, making Jed oof and chuckle. They reached for each other, lips meeting in a playful kiss, licking and biting. God, he loved that Jed made him laugh. He hadn't done enough of that in his life.
Jed's shorts slid off easily. His own robe was even easier, and they pressed together, kissing and touching, hands sliding over hot skin. Jed was so much leaner than he was, muscles tight and wiry where his were bulky. The hair on Jed's body was about three shades darker than the dark blonde hair on his head, just little patches of it here and there. The most intriguing led from Jed's belly right down to his cock, getting bushy right on top.
Moaning, thrashing, Jed urged him on, and Eli stooped to lick the head of Jed's cock. That got him a grunt, along with one of Jed's hands sliding into his hair to move him down even more. God, Jed smelled good. Right. Strong and male. Those long legs wrapped loosely around him, holding him where he was. Eli went right down, lips moving on Jed's thick flesh, sucking all the way.
"Fuck. Eli. Yeah."
Yeah. Jed was sounding about medium rare. Eli wanted the man well done before he let him come, so he tugged on Jed's balls, weighing them, pulling a little at the base of Jed's prick. Jed bucked, feet coming back down on the mattress to scrabble for purchase and push up. Now there was his advantage in being bigger. Eli planted his arm across Jed's belly and held him down, sucking harder on his prize, tongue rubbing the underside.
"Jesus!"
He almost smiled. Right past halfway to medium well. Time to really turn on the heat. Eli pressed one finger against Jed's hole, pushing in just to the first knuckle. He pulled all the way up, letting his breath tease the wet head, then went right back down, pushing his finger all the way in. Jed made him feel like a fucking porn star. Especially when Jed made noises like that and spilled hot come right into his waiting mouth. Made him feel like a god.
"C'mere."
Pulling at him, Jed urged him up and took a hot kiss, hand wrapping around his cock and pulling. Eli jumped like water on a hot griddle, then grinned at himself for thinking in Thatcher phrases. He gave up thinking a few minutes later when Jed bit him hard on the neck and probed the slit at the head of his cock. Eli just felt after that, humping Jed's hand until he came, shouting, his hips arching back and forth.
"Oh." Jed petted him, hands sliding on his sweat damp skin. "Good."
"Yeah. So does this mean you'll jump with me?"
Jed pinched him. Hard. "Yeah, Mister pushy. I guess it does."
He didn't even bother to retaliate, so happy he was just humming with it. He kissed Jed, hard and deep. He couldn't wait to see Jed's ass out in the sky. It would be inspiring.
\*\*\*
Jed Thatcher hated jumping out of airplanes. He flew them and he did such a damned good job that he never had to worry about bailing out. He'd thought there was something unnatural about it in the Army, had thought his brother Ross was insane for joining the 82nd, and still thought Eli Marshall was a nutball of epic proportions. Not only did the man jump out of planes, he jumped into fires.
It made Jed's teeth itch.
The old plane Ed Morris owned and used for jump training rumbled on, vibrating beneath him. The day was crystal clear, not a fucking cloud in the sky anywhere when he'd prayed for rain. Jed shook his head at himself. This wasn't about him. It was about Eli. The man would never ask Jed to walk into a fire with him, so this was about the only way he could share what he did. No way should Jed begrudge him that.
He glanced over at Eli and got a big old grin and a thumbs up. The man was an adrenaline junkie, no doubt about it. Eli vibrated about twice as fast as the plane, and Jed had no doubt it was with anticipation. Weirdo. Eli had asked him if he'd rather tandem jump, and the idea had appealed, but Jed figured it was better to have no distractions. Just in case.
They got to the agreed jump point and Eli motioned for him to go. Smart man. If Eli went first Jed might just sit on his ass on the plane. He nodded, held up three fingers. On three he'd go. Eli nodded, the grin getting even wider, more knowing. Damn him. Jed got into position, counted down, and didn't let himself think too damned much about it as he cleared the plane. If he did his brain would just rabbit and he knew this, knew how to do it, knew how to let training override the huge sucking fear in his chest.
As soon as he safely could Jed pulled his chute, the jerk of his descent slowing taking his breath. The rush of the wind was fucking loud, the taste of ozone strong and bitter. Eli plummeted past him, not too close, but close enough he could see the man waving at him before he started showing off. Much as it made Jed's mouth dry with apprehension at the chances the man was taking, it also made him proud. Eli was damned good at this. As good as Ross maybe and Ross had been up for the Golden Knights at one time, before he'd decided he wanted to teach jumping instead of do it all the time.
A gust of wind caught him, turned him in a slow, sickening circle and Jed decided he'd best concentrate on hitting his target, not on the man doing little somersaults below him. Damned fool man. He wasn't sure if he meant him or Eli, but his heart was in his throat until Eli pulled his chute and slowed down. After that it was just a matter of waiting, of making small adjustments so he didn't come down somewhere that would cause trouble, like on that power line, or that tree.
The ground came up on him like it always did. Too damned fast. He automatically bent his knees to absorb the shock, only stumbling a little. He caught the parachute up like he was supposed to, did all the right things, and just sat down as his knees gave out and he crumpled.
Damn, he hated that.
He had no idea how long he sat there before Eli squatted in front of him, hands on his cheeks. "Hey, Thatcher. You all right?"
"Huh? Yeah." Oh. Eli. Cool. He hadn't seen Eli land. "I'm just a little out of breath."
"You're gray. Damn, Jed. I know you said you didn't like it, but you didn't tell me it made you sick."
Jed sighed, shook off Eli's hands and struggled up so he could get out of the harness. "S'okay, Eli. I had fun watching you. You're damned fine."
He got a grin and a kiss, Eli practically bouncing. "Yeah? S'fucking amazing up there. I love it. Makes me feel free."
"You're a nut." Jed just laughed, shook his head. "I like it about you. Next time Ross comes to visit if he isn't laid up you'll have to jump with him. You two would have a time."
Those dark eyes were serious as Eli looked him over, making sure he was steady. "Thanks, Jed."
"You'll make it up to me." He'd see to it. As soon as they got home that fine ass was his. Hell, he'd go after it now except his knees were none too steady and they were out in the open waiting for Ed's son to pick them up. And there he was now.
The ride home went smooth, Jed managing to laugh and joke with Jody, singing along to the George Strait cd and making Eli cringe. Wasn't until they got home and got the dogs and other animals fed and got changing clothes that Jed snapped. He just grabbed Eli and shoved him up against a wall, kissing him fiercely.
Eli grunted, fought him for a minute, then just melted right into the kiss, lips opening up for Jed's tongue to push inside. Damn. Jed took advantage, pushing in to taste. Yeah. Hot. Spicy. Alive. Eli felt so solid against him. So real. Jed ran his hands all over that big body, stroking and petting, feeling muscles bunch and release under his fingers.
"Damn. Jed."
Eli pushed at him, moving them back, dragging him to the bedroom. Yeah, he'd need to be horizontal and naked to do some of the things he had in mind. Starting with Eli's shirt Jed began stripping them both down, savoring Eli's hot skin, the rough feel of Eli's body hair, the flat male nipples on Eli's chest. He was just wild with it suddenly, needing Eli so bad.
Eli gave as good as he got, stripping Jed down just as fast, hands digging in hard enough to bruise. Jed felt the world tilt as Eli pushed him down on the bed, stripping off his jeans, and Jed let him get them both naked before attacking, pushing Eli down instead, straddling him. "I wanna fuck you."
"Okay." Eli wasn't arguing, just feeling him up, hands sliding down his back to his ass and then beyond to cup his balls in one of those huge fucking hands.
Moaning, bending to bite at Eli's lips, Jed rubbed, his cock sliding against Eli's washboard belly. The man made him crazy, no doubt about it. If he didn't get with it he was gonna come all over and that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted in, wanted to feel that incredible tight heat around him, affirming that they were both alive, both safe.
Jed rolled off Eli, scrambling for lube, slicking up and spreading Eli wide so he could kneel between those heavily muscled thighs and slide two fingers right into Eli's body. Eli moaned, bucked, making harsh breathless noises. Stretching Eli carefully was hard. Jed didn't want to wait, especially when Eli grabbed the damned lube and used it on Jed's cock, getting him good and wet.
"Come on, Thatcher. I won't keep if you... oh. Damn. Come on."
That was all he needed. Jed nodded, moving into position, lining up with Eli's hole and sliding in. Eli moaned, Jed groaned, and somewhere beyond the closed door one of the dogs whined. Laughing, Jed started moving, in and out in short, hard jerks. No way could he take it slow and set up a nice rhythm. Eli seemed just as needy, knees drawing up on either side of Jed's hips, pushing up and up against him, trying to get more.
They moved hard and fast, their skin slapping together. Jed dug his fingers into the skin of Eli's shoulders, bracing himself, pounding in. Eli panted under him, chest rising and falling, reaching down to stroke his own cock and Jed moaned as that made Eli ripple around him. He let go with one hand, reached down to help Eli along, and it took maybe three strokes for Eli to cry out and come over their joined hands, body clamping down so that Jed shot maybe five seconds later.
"Oh," he said when he got his breath back. "Oh, damn."
"Yeah." Eli stroked him, petted him. "That was wild. Looks like jumping makes you crazy."
Jed snorted. "Makes me something. Don't ever ask me to do that again."
Eli laughed, hugged him tight. "Deal."
"Good."
"Come on, baby."
"Huh? Where are we going?"
"To the sporting goods place." Ross grinned, watching Kev try not to look up from his spy novel. The sporting goods finally won, Kev looking up at him, nose wrinkled.
"Ew. Why?"
"Because we need bait. And I need a new reel for the pole you're going to use." He hid a grin. Kev was too damned fun.
"I get the feeling you're not talking about your pole are you?" One dark eyebrow went up, a look Kev had perfected in their first month together, supposedly out of self defense. Ross thought it was more because Kev was determined Ross wasn't gonna do anything he couldn't.
"Nope. Pole as in fishing pole. My buddy Ryan has a farm pond he's gonna let us use. Bass fishing. Come on, we're burning daylight."
"You really are John Wayne."
He laughed, the disgusted look on Kev's face at odds with the speed that Kev used getting up off the couch and getting his shoes on. His baby might complain up a storm, but he liked doing things with Ross, and Ross took shameless advantage of it. He liked spending time with Kev, too. Out of bed as well as in.
"It's been a long time since I went fishing, baby. I might have to turn in my manly stud card if I don't go soon." Ross got his hat, plopped a floppy deal on Kev's head, too and headed out. The cooler, tackle box, poles and boat seats were already in the truck. Yeah, okay, he'd been pretty sure Kev would come along.
They rode to the sporting goods store, Kev snarking at him the whole way. Ross figured he was just gonna bust something at the look on Kev's face when he answered the, "What kind of bait," question.
"Nightcrawlers. I'm not much on spinners."
"Nightcrawlers? As in worms?" Kev looked a little green around the gills. "Murderer."
"Wait 'til you see me gut a fish."
"Oh, God."
Ross just laughed some more, pulling into the parking lot of the Sportsman's Warehouse. Paradise on a concrete floor. He could spend hours in there. Not that he would, because he wanted to get out on the pond before it got too hot and he had to stop by Ryan's and pick up the little boat first.
They got inside and Ross immediately headed for the fishing section. He'd get the nightcrawlers out of the fridge right before they left, keep them fresh. He didn't realize he'd lost Kev until he was on his way back up to the checkout, and there was no tall, skinny shadow trailing along behind him. He should have wondered why it was so quiet. Ross went looking, finally finding Kev standing in front of a display, looking for all the world like he was gonna pass out.
"What's up, baby?"
"Injectable butter and bacon marinade."
Ross looked. Sure enough, the brightly packaged boxes in front of Kev held bottles of marinade, and great big plastic syringes kinda like turkey-basters so you could shoot the stuff right into a chicken or a turkey or a pheasant or something. Oh. Oh, God. Ross lost it, clapping Kev on the shoulder. "We should get some. I bet it'd be great lube."
"Ew! Ewewew. I knew you were going to say it. I knew it! Next thing you know you'll want the ragin' Cajun, just because it will spice up our sex life."
The big guy going by with his fishing vest and hat on gave them quite a look at that one and Kev went deep red as Ross chortled. Practically made him snort. Damn. That was just... too easy. "Oh, no, baby. We should get the Mexican chile. I can have a regular fiesta with your ass."
"Oh, ha ha." Kev gave him such a look and stomped off, leaving him hanging on an adjacent shelf, wheezing for breath he was laughing so hard. When he finally recovered he grabbed some of the butter and bacon stuff and added it to his haul. He'd put it by the bed when they got home, watch Kev go round the bend.
He checked out, found Kev outside on a bench, petting some random hound who was tied to a pillar. Ross grinned, reached down to scratch the mutt's ears. "You need a dog. You ready to go?"
"I've been ready ever since the trauma of the marinade. Yeah, let's go"
Grinning, feeling evil down to his bones, Ross handed over the container of nightcrawlers. "Cool. You hold the worms."
"Oh, gross."
"Somehow I knew you were gonna say that."
He knew that despite Kev's protests, they'd have a hell of a good time, too. They always did.
\*\*\*
"I can't believe we fell in the pond."
Kev couldn't believe it. And he'd been saying it all the way home, sitting in the truck smelling like Carolina red mud. He didn't mean to be, like, repetitive. But well, they'd fallen in the pond.
"Well, baby. I'm not one to point fingers. But if you hadn't gotten so excited about that duck..."
"He came in the boat with us!" And it was a very small boat, barely clearing the waterline as it was, and adding a surprisingly heavy duck had made it precarious indeed. Trying to shoo the duck away had rocked the boat more than it could handle and they both went ass over teakettle into the water, all of their gear and all of those poor drowned worms.
Ross was being really nice about it, really, since Ross was the one who had to dive to the bottom of the pond for all of their shit while Kev flailed around in panic about snakes and cooters and muddy tennies. So, you know, Ross was way more muddy and dirty and Kev refused to admit it might be hot. Nope. Not.
"We should take a shower."
Ross grinned and nodded, taking off his baseball cap and rubbing his muddy blonde hair. "We should. I like showering with you better than getting dumped in a pond."
"Oh, good. Ew. No." Backing away as Ross tried to kiss him, Kev headed for the bathroom. "You have algae lips."
"Algae... oh thanks."
Ross followed, hands getting grabby, making Kev squeal and pelt down the hall. He loved the way Ross made him play. Loved the way he just couldn't get in a snit and stay that way with Ross around, even if Ross was the reason for the snit sometimes. He made the bathroom and tried to close the door, but it stuck just a little, giving Ross time to slip inside and grab him, arms around his waist.
"Don't make me get my algae on you. And my worm hands."
"Ew!" Wiggling free, Kev turned on the shower, determined to get Ross clean before attacking him. Besides, wet Ross was one of his very favorite things. He got stripped off, wincing at his stiff clothes, and started on Ross, working buttons and zippers, slapping Ross' hands away when he tried to touch. "Soap first."
"Yeah, yeah." Ross was laughing, teasing him with trying to touch, then grabbing the soap and getting them both good and sudsy. Was sudsy a word? Kevin opened his mouth to ask and sputtered as Ross ran the washcloth over his lips. "No more algae," Ross said with a grin, and Kevin slapped a wet, soapy hand over Ross' mouth in retaliation.
"Mfh." They both laughed, Ross' blue eyes twinkling at him over his muffling hand, then they were kissing, the soap sort of unsexy, but Kev just didn't care. Ross felt so good against him, strong, male, hot. Ross cupped his ass, squeezing, and Kev went up on his tiptoes. Ross really loved his ass. Sometimes it made him blush. Right now it made him moan. Especially with Ross' cock hot against his thigh, Ross's mouth on his neck, lips opening so that hot tongue could lick his clean skin.
Kevin ran his hands over Ross' back, his ass, his thighs, feeling hard, lean muscle that never failed to excite him. And not a trace of mud. Yay. Ross pushed back into his hands, making a low, rough noise and Kev sorta went... caveman maybe? Totally not like him, really. Really really. But he spun Ross around and rinsed him off a little to get the soap suds gone, 'cause ew, and knelt behind Ross to spread those bounce a quarter off asscheeks wide so he could lick at Ross' hole.
Ross moaned loud, practically crawling up the shower wall, and Kev had to pull him back down so he could push his tongue into that tight hole and stroke it in and out. Ross' body tightened, squeezing his tongue. He was getting curse words now, hot sex words, Ross' voice broken and harsh. He almost came when Ross started begging. "Baby. Please. Come on. I need you. Please."
Yes. Oh, goodness, yes. Kev couldn't wait anymore. He stood up, got his prick lined up by bending his knees a bit, and pushed into Ross' body, groaning as the muscles gave way and Ross let him right in. Oh, god. He'd never get over how tight Ross was, how he was the only guy who ever did this.
The water pounded down on them, hot and stinging, and Kev's feet slipped a little on the slick tile until he got them planted. Ross wasn't helping with the stability, wriggling on him, pressing back, grunting and gasping. Finally he just grabbed Ross' hips with all his strength and held on, keeping Ross as still as he could. Ross' hands scrabbled on the shower wall and they got a rhythm going, their breathing fast and hard, lost in the sound of the falling water.
Kev just closed his eyes, cheek resting against the top of Ross' head, and rocked his hips back and forth, fucking Ross as hard as he could. The man brought out all the uncivilized parts of him, made him need in the craziest way, and it was kinda scary but so good he couldn't resist it. How could he when Ross' skin was hot enough to burn and his name was like a prayer on Ross' lips? So good.
"Baby. So close. Please. Touch me."
Oh. He could do that. Kev slid one hand forward and down, slipped his fingers around Ross' pretty cock. Hot. So hot, the skin soft over such hardness; Ross throbbed with life. He stroked and Ross moaned and they moved even faster, because Ross tightened down on him so hard his eyes rolled. No way was he gonna last long.
A few more hard thrusts and Ross was groaning, hot seed spilling over his hand to join the water falling on them. Kev cried out hips snapping as he shot hard into Ross' body, the top of his head just ready to pop right off. Kinda like his cock. Oh. Oh, good.
So good.
The shower ran cold before they moved and Kev yelped, reaching out to turn the water off, getting them out so they could dry off. He patted Ross' ass, feeling really daring and kinda suave.
"That? Was way better than fishing."
"Oh, I don't know. You were so cute going over the side of the boat..."
He snapped Ross with his towel, grinning as Ross jumped and swore. He was just about to pursue further retaliation when the phone rang and he ran to get it.
"Hello? Oh, hey yeah. Hold on."
He handed the phone to Ross as he passed by, heading to the kitchen to make grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. "It's Jed." Ross' brother. Ross would be awhile.
\*\*\*
"Hey! What're you up to?" Ross was always glad to hear from Jed. Especially when he could hang up on him.
"Not much. Just called for that pecan chocolate pie recipe you said you'd email me and never did."
"Oh! Shit. Yeah. Lemme go get it."
He wandered to the kitchen, completely forgetting he was naked until Kevin looked over at him, dark brown eyes going wide and hot. Oh, grilled cheese. He grinned at Kev and bumped hips with him, laughing as his skin brushed Kev's bushy bathrobe. He grabbed his recipe file and headed back to the living room, catching sight of the Sportsman's Warehouse bag.
"Got it. I just need to do something. Hold on."
Jed's, "What are you up to now?" was ignored as he snuck into the bedroom and put on some sweats, carefully setting the bottle of butter and bacon injectable marinade on the bedside table. He didn't answer Jed until he got back to the living room.
"Nothing. I just needed to piss and put some pants on. Anyway, here's the recipe." He read it off. "What are you apologizing to Eli or something?"
"No. I'm going up against Lloyd at the Delta county fair. He's making the caramel silk pie. So I need something good."
"Well, this one will do you."
"Cool. So what are you up to? I can hear it in your voice."
"Nothing." Ross grinned. "We fell in the pond."
"Oh, for Christ's sake, Ross. Can't you stay out of the water?" He could hear the laughter in Jed's voice and he answered it with his own as Kev stuck his head out of the kitchen and frowned at him, mouthing, "Did you have to tell him that?"
He just hooted at them both, flipping Kev the bird and getting a view of a fuzzy blue covered ass for his trouble, telling Jed, "Well, it wasn't me. There was this duck..."
By the time he got off the phone with Jed supper was ready and the lack of fish didn't faze him one bit. Kev made a decent grilled cheese and the soup he heated up was a veggie beef Ross had made and frozen a couple weeks ago, so it was all good. Kev even dished up ice cream with fudge sauce, though Ross could tell he was still pouting about Ross telling Jed the duck story.
"Come on, baby. Don't be mad at me all night."
"I'm not mad."
Sure. Everyone's lower lip stuck out that way. Ross set his ice cream dish aside and pulled at Kev's bathrobe, getting an armful of half naked Kev for his trouble, and a sweet kiss besides. That? Was more like it. They could make out a bit before Kev got mad at him again. They kissed slow and deep, ice cream and fudge sauce and after dinner coffee like a drug when mixed with Kev's own unique flavor.
He pushed at the terry cloth covering the rest of Kev's body, hand cupping that round, tight ass as it was revealed to him. "Mmm. Baby, you're enough to give a man palpitations."
"Yeah? Where? Here?" Kev slid a hand down into his sweatpants, cupping his cock, making him groan.
"That's a good place to start, yeah."
"Cool."
So intent, his baby, so focused on him. It was fucking amazing. Ross lifted his hips, letting Kev push his sweats down, his own fingers drifting, pushing into Kev's crease.
"Oh. Ross. Yeah. Want you."
Mmm. Sex-kitten Kev. He loved that voice, that little husky grrr, do me now voice. He loved the way Kev touched him, too, like he wasn't quite real but was the hottest thing going anyway. While he was busy arching and groaning and spreading Kev nice and wide, Kev was pumping his cock and digging out the lube, and suddenly there was a little tube in his hand.
"Fuck me."
Who was he to argue with that? Ross opened the lube, got his fingers good and slick and started getting Kev ready for him, fingers pushing right into Kev's hot, tight hole. Kev moaned, opening for him easily, letting him in to stretch and move. Before long Kev was wiggling, making breathless noises, begging him, and Ross just pulled his fingers free and lifted Kev to straddle him, letting gravity work. His cock pushed, slid in, and next thing he knew Kev was sitting on his thighs, blinking at him, eyes heavy lidded and full of heat.
Ross just grunted, started moving, needing so hard so fast that it surprised him, even though it never should anymore. He took and Kev gave and they rocked together until they were both wet with sweat and his hand was on Kev's cock and Kev's teeth were digging into his shoulder. They didn't smell so much like soap now, or even pond water. Instead it was clean male sweat and sex and them, a scent Ross never tired of. Never.
"Love you, baby."
Kev's eyes went wide, that long cock jerking in Ross' hand as Kev came, crying out, his floppy haired head falling back. Ross watched, feeling that delicious ass tighten down on him, feeling his balls and thighs go tight until he shot, humping up, calling Kev's name.
They slumped together, Kev's long body going boneless against him. Ross stroked his back, murmuring love words, and finally Kev looked up at him, eyes shining. "Love you."
"Good."
It was a damned good thing and it would serve him well when they went back to the bedroom. He grinned a little, hiding it against the skin of Kev's neck.
"What?" Kev stroked his hair, the short bristled rubbing back and forth.
"Oh, I'm just happy, baby."
"Oh. Cool." Kev yawned, sliding off his lap, curling up to his side. It was still pretty early, so Ross covered them up with Kev's robe and turned on the game, just snuggling and basking in the damned afterglow. There wasn't much in life that was better.
He woke up with Kev's elbow in his ribs as his baby struggled up to go to the bathroom, so cute as he staggered off, naked as a jaybird. Ross followed more slowly, putting dishes in the sink and turning off lights before he went to brush his teeth. Kev kissed him when they passed, and Ross waited, grinning in the mirror at himself. Come on, baby, be observant...
And man, did he laugh his ass off when Kev hollered, "Oh, Ross! Ew!"
"Cornmeal, baking powder, eggs... down Scorch. Damn it, Eli, are you writing all this down? And will you get this dog out from under my feet?"
Eli glanced up from his (badly) scribbled grocery list. "What the Hell crawled up your ass and died, Thatcher?"
"Oh, fuck you, mister. You can go get the goddamned groceries your own self."
Jed slammed right out of the back door, leaving Eli staring after him, and Scorch standing there whining. Poor pup always thought shit was his fault. Eli got up, scratched Scorch's ears and headed out to see what the heck was up with Jed.
The man was just where Eli knew he would be, out in the old barn, mucking out dirty straw and horse droppings. Eli shook his head. Still made him amazed that he was living in a place where manure was not something you bought in a bag at the Home Depot. He watched Jed work a minute, noting the sweat Jed had already worked up.
Something was really eating him.
Eli waited until the pitchfork and the shovel were put away to head over, to put a hand on Jed's back. Jed whirled on him, blue eyes snapping, but Eli didn't back down, just muscled into Jed's space.
"What's wrong, Thatcher?"
"Back off, Eli."
"No." No way. Jed just didn't get in a wad about nothing. "Tell me."
Blowing out a sigh, Jed moved back a few steps, hand coming up to rub the back of his neck. "It's not my place to say, Eli. Ross called this morning. He's... well. He's having some trouble."
"With Kev?" Jed liked Kev, Eli knew. But if it came right down to it, Ross was the one who was family.
"Yeah. And he's mustering out."
Eli stared. "No way. I thought Ross was a lifer."
"So did I." Jed shrugged. "I think he's making a mistake."
"But it's his to make." Eli knew there had to be more than that. Knew it. "Come on, Jed. Don't leave me out in the cold here."
"He and Kev had a big fight. Kev accused him of planning his whole life, of bulldozing him into shit... Just like I did with you."
"Just like..." Eli snorted. "Okay, so you railroaded me into coming home with you. But I wanted to, deep down. If I hadn't? I would have said no for sure."
Those bright eyes searched his face, the lines around them deeper, the lines around Jed's mouth showing, too. "You sure? I just... I don't want you resenting me, Eli."
"Not going to." He paused, trying to think how to say it. Eli wasn't very good at baring his emotions. "I still do what I love, I like Colorado, and I have you. How could I resent that?"
Jed relaxed a little, visibly. "Yeah. Yeah, I kept telling myself that, Eli, but it just ate at me."
"Well, I would rather you let me eat at you." Did he just say that? Man, that was corny, but it was just the right thing to say, because Jed laughed and stepped up close to wrap those lean arms around him.
"I think I can arrange that. As long as we let the dogs out."
"You know it." Eli looked around, noted the clean pellets of hay and the horse blankets. "Or we could just do it out here."
"Yeah?" Oh, that look was so much better than the uncertainty and well, fear. This look was hot, burning Eli all the way down to the toes of his jump boots.
"Yeah. I need my outdoor workout, yeah?"
"Hell, yes." Jed grabbed his hand and hauled him into a newly cleaned stall, dragging an old horse blanket in with him. The smell of fresh straw and horse and Jed was strong, good, something he'd gotten used to when he never thought he would. It was something Eli had come to love, even.
He needed to make sure he showed Jed that.
They went down on their knees together after Jed spread the blanket out, and Eli reached for Jed, hands cupping those lean cheeks. He pulled Jed close and gave the man a kiss he hoped burned all the way down, trying to tell him, to make him see.
He thought maybe Jed got the idea, because Jed moaned, fingers sinking into Eli's hair, pulling him close. He loved the taste of sweat and sunshine on Jed's lips, loved the way that tanned-leather skin felt under his fingertips.
Dust motes floated on a sunbeam, like some ideal postcard, but most postcards Eli had seen didn't have a Jed Thatcher, pulling back and taking off his shirt, showing off all that skin. The man was just fucking indecent, he was so gorgeous.
Of course, what Eli really wanted was that round, tight male butt that he'd fallen in love with, and he reached for Jed's jeans, struggling with buttons and zippers. Eli wanted to see it all, damn it.
"Greedy."
Jed grinned at him, shucking the jeans right off, sitting on the blanket to pull his boots off. Oh. Naked Jed Thatcher had to be proof that God was willing to forgive all sorts of shit and love him. Eli reached out, cupped one hand under Jed's ass as he knelt up again, squeezing that tight cheek, fingers digging right in.
"Eli..." Damn, he loved it when Jed moaned his name like that. He so did.
"Yeah, Thatcher?"
"You're not naked yet, mister. And I need that. Need to touch you."
"So get me naked." No way was he letting go of Jed to undress. Jed could do it for him.
"Big, beautiful asshole."
Jed worked off the rest of Eli's clothes, doing it the hard way as Eli just refused to move for him. He was too damned busy touching Jed's ass, his back, his belly and chest, finally working down to Jed's pretty cock.
Jed gasped, arching right into the touch, eyes so damned deep under heavy eyelids. Jed's cock pushed right into his hand, so hot it burned his palm, already wet at the tip. When he swept his thumb over, gathering up moisture, he got a long, indrawn breath.
"Jesus, Eli."
"Not thinking he's got a lot to do with it, Jed."
Jed just laughed, and it was so good to see that Eli had to kiss that smile, just lean down and lick at it. Jed kissed him back, mouth opening, tongue coming out to lick along his lips. Then those rough, work-hardened hands were on him, and Eli figured he was about to start flying.
They stretched out on the blanket, the texture scratchy and rough, but not enough to make him uncomfortable. Eli kept his one hand moving on Jed's prick, used the other to trace Jed's cheek, his throat. Jed swallowed, making his Adam's apple bob under Eli's fingers, and as Eli moved his fingers down he could feel Jed's pulse thundering.
In turn, Jed touched Eli's thick hair, making little goosebumps rise on his skin as Jed ran his fingers through it. Jed moved his mouth from Eli's lips to the spot just under his ear, and Eli could hear him panting for breath.
"Want you, Eli. Want you in me."
Fuck. Jed asked for that maybe once in a blue moon, and Eli wasn't about to tell him no, even if they didn't have any lube with them. He pushed up between Jed's knees, spreading them wide.
"You sure, Thatcher?"
"Hell yes. Want you to make me feel it, Eli. Need it."
"God." That look just burned all the way to his toes. Eli pushed his hands under Jed's thighs, the tiny hairs at the tops catching on his fingers, and lifted, spreading Jed even more and bringing that sweet ass up so he could bend and put his mouth on Jed's hole. Just like that.
Jed hollered, head banging on the stall floor, thrashing under his mouth, and it was fucking cool, the power of that simple touch. He wanted to let Jed know, wanted to make him see that this was his choice, that Eli wasn't some kid to be pushed around and told what to do. He was with Jed because he loved the man, plain and simple.
And he had a feeling if he hadn't come to Colorado, Jed would have camped out in Oregon and never left him.
He got Jed good and wet, pushing his tongue in deep, tasting the bitter-rich flavor of Jed's most intimate place. Jed's cock rubbed against him, so good and hot, so hard for him, and the noises Jed made just about killed him. They were long, harsh, pleading noises.
He set Jed back down reluctantly, making them both moan at the loss of contact, but Jed was good and wet, and Eli didn't have the patience to stretch him anymore. Eli slicked his cock with more spit and prodded at Jed's hole with the head of his cock.
"You ready for me, Thatcher?"
Jed scrabbled at his arms, fingers digging into his muscles. "Hell, yes, mister. Get down here and fuck me!"
Pushy asshole. He didn't say it, though. Eli figured that would ruin the mood. He just surged forward, hips driving his cock right into Jed's body, and it was so tight his eyes rolled back in his head. Fuck.
He didn't get one damned complaint from Jed, just breathless pleas for more, harder, faster, Jed holding him hard enough to bruise his arms.
They moved together faster and faster, him pushing in, Jed rising to meet him. He looked down at Jed, and that tanned face was screwed up in a grimace of pure pleasure, those pretty eyes just slits of blue fire, and he knew he'd follow this man to the end of the fucking earth. Eli bent for a kiss, and Jed opened right up for him, hands sliding up his arms to lock around his neck.
He grunted, hips pounding, one hand on Jed's hip, pulling Jed up so hard... God. He was just gonna explode. Knowing Jed had to be close, Eli reared back up on his knees and pulled Jed's thighs up over his, fucking Jed with sharp, short thrusts as he reached for Jed's cock again, pulling hard.
The flush that rose from Jed's thighs to his chest and neck was all the warning Eli got. Then Jed was crying out, the sound echoing in the small space, and Jed came right into his waiting hand, body squeezing down so tight.
It took all of two, maybe three more thrusts and Eli was coming too, shooting deep into Jed's body, the groan that tore out of his chest startling the horses a few stalls down so they kicked and stomped. Falling forward, Eli caught himself on one shaking arm to keep from dropping down on Jed, waiting until he could slip out to flop down beside Jed on the old blanket, curling an arm around the man and holding him close.
"Oh. Damn."
Jed sounded blown away... breathless and happy. Shit, that man made him feel like a fucking God.
"Yeah. That was..." He just kissed Jed's temple. He never really had words for what Jed was to him. He wasn't good at the word shit.
Jed snuggled right up, naked as the day he was born and totally unconcerned about it. As usual. Eli had to laugh.
"What?" Jed asked.
"Oh, nothing. You. Us. That crazy brother of yours." Eli stroked Jed's back. "You ready to go get groceries?"
His ass took a brutal pinch from Jed's questing fingers. "Not much for basking in the afterglow, are you?" Jed asked.
"Hey, I'm looking forward to your chili and cornbread, is all. So are the mutts."
That got him a sorrowful look. Would have worked too, if it weren't for Jed's mouth twitching. "The romance is gone, mister."
"You want romance? I could carry you back to the house."
"Fireman carries do not a romance make." Jed sat up, pulled a piece of straw out of Eli's hair. "Come on, mister. We got groceries to get and puppers to feed."
Eli stopped Jed with a hand on his arm, looking right into those light blue eyes, searching. "You okay now?"
"Yeah. M'good. You know it's not that I doubted you, yeah?" Jed touched his cheek. "I just know how pushy a Thatcher can be."
"I'm not a kid like Kev." Eli turned his head, kissed Jed's palm. "Never doubt for a minute that I'm here because I want to be."
"Love you, mister."
Eli grinned, kissing Jed deep, right on the mouth. "I know."
The volunteer fire department was out full force at old man Wilson's silo. Which meant, since it wasn't jump season, that Eli was out there. Jed knew that for two reasons. One; where there was smoke there was fire, and where there was fire, there was Eli. Two; Eli'd left him a note on the fridge telling him Eli'd gotten the call and was off.
Silo fires could be a tricky, nasty thing. They could explode. They could fall in on themselves, and on anyone around them. They could sit and burn sullenly for days. You just never knew. Hell, Jed'd been after old man Wilson to clean up that mouse infested shithole for years, and now it looked like Mother Nature was doing it for him.
Jed fed the dogs, and took care of the animals, and thought about taking a shower before he packed up some sandwiches and a few gallons of water and Gatorade. Wouldn't do to seem too anxious, as Eli'd just accuse him of being a mother hen. He wasn't, not really, but he did worry, because he didn't want one Mister Eli Marshall singed around the edges.
Finally Jed decided to skip the shower, and he headed out, sternly telling the dogs no when they tried to sneak along. Especially Scorch, who knew something was up and whined pitifully when Jed left him behind. Old man Wilson's place was a disaster. Soot and water and chemicals and tons of fellers running all over in a coordinated chaos.
"Hey, Chief."
The Fire Chief turned and nodded as Jed wandered up, chewing on the cigar stuck in his mouth."
"Howdy, Jed."
"Seen Eli?"
"Yeah. In there." The Chief nodded to the barn, which was burning merrily away, and Jed felt his forced casualness drop right through the bottom of his belly.
"What the Hell is anyone doing in there? Looks like it's about to go any minute. You losing your mind, Chief?"
Bits of tobacco flew as the Chief snorted, and if he was chewing that hard on the cigar, Jed figured the man was as worried as he was.
"Old man Wilson kept trying to go in there after his mules. Thought he was gonna have a heart attack. So Eli and Brodie went in."
"Shit. Brodie, too?" His mom would never let the Chief forget it if Brodie got hurt in a fire. "What was he doing over this way anyway?"
"He was down at the Safeway. Heard the announcement on the radio. Took you long enough to get here."
"I just got home from the Junction."
They both watched the barn intently as they talked, and Jed kept thinking maybe Eli would appear through the sheer force of his will if he stared hard enough. Sure enough, someone popped through the burning doorway soon after, being dragged by a mule, but it was Brodie, not Eli, and he was wheezing and staggering, smoke induced tears making tracks on his soot blackened cheeks.
Funny, how everything else went away when you were so focused. Jed wished to Hell he could help with the fire, but he's just be in the way, so he went to help with the mule, knowing that was one thing he could handle. The rest was a blur; the fiery silo and barn, the crackle of flames and the intense heat, the wail of sirens and the shouts of men. The mule calmed, and he checked on Brodie, who looked as worried as he felt.
"He was right behind me Jed. Should be out any minute."
"Yeah? Well, what the Hell were you thinking? My mom'd kill you dead, you got hurt and couldn't work."
"I know. I'm okay. He's okay."
"I hope so."
Folks started shouting, and there was an ominous creak, and fuck if half the barn roof didn't go down under a sidewall of the silo as it collapsed. Fiery Hell, that's what it was, and Jed didn't even remember moving; next thing he knew he was struggling against Brodie, and the man was yelling at him not to be an idiot and get himself hurt, too. Hell, he was yelling himself, spitting out curses and hollering Eli's name.
When Eli shot out what was left of one wall like a greased pig through a cowboys hands, mule in tow? Jed thought he might just pass out with relief. Damn the fool idiot anyway. Someone got the mules rounded up and took them off, and Brodie wisely let go of him, and Eli came up to him grinning from ear to ear.
"Did you see that, Thatcher? One Hell of a fire, Jed."
Mister Eli Marshall didn't look one bit sorry for making him worry. In fact, the man looked pumped on adrenaline, and happy as a clam. Jed nodded, unable to say a word, figuring if he did he'd say something downright nasty.
"That? Was a rush."
That sooty grin and happy tone was too much.
Jed snapped. He balled up his fist and hit Eli square on the right eye, and the man went down, felled by Jed as he hadn't been by the fire. Jed stood over Eli as Eli measured his length in the dust and embers, blinking up at him like the fucking idiot he was.
Straightening, Jed nodded down at Eli. "See you at home. You stay out of that barn now, hear?"
Before Eli could answer, Jed strode to his truck and hopped in, gunning it away, and he actually managed to make it halfway home before he had to pull off to the side of the road and shake for a bit. Which was pretty damned good, considering.
\*\*\*
Smoke and ashes. That was what he smelled like. Eli grimaced as he let himself in, then swore as the grimace made his bruised eye pull. Jed Thatcher packed quite a punch, and Eli felt it even more than the tiny burns on his shoulders and arms and hands, and the sore muscles in his back and legs.
Scorch met him at the door, whining and sniffing him thoroughly, sneezing every so often at the flakes of ash that clung to his clothes. Oh, man, he'd even worried his dog. He was going to be on the shit list for who knew how long.
"Hey, Jed? I'm home."
The living room was empty, but the kitchen wasn't. A pot of chicken soup bubbled away on the stove, and if Eli wasn't mistaken, he smelled fresh biscuits and cherry pie. Even mad as hell, Jed was too good to him. Now, to find the man himself.
Eli found Jed in the bathroom. Shaving.
"Hey. You going out somewhere?"
"Nope." Their eyes met in the mirror, and Jed grinned. "Just don't want to give you stubble burn in sensitive places. Get those stinky clothes off and get in the shower."
"Best offer I've had all day." If Jed wasn't going to bring it up, neither was he. Thank God Jed wasn't the touchy feely type who had to talk everything to death. Eli stripped off the nasty clothes and hopped right into the bath, turning on the hot water and groaning with pleasure as it hit his body. Not too long after, Jed joined him, hands sliding over his body, cleaning him up really well, and if Jed seemed like he was looking for injuries, well, Eli wasn't going to mention that either.
They finally ran out of hot water, and got out of the shower to dry off, Jed toweling Eli with the same care he took in washing, and Eli basked in the attention, because he wasn't above a little basking now and then.
"Looks like you'll do," Jed said, and Eli grinned.
"All but the eye."
"You deserved that."
"Matter of opinion."
"My opinion's the one that counts."
Jed finally grinned back, leaning in to kiss him hard, and Eli pulled Jed close, hands on that amazing ass, squeezing tight. They both moaned, and staggered off to bed, tripping over the dogs and each other, because they both refused to let go.
They locked the dogs out and Jed pushed Eli down on the bed, using his mouth to trace the same path his hands did in the shower, and Eli thought he might just go crazy before Jed was done. His chin, his throat, his chest; all of them got licked and nibbled, his nipples sucked, his belly nuzzled. Then Jed started at his toes and worked up, too, exploring his calves and thighs. By the time Jed stroked Eli's balls and licked the very tip of his cock, he figured he was going to explode. Boom. Worse than any silo fire, ever.
When Jed got the lube and used it on Eli's cock and his own ass Eli really did think he was going to explode, all over the place, before they even started. There was still something so hot about Jed taking it, because he knew Jed only did it for him, and that tight, hot body sliding down around him was the biggest rush there could be.
They moved together, Jed riding him like crazy, Jed's sweat dripping on his skin, as hot as the tiny embers that had burned through his clothes at the fire. Jed was tight, so tight, and that lean body was all his to touch and explore, so Eli did, fingers tracing Jed's chest and belly, finally wrapping around Jed's hard cock and pulling.
It didn't last, couldn't last long before it burned itself out, and soon Jed was yelling, hands scrabbling at his shoulders, Jed's come splashing on Eli's belly. Eli came too, he had to, the way Jed squeezed it all right out of him, and he saw stars when he did, bright and white hot.
They lay there, breathing hard, and Eli was just contemplating another shower when Jed nudged him sharply with his chin.
"Scared the hell out of me."
Eli sighed. ТCan't promise I won't do it again."
"I know. Could you at least pretend like it wasn't fun?"
"That I can do."
That got him a kiss. "Good. Want some supper?"
"Yeah."
Jed grinned. "Let's get cleaned up and eat then. I'll get you some witch hazel for that eye."
"Sounds good."
Well, that was all worked out, then. Eli rolled out of bed after Jed, grinning ear to ear. All in all? He couldn't think of a better day. Even if he'd never tell Jed that again.
"What's the kinkiest thing you've ever done?"
"Huh?" Ross didn't mean to miss the question entirely, but he was kinda busy nibbling Kev's belly, and he wasn't sure he'd heard right.
"I said, what's the kinkiest thing you've ever done?"
Lord. Resting his chin on Kevin's hip, Ross looked up, trying to gauge Kev's look. And failing.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you asking this, especially right now, baby? I thought we were having fun."
"We are! I justЙ"
Ross looked up again, his nuzzle halted in mid-nuzz. "You just what?"
"Well, I remember once how you mentioned strap-ons."
Hell. Ross gave up on trying to coax Kev back into playing and sat up, scooting up next to Kevin to lean on the headboard. The kid got in some weird moods sometimes.
"Yeah. I had a lady friend once who wanted to know what it felt like to be the doer, not the do-ee."
"So was that kinky?"
"Well, not any more than you and me. It was anal sex, Kev. Some folks would think it was kinky, sure."
"Oh." Kevin chewed his lip. "Well, you knew all about bondage."
Ross just wanted to cry. His hard on? Going south in a hurry. He rolled on his side, head propped on his hand so he could see Kev real well.
"What's this about, baby?"
"What do you mean?" Those hands he loved so much worried the hell out of the edge of the sheet, and Kev wouldn't meet his eyes.
"I mean, where it this coming from all of a sudden? If you're bored with our sex life, baby, you need to say so."
"No! I mean, I just don't want you to be. Bored."
Lord. Here they went. Ross put a hand on Kev's belly, feeling the soft skin, the downy little hairs, his fingers petting gently.
"Baby, I like sex. I haven't ever made any bones about that. I've tried all sorts of stuff. But you should know by now that if I don't like something I say so."
"Well..."
His hand dipped a bit lower, just above the dark curls at Kevin's groin. "Didn't I tell you how I felt about your macaroni and cheese and Tabasco?"
The muscles under his hand quivered as Kev snorted. "Yes. And the spinach and mushroom grits."
"Those too. And when you shined my boots?"
Kev reached right over and pinched his nipple, hard. Ross grunted, then got an evil idea. "Oh. Kinky."
Those big brown eyes widened, and Kev's mouth fell open. "That's not kinky."
"Sure it is. I've never tried pain, baby."
"And you're not going to now!" Sitting up, Kevin glared down at him. "I don't want to do that."
"Neither do I." Ding. The light might just be dawning. Ross sat up too, grabbing Kev's shoulders. "We do what you want, and what I want, and we enjoy it, baby. I've done some weird shit, yeah, because my partner wanted to, and I am willing to try whatever gets my partner off. But I like sex, and I love you, and I'm happy as a pig in shit."
Those eyes searched his face, Kev so intent on him. "You don't mind that I'm kinda vanilla?"
"I don't even think about that." He didn't. Not one bit. "What I think about is your mouth and your hands and your amazing ass. And about how much I like it all."
"Cool." There. That was the smile Ross was looking for, Kev kinda bouncing on the bed, right over to him, hands sliding on his skin. "I like everything about you, Ross."
"Well, thank God for that." When was Kev gonna believe he liked everything about him, too? Ross shrugged it off, bracketing Kev's hips with his own hands, pushing around to feel that amazing bubble butt. The muscles tensed and released under his fingers, the skin hot and smooth, and Ross knew every time he touched it that he'd found heaven.
Kev kissed him, lips soft and warm, and he encouraged it, searching for his sex-kitten Kev, the one that didn't have doubts. The one what he wanted. Kev's tongue touched his and they both gasped, and suddenly Kev was all over him, octopus style.
Ross moaned happily, flopping back on the bed under the weight of Kevin's body, his head hitting the headboard with a little "thunk".
"Oops." Those dark eyes laughed down at him as Kevin rubbed the back of his head for him. "You okay?"
"No. I have a terrible pain."
"Really?" Brow creasing into a frown, Kev felt the back of his head. "Where?"
"Oh, not there. Here."
He arched up against Kev, letting Kevin feel his cock, feel how hard he was. It sure hadn't taken long to come back up. In fact, he was ready to pop off, just from Kev reaching down between them to touch him.
"Right here, huh?"
"Yeah. I ache, baby."
"Then let me help you."
Kev slid down his body, thighs rubbing the rough hair on the outside of Ross' legs, bending down at the same time to lick down Ross' chest and belly. That sweet mouth closed over Ross' cock and he moaned, arching again, trying to get more. Kev tongued his slit, lips sliding around the head, just hitting the sensitive underside, and he kinda went nuts, rolling his hips up.
"Want you, Kev, want you bad."
"Mmm." Kevin just went to town, licking and sucking, making him pant. His skin went hot and tight, his nipples so hard, his cock even harder. Felt so damned good, maybe because there wasn't any more talking, just doing, and he loved that, loved when Kev finally stopped thinking and went with it.
They moved together, Ross rocking up, Kev pushing all the way down until his lips met the curls at Ross' groin. Kev's fingers found his balls, rolling them softly, and Ross almost lost it, head falling back as his eyes rolled in his head.
"Gonna come, baby."
That didn't stop Kev, didn't even slow him down, and before he could even whimper he was shooting down Kev's throat in long, hot pulses.
Ross lay back on the bed, heart pounding. Kev rose up over him, smiling, looking like the cat that swallowed the canary. He grinned back, but man, he wished Kevin could look like that all the time, instead of having doubt in his eyes.
He wanted Kev to believe. But he just wasn't sure it was happening.
\*\*\*
Kevin hummed as he checked the crock-pot, making sure it was just right. He was making this chicken and dumplings thing from the Southerner's crock pot cookbook, and hoping he couldn't fuck it up.
Ross usually cooked, but he wanted to do something nice for Valentine's Day, since he'd forgotten last year.
Heck, he knew that wasn't the only reason. He'd been letting Ross see his doubts too much, and he was hurting Ross. He knew it, but he didn't know how to stop it. He just still couldn't see what Ross saw in him.
Shoving away those thoughts, Kevin fed Pancake and put him out, washed up, and then sat and fidgeted. Then got up and paced. Ross was late. Darn it.
The front door opened and he hopped to his feet, almost tangling them up and falling on his ass. He managed to stay up at the last minute, and he went out just in time to grab Ross for a kiss.
"Hi."
Oh, that was the greatest smile, Ross' bright blue eyes crinkled at the corners as Ross sniffed the air. "You cooked?"
"I did. Happy Valentine's Day, Ross."
"Mmm." Ross kissed him again, lips lingering. "Happy Valentine's day, baby."
"Come see what I cooked. I hope it doesn't suck." He knew very well it might. But wow, it smelled good. He bounced back into the kitchen, giving Ross a little ass-wiggle. He knew how that man loved his ass.
Ross came on in, stripping off his shirt, leaving him in just pants, boots and t-shirt. It was a good look for him. Almost as good as boxer briefs and sweat, or blue jeans and bare feet. Almost.
"Oh, nice, baby."
The table held two pretty place settings, some flowers he'd picked up on the way home, and a card for Ross. Kevin was pretty damned proud of it.
"Thanks. You want to go change while I dish up?"
He'd changed into a pair of thin cotton pants that Ross liked when he got home, along with a sweater.
"What do you want me to change into, baby?"
Oh, fuck, Ross was sexy. Growly. Ross wondered why Kev just couldn't believe his luck sometimes? It was because sometimes, Ross was so sexy that it literally hurt.
"Uh. Jeans? I would love to see you in that old pair of jeans."
"Okay, baby." Ross patted his ass as he passed, letting the touch linger. "I got something for you too, but I figure we can save that for dessert."
His ears heated along with his cheeks as Kevin pondered what that could mean. He dished up chicken and dumplings and some of the frozen broccoli stuff he'd thawed in the microwave, along with a green salad. It looked really good, and when he snuck a taste before Ross came back it even tasted good. Go him!
Ross wandered in wearing just the jeans, nipples tight from the chill. The crock pot didn't heat stuff up much in the kitchen. He'd be an idiot to offer to turn up the heat, though. He reached out without even thinking, touching that skin, those tight male nipples. He got a moan for his trouble, Ross reaching right back, hands settling on his hips.
"You'd better watch that, baby. If you want to eat first..."
"Oh, you're not getting out of eating my cooking."
They pulled apart, and Kev got the bottle of wine he'd picked up just for the day. He'd gotten white, because the guy at the store said it went well with chicken. He'd gotten beer too, just in case. They sat together, and ate, and Ross actually hummed at the taste of the chicken.
"Oh, that's good, Kev."
"Yeah? I mean, yeah. It is, isn't it?"
Wow. Go him. He hoped Ross liked the card too. And he could hardly wait to see what Ross had gotten for him. The card got a good long look, and Ross leaned over the table and gave him a kiss.
"Thanks, baby. This was nice."
"Cool. Can we go see what you got me now?"
"You don't want me to do the dishes?"
"Nope. We'll use the dishwasher."
"Good man." Ross got up, held out a hand. "Pancake is out. Come on, baby."
They went to the bedroom, and Ross handed him two small boxes. "Open this one first."
He opened the smaller one, revealing a small jewelry box. Looking up at Ross, he opened it. It was a little gold medal on a tiny chain, a saint's medallion from the looks of it. Pretty.
"I didn't think you were catholic."
"I'm not." Ross kinda got an aw shucks look. "It's a St. Michael medallion. He's the patron of paratroopers."
"So if I wear this it will help keep you safe." That was a wonderful gift. Kevin leaned over and kissed Ross hard before holding out the medal. "Put it on me?"
"As long as I can take off everything else."
Oh, wicked. Kev nodded, bouncing a little. "Of course you can."
Ross gave him a glinting grin and took the chain, hanging it around his neck. Then Ross started on Kevin's clothes, the air hitting his skin as the cloth hit the floor. Ross kissed him, deep and hard, pushing him back on the bed, and Kev had to put a hand on his chest and stop him.
"Hey. I want my other box."
"Oh, right." Grinning, Ross sat up and gave it to him.
He unwrapped it and turned it out, showing a red velvet bag full of dice. He looked at Ross, his eyebrows climbing.
"They're love dice. You roll them and do what they say, as in to each other."
Goodness. A thorough examination of the dice proved to be blushworthy. "Can you even do that?" he asked, pointing to one side of the pink die.
"Sure. Wanna see?"
"No!"
Kev left that one in the bag and rolled the rest, his ears hot as anything. You'd think with all he and Ross had done he'd passed that whole wide-eyed thing, but wow. Ross peered over his shoulder at the dice and chuckled.
"Well, now, that looks like a nice roll, Kev. Why don't you start with the kissing?"
"Because I'm the only one naked."
Crossing his arms, he waited for Ross to peel off those painted-on jeans. He didn't have to wait long. Ross got naked eagerly, prick hard and hot, standing tall for him. When he reached for it, Ross slapped his hand away.
"Kissing."
Somehow Ross always got the upper hand. This time he didn't mind. He gave Ross a look and bent, kissing the head of Ross' cock.
"Damn, baby."
Yeah. That's what he wanted to hear. Ross' voice tore like a cardboard Valentine's Day card. Fucking sexy, and Kev went looking for more, licking and sucking and taking Ross in.
"No, baby. Kev. I want to do you. Not come in your mouth again."
Those blue eyes pleaded with him when he looked up, and Kev nodded. Yeah. Yeah, that would be good. Right. He swept the dice off the bed and pushed Ross down, reaching for the little tube of lube they kept handy. He straddled Ross' thighs, letting their cocks rub together while he reached back to get himself ready.
"Fuck, Kev. That's the hottest thing I've ever seen."
"Yeah? Just wait."
Yeah, Ross was totally into it. The eyes told him, along with the flush rising under Ross' skin, and the hard, hard cock that pushed against his, so damned needy. His own cock throbbed, and Kev didn't tease or tarry, he just got his fingers inside himself and stretched quickly, steadying Ross' cock as his fingers slipped out so he could move up and take Ross right in.
The burn and stretch had him flinching a little, and Ross stroked his belly, calming him. Soft words helped too.
"So pretty, baby. So hot. Gonna burn me right up. Fuck, I want you."
"Yeah." His breath whooshed out, and he opened up finally, taking Ross all the way in, right down to where his ass rested on Ross' hips. Oh, oh damn. Head falling back, Kev moved, hands on Ross' chest. There was nothing like Ross, nothing at all. It split him, cracked him open until he knew Ross could see every thought on his face, every deep-seated need.
They moved, sweat beading on their skin, heat rising between them, and the feel of Ross' fingers on his cock sent him soaring. His knees rubbed the sheets, the hair on Ross' thighs abraded his ass, and Kev panted, straining hard, trying to get... Oh! There. Ross' cock hit just the right spot and he saw stars, working himself mercilessly on that very place.
"Please. Ross, please."
"Yeah, baby." Ross' hand on his hip guided him, keeping him on the right track, and the other hand stroked, pulled, teased him until he thought he'd explode. Finally, he did explode, just as Ross cried out and shot deep inside him. Kev came so hard he bit his lip and bled, his whole body shaking and shuddering.
They rested together, their breath coming hard, their skin drying off slowly. He shivered and Ross covered them up.
"Happy Valentine's, baby. I liked my supper."
"Good." The little chain around his neck glinted, and Kev smiled. "I like my presents."
"Cool. We'll have to find those dice in a bit and try something else."
He grinned. "We will. But not that."
"That?"
"You know what I mean."
He loved laughing with Ross. When he could put aside his doubts and just love the man? That was the best gift ever.
"We need to take Scorch to the vet."
Eli looked up from his sit ups, halfway through an oblique twist, and grunted. "Why?"
Jed looked right back, one eyebrow going up. "You really never did have a dog as a kid, did you?"
His cheeks went hot, and Eli was pretty fucking glad he was working out so hard, because he hated that. The blushing thing.
"I told you my mom didn't like dogs."
"Yeah. Well, he needs to have his shots. Too bad he's out of sync with the other mutts or we could zonk them all in the back of the truck."
Folding the paper, Jed shoved Jumbo away from the leftover bacon and stood to stretch. That stopped Eli in mid sit up again, this time to stare. Heck, maybe to drool a little. He never tired of that lean, strong body, sprinkled liberally with golden hair and packed tight with just enough muscle to get the job done. Fuck, Jed was pretty.
"Yeah, well, that would be a zoo."
"Nah. Jumbo keeps them in line, don't you boy." That big tail of Jumbo's thumped against his leg as Jed took the dogs to the door to let them out. Scorch stopped by to lick his face on the way out, making him sputter.
"Well, I was gonna ask if you wanted to make out, but I'm not kissing you with dog spit on your nose."
He laughed, hopping up and flexing a little. Jed's eyes glazed over.
"We could make out in the shower," Eli said, and shucked his workout pants, heading for the bathroom.
The sound of Jed's feet scrambling on the wood floor came loud behind him and Eli hooted, heading for the bathroom at a run. Jed would have to catch him. The plan worked like a charm until a yelp and a thud sounded from the hallway, shaking the toothbrushes in their holders.
Fuck.
Eli hurried out into the hall again, stopping just short of tripping over Jed's downed body. Jed just laid there, blinking up at the ceiling.
"You, uh. You okay?"
"Goddamned throw rug. Didn't I tell mom I didn't want a braided rug for the hallway in front of the bathroom?"
"Sure you did." No bones stuck out, and there was no blood spurting, so Eli didn't figure Jed had a mortal wound, but he wasn't getting up. "But you know once she's made up her mind."
"Yeah, yeah. Help me up."
They locked hands and Eli yanked, Jed popping up off the floor like a jack-in-the-box. Twisting and turning, Jed stretched out the kinks. Bruises already peppered the skin of his back.
"Shit. You're gonna be sore as anything. Come on and let's get you in the shower, Thatcher."
Jed groaned, but followed, working his arms and neck, and Eli got the shower going nice and hot, knowing it would help muscles loosen up after the way they tensed during a fall. Sometimes it still amazed him how that chipped blue-tiled bathroom had become his, how he just knew he had every right to be there with Jed, touching and loving.
"Sorry."
"For what." Jed grinned up, hands starting to slide on him as their skin got wet, each callus and cut catching on the little hairs on his arms. "You didn't stick your foot out and trip me. And I ain't gonna break that easy."
"Promise?" Stubble rubbed the wrong way against Jed's short hair as Eli laid his cheek on Jed's head.
"Hell, yes. You're the one who's gonna get burnt to a cinder one of these days."
"Hey, I'm good at my job." And he wasn't cocky, either. He usually had a crew to protect. That did give him a little surge of adrenaline, though. It wouldn't be long until fire season now.
"I know, Mister. I know. Kiss me."
Argument over. Eli kissed Jed gently at first, mindful of the bruises and bumps, just touching his lips to Jed's, tongue barely moving against Jed's open lips. Jed opened right up for him, mouth wet and hot, sucking his tongue in and nibbling at it. Yeah. That was the good stuff.
Soap bubbles floated around them as Jed lathered up his hands and started washing them, and Eli moaned at the feel of Jed's fingers on his chin and collarbones and nipples. He got soapy-slick himself and grabbed Jed's ass, squeezing, washing. They turned so Jed stood under the spray instead of him, and Jed sighed, muscles tensing and relaxing.
"Oh, that's good."
"Yeah?" Massage might go better than squeezing, and Eli started rubbing out the muscles of Jed's ass and back. For his trouble he got a full on moan, Jed's whole body arching under the hot fall of water, under his hands, looking like the sensualist he was.
"More, Eli. I want more."
"Mmhmm." They just couldn't get the right angle in the damned shower, and Eli rinsed Jed off, turning him around to get his chest and pubes good and clean before hauling him out and handing him a towel. "Bed."
Staggering, Jed headed down the hall, listing to one side. Eli caught up and wrapped an arm around him, and they dripped all the way down the hall. The bed beckoned, covers still all messed up from earlier in the morning, and Eli sat, pulling Jed between his spread legs.
"I'd better put you on top."
Jed grinned and nodded, hips wiggling, cock brushing his. "Yeah. Want me to do you, Mister? Or want me to ride you?"
Oh, man. Jed let him do the doing a lot more these days, but it was still a fairly rare thing, and Eli wasn't about to turn it down. "Ride me. I want you to ride me, Jed."
"Yeah." Jed pushed and he went, sliding back on the bed while Jed dug out the lube. "Want you to slick me up, though."
"Anything. Anything you want, Jed."
"I want you."
Those eyes were just blue as the sky on an early morning jump. They never failed to make him crazy when they had that look in them. That needyouwantyounow look. Eli took the lube as Jed eased up on top of him, and Eli grimaced.
"You sure you're up for this? We could go side by side or something."
"Nah. I'm good. They say you should stretch out sore muscles, right? After applying heat?"
"That's what they say."
"Then bring it on."
They grinned at each other, and he reached behind Jed to push against that tight little hole, fingers sliding right in. Tight, and like a fucking furnace. A whole different kind of heat therapy. Eli stretched Jed as well as he could with Jed moaning and rocking on his fingers, that tight ass just pulling at him, and Jed's cock rubbing his like there was no tomorrow.
When he couldn't take any more he pulled away and slicked his cock, putting Jed's hand around it.
"Put me in, Thatcher."
Jed nodded, grasping his cock firmly and rising up to take him in. His eyes rolled as the head of his prick slid inside, his head just ready to explode.
"Fuck, Eli." Bracing on his chest, Jed rose and fell, sweat beading along his hairline. Jed's hands covered his nipples, the palms of them rubbing his flesh until it was so sensitive he wanted to scream. And Jed's cock... oh God, it just begged him to touch.
He reached down for it, and Jed arched, taking him in just the right way, and that cock jerked as he touched it, leaking at the tip, hot enough to burn. Yeah. Hot like a five alarm fire, and Eli stroked it, thumb along the underside, fingering the head before sliding back down.
That just made Jed tighten up around him, made Jed move faster on him until they both panted for breath. They sweated like they were working a tree line fire, making their skin slick, Jed just shining for him, above him. Keeping up the rhythm on Jed's cock, he used his other hand to pet Jed's chest and belly, feeling every muscle ripple, feeling how hard Jed worked them toward climax.
When Jed reached behind them to feel where they came together, to slip a finger practically inside along with Eli's cock, Eli lost it, shooting hard, his stomach muscles hard as a rock as he arched and shook, calling out Jed's name. Jed just grunted in return, eyes going wide, and soon his chest and belly were covered with spunk.
The bed creaked as Jed flopped down on him, both of them just whooping for air.
"That was better than a trip to the vet."
Eli grinned at the ceiling, stroking Jed's short hair. "Hell, yes."
"But he still has to go, mister."
"Yeah, yeah. I know."
Tilting Jed's chin up, Eli kissed him silly, kissed him until there was nothing in Jed's eyes but hazy pleasure. Jed chuckled.
"All right, it can wait until tomorrow."
Eli nodded, satisfied. "Good."
\*\*\*
Goddamnit, Jed was just gonna kill the man. Scorch was due at the vet in an hour, and it was a half hour drive, and where was Eli Marshall? Out running. And running. The man was obsessed.
Jed fed the other dogs, pushing Ojo away before he could eat his food and Spot's, too, listening to Jumbo growl impartially at everyone else and putting poor old Scorch's dish on the other side of the room to give him a head start on the other greedy guts. Then he went looking for Eli.
The sun warmed things up, but the morning still came pretty crisp, and Jed his breath still steamed when he stepped out, but there was Eli in nothing but running shorts and a thin t-shirt, just glowing in the morning light.
Damn, that man had a terminal case of the pretty.
Eli came running right on up to the porch before stopping, bending down and putting his hands on his knees to breathe before checking his watch.
"Make your time?"
"Yeah, and then some."
"Good. And you're back just in time to take your dog to the vet. Like you were supposed to do last week."
Eli made a face. "Damn it, Jed, I've got PT drills I've got to do."
"You made the appointment."
Really, sometimes Eli made him crazed. How had the man survived before him? Eli hated to get groceries, hated to go to the vet or the doctor, and flat refused to shop for things like underwear and socks but once a year, at which point he would buy fifty pairs of the exact same kind.
Made Jed feel downright girly sometimes.
"I know. But I didn't realize I was going to be running rookie training this year, Thatcher. I thought I would have more time to get ready for my own PT tests and refresher course."
Every spring, a smokejumper had to pass a physical training test and take a refresher course in order to be certified. Eli had explained that a while back. This year they'd asked him to be a trainer, so instead of his tests coming up in late April, they were coming in March. Jed got that. He did.
But it still made him crazed.
"So, I guess I'll take him in. I have to take a horse down to auction for Junior Austin, too, so I won't be home until late afternoon." He gave Eli a hard look. "You owe me, mister."
Eli gave him an unrepentant grin in return. "A blow job?"
"And fajitas."
"You're on."
"Cool." He went down and took him a kiss, but managed to keep his hands off all that sweaty muscle. Later.
Eli kissed him right back, but held off, too. "Go on. I promise good things when you get home."
"You'd damned well better."
The day went by faster than he expected. Scorch was a good pup the whole time, no puking or pooping in the truck, but old man Austin's pony was fractious, kicking up a ruckus and denting the hell out of the trailer. He collected Junior's cash, took his ten percent, and stopped off at KFC for lunch. He'd take Eli some cole slaw. The man loved it. Even if he didn't deserve it. Oh, and some biscuits.
He was pretty sure Eli hadn't made fajitas.
Scorch jumped right on out and went looking for Eli. The pup had it as bad as he did. Jed took his time, though, figuring dog and man needed a reunion before the other man claimed his prize. He unhooked the trailer and fed the critters and finally he headed up to the house, leaving his boots on the back porch and going in to wash up.
The kitchen sparkled in the late afternoon light, and it smelled heavenly, so Jed put the cole slaw away and started investigating.
"Ooh. Roast beef."
The easiest roast beef recipe in the world, as it was all wrapped in foil and smelled like mushrooms and onions, but damn, Eli was going all out for a guy who made breakfast and fajitas well, and that was it.
"Figured it was the least I could do." He turned and there was Eli in a pair of cargos and a long sleeved black t-shirt, looking even more edible than the roast with every muscle outlined just so.
"It is. The most you can do is come over here and suck me."
He just loved Eli's mouth, loved a man's lips on him, and Eli knew it, licking those pretty lips and wandering over, pushing Jed down into a kitchen chair. Eli bent, hands on the table behind Jed, and have him a scorching kiss, like liquid fire in his mouth, all the way down to his belly in one swallow. Reaching up, he put his hands on Eli's shoulders, holding on and kissing back, hips rising as he slumped in the chair, thighs going wide.
Dropping down, Eli knelt between his legs, hands all over him as Eli kept the kisses coming, kept him off balance and out of breath, and he never even heard his zipper go down, just felt cool air and a warm hand. Jed groaned, needing, belly on fire and balls drawn up.
The kiss broke off and he got one glimpse of red, swollen lips before Eli scrunched down and took his cock right in, mouth sliding right down along him. Fuck, there was nothing as soft and good as Eli's lips fresh from a kiss, dropping over his prick. Nothing. Unless you counted when Eli tightened his lips and started sucking.
Jed let his head fall back, let his mouth fall open so the little sounds could come out, and he rode right into Eli's mouth, hips rising and falling like crazy. This wasn't a reward for good behavior, it was heaven on earth, and Jed knew himself to be a lucky man.
"Love... Eli." Yeah, he was babbling. So what? He arched, his muscles bunching and pulling, his head just about to explode.
Hell, he did explode finally, just lost it when he felt the tiniest hint of Eli's teeth, scraping at him, shooting so hard he saw spots in front of his eyes.
Jed just sat there, panting, as Eli licked him clean, hands dangling at his sides, about to slide off the chair.
"Damn, mister. That was a hell of a hello."
Eli nodded, looking up at him, and oh. Oh fuck, that mouth. Jed bent to kiss it, and Eli moaned, arm starting to work. When he pulled away he could see Eli rubbing himself through his pants, and Jed slid off the chair, legs like jelly, to help. His fingers stumbled over Eli's zipper, but Jed finally got it, getting Eli out and stroking nice and hard, breathing in the scent of man and lust and kissing his own come off Eli's lips.
Didn't take any time at all, really, and Eli was coming, just snapping his hips, shoving his cock into Jed's palm. Wet heat splattered his wrist and hand, his legs and belly.
"Mmmnnh."
That was the sweetest noise he'd heard in a month of Sundays. Licking his hand clean, he leaned against Eli, just wanting to purr.
"So, was that the appetizer?"
A snort reverberated against his neck. "I was going to make nachos, actually."
"No, this is good."
"You think so?"
Did he ever. "Yeah."
"Well then, wait and see what I can do with dessert."
That would be worth any number of dogs to the vet. Hell, that would even be worth the banana cream worm medicine he had all over his boots.
"We should go to the beach."
"What?"
Kev looked at him like he'd lost his mind. It was, Ross reflected, a pretty normal look for Kev when he was around. Bless his heart.
"The beach. Wilmington. Myrtle Beach. You know? Boardwalks. Goony Golf. Corn dogs and fries with vinegar."
"Hell's Angels. Tourists. Bad old folks' buffet food."
"Baby, you are a killjoy." Ross went over and poked Kev right in the middle of his chest, provoking. "You ended up liking the stock car races, right?"
"Well. Kinda."
Oh, that came hard, Kev not liking to admit he liked redneck entertainment. But he had, just bouncing and gripping Ross' arm at each wreck. Ross just grinned, knowing it would madden his opponent.
"And you loved the jump tower."
"Sure, if you call love a technicolor yawn."
"Love means never having to say 'I'm sorry I puked on your jump boots, Ross'. Come on. Let's go. It's a two hour drive to Wilmington. Two and a half to Myrtle. Pick one."
Those dark eyes just looked so serious as Kev pondered. Made Ross want to kiss Kev's nose. Then his mouth. And on down. But he really wanted to get out of the house before noon, so Ross reined himself in.
"Okay. Wilmington, then. At least they have historical stuff."
"You would wanna see that. Well, go get an overnight bag packed, baby."
"What about Pancake?"
Lord. "The dog can come with us. Now go on."
Kev went, and Ross spent five minutes calling up the little bungalow rental place he knew in Wilmington, making sure they had room for two men and a rambunctious yellow lab. Sure enough, they did, and Ross started drooling thinking about calabash style popcorn shrimp and hush puppies, and about Kev in a bathing suit lazing in the sun.
Then he went to pack, too.
Shorts, jacket, flip flops. Book, just in case Kev wanted to see one too many museums.
"You should take the cut-offs."
The cut-offs had been a joke on a buddy of his, who wore a pair almost like them to mow the lawn and scandalize the neighbors. But Kev had liked them. A lot.
"You sure? They're a little skimpy."
"I'm sure."
Oh, that look would almost be worth leaving late for. That sex-kitten Kev look he loved so, eyes dark, cheeks pink.
"I'll wear them for you when we get there, then."
"Promise?" Kev grinned at him, eyes just all over him, and Ross nodded.
"Hell, yes.""Well, I'm ready. Just let me get Pancake and his dish and the food."
"You got it."
And when Kev wandered out, Ross packed the cut-offs and tossed the book. Maybe there wouldn't be so many museums after all.
\*\*\*
The drive to Wilmington was pretty cool. He had to admit, he was a homebody, and it took some effort to get him out of the house, but with Ross in the cab of the truck and Pancake howling along with the radio in the bed, it was a good time.
Ross sang along with the Eagles, pretty good at harmony because of his brothers, he said. Kev liked Ross' brothers. He'd met them at Christmas. Jed was a rock, and Ken was a character, and Ross' family was just steady and accepting.
Made him feel bad sometimes that Ross'd never even met his folks.
They stopped at Popeye's on the way and got chicken and biscuits, eating sitting on the tailgate and feeding bits of boneless stuff to Pancake. When they got done licking each other's fingers they headed on, and got into Wilmington about two.
"You got us a beach bungalow?"
"I did."
"Cool."
It was cool. So cool that as soon as they got inside and let Pancake out in the tiny fenced yard he grabbed Ross and took a kiss, thanking him for insisting that they take this little break. Ross kissed back with enthusiasm, grabbing his butt and squeezing. Ross loved his butt.
"So, cut-offs before or after, baby?"
"After. Where's the bed?"
"This way, baby."
Warm hand clutching his, Ross hauled him off to the bedroom, chuckling a little. He couldn't help being so eager. Ross made him crazy. The bed looked just right, and felt even better as he sat to pull Ross close and tug at the button and zipper of Ross' jeans. That thick cock just pushed right out into his hand as he closed it.
"Oh. Baby. Yeah."
Pushing Ross away, Kev slipped to his knees between the bed and Ross' body, leaning to take the head of Ross' cock into his mouth. Oh, yeah. Salty, heated skin, tasting like the air outside the back door, so close to the beach. He used his tongue on the underside, right up to the head like Ross liked.
Ross groaned, hips jerking, hands cupping his cheeks.
"Kev. Damn. Your mouth."
Heck, yes. Ross liked his mouth almost as much as his ass. Kev let go reluctantly, one last lick giving him a taste of pre-come. He wanted Ross in him. He stripped off, watching Ross's pupils dilate, watching that cock jerk for him. While he struggled out of his jeans, Ross stripped the rest of the way. too, and before he could even blink they were on the bed with Ross between his spread legs.
"We didn't bring the lube in."
"Sure we did." He grinned, holding it up. "I had it in my jeans pocket."
"Clever, baby."
Sometimes clever actually worked in his favor. Thank God. Kev handed the lube over and watched as Ross worked it open and got his fingers good and wet, pushing two right inside him. He belly clenched, and his body tried to fight it as always, but Kevin relaxed, letting Ross in.
They didn't waste much time. They'd gotten good at this part, at Ross stretching him, slicking him up, getting him in position for Ross to slip right inside. Like they just had.
Oh, full.
"God, baby. Good."
Straining, Ross started moving, in and out, so hot it burned. Kev cried out, legs falling open wider, letting Ross have him. Giving it up.
They moved together faster and faster, Ross' hands on his skin and Ross' cock inside him all Kevin could feel, and before he was even ready it was over; he shot all over Ross' belly. A deep groan was Ross' answer, and that thick cock throbbed inside him, Ross bucking as he came.
They collapsed together, both of them wheezing, and stayed there for a long time, kinda glued together with sweat and come. Yeah. He was glad Ross poked him out of his shell sometimes. Especially when it meant they could do shit like that.
\*\*\*The cut-offs were actually the most comfortable things for swinging in a hammock, throwing a ball for the dog. He'd have to tell the cowboy who'd extolled their virtues that he was right, much as it irked him.
Kev wandered over, looking brown and happy, and Ross reached out with his toes to use Kev's leg to push off on.
"So this was a good idea, huh?"
"Yeah." Kev bounced and reached down to grab the ball from Pancake. "It was a really good idea. You were right."
"You like the cut-offs still?"
Ross couldn't help but preen a little, stretch a little, running his hand over his bare belly. Kev looked, just like he was supposed to, eyes glazing a little.
"Uh huh."
"Good. They're comfy."
"Uh huh."
"Wanna come over here and suck me?"
"Uh huh."
Kev came right over, but the whole hammock thing wasn't working. Ross sorta swung wildly when Kev put a hand on his chest. Pancake set to barking, too, thinking they were playing.
So much for sexy.
Just laughing his head off, Kev staggered away and threw the ball for Pancake, getting the mutt off them.
"That was suave."
"For both of us. Come on, baby. Let's go inside."
They were staying an extra night, but they'd have to get up tomorrow morning and go, and Ross wanted to take advantage of the time. One museum was all they'd hit, the rest of the time spend on the beach or in the bedroom, and damned if Kev didn't look more relaxed than he had in a long, long time.
"Still want me to suck you?" Slipping one hand into Ross' back pocket, Kev moved close, close enough to feel the heat of his sun-warmed skin.
Ross turned a little and took a kiss, grinning a bit. "No, baby. I think I want to suck you."
Oh, yeah. That made those dark eyes sparkle, made them widen as Kev petted him absently, and Ross slid to his knees, ignoring the creak and pop that reminded him he was getting damned old. The waistband of Kev's beach pants almost foiled him, the little drawstring was in such a knot, but he got it finally, sliding them down over Kev's hips, licking his lips at the sight of Kev's long cock.
"Oh. Ross."
Man, Kev just looked down at him like he was some kind of god or something, and he hadn't even started. Jed had laughed and laughed one time when he'd said the difference between men and women in bed was that men were so damned grateful, but it was true. Tilting just a bit, Ross rubbed his stubbly cheek broadside against that hot cock, and Kev's groan vibrated all the way down to his toes.
The time for teasing was over. Opening up, Ross sucked Kev's cock in, lips sealing tight around the hard flesh, pulling strongly. Gasping, cursing, Kev started pushing in and out of his mouth, just babbling like he did, and Ross really did feel like he was doing something special. Something just for them.
Sucking harder, Ross reached around and cupped Kev's balls, gently stroking the sacs, letting his fingers catch on the tiny hairs.
"Ross! Oh. Please. I need, I don't know. But I need you."
"Mmhmmm." Yeah. Oh, yeah. He let one finger drift up to trace Kev's hole, and that made Kev go wild, just fucking his face with short, sharp thrusts. Yeah. He wanted it, wanted to feel and taste Kev let go.
He got his wish. As soon as he pushed on finger inside Kev's body. Kev whimpered, going still for long moment before bucking and shouting, coming right down his throat. Hell, yes.
Swaying, Kev looked down at him, and those lanky muscles in Kev's thighs started to shake.
"I think I need to sit down."
"Sure, baby." Kev got so sleepy right after they did it, like coming was his sleeping pill. Ross wrestled him to the couch, propping him up on one arm, Ross leaning back against the other. Yeah, Kev's eyes were all droopy. Ross popped the button on his cut-offs, so hard he was hurting where he rubbed against the zipper, but he'd do it himself. Kev was kinda down for the count.
His cock slapped right into his hand, and Ross started pulling, sensation zinging up his spine. He licked his lips and tasted Kev, and that made him grunt, made him rock into his own tight grip. Already high and tight, his balls drew up even more, and the groan that came out of him was shockingly loud.
"Oh. Oh, man."
He looked over and there was Kev, staring at him like a starving man at a banquet. Damn. He moved faster, his hand scraping against the zipper of the cut-offs, his hips rising. Fuck, it was hot, doing this with Kev watching.
"Ross. So hot. Love it when you. God. Want to see you come."
That was all it took to draw it out of him, too, just boom. His back arched, his balls emptying in great bursts, shudders wracking him.
"Oh, baby. Damn."
"Yeah. This... this was the best idea, Ross. I've really enjoyed it."
He held out his hand, grabbing Kev's and pulling the kid close to snuggle. "I'm glad, baby. We need to just get out sometimes."
"Yeah. I'm glad you push, even when I dig in my heels."
"That's my job."
And it was a job he would happily do for the rest of his life.
"So what do you think?"
"Of what?"
Jed tried not to laugh at the look on Eli's face. The man was so proud he was about to bust, and the newly grouted backsplash in the kitchen looked like a home improvement diva's wet dream, but he had to pretend to be oblivious.
It was in the guy code.
Eli loomed. "I think I might have to kill you, Thatcher."
Jed took his best 'come get me, pilgrim' stance, one hip out, one foot resting only on his boot heel. "Bring it on, mister."
"You asshole. You know exactly what I mean. What do you think?"
Relenting, Jed grinned and moved close, wrapping his arms around Eli's waist. "I think it looks fantastic. How can I ever thank you?"
"Blow jobs are acceptable legal tender in this house."
"Yeah? You sure?" Reaching down, Jed ran his fingers along the fly of Eli's jeans, pressing all down the sensitive points. "I could cook or something instead. See how the backsplash takes grease."
"Nah. I think the grout needs to dry for at least twenty-four hours. You can take me out to dinner after."
"Pushy, mister. Pushy." God, it was good to play. They'd been working hard doing their spring cleaning, both of them putting in long hours around the house. Between that and Eli's PT and jump captain training it had been too damned long. Jed popped the button on Eli's jeans, undid the zipper.
Eli grinned down at him, pushing that hot, hard cock into his palm. "Literally pushy, Thatcher. God that feels good."
"Yeah? Like that?" Hell, by now he knew exactly what Eli liked, knew that the man liked it when he rubbed his thumb against the slit, knew just the pressure to keep Eli's engine running without overheating.
"You know I do."
Yep. Just like he'd thought. Jed backed Eli up against the kitchen counter, kissing him nice and hard before sliding down to his knees on the spanking clean kitchen floor and nuzzling right in against Eli's crotch.
"Fuck! Jed..."
"Mmhmm." Oh, Hell, yes. Eli was so hard for him already, the smell of salt and musk strong as could be, and Jed inhaled deep, letting his tongue sneak out to press against Eli's black curls. The taste was just as good, male and hot, burning his tongue. "Love how you taste."
"God. Thatcher. I. You."
Houston, we have incoherency. Jed went for more of those sounds, licking his way around the head before plunging down on Eli's cock, all the way as far as he could go. When Eli nudged the back of his throat Jed backed off and went down again, starting up a rhythm neither of them could deny.
He'd told Eli once that there was nothing like a man's mouth on his dick, but he'd found out that there was nothing like sucking Eli, either. Just listening to the man as he went crazy, loving on Eli with his hands all over muscled thighs and ass made him crazy. It made him snap his own hips, humping air as his cock throbbed and ached.
"Jed. Gonna. I, oh..."
Eli did, just like that; he came right into Jed's mouth, and Jed swallowed him down, licking and sucking to get every bit.
"Damn, mister. Good."
"Uh huh." Jed wandered up Eli's body, stopping at the good places. So it took awhile, naturally. He finally got to Eli's mouth and gave the man a kiss that certainly curled his toes. He hoped it worked for Eli, too. He grinned. "Hey."
"Hey, Thatcher." Looking dazed and not a little goofy, Eli kissed him back. "You sucked my brains out through my dick."
"Not hard to do. There's not a lot of them."
Eli smacked his ass. "Watch it. I can always take the backsplash down."
"You don't want to do that, mister. You want to do the bathroom, too?"
"Yeah? And what are you going to give me then?"
Lord that man could look evil, dark eyes just flashing with the devil. Jed loved how Eli'd learned how to play. The man had been too damned stuffy once upon a time.
"I could go with a full body massage. Maybe a good rimming..."
Eli flushed dark, cheeks going hot for him. "Yeah? I could go for that."
"Which?"
"Both."
But he didn't think it was the massage that had Eli all bothered. Jed pushed forward, his cock still so hard, and rubbed against Eli's thigh.
"I can do both. But I don't think the oil and rubbing is what you really want."
"You know it's not."
Hell, yes. Eli loved it when Jed was the one doing the giving. Or the taking, if it came to fucking. Not that Eli wasn't an equal opportunity guy; Jed had ample experience with how damned generous Eli was. It was just, well, Eli knew how little Jed had been willing to do before they met. Sometimes it still amazed Jed himself.
"It's a date," he said. "If you do the shower."
Eli reached down between them and cupped his cock in one big hand. "Do I have to do it right now?"
Jed nearly strangled on his own moan. "No. No, I can think of plenty else to keep you busy."
"You sure? I mean, I could go. Do it right away. Bossy man."
God, that smile just melted him right into a puddle. Well, all right, the hand on his crotch helped, Eli's fingers stroking and probing until his cock was out and in Eli's hand and he was humping like mad.
"Not bossy." Hell, Eli was the bossy one, so used to ordering newbie firefighters around that even the dogs had learned to obey when he barked. Jed loved it, needed a man he couldn't push around, because eventually that led to all sorts of trouble.
"Hell, yes you are. But that's okay."
God, Eli was just watching as he stroked, Eli's big hand on his balls, his cock, stroking up and over the head before pulling back down, and Jed didn't think he'd ever seen anything more sexy. That focused look, all intent on him and what they were doing just made him crazy. He cried out, hands gripping Jed's shoulders, and fucked Eli's fist, panting for breath.
"Come on, Jed. Now."
Oh, fuck. Who was the bossy one, huh? Jed came for Eli, though, head falling back as his hips rocked, shooting like a freight train over Eli's hand.
"God, mister. Gonna kill me."
"What fun would that be?"
He got the orneriest smile ever, Eli lifting his hand to lick it clean.
Lord, lord. If the backsplash was that good, he couldn't wait to see what happened when the shower was done.
\*\*\*
Eli tried not to fidget as Jed gave the dogs scritches. Giving Scorch some loving of his own helped, and Ojo helped even more when he decided Jed only had two hands and they were busy with Jumbo and Spot, but that Eli had two and one was free.
Still it was hard to sit and wait. The shower tiles should be set and dry now, and they could try the thing out.
And Jed could live up to his payment promise.
As casually as possible, Eli slid out from under the mutts and glanced Jed's way. "You ready to get clean, Thatcher? Try out the new shower?"
Jed gave him a glinting smile, those blue eyes just laughing at him. Unfolding from the floor, Jed nodded, brushing his hands on his jeans.
"Sure, mister. Why not? If they hold water? I'm all yours."
"Oh, they'll hold." He grabbed Jed's arm and headed for the bathroom, impatient to get Jed naked and wet and doing all the things he fucking promised. Jesus, Jed got to him. He just couldn't even believe it, because he'd always been a goddamned island.
They got into the bathroom with the door closed on the dogs, and Eli turned to give Jed a kiss that would hopefully curl his toes, and make him stop chuckling.
It worked.
Jed moaned into his mouth, hands sliding into his hair, pulling at the short strands. Eli grabbed Jed's ass, pulled him up, plastering him against the wall. One of Jed's legs came up around him, Jed humping against him, and Eli just wanted to die happy.
Of course, he wanted what Jed had promised him, too.
"Let's get clean, Thatcher."
"Yeah."
When he backed off Jed attacked his clothes, struggling against him as he tried to get Jed naked, too. Finally he just smacked Jed's hands away, opening buttons and zippers. He wanted that tanned skin so bad. So bad.
Finally he had Jed like he wanted him, totally nude and fucking gorgeous, and Eli quickly shed his own clothes, pushing Jed into the shower. Oh, Oh, fuck there was nothing like Jed's hands on him. Eli felt his cock throb.
Jed took over once the water was on, though, giving him a grin. "Gotta get you all clean, mister. Be good and hold still."
"You don't want much, Thatcher."
Holding still was beyond him, but he let Jed wash him thoroughly, inside and out, Jed reaching beneath his balls to scrub even his most intimate places. All through it Eli moaned and rocked, panting out Jed's name in broken syllables.
Teasing him unmercifully, Jed finally got them both rinsed off and turned the water off, holding him back with a hand on his chest when he got grabby.
"Want to do what I promised, Eli. You'll come if we get going now."
Well, yeah. But Jed was right, so Eli backed off a little, squeezing the base of his cock. "We need oil."
"Are you kidding? I put some in the nightstand two weeks ago when you finished in the kitchen."
"Smartass."
He followed Jed right to the bed, though, didn't he, and when Jed pushed him down on his belly Eli went, cock trapped between his belly and the mattress. Eli groaned at the pressure. Yeah. Good.
Straddling his thighs, Jed went to work, the oil Eli hadn't even seen him get coating his hands and easing the way. His neck muscles got a thorough workout, then his shoulders and back, every line and cut lovingly traced until he was a puddle of goo.
Even his legs got a workout, Jed rubbing hard enough that it hurt to begin with, but settled into the best kind of ache after a few minutes.
So relaxed was he that the feel of Jed spreading his asscheeks came as a surprise, as did the hot touch of Jed's tongue against his hole. Eli jumped, grunted, his thighs opening wide, newly relaxed muscles stretching out so good.
Humming, Jed spread him even more, thumbs digging into his glutes, and licked at him, just around the sensitive opening, making him squirm. God, the things Jed did to him. Panting, Eli tried to raise up to get more, but Jed pushed down on the small of his back, giving him no damned leverage. He pushed up on his arms anyway, using the upper body strength he'd gotten from years of cutting and digging, and Jed laughed at him, pulling back just a bit.
"Jesus, you're built son of a bitch, Eli."
"Shut up and lick."
That got him another laugh, and Eli felt Jed's smile as those lips pressed against him, Jed's tongue pushing right into his hole, moving in and out, in and out. His fingers curled into the sheets until he felt the bottom sheet pop off the mattress, and Eli started humping, his belly so tight, cock so hard.
He was just babbling, threatening, needing Jed to give him just the right pressure. Oh. There. Right there. Jed pushed a finger in alongside his tongue and Eli went crazy, thrashing, pushing, trying to get more, all of it, now.
Jed moaned, too. He felt the vibrations against his skin, and reached under him, stroking his cock. Two long touches were all he could take and Eli came so hard he yelled, his voice hoarse and torn. He flopped down on the bed, grimacing at the wet spot, but he was too fucking wrung out to care.
"Gonna fuck you now, mister." Jed whispered it in his ear, rising up behind him, and Eli nodded, lifting his hips easily when Jed pulled, pliant and ready. Slipping in, Jed scraped his nerves raw, pushing and rubbing, just moaning as Eli closed around him. Fuck, it was good.
They rocked, moved, Eli letting Jed push him and bend him, his hands closing on the headboard to give them purchase. Jed pounded his ass, really smacking him hard with those sharp hips, Jed's thick cock opening him up so good. His own cock twitched, tried to rise, and Eli just enjoyed how sensitive it was, how it was almost painful.
"Eli... gonna come." Yeah. Oh, yeah. His Thatcher was panting, grunting, sweat dripping from Jed's skin down to his own.
"Come on, then. Come on." He reached back with one hand, stroking Jed's hip, and that was it. That did it. Jed groaned, long and loud, and thrust into him two or three more times, shooting deep inside him before collapsing on him. Little shocks went up and down Eli's spine, Jed's orgasm triggering aftershocks of his own.
"Mmmm. I do like how you reward hard work, Jed."
Jed kissed his neck, snuggling against him perfectly. "Yeah? Cool. But you know, I think maybe I would have liked blue tile better than the green..."
Oh. He was going to kill the man.
As soon as he had the energy to get up and do it.
Maybe tomorrow.
Eli was scheduled to go back out Monday, and the Fire Center was pretty adamant about it, even though Eli's crew had been out more often than they were in, and could have used a few more days off. There was a new fire, right up above Grand Junction, about ten miles north of the airport, in the Bookcliffs, and every hand was needed to keep it from spreading down into the city limits.
Three weeks of record temperatures and no rain made for bad conditions and steady work.
Jed never said a word, which was what made Eli feel so fucking guilty. If the man had bitched, even once, or groused or just plain whined, Eli could haul ass out on Sunday and not be the least bit sorry. But Jed. Well, the man knew him too well, knew he needed his work, and just let him go.
So it was Saturday night, and Eli was praying for rain on Sunday.
A downpour.
Because for the first time in his life he wanted to stay home and let nature fight the fire for him.
The weather report called for scattered thunderstorms, both on the mesa and down in the valley where the fire raged, and Eli hoped for a gullywhomper.
One way or the other they had Saturday night, and Eli cooked while Jed was out feeding the animals and closing everything up for the night. Fajitas, like the first time he'd ever cooked for them, and he had to smile when he thought of how that meal led to tortillas stuck to his skin and the most fucking amazing sex he'd had up until that point.
God knew it had only gotten better.
Jed was like a thunderstorm himself, a fucking force of nature, which seemed to be the Thatcher way, and Eli got as much of a rush off the man as he did off a five foot wall of pure flame.
A loud rumble sounded outside and suddenly Eli had three out of the four dogs in the house right under his feet. Cursing Jumbo especially, as the mutt was too damned big to hide under his knees, Eli staggered around the kitchen saving his sautéed chicken from certain demolishing and consequent devouring only by sheer force of will.
The door opened and Jed came in along with the sweet clean smell of Colorado rain. "Hey, mister. It's raining cats and dogs out there. Just pouring."
At the word 'dog' Jed was bowled over by just those animals, and Eli took the opportunity to transfer dinner to the table. "Yeah? Good looking clouds?"
"Yeah. You ought to call down to the jump center 'fore you go tomorrow."
"I will."
"Good enough."
Ears were scratched and dogs were shooed and Jed washed up so they could sit and eat. Jed grinned at him when he saw what was for dinner.
"This mean I get dessert a la Eli?"
"No, this means I get Thatcher a la mode."
"Hot damn."
"Yeah. We've got all night. And with any luck it will be raining on Sunday."
\*\*\*
Sunday morning came up wet and gray, so soggy that the dogs didn't even want stay out. Jed tried real hard not to get his hopes up. Real hard. Because odds were it wasn't raining where the fire was, and Eli would have to go.
Still, Jed left the man sleeping for as long as he could, since he was up so damned early, and did the chores and fed the dogs. Some blueberry muffins wouldn't go amiss either, and he mixed some up to pop in the oven, as they'd be portable breakfast for Eli. Just in case.
'Bout time the smell of baking blueberries was filling the kitchen, the phone rang, and Jed snatched it up before it woke Eli, who had another half hour to sleep.
"Thatcher."
"Hey, Jed. Andy, over at the flight center. Tell Marshall he's off the hook, will you? Rained so hard that fire is about ninety percent contained. We won't need his crew after all."
Andy sounded damned cheerful, and Jed was feeling that way himself. "Thanks, Andy. I'll pass it on."
"You do that. Say hi to your mom for me, will you?"
"You bet."
They hung up, and Jed knew he was grinning like a fool by the way the dogs were wiggling and wagging at him. They thought it was play time. Which it was, but not for them. Jed shoved them out the back door, much to their protests, and went to tell Eli it was still raining. Hot damn.
Right. He was taking Eli coffee, muffins, and half naked Thatcher. Breakfast. Grinning some more, Jed carried the tray he set up into the bedroom and put it on the bedside table before sizing up the Eli shaped lump in the bed. Toes, lips or cock? Decisions, decisions.
He'd start with the toes, as they were sticking out. Jed grabbed one and tickled, watching Eli's foot kick. Man wasn't as ticklish as he was, but it was still cute. Oh, and wouldn't Eli kill him for calling him cute? Still, he was. Jed waited for the kicking to die down, and put his lips against Eli's ankle, loving how soft the skin was there. After that he set to licking Eli's legs, calf to thigh and in between, biting at strong muscles, sucking at the hidden skin behind Eli's knees and between Eli's thighs.
Time he got to Eli's hips the man was awake, rumbling in that early morning voice. "We got time for this?"
"We got all day. Andy called. You don't have to go in."
"Oh, damn. Can you see my disappointment?"
"Oh, sure." A single glance at Eli's cock told Jed it looked nothing like disappointment. Oh. That needed a longer look. Hot and hard for him, thick as could be, Eli was a piece of work all right. And Jed wanted it. So he leaned over and put his mouth around it, sucking hard.
Eli moaned for him, hips jerking up and down, thigh muscles like iron bands under his hands. "Thatcher! Fuck."
"That's the idea, mister." Damn, but Eli was a big brute of a man. Those legs drove him crazy, long and strong and so good. The muscles of Eli's belly were fucking ripped, cut deep enough to feel bumpy under his hands, and that chest was wide enough to make him work to get from nipple to nipple with his fingers while he sucked. And licked. And tasted.
Eli was just moaning and growling and thrashing and Jed loved it, fucking loved it. Doing for Eli and having Eli respond to him... God, it made him ache. Made his balls hurt.
He could tell Eli was getting close, was gonna blow soon, and he pulled off, a wet sound following, Eli's cock glistening. Damn. "Want you to fuck me, Eli. Think you can hold off long enough?"
"To get in your ass, Thatcher? Hell, yes." Eli reached down and pulled at those heavy balls and Jed had to close his eyes before he got too close to shooting himself. Lube. Where the fuck was the lube? There. Behind the breakfast tray. He grabbed it, got his fingers good and wet and fixed himself up right. Two fingers, boom, right in, and Eli groaned, making him look. Eli stared at him, eyes hot as a wildfire. His cock jerked and he knew he was just gonna have to take the burn, as he was gonna have to hurry.
Quick as that he had Eli slicked up and was climbing on, holding Eli in place and pushing down. They both moaned, and Eli's hips rolled, and Jed saw stars, exploding in his head. Bang.
"Jed! So good." Big hands on his hips moved him up and down, Eli pulling and panting and just going crazy under him and Jed reached for his cock, stroking it, locking eyes with Eli. "Love you, mister."
"Oh, God!" Eli roared, filling his ass, warm and wet, and Jed let it go, came all over Eli's belly and chest and his own hand, gasping for air. They smooshed together when he fell forward, and eventually Eli slipped out and Jed thought about a shower. Or maybe going out and playing in the rain. Naked.
"I prayed for rain, you know."
Jed raised his head and smiled, taking a kiss, soft and warm and happy. "We got it. We've got all day to hide."
"Couldn't ask for more." Eli pulled him back down and Jed let him, smiling against that wide chest. They'd play later. Right now he'd just stay there with Eli, and listen to the rain.
\*\*\*
Eli couldn't believe it. He was out playing in the summer rain with another man and no less than four dogs. Naked.
He'd never played naked in the rain in his life. He figured his mother would heartily disapprove. Which was a good enough reason in itself. The main reason he was out there, though, was Jed Thatcher. Who was also naked and running around, laughing like a loon, teasing the dogs with a rope bone.
"One of them is gonna get tired of waiting his turn and grab something else that dangles, Thatcher."
"Oh, now, that's not funny, mister."
"Nope. It wouldn't be for me either."
Just about that time his pup Scorch came up to knock him winding, cutting him right off at the legs. Eli went down hard in the mud, sliding a good three feet. Jed hooted.
"Now who's the one getting punished for teasing?"
"Oh, you're going down."
He levered up, slipping and sliding on the wet grass and dirt, digging his toes in for purchase. They didn't often get this kind of rain, the kind that lasted all day. Not like he had in Oregon. So when they did everything soaked up the rain and greened up amazingly.
Eli launched himself at Jed, intent on rubbing that Thatcher nose in the mud. Lean and quick, Jed eluded him handily, slipping to one side and sending him tripping over Jumbo, who looked like a hellhound with his white coat all mottled with clumps of sod. Damn it.
Jed threw the bone, sending all of the dogs scrambling, then waggled one hand at him, "Come and get me, Eli."
Oh, yeah. Fucking A. He went, feinting to the right and diving in to the left, getting a hold on Jed's left calf. Yeah. That would work. Jed spun, slipping, legs splitting like a cheerleader's in the backseat of a Ford, boom, right to the ground.
"Umph."
"You may be faster, but I'm stronger, Thatcher."
"You're brute force all right." A big blop of black mud splattered against his face, making him sputter and let go. "But I got strategy."
"Oh yeah?" Okay, so that as a really mature reply, but when you were flinging mud at your lover there really wasn't much point of maturity. He flung, then paused, savoring the whole lover thing. His.
"Yeah." Suddenly Jed was right in front of him, pushing a fistful of mud right into his face. He blinked, laughing like an idiot when Jed blinked back, face black but for two bright blue eyes shining out. "You're getting slow, you old fart."
"Old? Old!" Oh that was too much. Quick as a wink he had Jed pinned and wiggling in the mud, smooshing it into all of the nooks and crannies. Jed wailed, flailing his arms and legs, kicking and screaming. Which brought the damned dogs nosing about, barking their fool heads off. When Spot started licking his butt, that was about all he could take. Eli just broke down and howled.
Eventually he managed to get up and hold a hand down for Jed. "Come on, Thatcher. Let's go get cleaned up, huh?"
"Yeah." Jed hugged him hard, the mud sliding between them. "Thanks for playing, mister."
"Hey, don't think we're done playing yet." He settled for patting Jed's ass. He didn't think he could hack a grainy kiss. "Should we hose off first?"
"Yeah."
They rinsed off under the hose and when Jed's face came back into view Eli kissed it, settling his mouth over Jed's and loving on him for all he was worth. Sometimes he thought he would never have remembered how to play in his whole fucking life if it wasn't for Jed.
Inside they turned the water on good and hot so they'd be cooler when they got out and stepped into the shower, rinsing off but good. Once the rinsing was done the touching started, and man, that was playing in the best fucking way ever.
Jed kissed him, hands sliding on his skin, up and down his back to cup his ass. He moaned, arching, needing so bad so suddenly that it shocked the heck out of him. His cock rubbed Jed's belly and Jed's prodded his hip and they weren't playing anymore. Not one bit.
They rocked, both of them rubbing like crazy, hands slipping and sliding.
"Damn, Thatcher. Good."
"Yeah. Love you, Eli. You know that, yeah?"
"Hell, yes."He knew it. Every damned day of his life these days. They moved faster and faster, and he reached for Jed's cock, stroking it hard and fast. Jed made the sexiest fucking sounds, gasping and panting, holding him tight. He bent, sucking at Jed's throat, worrying until a bruise came up. Goddamn that was hot.
Jed keened, back arching and hips bucking as he came, and Eli just watched, feeling like the luckiest man on earth. Then Jed touched his cock and he was coming too, shouting at how good it felt, his come washing right away with the rapidly cooling water.
"Come on, mister. Let's dry off and take a nap before supper."
"Sure."
Damn it was nice to have a day off.
Even if it was raining like crazy. Eli was learning that rainy days? Weren't so bad after all.
The beer was cold, Kev was warm next to him, and the conversation was, well. Heated.
"Goddamnit, Ross, do you try to be an asshole? Why'd you have to go and piss Ken off like that? You know he'll pout now, for hours."
The whole family had gotten together at mom's up on the Mesa, and Ross was just doing what he did best. Needling his brothers while he had the leave time to do it. Kevin looked a tiny bit uncomfortable with it, especially when Ken got all red faced and stomped off and Jed started yelling, but Ross was having the time of his life.
"Not my fault he's so touchy. Maybe if he hadn't bought that stupid bull I wouldn't give him so much grief."
"Oh, I think you'd find something else to poke him about."
"Well, hell, I could poke you if you want."
"Oh, shit, kid. Come on. Let's go help Nancy with the dishes." Eli got up and grabbed Kev by the arm, hauling him off despite protests and looks back. Good guy that Eli. Anyone could see Jed was spoiling for a fight.
"Your man is smarter than he looks."
Jed growled, just grrrred through clenched teeth, and launched himself at Ross, hands balled into fists. Ross grinned fiercely and waded right in, catching Jed just under the eye with a swinging right hook.
They traded punches for a few seconds before Jed took them off the porch in a flying tackle, dust kicking up as they rolled together, grunting and straining. Wasn't long before a sucker punch caught him on the side of the head, stars exploding before his eyes. Jed growled some more and went after Ken too, snarling at him for not playing fair.
By the time the fray ended, their mom sat on the porch, rocking in her rocking chair and smoking one of her long cigarettes, just wearing that half smile. Kev and Eli were there too, Kev looking worried, Eli just looking amused as hell.
"So who won?" Mom asked.
Ross looked at Jed, who grinned and shook his head, pointing to Ken.
"Ken," they said together, and mom just snorted and held out her hand to Eli, who pulled out his wallet and handed her a twenty.
Ken hooted and crawled to his feet, climbing up the porch like he had a hitch in his getalong. "Anyone else want a beer?"
"I'll take one." Ross got up and held out a handful of skinned knuckles to Jed. "You?"
"Yeah."
They all clumped back up on the porch, Ken's kids crawling all over them to make sure they were okay, laughing and chattering. All was right with his world until Ross noticed Kev sitting off to one side, watching him with those big puppy eyes, a troubled expression in them.
Damn.
Disentangling from Amy took a minute, but he finally passed her off to Lloyd and went to take Kev's hand, squatting in front of him.
"You look like you need to talk, baby."
"Can we?" Kev looked around at his family, squirmed a little. "Somewhere?"
"Sure. Come on to the barn."
They slipped away, his mom just mouthing, "be back in an hour for dessert". Lloyd had made a fine 4th of July red, white and blue trifle, with strawberries and blueberries. No way was he gonna miss it. Kev stayed quiet for the longest time, fingers tense in his.
Finally they got inside the cool, dark barn and Kev reached up to touch his mouth. "You were bleeding."
"Want me to dunk my head in the watering trough?"
"No." Poor baby. He was all twitchy, fingers skating over the old tack that hung on the walls, starting as one of the horses nickered a greeting at them.
"What's wrong?"
"Why do you fight like that?"
Bing! Give that man a cigar, he'd had a feeling Kev was freaked out by that. Now how did you explain brothers to an only child, and one who'd been raised all southern and polite at that?
"Well, we blow off steam that way. Always have. I guess you could say our dad taught us it was a manly way to solve disputes, though we try to only do it to each other. And sometimes we just do it for fun."
"I don't get it."
"Well, neither does Eli. He was an only child too. Thing to remember is that it's not a bad thing, or a scary thing. It's just us being brothers the only way we know how."
Kev gave him a weak grin. "You're gonna have a black eye."
"And sore kidneys thanks to Ken. You going to doctor me up, baby?"
"Sure. If you want me to."
"I can always use some of your tender loving care, baby." Ross hauled his T-shirt off over his head. "Come kiss me better."
"Oh. You're gonna bruise up bad."
Ross glanced down where Kev touched him so gently, looking at the mottled bruises starting to form and grinning wryly. "Ken got me good. Jed was just teasing. Guess Ken really was mad."
"He deserved to be." Kev bent, kissing his chest just above his left nipple. "You were awful."
"Gee, thanks." Hell, he knew he had been. But Kev had missed Ken poking on and on about his big gay family. It was no wonder he and Jed'd gotten tense.
"You look beat to hell and you're still sexy." Brows knitting, Kev glared at him. Like it just wasn't fair. "But I guess that's because you're a Thatcher. It's genetic or something."
"Well I think you're pretty hot, baby. Especially when you go all sex kitten. Come on, play with me."
"Okay." Eyes lighting up, Kev pushed him back against the rough wood of the, thankfully, empty stall behind him. Having a pony nibbling your hair was so a mood killer. Kev pushed one thigh between his and kissed him, hands hot on his skin, and Ross just hummed, letting his baby love on him.
They kissed nice and deep, Kev pushing into his mouth eagerly, tasting him, burning his lips. God, it felt good, even with the stretch and pull of his newly bruised skin. Long and hard through Kev's jeans, Kev's cock pushed against him, rocking against his leg like Kev's hips had a mind of their own.
Grunting, Kev tried to climb up him, just hanging on for dear life. Ross helped, hoisting him up by his ass, using his other hand to tear at Kev's zipper. The flat belly, narrow hips and pretty nipples were all hidden by cloth, and that made him sad, damn it.
Kev helped, unbuttoning both of their shirts, that determined look in those deep brown eyes. Ross loved it. He loved the feel of the hard cock that pushed into his hand, too, hot and damp and insistent. Stroking it made Kev moan, let Ross know his baby had forgotten all about the bruises and the awkwardness and was in full on sex kitten Kev mode.
"Love you, baby." He did. So much it hurt sometimes, and he had to say it. Just had to.
"Mmmhmm. Ross." Humping, Kev worked his hips, really pushing now, eyes half closed, bottom lip between his teeth. Looked like he was just in the zone, going for it.
"Come on, baby. Come on."
"What about, uhn there. What about you?"
"I'll get mine. Just come on."
Kev came for him, shooting into his hand and hollering loud enough to make the horses stamp and snort. They just hung there for the longest time, Kev panting, Ross breathing hard as he tried to hold still while Kev recovered. Then Kevin sort of wiggled, dropping to the floor and sliding along Ross' body to kneel at his feet.
His jeans went so fast Ross figured he had fabric burn. His cock was in Kev's hand seconds later, and it took even less time for him to feel the rough rasp of Kevin's tongue on him. Felt so good, so hot, that all Ross could do was hold on for the ride and let Kev take him right down.
Groaning, Ross started moving, pushing into that sweet, hot throat until Kev's nose was buried in his pubes. It was the hottest damn thing he'd ever seen. Damn, but he was a lucky, lucky man.
Belly tight as a board, thighs shaking, Ross went for it, really thrusting hard, every muscle in his body standing at attention. Kev made encouraging noises around it, and that finally set him off, those little vibrations. Ross shot hard, eyes wide and unseeing, hands on Kev's shoulders holding tight.
The wood against his back scratched and caught against his skin, and sweat dripped out of his hairline as he leaned there, recovering.
"Did that kiss it better?"
"Uh huh." Ross grinned down, stroking Kev's hair, curling from the heat and sweat. "That eased the ache big time."
"Oh good."
Hauling Kev to his feet, Ross steadied them, thumbs rubbing over Kev's arms, the little hairs tickling. "You feeling better about it?"
"I don't think I'll ever understand it. But yeah. I'm okay now."
"Good. Come on. I think there's trifle."
"Lloyd's a good cook."
They straightened up clothes and cleaned off the spunk, heading on up to the house. "He is."
"Makes me wonder how you learned to cook, if your mom never does."
"Desperation, baby. Pure desperation.
\*\*\*
"Damn. Someone's already in the barn." Eli stopped him with a hand on his arm, and sure enough Jed heard someone grunting, and it wasn't a pig.
Well, maybe Ross qualified.
"We'll have to go somewhere else. Come on." He hauled Eli along, down the back of the property toward the stream. There'd be shade there, and a nice cool breeze along the water, and hopefully not too many damned mosquitoes.
"You think Kev is okay? He looked kinda freaked."
Jed nodded. "He was. I think he'll be fine once Ross gets done with him. Melted out of his worry."
He got a wicked grin and a single tug that stopped his forward progress dead so Eli could kiss him. Damn, that man was strong as an ox. The kiss tasted like sunshine and beer, and it made even the bright sun of that late afternoon fade as Eli bent him back and just took his mouth.
Goddamn, he loved that.
They kissed long and hard, ending up on their knees on the ground, just touching and licking, both of them moaning. They were such damned adrenaline junkies, whether it was Eli fighting fires and coming home horny, or him getting in a fight and just wanting it bad.
Squirming, he got his hand between them, opening Eli's jeans, and started rubbing that thick cock, wanting to get Eli off, wanting it so bad. Eli grunted, his scent rising up, musk and smoke. Jed tugged and pulled, fingers brushing black curls on the downstroke.
Eli got him out too, got his cock in one big hand and started up a rhythm guaranteed to kill him, pulling at him like crazy. The grass crunched under his knees as only mid-summer Colorado grass could, and the roaring in his ears owed nothing to the summer snow runoff.
It took maybe three minutes. Maybe less. Next thing Jed knew he was shouting and coming hard, his head falling back as Eli bit down on his throat hard enough to bruise. Eli came right on his heels, grunting as he shot, hot liquid spurting over Jed's wrist.
"MMmm. Damn, mister. That was fine."
"You know it, Thatcher. Was that trifle I saw up in the kitchen?"
"It was. Patriotic, even."
"I say we go get us some of that."
"Me too."
\*\*\*
Ross had never had such damned fine trifle. The iced coffees Mandy whipped up were a great topping, and the company couldn't be beat.
They told stories on each other, each brother going out of his way to top the other. Lloyd set up the croquet set and the kids went nuts, colored wooden balls flying everywhichways, the dogs chasing after some of them and snapping them up to play with.
Little Robbie fell down and skinned his knee, and Lloyd's hand, Brodie rescued the pup called Mop from the baby, and Ross just sat on his ass with his third beer and grinned at all of it, feeling at home and happy and just right.
"It's good, huh?"
"Yeah. Real good." He glanced over where Kev was talking to mom, waving his lemonade cup around as he expounded. "Right. You happy?"
Jed shot a look over at Eli before grinning over. "Happier than I've ever been."
Ross nodded, face just about to bust he smiled so much. "I hear you, brother mine. I hear you."
End

