Greenhorn & Gambling

(Kinky Cowboys, Book 7)

by Anitra Lynn McLeod

Copyright 2019 by Anitra Lynn McLeod

––––––––

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This novel is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Copyright Page

About This Series

About This Book

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Epilogue

About the Author

About This Series

Sexy cowboys with playful kinks are going to heat up things in Climax, Colorado. Each stand-alone story combines gorgeous men, passionate encounters, and a happily ever after that will touch your heart. These feel-good stories have absolutely no cheating, low angst, and plenty of romance.

About This Book

From Wall Street to a cattle ranch, Rocky Hilton isn’t afraid to make major changes, but he never thought losing a card game would make him a teacher. Educating a desperate virgin about sex could be fun, especially when Scott Kilpatrick will be leaving for college in a month, but when their encounters become something more, will they be able to walk away or will they sacrifice everything for love?

––––––––

This contemporary western M/M romance contains a kinky bet, an older alpha wolf educating a younger twink pup, sex toys, a new furry friend, and a HEA that will put a smile on your face. 32,000 words or 128 pages.

Chapter One

Since trading in his business suits for dusty boots, Rocky Hilton had found the life of a working cowboy a lot harder than he ever could have anticipated. Early mornings, long nights, and the near constant smell of animals turned out to be a massive shift from the big city. His head still spun from the clash of cultures even after two months. His once soft and manicured hands were now rough and cracked no matter how much moisturizer he slathered on. His feet had blisters on top of blisters. Instead of the finest scotch, he had local microbrews. But the biggest difference was that each night when he crawled into his narrow bunk, he felt proud of himself. He’d done something productive with his day. Something real. By creating a living for himself, he created food for others, and that made him more than just some Wall Street bloodsucker, leeching off hard working people.

Rocky figured things out quickly, usually after just one mistake. But that luck failed him when it came to Scott Kilpatrick.

“Come on,” Scott said, shuffling the cards. He sat outside near the bunkhouse at one of the old picnic tables with two other men, Wilson and Dean. “It’s only a game of poker.”

“I told you. I don’t gamble money.” At least he didn’t anymore. Rocky had never cared much for cards but he’d gambled millions in the markets. He could have retired a dozen times over but fear drove him onward. However much money he had, he believed he needed more. When he realized there wasn’t enough money in the world to quiet that panicked voice in the back of his head, Rocky knew he had to quit. After considering and rejecting a dozen ways to spend the rest of his life, he’d settled on becoming a cowboy. He’d known the shift from an office to the outdoors would be tough, but he hadn’t appreciated just how hard being a thirty-two-year-old greenhorn would be.

“You don’t have to gamble money.” Scott flashed that grin that did things to Rocky, things he tried only to think about when he was alone in his bunk and couldn’t sleep. It didn’t happen often, but when it did, he almost always slipped his hand down and indulged in fantasies that he would never bring to life. One thing he’d learned at his first job was not to dip his pen in the company ink. Dating or even fucking coworkers was a bad idea, especially on a ranch with some seriously angry homophobes.

“Like I said—”

“Chicken. Who would have thought a man that big could be such a timid mouse?” Wilson, the blabbermouth, who told taller tales than anyone Rocky had ever met, seemed to have no filter between his brain and mouth. Shocking, really, when his little brain left plenty of room in his skull for a strainer.

“He’s not a chicken.” Dean, the flying monkey who spent most of his time spreading Wilson’s bullshit, met Rocky’s eyes and smiled, but Rocky wasn’t fooled. Dean didn’t like him for some reason. Whatever it was, it didn’t keep Rocky up at night. “He knows we’d beat him.”

Rocky stood there with his best poker face on. Their efforts to goad him into giving them what they wanted weren’t going to work. It took a good minute for it to sink in, but when it did, both men frowned and shifted tactics.

“Ooh, maybe he wants to be alone with Scott.” Wilson got to his feet. “Come on, Dean. Let’s go see what Sally Ann is up to.”

“Maybe she can introduce us to that new cowgirl, huh?” Dean followed after Wilson like a puppy.

“Come on. Just one hand.” Scott shuffled the cards again, dropping a few onto the table. “Just a friendly game.”

“Friendly? Like the bet you made with Kenner?”

“He made the bet with me, not the other way around.” Scott picked up the errant cards. “How was I supposed to know he was afraid of being alone?”

“You could have forgiven the bet.”

“He wouldn’t learn if I did that.” Scott dealt two hands of seven cards each. “Just one hand.”

“No.”

“If you win, I’ll do all your bunkhouse chores for a week.”

Tempted, Rocky still stayed strong. Since Scott didn’t seem to hear him speak, this time, Rocky shook his head.

“A month.”

Rocky seriously considered the offer. At the bunkhouse, they had a communal bathroom with showers and a group kitchen. They rotated the chore of cleaning things. Rocky didn’t mind pitching in by washing laundry or dishes, but he hated mucking out the bathrooms. He’d never understood why men couldn’t hit the target and instead ended up urinating all over the toilet. From the looks of things, it seemed to him they deliberately aimed for the rim. Maybe they enjoyed watching their piss trickle down to the floor. Maybe they just didn’t care. Rocky didn’t know. He just made sure to check the toilet before using it. The one farthest from the door was always the cleanest.

“A month?” Rocky asked.

“A whole month.”

Almost as soon as he thought about agreeing, Rocky checked himself. This was how Scott got people. The deal seemed clear enough but there might be some trick, some string that Rocky didn’t see. “And in exchange?”

“You’re learning.” Scott laughed and tapped the top of the cards in front of him.

“Your reputation precedes you.” Just because Scott offered to do Rocky’s bunkhouse chores for a month didn’t mean that if Rocky lost he would have to do Scott’s chores for a month. If they didn’t hash it out beforehand, the payout might come as a nasty surprise.

“If I win, then...” Scott trailed off as he looked around the area. Sunset would happen in about two hours, which meant most everyone was enjoying a little R and R before bedtime but there wasn’t anyone close enough to hear them.

“What?” Rocky settled at the table but he didn’t touch his cards. He wanted to know the details before he made that choice.

Scott leaned halfway across the table and whispered, “Then you belong to me for a month.”

“What does that mean?”

“You have to do what I say.”

“Absolutely not. You could order me to do all your bunkhouse chores and all your—”

“I mean that you’ll belong to me in bed.”

Stunned, Rocky leaned back. He’d had plenty of men hit on him, but never like this. Intrigued despite his automatic impulse to say no, Rocky moved closer and asked, “What in the world would a young twink pup like you do with an old alpha wolf like me?”

Scott bit his bottom lip, giving Rocky a whole bunch of ideas about what he’d like to do with Scott, not one of them fit for family time. “That’s the thing,” Scott said. “I’d make you do stuff to me.”

Rocky scoffed, earning himself a hurt frown from Scott. Rocky leaned closer to him and used his authoritative voice. “Pup, if you can’t say it, you sure as hell won’t be able to order me to do it.”

“I can say it.” Scott glanced around the grounds again.

“No one’s around.” Rocky still had his proximity sense. In the city, it paid to know exactly who was close since anyone could be a threat. Out here, he didn’t worry about muggings, but he certainly worried about having his privacy invaded.

“I want you to fuck me.”

Keeping a neutral expression became almost impossible. Rocky would like nothing better than to put Scott through every page of the homosexual Kamasutra, but he also wanted to keep this job. He loved Colby Ranch and liked his boss.

“You want to force me to sexually service you?”

“Force?” Scott’s shoulders slumped. “You mean you don’t want to have sex with me?”

Bypassing the answer to that question, Rocky instead asked, “Why not just ask me to have sex with you?”

“Derrick already tried that and you said no.”

Rocky kept his face carefully controlled so as not to betray his true thoughts. Despite being cute, Derrick wasn’t his type at all. Not even close. But Scott was. Smaller and blond and just sassy enough to push some control buttons. But Rocky had sworn he wouldn’t get involved with anyone. Colby Ranch took up almost the entire valley and employed hundreds but that didn’t mean things couldn’t get awkward if a relationship went south. In the big city, getting lost in the teeming millions was a hell of a lot easier than it would be out here.

“Well?” Scott asked.

“If I win, you’ll be my puppy maid but if you win, I’ll be your stud wolf?”

Scott grimaced. “When you put it like that, it sounds really bad.”

“Say it in a way that it doesn’t.”

“Never mind.” Scott reached across the table to scoop up the cards, but Rocky put his hand on top of Scott’s, pressing it flat. He could have moved his hand away but he discovered he liked feeling Scott’s body heat. It had been a long time since he’d touched another man. Too long.

“One hand, winner takes all?” Rocky asked.

Scott met his gaze, swallowed hard, and then nodded.

“If you win, how long would I be required to service you?” Something about that unfurled Rocky’s freak flag and sent it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. To have the bottom calling the shots put a whole new spin on those kind of bedroom games.

“A month.”

“Anytime, anywhere?”

“I’m not a moron.” Scott checked the area around them again. “I don’t want to get caught even if this is a gay-friendly ranch.”

Rocky narrowed his gaze, considering. He’d not heard that bit of gossip. But no matter. He’d never let anyone in New York know what he preferred in bed. They assumed he wined and dined beautiful women and he saw no reason to correct that assumption. He also didn’t question how Derrick or even Scott knew he was gay. Sometimes, men just had a sense about one another. A certain kind of gaydar, he supposed. “What makes you think this ranch is gay friendly?” Rocky asked.

“The owner’s son is gay.” Scott glanced down at Rocky’s hand over his.

Rocky didn’t remove it. Not yet. No one was watching them. From a distance, they’d have no idea what the two of them were doing. If he won, he’d have Scott to do his chores. If he lost, he’d have to be at Scott’s sexual beck and call. Rocky really couldn’t see a downside. Even if he won, he now knew just how attracted to him Scott was. Rocky could easily imagine hooking up with Scott after he’d done his chores, no bet needed. But what would be the fun in that? Rocky had a feeling that Scott might enjoy being compelled. A little master and slave roleplaying never failed to amuse.

“All right,” Rocky said.

“You’ll play?” Scott’s voice went up almost an octave. Clearly, he hadn’t expected Rocky to agree.

“Yes. With one catch.”

“What’s that?” Scott’s voice lowered right along with his eyebrows.

“If I win, you’ll do my chores and service me.”

“You want me to agree to give you something I want to give you anyway?” One of Scott’s eyebrows rose high.

“You’ll service me without getting anything in return.” Rocky made a point of lowering his gaze to Scott’s mouth. While looking there, Rocky rubbed the back of Scott’s hand as if stroking his finger over his lips. “I could put that mouth of yours to very good use.”

Scott’s hand twitched as his pulse accelerated. “You won’t let me come?”

“Not by my hand.” Rocky continued to stroke his fingers over the back of Scott’s hand. “I’d make you masturbate for me.” He paused as if considering. “But only once a week.” He shook his head. “No, maybe once every other week.”

“That’s hardly fair.”

“Who said anything about being fair?” Rocky lifted his hand away.

Scott lifted his own hand to his mouth. He touched his lips as if he’d felt Rocky caress them.

“You’ve not said anything specific about what you’d have me do to you if you won.” Rocky now stroked his finger over the cards while Scott continued to rub his lips. “For all I know, you could want me on my knees servicing you without giving me any relief.”

“No.” Scott shook his head and leaned closer. “I want you to fuck me. I want you to take control of me. I want you to teach me how to be a good pup.”

“You realize you’re giving new meaning to the word power bottom.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

Confused, Rocky tilted his head. “Are you saying you don’t know what a bottom is?”

“I know what a bottom is. I just don’t know what you mean by power bottom.”

“It’s not important.” Rocky considered the two stacks of cards again. “One more thing.”

“What?”

“It goes one way.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m a top. A power top. I don’t bottom. I’ll let you direct me to a certain degree, but I won’t allow you to dominate me. Is that clear?”

“Yeah.” Scott nodded and his silky blond hair flopped down over his forehead. “I don’t want to boss you around that way.”

“What kind of things would you have me do?” Rocky had to subtly stretch his leg out so he could tug at the front of his jeans and make more room for his cock. He’d never been so intrigued by a potential partner.

“Mostly just fuck me.”

“Fuck you.”

“But hard.” Scott’s voice caught. “Really hard.”

Since he didn’t know what a power bottom was, Scott probably didn’t know what a power top was either but it sounded like exactly what he wanted. Having Scott on his hands and knees while taking a rough pounding from behind sounded like a slice of heaven on earth, but Rocky remembered one of the oldest rules in the book; if something sounded too good to be true, it probably was, leaving him with only one problem. What was the catch? For the life of him, though, he couldn’t figure it out. Both of them would get what they wanted. As cold as Rocky tried to be, there wasn’t any way he’d be able to live with himself if he only allowed Scott to come once every two weeks. Scott may not know it but Rocky certainly did. When he took a man to his bed, he made sure that man enjoyed himself. One-sided encounters were for selfish assholes.

“Well?” Scott asked.

Rocky asked himself again what could possibly go wrong? Win or lose he’d get to have Scott in his bed.

“Just a few more details,” Rocky said.

“Like what?”

“You can’t tell anyone. You can’t order me to have sex with anyone else.”

“Jesus.” Scott heaved a loud sigh. “I must really have a shitty reputation.”

“You do.”

Hurt stamped clear lines all over Scott’s face but Rocky didn’t apologize. Why should he? Scott had earned the reputation he had.

“But that doesn’t mean I won’t bet with you.”

“Then let’s play.” Scott reached for his stack of cards.

“No.” Rocky put his hand over Scott’s again. “First I’m going to examine the deck.”

“You don’t have to—”

Rocky flipped over the cards in front of Scott. “Four aces? You gave yourself all the aces?”

“I wanted to make sure I won.”

“By cheating.”

Scott didn’t even have the good grace to appear ashamed. He seemed more upset his scheme had been exposed rather than he’d hatched the scheme in the first place.

Rocky had another chance to walk away but he just couldn’t let himself. No matter how he spun things, he didn’t see the catch.

After checking that all the cards were in the deck, Rocky shuffled them several times, allowed Scott to cut the deck, then he dealt each of them seven cards.

“May the best hand win.” Rocky picked up his cards. He kept his poker face despite the fact he’d won. The odds of Scott being able to beat two pair, queens and tens, was pretty damn small. “Ready to reveal?”

“I’m ready.”

“Together.” Rocky turned over his cards when Scott did. It took him less than half a second to realize he’d lost. “A straight?”

“A baby straight. You know, because of the high five.”

“Yes.” Rocky wanted to call bullshit but he couldn’t. Scott could not have cheated. Rocky had inspected, shuffled, and dealt the cards himself. Just to be sure, he went through the remaining cards to double check. He found everything in order.

“I didn’t cheat.” Scott rolled his eyes.

Rocky gave him a hard look.

“Okay, I didn’t cheat this time.”

“No. You didn’t.” Rocky thought he’d had him. Still, as he’d noticed earlier, either way, he didn’t really lose. “So, what’s the first thing you want me to do to you?”

“Pop my fucking cherry.” Scott pulled all the cards together into a stack. “I’m sick to death of being a virgin.”

And there it was. The catch that Rocky had not expected.

Chapter Two

“You should have told me you were a virgin.” Rocky felt utterly betrayed but he didn’t blame Scott. No, he blamed himself. He knew the whole thing sounded too good to be true.

“What does that matter?” Scott slipped the cards into his pocket.

“It matters because I don’t do virgins.”

“Why not?”

“You want a laundry list?” Rocky lifted his hand and as he listed each item he ticked off another finger. “I become a part of your life story because no one forgets their first. Losing your virginity should be with someone you love or at least care about not over a goddamn bet in a card game. But most of all, I find myself wondering why a man your age—you’ve got to be at least twenty-two—is still a virgin.”

“I’m twenty-six.”

“So it’s worse.”

Scott actually flinched and then hung his head.

“I didn’t mean—never mind.” Rocky got to his feet. “This is not going to work.”

“So you’re a welcher?”

“I’m not welching on the deal. You weren’t clear about the deal.”

“Yes, I was. I just left out a detail that I can’t believe makes that much of a difference to you.”

“Well, it does.”

“Why?”

“I just explained why.”

“You know, I didn’t have to tell you I was a virgin. I could have lied to you about that and you’d probably never have known the difference.”

“I would have known.”

“Really?” Scott climbed to his feet too. “If you’re so in tune with experience vs innocence then why didn’t you know until I told you? Shouldn’t a man of the city like you have known right away? As an alpha wolf, shouldn’t you have been able to smell the innocence all over me?”

“Maybe I did. Maybe that’s why I thought you were twenty-two and not twenty-six.”

Scott gritted his teeth.

“Just like everyone else, I make assumptions about people. I assumed you were straight, actually. I assumed you to be my coworker, nothing more. There were things I could see—young, male, pretty—but I didn’t look at you with an eye toward us having sex. Not until you mentioned it.” The last part was a lie, but Rocky didn’t feel too bad about that when Scott had done nothing but lie to him. “You know what’s strange? Most people assume I’m straight. Funny that you and Derrick knew I wasn’t. Now, how is that? Did you go through my things when I was out working?”

Scott scoffed and his mouth dropped open. “You’re accusing me of breaking into your room?”

“No. No accusation, but it’s strange that you knew.”

“I knew because Wilson told me.”

“How did he know?”

“Who the fuck knows?” Scott lifted his hands into the air. “Knowing Wilson, he just made it up and it accidentally turned out to be true. Like they say, even a stopped clock is right twice a day. But I still don’t get why you’re welching. We had a deal.”

“You really want to know the truth?” Rocky had a reason that would probably make the kid burst into tears but he would rather die than share that tale of woe. Instead, he’d give Scott a reason he could understand. Something that would allow both of them to back out of the agreement without either one of them losing face.

“Yeah.” Scott crossed his arms. “Even if it hurts.”

“Hurts?”

“If it’s, like, you’re not really attracted to me.”

“That’s not an issue.”

Scott blinked several times then opened his mouth to speak but Rocky cut him off.

“I’ve made a lifetime out of not getting in deeper than a couple of fucks. That’s what I thought this was.”

“That’s what this is.” Scott moved around the table so they stood closer. “I just want you to break me in.”

“Break you in?” Rocky would have grabbed Scott and tried to shake some sense into him but he didn’t want to attract attention. Besides, he didn’t think it would do any good. Scott seemed to be the kind of person who got something in his head and just didn’t let go until he got what he wanted. Not a bad drive to have but his tenaciousness in this could get him hurt. “Go buy a goddamned sex toy and break yourself in.”

“I have.” Scott held his gaze without blushing. “Don’t be me wrong, it’s fun but it’s not the same as being with a real man.”

Oh, the horror stories Rocky could tell Scott about being with a real man. “How would you know when you’ve never been with a man at all?” Before Scott could answer, Rocky cut him off again. He knew he was being a rude as hell and a bully to boot, but he also needed to pound the lesson home. “Look, the bottom line is you weren’t forthcoming so the deal is off. If this was just a casual thing, like I thought it would be, I wouldn’t—”

“I’m leaving in a month.”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” At this point, Rocky wouldn’t believe Scott if his tongue came notarized.

“I can prove it.”

“How?” Rocky asked.

“Come with me.”

“Where?”

“My room.”

When Rocky hesitated, because he didn’t quite trust himself to be alone with Scott regardless of their deal or his lie of omission, Scott grinned.

“Unless you’re afraid to be alone with me,” Scott said, lifting that one brow as if in challenge.

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“I said of being alone with me.” Scott made a point of dropping his gaze down the front of Rocky’s body, lingering on his bulge.

Again, Rocky felt the urge to grab Scott’s shoulders but not to shake some sense into him. Instead, he’d press him against the nearest tree and plunder that smart mouth of his until he took the pup’s breath away.

“Look, even if you prove that you’re leaving, it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t do virgins.”

“Fine. I’ll go have Derrick fuck me once and then I’ll be back for you to pay out on our bet.” Scott turned on his heel. He would have walked away but Rocky grabbed him and turned him around.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Why? Isn’t that what you want?”

“What I want...” Rocky trailed off. Right now he wasn’t sure what he wanted. With Scott this close and his hand on his shoulder, he started to think about how good it would feel to pull him tight and actually kiss those lips instead of just taunting them both with the idea of it. “I want you to show me proof that you’re leaving.”

“Fine.”

But they stood there, facing one another.

“You need to let go of me,” Scott said.

Rocky let go and found himself walking by Scott’s side to his room. A careful examination of the area showed him no one was paying them any attention at all. He followed Scott inside, closing the door and making sure the drape over the one window was tight. He then found his attention riveted to a blackboard covered in obscure mathematical symbols.

“Here.” Scott waived a paper in front of him. “My acceptance letter. I going to UCCS to get my master’s in mathematics.”

“You have a BS degree and you’re working as a cowboy?” It didn’t take Rocky long to realize the letter was authentic. Not only that, but Scott’s mathematical skill certainly explained his keen gambling ability. No doubt he’d been counting cards.

“Before you judge me, let’s talk about your degrees.”

“What makes you think—”

This time, Scott cut him off. “Think? No. I know you have at least two degrees.”

“Does it matter?”

“Nope. You’re the one who brought it up.” Scott lifted his eyebrows. “Well? Tell me I’m wrong.”

“I’ve got an MBA.”

“Figures.”

“Meaning?”

“I knew you weren’t a cowboy.” Scott dropped his gaze along Rocky’s body, stopping only when he got to the bulge in his jeans. “Rocky’s not your real name either, is it?”

“It is.”

“Not your given name.”

Almost against his will, Rocky realized he liked Scott. Liked him more than he wanted to. His cocky arrogance and self-esteem reminded Rocky of himself. “Rocky is short for Rockford.”

Scott immediately hummed the theme music to The Rockford Files.

“How in the world do you know that?” Rocky asked. “You’re too young to know that TV show.”

“My mom and dad watch that show all the time.”

“Well, at least you didn’t hum the theme to Rocky and Bullwinkle.” Rocky had heard that a time or two.

“You’re so not a flying squirrel.”

“So,” Rocky said, changing the subject away from his name. “You’re going to the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs this fall.”

“Yep.”

“Why would you be leaving in a month if you aren’t starting until much later?”

“I need to get settled.” Scott took the letter, carefully folded it, and put it back in his top drawer along with his socks and underwear.

Rocky struggled to keep his poker face when he realized Scott favored brightly colored athletic underwear, the kind with straps to hold them up, leaving most of his ass exposed.

“Got to get an apartment and a job. My scholarship only covers tuition and books. The rest is up to me.”

“That’s why you’ve been compulsively betting.” Rocky had started to believe the kid had a serious gambling problem.

“Gotta earn some green one way or another.”

“Is that also why you want me to break you in?”

“What, so I can sell myself?” Scott scoffed.

“No, so you can go back to school and hookup.”

“Well, yeah. Never could figure it out the first time around.” Scott sighed and went over to the blackboard. “Numbers I get. Differential equations, statistics and probability—all those things come so effortlessly to me, but people? Can’t figure out how to hookup to save my soul.”

“Have you really tried?” When Scott spun and glared at him, Rocky lifted his hands defensively. “I’m not trying to put you down. I’m trying to understand where you’re coming from.”

“I’ve tried. Not here because, well, you shouldn’t shit where you eat.”

“Isn’t that what we’d be doing?”

“Yeah. But it’s different if it’s for a short time and a specific purpose.” Scott’s gaze wandered to Rocky’s crotch again. “Just give me some idea what I’m doing wrong.”

“What makes you think you’re doing anything wrong?” Rocky settled on the foot of Scott’s bed while Scott took the chair in front of the desk.

“Okay, like, I used an app on my phone and met this guy and when we got together things seemed to be going great but then all of a sudden he bailed.”

“What, exactly, was happening when he bailed?”

“We were kissing.”

“And this has happened before?”

“Three times.” Scott hung his head and shoulders as if he had the weight of the world on them. “I’m doing something stupid. But it’s not, like, my breath or my hygiene. I’m really careful with both. It’s something I’m doing but no one will take the time to teach me.”

Rocky sighed. He had to give it to Scott. He’d touched a nerve without even knowing it.

“Never mind. I can tell you’re going welch on the deal and I’ll have to find another guy.”

The thought of Scott hooking up with some predator twisted his stomach. Even though Scott had tried to cheat him, he’d done it for a good reason. Or at least a reason Rocky could understand. Still, though, he felt there might be another catch. Something beyond the virginity that he just wasn’t seeing.

“How about a new deal?” Scott asked.

“What new deal?”

“I’ll teach you to be a cowboy if you teach me about sex.”

“What makes you think I need cowboy lessons?” Rocky knew he didn’t quite have a handle on everything just yet, but he thought he’d been doing damn well considering his background.

“You’re a greenhorn.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’re a virgin,” Scott said pointedly. “Everyone knows you’ve never done this kind of work before.”

“How in the world could they know that?”

“You’re working six times as hard as you need to.”

“I don’t need lessons in how to slack off.”

“Not talking about that. I can teach you how to work smarter, not harder. Well, I can if you’ll teach me how to be a good pup.”

Again, Rocky felt he was missing something, but he couldn’t figure out what. He supposed he just worried about being responsible for taking Scott’s virginity. It wasn’t something he took lightly but he also didn’t want Scott to just pick another guy at random. Anything could happen and the odds of it being bad were pretty high.

“I’ll be gone in a month.” Scott shrugged. “Besides, I’m asking you to teach me not marry me.”

“No more surprises?”

“No.”

“You don’t have a secret wife?”

“No.”

“My boss isn’t actually your mother?”

“No.” Scott laughed. “Wow, I must have a pretty shitty reputation to make you that paranoid.”

“Let’s just say you’re known for being slippery with the truth.”

“Yeah.” Scott sighed. “I guess when I want something I follow that old idea of the ends justify the means.”

“Well, that’s a good way to get your ass kicked when it comes to sex.”

“How?”

“Some guys would just throw you down and use you. They wouldn’t care if you enjoyed it or not.” Rocky wanted to scare him, not from having sex but from taking sex lightly. “Someone could really hurt you.”

Scott’s eyes darkened. “Sounds like you speak from experience.”

“My point is you need to be careful and protect yourself.”

“That’s what I need you to teach me. Not just the mechanics but how to hookup without getting beat up.” Scott dropped down to his knees in front of Rocky, settling himself right between Rocky’s spread legs. “I swear, I’ll do anything you say if you’ll just show me what I need to do.”

Rocky could have said no. He had another chance to stand up and walk away. Although, if he did that—stood up—he’d put his cock right against Scott’s mouth. That sweet pink mouth that would look utterly perfect around the tip of his cock. Those eager eyes would look up at him with longing and need and devotion. Even though this time Rocky saw the catch—that this could turn into something he might not be able to walk away from—he cupped Scott’s chin and pulled him close.

Instead of saying anything, Scott just followed what Rocky urged him to do. On his knees but now with his chest pressed tight against Rocky’s cock, Rocky lowered his mouth to Scott’s. When he puckered up, Rocky pressed a finger against his lips.

“Don’t do anything unless I tell you.”

“Does that mean you’ll teach me?”

“It does.” Rocky cut him off before he could say anything else. “But understand, I’m not going to boss you around and make you perform.”

“No?”

“No. Because that’s not sex.”

“But I thought—”

“Do you want me to teach you or not?”

“Yeah.” Scott peered up at him, confusion twisting his face. “What are you going to do with me?”

“Show you that sex is mutual. That the only way it’s good is with consent. Think of it like a contract. You can withdraw your consent at any time.”

“If I ask you to stop, you will?”

“Absolutely. Anyone who respects you will stop.” Rocky stroked his finger over Scott’s bottom lip, enjoying the plushy softness.

“When does the first lesson start?”

“Now.”

Chapter Three

“Can I kiss you?” Rocky asked.

“Yeah. Of course. You don’t have to even ask.”

“But you see, I do.” Since he’d agreed to do this, Rocky would make sure he taught Scott everything he knew. “The first lesson is about consent.”

“But I tried to cheat on a bet to get you to do this to me. Isn’t it obvious I’m into it?”

“That doesn’t matter. Always make sure you have consent. Even if you’ve been with someone a million times. Do you understand?”

“Yeah.”

“Scott.” Rocky didn’t like Scott’s automatic answer. He wanted Scott to think about his answers. “Don’t say what you think I want to hear. I need you to understand this point or I can’t teach you anything else.”

“Okay, but if you’re dating, I don’t see what the big deal is.”

“Maybe they don’t want to.”

“Then they should say.”

“Maybe they don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

“Oh. Okay. I get it.”

“Do you?”

“Get consent.” Scott nodded. “Does it always have to be with words?”

“Not when you know them well. But it takes a long time to get to that point.” Rocky stroked over Scott’s mouth again. “While I’m teaching you, I’ll always start by asking if I can kiss you.”

“You’re going to ask for everything?” Scott scrunched up his face.

“No.” Rocky leaned over so that his mouth was less than an inch from Scott’s. “But I’ll make sure you’re enjoying yourself. If I’m not sure, I’ll ask.”

“Okay.” Anticipation caused Scott’s voice to waiver.

Rocky closed the distance and pressed his mouth against Scott’s. Damn. It had been so long since he’d kissed anyone. Scott’s lips gave below his and he moaned low at the back of his throat. Gently, Rocky teased his tongue out, swiping it over Scott’s lower lip, enjoying the taste of him while seeking entrance to more.

Instead of opening slowly, Scott practically unhinged his jaw as he thrust his tongue into Rocky’s mouth.

Instincts compelled him to recoil but Rocky controlled the impulse and moved back slowly.

“I did it wrong, didn’t I?” Scott asked.

“You’re enthusiastic.” Rocky cupped Scott’s chin. “Don’t rush. Think slow, careful movements. Gentle. As if our tongues were dancing very slowly together.”

“That’s not what it looks like in porn.”

And now Rocky knew where Scott had picked up habits that had sent potential partners running. “Most porn is only good for learning what not to do.”

“Is that—aw, man.” Scott slumped down. “No wonder all those guys bailed after one kiss.”

“They didn’t even try to show you?”

“I guess they figured if I couldn’t do that, then what was the point of going further?”

“Let’s try again.” Rocky lifted Scott’s chin. “Follow my lead.”

“Okay.”

This time when Rocky slid his tongue into Scott’s mouth, Scott mimicked the motion. By their third kiss, Scott had the moves down. In fact, he’d improved so much that Rocky couldn’t help but wonder if the whole thing had just been some kind of con. Almost right after he had the thought he hated himself for thinking it. Scott wanted to learn. That made him eager to pay attention and get things right.

“Better?” Scott asked, moving back.

“Much.” Rocky couldn’t believe how much he’d improved. “In a way, I feel sorry for those guys who ran off on you.”

“Why?”

“If they’d just shown you, they would have found out how good you taste.”

Scott smiled and blushed. “You’re not just saying that, are you?”

“No.” Rocky pulled Scott close again but didn’t kiss him. “One thing I won’t do is lie to you.”

Scott darted his gaze away.

“I need the same commitment from you.”

“I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”

“It has a lot to do with it. One kiss sent potential partners away because they didn’t feel they could be honest with you about how you were kissing them. Second lesson after consent is honesty. If I do something that hurts you or just doesn’t work for you, you need to tell me.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll do the same for you.”

“But what could I do that wouldn’t work for you? Besides being too enthusiastic of a kisser, I mean?”

“Don’t ever try to put your tongue in my ear.”

“Ew. I won’t.”

“Good. Because I can’t stand it.” Rocky turned Scott’s head and kissed his neck. “But this, kisses along my neck, working up to my ear, and then gently biting my earlobe...” Rocky demonstrated, thoroughly enjoying the way Scott drew a shuddering breath and tilted his head to expose his neck.

“Yeah.” Scott swallowed hard. “That’s good.”

“This is good too,” Rocky said, whispering the words right into Scott’s ear. “This is the kind of thing that porn doesn’t teach you.” Rocky made a point of breathing hot, moist wind into Scott’s ear. “Foreplay matters a hell of a lot more than most men think.”

“Oh, fuck.” Scott grasped onto Rocky’s thighs as if for balance.

“Instead of just getting your partner ready, you want him hungry for contact.” Rocky kissed along Scott’s neck then bit him lightly right where his neck met his shoulder. “You want him lusting for you the way he’s never lusted after anyone.”

“I’m there.”

“Not even close.” Rocky moved back, pleased to see Scott’s eyes had gone soft and dreamy. “Now show me what you’ve learned.”

“Okay.” Scott took a deep breath before he cupped Rocky’s face, hovered his lips over his briefly, then kissed him. Slow and seductive, Scott’s kiss urged Rocky to open his mouth without demanding it. After tasting him, Scott took his time kissing his way over to Rocky’s neck then teased his breath into his ear, finishing with a gentle bite on his earlobe.

Pulling back, Scott asked, “Did I do it right?”

“Perfectly.”

Scott threw his arms around Rocky’s neck and hugged him hard.

Rocky hugged him back. Before Rocky realized his intent, Scott ground his hard cock against him.

“Whoa, cowboy.” Rocky moved Scott back. “Let’s try something else.”

“I’m just so fucking horny.”

“When was the last time you climaxed?”

“Last night.” Scott met his gaze then looked away. “I was thinking about you.”

“I think that’s our next lesson.” Rocky stood up. Just as he suspected, his cock went level with Scott’s mouth. He hesitated, allowing himself and Scott to store the image up before finally stepping around him. “Stand up.”

“What are we going to do?”

“Strip.” Before Scott could tear his clothes off, Rocky urged him to go slowly. “It’s not a race.”

“What about quickies?”

“Nothing wrong with those but again, that’s once you know one another well.” Rocky made a point of sitting down to remove his boots, his socks then stood to strip out of the rest. He didn’t linger but he didn’t hurry. He enjoyed watching Scott disrobe. He had a strong, compact body. Blond body hair that turned golden when it caught the light. A short but thick cock and absolutely stunning buttocks. High and tight with a dimple marking each one.

“Okay. I’m ready.”

Rocky couldn’t suppress a smile. “While I’m pleased with your enthusiasm, we’re not going to be having sex. At least not in the way you’re thinking.”

“What do you mean?”

“Pull down the covers on the bed.”

Scott obeyed then frowned at him.

“Do you have any lube?”

“Of course.” Scott practically yanked the drawer out of the bedside table in his hurry to retrieve the bottle.

“Perfect. Put it there on the bed.” Rocky nodded. “Now get in bed.”

Scott leaped onto the bed, on his hands and knees, his ass facing Rocky. Again, he had to smile. As much as he wanted to part those sweet cheeks and tongue that tight hole, he held off.

“On your back.”

Frowning and glaring, Scott obeyed. “What are we doing?”

“Third lesson.” Rocky made sure he had Scott’s undivided attention by caressing his own chest, twisting his nipples, and then sliding his hands down to his cock. “Masturbation.”

“I know how to do that.” Scott immediately grabbed his own cock and started yanking.

“Stop.” While speaking, Rocky continued to stroke his own body, teasing all his favorite spots. “Masturbation isn’t about climax.”

“So I’ve been doing it wrong all these years?” Scott asked, his tone snarky.

“Probably.” Rocky grinned. “Most men rush to the finish line, getting off as fast as they can.”

“And that’s wrong?”

“You should use masturbation to make yourself a better lover.” Rocky twisted his nipple and gave himself a good, tight stroke at the same time. “Slow down so that when you are with someone, you don’t go off like a rocket.”

“Oh.” Scott’s eyes widened. “I always thought...”

“You’d slow down once you were with someone?”

“Yeah.”

“How? You’ve been training yourself to climax as quickly as possible.” Rocky poured some lube into his hand and had Scott do the same. “Match me.”

“Okay.” Scott propped himself up on some pillows so he had a better view of Rocky standing at the foot of the bed.

Rocky teased himself while letting his gaze wander over Scott’s body. He thought of all the ways he could torment him, all the ways he could prolong his pleasure by holding his orgasm just out of reach. When he turned his attention to Scott’s cock, he discovered the tip had turned dark red and veins stood out along the shaft. Precum oozed from the slit, slicking down with each pass Scott made.

“You’re ready to come right now.”

“I know.” Scott strained upward by digging his heels into the bed and lifting his hips. “I thought I could last longer.”

“Stop.” Rocky pulled his hand away from his own cock.

Reluctantly, Scott did the same.

After a minute to recover, Rocky started stroking again, but at only half the speed.

Scott paced him, whimpering the entire time.

Usually, holding back was easy but that noise Scott made stroked hard against Rocky’s alpha tendencies. That sound urged him to abandon his teaching efforts, climb into bed, and fuck Scott until he stopped making that noise. Rocky didn’t do any of that, but the urge remained.

“Spread your legs for me,” Rocky said.

Once Scott obeyed, Rocky could see that dark opening. The one he wanted to fill. The one he wanted to stretch to accommodate him while Scott continued to make that whimpering cry.

“I can’t—I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“What’s wrong?” Rocky asked.

“I have to come.”

“You can hold off.”

“I can’t,” Scott wailed. “It’s you standing there, watching me. It’s the expression on your face as you fist yourself while looking at my hole.” Scott pumped his cock hard while lifting his hips. His cry pushed Rocky to tighten his grip but he didn’t climax. He kept stroking himself while he watched Scott shiver and shake, spurting along his belly and chest.

When Scott finally finished, he met Rocky’s gaze, his cheeks pink with embarrassment. “I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Rocky twisted his nipple and moaned. “For a first time, you did well.”

“You’ll still going.”

“I’ve had more practice than you.”

“Can I...” Scott bit his bottom lip then slid toward the foot of the bed. “I’d give anything to taste you.” Scott’s words washed hot, moist air over Rocky’s cock. “Anything.”

“I don’t think it would taste very good, covered in lube.”

“It’s flavored.” Scott grinned up at him then leaned forward. “Can I?”

Rocky put his hands on his hips. “Show me what I’ve taught you so far.”

“I’d be happy to.”

Rocky realized Scott was a quick learner. He’d taken the lesson about hovering kisses and applied it by suspending his mouth right above Rocky’s cock. Getting a blowjob wasn’t at all part of the lesson he wanted to teach, but he also found himself wanting to see those sweet pink lips wrapped around his prick after thinking about it so many times.

“Are you sure?” Rocky asked, delaying what felt almost inevitable. “I don’t mind jacking off while you watch.”

“And let that go to waste?” Scott licked his lips. “No way.” He looked up. “Please. I won’t rush. I’ll go slow. I’ll be careful.”

“Let me think about it.” Rocky stroked himself while Scott watched with eager eyes. He swiped his finger across the slit, smearing precum over his fingertip then wiped it on Scott’s bottom lip. When he tried to lick it off, Rocky cautioned him. “I didn’t tell you to do that.”

Watching Scott struggle not to lick his lips pushed Rocky even closer to orgasm. He couldn’t recall any man being so hungry for him. When he couldn’t stand it another second, Rocky stopped fisting himself. He inched forward, placing his cock against Scott’s mouth.

Scott looked up at him, his hazel eyes filled with longing.

“Open.”

Scott opened his mouth.

Rocky eased his prick between Scott’s lips. “Lick.”

Dutifully, Scott lapped at the tip of Rocky’s prick.

“Suck.”

Scott closed his eyes and sucked gently but insistently, drawing precum out of Rocky’s cock before twirling his tongue around the head.

“Good pup.” Rocky didn’t have to give him hardly any instructions at all.

Scott had either watched some decent porn or he imagined what his motions would feel like on his own cock. Instead of the aggressive, overly enthusiastic blowjob Rocky expected, Scott took his time, teasing and slurping. Slowly he worked Rocky’s length into his mouth. When he went too far and choked, he moved back to where he was comfortable.

“I’m close.” Rocky couldn’t believe just how close Scott had gotten him or how quickly he’d done it.

Scott looked up, waiting for instructions.

“Keep sucking lightly. Wrap your hand around the base.” Rocky placed his hand on the top of Scott’s head. “That’s good. Good pup. Oh, fuck.”

Scott braced himself against the bed so when Rocky climaxed, he was ready. Only, he didn’t seem quite ready for that much to come blasting out. Still, he swallowed and sucked lightly while working his hand along Rocky’s length.

When he finished coming, Rocky stepped back, pulled Scott to his feet, and kissed him. Rocky tasted the cherry lube, Scott’s mouth, and his own pleasure but that was nothing compared to what he felt.

Stunned, Rocky stepped back.

“Did I do it right?” Scott asked.

“Perfect.” Rocky brushed Scott’s hair off his forehead. “I guess porn is good for something.”

“I didn’t get that from porn.” Scott grinned. “I got that from thinking about sucking you off while watching you jerkoff.”

“So you enjoyed your lessons?”

“Very much.”

“Good.” Rocky let Scott go, washed his hands in the sink, and then pulled on his clothing.

“Are you off tomorrow?” Scott asked.

“I am. Why?”

“We need to go shopping.” Scott washed his hands then got dressed. “If I’m going to show you how to be a better cowboy, you need the proper gear.”

“Good point.” Rocky thought of half a dozen things he’d like to have on hand, things he could use to train Scott. “I’ll pick you up at eight. We’ll drive over to Denver.”

“Just one thing,” Scott said, moving closer. “Don’t tell anyone.”

“Why not?”

“They’ll want to come with us.”

“Seriously?”

“Not everyone has a car and then it becomes like a road trip thing and I’d rather not have everyone tagging along if you know what I mean.”

“I do.” Rocky considered. “Let’s make it seven. Everyone’s still asleep by then.”

“We could even go earlier.”

“Six?”

“Yeah. I’ll be ready.” Scott grabbed his phone and set the alarm. He chewed his bottom lip.

“What?”

“Can I have a kiss goodnight?”

Rocky almost told him he’d had enough kissing but one more couldn’t hurt. He kissed Scott again and realized another catch. Already he started to feel close to Scott. He only hoped Scott didn’t feel the same way. Once the month came to an end, it would be easier for both of them to walk away if they could keep things in perspective.

Chapter Four

Rocky was running late. He’d spent the night flat on his back, glaring at the ceiling, analyzing how he’d gotten attached to Scott so quickly. The only answer he could come up with was the one he most wanted to avoid; he was lonely. Apparently, he’d been a lot lonelier than he’d thought. If he had known, he certainly wouldn’t have entered into this agreement with Scott. No good could come of a lonely man sexing up another man who would be leaving soon.

Right after settling on that answer, he dismissed the lonely idea. What he’d felt was nothing more than the normal affection that came from having sex with someone. He’d felt instant attraction before. Lust. That was all it was. Just that white-hot lust that struck sometimes like lightning. It would fade in a few weeks. By the time they got bored with one another, Scott would be on his way to school.

Relieved to have the issue settled, Rocky had finally been able to fall asleep only to feel his alarm had gone off right after he’d closed his eyes. Groggy, he’d found himself struggling to get ready.

A soft tapping drew Rocky to the door. He opened it to find Scott standing there and brought him in. “I’m sorry. I’m running a little late.”

“No worries.” Scott glanced around the room, his gaze lingering on the bookshelf. “Anything I can do to help?”

“I just need to get my shoes on.”

“No boots?”

“Not if we’re going to be shopping.”

“Smart man.”

Rocky noticed Scott had pulled on a pair of athletic trainers. “Would you grab some water from the fridge?”

“Sure.” Scott slipped them into his backpack. With it slung over his shoulder, he appeared more like a college student. A very young one. Freshman young, even.

Instead of asking for his driver’s license to verify his age, Rocky remembered the acceptance letter. For Scott to get into a master’s program, he had to already have a bachelor’s degree. Four years of college put him well into his twenties.

Shoes on, phone in his jacket pocket, Rocky climbed into the truck with Scott riding shotgun.

“Why didn’t you go for your master’s right after you finished your bachelor’s?” Rocky started the truck and let it warm up while he entered their destination into the GPS.

“Money.” Scott pulled on his seat belt. “I would have kept right on going all the way up to a doctorate if I could have put together enough scholarships.”

“Mathematics is your field of study?”

“What gave it away?” Scott asked then answered his own question. “Was it the blackboard in my room?”

“If not that, then the row of books on mathematical theory certainly would have.”

“You recognized the titles?”

“A few.” Rocky put on his seat belt. “What branch of mathematics are you interested in?”

“I’m a theoretical mathematician.”

“So what’s the end job?”

“There isn’t one, really. There’s a much bigger call for applied mathematicians in the workforce, but I’m more interested in theory. Well, there’s teaching, I suppose, but I really don’t want to teach.”

“You don’t like teachers?” Rocky smirked.

“Only when they’re teaching me sex.”

Rocky laughed then put the truck into gear and eased away from the bunkhouse. He didn’t want to wake anyone. Once he cleared the area, he took on speed and asked, “What will you do with your degrees?”

“Nothing, really. I just want to learn so I can think about it.” Scott made a face that seemed to be waiting for Rocky to say something rude.

“Whatever you’re expecting, I’m not going to say it.”

“You’re not?”

“Nope. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with learning for learning’s sake.”

“You’d be the first.” Scott pulled off his jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves, making himself about a hundred times sexier. “Why is that?”

“I spent a good chunk of my life pursuing something that I really didn’t want. Or maybe at one time, I did want it, but I don’t want it anymore.”

“Money?”

“Yeah. And all the trappings that go with it. I remember being of the mind that greed is good.”

“It’s actually really shitty for the world as a whole.”

“I figured that out.” Rocky sighed as he turned off the ranch road onto the two-lane highway that would take them to the interstate. “It took me a decade but I eventually realized...”

“What?”

“The emptiness of it.”

“Of greed?”

“Of pursuing money. Don’t get me wrong, money is necessary. You need it to survive, but you only need so much. I knew people with billions who still didn’t think they had enough.”

“I’ve thought about that.”

“About greed?”

“About how most people don’t understand the difference between a million dollars and a billion dollars. They think those two numbers are pretty similar but they aren’t. A billion is a thousand million. It’s an obscene amount when you’re talking money but next to nothing when you’re talking molecules.”

“Molecules?”

“I dabbled in chemistry.”

“So a billion molecules of gold would be how big?”

“Not big enough to see, really. Smaller than the period at the end of a sentence.” Scott tapped his fingers on his knee. “But if you had a billion dollars in hundred dollar bills, that would take up about...” Scott trailed off, calculating. “Eleven hundred cubic feet.” Once he had the answer, he stopped tapping his knee. “Wow. No one needs that much money.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Is that why you ditched the city for the country?”

“I wanted a simpler life.”

“Less thinking and more physicality?”

“Pretty much.” There was more, a lot more, but Rocky wasn’t so sure he wanted to get into that while driving on what he hoped would turn out to be a beautiful day.

“I’m looking for a way to have both.” Scott fiddled with the environmental controls on the dash.

“Once you get your degree you’ll come back to Climax?”

“There or another ranch.” Scott shrugged. “I like doing cowboy work because I have plenty of time to think about numbers. Ranch work isn’t mentally taxing, you know?”

“I do.”

“What were you before?” Scott lifted his leg up onto the bench seat. “In the city.”

“After a lot of different positions, I became a day trader. Well, I usually say that because most people wouldn’t understand what I really did but you would.”

“Okay. Let’s see.” Scott put an imaginary hat on his head. “Thinking cap on.”

“I was an algorithmic trader.”

“That’s why you recognized the books on my shelf.” Scott snapped his fingers and turned more fully toward him. “So you know programming, then.”

“Enough to get the job done.”

“I’ve done a fair amount of that too. Mostly so I can see how a formula or algorithm would work in a real-life application.”

“You don’t just think about math, then. You’re thinking about math and its effects on society.”

“How did you know that?” Scott tilted his head.

“The book by Hanna Fry. She talks about the use of algorithms in society, replacing human systems with mathematical systems.”

“And the fact that you can program your prejudices right into the code.” Scott leaned toward him. “No one’s ever been able to talk to me about this stuff.”

“Don’t get too excited.” Rocky needed to remind himself of that fact more than he needed to remind Scott. “I know just enough to get myself into trouble.”

“I don’t think that’s true.” Scott put his hand on Rocky’s knee. He didn’t slide it up or do anything other than rest his hand there as if bridging the distance between them.

Rocky soon found himself thoroughly engaged in a conversation about math, computers, robots, and what all of it meant for the future of humankind.

When he found himself on the outskirts of Denver, he couldn’t believe the hours had just flown by. Rocky hadn’t been so engaged in a conversation since college.

“People always feared Big Brother but it seems to me it’s really about Big Data.”

“Making choices when technology is there subtly directing us.”

“Yeah.”

“You hungry?” Rocky asked.

“Actually, yeah. I didn’t even notice.” Scott turned his attention out the windshield. “We’re here already?”

“I know. The time just went flying by.” Rocky met and held Scott’s gaze for a moment, feeling that connection from last night deepen. Loneliness and lust. That had to be it. “Can you check on your phone for a good place to have breakfast?”

“Sure.” Scott pulled his smartphone out and started tapping with his thumbs. “You want vegan, classic American, fast food, or what?”

“Classic American. Eggs, pancakes, that kind of thing. Unless—are you a vegan?”

“I was being flippant.” Scott grinned. “I don’t think a vegan would be working on a cattle ranch.”

“I wasn’t sure. You could be trying to change things from the inside.”

“I think my coworkers would notice.” Scott tapped away then directed Rocky to a place that didn’t look like much from the outside but the jam-packed parking lot spoke volumes. “Supposed to be the best place in the city,” Scott said.

Normally, Rocky hated long lines but not today. While they sat waiting for a table, they continued talking and time went zooming by again. Once their turn came, they settled in, ordered, ate, and got back in the truck.

“You really taught yourself programming?” Scott pulled his seat belt on.

“There are hundreds of places that offer free learning online.” Rocky pulled on his seat belt. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to pay, it was that I could learn when I got off work. It took a few months longer that way but it worked for me. I had this idea that I could do something more sophisticated than the program I had.”

“And it worked?”

“Worked amazingly well.”

“But you stopped.”

“Yeah.” Rocky sighed as he pulled out into traffic. “I don’t know how to explain it. I had my new program and I was working like usual and then all of the sudden I asked myself what the point was. And the only answer I could come up with was money. And something inside me just...died.” Rocky shook off the sadness. “That probably sounds absurd.”

“It doesn’t.” Scott put his hand back on Rocky’s knee. “It sounds like you had an epiphany.”

“It sure felt like a sudden realization.”

“What did you do?”

“I stopped. Right then and there. I never did another trade.” Rocky still had a few things in his portfolio, but he hadn’t looked at them in months. “I went to the window and I must have stood there most of the day trying to figure out what to do with myself.”

“And somehow you came up with becoming a cowboy?”

“Crazy, right? I thought I was having some kind of midlife crisis.”

“I think you’re too young for that.”

“I don’t think so. I think it’s not about the age it happens so much as it’s about just examining one’s life and finding fault with it.” Rocky had realized he hated his job, his apartment, his entire lifestyle. Suddenly, there in the truck, he remembered he’d also hated his lack of any kind of deep emotional attachment. Could that explain why he’d felt that curious connection to Scott last night? He understood why he felt it more strongly today after their in-depth conversation but it made no sense last night. Not unless he had some kind of psychic skill that allowed him to know he would turn out to have a lot in common with Scott.

“You okay in there?” Scott asked.

“Sorry.” Rocky shook his head. “Woolgathering.”

“Or having another epiphany.”

“I think I’ve had enough of those, thank you very much.”

“How did you come up with becoming a cowboy?”

“You have to promise me you won’t laugh.”

“Never.” Scott gently squeezed his knee.

“That’s what I wanted to be when I was little. I wanted to ride horses into the sunset and swing a lasso and wear pointed-toe boots.”

Scott covered up a small laugh by coughing.

“I heard that.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you but at the sweetness of you trying to make that childhood fantasy come true.”

“I know. I’m crazy.”

“I don’t think so. You wanted to try it and you’ve done amazingly well considering you have zero background in working at a cattle ranch.”

“I’ve been a damn fool, according to some.”

“Hey, look.” Scott tried to move closer but the seat belt held him back. “Last night, I might have said some things that hurt your feelings. That wasn’t what I meant to do.”

“I know.” Rocky patted his hand, still resting on his knee. “But I have been working harder than I need to. I could have asked for help but, well, I didn’t want to be the newbie.”

“Greenhorn,” Scott corrected.

“Virgin,” Rocky retorted.

They laughed together.

“How did you learn how to ride a horse so fast?” Scott asked.

“That, I already knew.”

“They have horses in New York?”

“Sure. I learned out in West Hempstead. My parents made it a part of my education.”

“Did you learn to fence too?”

“I did.” Rocky spared him a quick glance then put his gaze back on the road. “How could you possibly know that?”

“When we were playing horseshoes one night. You struck a pose and I thought you looked like you were holding a foil.”

“Have you taken fencing lessons?” From the way he spoke, Rocky figured he had.

“I did.” Scott grinned. “Fencing club at college. I was never very good at it, but I enjoyed trying. Mostly it was a way to get moving. I found out I think better if I’m either moving or after I’ve done something physical.”

“Fencing takes too much thinking in the moment.”

“You got that right.” Scott nodded. “I couldn’t think about numbers while doing it but later I’d play with the math of it. Calculating moves. Like with chess. I know it’s been done a million times but there’s so much math to games like that.”

“And cards,” Rocky said, his tone pointed.

“And cards,” Scott agreed, his tone soft.

“You can count cards, can’t you?”

“Yeah.” Scott hung his head. “Don’t tell people. Everyone thinks I’m just super lucky.”

“Your secret is safe with me. Just don’t let them get a look inside your room or they might figure it out.”

“You’re the first person who’s been in there.”

“You’re the first person who’s been in mine.”

“Makes us room buddies.”

Rocky pulled up at their first stop.

“Why are we stopping—whoa. Okay. I think I know why we’re stopping here.”

They got out of the truck and entered the store.

“If I’m going to train you properly, I’m going to need some equipment.” Rocky thought Scott would blush and stammer his way through the store, but he didn’t. He seemed utterly fascinated by the variety of sex toys.

“I’ve never seen anything like this.” Scott reached out as if to touch the toy Rocky had in his hands but he stopped at the last moment.

“I’ve seen one but I’ve never been able—to buy one.” What he’d been about to say was that he’d never had anyone to use such a toy with. “They’re hard to find.” Rocky put the double-ended jackoff sleeve into his basket.

“So, like, we both use it at the same time?”

“Yeah. It’s fun. You’ll like it.”

“I have a feeling I’ll love it.”

They slowed down once they hit the dildo aisle, then stopped altogether when Rocky found a toy he hadn’t even known existed.

“What’s that?” Scott asked.

“You’ll see.”

“I want to see it now.”

Rocky covered the item with another toy since he wasn’t sure Scott could actually handle it and he didn’t want to push him into something he might not enjoy. Still, he wanted to buy the toy even if he never used it. “Trust me, it’ll be more fun if you let me surprise you with it.”

“Okay. But if I freak out, it’s on your head.”

“You won’t freak out. You’ll trust me to give you earthshaking orgasms.”

“After last night, you got that right.” Scott sputtered laughter. “And now I’m a poet.”

“Did you know it?”

“I do now.” Scott’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, look at this.”

While Scott examined several interesting butt plugs, Rocky found a wireless vibrating one cast in deep purple silicone. He pulled out his phone and added batteries to his shopping list. Turning down another aisle, he added condoms, lube, and a stretchy cock ring, also in deep purple. Strange. The last time he’d gone shopping for toys everything for men had been black. Not that he minded the purple stuff, just that it was interesting.

Scott slipped something into the basket. “Don’t worry, I’ll buy this one.”

“We already got the double jackoff toy.”

“I know but when I go off to school I’ll have to fly solo.” Scott turned away to examine the novelty condoms, leaving Rocky to stand there, thinking about a day that was almost as far away as it could get, yet he felt its looming presence anyway. Rocky added another of the same item to the basket. He had to start right now accepting the inevitable end. Maybe if he reminded himself in every way he could, it wouldn’t hurt so much when that day arrived.

Or he supposed he could just end things now.

“Have you ever played with these?” Scott held up a set of anal beads.

“Yeah.” Rocky realized that wasn’t going to happen. He wasn’t going to let another man get to see Scott’s eyes light up as he popped each bead out, one at a time, intensifying his orgasm. “Those are a little big for a beginner, though.”

“What size do we need?”

Rocky checked out the display and picked a size that would push Scott’s limits but not too far. Into the basket they went.

“Okay. Last thing, I promise.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Rocky moved close and whispered into his ear, “Get anything and everything that interests you.”

Scott licked his lips and took a swipe at the front of his pants. “Damn, you’re really good at that. I went from zero to sixty in less than a second.”

“Ah, the joys of being young.”

Scott turned and causally cupped Rocky’s cock. “I’m not the only one.”

“It’s the idea of slowly pulling those beads out of your ass while using that Fleshlight on your cock at the same time.”

“Fuck.” Scott stepped back. “No more of that or I’ll make a mess in my pants.”

“Wouldn’t want that.” Rocky lowered his voice. “I’d hate to waste it.”

“Oh, you are just—we’re going to have to find a private place to park the truck.”

“No.”

“No?”

“Uh-uh. You’re going to learn the joy of anticipation, my horny young pup.”

“Every time you call me that I get this shiver that just makes all the hair on the back of my neck stand up.”

“Does it make your nipples hard too?”

“Yeah.”

“Then we’d better get some nipple clamps.”

“At this rate, we’d better get another basket.”

In the end, it took two baskets to carry all their purchases up to the register.

“I’ll pay for that one.” Scott reached for the Fleshlight. “Wait. There’s only supposed to be one.”

“I got one for me.”

“Oh. Right. When I go you’ll be there all alone.”

Don’t remind me, Rocky thought but didn’t say it out loud. He needed fewer reminders, not more.

“And I’ll pay for both.” Rocky dropped his card on the counter then took Scott’s hands into his. “No arguments.”

“But I can pay for my own toy.”

“Don’t make me tie you up.”

“You think that threat is going to make me stop?” Scott scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“If my girlfriend threatened me with that, I’d keep arguing.” The clerk, a lady with brightly colored hair and half a dozen piercings,  laughed while she continued to ring up their purchases.

“Good point.” Rocky considered Scott. “I know, I’ll tie you up and make you watch me play with all those toys without you.”

“Ooh, brutal. Okay. Have it your way.”

Rocky pulled Scott close, kissing the last of the argument out of him.

“Yeah, that’s pretty much how my girlfriend silences me.” The clerk put everything in two bright purple bags.

“Um, we might need something a little more discreet.” Scott picked one of the bags up.

“We’ll use the other shopping bags we get as camouflage.” Rocky picked up the other bag and out to the truck they went. “Where to now?”

“Um. Oh, right. Gear shopping.” Scott plugged a name into the GPS. Once it found the store he wanted, they were on their way.

Scott fiddled with the glove box, the window lever, and then turned and toyed with the bags in the back part of the extended cab.

“You okay over there?” Rocky asked, keeping most of his attention on traffic.

“Yeah. Why?”

“You’re fidgeting.”

“I always fidget if I can’t think about numbers.”

“You can think if you want. I can be quiet.”

“No, that’s not it.” Scott met his gaze then looked away, blushing lightly. “I have something else that I want to think about but I’m trying not to think about that because, well, you know, anticipation.”

“You mean you can’t think about the math of sex?”

“Not when I haven’t had much experience.”

“Don’t worry.” Rocky grinned. “I’m going to make sure you go off to college with plenty.”

Chapter Five

Even if it drove him crazy, Rocky was going to give Scott a top-notch sexual education. Not just the mechanics, but the social aspects, especially things that would make his partners glad to have been with him. Of course, that thought led inevitably to Rocky imagining a partner who found Scott so talented in and out of bed that he didn’t want to let go. Ever.

“Are you okay over there?” Scott asked.

“Sure. Why?”

“You’ve got a death grip on the steering wheel.” Scott chuckled. “Is it trying to get away or something?”

“I’m just a little tense. You know. Traffic.”

Scott frowned as he considered the handful of cars on the street.

“It’s not that there’s a lot of traffic, it’s just that I’ve gotten used to driving in Climax.”

“Oh. Yeah. In town, two cars at the same stop sign is practically a traffic jam.”

“Yeah.” Rocky flipped on his turn signal when the GPS warned him about an upcoming turn.

“Did you drive much in the city?”

“Not really. It’s easier to walk or take a cab.”

“You were making beaucoup bucks and didn’t buy a fancy car?”

“Cars have never really been my thing.” Rocky kept following along with the navigation system. He didn’t even get into the hassles of parking, the price gouging on insurance, or all the other annoyances of owning vehicles in New York.

“This truck is nice.”

“Thank you.”

“Understated.” Scott stroked over the dash. “Smart.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Like, you could have gotten a truck with all the bells and whistles. Chrome grill and gleaming paint but you didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice. Comfortable. But it’s not over the top.” Scott turned toward him. “You wanted to blend in not stand out.”

“Smart man.”

“Just like with your wardrobe. You bought inexpensive jeans, basic boots, and few cheap odds and ends.”

“Did I do it wrong?”

“Not wrong, necessarily, but not smart.”

Rocky gritted his teeth.

“Whoa, there, partner.” Scott patted Rocky’s knee. “I said your clothing and gear choices weren’t smart, not that you weren’t smart.”

“Isn’t that roughly the same thing?”

“Not even.”

“Is that how—” Rocky cut himself off from going there. He didn’t honestly believe someone had pegged him as gay because of his wardrobe.

“Wilson guessed.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because Wilson thinks I’m straight.”

“Why would he think that?”

“Because he saw me kiss Sally Ann.”

“Why were you kissing Sally Ann?” Rocky wasn’t jealous. Okay, a little, but he seriously doubted Scott had kissed the pretty cowgirl because of lust or longing.

“Because she asked me to.”

“Why?”

“Dunno, exactly. I think she either wanted to make someone jealous or she wondered if we had any spark between us. I don’t know if the jealousy thing worked. I know she was dating someone at some point but I couldn’t tell you who.”

“Was there a spark?”

“Nope. None at all.”

“Did she know you were gay?”

“I don’t think so. According to my college roommate, I come off exceedingly straight.”

“He used that word? Exceedingly?”

“That’s what he said.”

“Huh. Did you go around talking about banging chicks, your favorite sports teams, and wearing clothing that looked as if you’d just rolled out of bed?”

“Are those all straight guy things?”

“Stereotypical straight guy things.” Rocky shrugged. “Then again, people always thought I was straight and I didn’t do any of those things.”

“Because you don’t come off gay at all.”

“Then why did Wilson say that?”

“Maybe he wanted you to be gay?” Scott shrugged.

“Is Wilson gay?”

“Don’t know, don’t care.”

“Tell me more about your college roommate, the one who called you exceedingly straight.”

“I think in some ways it was wishful thinking on his part, like, if he called me straight, I would be.”

“He was uncomfortable living with you?”

“See, that’s the thing.” Scott lifted his leg up onto the seat and turned toward Rocky. “I think he was interested in me but didn’t want to be. So, like, if he kept talking about how straight I came off, he could shove his interest to the back of his head and not think about it.”

“I can understand that. A lot of men have a little homosexual leanings in them. They think it means they’ve failed in some way.”

“Right. Like, if someone finds out they might want to mess around with another dude, they’re going to take away their man card.”

“I read somewhere that everyone’s a little gay.”

“I can believe that,” Scott said. “I’m a little straight.”

“How so?”

“I can appreciate a beautiful woman.”

“I don’t know that that’s straight so much as just an understanding of aesthetic value.”

“Hmm. Something to think about.”

“Is this the store?” Rocky stared at the massive parking lot dotted with nothing but trucks, most of them battered.

“This is the place.”

Rocky parked.

“One thing.” Scott lightly touched Rocky’s arm. “In here, we’ve got to turn on that straight vibe.”

“Manly men doing manly things?”

“Absolutely.”

“As if manly men don’t do each other.”

“I know that and you know that but these men don’t care to think about things like that.”

“I think I can pull off being straight for an hour or two.”

“Good.” Scott rubbed his hands together, giggling manically. “Then when we get back to the truck we can be super gay with each other. You know, capes and sequins and more butt toys than an entire Navy fleet could use.”

“You’re warped.”

“Totally.” Scott climbed out. “Really, the only straight thing about me is my hair.”

Laughing, they walked into the store only, unlike the sex shop, they made sure to keep a certain distance from one another. Funny how playing straight came almost effortlessly to Rocky. No wonder those who knew him in the city never caught on. He knew how to play straight without even thinking about it.

Scott grabbed a shopping cart.

“We’re going to need that?” Rocky pointed to the smaller baskets. “Won’t one of those work?”

“You want to do this right?”

“I do.”

“Then let’s get shopping.” Scott wheeled the cart toward the left of the massive store. “First thing, jeans. You really need to buy solid jeans that won’t rip apart.”

“I thought ripped up jeans were in fashion?”

“The I’ve-been-through-a-shredder look? It is. At the mall but not on a ranch.” Scott ran his gaze up and down Rocky’s body. “Thirty-six, thirty-six?”

“Good eye.”

Scott moved closer and whispered, “It’s gay math. Don’t tell anyone.”

“Funny.”

“I suggest getting a size larger for shrinkage.” Scott leaned closed and whispered, “I could so make a cold water shrinkage joke here but I won’t.”

“Thanks for that.”

“And go up two sizes if you’re going to be wearing long underwear.”

“Oh.”

“Hadn’t thought about fall and winter, huh? No worries.” Scott added four pairs of jeans to the cart. “Three for now, one for fall.”

As they went through each of the aisles, Scott added things to the cart. Rocky trusted him to know the right sizes.

“Just remember that on the ranch, it’s not fashion. It’s durability and longevity. Like gloves.” Scott lifted two different pairs of gloves. “These are one-sixth the price of these.”

“I’m not surprised.” Rocky picked up the cheaper pair. “Look at the stitching. It’s big stitches, uneven. Low-quality workmanship. But these...” Rocky examined the more expensive pair. “The fabric is three times as thick. The stitches are small and even. This pair has much better workmanship.”

“Yep, good eye. Think of it like buying a suit. You’d never have bought a suit sewn like this.” Scott put the cheaper pair back on the rack.

“But won’t other people notice and think—”

“If you’re worried they’ll think you have money, they won’t. They’ll think you know that paying more for a pair of gloves today that lasts five years is worth it when the alternative is buying those cheaper ones ten times. Well, maybe not that many, depending on what you’re doing with them. The thing is, you want a good pair of canvas and leather gloves for grunt work and a pair of kidskin for lighter work when you still want to protect your hands.”

“I thought I should try to toughen them up by not wearing gloves.”

“A newbie mistake.” Scott winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be a dick.”

“You’re not being a dick.” Rocky glanced around to ensure they were alone even though his proximity sense said they were. “Don’t ever be afraid to share what you know.”

“I...” Scott trailed off when he met Rocky’s gaze. He seemed to come back to himself rather suddenly. “You’ll get your hands toughened up inside the gloves. You know, callouses and that, but it won’t rip them apart like they are now.”

Rocky grimaced as he checked out his battered hands.

“I’m not putting you down.”

“Oh, I know. It’s not that. Just—I wish I would have asked for help at the beginning.”

“You really couldn’t have. If you had, you would have exposed yourself.” Scott’s gaze darted down to Rocky’s crotch then back to his eyes so quickly no one could have noticed. “I would have enjoyed that but everyone else? Not so much.”

“You’re very funny, aren’t you?”

“I try. But seriously, the guys there...” Scott sighed. “Well, some of them would have helped you without being dicks about it, but most of them would have taken advantage of your naivety.”

“You won’t.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I know you won’t do that to me.” Scott turned away as if afraid of the moment getting too deep.

Rocky understood. He felt closer to Scott than he’d been to anyone in well over a decade. Lust and loneliness went far toward explaining the seemingly instant connection, but they didn’t harbor well for a meaningful or lasting relationship. They could have something good, though. Something real. Rocky would never willingly hurt Scott and he knew that Scott felt the same way.

They continued shopping, loading up the cart with quality gear that would last Rocky well into the next decade if he took care of everything. Rocky paid and they carted everything out but Scott said they weren’t done.

“I need to ask just how serious you are about this cowboy thing.”

“Meaning?”

“Would you be willing to drop some serious bucks on a great pair of boots?”

“What’s wrong with the boots I bought?” Rocky hated those boots. He wore them because he thought he had to but he didn’t like to wear them and shucked them any and every chance he got.

“They don’t fit you right.”

“They don’t?”

“When you took them off, I saw that they’d pinched your feet.”

“How could you see that when I had socks on?”

“Pinching boots fold over your socks.” Scott took his shirt and doubled up the material. “If a boot is doing that to your sock, it’s trying to do the same to your foot.”

Impressed, Rocky blinked hard and stepped back.

“You’re used to being the one who sees things with other people, I’m guessing?”

“Yeah.”

“Please don’t get pissed off but I really thought you were some straight guy who came to the ranch to prove to some woman how tough you were. I think that’s kind of what everyone thought. That you were trying really hard to prove yourself a man. That might be why Wilson spread the rumor that you were gay. He wanted to make proving yourself a man even harder.”

“So basically, Wilson is a total dick.”

“Yeah. A floppy, sad, tiny dick.” Scott matched Rocky’s grin. “I think a lot of people are like Wilson in that they want an easy answer about someone. That way, they don’t have to see just how complicated a guy like you really is.”

“Complicated,” Rocky repeated.

“Complicated,” Scott echoed.

“I think that’s the kindest adjective I’ve ever had thrown my way.”

“Complicated is good.” Scott fingered the bags they’d tossed into the back part of the extended cab. “You want to really do this?”

“I do.”

“Then let’s go get you some decent boots.”

“Decent?” Rocky asked, firing up the truck then easing his way out of the parking lot.

“Good.”

“How about great?”

“If you want a pair of boots that you’ll keep for the rest of your life, I know exactly where to take you.”

“Take me there, pup.” Rocky checked their position, their privacy, then kissed Scott. “Teach me.”

“With honor, my alpha wolf.”

Rocky’s cock hardened. He struggled to turn his attention away from Scott and on to the road. He managed to occupy himself with driving despite the fact Scott leaned over the seat to redistribute their sex toy purchases into the other bags. Rocky got a good long look at Scott’s ass while he bent over in such a perfect position.

“Okay, that’ll make getting by everyone a lot easier.” Scott settled back and put on his seat belt. “You okay?”

“I was just enjoying the view.”

“Good. Maybe tonight you can show me something new.”

“You still got that rhyming thing going on?”

“Apparently.” Scott held up the two bright purple bags from the sex shop. “What should I do with these?”

“Tuck them under the front seat. I’ll find a place to toss them.” Not that Rocky really cared what people thought about him. His main concern was with protecting Scott’s privacy. He didn’t want people nosing around him but he especially didn’t want them interrupting Scott’s plans.

It wasn’t long before Rocky slipped his feet into boots that felt so good he didn’t think he’d ever want to take them off.

“That’s the hallmark of a good pair,” the salesman said. He had an enormous walrus mustache in jet black and tiny round glasses that somehow managed to look proportional to his heavy face. “When you need new heels in a few years, stop by. It’s one of our specialties.”

Scott also talked him into getting a new hat, claiming the one he had wasn’t bad but he needed one with a bigger brim and one that actually fit his head. “That way, you won’t constantly have to slap your hand on the top to keep it on when you hit a patch of wind.”

Rocky also got a dozen bandanas, a good knife, chaps, and several bottles of sunscreen.

“Do not buy into that machoshitheadedness of manly men don’t need sunblock. You do.”

“Machoshitheadedness? Is that a word?”

“It is now.” Scott put some iron-on patches into their basket. “If Shakespeare can make up words, why can’t I?”

“I don’t see a reason why not.”

After whipping out his credit card, they took everything out to the truck.

“I think we have to stop,” Rocky said. “We’ve almost filled up the back seat.”

“Well, then you’re in luck because we’re done.”

“Homeward?” Rocky asked.

“Homewa—wait. Food?”

Rocky checked the time, astonished by how much of the day they’d shopped away. “It’ll be dark when we get back.”

“Excellent.” Scott rubbed his fingers together. “We’ll be able to hide your purchases under the cover of darkness.”

“Good point.” Rocky pulled the truck into a parking lot. “See if you can find a good steakhouse. Somewhere we can get in dressed as we are but not a cheap place.”

“Got it.” Within half an hour they were seated and an hour after that they were back in the truck headed home.

“Man those fries were good.” Scott patted his stomach.

“They must have been.” Rocky gave him a look. “Someone kept stealing mine.”

“You should have said something to management. Damn fry thieves.”

Rocky checked the road for a turnout. When he found one, he slowed down and turned off the road.

“What are you doing?” Scott asked.

“You’ll see.”

“Hey, I’m sorry about your fries.”

“Oh, now you’re sorry.” Rocky stopped the truck and turned to Scott. “Can I kiss you?”

“Oh, fuck yes.” Scott plastered himself against Rocky, kissing him passionately while trying to get into his lap.

“Whoa, cowboy. That’s not what this is.”

“That’s what this could be.”

“I’m not taking your virginity on the side of the road.”

“Then why’d you stop?”

“Because looking at you one more second without being able to kiss you would have driven me absolutely crazy.”

After a few more kisses, and some whispered sexy threats into his pup’s ears, Rocky got back on the road. Just like they had on the way out, they got to talking and time just flew by.

“Okay, that is not looking good.” Scott crouched down so he could look more up than out the windshield.

“Yeah.” Rocky had been keeping an eye on the dark clouds that shrouded the upper peaks. On the other side, filling the vast space between the two massive mountain ranges, was Climax Valley. “Can you check your phone for weather reports?”

“I’m on it.” Scott tapped away at the device. “Oh, this is bad.”

“What’s it say?”

“Nothing. The major cell tower must be out.” Scott held the phone up, turning this way and that. “No bars. None at all.”

“Okay. Well, we need to keep on moving forward.”

“We should be okay in this truck. They’ll keep the road through Climax plowed since it’s a major artery across the state.” Scott bit his bottom lip. “I’m worried about the herd.”

“Can’t they handle the cold?”

“They can. They still have their winter coats, but if it’s a severe storm, they’ll need help.”

“It’s an all-hands-on-deck type of situation?”

“It is.”

“Well, at least I’ve got the right gear.”

“Yeah. If we get back in time, you’ll be giving it a workout tonight.” Scott snapped his fingers. “Shit. Should have had you pick up a big flashlight.”

“Got one.” Rocky downshifted as he climbed the last hill into the valley. “I’ve also got a headlamp too.”

“Good. I think you’re going to need both.”

By the time they’d reached the top, the lingering sunset had vanished into darkness. At first, a few puffy clumps of snow fell but they thickened until Rocky had to slow down just to keep some visibility. Even with his wipers on full, the snow still blocked his view. He kept going. Rocky didn’t see any point to stopping when they’d only be more vulnerable on the side of the road.

It seemed to take hours but he finally reached the turnoff to the ranch. He relaxed marginally. At least here he knew the roads. When they got to the bunkhouse, they found themselves alone.

“Let’s unload, suit up, and then head to the big house.”

“Why there?” Rocky asked, grabbing a handful of bags before opening the truck door. The wind almost ripped it right out of his hand. “Shit!”

“Yeah, it’s blowing something fierce.” Scott grabbed a few bags and followed Rocky inside. “Whenever there’s an issue, Caroline runs things from the big house. That way, everyone knows where to go.”

“They probably tried to reach us.”

“They probably did but don’t worry about it. We’re here now.”

Once they got the truck unloaded, Scott went off to his room, leaving Rocky to dress in layers. Thankfully, he’d listened to Scott about what he needed to do the job right. The long underwear and larger jeans needed to be washed, but right now, he didn’t think that mattered as much as staying warm. He put several of the bandanas in a pack along with other things he thought he might need, including water.

“Here. I should have had you get one but I’ve got an extra.” Scott wrapped the scarf around Rocky’s neck, tucking the ends into his coat. “There.”

“Thanks.”

Scott turned to go and Rocky stopped him. “What’s wrong?” Scott asked.

“Nothing. Just—I know the next few hours are probably going to be chaos and I wanted to thank you for today.”

“You’re welcome.” Scott moved close, smiling. “I’ve never had so much fun.”

“Me either.”

“You can kiss me if you want.”

“I want.” Rocky pulled him tight and kissed him. Reluctantly, he let go. They piled into the truck and headed toward the big house. Despite the snow, the howling wind, and the plunging temperatures, the only thing Rocky found himself worrying about was Scott.

Chapter Six

“We just need to get them into a shelterbelt area and provide more feed.” Caroline had been relieved to see Rocky and Scott after trying to reach them before the cell tower went down. With every one of her employees accounted for, she could turn her undivided attention to protecting the herd. Sudden harsh spring storms weren’t common, but they had happened enough that she had an emergency action plan written up and ready to implement.

“What I need you to do first is make sure the bunkhouse is ready for a power outage.” She handed Rocky a list of things that needed to be done. “All the equipment should be there in the common area. If not, come back here and we’ll get it sorted out.”

Caroline handed out other assignments.

“When you’ve completed an assignment,” Caroline said, “come back here.”

“Can’t we just check in?” Someone asked.

“I want you taking breaks. I also want you to warm up and I want you to eat.” Caroline pointed toward the dining room. “There will be coffee, sandwiches, and soup. Don’t be shy about eating. We’ve got plenty.”

“What about firewood?”

“I’ve got a team bringing more firewood up to the house, but thank you.”

Rocky checked his and Scott’s list. That was one of the things they needed for the bunkhouse. “Do we get firewood here?” Rocky asked Scott.

“There’s a pile out behind the bunkhouse,” Scott said. “We’ll bring in plenty.”

“Get the fire going there,” Caroline said, nodding at Scott. “I’ll be able to put up a good number of people here but we’ll need that space for the overflow. Double check there are enough cots and blankets.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I want everyone taking breaks. We have plenty of people so there’s no reason for anyone to play the hero. Got it?”

Everyone got it.  

“Does your truck have a CB radio?” Caroline asked Rocky.

“No, ma’am.”

“Okay. Take the green truck out front.” She rose from her desk and handed him the keys. “Also, pull around to the back of the house. We’re going to load you up with some food for the common room.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t forget to grab some pocket warmers.” Caroline pointed to the box near the front of her office. “Check in with me every half hour. If there are any problems, anything at all, check in.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Rocky took the keys and their instruction sheet while Scott got each of them a pair of pocket warmers. “Here.” Rocky gave the paper to Scott. “You do navigation and I’ll drive.”

“Okay.” Scott handed him a package of pocket warmers, read over the paper, and then slipped it into his pocket.

“How do these work?” Rocky asked as they stood in the foyer, pulling on their outer gear.

“Just open the package and shake them a bit.”

“Okay.” Rocky tore off the outer wrapper and the inner one then shook them. “Wow. That’s warm.” Rocky put one in each pocket.

“You can put them in your gloves if you want but I like to keep them in my coat pockets.” Scott lowered his voice. “Keeps my junk warm.”

“I keep learning new things from you.”

If not for the huge wrap-around porch giving them a windbreak, they would have had a hell of a time getting out of the big house. Also, the double-doored foyer acted like an airlock, preventing the inside of the house from getting too cold.

Of course, once he stepped outside, the wind literally took Rocky’s breath away. It burrowed through the fabric of his jeans and long underwear, making him shiver. Automatically, Rocky reached out and took Scott’s hand.

Scott grinned at him then they hurried into the green truck.

Rocky got it started and let it idle to warm up while Scott showed him how to work the CB.

“Why are we doing this when it seems the herd is the top priority?”

“We’re one of the last groups to get an assignment.” Scott plunked his hat on his head. “And I think she wants to break you in gently.”

“Probably a good idea.” Rocky put the truck into gear and eased out of the parking space. He had about twenty feet of visibility so he kept things to a crawl as he moved around to the back of the house. “Caroline is pretty sure the power is going to go out.”

“Better to be ready for it.”

“Does that happen here a lot?”

“Enough that we have backup systems. Like the woodstove out at the bunkhouse.”

“That’s not going to help the individual rooms.”

“Didn’t you ever notice that pipe along the back wall?”

“I thought that was for the sinks.” Each room had a sink but no shower or toilet.

“That pipe is for a waterline. The wood stove heats up water and uses convection currents to run hot water along that line.”

“Preventing the sinks from freezing.”

“It also heats up the floor in the bathroom.”

“My apartment had heated floors.” Rocky sighed.

“You starting to miss the city?”

“Not in the least.” Rocky backed the truck up to the kitchen door. “I just miss heated floors.”

After loading up plenty of food, Rocky pulled the truck back around to the front and eased down the long drive. He’d just made the turn toward the center of the ranch when something on the side of the road caught his eye.

“What is—is that a dog?” Rocky stopped the truck. Pitch black, maybe forty pounds, the dog collapsed into the snowbank, disappearing from sight.

“Wait here,” Scott said, ripping off his seat belt.

“Fuck that. I’m coming with you.” Rocky pulled on his gloves and stepped out.

With the wind whipping their words away, they weren’t able to talk but they didn’t need to. If not for a midnight black coat, they probably wouldn’t have noticed the dog at all.

Rocky picked up the dog and got it put in the cab. Once they had the doors closed, they were able to talk again.

“You recognize him?” Rocky asked Scott.

“No. It’s not one of Caroline’s dogs.”

“Does anyone else out here have a dog?”

“Not that I know of.”

“He looks half frozen.” Rocky checked behind the seat. He found a ratty blanket. “Here. Wrap this around him. We’ll get him over to the bunkhouse.”

“Shouldn’t we take him back to the big house?”

“I think they have enough to do. We can take care of him, right?”

“Yeah. Of course.” Scott swaddled the dog in the blanket then pulled him into his lap.

Rocky cranked the heat as high as it would go.

It took four times as long as usual to get to the bunkhouse. The first thing they did was get the dog inside.

“See if you can get the snow off him and warm him up. I’ll bring in the food.” Rocky took the warming packs from his pocket. “Here. Use these.”

“Good idea.” Scott used his to give the dog more warmth.

Rocky hauled in the food and firewood.

“Let me help.” Scott tried to get to his feet, but Rocky shook his head.

“Take care of him.”

“Her, actually.”

“Okay. Her. She needs more help than I do.” Rocky had never started a fire in his life but Scott walked him through the process while he continued to finger comb chunks of snow out of the dog’s fur.

Once he had the fire going, Rocky got the instruction list from Scott and started putting everything together in case the power went out. First priority was getting the lanterns down and making sure they were working.

“There should be an entire box of extra batteries in that back cabinet.” Scott pointed.

“Wouldn’t it make more sense to have oil lamps?”

“There are some for extended outages but the battery lamps are safer.”

“Right.” Once he had things situated, Rocky knelt down next to Scott and the dog. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s still shivering.”

“Okay. Next idea.” Rocky reclined on the couch and opened up his coat. “Bring her over here.”

Scott tucked the dog along Rocky’s chest so when he closed his coat over her, she was covered from nose to tail. Scott grabbed three blankets from the stacks and put them on top of Rocky and the dog for good measure.

It took almost ten minutes for her to stop shivering and another five for her to warm up and start panting.

“I found a bowl for water and I got some food.” Scott held up a piece of roast beef from one of the sandwiches.

“See if she’ll eat.” Rocky held his breath. If she didn’t eat, he worried they might have come upon her too late. When she took a tentative bite, he sighed with relief. “Okay. That’s good.”

“You had a dog?”

“My parents did. Show dogs, the kind you really can’t play with but I always liked them.”

“I never had a pet. My dad is allergic to everything.” Scott stroked over the dog’s fur. “She’s got such thick fur.”

“Part Chow, maybe?”

“I know next to nothing about dog breeds.”

“Finally, something I know more about than you.”

“Well,” Scott said, “there’s sex.”

“Other than that.”

“So, sex and dogs for you. That’s a good combo.”

“Smartass.” Rocky passed the dog to Scott then continued putting the gear together.

They took turns holding the dog until she dried off. Once she got back on her feet, she started sniffing around the room.

“That’s a good sign.” Rocky checked in with Caroline, explaining about the dog. “No collar, nothing.”

“Okay. Keep her there. Once the storm blows through, we’ll check with the local vet.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Half an hour later, Wilson arrived with a small bag of dog food. “Caroline said to bring this up.”

“Thanks.” Scott took the bag and immediately poured some into a bowl.

After a lot of sniffing, the dog began to eat. Slowly, almost thoughtfully, but she did eat. Rocky counted it as a good sign. However, when Wilson tried to pet her, she hid behind Rocky.

“Stupid dog.” Wilson feigned kicking in her direction.

Rocky didn’t think so. In fact, he thought the dog had a lot of smarts for avoiding Wilson.

“Where did you two disappear to earlier?” Wilson asked.

Neither one of them answered.

“Everyone knows you were together. Let me guess. Rocky got you to switch teams?” Wilson asked Scott.

Scott rolled his eyes and kept on petting the dog while Rocky put more wood on the fire.

“Don’t you two have the cushy job?” Wilson snorted. “You must be sucking up to the right person.”

Neither Scott nor Rocky replied. When he didn’t get any play out of being an asshole, Wilson left.

“What did you say about him?” Rocky asked. “Tiny, floppy dick?”

“Something like that.”

“You notice she didn’t like him?” Rocky nodded to the dog.

“I did. You know what they say, that dogs have a sixth sense about people.”

“You’re a good girl, aren’t you?” When she wagged her tail vigorously, Rocky smiled. “I think someone’s feeling better.”

They fed her, watered her, and then sat near the stove petting her.

“We got to give her a name,” Rocky said. “We can’t just keep calling her the dog.”

“Obsidian.”

“Ooh, that’s pretty heavy.”

“Obbie for short.”

“I like it.” Rocky lifted her head, peering into her eyes. “You like that, Obbie?”

“She’s wagging her tail,” Scott said. “I think it’s a go.”

“I think so too.” As the storm raged on, Scott fashioned a collar and leash so they could take her out for bathroom breaks. “There’s an alleyway between the two buildings. Should be out of the wind and shouldn’t have much snow.”

“I’ll be right back.” Rocky went outside to check in with Caroline over the CB in the truck.

“We’ve got all the cattle moved to shelterbreaks. I’ll be sending people to the common room up there to rest until morning.”

“We’re ready for them.”

Once they had more people, several who pulled the cots from where Rocky had them leaning against the walls and started setting up beds, Rocky and Scott considered leaving, but Obbie seemed to like having lots of people to fuss over her.

“We could just leave her here,” Scott whispered.

“We could. But I just...”

“Have a bad feeling about it?”

“Yeah. You too?”

“I feel like I’d be abandoning her.” Scott nudged Rocky gently. “Besides, we can play with all the fun new toys tomorrow.”

Unfortunately, it turned out that they couldn’t.

The storm continued to rage, necessitating they take turns taking out hay to the herd and bringing more food to the common area at the bunkhouse.

Scott and Rocky didn’t want to leave Obbie, but they did when Sally Ann agreed to stay and watch her.

“We’re good friends, aren’t we, beautiful?”

Obbie practically danced around Sally Ann’s feet.

“That’s all the evidence I need.” Scott laughed.

When Wilson came near, Obbie hid behind Rocky.

“What the fuck is wrong with that stupid dog?” Wilson asked as he tried to pet her despite the obvious fact she didn’t want him to. “It’s not like I hit her or something.”

“Why would you say that?” Rocky asked.

“I didn’t—nothing. Fuck you. I’m going to the big house if anyone wants to come along.”

No one did.

“Fine.” Wilson drove off alone.

“I won’t let him near her.” Sally Ann took Obbie over to her cot.

“She’ll be okay,” Scott said. “Let’s get on with our assignment.”

Rocky and Scott assisted another group in getting more hay out to the shelterbreaks for food and bedding. They also took out a load of grains and soy hulls that would be mixed in with the hay to give the cattle more calories to help them fight off the cold.

“If not for the shelterbreaks stopping that wind, they’d be dead.” Scott shivered as he took off his gloves and plunged his hands into his jacket pockets and the warmers tucked in there.

“That wind chill is unlike anything I’ve ever felt.” Rocky turned up the heat to full blast in the truck then headed back toward the big house.

“You get wind chill in the city?”

“New York winters can be extreme. The wind blasts between buildings and cuts into your clothes like a knife, but here it’s worse. Maybe because it’s more open.”

“Or the altitude.”

“Either way, I’m looking forward to the end of this blizzard.”

It took a total of four days for the storm to move on. In its wake, it left almost four feet of snow, wind speed hit almost seventy miles an hour which generated so much swirling snow the main road in and out of town had to be shut down. But they didn’t lose a single head of cattle.

“I cannot thank you all enough for pulling together and getting the job done.” Caroline had brought everyone to the big house to let them know the current situation. “Give yourselves a round of applause.”

Rocky had never felt so much a part of something as he did right then. With Scott by his side, and Obbie on the other, he’d found what he’d been lacking; a place to belong, a place where he was needed.

“But we aren’t done quite yet.”

The room went so silent the only sound was the ticking of the grandfather clock in the parlor.

“Now we have the joy of digging ourselves out of the snow.”

Everyone laughed.

Caroline handed out new assignments, basically calling on anyone who knew how to drive the larger equipment to help move snow off the roads and out of the parking lots. Most of the big trucks were fine but people’s cars and the smaller SUVs couldn’t navigate that much snow.

Once people started filing out, Caroline crouched down next to Obbie. “Hello there.”

Obbie responded enthusiastically.

“Well, I guess she knows a dog person.” Caroline stroked over the dog while examining her with a keen eye. “Was her coat matted or tangled when you found her?”

“Not really,” Scott said, crouching down too. “She just had snow clumped in her hair and frozen on her in places, but she seemed really clean once we got her warmed up.”

“She’s not a stray, then. Not with that coat. I’m glad you found her.” Caroline gently opened Obbie’s mouth and examined her teeth. “I know, girl. Sorry. That’s not fun.”

“Something wrong?” Rocky crouched down too.

“Just checking. She’s got clean teeth, no tartar build up, which means she’s been to a doggy dentist.”

“You thinking she’s chipped?” Rocky asked.

“Probably.” Caroline got to her feet.

Rocky and Scott followed her up.

“Once we dig out from the snow, I can take her into town and have the vet check.” Caroline frowned. “I just can’t imagine how she got all the way out here.”

“You don’t have to take her.” Scott tightened his grip on the leash Caroline had let them borrow to replace the makeshift one he’d made of rope. “I can do it.”

“Are you getting attached?” Caroline asked, her expression wary.

“No. Yes. Maybe.” Scott sighed. “I know I shouldn’t but she’s just so cute.”

“They steal your heart.” Caroline smiled then turned serious. “But you’re leaving, Scott. You know taking a dog to the university really isn’t an option.”

“I know.”

“Okay. Well, you’re welcome to leave her here at the big house if you want to avoid a broken heart.” Caroline darted her gaze to Scott’s ever-tightening hand, as did Rocky. “But I can see that isn’t going to happen.”

“Maybe the people won’t want her back.”

“Even if they didn’t—” Rocky cut himself off. Caroline had already told Scott that trying to take a dog with him to school simply wouldn’t be practical. Between school, work, and study, Scott wouldn’t have time to take care of a dog. As much as Rocky liked Obbie, he couldn’t take on a dog either. Pets weren’t allowed at the bunkhouse for a variety of reasons, mainly that there’d been too many problems with them barking or running at large and getting hurt. The storm was the only reason Caroline had let them keep Obbie there at all.

“If no one comes and claims her, I’m sure I can convince my husband we need one more dog.”

“Really?” Scott relaxed his fearsome hold.

“Really.” Caroline patted the dog’s head one more time. “She’s got some Chow in her but also some Sheppard. She’d probably make a good herding dog.”

“Okay. Well.” Scott eyed Obbie. “You want to stay here while we work?”

Obbie wagged her tail.

“You can come and pick her up when you’re done.” Caroline held out her hand.

Scott reluctantly gave her the leash. “Can I keep her in my room tonight?”

“Of course. Just for tonight, though. By tomorrow, we’ll be able to go into town.”

Scott chewed at his bottom lip.

“Come on, Scott.” Rocky made a point of putting his arm around Scott’s shoulders and turning him toward the foyer. “Let’s go help shovel snow.”

Distracting Scott with work didn’t keep him from talking about Obbie. Rocky listened and while he was sympathetic, he figured Scott was setting himself up for heartbreak.

Rocky couldn’t help but see the parallels. Each day he grew more attached to Scott. They hadn’t had time to play with the toys they’d bought. By the time night fell, exhaustion made them eager to climb into bed, alone. Rocky had hoped tonight might be the night for them to spend some time together, but the thought of getting freaky in such a small room while Obbie was there...

No.

Rocky just couldn’t quite handle that.

Turning his mind away from another night alone, Rocky asked Scott about the iron-on patches he’d insisted they buy in Denver.

“Oh. Those.” Scott slapped his knee. “For your pants.”

“But they’re brand new.”

“Right. Stops the knees from ripping in the first place. You’ll find you spend a lot of time on the job on your knees.”

Rocky tried to suppress a smile but he just couldn’t manage. Instead, he turned away and focused on moving the last of the snow off the concrete walkway that fronted the row of bunkhouses.

“I saw that.” Scott scoffed. “Pervert.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“We both know what you were thinking.”

“Do we?” Rocky turned, resting against the snow shovel.

“On your knees doing cowboy work, not...”

“Not what?” Rocky asked, pretending to be wide-eyed and innocent.

“You know.”

“No. I don’t.” Rocky lowered his voice. “I think you should describe it to me in detail.”

“How about I show you?” Scott glanced around. “No one would notice if we slipped away for a few minutes.”

“A few minutes? How fast do you think I’ll go off?”

“Who said anything about you getting off?” Scott asked pertly.

“You realize that every time you say things like that I increase your torment by ten minutes.”

“Ten?” Scott groused. “That hardly seems fair.”

“Who said anything about being fair?”

They bantered back and forth while cleaning off the snow then settled on the bench near their units to rest and soak up the sun.

“All that bright sunlight is going to melt this fast, you know.” Scott plunked his winter boots hard against the concrete, knocking off the snow stuck in the deep grooves.

Rocky made a note to buy some better snow boots for next year but his cowboy boots were working okay for now. “Spring snow becomes spring runoff.”

“Yep.”

“I’ll bet Caroline has a plan for that too.”

“She does.” Scott grinned. “We had to deal with a lot of runoff last year.”

“I say we rest for five then get lunch.”

“And then go somewhere for some alone time.” Scott waggled his brows.

“Are you sure you want to?” Rocky had told himself not to bring the subject up, but he’d never forgive himself if he didn’t.

“Are you seriously asking me that or are we back to playing word games with one another?”

“I’m seriously asking.” Rocky moved closer but not too close. He didn’t want to crowd Scott. “It’s just...”

“Just what?”

“Now you know what was putting your partners off.”

“My shitty kissing. So?”

“It wasn’t shitty, you were just—”

“Skip to the point.” Scott’s voice had taken on an edge that cut Rocky deeper than he expected.

“Maybe you should wait until you get to school.”

“Why would I do that?”

“So you can find someone who means something to you and give your virginity to him.” Rocky took a deep breath and held it, waiting for Scott’s answer.

“I already found him.” Scott slid across the bench and took Rocky’s hand. “I want to give it to you.” Scott squeezed Rocky’s hand. “And don’t you even ask me if I’m sure because I am.” Scott kissed Rocky’s cheek. “I’m more sure about this than I’ve ever been about anything.” Scott leaned away. “Wait. Are you sure? I mean if you’ve changed your mind—”

“I haven’t.” Rocky kissed Scott gently. “I just needed to make sure.” Of course, now he felt locked into heartache with no way to break free other than to just go through.

Chapter Seven

“You’ll never believe what that asshole Wilson did.”

Rocky had just barely opened the door to his bunkroom only to have Scott march in with Obbie in tow. “What did he do?” Rocky asked.

“He complained to Caroline about us having Obbie out here. Said that when he signed on, he thought no pets were allowed in the bunkhouse.”

“He doesn’t actually care.”

“Oh, he does. He cares about being a little floppy dick to everyone.” Scott threw himself on the bed.

Obbie sat down by his feet, her expression worried.

“He’s not mad at you, little one.” Rocky petted Obbie.

“Oh, I’m not mad at you. You’re wonderful.” Scott reassured Obbie, who soon had her tail wagging a mile a minute.

“So you can’t keep her out here?”

“No. Caroline said she let us because of the storm but it’s over now. If she gives in to me, she’ll have to give in to the next person and basically, Wilson gets his way because even though he’s a troublemaking gossipmonger with a micropenis, he knows how to run the stables.”

Rocky had wondered why Caroline kept the unpleasant man around. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” Scott sighed. “She said I could come up with Obbie to tell you but I had to take her back down to the big house for the night.”

“She’ll be safe there.”

“I’m not worried about that. It’s just...I wanted her to be mine.” Scott lifted his hand as if to hold back Rocky from saying anything. “I know I can’t keep her forever, but I thought it would be nice to pretend for a while that I could.”

Rocky understood far more than he’d ever let Scott know. “Sometimes, it’s better to let go before you get too attached.”

“Right. Be smart. I know. That would be the smart thing to do but why do I always have to be smart? Why can’t I do the foolish thing that makes me feel good for a while?”

“Sometimes it’s not up to us.” Rocky joined him on the foot of the bed. He wrapped his arm around Scott’s shoulders. “Sometimes we don’t get a choice.”

“That sucks.” Scott rested his head against Rocky’s shoulder.

“I know.” Rocky sat there with Scott, feeling that life wasn’t fair. If he could only be with Scott for a short time or not at all, he would choose to be with Scott. “You know that old saying about it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?”

“Yeah. I know. I’m glad you saw her that day in the snow.” Scott turned his head and met Rocky’s eyes. “If you hadn’t have seen her, she would have died out there.”

“I know. But since I did, you got to be with her for a while.” Rocky kissed Scott’s forehead. “It’s better than nothing, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Come on. Let’s get her up to the big house before tiny floppy penis makes more trouble.” Rocky climbed to his feet.

Obbie started wagging her tail and prancing around.

“She thinks we’re going for a walk.”

“We can do that. I’m sure Caroline won’t mind.”

“She said I could sleep down there tonight then go with her to the vet’s tomorrow.”

“You should do that.”

“What about you?”

“I can handle another night alone.” Rocky smiled despite not really feeling happy. “I’ve got that solo toy, remember?”

“Right.” Scott dropped his attention to the floor.

“I’d like to spend the night down there with you, but...”

“It’s not a good idea. I know. And it’s just one more night.”

“Just one more.” Rocky placed his mouth against Scott’s ear. “One more night until I start really educating you, pup.”

Scott shivered.

“Come on.” Rocky led the way outside.

With the roads cleared, Rocky had traded out the green truck for his own.

Wilson stood on the porch in front of his unit, hands on his hips, glaring at them the whole time.

“God, he’s such an asshole.” Scott climbed in after Obbie and put on his seat belt.

“Now, now. An asshole can be a wonderfully fine thing in the right context. Let’s stick with calling him a tiny floppy penis.”

“Micropenis.”

“If you insist.”

Wilson didn’t stop glaring at them until they were well down the drive. Then again, for all Rocky knew, the jackass could be inside glaring at them from his window. Why Wilson took so much pleasure in causing trouble Rocky would probably never know.

Rocky and Scott walked Obbie around the yard of the big house, laughing at her antics while talking of everything and nothing. When the time came to go, Rocky left Scott at the front door.

“I feel like I’m dropping you home after a date.” Rocky brushed some snow off Scott’s jacket.

“I feel torn between you and Obbie.”

“Don’t be. She needs you tonight, okay?”

“If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.” Rocky moved closer. “Do you want me to go to the vet with you tomorrow?”

“Would you?”

“Sure.” Rocky kissed Scott goodnight. “Pick me up on your way out.”

Rocky returned to the bunkhouse, alone. Almost as soon as he pulled up, Wilson came outside and started talking at him. Rocky ignored him. He stepped inside his room, closed the door and locked it. He made sure to pull the drape too. He didn’t actually want to be alone, but the only person he wanted to be with was Scott.

After brushing his teeth, he climbed into bed but couldn’t get into a book. He pulled out one of the Fleshlights but couldn’t summon any interest in jacking off, not without Scott watching. Tomorrow night, they’d be able to get down to some serious training. Or not. If Scott had to give up the dog to the rightful owner, he wasn’t going to be in any mood to do anything. Rocky decided if that happened, he would pull Scott into his bed and just hold him all night. It probably wouldn’t help but it certainly wouldn’t hurt.

In the event Obbie got to stay with Caroline and Scott got to come back to the bunkhouse, Rocky took the time to carefully plan out what toy he would start with and just how far he would push Scott before letting him climax. He wouldn’t push too hard. Not for his second time with a partner. Considering what had happened last time, Rocky knew they’d have fun. And having some wildly enjoyable sex would help take away the sting of leaving Obbie with Caroline.

Rocky woke up hard but didn’t take care of it. He took his own advice and enjoyed the anticipation. By the time Caroline, Scott, and Obbie rode up in the big SUV, Rocky was ready to go.

“You really don’t have to come with us,” Caroline said.

“I just want to help.” Rocky’s gaze darted to Scott then away. “If I can.”

“Of course.”

Rocky climbed in the back, sitting with Obbie between him and Scott.

Scott couldn’t seem to stop petting Obbie.

Rocky met Caroline’s gaze in the review mirror.

She knew. She knew about him and Scott. Rocky also knew she wasn’t going to say anything to anyone. Among many other amazing skills and talents, Caroline had an endless supply of compassion. She didn’t seem to care that Rocky was gay or that he was interested in Scott. The worry in her gaze could only be because she knew Scott was leaving. She probably thought Rocky was as foolish to stay involved with Scott as Scott was to stay involved with Obbie.

When they got into town, he met her gaze again. He swore she knew what he’d been thinking. That he’d take the heartache of losing Scott because he simply couldn’t stay away from him.

When they reached the veterinarian’s office, they didn’t find the doctor on the premises but they found her assistant, a young harried man who welcomed them into one of the exam rooms. From the tag on his scrubs, his name was Chase.

“Forgive Silvana for not being here. It’s just chaos, just chaos. So many people lost animals in the storm or had injured animals. She’s been out on call since—well, since the storm started, really.”

“That’s okay. I was told—”

“That I could check for a chip. Yes. I can. Sorry. I don’t mean to rush you but I’m the only one here and I’ve got other people waiting in the other rooms.” The vet tech took out a black plastic tool that looked a bit like a skinny hair dryer. He waived it over Obbie’s back, her flanks, then around her neck and belly. “Nope. Nothing.”

“That means no one owns her,” Scott said, hugging the dog.

“It means she doesn’t have a chip.” Chase went over to a tablet mounted on the wall and tapped away. “There’s a lost and found for animals in the county. I’ll check—”

“That’s okay,” Scott said. “You don’t need to do that.”

“Scott, if she was your dog and you lost her, wouldn’t you want someone to make every effort to get her back to you?” Caroline kept her tone kind but also a little pointed.

“If she were my dog, I wouldn’t have lost her in the first place.”

“That’s not fair and you know it.” Rocky didn’t want to be cruel, but he also didn’t want Scott to later regret his decision.

“Should I keep looking?” Chase asked, his finger hovering over the tablet.

“Yes,” Caroline said. “Please do.”

Scott kept his fingers crossed while the vet tech checked the list.

“Nothing.”

“What are the next steps?” Caroline asked.

“I’m going to enter her details into the database and get a picture.” Chase pulled the tablet from the wall, snapped a shot of Obbie, and then put the tablet on the counter so he could more easily enter her information. “I need a number to contact you.”

Caroline gave him her home and cell numbers.

“Okay.” Chase put the tablet back on the wall. “If no one comes and claims her within a few weeks, you can probably keep her.”

“Probably?” Scott asked.

“There’s a lot of legal mumbo jumbo that I don’t get, but, basically, you’re making an effort and if they aren’t you get to keep the found animal.”

“We’re not there yet,” Caroline said to Scott then turned her attention to Chase. “Can you tell me if she’s been spayed?”

“Yes, she has. And she’s in great health so someone’s probably going to want her back. Yeah. They’ll want her back.”

Too late, Rocky realized all the trip to the veterinarian’s office had done was give Scott more hope that he could figure out a way to keep Obbie.

Once they got back to the ranch, Caroline stopped the SUV right as she entered the main ranch gate. She put the SUV into park then turned so that she could look directly at Scott. “If you want, you’re welcome to a room at the big house.”

It didn’t take more than half a second for Rocky to see Scott’s distress. Scott wanted it all and he couldn’t have it all.

“Or,” Caroline said then hesitated. She seemed to be debating making the offer, whatever it was. “If you’d like, the two of you and Obbie could stay out at Johan’s old place.”

Rocky understood her hesitation. She was offering them a chance to play house knowing that they’d have to end things when Scott left for school. Conflicted, because she probably didn’t know if she was being kind or cruel, she seemed to be making the offer more the Rocky than to Scott.

“I’d like that,” Rocky said. “I mean if you’d like to share the place until you go, Scott.”

“You mean it?” So much hope filled Scott’s eyes Rocky would rather do anything than darken that brightness.

“Absolutely.”

“Yeah. Yeah.” Scott nodded so hard he tumbled his hat right off his head.

“Then let’s get you the keys.” Caroline put the SUV into drive and continued on home.

Obbie stayed with Caroline until Rocky and Scott finished their work for the day. While the sun set, turning the whole valley bright orange, they moved into the little cabin on the outskirts of one of the pastures.

“Look, it even has its own paddock.”

“And someone fixed the lean-to recently.” Fresh wood held up new sheets of metal.

Inside the small cabin, they found everything they needed to play house for the next three weeks.

“We’ll have to go into town and get food and stuff but we’re good for tonight.”  Scott had snagged some of the leftover sandwiches.

Rocky built a fire in the tiny wood burning stove.

“Obbie seems to have made herself right at home.” Obbie had claimed the spot nearest the stove, settling in on a braided wool rug.

“Which means, if we’re quiet, we can slip off for some fun while she sleeps.” Scott grabbed Rocky’s hand, pulling him toward the bedroom in the back.

“Are you ready for your next lesson?” Rocky made sure to bring all the toys they’d bought in Denver.

“I’ve never been so ready.” Scott closed the door then pulled Rocky close. “Before you even ask, you can kiss me.”

“I like your enthusiasm, pup.”

Scott shivered and smiled then puckered up but Rocky didn’t kiss him just yet. He teased his finger over Scott’s bottom lip, loving the whimper of longing he made. Only after making him hungry for it did Rocky kiss him. Too late, he realized his mistake. He’d made himself absolutely famished for his pup.

Rocky cupped Scott’s buttocks into his hands, pulling him tight, enjoying the feel of his cock rubbing against Scott’s. Hardness hit hardness as they kissed and stroked over one another.

“We need to make the bed.” Rocky only managed to pull himself back when he realized he had nowhere to take Scott just yet.

“Right.” Scott licked his lips and groaned as he turned away. “Caroline said there are sheets in one of the dresser drawers.”

“Here.” Rocky pulled out a set someone had carefully folded and stored inside one of the pillowcases. “You notice how orderly everything is?”

“It’s such a cute little place.”

“I wonder why no one’s been living here?”

“You don’t—right. How would you know?” Scott sighed and then grimaced. “Maybe I shouldn’t tell you.”

“Jesus. After that, I’m thinking you’d better.”

“Johan died here.”

“Murder?”

“No!” Scott laughed and then frowned. “Not that it’s funny. He was really old.”

“Died in his sleep?” Rocky removed the sheet set from the pillowcase.

“He was reading.”

“I’d like to go that way.”

“I want to die having sex.”

“What a horrible thing for your partner.” Rocky separated out the fitted sheet, stacking the others on top of the dresser.  

“Well, if we timed it right, he could come with me.”

“That would certainly make the papers.” Rocky wafted the bottom sheet, settling it over the bed.

“It doesn’t bother you?” Scott asked, helping Rocky to pull the sheet over the bed.

“What, that someone died here?”

Scott nodded.

“No. I don’t believe in ghosts. Even if I did, he had a good passing so why would he haunt the place?”

“I don’t think he would.” Scott tucked in his side of the sheet.

“Does it bother you?”

“Nope. People die. Like you said, he was probably happy when he went. Doing what he loved.”

“I saw all the books in the bookcase.”

“That’s something I wanted to do more of this year. Reading. More fiction. I read a ton of nonfiction but I’m just not reading as much thrilling tales as I used to.”

“I could do with more reading.” Rocky had never found making his own bed particularly exciting yet doing it with Scott made a curious kind of foreplay. Spreading the sheets over the bed so they could mess them right back up. Almost like slipping into erotic clothing for the sole purpose of taking it off while a partner watched.

Once they had the sheets on, Rocky reached for the quilt but changed his mind. He didn’t want to get lube all over it. In fact, he really didn’t want to get it all over the crisp white sheets either.

“Wait.” Rocky slipped into the tiny bathroom and grabbed his big towel. He could use one of the smaller ones after his shower in the morning.

“What’s that for?” Scott asked.

“You might get wet on this ride.” Rocky flipped the towel into the air then spread it over the mattress.

“Probably a good idea.”

“Definitely.” Rocky took the toys he intended to use from the bag, placing them on the side of the bed where Scott couldn’t see them. When he turned back around, Scott stood there, nude. “That was fast.”

“I thought being an eager student would make my teacher happy.”

“Very.” Rocky had an entire lesson sketched out in his head but lost the plan once Scott got on the bed, on his back. All he wanted to do was explore him. Touch him everywhere while he had the chance. He turned away for a moment, using the excuse of hanging his clothing over the chair when he really just needed to get control of himself. He could do this. Better he do this than another man, a man who might not care. At least he would be careful with Scott.

Rocky got another towel from the bathroom and used it to hide the toys and things he intended to use. While he was still semihard, he slipped on the stretchy cock ring, enjoying the way it made him feel bigger even though he wasn’t. He loved the feeling of being fully hard, anticipating his partner.

“What do you want me to do?” Scott asked.

“I want you to spread your legs for me.”

“How?”

“Hands behind your knees. Yeah. Just like that.” Rocky enjoyed looking at Scott’s abdominal muscles flexing to hold up his lower body, but mostly he enjoyed watching his pup’s cock harden. If nothing else, Scott liked to be told what to do. “Can you hold that for a while?”

“I think so.” Scott swallowed hard. “What are you going to do to me?”

“I’m gonna make you come.”

“Yeah?”

“After tormenting you for an hour.”

“An hour?” Scott might have argued with him, but one look from Rocky silenced him.

“Be glad it’s only an hour.” Rocky climbed up on the bed, on his knees, placing himself between Scott’s spread legs. He leaned over him so that he could rub his hands over his chest, twist his nipples hard, and then clamp the tender peaks with the toys they’d bought.

“Oh, God.” Scott closed his eyes and lifted his chest.

“Too tight?” Rocky wanted to keep him simmering, not boil him over.

“Little bit.”

Rocky released some of the tension, putting the nipple clamps on the lowest amount of pressure that would hold them in place. “Better?”

“Yeah. Fuck. I thought those would hurt but they feel fucking great.”

“If they do start to hurt, tell me.”

“I will.”

“Now for the next part.” Rocky stroked over Scott’s legs, around his hips, his groin, everywhere down there but for his cock, which spilled precum all over Scott’s lower abs. Things only got more intense when Rocky teased one thick finger around Scott’s hole.

“Oh, fuck.” Scott closed his eyes and tightened his grip on the back of his knees, spreading himself almost painfully wide for Rocky’s ministrations.

“Does that feel good, pup?”

“Yes. Oh, God, yes. More. Please.”

“More?” Rocky lubed up his finger and circled the rim.

Watching Scott’s eyes roll back made blood swell Rocky’s cock to damn near epic proportions. “I’m going to enjoy fucking you.”

Scott’s eyes flew open. Anticipation made the depths almost smoky.

“But not tonight.”

“You bastard!”

“Shh.” Rocky pumped one finger into Scott’s snug hole. “You don’t want to wake Obbie. If you do, we’ll have to stop.”

Scott practically bit his lips to keep silent.

“You know, I’d thought it would be good out here so you could make plenty of noise, but this is good too. Watching you struggle. Watching you strain to not come, to stay quiet, to keep your legs up and spread.”

“Please.”

“This is all part of your education.”

“But I’m a newbie.” Scott pouted. “Shouldn’t you take pity on me?”

“Pity? You mean let you come without teasing you for an hour?”

“I mean you should fuck me. Now.”

“Demanding little thing, aren’t you?” Rocky tsked lightly as he added another finger and kept right on pumping Scott’s ass at a pace that would never get him off. “I don’t think I my pup should be ordering me around. Seems to me a good pup obeys his master.”

“Rocky, please.”

Rocky kept right on tormenting him until his legs trembled. Once he hit that point, Rocky grabbed Scott’s dildo, lubed it up and teased the tip around his hole.

“Oh, God. You. Please. I’ve taken that thing a hundred times and now I want—”

Rocky didn’t let him finish. He eased the tip inside Scott’s ass then leaned over and breathed against Scott’s cock.

“Oh. Oh, God. That’s...” Scott seemed to be struggling to breathe. “What are you doing to me?”

“Whatever I want.”

“Please.”

“Please what?” Rocky asked, hovering his lips right over the dusky red tip of Scott’s tormented prick.

“I’ve never had...”

“Had what?”

“No one’s ever...” After a long pause, Scott begged, “Please suck my cock.”

Rocky chuckled. Of course, no one had ever taken Scott’s prick into their mouth. His sweet virgin pup had no idea the kind of pleasure Rocky could give him. But he made sure to take his time. Rocky teased him with his breath, then with just the tip of his tongue, then with the smooth backside of his tongue.

All the while Scott struggled to keep his legs up and spread.

Rocky eased more of the dildo into Scott’s ass then wrapped his lips around the tip of Scott’s cock.

The sound Scott made mingled bliss with a hunger for more.

Rocky had never wanted to be inside another man as much as he wanted to fill Scott at that moment. He wanted to yank out the dildo and replace it with his cock. But he didn’t. Anticipation would drive him mad but maybe that was a good thing. He’d wanted to change his life and he’d most certainly done that so changing up his sex life would be a good thing too.

When he sensed Scott couldn’t take another second, Rocky plunged the dildo deep, making a point to rub it hard and firm against his prostate while sucking Scott’s cock down to the base.

Scott gasped and climaxed, his legs shaking so badly he lost his grip on the back of one knee. He rested his leg on Rocky’s back so he could keep his other leg up.

Rocky drank down Scott’s release, loving his flavor, loving the way his pulsing channel tried to pull the dildo in. If not for the wide base, Scott might have pulled the toy right out of Rocky’s hand.

While Scott bucked against the bed, Rocky reached up and yanked the nipple clamps off, using his fingers to give each sensitive bud a good twisting pinch. His actions caused a final gush then Scott collapsed on the bed, utterly drained.

Filled with arrogant pride, Rocky got to his feet. He wrapped the towel around his hips and took the toy into the bathroom to clean it in the sink. Before returning to the bedroom, he checked on Obbie.

Asleep, by the fire, oblivious to everything.

Rocky returned to the bedroom, closing the door gently. He stood at the foot of the bed, idly stroking himself while examining his pup. He’d really put Scott through the wringer, but he’d taken it like a much more seasoned pro.

“Rocky?”

“Shh.” Rocky climbed back on the bed.

“What about you?”

“I don’t think you’re going to be doing anything else for the evening.”

“I want to feel you get off.”

“Yeah?” Rocky got an idea. “Roll over.”

Scott rolled over and allowed Rocky to slip a pillow under his hips.

“Are you going to—”

“No. Relax.” Rocky climbed on top of Scott, careful not to drop his full weight on him. He kissed the nape of his neck, his shoulders, and then thrust his hips so that his aching cock slipped between Scott’s well-lubed buttocks.

“Oh, God.” Scott arched upward, offering Rocky his ass. “Go inside. Please.”

“I told you I’m not going to do that yet. This is just rubbing.” Rocky pressed down hard while thrusting up, allowing himself to imagine he was inside Scott. The game of grinding felt good, especially with Scott’s muscular buttocks, but nothing compared to the anticipation. How good would it feel to plunge into that heat? To fill that snug space and hear Scott’s whimpering cries fill his ears? The longer he put it off, the better it would be for both of them.

“I want to feel you.” Scott rolled his hips trying to get Rocky to slip inside.

“And if you keep that up I’ll go in the bathroom and beat off alone.”

“No.” Scott lifted his ass high and held it still. “It’s just that you feel so good.”

“So do you.” Too good. Not taking Scott up on his impassioned plea got increasingly difficult. But there was something good about rubbing against the hole he wanted to fill. Teasing himself with the promise of it. Knowing that he could but wouldn’t.

When Rocky pulled away, Scott cried out and reached for him, as if to pull him back.

“Shh. Just going to do something a little different.”  Rocky climbed off the bed then yanked on the towel they’d spread over the mattress, pulling Scott down to the end of the bed. “Up on your knees, but spread them so that—there. Oh, yeah.” Rocky sawed his cock into the split in Scott’s ass again only since he was standing, he could use his hand to press against the top of his cock, making the channel he fucked snugger. Faster he went, rubbing harder over Scott’s sweet hole until he couldn’t stand it anymore. Rocky grasped Scott’s hips, pulling him up to his knees so he could now plunge between his inner thighs.

Like a good pup, Scott tightened his legs, pressing them together to give Rocky a snug, soft ride. When he climaxed, he jetted upward, splattering over Scott’s chest.

Rocky closed his eyes and wished he could stop time. Not everywhere, just outside their bedroom. They could have all the time in the world inside these walls. Instead of despairing over the end he knew was coming, Rocky swore he would appreciate every second of every day.

Chapter Eight

Working together, playing together, and spending the night working at playing gave Rocky a taste of the life he wanted. During the day while they worked, Obbie stayed with Caroline’s other dogs, learning the life of a ranch dog.

“Even if her owners turn up, training her won’t hurt.” Caroline fussed over the dog, praising her almost constantly. “And she’s remarkably easy to train. Keefer says he’s never had such a smart dog to work with.”

“But you haven’t heard anything from the vet tech?” Scott asked.

“Nothing.”

At first, Scott seemed jealous that Caroline and Keefer got to spend so much time with Obbie, but he had to work. He had neither the time nor the skill to teach Obbie how to herd animals. After three weeks, though, Scott seemed to be able to release his fearsome hold on the dog’s leash easier. Or maybe he just wanted to make it seem that way. Everyone knew his time on the ranch was coming to an end, especially Rocky. He thought about it almost constantly now as the day loomed ever closer.

“You sure you don’t want a big party?” Caroline asked as she walked with Scott out to the parking lot of the big house where Rocky waited for him in his truck.

“Thank you, but no. I think it’s going to be hard enough to say goodbye as it is.”

Rocky shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but he couldn’t really help it. Their voices carried easily in the cooler air of settling dusk.

“If you change your mind, let me know. I can whip something together like that.” Caroline snapped her fingers.

“If I do, I’ll let you know.” Scott handed Obbie’s lead back to Caroline. “Are you sure you’re okay keeping her for the night?”

“Of course.” Caroline took the leash then flashed a quick glance to Rocky.

Rocky wasn’t sure what he saw in her gaze. Maybe she thought this was Scott continuing to let go. To get comfortable with the idea he couldn’t take Obbie with him when he went. But Rocky knew tonight was the night. They’d been having more fun in the sack than two men probably ever had but tonight was the night when they’d finally go all the way.

Rocky had thought that phrase funny, as he did the idea of virginity, but it mattered to Scott which meant it mattered to him. He’d gotten off work a little early today to make things perfect but he knew none of that really mattered. All the two of them needed was a bed and time, and they’d be happy, but Rocky made the effort just the same.

“Goodnight, Caroline.” Scott climbed into the truck.

“Night.” Caroline waved and Obbie wagged her tail, looking a little confused about why Scott was leaving without her. She flashed big dark eyes at Rocky, tugging on his heartstrings, but he drove away nonetheless. Once Scott left, he’d go back to the bunkhouse. He couldn’t stay in the little cabin without Scott. He just couldn’t do that to himself.

“Okay,” Scott said. “That was harder than I thought it would be.”

“It’s just one night.”

“No. I think...”

Rocky waited, but Scott didn’t finish his thought until they’d made the turn at the end of the long drive.

“I think I shouldn’t take her out there anymore. To the cabin. She should probably get used to sleeping away from us. From me. You know?” Scott’s voice broke on the last two words.

“I know.” Rocky took Scott’s hand. “She’s going to be okay.”

“Oh, yeah. She’ll be okay. And she loves it out here. I just wonder if I’ll be okay. Leaving her.” Very quietly, Scott added, “Leaving you.”

Determined to make leaving as easy on Scott as he could, Rocky kept his voice even when he said, “Change is always hard, but think about what you’re gaining. New worlds to explore. Whole new mathematical concepts. You’ll be surrounded by people who know what you’re talking about. They’ll push that big brain of yours in completely new directions.”

“Right.” Scott plastered a smile on his face but it was as fake as a spray-on tan.

Desperate to switch the tone of the evening, Rocky said, “I can’t wait to be with you tonight. Well, I never really could wait to be with you each night, but this night is even more special.”

“Finally.” Scott moved a little closer. “I started to think this night would never come.”

“I told you I wanted to make sure things were right.”

“And I told you I don’t need anything fancy.”

“Good.” Rocky downshifted then put his hand back on Scott’s knee. “Because I didn’t do anything fancy.”

“Oh.”

“Uh huh.” Rocky smiled and squeezed Scott’s knee. “You do want something fancy.”

“Well, not fancy, like, gold encrusted or dripping with pearls fancy.”

“What kind of fancy would you like?”

“Just you and me and a bed and you not tormenting me until I’m on the verge of tears.”

“Well, it’s a little late for changes, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“Wait, where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” Rocky took Scott into town to the Climax Diner.

“Here?” Scott asked.

“Here.”

Inside, Rocky and Scott got the back corner booth, Scott’s favorite, and then dined on cheeseburgers, fries, and shared a banana split—also Scott’s favorites.

Once they left the diner, they went over to the local microbrew and tried a few new beers before settling on an old favorite. They sipped and talked about the math of beer with one of the master brewers, again, one of Scott’s favorite things to do.

Afterward, they walked around town, enjoying the sunset.

Once they got back in the truck, Rocky took Scott up to the hill that overlooked the town so they could stargaze.

“You’re not fooling me, you know.” Scott rested his head against Rocky’s shoulder.

“I’m not?”

“You’re giving me all of my favorite things.”

“I am?”

“Come on. You know you are.”

“I wanted to discuss  Carl Gauss with you, but try as I might, I can’t understand half of what the man’s done.”

“You don’t have to do that.” Scott turned and pressed against Rocky’s side. “Tonight has been everything I’ve ever wanted.”

“I’m glad.” Rocky kissed Scott gently but casual kisses soon turned more heated. Rocky felt as if he’d been waiting his whole life for this night, and maybe in some way he had, but he’d wanted it to be perfect for Scott. Rocky couldn’t say he loved him. He wanted to, but he didn’t want to make Scott’s leaving any harder on the two of them than it already would be. Instead, Rocky showed him. Rocky showed Scott how much he loved him by filling the night with all of his favorite things and then he took him home.

Rocky’s only regret was that the shower was too small for the two of them. He let Scott go first then hurried through his own shower. Anticipation made his hands shake. When he stepped out, he heard Scott calling for him.

“I’m coming, pup.”

“Not yet you’re not but you’re going to be.”

Rocky laughed. He’d miss sleeping next to Scott. Laughing with him. Doing little things together he’d never done with anyone else. But he would let him go. Scott had so much ahead of him that Rocky would lecture anyone who tried to get in Scott’s way.

When Rocky stepped into the bedroom, he found Scott on his back on the big towel, the lube, and the condoms on the bedside table.

“I like the candle you got.” Scott nodded to the little fake candle on the table.

“Caroline doesn’t want real candles in here. Fire hazard.”

“Probably a good idea.” Scott bit his bottom lip.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just—I’ve waited so long for tonight that there’s this part of me that thinks something will happen. Wilson will show up and ruin things or—”

“No one is going to ruin this.” Rocky climbed up on the bed, kissing his way from Scott’s toes to his hips to his mouth. “No one is going to stop us from being together.”

“I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for you.”

“I know I’ve been waiting mine for you.” Rocky claimed Scott’s mouth, balancing himself above him on arms that felt oddly weak yet impossibly strong. He’d never wanted anyone the way he wanted Scott. He’d never waited for anyone the way he had for Scott. Rocky didn’t regret a moment. “You are so amazing.”

“Me?” Scott laughed as he wrapped his arms around Rocky’s shoulders. “You’re the one who made such a drastic change.”

“And you’re the one who’s doing something so incredible.”

“Going to school?”

“Learning for the sake of learning. Do you know how amazing you are?”

“I don’t see it that way.”

“Most people who are really spectacular never seem to realize they are.” Rocky kissed Scott’s face, working his way to his ear. “You mean so much to me.”

Scott’s breath trembled as he wrapped his legs around Rocky’s hips, snuggling him closer.

Instead of teasing Scott to push his limits, tonight Rocky only teased him to make sure he was ready. But also, Rocky slowed his contact over Scott’s body, memorizing him. Imprinting every freckle, every breathy sigh, every hungry look in his eyes onto his own soul. No matter how long he lived or how many more men Rocky might come to know, he would always remember Scott.

Kissing and stroking, Rocky brought Scott to the edge before he rose up to his knees and pulled on a condom and lubed up his cock. Then he slicked up his fingers, teasing them around Scott’s hole.

“Are you ready?” Rocky asked.

Scott peered up at him, nodding.

“Are you okay?” Rocky asked.

“Yeah.”

“You just seem worried.”

“I want to be good for you.”

“Oh, pup.” Rocky lowered himself over Scott, kissing him gently. “You are. You’ve been nothing but good for me. In far more ways than just in bed.”

While looking right into his eyes, Rocky nudged his cock forward, pressing against that snug heat. The deeper he went, the more Scott opened his mouth and the wider his eyes went.

“Am I hurting you?”

“No. I didn’t think it would feel this good. Your cock is hot.”

“Thanks.” Rocky grinned and laughed lightly.

“I mean literally. Toys warm up once they’re inside but your cock is hot going in. Hot while stretching me open, filling me up.”

Once Rocky hit his prostate, Scott’s eyes rolled back and the most compelling moan eased out of his throat.

Rocky pulled back and nudged that spot again, earning himself the sound for a second time. He marked that noise in his soul the way he had everything else.

Going deeper, he kept his attention on Scott’s features, noticing a wince that made him pull back a bit and wait before going deeper again.

When Rocky finally seated himself as fully as he could, he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Scott’s. Holding himself there, he took in the heat, the tightness, the way he could feel Scott’s heartbeat and his own.

“Rocky?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you okay?”

“I’ve never been better in my life.” Rocky rose up and flicked his hips, pulling his cock out and reseating it again. Each time he made the motion, Scott gasped and clenched up on him, not just with his channel but his arms and legs.

Despite trying to go slow and make the moment last, Rocky couldn’t. He felt pleasure rising up through his body, taking control of him, but what pushed him toward an edge he’d never reached before was the way Scott dug his heels into his ass as if urging him on. Instead of an alpha wolf claiming his pup, he felt like a bold stallion, riding his mate while his mate rode him right back.

Faster they moved together, blending their bodies. At times they worked in synch but other times they worked in opposition, increasing the friction, increasing the depth of penetration.

“I’m close.” Scott tightened his hold on Rocky, making it so he could hardly move at all.

“I’m right there with you.” Rocky matched Scott’s breathing pace, pumping his hips to the same beat.

When Scott climaxed, clamping like a vice around his cock, Rocky came so hard his body tried to curl up, which only buried him even deeper inside Scott’s convulsing ass.

Clinging together, they panted as they shivered and shook. When the trembling finally ceased, Rocky rolled to his side then onto his back so that Scott was now on top of him. There they stayed until Rocky’s cock grew too soft to stay inside. Rocky snagged the condom then wrapped it in tissue, tossing it into the can on the other side of the bed.

“You okay?” Rocky made large circles over Scott’s back.

“No.”

“No?” Panic tried to catapult him into action. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t think I can leave.”

Rocky sighed with a combination of relief and pain. He’d known this might happen, but he’d thought for some reason they’d be able to handle it. Instead of agreeing with him, Rocky had to stay strong so that Scott could do what was right for him.

“You can and you will.” Rocky pressed a little harder against Scott’s skin as if to give him the strength he didn’t quite feel himself. “You’re going to be okay.”

Scott shook his head.

“Trust me.” Rocky had to bite his bottom lip not to let out a shuddering gasp of air. “You’re going to be fine.”

“I’m not.” Scott rose up, tears in his eyes. “I think—I think I—”

Too afraid to hear what he might say, Rocky cut him off with a kiss and then held him tight. For a moment, he thought Scott would struggle against him and demand to be heard, but he must have known they were better off with less said between them.

Rocky had no idea what time he’d fallen asleep, but he knew he’d kept Scott close all night. When he woke up to strong hands rubbing his cock to life, he groaned and stretched.

“Careful.” Scott nodded to the open bottle of lube.

“Were you going to wake me before you took advantage of me?”

“I figured you’d wake up once I climbed on top of you.”

“Lusty pup.”

“I can’t fight what I am.” Scott slung his leg over Rocky’s hips then pulled a condom down his length. He then slathered him in lube, smearing a bit between his own buttocks. Once he rose up and pressed the head of Rocky’s cock against his hole, Rocky forgot whatever he’d been about to say. Some stupid platitude about loving and losing or making the best of what they had. He didn’t need to say it because Scott was putting the truism into action.

Slowly, while watching Rocky’s face, Scott impaled himself.

Rocky grasped Scott’s hips to slow him down, but Scott grabbed Rocky’s hands and pushed them away.  

“I’m in charge this time.” Scott showed off his amazing flexibility by keeping his knees bent yet placing his feet flat against the mattress so that he could bounce himself on Rocky’s cock. He could bend his knees out and down, fucking himself on Rocky with surprising balance and astonishing agility.

“Oh, fuck.” Rocky had never felt anything like it.

“Didn’t expect that, did you?”

“No. Can’t say that I did.”

“I practiced.”

“What?”

“I would put my dildo on the floor, balance it there, and then do this.” Scott met Rocky’s gaze and grinned. “I’ve been wanting to do this to you since the day I saw you.”

“What a fool am I that I didn’t let you.” Rocky put his hands up behind his head, letting his pup have total control of him. When Scott reached the point of no return, he dropped all of his weight onto Rocky then took his own cock in hand. His ass clamped around Rocky’s cock, bringing him off while Scott painted streamers over his chest.

Finished climaxing, Scott dropped heavily against him.

Rocky almost made a crack about wanting to wake up like this every day, but he held his tongue. They had a handful of days before Scott had to go and get settled in Colorado Springs. The less said about the future, the better.

“Can I ask you something?” Scott asked.

“Of course.”

“What was your first time like?”

“That’s not a nice story.”

“I kind of figured that from some things you’ve said.” Scott snagged and disposed of the condom then settled right back on Rocky’s hips. “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s okay. I just wanted to understand you, that’s all.”

Rocky debated telling Scott the truth but decided he hadn’t lied to him before so why should he start now? “I didn’t give him my virginity. He took it.” Rocky shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong. I wanted him. He was—fuck. He was so good looking. Or at least I thought he was. He was older and sophisticated. Or so I thought. But the truth was, if he really had been sophisticated, he wouldn’t have been interested in a sixteen-year-old kid.”

“How old was he?”

“Thirty.”

“Wow. That’s a huge age difference.”

“I didn’t know it then but he groomed me. Told me how smart I was. How mature. And then when I finally trusted him, he just threw me down, took what he wanted, and left.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Me too.” Rocky brushed Scott’s hair back from his sweaty forehead.

“That’s why you went out of your way to make sure I was okay. That I was ready. That I wanted you.”

“Partially.” Rocky rose up and kissed the tip of Scott’s nose. “But I also wanted you to be ready to explore your sexuality when you got to school.”

“Can we not talk about that?” Scott tried to turn away but Rocky wouldn’t let him.

“We have to.”  Rocky held Scott against his chest. “You’re going to meet amazing people there, Scott. Take advantage of that. Enjoy yourself. Have lots of sex with lots of people. Safe sex, of course. Safe consensual sex.”

“But I don’t—”

“This is the time in your life when you should be experimenting and having sex just for the sake of having sex.” Rocky looked into his eyes. “Just like you’re learning for the sake of learning. Okay?”

Scott nodded but Rocky knew he didn’t agree.

“Scott—”

“Don’t, okay?” Scott finally worked his way out Rocky’s arms and off the bed. “You know I’m not stupid, right?”

“Of course not. I never said you were.”

“Then how could you think I didn’t know what was going on last night?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” But Rocky’s stomach twisted up in panic that he’d inadvertently done something to hurt Scott.

“You love me. I know you do. You couldn’t say it so you showed it in everything you did last night.”

Rocky said nothing. He felt like a politician unable to confirm or deny the truth.

“Well, I’ll say it. I love you. And you can lie there and shake your head and prove me wrong or whatever, but I know I’m right that you love me too.”

“Scott.”

“Maybe I’ll stay here.” Scott put his hands defiantly on his hips.

“And maybe I’ll just leave.”

Scott looked so devastated it broke Rocky’s heart.

“Maybe instead of trying to hurt one another we can stop this and stick to our agreement.” Rocky moved to the edge of the bed. He grasped Scott’s waist and eased him between his legs so that while he sat on the mattress, he could hold Scott against him. “I don’t want to fight.”

“Neither do I.” Scott wrapped Rocky in a fearsome hug. “Just tell me the truth.”

“I do love you.”

“I knew it.” Scott tightened his arms even more. “I love you too.”

“I know.” Rocky lifted his head so he could meet Scott’s eyes. “But understand that I love you enough to let you go.”

Chapter Nine

The last few days Rocky had with Scott passed in a whirlwind of activity. They used every toy they’d bought except the one Rocky had hidden away in his sock drawer. He didn’t think Scott was ready for it and he didn’t want him to feel any pressure to try. Thankfully, Scott seemed to have forgotten all about it because he never brought it up.

“I’m going to miss doing this with you.” Scott eased his cock out of one end of the double-ended jackoff toy.

“Believe me, so will I.” Rocky pulled out of the other side. “Do you want to take it with you?”

Too late he realized it was the wrong thing to say. Instead of looking interested, Scott appeared hurt.

“Not—shit. Forget I said anything.” Rocky took the toy into the bathroom and washed it carefully.

“I’m not mad.” Scott came up behind him, wrapping his arms around Rocky’s waist.

“I know. Thanks for forgiving me for being an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot.” Scott hugged him hard. “You’re trying to be nice. Actually, you’re trying a little too hard to be nice.”

“I know.” Rocky angled the toy against the countertop to dry. “We should do something about lunch.”

“I’m not that hungry.”

“Me either.”

“Let’s...”

Rocky waited for Scott to finish but he didn’t. They stood there in the bathroom for a long time, looking at one another’s reflection in the mirror. They made a handsome couple, Rocky thought. Scott so small and blond and him so big and dark. And old. God, he felt a million years old suddenly.

“Don’t make that face.” Scott twisted Rocky’s nipple, jolting him right out of whatever mood he’d just been in.

“I wasn’t making a face.”

“You were making that grouchy face like you do whenever you think you’re too old for me.”

“Aren’t I?”

“You want me to agree with you?” Scott scoffed. “I don’t think so. I think you’re the perfect age for me. I think you’re perfect for me period.”

Rocky wanted to argue but couldn’t even summon the energy to do that. All he wanted to do was sleep and have sex but he’d vowed to make things easier for Scott. Once he left, Rocky could figure out a way to heal.

“We really should get the last of your stuff packed.”

“I know.” Scott sighed and then sagged against Rocky. “I want to go but I don’t.”

“I know.”

“What if I wait for you?” Scott asked the question while hiding behind Rocky so he couldn’t see his face.

“That’s not a good idea.”

“Because you don’t want to wait for me?”

“That’s not it and you know it.” Rocky turned and lifted Scott’s chin. “We’ve been over this so much we’ve dug ruts into the topic. You’re going to have a great time at university.”

“I don’t see how much fun I’m going to have while I’m depressed.”

“You’ll have three months to get your head on straight before classes begin.”

“It’s on straight now.” Scott got that look in his eyes again, the one that said he wanted to argue until he’d reduced himself to tears.

Instead of arguing, Rocky gave right in. “I know.” And then he kissed Scott and lifted him up, walking him back into the bedroom. After a thorough kissing, Rocky released him, and then he got dressed.

Silently, they drove over to the bunkhouse and finished packing all of Scott’s things. He didn’t have much, but since he wouldn’t be staying in the room, he needed to clean everything and place the bedding in the dresser drawers so it was ready for the next person. The few things he couldn’t take with him he gave away.

Somehow, Scott got his things whittled down to two big bags.

“Thanks for keeping my books,” Scott said.

“You can get them back any time.”

“Thanks.”

“Sure.”

“What about your room?” Scott asked after they’d put the bags in the back of Rocky’s truck.

“I’ll be moving back into my room here at the bunkhouse.”

“Oh.” Scott shook his head. “I should have figured that out.”

“I think it would be hard to stay out there at the cabin alone.”

“Yeah.”

“Fuck.” Rocky hated that everything turned into a downer. “Let’s go see what’s for lunch.”

“Sure.”

Rocky felt as if he’d betrayed Scott because what was for lunch turned out to be a surprise goodbye party.

Scott gave him the rolled eyes of annoyance then smiled like his life depended on it. To those saying goodbye, no one knew how sad Scott really was.

“He hides it well.”

Rocky turned, expecting just about anyone other than who stood there. “Get the fuck away from me, Wilson.”

“I’m just saying—”

Rocky moved away as fast as he could, heedless to the curious stares people gave him. Practically running away from another employee would certainly spark rumors but Rocky didn’t care. He either had to get away from Wilson or punch him. Walking away would allow him to keep his job. Then again, if he didn’t have a job, he could—no. He wasn’t going to do that even if he could. Scott needed to be on his own at school and discover more about himself than he had the first time.

Caroline brought Obbie up to say goodbye, which Scott handled far better than Rocky would have expected.

“Anytime you want to come back, you’re more than welcome.” Caroline hugged Scott and then she left, taking Obbie with her so that Scott could say goodbye to everyone without crying.

The party ate up three hours, leaving Rocky with only a few hours before he and Scott slept in the same bed together for the last time. He wouldn’t even let himself think about saying goodbye in the morning. If he didn’t think about it, it couldn’t ruin their last night together.

After saying goodbye to everyone at the party, Scott climbed into Rocky’s truck.

They didn’t talk on the way to the cabin. Rocky had been calling the place home but he’d stopped over the last few days.

“Did you call your friend?” Rocky asked. “To confirm?”

“Yeah. She’s going to meet me at the bus station.”

“I can drive you over if you want.”

“I think it’s better this way.”

“Right.”

“I don’t want you driving back here alone because I know you’re going to be hurting as much as I am.”

Rocky nodded. He’d never be able to navigate the roadway through tears.

“You’re still okay to drop me off in the morning, right?”

“Sure.” Rocky would leave Scott at the bus stop. Well, he wouldn’t leave him. He’d stay there until the bus came. Then he’d come home and work his ass off. Caroline had offered him a few days off but he’d thought sitting around with nothing to do would be worse than having something to occupy his time. Something to distract him.

“You’re okay to clean the cabin alone?”

“Yeah. I can do that.” Rocky felt they were just spinning their wheels. Wanting it over, never wanting it to end.

Once they got back to the cabin, they went through their usual nightly routine of washing up, brushing teeth, and then they were in bed.

Rocky pulled Scott into his arms then made the slowest, sweetest love to him that he could. He tried to say everything without words because he knew he’d never get the words right. But a touch, a kiss, the slow penetration of his body, joining them together as one—that spoke more than a million words ever could.

In the morning, Rocky made sure they were up with plenty of time so Scott didn’t feel rushed. Rocky took him into town for breakfast at the diner and then they waited by the bus pickup.

They didn’t talk.

Instead, they held hands.

When the bus came, Rocky helped the driver put Scott’s bags into the storage area along the side and then he kissed Scott goodbye. He imprinted the feel of him, the smell of him, everything about that moment even the scent of exhaust from the idling bus went into his memory file.

“Be good,” Rocky said.

“I will.”

Rocky turned away so that Scott wouldn’t have to see him cry as he climbed back into his truck and drove back to the ranch.

Each day that passed felt like agony.

Each night was worse.

Rocky worked himself into exhaustion but would lie in bed, glaring at the ceiling, thinking about everything he should have said and done. He checked his phone almost compulsively despite the fact they’d agreed not to communicate with one another. It would only make separating more difficult. But he had told Scott if he needed anything, he should contact him. Rocky couldn’t decide if he was happy or sad that Scott didn’t need him.

When he made it to a month apart, Rocky thought things would start getting easier. They didn’t. He spent more time with Obbie, walking her around the grounds after work. She seemed as depressed as he was. Rocky felt a little less sad with her, and she seemed to perk up when she saw him, but no matter what he did, things weren’t getting better. He wasn’t getting over Scott. The urge to contact him became almost like a constant hum in his ear. No matter what he did he couldn’t get rid of the noise.

One night after a grueling day of digging new fence post holes by hand, something he only had to do because they couldn’t get the equipment up there to do it by machine, Rocky heard his phone chime.

He rolled over, peering at the screen. He didn’t recognize the number but a crushing fear made him answer.

“Hello?”

“Is this Rocky?”

“Yes. Who’s this?”

“I’m Vella. Scott’s friend? Wait. I didn’t mean to ask that. I’m Scott’s friend.”

Rocky liked her already. “Is he okay?”

“No. He’s not.”

Rocky’s heart tried to explode out of his chest.

“School hasn’t even started and he’s already talking about quitting.”

“What? Why?”

“Because he misses you.”

Rocky closed his eyes and pressed his hand against his forehead.

“He doesn’t know I’m calling. He’d be pissed as hell if he did, but I can’t watch him lose this chance.”

“What chance?” Rocky climbed to his feet. While Vella explained how Scott would be working with some of the greatest minds in the country, Rocky started throwing his essentials into a bag. Before he even realized what he was doing, he’d packed for several days.

“Scott said it was over but I’m wondering if it really is.”

“Send me your address.”

“You’re coming here?”

“I’m on my way now.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am.” Rocky shook his head. “I’m not going to let him mess up his life.”

Rocky texted Caroline that he had an emergency and climbed into his truck. He drove through the night, hyperaware, more determined than he’d ever been. He didn’t yawn once. Rocky arrived just after dawn.

Vella let him into her apartment then pointed down the hallway. “Last room on the right.”

“How is he?”

“Not eating much. Not sleeping much. He was supposed to get a job and his own place but he hasn’t done either one.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Rocky left his bag in the living room. He walked down the hallway and then stood there in front of Scott’s door. He hung his head. What could he possibly say to him? How could he make Scott see how wrong it was to let this opportunity pass him by? Before he could summon an answer, the door opened.

Scott stood there, blinking sleep-encrusted eyes that went suddenly wide. “Rocky.”

“Hi.”

“Hi.” Scott reached out and touched him. “You’re real.”

“I am. Can we talk?”

“Yeah. Go in and sit. I’ve—I’ll be right back.”

Rocky entered his room, shocked by the mess. Clothing, books, everything they’d carefully packed up had been scattered around.

Scott returned with his face rinsed and his teeth brushed. “What are you doing here?”

Unwilling to spill the beans on Vella, Rocky said, “I came to see how you’re doing.”

“Yeah?” Scott shoved some books out of the way then dropped into a chair. “In the middle of the night?”

“It’s morning.”

“Which means you left in the middle of the night.”

Letting that pass, Rocky asked, “How are you?”

“I’m fucked up. You?”

“I’m fucked up.”

“Well, at least we’re even on that score.” Scott pointed to the bed. “You can sit there. Or we can go get breakfast or we can just be honest about what we both really want to do.”

More than anything in the world, Rocky wanted to take Scott into his arms and kiss the pain away, but then he’d just have to go through the agony of letting go again.

“I shouldn’t have come.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I won’t be able to focus. I’m not going to deprive some person who’s got their shit together from getting into that program. If I drop out now, they’ll still have time to contact the next person in line.”

“You’re not dropping out.”

“You don’t have a say.” Scott got to his feet.

“Like hell, I don’t.” Rocky got to his feet too.

“You’re not the boss of me.” Scott plunked his hands onto his hips.

“We’ll see about that.” Rocky mimicked Scott’s pose.

“What do you intend to do?” Scott didn’t step back. If anything, he moved closer, almost daring Rocky to touch him.

“I intend to make you keep your word.”

“I never said anything about staying in school.”

“You did. You said one month with you, teaching you because you’d be leaving for school.”

“You can’t hold me to that.”

“Then let’s go again.”

“What?”

“Whip out the cards, gambling boy.” Rocky tore off his coat and tossed it on the bed. “We’re going to settle this once and for all.”

“Fine.” Scott had to dig his way through four stacks of stuff before he found his cards. “What are we betting on?”

“If I win, you stay here and you kick ass in that program.”

“And if I win?”

“You can leave the program and do whatever you want.”

“What I want is to come back to the ranch. But you can’t just up and leave.”

“That’s not part of the deal.”

“Then I’m not doing this.”

They argued while Scott shuffled the cards. Eventually, Scott agreed to Rocky’s terms.

“Just like last time, seven cards.” Scott dealt out the cards. “May the best hand win.”

Rocky picked up his cards and almost cringed. What a shitty hand. He had a pair of nines. “What do you have?”

“Nothing.” Scott showed his cards. He had an ace, two, three, and a five but no four. “What about you?”

“A pair of nines.” Rocky nodded resolutely. “That means you’re staying here and you’re going to do your best in that program.”

“How will you know?”

“Because I’m going to move here and make sure you keep your word.”

“Wh—what?” Scott’s eyebrows collided.

“That’s right. I can’t trust you to keep your end of the agreement so I’m going to have to move here and make sure you follow through.”

“You’re going to move to Colorado Springs?”

“And I’m bringing Obbie. That should help keep you in—oof!” Scott plowed into Rocky, almost knocking the wind out of him.

“You dick! You were going to move here the whole time, weren’t you?”

“I think so.” Rocky held Scott tight. “I hated being without you.”

“I hated being without you.”

“But if I do come here—”

“I swear I’ll do my best. I’ll kick so much academic ass I’ll have to wipe the books off my boots before I come home every day.”

“Okay. If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure.” Scott squeezed the air out of Rocky then stepped back. “What made you change your mind?”

“I kept thinking I was doing the noble thing. Stepping out of the picture so you could spread your wings and fly.”

“You mean spread my legs and get laid.”

“Don’t be crude.”

“Well.” Scott shrugged. “That’s more accurate, isn’t it?”

“The point is I thought I was making the best call for both of us but I realized I don’t have a right to tell you what’s best for you.” Rocky kissed Scott’s forehead. “You aren’t sixteen-year-old me.”

“No. I’m not.” Scott kissed Rocky’s chin. “But I think I get why you tried so hard to do the noble thing.”

“I just wanted you to be happy. But then I realized you weren’t any happier than I was.”

“Vella called you, didn’t she.” Scott really didn’t phrase it as a question so much as confirming information he already knew.

“She did. But don’t you dare go getting pissy with her.”

“Pissy? Hell no. I’m going to buy her the biggest textbook in the universe. I’m going to make sure she has a full-access pass to the cafeteria for the rest of her life. Or until she gets her doctorate. Whichever comes first.”

“We should do something to thank her and then we’re going to go out looking at places to live.”

“I haven’t even made a half-assed effort to do that.”

“That’s okay. Things are going to be a little different if I’m here with Obbie.”

“You’d really bring her?”

“If Caroline will give her up.”

“She might say no?”

“She’s gotten attached.”

“But she has so many other dogs.”

“That’s unfair, Scott, and you know it.”

“I know. I swear I won’t be greedy.” Scott pulled him tight again. “If I can have you, I can let her go, but if I could have it all, well, I’d really like that.”

“So would I.” For the first time in his life, Rocky honestly believed he could have it all.

Epilogue

“I still can’t believe you bought this place.” Scott rolled onto his back, reaching out for Rocky.

“You’ve got at least three to five years here. When I ran the numbers, projections said buying would be worth the investment.”

“Three to five for a master’s degree.”

“See?” Rocky climbed onto the bed and then balanced himself above Scott. “If you add on the time to get a doctorate, buying is really the best strategy.”

“So I’m an investment?”

“Absolutely.” Rocky kissed Scott without touching any other part of his body.

“How the fuck do you do that?”

“What?”

“Hover over me? Drives me crazy when I want to feel you press me into the bed.”

“Lessons first.”

“I did my homework.”

“Did you?” Rocky lifted his brows. “All of it?”

“Well, there was that one thing—”

“Let me know when you finish.” Rocky got to his feet and hustled out of the bedroom. After checking on Obbie, who was playing outside in the backyard, he returned to his current project.

“That is so not fair.” Scott came right after him.

“Has my strategy been working so far?” Rocky yanked on his shorts then got back to work wet-sanding the drywall in the living room.

“Only because you’re using sex as a weapon.”

“Incentive.” Rocky smoothed out the edges as best he could then checked his work with a flashlight. Still not quite smooth enough. “I’m using sex as an incentive and it has been working because who is at the top of his class?”

“I am.”

“See?”

“There are other ways you could incentivize me.”

“We tried money and that didn’t work.” Rocky decided he’d have to do at least one more layer of plaster to get the finish he wanted.

“But I want sex now.”

“Pitching a fit won’t help.” Rocky pointed to the books strewn over the top of the temporary desk on the other side of the living room. “Finish.”

“Fine.” Scott wrapped a towel around his hips then threw himself into his chair. Twenty minutes later, he slapped down his pencil. “There. Done.”

“Let me see.” Rocky knew just enough about Scott’s major to be dangerous, but he’d found that having Scott and his friends explain things to him helped all of them more firmly grasp the concepts. Not once did any of them make him feel stupid. They all agreed that being able to put big concepts into terms even a layman could understand helped everyone better understand.

“It’s done. You know I don’t lie about that anymore.”

“Not after I caught you and wouldn’t let you climax for three days.”

“Which I still say is excessive.”

“I don’t think so.” Rocky put his tools away. “It put you on the straight and narrow path, didn’t it?”

“Yeah. I guess.” Scott got impatient waiting for Rocky to clean up. “Couldn’t you have bought a house that didn’t need this much work?”

“I could have.” Rocky had fallen in love with the place. After asking an expert and learning the house had good bones, he’d bought the place for a song. “But then what would I do with myself while you’re at school? I’d become a pervert, just jacking it in bed all day.”

“That would certainly give me an excuse to ditch school and come home.”

“See? I’m saving us both from a life of moral turpitude.”

“I think you just wanted to challenge yourself.”

“That too.” Rocky washed his hands then considered the drywall panels. “What do you think?”

“They look smooth to me.”

“Maybe one more layer.”

“Maybe you should stop being such a perfectionist.”

“Well, there’s no reason to hurry. As we’ve already established, we’ve got years here. Years and years. Growing old together. Well, older for me but you’ll always be young.”

“Math doesn’t keep one young.” Scott grabbed Rocky’s hand and pulled him toward the bedroom.

“What does?”

“Lots and lots of kinky sex.”

“Ah ha. That means we’ll live forever.”

“When are you going to fix the bedroom?”

“It’s on the list.” Rocky slid off his shorts while Scott whipped off his towel.

“Thankfully, we keep the lights down or we’d probably go insane.”

The bedroom walls had hideous paint in a color that seemed yellow and green and brown all at the same time. The ceiling had a dreadful almost impossible to remove popcorn texture, but it would work for now. Mostly the room held their enormous California King bed.

“Before I fix this room I need to make sure the ceiling is strong.”

“Why?”

“So I can install a sex swing.”

“Really?”

“Would you like that?”

“Fuck yeah.” Scott practically danced at the idea.

“I could use your help calculating the weight and all that.”

“Here.” Scott climbed on the bed and got on his back. “Climb on top of me so I can weigh you.”

Rocky hovered over him, kissing him lightly until Scott wrapped his arms and legs around him, pulling him down.

“Oh, God.” Scott squirmed under him.

The first time he’d done it, Rocky had been worried he’d crushed him only to find out his pup loved to feel his weight. Not for long, but he did like the feeling of being pinned.

“I’d say about two fifty.”

“What?” Rocky rose up on his arms.

“Two fifty of bone and muscle.” Scott felt up Rocky’s flexing arms. “You’ve been putting on muscle working on the house.”

“So if I’m two fifty and you’re one fifty that means...”

“We need to take into account swinging weight, thrusting weight...” Scott tapped his fingers against Rocky’s back, something he did while calculating. “My gut says it needs to hold at least seven hundred pounds.”

“At least.” Rocky kissed Scott, loving the way he sighed and melted against the mattress.

“You know, you never did share with me what that secret toy was.”

“Secret toy?”

“The one you bought at that store in Denver. The one you kept covered up. The one I’ve looked for and haven’t been able to find.”

“Don’t we have enough sex toys to play with?”

“Come on. What is it?”

“Okay. I’m going to show it to you but we aren’t going to use it.”

“What the hell is it? Some kind of dangerous bloodletting tool?”

“It’s something I’d heard about but had never seen, at least not outside of a picture. Something that I really don’t think you’re ready for.” Rocky pulled the toy out from the bottom of his sock drawer.

“Oh, damn. Never once thought to look in there.”

“It’s too obvious.”

“You knew I was looking.”

“I figured.”

“You know me too well.” Scott frowned at the curious thing. “What is it?”

“It’s a double fucker.”

“A what?” Scott asked, giggling.

“Okay, I’m going to put it on but we are not using it. Got it?”

“Fine. Just...” Scott tilted his head while Rocky slid the device down his length, using the built-in cock ring to attach the toy firmly against the top of his cock.

“Well?” Rocky asked.

“I don’t—oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.” Rocky gave it a little shake.

“It’s like you have two dicks.”

“Yep.” Rocky bounced the toy a few times, liking the weight of it. “It’s so you can do double penetration without another guy.”

“So we can stay monogamous.”

“Yeah.”

Scott licked his lower lip.

“Uh-uh. I told you, no. It’s too big.”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t admire it.” Scott slid to the side of the bed and gazed up at Rocky. “In my mind, it’s not two guys. It’s just one guy—you—with two cocks.”

“So I’m some kind of kinky alien?”

“Why not? How is that idea any weirder than alpha wolf and pup play?”

“You’ve got a point.” Rocky enjoyed Scott teasing his tongue over his cock and the toy but he knew even with all the lube in the world, his cock and the toy were never going to fit inside Scott’s ass at the same time. Thankfully, he didn’t want to try that. Scott teased Rocky to the point where he almost climaxed and then turned away, climbing onto his hands and knees.

“Rub against me. Rub both of them over my hole.”

With the lights dimmed, Rocky could easily imagine himself with two cocks, both of them hard and thick. Each swipe against Scott made his pup whimper with need but when the longing became too much, Rocky lubed up and then took turns slipping the toy then himself into Scott’s ass.

“Oh, God. That is so kinky.”

When he couldn’t get as deep as he wanted, Rocky removed the toy and plunged his cock deep into Scott.

“Oh, fuck.” Rocky grasped Scott’s hips, holding him steady for a series of slow, deep thrusts.

“That feels so fucking good.”

“Tell me about it.” Rocky picked up the pace, plunging deep then dragging his cock against Scott’s prostate on the way out. It didn’t take long to make Scott buck against the bed. “Don’t come,” Rocky said.

“What?”

“Don’t. Come.”

“But I did my homework.”

“Don’t come or you’ll regret it.” Rocky plunged faster and deeper. What pushed him into orgasm was how hard Scott had to work not to climax. Rocky climaxed, his whole body shaking from the strength of it. Barely had he finished spurting when Rocky flipped Scott over and sucked his cock into his mouth.

“Oh, fuck!” Scott buried his hand in Rocky’s hair, teasing his fingers through the strands while Rocky drank down his climax.

Spent, Rocky climbed up on the bed and pulled Scott into his arms.

“Still mad I made you wait?” Rocky asked.

“God, no.” Scott laughed. “I thought you were punishing me.”

“I was rewarding you.”

“For what?”

“For being you.” Rocky rose up so he could look into Scott’s eyes. “For taking a gamble on me.”

“You know I cheated, right? That first time.”

“Still.”

“I’d do it again.”

“Cheat?”

“Take a gamble on you, silly.” Scott playfully nipped Rocky’s shoulder. “I’m glad you came out here. I guess I thought, like, the pup had to follow his alpha, not the other way around.”

“Nothing wrong with a man supporting his mate.”

“Not in my eyes.” Scott kissed him again and they dozed until Obbie scratched at the back door.

“I’ll go.” Rocky got up and let Obbie in, who went running past him. “She’s coming your way,” he bellowed to Scott.

By the time Rocky got to the bedroom, Obbie had taken his place against Scott. He didn’t mind. He just spooned up to him from the back. Rocky couldn’t help but smile. They might have gotten together under unusual circumstances, but that had nothing to do with why they’d stayed together. Scott accepted Rocky for exactly who he was, quirks and all. Rocky did the same for Scott. For the first time in his life, Rocky was right where he should be, living a life that made him proud.

About the Author

Reading, writing, and white-water rafting are the three things

Anitra Lynn McLeod enjoys the most.

––––––––

https://books2read.com/author/anitra-lynn-mcleod/subscribe/1/107435/