They pulled into the drive around sunset, and Russell hurried inside to see the puppies. “Oh, hi,” he said, when he saw the young man holding one of the puppies. “Oh, hey, are you Russell? I’m Pierce.” Russell looked at Pierce. He was gorgeous. He looked like a real cowboy, with just a little bit of the city in him. His hair was light, his skin slightly tanned from being out in the sun. He had kind eyes, and an even kinder smile. “Russell?” “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you say something?” “I asked if you wanted to hold him,” Pierce said. “Oh, sure.” Russell took the puppy from Pierce. He was asleep, and he curled up in Russell’s arms and continued to sleep. “His sister is over here.” Pierce motioned for Russell to come over and see her. Pierce petted the sleeping dog. “Isn’t she perfect?” Russell just smiled. “Your dad bought this soft bed for them and some toys. They like it here.”

Brian walked in and was glad to see that Pierce hadn’t had any trouble. Brian was a sucker for animals. He had a farm full of them. But these two puppies were the first dogs he had had for over a year now. Pierce stood up and said, “Well, I’d better be heading back, Brian. I’ll be back out here tomorrow. Time to vaccinate.” “See you tomorrow, Russell,” he added, and left the house. “The puppies are getting shots already?” “No, Russell, not the puppies yet, the livestock.”

****

The sound of voices outside his window woke him the next morning. “Man, I’m tired. I must have slept like a rock.” Russell looked out the window and saw Pierce talking with his dad. His window was open, so he could hear everything they were saying. They were talking about the livestock and about the summer activities on the farm. Russell knew he was being paranoid, but after hearing his mom and stepdad talk about him behind his back, he had good reason to be. He hated that man, but was mostly hurt by his mom’s action, or inaction, rather.

Russell watched as Pierce and his dad talked. The sunlight shone on Pierce’s face like a spotlight. He looked better in the daylight than he had last night. The flannel shirt worn thin and the faded jeans outlined Pierce’s body perfectly and through them, Russell could see the muscles that good old fashioned work on the farm had developed. Pierce didn’t have the muscles of a body builder. Pierce had just the right amount of muscle.

When Pierce turned away from Russell’s view of his face, his faded jeans formed to his butt so well that Russell had to look away for a second. The thin material formed itself over Pierce’s well toned butt, kissed the crease between his butt and thighs, and then outlined his perfectly proportioned thighs.

Russell tried to stop staring, but could not force his feet to move away from the window. Pierce had seemed kind last night, not at all conceited, which he could have easily been with his good looks. He watched as Pierce put his hands on his hips and then slid them into his back pocket. Russell wished his hands were in those back pockets. “Oh, what are you thinking, Russell? Pierce is not gay, you are,” he said to himself.

****

It was dark by the time they got back to Russell’s jeep. Pierce leaned over Russell to get something from the backseat and Russell mistakenly thought that he was leaning in to kiss him, so he moved closer to Pierce, and Pierce’s lips couldn’t help but slide across Russell’s. When Russell realized what Pierce was actually trying to do, he was so embarrassed he immediately went for the door handle. Pierce quickly scooted over beside him and stopped him from opening the car door by placing his hand around Russell’s hand. “I have to go,” Russell said, trying to get away. Pierce put his arm around Russell. “Don’t go, Russell.” Russell was perfectly still. He didn’t know what to do.

Pierce liked Russell a lot and did want to kiss him, but had doubts about a relationship because of their age difference, and Pierce was ready for a relationship. He had done the casual thing, but Russell was so very young.

Pierce held Russell’s hand which was still clutching the door handle, and he put his arm around him. Pierce pulled Russell close to him, keeping his arm around Russell’s upper arm. “Hey, you okay?” Russell said nothing, but continued to look down. “You did nothing wrong, Russell. The only thing you did was beat me to the punch, or the kiss.” Russell still couldn’t look at him. “He’s probably just trying to make me feel better,” he thought. But he was so wrong.

Pierce kissed the back of Russell’s neck while he held him. He kissed lightly at first, from Russell’s neckline to the top of his shirt. Then he kissed his way to the side of Russell’s neck and up to his cheek. He kissed Russell’s earlobe and held it in his mouth before letting it slowly slide out. He did this several times, and his warm breath that made its way into Russell’s ear was causing arousing reactions in Russell. Pierce left Russell’s earlobe wet as he kissed along his cheek, seeking those lips that he had barely gotten a taste of just seconds before. He felt Russell’s body begin to relax with the erotic strokes of his lips.