STORY EXCERPT

Jeremy quickly saddled up his horse and turned him around. He secured his hat and stepped into the stirrup. Jack followed suit, and Jeremy wondered why he was in a hurry. And he hoped Jack didn’t ask any questions. Jeremy wished Reddy could hold his tongue, but he acted up around a good-looking cowboy. Always had, always would, no matter how old he got. He knew his age served as a “pass” if he offended anyone.

Jeremy followed the trail back to where they had spotted the coyote. He wondered if he should do anything about this morning. He had gotten lost in the taste, feel, and scent of Jack Martin. Jack seemed to accept it and enjoy it. But Jeremy wasn’t positive he wouldn’t run the man off. He knew his feelings were rough after being awakened so fast. Jack had been pretty quiet through breakfast, but so had Jeremy. It had been a comfortable silence.

Keeping his eye out for tracks, he urged his horse around a turn in the trail. Up ahead, the edge dropped off sharply for about twenty feet before the trail turned toward the valley. That’s where they’d seen the coyote and where he hoped they’d see him again. The ranch couldn’t afford to lose calves to a predator, and as much as he hated to do it, he had to keep the cattle safe even at the expense of one of God’s creatures.

He hoped he could keep his heart safe, too. Jack was the epitome of a heartbreaker, the love ’em and leave ’em type. Jeremy could spot them a mile away. Men like that tended to do what was best for themselves in every instance. He hoped he and his heart wouldn’t be around for that instance.

“Look out!”

Jeremy jerked the reins to the right, but a furry bundle fell right in front of his horse’s feet. The horse reared. With the horse facing the danger in front of him, he had his back to the steep edge that hung over a one-hundred-foot drop. Jeremy clung like a burr and leaned forward, desperately trying to get his horse back on four feet. His seat was too unstable to pull his rifle out, and the terrified coyote was nipping at the flailing hooves. Jeremy had the distinct, gut-deep feeling this was going to turn out badly.

Suddenly, Jeremy felt a firm hand on his back. Jack and his horse had slipped behind his horse, blocking them from the drop-off. The pressure on his flank from the other horse drove his mount forward and down. Jeremy heard a gunshot. The coyote scrambled backward, turned, and hightailed it out of sight.

Jeremy’s horse was still tossing his head and snorting. He took a moment to settle him down. Jeremy looked at Jack. His face was drained of color, but he held the rifle firmly with one hand aimed in the direction the coyote had fled and the other held out to push on Jeremy’s back again, if needed.

“I think he’s gone,” Jeremy said.

Jack finally looked at him and nodded. He slid his rifle back in the scabbard and wiped the sweat off his face.

“Just what the fuck were you thinking? You could have been killed! If my horse had taken one step back he’d’ve pushed yours over the edge! Goddamn it!”

“Wha—”

Jeremy grabbed the front of Jack’s shirt and pulled him toward him. He took his mouth in a punishing kiss. When he pulled back, Jack was still colorless, and his eyes weren’t focused.

“Don’t you ever put yourself in harm’s way to save me again.” He gentled his grip on Jack’s shirt. “You hear me?”

“I hear you. But I ain’t listening. I’ll save your ass any damn time I want to.”

Jeremy stared at him a minute. Then he laughed. He clapped his lover on the back and nodded. “Back at you.”

“There’s a deal I can handle.”

They both leaned on their saddle horns and tried to let the adrenaline rush wear off.

“Sorry I missed the coyote,” Jack said.

Jeremy threw his head back and laughed. He laughed until Jack joined in and they were holding their stomachs.

“Fuck the coyote,” Jeremy said, sending them both into gales of laughter again.

“Let’s get back. I think we’ve had enough adventure for one day.”

“I’m with you on that.”

They let the horses mosey back down the trail. All the ranch horses knew the way home, and these two were anxious to stick their noses in a feed bucket. Jeremy again felt the comfort of an easy silence as the two of them leaned back and swayed gently in their saddles as the horses went downhill. Jeremy shivered at the thought that he’d almost gotten down off the mountain a lot faster than this.

Jack squirmed in his saddle until Jeremy looked over at him.

“What?”

“Does, uh, Reddy…is he…”

“Yeah, he’s gay. Or was. Don’t know if he can get it up anymore.”

“That was more than I needed to know.”

Jeremy smiled at him. “Don’t worry, he’s got a smart mouth on him, but I doubt he’d make a pass at you.”

“Why’s that?”

“He and his partner have been together for thirty years or more.”

“Really? I didn’t think men stayed together like that.”

And that’s what I was afraid of.

ADULT EXCERPT

“Aren’t you going to get undressed?”

Jeremy had the saddle and blanket off his horse. He slipped a halter over the quarter horse’s head before removing the bridle.

“If I was naked, I couldn’t do this.” He pulled a brush from his back pocket and started brushing the black hide that shivered in pleasure with each stroke. “You’re not naked yet. Get naked.”

“Thought I was on top in the bedroom.”

Jeremy looked around and shrugged. “Do you see a bedroom anywhere?”

Jack grinned and pushed his underwear down his legs. His erection sprung free with a little bounce. Jack caressed himself.

“Don’t you dare touch yourself.”

Jack looked up at Jeremy’s face. It looked more like granite than flesh. He moved his hand away from his dick.

“Take care of your horse, boy.”

Jack turned and started stripping gear from the gelding. When he was done, he turned just in time to catch the brush Jeremy threw him. He brushed the day’s dust from the horse’s coat until Jeremy took the lead and walked both the horses over to a small, bubbling stream. He tied their leads to some branches with enough length so they could drink and graze on some grass growing along the edge. Then he sauntered in Jack’s direction.

Jack kept his hands on his hips. The air was cool on his balls and dick, and anticipation rode him as hard as a racehorse. Jeremy walked right up to him, bumped him in the chest, and let Jack’s dick slide between his legs. The denim was rough on the skin that stretched over his erection. It felt strange but nice.

Jeremy took Jack’s jaw in one hand and kissed him. Openmouthed, slick and wet, tongues dueled, but Jeremy wouldn’t let Jack put his hands on him. He circled his wrists, not tight but tight enough for Jack to know not to pull away. Jeremy pulled back and looked at him.

“Why don’t you get on that rock and squat down,” Jack said.

Jeremy raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t mean I was on top of a rock.”

Jack smiled. “With you standing on that rock, your cock will be the right height for me to suck and lick and bite it.”

Without removing a stitch of clothing, Jeremy climbed the rock, unzipped his pants and pulled his cock out. Nothing else, just his cock. Even his balls were still inside his pants. But he did squat down.

“I think you should take those pants off.”

“I think you should get over here and suck my dick deep into your throat.”

Jack grinned. He took the two steps it took to reach the rock and wrapped his lips around Jeremy’s cock. He sucked. He rubbed his tongue over the head. He took it far enough inside his mouth for his lips to touch the zipper.

“Suck me, man.”

Keeping Jeremy’s dick in his mouth, he said, “This is the best I can do with your jeans on.”

Jack saw Jeremy clench his fists twice. “Then take off my pants.”

Jack pulled back and let Jeremy’s cock slip through his lips. He made fast work of the jeans, letting them hobble the big man’s ankles. He hadn’t taken Jeremy’s boots off.

He smiled. “Squat down.”

“Why?” Jeremy asked. “And why didn’t you take off my boots?”

Jack ran his hands up the outside of Jeremy’s thighs. “I’ve been fantasizing about this since you squatted down to look for coyote tracks.”

“The only coyote around here is you.”

Jack chuckled. “Squat, Boss Man.”

Boss Man squatted. It took him a couple of tries before he got balanced. But when he did, Jack sighed. He ran his hands up the inside of Jeremy’s thighs and brushed lightly over his furred balls. Dense black hair covered his groin and bushed up around his dick. Jack cupped Jeremy’s balls and stroked his cock.

“Suck me.” Jeremy reached for Jack’s head.

Jack let Jeremy guide his face to Jeremy’s groin then lapped at his cock like a puppy. He butterflied the tender skin between leg and torso then sucked his erect cock deep into his throat. He pulled, sucked, and nipped while fingering Jeremy’s asshole and squeezing his balls.

Jeremy pulled his head up and kissed him hard and fast while shooting cum over his belly. They broke apart, both breathing heavily.

“Come down from there.”

Jeremy needed help straightening his legs and getting off the rock. When he did, he kissed Jack again, almost desperately. Jack knew he had the upper hand again. Why, he didn’t know. But he was going to advantage of it.

Jack reached over and rearranged his saddle and blanket. “Lay over the saddle,” he said to Jeremy.

Jeremy started to obey but stopped and stripped in record time. Jack licked and nipped at Jeremy’s nipples. Jeremy cupped Jack’s erection between his hands and rubbed softly.

“Down,” Jack said.

Jeremy knelt down on the blanket and turned to face the saddle. He lay down with one hand on the horn and one on the cantle.

“No. Over the saddle. Put your elbows on the other side.”

Jeremy smiled at him over his shoulder and slid farther over the saddle, following Jack’s instructions to the letter. Jack grabbed Jeremy’s legs and pushed them apart. Jeremy’s cock was pointing down partially covered by his balls. His ass cheeks were tense, and his knees dug into the soft dirt under the saddle blanket.

Jack licked legs, butt cheeks, and asshole until Jeremy started struggling. He wiggled his ass, lifting it up and flexing his hips. Jack took aim and stuck his tongue inside him. He pulled back and spit in his hand then rubbed the slick wetness over his cock. He placed the head against Jeremy’s quivering brown hole and rammed inside.

Jeremy arched his back and yelled. Jack shoved him down again and humped Jeremy’s ass hard and long. He was sweating. He was grunting. Jeremy was moaning and clenching his ass. With every three or four thrusts into his ass, Jeremy would push up on his knees and grunt.

“You want more? I don’t think you can take more.”

Jeremy lifted his shoulders. “I can take it if you can give it.”

“Sounds like a challenge.”