STORY EXCERPT

“Come to pick me up?” Leslie started to gather his tools, deciding that maybe it was time to call it a day.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Calvin’s old, scruffy, and well-loved boots make their way toward him. They stopped next to the fence.

“Looks good,” the old cowboy said in a no-nonsense voice, eyeing the patches. He gave the other man a measured look.

“I thought this wasn’t a rush job.”

“It wasn’t. It still needed to be done.” Leslie shrugged. “Better now than later.”

“You do know that you are paying us to do the job, right?” Calvin attempted to joke.

Leslie went to the truck without sparing a glance in his direction. He tossed the tools inside without his usual care. “Yes. It doesn’t mean I’m unable to do it,” he answered in clipped tones.

Calvin raised his eyebrows.

“I never implied that.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m not in the best mood today.” Leslie leaned heavily onto the passenger door, staring dejectedly at the ground.

“I noticed that this morning. I’d actually hoped you’d feel better by now.”

Calvin knew him well, it seemed.

“I am.”

“Then I guess the morning sucked for you.”

Leslie shuddered, remembering the angry knot his thoughts were in that morning. “I needed to get out of the house.” He looked at the sky again, then at the land surrounding them, the dark spots of slow-moving cattle, the mountains in the background. The people who saw it always told him the view was breathtaking. Leslie didn’t care about the view. He cared about the fact that this was his.

Calvin looked at him sideways. “Look, we both know I’m the last person who should be giving you advice on your love life, but don’t you think that avoiding him will only worsen the situation?”

Leslie looked at him through narrowed eyes. “I’m not avoiding him.”

Calvin snorted. “Of course you aren’t. That would be why you spent the whole day doing something that any one of us could have done anytime when there were other jobs you could have done closer to the house. You knew Asher was going to come home earlier tonight. Trust me, boss, you’re avoiding him. And if I know that, you can bet the Midnight Stars he’d noticed, too.”

“This is my place, and I’m old enough to make decisions for my own life,” Leslie said sharply.

“Whoa, easy. I didn’t say differently.” Calvin raised both hands in a placating gesture. “Don’t think I’m not aware of that.” He huffed indignantly. “I just didn’t like having to tell Ash you weren’t there. Again.”

Leslie’s mouth twitched despite his mood. Ash was a Foster by birth, and Fosters were one of the wealthiest, and most influential, families in town, hell, maybe even in the state. He managed his family spread, Fourteen F, and knew both how to give orders to men and to express his displeasure without saying a word. Calvin obviously wasn’t immune.

“You’ll live.” Leslie grabbed the door handle. “Are we going then?”

Calvin grumbled something in answer. He followed Leslie’s example and entered the truck.

He fumbled with his seat belt before keying the engine. But he wasn’t yet done with their conversation.

“Look,” he said suddenly, startling Leslie out of his thoughts, “I didn’t say you have to wait on him at home each day like a damn housewife. Just…clear out whatever is between you two, all right?”

Leslie sighed, resting his aching head on the seat. “That’s easier said than done,” he mumbled. His calm was rapidly dissipating, but he couldn’t deny that Calvin had a point. Ignoring the problem wasn’t going to make the problem disappear. Tension between him and Ash was growing more noticeable every day. He didn’t know how long he was going to be able of pretend it wasn’t there. The way things were now between them, one of them was soon going to break. He was afraid of that. Calvin suddenly made a sharp turn, the truck veering dangerously to the left, jostling him in his seat. He must have done that on purpose, because he usually handled the old truck much more carefully. It was his baby.

Leslie’s eyes flew open. He reached for the wheel automatically. Calvin batted his hand away. “I got it under control.”

“Do you?”

Calvin gave him hard look. “I do. Nothing good ever comes easy. You of all people should know that. Don’t throw away what you have, Leslie. You’ll regret it. Not everything can be made right.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“Which room is it?”

Ash’s cheeks were flushed, and he hesitated before answering.

“412,” he said. He pushed himself off the wall and headed down the hallway. “Come on,” he ordered, without turning to check if Leslie was following him. He didn’t need to. Leslie’s gaze slid and stopped at Ash’s ass. His fingers tightened on the cinch of his bag. He glanced up to meet Ash’s heated look as they stopped in front of a door. Ash swiped the card, letting Leslie inside.

“You took only one room?”

“There are two beds.”

Glancing at them, Leslie threw his bag carelessly at one of them. His heated gaze found Ash. “Come here.”

He didn’t wait to see if Ash was going to obey him. Instead, he dumped the bag contents on the bed, rifling through them until he found the lube. When he turned, Ash was standing in front of the other bed, his hands on his hips. Their eyes met.

Without warning, Leslie grabbed him and pushed him back.

“Missed you,” he said, running his hands over Ash’s body. He leaned in for a hungry kiss. Their tongues met, Leslie swallowing Ash’s first moan eagerly. He tugged impatiently at Ash’s shirt and his jeans. Ash tried to do the same to him, didn’t make it easy. He was undulating under Leslie, rubbing purposefully against him, feeding his already pent-up desire. Finally, finally, Leslie divested them both of their clothing, gasping as Ash’s mouth nipped punishingly at his shoulder.

“I hated seeing you with that guy,” Ash said in a choked tone. His hands fisted Leslie’s blond hair, forcing Leslie to look at him. “You don’t get to do that again.”

“Only with you,” Leslie promised, ignoring his aching scalp. His cock was throbbing urgently against Ash’s thigh. Ash’s grip slackened. Leslie moved, settling himself between Ash’s legs. Obediently Ash spread them, offering himself silently. Leslie saw him reach with both arms for the headboard.

Ash groaned as Leslie slid into him, throwing his head back. Above him, Leslie froze. “Ash?” Ash didn’t answer, but his body was taut and unyielding.

“Sorry.” Dark-blue eyes found him. “It’s just…it’s been a long time.”

Leslie cursed his own impatience. He hadn’t even thought of preparing Ash, his slick heat too tempting. Sweat dripped down his neck. Ash’s body was gripping him, holding him deliciously tight. Taking a deep breath, Leslie slowly, regretfully pulled back. Alarm flashed in Ash’s eyes. “Don’t stop.” Ash caught his hip. “I just…I need more time.”

“Okay, okay, calm down,” Leslie promised, “just let me…I can make it good for you.” He pulled back slowly, and then pushed in even slower. Ash expelled a long breath as his body adjusted to the intrusion somewhat. He shifted his hips experimentally, locking both legs behind Leslie’s back.

“There, that’s better,” Leslie soothed, starting to move again. Ash let out a breathless little moan, turning his head restlessly. A damp lock of hair fell into his eyes. Leslie leaned in to kiss it, bracing on both arms to increase his control.

“You are tight, like you were the first time,” Leslie panted. He wanted to pound into Ash mercilessly, mark him as his. His balls tightened. Sparks of pleasure raced across his body. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to a torturous, slow space.

“There hasn’t been anyone…since you,” Ash answered.

A twinge of guilt twisted his gut. He hadn’t been faithful.

Ash touched his shoulder. “I haven’t asked for it, Leslie.”

“I know. Still…” He continued to rock slowly, making sure Ash enjoyed this. Ash sighed contentedly. Leslie felt the moment that the long body uncurled, welcoming his own. Bracing himself on one arm, he leaned down until his lips grazed the line of Ash’s throat. Ash shivered under him, a gasp escaping his parted lips. Leslie mouthed the delectable curve of his neck, reaching to grip Ash’s hip, subtly shifting their position. Ash’s cock jerked against his belly, hardening again. Leslie smiled against Ash’s skin. He hadn’t forgotten how to make Ash crazy.