Loving the Cowboy Read online

  “Brady being an ass is what’s up, Seth,” Parker told him. “Sorry to have to do this to you, but I want you to go on up to the stable and tell him you’ll ride with him today if he wants to. Help him get ready—and keep a close eye on him the whole time.”

  Seth chuckled. “Sounds like it’ll be a fun day.”

  “It won’t.” Tim threw him a worried look. “Be careful, Seth. The guy’s a loose cannon.”

  “Tim, take over here,” Parker said, and Tim was only too happy to oblige. Give me our horses’ company any day…

  It wasn’t long before Seth and Brady appeared, heading out toward the trail. As they neared the corral, Seth winked at him, but Brady threw him a look he found difficult to interpret. Bland, yet with an ominous cast that sent a shiver down Tim’s spine. Jeez, but I’ll be glad when that creep is gone.

  Later, when he was leading the horses back to the stable, Ryan and Jordan passed him, with two new guests, on their way to the pasture. Ryan waved and grinned at him, and for a moment, Tim was able to forget Brady’s crass behavior and remember his and Ryan’s nights together, each one burned so intensely into his memory it didn’t take but a second or two before he was sporting a painful boner inside his jeans. He couldn’t wait for the time when they’d be alone again, making sweet and sensuous love into the wee small hours. It was a wonder they weren’t both worn out from the lack of sleep, but Tim hadn’t felt this good and energetic in a long time.

  Talia had remarked on it during their last phone conversation. ‘You’re sounding mighty perky there, Tim,’ she’d teased him. ‘Did you take my advice and give that cowboy some lovin’?’

  Difficult as it was to ever imagine having a sexual conversation with his sister, he’d found he couldn’t really deny her suppositions either. It hadn’t been long before she was pulling way too much information from him about Ryan. She’d always been good at getting from him what she wanted to know.

  Her own news had been good, or at least it was apparently what she wanted. She’d listed the house with a realtor she liked working with. “Of course I won’t take any offers without your say-so. Hal says you’re half-owner so you have to sign everything along with me. He has found me the cutest condo though. Two bedrooms, so if you and Ryan come to visit, you’ll have somewhere to stay.”

  “Boy, nothing like jumpin’ the gun there, Sis,” Tim had laughed. “How’re you and Lloyd getting along?”

  “We’re not.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, What happened?”

  “Hal happened.”

  “Who’s Hal?”

  “Weren’t you listening? He’s my realtor.”

  “You’re dating your realtor? You sure he’s not just butterin’ you up for your business?”

  “Hey, are you saying my feminine wiles aren’t enough to snare a guy?”

  Tim had laughed. “No, I’d never say that….never!”

  “He’s just so different, Tim. Makes me laugh, treats me with respect…and he kisses real good, too. He has the sweetest lips.”

  “Hmm…”

  “Yeah, I know, TMI.”

  “How’d Lloyd take it?”

  “Honestly? I don’t think he’s even noticed. Remember I told you I hadn’t heard from him since you’d left. Well, he got in touch once after that, and didn’t even ask me out or want to come over. So when Hal asked if I’d like to go to dinner, I said hell yes…well, not in those words, but you catch my drift.”

  Tim shook his head. Lloyd really was a bit of a cypher, and Talia definitely deserved better. Maybe Hal’s the man. Bein’ a real good kisser is definitely a bonus. I can attest to that!

  Chapter Eleven

  Ryan was not happy when Tim told him about the confrontation between Parker and Brady. “That guy is trouble—and a big fat liar to boot. And I know where I’d like to put that boot!”

  They were sitting in the employee diner after having settled their horses for the night. They were expecting Stu to join them once he’d supervised Cody brushing his mount down. Seth would go home to his and Mike’s apartment and Clint had said something about taking Sherry to dinner in the city.

  Tim chuckled. “And I’d like to see that, but the good thing is he’s gone in the morning and Stu and I don’t have to drive him and Cody to the airport. Parker’s taking them.”

  “Most likely to make sure they actually leave.”

  “Right. I wonder if Cody’ll go through with his plan to break up their partnership? Brady said he’d apologized, but the way he acted today, I know Cody was still pissed at him.”

  “And they have that long flight ahead of them,” Ryan remarked. “Plenty of time to fall out again.” He looked up when the diner door was abruptly opened and Stu came in, wearing a pissed-off expression. “What’s up?”

  Stu flung himself down on a chair at their table. “Fuckin’ Brady,” he seethed. “He cornered me after Cody had gone to their cabin and said he’d forget all his complaints if I’d give him a blow job. I couldn’t believe how crass he was. I reminded him about the rules and he just laughed and said they didn’t apply to him. But if I refused, he’d go out of his way to bad mouth the Seven Plus, Parker and Royce, and put them out of business for good. He said there were a million violations going on at the Seven Plus that the local police department would be very interested in.”

  Ryan snorted. “The guy’s insane. How did you get away?”

  “I wanted to kick him in the nuts, but I figured he’d go whining to Parker, so I pushed him off me and ran out of the stable and straight here. Don’t think he’d dare come into the diner.”

  “Did you mention this to Parker?”

  “No. I figured, like you, Brady’s insane. You think I should tell Parker?”

  “Absolutely.” Tim grimaced. “Brady’s the kind of guy who likes to make trouble. Have your supper, then we’ll go with you to the house.”

  “Oh, okay.” Stu got up to help himself to the hot buffet while Ryan and Tim finished their plates.

  “There’s gotta be somethin’ wrong with Brady,” Ryan said. “He knows what he said to Stu was wrong. It’s like he wants to push everything and everybody till they either go for what he wants, or lash out so he can get them in trouble.”

  “Sherry says he has IED…intermittent explosive disorder.”

  “That sounds about right.”

  Tim nodded. “But Royce is gonna laugh in his face about the ‘million violations’. He’s been a lawyer for years, and I bet he covered every contingency that might arise in running a business like this. Besides, the guy in charge of the police department is Sheriff Joel Harper, who just happens to be married to Jason, one of Royce’s law partners.”

  “Wow,” Ryan was duly impressed. “Maybe we should coax Brady to go throw a fit, and see the look on his face when he discovers that little fact.”

  Stu sat down again with a plate piled high with burgers, fries and beans.

  Tim chuckled. “I guess we can relax for a bit while Stu works through that lot.”

  “No way. I’ll be done in a couple of minutes.” And he was. As Tim said later, it was an amazing sight to witness.

  “Okay.” Stu wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Why don’t you call the house and make sure it’s okay we come over. They might be…y’know.”

  Tim grabbed his phone and punched in the code for the house. “Oh hi, Parker. You guys busy? Only, Stu has something we think you should know about.”

  “Sure, come on over. We just finished with dinner so can’t offer you anything past a beer.”

  “No, we’ve eaten, thanks. But a beer sounds good.” He grinned at Ryan. “Royce always has the best beers.”

  Royce and Parker were sitting outside on the patio when they arrived. “You want to sit out here, or inside?” Royce asked.

  Ryan looked around. “Can we be overheard?”

  “Sounds serious.” Royce frowned. “Let’s go in.”

  They followed Royce and Parker indoors. “We can sit in the den. Can I get
you guys a beer? I have an import just arrived. Weihenstephan Hefe Weissbier.”

  Stu laughed. “Wow, that’s a mouthful.”

  “It is, but it’s really good.” Royce quirked an eyebrow. “I have some chilling if you’d like a bottle.”

  Stu rubbed his hands together. “I’ll try it.”

  “Just a Bud Light for me,” Ryan said, and Tim added, “Me too, thanks.”

  “Okay…” Once Royce and Parker had dispensed the drinks and they were all seated in the den’s comfortable leather couches, Royce asked Stu, “So what is it that’s got you concerned, Stu?”

  Stu gave an appreciative sigh after tasting the German beer and said, “Brady propositioned me in the stable after Seth brought him back from the trail. Wanted a blow job.”

  “That darned jerk.” Parker’s expression darkened. “We should’ve thrown him off the ranch soon as we heard what he’d done with Midnight.”

  “That’s not the worst part, Parker.” Stu glanced around at the guys. “Of course I refused, told him he knew the rules, then he said if I didn’t give him what he wanted, he’d report the Seven Plus to the police for civil rights violations. I’m sure he’s making that part up, but the guys and I thought you should know.”

  “Thank you, Stu.”

  Royce looked grim and Ryan, for a moment, thought he was going to march straight over to Brady’s cabin and knock the shit out of him. Probably not the best idea, but man, if Royce would go for it, he ‘d be happy to lay the asshole out. He cleared his throat and Royce glanced at him, a smile on his lips.

  “I think I know what you’re itching for,” he said. “Me too, but unfortunately it wouldn’t solve the problem, only make it worse, more’s the pity. The man is an absolute low-life, despite all his highfalutin’ airs and talk. He might be someone in the eyes of the people he employs, but here he will abide by our rules and code of conduct.” Royce stood. “Which is what I am going over there to tell him.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Parker said. “Just in case he gets rambunctious.”

  “Good idea. You can stop me if I beat him up too badly.”

  Stu choked on his drink. “Boss…”

  “Just kidding, Stu. But Parker’s a good guy to have at your back. You guys stay here, have another beer if you like. We’ll report back soon as we’re done with Brady.”

  Ryan shifted restlessly in his chair. “Maybe we should all have gone with them.”

  “Too intimidating,” Tim said. “He could claim harassment and say he felt his life was in danger. You know, with all us macho guys glaring at him.” He paused to chuckle. “Best we let the bosses handle it. Royce knows all the right things to say. And I don’t think Brady’s gonna get any support from Cody. He’s over the jerk.”

  Ryan nodded. “Guess you’re right, but someone needs to teach him a lesson he won’t forget in a hurry.”

  “I feel sorry for his employees,” Tim said. “Can’t imagine what it must be like to work for a man like that.”

  Stu shook his head. “I bet there’s a revolving door in that office.”

  They all looked toward the French doors as Royce and Parker came back. “Cody says Brady called a cab and went into the city to check out the gay bars,” Royce told them. “He said he’ll make sure Brady won’t be a problem when he gets back.” He shrugged. “They’re leaving tomorrow, so I guess that’s it for tonight. I will have a word with him before he leaves, however. Any threats of lawsuits and I’ll remind him that’s a two-way street.”

  * * * *

  “Your room or mine?” Ryan whispered as they walked back to the bunkhouse.

  “Mine.” Tim smiled up at him. “I got some new tunes to listen to while we’re makin’ love.”

  “Such a romantic.”

  “You love it.”

  “Yeah, I do.” It was on the tip of his tongue to add ‘I love you, too’, but it might be just too early for that kind of thing. They were pretty intense in their lovemaking, and Ryan was sure that Tim loved it just as much as he did, giving back everything Ryan gave him. There was a joy in what they did, a sharing from deep down inside, or so it seemed to Ryan.

  “The twins are in their cabin,” Tim remarked while they passed the lighted windows. “Probably getting ready for that early flight they’re on in the morning.”

  “Which I have to drive them to the airport for.” Ryan didn’t mind the extra duty, because Royce spread it out among them, not leaving just one person in charge of all the transportation. This one was early though. “You’ll have to leave me be,” he kidded Tim. “At least after our first go-around.”

  Tim nudged him with his elbow. “Feeling the strain of bedding a younger guy, eh, old-timer?”

  “Oh, gonna get you for that.” Ryan pushed him through the bunkhouse door and chased him as he ran for cover. “Don’t make so much darned noise,” he hissed when he caught Tim around his waist and hauled him in close. “You’ll wake Bob up.”

  “Easier to wake the dead,” Tim laughed, not struggling to get away. “Mmm, you’re strong for an old guy.”

  “Brat.” He hoisted Tim over his shoulder and carried him to his room, ignoring the two-handed smacks Tim rained on his ass. Laughing like kids, they fell on the bed and the laughter very soon gave way to moans while they peeled off each other’s clothes and gave in to their desire.

  Ryan figured he’d probably never get enough of this…this amazing feeling that holding Tim in his arms brought him. Tim’s warm, soft mouth under his, returning his kisses, was a miracle in itself, enough to start a fire deep inside him that he’d kept tamped down for far too long. Ever since their first time together, Ryan had known this was going to be different from every other sexual encounter he’d had in his life. There was something about Tim that he’d never seen in any other man. He’d been puzzled at first, trying to determine just what it was that set Tim apart. He’d been looking for a word, or a phrase, to describe him, then it had come to him…the word was radiance. He thought Tim might laugh at him if he used the word in connection with him, but it really was perfect…and he’d tell him one day.

  “What in hell are you thinking about?” the radiant one griped. “One minute you’re kissing me, the next, I thought you’d dropped off or somethin’.”

  Ryan chuckled. “I was thinking about you and how perfect you are.”

  “Well, okay then,” Tim said, sounding slightly mollified. “But save the thinking for later. Now’s the time for action.” He slid a hand between their torsos and gripped Ryan’s erection and his own in his hand, massaging them together, using their pre-cum for lubricant. “Mmm, you’re so big and hard, feels so good on mine. I could come just like this.” He arched his hips upward, grinding against Ryan, the heat of his writhing body making it difficult for Ryan to think rationally. But one thing was certain… he needed to be inside Tim, and right now.

  “You wanna come like this?” He gasped. “Or with me inside you? Because that’s what I want.”

  Tim groaned. “Oh, yeah, I want that too…”

  Ryan grunted. “Okay.” He pried Tim’s hand off his cock and reached for a condom and lube. Tim had got him so close he knew he had to move fast, but at the same he didn’t want to rush this. Damn, but the guy got him rampant so fuckin’ quick. He sheathed himself in double time and squirted the lube over the stretched condom then used his slicked fingers to breach Tim’s hole. His breathing was already ragged, and Tim staring up at him with that little wanton smile on his lips wasn’t helping to cool his libido any.

  “Ryan,” Tim whispered, “slow down a little. I want to feel every inch of your cock sliding inside me.” He raised his hips and it took all Ryan’s will to not just ram his way into Tim. He’d asked Ryan to go slow and, gritting his teeth, Ryan calmed himself, holding back the instinct to let go and fuck his lover through the mattress. But he wanted it just a bit rough and he knew Tim would enjoy it, too. He gripped Tim’s wrists and yanked his hands up behind his head, pinning him down with his weight. Tim
struggled, but not much beyond some wriggling and bucking up against Ryan and hissing through his teeth. Ryan planted a searing kiss on Tim’s lips and the hissing stopped, morphing into a low moaning mixed with some whimpering.

  “Thought you were gonna tie me up.” Tim’s eyes held more than just a tease. There was a definite want in those dark blues.

  “Thanks for remindin’ me.” Without slipping out of Tim, Ryan reached into his nightstand drawer and pulled out a red bandana. He slipped it around Tim’s wrists then threaded it through one of the slats on the headboard. Tim squirmed and made a valiant attempt to free himself, arching his body upward, grinding himself against Ryan’s hard-muscled torso.

  Oh yeah, I got him now. He eased out of Tim until only the tip of his cock was inside him then rammed his way back in, going deep, deeper than even he thought was possible. Tim screamed into Ryan’s mouth, his body gyrating under Ryan, thrashing and writhing, while he struggled to break free of the bandana that tethered his wrists to the headboard.

  “Ryan!” Tim looked pained.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothin’ really. But I can’t get my arms around you when I’m like this.”

  “You said you wanted to be tied up.”

  “I know, and it’s good, but I want to able to hold you too.”

  Ryan didn’t argue. Truth to tell, while Tim’s angry struggling was a distinct turn on, he figured he was already turned on enough and ready to lose it any second. He wrenched the bandana from Tim’s wrists and was immediately rewarded by his lover wrapping his arms around Ryan’s neck and holding him through the wildest kiss and fuck Ryan had ever known. Their sweat-covered bodies cleaved together. They sucked on each other’s tongues, breathed into each other’s mouths. Ryan plowed in and out of Tim’s hole with increasingly demanding thrusts that had Tim keening his pleasure, muffled only by the pressure of Ryan’s mouth on his.

  They came within seconds of each other, Tim’s orgasm causing him to cling to Ryan like a limpet, almost squeezing the breath out of him while his body writhed and bucked in the throes of his ecstasy. His ass muscles clenched hard around the base of Ryan’s cock, drawing from him an explosive climax that made him see stars and rocked him to his core. They traded sloppy kisses and ragged breaths as they clung to each other, the bodies fused together by sweat and semen and an unwillingness to pull apart, never mind how sticky they were.