by Sara York
Andries nodded and got a far off look in his eyes. Lafferty didn’t say anything until they were in the car, headed out to dinner.
“Do you think you’d want to train horses?”
“I don’t know. I know this would be ambitious, but I’d like to be an animal doctor. I think I could do well.”
“So do I. I mean, if the way Lady acted toward you was any indication, you should do well.”
“But I’m sure it would take a lot of time.”
“It would, but honestly, one of the best veterinarian schools is only about an hour and a half from the ranch.”
Andries blew out a breath. “It’s a lot to think about.”
Lafferty pulled into the lot for the restaurant where he wanted to eat. “It is.”
“What about New York and your apartment there?”
Lafferty parked the car, then turned in his seat and cupped the back of Andries’ neck. “I’d change everything for you.”
“Really?” Andries’ eyebrows shot up.
“Yes. I would. Living on the ranch again would be interesting. I don’t really like what I’m doing for work. I could easily change to something else, or I could work at the ranch. I’d give it up to be with you, though.”
Andries shook his head. “You shouldn’t have to.”
“Maybe not,” Lafferty said before he pulled him close and brushed their lips together. “But I would. All of it just to be close to you.”
“It’s so odd and crazy that a few weeks ago, I didn’t even know you, and now we are together, and we’re looking at making a life. I was on the streets, eating out of a trashcan.”
“It breaks my heart how you were treated.” Lafferty opened the door to the car and stepped out.
Andries met him halfway around the car, and they headed to the door. Inside, the place was hopping. They were seated off to the side, and water glasses appeared, menus were next, and they were asked if they wanted any wine.
Lafferty could tell Andries was uncomfortable. He didn’t want to push the issue, but he guessed watching from the outside on Manhattan island must have been rough.
Andries met his gaze and glanced down at the table. “It’s difficult to eat in restaurants.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, it’s just most of the places in New York would yell if I was near the entrance. Even if I had money, it was hard to find a place that would allow me to eat.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You know how it was.”
“I do. You had to deal with it longer than I did.”
Andries nodded and then shook his head. “No matter how long, it’s still awful.”
They ordered and discussed living in Texas before the food came out. He tried to help Andries understand how much different it would be living in Texas than in New York. It was still the United States, but Texas seemed to be its own island of culture.
“How much different could it be?” Andries asked.
“Well, first off, in New York, they are more open. I mean, we’re okay here in this restaurant, but walking around Houston, we’d have to be careful.”
Andries nodded. “Do you think going to college in the area would be wise?”
Lafferty shrugged. “Most colleges have enough policies in place we wouldn’t be hounded.”
“Where did you go to school?”
“I ended up at the University of Texas. It was good. I studied business. It’s how I got my job. I know it’s family and all, but I had to work for it. I should be doing more, but I’ve been goofing off. I really should tell Jump and Bruce I want to change to doing something different. Maybe the travel is too much.”
Andries stopped with his glass midway to his lips. “Are you saying that because of me?”
“No. I’ve been tired of it all for a while.” Lafferty took a sip of his beverage and then set it down. “Of course, with you around, I don’t want to be in Europe.”
The waitress placed two plates of food on the table, shrimp and fish for him, and steak and shrimp for Andries.
“Thank you,” Andries said.
He mumbled his thanks too and picked up his fork. This was hard. He’d never been serious about anyone in the past, and now he had Andries. His world would change. His stomach ached, but it wasn’t because of the food. He felt the pressure of losing Andries. He didn’t want to be without this man.
An extremely sexy guy walked past, and all he could think was the guy wasn’t Andries. Unsure how to proceed, he fell back on easy conversations.
“Do you like your steak?”
Andries swallowed. “It’s delicious.”
“You know, for a guy as small as you are, you eat a lot.”
Andries chuckled. “I was homeless and starving for a few years.”
Heat washed up Lafferty’s face. “Jesus, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pointed it out.”
“It’s okay. Really. I mean, it’s a part of who I am. I guess it has shaped me for good or bad. All of this—” Andries waved his fork around. “It’s odd being in a restaurant eating something like steak and shrimp. Surviving on whatever you find in the trash, it’s tough. But you know that.”
A wave of misery washed over Lafferty. He had taken for granted everything he had. He never wanted to take Andries for granted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t be sorry. Seriously, I’m not offended.” Andries cut another piece of steak. “After meeting everyone, hearing about how the company helps people, I have an idea about how I could help.”
“How?” Lafferty took a bite of his fish, sighing at the delicate taste.
“At first, I thought it was selfish to want to go into veterinary medicine, but then I realized a lot of homeless people have dogs or cats. I saw it on the streets. Who better to be your best friend than a dog or a cat who hangs out with you and doesn’t judge you based on the fact you are poor? Anyway, I could help treat their animals. I know it’s a small thing, but sometimes a dog or cat is the only thing keeping them from going off the deep end. When their best friend dies, it’s tough on them.”
“I bet.”
“Also, I’d be able to donate money to help feed the homeless or help with something.”
Lafferty wiped his lips with the napkin. “I find it awesome how you want to give back.”
“I need to. I spent so much time feeling like my world was going to end. I was helpless out there, but now I have the opportunity to change so much.”
He took another bite of food and chewed, thinking about what Andries had said. It was great Andries wanted to help people and wanted to help himself.
“Do you think I could really get into school?”
Lafferty nodded. “You need to apply, but yes, I do.”
“So you wouldn’t mind it taking me a long time to finish?”
“No, babe. We’ve got so much time. We’re both young and—”
“How old are you?” Andries asked.
Lafferty saw the smile curving up Andries’ lips. The guy was so freaking sexy. Lafferty took a sip of his tea and leaned in. Andries leaned in too.
“I’m twenty-five now. I just had a birthday.”
Andries reached out and grabbed his hand. “What, when?”
“Just before we came here.”
“You mean I was with you, and you had a birthday but didn’t tell me?”
“I don’t like to make a fuss about it.”
“I could have given you a blowjob,” Andries blurted out just as the waitress came to the table. Her eyes went wide, and she turned around and left, not saying anything.
Laughter bubbled up, and he couldn’t hold back. Andries’ face turned red.
“Oh no, did she hear me say that?” Andries asked.
“I think so.”
“Well, crap. This is embarrassing.”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure she’s heard worse.”
Andries took another sip of his tea and held the glass in front of his face before glancing to wher
e the waitress had disappeared.
“I would have given you a blow job for your birthday.”
Lafferty set his glass down and leaned in. “If I remember correctly, we weren’t doing that yet. But next year, I’ll take you up on the offer.”
He liked how pink Andries’ cheeks were. He looked so freaking sexy and sweet. Lafferty wanted to ride Andries tonight.
“What are you thinking?”
“Just about sex with you.”
Lafferty heated. “I’d like that.”
“You don’t think it would be weird having sex at your dads’ place?”
“No, I think it would be just right. Trust me, they won’t mind as long as we don’t make a mess.”
Andries’ cheeks turned an even darker shade of red. Lafferty reached out and took his hand. The heat coming off Andries warmed him. They needed to get home so he could get Andries naked.
Lafferty pulled out some cash and estimated how much the bill would be. He was in the middle of counting when the waitress came over.
“Oh, you’re ready?” she asked.
“Yes, I—”
“I already ran the bill for you. Here.” The poor woman couldn’t look at him as she handed over the bill.”
He’d overestimated and counted out the total adding a large tip. He reached for Andries’ hand, and they left the restaurant, him intent on getting Andries back to the condo where they were staying.
It took about fifteen minutes to get upstairs and inside the apartment. Andries had tugged off his tie and was unbuttoning his pants. Lafferty helped him out of his shirt, then dropped to the ground and sucked Andries’ cock into his mouth.
“Holy hell,” Andries said.
Lafferty moaned and sucked him in, filling his mouth with all of Andries’ cock. This was what he wanted to do every day from here on out. He grabbed Andries’ thighs and held him in place as he sucked. He needed to feel his man.
“Fuck, Lafferty, you’re too good.”
He went down on Andries, sucking hard. He’d filled his days and nights with random fucks and blowjobs, never once thinking that being with someone special would be too much different. He didn’t realize how one person changed everything. The need to move onto the next guy was gone. Andries had his attention and his heart.
Andries pulled him up and pressed him against the wall, his eyes searching Lafferty’s soul. He opened for him, determined to show Andries this was different. This was love.
It wasn’t the kiss that surprised Lafferty, but the realization he was totally and completely in love with Andries. He couldn’t hide behind a smart-ass answer or some crappy behavior. He was in love, and Andries was the man.
They stumbled to the bedroom, kissing, touching, licking as they made their way. He dropped to the mattress and opened his legs for Andries. When his lover slid in, he sighed, knowing bliss was only minutes away. Andries knew how to take him to dizzying heights. The full sensation of Andries inside him was almost too much. He gasped as Andries shoved in, his balls slapping against Lafferty’s ass. Fucking random strangers had never felt this good. Letting Andries get close had made the difference.
Andries pulled out all the way and stared down at him, his dark eyes seemed even darker as he pumped his hips forward, filling Lafferty again.
“You’re special,” Andries whispered.
“So are you. You’re the sun and the moon.”
“You’re my sun, my…”
Lafferty wanted to ask what Andries was going to say, but Andries’ fingers circled his cock and stroked him, wiping his mind as his orgasm started.
When they finished, Lafferty lay beside his lover, his mind spinning over the possibilities of their future. They would both work to make this world a better place. He needed to refocus and talk to Jump and Bruce. Something had to change about his work; he just wasn’t sure how long it would take for the change to go through.
Chapter Ten
It was New Year’s Eve, and the night of the big Cattle Ball arrived. Andries felt like at any moment whatever magic that had changed him into a prince would disappear, and he would find himself in the filthy rags he’d lived in for years. All of this would be gone, and Lafferty would leave him. He didn’t deserve everything Lafferty was doing for him. He was falling for Lafferty. It wasn’t the money; it was the man. He needed this sweet, kind guy in his life. But something tugged at the back of his mind, telling him not to get used to this. There wasn’t any way Lafferty would want to stay with him.
“Are you ready to party?” Jump asked as he came up behind them.
“You know it,” Lafferty said.
Jump threw back his head, and laughter spilled out. “You’re always ready for a good party. I think you party way more than I ever did.”
Lafferty chuckled and then wrapped his arm over Andries’ shoulder. “This year is different, though.”
Jump pulled Andries in for a quick hug, then he hugged Lafferty. “I’ve got to go up and make a few announcements. I’ll see you both in a few.”
Andries watched as Jump and Bruce mounted the stage. Lane and Gresh went up with them. They all hugged, and then Bruce went to the microphone. He introduced Jump. Everyone clapped.
“How many people do you think are here?” Andries asked.
“They sold five thousand tickets.”
“Wow.” Stunned, Andries looked around, his eyes wide. “What about me? I didn’t pay to get in.”
“Don’t worry, I give back a huge chunk of my salary. I’ve paid enough.”
Andries’ gaze roved over the crowd. “How much were the tickets?”
“There are tiers. The ones at the back, they paid five hundred for a seat. They get a simple dinner and have to buy their drinks. The tables closest to the stage, those were fifty thousand dollars.”
Andries sucked in air, but something went wrong. He ended up coughing. He turned away from the podium, and Lafferty turned too, rubbing his back. When he recovered, he met Lafferty’s gaze. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. We raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. We use it to fund programs in Texas to help the homeless, children who need food, gays, and lesbians, we provide some funding for legal aid for battered women. Every year they try to do more. It’s a great charity.”
Andries’ gaze flitted around the room. “I had no idea this was so huge.”
“It’s remarkable what they do. I love how Lane and Gresh went this way after Gresh inherited his dad’s money.”
Andries stared at Lafferty and then shook his head. “One day, I want to hear the full story.”
“Sure. It’s a long story. I didn’t grow up with these two men, but I’m so happy I’m a part of their lives now. I’ve missed being here. I think I’m ready to stop running.”
Lafferty wrapped his arm around Andries’ shoulder and held him close. They listened to Jump’s speech and watched the inspirational video about the charity work they were doing. They ate dinner at a table off to the side. They were seated with other people who worked for the company. Lafferty introduced him around, and he relaxed after about ten minutes. At one point, someone asked him what he did for a job, and he cleared his throat, stalling. He decided to go for some part of the truth.
“I was homeless after my dad kicked me out for being gay. It’s been tough to recover. I’ve been delivering packages and doing odd jobs just to get enough money to have some sort of base to stand on. I am applying to colleges, hoping I get a scholarship. If it happens, I’ll be in school full time; otherwise, I’ll just keep working at any job I can get hired for.”
Everyone at the table had stopped eating, their forks hanging in midair, or set back on the tablecloth. Unease settled on Andries. Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything.
“So how did you meet Lafferty?” one woman asked. “Wait, that may have come out wrong. I’m just so glad you have some sort of opportunity to not be homeless. I guess this is why we do this, work hard each day, and stuff. I’ve given up one weekend a month to help
with homeless youth, but what I do is nothing, really. You’ve beaten the odds.”
Andries held up his hand. “I was lucky.”
“I wish we could help other people with that luck,” one guy said. “I mean, I know we are, but it seems like the problem just keeps getting worse and worse.”
“It’s rough on the streets. I was able to keep my sanity, but not everyone is.”
“Lane adopted me when I was fifteen,” Lafferty said. “I was lucky I found him when I did. I was only on the streets for a few months. And it is hard out there. Knowing what happens out there is why working for this company is so important to me.”
The first woman who’d asked him questions had turned to Lafferty and grabbed his hand. “I didn’t know you were on the streets.”
“It was a long time ago. Like I said, Lane and Gresh took me in and adopted me. I’m thankful for their help.”
Dinner service finished, and dancing was about to start. Andries excused himself to the bathroom, feeling secure about how his life was going. Lafferty was his man and had made it more clear tonight. He could actually have good in his life. Things could change for the better, and he’d be able to get off the streets and stay off.
After he finished with the stall, he washed his hands and was drying them when someone moved to stand beside him. He glanced up and smiled.
“I knew it was you,” the guy said.
“What?” Andries asked.
“That Miller kid brings you here to show you a good time before he fucks you into the sheets?”
Andries backed away and shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, you do.” The guy moved fast and pressed him up against the wall.
The man was big, his hands large, so he was able to hold both of Andries’ wrists in one hand as he reached down and slid his hand in the back of Andries’ pants.
“I want to fuck this hole. Last time, you didn’t let me. You only sucked me. Well, tonight, I’m going to fuck you. I paid a lot of money to be here, and now I’m going to take something.”
“Stop it,” Andries yelled as he bucked his hips, trying to get this guy to stop.