“And that's another thing,” she said. “Money first. Sex second.”
“I'm not stupid, Claire!”
She shot him a broad smile, mirroring his own. “I know you're not stupid – but I also know you're soft as cotton candy, and if that man tries to work his way under your skin… I don't know. I just don't trust you not to fall for him, and if you do… well. Love and crushes do make people stupid.”
“I don't have a crush on him,” Cole insisted – and he continued to do that for the next few days as Claire kept pressing the point. When the day of his second appointment with Beckett arrived, however, he wasn't so sure he was telling the truth. Whether it came from his relief or his genuine interest was still up in the air, but he couldn't deny the fact that he was excited to spend time around the handsome cowboy again.
He just had to dodge Claire's insistent look as he opened the door, ready to head out to meet him. She looked between Cole and the rancher's truck, brow furrowed against the sun, and Cole couldn't help but worry that Beckett would get the wrong idea. “Behave, will you?” he hissed out of the corner of his mouth, raising a hand to acknowledge Beckett. “He's going to think we hate him.”
“He might be right,” she said. “I haven't decided yet.”
As always, though, she was only being playful, and waved him off happily as he made his way down to climb into Beckett's truck. Only once he was a few feet from her did the nerves begin to bubble up again in his stomach.
Would it be today, he wondered? Or would they wait a little longer?
Once again, Beck had made an effort with his appearance, and his thick, dark hair was all smoothed back and tidy. Usually, Cole only saw him when he was delivering groceries, and at those times Beckett was generally sweaty, dirty and tousled. Right now, he was cleaned up and fresh – and this looked to be a brand new shirt. Frankly, though, Cole couldn't say which way he preferred him. No doubt he was a very attractive man, and he scrubbed up excellently, but there was something pretty raw and sexy about the thought of him covered in his oil-stained jeans-and-tee combo, too.
Of course, Cole couldn't exactly say this outright, especially not when Beckett had made such an effort. It was charming that he had tried so hard. In light of that, Cole filtered out the part of the compliment that said he was just as handsome in his everyday wear, and only said the rest. “Good to see you. You look great.”
“Oh, please,” said Beckett, failing to meet his eyes. There was a small, shy smile on his face, and it was painfully endearing. “You look great. I'm just trying my best to be presentable.”
“Well, you've succeeded,” Cole assured him, fastening his seatbelt. “And I've been really looking forward to this – though I've got to admit I haven't brought much for this picnic.”
“That's alright,” said Beckett, gesturing towards the back seat of the truck. “I've got you covered.” When Cole turned to look, he saw a large wicker hamper that had been fastidiously belted into place. That thing wasn't going anywhere, no matter how hard this truck braked. Perhaps Claire's guess about his crush really was true; it was such an odd thing to be charmed by, but Cole really liked that attention to detail. Perhaps he'd be equally as committed to the details in, ah… other vital areas of his life.
Cole had to fight off a blush as he thought about that. This really wasn't the time or the place. They were supposed to be getting to know each other; sex still wasn't a part of any of this. Yet.
“You're so prepared,” said Cole, at least intending on showering Beck with compliments. However committed Beck had seemed to Cole's comfort and wellbeing, he still felt a little guilty. Surely the man's patience had a limit, and he'd soon want what he had promised to pay for? But for now, at least, he didn't seem to be in any hurry. His smile was small but easy as he glanced at Cole in the passenger seat, and his handsome gray eyes flicked calmly over the road.
Not for the first time, a rush of excitement flooded through Cole as he realized exactly how lucky he was that Beckett had won the auction.
Beck's smile didn't wane, and he continued to keep track of the road. He was such a careful driver. “I try to be prepared,” he agreed, voice even. “I know how fast things can get swimming up shit creek if there's no plan.”
“I've always sensed that about you,” Cole admitted. “Even just from delivering your groceries. You're so…” he struggled for the word, eyes catching on different unimportant objects out of the window as they passed. “You're almost aggressively sensible.”
“'Aggressive' doesn't sound too good.”
“It's alright in this context,” Cole assured him. “It's just really prominent in you, you know? I've always thought that about you – that you could organize anything. Take care of any problem. I don't know; I just can't imagine you doing anything crazy.”
“Except this?” Beckett pointed out, and Cole had to laugh.
“Sure,” he admitted. “Well, then, this can be your first time going crazy. I guess that makes two of us.”
Beckett nodded, putting his blinker on to make the turning towards the river. “If I'm honest, that's kind of what drew me toward you in the first place.”
“The whole… first time thing?”
“No,” said Beck – and if Cole wasn't much mistaken, that was the hint of a blush on the back of his neck. Cute. “I mean the 'brand new Cole Berry' thing. It's great to see you come out of your shell like this.”
“Thanks,” said Cole. It felt like a compliment, even if an unusual one. “Not everybody's as enthusiastic, but… yeah. You know what? I feel good.”
When they arrived at the riverside, the sun was still up, but about to begin its descent. The smell and the sound of evening were beginning to sink in, and the atmosphere by the river was lovely. He might even go so far as to call it romantic. The breeze ruffled through his light blond hair, and when he closed his eyes he couldn't say he felt far from heaven.
“Nice evening,” said Beckett, reminding him that he wasn't alone. When Cole opened his eyes, sheepish, he saw the rancher setting up the picnic blanket, smiling faintly down at the things he was setting up. “Good to be out here – or at least it beats sitting inside watching TV, that's for sure.”
“Agreed,” said Cole, coming to sit on the opposite edge of the blanket, and helping him to set up the rest of the plates and containers. “You've really outdone yourself with this picnic, huh?”
“I wanted it to be nice,” said Beck. Well, he'd certainly achieved that. Cole's heart ached over the mental image of this rough-and-ready cowboy carefully packing away these sandwiches and cookies – delicately decanting cool drinks into his flasks to keep them fresh and pleasant. Claire was right. He was really going to have to fight off his feelings if he wanted to retain any inch of his business head here.
Unlike Claire, however, he firmly believed in Beck's sincerity. No doubt about it, this wasn't an attempt to seduce Cole and get into his pants for free. He was just a very sweet man who didn't do things by halves. Frankly, that only made him harder to resist. Luckily, there were other irresistible things on the blanket to distract him.
“Holy shit. Did you bring ice-cream? Is that mint chocolate chip?”
“Sure did, and it sure is.”
“Good God,” said Cole, already reaching for it. “Marry me.”
Beckett's laughter indicated that – thankfully – he understood that this was a joke, and it marked the beginning of an evening full of warm teasing and easy back-and-forth between the two. Cole would certainly like to think it took more than a bowl of ice-cream to win his heart, but... Beck Walsh had always been so much more than that.
No doubt about it. If this chemistry kept up, then Cole Berry was lost.
Chapter Eight
The evening had been an overwhelming success – and it continued to be. As Beck drove Cole back to Claire's place now, they sat in a comfortable silence, ruminating on the past few hours they had spent together. The light was really fading now, and that was more or less the o
nly thing that had chased them away; they could have gladly spent all night in one another's company, Beck felt.
His main concern right now was not turning this into more than it was. Clearly, Cole was a very nice young man, and they had great chemistry together, but he was going to leave Blue Mine as soon as Beckett's money landed in his account. This wasn't about forming a relationship. It was about getting comfortable so that they could screw. That would be the end of that.
As they shared a shy glance in the truck now, however, it was hard to think of it that way. Beckett pulled up outside Claire's house, and as he killed the engine, they both spent a few seconds listening to the overpowering buzz of the cicadas outside.
“I'll miss that,” Cole said. “About this place. All the cicadas in summer.”
“You're not looking forward to the beeping horns? The sirens?”
Cole grinned at him, tilting his head back against the seat. “I am, actually. I know it's crazy, but… for now I kind of like all that noise. Whenever I'm around it, it always reminds me that I'm… well. Not here.”
“But you'll still miss the cicadas,” Beck said, understanding. “I guess I would, too. They're just part of the background for me now, though I'm sure I'd notice if they stopped.”
“That's exactly it,” said Cole. “It takes you a minute, but you just… you feel there's a big conspicuous absence of something. And then you work it out. Doesn't feel quite like a summer night without it, even hanging out a hotel room window in the heat.”
That sounded like a pretty specific memory. Beckett wondered which of his numerous trip out to the city Cole was imagining, and whether he was transporting himself there now. He wouldn't blame the kid if he was – but personally, Beck didn't think he'd transport himself anywhere at this moment. Being here with Cole was exactly what he wanted.
“I guess I-”
But he never finished his thought. In the truck's still-beaming headlights, Beckett caught sight of a familiar figure emerging down the street.
“That's your father right there.”
Cole's face dropped, and his head snapped right in the direction Beck was looking in. “Ah, shit. I don't want to talk to him, Beckett. I really don't.”
It was true enough that they were not dating, and that it was important for Beck to remember that distinction – but when Cole was this frightened in the face of his father's visit, Beckett couldn't help but feel protective over him. He had no intention of making him face this confrontation alone, whatever form it took.
After all, there was no love lost between him and the pastor to begin with.
It took the pastor a minute to realize that Cole was in the car, but when he did, he made a beeline for it, tapping on the window with one long fingertip. “Roll down this window, right now.”
“No, sir,” said Cole, eyes fixed straight ahead and voice loud enough to be heard through the door, even as it was slightly unsteady. Beck wondered where the 'sir' came from, and whether it was just a habit. “I told you I don't want to see you around here; I suggest you go home.”
“I'm not going anywhere until we talk about what you're doing,” said the pastor. His eyes were angrier and more full of hate than Beckett felt a God-fearing man's ever should be; he gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying to calm himself down. He couldn't tolerate Pastor Berry speaking to Cole like this, but at the same time, he was sure Cole wouldn't thank him for taking control of the situation. “Is this the man?”
“We're not going to talk about this,” said Cole, trying his best to keep control of the situation – but Beckett could tell he was quickly losing his grip. Why wouldn't he? Beck had lost his father years ago, but he knew full well that he wouldn't want to confront the man like this, especially not in public. No matter how hard you tried to emancipate yourself, after all, your father was still your father. “Please just go.”
“I should've known it'd be Beckett Walsh – should've known that's why your marriage degenerated. Well, I hope you're proud of yourself, Walsh. $25,000 to corrupt a child. That's the price of sin.”
“I'm not a child,” Cole insisted. Beck could see his hand was gripping the door so tightly that his knuckles were turning white, and his face looked just as tense. Beck could endure the pastor's taunting for hours; it wouldn't be the first time he'd come under his ranting scrutiny. Cole, on the other hand, clearly couldn't last much longer – and Beck suddenly wondered what he'd been thinking.
He put his truck into reverse, eyes fixed on the mirror, and started moving. “Belt up,” he told Cole, voice stern with efficiency, and ignored Pastor Berry's shouts as he looked over his shoulder, checking to be safe. As soon as he knew it was definitely clear, he put his foot down, and the truck worked her magic. She was old, but she still had a lot of belt in her – and that was useful for roaring away from the ranting pastor now, quickly switching back to drive before shooting off down the road away from Claire Piscatella's house.
Cole, for now, was deadly silent.
Beckett waited until they were a good distance away, too far for the pastor to follow on foot, and pulled over. He figured it was better to give Cole the privacy of not looking at him, but he at least cleared his throat and offered the obvious question. “You okay?”
“I'm fine,” Cole said, but his voice was quiet and unconvincing. “But if I know my father, he'll sit there all night.”
“To mine, then,” said Beck. Normally he'd phrase that as a question, but Cole seemed like he needed a little more structure than that right now. “I keep a guest room set up just in case. I can drive you back as early as need be.”
“You're sure?”
Beckett nodded, finally risking a glance sideways to be sure of the boy's reaction. His eyes were so wide and hopeful. God. Pastor Berry had been exaggerating for sure, and Cole was certainly not a child – but he was still very young. He felt a twist of guilt in his stomach for the attraction he felt for Cole, and turned back to look out of the windscreen.
“Not a problem at all,” he confirmed. “You're more than welcome. And that guest room's got its own bathroom, even. You don't need to see head nor hide of me.”
“Thank you, Beck.”
After all, it had been a wonderful evening, but everybody needed time to rest. He didn't doubt that Cole had been looking forward to winding down and not having to be switched on for another person he was getting to know. Beck had, too. It was difficult to be tense for hours at a time, so determined to be impressive that you strained yourself. It wouldn't stop him from offering the boy a safe place, though.
Everybody deserved that.
“You want to go ahead and call Ms. Piscatella?” Beckett suggested. “Unless you'd rather wait until you're alone. I just figure she'll be confused as all hell about what just happened outside her house.”
“Oh,” said Cole, shaking his head briefly as Beck set off again. “No, you're right. I'll call her.”
The light had finally almost completely faded out when they reached Beck's ranch. It wasn't a long drive, but it felt like they'd left the town very far behind. That was one of the things Beckett liked about his place. It was convenient enough to get out into town, but it felt secluded and sheltered enough from the constant comings-and-goings of town and the watchful eyes of its people.
He hoped that would be of some comfort to Cole tonight, too.
As he undid his seatbelt, however, he felt some tension to his right. Cole wasn't getting out of the car – and when he turned to look and see if he was okay, Beck saw that he was leaning closer across the truck.
“I'm grateful,” the boy said, voice soft. “For the way you're treating me now. For the way you have been treating me.”
Almost before Beck could register what was happening, Cole leaned closer still and pressed his lips softly against Beckett's.
The mood seemed to change quickly from there. Beck's first instinct was to pull away, but Cole was persistent; his kiss was eager and firm, and it didn't take long for Beckett to be won ov
er and kiss him back. Cole's lips were soft, and when Beck reached to pull him closer, the skin between his shirt and the waistband of his pants felt soft too. Cole didn't need much invitation, though. The way they were leaning across the truck was too awkward, and he quickly moved to slide onto Beckett's lap.
Beck's arms wrapped around his waist. He was a perfect fit – and with Cole's hands holding his face, they kissed in the darkness of the car, every shift Cole made in his lap setting Beck more on fire. He was beautiful, and Beckett could sense that even with his eyes closed. He could imagine what Cole looked like right now, all ruffled and arched.
It took everything Beck had not to press him back against the steering wheel and kiss the length of his body – but they had all the time in the world. It was that thought that sobered him somewhat, feeling Cole begin to get hard as he pressed up against him, and he sighed, pulling away from their kiss with one last peck for good measure.
“Not here,” he said.
“Anywhere,” Cole answered, breath heavy. “Bed, then. Anywhere – Beckett...”
He accepted Cole's eager kiss, but he couldn't get carried away again. He knew what Cole wanted right now, and that things would run away with both of them if he allowed that to happen. Equally, he knew that they both might regret that. Tonight, in these circumstances, was not the right time.
Cole was running on the adrenalin of his father showing up at the house. No need to waste his first time on that.
“Not tonight,” Beck said, breaking off the kiss gently and with another few pressed across his cheek. “We've had a good night. Let's just end it like this. Your first time – I want that to be special. I'm going to make that special for you.”
Cole sighed, slumping forward onto Beck's shoulder. Beck could feel the rabbit-fast beat of his heart against his own chest, sliding a hand up his back to try and calm him down. “You're right,” he said, muffled against the fabric of Beckett's shirt. “Sorry.”
“Don't be sorry,” Beck insisted. “I want you – I mean...” he cleared his throat, pleased that Cole's face was buried in his chest to prevent him from seeing Beck blush. “I do. But I don't want you to rush. If your father hadn't been there tonight, then it wouldn't have been tonight. You know…? So let's just… keep pace.”
Celestial Seductions: The Complete Series: An MM Gay Paranormal Mpreg Romance Collection Page 49