Two In Hand

by Mary Winter

  James cupped Daniel’s shaft in the palm of his hand, then leaned forward. For a moment he waited, savoring the silken shaft in his hand, the anticipation of what was to come. Then, he placed his lips on the plum-colored head of Daniel’s cock.

  Daniel groaned. His hands fisted in James’ head. “Do it,” he growled.

  James waited a heartbeat and then slid his lips slowly, yet surely, down the length of Daniel’s penis. He took his time, though he knew every vein, every inch of his lover’s cock, James savored the taste and aroma. When at last his nose brushed the springy dark blond curls surrounding Daniel’s shaft, he paused and licked the underside of Daniel’s cock.

  Any concerns Daniel felt over the Katie situation were quickly being replaced by a more delicious kind of tension. He pulled back, making each moment last. Funny, this was how they’d first hooked up. A couple of beers after the first time they’d roped together. One thing led to another, and James had Daniel standing in a bathroom stall receiving his very first blow job from a man.

  James focused all his attention into his movements, listening for the groans that told him Daniel was getting close. Reaching beneath his shaft, James cupped Daniel’s balls. They tightened, his lover was climbing.

  They’d never stopped doing this. Loving each other. Giving each other blow jobs in the barn…in the pasture…wherever the urge struck. Oh, they made love too. James loved to hold Daniel’s hips while he pounded into his hot, tight body. There wasn’t anything wrong with that, but when times got tough and Daniel worried too much, this was what they came back to, the succulent pleasure of his lips on Daniel’s cock.

  Daniel’s hips jerked. He fucked James’s mouth, going as deep as James would allow. James loved it, loved Daniel, and no matter what happened with Katie that wouldn’t change.

  Daniel came, spilling himself with a long, husky moan. James licked him clean, swallowing every last drop, and ignoring his own aching erection, sat back and let Daniel adjust his pants once more. James knew for a fact that his feelings wouldn’t change, he just hoped once Daniel got Katie back that his wouldn’t either.

  Chapter Four

  The business card James had handed her haunted Katie more than she wanted to admit. Seeing Daniel again stirred up feelings she’d thought dead and buried. Since he’d left Oklahoma City, she hadn’t figured their paths would ever cross again, let alone get a chance to hold him, to touch him, to make love to him. And then there was James.

  She sighed as she turned down the gravel lane, passing the sign that read Stockton Stock Company, and tried to ignore the little pitter-patter of her racing heart. She could do this. All she wanted to do was talk to the guys, that’s all. Somehow having this conversation over the phone seemed cold and impersonal. She could have called them. Both of their phone numbers were on that card. But talking to one of them and then to the other sounded a bit too much like playing “he said, she said” and Katie didn’t want to do that. She might not have taken two lovers together before, but she knew communication in any relationship was key. And trying to figure out what James wanted over the phone left much to be desired.

  Several herds of cattle grazed behind sturdy wooden fences that dotted the rolling green fields. She saw younger calves still nursing and older steers just a pasture away. Horses grazed the hillsides to her left, a mixture of duns and paints that looked to be stock horses. From what she could see, and she hadn’t even reached the barn yet, this was quite the operation.

  The lane led to a circular drive that passed by a huge outdoor arena complete with chutes and bleachers, an indoor arena big enough to have a viewing area, a big white barn, and a huge two-story house. She tried to imagine the two guys living there and thought they must rattle around in the old place. Daniel’s truck and another navy blue 4x4 half-ton pickup sat side by side. Two big horse trailers, complete with living quarters, were parked beneath an extra long car port. She pulled up next to them, noticing an open gate to her left. She got out of her car, knowing an open gate on any farm wasn’t a good thing. She curled her fingers around the top rail and started to close it.

  Movement on the horizon stilled her. The guys rode at an easy walk, their horses’ tails swishing with the movement. Their hats shielded their faces from view, but she had no doubt that she’d caught Daniel and James on an early afternoon ride. Heat flared to life deep within her. Pulling the gate closed and leaning on it, she remembered their kisses, what it’d been like to be sandwiched between them.

  The image before her could have come from any western painting, two cowboys riding fences. She thought she caught snippets of conversation, nothing too substantial; probably talk about the cows or horses. On the other side of the fence, the horses were seemingly unbothered by the riders.

  In her mind she started, and ended, several different conversations. None seemed right when it came to broaching the topic of Daniel’s offer. Getting to know them on a more personal level sounded good, and that was why she’d driven out here. Maybe if she could see them away from the adrenaline-fueled environment of a rodeo it would help. Or maybe she was just tormenting herself with what she wanted, like leaving a chocolate on the counter and knowing it was there, yet daring herself not to eat it. Inevitably, she always gave in to temptation and the candy tasted all the sweeter for her abstinence.

  The guys rode close enough to see her, and Daniel raised his hand in greeting. He tapped his mount with his heels, sending the horse loping forward. James followed, keeping pace with Daniel and Diamond. She recognized Daniel’s mare and grinned at him riding his favorite horse. James rode a sorrel gelding that was unfamiliar to her.

  “Hey, what are you doing here?” Daniel called as he neared the gate. “I thought you had our card so you could call.” He eased his horse back into a jog, then a walk. “Or were you so anxious to see us that you couldn’t wait to call.”

  “Something like that,” she replied, unlatching the gate and swinging it open for the guys. She watched them ride past, single file, then closed and latched the gate behind them.

  Daniel had dismounted and held Diamond’s reins lose in his hands. James did the same, the sorrel gelding looking a little fractious.

  “I’ll just take Knothead here back to the barn.” James turned and led the feisty horse away.

  “Knothead?” Katie arched an eyebrow.

  “Knot an Impressive Chex,” Daniel replied. “We call him Knothead for short. He’s one of the most thick skulled, unresponsive horses I’ve ever ridden. James seems to think we can knock some sense into him to sell him as an all-around ranch horse. He tangled with some wire when he was a colt, so he’s no good for the halter arena, which was what he was bred for. James took the colt after he recovered as a favor. Paid two hundred and fifty dollars for him, which was probably too much.”

  Katie watched the big horse’s departure, thinking there had to be something useful he could do. With his good conformation and muscling, he’d have the endurance for most events. “You know, he could always become someone’s pasture pet if he’s not trainable.”

  “Yeah, that’d be a great idea, if he didn’t try to jump every fence he saw.” Daniel shook his head. “Never seen a horse like him.” He started to lead Diamond toward the barn.

  “Well if he likes to jump, I have some contacts. I’d be happy to see if anyone wants to try to train him over jumps, instead of just your pasture fences.” Katie grinned. She once had a fat little pony who became quite the escape artist, not because he was obnoxious, but because he was wicked smart and got bored easily. She’d bet Knothead was just like that.

  “Sure. Wouldn’t hurt. Hey, James and I have a couple more horses to ride. Want to come with us?” Daniel stopped in the barn aisle and snapped Diamond into the cross-ties. Ahead of them James had already removed Knothead’s tack.

  “That’d be great.”

  “Good. Melissa’s horse could use some exercise.” Daniel led her to a stall where a pink set of child-size brushes hung in a basket out front
. “Honey will keep you safe.” A dainty palomino muzzle emerged over the boards with a soft nicker. “No treats at the moment, girl.” Daniel turned to her. “I’ll go get you some tack.”

  She grabbed a pink curry comb and let herself into the stall. Honey was a small, fine-boned stock horse mare. Her golden coat contrasted with her white-blonde mane and tail. She imagined pink saddle blankets and pink boots. Paired with a young girl, maybe Daniel’s niece, the duo probably made an adorable picture.

  James put Knothead away and brought out Midnight. Daniel set tack on a saddle rack outside the stall and then put Diamond away, bringing out a bay gelding in her place. Soon the two guys led their horses out and she tightened the cinch on Honey’s saddle.

  The trio stepped outside. Katie paused long enough to double check the saddle, then grabbed the reins and swung aboard. It may have been years since she’d ridden western, but she settled into the seat as if it’d only been days. The guys mounted, and keeping her between them, though with gentle Honey she probably didn’t need any help, headed for the same gate.

  Getting everyone out the gate and headed up the hill took less time and shuffling than she thought. She kept quiet as they rode, enjoying the feel of Honey’s easy gait. The mare proved tractable and an easy ride, which was good since Katie did most of her work with horses from the driver’s seat of a cart.

  Neither of the guys said anything. She wondered if they were going to be too gentlemanly to bring up their arrangement, which struck her as odd. They were the ones who had mentioned it first. When they descended into a valley, she realized that nope, the guys weren’t going to say anything.

  “I’ve thought about what you said,” she spoke aloud, making it sound as if she were still mulling things over.

  “I’m listenin’.” Daniel straightened in his saddle.

  “Me too,” James agreed.

  “I’m interested. Very interested. I’m not quite sure where to go from here,” she said, hoping her honesty helped her. “I guess what I’m saying is I don’t feel comfortable just jumping into bed yet. And I’m not sure what James gets out of this.”

  “You want to know what I get out of our arrangement?” James asked, giving her an amused glance. “Daniel isn’t alone in yearning for a woman’s touch. I’m bisexual, which means I love both sexes. Seems to me, that we could each go out on our own, which would cause a heap of problems. Or, we could maybe find something with the same woman and share her. The decision is up to the woman in question, of course.” He tipped his hat in her direction.

  “And you’re okay with Daniel going after his old flame?” Katie countered. Flutters darted through her stomach. Thankfully, Honey handled nervous adults as well as children, because the mare never missed a step.

  “I am. I trust his judgment. He’s got good taste. After all, he chose me.” James replied.

  Katie drew a sharp breath. “I see. I’m not saying I made up my mind yet, but I do want to know where we go from here.”

  “Maybe just take things one day at a time.” James shrugged. “I’m pretty easy. But then again, Daniel knows that.”

  “Thank you,” she said, and then waited to hear what Daniel had to say. She hoped he wouldn’t take her reluctance as a rejection. That wasn’t her intent at all. But they’d gone pretty hot and heavy when they’d been dating before. Taking it slow this time around sounded pretty wise.

  Daniel nodded, looking more resigned than thrilled. “Yeah, I do. .” He thought for a moment. “Tell me, Katie, what do you see us doing before we jump into bed?” He winked at her. “Though I pictured us more tumbling into it, than jumping.”

  Oh, she pictured that too. Daniel, his lips moving across hers, his hands fisted in her hair, pushing her backward until the mattress hit the backs of her thighs. Then lowering her, oh so slowly, to the downy comforter where he covered her with his hard body—Honey stumbled, pulling her thoughts back to the present.

  “Well, I don’t know. Maybe me hanging out here learning a bit about what you guys do. Then you guys coming to my place learning the same.” She shrugged, almost ashamed to admit she hadn’t given much thought about the platonic aspects of their relationship. “Like James said, take things one day at a time. What I do know is that I really enjoyed our kiss in the truck. And I’d like to do it again.” She hoped with her last statement that she offered encouraging words.

  “I think kissing can be arranged.” Daniel tipped his hat to shield his face from the sun. Turning his horse, he led them across a small creek and up a hill on the other side. “This place has the best view on the entire ranch.”

  Katie fell into an easy silence as they ascended the hill. At the top was, indeed, one of the best vistas she’d seen. The rolling hills dotted with livestock and bisected by fences, gave way to where the land met the sky on the far horizon. The blue sky overhead, dotted with white puffy clouds, appeared like something out of a story book. And as Daniel pointed out their property lines, she realized what an expansive ranch James had. Definitely far bigger than her own fifty acres.

  Deep in her gut, she knew this was the kind of place she wanted. Sure, she loved her acreage. It had everything she wanted and was more than adequate to help her achieve her goals. But this place…she couldn’t imagine having all this. Driving a carriage down into those woods, having a picnic there—.

  Whoa! First she had to deal with the guys. Their ranch didn’t play into this at all. She didn’t covet their land, just their bodies.

  “When are you guys going to a rodeo again?” Katie loosened the reins to allow Honey to crop a few mouthfuls of grass while they stood there.

  “This coming weekend. We’re heading over to Amarillo. It’s a two day event so we were going to spend the night. Want to come?” Daniel asked.

  Katie thought for a moment. Her next competition was a few weeks away, and training had been going well. If she could arrange someone to feed her horses for a couple of days, and she bet she could get her friend, Sydney, to help, then she’d be able to go.

  “Sure. I’d love watch you guys work. I’d drag you to a combined driving event, but it would probably bore you to tears.” She lifted on the reins to keep Honey from eating some more.

  “Maybe not,” Daniel said. He glanced across Honey’s neck to James. “What do you think? Room for three in the truck?”

  James smiled an easy smile. “Sure.”

  “I’ll even chip in for gas and food,” Katie offered. “Plus you’ll get a free groom out of the deal.”

  “Well,” James drawled. “Can’t beat that. I’ll even throw in a Stockton Stock Company shirt so you look all official.”

  “Sounds great. I’ll check with my horse sitter and see if she’s available. If she is, then it’s a date.”

  Daniel nudged his horse closer to Honey, so close that he reached out and caressed the side of Katie’s cheek. “Shall we seal it with a kiss?”

  She turned toward him and without missing a beat Daniel captured her mouth with his own. His lips brushed hers, soft at first, then growing bolder when she leaned into his kiss. Katie sensed James hovering nearby, keeping Midnight a short distance away from Honey. She thought it odd, half expecting the cowboy to be where the action was, but maybe Midnight didn’t do well with other horses or he didn’t want to pin in her mare. Either way, she missed his presence at her back, and just as Daniel swept his tongue across her lower lip pulled away so she could turn and look at James.

  “How about you? Would you like to seal our plans with a kiss?” She nudged Honey over a couple of steps so she was closer to James.

  “Absolutely,” he said. Resting his hand with the reins on the saddle horn, he leaned over and met Katie halfway. Where Daniel had been gentlemanly and tentative, James slanted his lips over hers and kissed her hard. His tongue slid across her lower lip, inviting her to open to him, and she did.

  A soft moan rumbled from her throat. Then Honey stepped away, parting them. Katie licked her lips and tried to breathe normally.


  “Sure you can wait for the weekend?” James straightened in the saddle as if nothing had happened.

  “I can if you can.” Knowing how much Daniel liked dares, she took a perverse satisfaction in tossing this one his direction. “So, it looks like you have several different types of stock here. Want to tell me a bit about Stockton Stock Company?” Katie asked, turning the attention to the guys and their work. She did want to learn about them as people too, not just sexual partners.

  “Sure.” James pointed down the hill toward the fence line and at Daniel’s nod started Midnight at a slow walk. Honey followed, and Katie found herself entranced as they rode along the fence. He talked about the bucking horses there, mentioning their breeding and the various lineages of his stock. She found it fascinating, though that could just be the soft drawl of James’ voice.

  They walked along the fence, turning where it joined with a cattle pasture to head back toward the house.

  “Want to go a little faster?” Daniel nudged his horse into an easy jog.

  “Sure.” She bumped Honey with her heels. The mare stepped out nicely, and Katie found it easy to move with the motion. James kept Midnight restrained, in step with Honey as they returned toward the gate.

  She focused only on the beautiful afternoon and the men’s company. Thinking too far ahead usually got her into trouble. It could be different. She could try to plan the future, but in her experience at least with horses that never worked. With the men, she figured it really wouldn’t work.

  Still, she enjoyed the afternoon, even if butterflies threatened to overwhelm her. Going back to the barn meant nothing except she would be grooming Honey and putting the horses away. Just because she wanted more didn’t mean it would happen.

  They reached the gate sooner than she thought and waited while Daniel opened it from horseback. She rode through, followed by James and Midnight, and then Daniel refastened the gate. They went to a grassy area in the middle of the circular driveway and dismounted.