by Cameron Dane
The prison and Alex’s struggle just to walk inside that day was never far from Hunter’s thoughts. “How’s that going with her?” He squeezed their joined hands.
“Better. Maybe. A little bit.” Alex made a noise that sounded like it mixed a chuckle and a groan. He tapped the side of his head against Hunter’s shoulder. “I don’t know.”
Laughing softly too, Hunter pecked a kiss to Alex’s temple. “Now you’re sounding like me.”
Alex shifted on the bed and drew up his knee. “We all have a little bit of that confused, scared person inside us. When it rears up on me now, though” -- the love shining in Alex’s gaze surrounded Hunter’s guarded heart -- “I want to be able to come to you so I can talk about it until I feel better. Or maybe not even to talk. I just want to know when I’m having a shitty day that at the end of it, I get to come home to you.” Alex’s words, the ease with which he spoke them, continued the wonderful gossamer web he spun around Hunter’s very soul. “As long as I have you, everything else is manageable.”
“But moving to Quinten?” That part of Hunter’s brain determined to destroy his peace hung on by a thread. “After the exciting life you’ve led in Boston? And don’t tell me you never really liked living there because I won’t believe you.”
“I did like living there, and I’ll continue to commute there on a regular basis. My name is still on the company letterhead, and I do need to make appearances. But I need to tell you something.” Alex paused, and his Adam’s apple bobbed considerably. Before he began again, he let out a shaky breath. “When I lost Mack and I finally had to get out of that house and surround myself with people who would help settle some of that loss inside me, I didn’t think about diverting through Boston. I wanted to come here. I wanted to come to Quinten. Not only for you, as wonderful and sexy and amazing as you are, and even though I was confused with what we were to each other at that time.” Alex rubbed his thumb across Hunter’s mouth, as if in wonder. “I wanted to see your sister and Jace and Jasper too, because they are my friends. I think they like me, just for me, and would still care about me just as much if I lost every penny of my money tomorrow.”
“They would.” Hunter ached for Alex. He had yet to forgive himself for leaving this man during such a terrible loss. “Sarah loves you a lot.”
Alex sniffed and wiped his nose, but he smiled really big too. “And those damn men of hers do too, even if they won’t admit it.” The light came back into Alex’s eyes, and Hunter admired his ability to move forward. “But even beyond them, I’ve built a great friendship with Ty Boone, and Mavis pinches my damn cheek every time I eat in her diner, just like she does the folks in this town she considers her family. And just the other day, one of the biggest, loudest opponents of my project here in Quinten came up to me, shook my hand, and actually said, ‘You’re an all right guy.’ This is a man who I swear wanted to strangle me the first time I sat down with the mayor at a town-hall meeting.” Alex clutched Hunter’s hands with a fierce grip. “I want to be a real part of this town, not just a passerby. You are by far the biggest reason why” -- Alex climbed onto Hunter’s lap and wrapped his legs around his waist -- “but you are not the only one.”
Next Alex wound his arms around Hunter’s neck and put them forehead to forehead, giving Hunter a close-up of the open, clear affection burnishing his eyes. “Now, should I go into more details about my plans for projects to keep me busy well beyond completing the homes in Quinten? Because I have at least a half-dozen more in addition to that ski resort already brewing in my head.”
Love burst within Hunter, and he wanted to shout from the rooftops that he didn’t have to run from it anymore. Alex would always be here for Hunter, and Hunter would go to his grave standing up for and proudly beside Alex for the rest of his life too.
“I would like to hear more,” Hunter said. “Not to ease my fears” -- placing one of Alex’s hands on his heart, he let the man feel the powerful beat that existed simply due to his proximity -- “but rather because you are so fucking sexy when you talk about your work, and I want to know about everything that excites you.”
Alex nipped Hunter’s nose. “Only if you promise to tell me more about yours.” His gaze burned, and he couldn’t seem to stop running his hands all over Hunter’s shoulders and chest. “I loved seeing you around those horses, Hunt. You were so clearly in your element and thriving.” Sincerity rang deep and strong in his voice. “It’s where you were meant to be.”
“Thank you.” Heat rode Hunter’s neck, but pride in his work, as well as Alex’s pride in him, kept his head up. He stole a kiss and softly said against Alex’s lips, “We’ll have to set up that first riding lesson soon.”
“Funny” -- as Alex teased Hunter with kisses right back, he swished his ass into Hunter’s cock -- “I thought I already had my first lesson a short while ago.” Humor and love mingled in Alex’s gaze. “I stayed on you pretty damn good during that ride.”
“You did, honey. You did real good.” Stirring again already, Hunter eased Alex’s shirt from his body. Hunter looked into Alex’s eyes, hungry to see the change as he slipped his hand into the man’s unzipped pants. “But you’ll need lots and lots of practice.” He stroked Alex’s long, beautiful cock to life.
Alex moaned and rocked into Hunter’s touch. “Ask anyone who knew me as a kid.” His eyes already glazing, Alex remained locked in on Hunter, a picture of loving perfection. “I was always very, very good at homework.”
So unspeakably in love, Hunter drew Alex’s mouth to his and whispered, “Then let’s get started right now.”
EPILOGUE
MARCH
Sitting at the edge of the bed in the shadows of the darkened trailer, wearing a happy little smile, Alex tied his running shoes. To his left, Hunter lay tangled in the sheets, on his side, fast asleep. For Alex, seeing Hunter sleeping peacefully through the night these days was nothing short of miraculous. Hunter still struggled with the desire to cut himself, but he also continued his work with Dr. Royan, and Alex saw his man improving every day. Nightmares didn’t plague Hunter nearly as much now as they had when Alex had first begun sharing a bed with him. Alex could only hope the more Hunter found himself able to openly talk about some of his life and the friendships he’d made -- and lost -- during his time serving in two wars, the less those memories would haunt him in sleep.
As much as Alex loved watching Hunter so peaceful like this, one glance at the clock had him reaching over to hit the Off button a minute before it buzzed. He ran his hand up Hunter’s back, always hungry to touch the ripped, beautiful muscles and warm skin, and leaned down to press a kiss to Hunter’s bare hip.
“Rise and shine, baby.” Alex loved when Hunter slept well enough that he had to wake the man up. In between more kisses, Alex nipped and licked his way up Hunter’s stomach and chest to his lips. He murmured Hunter’s name a half-dozen times in between little pecks to his cheeks and the tip of his nose before settling against his mouth again, where Hunter then turned the tables and captured Alex to him with a slow, lazy good-morning kiss. By the time Hunter gave Alex his mouth back, with the exception of his cock, Alex had turned into a pool of jelly.
Hunter blinked open his eyes, and warm dark chocolate consumed his gaze. “Mmm…” He rubbed his thumb against Alex’s lower lip and produced a magnificent, easy grin that squeezed Alex’s heart. “That was a nice way to wake up.”
So close to drowning in that smile, Alex scrambled out of bed. “It very nearly put me right back in bed on top of you. Damn, you’re good.” He took another step back, out of the bedroom area and out of Hunter’s disheveled, hot-sex-in-the-morning aura. “But you need to get up if you want to shower before work, and I have to run.” The first twinkles of daybreak had not yet broken the night outside, but soon would. “The coffee is set to start brewing in ten minutes,” Alex shared. “I’ll see you for dinner tonight.” He kissed his fingertips and waved good-bye.
“Wait, wait.” In his efforts to get to Alex
, Hunter tripped over the bedding that had fallen on the floor. He persevered and grabbed Alex’s arm. “Do you have to go?” He backed Alex into the cabinets and dipped down to nibble on his neck and shoulder.
Blood immediately began racing, much of it diverting to Alex’s cock. Alex moaned and rubbed his groin into Hunter’s, losing himself in this man, as he always did. Hunter had ridden Alex’s ass pretty hard last night, but Alex found himself in a constant state of wanting to bend over for more.
Hunter kissed his way up to Alex’s ear. “You could join me in the shower.” Along with his murmur, he ran his fingers down Alex’s crease and pushed the material against his already fluttering pucker. “I’ll make sure every nook and cranny get properly cleaned.”
Alex let Hunter drag him to the bathroom door but managed to come up for air at the last second. “No, wait. Fucking A.” He trembled and found it nearly impossible to look into Hunter’s eyes and say no. “You know I want to, but I need to get my run in, or I’ll be an impatient asshole all day at work. And you’ll be late too.”
Hunter exhaled and dragged his hands through his dark hair. “You’re right. I wouldn’t do that to the nice people in your employ. Have a good run.” He leaned in and pecked Alex’s cheek. “I’ll see you later.” With that, Hunter turned and banged his shin into one of the low cabinet doors that yesterday had decided it didn’t want to close all the way anymore. “Ouch.” After using his foot to rub the offended area, he limped into the bathroom, muttering, “Fuck.”
Alex squeezed his eyes closed, pressed his fingertips into his forehead, and almost went ahead and started his run. At the last second, he moved to the bathroom door instead. “Listen.” He locked in on Hunter, who already had his hand under the shower spray gauging the temperature. “There is no pressure, understand that first. I love you no matter what, and nothing you say or do will ever change my feelings. I like my little baked potato” -- Alex banged his palm against the trailer wall -- “and I love spending nights at your apartment too, but it does just so happen there are some very beautiful houses being constructed in Quinten right now, and I happen to have some pull with the builders.” Alex grinned at his stupid joke for just a split second, but the seriousness of his proposal, as well as the possibilities of Hunter’s myriad of reactions, sobered him quickly. “I love the designs and layout of every house we’re building here,” he went on. “I wouldn’t have approved them if I didn’t like them.” Emotions tightened Alex’s throat, and he couldn’t break away from Hunter’s beautiful gaze. “I just want you to know I would be very proud to live in any one of them with you.” Whew. I just asked him to officially live together. Alex’s heart raced, making him feel incredibly alive. “Take a look at my blueprints whenever you’re ready. You know where I keep them. It’s something for you to chew on in the shower, or for the next week or month or year. No rush,” he added quickly. “Take as much time as you need.” Hunter stood stock-still, and Alex started gnawing on his lip. “Are you okay with what I’m suggesting?”
Hunter jerked and finally blinked as if coming out of a trance. “Yeah. I just didn’t expect you to say that.” Alex still held at the door, and Hunter made an exasperated sigh. “I’m fine, honey. I promise. And I do know where the blueprints are, and I will look.” He came to Alex and kissed his cheek. “Go ahead and take your run.”
For all he’d learned to read Hunter, Alex couldn’t tell the truth of his reaction now. “Okay.” Alex would never forgive himself if he found new scars on Hunter’s body tonight. “Remember, I love you. No matter what.”
“I love you too.” Hunter spanked Alex on the ass. “Now go!”
Alex rubbed the sweet sting. “All right. Bye.”
As Alex left the trailer, a “Whoop!” erupted from the bathroom and sent Alex soaring straight into the sky. Yes.
* * * *
A little bit later, Hunter pulled his truck onto the road. He’d lingered over coffee and breakfast after his shower, not because Alex’s stunning proposition had made him smile too much to eat, but rather because he knew he didn’t have to look at Alex’s blueprints to know where he wanted to eventually live.
The refurbished farmhouse.
Beyond the memories of the tumultuous sexual encounter he and Alex had shared in that house, Hunter still remembered the fondness with which Alex had spoken of the home from the very beginning of their relationship. Whether Alex wanted to admit it or not -- or was even aware of his extra affection on a conscious level -- if given the choice, Alex would choose that place above the others. That meant Hunter wanted nothing more than to give Alex that home. For Hunter, home was now wherever Alex was, along with scheduled dinners for both of them at Sarah, Jace, and Jasper’s a couple of nights a week. Hunter needed nothing more than that. His job with Cain and Luke, having Hercules in his life, and a growing, great friendship with Corey, were bonuses in a life Hunter sometimes still battled believing he deserved. Hunter could never forget Trey or Will, nor stop wishing they were still here with him, but he now worked hard every day to live a life that would honor them as best he could. Sometimes in the craziest moments -- like when he’d made love to Alex last night until both their bodies ached -- Will would slip into Hunter’s thoughts, and he somehow knew the guy was hooting and hollering in heaven for him.
Right then Hunter rounded a bend in the road, and he grinned as Alex came into sight. The man had already reached the halfway point and now ran toward home. As always, Hunter ate up the vision of such a fit, beautiful man, slick with sweat, and marveled the guy belonged to him. Those damn little black shorts still showcased Alex’s legs and continued to drive Hunter crazy. Right now, they highlighted his crotch, but Hunter looked forward to driving past Alex and looking in his side-view mirror to get a glimpse of how they hugged his tight little ass.
Hunter pulled to a stop alongside Alex. The man glistened with perspiration, and Hunter had never loved or wanted him more. “I already know where I want us to live,” he shared, staggering Alex’s jogging in place to a dead stop.
“Really?” Beaming pure, joyous light, Alex ran up to Hunter’s door. “Where?”
Hunter winked. Jesus, he’d never done that in his entire life. “Not yet. I’ll tell you over dinner tonight.”
“What is this?” Alex growled and glared. “Instead of a cock-tease, you’re a house-tease?”
Chuckling, Hunter leaned through the window and stole a quick kiss. “I gotta keep you on your toes. Have a good day, honey.” He touched the brim of his Stetson, as he still did every single morning when he crossed Alex’s running path, and then drove away.
Laughing to himself, Hunter watched Alex in his side mirror. For just a moment, Alex stood on the side of the road with his fists planted against his hips, still staring at where Hunter’s truck had been.
Just when Hunter thought Alex might kick the dirt like a kid, Alex turned. Facing away, he slowly pulled his shorts down and showed Hunter his ass. Son of bitch, motherfucker. Hunter’s jaw dropped, and his dick instantly went hard as a rock. Alex wiggled his bare ass in Hunter’s direction, pulled his little running shorts back up, and began jogging again.
Hunter swerved the truck and chased down his man. He pulled to a stop on the shoulder a dozen feet in front of Alex and shot out of the vehicle. With one lunge, he grabbed Alex and backed him into the side of the truck.
Breathing hard already, Hunter clutched a fistful of Alex’s hair and nailed him in place everywhere. “You’ve always known I look when I drive away.”
“Hell yes, I do.” Confidence burnished the green in Alex’s eyes. “Today I thought I’d give you a little extra show.”
Using his gloved hand, Hunter rubbed his fingertips over the shiny material covering Alex’s cock, all the way up and down his shaft, pleased when Alex’s dick stirred. Lifting his gaze, Hunter said, “And you know what this little scrap of a pair of shorts does to me too.”
With a soft moan, Alex worked his hips to stay in constant contact with the small
brushes from Hunter’s fingers. “You’ve mentioned it once or twice.”
“So now you know what has to happen.” Hunter yanked open the passenger side door and reached into the glove compartment. “We have to make that little fantasy of yours come true.”
When Alex saw the packet of lube, his pupils dilated, taking over the green. “You wouldn’t.” He clearly now remembered his admission that he’d thought about Hunter stripping him down and taking him from behind on the side of the road. “Another car might pass.”
Hunter dipped down and put his mouth to Alex’s ear. “Maybe you should have thought about that before you pulled down your shorts and invited me to come back.” As he whispered, Hunter teased his fingers inside the elastic waistband at the back of Alex’s shorts.
Alex darted his gaze left and right, but his erection pushed a bigger tent against his shorts with every brushing contact from Hunter. “You’ll be late for work.” His protest turned into another little moan.
Grinning, knowing he shouldn’t, Hunter braced himself above the open door and homed right in on Alex and his pink, pink cheeks. “If I tell my bosses that you flashed me your sweet ass on the side of the road, they are going to completely understand why I’m a few minutes late.”
Alex’s blush flooded from rosy to crimson. “You would not tell Cain and Luke I did that.”
He never would, but Hunter merely shrugged. “How are you going to buy my silence?”
Alex threw himself at Hunter and proceeded to kiss nearly every coherent thought from Hunter’s mind. He wound his arms around Hunter’s back, clinging to him in a way that sank passion, comfort, and boundless amounts of affection into every pore in Hunter’s body. Hunter had no idea how long the kiss went on, or if one or a hundred cars passed them while Alex had him under his spell, but by the time Alex let him up for air, Hunter needed his hands on the truck or he would have stumbled to his knees. Wow. Alex now had hold of Hunter’s cowboy hat.