Jake was impressed with Ryan’s treatment of Bella. He seemed to know just what to do to make her calm. He heard Ryan’s voice and shook himself out of his reverie. “What’s that, Ryan? Sorry, drifted for a second.”
Ryan gave him a small smile. “I was just wondering what you’re using on this? It seems to be something that is taking a while to heal? How long has she been here?”
Jake thought about it. “’Bout five weeks, I guess.” Ryan wasn’t looking at him. He was still focused on the horse.
“If you’ll let me, I know a poultice that might help. Did you ever find out who did this to her?”
Jake nodded. “Yeah, and he was fined and banned from owning horses for two years. I get to keep Bella, and anything you can do to help her, I’d appreciate it. She’s been fighting so hard to get better, but the vet can’t seem to take care of those last wounds.”
Ryan nodded. “I’ll head into town in a while to get the stuff I’ll need.” Ryan stood and found himself closer to Jake than he realized. God, he smelled good. He went to step back and stumbled over a rock. Jake’s hand came up to grab him, steadying him before pulling back so quickly that Ryan wondered if he had imagined the touch.
“Thanks.”
Jake blushed, then shrugged. “So, right now, we’re gonna put her in the corral, ’cause I like to keep her close, and let the rest of them into the pasture. Oh, and I’m gonna give you some options for horses to use while you’re here.”
Ryan’s eyes lit up at that. “Cool, let’s get to it!”
Jake was busy cursing himself. He had to stop touching him, or he was going to give himself away. God, I need help.
Jake led Bella to the corral gate, and let her in before using the hose attached to the barn to fill her water trough. He let himself out of the corral, making sure the gate was latched before heading to the barn and grabbing a small bale of hay to drop into the corral.
Ryan smirked as he saw Jake slip the brave little horse an apple out of his pocket. She blew out of her nose before nibbling on the sleeve of Jake’s denim shirt. Jake laughed, and Ryan was once again struck by the beauty of him. He patted her nose and turned to go back in the barn. “Coming?” Ryan was pretty sure he would follow him anywhere.
They settled the rest of the horses, making sure they all had feed and water, until they were down to the last two. “Now, my horse is the big bay out there, Aragorn. He’s been mine for a long time, and we understand each other.” Jake grinned before continuing.
“Now, here we have Buck.” Jake was standing beside a big buckskin horse, light brown with a darker mane and tail. The intelligence and humor in that horse’s eyes matched his owner’s. “I know, obvious name, but I was sixteen at the time. He’s smart and fast, but he has a little attitude. He is mostly good-natured, just likes to play tricks now and then. Gotta make sure the gate is double latched when he’s out there, because otherwise he escapes.” Jake was rubbing the horse’s nose fondly, and the horse seemed to be nodding in agreement with the brunet.
Jake walked over to the next stall, and there was a pinto horse, smaller than the other, but beautiful. It was mostly brown, with a white patch on its hindquarters and observant eyes that were a little mistrustful.
“Ryan, meet Beau. He is one of those rescue horses I told you about. His owners were drug dealers, who pretty much forgot he existed and left him to starve. Thank God a nosy neighbor decided that enough was enough and called the sheriff. She got a hold of me, and we went and got him. They were so stoned, they thought it was funny. He was skin and bones, but look at him now.” Jake beamed at the horse with obvious pride, running his hands over the horse’s neck and shoulders. Ryan looked at the man and the horse and was pretty sure he was in love. With both of them.
He walked up to Beau with his hand held out, letting the animal get to know his scent before moving in to put his face on the horse’s neck and lovingly touching him everywhere he could reach. Ryan knew a kindred spirit when he saw it, and apparently the horse did too. It wasn’t long before his head was turned, resting on Ryan’s shoulder, while Ryan whispered in his ear.
Jake was awed. He had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. He cleared his throat so he could speak. “Guess we found your horse.”
Ryan looked at him from the other side of the horse, and the happiness Jake saw on Ryan’s face took his breath away. Jake was pretty sure he had never believed in love at first sight, before now.
They were both still touching the horse, and their hands met by accident, tangling together in the soft mane. They were both jolted by the touch, neither in any hurry to move their hand.
Ryan ducked his head, taking a deep breath before sliding his hand away and back down the horse’s side. He looked into Jake’s eyes. He knew it was time. “Jake, I have to tell you something. Something about me. Jake, I’m—”
Jake cut him off. “I know, Ryan.” It was his turn to duck his head before looking back up. “I called the place you used to work, from the references you gave me. The owner told me you were gay and hoped he didn’t mess up your chances for a job. He felt bad, you know, but didn’t know how to deal with it.”
Blue eyes met brown in a searing gaze, both of them feeling a burning in the pit of their stomachs. Jake was the first to move. He slid under the horse’s neck, standing up in front of Ryan, so close he could hardly breathe. His hand came up to touch Ryan’s face. “Ryan, I—”
Ryan leaned in, cutting him off with a hesitant press of lips before pulling back to look at Jake again. Jake stood there for five heartbeats before using the hand on Ryan’s face to pull him out of the stall and up into a toe-curling kiss, and there was nothing hesitant about it.
Chapter 7
Ryan was swept away by Jake’s kiss, his hand coming up automatically to twist into the curls on the back of Jake’s neck, while the other arm came up to wrap around his waist. Jake’s arm wrapped around Ryan’s shoulders and pulled him closer. They were standing there, pressed together from lips to knees, trying to push closer. Jake was stunned by how good and right Ryan’s mouth felt on his. Ryan was awed by the feeling of hardness pressed against his cock, and he couldn’t help but push against it, coaxing a moan out of Jake’s mouth.
“God, Ryan, that’s just so… oh my God. I can’t breathe.”
Ryan started to pull away, worried that he had pushed too far.
Jake slid the hand on Ryan’s face around to grab his neck and pull him back. “No, don’t, don’t stop.” And he renewed his attack on Ryan’s mouth. His mind was overwhelmed by the taste of Ryan. He had never noticed how someone tasted before, unless it was bad. But this? This was coffee and sweetness and something he was sure was uniquely Ryan. The hard muscles of the smaller man’s back moving under his hand were something he wanted to feel over and over again.
His hard chest against Ryan’s felt like coming home, and he could feel the evidence of Ryan’s arousal against his, and it was making his mouth water, and what the fuck was that about? He never wanted this to stop. And the noises Ryan was making. The moans and growls coming from his throat, all because of Jake, made him feel weak and powerful, all at the same time. And Ryan seemed to be in no hurry to stop it.
Jake needed to taste more of him. He licked his way to the sensitive spot behind Ryan’s ear, smiling at the intake of breath it caused in the beautiful blond. God, he could listen to that for hours.
Ryan was mesmerized by Jake’s kisses. The feeling of his tongue on Ryan’s, the softness of the curls wrapped around his fingers. The hard muscles playing under the shirt he had fisted in his hand. He kept trying to pull Jake closer. He wondered for a second if he should put the brakes on. But he decided he’d go for it. What the hell. Jake was going to come to his senses sooner or later, so he might as well take advantage of it while he could.
Oh God, Jake was pushing his cock against him. That was so fucking hot. Was that him or Jake who was moaning like that? Jake’s tongue on that spot behind his ear almost had him comin
g right there on the spot. He was so overwhelmed by everything he was feeling that he had to pull back a little to catch his breath. Jake whimpered at the loss of contact. Ryan rested his forehead on Jake’s, not letting go of him, but loosening his grip a little in case Jake wanted to back away.
He didn’t. “Ryan, God, I hope this is okay. I’m not, I don’t… I didn’t plan this.”
Ryan smiled. He was pretty sure Jake didn’t have a sneaky bone in his body. Ryan gave him a little peck on the lips before pulling back.
“I didn’t plan this either. When I pulled up and saw you on that horse, I almost turned around and left, a whole lot quicker than I came. But I wanted this job, and I needed it too. And getting to look at you every day? Well, I considered it a perk.” He chuckled a little at that, and he felt that Jake was blushing. “But, Jake, I have to tell you that if you don’t want this, if you’re not ready for it? It’s okay. I can back off now, leave, get back to work, and I swear, I’ll leave you alone. It won’t be easy, but I will.” He wanted to make sure that Jake didn’t feel any pressure.
But Jake just smiled at him before pulling him in for another breathtaking kiss. “Does that feel like I want to stop? Like I want you to leave? Please don’t, Ryan. If you feel you have to go, I understand. My baggage? Not easy to deal with. And this? All new to me. As in never, ever done it before. But I want to, with you, I really want to.” He leaned in to kiss him again, more tender and pleading this time. “God, do I want to.”
Ryan was sure that hell must have frozen over. This did not happen to Ryan Andrews. Gorgeous men with mesmerizing blue eyes did not kiss him, or hold him, or want him. Ryan had always been the pursuer. And while guys were usually attracted to his looks, they seemed to think he had too many opinions, too much attitude, to hang around for long.
He led Jake into the next empty stall, then brought his hand around to trace those kiss-swollen pink lips. He caressed Jake’s face before giving in and leaning in to nuzzle into his neck. He took a deep breath in, reveling in the smell of Jake, before running a line of kisses from his collarbone to his ear. He slid his hand down Jake’s back, slipping under the hem of his shirt, needing the feeling of bare skin against his fingers. He trailed his fingers up and down Jake’s spine, feeling Jake arch against him with pleasure.
Jake brought both hands up and buried them in Ryan’s hair, pulling back on it gently to expose Ryan’s neck. It was Jake’s turn to snuggle in, putting his lips just below Ryan’s Adam’s apple, and sucking a small, dark bruise into the skin. God, he smelled good.
His hands slid out of Ryan’s hair and down his back. He couldn’t stop himself from bunching Ryan’s T-shirt in his hands, baring soft skin for his fingers to touch. He moaned at the feeling, and when he slid his hand around to Ryan’s stomach and felt the soft hair that trailed from his bellybutton down toward the hidden treasures below, he felt a little dizzy.
Ryan’s movements were getting frantic, his hands grasping at Jake’s sides while plundering his mouth again. Jake pulled Ryan’s shirt over his head so that he could have more skin to touch. He brought his hands up over the hardness of Ryan’s chest, liking the way his nipples pebbled under his palms. He looked into his eyes, seeing the want there, and a shadow of doubt too. Ryan was afraid. It hit Jake like a hammer, and he wondered what had happened to Ryan to make him doubt himself so much?
He smiled at him before kissing him again and then mouthed his way down Ryan’s chest, sucking first one nipple and then the other, loving the response he was getting from the beautiful blond. He dropped to his knees and kissed his way down Ryan’s soft stomach, veering off to nibble at his side, earning himself a moan and a giggle.
He could see the effect he was having on Ryan, right in front of him. He looked up at Ryan for permission before reaching for the button of his jeans. Ryan reached down, pulling at his shirt. “Off, please?” It was said quietly, with obvious uncertainty. Jake leaned in to kiss Ryan’s stomach with such affection that Ryan could feel the sting of tears in his eyes.
Jake pulled his shirt off quickly before finishing undoing Ryan’s jeans. He pulled the jeans off Ryan’s hips before pushing him back against the side of the stall to give him some support. He hooked his thumbs on the waistband of his boxers, slowly sliding them down. He looked up at Ryan’s face, amazed by the trust this wonderful man was putting in him. He slid his eyes back down to the prize in front of him. He had never been this close to another man’s cock before. He had dreamed about it, wished for it in his heart of hearts, and now it seemed his wishes were about to come true.
Ryan mistook his time of admiration for being hesitant. “Jake, you don’t have to—” His protest was cut off by Jake sucking the head of his cock into his warm mouth. “Oh God!” Jake was overly careful at first, but he was surprised by how much instinct took over. He figured that if he did for Ryan what he liked, it should be good, right? He slid his lips down Ryan’s shaft as far as he could before pulling back, sliding his tongue up the whole way.
He looked up at Ryan, and his head was thrown back and his skin was flushed. One hand was trying to grab the wall while the other was on Jake’s head, tangling his fingers into the dark curls without pulling too hard. Jake had one hand wrapped around the base of Ryan’s cock while the other was holding his hips still. Jake happily sucked Ryan’s cock in until the tip hit the back of his throat, choking a little before pulling back. He worked his hand up and down, loving the feeling of it sliding like silk through his fist, while he watched Ryan’s face.
“Ryan?” Ryan shook his head. “Ryan!” Jake’s voice was more insistent this time. Ryan looked down at him, and his face was so beautiful, it made Jake’s heart ache. He pressed more kisses to Ryan’s abs and down his thighs, never losing eye contact. “Come for me, Ryan, please?”
And all at once, he plunged his mouth back down, sucking hard, and Ryan was coming and whimpering, and his knees started to buckle. Jake held him up while he sucked him through the aftershocks, before letting his cock slide out of his mouth and allowing him to collapse into his lap. Jake wrapped both arms around him, pulling him close, needing the contact with this special man. Ryan looked up at him with hopeful eyes, and Jake knew he wanted to be the one to make those hopes come true.
Chapter 8
Jake kept Ryan gathered against his chest for a long while, just enjoying the feeling of Ryan’s warm body against his. He kissed his temple, and Ryan nuzzled into his neck, trying to get as close as he could get. All too soon though, Ryan got a little self-conscious, him being naked in Jake’s lap, and the fact was that Jake was still rock hard in his jeans.
“Oh, Jake, I’m sorry. This can’t be very comfortable.” He started trying to pull away, but Jake didn’t let go of him.
“It’s okay, Ryan. Just, give me a second, alright?”
Ryan nodded and held still.
“God, Ryan, you are so beautiful. I mean, is that okay to say to a guy?” Now it was Jake’s turn to be self-conscious, but Ryan’s shy smile took it away.
“Me? I don’t know about that, but it’s fine with me if you wanna say it.”
Jake pulled him in for a gentle kiss before getting his legs underneath him and helping Ryan stand. He helped him gather his clothes before grabbing his shirt, and they both quickly dressed.
“Jake, don’t you want…?” Ryan’s eyes strayed to the enticing bulge in Jake’s jeans.
He smiled at Ryan’s question and nodded. “I do, but not now. I want to show you something first. Will you come with me?” Ryan looked at him thoughtfully for a minute before nodding. Jake’s grin got bigger. “Wait here for a second.”
He turned, ran back to the house, and was gone about five minutes, just long enough for Ryan’s worries to return. When Jake came out of the house with a saddlebag full of stuff, he saw the look on Ryan’s face. He walked over to him, set the bag down, and pulled him into his arms, happy when Ryan came into them willingly. Jake held him close for a few minutes, kissing his hair, stroking his
back, and just helping him relax.
“Are you sorry about this, Ryan?” He was kind of scared of the answer.
Ryan’s eyes came up to meet Jake’s. “No, not at all, it’s just, I don’t want you to be.”
Jake was determined to find out the reason for the sadness in Ryan’s eyes, but later. Right now, he had other things he needed to do. “I am never, ever going to be sorry about this, Ryan. I mean, like, ever!” He leaned down to kiss Ryan softly before straightening up and heading outside, leaving Ryan alone to gather himself together.
He went to the pasture and whistled, and Aragorn headed for the gate. Once the big horse got there, Jake opened it and let him out before securely fastening it again. He put his hand on the horse’s neck, and the two of them headed for the barn.
Jake grabbed a bridle and put it on the horse before heading to the tack room to grab what he needed. He came out with a blanket, throwing it over Aragorn’s back properly before heading back for a saddle. The horse just stood there, reins trailing on the ground, seeming like he had all the patience in the world. Once the saddle was taken care of, Jake grabbed a bed roll, attached it to the saddle, and did the same with the saddlebag before looping the reins over the horse’s neck. He looked at Ryan, who stood there in confusion.
“I know you want your own horse, and you can ride Beau, whenever you want to, but, I was really hoping, I mean. God, I am so lame.” He reached up to run his fingers through his hair, trying to figure out what to say. Finally, he just went for it. “Ryan, will you ride with me, please?” And he held out his hand.
Ryan smiled shyly and took it. Jake led him over to Aragorn and let him swing up first. Then Ryan scooted forward as far as he could go, letting Jake swing up behind him. He settled in behind Ryan, and Ryan passed him the reins before leaning back against Jake’s hard chest. Jake snaked one arm around him, pulling him as close as he could, before signaling the horse to head out. He kissed the back of Ryan’s neck, loving the smell of Ryan mixed with the smell of horses. This could be his favorite smell in the world in a very short time.
Cowboy Way Page 3