“Don’t touch yourself,” Jed said as Remy began to move his hand. “Let me.”
With a moan, Remy left his hands where they were. Jed couldn’t believe it. Remy surrendered so beautifully in a way Jed could never do. Jed ran his finger down Remy’s strong calves to his feet. He kneaded the arch of Remy’s foot.
“Jed!” Remy thrashed slightly. He hadn’t been expecting Jed to suck his toes. Jed intended to take his time and taste it all. Remember it all later when he was alone again.
He gave his attention to Remy’s other foot. After doing the same to it, Jed finally moved to Remy’s ass. He slid a hand under him to feel how aroused Remy was. Pretty aroused if the precum that greeted Jed’s fingers was any indication. The rest of Remy was silky and hard. Jed would like to lick the precum, but the position didn’t call for it. Besides, he wanted Remy to come when he was inside him. He wanted them to orgasm together. Jed worked the crown with the pad of his thumb, circling the outer part, then at Remy’s slit. He pushed hard there, then glided a callused thumb over the slit again. Remy tensed, then made a keening noise. Jed wrapped his fingers around Remy’s erection, allowing Remy to shudder in his hands before giving his base a squeeze.
“Not yet.”
“Torturer.” Remy whispered it, but his hands never left the headboard.
If Jed were torturing Remy, he was also doing it to himself. His dick was hard as hell. Jed ignored it and retuned to exploring Remy’s body. Had another man’s body ever seemed so perfect? He loved the feel of Remy’s skin. Especially his silky hard cock that begged for Jed’s attention. Pumping it, Jed got satisfaction from Remy’s ragged moans and small grunts. Jed’s own dick was so hard from the sounds he made. He released his grip on Remy’s arousal to give some attention to his balls. They were nice and heavy and slightly furred. Jed rolled them in his palm. He caressed them roughly because Remy seemed to like that. He was whimpering now.
Jed increased the pressure. Squeezing Remy’s balls, flicking a thumb at them, then soothing and rubbing. Then he let his fingers move to the crack of Remy’s ass. Remy startled, then groaned, then moved his legs wider. He had no shame to show or tell Jed what he wanted. He was beautiful like that. Jed gently let a finger circle Remy’s rim.
Remy hissed. “No more playing! Fuck me, please. Now!”
It was a mix of command and pleading that went right to Jed’s dick. He didn’t need to be told again. He grabbed the needed supplies from his nightstand. Remy, meanwhile, got on his hands and knees. He lifted his ass up, demandingly.
Using the lube on his fingers first, Jed pressed one inside. Remy’s breath grew rapid, and so did Jed’s. Jed loosened up Remy for him by adding a second finger, dragging a rough response out of Remy as he worked it over just the right spot. He pounded at it with a steady finger.
Remy jerked forward, moaning. And God, Jed relished every low sound. He thrust his fingers deeper, reaching for the spot again, teasing, testing. Remy arched, as if caught off guard.
“Oh God, Jed—fuck—damn it!” He thrashed underneath Jed, begging for more.
Jed shushed Remy’s harsh breaths, and eased his fingers out. He planted a gentle kiss on Remy’s shoulder. Feeling this newness between them, and not wanting it to vanish too quickly, Jed skimmed his lips over Remy’s neck and earlobe.
He wanted to go slowly, to enjoy it, and for a moment Jed played with the hair at Remy’s neck, but soon the heat of Remy’s skin called to him, and as much as he wanted to savor things, his body didn’t. Jed was starving for this, for Remy. He pressed his erection at Remy’s waiting ass and moaned. He couldn’t believe he was about to be inside of Remy.
He caressed his dick along Remy’s crease.
“Yes,” Remy panted, “do it.”
Jed cupped Remy’s ass in his hands. He slid his thumbs along the cheeks, and Remy lifted his ass higher, encouraging Jed not to stop.
Straining, Remy gripped the headboard, his knuckles white, as Jed lined up his dick at Remy’s entrance. “Please, Jed. Please.”
Remy’s please beckoned to him like nothing else. That simple word on Remy’s lips, said in his honeyed voice, lit a firestorm within Jed. He wanted to be needed, to be part of something all-consuming. The realization knocked the breath from him. His dick wasn’t the only part of him that blood was rushing to. His heart was pumping hard.
Jed was about to thrust when an impatient Remy ground his ass at him, and Jed slid inside him.
They both groaned. Jed held Remy’s hips. He moved so sensuously. Jed only had to hang on and Remy would set an incredible pace. So much for slow. Their choreography became more urgent, their longing clear with the first movement.
Remy took charge from the bottom, riding him, and Jed let his dick glide in and out. Jed felt sparks of desire igniting. He was hot and tight, and damn, Remy could move. Jed’s control began to crumble as need took over. He wanted to come so hard inside of Remy. God, Jed was swept away.
Inhaling a needed breath, Jed could smell Remy’s body so close to his. Sweat and sex permeated the air.
What strength Remy possessed as he bowed his body to take every thrust. His skin was smooth, but Jed felt every muscle beneath as the tension in Remy knotted.
“Easy,” Jed replied, though he was also telling himself. His control was going. But he wanted Remy to think he was the best one, the best he’d ever had.
Jed plunged deeper, taking charge in turn setting a rougher pace than Remy had. He thrust and then pulled away, thrust and then pushed deeper. He wrapped a strong arm around Remy’s middle and did it again.
Remy’s ass muscles clenched his dick. It felt so achingly right. Jed groaned as the orgasm blasted through him. Determined Remy would come the same moment, Jed reached for Remy’s dick and jerked it hard.
Remy howled, loud, sounds that only made Jed’s orgasm explode. Their bodies rocked together as they cried out each other’s names.
They returned to earth slowly. Jed disposed of the condom in a daze, and when he returned, Remy had a hand tucked behind his head and looked more relaxed than Jed had ever seen him. He was just lying there naked, a huge smile on his face.
Jed didn’t want it to, but his heart flipped over at that smile.
Chapter Eleven
“OHMYGOD! Ohmygod!” Hayley jumped all around.
Jed could only laugh as she saw Remy.
Her shiny ponytail bounced, and her eyes were huge. Remy smiled tolerantly. Although Jed had called Amy in advance to warn Hayley, nothing could stop Hayley’s shock and awe at actually having Remy Sean standing in front of her.
Jed knew how Hayley felt.
He was in shock and awe in the bedroom.
“Sorry.” Amy grimaced. “She’s just so excited to meet you. Hayley, stop that jumping all over the place.”
“It’s cool.” Remy bent down to Hayley’s level. “Maybe we can take a quick selfie?”
Hayley squealed and then glared at Amy. “Mom!”
“What’s wrong?” Jed asked.
Amy shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “I told her no phone. I didn’t want her—the temptation to post it—even to her friends.”
“Oh.” Remy looked surprised. Being lost in each other these past days, they had forgotten the outside world existed, forgotten Remy was here to hide out.
“I could take one and send it to you later?” Remy offered. “Or at least let me give you a hug?” He opened his arms.
Remy was in full charm mode. Jed hadn’t really seen him in pop-star action before, and it was… something.
“Oh my God!” Hayley wrapped her arms around Remy. “I can’t believe this!”
“Just don’t smother him,” Amy warned. She was a glass-half-empty type, like Jed—cautious to believe in good fortune.
“Let her have fun,” Elliot said with a fond smile. He’d come along to do an exam on Sage and her colt.
“This is the best thing that will ever happen to me in my entire life,” Hayley declared with passion, ignoring Amy.
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That made Jed reluctantly smile. Hayley was a sweet kid. The way she was glued to Remy and stared up at him with such hero worship would tug at anybody’s heart.
“Is that your guitar? I always wanted to play, but… I don’t know any girl guitar players.”
“What? Of course you do. Man, there’s a ton. There’s Joan Jett and Lita Ford and Bonnie Raitt.”
“Who?”
“I’ll show you who on YouTube later.” Remy shook his head and thought a moment. “You gotta know Taylor Swift, right? She is awesome on that ukulele.”
Remy picked up his guitar and handed it to a stunned Hayley. “But for now, you can learn like they did.”
Hayley shook her head vigorously. “I can’t. I won’t be good.”
“Nobody’s good when they start. You want to play, right?”
“Yes,” Hayley replied in a small voice. She glanced at Jed and Amy. Jed gave her a big thumbs-up, and Amy nodded her encouragement, even if a Worried Mom expression was in her eyes.
“Let’s get you started.”
A pink-cheeked Hayley held the guitar, Remy taught her where to find A and C.
It was sweet, seeing them together. Remy was good with kids.
“Earth to Jed?” Amy waved a hand in front of him. “Do you think he’d give me an autograph of my CD when he’s done? We have it in the car.”
“You want an autographed CD? And is that… lipstick?” With a slight frown, Jed realized Amy wasn’t dressed normally. She usually wore simple shirts and dungarees to clean in, and today she had on clothes that fit, and yes, it was red lipstick. Amy was the most grounded person Jed knew. She was not one to be easily impressed, yet here she was as guilty as her tween daughter.
“What? Don’t scowl at me like that, Jed. What can I say? I may be a bit of a tomboy at heart, but even I can break out the lipstick if the sexiest pop star in America is here. And you know,” Amy added wryly, “I’m a single mother, over thirty, with a flabby tummy and unpolished nails. And Remy Sean is hot and out. So I thought he might ask me on a date, and I’d crush my boyfriend.” Amy chuckled.
“Thanks, sweetheart,” Elliot said.
“You can’t be mad. When you met Remy that day in the barn, you came home all giddy.”
“How are your wedding plans going?” Jed asked, still watching Remy and Hayley.
“Great! We got a fantastic dj picked out.”
“But no photographer or florist,” Amy said.
Elliot smiled. “I’m going to create a signature cocktail with the bartender that will be amazing for all the guests.”
“Even if we haven’t completed the guest list.”
Jed shook his head. These two already sounded like an old married couple to him. Amy was sharp-minded, organized, and cautious. Elliot was easygoing, messy, and optimistic. They were opposites that somehow suited each other perfectly.
“Remy, I got it!” Hayley proudly held the chord.
“You’re doing great, Hayley.” Remy adjusted her fingers a little as she beamed at him.
“Mr. Remy, what is Sean Mendes like? Oh! Ariana Grande? Didn’t you do a Disney movie with her years ago? How about Miley?”
Remy patiently was dishing on the pop stars he’d met.
“Hayley, I need to go inside the house and get to work. And you need to give Mr. Remy some space.”
“Aw, Mom, can’t I stay out here?”
“It’s fine with me,” Remy said. “We musicians need to jam some more.” He gave Hayley a sweet grin.
“She is supposed to help me on Fridays,” Amy said.
“C’mon, Mom!”
“I’ll tell you what,” Amy said to Hayley, “you help me do the bedding, and then you can come back.”
“Hey, Hayley, since we can’t take a selfie, want this?” Remy took a woven bracelet off his arm and handed it to her. “My aunt made it.”
“Seriously? Oh, wow!” Hayley held the bracelet to her heart.
As Hayley admired her new treasure, Remy whispered to Jed, “Hope my aunt will forgive me for giving her bracelet away. She makes me crafts every Christmas and sends them to me on the road.”
“You’re on the road for Christmas?”
“Twenty cities in thirty days that month.”
Jed thought about the reality of that kind of schedule. When would they see each other? If… well, if this went beyond Remy’s time at the ranch.
“Okay, Hayley, you’ve taken enough of his time.”
“Mom!”
“Don’t Mom me. We need to get to cleaning. So nice to meet you,” Amy prompted.
“So nice to meet you,” Hayley grumbled.
“You too, Hayley. And hey, come find me when you’re done helping your mom.”
“Really?” She squealed and hugged Remy. Then she and Amy went into the house.
“That was nice of you.”
“She’s a cute kid. It makes me remember….”
“What?”
“How I used to like the fan thing.”
Jed put a hand on his arm. “You will again. You’ll get back to all the things you love.”
Remy gave him an odd look, then nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. Meanwhile, I got my own chores to do here. And I’ll show you the most immaculate barn ever.” He grabbed playfully for Jed’s Stetson and then swatted him with it on his rear end. “You’ll be working for me soon.”
He gave Jed a smacking kiss on his mouth, handed him his hat, and then sauntered off.
Jed wasn’t fooled. He knew Remy didn’t think he could perform. Not yet. He held his hat and turned the brim in his hands, wondering what to do.
Jed tried to imagine how he and Remy could work out. The possibilities seemed bleak. They’d never said what had happened between them would be anything but temporary.
As much as Jed wanted it, they would never be a real couple. The best he could do was let Remy go with dignity. Even if it shattered him.
He should just be grateful for the time they had left. Accept reality.
Jed could separate wanting Remy and needing him as a real relationship. Couldn’t he? None of this was supposed to happen. But when he kissed Remy, he forgot everything else. Remy had him all twisted in knots.
FINDING Remy a few hours later, Jed went to tease him about the cleanliness of the barn. Remy was near the colt’s stall, holding out an apple for him the way Jed had shown him, and the colt whinnied before bobbing his head in acceptance of the treat.
“That’s a boy. A good boy,” Remy crooned. He had his back to Jed, and just as Jed was about to announce his presence, Remy began to sing softly. His voice took up a space inside Jed’s lonely heart. He didn’t recognize the words, but Remy’s voice was throaty and seductive. It was as if somebody poured warmth straight into the spot that had been cold before. Hearing him sing to the colt, Jed wanted to take Remy in his arms and kiss him endlessly. How the hell would he let Remy go?
He must have made a noise because Remy abruptly stopped the song and spun around.
“Oh! Jed, I didn’t….”
“Sorry to startle you.”
“Yeah, well….” Remy bit his lip.
“Don’t be embarrassed. That was amazing.”
“Thanks.” Remy chewed his thumbnail. “Do you know, it’s been so long since I just sang like that? Not for work reasons, but because I wanted to? Even when I was offstage, bettering the music was always on my mind. I took pills to sleep, woke up and drank a Coke or whatever, and I never ate. I played for hours on end, but I stopped… feeling the music.”
“Sounds as if you needed this rest.”
“Guess so.” Remy lifted his head. “I’m grateful you became my friend. I don’t have many of those.” As the colt whinnied suddenly, Remy seemed to shake off his moment of honesty. “Maybe I have a new calling. Pop star to the animals.” He took a cheesy bow.
Remy was at it again. Hiding behind that image he so carefully crafted—the careless pop star—but Jed knew better.
“If only
I could share it with two-legged folks again,” Remy said.
“You will.”
“Whatever,” Remy said, his eyes sad.
Jed hated that bleak look. He only wanted to take Remy away from his anxiety. Remy had too beautiful a voice never to sing for people again.
“You never did name this poor guy.” Remy gestured to the colt. “Is he going to be nameless forever?”
“I promise to name him soon.”
“You better. Nobody should be without one.”
“Or… you could do it.”
“Hmmm? Do what?”
“Name him,” Jed suggested.
“Me?”
“Why not you?”
“I’m surprised you trust me enough to name your colt.”
Jed was surprised too. It wasn’t like him to give up any control of the ranch, and names mattered, names were important in the world.
But Remy was becoming important too.
“We just said we’re friends, right?” Jed shrugged. “So name him.”
Remy considered the colt. He ran the pads of his fingers over the colt’s strong back. He looked into the colt’s eyes. “He’s a beauty. I could go with Royal or something. On the other hand, maybe we should stick with your niece’s Harry Potter theme?”
“She’d love that. Who is your favorite character from the movies?”
Jed was glad Remy seemed happier. If naming the colt brought Remy joy, then Jed wished he had a dozen other horses for him to name. Maybe Jed could coax Remy to sing a little to the animals? Not for an audience, Jed didn’t even have to witness it, but for Remy? Jed was no psychiatrist, but when the thing you loved became an exhausting chore, maybe the key was finding out why you loved it again? He could do that much for Remy. Help Remy see it?
“Maybe sing the theme from the movie to him. Think about it.”
Remy hummed the Harry Potter theme, his gaze on the colt. After a moment, he said, “Neville. That’s his name.”
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