by Julia Talbot
Ross was being really nice about it, really, since Ross was the one who had to dive to the bottom of the pond for all of their shit while Kev flailed around in panic about snakes and cooters and muddy tennies. So, you know, Ross was way more muddy and dirty and Kev refused to admit it might be hot. Nope. Not.
"We should take a shower."
Ross grinned and nodded, taking off his baseball cap and rubbing his muddy blonde hair. "We should. I like showering with you better than getting dumped in a pond."
"Oh, good. Ew. No." Backing away as Ross tried to kiss him, Kev headed for the bathroom. "You have algae lips."
"Algae... oh thanks."
Ross followed, hands getting grabby, making Kev squeal and pelt down the hall. He loved the way Ross made him play. Loved the way he just couldn't get in a snit and stay that way with Ross around, even if Ross was the reason for the snit sometimes. He made the bathroom and tried to close the door, but it stuck just a little, giving Ross time to slip inside and grab him, arms around his waist.
"Don't make me get my algae on you. And my worm hands."
"Ew!" Wiggling free, Kev turned on the shower, determined to get Ross clean before attacking him. Besides, wet Ross was one of his very favorite things. He got stripped off, wincing at his stiff clothes, and started on Ross, working buttons and zippers, slapping Ross' hands away when he tried to touch. "Soap first."
"Yeah, yeah." Ross was laughing, teasing him with trying to touch, then grabbing the soap and getting them both good and sudsy. Was sudsy a word? Kevin opened his mouth to ask and sputtered as Ross ran the washcloth over his lips. "No more algae," Ross said with a grin, and Kevin slapped a wet, soapy hand over Ross' mouth in retaliation.
"Mfh." They both laughed, Ross' blue eyes twinkling at him over his muffling hand, then they were kissing, the soap sort of unsexy, but Kev just didn't care. Ross felt so good against him, strong, male, hot. Ross cupped his ass, squeezing, and Kev went up on his tiptoes. Ross really loved his ass. Sometimes it made him blush. Right now it made him moan. Especially with Ross' cock hot against his thigh, Ross's mouth on his neck, lips opening so that hot tongue could lick his clean skin.
Kevin ran his hands over Ross' back, his ass, his thighs, feeling hard, lean muscle that never failed to excite him. And not a trace of mud. Yay. Ross pushed back into his hands, making a low, rough noise and Kev sorta went... caveman maybe? Totally not like him, really. Really really. But he spun Ross around and rinsed him off a little to get the soap suds gone, 'cause ew, and knelt behind Ross to spread those bounce a quarter off asscheeks wide so he could lick at Ross' hole.
Ross moaned loud, practically crawling up the shower wall, and Kev had to pull him back down so he could push his tongue into that tight hole and stroke it in and out. Ross' body tightened, squeezing his tongue. He was getting curse words now, hot sex words, Ross' voice broken and harsh. He almost came when Ross started begging. "Baby. Please. Come on. I need you. Please."
Yes. Oh, goodness, yes. Kev couldn't wait anymore. He stood up, got his prick lined up by bending his knees a bit, and pushed into Ross' body, groaning as the muscles gave way and Ross let him right in. Oh, god. He'd never get over how tight Ross was, how he was the only guy who ever did this.
The water pounded down on them, hot and stinging, and Kev's feet slipped a little on the slick tile until he got them planted. Ross wasn't helping with the stability, wriggling on him, pressing back, grunting and gasping. Finally he just grabbed Ross' hips with all his strength and held on, keeping Ross as still as he could. Ross' hands scrabbled on the shower wall and they got a rhythm going, their breathing fast and hard, lost in the sound of the falling water.
Kev just closed his eyes, cheek resting against the top of Ross' head, and rocked his hips back and forth, fucking Ross as hard as he could. The man brought out all the uncivilized parts of him, made him need in the craziest way, and it was kinda scary but so good he couldn't resist it. How could he when Ross' skin was hot enough to burn and his name was like a prayer on Ross' lips? So good.
"Baby. So close. Please. Touch me."
Oh. He could do that. Kev slid one hand forward and down, slipped his fingers around Ross' pretty cock. Hot. So hot, the skin soft over such hardness; Ross throbbed with life. He stroked and Ross moaned and they moved even faster, because Ross tightened down on him so hard his eyes rolled. No way was he gonna last long.
A few more hard thrusts and Ross was groaning, hot seed spilling over his hand to join the water falling on them. Kev cried out hips snapping as he shot hard into Ross' body, the top of his head just ready to pop right off. Kinda like his cock. Oh. Oh, good.
So good.
The shower ran cold before they moved and Kev yelped, reaching out to turn the water off, getting them out so they could dry off. He patted Ross' ass, feeling really daring and kinda suave.
"That? Was way better than fishing."
"Oh, I don't know. You were so cute going over the side of the boat..."
He snapped Ross with his towel, grinning as Ross jumped and swore. He was just about to pursue further retaliation when the phone rang and he ran to get it.
"Hello? Oh, hey yeah. Hold on."
He handed the phone to Ross as he passed by, heading to the kitchen to make grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. "It's Jed." Ross' brother. Ross would be awhile.
***
"Hey! What're you up to?" Ross was always glad to hear from Jed. Especially when he could hang up on him.
"Not much. Just called for that pecan chocolate pie recipe you said you'd email me and never did."
"Oh! Shit. Yeah. Lemme go get it."
He wandered to the kitchen, completely forgetting he was naked until Kevin looked over at him, dark brown eyes going wide and hot. Oh, grilled cheese. He grinned at Kev and bumped hips with him, laughing as his skin brushed Kev's bushy bathrobe. He grabbed his recipe file and headed back to the living room, catching sight of the Sportsman's Warehouse bag.
"Got it. I just need to do something. Hold on."
Jed's, "What are you up to now?" was ignored as he snuck into the bedroom and put on some sweats, carefully setting the bottle of butter and bacon injectable marinade on the bedside table. He didn't answer Jed until he got back to the living room.
"Nothing. I just needed to piss and put some pants on. Anyway, here's the recipe." He read it off. "What are you apologizing to Eli or something?"
"No. I'm going up against Lloyd at the Delta county fair. He's making the caramel silk pie. So I need something good."
"Well, this one will do you."
"Cool. So what are you up to? I can hear it in your voice."
"Nothing." Ross grinned. "We fell in the pond."
"Oh, for Christ's sake, Ross. Can't you stay out of the water?" He could hear the laughter in Jed's voice and he answered it with his own as Kev stuck his head out of the kitchen and frowned at him, mouthing, "Did you have to tell him that?"
He just hooted at them both, flipping Kev the bird and getting a view of a fuzzy blue covered ass for his trouble, telling Jed, "Well, it wasn't me. There was this duck..."
By the time he got off the phone with Jed supper was ready and the lack of fish didn't faze him one bit. Kev made a decent grilled cheese and the soup he heated up was a veggie beef Ross had made and frozen a couple weeks ago, so it was all good. Kev even dished up ice cream with fudge sauce, though Ross could tell he was still pouting about Ross telling Jed the duck story.
"Come on, baby. Don't be mad at me all night."
"I'm not mad."
Sure. Everyone's lower lip stuck out that way. Ross set his ice cream dish aside and pulled at Kev's bathrobe, getting an armful of half naked Kev for his trouble, and a sweet kiss besides. That? Was more like it. They could make out a bit before Kev got mad at him again. They kissed slow and deep, ice cream and fudge sauce and after dinner coffee like a drug when mixed with Kev's own unique flavor.
He pushed at the terry cloth covering the rest of Kev's body, hand cupping
that round, tight ass as it was revealed to him. "Mmm. Baby, you're enough to give a man palpitations."
"Yeah? Where? Here?" Kev slid a hand down into his sweatpants, cupping his cock, making him groan.
"That's a good place to start, yeah."
"Cool."
So intent, his baby, so focused on him. It was fucking amazing. Ross lifted his hips, letting Kev push his sweats down, his own fingers drifting, pushing into Kev's crease.
"Oh. Ross. Yeah. Want you."
Mmm. Sex-kitten Kev. He loved that voice, that little husky grrr, do me now voice. He loved the way Kev touched him, too, like he wasn't quite real but was the hottest thing going anyway. While he was busy arching and groaning and spreading Kev nice and wide, Kev was pumping his cock and digging out the lube, and suddenly there was a little tube in his hand.
"Fuck me."
Who was he to argue with that? Ross opened the lube, got his fingers good and slick and started getting Kev ready for him, fingers pushing right into Kev's hot, tight hole. Kev moaned, opening for him easily, letting him in to stretch and move. Before long Kev was wiggling, making breathless noises, begging him, and Ross just pulled his fingers free and lifted Kev to straddle him, letting gravity work. His cock pushed, slid in, and next thing he knew Kev was sitting on his thighs, blinking at him, eyes heavy lidded and full of heat.
Ross just grunted, started moving, needing so hard so fast that it surprised him, even though it never should anymore. He took and Kev gave and they rocked together until they were both wet with sweat and his hand was on Kev's cock and Kev's teeth were digging into his shoulder. They didn't smell so much like soap now, or even pond water. Instead it was clean male sweat and sex and them, a scent Ross never tired of. Never.
"Love you, baby."
Kev's eyes went wide, that long cock jerking in Ross' hand as Kev came, crying out, his floppy haired head falling back. Ross watched, feeling that delicious ass tighten down on him, feeling his balls and thighs go tight until he shot, humping up, calling Kev's name.
They slumped together, Kev's long body going boneless against him. Ross stroked his back, murmuring love words, and finally Kev looked up at him, eyes shining. "Love you."
"Good."
It was a damned good thing and it would serve him well when they went back to the bedroom. He grinned a little, hiding it against the skin of Kev's neck.
"What?" Kev stroked his hair, the short bristled rubbing back and forth.
"Oh, I'm just happy, baby."
"Oh. Cool." Kev yawned, sliding off his lap, curling up to his side. It was still pretty early, so Ross covered them up with Kev's robe and turned on the game, just snuggling and basking in the damned afterglow. There wasn't much in life that was better.
He woke up with Kev's elbow in his ribs as his baby struggled up to go to the bathroom, so cute as he staggered off, naked as a jaybird. Ross followed more slowly, putting dishes in the sink and turning off lights before he went to brush his teeth. Kev kissed him when they passed, and Ross waited, grinning in the mirror at himself. Come on, baby, be observant...
And man, did he laugh his ass off when Kev hollered, "Oh, Ross! Ew!"
December 2004
"Cornmeal, baking powder, eggs... down Scorch. Damn it, Eli, are you writing all this down? And will you get this dog out from under my feet?"
Eli glanced up from his (badly) scribbled grocery list. "What the Hell crawled up your ass and died, Thatcher?"
"Oh, fuck you, mister. You can go get the goddamned groceries your own self."
Jed slammed right out of the back door, leaving Eli staring after him, and Scorch standing there whining. Poor pup always thought shit was his fault. Eli got up, scratched Scorch's ears and headed out to see what the heck was up with Jed.
The man was just where Eli knew he would be, out in the old barn, mucking out dirty straw and horse droppings. Eli shook his head. Still made him amazed that he was living in a place where manure was not something you bought in a bag at the Home Depot. He watched Jed work a minute, noting the sweat Jed had already worked up.
Something was really eating him.
Eli waited until the pitchfork and the shovel were put away to head over, to put a hand on Jed's back. Jed whirled on him, blue eyes snapping, but Eli didn't back down, just muscled into Jed's space.
"What's wrong, Thatcher?"
"Back off, Eli."
"No." No way. Jed just didn't get in a wad about nothing. "Tell me."
Blowing out a sigh, Jed moved back a few steps, hand coming up to rub the back of his neck. "It's not my place to say, Eli. Ross called this morning. He's... well. He's having some trouble."
"With Kev?" Jed liked Kev, Eli knew. But if it came right down to it, Ross was the one who was family.
"Yeah. And he's mustering out."
Eli stared. "No way. I thought Ross was a lifer."
"So did I." Jed shrugged. "I think he's making a mistake."
"But it's his to make." Eli knew there had to be more than that. Knew it. "Come on, Jed. Don't leave me out in the cold here."
"He and Kev had a big fight. Kev accused him of planning his whole life, of bulldozing him into shit... Just like I did with you."
"Just like..." Eli snorted. "Okay, so you railroaded me into coming home with you. But I wanted to, deep down. If I hadn't? I would have said no for sure."
Those bright eyes searched his face, the lines around them deeper, the lines around Jed's mouth showing, too. "You sure? I just... I don't want you resenting me, Eli."
"Not going to." He paused, trying to think how to say it. Eli wasn't very good at baring his emotions. "I still do what I love, I like Colorado, and I have you. How could I resent that?"
Jed relaxed a little, visibly. "Yeah. Yeah, I kept telling myself that, Eli, but it just ate at me."
"Well, I would rather you let me eat at you." Did he just say that? Man, that was corny, but it was just the right thing to say, because Jed laughed and stepped up close to wrap those lean arms around him.
"I think I can arrange that. As long as we let the dogs out."
"You know it." Eli looked around, noted the clean pellets of hay and the horse blankets. "Or we could just do it out here."
"Yeah?" Oh, that look was so much better than the uncertainty and well, fear. This look was hot, burning Eli all the way down to the toes of his jump boots.
"Yeah. I need my outdoor workout, yeah?"
"Hell, yes." Jed grabbed his hand and hauled him into a newly cleaned stall, dragging an old horse blanket in with him. The smell of fresh straw and horse and Jed was strong, good, something he'd gotten used to when he never thought he would. It was something Eli had come to love, even.
He needed to make sure he showed Jed that.
They went down on their knees together after Jed spread the blanket out, and Eli reached for Jed, hands cupping those lean cheeks. He pulled Jed close and gave the man a kiss he hoped burned all the way down, trying to tell him, to make him see.
He thought maybe Jed got the idea, because Jed moaned, fingers sinking into Eli's hair, pulling him close. He loved the taste of sweat and sunshine on Jed's lips, loved the way that tanned-leather skin felt under his fingertips.
Dust motes floated on a sunbeam, like some ideal postcard, but most postcards Eli had seen didn't have a Jed Thatcher, pulling back and taking off his shirt, showing off all that skin. The man was just fucking indecent, he was so gorgeous.
Of course, what Eli really wanted was that round, tight male butt that he'd fallen in love with, and he reached for Jed's jeans, struggling with buttons and zippers. Eli wanted to see it all, damn it.
"Greedy."
Jed grinned at him, shucking the jeans right off, sitting on the blanket to pull his boots off. Oh. Naked Jed Thatcher had to be proof that God was willing to forgive all sorts of shit and love him. Eli reached out, cupped one hand under Jed's ass as he knelt up again, squeezing that tight cheek, fingers digging right in.
"Eli..." Damn, he love
d it when Jed moaned his name like that. He so did.
"Yeah, Thatcher?"
"You're not naked yet, mister. And I need that. Need to touch you."
"So get me naked." No way was he letting go of Jed to undress. Jed could do it for him.
"Big, beautiful asshole."
Jed worked off the rest of Eli's clothes, doing it the hard way as Eli just refused to move for him. He was too damned busy touching Jed's ass, his back, his belly and chest, finally working down to Jed's pretty cock.
Jed gasped, arching right into the touch, eyes so damned deep under heavy eyelids. Jed's cock pushed right into his hand, so hot it burned his palm, already wet at the tip. When he swept his thumb over, gathering up moisture, he got a long, indrawn breath.
"Jesus, Eli."
"Not thinking he's got a lot to do with it, Jed."
Jed just laughed, and it was so good to see that Eli had to kiss that smile, just lean down and lick at it. Jed kissed him back, mouth opening, tongue coming out to lick along his lips. Then those rough, work-hardened hands were on him, and Eli figured he was about to start flying.
They stretched out on the blanket, the texture scratchy and rough, but not enough to make him uncomfortable. Eli kept his one hand moving on Jed's prick, used the other to trace Jed's cheek, his throat. Jed swallowed, making his Adam's apple bob under Eli's fingers, and as Eli moved his fingers down he could feel Jed's pulse thundering.
In turn, Jed touched Eli's thick hair, making little goosebumps rise on his skin as Jed ran his fingers through it. Jed moved his mouth from Eli's lips to the spot just under his ear, and Eli could hear him panting for breath.
"Want you, Eli. Want you in me."
Fuck. Jed asked for that maybe once in a blue moon, and Eli wasn't about to tell him no, even if they didn't have any lube with them. He pushed up between Jed's knees, spreading them wide.
"You sure, Thatcher?"
"Hell yes. Want you to make me feel it, Eli. Need it."
"God." That look just burned all the way to his toes. Eli pushed his hands under Jed's thighs, the tiny hairs at the tops catching on his fingers, and lifted, spreading Jed even more and bringing that sweet ass up so he could bend and put his mouth on Jed's hole. Just like that.