by Julia Talbot
Jed hollered, head banging on the stall floor, thrashing under his mouth, and it was fucking cool, the power of that simple touch. He wanted to let Jed know, wanted to make him see that this was his choice, that Eli wasn't some kid to be pushed around and told what to do. He was with Jed because he loved the man, plain and simple.
And he had a feeling if he hadn't come to Colorado, Jed would have camped out in Oregon and never left him.
He got Jed good and wet, pushing his tongue in deep, tasting the bitter-rich flavor of Jed's most intimate place. Jed's cock rubbed against him, so good and hot, so hard for him, and the noises Jed made just about killed him. They were long, harsh, pleading noises.
He set Jed back down reluctantly, making them both moan at the loss of contact, but Jed was good and wet, and Eli didn't have the patience to stretch him anymore. Eli slicked his cock with more spit and prodded at Jed's hole with the head of his cock.
"You ready for me, Thatcher?"
Jed scrabbled at his arms, fingers digging into his muscles. "Hell, yes, mister. Get down here and fuck me!"
Pushy asshole. He didn't say it, though. Eli figured that would ruin the mood. He just surged forward, hips driving his cock right into Jed's body, and it was so tight his eyes rolled back in his head. Fuck.
He didn’t get one damned complaint from Jed, just breathless pleas for more, harder, faster, Jed holding him hard enough to bruise his arms.
They moved together faster and faster, him pushing in, Jed rising to meet him. He looked down at Jed, and that tanned face was screwed up in a grimace of pure pleasure, those pretty eyes just slits of blue fire, and he knew he'd follow this man to the end of the fucking earth. Eli bent for a kiss, and Jed opened right up for him, hands sliding up his arms to lock around his neck.
He grunted, hips pounding, one hand on Jed's hip, pulling Jed up so hard... God. He was just gonna explode. Knowing Jed had to be close, Eli reared back up on his knees and pulled Jed's thighs up over his, fucking Jed with sharp, short thrusts as he reached for Jed's cock again, pulling hard.
The flush that rose from Jed's thighs to his chest and neck was all the warning Eli got. Then Jed was crying out, the sound echoing in the small space, and Jed came right into his waiting hand, body squeezing down so tight.
It took all of two, maybe three more thrusts and Eli was coming too, shooting deep into Jed's body, the groan that tore out of his chest startling the horses a few stalls down so they kicked and stomped. Falling forward, Eli caught himself on one shaking arm to keep from dropping down on Jed, waiting until he could slip out to flop down beside Jed on the old blanket, curling an arm around the man and holding him close.
"Oh. Damn."
Jed sounded blown away... breathless and happy. Shit, that man made him feel like a fucking God.
"Yeah. That was..." He just kissed Jed's temple. He never really had words for what Jed was to him. He wasn't good at the word shit.
Jed snuggled right up, naked as the day he was born and totally unconcerned about it. As usual. Eli had to laugh.
"What?" Jed asked.
"Oh, nothing. You. Us. That crazy brother of yours." Eli stroked Jed's back. "You ready to go get groceries?"
His ass took a brutal pinch from Jed's questing fingers. "Not much for basking in the afterglow, are you?" Jed asked.
"Hey, I'm looking forward to your chili and cornbread, is all. So are the mutts."
That got him a sorrowful look. Would have worked too, if it weren't for Jed's mouth twitching. "The romance is gone, mister."
"You want romance? I could carry you back to the house."
"Fireman carries do not a romance make." Jed sat up, pulled a piece of straw out of Eli's hair. "Come on, mister. We got groceries to get and puppers to feed."
Eli stopped Jed with a hand on his arm, looking right into those light blue eyes, searching. "You okay now?"
"Yeah. M'good. You know it's not that I doubted you, yeah?" Jed touched his cheek. "I just know how pushy a Thatcher can be."
"I'm not a kid like Kev." Eli turned his head, kissed Jed's palm. "Never doubt for a minute that I'm here because I want to be."
"Love you, mister."
Eli grinned, kissing Jed deep, right on the mouth. "I know."
January 2005
The volunteer fire department was out full force at old man Wilson's silo. Which meant, since it wasn't jump season, that Eli was out there. Jed knew that for two reasons. One; where there was smoke there was fire, and where there was fire, there was Eli. Two; Eli'd left him a note on the fridge telling him Eli'd gotten the call and was off.
Silo fires could be a tricky, nasty thing. They could explode. They could fall in on themselves, and on anyone around them. They could sit and burn sullenly for days. You just never knew. Hell, Jed'd been after old man Wilson to clean up that mouse infested shithole for years, and now it looked like Mother Nature was doing it for him.
Jed fed the dogs, and took care of the animals, and thought about taking a shower before he packed up some sandwiches and a few gallons of water and Gatorade. Wouldn't do to seem too anxious, as Eli'd just accuse him of being a mother hen. He wasn't, not really, but he did worry, because he didn't want one Mister Eli Marshall singed around the edges.
Finally Jed decided to skip the shower, and he headed out, sternly telling the dogs no when they tried to sneak along. Especially Scorch, who knew something was up and whined pitifully when Jed left him behind. Old man Wilson's place was a disaster. Soot and water and chemicals and tons of fellers running all over in a coordinated chaos.
"Hey, Chief."
The Fire Chief turned and nodded as Jed wandered up, chewing on the cigar stuck in his mouth."
"Howdy, Jed."
"Seen Eli?"
"Yeah. In there." The Chief nodded to the barn, which was burning merrily away, and Jed felt his forced casualness drop right through the bottom of his belly.
"What the Hell is anyone doing in there? Looks like it's about to go any minute. You losing your mind, Chief?"
Bits of tobacco flew as the Chief snorted, and if he was chewing that hard on the cigar, Jed figured the man was as worried as he was.
"Old man Wilson kept trying to go in there after his mules. Thought he was gonna have a heart attack. So Eli and Brodie went in."
"Shit. Brodie, too?" His mom would never let the Chief forget it if Brodie got hurt in a fire. "What was he doing over this way anyway?"
"He was down at the Safeway. Heard the announcement on the radio. Took you long enough to get here."
"I just got home from the Junction."
They both watched the barn intently as they talked, and Jed kept thinking maybe Eli would appear through the sheer force of his will if he stared hard enough. Sure enough, someone popped through the burning doorway soon after, being dragged by a mule, but it was Brodie, not Eli, and he was wheezing and staggering, smoke induced tears making tracks on his soot blackened cheeks.
Funny, how everything else went away when you were so focused. Jed wished to Hell he could help with the fire, but he's just be in the way, so he went to help with the mule, knowing that was one thing he could handle. The rest was a blur; the fiery silo and barn, the crackle of flames and the intense heat, the wail of sirens and the shouts of men. The mule calmed, and he checked on Brodie, who looked as worried as he felt.
"He was right behind me Jed. Should be out any minute."
"Yeah? Well, what the Hell were you thinking? My mom'd kill you dead, you got hurt and couldn't work."
"I know. I'm okay. He's okay."
"I hope so."
Folks started shouting, and there was an ominous creak, and fuck if half the barn roof didn't go down under a sidewall of the silo as it collapsed. Fiery Hell, that's what it was, and Jed didn't even remember moving; next thing he knew he was struggling against Brodie, and the man was yelling at him not to be an idiot and get himself hurt, too. Hell, he was yelling himself, spitting out curses and hollering Eli's name.
When Eli shot out what was left of one wall like a greased pig through a cowboys hands, mule in tow? Jed thought he might just pass out with relief. Damn the fool idiot anyway. Someone got the mules rounded up and took them off, and Brodie wisely let go of him, and Eli came up to him grinning from ear to ear.
"Did you see that, Thatcher? One Hell of a fire, Jed."
Mister Eli Marshall didn't look one bit sorry for making him worry. In fact, the man looked pumped on adrenaline, and happy as a clam. Jed nodded, unable to say a word, figuring if he did he'd say something downright nasty.
"That? Was a rush."
That sooty grin and happy tone was too much.
Jed snapped. He balled up his fist and hit Eli square on the right eye, and the man went down, felled by Jed as he hadn't been by the fire. Jed stood over Eli as Eli measured his length in the dust and embers, blinking up at him like the fucking idiot he was.
Straightening, Jed nodded down at Eli. "See you at home. You stay out of that barn now, hear?"
Before Eli could answer, Jed strode to his truck and hopped in, gunning it away, and he actually managed to make it halfway home before he had to pull off to the side of the road and shake for a bit. Which was pretty damned good, considering.
***
Smoke and ashes. That was what he smelled like. Eli grimaced as he let himself in, then swore as the grimace made his bruised eye pull. Jed Thatcher packed quite a punch, and Eli felt it even more than the tiny burns on his shoulders and arms and hands, and the sore muscles in his back and legs.
Scorch met him at the door, whining and sniffing him thoroughly, sneezing every so often at the flakes of ash that clung to his clothes. Oh, man, he'd even worried his dog. He was going to be on the shit list for who knew how long.
"Hey, Jed? I'm home."
The living room was empty, but the kitchen wasn't. A pot of chicken soup bubbled away on the stove, and if Eli wasn't mistaken, he smelled fresh biscuits and cherry pie. Even mad as hell, Jed was too good to him. Now, to find the man himself.
Eli found Jed in the bathroom. Shaving.
"Hey. You going out somewhere?"
"Nope." Their eyes met in the mirror, and Jed grinned. "Just don't want to give you stubble burn in sensitive places. Get those stinky clothes off and get in the shower."
"Best offer I've had all day." If Jed wasn't going to bring it up, neither was he. Thank God Jed wasn't the touchy feely type who had to talk everything to death. Eli stripped off the nasty clothes and hopped right into the bath, turning on the hot water and groaning with pleasure as it hit his body. Not too long after, Jed joined him, hands sliding over his body, cleaning him up really well, and if Jed seemed like he was looking for injuries, well, Eli wasn't going to mention that either.
They finally ran out of hot water, and got out of the shower to dry off, Jed toweling Eli with the same care he took in washing, and Eli basked in the attention, because he wasn't above a little basking now and then.
"Looks like you'll do," Jed said, and Eli grinned.
"All but the eye."
"You deserved that."
"Matter of opinion."
"My opinion's the one that counts."
Jed finally grinned back, leaning in to kiss him hard, and Eli pulled Jed close, hands on that amazing ass, squeezing tight. They both moaned, and staggered off to bed, tripping over the dogs and each other, because they both refused to let go.
They locked the dogs out and Jed pushed Eli down on the bed, using his mouth to trace the same path his hands did in the shower, and Eli thought he might just go crazy before Jed was done. His chin, his throat, his chest; all of them got licked and nibbled, his nipples sucked, his belly nuzzled. Then Jed started at his toes and worked up, too, exploring his calves and thighs. By the time Jed stroked Eli's balls and licked the very tip of his cock, he figured he was going to explode. Boom. Worse than any silo fire, ever.
When Jed got the lube and used it on Eli's cock and his own ass Eli really did think he was going to explode, all over the place, before they even started. There was still something so hot about Jed taking it, because he knew Jed only did it for him, and that tight, hot body sliding down around him was the biggest rush there could be.
They moved together, Jed riding him like crazy, Jed's sweat dripping on his skin, as hot as the tiny embers that had burned through his clothes at the fire. Jed was tight, so tight, and that lean body was all his to touch and explore, so Eli did, fingers tracing Jed's chest and belly, finally wrapping around Jed's hard cock and pulling.
It didn't last, couldn't last long before it burned itself out, and soon Jed was yelling, hands scrabbling at his shoulders, Jed's come splashing on Eli's belly. Eli came too, he had to, the way Jed squeezed it all right out of him, and he saw stars when he did, bright and white hot.
They lay there, breathing hard, and Eli was just contemplating another shower when Jed nudged him sharply with his chin.
"Scared the hell out of me."
Eli sighed. ТCan't promise I won't do it again."
"I know. Could you at least pretend like it wasn't fun?"
"That I can do."
That got him a kiss. "Good. Want some supper?"
"Yeah."
Jed grinned. "Let's get cleaned up and eat then. I'll get you some witch hazel for that eye."
"Sounds good."
Well, that was all worked out, then. Eli rolled out of bed after Jed, grinning ear to ear. All in all? He couldn't think of a better day. Even if he'd never tell Jed that again.
February 2005
"What's the kinkiest thing you've ever done?"
"Huh?" Ross didn't mean to miss the question entirely, but he was kinda busy nibbling Kev's belly, and he wasn't sure he'd heard right.
"I said, what's the kinkiest thing you've ever done?"
Lord. Resting his chin on Kevin's hip, Ross looked up, trying to gauge Kev's look. And failing.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you asking this, especially right now, baby? I thought we were having fun."
"We are! I justЙ"
Ross looked up again, his nuzzle halted in mid-nuzz. "You just what?"
"Well, I remember once how you mentioned strap-ons."
Hell. Ross gave up on trying to coax Kev back into playing and sat up, scooting up next to Kevin to lean on the headboard. The kid got in some weird moods sometimes.
"Yeah. I had a lady friend once who wanted to know what it felt like to be the doer, not the do-ee."
"So was that kinky?"
"Well, not any more than you and me. It was anal sex, Kev. Some folks would think it was kinky, sure."
"Oh." Kevin chewed his lip. "Well, you knew all about bondage."
Ross just wanted to cry. His hard on? Going south in a hurry. He rolled on his side, head propped on his hand so he could see Kev real well.
"What's this about, baby?"
"What do you mean?" Those hands he loved so much worried the hell out of the edge of the sheet, and Kev wouldn't meet his eyes.
"I mean, where it this coming from all of a sudden? If you're bored with our sex life, baby, you need to say so."
"No! I mean, I just don't want you to be. Bored."
Lord. Here they went. Ross put a hand on Kev's belly, feeling the soft skin, the downy little hairs, his fingers petting gently.
"Baby, I like sex. I haven't ever made any bones about that. I've tried all sorts of stuff. But you should know by now that if I don't like something I say so."
"Well..."
His hand dipped a bit lower, just above the dark curls at Kevin's groin. "Didn't I tell you how I felt about your macaroni and cheese and Tabasco?"
The muscles under his hand quivered as Kev snorted. "Yes. And the spinach and mushroom grits."
"Those too. And when you shined my boots?"
Kev reached right over and pinched his nipple, hard. Ross grunted, then got an evil idea. "Oh. Kinky."
Those big brown eyes widened, and Kev's mouth fe
ll open. "That's not kinky."
"Sure it is. I've never tried pain, baby."
"And you're not going to now!" Sitting up, Kevin glared down at him. "I don't want to do that."
"Neither do I." Ding. The light might just be dawning. Ross sat up too, grabbing Kev's shoulders. "We do what you want, and what I want, and we enjoy it, baby. I've done some weird shit, yeah, because my partner wanted to, and I am willing to try whatever gets my partner off. But I like sex, and I love you, and I'm happy as a pig in shit."
Those eyes searched his face, Kev so intent on him. "You don't mind that I'm kinda vanilla?"
"I don't even think about that." He didn't. Not one bit. "What I think about is your mouth and your hands and your amazing ass. And about how much I like it all."
"Cool." There. That was the smile Ross was looking for, Kev kinda bouncing on the bed, right over to him, hands sliding on his skin. "I like everything about you, Ross."
"Well, thank God for that." When was Kev gonna believe he liked everything about him, too? Ross shrugged it off, bracketing Kev's hips with his own hands, pushing around to feel that amazing bubble butt. The muscles tensed and released under his fingers, the skin hot and smooth, and Ross knew every time he touched it that he'd found heaven.
Kev kissed him, lips soft and warm, and he encouraged it, searching for his sex-kitten Kev, the one that didn't have doubts. The one what he wanted. Kev's tongue touched his and they both gasped, and suddenly Kev was all over him, octopus style.
Ross moaned happily, flopping back on the bed under the weight of Kevin's body, his head hitting the headboard with a little "thunk".
"Oops." Those dark eyes laughed down at him as Kevin rubbed the back of his head for him. "You okay?"
"No. I have a terrible pain."
"Really?" Brow creasing into a frown, Kev felt the back of his head. "Where?"
"Oh, not there. Here."
He arched up against Kev, letting Kevin feel his cock, feel how hard he was. It sure hadn't taken long to come back up. In fact, he was ready to pop off, just from Kev reaching down between them to touch him.