THE ringing of a cell phone woke Matty with a start. He craned his neck to see Baxter lift his head. His eyes slid open, and he looked momentarily shocked to see Matty was in his bed. Not just in his bed, but Baxter was spooned up behind him.
Baxter’s morning wood was pressed along the crack of Matty’s ass. A push forward would be all that was needed to bury his cock inside Matty’s body.
Baxter ignored the cell phone and pressed his lips against Matty’s shoulder. “Wake up, honey,” he whispered as he began to grind his cock against Matty’s ass, pressing and pushing, angling the head to search out its target.
Matty drew in a sharp breath. “Oh damn,” he muttered as he pressed his ass back against Baxter’s dick.
Not one to turn down such a pretty offer, Baxter grabbed the lube and poured some out onto his fingers. He spread the slippery liquid onto Matty’s hole, then gave his dick a couple of strokes.
Matty lifted his leg up to give Baxter better access. Reaching between them, he grabbed the tip of Baxter’s dick and put it in place. Baxter only needed to push forward and he was buried inside Matty’s welcoming body.
“Oh fuck,” Baxter groaned. “So damn hot.”
Baxter used one arm to hold Matty close. The other one gripped his waist. He thrust his hips, hard and fast. He didn’t stop until he got his. Until they both did.
BAXTER fell away, landing on his back, his forearm covered his eyes as he tried to calm his breathing.
Matty rolled over and rested his head on Baxter’s barrel chest. His fingers swirled through the thick and sweaty chest hairs, and he sighed dreamily.
Matty knew this was uncharted territory for Baxter. He had never spent the night with another man, and now that man was cuddled up on him. But Matty liked to cuddle, and Baxter needed to get used to it.
“Damn, it sure is nice to get a hot piece of ass first thing in the morning. I could get used to that.” An easy smile spread across his face, and Matty couldn’t help but laugh.
“Gee, thanks. I feel so loved right now.”
Baxter went still, and Matty wasn’t sure what to say. He let the silence linger for a moment, until Baxter finally spoke. So softly, but Matty still heard him.
“I do, you know.”
The declaration, such as it was, was completely unexpected. Knowing it was the best he was going to get from the older man at this moment, and knowing how hard it was for him to admit it, Matty took it. He lifted his eyes up so he could see Baxter’s face. He wanted to be sure Baxter could see him clearly when he told him how he felt.
“I love you, too.”
Baxter’s eyes darkened with lust as he grabbed Matty, tossed him onto his back, and pushed him down into the mattress. He covered Matty’s body with his own and kissed Matty with more passion than he had ever experienced in his life.
“You make me so damned happy,” Baxter whispered into Matty’s ear. His hot breath and sharp whiskers sent a shudder down Matty’s spine, though the feeling behind those words had just as much to do with it. “I never thought I could have this.”
Matty spread his legs wide, wrapping one around Baxter’s thigh. He grabbed at Baxter’s broad back, trying to pull the man impossibly closer. “You’ve got it. You’ve got me.”
Just as Baxter was about to slick Matty’s ass up with lube, they were interrupted by a frantic pounding on the front door. They both froze and remained quiet, hoping whoever it was would go away.
The knocking started up again.
“Damn it,” Baxter muttered.
Baxter got out of bed and threw on a pair of jeans. “Hold your horses,” he called out.
Whoever it was knocked on the door yet again. They were about to get a damn sexy view of Baxter with no shirt or socks or boots on, though Matty would probably be the only one on the ranch who thought so.
Matty slid out of bed and gathered up his clothes, then peeked around the corner to see who was at the door.
Baxter yanked the door open. “What?” he grumbled.
Brian stood at the door, and he was clearly upset about something from the look on his face and the way he was wringing his hat with his hands. “Sorry, boss. Matty never came home from his walk last night. We’re getting a search party together.”
Matty went over to the bedroom window and peeked out from behind the curtain. The hands scrambled outside the barn, preparing to ride. Fred and Ethel were on the back porch of the main house. Ethel looked beside herself with worry, and Fred had an arm around her shoulders to comfort her.
Matty waffled back and forth, unsure of what to do. He pulled on his shirt and jeans and stood at the bedroom door, waiting for some kind of signal from Baxter.
“Fuck,” Baxter cursed under his breath, running a hand over his hair, then down his face. He breathed in and exhaled, then took the leap. “Call off the search party.”
“What?”
“Your cousin’s not lost. He’s… he’s here.” Baxter turned his head back toward the bedroom. “Matt. Come on out.”
Matty let out a deep breath and walked out of the bedroom, still tucking in his shirt, his cheeks bright red with embarrassment. He ran his hands through his messed-up hair to no avail. His eyes darted around until they briefly landed on his cousin’s face. “Hi, Brian.”
Brian stood speechless on the porch with his mouth hanging open. He looked between the two men.
“Go on,” Baxter grumbled. “Call off the damn search.”
“ARE you sure about this?” Matty whispered to Baxter as he walked alongside the man toward the big house.
Baxter’s face was pale, looking as if he was walking to his own execution. “It’s too late now,” Baxter barked. “I don’t have much choice, do I?”
“It’s not all my fault,” Matty huffed back. “Don’t take it out on me.”
Baxter stopped walking. He let out a sigh. “I know. This is just… well, it’s hard for me. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“It’ll be okay. Make something up. They’ll believe you.”
Matty resumed his steps.
Even though Matty suggested that Baxter lie, the thought of him denying their relationship was sickening. Matty took a deep breath and held it as he walked into the dining room.
All conversation stopped as every head turned to look at Matty and Baxter.
They fell into their seats without a word.
The silence was deafening.
Matty could feel the annoyance coming off Baxter. Most of the guys looked at them with curiosity. A couple were clearly not happy with the current turn of events.
Matty really wished he was sitting in his old seat on the other side of the table. He was just about to get up and bolt out of the room when Miss Ethel got up out of her chair. She grabbed the platter of breakfast meats and set it in front of Baxter and Matty.
“Eat up, you two.” She sat back down in her seat.
“Get to eating,” Fred reinforced. “We got a lot of work to do today.”
That seemed to be enough to break everyone from their trance, and they all dug into their breakfast. Not a word was spoken the entire meal. Matty ate out of reflex, but the breakfast sank into his stomach like a lead balloon.
After breakfast was finished, Baxter gave everyone their orders for the day as normal. As they got up to leave, Fred cleared his throat. “Baxter.”
Before Matty could make a break, Fred called him back as well. “Matty. You too.”
Matty stood off to Baxter’s side in front of Fred. His stomach threatened to spill its contents. Baxter seemed tense, resigned to his fate.
Miss Ethel moved up to Fred’s side. The both of them looked between Matty and Baxter for a moment. Miss Ethel was the one who finally spoke. “I assume that you’re gonna do right by this boy.”
That wasn’t what Matty was expecting. Well, he didn’t really know what to expect, but that wasn’t it.
“Yes, ma’am,” Baxter added automatically. “I understand.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Do you?”
Baxter stood there and stared at her for a few moments before carefully speaking. “Matty and I are in a relationship. I don’t plan on keeping him a secret, but I thought I’d have some more time to get used to it.” His eyes closed, and he let out a breath. “Damn. I just came out, didn’t I?”
Matty wasn’t sure what Baxter needed. He moved closer and turned into him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I know you weren’t ready….”
Baxter opened his eyes and looked down at Matty. His expression softened, and he reached up and lifted Matty’s chin with his fingers. “What’s done is done. I meant what I said before.”
Miss Ethel smiled, seeming quite pleased with herself. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“All right,” Fred interrupted. “You two get to work.”
Matty and Baxter walked out the back door, but Baxter stopped Matty with a hand on his arm.
“Move in with me.”
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Baxter seemed shocked. In fact, he appeared more shocked than Matty.
“Are you sure? You look like you want to take that back.”
Baxter quickly recovered. “No. Yes. God, I mean yes, move in with me. I want you in my bed. I want to wake up with you. What we had last night and this morning… I want that every day.” He quickly added, “I want that with you.”
Matty gave Baxter a smile. “It feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. It’s like I lost a weight off my shoulders that I didn’t know I was carrying. So what do you say?”
“You’re not afraid you’re moving too fast? I mean, you just came out like five minutes ago.”
Baxter shook his head. “I don’t got time to waste. I’ve wasted enough years.”
Matty was more than satisfied with that answer. “Okay. We’ll do it tonight.”
As they stepped off the back porch, Matty held out his hand.
With wide eyes, Baxter stared down at Matty’s hand. His gaze darted over to the ranch hands who were attempting to watch without seeming like they were watching. He met Matty’s eyes before looking back down at Matty’s hand.
At the horrified expression on the cowboy’s face, Matty snickered. “You are gonna be so much fun.” He turned and walked toward the barn. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at a flustered Baxter. “See you tonight, cowboy.”
MATTY pulled the big apple from his jacket pocket. Knowing he was about to get a treat, Bolt rubbed his nose against Matty’s jacket and snorted.
As Bolt enjoyed his apple, Matty tenderly petted the horse, while whispering encouraging words. “Can you believe it, boy? I’m actually living with Baxter. You probably already know, since I know he talks to you when he thinks no one is looking.”
He looked up as Baxter walked into the barn. The big man moved up to Matty’s side and put an arm around his shoulders. After a quick glance around, he leaned his head down and gave Matty a nice, wet kiss.
“You ready to go home, honey?”
Matty couldn’t believe how much his life had changed over the last few months. Not only had he found a new job and a new place he called home, but he had also fallen in love with the ranch foreman.
“Yeah, let’s go home.”
Matty held out his hand. This time Baxter took it in his, and the two men walked across the ranch to the home they shared.