Chapter Twenty-Two

“That’s the last of the boxes.” Brian fell into the chair in the kitchen and took the cold beer Mitchell handed him.

“How can one man generate so much stuff?” Mitchell asked. “I never realized you were such a pack rat.” He grinned as he sipped from his bottle.

“I’m not a pack rat. There are important documents in those boxes.”

“You should have them scanned, then have them destroyed. There are companies that do that, you know.” Mitchell laughed.

“Destroy them?” Brian’s eyebrows shot up.

“Hey, I don’t mind, darlin’. I’ve got lots of space to store them. We can convert one of the unused bedrooms into an office.” Rush came to Brian’s rescue as he slid into a seat and placed a possessive hand on Brian’s shoulder.

“Thanks.” Brian held up his beer and the two men clinked bottles.

Sammi sat next to Mitchell. “Guys, as much as we’d love to hang around, it’s getting late and someone mentioned dinner?”

“Right.” Rush laughed. “How about the diner?”

“Are you sure you want to go into town?” Brian asked. “There’s easing into it and there’s balls to the wall.”

“You think a group of guys having dinner is balls to the walls?” Rush ran his hand through his hair.

“Well, if you can get Sammi and Mitchell to keep their hands off each other, good luck. Nothing says, ‘we’re into dick’ like those two. Just saying.” Brian shrugged.

Mitchell reared back. “What? We’re the dead giveaway?”

“Yeah. It’s us.” Sammi nodded. “But I promise to behave, if Mitchell does.”

“You got it. Let’s go. I want to be on the road before it gets dark.” Mitchell stood and pulled Sammi up. He kissed him fast and hard. “That should hold you until we head back.”

Sammi grinned. “Yep. But not for long,” he warned.

Brian groaned. “Food. Fast.”

 

* * * *

 

After a well-behaved meal, Mitchell and Sammi settled the fight over who would drive back to Houston. Mitchell won, citing the fact that it would be dark and Sammi didn’t have any experience driving at night on the interstate.

Rush and Brian waved them goodbye from the diner.

“Home?” Rush asked.

Damn, that sounded so good to Brian. “Yeah, home.”

 

* * * *

 

They went up the porch steps and stopped. “You going to carry me over the threshold?” Brian joked.

“Nope. But here’s your key.” Rush held out a shiny new key. “Give you the honors of opening the door.”

“Thanks.” Brian accepted the key and made a big show of adding it to his key chain.

“Come on. Freezing my nuts off out here.” Rush bumped Brian with his shoulder.

Brian unlocked the door and opened it. “After you.”

They both laughed as they stepped inside, giddy as school girls. Brian glanced around the front rooms.

“Looks good. Lucky our stuff worked well together. It’s not too much of change, is it?”

“Hell, no. It’s perfect.” Rush leaned over and kissed Brian on the cheek.

Brian smiled. “So, I wasn’t lying about getting up early for work.”

“Not as early as a rancher, darlin’. We’re all about the dawn.”

“Okay. Bed.” Brian headed off down the hall to Rush’s room.

A king-size four poster stood against the far wall between two windows. A beautiful quilt, obviously handmade, covered the bed, and four large pillows in plain white cases leaned on the dark wood headboard. On either side were Brian’s two matching nightstands.

Rush had been sleeping on the side near the bathroom, so Brian had put his belongings in the stand on the opposite side. They’d switched out Brian’s two lamps for Rush’s one, and added two pillows.

Other than those changes, Brian had fit seamlessly into Rush’s room. The rest would work out over time.

Rush stretched. “I used muscles I haven’t used in ages. Moving’s hard.”

“Tell me about it. I packed and unpacked. But I thought you were cowboy-tough.”

“Different muscles.” Rush laughed.

“I got some muscles I want to use on you, cowboy.” Brian pulled Rush to him, slipping his fingers into the back pockets of Rush’s Wranglers to grab a handful of cowboy butt.

“Those are good muscles, if they’re the ones I’m thinking of, city slicker.” Rush leaned in and nuzzled Brian’s neck, sending little frissons of arousal through him.

“Yes, they are. Now, let’s try out that bed of yours.” Brian brushed his lips across Rush’s then nibbled a bit of Rush’s lower lip.

“Damn. Want you.”

“Want you. Can’t believe I’m really here. And that you took a chance on me.”

“You’re worth it. What you offered to me, that’s worth the risks of coming out. I just had to realize it.” Rush kissed Brian soft and gentle. “Fuck the rest of the world if they can’t deal with it.”

Brian tilted his head. “I’m thinking Spring Lake is moving into the twenty-first century whether it wants to or not.”

“I reckon it is.”

“You’re not afraid?”

“Not with you beside me, no. Anyone gives me trouble, I’ll call the cops. Got an ‘in’ on the force.” Rush chuckled. “My own police protection.”

“Hey, I’m sure the chief might think that was some sort of nepotism.” Brian tugged Rush tighter. “He might not go for that.”

“Whittaker’s a good man. And I won’t do anything to ruin his faith in me by giving me this job. Just you try to stay out of trouble, okay?”

“Yes, Officer Russell.” Rush kissed him again.

“Bed?”

“Bed.” Rush pulled away and grabbed Brian’s hand. “This way.”

Brian followed without being pulled off his feet. Rush opened the door and stepped inside. “Come on. The rodeo’s about to start. Got a seat for us down front.”

Brian laughed. “Yeehaw!”

Rush grabbed him by the front of his T-shirt and pushed him toward the bed. Brian’s calves hit the edge of the mattress and he fell back on it.

“Strip for me, cowboy.” Brian bit his bottom lip. “Want to watch you get naked.”

Rush towered over him, lust burning in his heated gaze. He kicked out of his sneakers, yanked the worn cotton shirt off over his head and tossed it to the side. Brian tracked his movements as he unbuttoned his jeans, pulled down his zipper and shucked off his briefs along with his jeans.

Rush naked was glorious. Brian sighed. “Damn, cowboy. You’re about as near to perfection as a man can get.”

“And you’ve got too many damn clothes on.” Rush grabbed Brian’s foot and flipped off one shoe, then the other. He leaned over and unsnapped Brian’s jeans, and without taking down the zipper, grabbed the legs and dragged them off Brian, leaving him in his briefs and T-shirt. “Take off the shirt while I do away with these.” He hooked his fingers into the band of the briefs, slid them off and tossed them onto the pile of clothes building on the floor.

Brian sat up and pulled his shirt over his head, flinging it to the side, missing the mound, not caring.

Rush stood back and just looked his fill. “Can’t believe you’re mine.”

“All yours. What’s your pleasure, cowboy?” Brian gave Rush his most wicked grin.

“You. Inside me.” Rush stroked his half-hard cock as he drank in the sight of Brian on the bed, his dick stiff and laying flush against Brian’s belly.

“Sounds so good. Fucking you.” Brian shuddered when he took hold of his cock and stroked it. A pearl of pre-cum appeared, grew, then Brian swiped it away with his thumb, spreading it over the tip.

“Oh, yeah. Want you in me, hard and deep.” Rush stalked over to the stand, pulled open the drawer, found the lube and pressed it into Brian’s hand. “Get me ready. Now.”

Brian got on his knees and moved over to give Rush room to lie down. He got on the bed, pushed a pillow under his head and spread his legs.

Brian covered his fingers with the sticky goo, tossed the tube to the side and reached down between Rush’s legs. He spread it in the crack of Rush’s ass. Rush’s hunger flooded him while Brian stroked the sensitive skin between Rush’s balls and his hole. Rush moaned and arched back. Beautiful.

“Fuck me.”

The need to get inside Rush, couple with him, surged, left Brian shivering with need. He dragged Rush’s ass toward him, pushed his knees down and apart and leaned in, fitting the head of his cock against Rush’s opening. With a moan, he eased into his lover.

Rush cried out and Brian froze. “You okay?”

“So good. The stretch. You filling me.”

Brian exhaled. “Love how hot you are. How tight. God, my dick’s on fire.” He eased out then pushed in again, setting a steady rhythm.

Rush pushed back, meeting Brian’s thrusts. “Harder.”

Brian snapped his hips, his grip on Rush tightening. “Like this?” Sweat trickled down the sides of his face as he slammed into Rush.

Rush nodded, biting his bottom lip. “God, yes. Feels so good.”

“Fuck, yeah. Fucking you is as good as you fucking me.” Brian took a hard bite of Rush’s lip, tugging on it hard enough for Rush to cry out. Brian let go and shoved his tongue into Rush’s mouth.

Rush sucked on it hard. Brian groaned and slammed even harder into Rush as they struggled for dominance. But Brian had the advantage of being on top.

“This is a rodeo. I want to ride you.” Rush grabbed Brian’s shoulders and rolled them over. He resettled on top of Brian, getting on his knees to make the ride easier.

“Oh, fuck.” Brian closed his eyes and pushed deeper into Rush. He opened his eyes and gazed up into Rush’s face. “Cowboy. Gonna fuck you. Ride me hard.”

Rush braced himself on Brian’s chest with his hands and pumped up and down, sliding the length of Brian’s cock, almost leaving, then slammed back to grind against the base of Brian’s shaft. Brian hissed and thrust up.

Rush rode Brian, getting into a push and pull, slide and scrape. This was so much more intense, now that he didn’t worry about being caught or carrying any of the baggage from before. He was free to just love Brian. The truth of his love broke over Rush.

“Dear God.” Rush sobbed and clung to Brian when he pounded ever deeper inside his hole, breaking down the walls of his past and freeing his love for Brian.

Rush grabbed his cock and stroked it. Once. Twice.

“Coming!”

His balls drew up, helpless against the onslaught. Rush came, the wild surge of his semen shooting up the length of his cock. He held it out, letting it splatter over Brian’s belly and chest. Marking him with hot white liquid lines.

 

Unable to control himself, Brian thrust, thrashed, pummeled into Rush, lost in the most primal fuck of his life. Nothing except his need for his cowboy entered his mind—all the blood in his body seemed to gather in his loins, engorging his already stiff dick.

Rush came, shooting over Brian’s chest and belly, and Brian lost it watching his release pump from Rush’s cock. The money shot undid him. Heated cum marked his skin when it fell.

Pulling Rush down tight, he buried his head in Rush’s shoulder and ceased fighting. The dam broke, rocketing him over the cliff, and from the base of his spine to the tip of his dick, he felt the orgasm take him.

He emptied into Rush’s tight, hot channel, sobbed into his neck and held on as if letting go of the man he loved meant death.

“Oh, fuck. Christ.” Brian shuddered as Rush held him just as tightly.

They rocked together, bodies locked, hands caressing each other.

Brian whispered tender words, vowed his love.

Rush pledged to spend his life with Brian here at the Double T.

 

* * * *

 

“Up and at ’em, Officer Russell.”

Brian rolled to his side, rubbed his eyes and looked up at Rush, already dressed in a shirt and jeans. He glanced at the clock. He had fifteen more minutes before the alarm went off.

“Why are you up so early?” Brian sat on the edge of the bed.

“Had to make sure my man got to work on time. First day is important.” Rush handed him a cup of coffee. The mug said, Cowboy Butts Make Me Nuts.

“You unpacked it for me?” Brian laughed and took a sip.

Rush grinned. “Amazing what you can do when you get up early. Your uniform is ready.” He pointed to clothes hanging from the closet door.

Brian walked over to them. “You put all the pins on for me,” Brian whispered and touched the badge before tracing it with his fingertip.

Rush came up behind him and wrapped his arms around his chest, then snuggled his nose into the space between Brian’s neck and shoulder.

“Call me later?”

“Sure. I’ll report in at two.” He gave Rush a quick kiss on the cheek and headed to the bathroom to get ready.

After his shower, he dressed and found Rush in the kitchen sipping another cup of coffee.

“I can’t believe it.” Brian shook his head.

“What? That I know how to make coffee? All cowboys are trained in the fine art of stewing grounds.” Rush twisted his mouth into a one-sided grin.

“Well, yes, but no. That I’m here. That you came out. That I’m finally a cop.”

“Me, too. For a minute there, it was touch and go.” Rush chuckled as he handed Brian a travel mug of coffee.

“I knew it, you know. The night I first saw you.”

“Knew what?”

“That my life was going to change. That something big was about to happen to me.” He put on his Stetson and adjusted it.

Rush let out a low whistle.

“Damn, you look good enough to eat in that uniform.” Rush slid into Brian’s arms.

“Turns you on?”

“Fuck, yeah. Never knew I had a thing for men in uniforms but…” He glanced down at the bulge in his jeans. “You got me hard and aching.”

Brian groaned and gave Rush a quick caress over the buttons of his fly. “We’ll take care of that when I get home.”

“Home. I like the sound of that, Officer.” Rush mmmd and kissed Brian, giving his bottom lip a gentle bite.

Brian picked up his service belt, swung it around his hips and buckled it. He checked his Beretta, snapped the guard closed then walked to the door.

He opened it and stepped through then paused. “I’ll be home at four.”

“I’ll be here.” Rush gave him a nod.

Brian got in his truck, turned it around and headed down the road to the highway.

In his rearview mirror, he watched as Rush, followed by his dogs, came out on the porch and sat in his chair. They bounded down the stairs, barked at the truck then raced off toward the pasture. Rush raised his arm and gave him a last wave.

Brian rolled down the window, stuck his arm out and waved back.

Life didn’t get better than this.

He had the job he’d always wanted and the cowboy of his dreams.

Brian drove all the way to town with a goofy grin on his face.