Epilogue

Six months later

 

“If you don’t go to sleep, you’ll never wake up for the grand opening.” Phillip nudged Estaban, who spooned him from behind.

Estaban groaned and pulled Phillip back into his body. His erection prodded Phillip’s ass, making his intentions clear. He’d woken up two hours after going to bed, randy as hell.

“Don’t care. Want you,” Estaban mumbled into the back of Phillip’s hair.

“Again?” They’d made love earlier, Estaban taking Phillip hard and fast, both of them coming one after the other. His ass could still feel the stretch to accommodate Estaban’s cock. God, he’d never thought fucking could be so very good, but Estaban had eased Phillip into full-on anal and he’d taken to it like a duck to water.

Turned out, he was a greedy bottom, as Edward and Sammi would, and did, tell him.

“Yes. And I’ll want you in the morning too.” He chuckled deep in his throat. “Don’t you want me to fuck you again? You do it so sweet, babe.”

“Of course, but I have to get to the ranch in time to feed the horses. Rush gave me the rest of the day off so I can be with you. He’ll be there too, by the way. Brian said he’s on duty, but he’d try to swing by.”

“Good. I’m glad they’re coming. Now, I want to be coming…inside you…with you coming on my cock.” He bit Phillip’s shoulder, sucking and marking him. Phillip loved that too, being marked, belonging to Estaban.

“But you’ve already kept us up past our bedtime.” He loved teasing him. Seemed he was a mouthy bottom too…as Edward had informed him.

Estaban sighed. “We need to find a place between town and the ranch. This commuting is for the birds.”

“I mentioned it to Brian the other day. He said Jack has a place, closer to the ranch than the town. It’s empty. He thinks we can rent it.”

“Really? That would be great. Can you call him and find out?”

“Sure.”

“Right away. I love my mom, but I want out of here. We need privacy and she needs…well, privacy from us.” He chuckled.

“I’ll talk to him after the ceremony.”

“Good.” Estaban snuggled tighter as he reached around Phillip and took hold of his cock. “See? You want me.”

Phillip laughed. “I do. All the time.” He slid over onto his belly and shoved a pillow under his hips. “Like this?”

Estaban moaned as he ran his hand over Phillip’s ass. “Damn, you are finer than an April morning.” He leaned over and took a bite of one cheek, then sucked up a mark. “Mine.”

“All yours.” Nothing was better than Estaban making love to him. Fast and hard or slow and tender. On his hands and knees, on his back, or just on his knees, Phillip loved loving his man.

Estaban sat up, found the lube under the pillow where they’d left it a few hours before and applied the slick. They’d stopped using condoms once their tests had come back negative.

Phillip arched, sticking his ass up higher, then pried his cheeks apart with his hands. “See what you like?” Man, he’d gotten so bold in just a few months.

“Yeah, babe. I see it. It’s crinkled and pink and made just for me.” He ran a lubed finger around Phillip’s hole, setting off all the nerve endings surrounding it.

Phillip shuddered. “Stop playing with me.” Now that he’d been riled up, he needed to get to the part where Estaban breached him, so he pushed back.

“Eager, huh?” Estaban licked down his spine, sending more waves of pleasure through him.

“So eager. You started it, now let’s finish it.”

Estaban chuckled deep in his throat. “I’ll finish you. Leave you boneless. Too weak to stand.”

Phillip knew he could make good on his promises. Behind him, Estaban grabbed his hips and dug in his fingers as he pushed the head of his cock against Phillip’s hole. This was the best part, besides coming. The first stretch of his muscles, the tension and the fight to be entered. Then, the collapse of his body’s resistance and the heavenly slide of Estaban’s thick cock inside him.

He pushed back, easing the way, and with a flash of pain Estaban broke through and filled him. He cried out, but muffled it into the pillow. After all, they were in Estaban’s mother’s house tonight. And it was only right to keep their noises to themselves.

No way could he let Estaban sleep over at the bunkhouse, not with the crew of four other men sharing it. They might be gay-friendly, but their tolerance would be stretched to the limits.

Just like Estaban was stretching him to his limits. “Ah, fuck. Me. Harder.”

And he did, thrusting in and out, burying his cock inside Phillip, riding him until sweat dripped on them both. Estaban’s quiet grunts and the slap of flesh on flesh filled the room.

He knew that soon the scent of their release would fill the air.

Phillip’s balls pulled up, the first signal he was close. Estaban’s rhythm faltered, a sure sign he was near to losing it.

“Jerk yourself, babe. Come on my dick.” Estaban’s voice whispered harshly in Phillip’s ear as he wrapped his arms around his chest and pulled him back to straddle his lap.

Estaban thrust up into him and he bounced as he took the force of the blows in his ass. He grabbed his dick and stroked it from base to tip, and the sensation of fullness blended with the urge to come.

“Soon.” He jerked his cock, making a circle of his hand and fingers to fuck into, matching Estaban’s thrusting. Without much more warning, his balls slammed into him, his cock swelled and he gasped as he shot his load onto the bed.

“Fuck. That’s good. So tight when you come. Fuck.” Estaban held him as he crooned into Phillip’s ear. “Makes me…oh, fuck. Shit.” His cock grew thick inside Phillip and in a heartbeat he came, covering Phillip’s tunnel with his release.

They both shuddered, then slid down to the bed, Phillip moving to avoid the wet spot and Estaban rolling off and to the side. When Estaban stopped panting, he got out of bed, went to the adjoining bathroom and returned with a damp washcloth to clean Phillip and the bed.

Once finished, he tossed it onto the floor and climbed back in, spooning Phillip with a kiss to the back of his neck.

“Can you sleep now?” Phillip laughed. That was what the sex had been about. Estaban was nervous and eager and scared to death all at the same time.

And Phillip didn’t blame him one bit.

After all, it’s not every day you open your own mechanic’s garage in your home town.

 

* * * *

 

Phillip rushed to find a place to park. It was almost ten and that was when the ribbon cutting was scheduled. By the lack of parking, he assumed the entire town had turned out.

Amazing. He’d never thought this day would come, but he’d learned when Estaban set his mind on something, he made it happen. Like when he’d decided Phillip would be his. Or that he and Phillip would spend the weekends at his mom’s place, which was technically his. Lucky for them, she insisted on sharing her home with them.

But Phillip still had his job at the ranch, so during the week he lived in the bunkhouse. Now that Estaban had the garage and they were talking about moving in together permanently, the where had become the big question.

So that was why Phillip was running late, because he had to do his chores way out of town at the ranch first, then hightail it back for the ceremony. And his ranch hours played hell with their mornings, with Phillip getting up at zero-dark-thirty, waking Estaban up way too early.

They both knew it had to change.

He found a spot and maneuvered the small pickup he’d bought two months ago for transportation. It was cheap, gas efficient and Estaban had it purring like a kitten. He’d even helped Phillip learn to drive.

But parking was a bitch, so he took his time getting into the spot, knowing if he messed up, he’d only be even later. He hopped out, locked it and took off running to the garage.

Two months ago, Joe Smith had agreed to sell the shop to Estaban. He’d grown tired of dealing with it, and since Estaban had made him a fair offer, he’d taken it and retired.

It would be tight for a while, paying off the loan and making payroll, but Estaban assured Phillip he’d picked the best of the guys who applied for the mechanic position and a very sharp local teenage girl, just out of high school, to run the front counter.

Phillip had even worked on the weekends with her to show her the ropes—running the register, calling for parts, writing up the estimates—until she had it down without too many mistakes.

He skidded around the corner and stopped. Where his old trailer had once sat, there was a fresh blacktop with new parking spaces marked off in bright yellow. Estaban had worked after hours and on weekends painting and cleaning and making the waiting room pleasant and comfy.

And today was the big day.

A crowd had formed around the front of the garage, so Phillip had to work his way through the people to the door.

“There you are!” Edward waved to Phillip. “Over here!” Jack, in uniform, stood next to him. Brian, also in uniform, and Rush stood next to Jack. Phillip broke into a huge grin. He knew their new friends wouldn’t miss this.

Jack leaned closer to be heard above the crowd. “Brian says you and Estaban need a house to rent. Say the word and my old house is yours. All I want is nine hundred a month. You pay the utilities.”

Phillip gasped and stuck out his hand. “You bet! We’ll take that deal!” Jack was offering him a steal and he’d be a fool not to take it.

“Come out tomorrow. I’ll meet you there and show you around. If you like it, it’s yours.”

Phillip shook his hand. Man, this day couldn’t get any better.

Estaban’s mother pushed forward. “I’m so glad you’re here! He would have been so upset if you‘d missed it.”

“Are you kidding? Miss this? Never!” He hugged her and she broke into tears. Phillip wiped them away with his thumb.

“Don’t or you’ll get me started.” Phillip laughed, but he knew he was too damn close to even joke about it.

“Hey, where is he?” He glanced around the crowd. “I had no idea this many people would show up.”

“There’s at least thirty people here, is my count.” Manuel stepped out behind Rush.

“Thanks, everyone, for coming. It’s going to mean so much to Estaban.” Phillip fought back his emotions. Damn, these men are the best.

Estaban stepped out of the front door, looked around and their gazes met. A shiver raced through Phillip as he smiled at Estaban, the new owner of Martinez Motors.

He pushed through the crowd to Estaban’s side, pulling Mrs. Martinez with him. After all, she’d put up a second mortgage on the house for the down payment. With every cent they could raise going into the garage, all their hopes and dreams rode on it.

For a moment, Estaban stared at him, then Phillip moved next to him, grabbed Estaban by the shoulders and gave him a hug.

“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered in Estaban’s ear.

“I couldn’t have done it without you and your support.” Estaban pressed his forehead to Phillip’s. “Love you, babe.”

“Love you too. Now, let’s get this place open!”

A big red ribbon stretched across the garage bays and the roll-up doors stood open. Everything was set.

Clapping started when Joe Smith came out of the front office, dressed in a dark suit and holding a huge pair of shears. He moved over to the middle bay and the crowd fell quiet.

Estaban stepped next to him. They shook hands and posed for the sea of phones taking pictures. Flashes went off and they both blinked, then laughed.

Joe cleared his throat. “I am just proud as can be to cut the ribbon, opening the new Martinez Motors Garage. I hope everyone will continue to bring their business here because they need to pay the mortgage. I don’t want it back.” People laughed. “And if you haven’t, well, what are you waiting for? Estaban Martinez is hands down the best mechanic in this part of Texas and I’m happy he saw fit to take this place off my hands and let me retire.”

The crowd laughed again. Estaban’s face turned a shade of pink beneath his darker skin color.

“Speech!” someone shouted and the crowd took it up. “Speech! Speech!”

Estaban nodded and held up his hands to quiet them. “Thank you for coming out today to celebrate with me and my family.” He nodded to his mother, who grinned back at him, her pride in her son lighting her face. “Thanks, Mom, for believing in me.” He put his arm around her waist and kissed her on the temple.

He walked over to Phillip, standing off to the side, and pulled him over to where he’d been. Phillip whispered, “What are you doing?” but Estaban didn’t answer. Instead, he motioned for silence.

“This is my life partner, Phillip Mott. He used to work here at the front counter, but now he’s working at the Westons’ Double T Ranch. Without him, I never would have believed in myself or trusted my ability to make this dream of mine happen. Thanks, babe.” He gave Phillip a kiss on the cheek. Then he turned to Joe Smith.

“Hey, if you’re planning on kissing me, think again.” But Joe was all smiles.

“No, but I would like to say thank you. For giving me your baby and for letting me take over. I promise to do you proud, Joe.” They shook hands. “Now, will you please cut the damn ribbon?”

Joe laughed, raised the shears, opened them, paused then snipped them closed. The ribbon fluttered to the ground in two pieces. “I declare this garage open!”

The crowd cheered.

Estaban, Phillip and his mother hugged each other. They all had tears in their eyes. Phillip looked out at the crowd and waved to the guys, Rush and Brian, Jack and Edward, clapping and cheering. This had to be one of the happiest days of Phillip’s life, being a part of a new family, Estaban and his mom, and having the great friends he’d made here in Spring Lake.

Beggars might not be choosers, but he wasn’t a beggar anymore.

He had a man he loved and who loved him, a wonderful mother who loved him, great friends, a dream job, and the ranch.

And he’d done it all without using his power.

Estaban pulled him in close, pressing his head to Phillip’s. “You, not this garage, are the best thing that ever happened to me. You’re the best, most honorable man I know, and I love you.”

Then he kissed Phillip, right there in front of everyone.

Phillip lost it, and he threw his arms around Estaban and let those damn tears spill as he buried his face in Estaban’s neck. “Damn it, I love you too.”

Estaban tucked him to his side and looked out at the crowd of smiling, happy-for-them folks.

“I don’t think Spring Lake is going to ever be the same, Phillip.”

Phillip laughed. “I have to agree. Someone once said this town was turning into the San Francisco of Texas. Maybe he was right.”

“Who said that?” Estaban gave him a look.

“Jimmy. Of course, he didn’t mean it in a good way.”

They looked at each other, then broke into laughter.

Estaban shook his head. “Babe, I’m so glad I saw the day come when I could fire his ass.”

“Me too. You think we could turn the downtown into the Castro? I hear that’s the center of the gay world in San Francisco.”

“Well, how about we start small.” Estaban reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small sticker. “I figure we’d put this on the front door, under the credit card signs.” He held it up for Phillip to see.

“A rainbow sticker?” Phillip took it from him.

“I figured we’d work our way up to flying the pride flag.”

The crowd dispersed and Brian, Rush, Jack and Edward approached them.

“Hey, guys. Thanks for coming.” Estaban held out his hand and shook them all.

“What do you have there?” Rush pointed to the sticker.

Phillip held it up. “We’re changing this town, one sticker at a time. Come on. I’m putting it on the door.”

They walked over to the front door. Inside, Joe and Mrs. Martinez chatted over cups of coffee from the new machine. They waved and everyone waved back.

“Here, you do the honors.” Phillip returned the sticker to Estaban.

He stepped inside and peeled off the backing. After lining it up, he pressed it on to the glass.

Outside, the guys cheered.

Estaban came back out and they all stared at it as they stood on the sidewalk.

A car pulled into the lot and parked. A young woman got out and approached. She smiled at them, reached for the door, but stopped.

“Hey, a rainbow! LBGT friendly.” She smiled at the men. “I’m new in town. It’s good to see this place is supportive.” She went inside and up to the counter.

Estaban and all the guys exchanged looks. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Maybe this town could be the new San Francisco of Texas.” Phillip grinned.

“You know, you might lose as many customers as you gain,” Rush said. “Been there, but it evens out. Trust me.”

“One sticker at a time.” Estaban nodded as he pulled Phillip in for a hug.

“This time next year, I might be organizing the Pride parade.” Edward shrugged at everyone’s blank stares. “You never know.”

Phillip glanced around at the men standing in support of Estaban’s new business. This town had changed. He’d changed. He’d found a new life, one he could be proud of, one where people trusted and liked him. A life he’d never dreamed of having.

Until he‘d gotten out of that semi on a rainy day, and walked into Spring Lake to meet his future.