22. Colt
Chapter 22
Colt
I t was beautiful out under the stars, the wide and clear Texas night spread out above us. I had my hands on Eli’s chest as I rode him, my head thrown back toward the heavens in blissed-out delight. The only sounds between us were heavy breath and moans of pleasure. That piercing of his always hit me in just the right place.
“I… I’m c-close,” I stuttered, glancing back down at him as I rocked my hips back and forth, forcing his cock deeper inside me with each stroke.
Eli's eyes locked onto mine, blazing with intensity. His hands gripped my hips tighter, urging me on. “Then cum for me, cowboy,” he growled, his voice filled with passion.
I could feel the tension building, coiling tighter with each thrust. Eli bucked his hips upward, meeting me halfway, driving himself even deeper. The piercing rubbed against my prostate, sending jolts of electricity through my body.
“Oh God, Eli,” I gasped, my movements becoming erratic as I chased my release.
He slid one hand up my chest, tweaking a nipple before wrapping his fingers around my neglected cock. “That's it, darlin',” he purred, stroking me in time with our frantic rhythm. “Let go. Show me how good you can ride.”
The dual sensations pushed me over the edge. My body tensed as waves of pleasure crashed over me. I cried out Eli's name, my release spilling over his hand and onto his toned stomach. My muscles clenched around him, drawing a deep groan from his throat.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” Eli growled, his hips pistoning upward with renewed vigor. His fingers dug into my hips, sure to leave marks come morning. I didn't care. I wanted everyone to know I was his.
I leaned down, capturing his lips in a searing kiss as he fucked me harder. His movements became erratic, his breath hot against my mouth. With a final, powerful thrust, Eli came undone beneath me, filling me with his warmth. I savored every moment of his cock throbbing inside me, giving me everything I so desperately wanted.
We stayed like that for a long moment, our bodies intertwined, basking in the afterglow under the endless Texas sky. Eventually,
Eventually, I rolled off of Eli, collapsing onto the blanket beside him. We lay there side by side, chests heaving as we caught our breath. The cool night air felt divine against my overheated skin.
Eli turned his head to look at me, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “Not bad for a small-town cowboy,” he teased, his voice still trembling.
I chuckled, propping myself up on one elbow to face him. “This small-town cowboy just rocked your world, city slicker. Don't forget it.”
His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Oh, I won't,” he murmured, reaching out to trace a finger along my jawline. “Though I might need a reminder now and then.”
“I'd be happy to oblige,” I replied, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips. Eli responded eagerly, his hand sliding to the back of my neck to pull me closer. The kiss deepened, tongues dancing lazily as we savored the taste of each other.
When we finally parted, I couldn't help but marvel at how different Eli looked in this moment. Gone was the polished businessman, the ambitious go-getter who'd left Sagebrush in the dust. Here, under the vast expanse of stars, he was softer, more vulnerable. It stirred something in my chest.
“What are you thinking about?” Eli asked, his thumb caressing my cheek.
I hesitated, unsure how to voice the emotions swirling inside me. “Just... how much I love you.”
Eli's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before it softened into a tender smile. Neither of us were used to saying it yet. “I love you too,” he whispered, pulling me close for another kiss.
As we broke apart, I could see a hint of vulnerability in his amber gaze. “I never thought I'd say those words, especially not here in Sagebrush,” he admitted quietly.
I ran my fingers through his tousled brown hair, marveling at how different he looked from the worn-out accountant I'd first encountered when he returned to town. “Having second thoughts about coming back?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light despite the worry gnawing at my insides.
Eli was quiet for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. “No,” he said finally, meeting my eyes. “I hated the idea of coming back here, of feeling like a failure. But now... I'm seeing Sagebrush differently.”
His hand found mine, fingers intertwining. “Being with you, it's like I'm seeing this place through new eyes. The open skies, the rolling hills... it's not so bad when you have someone to share it with. It feels less like a wide-open prison.”
My heart swelled at his words. “Even with all the cow patties and hay bales?” I teased gently.
Eli laughed, the sound rich and warm in the night air. “Well, those I could do without. But I suppose they're a package deal. At least the cowboys aren’t bad to look at.”
I grinned, leaning in to nip at his earlobe. “I’m happy to be here with you,” I said softly. “Happier than I think I’ve ever been.”
Eli smiled but faltered a second later. His eyes darted between mine. “Speaking of that, there’s something we need to talk about.”
He sounded serious. “Somethin’ wrong?”
“No. Not really. Just… something unexpected?—”
But before he could finish his sentence, his phone began to ring in his jeans pocket. We both jumped at the sudden harsh noise, the peaceful night silence broken. Eli rolled over, grabbing his jeans and fishing out his phone. The blue light lit up his face and his brows furrowed suddenly. Something was wrong. He clicked the button and pulled it to his ear.
“What’s going on?” he asked in a serious tone.
There was a distressed voice on the other side. A feminine one. It took me a moment before I realized it was his mom.
“He did what?!” Eli gasped. There was another pause as his mom spoke. “Call an ambulance right now. I’m on my way. And whatever you do, don’t go near him.”
I didn’t have to ask as he pulled the phone away and began pulling on his jeans.
“My dad is having another episode,” he said, rushing to stuff himself back into his clothing. “And he found my stash of vodka in my room somehow.”
I pulled my clothes on as fast as I could too, leaving everything else behind. “Is that good or bad?”
“Really bad,” Eli said, his voice shaking. “He chugged both bottles in less than five minutes. Mom said he’s in the violent drunk stage right now, screaming something about the war and staggering around the house.” He shook his head, tears forming in his eyes. “But if that ambulance doesn’t get here fast enough, he’s gonna die of alcohol poisoning.”
We both pulled on our shoes, running through the tall grass toward the house a half mile away.
“Has this ever happened before?” I called, doing my best to keep up.
“Once,” Eli called back. “He almost… He almost…”
He didn’t have to finish his sentence for me to understand. If we didn’t get back to the house fast enough, Mr. Daniels was going to die. And if he got ahold of Mrs. Daniels first before he passed out, both of them might be.
We sprinted through the moonlit fields, our feet pounding against the earth. The cool night air that had felt so refreshing minutes ago now burned in my lungs as I pushed myself to keep up with Eli's longer strides. The distant farmhouse grew larger as we approached, a single light burning in an upstairs window.
Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the night. Eli stumbled, nearly falling before regaining his footing. “Mom!” he cried out, his voice cracking with fear. He redoubled his pace, leaving me behind as he raced toward the house.
I pushed myself harder, my muscles burning with the effort. As I neared the porch, I could hear the sound of breaking glass and incoherent shouting from inside. Eli had already disappeared through the front door, which hung open on its hinges.
“Get away from her!” Eli's voice rang out from inside the house, filled with a mix of anger and desperation.
I burst through the doorway, my heart pounding in my chest. The scene before me was chaos. Furniture was overturned, shards of glass littered the floor. In the center of the living room stood Mr. Daniels, his eyes wild and unfocused. He had Mrs. Daniels by the arm, his grip so tight I could see her wincing in pain.
Eli stood between them and me, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “Dad, please,” he said, his voice strained as he tried to remain calm. “Let go of Mom. You're hurting her.”
Mr. Daniels swayed on his feet, his gaze darting around the room as if seeing enemies in every shadow. “They're coming,” he slurred. “She’s one of them. I know it! She’s gonna… gonna…”
Mr. Daniels' grip on his wife tightened, causing her to cry out in pain. Eli took a cautious step forward, his hands still raised.
“Dad, it's me, Eli. You're home. You're safe,” he said softly, his voice trembling slightly. “There's no one coming. It's just us.”
Mr. Daniels blinked rapidly, his unfocused gaze settling on Eli. For a moment, recognition seemed to flicker in his eyes. “Eli?” he mumbled, his grip on Mrs. Daniels loosening slightly.
I held my breath, hoping this moment of clarity would be enough. But then Mr. Daniels' face contorted in rage once more. “No!” he roared. “You're trying to trick me! You're all in on it! Eli is gone! He got that new job and left for Houston already!”
I felt my heart sink. Houston? New job? Where did that come from?
He shoved Mrs. Daniels aside, sending her crashing into a side table. Before anyone could react, Mr. Daniels lunged at Eli, his hands outstretched like claws.
“Dad, no!” Eli cried out, barely managing to dodge the attack.
I sprang into action, rushing forward to try to restrain Mr. Daniels from behind. But in his alcohol-fueled state, he possessed a strength that belied his years. He whirled around, catching me with a wild swing that sent me staggering backwards.
“You won't take me alive!” Mr. Daniels bellowed, his eyes unfocused and filled with terror. He grabbed a lamp from a nearby table, brandishing it like a weapon.
Eli used the distraction to check on his mother. “Mom, are you okay?” he asked urgently, helping her to her feet. Mrs. Daniels nodded shakily, clutching her arm where Mr. Daniels had gripped her.
“We need to get out of here,” Eli said, his voice low and urgent. “The ambulance is on its way. We just need to keep him from hurting himself or anyone else until then.”
I nodded, keeping my eyes on Mr. Daniels as he swayed unsteadily, still brandishing the lamp. “Mr. Daniels,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and steady. “It's me, Colt. Remember? I helped you last time you felt like this. You're safe here in Sagebrush.”
For a moment, Mr. Daniels' eyes seemed to focus on me. His grip on the lamp loosened slightly. “Colt?” he mumbled, confusion evident in his voice.
“That's right,” I said, moving closer. “It’s okay. We’re not going to hurt you.”
But the moment I got close again, he seemed to snap back to the war. He cried out again, hurling the lamp in my direction. I managed to dodge it just in time and whirled around behind him. With one arm around his neck, I pulled him into a headlock. He cried out in fury, struggling, kicking, and punching anything he could. Bruises erupted across my body, but I held on tight.
Mr. Daniels fury seemed to reach a climax before his movements began to get sloppy. Suddenly he wasn’t fighting me so much as I was holding him up. Gently I followed him to the ground, keeping him away from the broken glass. By the time we reached the floor, he was completely unconscious.
I held Mr. Daniels gently as he lay unconscious, my heart racing. Eli rushed over, kneeling beside us.
“Is he breathing?” Eli asked, his voice tight with worry.
I checked Mr. Daniels' pulse and breathing. “Yeah, he's still with us. But his pulse is really slow.”
Eli's shoulders sagged with relief, but the tension didn't leave his face. He looked up at his mother, who was hovering nearby, wringing her hands. “Mom, can you go wait outside for the ambulance? Show them where to come in.”
Mrs. Daniels nodded shakily and hurried out the front door. As soon as she was gone, Eli turned back to me, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and guilt.
“Colt, I'm so sorry,” he said softly. “I never wanted you to have to deal with this. And now you’ve done it twice…”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I don’t mind. Really.”
Eli just shook his head, tears forming in his eyes.
“Eli?” I asked, looking up at him as anxiety gripped my chest. “Your old job was in Dallas, right?”
“Y-Yeah,” Eli replied, clearly confused. “Why?”
“Why did your dad say you moved to Houston for a new job?”
Eli's face fell, his eyes darting away from mine. He let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “I... I was going to tell you tonight, actually. Before all this happened.”
My heart sank, a cold feeling spreading through my chest. “Tell me what, exactly?”
Eli met my gaze, his eyes filled with a mix of guilt and apprehension. “I got a job offer. In Houston. It's... it's a really good opportunity, Colt. A chance to get back into the corporate world, to prove myself again.”
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. “When?” I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“They want me to start in two weeks,” Eli admitted, his voice strained.
“I… I see.”
The sound of sirens pierced the night air, growing louder as the ambulance approached. Eli glanced toward the door, then back at me, his expression torn.
“Colt, I?—”
“We should get your dad ready to go,” I interrupted, not ready to hear whatever he was about to say. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready. I gently shifted Mr. Daniels into a more comfortable position, my mind reeling from Eli's revelation.
Eli nodded, his shoulders slumping. He moved to help me, his hands shaking slightly as he checked his father's vitals again. We worked in tense silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between us.
Moments later, paramedics burst through the door, their voices sharp and professional as they took in the scene. Mrs. Daniels followed close behind, her face pale with worry. As the medics began assessing Mr. Daniels, I stepped back, suddenly feeling like an intruder in this family crisis. Eli moved aside as well, his eyes never leaving his father's unconscious form. The paramedics worked quickly, attaching monitors and preparing to move Mr. Daniels onto a stretcher.
“He's stable for now, but we need to get him to the hospital immediately,” one of the medics said, her voice calm but urgent. “Who's riding with us?”
“I'll go,” Mrs. Daniels said quickly, her voice trembling. She looked at Eli. “You should follow in the car, sweetheart.”
Eli nodded, his face a mask of worry and exhaustion. As the paramedics lifted Mr. Daniels onto the stretcher, Eli turned to me, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions I couldn't quite decipher.
“Colt, I...” he began, but I cut him off with a shake of my head.
“Go,” I said harshly. “Your family needs you right now.”
Eli hesitated for a moment, conflict clear on his face. But as the paramedics began wheeling his father out, he nodded, following behind them without a word.
I stood there in the wrecked living room, watching as the ambulance pulled away, its sirens wailing into the night. Eli's car followed close behind, taillights disappearing down the long driveway. The silence that fell was deafening.
My mind was reeling. Houston. Two weeks. Everything we'd built together, all the progress we'd made... it felt like it was crumbling beneath my feet. Eli was leaving Sagebrush behind again and me along with it.
I reached a hand up, wiping away my tears furiously. No. I wouldn’t let him leave me like everyone did all those years ago. That wasn’t going to happen again. An old familiar anger filled my chest as I stomped up the stairs to grab my things.
This time, Colt Dawson would leave them behind.