Chapter 14
It was a little weird, if he was honest, to be heading to Boulder, a lover sitting in the truck beside him.
It just wasn’t the way Bodie’s life tended to work.
They were skirting Denver as best they could, and Bodie turned off the GPS, letting Cole navigate.
The last hour or so had been a quiet ride, both of them listening to the radio and looking out the window, exchanging the occasional glance and smile. It wasn’t uncomfortable, it wasn’t even awkward, it was just… quiet.
Cole glanced over. “Next exit.”
“I’m on it.” He put on his blinker and headed over to merge. “You excited to be home?”
“I hope you like it.” Cole looked at him. “I feel a little nervous; is that weird? I don’t bring people home much. I’ve always thought of my house as an escape from bull riding. The only cowboy who ever came to visit was Rocky, and you know how he was. He liked Vegas or LA better.”
“I live in Vegas. The glitz is just skin deep.” Bodie craved the Rocky Mountains. He loved them. One day.
“My place is kind of anti-glitz. It’s cozy, and at night, the only sparkling lights are the stars.”
That sounded like heaven. “I stay with my dad when I’m in town. It’s pretty quiet in his neighborhood.”
“Well, that’s lucky. I go when there is an event, so I’ve never seen it quiet.” They left Denver behind but not civilization, and the road signs kept counting down the miles to Boulder.
The farther they left Denver, the more relaxed Bodie got. He didn’t mind big cities, but he didn’t want to live in one.
“It’s getting dark. Wow. I’ve never done this long of a drive before. I always fly and I’m home in a couple of hours at best.”
Bodie nodded to Cole. “I tend not to fly, but it’s not a bad drive into the airport once I get there.”
“Next exit,” Cole pointed again. “Not long now.”
“It’s a nice neighborhood up here. Quiet, easy.” And the whole thing was so Colorado it hurt.
“Up here a bit we lose the houses, and it gets a little woodsy.”
“Oh, that’s too cool. I can’t wait to see your place.”
“I’m looking forward to having you in it.”
His cheeks heated, but the words echoed all the way down inside him. God, he was getting goofy. It was dumb.
He followed the road around a corner and headed up a short hill to a long road that was mostly packed gravel. The streetlights disappeared, and he turned on his high beams to see the road better.
“I rarely pass another car here, but if we do, we have the drainage ditch on our side so they have to move over to get by. Almost everyone knows it.”
“Good to know.” He slowed down a bit, taking it easier. He didn’t want to mess up his truck.
“There’s a drive on the left… you’ll see the floodlight over the garage.”
It was the only light anywhere, so it wasn’t hard to miss.
“Look at that. The drive goes a goodly ways up.” He liked that, he sure did.
“Ah. We’re home. Pull up anywhere. My Jeep is in the garage.”
“All right.” Bodie parked the truck, and they sat there in silence for a second. “Welcome home.”
“Come on in.” Cole took his hand and squeezed it, then climbed out of his truck. They grabbed their bags, and Cole led him in through the front door. “I usually go in through the garage, but… you’re my guest.”
“You can just treat me like a friend, Cole.” Those words—a guest—he needed to remember them.
This wasn’t even a place to crash. He was a houseguest for a couple-three days.
Maybe a little longer.
“No, you’re more than a friend, Bodie. I don’t want to sneak you in through the garage. I want to invite you in through the front door. And then you can come and go through any door you please.”
“All right. Thank you.” That was dear and unexpected, a little unnerving, too, but wonderful. “Thank you very much.”
His heart was fluttering a bit, and not from the altitude.
“You’re welcome. Really, welcome.” Cole took his hand and led him uphill on the gravel path to his front steps, then unlocked the door. The house was dark, but Cole started flipping switches, and lamps came on here and there, casting a warm light in the little foyer and the living room.
The back side of the house had big windows, the place open, and it had to be lovely in the daylight. It was casual and comfortable, books and vinyl albums in various places in the living room, a big deep couch, scenic photography and folky artwork on the walls.
“It’s chilly in here. Let me get the stove going.” Cole dumped his bag and opened up a well-used woodstove, adding knots of newspaper, kindling and a couple of logs.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” He wasn’t sure what to do, but he felt like he ought to do something.
“No, this will get going in a minute. But if you want to dump your stuff in my bedroom, it’s up the stairs to the left. Feel free to turn on whatever lights you need.” Cole looked at him. “Or if you want your own room, turn right.”
“Left is my favorite direction.” He stepped close and begged a kiss. This was tough, being new at this.
“I’m glad you’re here.” Cole slid both arms around his waist and gave him the kiss he wanted, one hand sliding over his ass.
“I am too.” He stepped in, their bodies rocking together, just like they were dancing.
Cole chuckled softly, dancing along. “Are you hungry? If not, I can give you the grand tour in the morning. The place is way more impressive when the sun comes up.”
“I’m not hungry. I want to see your room.” That was clear, right?
Cole nodded and stepped away just long enough to close up the wood stove, then brushed past him, one hand sliding across his abs. “Come on up.”
He grabbed his bag. “Right behind you, pretty.”
Cole grabbed his own, and they climbed the stairs. There was moonlight coming through a window at the top, and Cole turned left, flipping on the light in the bedroom. The switch turned on a lamp next to a big bed covered in a green quilt.
Cole dropped his bag and stared at him. “Wanna try the bed?”
“How did you guess?” Bodie winked, and set his bag aside, toeing off his boots.
“I can read your mind.” Cole ditched his sneakers, then stepped in close and worked the buttons of his shirt open one by one in a practiced hurry.
“I love that about you.” He tugged Cole’s belt open, knowing he was smiling like a damn idiot.
Cole pushed his shirt off his shoulders and leaned in to kiss that spot where shoulder met neck, nipping gently at his skin.
“Oh… tingly.” His hands tightened instinctively around Cole’s arms. “Lord have mercy.”
“You’re delicious. What can I say?” Cole worked his shirt the rest of the way off, tugging it over his wrists, then kissed the center of his chest. “Mm.”
“Uh-huh.” He was focused on those lips, and on touching Cole and making him need.
Cole reached for his belt and fly and was pushing his jeans over his hips in no time. They slid to his ankles, and he stepped out of them. Cole’s gaze moved over him like the man was memorizing everything. “I can’t get enough of touching you.”
“That’s good. I don’t want you to start, okay?”
Cole chuckled, fingers tugging at the waistband of his briefs. “Can’t see it happening.”
That was something to strive for, right? Cole made him feel like he was more than a cowboy, like he was way bigger than an eight-second ride.
Cole stripped out of his jeans and let Bodie help get his shirt off, then stepped right in close for a kiss.
His hands found Cole’s ass, and he got himself a double handful.
They started moving, stumbling together until they fell onto the bed. Cole scrambled up toward the headboard. “Come on.”
“Uh-huh. I’m coming.” He grinned at himself. “Damn, I’m funny.”
“Don’t quit your day job.” Cole squinted at him, reaching for his shoulders as he got closer. “Wait, you don’t have a day job.”
“Nope. I work twenty-four seconds a week, lover.”
“Then the rest of your week can be mine.” Cole kissed him and reached down to pull their hips together.
He was going to make a joke about how that was going to be an amazing six days and twenty-three hours and fifty-nine-and-a-half minutes, but it felt so damn good, the way they fit together.
Cole’s lips slid across his jaw line to his ear and Cole whispered, “Can I—do you bottom?”
“I both pitch and catch, yessir.” He hummed softly and arched. “It’s a sweet thing, that trust.”
“Yeah. Yeah, it is.” Cole shifted and rolled him slowly onto his back with a surprising amount of strength. “This is wild, having you here.”
“I’m so glad you let me come. I want to… hang out with you.”
“Mmm. So much hanging out.” Cole licked his chest and blew across it.
He gasped, goosebumps raising all over his skin. “Oh. Wow.”
Cole chuckled. “You like that?” Cole reached for his briefs and tugged them off, then wiggled out of his own.
“I like that. It’s maddening and a little wonderful, thanks.”
“My pleasure. For real.” Cole was pretty wound up; he could see it in the man’s eyes and feel that needy cock against his hip too.
“Mmhmm.” He dragged one leg up outside Cole’s, his toes curling.
Cole caught their cocks together in one hand and held them, thumb sliding up his length. “Fuck, you’re hot as the sun.”
He grinned at Cole, because he knew how sexy bull riders were. They were built that way, to make up for their short careers and the lost teeth.
“Cowboys.” Cole shook his head, grinning right back, then bent over him and caught a nipple between his teeth, pinching just a little.
“Uh-huh!” Oh, fuck. He did like that, yessir.
Cole gave their pricks one more squeeze, then reached over his head, coming back with rubbers and lube. The little foil package landed on his chest, and Cole slipped a knee between his thighs, gently suggesting he make some room.
He spread a little wider, finding Cole a smile. Room he could do.
Cole’s fingers were moving, opening the lube and slicking his fingers, but those green eyes were holding his gaze, watching him.
He knew how this worked, and Bodie licked his lips, forcing himself to allow Cole to drive.
“I want to make it good for you, Bodie. I will, I promise.” Warm, slippery fingers slid over his hole, and Cole’s other hand wrapped around his prick.
“I ain’t scairt.” He winked, teasing a little bit, his belly drawn in tight.
“Ooh.” Cole teased right back, one finger pressing slowly inside him. “Good to know, hot, brave cowboy.”
“Mmhmm… that’s me. Burning up, for you.”
A second finger joined the first, moving slowly while Cole stroked him firmly. “I hope so.”
His lips were parted, and he nodded as he rocked between Cole’s hands. “Uh-huh.”
“Uh-huh…” Cole’s fingers twisted gently and pressed deeper. “Want you to be good and ready for me.”
“Oh fuck, that’s so goddamn sweet…” His entire body was waking up.
“You make me ache, Bodie. I want you so bad.” Cole was focused on him, eyes watching his face, hands busy making sure his body felt everything.
“I’m all yours. Don’t stop. Please, I want to come on your cock.”
“Fuck, Bodie.” In one smooth movement, Cole moved over him. Those fingers slipped away and the grip on his cock disappeared, but all of it was replaced by the sweet pressure of Cole’s cock pressing against him, and then slowly, slowly inside, stretching him wide.
His lips parted, and he exhaled, the world spinning around him.
“Tight as fuck, man. Damn.” Cole groaned and pressed their foreheads together.
“Uh-huh. I can feel you, so fucking deep.” Bodie was soaring, was filled to the brim.
Cole’s answer was a grunt, and he rocked hard, brow furrowed, thrusts picking up pace.
He grabbed his cock, stroking in time with Cole’s thrusts, matching Cole, breath for breath.
“Bodie.” He could feel Cole tense and relax, hips stuttering now and again and knew his lover was close.
“Yeah. Yeah, honey. Right with you.”
“Yeah? Fuck, I—come on then.” Cole groaned and shivered, adding a hand to his and stroking hard.
It took one good tug, a hard rub to his cockhead and it was all over but the crying. He shot so hard his bones rattled.
Cole let him go and moved that hand to the headboard for a final few wild seconds before he came, grunting and panting in turns as everything slowed dramatically, leaving Cole still and slippery with sweat.
His whole world just spun, and it was the best ride. His whole self was in it.
“Fuck.” Cole kissed him gently, then slid out of bed. He was only gone for a minute, and he came back with a warm washcloth and gingerly ran it over him. “Thank you.”
“Oh, honey. C’mere. Want to hold you.” He held his arms open, bringing them together.
Cole’s smile told him everything he needed to know. “Yeah. That’s what I want too.” They settled together, arms around each other.
Bodie wasn’t sure how he’d managed to get here, but he had, so he’d take it.
“Good bed, right?” Cole chuckled, nuzzling against him.
“Perfect.” What was the question?