Chapter 28
Bodie had the ring. He had a bottle of wine. He had fancy collars for the dogs.
Now he was waiting for Cole to come back from a business meeting, wearing his best jeans and boots, pacing the length of the RV.
Man, it was raining cats and dogs out there.
But he heard his truck pull up even with the rain and Cole curse as he came barreling in the door.
“Jesus fuck, it’s pouring.” Cole tossed his laptop bag on the couch and shrugged out of his wet jacket, obviously trying to keep the water contained to the entry area. His hair was plastered to his forehead in one spot and he was grinning. “Damn. Sorry to drip everywhere.”
“How was your meeting?” He kept the ring box in his pocket, letting Cole get himself settled.
“Oh. Good! Great. I’ll tell you all about it in a—” Cole blinked at him, then tilted his head. “You look—wow, babe. You look great. Did I forget—shit. What am I late for?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all.” In fact, Cole was right on time. “Come on in.”
“Just felt like dressing up on a rainy day?” Cole kicked off his boots and wandered toward him. “It’s not your birthday. It’s not my birthday…”
“No, it’s not.” He worked the ring box out of his pocket and got on one knee.
“Oh.” Cole gasped softly, eyes wide. “Oh, okay. You decided to find out, huh? Wow.” Poor Cole looked a little stunned, but he was smiling.
“So, I wanted to know if you would do me the honor, Mr. Bates, of marrying me.”
Cole swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes. Yes, babe, I will, but you have to know the honor is mine, sweet, handsome, incredible Mr. Jimenez.” There was emotion in Cole’s voice, thick and quiet.
He couldn’t stop smiling, and he handed over the ring—it was gold with a black sapphire in the center. Something that was masculine and special.
“Bodie…” Cole opened the box and shook his head. “This is gorgeous. I’ve never seen anything like it. Here.” Cole handed it back. “Will you do it?” Cole held his hand out and waggled his ring finger.
“I will.” He slipped the ring on Cole’s finger, then stole a kiss. “I love you.”
Cole kissed him back, laughing. “I love you. I’m marrying you. We’re getting married. You look really fucking hot, by the way.”
He posed, letting himself be all dramatic and goofy. “Did you notice the dogs were dressed up too?”
Amelia had a white lace garter collar and Earhart’s was a black bow tie.
“Oh my God so cute.” Cole laughed, the sound light and happy, then held out his hand to admire the ring, cheeks rosy, head shaking slowly. “Bodie. Such a handsome ring. How long have you had it?”
How long? He grinned at Cole, shrugged, knowing his cheeks were red. “I found it in Dallas.”
“Dallas?” Cole actually blinked. “That was a while ago.”
“I’ve known for a while. I was just waiting for the right time, when I thought we both were ready to hear it.” He wanted Cole to know that he was serious about retiring because he knew in his soul that Cole was nervous about marrying a rodeo man.
It wasn’t like he blamed Cole or anything, he didn’t. It was a hard life. It was hard on the body. It was hard on the gas mileage, and it sure as shit was hard on a rider’s partner when they lost you or when you were hurt or even when something was broke.
But he was serious. This was his last season. He was done. He wanted to be Bodie, the former bull rider.
“I’m so ready to do life with you, babe. So ready.” Cole pulled him in and kissed him, fingers tugging on his belt loops. “So, should I dress me up, or undress you?”
“That depends—do you want to have supper out, celebrate, and then come home and get busy? Or do you want to get busy, warm up some hot dogs later, and just stay here with the dogs?”
He was easy one way or the other, although it was raining pretty damn hard. They also had some leftover brisket in the fridge. They could make baked potatoes in the nuker and have barbecue baked potatoes. That was even better than hot dogs.
Cole pulled out his phone and leaned into him. “Smile, we need an engagement picture. That’s a thing, right? Plus, then I’ll have proof of how dressed up and hot you were the day you proposed to me. Then I can wrestle you out of it.”
He chuckled and smiled, hugged Cole close. “You sure can, you stud.”
Cole took a dozen pictures, both of them turning and smiling and changing positions until they were both laughing. “Think that’s enough?” Cole waggled the phone at him.
“I think that’s plenty. We’re going to be married. We’ve got proof of it, with and without dogs.” Bodie couldn’t stop laughing.
“Okay then.” Cole put his phone down and went after his shirt. “Time to get you out of all of this finery so I can thank you for this ring properly.”
“Mmm… I do like how you think, fiancé.” Bodie unbuttoned his shirt, nice and slow.
Cole pulled back making a hands-off gesture, smiling. “What’s this? Are you undressing for me, fiancé?”
“Saving my best shirt, more like it.” He had to tease, but his body was responding to his lover.
“Oh. Because you’re afraid I might rip the damn thing off of you, hm? You’re right, I might have. This is fun though.” Cole leaned against the dinette table, gaze roaming over his body.
“So long as you’re not laughing…” He undid his cuffs, nice and careful.
“Mm no. Not laughing. Oddly into it actually. You have the body of a god, babe. That is no laughing matter.”
“I love you.” He thought it was important to let Cole know.
“I know. I have proof.” Cole waggled his fingers, showing off his ring. “Expensive proof. Also, I love you.” Cole reached out and slid warm hands over his ribs. “No matter what happens next weekend. I am in your corner, you are my family, and I am absolutely proud of you.”
“I’m ready to retire. This finals is the end.” He wanted to make sure Cole understood, all the way.
Cole searched his face, looked into his eyes. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“I am. I’m not in love with it. I’m not hurt bad. I have a chance to get out of the game intact. I want that, for both of us.”
Cole nodded. “I will sleep so much better. I would never ask you to give up a passion, but I—well, you know. I want a future with you. I want forever. I would do forever on the circuit with you, I would. But if it’s not a passion…” Cole shrugged.
“It’s a job, and I’m on the other side of it.
” He searched his brain for the words that actually would make sense to both of them, because he knew this was important.
“I did it. I rode, I made money, I won a championship, I might win two. But I’m done.
I’m ready to have another life, find another thing to do.
I don’t know what yet, but there’s going to be something. ”
“First job, be my husband. It’s a good job, pays in blow jobs and back rubs. You’re already hired.” Cole kissed him again, slow and hot.
“That’s right, we just have to get through finals. And then it’s you and me, all the way, forever.”
“Good. Now get undressed so I can give you an advance on your first paycheck. And maybe a signing bonus.”
“Listen to you saying those kinky things in front of the babies.” Bodie grinned at him and unfastened his belt. Then he popped the top button of his jeans.
“Oh, sorry. I’ll spell it instead, shall I? F-U-C-K-M-E.” Cole stared right into him. “Better?”
“Oh, I think I do understand. I think I hear you loud and clear.” He grabbed Cole behind the neck and kissed him. He may not have gotten an A in spelling, but this he got, balls to bones.
Cole backed him down the narrow hall to their bed. It wasn’t quite as comfortable as the one at the house, but it was roomy and it certainly served the purpose.
“Loud and clear, huh?” Cole unbuttoned his own shirt and started in on his jeans.
“Poor wet man. I’ll have to lick you dry.” Bodie winked and skinned out of his jeans.
“Ooh. Never been so glad to get caught in the rain.” Cole’s clothing went flying piece by piece until all he had on was his ring.
It was a perfect visual, and Bodie couldn’t do anything to stop his moan.
“Get those fancy boots off, cowboy.” Cole climbed up onto the bed, ruddy cock half-hard and bobbing.
“I wore my best ones, just for you.” He didn’t wear his Luccheses just for anyone.
He slipped them off, settling back against the wall of the RV, arms and legs open.
“Mmm. Waiting for me, babe?” Cole crawled toward him and climbed over him, straddling his thighs. His lover’s fingers curled around his prick and squeezed gently.
“Thought maybe it could be your turn to ride.” And he could watch Cole slide up and down on his cock. It was a fantasy he hadn’t even realized he had until just now.
“That would be a first for me, but I think I could score pretty high anyway.” Cole opened the small cabinet over the bed and pulled out supplies. That damn thing was so handy.
“I have no doubt. In fact, I think that you might have the first perfect score ever.”
His cock was hard as nails, and he couldn’t stop glancing at that finger, at the ring that shone there.
“I’ve already won the purse.” Cole waved that hand in front of him again, then made sure he was gloved up before popping the lube open. “I’m yours now.”
“You’re all I want. Everything else is gravy.” This was a great damn visual. Cole was fine as frog hair.
“Mhm.” Cole reached back to get himself slick, eyes staring into his, bold as brass. “Yeah.”
His teeth sank into his bottom lip, and he gripped the base of his cock just so he didn’t shoot like a teenager. Man, that was hot as hell.
Cole moved closer, grinning, ass hovering over his prick. “Just settling in the chute here.”
Oh, he was going to kick Cole’s butt. “Are you going to make it eight whole seconds?”
His smile was so wide that it actually hurt his cheeks.
“I will. The question is, will you?” Cole took hold of his shaft and eased down, gasping softly. “Fuck, babe.”
“Mmhmm.” His lips parted, and he sucked in a shuddering breath. He was never going to survive this.
Cole worked lower and lower until that ass was flush with his thighs and he was buried deep inside. He couldn’t really move with Cole’s weight on him and Cole didn’t seem in a hurry.
He swallowed hard, and his head fell back with a thunk, his eyes rolling up toward the ceiling.
Cole took a rough breath and went tight around him for a long moment, then relaxed with a soft groan. “Damn.”
“Uh-huh.” His hands landed on Cole’s hips, thumbs drawing circles as he panted. “Fuck, man. You make me dizzy.”
“This marriage is going to be so much fun.” Cole moved finally, rising up and lowering himself again. “Oh God, that’s good.”
“You make too good words. Fucking good.” He managed almost to wink, even as he grunted.
“Asshole.” Cole laughed through a moan, and that was horrible and wonderful at the same time as it vibrated around him.
“Uh-huh. All yours.”
Except, wait. The whole asshole part was probably all Cole right this second. Thinking was way too complicated, and Bodie was all about feeling.
Cole sighed and picked up the pace, working up and down his cock, the friction sweet and maddening. “Fuck, babe. Not gonna last…”
All he could do was nod and try to hold on, try to give Cole the ride of his life. That was his best.
“F—Yes!” Cole dropped down hard and shot with a rough-throated shout, soaking his abs, ass spasming around him.
He held on, just, his eyes crossing, his heart slamming against his ribs, balls drawing up as his own orgasm crashed into him.
They shuddered and rocked together for what seemed like forever—minutes, hours, he had no idea—but they finally slumped against each other, breathing hard.
Cole loosened the grip on his shoulders. “Oh. Damn.”
He nodded and pulled Cole close. “Love. Forever. Okay?”
Cole hugged him hard. “Yes. Forever. I love you.”
Then that was all he needed.
Everything else—from titles to money to home—was gravy.