Chapter Seven
Rick
Thank fuck I did not fall. Rick moved with studied nonchalance away from the bull.
It was standard practice. No matter how far a rider might fall, or how hard, the aim of the game was to always please the crowd.
That meant even if a rider broke bones or was in incredible pain, they got to their feet, and they walked away, doing their best to keep their issues to themselves until they were far away from the crowd’s gaze.
There was a lot of trust in doing that, too, and the weight of that pressed on Rick’s shoulders as he made his way to the fence.
He’d forgotten how amazing it was to know he could count on the people around him.
Sure, he knew he could always count on Ernest at the flower farm.
When he’d jumped off his tractor the wrong way the previous year, Ernest gave him the spare room, kept him fed, and carried on finishing his work so Rick could heal.
It didn’t take long with him being a shifter, but Ernest was a good friend and insisted.
The rodeo circuit/ranch situation was totally different.
A bull rider had to trust that the cowboys on horses, and sometimes in barrels, who were already in the pen when the bull was set free, would do their job.
The rider’s life depended on it. Decent bulls were treated really well and would often weigh well in excess of two thousand pounds, and yet they moved fast. Already agitated, by the strap around them and having a rider on top of them, it was common to see bulls immediately turn on the rider the moment that person was off their back.
And that is where the real cowboy heroes of the piece came in. They were there to assist the rider if needed, but they were also there to distract the bull, moving the animal through another gate and away from the audience and the rider as quickly as possible.
As Rick climbed over the fence, his back and ass muscles twinged.
Yeah, I know. It’s been a while. It was nothing a hot shower or a shift wouldn’t cure.
Rick’s focus was on Ian, his sweet mate, who had been so worried about him.
Just knowing that had brought out all of Rick’s protective instincts, and a lot of sexy ones too.
As he headed to where Ian was standing, Charlie intercepted him.
“My gods, why the hell did you ever quit? Did you know that no one has stayed on that bull for the full eight seconds, let alone the twelve you managed before getting off instead of going face down into the dirt? No one has done that,” he said, with awe.
Rick shrugged, still intent on getting to Ian. “Maybe the bull was having an off day.”
“Tell me you’re going to ride again.” Charlie clung to his arm. “Come on, Rick, tell me I can organize another bull for you.”
“Not today, my friend.” Rick pointed in Ian’s direction.
“I have a new mate to take care of.” Struck with a sudden thought, because yes, that brief ride had been fun, and Charlie and Pip had been really good friends in the past, and that never died, he tugged out his phone.
“Give me your number,” he said, opening his contacts.
As soon as Charlie rattled off his number, Rick put it in his phone and then sent Charlie a text.
“Now you have mine, too. Stay in touch, yeah?”
“Definitely.” Charlie dropped his arm, looking around as someone yelled his name.
“Next time we meet up, let’s make it when the place isn’t full of damn people determined to break their necks just to make an impression.
” He ran off, waving his arm and yelling at one of his friends—something about the chute lever.
Rick had already taken long enough, and he didn’t hesitate when he reached where Ian still stood. A quick once over, and Rick could see why. His cock decided to make a jailbreak. Yes, Rick was proud his mate felt so much for him, but he didn’t want Ian’s crotch being eyed by anyone else.
Standing right in front of his mate, he held Ian’s eyes as he reached down and tugged Ian’s shirt further down. Ian just stood and let him, as if in shock. Once Ian was covered, Rick pulled him into his chest, wrapping enormous arms around him.
“Are you okay?” he murmured into Ian’s hair.
“I can’t believe what I just saw.” Yep, Ian was definitely shocked, but there was no horror attached, thank goodness. “Do you do this sort of thing as a living? I’m going to be an absolute wreck if you’re going to be doing this every weekend.”
Rick shook his head. “I told you I used to be a bull rider. That was a long time ago. I work for a flower farm now. The most dangerous thing about my job is when my boss’s mate keeps encouraging me to get out there and date, when I’m just trying to grab a coffee.”
Ooh, that got a reaction. Ian’s frown was as sexy as his smile. “You’re not doing that anymore. You’d better tell that person—”
“I will, as soon as I get back to work. I can’t guarantee it’ll be Monday. It’s Saturday already, and there’s a lot of things I want to learn about you before I’ll be thinking about work. You’re beautifully distracting.”
The blush on Ian’s cheeks was going to drive Rick to distraction.
He’d already teased his sweet mate about it, but he couldn’t help wondering how far that blush might spread.
Under his shirt? Across his torso, maybe even his butt.
Rick’s cock was doing some zipper threatening of its own.
He’d love to see Ian with a nice red butt.
The moment grew between them. Rick could happily get lost in Ian’s pretty eyes, and he wasn’t what he’d consider a romantic type.
It was as if he could feel Ian’s heart rate—it was running fast—and he could definitely see the wonder and uncertainty that were dueling behind Ian’s eyes.
His Ian was a worrier, and that was fine, too.
Rick would prove to his mate he had nothing to worry about.
I should probably say something, although Rick truly believed they were already communicating.
Ian was leaning into him, his arousal was filling Rick’s nose, and he knew that Ian could scent his.
Yes, there was noise, and Rick was doing his best to ignore it.
He was aware there were still people lingering near him and Ian in particular, including the pushy omega from before.
In the end, he didn’t need to say anything. Someone chose that moment to scream—like really scream—and then yell, “I was just trying to touch it. He looks furry.” And the moment between them broke.
“So,” he said gently, taking Ian’s hands in his, ignoring the drama. “Did you want to watch some barrel racing? They might even have bull roping later.”
“I… er… yeah. I suppose.” Ian quickly glanced down, and Rick immediately understood.
“I have a safety pin in my wallet if that’d help?” Rick reached for his back pocket to pull it out.
“You carry safety pins in your wallet?” Ian’s eyebrows almost disappeared into his hair.
“I do my best to always be prepared.” Rick pulled out one of the larger ones he had on a card in the back of his coin section. “Here you go, or do you want me to come with you and give you a hand?”
“If you do that, we won’t be seeing any roping or anything else, but we’d definitely be giving a show to anyone who needed a piss.” Ian huffed. “Thank you,” he added, taking the safety pin. “I’ll be two minutes. Save me a seat.”
Rick couldn’t be sure, but he thought he heard Ian mutter something about “having his babies” as Ian hurried away.
Rick was so glad Ian really didn’t take long in the bathroom, although the smell of spunk hit his nose again, and he wanted to thump his dick just so he could sit down comfortably.
We’re at an event! There’re people around!
Rick was fine with most things sexual, but he was not making out, feeling up, or giving a blow job to someone in broad daylight, in a damn paddock, with at least thirty people around.
Ian’s response to any of his touches were for him, damn it, and Rick didn’t share.
He made do with latching onto Ian’s hand and refusing to let go.
The afternoon wore on. Some of the smaller guys had a turn at barrel racing—there was a lot of shrieking and laughing when they fell off the horse.
A few of the bigger guys stepped up to have a go at bull roping.
Not bulls like the one Rick rode, of course—the ones for roping were a lot younger and smaller.
They were always the funniest to watch, in Rick’s opinion.
The bulls might look small and easy to overwhelm, but even for shifters, they did not go down easily.
More than one alpha hoping to impress a little cutie had his face planted in the dust, and usually a kick to the ribs from the bull for good measure as the animal danced away.
“I never asked you if you wanted to have a go at any of this,” he said quietly after he’d sent Charlie off again.
This time, Charlie had wanted him to demonstrate some roping techniques, and while Rick thought longingly of the rope he’d left at home for all of two seconds, he shook his head.
“I could give you some pointers if you like?”
“Are you going to think badly of me if I tell you I only came for the eye candy?” Ian buried his face in Rick’s shoulder for a moment. “I’m not what one would call an athletic type.”
“I can’t think badly of you for that.” Rick pointed a finger in the ring where another alpha was looking disgusted as he got up from the dust, swiping at his face, and looking as though he wanted to kick something.
“The only reason I’m here is so that I can get a few laughs at people like that.
Always quietly, of course, because I’m not mean and he’s probably a nice guy.
By being here, I could at least tell my friends when I did get back to work, that I did something fun over the weekend.
Which I have, and you… are you still watching for eye candy? ” he teased.
“I haven’t noticed anyone since I laid eyes on you.”
That deserved another kissed knuckle. Ian’s were going to be raw if Rick kept doing that.
But it was all he could allow himself. If he had one more taste.
Yep, that’s later. Rick knew there was no guarantee it would actually be that night when he had Ian splayed out naked in his bed, but it would happen, and Rick could wait…
Who are you kidding? His bear definitely wasn’t the patient type.
Doing his best to focus on the events in the ring, Rick cheered when he saw Charlie getting thrown from a bull. The man landed on his butt, but he rolled beautifully. He had always been quick on his feet, and he was able to get to the side of the pen before the bull even knew what happened.
Pip was there, on the other side of the fence, greeting his mate with a grin and a hug.
Charlie must’ve said something about Rick being there, because the next thing Rick noticed was Pip half hanging off the fence, waving madly at him, his grin even wider.
Pip mimed eating, and Rick nodded. They could meet up and chat at the grill.
“Okay, everyone,” Remy said loudly—he’d got a hat from somewhere and was looking like he was having a great time.
“I do hope you’ve enjoyed the entertainment this afternoon.
The lovely people here have put on a grill and some drinks for us, so if you could make your way to the larger barn.
I’m sure you’ve all worked up an appetite. Thank you all so much for being here.”
Rick’s stomach rumbled as he stood up. “Are you hungry? I think I did mention Pip’s amazing pork spareribs…”
“I’m starving, but not for spareribs.” Ian stood right in front of him. “I’m ready to get out of here.”
“They don’t only have pork, babe,” Rick sniffed in the direction of the barn. “There’s some beef I can smell, and I think there is fish as well. I’m sure there’ll be a heap of salads and other sides.”
Rick’s shirt front was suddenly grabbed, as if Ian was trying to shake him.
“I’ll say it again. I am ready to leave.
Now. We’ll get takeout, drive-through, whatever.
I don’t care. All I’ve been thinking about since I saw you on that animal was whether you could ride me as well as you rode that bull. You up for that?”
Oh… “Yep.” Pip’s spareribs were going to have to wait for another day.
Grabbing hold of Ian’s hand, he started fast walking them to where the vehicles were parked.
“We’ll take my truck,” Rick rumbled his voice hoarse with desire.
His bear was really close to the surface of his skin.
“We can pick yours up later.” He was really glad that Ian didn’t even try to argue with him about it.
He wasn’t letting his mate out of his sight for a second until they were both exhausted and wearing claiming bites.