Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
By the short go on Sunday, Jason Scott found himself in the amazing and utterly fucked-up position of covering three bulls—one for a ninety-two-eight—and heading for a perfect weekend. All he had to do was ride this last bull, and he was the event winner.
That meant cameras.
That meant an interview.
“You got to throw it, Jase,” Dillon said in his ear. “You have to.”
Did he? He didn’t want to. He wasn’t a quitter, and if he won this event? Shit, he was in at the finals. No matter what, he was in.
All event winners got an automatic spot.
He took a deep breath, running his options. Con. He didn’t know the bull much. He was fairly new, and Jason had never seen him buck. Pro, the bull was small and went into Jason’s riding hand, which was a perfect storm.
“Bax?” He didn’t know what he was going to do, but he intended to check in with his touchstone.
“Ride, Mini. We’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah.” That was what he thought. Ride it. Win this event. Get the points and the check.
They could run interference, and he would wear his shades and say he was still sensitive to the lights. Whatever he damn well had to do.
He loaded up, grabbing his bull rope. Dillon was quiet, but Gramps was there, right there in his ear by the gate. “You can do this. You can ride this bastard for ninety. You can.”
Gramps believed in him. So did Bax and AJ.
Dillweed didn’t understand. Riding was more important than safety. Always had been.
Then again, Dillon was a clown. He’d never known the thrill.
He stopped thinking on it, because this was about letting his body do what it was meant to do. He could do this. Jason took a deep breath in, then let half of it out. His hand was in, the bull was standing up and all he had to do was nod.
Which he did.
They were in the middle, him and the bull, and his world was right and tight. Fuck, this was pure magic, and he loved the way time slowed for the last three seconds. He spurred, his leg moving in time with each leap and spin.
He heard the buzzer, and he let go, landing on his butt for a second before Coke hauled him up and tossed him toward the fence, where he scrambled up, feeling wind on his ass as the bull rushed by. He trusted Coke, and he trusted Dillon, who was whooping, “Run, Jase! Woo!”
He climbed down, laughing hard as he heard the air horns go off. Yes. Fuck, yeah. Bring. It. On.
“Ninety-two points, folks!” The announcer shouted, and the crowd went nuts, screaming and clapping.
He waved his hat, and Dillon was there at his shoulder. “You’re an asshole.”
“Prove it,” he shot back.
Dillon whacked him, laughing and speaking into his arena mic, something about what a good first event he’d had back. Then Bax was there, pressing his dark glasses into his hands.
“Thanks. Check, interview and we’re gone, right?” He was going to love Bax into a puddle as soon as they were alone.
“You know it. I’ll hang out, since your eyes are so sensitive to the light.”
He had to grin, because he could almost hear Bax nudging and winking in the words.
“Cool. Good ride, huh? Felt like a dream.”
“You were in the middle, Mini. Solid as a rock.”
“Good ride!” AJ flanked him on the other side.
“Thanks, man. Felt good. Felt like it ought to.”
“Keep that up and the season is yours.” AJ lowered his voice. “When they call you out for the check, Bax and I will take you almost all the way, pretending to roughhouse a little. Dillon will bring you back.”
“Got it.” He felt damn near like he could do it, all on his own.
Not that he would. Lord knew he didn’t need to fall on his face now.
Talk about awkward.
Funny as fuck, but goddamn bad timing.
He needed to save that for winning the finals. His momma loved that movie where the blind figure skater fell over her roses after she skated like a ninety pointer.
Jason was still grinning when the new interview lady—What the hell was her name?
Amy? Anya?—called him over for the check.
AJ draped an arm around him and marched him up, Bax blowing an imaginary trumpet or some shit.
Good thing they’d always been assholes like this, and he was grateful when AJ deposited him on what had to be his mark.
“Congratulations, Jason. How does it feel to be back?”
Jesus, how do you think? I just won the friggin’ event. I’m terribly disappointed. “It’s been a long road to recovery, but I’m tickled as all get out.”
“I’m sure your fans are excited to see you. Are you planning on going to more events, or just the finals, now that you’ve won?”
Jason automatically grabbed the big piece of cardboard that whacked him on the vest. The fake check. “Well, I’m here to ride bulls, ma’am.”
“Smile, Jason.” Dillon’s voice was sudden and strong in his ear, and he grinned his best aw-shucks smile.
“Well, congratulations again, and good luck on your next event.”
“Thanks!” Jason turned to where the on-camera assistant always was, handing off the big check. His real money would come direct deposit tomorrow.
“Head left, Jase,” Dillon said, and he hoped to God the clown meant his left.
Bax grabbed him and fake gut-punched him. “You did good.”
“Yeah.” He nodded, but he was ready to get out of here now. It was time.
“Come on.”
The guys all stepped up to glad-hand him, but Balta and AJ, Bax and Coke kept them all back just far enough by backslapping and laughing until he could change and get the hell out of the building.
Bax let out a gusty sigh the minute they were in their town car. “Whooo.”
“No shit, cowboy. Let’s go. I want—” Was it fair to say he wanted to jump Bax’s bones?
“Yeah?” Bax sounded a little breathless now, and he’d bet Andy got it. He wasn’t craving a hamburger.
“Yes. Bad.” He felt the truck start up and begin to move, and he reached for his fly.
“Uh, Mini? We’re still in the truck. You know that, right?”
“Uh-huh.” Jason guessed it was less sexy than he thought, so he stopped touching. No reason to be a dork. Besides, he didn’t want to be all hard when he got to the hotel.
“Well, don’t stop then!” Bax sounded a little like a foghorn, his voice had gone so deep. The engine revved a little when Bax stepped too hard on the gas, but nothing bad happened, so they must not have been in traffic yet.
“I thought—” He grinned and shook his head. “Damn, man. I thought that was a stop it thing.”
“No. No, I was just wanting to make sure you knew there were windows and shit. You’re the hottest thing ever…on earth. I wanna see.”
“We’re up high, and it’s dark.” He stroked himself through his jeans, feeling friggin’ wild as hell.
“Uh-huh. Damn, you smell good, Mini.”
“Yeah? You like it. I’m wanting you, Bax. I’m wanting to touch you like I couldn’t all them times before.”
“I used to just jack off in shower all the time.” Bax chuckled, the sound warm as a touch. “I like touching.”
“I listened.” His cheeks were on fire, but his cock was aching, it was so full.
“Jesus, Jason.” Now Bax was scandalized, but he burst out laughing. “Jesus, that’s fucked up and hot.”
“What was I supposed to do? I wanted you, and…well, you weren’t ever going to say so.”
“I was afraid you’d stop traveling with me,” Bax murmured. “Then where would I be?”
“Never happen. No matter what, Bax. I’m with you.”
“That’s what I need.” They rolled up to what was probably a light, and Bax reached over, pressing a hand to Jason’s crotch.
He bucked, rolling into the touch like he was riding. “Bax!”
“Uh-huh. Had to feel that.” Bax squeezed some.
“I feel it.” He pressed Bax’s fingers into him a touch harder.
“Gotta drive, Mini.” Bax pulled away, and he moaned.
“Damn it.”
“Sorry. We’ll be there soon.”
“It’s okay. I started it.” And he wasn’t bitching. This was…playing, and it was damn good.
“Oh, hell yeah, you did. Gonna finish it so good.” Bax was rarin’ to go. That roughness in his voice sent shivers up Jason’s spine.
“Fuck, I want you, Andy Baxter. I want to tear it up.”
“Yeah, Mini. I want to do it in the shower and in the bed.” Now that was ambition.
“Mmm…I like it when we’re all wet and slick together.”
Bax was panting, he thought. Jason stretched, feeling like a million-dollar champ. That championship was going to come, too. He had no doubt.
He’d get to come first, though. Lord, he cracked himself up.
“What’s funny?”
“Just happy, man. So happy.”
“So am I, Jase. Seeing you ride like that. Damn.” Bax’s hand was back, even as they picked up a little speed.
“It felt good.” He knew Bax would get it. He had no doubt.
“You looked amazing. Right in the middle, babe.”
“Yeah. No pizza party tonight, though. Tonight it’s a-a private party.”
“Yeah. Room service and a hell of a lot of lube.” Bax chortled at his own joke. Dork.
“Tell me we can get busy first?” He didn’t think he could wait that long.
“Yes. Before we even order. I have peanuts.”
Whatever worked. He needed Bax more than he needed to get his feed on. Bax was like freakin’ air. He had to have the damn man all the time.
“We’re here, Mini. Carry your gear in front so the world doesn’t see you springing wood.”
“Am I zipped?” He couldn’t remember and instead of rummaging around, he lifted his hips for Bax to get an eyeful of his hardness, which he figured was still covered. No air.
“Jason Scott, I swear to God. Come on. I need you.”
“Coming.” He sang the word, teasing like hell. But he got out of the truck and grabbed said gear bag, as instructed.
Then Bax hustled his ass in, dragging him into the hotel and up the elevator. They made it to the room, both of them flinging shit all over, meeting in the middle for a clench. He yanked at Bax’s shirt, tearing it out of the man’s jeans.
The buttons on the front of his shirt gave way, and Jason would bet they’d have to send it out the laundry to get them sewn back on.
He didn’t give two fresh shits. He needed Bax. Right now.
Bax seemed just as eager, getting them both naked, then dancing him back to the bed. They stretched out, the kiss going nuclear hot. He explored Andy, dragging his fingertips on the warm flesh like he was painting.
Really, he was seeing all that compact, hard muscle, and finding Bax’s scars one by one.
He knew where they were, but he felt it was a little bit like playing guitar. Every touch discovered him a new sound.
Bax could be downright loud. The man was amazing. His.
He added his mouth into the game, scraping with his teeth here, dragging his lips there. When he licked at the flat part of Bax’s belly, he got a groan that liked to tear Bax in half.
He made sure to nuzzle the wet tip of Bax’s cock, nudge it good and hard with his chin.
“Mini.” Bax said his name like it was the only word in the world.
“Yeah. Yours.” He dipped his chin and sucked in Bax’s tip.
“Uhn.” Bax stroked his hair, then the back of his neck, which made him shiver, his cock jerking.
He nodded and took more in, one hand cupping the tightest ass in history. Bax was fucking perfect, hard with muscle and stocky where he was lean.
Lord, he was lucky. He had everything he needed, right here, naked with him.
Bax was babbling at him, words falling down around him, and he sucked and licked, wanting more.
He tugged Bax up into his lips, slurping him, dragging his tongue along the shaft.
“Gonna make me come, baby.” Bax was panting, and he tasted the pre-cum on his tongue.
Good. He wanted to make Bax wild, like he was riding. Bax fucked his mouth, really letting him have it, losing the rhythm a little. He relaxed and let Bax in all the way, pressing into the back of his throat.
“Jason! Jesus!” Bax shot for him, boom. Just gave him a flood of wet heat. He swallowed, loving the way Bax whimpered with every gulp.
“Lord have mercy. Come up here, Mini. I want to make you feel good too.” Bax tugged at him, demanding access to his body.
He nodded, scrambling up Bax’s body, rubbing all the way. His turn was always a damn good thing, and Bax got busy, those rough fingers tracing his skin. “Give me what I need, Bax?”
“Yeah. Anything, baby. Anything you want.” Bax gripped his cock, stroking hard.
“You. This. Fuck, I love your hands.”
“I love touching you.” Bax’s voice was breathless and rough, his touch making Jason thrust hard. Jason braced himself with one hand on the headboard, slamming his hips forward. “That’s it, Mini. Take what you want. Jesus, you’re amazing. I could do this all damn day.”
“Yours.” The word was the truth, and fuck, he was flying, his balls tightened up like stones.
“I can see your skin, all flushed. You’re close, baby. I can feel it too, so wet on my hand.” Bax was relentless, not letting up on him for a moment.
He panted, his chest moving like a bellows. Fuck him. Fuck him, this was good. He didn’t take much longer before he was flying, his balls emptying.
“So damn good.” He could hear licking, and he knew Bax was cleaning his hand, which caused Jason’s dick to jerk a little more.
He slumped down against Bax, grinning like a fool. He’d never been so happy. Never.
“I got you, Mini.” He had a feeling Bax felt the same way. Fool had always been more invested in Jason’s career than his own.
“I’m glad. That felt good, man. That felt real, like I could do this.”
Bax pressed a soft kiss to his neck. “Then memorize this moment, Jase. Pull it out when things get tough and remember.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I think I will.” He wouldn’t have a perfect season, but dammit, he had a goal, and he was going to make it or die trying.
“Good deal. Come here and snuggle with me.” Bax pulled him down, then tugged a sheet over them.
“I like snuggling.” And he loved the blasting air and the heat of his Bax. They made him shiver, and sensation was everything to him these days, making up for his sight.
Andy’s stomach growled, making him laugh.
“Moving on to room service, huh?” Bax said.
“Hell yeah. I want a turkey club with bacon and onion rings.”
“You got it.” Bax rolled them to one side of the bed, and he laughed at the bumpy ride. Then Bax proceeded to order enough food for an army.
“We’re just hungry, right? Not having company?” He wasn’t wanting to be all social and shit.
“Just enough to keep us a bit. I don’t want to have to go out,” Bax agreed.
“You’re such a homebody these days,” Jason teased.
“I got you. I don’t have to distract myself no more.”
Oh, that deserved a kiss. Damn. He pointed himself in Bax’s direction and puckered up, and he got just what he wanted. It was a damn fine day.
Hope was a dangerous drug, but he was high on it.