Chapter Nineteen #2
They’d started playing every Saturday, which had allowed Kieran and Ivan to get to know one another better.
The ginger giant turned out to be a teddy bear when he let his guard down.
They also discovered Finley’s winning streak wasn’t limited to his first time, and the two of them still treated the showdown like foreplay.
Finley looked for ways to outdo the menu each week, and he had planned a big barbecue feast that made Kieran’s mouth water.
“How about we do family dinner at our house tomorrow night?” Hope asked. After a pause, she added, “Don’t worry. I won’t try to cook. I’ll order something from a local restaurant.”
“Thank goodness,” Gary replied.
Finley, whose hand still gripped his lengthening dick, arched a brow in question. Kieran nodded and tried not to lean further into Finley’s touch.
“We’ll be there. Text me the time.”
“Great,” Hope said. “We’re going to head out now. Just use your key to lock up after yourselves. Take your time. I’m going to leave a goodie bag for you on the counter so you can try my latest product.”
Finley groaned and dropped his hand, and Kieran breathed a little easier. He too let go of Finley’s shirt and waited to follow his lead. “Mom, we’re not going to bang in your dressing room.”
“You’re such a prude,” Hope told him. “It was lovely meeting you, Kieran. I can’t wait to get to know you better.”
The situation was completely surreal, but somehow charming as hell. “I’m looking forward to it too.” And he realized he meant it.
Gary and Hope started chatting about what they wanted to eat. Their voices got softer as they got farther away. The bells jingled over the front door when they exited, leaving the two of them alone.
“I really would love to drop to my knees and suck you off,” Finley said. “Or bend over and grab onto that bench and let you plow me.”
“Okay.”
Finley laughed and pulled his wet shirt off. “But not when my mother suspects we’re doing it.”
Kieran waggled his brows and tugged his off too. “She’s going to suspect it one way or another, so we might as well do it.”
Finley grabbed his dry shirt and pulled it on. “Still grosses me out.”
Kieran laughed and put his dry tee on also. Smoothing it down, he said, “How does it look?”
Finley grabbed his crotch once more. “You’ll never need to stroke it alone again. Let’s grab our goody bag and get back to the ranch. Maybe we’ll have a little time to fool around before the food arrives.”
They picked up their wet shirts and made their way into the store where a purple bag waited for them on the counter. Finley peaked inside the bag and laughed. He removed a tube with a label that read Butt Stuff.
“I’m looking forward to test driving this,” Finley said.
“Pretty sure I adore your mom.”
They made it back to the ranch with enough time to give Butt Stuff two trial runs.
“Think I shall lie here the rest of the night,” Kieran said breathlessly. “You go on to poker without me.” They laughed at the reference to the cult leader’s bad grammar and Finley’s witty reply.
“Short ribs,” Finley whispered. “BLT macaroni salad. Jalapeno and brown sugar cowboy beans.”
“Okay, okay.”
The food arrived before they made it to the homestead, but amazingly the guys hadn’t tucked into it yet. They treated Finley like a rockstar, though their worship would turn to jests when the cards came out.
Ivan pointed to Kieran’s shirt. He hadn’t realized he’d put the tee from Hope’s studio back on, but that was all Finley’s fault. He had noodles for legs and mush for brains. “Nice shirt. I have the yoga one.” When Kieran quirked a brow, Ivan just shrugged. “I have depth.”
Kieran patted him on the broad shoulder. “I don’t doubt it, big guy.”
“Don’t start without us,” Cash said as he and Harry hustled in.
Harry hoisted two pies in the air. “I brought dessert.”
The guys cheered at her announcement. Ivan added another leaf to the dining room table and procured a few more chairs from someplace in the house.
They filled their plates and sat around the table, stuffing their faces on delicious barbecue and pie before Finley kicked their asses at cards.
Cash was brilliant with business and people but horrible at poker.
He ran out of chips first but stuck around to engage in the constant banter.
Cash looked around the room with a fond expression on his face and smiled when their gazes met.
He’d hired Kieran a legal team as promised and mentored him on several things.
Kieran had felt a pressing need to make decisions about his future but was clueless about what his big picture should be.
Cash had promised him that he’d figure it out when the time was right.
Kieran repeated that to himself every time the uncertainty made him anxious.
He performed his jobs with pride, worshipped Finley with everything he had, and hoped lady justice would drop the hammer on Ritchie and his cohorts.
He knew the latter would take a lot of time, but he expected to figure out his future quicker.
Then again, Kieran had so many avenues in front of him, and maybe that was the problem.
He went from living a life of limitations to having limitless opportunities.
He’d gone from having no family to having a great, big found family.
It was overwhelming to say the least. But giving Finley his tomorrows was his constant, and though he could visualize that big picture, he knew it would include asking Finley for his forever.
In August, pieces of his future snapped into place like a jigsaw puzzle.
The picture wasn’t complete, but enough of the image formed for him to recognize it and the accompanying sense of rightness.
He was working with the vet, Rebecca, to help irrigate and bandage a fairly deep wound on Buttercup’s hind quarter.
Finley had left Kieran to assist the doc while he searched out the source of her injury.
Buttercup started to get nervous when Rebecca flushed the lesion, and he soothed the horse with gentle hands and a calm voice.
Rebecca stood up and came to stand beside him when she finished, offering Buttercup apple slices for being a good girl. The horse gave the doc serious side-eye while chomping on her treat. “Has anyone ever told you that you have an amazing temperament with animals?” she asked Kieran.
He averted his gaze and busied himself cleaning up the exam room in the barn.
Receiving compliments was still hard for Kieran, even when they came from the most genuine people.
Finley found his affliction charming, but he hated the way he shut down and retreated behind his wall during times of overwhelm.
Finley hadn’t knocked his defenses down; he’d carved out a door instead.
Kieran could retreat behind it any time he needed to, but he never locked the door.
It was the kind of compromise they made as they worked through their issues together.
Kieran cleared his throat and forced himself to meet Rebecca’s kind gaze. “I might’ve heard it a few times.”
The vet smiled. “And did that certain someone also mention a future for you in veterinary medicine?”
“I’m not smart enough to be a vet.” The admission heated Kieran’s cheeks and made him want to look away again, but he remained locked on Rebecca’s earnest gaze.
“I don’t agree with your assessment,” the vet replied.
“But there are other careers in the field that won’t involve sacrificing a minimum of eight years in college.
My vet techs have associate’s or bachelor’s degrees.
And you wouldn’t be limited to just vet clinics either.
You could utilize your skills right here or perhaps work for animal rescues.
I know several wildlife vets who need technicians.
You should look into all the options to see what fits you best.”
“I appreciate the suggestion.”
Kieran didn’t say anything to Finley about the conversation right away.
He waited until they saddled up the horses for their nightly ride.
“Who’s the best girl?” Kieran asked Nellie.
They’d been working on her tolerating a rider for a while.
They started by letting her get used to the weight of the blanket first before adding the saddle.
When Finley deemed her ready to attempt the rider, he made Kieran wear protection practically from head to toe, including a jockstrap and cup.
Finley called out tips from a safe distance while Kieran mounted the horse.
Nellie whinnied and tossed her head but not because she was ready to buck him.
It was her version of an eye roll at Finley’s theatrics.
Before they took a chance in the wild, Finley had them ride around the arena for a week.
Kieran used that time to teach her a few of the moves he’d learned with Loretta.
Nellie picked up quicker than either of them anticipated.
Kieran didn’t have a desire to perform dressage competitively, but it was a blast teaching Nellie the techniques, and he was looking forward to learning more himself.
One day, they’d put something together to music.
He thought Nellie would prefer a tune from Disturbed or Eminem over Britney Spears.
“Her first ride out in the wild,” Finley announced as they exited the barn. “Are you sure you’re ready for this? Loretta could use some exercise.”
Kieran leaned forward and mock whispered, “See how he talks about you gals when you’re not around?
” He straightened in the saddle and paid close attention to Nellie’s body language.
She gave off no clues that she was agitated or was about to bolt.
Both her body and gait were relaxed. They’d decided to keep her to a leisurely canter to start, but Kieran was eager to see what she could do during a full-on gallop.
Once he was assured of her cooperation, he filled Finley in on the conversation he’d had with Rebecca.
“So you give the idea merit when Rebecca suggests it but not me,” Finley replied. The wry smile showed he wasn’t in the least bit upset.
“You’re more than a little biased when it comes to me,” Kieran pointed out.
“True, but I would never suggest someone work with animals if they didn’t have the right temperament and tools. And you definitely have what it takes. But neither Rebecca’s opinion nor mine counts. What do you think?”
“Working with animals feels right. I’m just not sure what the next step will be.”
“We find out what opportunities are available and how to access them,” Finley replied.
We. Kieran loved how everything shifted to we with them. He’d never been half of a whole before meeting Finley. “You make everything seem possible.”
“Well, Hope Newton’s kids know there’s no such thing as impossible. Only I’m possible.”
Kieran smirked and shook his head. “Can’t believe she doesn’t have that on a T-shirt.”
“She did years ago. She swaps out her merch every year or two.”
“Wise woman,” Kieran said.
“Well, I’d have to agree since she adores you.” Finley called her a cougar at least once during Sunday family dinners, usually when she hugged Kieran or kissed his cheek.
“I adore her too.”
Kieran more than adored Hope’s son, but the words felt too big to speak out loud.
He used every opportunity to show Finley his affection, such as the long kiss they shared when the horses stopped for a drink at the stream.
He ran his fingers through Finley’s hair, loving the play of light and colors where the sun had turned some strands copper and others spun gold.
Kieran wanted to kiss the freckles on his nose and feel the warmth radiating off his tan skin.
God, this man meant the world to him. It was scary and exhilarating, and he longed to express all the things Finley made him feel.
“I know,” Finley said, reading the emotions he couldn’t yet verbalize. “Me too.”
They shared many more kisses until it was time to return to the ranch.
“I think you can loosen the reins with Nellie on the way back if you’re comfortable with it.”
Kieran nodded eagerly. “She’s ready.”
Excitement sparked in his soul when he shifted his body weight forward and signaled with his legs for Nellie to gallop when they were nearing the ranch.
The breeze whipped through his hair and the landscape around them became a blur as she ran with the wind.
Her fears no longer imprisoned or hobbled her.
She was regaining the parts of herself abuse had stolen.
Tears stung his eyes because this sweet girl was healing, and so was he.
They both owed it to the gorgeous man on the horse behind them, shouting out his relentless encouragement.
They were free.