19. Beau
Chapter 19
Beau
I was having a pleasant dream. In it I was snuggled up in bed, my naked body pressed warmly against the beautiful man in front of me. I had my arm draped over his waist, his perfect ass pressed against my cock. Each time I shifted my hips I felt the delicious friction between us. Each time I moved, I wanted more and more to just slip inside him, a wake up call that would start both our days off right.
And when I woke up, he was still there. I blinked as the sunlight streamed through my window, falling across our naked bodies. Leaning in, I pressed my lips to the back of his neck, kissing him softly. Fuck it was wonderful to have him in my bed, to wake up with my arms around him. And even better because his ass was already there and waiting for my attention. Even as I ground my cock against him lightly, I felt him push back, a moan of delight escaping his lips.
“Good mornin’, beautiful,” I whispered, grabbing his hip and pulling him close.
“Good morning yourself, cowboy,” he grinned back, keeping his eyes closed. “I guess you’re happy to see me still here, huh?”
“More than happy. ”
Lucas reached back, tangling his fingers through my hair. “Do whatever you want to me,” he whispered, craning his neck to kiss me over his shoulder. “I’m yours.”
“Fuck I love it when you talk like that…”
But just as I pressed my throbbing cock against his hole, there was a knock at the door.
“Coffee is on boys,” Mabel’s voice called through the door. “Don’t let it get cold.”
My heart nearly stopped beating in my chest as footsteps faded away down the hall. Both of us laid there, stock still, neither of us breathing.
“Did… Did she say boys?” Lucas asked. “Like plural?”
I nodded silently, all the heat rushing out of my body.
“What do we do?”
“I don’t rightly know…”
“Should we get downstairs like she said?”
I stared at Lucas, my eyes wide. “I’m terrified to go… but I think I’m more terrified of Mabel if we don’t go…”
Lucas and I exchanged nervous glances, the passion from moments ago replaced by a gnawing anxiety in the pit of my stomach. We reluctantly disentangled ourselves and slipped out of bed, fumbling for our discarded clothes from the night before.
“Maybe she just assumed...” Lucas whispered as he pulled on his jeans, his fingers trembling slightly as he fastened the buttons.
I shook my head, tugging my shirt over my head. “Mabel doesn't assume, darlin'. She knows. I just don’t know how she figured it out.”
“Well… I mean… I am in your room.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Somethin’ else tipped her off. Or someone.”
We crept down the stairs, the old wooden floorboards creaking beneath our feet. The aroma of fresh coffee wafted from the kitchen, along with the sizzle of bacon on the stove. My stomach churned, a mix of hunger and dread .
As we rounded the corner into the kitchen, Mabel stood at the counter, her back to us as she flipped slices of bacon in the hot pan.
“Beau, fix a cup for yourself and your guest and take a seat.”
“Yes ma’am.”
My hands shook as I poured two mugs of steaming coffee, stealing glances at Lucas. His face was pale, his usual confidence replaced by nervous energy as he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. He seemed just as worked up as I was, although I wasn’t really sure why. I was the one that had to keep on living in Sagebrush after the fair. We sat at the worn kitchen table, the familiar checkered cloth now feeling like an interrogation room setup.
Mabel turned, flipping the stove off and wiping her hands on her apron. Her eyes, usually warm and inviting, now held a stern glint that made me want to sink into the floor.
“Now,” she began, her voice steady as she placed a plate of bacon between us. “I reckon it's time we had ourselves a little chat.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. Lucas reached under the table, squeezing my hand reassuringly.
“Mabel, I can explain-” I finally managed to croak out.
She held up a hand, silencing me before I could even start.
Mabel's stern expression softened slightly as she pulled out a chair and sat down across from us. “Beau Turner, I've known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper. Did you really think you could keep this a secret from me? Besides, I saw you two kissin’ the day you rescued Lucas from Daisy.”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry despite the steaming coffee in front of me. “I... I didn't know how to tell you, Mabel. I was… I was scared.”
She reached across the table, patting my hand gently. “Oh, honey. You should know better than that. There's nothin’ in this world that could make me love you any less. You’re as good as my own son, and the closest thing I have to a child of my own. Nothin’, short of murder, could make me think less of you. And even then, I might defend you. ”
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I blinked them back furiously. “But... but what about the ranch? What about my pa's legacy?”
Mabel's eyes flashed with a hint of mischief. “Your pa's legacy is fine. That has nothin’ to do with you anyway. We’ve all known for some time that ranchin’ wasn’t in your blood. You got too much talent for mendin’ fences and chasin’ cattle. Besides, we’ve known about the rest of it for some time too.”
I felt a wave of relief wash over me, but it was quickly replaced by confusion. “What do you mean, you've all known?”
Mabel chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Beau, honey, you ain't exactly been subtle. The way you've been mopin' around these past few years, turnin' down every nice girl in town... We all had our suspicions. Hell, when you turned down Amber May, your father was the one who knew that you didn’t like girls.” She let out a little huff, crossing her arms. “It was me that didn’t see the truth until the other day.”
Lucas cleared his throat, speaking up for the first time. “So... you're okay with this? With us?”
Mabel turned her gaze to Lucas, studying him intently. “Well now, that depends. What are your intentions with our Beau here?”
I felt my cheeks burn hot as Lucas squeezed my hand under the table. “I... I care about him deeply, ma'am. More than I've ever cared for anyone.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“But…”
“But what?” she asked, that smile melting away in an instant.
“He’s got a life back in New York,” I interjected. “A career. And I’m not gonna force him to stay here just for me.”
Mabel stared at us for a long moment, her eyes looking us up and down as if inspecting us for inconsistencies.
Mabel's eyes softened as she looked between us. “Well, I reckon that's somethin' you two will have to figure out for yourselves. But let me tell you somethin' - love ain't about forcin' anyone to do anythin'. It's about findin' a way to make it work, no matter the distance or circumstances.”
Lucas nodded, his grip on my hand tightening. “I know that, ma'am. And I want to make it work with Beau. I just... I don't know how yet.”
Mabel leaned back in her chair, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “You know, when Frank and I first got together, folks said it'd never work. Him bein' a rancher and me bein' a city girl from Dallas. But we found a way. Sometimes love means makin' sacrifices, but it also means findin' compromises. Now, you two drink your coffee before it gets cold, and I’ll finish breakfast. We can talk more about this later.” She stood up once more, but paused, glancing back at me. “And no more sneakin’ around Beau Turner. You’re an adult and this is your home. Act like it.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Mabel gave him a gentle smile before she started bustling about the kitchen once more. Lucas and I exchanged glances, a mix of relief and lingering anxiety in our eyes. We spent the rest of the meal in silence, the weight of the morning's revelations still settling over us.
We ate quickly, avoiding the rest of the family. I wasn’t quite ready to have the big talk with all of them at once just yet. Lucas and I stepped out onto the front porch, the warm Texas sun already beating down. I leaned against the railing, my mind racing.
“Well, that wasn't so bad,” Lucas said, bumping his shoulder against mine.
I let out a shaky laugh. “Could've been worse, I reckon. But now...”
“Now what?” Lucas asked, turning to face me.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Now we gotta figure out what to do. How to deal with this all.”
“Got any ideas?”
“Just one,” I grinned, grabbing him by the hand. “Come on.”
Ten minutes later we were at the back of the barn, Willow’s bridle in my hand and Daisy next to Lucas. He kept glancing at her nervously, but I was too busy putting up with Willow’s irritated nips at my shoulder.
“I know, I know,” I said, patting her gently. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy. But we’re gonna make up for that right now, girl.” She didn’t look impressed or pleased, but she wasn’t running off either. I turned to Lucas. “You okay with ridin’ Daisy? We’ll take it real slow.”
“As long as she doesn’t try to run the Kentucky Derby again with me on her back, I think I’ll be fine.”
“Just don’t kick her this time and you’ll be okay. Besides,” I said, reaching out and grabbing his hand. “I’ll be right here if you need to be rescued again.”
Lucas smiled, a mix of nervousness and excitement in his eyes. “My hero,” he said, leaning in to steal a quick kiss. “So, where are we going?”
I grinned, swinging up onto Willow's back with practiced ease. “It's a surprise. Just follow my lead.”
We rode out across the rolling prairie, the morning sun warming our backs. Lucas was still a bit stiff in the saddle, but he was getting better. I kept glancing over, making sure he was alright, and each time he'd catch my eye and smile. It made my heart skip a beat every damn time.
After about an hour, we crested a small hill, and I pulled Willow to a stop. Below us stretched a hidden valley, lush and green, with a small stream winding through it. Wildflowers dotted the grass in splashes of purple and yellow. It was a little piece of paradise tucked away in the back of the Turner ranch.
“It's beautiful,” Lucas breathed, his eyes wide as he took in the view.
I dismounted Willow, patting her flank as I moved to help Lucas off Daisy. “This is my favorite spot on the whole ranch. I come here when I need to think or just... be.”
Lucas slid off the horse, stumbling slightly as his feet hit the ground. I caught him, steadying him with my hands on his hips. He looked up at me, a soft smile on his face. “And you're sharing it with me?”
“'Course I am,” I said, my voice low. “I want to share everything with you, Lucas.”
His hands came up to rest on my chest, fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. “Everything, huh?”
I nodded, leaning in to press my forehead against his. “Everything.”
We stood there for a moment, just breathing each other in. Then Lucas tilted his chin up, brushing his lips against mine in a soft kiss. I melted into it, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened. The horses nickered softly behind us, but I paid them no mind. All I could focus on was Lucas - the taste of him, the feel of his body against mine, the little sounds he made as I slid my hands down to cup his ass.
When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing heavily. Lucas's eyes were dark with desire as he looked up at me. “So,” he said, his voice husky, “is this why you brought me out here? To have your way with me, cowboy?”
I chuckled, nipping at his lower lip. “Maybe. But also...” I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “I wanted to talk. About us. About how we can make this work.”
Lucas broke into a wide smile, but a moment later it faded. Suddenly he looked like he was being torn apart by something, some internal struggle that I didn’t understand.
“Are you alright?” I asked, reaching up and cupping his cheek.
Lucas leaned into my touch, his eyes closing for a moment before he met my gaze again. “I... I think I just need some time to think Beau.” He kissed me again. “And you need to focus on the competition right now. Once that’s over… then we can talk.”
“Okay,” I smiled, realizing Lucas was asking for some space so he could figure things out too. “In that case, why don’t we spend a little time here,” I gave him a wink. “Then after that, you can help me prep for the competition tomorrow. ”
“You want me to help you cook?” Lucas asked, his voice full of surprise. “But it's your big secret, you claim to fame around here.”
“Yeah. And I want to share it with you.” I leaned in, pulling him into a tight hug. “I trust you more than anyone else Lucas.”
I felt his breath catch as I held him. Part of me wanted to say more, to tell him I loved him again. Of course, I remembered that I’d whispered it to him the night before. But considering he’d asked for some space to think and hadn’t said it back to me yet, I figured he just wasn’t ready yet. And that was okay. I could wait. In fact, I’d wait however long it took because I did love that city boy, and nothing would ever change that.