Chapter 7
After a shower that was more gentle, teasin’ touches than actual cleaning, Patrick and Nash laid on the small raggedy couch in the middle of the living room.
Patrick laid on top of Nash, bare skin to bare skin, heart to thumpin’ heart.
Light perspiration left from the shower dampened their skin, stickin’ them together, but it didn’t bother Patrick.
Nash was lovin’ on him and that’s all Patrick cared about.
Nash lazily trailed his fingers up and down Patrick’s arm, and he would sporadically place a soft kiss to the top of Patrick’s head.
Patrick wanted to bottle the moment up and keep it in his pocket.
Hold it close to his heart where it would be safe from everything and everyone.
He wanted to do the same to Nash, but he knew their time was short, so he soaked it in while he could.
“Hey, Baby?”
“Yeah?”
“What do you think about me comin’ every winter?”
Patrick’s heart sunk into his stomach. He knew they would have to talk about it at some point. Nash was only here for another couple of weeks. But why now? Why ruin the very moment that Patrick had planned on replayin’ over and over again 'til Nash came back to him?
“We could spend those long, cold months wrapped up together. Ain’t gotta worry ‘bout nobody surprisin’ us.” Nash tilted Patrick’s head back. “It’ll just be the two of us, like it oughta be.”
Patrick gave a small smile that he hoped masked the ache in his chest. “I reckon that sounds nice.”
He didn’t bother sayin’ he thought Nash stayin’ forever sounded twice as nice because he knew Nash had other obligations. A wife and home to return to, friends to see, family to visit after a long season away from home. All Patrick had, and would ever have, was the ranch and Nash.