Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
“Name?”
“Nolan Young.”
The guard typed Nolan’s name into the computer and not even a minute later, opened the gate. “The boss has been expecting you. Do you know where to go from here?”
“No. Cam only told me to come to his cabin.”
The guard jerked a thumb toward the long paved lane that disappeared over a slight rise behind the guard shack.
“Head down that road. Once you pass the lodge on your left, keep going. The horse stables will also be on your left and then just past that, the employee cabins will be on your right. He lives in cabin number four.”
“Thank you.”
“Welcome to Double D Ranch! Enjoy your stay.”
Nolan planned on it. He could use this little “vacation” and some time with his friend.
He gave the guard an acknowledging nod and slowly headed off down the lane as instructed, taking his time to look around as he drove.
In the distance, sunlight made trees cascading down the steep slopes of the mountain valley glow.
To his left, a large lake appeared with a half dozen cabins lining the far side.
Overlooking the serene lake was a looming lodge with a similar appearance to an oversized log cabin. It fit the property perfectly with two-story windows and a mountain stone front. Rustic luxury was the first thing that came to mind.
He drove past guests strolling a paved path, jogging along the lane, or riding bikes.
He was glad he’d decided to bring along his mountain bike. From what he could see so far, this would be the perfect place to go for a long, sweat-inducing ride to clear his head.
Was that a chicken coop to his right? It sure was. When he checked out the resort’s website, it did say they locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible. It couldn’t get any more local than a good-sized coop full of egg layers.
Movement to his left proved to be a horse trotting around a paddock, tossing its head and kicking up its hooves. Nolan understood that horse’s joy. He’d had the same feeling on his last day with the Pennsylvania State Police.
Once the paved lane turned to gravel, he finally spotted the six cabins on the right that housed employees. They weren’t huge, but he figured most employees with children would prefer not to live on a ranch that catered to adults turning their sexual fantasies into reality.
Nolan wondered how much of that he’d get to experience during his five nights staying with Cam.
The website did state the resort was judgement free, so that meant if he found the right partner, or partners, during his visit, he could be himself and not hide his sexual preferences like he had during his whole career as a trooper.
Only, if he outed himself as bisexual, how would Cam take it? That was his only worry. Would he even want to remain friends with his former co-worker if Cam couldn’t accept Nolan the way he was?
Despite Cam’s current place of employment being non-judgmental, he worried that his friend would be secretly judging. They had both come from a career where most LGBTQ+ employees kept that information hidden to make life easier.
No one wanted to deal with the harassment or the distasteful “joking” that really weren’t jokes. The statement, “I was only kidding,” was only a lame excuse for bigotry.
No matter what, it wasn’t like his true sexuality needed to be revealed immediately. He could keep that to himself until he ran across the right man to hook up with. Then, if needed, he could mention it to Cam and hope for the best.
However, Cam worked at an LGBTQ+-friendly resort, and by now, Nolan figured that nothing should shock the retired trooper.
Nolan had always been secretly drawn to the man, but the fellow trooper never gave any indication the attraction had been mutual.
To avoid unnecessary drama, he kept his interest under wraps and was simply happy to have their solid friendship.
He’d rather have Cam as a friend than not have him in his life at all.
After parking in front of cabin number four, he got out and reached for the sky to stretch his stiff muscles. The drive north took longer than he would’ve liked, but it had been worth it since he was finally going to see Cam again.
Inhaling the fresh air and feeling the warm sunshine on his face, he turned in a circle to take in what he could see from where he stood.
“I hope you don’t mind sleeping on the pull-out couch. The bunkhouse is full and so are the employee cabins. Even better, the couch is free, so you won’t have to pay out of your ass to stay in a room at the lodge,” a deep voice said from behind him.
He turned with a huge smile on his face to find Cam wearing the same as he walked up. He was dressed in a Double D Ranch branded polo shirt that hugged his muscular torso, and khaki pants that emphasized his thick thighs.
Nolan shrugged. “It’s only five nights. I’m sure I’ll survive sleeping on a pull-out bed.” He hoped his back would, too.
When they clasped hands, Nolan was yanked into a bear hug. “Man, I’ve missed you,” Cam grumbled.
Nolan was surprised how long Cam held him close before releasing him. Luckily, not long enough for him to spring a hard-on due to the contact with a man he desired. “Same, brother. It’s good to see a familiar face but not in that familiar uniform.”
Cam plucked at his own shirt. “It’s nice to be able to wear cotton and not that polyester, ball-sweating bullshit.”
Nolan chuckled. “Agreed.” He turned to check out the cabin. “So this is it, huh? Your new digs?”
“Yeah. It’s small but suits my needs. And like I told you on the phone, everything is covered here. The owners are generous with their employees. They want us to be more like family.”
“Most employers who say that are full of shit.”
“I expected that here, too, but they truly look out for us.”
“And in turn, you all look out for them,” Nolan assumed.
“Of course. Them and the business. Especially me as head of security.”
That made sense.
“Let’s get your car unloaded, then if you’re hungry, I can take you up to the lodge for a late lunch or early dinner. The food here is the best. Danica doesn’t skimp on anything.”
Nolan was surprised his stomach didn’t growl after hearing that. He’d only snacked on a protein bar during the long trip. “I saw the chicken coop.”
“Fresh eggs every morning. Plus, all the meat comes from local farms or the butcher in town. Veggies, too. Everything is top notch here.”
“I saw the room rates. They were a bit salty.” Way too rich for his blood. Especially since he retired early and wouldn’t get his full pension. He would have to live on a budget. That reduced monthly payment was one reason he needed to supplement it with another job.
“The quality of the food is one reason why, but everything is included here. All the activities, the booze, everything. Whatever a guest wants, the owners try their best to accommodate them.”
“Can’t ask for more than that. I’m assuming most guests leave here happy.”
Cam’s deep chuckle made Nolan’s cock twitch in his jeans. “They leave happy in more ways than one. That’s why the resort gets so many returning guests. Hell, from what I’ve heard, some book their next stay before they even check out.”
“Sounds like the Lyons siblings are doing something right.”
“They are. And it’s a refreshing change from where we both previously worked.”
“All that bureaucratic bullshit and red-tape.” Nolan murmured, “But that wasn’t the only shit we put up with.”
“True.” Cam slapped him on the back. “But now neither of us have to deal with that anymore. We’re free to do as we please with who we please.”
That last statement caught Nolan’s attention. Was Cam keeping a secret from him as well?
Cam quickly added, “As long as it’s legal, of course.”
“Of course.” Nolan went to the back of his vehicle and began to unstrap his mountain bike.
“Nice,” Cam said as he joined him and began to help remove the bike from the rack.
“I figured this would be the perfect place to ride.”
“It is,” Cam confirmed.
“Do you still have yours?”
“Sure do, but the resort also keeps a few for the guests. As well as ATVs, horses…” One side of Cam’s mouth pulled up. “Lots of things to ride.”
Nolan cocked an eyebrow. “Guests?”
Cam chuckled. “Of course.”
“How many times have you hooked up with a guest since moving here?”
Cam lifted the bike off the rack and set it on the ground, keeping a hold of it since it wasn’t equipped with a kickstand. Nolan went around to the passenger side and grabbed his bags from the backseat of his Toyota Sequoia, setting them on the ground at his feet.
He glanced over at Cam, waiting for the answer to his question.
When Cam began rolling the bike toward the cabin, Nolan picked up his bags and followed. “Did you lose count?”
“I don’t keep track.”
“Like, daily? Weekly?”
Cam shrugged and leaned the bike against the cabin’s exterior wall near the front porch. “Whenever someone catches my attention and is also interested in me.”
It was difficult to ignore the fact that Cam used the term “someone” instead of “a woman.”
Maybe Nolan was reading too much into it.
Or unrealistically hoping Cam was also attracted to men.
Yeah, he had to be delusional.
“On our way to the lodge, we’ll drop off your bike in the equipment shed. That’s where I keep mine since I don’t have any storage. Maybe tomorrow morning we can hit the trails and catch the sunrise.”
“How about a tour after we grab something to eat?”
“Absolutely. When I’m not holed up in my office, I’m wandering around checking in with guests and my security guards.”
“I like how there’s a guard stationed at the entrance.”
“Totally necessary for privacy. We don’t want just anyone coming onto the property. Not when clothing is optional and the sex is spontaneous. We want everyone to feel comfortable enough to be themselves.”
We want everyone to feel comfortable enough to be themselves.
By the end of his five-night stay, maybe Nolan would feel comfortable enough, too.
“Now, let’s drop your bags inside and go eat. I’m about to chew my arm off.”
Nolan chuckled. “Sounds like a plan since I’m about to chew your arm off, too.”
Nolan groaned when he heard movement in Cam’s bedroom. He glanced at the time on his cell phone. Six.
Holy shit. He hadn’t gotten up this early since working the last daylight shift before retiring.
Yesterday’s tour had been interesting to say the least. It proved the Lyons family really knew how to make their resort the “complete” experience. Cam had shown him just about every building—and there were a bunch of them—from the stables to the spa and even where the themed playrooms were.
Heaven.
Named appropriately.
Tonight, a mixer was being held in The Mane Event Hall and Cam asked if he wanted to go. There’d be demos for Shibari as well as other kinky play. He also said that any of the guests could participate in a “key party,” popular back in the day with swingers.
Nolan had heard of them, of course, but had never been to one.
Basically, brave guests could throw their room keycards into a bowl and choose a random one to spend the night with that person.
It wasn’t quite like the swingers’ version since guests who were solo could also participate, whether they joined another single guest or a couple.
While it sounded like fun, Nolan would rather pick the person he’d have sex with. Plus, since he wasn’t an actual paying guest, he didn’t have a key. Though, Cam said he could grab him a blank one if Nolan wanted to hook up with a stranger.
He sat up on the couch but pulled the blanket over his lap when the bedroom door opened and the man himself came out.
“Morning.” Cam’s normally deep voice, rougher this morning from non-use, was sexy as hell. He headed directly to the solitary bathroom in the cabin, only wearing snug boxer briefs.
“It certainly is,” Nolan responded, unable to tear his eyes away from the very distinct profile of Cam’s morning wood.
He blew out a breath when the bathroom door closed behind his friend and his hand automatically dropped to his own erection. He wished he had time to pull one off, but he didn’t. If he was this horny after only staying one night with Cam, he was worried how bad he’d be toward the end of his visit.
He really needed to hook up with someone to distract him from his friend.
He’s off limits. Just put him out of your mind and find someone else. Get a blank keycard from the man, like he suggested, and just hook up with a guest to take off that edge.
He didn’t care if it was a man, a woman, or another couple.
But the mixer was not until later and he needed to get ready for their bike ride. Hearing the water run in the bathroom, he rose from the couch and tugged on a pair of shorts. The rest of his equipment, including his helmet, was still in his SUV. He could grab all of that on their way out.
When the door opened again, Nolan’s gaze automatically landed on Cam’s boxer briefs once more.
He was disappointed to see the man’s erection was already gone.
However, Nolan’s erection was still raging as he watched Cam move to the kitchenette to grab a water bottle and fill it from the cold water dispenser in the refrigerator door.
His nostrils flared and he turned away. His fingers itched to explore Cam’s body but didn’t want to touch him without permission.
He also didn’t want to get punched.
He set his jaw so he’d keep his thoughts and hands to himself, but damn, the man was tempting.
He managed to behave himself during the ride on the trails through the woods and up the mountain. It was exactly what he needed. It blew out the remaining stress from his twenty-year career that had been clinging to him like a sock fresh from the dryer after forgetting to use a fabric sheet.
The only downside was riding behind Cam. It was hard to focus on the surrounding beauty of the area when the man’s ass in skintight black bike shorts was right there leading the way.
Yes, it might have gotten his mind off of his career, but it certainly didn’t help Nolan to stop lusting after Cam.
He worried that even finding someone else to fuck wouldn’t help. And if that didn’t, nothing would.
Well, except for finding out his friend was a bigot. But in all the years they worked together, he’d never heard Cam say anything derogatory against a specific class of people, like the LGBTQ+ community.
Others? Absolutely. Especially when his fellow troopers thought everyone in the room was straight.
That was one reason he’d wanted to retire early. He’d grown tired of hiding who he was.