8. Logan
Chapter 8
Logan
T he moment I opened my eyes, I realized I was not in my own room. It took me a moment to figure out that I was still in Dakota’s cabin. Not only that, I was still on the couch. And that warmth wrapped around me? It was Dakota himself, snoring softly as we leaned together.
My heart started racing almost immediately. As far as I could remember, I hadn’t fallen asleep on him during the movie. But that didn’t mean I hadn’t moved after that.
Back in New York, Lucas and I used to have movie nights all the time. He always made fun of me for falling asleep halfway through and never catching the end of anything we watched. And, when I inevitably woke up the next morning in his arms, he used to tell me how I was a sleep snuggler. Apparently, as soon as I was asleep, I was attracted to warmth like a moth to a flame. Without ever waking up I would worm my way across the couch and end up in his lap. It happened nearly every time.
And it seemed I’d done the exact same thing to Dakota.
However, this time I wasn’t just merely snuggled up with him. My face was lying directly in his lap, the back of my head resting against his stomach. My nose, if I was not mistaken, was leaning gently against his cock. And I was too terrified to move.
Of course, the longer I sat there, realizing my compromising position, the more I started to get turned on. It didn’t take long before my own dick reacted, lengthening in my gym shorts until I was fully tented under the blanket Dakota had thrown over me. It was a totally inappropriate reaction, but I couldn’t help it. The proximity was bad enough, but the rich musky scent rolling off him nearly drove me into a frenzy. I’d never been a big believer in pheromones, but I was quickly convinced there was some truth to it as I laid there, breathing him in.
I tried to steady my breathing, hoping Dakota wouldn’t wake up and discover our compromising position. But the more I tried to calm myself, the more aware I became of every point of contact between us. His strong thighs beneath my cheek, the rise and fall of his stomach against my hair, the heat radiating from his body. It was almost too much to bear.
Suddenly, Dakota shifted in his sleep, his arm tightening around me. I froze, barely daring to breathe. His hand slid down my side, coming to rest on my hip. The touch, even through the blanket, sent shivers through me.
I knew I should move, should extricate myself from this situation before it got even more awkward. But a part of me, a gently throbbing part, didn’t want to. I wanted to stay right here, surrounded by Dakota’s warmth and scent.
Just then, I felt something twitch against my cheek. My breath caught in my throat as I realized what that twitch meant. Dakota was getting hard, right beneath my face. The realization sent a jolt of electricity through my body, making my own erection throb in response.
I lay perfectly still, torn between panic and arousal. Each tiny movement of Dakota’s body seemed magnified a hundredfold. I could feel the heat of his growing erection through his shorts, could hear the slight change in his breathing.
Suddenly, Dakota’s hand on my hip tightened. He let out a low groan that vibrated through his body and into mine. My heart pounded so hard I was sure it would wake him.
“Mmm,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. “What’s goin’ on?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, paralyzed with indecision. Should I pretend to be asleep? Should I pull away suddenly and pretend I hadn’t noticed? No, that would be too obvious. He’d think I was doing something I shouldn’t have been. I didn’t want him to think I was some sort of creep. But then again, I hadn’t moved either, though it was out of fear.
And fear won out again as I shut my eyes tight, pretending to be asleep. I couldn’t bear the thought of embarrassing him or making him think I was a sleaze. So I just stayed right there, hoping against hope that he’d just move me and we’d forget the whole thing ever happened. Not that I’d forget, but I was pretty certain he would want to.
Dakota’s hand moved again, this time sliding up my side to my shoulder. I felt him tense beneath me as he fully awakened, realizing our position. For a long moment, neither of us moved. The air seemed thick with tension, making it hard to breathe.
“Shit,” Dakota muttered under his breath. His voice was low and gravelly, sending another shiver through me.
I felt him start to shift, probably trying to figure out how to move me without waking me. But as he did, his hard cock fully brushed against my face, and I couldn’t help but let out a small gasp.
Dakota froze. “You awake?” he asked softly.
There was no use pretending anymore. I opened my eyes and slowly lifted my head, meeting his gaze. His brown eyes were wide, a mix of surprise and something else I couldn’t quite identify.
“I’m sorry,” I said, trying not to look as guilty as I felt. “I… I didn’t want to embarrass you.”
Dakota’s eyes softened, a hint of amusement flickering in their depths. “Reckon we’re both a bit embarrassed now,” he said, his voice still husky from sleep.
I sat up slowly, keenly aware of the loss of contact as I moved away from his warmth. The blanket slipped off, and I hurriedly pulled it back over my lap, hoping he hadn’t noticed my own predicament.
“I’m really sorry,” I said again, feeling my cheeks burn. “I have this bad habit of... well, cuddling up to anything warm in my sleep. I should have warned you.”
Dakota ran a hand through his long, tousled hair, looking surprisingly composed despite the situation. “No harm done,” he said, his lips quirking into a small smile. “Though I gotta say, that’s one hell of a way to wake up.”
His casual response caught me off guard. He’d never said things like that before. But as I watched him, I saw the realization of what he just said dawn on his face.
“I… I didn’t mean?—”
“It’s alright,” I said, saving him before he dug the hole any deeper. “Don’t worry about it.”
Dakota cleared his throat, his eyes darting away from mine. “Right. Well, uh... how about some breakfast?”
He stood up abruptly, adjusting his shorts as he did so. I couldn’t help but notice the prominent bulge he was trying to hide. My own arousal hadn’t subsided either, making me grateful for the blanket still covering my lap.
“Breakfast sounds great,” I managed to say, my voice slightly higher than usual. It was still dark outside, but we needed the distraction.
Dakota nodded and headed towards the small kitchen area. I watched him move, admiring the way his muscles rippled under his t-shirt. He seemed determined to act as if nothing unusual had happened, but there was a new tension in his shoulders that hadn’t been there before.
“Hope you like eggs,” he called over his shoulder, pulling a carton from the fridge. “It’s about all I got right now.”
“Eggs are fine,” I nodded, still staring.
As Dakota busied himself in the kitchen, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The sound of eggs cracking and sizzling in the pan filled the small cabin, a mundane noise that seemed at odds with the electric tension still hanging in the air.
I stood up slowly, keeping the blanket wrapped around my waist as I made my way to the bathroom. Once inside, I splashed cold water on my face, willing my body to calm down. When I looked in the mirror, my reflection stared back at me with flushed cheeks and wide eyes.
By the time I emerged, Dakota had two plates of scrambled eggs ready on the small table. He’d also brewed some coffee, the rich aroma filling the air. I sat down across from him, grateful for something to focus on other than the lingering awkwardness between us.
“Thanks,” I murmured, picking up my mug and taking a sip.
Dakota nodded, his eyes fixed on his plate as he shoveled eggs into his mouth. The silence stretched between us, broken only by the scrape of forks against plates and the occasional sip of coffee.
I tried to think of something to say, anything to break the tension, but my mind was blank. Every time I glanced up at Dakota, I caught him quickly averting his gaze, as if he’d been watching me.
Finally, Dakota cleared his throat. “Listen, about earlier...” he began, his voice low and hesitant.
My heart leapt into my throat. “Yeah?” I managed to squeak out.
He met my eyes then, his expression unreadable. “I don’t want things to be weird between us. What happened was... well, it was an accident. We were asleep. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”
I nodded, ignoring the pang of disappointment that shot through me at his words. “Of course,” I said, forcing a smile. “It was just one of those things. No big deal.”
Dakota seemed to relax a little at my response, his shoulders dropping slightly. “Good,” he said, nodding. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
We finished our breakfast in silence, the awkwardness slowly dissipating but not quite disappearing entirely. As I helped Dakota clear the dishes, our hands brushed accidentally, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I saw Dakota tense for a moment, his eyes flicking to mine before he quickly looked away.
“I should probably get going,” I said, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was five in the morning, and I didn’t have work to do, but things were getting intense. “I’ve got some work to do back at the main house.”
Dakota nodded, running a hand through his hair. “Right, yeah. Of course.”
As I gathered my things, I couldn’t help but notice Dakota watching me out of the corner of his eye. There was a tension in his posture that hadn’t been there before, like a coiled spring ready to release.
“Thanks for last night,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual. “The movie was good. Well, what I saw of it anyway.”
Dakota’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Yeah, you conked out pretty early. Guess I’m not the most exciting company.”
“No, that’s not it at all,” I protested quickly. “I just... I always fall asleep during movies. It’s kind of my thing.”
He nodded, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before darting away again. “Well, feel free to come by anytime. For movies or... whatever.”
The pause in his sentence sent a shiver down my spine. I found myself hesitating at the door, not quite ready to leave. Dakota stood nearby, his hands shoved in his pockets, looking as uncertain as I felt.
“Maybe we could do this again sometime,” I ventured, my heart pounding. “Watch a movie, I mean. Or just... hang out.”
Dakota’s eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something - longing? desire? - before he quickly masked it. “Yeah,” he said, his voice a bit rougher than usual. “That’d be nice.”
I nodded, my hand on the doorknob. “Well, I’ll see you around then.”
As I stepped outside, the cool morning air hit me, a stark contrast to the warmth of Dakota’s cabin. I heard him call out behind me.
“Hey,” he said, and I turned to see him leaning against the doorframe, his muscular frame silhouetted in the dim light. “Be careful out there. It’s still pretty dark.”
His words were heavy with unspoken meaning. It was such a tiny gesture to tell me to be careful, but somehow it seemed to mean so much more.
I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. “I will. Thanks.”
As I walked away, I could feel Dakota’s eyes on me. The weight of his gaze sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the early morning chill. I resisted the urge to look back, afraid of what I might see - or worse, what I might not see - in his expression.
The ranch was quiet as I made my way back to the main house, the sky just beginning to lighten with the promise of dawn. My mind raced, replaying the events of the night and morning over and over. The warmth of Dakota’s body, the tension in the air, the way his eyes had lingered on me as I left. It all swirled together in a confusing mix of desire and shame. He’d told me in no uncertain terms that we were not going to be together. I wanted to obey his wishes, but my heart and my dick… well, they had other ideas.
“Early mornin’, son?”
I gasped as my father’s voice called down from the porch. Looking up, I saw him sitting there in the old rocking chair, a cup of steaming coffee in his hand. I’d forgotten how early he liked to get up in the morning. So much for sneaking back into the house.
“Y-Yeah,” I stammered. “Just couldn’t sleep after that long nap last night,” I said, pretending I hadn’t just walked out of Dakota’s cabin not fifty yards away.
“Uh-huh,” he replied, obviously not convinced.
I felt my cheeks flush as I climbed the porch steps, avoiding my father’s knowing gaze. The old wood creaked under my feet, each sound seeming to emphasize my guilt.
“Funny,” my father drawled, taking a slow sip of his coffee. “I could’ve sworn I saw you headin’ towards Dakota’s cabin last night with supper. Didn’t realize you were plannin’ on stayin’ over.”
I froze, my hand on the doorknob. “I... we were just watching a movie. I fell asleep on his couch.”
My father nodded, his expression unreadable. “That so?”
I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. My father had never been one to pry into my personal life, but I could feel the weight of his scrutiny now.
“Look, son,” he said after a moment, his voice softening. “I ain’t gonna pretend I understand everything about you. But I do know when somethin’s weighin’ on your mind.” He paused, taking another sip of coffee. “You and Dakota... well, I’ve seen the way you look at each other. And when you came back from the drive wearin’ his clothes… well, I figured things must’ve changed.”
My heart skipped a beat. Was I that obvious? And more importantly, had Dakota been looking at me too?
“Daddy, it’s not like that—” I started, but he held up a hand to stop me.
“You don’t need to explain yourself to me,” he said. “What you do is your business. But I want you to be careful, son. Not everyone around here is as... accepting as I am. Being gay is one thing, but goin’ in with a Cherokee fella at the same time… well, people can be cruel.”
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. “Thanks, Dad,” I managed to say.
He stood up, wincing slightly.
“You alright?”
He rolled his left shoulder with a nod, stretching the muscle. “I’m fine.” Then he reached out, patting me on the back. “Just remember, you’re my son. Nothing’s ever gonna change that. And Dakota’s a good man. He’s got more sense than most. Probably be good for someone like you,” he said with a wink.
With one last grin, he patted me on the shoulder and went inside leaving me standing on the porch in the early gray before dawn. My heart was still racing, but I felt a rush of affection through my chest. My father hadn’t said anything like that before. I knew he didn’t mind my being gay, but he’d never been one to speak about his feelings much. Not only that, but he gave me his blessing to be with Dakota who I wasn’t even with.
I stood there for a moment trying to process it all. But as the first touches of pink appeared in the eastern sky, I let out a long sigh. There was no point in trying to figure it all out right now. I was too tired, too sore, and too horny to think about anything else but jerking off and sleep. Which I planned to do, in that order.
And once I was done with that, I’d do my best to keep things casual between Dakota and I. But before I tried to save that friendship, I had another I needed to mend. I’d been neglecting Lucas for weeks. It was time he and I had lunch.