Chapter Twenty-Two
Ian
The waves of disgruntled upset coming from Rick had grown throughout the day. Ian didn’t need to be a mind reader to understand what had caused them or Toby mentioning his conversation with Rick before his mate came up to the house.
Toby was a good friend, and Ian didn’t see him as interfering just being helpful. And he was grateful to Toby for talking about how Rick felt. It seemed Ian’s anger had made Rick feel he could not talk to him. Ian was upset that Rick felt like that. It was not his intention.
Rick wasn’t sure how to cope with Ian and his reaction, that much was evident. It was there, sitting between them like an ever-growing flood separating them. They’d had sex, lots of it. Only once dressed, things were strained.
It was why Ian had agreed to help his mom on Sunday, he just needed to get his head on straight. Then his sister had rung desperate for a sitter because the person she had originally helping was ill with the flu. It was an emergency, so Ian had no issue saying yes.
It all just seemed like the universe was giving him a break from Rick. Only he didn’t want one because things felt unsteady under foot right now, and he worried about what that all meant.
He huffed in frustration and gathered up everything he needed for the evening, listening to the shower turn off. He waited for Rick to appear.
Wet and looking glorious, Rick strolled into the room, not looking at Ian. And though Ian made sure not to stare when he was short on time and getting distracted wasn’t on the cards, it didn’t appear as if Rick wanted a distraction, anyway.
Feeling more than a little miffed, Ian stated in a stiff, formal tone, “You don’t need to come tonight, I’ll go on my own, I know this was dropped on you last minute.
I’m sure you’ve had a hard day. Ernest mentioned the tractor was playing up again.
” It wasn’t Ernest but Toby, except Ian felt it best to keep his conversation with Toby secret so as not to drop the omega into the mess it seemed Ian had created.
“What… you don’t want me to come?” The hurt flooded through their bond before Rick could shield.
Ian met Rick’s gaze, hurting him was the last thing he wanted to do. “Do you want to come?” he asked, because really, they needed to be honest with each other to move forward.
There were several beats of silence before Rick slowly nodded. “I do.”
Ian’s heart soared at the sincerity pulsing between them. “I’ll be downstairs waiting.” He swung out of the room, not hovering when his mate was naked and very distracting. What was a mate to do?
They were on their way not much later and got to Maisie’s home twenty minutes before the designated time as Ian wanted baby cuddles before they were to put her down for the night.
Ian enjoyed the quiet, uncomplicated time with the baby. Sweet and adorable at this age, it was his favorite.
When he came back downstairs Rick was resting his head against the couch, eyes closed, but he wasn’t asleep his shoulders were too tense. He looked… sad.
Now or never.
“Do you think we should talk about what’s on your mind?” He sat next to Rick and waited for him to slowly pry open his eyes.
“I… the weekend… it’s… honest… fuck,” Rick grabbed his hair tugging it as he rose and paced in front of Ian.
He sat back and waited for Rick to gather his thoughts, and there were many floating around his head.
Ian caught the one about him not congratulating him. He stiffened and then kept following his mates' messy thoughts.
He did get why Rick was upset, except he failed to miss the point that Ian was terrified Rick would change his mind despite saying he was done, as he’d said that before. Ian needed to be honest.
“Before you say anything, I just want to say that my anger came from fear you might want to change your mind again about the bull riding. I felt how much you enjoyed it, and were thrilled by it. I get why folks do it. I just hate for you to get hurt.”
Ian was proud of Rick’s accomplishments. Just it was tarred with a fear of losing something precious—Rick.
When his mate’s head tilted to one side giving him a look of consideration, Ian took the bear by the paws and continued.
“I’m very proud of your accomplishment. I couldn’t be prouder of what you achieved.
The problem is, it wasn’t all I could see in the moment.
All I could think about was that I would lose you to that big bull.
That he would trample you beyond recognition.
It was all I could see. Fear. It took on a life of its own and consumed me.
I have never been so scared for another person in my life.
You mean everything to me. But you did something worth celebrating, and I took that from you, and I’m very sorry for that. ”
Rick slid off the cushions and sank down onto his knees in front of Ian to tug his legs apart and slip between them.
He came forward and kissed him softly. It wasn’t passionate a more soft whisper of affection.
A soothing stroke of lips reaffirming the bond between them.
He sighed his pleasure into Rick’s mouth as he deepened the kiss.
“I’m sorry. You said again, what did you mean by that? I can’t seem to stop messing up,” Rick breathed against Ian’s lips.
Ian cupped Rick’s jaw and held his gaze.
“It’s both of us. And you said at the Bucket List event, you would never do it again.
How am I supposed to believe it when you have already changed your mind once before?
We need to be honest with each other. I should have told you I was scared and upset that you didn’t stick to what you said before.
Then it might not have been such a shock when I lost my shit. ”
Rick’s chuckle eased the tightness in Ian’s chest. “Bull riding was such a big part of my life. I loved it for a long time.” He shook his head. “No, don’t get me wrong, I don’t wanna go back. I meant what I said to Charlie in front of you, for real this time. I am done.”
Ian held Rick’s gaze, seeing the truth, and that little slice of remaining terror that had clung to the idea that Rick could change his mind, slipped away. “Tell me about it, your past.”
By Rick’s wide grin, he could see it was the right question.
He got up and sat next to Ian, slinging an arm over the back of the couch looking relaxed. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
Three hours later, Ian raced into Rick’s house, tearing off his shirt, not stopping as he flung it aside to take the stairs two at a time, hearing Rick give chase.
Rick’s talk about the rodeo circuit—all of this in the past tense—got Ian rather riled up with what a complete stud his man was.
He’d ended up straddling Rick’s lap, grinding down on his erection.
Just with the baby upstairs, they’d more made out like two horny teenagers not going beyond second base. Hands all above the clothing.
The heated looks and hand-off approach in the car while Rick talked about what he wanted to do to Ian…
I can hardly walk straight with all the promises.
They were threats.
He could hardly get his pants off quickly enough at his mate's rumbled response.
“I’m gonna bury my tongue so deep in that ass you’ll feel me tickle your tonsils,” Rick growled aloud this time with the door slamming at his back.
It sent a sexy thrill through Ian that lodged right in his ass, which clenched in eager anticipation.
He looked over his shoulder, nearly falling when their eyes locked, and the passion was there in dark, hooded eyes.
“You have to catch me first,” he taunted, reaching the top step and stepping out of his clothes he’d shoved down his legs, giving Rick a view of his ass.
Whatever weight of misunderstanding was between them earlier, it was gone. Both men had promised to be more honest with each other. Ian had no issue with that.
Now he was getting make-up sex.
He barely had the bedroom door open, and Rick was on him.
Ian slammed into the wall with enough force to knock the air out of his lungs. Before he could regain his breath, Rick was on him. Hot and hungry kisses came with whimpers and groans as Ian was held captive. Rick kissed him with a fierce determination that made Ian weak at the knees.
They grappled and turned around, two large bodies knocking into things before Ian landed on the bed and was flipped from back onto his front. His legs pushed apart, then his hips heaved until Rick could get to his ass.
The fever pitch didn’t cease, Rick ate his ass like he was served a five-star meal in a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Ian’s cock hung heavy between his legs, dripping over the covers neglected. His arms shook with the effort to support himself on all fours, not wanting to pull away, yet desperately wanting to touch his cock to get some relief. “Gods please touch my cock,” Ian gasped, begging unashamedly.
A growl reverberated up inside his backside, and he clenched at the sensation, crushing the tongue jabbing deep, only not deep enough.
He blabbered. Nothing made sense except the aching emptiness inside him as his cock throbbed in time with his erratic pulse.
“Please,” he sobbed, then cried out in distress when Rick eased out of him.
He had no time to say more as Rick pressed the head of his huge cock against the wet rim of his asshole.
There was the sound of spitting before it landed on his heated skin, then Rick pressed the large head into his hole with a persistent push.
“Relax, love, or you’re gonna crush my cock to death.”
Droplets of sweat hit Ian’s back while Rick pushed deep until he bottomed out, his groin meeting Ian’s ass.
“Fuck you’re tight,” Rick hissed, blanketing Ian’s body as he willed himself to relax past the burn that would turn to pleasure—just as soon as he caught his breath.
“How are you doing?” Rick sounds like a bear about to attack, causing all the hairs on Ian’s body to lift.
Ian took a couple of shallow breaths as his ass relaxed enough for Rick to move. “Good… now show me whoooooooo…” Ian’s head dropped as Rick withdrew his cock, leaving just the head in, then slammed home. His aim was perfect for Ian’s sweat spot, making him yodel like a professional.
It was fast, and it was dirty, both men were a sweaty mess in minutes as Ian wailed, his release soaking the bed sheets beneath him before he felt Rick’s come scalding his ass, filling him up.
“So fucking hot,” Rick rasped, collapsing against Ian’s back, forcing him down onto the bed.
He groaned at the large wet patch he landed in.
“Sheets wet,” he mumbled more into the mattress, too tired to move. His body ached pleasantly from the rough treatment.
I could get used to this.
Used to what, Rick replied, evidently he was too tired to talk aloud, too.
This He-Man treatment.
Rick’s chuckles ghosted the back of Ian’s neck. What will we have a miscommunication about next, then?
Ian twisted to glance over his shoulder at his sleepy-eyed mate, his lips twitching along with his cock. I don’t know, but I’m sure we can come up with something.
The chuckles turned into rumbles of laughter as Rick rolled off him. He reached and tugged Ian into his side. “What about who has to change the bed?”
The glee shone in his eyes, and Ian’s cock twitched again. He smirked at Rick. “I think that would be you,” replied Ian doing his best not to laugh at their silly antics, “Dusty ropes and rusty spurs,” he teased.
“I’ll give you dusty ropes and rusty spurs.” Rick had him flat on his back, grinning at him so widely his handsome face made Ian’s cock take full notice.
“Bring it.”
And bring it he did!