Chapter Seven #3
“That kiss could be part of the fantasy.” Owen smiled wryly. “I’ve dreamed of that mouth on me so many times.”
Tyler leaned forward and propped an elbow on the large console between the seats. “And where do I kiss you in your dreams?”
Owen opened his mouth to answer, but a knock sounded on the passenger window. They sprang apart like naughty teenagers and turned to see who had interrupted them. Keegan stood on the other side of the door, wearing a wry grin on his face.
“I didn’t even see him approach the truck,” Owen whispered as he hit the button to unlock the door.
Tyler wouldn’t have noticed a tornado barreling down on them. He righted himself in his seat and reached for his seat belt. “How was therapy?” Tyler asked once Keegan climbed into the truck.
“Pretty good,” Keegan replied. “At least my homework assignment is more fun than usual.”
“Homework?” Tyler asked.
Owen reversed out of the parking spot and shifted into Drive. “He gets weekly assignments to ensure he’s putting in his time and staying committed to the therapy plan they developed on his first visit.”
“Owen makes sure I stay on track,” Keegan said. “I told Bryant how helpful you’ve been, and he says you’re a natural.”
“At what?” Owen asked. “Nagging?”
Keegan snorted and said, “I’m also rolling my eyes.”
Tyler smiled because it was the most animation he’d seen since Keegan came to live on the ranch. He glanced over at Owen and caught his big grin too.
“Bryant says you’re a natural at guiding people through trauma. He thinks you should change careers?”
Owen’s smile wavered, and he glanced into the rearview mirror. “I like the career I have,” he replied. “What’s your homework assignment?”
Another deflection. Tyler bit back a sigh. Somehow, someway, he’d help Owen realize his value.
“He wants me to put myself in situations and places that normalize homosexuality,” Keegan said.
“Then you just have to come out of your bedroom and talk to people on the ranch,” Owen replied.
Keegan laughed. “I said the same thing, but no dice. Bryant acknowledges the ranch is a safe, welcoming environment for me to recover, but he warns it can be as insular as the Salvation Anew compound.”
“I don’t know what insular means, but I don’t like the sound of it.” Owen’s voice was a low rumble, and he had a white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel.
“It can mean a few things, but I think Bryant means it’s self-contained and isolated,” Tyler said.
“I guess it could be,” Owen admitted. “I just didn’t like the ranch being mentioned in the same sentence as that cult.”
“I had the same reaction,” Keegan admitted.
“Then Bryant explained it would be too easy for my brain to act like a pendulum, swinging in the opposite direction to make me think I’m only safe to be gay on the ranch.
He wants me to see queer folks like us interacting and engaging like our straight counterparts. ”
“So, like a gay bar or club?” Owen asked.
Keegan laughed. “Yep.”
“Wow. I might’ve done better in school if I had homework assignments like that,” Owen said. Then, he smiled at Tyler. “You game?”
Tyler’s raised brow dared Owen to go without him.
Owen winked and said, “How does Friday night sound?”
“Perfect.”
“Will you have to write a report?” Tyler teased.
“Nah, but I’ll journal about the experience, and Bryant will ask plenty of probing questions to make sure I’m not trying to bullshit my way through something. Sound familiar, Owen?”
“Nope.” It was clear the comparison struck a chord with him, and not at all surprising when he changed the subject. “Who’s ready for wings?”
Starving, Tyler let Owen deflect the conversation again instead of calling him out.
The wings were as good as advertised, and Tyler enjoyed watching Keegan mow through a dozen of his own wings and help finish Owen’s.
They kept their conversation on safe topics during the meal and ride back home, but Tyler struck as soon as they were alone in his cabin.
He pushed Owen up against the wall, reached under his shirt, and twisted his nipple just hard enough to make him gasp.
“Fuck! That hurts.”
“That’s what you get for insulting my man’s intelligence today,” Tyler replied. “I don’t want to hear that crap again. Do you hear me?” When Owen didn’t reply, Tyler tried to pinch him again.
“Okay! Okay! Damn,” Owen said, rubbing a hand over his chest.
“And another thing,” Tyler said, poking his solid chest. “You’re not dreaming. This is real. We are real.”
Owen smiled but still rubbed his chest. “I never knew you were so mean.”
Tyler grimaced. “Sorry if I went too far.”
Blue eyes sparkled with wicked intentions as Owen pulled Tyler closer. “Now you have to kiss me and make me better.”
“Gladly.” Tyler didn’t stop making amends until they were a naked, sticky mess sprawled across his bed.
“Say it again,” Owen whispered.
Tyler knew exactly what words he wanted to hear and didn’t keep him waiting. “I love you.”
Owen’s body trembled, and he tightened his hold. “I love you too.”
Tyler was on the verge of falling asleep when Owen added, “This is real.”
“The realest.”