Chapter Eight #2
“You’re being mighty generous,” Owen interrupted. “Most bar hookups end up in a bathroom stall or in the back seat of someone’s car.” Three pairs of eyes swiveled in his direction, but only Tyler narrowed his. Owen shrugged and said, “I never said this was my first rodeo.”
Tyler huffed a sigh and rolled his eyes before returning his attention to Rueben, who narrated the cat-and-mouse show going on at the bar.
The lion bought the gazelle a drink but remained on his stool.
The gazelle gestured his thanks by holding up the glass, then flirted with the bartender and the guy sitting on the stool next to him.
“Why isn’t the lion pissed?” Keegan asked. “The gazelle accepted his drink and then ignored him.”
“Because a lion is a patient hunter,” Rueben said.
“Keep watching.” He continued his play-by-play narrative as the gazelle cast furtive glances in the lion’s direction every few minutes to make sure he still had him on the hook.
As soon as the seat next to the lion opened, the gazelle sauntered toward the lion with the drink he sipped suggestively through a straw.
Even across the room, the lion’s interest was palpable as he devoured the gazelle with his gaze.
The prey sat on the stool and swiveled toward the hunter, who placed his big, brawny hands on slender hips to pull him closer.
“Whew,” Keegan said, fanning his face adorably. “I want to have that kind of confidence someday.”
“And you will,” Rueben said, saluting him before taking a drink of his beer.
Owen darted a gaze in Tyler’s direction to judge his reaction, but his man’s attention was all on him. “What?”
Tyler leaned in and put his mouth to Owen’s ear. “You’re the lion.” Warm breath ghosted over his skin, making him shiver.
Owen rested his hand on Tyler’s thigh, wishing they were alone in his cabin. “Not always. Sometimes I want to pursue, and sometimes I like to be pursued.” It was similar to their conversation about sexual positions. “But I’d never be able to pull off a sweater like that.”
Tyler looked across the room, then back at him. “Is that something you’d want me to wear?”
Owen circled his thumb against Tyler’s jeans as he considered the question.
Could he picture Tyler stretched across his bed wearing nothing but a crop top and a barely there pair of underwear?
Absolutely. “I think the real question is whether you picture yourself in something like that. I only need you to be yourself, no matter what you choose to wear.”
He must’ve given the right answer because Tyler rewarded him with a kiss.
This time, Tyler lingered, slipping his tongue inside Owen’s mouth.
The boldness was a big surprise, and Owen forgot all about their tablemates until a new voice intruded—one that was familiar and panic inducing.
Owen wanted to ignore the newcomer and continue kissing, but Tyler’s curiosity got the best of him.
He reluctantly turned his attention to the conversation between Rueben, Keegan, and Kerry Freaking Hart.
The latter was watching him with amused dark eyes.
Kerry darted his gaze between Owen and Tyler, a wry smile playing at his full lips. “Guess I know why I haven’t seen you in a while.”
Tyler snapped his head in Owen’s direction. Damn it. There was no way in hell Tyler missed the innuendo in Kerry’s voice. He’d insist on a conversation before they could play lion and gazelle back at the cabin.
“Good to see you, Kerry,” Owen lied.
“Uh-huh.” He came around the table, extended a hand to Tyler, and blasted him with his megawatt smile.
His tan skin and dark stubble made a sharp contrast to his exceptionally white teeth.
Kerry’s shoulders looked impossibly broad in his black leather jacket, and his faded jeans looked nearly threadbare in interesting places.
Owen was pretty sure Tyler made an audible gasp when he swiveled his chair and got a look at Kerry up close.
“I’m Tyler.” He sounded dazzled as he shook Kerry’s hand, and it annoyed Owen to no end.
“I’m Kerry Hart.”
“Um, how do you know Owen?” Tyler asked.
Kerry shot him a bemused look before giving Tyler his full attention again. “Oh, you know. I’ve seen him here and there.”
Rueben snorted across the table, pulling everyone’s attention to him. Owen wasn’t sure if he should thank his friend or smack that knowing smirk right off his face.
“And why the hell aren’t you out with my cousin tonight?” Kerry asked Rueben.
Owen didn’t know Kerry’s cousin was the county sheriff and maybe Rueben’s boyfriend? They’d only gone out once, and Rue had stopped mentioning his name in every other breath. Owen had been dying to ask him what happened, but he’d kept his mouth shut.
Rueben’s shoulders rose with a deep inhale and fell on a heavy sigh.
“Seth can’t get involved with me until after the Salvation Anew guys go to trial.
” Rue had gotten caught in the cult’s crosshairs during their murder plot to kill Cash.
The same assholes physically and verbally abused Keegan as part of his conversion therapy.
Both were star witnesses for the prosecution, so a relationship between them could jeopardize Seth’s career and compromise the cases.
“And I don’t think Seth realizes I’m a keeper yet.
But he will.” Rueben’s smug smile eased the tension in Owen’s chest.
“So, who’s this sweet little lamb?” Kerry asked, smiling at Keegan.
“I’m Keegan.” He blushed profusely but held the big man’s gaze. “I live on the ranch with these guys.”
“Do you dance?” Kerry asked him.
“Um,” Keegan replied, looking around the table for help from his friends.
Owen offered what he hoped was an encouraging smile. He could get rid of Kerry and try to mitigate the damage the jackass caused.
“Sure,” Keegan said. “I’m not very good at it.”
Kerry rounded the table and held out his hand. “I somehow doubt that.”
Keegan’s hand looked small in Kerry’s palm as he slid off his chair, and Owen noticed Kerry didn’t let go once Keegan’s feet were on the ground.
The two of them were a study in contrast. Kerry was tall, dark, and sinful compared to Keegan’s short, blond innocence.
The two of them headed to the dance floor without a backward glance or comment.
Owen felt the heat of Tyler’s gaze and looked to Rueben for either help or a distraction, but he pushed back from the table.
“Think I’ll head to the bar to get another beer. You guys need anything?”
“Nope,” Tyler said.
“I’m good,” Owen replied.
As soon as Rueben left, Owen forced himself to meet Tyler’s gaze. “I met Kerry here, and we’ve hooked up a few times over the years.”
Tyler swallowed hard and nodded. He lowered his gaze as if it hurt too much to look at Owen. “It’s not really my business,” he said to his lap.
Maybe that was true in some relationships, but not theirs.
Owen curled his forefinger under Tyler’s chin and raised his head until their eyes met.
“Everything about me is your business. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know because I’d rather get it all out in the open than let your imagination run wild. ”
Tyler licked his bottom lip, then nodded. “When did you guys hook up? We’re together all the time.”
“Whenever you went home to Texas for a visit,” Owen replied.
Tyler’s brow furrowed. “The ranch is my home,” he clarified.
“I’ve only gone back to Texas three times since we moved to Redemption Ridge.
The last time was nearly two years ago for my grandpa’s ninetieth birthday.
And you came here?” Tyler’s voice was devoid of any emotion, so Owen wasn’t sure how to react.
“I did.”
Tyler looked over at the dance floor. “And you met up with Kerry each time?”
“I did.”
Tyler narrowed his eyes. “Are you going to respond with the same two-word answer?”
“I’ll use more words whenever it’s necessary.”
That response seemed to irritate Tyler more than the previous answers. “Did you run into him here, or did you call Kerry and arrange a date?”
“I ran into him each time. We didn’t exchange phone numbers, and we definitely didn’t date.”
Tyler’s gaze drifted back to the dance floor as he considered Owen’s answer. After a long stretch of silence, he looked at Owen again. “So, you didn’t develop feelings for him?”
“No,” Owen said firmly. When Tyler scowled at his brief response, Owen expanded. “I’m not sure how much of this you want to hear.”
“All of it.”
It was Owen’s turn to look at him in disbelief. “You want me to tell you everything we did together?”
“No. Yes.” Tyler deflated like a balloon in his chair. “I don’t know.”
“I’ll start talking, and you tell me when you’ve heard enough or if you want more detail.
” Owen waited for Tyler’s barely there nod before continuing.
“To be honest, I wasn’t feeling picky when I showed up here.
I was horny and lonely. There are things I can’t do to please myself, and I specifically came here for that. ”
Tyler held up a hand to stop him, and Owen breathed a sigh of relief until he said, “What things?”
“I wanted a blow job,” Owen said. Tyler’s eyes widened, but he pushed on.
“And I wanted to give a blow job. I have a dildo to ride, and I’ve got my right hand to jerk off.
Those things will only work for so long before I crave real human interaction.
If I were flexible enough to suck my own dick, I would’ve done it instead of hooking up with someone.
It felt good during the act, but I was sick with guilt afterward. ”
Tyler tilted his head. “Why?”
“In my heart, I’ve always belonged to you, so getting pleasure from someone else felt wrong.”
Tyler’s gaze softened. “You didn’t cheat. I didn’t even know you loved me or wanted me like that.” He looked at the dance floor and back again. “Is that all you did with Kerry? Trade blow jobs?”
“No. I might not have developed feelings for Kerry, but I trusted him.”
“Enough to be the gazelle?” Tyler pressed.