Chapter Five #4
Seth came up behind Rueben and kissed the back of his head. “It’s beautiful, right? The craftsmanship on the metal frame made me think of your ironworks.”
Rueben spun around and came chest first with a cold pint of ice cream. “You watch my Redemption Ridge YouTube episodes?”
Seth swallowed hard and nodded. Rueben wondered what the admission cost him. “On repeat. You’re so fucking talented.”
Reuben’s cheeks heated, and his heart swelled. “Thank you.”
Seth’s lips curved into a wry smile. “You’ve amassed quite the fan club. There are a lot of thirsty fuckers out there, but only I get to drink you down.”
Rueben basked in his possessiveness. “Damn right.” He dropped his gaze to the butter pecan ice cream. “Are you planning to share?”
Seth held up his other hand to reveal two spoons.
Rueben cast another glance at the ornate frame and plush bedding. He met Seth’s gaze again with a quirked brow. “You know what’s going to happen if we get in that bed?”
Waggling his brows, Seth lowered his head to kiss Rueben’s mouth. “Damn right.” He placed a metal spoon against Rueben’s nipple and made him hiss in surprise. “You’re going to feel me for days.”
Rueben’s stomach quivered, and he felt lightheaded. “And you’ll hear about it every night on the phone.”
Seth’s smile went from playful to sinister. “Which will only make my dick harder and my imagination dirtier as I talk you through nightly orgasms.”
Rueben furrowed his brow and tapped a finger to his lips like he was actually considering Seth’s proposition. He lowered his hand and met Seth’s gaze head-on. “So, a win-win for both of us?”
Seth advanced forward, forcing Rueben to step back into the bedroom. “God, I can’t get enough of you.”
“I feel the same way, but I got to get back to the ranch before daybreak to avoid unwanted questions about where I disappeared to after poker.” His legs bumped into the mattress, and he sat down.
“Set an alarm on your smartwatch.”
It sounded like a simple solution to the problem, and it would’ve been if Rueben remembered to follow through before he crashed into Seth’s arms after ice cream and another round of sex.
One minute, he was telling himself to set the alarm before he nodded off, and the next, birds were chirping outside the cabin at sunrise.
He flung himself out of bed with rapid-fire curses that woke Seth, which really said a lot because his man gave new meaning to sleeping like the dead.
Seth jackknifed up in bed like someone had hit him with those defibrillator paddles they use on heart attack victims. “What happened?”
“I overslept.” Rueben pulled on his jeans and stuffed his underwear in his bag. “It’s almost seven o’clock.”
“Fuck! I’m sorry.” Seth threw back the covers and helped gather the rest of Rueben’s strewn clothing off the floor.
The ranch was more relaxed on Sundays with minimal chores, but everyone would gather for breakfast within the hour.
His tardiness or absence would get poked and prodded until he fessed up to where he’d been.
Rueben had never lived like a monk. He’d gone out plenty of times, but he never missed breakfast. He tugged his shirt into place and slid his feet into flip-flops.
That’s when he noticed Seth’s naked body and morning wood.
Rueben stalked the short distance between them and took Seth’s erection in hand. “I’m not sorry, and I’m certainly not leaving you in this condition.” Rueben dropped to his knees.
“You don’t—” Seth let out a lusty groan when Rueben swallowed his cock. “Fuck, baby.”
It was the sloppiest blow job he’d ever given, but Seth’s quaking legs and promises of retribution made it all worth it. Rueben had taken himself in hand and jerked off onto the floor, but he’d let Seth handle the cleanup after he left.
“Call me later,” Rueben said.
Seth pulled him close for one last kiss. “Looking forward to it.”
Reuben dragged himself away and headed to his truck.
The cabin was pretty isolated from the nearest neighbor, but it sat closer to the access road than he would’ve liked.
Maybe he should park around back next time.
Rueben wouldn’t waste stamina trying to convince himself he wouldn’t return to the cabin, but he would use the energy to come up with a viable reason he was late for breakfast. He felt prepared when he breezed into the dining room like his tardiness was a weekly recurrence.
“Morning, everyone.” With his back to the room, he piled his plate with the scrumptious offerings from the buffet.
“Did you oversleep, Rue?” Keegan asked.
Could it really be that easy? Rueben plastered a smile on his face as he turned to face everyone in the dining room.
“Kicking your asses at poker wore me out.” He took his seat beside Keegan and reached for the syrup.
Rueben’s gaze collided with Cash’s, and his mentor watched him with a pensive expression.
There was no one he respected more, and the ranch boss didn’t amass his fortune by falling for anyone’s bullshit.
Rueben might reach a point where he had hard choices to make, and Cash’s watchful gaze said he was quickly approaching that crossroad.