Chapter 69
Jake left. Cody woke up not long after, meaning I didn't get a chance to talk to Tanner about the way he'd turned weird with Jake. Instead, I pretended like it hadn't happened while we had a nice, big breakfast. Cody blushed all pretty when she tried to explain how she'd ended up taking him home.
But one thing was clear in all of that. She'd taken him home. He hadn't pushed. He hadn't seduced her into it. And while her story had him kissing her first, it still sounded like she'd done her fair share of demanding.
When Tanner asked if he had a big dick, she blushed again, then mentioned his abs.
Yeah, I'd gotten a real good view of what she meant when he'd slipped out of her room, but we let her have it.
There was something real nice about giggling over orange juice about hot men.
I knew this wasn't how most people did this love thing, but I liked it.
Hell, I loved it.
But the show had to go on. Tanner had to be at the arena early enough to do the opening bullshit today, and I wanted to make sure I got another decent bull. I wouldn't get Speed Bump again, and I didn't wanna think about how shit my score was gonna be, but maybe Cody would get the good draw.
It was all good on the drive over. Tanner checked twice to make sure Cody wouldn't have a problem riding. When she finally grumbled about it, he just looked back and smirked at her.
"Well, you didn't tell me how big his dick is, so... I mean..."
I caught her rolling her eyes in the rearview mirror, but a little smile was visible now too. "It's not a size thing, guys. Just, you know, different."
"So sounds like we weren't outclassed," I told Tanner.
He gave me a side-eye. "Still not sure about that. She keeps dodging it."
"It was big around, ok?" she said, starting to sound either flustered or embarrassed. I couldn't quite tell. "But like, I dunno, same length? And no, not better. Just different! And I'm dying because I don't know if you're pissed!"
"Not pissed," I promised.
"But it feels like you should be," she pointed out.
"Maybe," I agreed as I pulled into the parking lot and angled for a nice spot at the back.
"But when have we done what we should? Naw, babe.
I like this. I think it's nice to know you had fun.
I'm also real damned proud of ya for chasing that boy.
Hell, if he wasn't straight, Tanner prolly would've. "
"And now, I'm blushing," Tanner said.
I put the truck in park and killed the engine. "So, Cody, why don't you run in there and find that boy, make sure everything is still good after we gave him the fifty questions this morning, hm?"
"Why?" she asked, sounding suspicious.
"Because I was gonna ask Tanner for a good-luck blowjob," I joked.
Again, she rolled her eyes. "Whatever, J.D."
"Please?" I tried next as we all piled out. "Because maybe I wanna have a personal moment with my guy, and I'm kinda embarrassed to do it as a group?"
She was on the same side of the truck as me, so she narrowed her eyes at me. "I'm missing something."
"Mostly that I'm gonna be at your side all day, but won't get to see him." And I caught her around the waist. "Also that I can do this now." And I tugged her up against my chest.
Cody tossed her arms around my neck and that smile came back. This was the look she should be wearing this morning, so I paused to appreciate it before ducking my head and kissing her the way I wanted.
She pressed in. Her right hand landed on my chest, somehow making her feel smaller, or delicate, or maybe even feminine?
I didn't know, but I did like it - a whole lot.
When her other hand moved to the back of my neck, I groaned in the back of my throat, all too aware it was going to be a long fucking day.
"But everything's ok?" she asked when she pulled away.
"Swear," I assured her. "Trust me, rookie. Oh, and kiss him first."
"Which means I'm staying behind," Tanner said. "Don't worry, Cody. I don't know what he's up to either." But he met her at the back, with her gear bag in one hand and her hat in the other.
He tried to lean in for a quick kiss, but Cody caught that rainbow shirt he was in, and kissed him exactly the way she'd kissed me. And wow, did those two look hot together like that. His pretty, her strength, and both of their hot little bodies were making my dick start to tingle.
I tried to tell it to shut up, but yeah that shit never worked.
Instead, I ignored it, focusing on getting my hat, Tanner's, and our bags pulled to the edge of the backseat.
I caught it when Tanner playfully smacked Cody on the rump.
The smile she tossed back said it all, then she headed in - hopefully to find Jake and do a little talking of her own.
I waited, giving Tanner plenty of time to make his way over to my side. The pair of us watched her go until there was no way in hell she'd hear us. Only then did I look over at him.
"So, that shit with Jake this morning?" I asked. "Jealousy? You trying to pretend this is ok when it isn't, or what?"
"That's why you sent her in without us?" he asked.
"Yeah," I admitted. "I didn't wanna spend all day worryin' none, and she woke up before I got the chance to ask. So this is me askin', babe. The last thing I want is for my belligerence to crush you out of this thing we're doing."
"J.D., I'm fine," he promised. "I also know Jake's scared of you, but he's scared of me in a whole different way." Then he made a noise and rocked his head from side to side, admitting it wasn't that simple. "And yeah, I have some insecurity issues, ok?"
"But you're good?" I asked.
"Look, I don't give a shit about her fucking him. My fear is that she'll like him more. And Jake? He's more like me than Ty was."
"Might just mean she has a type," I pointed out.
"Might," he agreed. "Shit, I wouldn't mind at all if that was true. I just..." He paused, turning to rest his forearms on the bedrail of my truck. "Fuck."
"What?" I asked, a little fear slamming right into my gut and making my dick forget all about the hotness a second ago.
"I don't know what she sees in me," he finally said. "That's the truth of it, J.D. I mean, with you, it makes more sense. I can tell myself you don't really have many options for men in the Pbr. And I know that's not why you're with me, but that one little thing makes me feel a bit more secure."
"Yeah, I can see that," I assured him.
"But Cody?" he went on. "She could have any guy here. Hell, half of them would drop and beg for a second of her attention."
"She ain't realized that yet," I pointed out.
"Maybe not," Tanner agreed, "but it's still true. And yet, she picked me. It started because she thought I was gay, which doesn't help much."
"And now she's in love with you, babe."
He nodded. "And that's the part that makes me anxious, you know? Not like nervous, just..." He grunted, proving those weren't the words he wanted. "Insecure? I fucking hate acting like that's some crutch, but it's the truth. She could do better-"
"Nope," I said. "First off, ain't no other man gonna be cool with a threesome the same way you are.
" And I winked. "There's your stupid shallow reason to hold onto.
But second, there ain't no other man in the whole Pbr who's pretty like you, crazy like you, and so fucking sweet like you.
And somehow you make all those come together to be real nice, Tanner. "
"Yeah?" he asked, looking over.
"Mhm," I agreed, shifting around so I was a bit closer.
"And you are hot as hell. Fuck, you're as built as Jake.
Different type, but just as nice. And you got a real good dick.
" I ran my eyes over him and caught his hip.
"You also treat her with the kind of respect she sure as shit ain't used to.
The kind that doesn't have strings and doesn't judge her based on your wants or likes.
" As I kept talking, he turned, putting his back against my truck so we were face to face.
So I leaned in. "So don't be jealous of Jake, ok?"
"Working on it," he said, hooking a finger in the front pocket of my jeans to tug me closer.
"I'm not upset about him, though. I just wanted to make sure his head is in the right place.
Even when I am jealous, I'm still ok with her getting this chance, because the woman we have now is a lot more proud and self-assured than the one back in St. Louis.
I like knowing we gave her room to find herself, and I really do believe you're right.
Letting her choose means she will always choose us. "
"Yeah," I breathed, moving in a little.
I was gonna kiss him. Hell, I was thinkin' real hard about grinding on him a bit before we went in. This whole talking it out thing was definitely working for me, but just as Tanner lifted his face, making it clear he wouldn't tell me no, someone laughed behind us - and the cruel type.
"Aww, the faggots gonna give us a show."
That was Austin's voice. I spun. Tanner braced up, shifting to my side. Together, we watched as Austin and Derek sauntered closer, but there was one big fucking problem: the tire iron Austin was casually slapping against his palm.
"I don't like that word none," I told him. "It's the kinda thing dumb-ass rednecks say because they can't come up with anything better. Maybe try fudge packer? Dick sucker? C'mon, put a little effort in, you piece of shit."
"Don't wanna think about the sick shit you do with him," Derek shot back.
Austin simply slapped the tire iron against his palm again. "Didn't figure you for a queer, J.D. But since you are? Well, I'll tell you the same thing I told Cody. Go home. The Pbr is for real men, and real men only. And if you won't go, I'll make sure you hurt enough you can't ride ever again."
I shifted, moving in front of Tanner slightly. "Yeah?" I asked, letting my voice turn cold. "Funny how Cody's still here, innit? Seems to me like your threats are bullshit, Austin."
"We'll see if you think that after I hit you where it hurts most." Then he and Derek surged in.
I simply got the fuck out of Tanner's way. I hadn't moved before him because I needed to protect him. Nah, I was giving my man a reason to worry. I was letting him think I was gonna do something real fuckin' dumb, because I knew that'd wind his ass up.
And now I was turning him loose - and hoping my broken fucking body could keep up.
"I will kill you!" my boyfriend roared as he rushed Austin.
So I turned on Derek. A punch to the gut made him stagger, but he was swinging back. I took one in the ribs, but it was my good side. Beside me, Tanner was trying to get that tire iron out of Austin's hands, so I turned to help. Two against one were a whole lot better odds, after all.
My fist landed on Austin's nose, making his eyes well up fast. Tanner had one end of the tire iron, Austin still clutching the other, and their other hands were flying, but that hit in his face? It made him jerk back and lash out.
And I saw it too late. His flinch was just hard enough to break Tanner's grip. On the backswing, that tire iron caught me right in the temple, and my knees just buckled.
I hit the ground, and darkness took over.