Common Powers

by Lynn Lorenz

  “Thanks.” Brian accepted the key and made a big show of adding it to his key chain.

  “Come on. Freezing my nuts off out here.” Rush bumped Brian with his shoulder.

  Brian unlocked the door and opened it. “After you.”

  They both laughed as they stepped inside, giddy as school girls. Brian glanced around the front rooms.

  “Looks good. Lucky our stuff worked well together. It’s not too much of change, is it?”

  “Hell, no. It’s perfect.” Rush leaned over and kissed Brian on the cheek.

  Brian smiled. “So, I wasn’t lying about getting up early for work.”

  “Not as early as a rancher, darlin’. We’re all about the dawn.”

  “Okay. Bed.” Brian headed off down the hall to Rush’s room.

  A king-size four poster stood against the far wall between two windows. A beautiful quilt, obviously handmade, covered the bed, and four large pillows in plain white cases leaned on the dark wood headboard. On either side were Brian’s two matching nightstands.

  Rush had been sleeping on the side near the bathroom, so Brian had put his belongings in the stand on the opposite side. They’d switched out Brian’s two lamps for Rush’s one, and added two pillows.

  Other than those changes, Brian had fit seamlessly into Rush’s room. The rest would work out over time.

  Rush stretched. “I used muscles I haven’t used in ages. Moving’s hard.”

  “Tell me about it. I packed and unpacked. But I thought you were cowboy-tough.”

  “Different muscles.” Rush laughed.

  “I got some muscles I want to use on you, cowboy.” Brian pulled Rush to him, slipping his fingers into the back pockets of Rush’s Wranglers to grab a handful of cowboy butt.

  “Those are good muscles, if they’re the ones I’m thinking of, city slicker.” Rush leaned in and nuzzled Brian’s neck, sending little frissons of arousal through him.

  “Yes, they are. Now, let’s try out that bed of yours.” Brian brushed his lips across Rush’s then nibbled a bit of Rush’s lower lip.

  “Damn. Want you.”

  “Want you. Can’t believe I’m really here. And that you took a chance on me.”

  “You’re worth it. What you offered to me, that’s worth the risks of coming out. I just had to realize it.” Rush kissed Brian soft and gentle. “Fuck the rest of the world if they can’t deal with it.”

  Brian tilted his head. “I’m thinking Spring Lake is moving into the twenty-first century whether it wants to or not.”

  “I reckon it is.”

  “You’re not afraid?”

  “Not with you beside me, no. Anyone gives me trouble, I’ll call the cops. Got an ‘in’ on the force.” Rush chuckled. “My own police protection.”

  “Hey, I’m sure the chief might think that was some sort of nepotism.” Brian tugged Rush tighter. “He might not go for that.”

  “Whittaker’s a good man. And I won’t do anything to ruin his faith in me by giving me this job. Just you try to stay out of trouble, okay?”

  “Yes, Officer Russell.” Rush kissed him again.

  “Bed?”

  “Bed.” Rush pulled away and grabbed Brian’s hand. “This way.”

  Brian followed without being pulled off his feet. Rush opened the door and stepped inside. “Come on. The rodeo’s about to start. Got a seat for us down front.”

  Brian laughed. “Yeehaw!”

  Rush grabbed him by the front of his T-shirt and pushed him toward the bed. Brian’s calves hit the edge of the mattress and he fell back on it.

  “Strip for me, cowboy.” Brian bit his bottom lip. “Want to watch you get naked.”

  Rush towered over him, lust burning in his heated gaze. He kicked out of his sneakers, yanked the worn cotton shirt off over his head and tossed it to the side. Brian tracked his movements as he unbuttoned his jeans, pulled down his zipper and shucked off his briefs along with his jeans.

  Rush naked was glorious. Brian sighed. “Damn, cowboy. You’re about as near to perfection as a man can get.”

  “And you’ve got too many damn clothes on.” Rush grabbed Brian’s foot and flipped off one shoe, then the other. He leaned over and unsnapped Brian’s jeans, and without taking down the zipper, grabbed the legs and dragged them off Brian, leaving him in his briefs and T-shirt. “Take off the shirt while I do away with these.” He hooked his fingers into the band of the briefs, slid them off and tossed them onto the pile of clothes building on the floor.

  Brian sat up and pulled his shirt over his head, flinging it to the side, missing the mound, not caring.

  Rush stood back and just looked his fill. “Can’t believe you’re mine.”

  “All yours. What’s your pleasure, cowboy?” Brian gave Rush his most wicked grin.

  “You. Inside me.” Rush stroked his half-hard cock as he drank in the sight of Brian on the bed, his dick stiff and laying flush against Brian’s belly.

  “Sounds so good. Fucking you.” Brian shuddered when he took hold of his cock and stroked it. A pearl of pre-cum appeared, grew, then Brian swiped it away with his thumb, spreading it over the tip.

  “Oh, yeah. Want you in me, hard and deep.” Rush stalked over to the stand, pulled open the drawer, found the lube and pressed it into Brian’s hand. “Get me ready. Now.”

  Brian got on his knees and moved over to give Rush room to lie down. He got on the bed, pushed a pillow under his head and spread his legs.

  Brian covered his fingers with the sticky goo, tossed the tube to the side and reached down between Rush’s legs. He spread it in the crack of Rush’s ass. Rush’s hunger flooded him while Brian stroked the sensitive skin between Rush’s balls and his hole. Rush moaned and arched back. Beautiful.

  “Fuck me.”

  The need to get inside Rush, couple with him, surged, left Brian shivering with need. He dragged Rush’s ass toward him, pushed his knees down and apart and leaned in, fitting the head of his cock against Rush’s opening. With a moan, he eased into his lover.

  Rush cried out and Brian froze. “You okay?”

  “So good. The stretch. You filling me.”

  Brian exhaled. “Love how hot you are. How tight. God, my dick’s on fire.” He eased out then pushed in again, setting a steady rhythm.

  Rush pushed back, meeting Brian’s thrusts. “Harder.”

  Brian snapped his hips, his grip on Rush tightening. “Like this?” Sweat trickled down the sides of his face as he slammed into Rush.

  Rush nodded, biting his bottom lip. “God, yes. Feels so good.”

  “Fuck, yeah. Fucking you is as good as you fucking me.” Brian took a hard bite of Rush’s lip, tugging on it hard enough for Rush to cry out. Brian let go and shoved his tongue into Rush’s mouth.

  Rush sucked on it hard. Brian groaned and slammed even harder into Rush as they struggled for dominance. But Brian had the advantage of being on top.

  “This is a rodeo. I want to ride you.” Rush grabbed Brian’s shoulders and rolled them over. He resettled on top of Brian, getting on his knees to make the ride easier.

  “Oh, fuck.” Brian closed his eyes and pushed deeper into Rush. He opened his eyes and gazed up into Rush’s face. “Cowboy. Gonna fuck you. Ride me hard.”

  Rush braced himself on Brian’s chest with his hands and pumped up and down, sliding the length of Brian’s cock, almost leaving, then slammed back to grind against the base of Brian’s shaft. Brian hissed and thrust up.

  Rush rode Brian, getting into a push and pull, slide and scrape. This was so much more intense, now that he didn’t worry about being caught or carrying any of the baggage from before. He was free to just love Brian. The truth of his love broke over Rush.

  “Dear God.” Rush sobbed and clung to Brian when he pounded ever deeper inside his hole, breaking down the walls of his past and freeing his love for Brian.

  Rush grabbed his cock and stroked it. Once. Twice.

  “Coming!”

  His balls drew up, helples
s against the onslaught. Rush came, the wild surge of his semen shooting up the length of his cock. He held it out, letting it splatter over Brian’s belly and chest. Marking him with hot white liquid lines.

  Unable to control himself, Brian thrust, thrashed, pummeled into Rush, lost in the most primal fuck of his life. Nothing except his need for his cowboy entered his mind—all the blood in his body seemed to gather in his loins, engorging his already stiff dick.

  Rush came, shooting over Brian’s chest and belly, and Brian lost it watching his release pump from Rush’s cock. The money shot undid him. Heated cum marked his skin when it fell.

  Pulling Rush down tight, he buried his head in Rush’s shoulder and ceased fighting. The dam broke, rocketing him over the cliff, and from the base of his spine to the tip of his dick, he felt the orgasm take him.

  He emptied into Rush’s tight, hot channel, sobbed into his neck and held on as if letting go of the man he loved meant death.

  “Oh, fuck. Christ.” Brian shuddered as Rush held him just as tightly.

  They rocked together, bodies locked, hands caressing each other.

  Brian whispered tender words, vowed his love.

  Rush pledged to spend his life with Brian here at the Double T.

  * * * *

  “Up and at ’em, Officer Russell.”

  Brian rolled to his side, rubbed his eyes and looked up at Rush, already dressed in a shirt and jeans. He glanced at the clock. He had fifteen more minutes before the alarm went off.

  “Why are you up so early?” Brian sat on the edge of the bed.

  “Had to make sure my man got to work on time. First day is important.” Rush handed him a cup of coffee. The mug said, Cowboy Butts Make Me Nuts.

  “You unpacked it for me?” Brian laughed and took a sip.

  Rush grinned. “Amazing what you can do when you get up early. Your uniform is ready.” He pointed to clothes hanging from the closet door.

  Brian walked over to them. “You put all the pins on for me,” Brian whispered and touched the badge before tracing it with his fingertip.

  Rush came up behind him and wrapped his arms around his chest, then snuggled his nose into the space between Brian’s neck and shoulder.

  “Call me later?”

  “Sure. I’ll report in at two.” He gave Rush a quick kiss on the cheek and headed to the bathroom to get ready.

  After his shower, he dressed and found Rush in the kitchen sipping another cup of coffee.

  “I can’t believe it.” Brian shook his head.

  “What? That I know how to make coffee? All cowboys are trained in the fine art of stewing grounds.” Rush twisted his mouth into a one-sided grin.

  “Well, yes, but no. That I’m here. That you came out. That I’m finally a cop.”

  “Me, too. For a minute there, it was touch and go.” Rush chuckled as he handed Brian a travel mug of coffee.

  “I knew it, you know. The night I first saw you.”

  “Knew what?”

  “That my life was going to change. That something big was about to happen to me.” He put on his Stetson and adjusted it.

  Rush let out a low whistle.

  “Damn, you look good enough to eat in that uniform.” Rush slid into Brian’s arms.

  “Turns you on?”

  “Fuck, yeah. Never knew I had a thing for men in uniforms but…” He glanced down at the bulge in his jeans. “You got me hard and aching.”

  Brian groaned and gave Rush a quick caress over the buttons of his fly. “We’ll take care of that when I get home.”

  “Home. I like the sound of that, Officer.” Rush mmmd and kissed Brian, giving his bottom lip a gentle bite.

  Brian picked up his service belt, swung it around his hips and buckled it. He checked his Beretta, snapped the guard closed then walked to the door.

  He opened it and stepped through then paused. “I’ll be home at four.”

  “I’ll be here.” Rush gave him a nod.

  Brian got in his truck, turned it around and headed down the road to the highway.

  In his rearview mirror, he watched as Rush, followed by his dogs, came out on the porch and sat in his chair. They bounded down the stairs, barked at the truck then raced off toward the pasture. Rush raised his arm and gave him a last wave.

  Brian rolled down the window, stuck his arm out and waved back.

  Life didn’t get better than this.

  He had the job he’d always wanted and the cowboy of his dreams.

  Brian drove all the way to town with a goofy grin on his face.

  EDWARD, UNCONDITIONALLY

  Book three in the

  Common Powers series

  Edward is on a mission to save his grandmother by using his power. Jack is on a mission to never come out of the closet. It’ll take a dog named Winston to bring them together.

  When Jack meets Edward at a traffic stop, his world is rocked—and not for the better. Edward is the gayest man he’s ever seen and Spring Lake is a small town just getting comfortable with its own new gay couple, Brian Russell and Rush Weston. Unlike Edward, Rush and Brian are big, strapping, manly men. But manly isn’t what turns Jack on. It’s Edward—everything about the younger man drives Jack wild with desire and the need to control Edward’s wild, impetuous spirit.

  For Edward, his attraction to ‘bad boys’ has been his romantic downfall. His heart’s been broken so many times he’s lost count. When he meets Jack, Edward falls for the all-American by-the-book lawman, but finds his attempts rebuffed and his pride severely wounded. Jack’s straight, or at least says he is, but Edward knows that look in Jack’s eyes—he’s seen it before in other men. How can a man so right be so wrong?

  Edward tempts Jack beyond anyone he’s ever met and his desire for Edward builds each time he encounters the younger man, until he can no longer deny it or himself. But Edward doesn’t want sex on the side, he wants forever. He wants the fairy tale.

  Can Jack give Edward what he wants or will Jack’s fear of being ridiculed for his choice of a partner keep them from their happily ever after?

  Dedication

  To all my readers who love Edward.

  Thank you for loving him unconditionally.

  Trademark Acknowledgements

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Louis Quatorze: Louis Quatorze

  Miata: Mazda Motor Corporation

  Country Living: Hearst Communications Inc.

  Metropolis Magazine: Horace Havermeyer III

  I Love Lucy: CBS Television Distribution

  Louis Vuitton: Louis Vuitton Malletier

  Green Acres: MGM Television

  Rolodex: Newell Brands

  Mighty Dog: Nestlé Purina Petcare

  Lysol: Reckitt Penckiser Group plc

  Shiner Bock: Spoetzl Brewery

  UPS: United Parcel Service

  Cheerios: General Mills, Inc.

  Silverado: General Motors Company

  iPod: Apple, Inc.

  Cadillac Eldorado: General Motors Company

  Hard Hearted Hannah: Jack Yekken, Bob Bigelow, Charles Bates and Milton Ager

  Roman Holiday: Paramount Pictures Corporation

  Brokeback Mountain: Focus Features

  Godiva: Yiddiz Holding

  Jell-O: Kraft Foods Group, Inc.

  Pretty Woman: The Walt Disney Company

  Wal-Mart: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

  Cadillac Escalade: General Motors Company

  Igloo: Igloo Products Corp.

  Texas Tech: Texas Tech University System

  Chapter One

  “Well, Winston. What do you think about Texas?” Edward drawled in his soft Georgia accent as he cast a sidelong glance at his best friend and constant companion.

  Winston, a six-year-old English bulldog, didn’t answer. He was far too busy hanging over the edge of the passenger door, his face in the wind, pink tongue lolling from
the side of his gaping mouth as Edward drove down the rural blacktop at sixty-five miles per hour.

  “We’re definitely not in Georgia anymore.” Edward sighed. “I’ve never seen so much livestock in all my life.” He shuddered. Another field of black cows dotted the rolling hills. “Although, I’ve always wanted a brown and white cowhide Louis Quatorze chair. It would be très chic, n’est-ce pas?”

  Winston eyed him sadly.

  “The only good thing about Texas is the cowboys. I do love me some cowboy.” Edward gave a low “yum yum yum,” and wiggled his eyebrows at Winston.

  Winston favored him with a soft woof then returned to flying his tongue in the wind.

  “You like them too, huh? Maybe you’ll find a cow dog.”

  Woof.

  “Honestly, you’d probably have better luck out here than I would.”

  Edward picked up the map he’d folded, laid it on the steering wheel of his Miata and glanced at it. Spring Lake had been circled in red and the road they were on had been highlighted in yellow.

  Who’d ever heard of a Farm to Market Road? He’d exited I-10 westbound and turned south onto the two-lane road, all the while wondering where the market was or if he’d come to the farm by following the road to its end.

  The idea of being on a farm gave him the heebie-jeebies. He was so not a Country Living kind of guy. More like Metropolitan Magazine. Sleek leather, minimalistic window treatments, grass-mat flooring. No livestock in the house.

  Not lace curtains, tacky multicolored chintz and those god-awful oval rugs from the fifties. So ‘Lucy and Desi move to Connecticut’.

  He shuddered again.

  But duty called. Well, not exactly duty, but his mother, Lillian. When Lillian Rawlings Beauregard bellowed, Edward Paul Beauregard the Third answered with a controlled, if tight-lipped, “Yes, Mother.”

  And if Edward valued his trust fund—and he did—he did what he was told. He gave a silent but respectful “Fuck you” to his late father for requiring Edward to reach forty before he inherited. As if at thirty, or now at thirty-five, Edward didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life or that he’d outgrow being gay. Never mind that he’d never finished college or that he’d had numerous careers, each one more exciting than the last.