CHAPTER ELEVEN
The boys made their way out to the front porch of the farmhouse. Skyler wrapped his arm around Dustin, “Why don’t you hang out here with the guys for a second while I go get the bags?”
Levi took a seat on the wicker sofa and fumbled with his pack of cigarettes to get one out. Travis took a seat beside Levi and watched the boy with a gleam of irritation out of the corner of his eye.
Dustin was standing on the front porch staring out across the picturesque yard toward the ball field across the street. He turned to Travis and Levi, “So it’s really quiet up here.”
Travis could tell he was nervous, although Travis had known Sky all his life, he could tell Dustin was very quiet and reserved like he was still trying to find his confidence as an adult. Levi was always one to cut through the crap, “Why are you standing way over there? We don’t bite.”
Travis turned his head slowly to the boy, “Yes you do.”
Levi quipped, “Just you.”
“Wonderful,” Travis replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Dustin took a seat in a nearby chair; and he smiled at them, “So, you guys are so great together, how do you find so much to say? Half the time I don’t even know how to talk to Sky.”
Travis was saddened by the boy’s comments; he knew Skyler cared deeply for him, but there were signs of dysfunction between the two of them. Levi’s face highlighted with concern, he was thinking the same things Travis was.
Travis shrugged, “I don’t actually talk that much, big mouth here always has something to say about everything.”
Levi added, “Yeah we have never really had that problem.”
He paused and shot a look of offense Travis’ way, “Hey!”
Travis chuckled, “I was wondering if you were going to catch that.”
Dustin giggled, “See, that’s exactly what I mean, I don’t even really know what makes Skyler laugh except when his horse Hilda picks on me.”
Travis smiled at the boy, “There is something you should know about Skyler, he is a very serious guy. He has had a very hard life. His father was an abusive drunk, and his mama was my mother’s sister. The poor woman tried to do the best she could with him. You just have to be patient with Skyler. I will tell you this, if he proposed to you, he is madly in love with you kid. Because that man takes commitment very seriously.”
Dustin nodded as he listened to Travis speak. He was starting to see a little snapshot into what Skyler was like.
Dustin’s face contorted to a frown, “See, Sky has never told me anything about his parents. When he proposed to me, I asked him if he wanted any family to attend the wedding, and he changed the subject.”
Travis got up from where he was sitting and crouched down in front of Dustin, and took his tiny hand. “Listen, little buddy, Skyler’s father is dead. Don’t bring it up to him, his mama and daddy had got into a huge fight one night, and she blew his brains out with a shotgun. Now she’s in prison.”
Dustin gasped and covered his mouth with his hands. They could see Skyler making his way back up the walkway to the farmhouse, and Travis shushed the boy.
Levi mumbled, “Blue Sky approaching.”
Travis grinned at him, “What? Is that some kind of code?”
Levi shrugged, “I don’t know you asshole, I was just trying to warn you.”
As Skyler stepped up onto the front porch, he flashed a sly smile their way, “What were you guys talking about so secretively.”
Levi yelled, “Nothing!”
Travis shot a nervous glance his way and mumbled through his teeth, “Smooth! Real Smooth!”
Levi hopped up from the sofa and opened the door for Skyler who was standing with their luggage in hand looking confused at the situation.
Levi followed the man inside, “I’ll show you to your room.”
Skyler smiled at him as Levi bolted past him and up the staircase to the second level of the farmhouse.
Skyler could not help but notice Levi’s slender little butt in the tight jeans he was wearing.
Levi quipped, “Stop staring at my ass.”
Skyler grunted, “I don’t know what you're talking about.”
Levi turned around once he reached the top of the staircase and addressed the man’s comments, “Everybody does, but you are here to work things out with that boy out there.” Levi pointed down the stairs to the front door.
Skyler sat the suitcases down and stared at him inquisitively, “What do you know about us?”
Levi quipped, “More than you think.”
Travis entered the front door with Dustin; Travis yelled, “Levi, I can’t leave you for one second without you interfering with other people’s lives.”
Dustin watched the exchange nervously, Skyler interrupted, “No cuz I want to hear this.”
Levi put his hands on his hips, “That boy right there, is so nervous he doesn’t even know what to say to you. Maybe if you opened up and communicated with him, you guys would be making wedding plans instead of getting away to reconnect.”
Travis dropped his head in embarrassment, and turned to Dustin, “I’m so sorry about this.”
Dustin swallowed hard and stepped forward, “It’s okay, It needed to be said.”
Skyler turned to him in shock, “I thought everything was good baby, what’s wrong?”
Dustin began to cry, and Travis wrapped an arm around him, “ Skyler, I really do like you a lot, but I feel like we don’t know a lot about each other.”
Skyler made his way back down the stairs and stood in front of the boy with a look of concern in his eyes, “ Dustin, I love you more than anything in this world. Why didn’t you say something before?”
As tears slid down his face, Dustin took a deep breath, “It’s because you have had a hard life and I just thought if I pretended everything was okay, that eventually, it would be.”
Skyler reached out and placed his hands on the sides of his face, “I will tell you anything you want to know, no matter how painful.”
Dustin sniffled, “Honestly?”
“That’s why we came down here cowpoke, was to get us ready for forever.”
Levi stood at the top of the stairs with a smug smile and his arms crossed. Travis glanced up at him with a grin. It was one of the reasons Travis loved him so much, he was braver than he ever could be, and he could sense immediately what needed to be done to start the healing process.
Dustin wiped his tears on his sleeve, and Skyler wrapped him in a hug, “Aw, don’t cry baby. We already know we have the spark. We just have to learn more about each other and get closer.”
Dustin heaved, “I just don’t want to be another problem for you. You work so hard, and I don’t want to contribute to your stress.”
Skyler pulled away to look into his eyes, “You could never be a problem, you have helped me heal. Without you, I would have never known that I could love again.”
Dustin reached up and ran his fingers down the man’s face, “Oh Sky, I love you so much.”
Skyler pressed his lips to Dustin’s, and the boy sighed deeply. It was like a burden was being released from him, and Skyler was the one setting it free.
Levi had already sat their suitcases in their room and came back downstairs to stand beside Travis. Travis turned his head and whispered in the boy’s ear, “You are such a smart little punk sometimes,” and he kissed Levi on the side of his head.
Levi closed his eyes and smiled, “Sometimes you have to open a wound and pull out the cause before you can treat the symptom.”
Travis looked at him puzzled for a moment and quipped, “When did you get so smart?”
Levi replied with an unconcerned toned, “Oh, I’m not smart, that’s what Aunt Myrtle used to say when she got something in her hand after pulling weeds around her trailer.”
Travis grimaced, “Eww, I didn’t need to know that.”
Levi grinned and kissed the man on the lips, “Well now you do, I’m hungry and am going to check on di
nner.”
As he passed Skyler and Dustin, he looked at Skyler, “Are we cool Mr. Sky?”
Skyler winked at him and mouthed the words thank you from over Dustin’s shoulder. He was still holding Dustin, and basking in being close to him.
CHAPTER TWELVE
As Travis and Levi worked on dinner in the kitchen, Skyler had scooped Dustin off the floor and carried him upstairs to their room.
Dustin playfully asked him questions as they made their way up the stairs,
“So tell me, Sir, What’s your favorite color?”
Skyler replied, “Red!” with a grin.
“Favorite actor?” Dustin quipped.
“The Duke!” Skyler shot back with a slight chuckle at their little game.
Dustin looked at him confused, “Who is that?”
Skyler rolled his eyes, “You have got to be kidding me?”
Dustin frowned, “Hey, I can’t help it.”
Skyler shook his head with a grin, “It’s okay.”
When they reached the top of the stairs, Skyler sat him down on the floor and stared into his eyes. “Favorite hobby?” he growled.
Dustin tapped his chin and stared at the ceiling in contemplation, and then looked at Skyler with lust in his eyes, “Does making out count?”
Skyler grinned, he was becoming more turned on by the moment as Dustin took his hand and backed toward the bedroom.
Skyler mumbled, “Shit.”
The door slammed behind them, and he began stripping the boy’s clothes off.
Dustin lunged into the man kissing him passionately as he struggled to take his own shirt off. He moaned, “Oh Skyler, take me, take me right here.”
Skyler growled, “You want this boy, you want to make out with me?”
He nipped playfully at the boy’s libre as Dustin unbuttoned the front of the man’s tight jeans.
Skyler cupped his hands under Dustin tiny butt and lifted him off the floor. Dustin’s legs bending up behind him, his thighs gripping the man’s trim waist like a cowboy riding a bull in a rodeo.
They fell onto the bed while locked in a kiss, their breathing accelerating faster by the second. Their hearts beating rapidly with each touch. Skyler could feel the goosebumps rise on his delicate white skin as he overcame the boy, and positioned himself on top.
He dove down onto the boy's neck, and Dustin screamed, “Ohhh,”
Skyler continued munching away at his neck for a few more moments, before slowly making his way down the boy’s chest to his erect dick.
Dustin watched the man as he made eye contact while making his way down, and just before he reached his cock, he closed his eyes to bask in the feel of the man’s warm mouth on it.
Travis and Levi were just below them in the kitchen, and he giggled as he chopped the salad prompting Levi to glare at him, “What’s so funny?”
Travis pursed his lips, “Did you hear that?”
Levi was clueless, “What? No! What are you talking about?” as he continued to stir the potatoes cooking on the stove
Travis laid his knife on the cutting board, “It sounds like ole Skyler’s giving it to Dustin pretty good up there.”
Levi grinned mischievously, “No, really?”
His question was answered from a labored, “Oh yeah” from above their heads.
Levi covered his face to muffle his laughing, and Travis’ eyes were smiling at him.
Travis quipped, “Stop it, they will hear us down here.”
Levi added, “I don’t think they are worried about that.”
Another moan echoed from upstairs, “Oh yeah, fuck me Sky!”
Levi ran over to Travis excitedly and buried his head in the man’s shoulder, trying to suppress his laughter.
Meanwhile, Travis was wondering if they made that much noise while having sex. Levi answered his thought, “I don’t know why it’s so funny we are much louder than that.”
Travis glared at him, “No we are not.”
Levi fired back, “Yes we are, You sound like a grizzly bear attacking its prey when you cum!”
Travis roared in laughter, “No I do not!”
Levi teased the man, “Why don’t we run an experiment?” as he positioned his hand on the front of his jeans. Travis grinned at him, amused with Levi’s flirtation, “We don’t have time for that right now!”
Levi pouted, and Travis closed his eyes, “Aw shit! Now you done gave me a boner you little asshole.”
Levi pulled Travis along like a puppy on a leash to the bedroom, and they closed the door behind them. A few minutes later Levi scampered back out in his tightey-whities to turn the oven off and move the pot off the stove before creeping swiftly back to the bedroom and slammed the door behind him.
After Levi and Travis had finished their intimate encounter and made their way back to the kitchen to plate dinner. Levi reached into the cabinet to grab their signature china with little magnolias accented with gold trim around the brim.
Travis had finished the salad and made his way over to pull the roast out of the oven. As he did, he heard the boys coming down the stairs.
Levi greeted them as they turned the corner to the dining room, “Sounds like you guys got reacquainted quick up there.”
He flickered his eyebrows at them, and Travis yelled from the kitchen, “Damnit Levi, give them some privacy!”
Levi stuck his tongue out just as Travis was coming in from the kitchen and he widened his eyes at the boy. He sat the roast down on the table, “Don’t fuck with me little boy; you know what I will do to you.”
Levi straightened himself and smiled coyly at their guests, “That’s my cue to go get the salad!”
Dustin and Skyler laughed at his expression as he walked slowly back to the kitchen. They were taking their seats when they heard a yell from the kitchen, followed by a few whacking sounds. “No Trav don’t!”
Levi composed himself and carried the salad in, before silently taking his seat at the dining table. Skyler chuckled, half concerned and half amused, “What happened little buddy?”
Levi pouted, “Travis spanked me.”
Dustin erupted into laughter and added, “He treats you like a son!”
Travis entered and took his seat by Levi, he spoke with a sadistic tone, “He knows Daddy doesn’t like it when he harasses the company.”
Skyler grinned at Dustin, “Now see aren’t you glad I don’t talk? We could be like this.” He gestured at Travis and Levi, and Dustin shook his head solemnly.
Skyler changed the subject, “This looks great guys, What is all this?”
Levi answered, “It’s roast beef, smashed taters and Salad!”
Travis added, “Dig in! I know you boys have got to be hungry.”
Levi taunted as he reached for a roll, “Unless you got your fill earlier.”
Skyler laughed, “Nah, we need to refuel.”
Levi smiled properly chastised by the man’s snarky tone.
Travis grinned at Levi, “Ooh he burned you!”
Levi smirked, “Yeah yeah!”
Travis continued, “Cousin Skyler always could match wits with anyone around.”
Dustin was fascinated as Travis recanted tales of how the boy was just as sassy as Levi when he was younger.
“I do not believe this!” Dustin gushed.
Skyler blushed, and Travis shook his head, “Sure was!”
Skyler finally addressed Travis’ description, “I was a little fighter just like Levi here, used to run my mouth all the time, until I met Jimmy.”
He looked sad for a moment, and Travis kept the conversation going, “Yeah, that Jimmy had a mouth on him. Would cuss out a preacher if they looked at him the wrong way.”
Dustin was happy they were talking about things from Skyler’s past. They had been making great strides in talking about things, but never about Jimmy.
Dustin knew it was so hard on Skyler to think about the boy; he never got to marry. Even after he got closure to the situation, he knew Jimmy was a gh
ost that would haunt them forever.
Skyler finally opened up over dinner with Travis’ help and explained how they had first met.
Skyler was glowing as he told the story, “Well, one night I was getting off work and saw this skinny boy hitchhiking, and I pulled over to ask him where he was going.
It must have been a hundred degree’s, and I was genuinely worried the kid was going to die from heat stroke.
You see a gal pal of mine from the factory was taking care of the boy, and he wanted to go somewhere, and she wouldn’t let him, so he took off walking.
She had called me earlier to let me know, in case I saw him on my way back to the cabin. Well, this little dude spits and asks me, Where I am going?
Well I told him, I just got off work, I’m gonna stop at the bar and go home, he jumps in my truck and yells let’s go, daddy!”
Dustin laughed, “That is so funny.”
Travis was watching Skyler with cautious eyes. Skyler was looking a little melancholy after recanting the tale.
He smiled at him, and Levi asked, “You okay Sky.”
Skyler shook his head a silent, yes, and Dustin put a hand on the man’s arm. He could see it was painful for him to talk so much about Jimmy.
Levi changed the tone of the conversation, “Dustin, tell me how did you meet Skyler?”
Dustin blushed, “Oh you guys don’t want to hear that boring story.”
Skyler interrupted, “It’s not boring at all!”
He turned to Dustin with misty eyes and a smile, “It was the best night of my life, and I will never forget it as long as I live.”
Travis smiled with his eyes at them; he knew exactly what Skyler was talking about. He would never forget the day he met Levi.
He turned to Dustin, “You see there, little buddy, this man loves you so much.”
Skyler took Dustin’s hand and kissed it. He sighed, “You have no idea.”
They had all finished dinner, and Levi got up to clear away the plates. As Levi cleaned up the kitchen and washed the dishes, Travis stood up and stretched. He turned his attention to Skyler and Dustin, “Hey! Why don’t you boys take a walk to the pond and enjoy the sunset.”
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