Jerry followed, shoving his hands in his coat’s pockets to ward off the winter chill. He hurried after Leo, who was walking half-turned and beckoning to him. Once he reached Leo, Jerry grabbed his outstretched hand and squeezed.
That simple action earned him a huge smile.
“So, can vampires come out in daylight?” Jerry asked, curious to see if any of the myths were correct.
“Yes,” a cultured, slightly accented voice replied. A slender, light-brown-haired man stepped out of the recesses of the barn. He sported a smile, so Jerry hoped he hadn’t offended the stranger. “I’m Vince.” He held out his hand. “Welcome to my home.”
Jerry took Vince’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
After a quick shake, Vince released him, then grinned at Leo. “Frankie’s inside. We have everything ready.”
Unable to help himself, Jerry gasped. “You have fangs.”
Vince returned his attention back to Jerry, amusement etched on his features. “Vampire, remember?” Leading the way inside the small, clean barn, he continued, “Pretty much whatever myths you can think of about us, they aren’t true. Most of us love garlic. Going into a church won’t strike us dead, and neither does sunlight.” Chuckling softly, Vince focused on Jerry as he walked and added, “And we don’t turn into bats.”
Jerry laughed. “No, shifters do that.”
Vince nodded, chuckling. “Indeed.”
Turning to the right through an opening between stalls, Vince led the way into a large, indoor arena. “Here we are.” He pointed. “That’s my beloved, Frankie, and our son, Freddie. When we started tacking up Charger and Bailey, he insisted on riding, too. Don’t worry,” he added with a wink. “We’ll keep him out of your way.”
“Riding?” Jerry felt his heart rate spike in his chest as excitement surged through him. He tore his gaze away from where a huge, dirty-blond haired guy kept an eye on a toddler riding a small horse. Peering to the left, Jerry just resisted the urge to do a happy dance.
Two horses were saddled, bridled, and tied to a hitching post along the arena’s left wall.
Whipping his attention to Leo, Jerry whispered, “How did you know?”
To Jerry’s surprise, he saw Leo’s cheeks pinken. The bigger man squeezed Jerry’s hand as he cleared his throat. “Well, before meeting you, I did a bit of research on you, and I saw an article about you winning second place in high school rodeo.” Leo waved his free hand toward Vince and Frankie. “These guys are one of the few in the pack who have horses, and since they built an indoor arena last year, I thought you might enjoy it.”
“God, yes,” Jerry burst out. He didn’t know what to think about Leo researching him, so decided to think about it another time. Instead, he dwelled on the incredibly awesome and thoughtful thing Leo had done for him. “I missed Jericho so bad over the years.”
“Jericho?” Leo asked as he guided him toward the pair of saddled horses.
“My gelding,” Jerry told him. “I bought him as a two-year-old and broke him.” Pausing next to the paint horse, he slowly lifted his hand, allowing the horse to sniff his fingers. “If I’d known I was coming, I would have brought you something, big boy.”
“I thought of that.” Leo pulled several baby carrots out of his coat pocket. “Here.”
“Aww, thanks.” Jerry beamed a smile at Leo, appreciating his forethought. Taking the offered carrots, he turned and held them up for the horse. “Here ya go, handsome.”
The horse sniffed at the offered items, then swiftly lipped them from his fingers.
Realizing he should have asked permission, Jerry turned and gazed at the vampire. Fortunately, the slender male appeared amused more than anything else. Still, Jerry knew he should apologize if Vince had a rule about not feeding the horse when it had a bit in its mouth. Some people were very strict about it.
“Uh, hope that was okay that I fed them while they have their bridles on.” Jerry felt his cheeks heat. “I apologize for not asking permission.”
Vince laughed softly, shaking his head. “Don’t even worry about it. I know where the horses were trained have the rule where they don’t feed the horse while tacked up, but that was the first thing Frankie changed.” Vince turned and peered at the big male who was still keeping close to the youngster on the small horse that Jerry guessed from his size and coloring to be a Pony of America. The kid was doing a damn fine job of trotting figure eights under the watchful eye of his father. He guessed the boy had been riding since before he was old enough to walk.
A pang of kinship shot through him.
Damn. Kinship with a little wolf kid because of a horse. I like these people.
“When was the last time you rode?” Vince asked, sweeping his gaze up and down Jerry’s frame.
Jerry would have felt disconcerted by the perusal, but then the vampire stepped close to the saddle and began adjusting the length of the stirrup. Pulling his head together, Jerry rounded the animal and began to do the same. He unbuckled the leather strap around the lengths of leather under the wide fender flap, then slid the metal keeper up so he could pull the clasp out of the holes.
“What are you moving it to?” Jerry asked, glancing over the saddle at Vince.
“Up four holes,” the vampire replied. “After that, check it and let me know if it’s where you like the length.”
Nodding, Jerry did as he’d been told. As he placed the metal tabs in the holes, then slid the keeper back into position, he told the man, “I was kicked out of my home over eight years ago. I managed to live the first couple of years on the streets just fine, but then the gang picked me up.” Jerry lifted the stirrup to his armpit and stuck out his arm, measuring the length by resting his fingertips on the side of the saddle. “Up one more hole. I like a bit shorter than is traditional.” Smirking, Jerry added with a shrug, “I mowed lawns during the summer to earn cash for riding lessons, but the only training barn in the area gave English lessons.”
“Oh, gods,” Vince muttered, although he smiled as he did it. “Don’t tell Frankie or he’s going to ask you to help him learn how to jump. He’s become obsessed with it.”
Jerry laughed. “Oh, so you mean if I open a riding and lesson stable around here, I’d already have one student?”
“Absolutely,” the vampire replied.
To Jerry’s surprise, the man appeared deadly serious... although he appeared happy about it, too.
Huh. There’s an idea.
“I’ll, uh... I’ll give it some thought,” Jerry admitted as he finished adjusting the stirrup. Smiling at the other man, he stated, “First, I better see how much I remember.”
“These two horses are Morgans. This one is Bailey. That’s Charger,” he said, pointing at the dark bay horse behind him. “Both are what are called push button horses.”
Jerry lifted his hand and gave a thumbs up, indicating he understood. A push button horse was one which was very soft-sided, responsive, and very well trained. It would do its best to obey as long as it understood the request.
“Cool. I really appreciate you agreeing to let me and Leo ride them.”
Vince smirked as he offered a single nod. “Have fun,” he offered just as his Freddie yelled, “Daddy, watch!”
As Jerry started to round the horse again—Bailey—he found himself caught by Leo. The shifter wrapped an arm around him and tugged him close. Dipping his head, he sealed his mouth over Jerry’s.
Gripping Leo’s jacket, Jerry quickly opened to him. He slid his tongue out and teased it along Leo’s own. His blood had a predictable reaction, just as it did every time he was kissed by Leo. It heated and flowed south, pooling in his groin.
Leo groaned and lifted his head, ending the kiss. “Damn it,” he grumbled. “That was supposed to be a chaste, let’s go have fun kiss.” While Leo scowled at him, there was mirth filling his eyes. “Now I gotta ride with a boner.”
Jerry’s jaw sagged open, and he found himself looking down and spo
tting the impressive bulge behind Leo’s fly. “I-I did that? With just a kiss?” Tearing his gaze away from the enticing sight, he found Leo’s gaze again.
“Baby, just looking at you does this to me,” Leo admitted with a wry smile. He shrugged. “You’re my mate.”
The simple statement firmed Jerry’s resolve to figure out how to make the first move. He wanted what Leo offered. Jerry just needed to decide how to make it happen.
“Then let’s enjoy this amazing opportunity you set up for me, Leo,” Jerry murmured, lifting his left hand to trace over Leo’s jaw. Girding up his courage, he decided to try his hand at being forward. “Then we can go home and take care of that.” Jerry cast a quick glance down at Leo’s fly so his meaning would be clear.
Leo groaned, the sound full of husky need. “Damn it, baby,” he whined. “That’s not gonna help.”
Jerry couldn’t help himself. He laughed as he stepped away from Leo. Reaching down, he adjusted his own mostly hard dick.
“At least we’re in the same boat,” Jerry admitted, fighting against the heat rising in his cheeks.
“Get on the horse,” Leo ordered roughly. “Let’s see what ya got.”
Grinning, Leo rounded the horse. As he did a quick, one last check over the tack, he asked, “When was the last time you rode a horse? Or do you do it often?”
Leo sighed deeply, then turned back to his own horse. “Actually, it’s probably been around sixty years or so, so I’m probably going to be a little rusty.”
“That’s okay,” Jerry replied before unclipping the lead rope from the halter and gathering his reins. “It’s been years for me, too. We’ll warm up together.”
With that thought, Jerry lifted his left foot to the stirrup and with a small bounce, swung into the saddle. He settled lightly on the western saddle’s seat, appreciating how well trained the horse was as it waited patiently for him to get situated. Finding his right stirrup, he straightened.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Jerry found himself feeling relaxed and at home. He positioned his hand on the reins, which caught the horse’s attention. Jerry noticed how it shifted its weight just a little as it flicked an ear in his direction while turning its head a smidge to peer at him with one eye.
Leaning down, Jerry stroked the animal’s neck. After confirming that Leo was comfortable and ready, Jerry guided the horse along the rail of the indoor arena.
Over the course of the next couple of hours, Jerry felt long dormant muscles awaken as he recalled the thrill of becoming one with his mount.
Chapter Nine
Leo did his best to hide his arousal... and anticipation. While he’d always found Jerry attractive, he hadn’t realized he could find his mate even more stunning. When his man got around horses, however, Jerry took on a bearing that radiated confidence which was sexy as fuck.
Due to that, Leo had sported a boner through the entire experience. That was okay, though, because he would give anything, handle any discomfort, to see that kind of happiness flooding his mate. Leo knew getting a pair of horses was in their future, maybe even more than a couple.
“Thank you so much for that, Leo,” Jerry stated, leaning on the middle consul. The man still seemed to glow with his joy. “I can’t begin to explain how much I’d missed horseback riding.”
“I could tell.” Leo liked the way that Jerry reached out and placed his hand on his thigh. He settled his own hand over his mate’s and squeezed lightly. “You practically glowed. It was obvious you were in your element. Are you thinking about getting one?” Grinning widely, Leo couldn’t help but offer, “We could get a couple and ride together. You could ride with Vince or Frankie, too, if I’m working.”
Jerry’s brows furrowed. While some of the excited light dimmed from his eyes, his jaw seemed to firm up with resolve. “Actually, I was thinking about getting a part-time job, so I had money to get my GED. I never finished high school, since—” Jerry grimaced, then continued, “Well, since I was kicked out by my parents for being gay.”
Leo’s heart rate spiked. That was the first time Jerry had actually admitted his sexuality—at least, as far as Leo knew. Well, Leo supposed Jerry could have admitted it out loud when he’d been kicked out.
I will never make him feel that sharing his sexuality will cause him pain again.
Parking in front of their home, Leo squeezed Jerry’s hand, then shut off the machine. “I was thinking chili cheese dogs with more of those curly fries you love for a late lunch.” They’d been riding longer than Leo had planned, since his mate had been having so much fun.
Jerry groaned and licked his lips. “With relish? And mustard?”
Leo laughed. He loved watching Jerry enjoy what he cooked for him. “Hell, yeah. Is there another way?” It was another rare time when Jerry allowed his inhibitions to ease and he showed his true reactions.
I won’t stop raining my mate with affection and care until he’s like that all the time. And I won’t stop then, either.
“Come on, my mate,” Leo urged, pushing his door open. “Let’s get inside.”
“How about you start the fire while I get everything started in the kitchen?” Jerry offered, falling into step beside Leo as they exited the detached garage and headed to their cabin’s front door. “Do you like your hot dogs boiled or is microwaving them okay?”
“I’m pretty damn hungry, so if you want to cut corners and microwave them, that’s fine with me,” Leo replied, liking the idea of a late lunch in front of the fire. That his mate wanted to prepare a meal for him also appealed to his wolf. “After I get the fire started, I’ll come in and help.”
Jerry reached out and took Leo’s hand, pulling his attention away from where he was sorting his keys in search of the one for the front door. It was only the second time Jerry had initiated contact with him. The move caused his heart rate to spike and his pulse to pound.
“You don’t have to, Leo,” Jerry told him, his tone taking on a husky note. “Let me do this for you.”
“Okay.” Leo agreed readily, then brought Jerry’s fingers to his lips before teasing, “My legs could use a rest after the workout you put them through.”
Jerry laughed, the sound one of joy. “It was fun. Thanks for letting us stay out so long.”
“It was truly my pleasure.” Then Leo opened the front door and drew his mate inside.
Leo closed the door behind them before stomping his feet on the mat, knocking off some of the snow from his boots. Releasing Jerry, he bent so he could remove them. Stepping onto the hardwood floor in his stocking feet, Leo set his boots on the rack. After that, he pulled off his coat and placed it on a hook hung on the wall.
From the corner of his eye, Leo saw Jerry copying his actions. He appreciated that, since it cut down on water, snow, and mud being tracked through the house. Of course, since Jerry was the one who did most of the cleaning—gods bless him—Leo wouldn’t have complained anyway.
Leo headed to the living room and started the fire. Within half a minute, he heard Jerry begin puttering around the kitchen. He smiled to himself, relishing the domesticity of it.
The idea of doing the same in Leo’s own home crossed his mind. He hadn’t voiced it, yet, but he would need to get back to work before too long. Leo knew that everyone from the pack was back in Stone Ridge except Jared and Carson. They were still in San Francisco keeping an eye on the fallout from taking out the gangs.
Once Leo had finished building up the fire, he headed to the back door. He took a few minutes to bring in a couple of armloads of firewood from the back porch. In the process, it soaked his socks, so when he was finished, he yanked them off and left them in the laundry room. Then Leo washed up for supper and returned to the living room.
Groaning softly, more from the pain in his always hard dick than from the twinge in his leg muscles, Leo flopped onto the sofa. He turned his head and watched his mate. The bar that was separating the space cut off the lower half of L
eo’s view, but that didn’t matter. He saw all of him in his mind’s eye.
Watching Jerry glide around the kitchen, humming to himself, sent a fresh surge of arousal through Leo’s body. He reached down and palmed his erection through his jeans. Fighting back a groan, he struggled to calm down.
At some point, Leo must have closed his eyes, for the next thing he knew, Jerry’s soft hand rubbed over his shoulder as he whispered into his ear, “That looks like it hurts. Can I help?”
Leo’s breath caught in his chest as he peered up at Jerry. Seeing the lust swirling in his mate’s eyes, Leo found it difficult to find his tongue. He saw the way Jerry’s eyes were heavy-lidded and how his bottom lip was damp and slightly puffy, as if he’d been nibbling on it.
“Oh, Jerry,” Leo rumbled, his desire filling his voice. “There is nothing I would like more.” A quick glance to the left showed him where his mate had left the tray of food on the side table. “But if we start that now, those delicious-looking chili dogs will be cold by the time I’m done with you.”
Jerry tilted his head to the side as a cheeky grin curved his lips. “Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we?”
When Jerry straightened and returned to the tray, Leo groaned. He wanted to kick himself. Why the hell hadn’t he just said hell yes, grabbed his mate, and not let him go?
Still, Leo held his peace, watching his young mate pick up the tray and carry it closer. He settled it onto the sofa to Leo’s left. Then, to Leo’s surprise, Jerry gripped his shoulder again before climbing onto his lap, straddling his thighs.
Leo instinctively grabbed Jerry’s hips as he sucked in a surprised breath. Jerry’s smile turned shy even as he slid close, pushing his groin against Leo’s. The pressure of his sweet mate’s hard dick pressing against his own caused his breath to leave him in a harsh, shocked hiss.
“J-Jerry?” Leo couldn’t believe the stammer, but he was struggling to pull a single thought into his head.
“Yeah?” Jerry asked, his voice sounding as breathless as Leo felt. Before Leo could come up with something, Jerry turned and grabbed a napkin, then placed a chili dog on it. Straightening again, Jerry brought it to Leo’s lips. “Bite.”
With a Wolf’s Support Page 7
