by Olivia Black
Robbie gripped his ass cheeks, thrusting his hips. It didn’t take long for them to start a rhythm.
Suddenly, without warning, Robbie moved. He picked Cody up and placed him on his back underneath him, taking control. Robbie hooked Cody’s knees with his arms, spreading his legs wide open. Robbie fucked him like a man possessed, slamming into him harder and faster.
“I’m sorry,” he panted between thrusts. “I wanted you to ride me, but you feel too damn good. I can’t go slow.”
Cody opened his mouth to reply, when Robbie pressed their lips together. He loved kissing Robbie, feeling the man’s soft, plump lips against his own. God, I love you. I love you so much. Rubbing his tongue against Robbie’s, Cody wrapped his legs around the man’s waist, holding him tight.
With Robbie’s body on top of him, rubbing against the length of his cock, each thrust of his hips sent tingles throughout Cody’s body.
He broke the kiss, moaning. “I’m not gonna last long. Fuck!”
“Come on me, baby.” Robbie growled.
The next time Robbie’s cock pegged his gland, Cody erupted. Warm jets of cum shot between them, spraying his stomach and chest. Robbie gripped his ass tighter and buried himself deep inside Cody’s body.
“Oh, fuck, baby!” Robbie cried out as he buried his cock to the hilt and followed Cody over the edge. He rested his forehead against Cody’s as his body shook slightly. “Oh, damn,” he panted, closing his eyes.
After a couple of minutes, Robbie rolled to his side, taking Cody with him. The two cuddled close and their eyes connected.
“I love you,” Cody rushed out.
Cody immediately took possession of the man’s lips before Robbie could utter a single word. He wasn’t ready to hear what Robbie had to say.
* * * *
Robbie couldn’t help but grin as Cody kissed the breath right out of him.
The young man wrapped his arms around Robbie’s neck, holding him tight, refusing to let him pull back. Closing his eyes, he followed Cody’s lead as their tongues danced together. After a few minutes, Cody loosened his arms and allowed Robbie to pull back.
Looking into Cody’s beautiful brown eyes, Robbie could easily read the emotion written all over the man’s face.
“I know it’s too soon, especially after everything that happened. It’s probably hard for you to trust me, but it’s the truth. I do love you. Being here with you made me realize that I don’t want to be anywhere else and I don’t want anyone else. I…” Robbie gently covered Cody’s mouth, stopping him.
“Cody, I know how you feel. If I didn’t care about you and want a future, I wouldn’t have been so upset to not have you by my side. I really hate to change the subject, but I need to take care of this condom.” Cody chuckled lightly. “I’ll be right back.” Robbie placed a quick kiss on Cody’s forehead as he rolled out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
Pulling off the latex, he tossed it in the trash can.
Robbie turned on the faucet and waited for the water to warm up. Once it was at a comfortable temperature, he shoved a soft washcloth under the flow and wrung out the excess moisture. Heading back into the bedroom, Robbie climbed back onto the bed. Robbie made quick use of the washcloth, wiping Cody’s flat stomach before removing the excess lubricant. He tossed it over his shoulder before pulling the covers up, covering both of their naked bodies.
Opening his arms, Cody moved toward him until they were cuddling close once more. Robbie turned to lie on his back and Cody immediately covered him like a blanket. Grinning, Robbie closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around Cody and holding his sexy cowboy close.
“Thank you for taking care of me.” Cody kissed his chest.
“I’ll always take care of you,” Robbie vowed.
It was so easy to make promises to Cody. Robbie had always been a romantic, but he’d never met a man to bring it out of him. He wanted to hold, cherish, and love the man in his arms. It didn’t take long for Cody’s breathing to change, signaling that he had fallen asleep.
Yawning, Robbie let the quiet snores lull him to sleep.
Chapter 11
Robbie woke up before the sun. He got dressed and quietly left the room, leaving a still-sleeping Cody tucked in his bed. He’d barely gotten any sleep, his mind on Oliver. Was his brother okay? Would he be sent to jail for assaulting Sam? How could he possibly sleep knowing that Oliver was in police custody?
Stepping out the front door, Robbie shivered as the cool morning air blew against him. He quickly pulled his black hoodie over his head before jogging to his truck. He started the engine and turned the heater on. Robbie clicked his buckle in place and made his way down the long gravel driveway as the sun slowly started to peak over the horizon.
An outline of someone walking caught his attention and Robbie’s brows furrowed in confusion. As he drove closer, he recognized Jared and stopped the truck. Robbie rolled the window down and Jared walked toward the truck. He was wearing a leather jacket that hung on his frame like a tent. Where the hell have you been all night?
“Hey, are you okay?” Robbie asked.
Jared shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Why the hell are you walking home at this hour?” He’d been so focused on Oliver that he’d forgotten all about Jared.
“It’s a long story.” He sighed. “Where are you heading?”
“The police station, I need to pick up Oliver.”
“Shit. He got arrested?” Jared cringed.
“I’ll find out when I get to town. The sheriff came out and slapped some cuffs on him last night. He said I could pick Oliver up in the morning. Climb in, you can tell me about your night on the way.”
“I shouldn’t.” He shook his head.
“Come on,” Robbie coaxed. “The three of us can get breakfast at the café in town.”
He looked like he was going to refuse. But instead, Jared reluctantly walked around the front of Robbie’s truck and climbed in. When the door closed and his buckled clicked, Robbie once again started driving toward town. The silence inside the cab of his truck was deafening, but Robbie didn’t want to speak up and fill it with small talk so he waited.
After a few minutes, he glanced over. “Are you okay?” Robbie finally asked.
“I met someone last night,” he murmured.
“And…he was a dick?” Robbie guessed, hoping that wasn’t the case.
“No,” Jared chuckled, shaking his head. “He was everything I ever wanted.”
“What happened?”
“Amazing sex and then, I woke up.” Jared sighed and leaned his head against the passenger side window.
“There is definitely more to that story.”
“That guy back in Portland…” he started, and Robbie knew what he was talking about.
When William’s Last Will and Testament was read, Jared wasn’t sure if he’d be able to stay at the ranch because someone depended on him back in Portland. The man never shared any details before.
“Uh-huh.” Robbie hated dragging conversation out of people, but he got the feeling that Jared needed a hell of a lot of coaxing.
“We grew up in the same boy’s home. His name is Gabe Austin.” There was so much emotion in Jared’s voice when he said the man’s name. “When I first laid eyes on him, I wanted to protect him. Hell, I wanted to keep him in a safe little bubble away from the rest of the world. He was so damn cute and innocent, like a little puppy. He’s been by my side since we were fifteen.”
“Are you in love with him?”
“I…” He cleared his throat and Robbie looked over just in time to see Jared wipe a stray tear off his cheek. “I love him, but I’m not in love with him. I wanted to be. I wanted him to be forever, but…” He exhaled. “Last night I lied to Jacob when he asked if I was in a relationship. I lied and pretended Gabe didn’t exist.”
“Are you in a relationship with Gabe?” Robbie asked.
He wasn’t sure he understood what Jared meant. He loved Gabe, but he wasn�
�t in love. He met someone last night that he’d obviously had sex with and now, he felt guilty.
“I am such a fucking asshole.” Jared shook his head. “Gabe is the sweetest soul on Earth. Why can’t I just love him the way he loves me? Why couldn’t he be the one?”
“Sometimes it doesn’t work that way.”
“Fuck!” Jared pushed his hands through his long hair. “Gabe is planning to come out here and I started this thing with Jacob. God help me, but I don’t want to stop seeing Jacob.”
“I’m sorry, man.” Robbie saw the police station and pulled into a parking spot out front.
He wished he had the right words to offer comfort or advice.
“Do you mind if I head over to the store? I’ll meet you and Oliver at the café.” Jared spoke in a quiet voice.
“Yeah, sure.” Robbie nodded. “Take your time. We’ll wait for you.”
“Thanks.” Jared slammed the door, shoved his hands in his pockets, and lowered his head.
He walked off toward the small store, and Robbie followed Jared with his eyes. When he was safety inside, Robbie got out of his truck and headed toward the sheriff office.
We’re all fucked up.
Robbie realized then that William Rickett brought them all together so that they would finally have family. He wasn’t alone in the world anymore thanks to his four half brothers. A bell jingled as he opened the door.
The front office looked like any other—off-white walls, a few chairs, receptionist desk, and some watercolor paintings. The sheriff came around the corner, coffee cup in hand, looking tired.
“You’re early,” he commented.
“Yes, well, I was worried about Oliver,” Robbie admitted.
“I’m going to release him into your custody. I know the situation with William Rickett. Most of the folks here in town loved your father. He can still live and work at the ranch, but he’ll need to work at Marilyn’s to pay off the damage to Jacob Monroe.”
“Okay.” Robbie nodded. He didn’t have much choice, but at least Oliver wouldn’t be spending a long period of time in jail.
“Take a seat. I’ll get Oliver.” The sheriff turned on his heel and left Robbie standing in the reception area.
* * * *
Jared Carter walked up and down the aisles of the small grocery store.
He felt lost as he dragged his feet. When he finally spotted what he was looking for, he grabbed it off the shelf. Instead of heading to the counter to purchase the item, he went into the bathroom located at the back of the store. Locking himself in the single stall, he stared at himself in the mirror. He tried to envision what people thought of him when they saw him.
He’d always been popular and received compliments on a daily basis. During the daylight hours, he served coffee at a hipster place in downtown Portland. At night, he was on stage playing guitar and singing. He had long hair that hung in loose waves down past his shoulders, deep blue eyes, and facial hair, beard and mustache that he kept shaven close to his face. He was five foot nine inches with an athletic runner’s body—slim and tight.
Staring at his hair, he shook his head. Last night, Jacob couldn’t stop touching the long locks. He wrapped his fist around Jared’s hair and brushed his fingers through the strands, and every time he did, it reminded Jared of Gabe. He didn’t want to think of Gabe or the hurt he would see in the man’s face. But he knew he wouldn’t be able to stay away from Jacob, not now that he’d gotten a taste. Jacob.
Opening the box, Jared plugged in the clippers and flicked it to the on position. He placed his left hand on top of his head and with his right hand he used the clippers to remove the long, beautiful strands. Jared made one long line down the middle of his head so that he couldn’t chicken out and change his mind. With each fist full of hair, he dumped it into the trash can. It took him a while to get through the thick strands, but eventually, he had a bald head. Next, he removed his facial hair, leaving rough stubble behind.
Now, instead of seeing a thirty-one-year-old rocker, he saw a twenty-something youth. Packing up the clippers, Jared cleaned up the mess he’d made and headed toward the checkout counter, leaving his former identity behind in the garbage.
* * * *
“Fuckin’ Jared turned me in last night. That’s how the cops knew my name and where to find me,” Oliver grumbled as they stepped out of the sheriff’s office.
“Shit,” Robbie breathed out. He’d been wondering how the sheriff knew about Oliver or even where to find him at the ranch. “Listen, Oliver, Jared came to town with me. We’re meeting him at the café for breakfast.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, man. I’m not going to start anything. I know that you’re the only one I can trust.” Oliver walked down the sidewalk, ahead of him, his strides long and angry.
“That’s not true.” He jogged, trying to keep up with the man. “You can trust all of us. We’re family.”
Oliver didn’t reply.
Oliver opened the door to the café and Robbie felt as though he’d stepped back in time. It was small and homey, with curtains covering the windows, a small bar and stools, and a few booths. The smell of coffee, pancakes, sausage, and bacon hung heavily in the air, making his stomach growl in delight.
“You can sit anywhere. I’ll bring you menus and water,” a waitress called out as she whizzed past them.
Robbie followed Oliver to one of the booths and sat down. He picked the side facing the door and scooted over, leaving enough room for Jared.
“How are you holding up?” he asked Oliver, hoping that his time behind bars hadn’t been too awful.
“I’m fine.” He shrugged. “I guess I’ll be working at the bar until I’ve earned enough to cover the damage. The owner, Jacob Monroe, isn’t pressing charges, and neither is Sam Caine.”
“I can volunteer to work at the bar with you since technically the whole mess is my fault,” Robbie offered. He didn’t want Oliver taking all the blame and the punishment.
“Fuck, no.” He made a face. “It’s not your fault. From what the sheriff said, Sam wasn’t gonna do anything. I might’ve overreacted.”
“You thought you needed to protect me. That’s not an overreaction, that’s family.” Robbie grinned and Oliver rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, whatever, don’t let it go to your head.”
The waitress dropped off the menus and water glasses. Before Robbie could utter a single word, she rushed off.
“Damn, that lady’s busy,” Oliver muttered, picking up one of the menus and blocking Robbie’s view of him.
Robbie stared at the door, waiting for Jared to arrive. He hoped that there wouldn’t be a scene. A man walked in wearing the same leather jacket Jared had been. It took a minute of staring for him to recognize that it was, in fact, Jared. The man’s beautiful hair was gone. His mouth dropped open in surprise.
“Sorry I took so long,” Jared said as he sat down next to Robbie. “Do I look that bad?” He rubbed a hand over his shaved head.
Oliver dropped the menu to the table, his eyes drilling into Jared. The silence between them stretched and Robbie prayed there wouldn’t be a fight. He was almost positive that they wouldn’t get off with community service, not this time.
“You look like a kid,” Oliver finally said. “Why’d you do it?”
“We all have reasons for doing things,” Jared simply said.
“No, that’s not what I mean. I don’t give a shit about your hair. Why did you turn me in?” Oliver raised a brow in challenge.
“I didn’t give the sheriff your name until Jacob said he wouldn’t press charges.”
Oliver looked lost in thought for a moment before picking up his menu. “Fair enough.”
Robbie grinned and opened the menu. He felt like they were all finally making progress.
Chapter 12
After breakfast, the three men piled into Robbie’s truck and headed back to the ranch. Rolling down his window, Robbie grinned as the fresh mountain air washed over him.
He was relieved that the trouble from the night before was behind them. The fear of Oliver going to jail was now a thing of the past. He’d have to pay his debt back to the owner of the bar, Marilyn’s, but Robbie was sure they all could pitch in and help.
Stopping at the one blinking light in town, Robbie decided to have a quick chat with the bar owner, Jacob Monroe. He did a U-turn and headed to the bar located at the other side of town.
When he pulled into the parking lot, Jared asked, “What are you doing?”
“I want to talk with the owner and see if we can all help out and clean up the bar. It’s not just Oliver’s responsibility.”
“I’ll uh…” He cleared his throat. “I’ll just wait out here, if you don’t mind?”
“Naw, you both can wait here. I just want to have a quick chat.”
Robbie jumped out of his truck and strode toward the bar. The front door was propped open and he peeked inside. The lights were on, showing him all the damage that had occurred. Cringing, he shook his head, hoping Jacob was a reasonable man. He’d already shown Oliver some kindness by not pressing charges. He just hoped the man was still in a good mood.
“We’re closed,” a rough voice from behind the bar growled out at him.
“Hi, I’m Robbie Robertson,” he said as he stepped over broken chairs and around fallen tables on his way to the bar. “I’m sorry about your bar. And I wanted to thank you for not pressing charges against my brother, Oliver.”
“I didn’t do it for you or Oliver,” he said, picking up broken glasses and dumping the debris into a trash can.
“I know. I’m pretty sure it was because of Jared,” he said, and Jacob finally stopped what he was doing, looking up at him.
“Yeah, well, lot of good it did me.” He acted nonchalant, but Robbie could see the emotion blazing in his eyes. “I can’t reopen my bar until this mess is cleaned up. When is Oliver planning to make an appearance?” Jacob changed the subject.
