by BA Tortuga
“I’m so sorry you were hurt. I appreciate that you warned Gianni about his intruder. I’ll owe you forever.”
“He’s worth it,” Bonner murmured, and even Massimo looked with favor on Bonner.
“I’ll be right back,” Gianni murmured. Bonner needed that pill. “Greg, is the front drive clear?”
“Yeah, the Hummer is off on the parking area.”
“Chris is coming in. About an hour.”
“Got it.”
Gianni trotted upstairs to get that pill, not wanting to leave Bonner too long. Mamma and Massimo were enough to scare anyone away, and Bonner wasn’t at his best.
When he got back, Mamma was rubbing Bonner’s shoulders lightly, and Papà was babbling at Greg in a mixture of Italian and German.
“Son, we need a recliner for him. I’ve called that little furniture store in Texarkana. They’re having a few delivered tonight. Keep the ones you like, send the rest back.”
“A recliner?” Gianni blinked.
“Yes. He can sit back in it and keep his back straight, unlike a couch. It will take off all sorts of pressure.”
“Oh.” Now, why had the doctor never recommended that?
“Remember how your pappy had that bad twister come through and toss him out of the barn? The recliner was his savior.”
“Neat.” He glared at Greg. “You didn’t tell me you spoke Italian.”
“You never asked.” Greg blew him a kiss.
“Bitch.”
“You know it.” Greg chuckled. “Man, Bonner, you’re looking a little gray. You okay?”
“I’m right as rain, sir. Thank you for asking.”
Greg made a face, eyebrows up, lips pursed, but he let it go.
Gianni, on the other hand, gave Bonner his little pill, glaring when Bonner’s expression went obstinate. “Now, caro. Please.”
Bonner pursed his lips but took the pill.
His mom’s low chuckle made him tilt his head. “You’re just like your daddy,” she murmured. That made him beam and blush, all at the same time.
“That’s high praise.” Gianni glanced at Massimo. For all of his teasing, he couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather be like.
“It is.” Mamma looked at Massimo like he was the center of the universe. Still. He tried hard not to hope Bonner looked at him the same way someday. Right now Bonner was just trying to stay upright for his folks. The pill did start to work right away, and the food brought a little color to Bonner’s cheeks.
“Where is Colt?” Greg asked. “And Mason? Hell, where is everyone?”
“Colt’s on leave. Mason is with Chris and Xavvy, making sure everything at the hospital is set.”
“Where’s he on leave at?”
“Upstairs.”
“Huh. Weird.”
“Yeah.” He shook his head very slightly.
Greg’s eyes widened, and he might as well have said “Ooooh” out loud. Dammit. The last thing he needed was Mamma deciding he had an insane bat in the belfry.
He tried not to roll his eyes, and it was Papà who stared at him, eyes glinting with interest. God help him.
Bonner chuckled softly, and the temptation to poke him in the ribs was almost too much to bear.
He didn’t, because jumping was bad for Bonner’s back. He did wiggle his fingers in threat, though.
“Be good, now. You’ve got more folks in this house than in a whole rodeo. Did you warn them about Micah? Harrison? Alison?”
“They know Alison. She’s in Dallas for the weekend, anyway. I did forget to mention Micah….”
“Honey, Micah’s living at Miz Jerilyn’s house.”
Mamma stared. “Pardon me? A man? At Jerilyn’s?”
“Oh, don’t worry, Miz Cesare. He’s queer as a three-dollar bill.”
Mamma laughed, slapping her leg. “You’re the only straight man left on earth, Massimo.”
“Luis is pretty straight, and the jury’s out on Harrison,” Gianni said.
“Huh. Not Kody, though.” Greg winked. “And I swing like a rusty gate.”
“Hmmph. You will all stay for the cookout, yes?” Massimo stood. “We need to go to the store, Diana.”
“Of course we do.” Mamma winked at Bonner. “He’s obsessed with American grocery stores.”
“We need steak. All Maria has are casseroles.” Massimo made a totally immature gagging noise.
“Brisket. Mamma, please. Potato salad?”
“Yes, baby. And french toast for breakfast.”
“You spoil him,” Massimo muttered, and she just beamed.
“She’s spoiling all of us, Papà. You love french toast.” He winked at his dad. “Go on so Bonner can rest. He’ll actually be human by supper if he gets the rest of his nap.”
“Yes, he needs rest.” Mamma’s eyes twinkled as she glanced over to where Bonner was sound asleep, held up by his brace.
“He does.” Greg eased out of the chair he’d settled into. “Later, Cesare. I’ll be here with bells on for supper.”
“I want to see that,” Gianni shot back.
“Don’t tempt me, Cesare.” Greg flipped him off before heading out.
“Such strange men you work with.” Massimo was amused as hell, though. “Come, tesoro. We must go find meat. Take your Bonner to rest, and tell him how much we appreciate him turning out to meet us?”
“Of course.”
His folks left, and quiet descended. Gianni ate the rest of his food, and Bonner’s. Then he grabbed a bowl so he could fill it with cookies and chocolates. Maria was the best.
“Caro,” he said softly. “Back upstairs, hmm?”
Bonner blinked up at him with bloodshot eyes. “Gianni?”
“Sì, caro. Come to bed with me.”
It was proof of Bonner’s exhaustion that he didn’t even hesitate. “Please.”
“You were lovely to come down and meet them. I don’t suppose you took the elevator?”
“I couldn’t remember where it was.” Bonner’s words slurred slightly.
“I can show you.” He took Bonner’s upper arms in hand to help lift. Bonner moaned but got to his feet, leaning hard against him. “You’re getting better at that every time.” Gianni meant it. Bonner was getting stronger.
“I have to get better. I don’t like being broke-dick.”
“No one likes it. Did I tell you I got shot on my last assignment?” They moved slowly to the elevator, sweat breaking out on Bonner’s face. Gianni frowned but didn’t comment on it.
“You showed me the scar.”
“I thought so. It took forever to heal up, and that was with a vest taking the worst of it. The scar was just a through and through, but it drove me nuts. The broken ribs were far worse.” He babbled a little, keeping Bonner moving until they reached the bedroom.
“Yeah. I get that.” Bonner curled into the bed with a soft sigh as soon as Gianni took the brace off him.
“My mom probably really did order you a flotilla of recliners. We’ll put one up here and at least one downstairs.” He would test them if he had to. Colt would love to duct tape him as if he wore a brace.
“A recliner sounds great. I’ve slept in a lot of them over the years.”
“I never have.” He couldn’t imagine Massimo sleeping in one, but none of them were getting any younger, right?
“No? It’s not bad at all. Great for a nap, in fact.”
“I’ll have to keep one for me, then,” he teased. “I bet we’ll have to fight Massimo off. He’ll be over here wanting to snooze.”
“This whole thing is insane, you know that, right?” Bonner didn’t even sound particularly worried.
“This is my family, if that’s what you mean. The rest is what happens all the time in my job, if you mean you getting shot. I just hate that it happened to you.” He couldn’t resist resting with Bonner. He was getting damn lazy.
“I think I’d avoid it again myself, to be honest.”
“I can see why.” Gianni sighed. “Can we make out
a little? Are you too tired? I want to kiss you so bad.”
“I would love that. Come here, honey. Hold me. Love on me some. Please.”
“Oh, grazie a Dio.” He moved in close, resting their foreheads together. “I feel like we started out cooking with oil and someone sprayed us with a fire extinguisher.” He chuckled.
“Mm-hmm. It’s tough to burn when you’re both a little cracked.”
“It is. We can blow on the embers, though.” He kissed Bonner’s mouth, a slow melding of their lips with just a hint of tongue. The heat shocked him, just as it did every time. Bonner opened to him, tongue sliding against his, easy and lazy, but his.
They both moaned a little, the sounds vibrating between them. He had to remember to keep it soft, to stay as calm as possible. Then he would go jack off in the shower.
“I want you,” Bonner moaned into his lips. “I want to suck you, you know?”
“Oh, caro, I want that too. I think maybe you ought to let me do you this time, though. Just let me make you feel good.” He could so do that, if he could get Bonner more naked without hurting him.
“I don’t know if I can get it up, honey.”
“You are in your sleep, caro.”
Bonner shot him a sweet, happy grin. “Well, that’s good news. There’s some things a man likes to have working.”
“Indeed. I like it working too.” He left Bonner in the T-shirt, but worked open the jeans Bonner wore and eased them down. No bending in bad ways. None.
“Oh. Thank you. You should have seen me, honey, trying to get those on.”
“I was thinking that when you came down. That and the damn brace. You can call me, you know. If I’m not here.” Gianni wrapped a hand around Bonner’s cock, just loosely, enjoying the soft skin and the springy hair at the base.
“I wanted to make a good impression. I wanted them to know I was okay.”
“You did. They said to tell you thank you. They were impressed, caro.” Most likely because of the way Bonner could cowboy up, but no doubt also because Gianni had never once introduced them to a lover. He dropped lazy kisses on Bonner’s belly as he slowly stroked Bonner’s sweet prick, encouraging the best feelings.
“Mmm.” Bonner’s legs moved a little. Not restless, really. Just small, encouraging slides on the sheets.
“Easy, caro. Don’t hurt yourself. Let me touch you.”
“’M trying.” Bonner laughed a little. “My body don’t feel like mine.”
“No. I know how that feels. It sucks.”
“No shit.”
“Just breathe. In and out. This will be good, or I’ll stop. The minute you tell me it’s not right, okay?” Bonner was getting hard, his cock filling slowly but surely.
“In and out. God, you feel good.”
“I’m glad. You smell like home.” He would bite his tongue, but really, Gianni wasn’t into self-castigation, and he’d done enough in the last few weeks for a lifetime.
“Thank you. No guilt. We’re both here.”
“We are. I blame you.” He chuckled, then blew air over the head of Bonner’s cock.
“Oh.” The sound was soft, wanton, and needy.
“You like that, caro? I do.” He licked at the very top, then around the whole phalange. Bonner moaned for him, the sound of his name like a prayer.
So he took the next step, sucking Bonner’s dick into his mouth. He closed his eyes, slowly moving up and down, lips sealed tight around the shaft. The heavy prick filled his lips, growing harder with every stroke.
This was what Bonner needed, so Gianni held those thighs gently, stilling Bonner so he could do all the work.
“Honey…. Oh God. I need you.”
“Mmm-hmm.” He encouraged that need, licking and sucking but keeping it slow. He didn’t want Bonner to start thrusting and hurt that poor back.
“I want to suck you. Want to ride you.” Listen to his cowboy, talking to him, making him hard as a rock. Jesus, he wanted all the things Bonner described, but this worked too. Bonner’s scent filled him, deep and rich and clean. He no longer smelled like the hospital and antiseptic. The husky words drove him higher, and he grabbed his cock, squeezing as he sucked.
Why the fuck had he not unzipped his jeans before he started this? He slowed, fumbling at his buckle as Bonner whispered sweet nothings about that tight little ass and his needy prick.
He popped off Bonner’s cock to get his hand under the clothes he wore. “Stop tempting me. No fucking until Mason clears you.”
Bonner stared down at him, blue eyes blazing. “Please don’t talk about Mason right now.”
“No. No, this is about you and me, caro. You and me.”
Bonner nodded, then reached out to stroke his cheek. “You still with me?” Gianni knew the question was silly. Bonner’s cock was still poking his chin.
“All the way, honey.” Those eyes held him, so sure.
“Good.” He breathed Bonner in for a moment, then grabbed a bitter yet comforting drop of precome with his tongue. “All the way.”
He took Bonner in, stroking the sweet prick with his tongue.
Bonner’s moan was music to his ears, and those callused fingers caught in his hair, not forcing him, just holding on. He could feel the way Bonner shook, fine tremors wracking those lean muscles. He stroked his cock with one hand, those heavy balls with the other.
“You got good abs, honey. You coulda been a bull rider.” He figured from Bonner that was high praise. He slapped the tip of Bonner’s cock with his tongue. Then he did it again. Those heavy balls pulled up, away from his palm, so he gave them more pressure.
“Gianni… honey, soon.”
Oh hell yes.
Gianni nodded but never let go of his prize. He wanted to taste. Soon. Bonner tried to arch, and he held his lover down, swallowing deep as Bonner shot with a wild, needy cry.
All he could do was take it, and gladly. Where Bonner ended, he began. He let that sweet cock slip from his mouth, kneeling up to take a firm grip on his own dick, yanking away. Bonner watched him with dazed eyes, a soft moan on the air.
His belly pulled in tight, his ass clenching. All Gianni could smell was Bonner until he came, and then their scents mingled, musky and heated and wonderful.
“Love….” The single word floated on the air, as Bonner relaxed into sleep.
Love. Oh, he certainly hoped so. Gianni grinned. In fact, he would insist on it.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
THE SCENT of meat woke Bonner. Oh, that smelled like heaven, and he was so hungry.
Finally, blessedly hungry.
He cast about for the clothes he’d had on earlier. All he found was his cell phone. When he clicked the screen on, there was a message from Gianni: Call me first.
He laughed softly, calling the contact that simply said Boss.
“Hey, caro. I’ll be right up.” He could hear Gianni’s boots on the stone floors. Someone was trotting to get to him. Not that Gianni would flat-out run unless he was hurting.
“Something smells good,” he said, admiring Gianni. He was wearing what Bonner thought of as his Italian lord clothes—gauzy, loose, light shirt and pants that looked effortless.
“Mr. Franklin is sitting in a lawn chair, directing Massimo on both the smoker and grill. The brisket will be done in about half an hour. There’s barbecue chicken now, and soon there will be steaks.”
“Goodness. A feast.” His belly snarled like it was gnawing on his backbone.
“We need to get you food, stat.”
Gianni got him dressed, putting that hated brace back under the shirt he’d worn earlier. Still, he felt so much better he wasn’t gonna bitch. Much. “Hate this thing.”
“I know, caro, but I can tell it’s working, hmm?” Gianni helped him with his jeans, with a pair of flip-flops that seemed ridiculous but would work so much easier than his boots. “Elevator.” Gianni’s tone brooked no argument, and he shivered, remembering how good it was to hear that in bed. Today had been totally different
, though. Gianni had done all the giving. He stopped Gianni with a hand on his arm, offering a soft, deep kiss.
Gianni took it, humming into his mouth, the sound happy and wonderful. “Hello, there.” Gianni smiled down at him, the expression open and not a bit calculated. Not like when he’d first gotten to the ranch at all. It was damn fine, not to have to lie to each other anymore. “Come on. They want to know all about you.”
“There’s not much to know.”
“You’re a rodeo rider. Massimo is fascinated.”
“Oh dear God. I’ll set Micah on him.” Bonner’s bestie did love to talk rodeo. Then all Bonner would have to do would be nodding and smiling.
“Micah’s down there. Everyone is, except for Colt. I haven’t seen him yet. Mason is checking on him.”
“Huh.” Weird. Bonner grinned as the elevator creaked down. “Are they, like, a thing?”
“I don’t know.” Gianni chuckled, an evil, evil sound. “They both growl at me when I ask. I swear, I can’t wait to keep poking them, but they have to show their faces.”
“Yeah. I hear you.” So many complications—Bri, Colt, the Cesares. Hell, just the fact that his lover’s parents were living in the same house as his best friend was enough.
Gianni took his hand. “Just remember. We all tease about Massimo being the dangerous one, but clearly, Mamma is the fierce one. Luckily, she’s decided you were terribly ill-treated, and has already taken me to task.”
“It’s been…. Really? She didn’t tell you to run?”
“No. She told me to think for a change and keep you. You were running to me, not away, even though you knew I was being attacked.”
Bonner blinked. “What did you say to her?”
“That I wasn’t sure at first if it was just sex, but I wasn’t stupid.”
“Even the just sex was pretty intense, you know?” Amazing, even.
“Fuck yes. I saw you again and thought of that time at the beach and damn near came in my pants.” They walked out into the main floor, the smell of food even more intense. Yeah, this was not a discussion for public areas. Not even a little.
