Breathlessly, Tim managed to say, “Don’t say something like that when we can’t do anything about it.”
“Can’t we lock the door or something?”
“Jay,” Tim moaned.
Jay suddenly stiffened in Tim’s embrace. Tim wondered about the change in Jay’s body language when Jay yanked his head backward. Large blue eyes stared right into Tim’s. Tim held his breath, waiting to hear whatever it was that had Jay so upset.
“S-Sorry,” Jay stuttered, “you… I… I just thought I remembered where I knew you from.”
“Hey, guys, what are you doing—Oh my frickin’ God! Can’t you get a room or something?” Robin exclaimed.
Tim and Jay started, but even though Jay struggled to be put down, Tim held on tightly. Toward his brother, he snarled, “What are you doing here?”
“Well, Walter worried when you two didn’t come out. Since I wanted to spare you the wrath of Walter upon seeing you molesting his son, I offered to look after you,” Robin snapped back.
“We were just getting everything we needed,” Jay said.
Robin snickered. “Yeah, I can see that.”
Jay slapped a hand over his mouth before muttering, “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Of course not.” Robin grinned before walking toward them. To Tim, he said, “It has been known to be helpful to put your m”—Robin coughed—“your guest down. It would be so much easier to walk out of this barn and toward the horses.”
“You’re not funny, no matter how hard you try,” Tim groused.
Robin grinned, then suddenly gazed at Tim worriedly. “Put him down, put him down. Tim, now!”
Unceremoniously, Tim stood Jay back on the floor, and Robin immediately wedged himself between them. He grabbed a box with grooming utensils and said cheerfully, “Now come on, you two. We don’t have all day and you can talk while you ride.”
Right on cue, Walter and Ralf entered the barn, both looking concerned, though probably for different reasons.
“Oh, hey, Dad! Hey, Walter. These two got lost in talking about horses instead of going outside to get them ready,” Robin explained, shaking his head in fond exasperation.
I never thought you could lie without turning beet red, Tim said. I wonder how many times you’ve tricked me in the past.
Shut up, I just saved you two. The least you could do is to say, “Thank you, Robin.”
Thank you, Robin.
Better.
“Jayden, is everything all right? You look as if you’re coming down with something,” Walter stated. He walked over to his son, who quickly pasted a reassuring smile on his face.
“I’m good, Dad, really. Stop worrying, okay?”
Walter reached out to feel Jay’s forehead. Tim narrowed his eyes to slits, and a low growl rumbled in his chest. Jay and Walter both froze on the spot, startled expressions on their faces.
Robin was the first to recover from the initial surprise. He bumped a fist against Tim’s belly before telling him, “Mom will be pissed when she finds out you didn’t eat breakfast.”
“Breakfast?” Tim asked.
Waving a hand in front of Tim’s face to get his full attention, Robin replied, “Breakfast, you know eating food in the morning so your stomach won’t growl as loud as it did just seconds ago?”
“Oh,” Tim said. Willing himself not to lunge at Walter Cox, he smiled sheepishly, “You don’t have to tell her.”
Tension seeped away from Walter. He ruffled Jay’s hair, not recognizing the death glare he received from Tim for it. “Jay is the same. Eating breakfast isn’t really something he’s keen on.”
“May I suggest you and Jay get the horses ready?” Ralf said. Telepathically, he added, The sooner you get out of here, the sooner you can claim your mate.
Dad!
What? I want you to claim your mate before you attack his father for touching his own son. You won’t feel threatened that badly anymore after the bond is in place.
It’ll take an hour to get the horses ready, Tim groused. I’ll be a basket case by that time!
Then you’d better hurry up.
“Walter? Would you like to take a carriage ride?” Ralf asked. Walter’s face lit up and he nodded. He followed Ralf’s outside to the carriage, talking animatedly to him.
Robin breathed out a sigh of relief. “Since our dad got your dad out of the way, the only remaining problem is for you two to keep your fingers off each other long enough to get on the horses.”
Jay blushed, quite an endearing sight in Tim’s book, cleared his throat, and mumbled, “This is so embarrassing.”
Nonetheless, he swung the saddle onto his shoulder, kept hold of the bridle, and then tugged at Tim’s coat sleeve with his free hand. “Come on, hurry up.”
Tim complied only too gladly.
Fifteen
GROOMING Starlight and Ally took forever, or so it seemed to Tim. Ally pranced around nervously, obviously sensing Tim’s agitation. She also disliked that Tim’s gaze was firmly riveted to Jay grooming Starlight instead of paying attention to her. When he bent over to pick out her hooves, she snapped at his behind. Hissing, Tim let go of her hoof and glared at her.
“What the fucking hell!” he cursed.
Ally nickered and stamped her hoof on the ground, glaring right back. Tim rubbed his rear end although he wore too many clothes for Ally’s nip to have caused real pain. Still, she usually only tugged playfully at his clothes or drooled all over them. She had to be really pissed if she’d resorted to snapping.
“I thought Shires are the gentle giants?” Jay asked while patting Starlight’s neck affectionately.
“They are, but not if the rider doesn’t pay any attention to them,” Robin replied.
“I am paying attention to her,” Tim grumbled.
“Checking out your m—Jay’s ass is not paying attention to Ally.”
Tim stalked over to Robin, who sat on top of the fence, watching them. “Don’t you have any work to do?”
“I can do that later. I’m your chaperone, remember?” Robin grinned broadly, his dimples growing deep.
“You are not our chaperone.”
“I totally am. I love it!”
Tim laid his hands on Robin’s thighs as he glared at him. “You’re horrible.”
“I’m your little brother, what else do you expect from me?” Robin chuckled.
He stopped chuckling when Starlight reared back, her ears flat against her head, trying to put as much space as possible between her and Jay. Tim turned to get a look at Jay. He gasped when he saw Jay balling his hands together into fists, anger contorting his features.
Um, Tim? Is Jay pissed off at me? Why would he be pissed off at me?
I don’t know.
Tim and Robin watched Jay’s eyes narrow, while Starlight neighed nervously. Tim followed Jay’s gaze and ended at his hands on Robin’s thighs. Slowly, he lifted them off his brother’s legs. Jay’s reaction was immediate. The pupils constricted to normal size, his face softened, and he uncurled his fists. Even Starlight stopped complaining.
Was he jealous? Robin asked incredulously. I’m your brother!
Walter is his father, and you saw me reacting to him touching Jay.
Robin shook his head. You two better get that mating thing going. You’re both scary!
Tim walked over to Jay, fastened his hands on Jay’s hips, and pulled him close. Not wasting another moment, he bent down to kiss Jay, telling him with it that he was the only one Tim desired. Jay lost the currycomb in favor of clinging to Tim’s neck.
“Guys! Hello! Get your horses saddled and get out,” Robin interrupted.
“Is he always such a spoilsport?” Jay asked breathlessly, grinding his groin against Tim’s thigh.
Tim sucked in air before stilling Jay’s erratic movements. In a hoarse whisper, he said, “Stop it, please.” Louder he said, “He totally is.”
Robin tsked before hopping down from the fence. “Come on, I’ll help you saddle the hor
ses or you’ll never make it out of here. By the way, I’m not a spoilsport and seeing you humping my brother’s leg is disgusting.”
Jay ducked his head and hurriedly bent down to retrieve the lost currycomb. A mumbled, “Sorry,” could be heard from him.
“Robin,” Tim snarled. Seeing Jay flush in embarrassment suddenly lost the appeal it had had earlier.
“Geez, you’re sensitive,” Robin ranted as he hauled the saddle up onto Starlight’s back.
Jay put the comb into the box and went over to his horse with the bridle in one hand. With a sigh he admitted, “I’m usually not that sensitive. I get that you’re just teasing, but it’s… I… oh crap, I don’t know how to express myself and I’m not one to have trouble finding words normally.”
Tim rubbed Ally’s head before offering her a treat, which she gently lipped from his hand. While he saddled his own horse, he kept a close eye on Jay and Robin. His brother’s face had softened during Jay’s admission. He heard him say, “He has that effect sometimes.”
“Do not tell any stories about me now!” Tim shouted over to his brother. Ally took a few steps backward, showing her displeasure about the sudden yell. She stared accusingly at her rider.
“All right, I’ll keep them for later,” Robin replied.
Eventually the horses were ready and Tim and Jay mounted them. Jay led Starlight through a few rounds in the pasture, getting a feeling for the big horse. She followed his lead easily, and Jay’s smile grew brighter by the minute.
Ally sidled restlessly while watching the other mare cantering around. “It’s okay, girl. Hey, Jay, you good to go?”
Jay nodded and walked Starlight over to where Tim and Ally stood waiting. Ally and Starlight touched noses gently, both snorting when they withdrew. Tim smiled at Jay, very much looking forward to the next hours.
“I’ve always wondered how difficult it is to ride with a boner,” Robin suddenly piped up.
“Robin!” Tim groused as Jay started laughing.
“You’ll have to find out for yourself someday,” Jay threw over his shoulder, leading Starlight out of the pasture and onto the well-used path.
Tim urged Ally on to follow Starlight, doing his best to ignore Robin’s cackling behind them.
TIM passed Jay after a while, heading for the lead position.
“You don’t like it when someone else is up front, do you?” Jay called out.
Surprised, Tim reined Ally in and asked, “Excuse me?”
“Wow, you’re polite. Everyone else would have just said what.”
Tim didn’t bother answering. He held the reins loosely in one hand, allowing Ally to stretch her neck and rub her nose against Starlight’s. Jay eyed him nervously when no reply came.
For the first time it hit Tim how very young Jay still was. If Tim remembered correctly, Jay was twenty-one, only two years older than Robin. The ten-year age gap still lay between them.
Tim had grown up, made his life choices, whereas Jay still had plans and decisions to make. How would Tim fit into those plans and decisions? Because if there was one thing Tim knew with certainty, it was they belonged together and would live together as soon as their mating bond was in place.
Reminded about the mating bond and wondering how he could have forgotten about it with his erection rubbing against the denim of his jeans, Tim turned Ally around. Roughly, he said, “You got a problem with that?”
“A problem? With you saying excuse me instead of what?” Jay asked, perplexed.
“No,” Tim said, smiling, “do you have a problem with me being in the lead position here?”
Tim watched Jay’s immediate reaction, which consisted of a disapproving grimace. Jay opened his mouth but then clicked it shut with an audible click of teeth. He reined Starlight in, who protested against it, and stared at Tim for what seemed forever.
Only when the horses began to sidle sideways in a restless dance did Jay urge Starlight on. Tim pointed in front of them and said, “We can ride next to each other from this point on.”
Jay nodded, and they urged their horses into a light canter. After reaching the point where the path widened, they slowed the horses down to a trot. Tim waited for Jay to speak up again.
“I don’t like men with an, uh, leader personality. Usually, that is. I find it… disgusting, but with you it’s different. I don’t know why and I don’t know if I like that it’s turning me on instead of turning me off. I certainly don’t babble that much, at least not about my feelings, because, you know, that’s… that’s….” Jay trailed off, his gaze darting around.
“Unmanly?” Tim offered.
Jay pulled a face. “I feel so weird.”
“Weird in a good way or bad way?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Jay replied. “I’m only sure if we don’t get to fuck each other senseless very soon, I’ll lose my mind.”
Tim choked on his own saliva. “Christ, don’t say stuff like that so heedlessly. I could have fallen off the horse.”
Jay chuckled. “Now, that would be bad. We can’t have sex if you break something important.”
“Oh, you will pay for that.”
“That line is so old! Can’t you be a bit more inventive?”
“Inventive? No, I can’t, but I sure can fuck you senseless.”
Pleased, Tim saw Jay’s eyes widen and heard his sharp intake of breath. Jay’s voice sounded strangled when he said, “Are you going to fuck me here, in the middle of nothing?”
Tim shook his head, smelling new sparks of arousal coming from Jay. He could hardly refrain from pulling Jay off the horse and ravishing him onto the ground, possible bystanders be damned.
“See that shelter? We’ll have privacy there. If we let the horses run now, they won’t cause a riot while we’re busy.”
“Busy, eh? I like that image. Of being busy with you, that is.”
Jay grinned, then urged Starlight into a gallop. Tim spurred Ally on, and the two horses covered the ground swiftly, their long manes and tails fluttering in the wind.
The feeling of freedom was strong, the feeling of happiness and joy upon seeing Jay beaming even stronger.
Jay whooped as he urged the massive horse on. Tim felt Ally lurching to keep up with Starlight and whooped as well. Jay glanced back over his shoulder, locking his gaze on Tim’s for a few seconds. It was long enough for Tim to see the passion and the longing in them—all because of him.
Sixtteen
UPON reaching the shelter, they jumped off the horses and quickly unsaddled them. Breathlessly, Jay asked, “Will we find them later?”
“Sure, they won’t walk far away. You couldn’t leave the ponies alone out here, they’d be gone instantly, but these two? Nah, they stay close, and even if they wander off, they’ll come back when I call them,” Tim replied.
He patted Ally’s neck, which she acknowledged by snorting and rubbing her big head against Tim’s chest. Starlight did the same to Jay. He almost lost his footing from the strength of her open affection. Yelping, he grabbed for Starlight’s mane to keep himself upright.
“She likes you,” Tim stated.
“How do you figure?”
“She’s acting affectionate. She’s easy to ride but she doesn’t do rubbing, etcetera, with strangers.”
Tim waited for Jay to let go of Starlight and picked the bridle and the saddle up from the ground before nodding toward the shelter. Jay eyed it, apprehension and desire battling for dominance on his face.
Silently, Tim turned toward the shelter, hoping Jay would overcome his concern and follow him. When he reached the door, he heard soft footsteps behind him. Both of them entered the twilight of the shelter.
It took Tim a few seconds to adjust to the dim light inside the shed. The smell was nice, a mixture of hay and well-kept tools. It would smell even nicer after he had finally claimed Jay.
Dropping the saddle and bridle on the floor by the door, he unstrapped the blanket from the saddle. Motioning for Jay to do the same, Tim waited for h
im to comply. He watched Jay fumbling with the straps, his hands trembling ever so slightly. A curse tumbled from Jay’s lips when he simply couldn’t open one of the straps.
Tim chuckled, pulled Jay’s hand away, and opened the strap. He slung both blankets over his shoulder before snatching Jay’s hand in his own. He laced their fingers together, looking at Jay’s thinner, whiter fingers, a distinct contrast to his beefy, tanned ones. Lifting his gaze, he saw Jay staring at their intertwined fingers as well.
“I’m usually not such a klutz.”
“Klutz?” Tim asked, baffled.
“I mean, I am capable of getting some lousy straps open,” Jay clarified.
“I’ll have you know these are not lousy straps, and I don’t mind helping you out.” He held up their joined hands between them before adding, “And look what it got me.”
“Oh God,” Jay moaned.
He fell onto his knees, fisted his free hand in Tim’s shirt, and tugged him down. They met in a hard, devouring kiss, twining their tongues together, leaving them breathless.
When they broke apart for air, they pressed their foreheads together, both of them panting.
“This is still so weird. I’ve never felt like this before and I know I keep saying that and… and it sounds like a cheesy romance and… why the hell does it feel so right?” Jay asked.
“Chemistry, remember?”
“Oh, right. Can we get a bit more comfortable now?”
“You were the one who stopped us from getting comfortable in the first place,” Tim replied without heat.
Jay rolled his eyes, the accompanying smile diminishing his exasperation.
Tim got up from the floor without letting go of Jay’s hand. Towing Jay behind him, he had to stop when Jay stumbled for the second time. “You okay?”
“I’m shaking like a virgin who is about to do the deed for the very first time.”
“But you’re not, right?”
“I’m not what?” Jay asked, confused. Seconds later, he realized what Tim was asking, “Oh shit! No! Did I give you that impression? Great!”
Secret Chemistry (Shifters) Page 10
