Then Graham looked up and said, “I think the first thing we have to do is call my lawyer. We’re going to need to take legal action to protect you, Xavi.”
“Why would we need a lawyer?” Xavi asked.
“Well, for one, you were held in that bedroom against your will. That’s kidnapping and false imprisonment,” Graham answered.
“But they’re my family. You can’t bring charges against your own family.”
“Are you saying you don’t want to bring charges against them, or that you don’t believe it’s possible?”
“I don’t know.” Xavi slumped back into the chair, looking confused and defeated.
“Let me ask you this,” Graham said. “Do you believe your family is looking for you?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Okay, when they find you, do you believe they will take you to that retreat to try to cure you of your gayness?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to go to that retreat?”
“Shit no. How can you ask me that? There’s nothing wrong with me to cure.” Xavi was sitting straight up in his chair now, fire shooting out of his eyes. Trace was totally mesmerized, his cock hard and fighting his zipper to get out of his pants. A wound-up Xavi triggered all of Trace’s switches.
Graham took his cell phone out of his pocket and pressed a few buttons until everyone in the room could heard it ring and then a law firm’s receptionist answer it.
“I’d like to speak to Lance Granger. Tell him it’s Graham Conner,” Graham said.
After a few minutes, through the speaker Trace heard. “Hey Graham, what’s up?”
Graham quickly explained what had happened to Xavi. There were a few questions back and forth. Xavi answered most with one or two word sentences, clearly uncomfortable talking to a stranger, even over the phone.
Finally, after a moment of silence, the lawyer spoke. “This is what I recommend. Of course I think you need to file charges against your father, brothers and even the church. I agree with Graham’s thoughts, that you were kidnapped and imprisoned against your will. But if you don’t want to do that, at least let me set things up so you can go in and get a restraining order against them. I know it’s only a piece of paper, but it’s something we can do to try and protect you. I’ll get the preliminary paperwork ready so you can come in and sign it right away in the morning. Then I’d like you to go over to the police station and talk to them. They need to be aware of the situation.”
Xavi looked at Graham and nodded. Graham told Lance that Xavi would be at his office first thing in the morning and then he would go to the police station. They went over a few more details and then the phone call was wrapped up, and the men all sat back in their chairs, taking a moment to think.
“There’s one thing I’m curious about,” Adam said. “If almost everyone in the church becomes crippled as they get older, why do the elders require all of those hours of kneeling?”
“Sacrifice to the faith,” Xavi answered, his voice so sad that Trace gathered him up in his arms and held him tight.
“I think Ms. Lucy probably has lunch ready. Let’s go eat and then get back to work. Tomorrow, Trace and Xavi, you can have the whole day to take care of things in town and catch up on anything else you need to do.” With those words, Graham ushered everyone out of his office and into the dining room where the rest of the men were gathered, eating lunch.
The afternoon was spent shoeing horses. The familiar routine was a comfort to Xavi, and time flew by. Although the part-time help ate lunch at the big house, the evening meal was for full-time cowboys who lived on the ranch. That night, when they all sat down at the dining table laden with food, Graham called for everyone’s attention.
He went on to tell the men of the Crazy Angle that Xavi was in danger and explained in basic terms what the situation was. Trace was completely in awe of his boss by the end of the conversation. Graham told enough to emphasis the danger, but not so much that Xavi was humiliated or ashamed.
They didn’t stay long after dinner. Trace wanted alone time with Xavi and got him into his bedroom as fast as he could. There, Trace lay on the bed with Xavi in his arms and just held him tight. The crazy day was catching up to them and Trace started drifting off to sleep.
“Stay the night?” he asked.
Xavi pulled out of his arms and got out of bed. “Not tonight,” he answered. And then he left the room.
Chapter Eight
Trace was stunned. He thought they had just taken the next step in their relationship. Every day they were growing closer, and when Xavi had let him into his body completely, Trace had thought, with Xavi, that was a commitment.
In the past, Trace would never have committed to anybody, but Xavi was different. As far as he was concerned, Xavi was his. He wanted to love, spank, protect, and keep Xavi at his side forever. Trace had had enough of all this patience stuff. It was time to show Xavi that he was part of a couple now. And he better get used to it.
Trace got out of bed with one purpose in mind. Opening his bedroom door, he started down the hall to bring his man back where he belonged.
* * * *
Xavi knew the moment he got back to his bedroom that he had made a mistake. There was no question that he wanted to be with Trace forever, and had realized for a while now he was in love with the man. But he always held that little piece of himself back.
Xavi had learned at a young age to never open himself completely to another person. Over and over, when he had let himself trust his brothers, things would be good between them for a while. They would all play together and include him in their games and stuff they were doing. Then, like the change of day to night, they would turn into people he didn’t even know. Carlos and Elias would harass him or let their friends beat him up. Humiliation at school was a favorite. Many times, he spent the day wearing wet pants or even more humiliating, wet hair. Things helped a little when he fought back. But he could never completely trust them.
It was the same with his parents. At home, there were days when his parents would actually act like they were a family. They laughed, joked, and went to a movie or the park together. Then it was time to go to church and Xavi would find himself back on his knees with his father standing over him yelling words of damnation, while his mother would stand there with a blank look on her face.
Xavi had learned to never put his entire trust in anyone again. Except now, he had Trace in his life. The big man had been a solid rock, standing by him even when he couldn’t force one word out of his mouth. When he was in Trace’s arms, he felt like he was truly home. So, the question was, why was he standing in his bedroom alone instead of being in the arms of the man he loved and wanted to spend the rest of his life with?
Of course, the answer was simple. He was a complete idiot. To go through life not trusting one person was foolish. And Xavi was not a fool. Rushing to the door, he opened it and headed to Trace’s room, only to be brought up short by a fierce-looking Trace standing in the hall right in front of him.
Both men stood there for a moment, determined light-blue eyes searching accepting grey eyes.
“So, are you going to stay the night with me?” Trace asked.
“Yes, I am,” Xavi answered.
“Tomorrow, you’re going to move your stuff into my room,” Trace stated.
“Yes,” Xavi said.
Trace put his arm around Xavi’s shoulders and steered him toward their bedroom. “All right then. And just so you know, if you think you’re going to be sleeping anywhere except next to me for the rest of your life, you can adjust that thinking right now. If you feel you need any help with it, I can lay you over my knee right now. Just as a reminder, you see.”
“I think the rest of my life, might be just long enough,” Xavi replied, walking through the bedroom door. Immediately he started taking all of his clothes off. By the pile of clothes joining his on the floor, Trace must be almost as naked as he was.
Xavi crawled up onto the bed, only
to be blanketed by Trace’s large body. “I think we should get tested,” Trace said into his ear.
Turning his head, Xavi looked into Trace’s beautiful light-blue eyes. Warmth and love were shining so brightly out of them, Xavi’s heart turned over. “You think so?” he teased, just a little.
“Yeah, I do,” Trace said.
“Okay,” Xavi replied.
Xavi caught a funny look on Trace’s face that he couldn’t quite figure out, before Trace lowered his head and started sucking on his ear lobe. He wondered what the big man was up to, right before he succumbed to Trace’s passion for the rest of the night.
* * * *
After spending most of the day at Lance Granger’s office, the police station, and courthouse, Xavi had the temporary restraining order against his father and brothers. In two weeks a judge will review the petition Lance had filed on Xavi’s behalf and hopefully would approve it.
There had been a few tense moments when Xavi thought that nothing could be done. He had no evidence, except badly scared knees, against his family. Then he’d placed a call to his grandfather, who corroborated his story, and Lance did his lawyer thing and things went pretty smoothly after that.
Xavi was a little worried about what would happen after a sheriff served the papers to his dad and brothers. But he knew he’d taken the steps that were needed to protect himself.
“I think we should go to the clinic next and have those tests done,” Trace said, interrupting Xavi’s thoughts. “Then maybe stop somewhere to get something to eat. What do you think?”
“Yeah, sounds good,” Xavi answered.
* * * *
Trace knew as he sat back in his seat of the booth that he had a completely satisfied look on his face. How could he not, when there was a huge plate of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans in front of him and his sweet pea sitting in the seat across from him?
Although, he had to admit Xavi did looked a little shell-shocked. That, too, made him want to puff up a little with pride.
“Your food’s going to get cold if you don’t start eating, sweet pea,” he said.
“Trace Griffin, I can’t believe you talked me into this.” Xavi lifted his hand toward his ear, but Trace quickly caught his wrist, preventing him from touching it.
“I didn’t talk you into it. I merely walked us into the tattoo shop and had them do it,” Trace argued.
“After you blew my mind, saying the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. You could have asked me for just about anything after that.”
“So, I should have had your dick pierced, instead of your ear?” Trace smiled. Part of him wondered if he could actually talk Xavi into that.
Xavi ignored that whole statement, still trying to fathom how Trace had managed it. Xavi now sported a tiny diamond chip in his right ear, while Trace had a small gold hoop in his.
The tests had taken two seconds at the tiny clinic Trace had taken him to, and they were told they’d get a call when the results were in. Climbing on the back of Trace’s motorcycle, Xavi held on tight as Trace drove them to a parking lot behind a small strip mall.
Parking the bike, Trace had turned to Xavi and had taken his hands in his. “Sweet pea, I said last night that this is it, we’re a forever. And I meant it. I love you and I would like to give you something to show you that you’re mine. Will you accept my gift?”
Xavi had been so overcome by Trace’s words and the love shining from his eyes that he had said what was in his heart. “I love you, too. Of course I would accept your gift.”
Trace proceeded to kiss Xavi until he was boneless. The next thing Xavi knew, he was in a tattoo parlor and signing some papers. He had looked at Trace, feeling the panic bubbling up. Trace just calmly took his hand and led him to a sheet-covered table, where he was guided to sit on. Trace lovingly looked into his eyes and then leaned down to kiss him. When their lips separated, a cold cotton ball was applied to his ear and without warning, a gigantic needle was thrust through his innocent lobe.
Then it was Trace’s turn, and seconds later, Trace had a little gold hoop in his own ear. Xavi was totally sure the needle they used on Trace was a lot smaller than the needle they’d used on him.
As they walked out of the shop, hand in hand, Xavi gave up trying to figure it all out and decided to just enjoy finding the one he loved and who loved him back.
* * * *
Xavi sat on a stool at the end of the Crossways Bar and Grill, enjoying an ice-cold bottle of beer. After they had finished eating, Trace had suggested stopping at a local hangout on the way home. As bars went, it wasn’t too bad. It had dark, paneled walls with pictures of horses and cowboys on them. Lazy fans kept the air circling so it wasn’t too hot. There was even a small dining room in the back. Xavi thought it seemed like a friendly place, and most of all, it was pretty clean. A lady Xavi thought to be in her mid-fifties, with dark, curly hair, black glasses and wearing a T-shirt with the bar’s logo on it served them with a friendly smile.
Trace had been immediately called over to play a game of pool with three tall men with golden-blond hair. If he wasn’t mistaken, they were the three Anderson brothers that owned the ranch next to the Crazy Angle. Xavi could see Trace was enjoying himself, laughing and joking along with all the smart talk flying about between them.
Xavi was surprised to realize how comfortable he was. In the past, with a lot of determination, he had gone out to bars with co-workers from the bank. He had even managed to hook up a couple of times. But those men had to do all the talking and work real hard to get him to go out with them. After the sex, Xavi had avoided them. They just weren’t worth going up against his family for.
Now he looked at Trace, laughing with his head thrown back, lifting a bottle of beer to his lips, and Xavi knew he would fight anyone for him.
“Forget it. There’s no denying he’s gorgeous, if you like your men to be rough bad boys. But after one night, he’s way too much work. I think I lasted the longest, and that was only a week. By then I couldn’t walk without a limp, if you know what I mean. And half that time I found myself holding on for dear life behind his motorcycle or being dragged along on some other crazy idea he had.”
Xavi turned to look at the man sitting next to him. He was good looking, with black hair and blue eyes. He was a little taller than Xavi and more muscular, but in Xavi’s opinion, he was a complete wimp. And, now that he looked a little closer, more than a little drunk.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that. I was just trying to warn you. Now, if you want a man with style and manners, go after one of the Anderson brothers. I’ve heard they know how to treat a man.”
“You need something, Sid?” Trace asked, putting arm around behind Xavi and leaning against the bar.
“Oh, hey, Trace. No, my friend and I here were just discussing stuff.” Xavi watched as Sid swayed a little on the stool.
“You drive here by yourself, Sid?” Trace asked.
“No, I came with Jeff. He’s playing darts.” Xavi was completely fascinated when Sid started leaning to the side, only to jerk his body straight up again. Xavi couldn’t believe it when he didn’t fall off the stool.
“Sid, go find Jeff and tell him it’s time to go home,” Trace ordered.
“You know what, Trace?” Sid managed to slide off his stool and stood swaying back and forth. “I think it’s time to go home.” Xavi watched Sid bumping into almost everyone he passed as he made his way through the crowd towards the dartboards in the back.
Looking at Trace, Xavi burst out laughing. Trace joined in, and it was a few moments before Trace said, “That was Sid.” They both started laughing again.
“He warned me that you’re too much man for anyone to handle,” Xavi said, his grey eyes were dancing with mischief. Trace thought to himself that he had never seen a more beautiful man than his Xavi.
“I don’t think I’m too much man for you.” Trace knew his voice had dropped an octave as desire licked up his spine.
“I think you should take me home and prove it,” Xavi challenged.
Trace took Xavi’s beer out of his hand and placed it with his own bottle on the bar. Putting his arm around Xavi’s waist, he guided him off the chair and ushered him out the door. Seconds later, he was gunning the cycle out of the parking lot, spitting gravel in his wake.
Trace’s cock was soon painfully hard with Xavi plastered against his back and the vibration of the big bike between his thighs. When they reached Crazy Angle land and were about five minutes away from the big house, Trace drove the bike off the road and into a clump of scrub brush.
Turning off the machine, he dismounted and opened his jeans, giving his cock some relief. “Take off your pants, sweet pea, now.”
Trace watched his painfully shy lover make a huge show of lifting his leg over the motorcycle and brazenly sliding off of it. Facing Trace with a cocky swagger, at a turtle’s pace, he opened his jeans. Trace’s patience was at an end and his cock was going to tear a hole in Xavi’s pants to get his prize, if Xavi didn’t hurry things up.
“Off now, Xavi,” he ordered.
Trace didn’t waste any time taking out a condom and a packet of lube from his pocket. Shucking his jeans down to his thighs, he gloved up and added more lube. By the time he was done, thank goodness, Xavi had his pants around his ankles. Trace pulled Xavi close and roughly kissed him, shoving his tongue in between Xavi’s lips, tasting and claiming. Xavi sucked on his tongue and put his arms around Trace’s shoulders, pulling on his hair. The slight pain only amped up Trace’s desire and he broke the kiss and spun Xavi around and bent him over the bike.
Squeezing the last of the lube on his fingers, he separated Xavi’s ass and pushed a finger into his hole, not stopping until it was all the way in. Trace took a little time making sure Xavi was loose enough to take a second, then a third finger somewhat easily. Trace watch his glistening fingers disappear into Xavi’s body and couldn’t stop the shudder of desire that raced through him. One day he was going to put all of his fingers into Xavi and hold him completely in his hand.
Xavi's Wild Ride [The Men of the Crazy Angle Ranch 2] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) Page 6
