Curt leaned in to kiss him. “One thing.”
“What?”
“Remember, you belong to me.”
“I do?”
“Yes. As long as we are fucking, we don’t dip our stick anywhere besides each other.”
Levi kind of liked the possessive look in Curt’s gaze and the way he kissed him hard again before slapping him on the ass.
“I need a shower too, so don’t be too long.”
“I won’t.”
Once they were both clean and redressed, they headed downstairs and across the parking lot to the bar. When they walked in the place was already wall to wall cowboys and cowgirls. Levi found Butch at a corner table in the back when he waved him over.
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Where you off to?”
“Butch wants to talk to me about something, remember?”
Curt’s gaze narrowed. “Remember what I said in the hotel room.”
“I won’t forget, but no need to worry. I like being exclusive, plus I don’t think Butch swings that way.”
“Why else would he want to talk to you?” Curt asked, raising his hand to signal the bartender.
“I don’t have a clue.”
Curt handed him the bottle of beer. Budweiser. The man had been paying attention to his preferences apparently. He tipped the bottle to his lips, letting the malty liquid slide down his throat. It tasted so good, he took another swig before lowering the bottle.
“Did you order food?”
“Not yet.”
“Go ahead and order it. I’ll go talk to Butch. I won’t be gone long.”
“Okay.”
Levi wandered to the back corner where Butch had a table to himself. “Butch.”
“Levi. Thanks for talking with me.”
“No problem.” Levi sat in the chair next to Butch so they could talk. He knew the other man wanted privacy so they would have to put their heads together to keep the conversation on the down low. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to talk to you about—” Butch let the conversation die as one of the other riders stopped at their table.
“Hey, did you two hear Rusty is out for the season?” Chase Wild took the chair across from them.
“Yeah,” Levi answered even though he could see the frustration on Butch’s face at having their conversation interrupted. “Too bad. I never want to see anyone hurt.”
“I know, but that opens the championship up to anyone. He was in first place in the standings. Anyone with a good run over the next few weeks can really make up some ground.”
“It sure does, but the cost to Rusty is the end of his season.”
“Yeah.”
The conversation lagged for a moment. “Will you excuse us, Chase? We were having a private conversation.”
“Oh, sorry. I’ll mosey on my way then.” The other man stood. “Behave yourselves, you two.” He laughed like he had a secret neither of the other two knew about.
Whatever. “So, what did you want to say, Butch?”
Butch leaned in. “How do you keep your sexuality a secret so well? I mean, I heard you were gay. Are you?”
“Yes.”
“How hard is it to be gay on this circuit?”
“Very difficult. Keeping quite so people aren’t uncomfortable with it is the hardest part. I don’t want any of the guys to think I’m going to come onto them. I keep my hookups off the circuit.” Levi looked into Butch’s eyes. “Are you saying you’re gay?”
“Yeah, but I don’t want people to know. I’m still not comfortable with it. I haven’t been with another guy before, just women, but they don’t do it for me anymore. I can’t get excited with them.”
“I’ve been there myself.”
“How do you get past the icky feeling of wanting another man, but afraid to find out he’s straight?”
“You have to go to places where other gay men hang out. When I’m on the road, I have a list of places that have gay bars. When everyone else is hanging out at the local honkytonk, I’m usually at a gay bar if I’m in the mood for a hookup. You don’t have to worry about figuring out if they are gay there, everyone is.”
“Do you have a steady hook up?”
“Yes, but I’m not saying who. I don’t think he wants to be out in the open on the circuit, either.”
Butch held up his hands. “No problem.”
“How did you find out I’m gay?”
“There is a rumor going around that you and Curt are fuck buddies.”
“Who told you that?”
“Jefferson.”
“I’m going to kill that slimy little bastard.”
“It’s not true?”
“It doesn’t matter if it is or not. Jefferson needs to keep his nose out of my business. He wants Curt himself and he’s pissed because Curt and I are rooming together to save on expenses. Curt likes women.” It was true, although he didn’t say Curt liked men too.
“Well, anyway, it doesn’t matter. What you guys do is your own business, no one else’s. Behind closed doors, is behind closed doors.”
Levi glanced across the bar. Curt stood with his head bent toward a pretty red-head with a straw cowboy hat on. He seemed engrossed in the conversation, until he looked up and their gazes caught across the bar. Levi could tell Curt was only placating the woman. It was him he wanted.
“Wow,” Butch said. “I wish someone would look at me that way.”
“What way?” Levi asked, dropping his gaze back to the bottle in his hand.
“The way you just looked at Reese right then.”
“Reese?” He knew who he’d been looking at and it wasn’t Reese, but when he looked back, he realized Reese stood with his back toward them, leaning on the bar as he nursed a beer, on the other side of the woman Curt was talking to. It might have looked like he was checking out Reese. He figured it was best to let Butch think what he wanted. “Oh, yeah, Reese.”
“You really want him, don’t you?”
“Yeah, you could say that. Problem is, I don’t know which way he swings so I’m letting it go.”
“I have it on good authority he likes women.”
“Well then, there you go.” Levi tipped his bottle to his lips. “By the way, how are you so versed in which way people around here tend to be?”
“I keep my eyes and ears open. If they go after the buckle bunnies, they obviously like women. If they tend to be loners, they could go either way.” Butch leaned in. “You, I had pegged from the get go.”
“Why’s that?”
“You tend to watch the guys and ignore the women. You stay to yourself, but interact with the guys when prompted. You avoid women coming onto you, although you are good to the fans. I saw that woman come onto you last week. You ignored her completely except to be nice.”
Damn, I’m going to have to be more careful. “I guess you do have me pegged.”
“It’s not a bad thing, Levi. I’m very observant, is all. Most of the guys could care less if you’re gay or not, from what I hear. There are a couple who avoid you though.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
“Jefferson wants Curt.”
“You think?”
“Yep. It’s written all of his face.” He did the chin tip thing guys do when they’re trying to get your attention. “He’s watching him like a hawk from his spot at the other end of the bar. If you were doing Curt, you’d have a fight on your hands.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because, Jefferson is a fighter. When he wants something, he goes after it.”
Levi turned to watch Jefferson and sure enough, he had his gaze focused on Curt. Jealousy surged through him. Curt was his, at least for now. Jefferson could go suck donkey dick. “It really doesn’t matter, does it?”
Butch drained his beer. “Nope. I guess not since Curt likes girls.”
“Anyway, nice talking to you. I hope you figure out what you want to do.”
“I have one more question f
or you.”
“Shoot.”
“Would you fuck me?” Butch grasped his cock under the table. “I want someone to initiate me into the world. I think you’re hot, Levi, and I would love to have you take me the first time.”
Levi squirmed against the hand holding him as he glanced across the bar at Curt. Their gazes met. Curt’s eyes narrowed. Levi removed Butch’s hand. “Sorry. I’m in a relationship. Things are exclusive so I’m not available.”
“Sorry. I didn’t know. If you could recommend someone that would be good.”
“I’m not sure who, but I’ll keep my ears open.” Levi stood, grabbed his beer, tipped his hat, and then headed back across the bar toward Curt. He wanted out of here. He’d had his beer and now he wanted the man who made him hard as a rock. Tonight, he wanted on top.
* * * *
Curt watched the scene between Butch and Levi with interest. If he gauged Butch right, the other man had the hots for his guy, which wouldn’t do at all. Levi belonged to him, at least for now and until he said otherwise.
When Butch snuck his hand under the table, he saw Levi jump. Good indicator that Butch was coming onto Levi. That wouldn’t do at all.
“Curt?”
“Yeah?” he asked absently as he continued to watch the scene.
“I asked you a question.”
He glanced back to the woman at his side. “Sorry, I got engrossed in the game on the television against the back wall. I’m a huge football fan.” True enough, even if that’s not what he’d been watching.
“I asked if you might like to go back to my room. I reserved one for tonight.”
“Uh, sorry, babe, but I’m out for tonight. I pulled a groin muscle during my ride. I couldn’t fuck right now if my life depended on it.” Okay, not true, but he really wasn’t into women tonight. The man he wanted had just got up from the table and was headed in his direction. He turned toward the bartender asking about their nachos. They never arrived.
“Sorry, man. I think they were given to someone else. I’ll reorder them.”
“Thanks.”
Levi stopped at his side. “Where’s the food?”
“Apparently, they screwed up the order.”
“So what? They’re coming?”
“Yeah. They are reordering them. They should be here soon.”
The red-head turned toward Levi. “Hey, you are kind of cute too. What’s your name?”
“Levi.”
“I have a room for tonight, Levi. Interested?”
“Sorry, but no.”
She glanced between the two of them and then back again. “Oh, I get it. You two are into each other.” She waved her finger between them. “That’s cool. I think it’s hot watching two guys fuck.”
“You have it all wrong.”
“I don’t think so.” She got close to Levi’s ear, but wasn’t the least bit quiet about what she said. “If you two wouldn’t mind, I’d love to watch.”
Curt leaned his elbow on the bar. “No, really, you are totally mistaken.”
The woman smiled knowingly. “Okay. If you say so, but the looks you two are giving each other tell me a totally different story. If you aren’t fucking already, you will be soon, because you two are into each other big time.”
Their nachos showed up a moment later.
The red-head set her sights on some other cowboy when neither of them responded to her statement. She picked up her beer and headed down the bar, so Levi took her seat.
“These are good for bar food.”
“They have a restaurant on the other side of the bar, so they serve all kinds of food, but yeah, these are pretty good.”
They ate in silence although Curt could feel the draw of Levi’s looks when he glanced in his direction. They would fuck again tonight and he would let Levi have his ass. The heat being sent his way pricked his skin like tiny little darts. Need built slowly inside him. Desire taunted him. He knew what he wanted, but he was going to let the thought of it drive him insane before he gave into the feelings stirring.
“What did Butch want?”
“Besides me?” Levi leaned in to keep his voice down.
“He wanted you to fuck him?”
“Yeah, but he also wanted to know how I handled getting laid without letting all the guys on the circuit know I’m gay.” Levi popped another piece of nacho into his mouth, trying not to smile. Levi seemed to be playing on his jealousy a little too much.
“You told him no, right?” Curt asked, hoping that he wouldn’t have to kill Butch for trying to take what was his and his alone.
“No, to what, getting laid or by him?”
“By him.”
“Of course, I told him no. We said we were exclusive.”
His breath whooshed out in relief. “Good.”
“I don’t fuck around, Curt. Never have.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Jealous someone else wants me?”
“Hell yeah, I’m jealous. I’ll say it. I’m the jealous sort. Get used to it.”
“Someone on this circuit wants you too. Should I be jealous?”
“Who?” he asked, his gaze zipping around the room as he tried to figure out who might be wanting to get in his jeans.
“Jefferson.”
“That little weasel? Hell no.”
“What about the woman?”
“I told her no too. I said I pulled a groin muscle riding tonight so I was out of commission.”
“You lied?”
“Yes, I wasn’t about to tell her I was fucking you although I think she had us pegged.”
“Yeah, I think so.”
They finished up the nachos and drank the last dregs of their beers. “You ready to call it a night?”
Levi stood as he pushed his beer bottle to toward the bartender. “Yep. I’m going to need to hit the gym in the hotel in the morning to work out the muscles in my arms. My shoulder is a bit sore tonight.”
“What time do we need to be at the arena tomorrow?”
“The event starts at six. We should be done by ten.”
They walked out of the bar, headed for Levi’s truck. The night air had gotten cooler, bringing up goose bumps on his skin since he hadn’t worn a jacket, just his long-sleeved shirt. “Cool…early enough to get some shut-eye and then head to the next one.” He opened the door on the passenger side as soon as Levi clicked the button. “Where do we go from here?”
“South Dakota.”
“That’s what? Another ten hour drive?”
“Twelve. It’s pretty straight forward from here. We can spend more time at the ranch before we head up there if we leave Monday morning. Next weekend is a three day event though, so we can stay at the ranch until Thursday, drive up that morning, spend the night near the venue, and be there for the event Friday. I think the first day starts at two.”
“Sounds good.”
Within a couple of minutes, they were back in their room. “Are you going to fuck me or what?”
Chapter Eleven
Levi walked with a little strut in his step as they made their way to the arena the next day. He could proudly say he made Curt lose his cool the night before when he fucked him to the point of speechlessness. He made sure to wind him up until he was ready to explode and then Levi made him hold off on his orgasm. He stroked him slow, then fast, then slow again. The rub of his cock in and out of Curt’s ass drove him crazy.
“You are walking like a peacock with its feathers fanned today, Levi.”
“I have a right to. You were almost babbling last night.”
“I was not,” Curt replied, although a smile played on his lips. He glanced around the backroom where they were standing for a minute before reaching in to kiss Levi on the mouth. “It was awesome. I’m certainly not complaining.”
“Good.”
They both grabbed their bull ropes and their chaps before heading out to the area behind the chutes. After they wrapped them around the metal railing, they worked t
he rosin into the material of the rope, making sure the part they gripped in their hand was as sticky as they could make it. Levi noticed Curt’s rope was frayed at the end.
“You need a new rope.”
“Yeah, this one is a bit rough.”
“You shouldn’t use it with that on the end. If you hang up your spur, you could get killed.”
“I don’t have another rope.”
“You don’t have a spare?”
“Nope.”
Levi grabbed his spare from his bag. “Here. Use mine.”
“No. This one has brought me luck. I can’t change now.”
Levi shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
Soon, the announcers were introducing all the riders. They did their walk out to the middle of the arena, up on the shark tank, and then back down as the next rider came up. It was the same every weekend, although the lineup changed with each event.
As the riders got ready behind the chutes, the first to go were those whose scores were the lowest on the leaderboard. Curt would go second to the last, with Levi riding last since he was in first place overall.
All the riders did well. Everyone managed to stay on their bull for the full eight.
Next up was Curt.
Levi got up on the chute with him as Curt worked himself onto the back of his bull. This one would be tough, not like they all weren’t tough, but this particular bull liked to spin as he bucked. He was one of the most difficult bulls to ride on the circuit for a lefty like Curt.
Once Curt was prepped, he pulled the rope around his fist and then back across his palm. The nod of his head was miniscule, but it was there nonetheless as the gatekeeper opened the chute.
The ride seemed to be going fine, and then all of the sudden his spur caught in the flank strap around the back of the bull as he tried to dismount. The bull continued to buck. One hoof caught Curt in the side of the head. The strap broke on his helmet, sending the safety gear flying clear. Curt continued to bounce around until the bull fighters could manage to reach up with a knife and cut the spur loose from the rope. In the process, Curt took another blow to the head.
When they finally got him loose, he was unconscious on the arena floor.
Falling Hard Page 12
