by BA Tortuga
“Damn, baby. Damn. So fine.” Curtis plucked at his shirt. “Off.”
“Uh-huh.” He yanked at it, tearing at the buttons. How stupid, to be so wild. He didn’t care. He just wanted Curtis. Now.
Curtis struggled with their jeans, yanking at buttons and zippers, cursing when they didn’t give right away.
He stumbled to the bed, dragging Curtis with him.
Landing on top of him, Curtis kissed him hard, lips and tongue pressing on his.
They were mostly naked, totally erect, and rubbing together like teenagers—all clumsy and heavy-breathing. They couldn’t figure out where to touch, what they needed beyond this contact, this sudden, urgent desire.
Curtis slapped against him, the connection fierce, and Stetson nodded, encouraging it. Hell, begging for it.
“Uhn.” Curtis finally got enough coordination to bring their cocks together in one hand. “Yeah. Like that.”
“Uh-huh. Just like that. Good.” He was reduced to grunts and clicks.
They rocked, staring at each other, the color high in Curtis’s cheeks. Those blue eyes blazed for him.
“Mine, Roper. All mine.” Curtis’s voice sounded blown out, gravelly and hard.
“You know it.” Also ditto.
“Uh-huh. No city boys, not anymore.” Curtis tugged at them, hand moving fast, up and down.
“No. Just you. More.”
“More,” Curtis agreed, bending to gnaw at his neck.
“Jesus!” He hurt, all the way to his balls, and he let himself holler.
“Mmmm.” Curtis just jacked him and licked that little bruise, giving him more than he could handle and everything he wanted. “Love that I can do this.”
“Me too. I love it so bad. Harder.”
“Listen to you.” Curtis kicked his legs apart, grinding them together, and his cock ached with it.
Stetson panted, rocking his hips to get closer, to get more friction. To get Curtis to give him what he needed.
“Close, baby. So close.”
He believed it. Curtis was hot as fire and hard as nails.
He grabbed Curtis’s ass and pulled. Hard.
“Stetson!” Curtis’s eyes went wide, his hand clamping down around them both.
They shot, one right after the other, staring at each other. The smell of them mingled, hot and sharp and perfect.
This whole fucking thing seemed pretty damn perfect.
They slumped together, and it wasn’t but a few seconds before they were both snorting with laughter.
“Oh, Roper, that was rude.”
“I’m sorry! I am, but I needed.” God, he was going to be in flames when he had to go face Isaac again.
“I know.” Curtis gave him this slow smile that meant the world to him. “Me too.”
“Yeah?” Then maybe that wasn’t so bad.
“Mmm. Can we just sit here a minute before we wash up?”
“Isaac is pretty self-sufficient.” And there was no way the bastard hadn’t heard them either. He was going to tease Stetson unmercifully.
“Cool. I don’t need to worry about him, right?”
“Worry about him? He said he knew how to make coffee.”
“No, baby. I mean as competition.”
He almost laughed, but Curtis was serious. Worried.
“Well, we’ve given the rare hand job when one of us was in need, but no. He hates it here, hates everything about this place, and me? Well, he knows I’ve been stupid over you forever. There’s no competing with that.”
Curtis kissed him then, slow and deep and purposeful. “That sounds good, baby. Real good.”
“Yeah. Excellent.” He felt a little giddy, a little like the world was spinning out of control. Maybe it was, or maybe he felt free for the first time in months, as if something had cracked down the middle and he could breathe.
He closed his eyes and hid his face in the curve of Curtis’s throat. Just for a second. He just wanted to float here, just a second.
CURTIS WOKE up maybe an hour later, jolting, his heart pounding. What the hell was that—
Shit. Isaac the high school friend.
Okay. Okay, he’d just wake….
Stetson was sound asleep, sprawled out, those stress lines faded. He couldn’t disturb that.
Instead, he slipped out of bed and dressed in sweats, his thick socks eating up the sound when he left the room.
He smelled coffee and something else, something breadlike. Fresh and hot. Yum.
“You two suck. Totally, Stetson. Leaving me to hear you two yodeling like hysterical calves.” The guy was tip-tapping on his computer so fast it damn near blurred. “Still, I’m glad he finally came down to roost.”
“He’s right here. Stetson is still asleep.”
“Oh.” Isaac spun around, eyes huge. “Jesus, I’m sorry. I just assumed. You must want to hit me with a hammer.”
“Nah.” Curtis stretched. “I am home to roost. And we were rude as hell. Sorry about that.”
“It’s cool. I’ve never… I mean, who knew he could be all grr?”
“Mmm-hmm.” Lord, that had been fine. “Do I smell bread of some kind?”
Isaac flushed. “I bake when I’m nervy.”
“That’s a great quality in a man.” And this one was a keeper.
“Thanks. Uh, you want a cinnamon roll? I used the cans in the fridge. I’ll totally buy you more.”
“You totally don’t have to. They smell like heaven.” He sat down next to Isaac. “Seriously, though, I apologize. Stetson needed a break.”
“Is that what we’re calling it in New Mexico these days?”
“Yep. Afternoon delight.” He winked, but that was all the sex talk he was gonna take. “So you live in…?”
“Boulder. I’m a graphics guy.” Isaac leaned back in the chair. “I was chatting with my sister, and she mentioned Betty had passed. I needed to see him.”
“I get it. You can have plenty of time once he wakes up.” He grabbed a plate and loaded it with frosted goodness.
“So, are you… I mean, are you living here?”
“Yep.” He had nowhere else to call home, and he meant to be with Stetson as much as he could.
“That rocks. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Isaac really seemed like a decent guy. “You eat bacon?” Curtis asked.
“Are you kidding? I’m a hipster. I love bacon. I would marry bacon.”
“I’ll cook some up. I love bacon with sweet rolls.”
“Cool. Does… do we need to have a bake sale for Stetson? A GoFundMe? Something?”
Curtis blinked. “I don’t know. We’re starting to get medical bills, but we really haven’t dealt with the estate yet.”
“Well, my sister said… that it’s bad. I can help a little.”
Curtis fought to keep from bristling. Any help might be good. “I might take you up on the bake sale if we do it in tourist season.”
“Whatever. No one wants Stetson to lose the ranch.”
That had him blinking some more. The thought hadn’t occurred to him. Oh, he knew Stetson was in a bad way, but lose the ranch?
“No. No, I reckon not.”
“You okay? You sure you don’t want help?”
“I’m good.” He would have to really poke Stetson, though. Curtis got to making bacon and Isaac made him a coffee, which was just what he needed.
Stetson came wandering in, cheeks all pink. “Sorry, y’all.”
Isaac popped up to hug Stetson hard. “I made cinnamon rolls. Do you want coffee?”
“Please. It’s good to see you, buddy. I appreciate you coming out.”
“Thanks.” Isaac bounded to the Keurig. “I missed you, man.”
“So, you’re still in Denver?”
“Boulder. Way more my people, you know.”
“Right.” Stetson smiled faintly, and Curtis bit back a laugh. “Santa Gay was never big enough to hold you.”
“No way. I need room to bounce off mountains. Hell, I nee
d to be around artists less talented than me.”
“That’s true enough.”
The byplay fascinated him. Stetson was so easy, teasing and playing.
He knew Stetson had lots of local friends, but this was new. This was different. Curtis didn’t want to be a butthead, but he had to admit he was a little jealous.
This wasn’t the Stetson he understood, he guessed. He knew two forms of Stetson as of late—sad and worried.
“You want sugar and cream?” Isaac asked.
“Just black, man.”
“Dude, Stetson! When did that happen? You were a sweet and light guy.”
“I got used to it, I reckon. Last few years I’ve needed more caffeine and less stuff.”
A few years? Had it been that long since Stetson could afford the little luxuries? Curtis felt like a blind idiot.
“There’s heavy cream, though, and sugar. Let me spoil you two, us three, I mean.”
“Okay, sure.” Curtis grinned at Isaac. “We got caramel creamer too.”
“Oh, dude. Yes, please. Sit. Eat bacon and rolls, and I will provide sweet, creamy goodness.”
Stetson sat.
Curtis wandered to the table and sat next to him, putting the plate of bacon on the table.
“Mmm. Bacon.” Stetson smiled at him, and the temptation was huge, to lean over and take a long, hard kiss.
He glanced at Isaac, who was shaking his butt and singing, and gave in to the urge. Stetson opened, letting him right in.
When they came up for air, Isaac was watching them, this goofy smile on his face. “Oh God. You’re so pretty!”
“Stop it.” Stetson chuckled. “Come on and eat with us, you dork.”
“Uh-huh. Seriously. I want to take pictures.”
Curtis gave Isaac a look. “That was your free one.”
“No pictures. This belongs to us.” Stetson didn’t look like he was joking a bit.
Isaac nodded easily. “You know I’m just joking. No sex tapes. Got it.”
“No sex tapes, no art photos—well, maybe one for me.”
“Curtis!” Stetson’s cheeks went bright pink.
“What?” Curtis loved that shocked expression. “If I had a lick of talent, I would do like that fella in that Titanic movie. Draw you.”
Stetson fluttered some, expression a fine mix of pleased and embarrassed.
“Drink your fancy coffee,” Isaac said.
“Curtis loves fancy coffee. We might have to come up to Boulder, and you can take him to all the swanky coffee places.”
It was Curtis’s turn to go wide-eyed. “I’d love to do Boulder with you, babe.”
“You would?” Stetson gave him a happy grin. “Cool. I mean, as soon as we dig out a little.”
“You guys are welcome to stay with me. I have a pull-out couch.”
“That would be great.” Stetson looked happier every damn second. Traveling with him. Imagine that. Although Curtis thought he’d spring for a hotel. Something on the decent end.
Stetson deserved room service. Some pampering.
“Just let me know, huh?” Isaac blinked and drank deep. “Y’all are going to let me spend the night, aren’t you?”
“You can stay as long as you want,” Curtis said. “Well, for a few days, anyway.”
Stetson nodded. “We got the guest bed in my old office. It’s all made up.”
“Thanks.” Isaac’s cheeks flushed. “I just sort of mounted up and rode down.”
“I appreciate it.” Stetson grinned at Isaac. “It’s good to have friends.”
“It is.” Isaac grabbed a cinnamon roll. “Call me next time something bad happens.”
“I will. Hopefully I’m done with that for a long while.”
“We’re gonna bank on it,” Curtis said. If nothing else, he knew the power of a positive attitude.
“No shit on that.” Stetson touched his thigh under the table.
That touch sent all sorts of tingles right through him. Lord, he did love Stetson with all he was worth.
Enough to let this too-pretty old friend stick around a few days.
Probably not enough to let Isaac take sexy photos, though.
Yeah, no. Not enough for that.
STETSON GRABBED another couple logs for the fireplace and got them going while Curtis loaded the dishwasher. They’d made spaghetti and meatballs, goofing off and enjoying the hell out of each other.
He hadn’t realized how good it was to see an old friend.
Isaac looked good. Older. A little nervy, maybe, and Stetson had no idea what that even meant. It was just an impression. An expression? Whatever.
It was good to know someone cared.
Curtis, now, he was a hoot, circling Isaac like a big wolf might a very small coyote.
Still, it hadn’t been so bad, Curtis having a little competition. In fact, it had been damn hot.
“You’re smiling. That’s really cool.” Isaac sat on the couch, watching him. Curtis had gone to the bathroom, which was always when Isaac snuck in bizarre conversation.
“Do you think it’s too early?” Should he not be happy yet?
“What? No way. You just haven’t had much to smile about, I bet.”
“No. No, it was—it was just hard.”
“Have you cried?”
“Shut up.” Asshole.
“It’s good for the soul, Stetson.”
“You learn that in therapy, buddy?” Stetson teased, trying to go for light.
“Art school,” Isaac shot back, deadpan. “My film instructor would give me a whole grade level up if I produced the perfect emo tear for him.”
“Did you have to suck him off too?”
“No, I did that voluntarily. He was a cold bastard, but he was amazing in bed.”
“Really?” He knew his eyes were big as saucers, but damn. Curtis laughed at him, shaking his head as he came back and moved them both toward the sofa.
“Yep.” Isaac gave him a crooked grin. “It ended badly.”
Well, shit. He didn’t know how to respond to that. At all. So he just sat.
Curtis just chuckled a little. “He was probably too old for you, buddy.”
“Probably, yeah, but I swear, guys, he turned me inside out.” For a second, Isaac looked sad, tired, but it disappeared with a pop.
“So, you’re footloose and fancy-free?” Curtis asked. “I know a couple of cowboys….”
Stetson grinned, pressing his lips together to keep the wild laughter in.
“No shit?” Isaac flushed a deep red. “Oh. Uh. Wow.”
“Oh, Lord. Not Trey or Oscar, either one. I like Isaac. His ass couldn’t handle it.”
“No? Well, if you say so….” Curtis waggled his eyebrows.
“Shut up, Stetson. Sit there and shut up. You know what I’d give for a real cowboy?”
“Mine’s not available.”
Curtis blinked over at him. “You think I’m a real cowboy?”
“What? Of course you are. Don’t be any dumber than you have to be.” The son of a bitch was the number one cowboy in the world.
“You know how many folks think rodeo is trash.” Curtis looked pleased as punch.
“I know. People are stupid.”
“Trashy? Hot as hell, you mean.” Isaac poked him. “Let Curtis fix me up.”
“You’ll have to come down for the Rodeo de Santa Fe. All the guys will come in for that purse,” Curtis said.
“It’s a deal. I’ll even spring for us all to have separate hotel rooms so I don’t have to listen to you two howl like monkeys.”
“I’m fixin’ to have to beat you, Isaac,” Stetson threatened, and Isaac simply snorted.
“Curtis already kiboshed that, man.”
“Really?”
Curtis nodded slowly. “No touchy.”
Well, then.
He warmed up, balls to bones. “Fair enough.”
“Not fair at all.” Isaac grinned. He’d forgotten how Isaac liked to laugh.
“Fair o
r not, that’s nothing to me.” Curtis ran one hand down his side, petting him.
They could be themselves with Isaac, though Stetson had to admit a bit of surprise that Curtis was so open and relaxed. It felt like… well, shit, like Curtis really meant to be with him.
“You two want dessert?” Curtis had outdone himself, throwing a dump cake together.
“Oh? Cherry?” Isaac was such a slut.
“With whipped cream,” Curtis agreed.
“I am most totally in. Thanks.” Isaac blew Curtis a kiss, and Curtis rolled his eyes.
Stetson pinched Isaac, forgetting the hands-off rule.
“Hey! No pinching!”
“You two are gonna get separated.” Curtis waved a big spoon at them.
“But Da-ad!” Stetson protested while he got Isaac in a headlock for a noogie.
Curtis tickled him with the hand not holding the spoon, making him shout with laughter.
He let Isaac go and went after Curtis, both of them grinning like fools. They made laps around the kitchen, but he finally caught Curtis up against a counter, then blew a raspberry against his neck.
God, he loved how this fine son of a bitch smelled—leather and black pepper and soap.
Curtis kissed his mouth one more time, hands on his butt. “Dessert. Need to fatten you up.”
“Shh. I’m at my fighting weight. Isn’t that what you tell me?”
“Yeah, but I’m all muscle.” Curtis laughed out loud when Stetson bared his teeth.
“I’ll show you muscle—” Wait, did that make sense?
“Please!”
They both turned to Isaac. “Hush!”
Isaac rolled his eyes. “Then feed me cake, for God’s sake. Please.”
“You got it. Get the spray cream, baby.” Curtis sent him off to the fridge before spooning up dump cake.
Lucky. It took him a second to understand what he was feeling, but he was lucky. This was his now, and he had to figure out how to keep it going. He could do this.
He had to.
Chapter Twenty-Four
ISAAC WAS a hoot, but Curtis was glad when he finally headed back to Boulder.
Some of the things Isaac had said about the ranch being in deep financial trouble made him dig a little into all those bills while Stetson was off helping someone fix a frozen pipe.
