Jack’s pulse pounded so loud he could hear it in his ears. He looked at Riley—at the smooth confidence, the eager spark in his eyes, the way his fingers drummed on the rock with anticipation. Jack had never thought about wanting to suck a dick, but the idea of getting sucked by a gay man when he strikes out with women had always floated around the edges of his sex life. A locker-room hand job, a stolen blowjob at a college party, but always drunk, always deniable. Nothing like this. Nothing this clear.
He swallowed. “I’m not reciprocating or anything. This is a one way street.”
Riley grinned, “That’s the only way.”
Jack almost laughed, a wild bubble of adrenaline popping in his chest. He couldn’t believe how close he was to saying yes—right here, on a sunlit boulder with the sharp scent of pine all around. He flexed his hands, forcing himself to relax. “How does this work?” he asked, trying to sound casual.
Riley stood and eased himself between Jack’s knees. He took his time, letting a hand drift onto Jack’s thigh—firm, confident, neither too possessive nor indifferent. He leaned in close, voice low. “You just sit back and let me—well, let me do what I do.”Jack pressed his palms to the rock’s edge. Riley’s fingers brushed the top of Jack’s jeans, thumbs finding the button. He paused, thumb hovering over the metal loop, giving Jack a moment to catch his breath. “Just trust me,” he murmured.
Jack’s heart hammered. Cool mountain air washed over him as Riley’s hand ghosted over his hip, teasing the zipper. Jack’s pulse spiked—his senses went haywire at the promise of it.
Riley let his hand linger, fingers dancing over the denim. “You doing okay?” he whispered, his mouth so close Jack could feel the warmth of his breath.
Jack swallowed hard. Something in that quiet invitation, the heat of Riley’s gaze, made his knees go weak. He felt a surge of craving and he wanted the promise of everything Riley offered. But at the last second, he drew in a ragged breath and straightened. “I—” Jack began, voice unsteady. He swallowed again. “I’m… I’ll think about it.”
Riley pulled his hand back with a slow, understanding smile. He brushed his hair off his forehead, hands slipping into his pockets like nothing had happened.
The sudden shout cut through the charged silence. “Let’s go, people! Saddle up!” Cole’s voice boomed from the hollow’s far rim.
Jack jerked upright, heart still racing. Riley’s grin was easy, one eyebrow quirked in silent encouragement. “You wanna go first or me?” he asked.Jack almost laughed at how normal it sounded. “You,” he said, barely steady.
Riley nodded and started back down the path. Jack sat a few moment longer, the pine-scented air filling his lungs. He felt unsteady and alive all at once, every nerve ending buzzing with what might come next. He knew guilt would creep in later, but for now it felt like something worth holding onto.
He stood, brushed off his jeans, and made his way back down the path.
The wind in the hollow covered his footfalls; by the time he stepped into the open, Riley was already mounted and drinking from a canteen, face an unreadable blank. Jack grabbed his own reins, palmed his horse’s neck to keep his hands from shaking, and hauled himself up, careful not to meet anyone’s eye.
Harper was nearest, fussing with her saddlebag. Cole surveyed the perimeter, gaze sharp and restless, making sure everyone was accounted for. Ethan lingered by the treeline, lost in his own thoughts.
The break was barely over before Cole signaled the group to move. Jack fell to the rear without a word. He’d always liked the view from the back anyway—nobody staring, nobody asking questions. Plus, it gave him time to think.
Jack’s thoughts whirled, the exhilarating rush of possibility fading like smoke in the wind, replaced by a creeping paranoia that coiled tightly in his chest. He shouldn’t have even let the idea take root; he had sworn to himself that the days of experimentation were behind him. The thrill of Riley’s proposition lingered, tantalizing and forbidden, but now it felt like a dangerous game he had no business playing.
Jack had dabbled in experimentation during his college days—occasional circle jerks, handjobs in the locker room, quick blowjobs from the closeted gay guy on the team or from a gay roommate, a late-night drunken blowjob from a guy at a party after striking out with the women all night. But Jack had never reciprocated, never returned the favor, and never gazed at a man the way he looked at a woman. He’d never let himself even imagine touching another man; Jack just wanted quick and easy relief that was infinitely better than the familiar grip of his own hand. After college, he had embraced a straight, corporate life, buttoned up and polished. That experimental nonsense was firmly behind him. It had always been about relief, like the sweet release of pissing after a long flight.
But Riley’s offer had torn open something within him—a raw, selfish hunger that Jack felt ashamed to admit he found exhilarating. His first fear was that Riley would weaponize this secret against him. Riley was dangerous territory—a man he barely knew, someone who could, at any moment, tell the whole world everything — shattering Jack’s carefully constructed life and image.
Cole led the way, with Harper riding next to Ethan, their voices mingling with the rustling leaves. The forest air cooled as the path leveled out, and Jack fell into a rhythm, though the sound of his horse’s hooves seemed to echo louder than everyone else's. Every so often, Riley glanced back, catching Jack's eye, and flashed a half-smile—an unspoken dare that sent Jack’s pulse racing.
He wanted to refuse. He wanted to punch Riley for making him feel so exposed. Yet, he tried to tamp down the fear. It was no big deal, he told himself. Just a casual offer. The mere thought of others discovering his curiosity—no, his need—set his teeth on edge.
The group paused at a stream for a water break. Jack lingered by the horses, feeling the weight of Riley’s presence beside him as Riley knelt, fiddling with the straps of his pack. “You good?” Riley asked, still focused on his task.
Jack swallowed hard. “You’re not going to tell anyone, right?”
Riley shook his head, a lock of hair brushing against his cheek. “Why would I? It was just a question. No big deal.”
Jack didn’t trust him, but he exhaled anyway, clenching his jaw. “I haven’t decided.”
Riley smiled, gentle yet knowing. “Then don’t decide now. Nobody’s rushing you. We’ve got all the time in the world.”
Jack grunted, wanting to believe him but unable to shake the doubt. “You know I’m straight.”
“Straight guys get curious,” Riley said softly. “You wouldn’t believe how many straight men I’ve blown over the years, just needing a little relief and tired of using their hands.” His tone was casual, but the implication hung heavy in the air. “Doesn’t mean anything deep. You just… want to feel good… to be worshiped… to be pleasured without any expectations of reciprocation.”
Jack turned his gaze away, unwilling to engage. Riley shrugged, untying a strap on his pack. “Your call.” He glanced back at Jack, a silent acknowledgment that the offer still lingered in the hush of the forest.
The break ended with Cole’s bark, and the riders fell back into formation. Jack dropped to the last position, struggling to ignore the tantalizing offer lingering in his mind. He told himself he would refuse. He’d bury the thought, jerk off in his tent if necessary.
