We all walkedout the doors and over to the mountain base where there were some snowmobiles waiting. On the walk I learnedthe rest of the family story that hadn’t been told during our late-evening meals or by the local gossip.
“And that’s how we have two moms and all gay brothers,” Quinn said, “we are all in fucking therapy.” It was clear he was joking, pride in his family obvious - no different than any of the brothers.
“All gay brothers,” I repeated, reeling with how similar and how very different the Mannswere from my own family. What an insane dynamic to grow up in, and the closeness of this family made my heart ache a little.
“Our moms went out of their way to make sure to adopt queer kids,” Matt explained. “They wanted older kids, too, so that part was easy. Mann Resorts has always done a lot with underserved kids and learning to ski. That’s how our moms Ellen and Rita met most of us. You can ask Jack about it,” he said, shooting Jack a look I couldn’t really read, and Jack’s gaze snaps over to Matt immediately.
“Wait,” I said, remembering the curly haired angel and hoping to change the subject that clearly is on the edge of making Jack uncomfortable. “What about your - sister? And niece?” I asked.
“That’s CJ, she is actually Rita’s sister’s child, and Rita took her in when Rita’s sister couldn’t handle things,”Jack explained. “He met Piper already,” he told his brothers.
“Oh, we heard about the sledding,” Quinn said with a laugh, and a bit of appreciation. Piper was clearly protected and loved by everyone here. She was like a high-maintenance princess who could probably out ski every one of us, I was willing to bet.
“So, one sister in the mix,” I said.
“Feels like five of them,” Quinn muttered.
“At least now you know the company you keep,” Jack said, with a wink, as he strappedour equipment on the snowmobile.
“It is pretty accepting around here,” Matt added, and they all acknowledged what I had said the night Quinn needed my help - that with constant travel came the constant “comingout” talk. Maybe Ihadgiven off a vibe and they all were just making it easier for me after I outed myself when I helped Quinn a few days ago.
I had noticed that the idyllic ski town with its pretty shops, nice homes, Aspen groves and views of the mountains sported a pride flag in a store more often than not, and a clear openness to all kinds of couples walking down the street. It had actually been mentioned in some of the things I read prior to coming to Bear Valley, and was one of my reasons for feeling it was the place for me to stay for a length of time.
Trying to ease me into Bear Valley seemed exactly like something Jack would do, he had the whole protector and nurturer role down to an art.
Baylor climbed on his own snowmobile, Matt and Quinn moved to another. Jack gestured to the one with my gear.
“Hop on,” he said. “We will have to take these back to the lifts that are safe to run.”
I quirked an eyebrow, but I’m not going to let the easy banter of our new flirting go just yet. Ride pressed behind him up this mountain?Fuck yesI would, but I was going to miss the opportunity to use it to my advantage in this game of flirtation we had going on? Very definitely not.
It was nothing to hook a leg over the machine and slide up behind him. The gear we carried made it where there wasn’t much room, so I could press as close to him as I wanted. I kicked my attention up, trying to feel everything racing through me,and pay attention to see if he was half-aware of me as I was him.
My cock got the high-alert message loud and clear as I settled my thighs around him, and thoughts about what I would want to do to him in almost this exact same position flick into my mind. I heard him take a breath when I pressed tight against his back. I couldsmell his hair below his hat, and his scent was rich and very male. I let my breath tickle his neck, and he was so responsive it kickedmy attraction up another octave. The tips of his ears spark red, gooseflesh raised across his neck.
“I have got to apologize to you in advance, Jack,” I said, my voice rough and Texas back in my mouth like it always was when I’m turned on this much. I moved my lips toward his ear, knowing no one else could hear. “I can’t hide how hard you make me, but you have got to know how fucking gorgeous you are.”
Jack
My eyes locked on Perrin’s in surprise. He ducked his head and laughedquietly in my ear, and as soon as the other two snowmobiles started up the mountain, he placedhis hands on my thighs, rubbing gently, and then movedhis arms around me, and tightly pulledme into him.
“Guess I have to apologize for the same, then,” I managed.
What a fucking turn-on, bossy Texas accents. Jesus.
I’m hard for him, his touch, his playful way of making us admit our attraction. He’s not giving me the time I thought I wanted to sort it out, but I like being pushed this way.
He laughed low into my neck, letting me knowhe knowshow turned on I am, the rumbling of his chest against my back giving me chills. His nose ghosted down my neck, leaving more raised hairs and gooseflesh in its wake.
We took off to follow my brothers up the mountain. I was so overwhelmed by the feeling of him - larger than I was, stronger probably, and coming on so blatantly, he only addedto the fire he started in the bottom of my stomach. His armswere possessive bands around my body, and his hips rock into me with the rhythm of the mountain.
I had managed to turn my face into the cold spray off the vehicle as much as possible, trying to cool off and get my dick to stand down. It marginally helped me not lose my shit in front of my brothers. Probably more helpful were the layers of clothingand loose jacket. I wassnowboarding today, not skiing, so my clothes were intentionally baggy and I hadnever been more thankful for the street style for snowboarding.
It was excruciating to ride up the mountain like this - turned on and pressed close - and it also isn’t near enough.
Somewhere, my mind had signaled to me that chasing this flirtation with Perrin was a supremely bad idea; I needed to sort out what it meant to be that attracted to someone, first. But, this ride up the mountain silenced any doubts that I had.
“Gotta say I enjoyed that, Jack,” the accented voice said in my ear.
