Seth cared about me. I wasn’t sure why. Guaranteed I wasn’t that good of a fuck. Somehow, through three dozen text conversations and calls in the last month, through dumb dad jokes I think he looked up for me, and conversations about calf weaning ages, Quarter Horse versus Appaloosa, and just how dangerous rattlesnakes were, one thing never changed. Seth always sounded glad to hear my voice, and reluctant to let me go.
So okay. We were doing this. Christmas Eve in the Bates Motel, to the sound of another screaming fight three doors down, and the skitter of rats around the dumpster. And then… we’d see.
I lay down, plumped the pillows behind my head, and burned an hour on Cake Wrecks, until a firm knock echoed on my door. “Hey, Austin? It’s me.”
Showtime. I stood, ran a hand over the back of my hair that was squished from the pillow, and padded barefoot to get my first look at Seth in a month.
He stood on my doorstep with a big cooler in his arms, frustrating my impulse to kiss the hell out of him.
I pulled the door open. “Come on in.”
Seth stepped past me and set the cooler on the dresser while I re-engaged the locks. He looked around, his expression poker-faced, then met my eyes, smiled, and spread his arms.
I’d meant to kiss him but somehow ended up burrowed into his embrace, my face smooshed against his neck. I wrapped myarms around him and hung on, breathing the scent of his skin, faintly seasoned with horses and hay. “You smell so good,” I said before I could censor the words.
“I jumped in my truck, didn’t stop to shower.”
“I like it.” I hugged him till he grunted, then backed off enough to kiss him.
Seth’s lips were cool and chapped from the winter weather, but they warmed under my mouth. He slid a hand behind my head, and his fingers were cold too, but I didn’t care. He tugged on my hair. “I like this length.”
I was going to grow it out till I stopped hearing Dad’s voice telling me it was time to get the clippers because I looked queer, but enough length to wrap around Seth’s fingers was an excellent side benefit. I kissed him some more, then said, “I want you to pull my hair while I suck you.”
“Ngh.” He grunted and arched against me. I could feel how hard he was. “Before or after we eat. Warning, even with the warm packs the food’s probably not hot.”
Just then, a woman’s voice howled through the wall from the room next door, “Ooh, yeah, do it, ooh, fuck me with your huge cock!”
Seth met my eyes, and we both burst out laughing. When the woman wailed and groaned and encouraged her man, Seth let go of me and leaned on the dresser, his arms crossed. “Is it better to eat to that soundtrack or fuck to it?”
“Neither? I think she’s a sex worker. She usually gets them off pretty fast.”
A litany of porn talk filtered through the wall, her high voice joined with a man’s deeper one.
Seth wrinkled his nose. “That happens a lot?”
“She moved in this week. It’s been three or four a night. Not sure if Christmas Eve will be busy or slow.” I shrugged with a nonchalance I’d gotten tired of faking. As the man on the otherside swore and groaned, I suddenly had my fill. “You know what? I’ve worked my last day. Paycheck is autodeposit. There’s nothing keeping me here. Maybe we can go somewhere else?”
Seth’s eyes brightened. “Just say the word. Davis will cook a big spread for dinner tomorrow, and family and guests are welcome. We can bring the cooler back for tonight. Idohave a microwave. Come home?” The hope in his voice undid me.
“Home.” That word settled deep inside me. I fought the feeling. I couldn’t like it too much. In a week, I’d have to job hunt again. Leaving Seth once had almost killed me. But the porn sounds intensified, and Seth’s hazel eyes were fixed on me, his lips parted as he waited patiently for my answer. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Jesus, finally.” Seth lunged forward and grabbed me in a wild, hot kiss. “Let me help you pack. The sooner we get on the road, the sooner I get you in my bed.”
“So we’re skipping dinner?” I laughed against his mouth.
“Midnight snack.” He broke free. “Let’s get going before I lose my mind and suck you off to straight porn. What stuff’s yours?”
“Cover on the bed,” I told him. “A few dishes in the bathroom.” They were Goodwill stuff and I could’ve left them but I kind of wanted to cling to everything I owned. I’d be in a cheap motel again soon. “My saddle.” I pointed to the corner of the room, where it’d been safer than in my truck. “I’ll get my clothes.”
Seth picked up my saddle, tucking it under his arm with a practiced motion. “Shall I load this in your truck?”
“Nope.” I sighed. “Tilly gave up the ghost. Not starting. I guess I’ll abandon her.”
“Oh, man, that sucks. How’ve you been getting around?”
“Bus. Walking.”
“Mm.” Seth hesitated. “The motel might make trouble for you, leaving a dead vehicle in the lot. I have a tow strap, and the repair shop down the road looked like it might still be open. Howabout we drag her that far, at least. Worst comes to worst, you might get some scrap value for her.”
