Wright could feel a genuine smile cross his face and he laughed, his breath fanning over Xander’s lips. They closed the distance together. Wright closed his eyes and let the feeling ofXander’s lips take over all his senses. Xander’s tongue teased him and he let him take the lead without complaint. His hand gripped the back of his hair and Xander tugged to reposition his head to deepen the kiss. Wright scooted forward, pushing his groin against Xander’s abdomen. His hands sank lower, dipping under his shorts and squeezing Wright’s ass. His hands were huge and he could feel himself growing hard at the thought of those hands on other parts of his body again. For weeks, they’d been playing this game ofDon’t Hurt Wright.It wasn’t actually a game and he knew he needed the time to heal, but now that he had the all clear, he wanted more. He wanted all of it.
“Slow down, baby.”
Xander’s words were breathy and he pulled back but kept his hands firmly on each cheek. Wright realized he’d been rocking his hips back and forth, too caught up in the feelings. He looked down and saw that Xander had somehow shifted his boxers and his dick was visible and sticking straight up, still trapped in the waistband of his shorts.
“We have to go to supper,” Wright said matter-of-factly. He looked from his erection to Xander. “You know, you really have the tendency to get me hard in the most inopportune times.”
“This is my fault?” Xander asked. He moved his hands and Wright immediately missed them. “How?”
Wright moved his hands to play with the baby hairs at Xander’s nape. “Because you’re sweet and considerate and amazing and so fucking hot all the fucking time.”
“Filthy mouth, gorgeous.” Xander stood up suddenly and Wright was tossed on his back onto the bed. After a quick breath, he laughed and Xander placed one knee on the bed and leaned over Wright to rest on his hands. He dropped his shoulders and kissed him deeply again. Wright’s hands wrapped around to the back of his shoulders, relishing in the feel of hard muscles and warm skin. “I’m not going to do anything right after you brokedown crying. It’s not something I’m comfortable with. But, after supper, if you’re good mentally, we can have a little fun before bed. Sound good?”
Chapter Twelve
~ Xander ~
Wright was doing amazing for his first week officially working. Xander hadn’t been too sure about what he would be able to do, but he was pleasantly surprised at the work he did on the fields. He and Tracy fixed up the space of yard between the main house and guest house as a bird sanctuary of sorts. The bird bath that had been abandoned for years was scrubbed and filled with fresh water daily. He’d also hung a new bird feeder and he had plans next week to plant new flowers and build some bird houses. While Xander woke up each morning to help with the horses, Wright would get dressed and spend a half hour making sure everything was filled and then made them breakfast so by the time he finished with the horses, he had a hot plate ready for him before he went on to his other tasks for the day. It was a nice routine and Xander was finding himself looking forward to their easy mornings. He made sure to be the one to prepare breakfast the mornings he didn’t have to get up with the horses. His dad had done the same with his mom, insisting they were an equal partnership. Xander also didn’t want Wright to feel like he was expecting it like his dad had.
The one thing that Xander noticed, though, was how Wright avoided the barn as much as he could. He would walk aroundthe barn and talk to the horses in the paddock, but he avoided the tack room altogether and kept a good distance from his older brother or any of the workers if they had a rope or something similar in their hands. He’d had his consultation on Wednesday and for now, the therapist decided that they would talk twice a week. Monday before noon and Friday evenings. He used Paxton’s laptop, but Xander wanted to go into the city and get him his own. He knew he didn’t like having to ask for things, as much as Xander loved when he finally spoke up about what he wanted or needed.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Patrick asked. Xander shook his head, focusing back on the task at hand. He was charting a few details for the cattle, making notes of which of their calves were growing well and which were on the smaller end. They still had a few months before they were weaned but it was looking to be a successful birthing season. “How are my babies?”
“Cute as ever,” Xander said with a smile. The babies were cute, but he knew they’d either be raised for meat or further breeding. He couldn’t afford to get attached to them. “But I was just thinking about going into the city this weekend. Maybe meet up with a few friends I haven’t seen in a while. I want to get Wright a laptop so he doesn’t have to keep bothering Pax for hers.”
“That’s a smart idea,” Patrick said. “I know she doesn’t mind sharing, but I think he’d appreciate it. Everything going okay with him?”
After he froze up on Monday, Patrick had been giving him tasks that didn’t involve the barn. He and Xander talked about letting him take over keeping up with the grounds around the FFR homes. The residents were all nice and they were joining the July Fourth celebration they had for tomorrow. Two of them were the same age as Wright. As much as Xander wanted to keep him safe and locked away in their house, he knew that Wrightdidn’t have any friends his age. Paxton was the closest in the family, but he needed other people to talk to, to go out with and enjoy life as a young adult.
“I’m running to the butcher’s tonight to get all the meat for the cookout tomorrow. You want to tag along?”
Xander rolled his eyes. He looked over at his brother as he checked off the last item on the list and handed him the clipboard. His brother was smiling, smug as can be. “You know Friday is date night.”
“And yet he still says they aren’t together.” Patrick tried to mimic Xander’s voice, but it was horrible and they both laughed. They walked out of the overhang where the animals came for shelter and food and saddled up on their horses. It was a nice day and the grounds were dry so they took their time riding back to the main house. It was about forty minutes on horseback from the pasture where they kept the babies. Patrick continued to poke and prod, asking questions that would not be asked if anyone else was within hearing distance. They still had about fifteen minutes before the house would come in view when he finally turned semi-serious.
“What’s on the agenda for date night tonight?” Patrick asked after Xander’s second time threatening to shove him off his horse. He’d been giving him nothing but crap for random things, the typical big brother. He loved his family. They knew when to be serious, but also knew when to laugh and poke fun.
“He has an appointment so I’m going to cook dinner. I think it’s just going to be a night in since we have a long day tomorrow.”
Xander might have planned a night in, but he had ideas for how they’d pass the time. Wright was not-so-patiently waiting, dropping hints to Xander any chance he could. They would have dinner, watch a movie, and go from there. He’d made good on his promise Monday after supper with the family. He had Wrighton his stomach, his tongue leaving a wet trail down his back. He’d played with his ass, kissing, rubbing, nipping. When he finally gave Wright what he was begging for, his tongue was only in him for a half minute before he came. Xander finished himself on Wright’s ass. He cleaned him off and then they went to bed.
Patrick broke the silence after another minute of riding. Xander would never get tired of the views from the ranch. He liked living in the city, having a place of his own, but the ranch would always be home for him. While he wasn’t saving lives daily here, he forgot how much he missed the physical work. “Do you remember last year with the Fourth of July celebration?”
Xander thought back to it. He’d been dating another man at the time. He was similar in build to Xander, tall, broad, muscles for days. He was a businessman through and through, loving the city. He would visit the ranch with Xander a few times a year, but he hadn’t been a big fan of the animals or mud. Or fresh air, apparently. Patrick always bought fresh meat from the butcher for the celebration and would cook it all day in prep for supper during the fireworks. They didn’t set the fireworks off themselves, but the neighboring ranch did. Past the other ranch, continuing away from the city lights, was the small town of Fairwind, with one main road, storefronts that needed updating, and a sense of family that cared for the residents. It was a closer drive than going into the city and had the basics that they needed. There was a farmer’s market every Friday and Saturday mornings in the town square. Wright had gone with Tracy that morning and loved it.
“I’m assuming you aren’t bringing this up because of how good the food was,” Xander said.
“I’m not,” Patrick said. “I’m talking about the fact that you spent most of the evening on the porch, instead of sitting at the table with your friends and family. You opted out of the trail ride and then ended up leaving before ten.”
“I’m aware of what happened,” Xander said. He’d moved back to the ranch in January, but the months before that had been strained. They’d had a fight the night before. It was one of the rare holidays that they both had off. Xander missed their party the year before, but Greg, his ex, wanted to go out to a bar with his friends. It was one of their biggest fights, with unfair words shouted between both of them. Greg said that he should come before his family since they were living together. Xander pointed out that he spent most weekends with his friends when he picked up extra shifts. It was a back and forth and eventually, Xander suggested they both do their own things. It was weeks of his ex holding it over his head that hesacrificedhis time to be with Xander’s family. “Why are you bringing it up?”
“This year is going to be different,” Patrick said. “I held my tongue because I could see you were working hard to keep anyone from noticing, but I could see. You weren’t yourself that day and for the months after. You never let more than a month go by without coming out to visit us and I think you went two months last summer.”
“I know,” Xander said. He stared at the space between Benito’s ears as they continued on. He didn’t like these memories coming up. Patrick was not one to go down memory lane like this, not when he knew they weren’t good memories. “I threw myself into work after that, pulling doubles a lot.”
“I’m not trying to make you feel bad about it,” Patrick said. “I just want you to know that I can see a difference with you since Wright arrived. You moved back here and worked your ass off, like you had something to prove. But now, you’re smiling and finishing work at a normal time. You’re sleeping better, too. Don’t even deny it. The amount of coffee that Tracy makes in the morning has been cut in half.”
“I don’t drink that much,” Xander said. His argument was only halfhearted though because he did love his coffee in themorning. But now, Wright would usually make him a cup while he got dressed.
