Cotton and Adrian exchanged glances, which he knew meant they knew something had changed. Adrian understood. He andPacker were traveling partners,sim? He worked his way over to the chute where Balta sat on the bull, making tiny adjustments.
“Good ride, Balta,” he murmured, leaning down to push at the bull when he leaned on the gate.
“Mmm.” Balta winked at him, which made him feel better.
Then Balta nodded, and Raul sprang back so he wouldn’t foul the bull in the chute. The big beast sprang free, turning to the right, into Balta’s hand. Joa stood beside Raul, whooping, but they both knew it when Balta’s riding arm gave out and he began to slide down into the well.
“No!” Joa cupped his hands to his mouth. “Up, Balta. Lift up with your chest.”
Balta tried. He hung on, his body slipping a bit with each buck. Then at seven point three, Balta’s hand popped out of the rope and the clock stopped.
“Well, shit.” Joa’s shoulders slumped.
Raul nodded. Damn it. He would have felt better if Balta had scored on three, even if he hadn’t outpaced Raul.
Balta hit the arena floor and the event was over. Raul had won.
Half an hour later, Raul had collected his check, signed autographs, and muscled his way back to the locker room. He searched the room for Joa, but neither he nor Balta were there.
“Silva’s in the shower,” Eduardo told him. “Joa went to load the truck.”
Raul winced. That meant Balta had snarled at Joa. He stripped off his boots and jeans, grimacing at the filth on the back pockets. He needed to hop under the water, too.
He headed in, and Balta was the only one under the water, standing in a corner where no one else would have bothered him anyway. Raul tugged off his shorts, then moved to stand a few feet away from Balta so he could turn on a tap.
Balta waited almost a full minute. “Good ride, Raul.”
“You, too.” When Balta just glared, he shrugged. “You did not give up, Balta. You tried.”
Balta slapped the tile wall with one hand. “I did not used to have to try.”
“We all get older, Balta.”
“Bah. You are on top of your game, Raul. What do you know?”
Raul turned on Balta. “Two years ago I fought my way to a title in Sao Paulo. When was the last time you rode a Brazilian bull, Balta? I know!”
“Don’t you yell at me,” Balta snarled, taking two steps forward to bump against his chest like a large dog, ready to fight him for territory.
“Stop being so spoiled, then.” He bumped back, not backing down. Raul was glad no one else was in the shower area with them, though, because his cock rose high and hard as if answering an unspoken challenge.
“I’m not spoiled! I’m getting old, Raul.” Balta slumped. “I don’t want to go out as an old man.”
“Bah.” Raul glanced toward the door before he grabbed Balta’scaralhoand pumped it up and down. “You are plenty young. And Joa is waiting for us. You need to make up with him.”
Balta closed his eyes and leaned into the touch for just a moment. Raul felt very bold, because this was dangerous to both of them.
“I do,” Balta agreed. “Will you help me make it up to him?”
Raul chuckled. “I will. I will even suck you just to prove you’re still a better rider than me, Balta.”
Balta burst out laughing, backing off so they could both duck under the spray and rinse off. “I will let you. Not here, though.”
“No. At the hotel, after food.” Raul thumped his dick, willing it to go down. This was his life now,nao? Constant need for his two lovers.
Now he just needed to remind Balta how good life could be.
