A Bid For Love

treat just walked in. Enjoy your evening."
    Asher found himself summarily dismissed from the man's thoughts, though perhaps not completely from his hormones. That would no doubt take some time. Perfect.
    Even more so when Scott sauntered back and Turnbull paused in greeting his customer to follow the sway of narrow hips as Scott draped himself over Asher. "Miss me? God knows I missed you. Damn, baby, you look good enough to eat. And I intend to do just that when I get you home." Perfect timing, too, a lull in the music letting Scott's raised voice carry clearly.
    Asher didn't even bother hiding his smirk. "I do believe you've caught his eye. Too bad you're all mine." He tipped Scott's chin up slightly, capturing satin lips again. "And you are, most definitely, all mine." He kept it slow and sensual this time, not wanting to distract their mark too much from his deal. "Are the cameras working well enough we can go find that dance floor again? I find a slow ballad far more to my taste."
    A delicious shiver ran though the hard body pressed to Asher. "God, yeah! Love it." Scott pushed up and held out a hand, arm going about Asher's waist immediately when Asher stood. "You want to lead?"
    "Very much so." In all manner of things, just as soon as they got what they needed and could get home. Asher took his lover's hand and pulled Scott close. Yes, for now it was a cover, and no one knew any different. But it felt right, dancing here with Scott, just like he'd danced with countless women in similar surroundings. In fact, it felt more right because Scott loved him.
    And one day, he'd shout it from the rooftops. He knew it without fear now. Asher let his smile out and leaned against his lover's cheek. Perfect.

    * * * *
    "God, I thought we'd never get out of there." Scott tossed his jacket onto a hook in Asher's entry and tipped his Stetson back off his forehead. "At least Noah was too busy debriefing everyone to give us any more grief." He glanced back over his shoulder and stopped, a shiver working its way up his spine at the sight. "What are you up to, darlin'?"
    Scott's ability to think coherently dwindled to how good his lover looked with that pearl-snap shirt open and pulled from the confines of tight jeans. His gaze strayed down that incredible expanse of muscle, skin glowing against the rose of the shirt, the generous sprinkling of pale gold hair glinting in the soft light. He swallowed when he reached the fine bulge filling out those jeans. God! If Asher wore jeans to work every day, Scott would never get anything done.
    "You said at the bar you wanted to play cowboy when we got home, my dearest. I'm merely obliging." Asher grinned, suddenly flexing long fingers inside the most decadent-looking leather work gloves Scott had ever seen. The thought of that butter-soft leather touching him... Oh, sweet Lord!
    "So, I'm letting you know there's only one way this spread's going to be big enough for you and me both, aside from the whole I'm-the-foreman-you're-the-ranch-hand pecking order." Scott's heart pounded at the light warming Asher's eyes. "I'm gonna take you up those stairs and prove my gun's better than any you've ever seen." Asher tugged him toward the stairs leading to their bedroom. "You man enough, or do you want to settle this right here on the rim of the south forty?"
    Lord, that voice! All velvet. And that chest! Scott's gaze locked on Asher's denim-covered crotch. Sweet Jesus. He tried to swallow again, but his mouth had gone drier than the vast prairie they were fantasizing over.
    And that imp grin said Asher knew he'd rendered Scott speechless and damn near paralyzed. The warm hand settling on Scott's hip, pulling him close to the treasured hardness he craved, sent a jolt of desire through him so strong his head tipped back and he gasped.
    Asher chuckled. "What's it going to be, cowpoke? Want to find out why I'm ramrod on this spread?"
    Scott tried, felt his lips move, but no sound came out and his body just wouldn't do anything except pant madly over the whole situation. He managed to nod once and gesture up the stairs. God, between those blue eyes peeking out from under that brown Stetson and the warm soft appeal of those leather gloves caressing up under his own shirt, Scott felt rather impressed he'd managed that much.
    "Fine. We'll mosey on up there in a minute." Lush lips settled over his throat.
    Shit! He'd never make it up the stairs; he'd come in about five seconds just from this. He trembled from