Earth and Sky

most of the way.

    “She’s really desperate, isn’t she?” Hunter eventually said as they drove up the driveway toward the house.

    “Yes. She’s been desperate for a long time. I’m just glad Bill has finally conceded to getting outside help.”

    “Must be very difficult for him. Does he know about your kids?”

    Grant shrugged. “He probably does. I’m sure Calley told him.”

    “And they know I knocked up Miranda.”

    “Guess we’ve both proven our fertility.”

    Hunter chuckled as he parked the car. He didn’t get out immediately, though, but turned to face Grant. “I really want to help her, but I can’t. I’m already gonna be a dad, Grant. That’s more than enough stress for me right now.”

    “I know, Cowboy. I told her you might say no.”

    Hunter leaned over to him and rested his head against Grant’s. “If it hadn’t been for Miranda, I might have considered it, since the chance of me having any sort of offspring would have been slim, but now….”

    “She understands, Cowboy.” Grant turned his head and gently kissed Hunter. Hunter responded like he expected, nuzzling him and creating intimacy without upping the ante.

    “Let’s sleep at the crew house tonight,” Hunter suggested. “It’s Saturday. Most of the guys will be still out at the bar. You have condoms there?”

    “Does a bear shit in the woods?”

    Hunter started the car again, driving it over to the other large house on the property. Like they’d predicted, it was shrouded in darkness; no lights were visible in any of the windows. Grant knew that the only one still inside the house would be old Mackenzie, and he would be asleep already. He was one of the ranch hands, and despite being older than time, he was always up at the crack of dawn, even on a Sunday. Luckily he had a room downstairs and on the opposite side from Grant’s. He wouldn’t be disturbed by a little noise.

    They didn’t dawdle but quickly made their way upstairs and into Grant’s room. It took them no time at all to get naked, and the lovemaking was frantic. They were used to muffling their moans and groans, but their movements were a lot more passionate than usual.

    “Will you build me a house, Stud?” Hunter whispered in Grant’s ear as soon as he had enough breath to speak. They were still entangled, Hunter behind Grant with his arms wrapped tightly around the older man’s frame.

    “I’d love to, but you’re going to have to help. Especially if you want thick, sturdy walls that block out sound.”

    “I thought of something else,” Hunter said in an even softer tone of voice than before. “Calley said we’d need to get tested for the donation. Just to keep up the pretense that we’re still in the race.”

    Grant nodded.

    “That means we’ll know if we’re both given the all-clear.”

    Grant knew where Hunter was going, and warmth spread inside him. “You want to get rid of the condoms?”

    “I’m not going back to women, and I’m not likely to find another guy around here.”

    Grant chuckled. “So you’re with me out of default?”

    Hunter kissed his neck, and Grant pushed even closer to his lover. Grant expected him to get mad or to retreat, but Hunter didn’t. “I’m with you because I love you. Because I’ve never felt for anyone what I feel for you. Because I never want to be with anyone else ever again.”

    Grant swallowed hard. The warmth inside him had turned to a big, fat knot in the pit of his stomach. Hunter had said the L word. No man had ever said it to him and meant it, and now he didn’t know how to answer it. Saying it back would sound cheesy and cheap. Not saying anything would make him seem cold and distant. After a few moments of reflection, he turned around in Hunter’s embrace and, taking Hunter’s face in his hand, tried to convey everything with a searing kiss.

    They fell asleep like that, kissing and cuddling. They wouldn’t need to get up in the morning. Old Mac would make sure the riding horses were fed and watered.

    It was still dark outside when they were awakened by someone banging on their door. It took a second salvo for Grant to wake up and disentangle himself from Hunter’s death grip.

    “Easy!” Grant called out. “Leave the door on its hinges!” He pulled on the corduroy pants he’d discarded near the door and made sure Hunter was pretty much covered before opening the door only slightly. He squinted against the bright light coming from the hallway