Earth and Sky

going to be easy.

    “I’m sorry,” Grant murmured.

    “Did you just apologize? What for?”

    “This isn’t what you signed up for.”

    Hunter was lying on his side, as close to Grant as he could manage, but he moved even closer by putting his chin on Grant’s shoulder.

    Grant could feel the warmth of Hunter’s skin and the ghost of his breath against his ear.

    “Hey, I’m the one who got his ex-girlfriend pregnant, remember? Your boyfriend’s going to be a dad. Don’t suppose you saw that one coming either.”

    “True,” Grant admitted.

    “Come here,” Hunter gestured. He put his arms around Grant as Grant turned into them, and pulled him tight. “It’s almost morning, and although it’s Sunday, I get the feeling we’re not going to get the chance to lie in.”

    Grant kissed Hunter’s temple. “But you do know we’re sleeping together with your mother’s permission, right?”

    Hunter snorted. “As if that ever made a difference.”

    “It does to me,” Grant confessed. “I mean, we still have to be quiet, but now she can’t delude herself anymore and pretend we’re just friends.”

    “Sleep,” Hunter commanded, stressing his point with a wide yawn.

Chapter 36

    Hunter had slept for maybe an hour. Dawn was only just creeping up the horizon, but something had awakened him, and now he was lying there, listening to the sounds of a cold morning on the ranch. Lying close to Grant was always a treat. Grant snored a little, but not enough to wake Hunter up, and Hunter simply enjoyed the warmth and proximity of the tall, well-built man in his arms. He was pretty much a morning person and was usually awake before Grant, although Grant was no slouch by any means. He liked these quiet minutes. It gave him time to think. Sometimes too much time. Before Grant had become his bed partner, he’d never lingered. As soon as his eyes were more than halfway open, he used to be up and on his way to the bathroom. It would take him ten minutes tops to get ready for morning chores, and sometimes that even included making his bed.

    Now he liked to linger. He liked waking up with Grant, teasing his lover into a quick round of morning sex before they got up to work. They made the bed every morning, because they’d been freaked out one day when someone had made their bed behind their backs. There was no telling what they’d found. Hunter was sure most people in the house were fine about him being with Grant, though. He was even pretty sure that his mother would get used to the idea eventually. Still, he knew they’d feel better having a place of their own.

    Last night Christy and her kids had toppled their world, though. What was going to happen? Was she going to stay for a while? What was it going to do to Grant to have his kids around all the time? Hunter hoped it would bring good things, but he knew it wouldn’t be smooth sailing all the way. To the children, Grant wasn’t their father. Their father was a bully who beat his wife.

    Hunter startled from his daydream when he heard a discreet knock on his door. He listened for another one but heard a weak voice instead. “Hunter?”

    It was his sister Bernice. “Bernie? I’ll be right there.” Hunter tried to slide from under Grant without waking him but only partially succeeded.

    “Hurry up. I hear a baby crying.”

    It dawned on Hunter that she’d missed most of the commotion last night. He slipped into his jeans and hurried to the door.

    “What’s going on?” Hunter asked his sister. Bernie was standing in the hallway in her nightgown, her hair in pigtails despite the fact she was seventeen. When she didn’t answer, Hunter saw her eyes wander past him to the prone figure on the bed, and then realized he hadn’t checked whether Grant was decent. He quickly turned around and covered up most of his lover’s visible skin with the bedsheet.

    “So where is this crying child?”

    She pointed toward the guestroom, but her gaze was still locked on Grant. Hunter snapped his fingers in front of her eyes. “Distressed child?”

    Bernie giggled shyly. “He’s gorgeous, Hunter, even without clothes on.”

    Hunter nodded, sure that he was blushing crimson but not about to let his kid sister ogle his lover gratuitously. Bernie finally walked with him to the end of the hallway, letting him settle somewhat. The crying got louder, and Hunter started to worry. It could only be Lindy, but Christy was supposed to be inside with her and