Earth and Sky

me.”

    “Give him time. He probably feels guilty. I would.”

    “But who would leave his….”

    “Lover?” Izzie aided Hunter.

    “Yeah…. What kind of man would do that to a loved one who was hurt?”

    “We don’t know what happened between them before the accident, Hunter.”

    “Ten minutes to dinnertime, folks!” Lisa’s voice calling upstairs disturbed their intense conversation.

    “I better run to the showers,” Hunter said.

    Izzie nodded. “Yeah, me too.” She gave him an intense stare. “Think about it, Hunter. Don’t wait for Grant to make the first move. Talk to him.”

    She didn’t give Hunter any chance to protest as she turned around and disappeared into her room. Hunter quickly grabbed a towel and a bar of soap and retrieved a clean pair of jeans and a shirt from his room before running out to the crew quarters. He was grateful that the shower block was deserted, with most of the men at dinner, and was quick to strip and get under the hot water. He knew he didn’t have a lot of time, so he lathered up and ran his hands over his wet skin to wipe off the grime.

    It felt good to get clean, but he couldn’t shake the images of Grant, the way he’d looked just before they’d kissed for the first time. Hunter tried to ignore his cock, which was quickly growing heavy, but the memories of Grant wearing nothing but a towel in this dimly lit shower block, and then afterward in his room upstairs, made him horny as hell. Hunter wrapped his hand around his heavy erection and tugged at it a few times. He knew what he wanted was Grant’s hand on him, his mouth around his cock, sucking him, teasing him with his tongue. He wiped his free hand over his ass, letting a finger slip between his ass cheeks. He swallowed when he circled his hole and felt the muscle contract involuntarily. Could he let Grant inside him there? He pushed his finger against the scrunched-up muscle and felt resistance. Surely Grant would never fit. Hunter had had enough trouble getting his mouth around Grant’s more than ample erection. There was no way Hunter could accommodate that. Then why did he suddenly crave it? Why did Hunter feel that if Grant suggested it next time, he’d agree to give it a try?

    Then he remembered the encounter in the stables and how horny and eager he’d been. He’d asked Grant to fuck him, and he’d meant it. It was just when he was alone that he doubted he could handle it. When they had enough time and privacy, Grant had said. Izzie was right. Hunter was going to have to make the first move: organize a way for them to be together, away from the prying eyes of his family and the ranch crew.

    Hunter felt the heat rise as he fisted himself, his cock now rock-hard from the idea of letting Grant inside him. He looked up, letting the hot water stream over his face as he imagined feeling Grant against his back, pushing against him, into him, going further than the last time they’d been together in the barn. Just as he realized he could no longer hold back and bright lights flashed behind his closed eyes, his finger slipped through his tight guardian muscle and he bucked into his hand, shooting white ribbons of come against the wall.

    Feeling his legs go weak, he let his head fall forward against the separating wall, finding some sort of support. Panting hard to catch his breath, he understood there was no denying it. He could say he wasn’t gay—at least he didn’t feel gay—but he couldn’t say he didn’t lust after Grant, didn’t grow hard at the mere thought of the big guy’s hands on his naked skin. He couldn’t deny that. And Izzie understood.

    “ Sorry I’m late,” Hunter apologized as he sat down behind his plate, his hair still wet and tousled, since he’s forgotten to pack his comb. Lisa and his mother looked at him sternly, but Bernie and Izzie smiled, as usual. Hunter couldn’t help smiling too as he handed his empty plate to his mother so she could put food on it. That was the way it was at their house. Mother was boss.

    Hunter was still flying high and hoped his mom and sisters wouldn’t catch on exactly why he was feeling so elated. He even had to prevent himself from announcing that he was going to take a weekend off in the near future. Of course he couldn’t tell them he was going to spend it with Grant, but he was certainly going to arrange something. As soon as Grant was back, he’d asked him about it and figure out a place to go.

Chapter