Earth and Sky

since before that truck hit me. Can you sleep like this?”

    Hunter gently kissed Grant’s hair. “I could sleep like this for the rest of my life.” It felt so damn great to hold Grant, and it hit Hunter just how close he had been to losing his lover. “When we get back to the ranch, I’m going to tell my mom and the girls.”

    “Are you sure?” Grant asked quietly.

    “Yes, I am. But if you don’t want to, I suppose I can wait. I’m just sick and tired of hiding.”

    Grant nodded. “They may not react as well as Izzie, though.”

    “I know.” Hunter sighed. He had to admit he was afraid of his mother’s reaction. And Lisa’s. Izzie knew about them, and he was pretty sure Bernie would take it well enough too, but the two older women had a tendency to be harder to read, and those two were the ones he feared. “I just want to go on with our lives and stop being careful how I look at you when they’re around.”

    “There’s still the crew to consider.”

    “I sign their paychecks. If they don’t want to work for a gay boss, then it’s their loss.”

    “Workers are hard to come by,” Grant replied.

    “You don’t want this to get out, do you?”

    Grant sighed. “This is as new to me as it is to you, Cowboy. When I worked for Gable, the rumors were everywhere, of course, because most people in the county know about him.”

    “But you always denied it then.”

    “It’s scary, Hunter.”

    Hunter didn’t miss that Grant used his real name and not his most-loved nickname. “Why don’t we just tell my family and keep it quiet for the crew right now? That way we can get used to it first, and it gives them a little more time as well. Besides, I still have to sell it to the guys that I want to make you foreman, and I think that’ll be easier if it doesn’t look like I’m pushing my lover forward.”

    Grant nodded. “Are you sure?”

    “About making you foreman? You pretty much do the work now anyway, and I trust you. That’s what I need most. Someone I can trust implicitly.” Hunter gently caressed Grant’s chest, kissing the back of his head and, after Grant turned his way slightly, his temple and the side of his jaw. “Besides, Izzie already told me that she didn’t want the job, and Tim said he was comfortable just doing what he did now and he didn’t want the added responsibility. Also, he’s a bachelor, so it’s not like he needs the money.”

    Grant nodded.

    That was how they fell asleep, and exactly the same position Hunter woke up in hours later. He was sore from not moving all night, and he didn’t dare move now either, because Grant was still completely out of it. His soft snores comforted Hunter with the knowledge that Grant was still breathing steadily.

    “I love you, my beautiful man. I love you so much, and I can’t even tell you out loud.”

    “Mmm?” Grant murmured as he seemed to wake. “What did you say?”

    “Nothing,” Hunter answered. “Go back to sleep.” He took the moment to retrieve his arm from underneath Grant and turned so he could sit on the side of the bed and stretch his muscles. He shivered slightly when he felt Grant’s fingers ghost over his bare back. “Everything okay?” he asked, looking over his shoulder.

    “Yeah,” Grant answered. “Sore as hell, but I slept like a baby. Now I need to get up and pee.”

    Hunter walked around the bed so he could help Grant get up. As soon as Grant was on his feet, Hunter couldn’t resist pulling him closer and kissing him. It never ceased to amaze him how well they fit together, being of similar height and build, although Grant was slightly broader. Hunter smiled into the kiss when he felt Grant’s hard-on nudge his hip. Well aware of Grant’s sore ribs, he couldn’t do more than gently squeeze Grant’s ass as he deepened their interaction.

    “We better move, unless you want a golden shower,” Grant teased as he pulled away.

    Hunter guided Grant’s good arm around his shoulder so he could support him, and they made their way to the tiny motel bathroom, where Hunter held Grant steady as he leaned over the toilet.

    Grant shook his head.

    “Pee-shy?” Hunter asked teasingly. He snaked his arms underneath Grant’s so he could wrap them around Grant’s broad chest.

    Grant let his head fall back on Hunter’s shoulder. “Not usually, Cowboy, but I could use a little privacy just so my boner gets a chance to cool off.”

    Hunter languidly kissed Grant neck’s to