Earth and Sky

a little incapacitated. I’m just offering. If you want to make it hard on yourself, be my guest.”

    Grant sighed and put down his fork, sliding his plate a little closer to Hunter. Hunter wasn’t expecting Grant to actually ask him, but then he figured he’d already pushed him enough for one night, so he silently carved up some of the roast beef, using his own utensils. Although he wanted to tease Grant about his macho attitude, he figured he’d get more chances to do it once Grant was all healed up. And if he was honest with himself, he knew it would be more fun then, too, since it would be an equal fight.

    During their meal Grant didn’t say much, and Hunter tried to keep the conversation light, telling Grant about the history between Izzie and Hugh and how Izzie had never expected to actually be allowed to come near the man she’d been in love with for years.

    Hunter was famished, and he finished his plate way before Grant was even halfway done.

    “It’s amazing food, it really is,” Grant said by way of apology. “If you can put it in the fridge, it will keep for tomorrow. If your mother is anything like mine was, she’ll hate seeing food go to waste.”

    Hunter squeezed Grant’s hand. “I’ll clean up, and then I’ll come tuck you in for the night.”

    When Hunter returned from bringing the plates to the kitchen, Grant was still sitting on the side of the bed, as if he hadn’t moved at all. Hunter put the side table and his chair back where they belonged and crouched in front of his lover.

    “Either I take you into the bathroom for a nice hot bath, or I help you get comfortable on the bed so you can sleep. Tell me what you need.”

    “Would you think any less of me if I passed up the bath?” Grant asked tentatively.

    Hunter squeezed Grant’s knee. “I like sweaty men.”

    Grant threw Hunter a disgusted look.

    “I’ll live.”

    “Does that mean you’re staying here tonight?”

    “I’m not letting my mother dictate whether or not I sleep with my lover. Besides, you might need me during the night.”

    Like the night before, it took them a while to settle, but eventually they managed to find a comfortable configuration pretty much like in the motel room, with Hunter behind Grant, spooning him.

    “Your mom really didn’t want you to sleep in here tonight?”

    “Nope,” Hunter answered with a shrug. “She’s doesn’t want Hugh to sleep with Izzie either. But it would be a safe bet to say Hugh isn’t sleeping in the guestroom.”

    “Izzie’s carrying his baby, for crying out loud!” Grant said, a fair bit louder than he should have.

    Hunter shushed him by kissing his neck. “Just because we’re going against her wishes, we don’t have to announce it to the entire county.”

    “Fuck, you turn me on when you do that to me,” Grant said, a whole lot more quietly.

    “What?” Hunter asked, knowing full well what Grant meant.

    “Mumble against my neck. Kiss me there, even if we can’t do a damn thing about it.”

    “That’s what you think,” Hunter said teasingly, reaching for Grant’s fast-filling cock and grinding his own against Grant’s ass. In a matter of seconds, he had Grant writhing under his hands, and he had to keep reminding him to keep quiet. Hunter was relentless, though, knowing that, for relaxation purposes, the next best thing to a hot bath was a roaring orgasm.

    Mid-grunt, Grant buried his face into his pillow as he came hard into Hunter’s hand. Hunter’s orgasm was a quieter one, but no less satisfying as Grant reached behind to aid him. They fell asleep in sated bliss after Hunter’s quick dash to the bathroom to clean them up.

Chapter 33

    To Grant’s surprise, the pain from the broken ribs was something he got used to. He knew he needed to take measured breaths and not laugh, and after a while, as long as he stuck to that, he was fine. The bruised pelvis was another thing entirely. He could move around without too much trouble, and then, suddenly, something would shoot through his hip and he wouldn’t be able to move at all. Although Hunter was careful never to treat him as if he was helpless, he was a bit of a mother hen, and Grant was starting to feel the walls crowding him.

    Every morning, Hunter would get up early to get a few hours’ work done in the stables before coming back to the house to help Grant take a shower and get dressed. Most of the time, Grant would take his painkillers and fall right back asleep. But