Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

those—after all, you own them.” Len cut a piece of the pork chop.
    “I know, but they won’t be close to where we need the feed.
They’re at the far edge of the herd.”
Len swallowed. “But you could use them until you get the money together to have them moved here. They looked new to me.”
    “They were; he just built them a few years ago.” Cliff continued eating while he thought. “That’s not a bad idea. Now that I know what dad did with the money he borrowed and the additional acreage should provide more than enough money to pay off the loan, I should be able to afford to do that in a year or so.” Geoff cut off their conversation as he banged on this tray, giggling when they both looked at him.
    “You just wanted attention, didn’t you?” Cliff leaned to his son and blew a raspberry on his cheek. “You need to finish eating.” Geoff turned and blew a sticky raspberry on Cliff’s cheek before returning to his food. Cliff laughed deeply and wiped his face as he returned to his dinner. The rest of the meal was fairly quiet with Geoff garnering most of the attention. When Geoff was finished, Cliff wiped the boy’s face and let him out of the chair. He ran into the living room, and soon the “broom, broom” and brake screech noises filtered into the kitchen.
    Len and Cliff finished eating, and Cliff put the dishes in the 100
Andrew Grey
sink. “I need to get him ready for bed. I’ll be right back down.” Len watched as Cliff scooped Geoff into his arms and zoomed him up the stairs.
    Alone in the living room, Len wandered around looking at the pictures on the walls and sort of pacing off his energy. While he was fairly sure Cliff wasn’t going to fire him, he wasn’t too sure what he wanted to talk about. He stopped in front of a picture hanging on the wall of Cliff and Ruby, standing with Cliff’s father who was holding Geoff. Maybe he’s going to tell me he wants me to stay away from Geoff. He heard footsteps on the stairs and turned away from the photograph. “Is he okay?”
    “Out like a light.” Cliff stepped off the last stair and walked to Len.

    “I….” The both began talking at the same time, and Cliff put up his hand. “Len, I’m sorry.” It sounded to him like Cliff was going to continue. Maybe he was going to fire him. “I’m sorry, I turned my back to you the other day, and I’m sorry for avoiding you this week.”

    This was not at all what Len had expected, and he had to check to make sure his mouth wasn’t hanging open like a fish. “It’s okay,” he stammered, trying to process Cliff’s meaning.
    “No, it’s not. What you did showed courage. Telling me you were gay took guts. Guts I wish I’d had, so I owe you an apology. I’m sorry for turning my back on you. I’m sorry for avoiding you, and most of all, I’m sorry you had to wait five years.”
“For what?”
    Cliff didn’t answer him. Instead, he leaned forward and kissed him. His lips were tentative at first, like Cliff wasn’t sure his advance would be welcomed, but as the kiss continued, Len moaned very softly and answered the kiss with his own. Then he felt Cliff’s 101 Love Means Courage

    arms around him, a hand sliding through his hair as the kiss deepened, and Cliff pressed his whole body against Len’s, touching from toes to tummy to lips. Len could barely believe he was actually getting what he’d wanted ever since that night behind the barn. Cliff Laughton was kissing him. Hell, not just kissing him—it felt like he was trying to short-circuit his brain. All too quickly, he felt the pressure on his lips ease, and Cliff stepped back, looking into his eyes.

    Len was breathing hard, his thoughts whirling, his eyes locked on Cliff’s. “Don’t make me wait another five years, okay?” Cliff muttered, “I don’t intend to,” and then kissed him again.
    This time the kiss was longer and sent a tingling through Len’s body. His senses filled with Cliff’s scent as he inhaled deeply, his taste as their tongues dueled, the feel of his firm, solid body. Len’s head began to swirl with the aroma of sweat, hay, and man as he was guided across the floor and lowered onto the sofa. The assault on his senses increased as he felt Cliff’s weight on him, solid and good.
    Fucking hell, he was making out with Cliff on his sofa. It was everything his young, feverish brain could ever have wished for. “Daddy.”
    Len had to give Cliff credit—he didn’t jerk away from Len and pretend