Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

like to show you, if that’s okay.” Len mounted, the leather creaking as he settled in the saddle. “Lead on; we’ll follow.”
    Cliff headed around the pasture and across the field near the barn with Len following behind. The sun quickly warmed the air as they rode. At the edge of the field, the terrain gave way to large trees and thick undergrowth. Cliff led them along a path through the trees. “When I was a kid, I used to ride this trail all the time.” Cliff slowed his horse so Len and Misty could get closer. “In the summer, there’s nothing like the cool air beneath these trees.” They kept to the trail, which was distinct but looked like it hadn’t been used much lately. “There’s a creek up ahead. It should be all right, but take it easy just in case.”
    Len heard the moving water before he saw it, and Cliff made a right turn, following the trail on the small bluff overlooking the creek. “In the summer, this was where we’d play when we needed to cool off.” Cliff smiled and returned his attention to the trail ahead of him. “It isn’t too far ahead.” Len had no idea when Cliff was referring to, but he nodded and followed.
    The trees gave way to a small meadowed clearing along the creek. Cliff rode to the center and then dismounted, and Len did the same. Cliff tied each of the horses to a tree and pulled the blanket from the back of his saddle, spreading it on the ground and motioning for Len to have a seat. Cliff sat next to him, turning so they could look at each other.
    He thought Cliff had something he wanted to talk about, but instead he leaned forward and brought their lips together tentatively. Len slid his hand over Cliff’s cheek and deepened the kiss, allowing himself to get a good, full taste of Cliff’s mouth. That earned him a small moan, and he slid his fingers into Cliff’s soft hair while his other hand slid along Cliff’s jeans-encased leg.
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Cliff pulled back slightly. “Len, I don’t know what to do… I mean with….”
    Len saw Cliff swallow hard, and Len took control, bringing their lips together again as he shifted on the blanket. His jeans were way too tight and getting tighter by the second. Cliff had his body in high gear. Using his weight, he shifted Cliff backward, settling him on the blanket as he continued to feast on Cliff’s glorious mouth. He felt Cliff’s hands on his back, stroking him over his shirt, and he slipped a hand under Cliff’s—smooth, soft skin beneath his palm.
    He could feel Cliff’s excitement against his hip as their bodies ground together slowly, their kissing setting the tempo. This was what Len had been hoping for, wanting, and waiting to have happen for what seemed like forever. Cliff was here in his arms, kissing him, and he could feel his skin beneath his hands, smooth and hot, scaldingly hot against him. And he wanted even more. His feverish, passion-filled mind wanted to feel Cliff against him, his hot skin sliding over his.
    “I’ve wanted this, wanted you forever.” Len looked into Cliff’s eyes, about to take his mouth again, but what he saw made him stop, and he slowly lifted himself up, giving Cliff space. “Are you okay?” Cliff couldn’t meet his eyes. “Yes.”

    Len knew Cliff was lying, probably to spare his feelings, but he’d seen that look many times. He knew that look intimately. After all, he’d seen it reflected back at him in the mirror so many times.

    The G-word. The dreaded G-word that had haunted him daily until he’d met Tim. Guilt had eaten him alive until he’d finally come to grips with who he was, and he could see those same feelings, that same look, in Cliff’s eyes.
    Cliff stifled a groan and sat back on the blanket, helping Len to a seated position. “Why’d you stop? Don’t you want to?” 119 Love Means Courage
    As Cliff began to get up, Len put his hand on his thigh. “Of course. I want to strip you bare and feel every glorious, sexy inch of you. Run my hands over you and taste every inch of you until you beg me to stop. I want to kiss you, feel you, hold you, and see what you look like when you can’t hold back any more.” The words tumbled out of him before he could stop them, and he wouldn’t take them back no matter what. Len sat back and waited for Cliff’s reaction, half expecting that he’d scared the man off.
    “I feel so ashamed of myself. You feel good, and you make me feel good, but these thoughts won’t go away no matter how hard I