Chapter Ten

 

“Maybe we should do this another day,” I told Tate, staring at the row of cans he had lined up for target practice. He had been teaching me how to shoot from yesterday and now I was supposed to be trying my hand at targets. Yesterday had mostly been about the basics, how to care for a gun and how to use it properly. No wonder I never had the drive to own a job. Gun safety wasn’t something to play with and he had made sure I understood that yesterday.

“You’re ready,” he stated with a supportive smile. “Of course, if you don’t want to, we can find something else to do.”

He was being considerate, but I could see that it meant a lot to him that I was willing to take a turn doing something he liked. So, I nodded my agreement that I was ready and smiled back at his grin. He squeezed my shoulder affectionately and I relaxed. Our relationship, if it could be considered that, was full of affectionate gestures and I’d never been happier. Who would have thought I’d find this measure of happiness in these same woods I had railed against? The company made all the difference.

“Okay, here goes.”

I missed the entire first round of his bullets and turned to Tate in embarrassment at my failure.

“We’re just wasting your bullets,” I told him.

“That’s fine. I’ve plenty,” he assured me. “I don’t expect you to get it the first time, Bry. Just try again.”

His encouragement made me want to get it right. So, I reloaded the gun- at least I got that part right and I tried again.

“Yes!” I crowed in delight when I got one of seven beer cans.

“Now only six more to go,” Tate said on a laugh. “Celebration after. Get your ass moving.”

I wiggled it for his benefit, smirking at him over my shoulder when I saw his lustful stare. “Focus, Tate,” I stated with a chuckle.

“That’s what I’m trying to do,” he returned. “If someone would stop flirting.”

I fixed the gun on the next target. “I don’t flirt.”

I heard him scoff aloud. “Yeah, right. I don’t think you can help it. Do you flirt with all the guys in the city?”

I pumped my fist in the air when I got my second beer can. “What guys in the city?” I returned.

“Okay, don’t tell me.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” I stated and missed the next couple of shots. “You probably think the worst of me because I let you fuck me the first night I was here, but I’m not promiscuous.”

“Good to know,” he remarked. “But you can still be a flirt and not be promiscuous.”

“Then there’s no problem, is there?” I asked, turning to face him with a raised brow. “Unless you’re jealous.”

He scowled at me. “I’m not jealous.”

“Hmm, I think you are.”

“Just shoot the damn cans!” he growled at me and I laughed knowing I was right.

I concentrated on the other beer cans and only got one before I gave up.

“What are you doing?” Tate exclaimed when I strolled towards the targets. In response, I swept the butt of the gun over the remaining cans, toppling them to the ground before walking back to him and handing him his gun.

“There! All done!”

“Cheater,” he accused and with the hand not holding the rifle, grabbed me by the front of the shirt and towards him.

I knew what was coming and eagerly raised my head to receive his kiss. The last two days, there had been no sex between us, more of cuddling and kissing and talking. All the good stuff that made a relationship last. If only this would last. For now, I’d take what I could get.

I moaned now into his mouth, clutching his shoulder as I went weak in the knees. He reached between our bodies to stroke my hardening dick.

“Bryan!”

Shocked at the sound of the familiar voice calling my name, I stepped back from Tate and spun around. I stared in surprise and a little bit of fear at the confrontation that was sure to follow when I spotted an angry Keith storming towards us.

“That who I think it is?” Tate asked softly.

“Yeah,” I answered with a gulp. Keith looked fit to kill. He glared at me and sized up Tate. He returned his gaze to me and the anger burning in their depths was telltale that he still saw me as his twink.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Keith demanded, stopping before us. He ignored Tate to talk directly to me, his hands forming fists at his side.

I hated the confrontation, hated that Tate was witnessing the way Keith treated me.

“You’re on my property,” I heard Tate say. “You may want to approach on friendlier terms.”

“I’m talking to my boyfriend here!” Keith snapped, and I drew in a deep breath.

“Ex-boyfriend,” I reminded him. “We’re no longer in a relationship.”

“We had a fight,” he asserted angrily. “That doesn’t mean we’re not in a relationship. We live together or is that something you forgot?”

“I agree lovers have fights,” I stated, not backing down even though the anger emanating from him was a bit alarming. “And it’s not so much the fight either.” I pointed out. “I’m not going to be the guy you fuck then make fun of.”

“That’s what this is about?” he demanded in disbelief.

“Of course, it’s what this is about,” I remarked in anger. “This thing between us, it’s not going to work. I told you that the last time I saw you.”

“I fucking combed this mountain trying to find you!” he exclaimed. “And you want to tell me this is over because you’ve met somebody else?”

“I told you it was over before I met Tate,” I reminded him. “This has nothing at all to do with him. We aren’t suitable for each other, Keith. You know that. I just wish I’d acknowledged that before I allowed it to get this far.”

“So you run from my bed and find yourself another man?” he shouted at me. I suppose you think he can give you what I can? He lives in the fucking mountains. Have you forgotten how much you hate it here? I’ll make the offer once for you to leave right now with me. If you do, we’ll forget this whole thing happened.”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, Keith but after everything, I just can’t see you in the light of boyfriend again. Ever again.”

“I think you’ve heard enough,” Tate butted in. “You need to go now. You’ve heard what Bry said. It’s over.”

“Bry?” Keith asked, staring at me. “You let him call you Bry? You listen to me good, Bryan. We’re leaving our camp tomorrow to head back to the city. I give you until tonight to find your ass back where it belongs. Otherwise, don’t bother showing up for work.”

“Get the fuck off my land,” Tate commanded, his voice brooking no argument. My heart galloped in my chest as I thought of the two men coming to fists because of me.

Keith looked him up and down. “I can take you on my own. You think I’m just going to let you steal what’s mine?”

“I’m not yours,” I contradicted, letting him know which side I was on.

Tate cocked his gun and my blood ran cold. Fuck, this was getting out of hand fast.

“You’ve until the count of five to get the hell out of my face and as far away from us as you can.”

“You’ll regret this,” Keith threatened me as he walked backward. “You won’t have him around to protect you all the time. In fact, I’ll be seeing you back at my condo, where your things are stashed. Or, did you forget that?”

He stalked off and I ran fingers through my hair as he disappeared into the trees where he had materialized from.

“You okay?” Tate asked me.

No, I wasn’t okay. I felt like I’d just been in the middle of a war zone and wasn’t sure where to go from here. Keith was right. Tate wouldn’t always be there and I would be heading down the mountains tomorrow. I was worried about the look in Keith’s eyes and hoped he had the sense not to do anything stupid.

“Fuck!” I muttered and stalked towards the cabin.

“Bry!” Tate called to me but I kept walking. I needed some time to figure this shit out.