After word got out on social media about the big celebration—not to mention a bunch of Reyes’s photos—business picked up at the site, and so did food orders at the saloon. Miles had to increase his daily deliveries, especially for ground buffalo meat. Apparently, word was getting out that the burger was worth the trip, and that had made Miles blush all over the place when Wes read him those website comments.
Hell, he was even getting reviewed on Yelp. Well, Chef Art Milo was getting reviewed, but whatever.
Either way, Miles was happy. He loved his job, he loved his boyfriend, and he loved his friends. Nothing could pop that happy bubble. In fact, Miles wanted to make that bubble bigger.
On the last Saturday in July, Miles drove him and Reyes into San Jose for a real, on-the-town date. They had a late dinner at a classy restaurant, ate good food, and shared a bottle of wine. Miles paid, because it had been his idea, and Reyes seemed pleased at being treated.
He was also shocked as hell when Miles pulled up to the valet stand at a fancy hotel. “We’re staying here tonight,” Miles said.
“We are, huh?” Reyes studied his face a beat. “Let me guess. There’s an overnight bag in the trunk.”
“There’s an overnight bag in the trunk.”
Miles gave his keys to the valet, fetched the bag, and then went to the desk to get their key. Reyes silently followed him to a nice room and a big king-size bed. Miles’s belly wobbled a bit at the sight of the bed, because he had plans for tonight, but he was also a little nervous. He put the bag on the bed, unsurprised when Reyes came up and looped his arms around Miles’s waist from behind.
“How long have you been planning this?” Reyes asked, his breath tickling the side of Miles’s neck.
“Most of the week. I wanted us to have a special night, away from the ranch. Just you and me and a box of condoms.”
Reyes tensed, which made Miles’s stomach wobble again. “Any particular use in mind for the condoms? I’ve never bottomed, but I would for you, if that’s what you want.”
The mental image of Reyes bending over to take Miles’s dick sent blood rushing to said appendage. Miles was mostly a bottom, and he’d only topped a few times with Kevin, because Kevin liked switching. He’d enjoyed himself, but God, he missed having a dick in his own ass, and he wanted that again.
Miles twisted around in Reyes’s arms and put his hands on the bigger man’s waist. Held Reyes’s steady gaze. “I want you inside me tonight.”
Reyes’s eyes simmered with something hot and wonderful. “Are you absolutely sure you’re ready?”
“Yes.” He’d thought about nothing else all week, going so far as to finger himself in the shower most mornings, pretending it was Reyes, getting used to penetration again. “I want you to make love to me tonight, Reyes. Please.”
“Anything for you, mi alma.”
Miles drew him down for a long, opening kiss that slowly led to shoes being shucked, and clothes coming off. This part they knew. It was practiced and easy, and it often led to blow jobs or rubbing off, and that was always wonderful. But Miles wanted to reclaim this part of his sex life. To have this with his boyfriend. To make it fun and joyful and meaningful again.
They pulled back the covers and climbed into the bed. The size was a bit foreign, but it allowed them room to play. To kiss and bite and suck on nipples and shoulders and cocks. They even managed to sixty-nine for a while, neither of them in any hurry to come, only eager to please their partner.
But after playing for what felt like hours, Miles needed more, and he lunged for the bag. Got out the condoms and lube he’d stuffed in the bottom, underneath clean clothes and toiletries.
“Get me ready?” Miles said as he handed the lube to Reyes.
Reyes’s nostrils flared and his eyes blazed with emotion. “Lie on your back. I want you to see me. Always see that it’s me.”
His eyes burned as he settled on his back, with a pillow under his butt to give Reyes better access. Trust shot through Miles so strongly he swallowed a gasp. The big, beautiful man looming over him would sooner cut off his own dick than ever hurt Miles, and Miles knew that in his heart and down to his bones.
“I love you,” Miles said.
“I love you, too.” Reyes kissed him once more before opening the lube.
Miles listened to a familiar sticky sound, then gasped as cool pressure touched his hole. He forced his body to relax and accept the single finger. Reyes braced his free hand on the bed near Miles’s head, so they could look into each other’s eyes. Miles held his gaze as Reyes slowly worked one, then two fingers into his body. The second burned in the best way, and Miles never looked away. Never doubted or hurt or wondered.
Reyes fucked him with two fingers for a while, in no hurry, even though his own cock was heavy and leaking precome. Miles’s wasn’t much better, but they needed to go slow, and Reyes knew it. Even with Miles spread and open to him, Reyes took his time and made this as perfect as possible for both of them.
“Should I do three?” Reyes asked after an eternity.
“Yes.”
Three was an exquisite stretch that had Miles seeing stars. He threw his head back and groaned, not caring how loud he was, because they were in a hotel, not the cabin. Reyes paused until Miles found the words to urge him on, to put those three wicked fingers in deeper.
“Oh fuck, that’s good,” Miles said.
“You look so beautiful, Miles. So beautiful.”
Reyes played a moment longer, before easing his fingers out. Miles felt oddly empty now, but he’d be full again soon. Reyes put on a condom with trembling fingers and then smeared on more lube. Miles had already considered positioning when coming up with this plan. He urged Reyes to sit against the headboard, with a pillow behind him for comfort, so Miles could be on top. He needed to be on top for this.
Miles swung his leg over Reyes’s knees, and in a blast of spontaneity, Reyes surged forward and sucked Miles’s dick into his mouth. He also thrust two fingers back into his ass, and Miles shouted, because holy fuck! Being penetrated and sucked off had his orgasm pooling, and Miles didn’t want to come yet.
“Too close,” he warned.
Reyes backed off, his eyes hooded and lust-drunk. “Can’t wait to be inside you.”
“Yeah.” Miles scooted closer, then reached behind to clasp Reyes’s cock. Reyes held him by the hips for support as Miles lined up, and then slowly sank down onto Reyes’s dick. The initial stretch made his eyes water, so Miles went slow. Tiny jerks of his hips, down a little and then back up. Somehow, Reyes stayed still when the need to simply drive home had to be killing him. His body trembled with the effort of allowing Miles to set the pace.
God, I love this man.
A pace Miles began to quicken, thrust a little faster, taking more of Reyes each time. Feeling every stretch and press against his insides and loving it. Savoring it. Remembering exactly why he loved this. Loved opening for a guy’s cock, being pounded to orgasm.
“Oh yes,” Miles said. “Fuck.”
“You feel amazing,” Reyes said. “So pretty, riding me like this.”
“You feel amazing, too.”
Miles moved until his legs cramped. He pulled off so they could shift positions. Miles flopped onto his back, expecting regular missionary. Reyes surprised him by, instead, lifting Miles’s left leg up, crouching over his right, and sliding home this way. The new position gave Reyes room to move, but also allowed them to see each other without Reyes crushing Miles into the bed.
The thoughtfulness, even in the middle of fucking, made Miles’s heart swim with love and joy, and he relaxed into Reyes’s very capable hands. The slide of Reyes in and out of his body, the tender smile that never left Reyes’s face, and the constantly growing tightness in Miles’s balls.
His orgasm screamed in out of nowhere, and Miles shouted as he came, working his cock for every drop he could get. Every small tingle and aftershock, and holy shit. Reyes held still through it, and then eased out when Miles finally relaxed. He stripped off the condom and jerked himself a few times, before shooting over Miles’s own load.
Reyes kissed him hard, before sliding down between his legs to lick Miles clean, occasionally sharing on fingers that Miles sucked with delight. Perfectly sated and pleasantly sore in the exact right way, Miles snuggled against Reyes’s damp chest and breathed in the man who’d given him this wonderful gift. Helped him face and conquer this one final hurdle on the way toward getting his life back.
“How do you feel?” Reyes asked, one hand lightly palming his ass.
“Perfect. That was everything I needed and more.”
“Good. I didn’t expect this tonight.”
“I know.” Miles kissed his chest. “I wanted it to be a surprise, so you didn’t overthink it.”
“It was a wonderful surprise, Miles. Is it corny to say I’m honored?”
“Not at all.” Miles squirmed a bit until he could comfortably rest his head on Reyes’s chest. He didn’t want to look him in the eye just yet. “To be honest, after something that happened last year, I worried I’d never be comfortable having sex again. For a long time, I was scared of it. And then I met you.”
Reyes was silent for so long, Miles feared he’d fallen asleep and missed the confession. But when Miles lifted his head, Reyes’s eyes were open, his expression schooled. “If you ever want to tell me about the thing that happened,” Reyes said roughly, “you know I’ll listen without judgment.”
“I know. Not tonight. It’s been a perfect night, and I don’t want to drag my past into bed with us.”
“Heard and understood. How about a nice, long shower? Together for a change?”
“Sounds perfect.”
Reyes showed off his alpha side again by scooping Miles off the bed and carrying him into the spacious bathroom. It had a nice-sized shower, as well as a soaking tub, so they changed their plan to a long bubble bath. Reyes’s more playful side came out in the tub, as they blew suds at each other and painted on bubble beards.
When they finally rinsed off and climbed into bed, Miles was boneless and more content than he’d ever been in his life. And that was all because of the kind, affectionate, sexy cowboy sharing his bed. As he curled up close, Miles couldn’t imagine his future now without Reyes in it.
I’m keeping him. He’s mine.
* * *
They overslept the next morning, so there was no time for playing around before checkout, because they both had to get back for work. They did share a few long kisses in the garage, though, before parting ways. Miles had packed Reyes’s ranch polo, so he didn’t have to hit the cabin and change, and Miles had his costume in the bag he slung onto the back of the ATV.
His good mood over last night’s amazing sex carried him right through a very busy Sunday without a single grumble or complaint. Shawn teased him about finally getting laid by his hot boyfriend, and Miles just laughed at him.
As his day ended and he neared the cabin again, his stomach soured. He knew what he had to tell Reyes tonight, because if they were in this, if they were truly going forward, Miles needed to be honest. He wanted to be honest about something he’d never shared with another living soul. He wanted to tell Reyes about the birthday he didn’t remember.
They had a new custom of Reyes bringing them food down from the guesthouse, so they could eat together in private. Nowadays, Miles usually got back from the saloon so late that he’d miss meals if he waited. Sure enough, Reyes had two covered plates waiting, and Miles dug in, eating what he could while his nerves continued to buzz.
“Something on your mind?” Reyes asked. “Because we don’t have to make love again, just because we did last night.”
“Then what’s wrong? You look tense.”
Miles put his plate on the small table between their chairs. “Nothing’s wrong, exactly. I just...want to tell you something.”
“You can tell me anything, Miles.”
“I know, it’s just I haven’t told anyone this, not even Wes.”
Reyes sat up straighter, his expression open and curious.
“It happened a year ago in April, on my twenty-fourth birthday. About a month before we visited the ranch on vacation. Wes dragged me along, because he could sense something was wrong, and that I needed out of the city, and I really did.” Miles swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry.
Reyes stood, then led Miles to his bed so they could sit side by side, Reyes clasping one of his hands. “No judgments, Miles, I promise.”
Just spit it out, he’s probably already guessed.
“Wes took me out clubbing to celebrate with some mutual friends, and somehow Dallas found out where we were, and he showed up. I hadn’t spoken to him in months, because the asshole had tricked my ex-boyfriend into dumping me, by insinuating I’d cheated on him. Kevin believed Dallas’s lies, and I only found out about it because I ran into Kevin at the gym a few months after. Kevin didn’t believe me, of course, but I confronted Dallas and he tried to say he was protecting me, he missed me, blah blah. I was so over being Dallas’s backup plan when his other relationships flatlined that I told him to stay the fuck out of my life. I was sick of him manipulating me.
“And when he showed up at the club, handsome as ever, he apologized all over the place for what a dick he’d been, promised it would be different this time, if I let us be friends again. I didn’t know what to think, because he seemed sincere, but of course he was always so fucking sincere.” Instead of fear, anger took hold deep inside of Miles’s chest. “The trusting idiot that I was, I let him buy me a drink.”
Reyes’s fingers tightened a fraction; Miles couldn’t dare look him in the eyes for the last part.
“To be honest, I don’t remember much else after that first drink. Wes told me the next day that he saw me and Dallas dancing together, and then I disappeared. Didn’t reply to his texts or calls. The next morning, I woke up naked in bed, with Dallas and some guy I didn’t know. There were condoms on the floor and my ass was sticky. And sore.”
Reyes made a soft, growly sound.
“They were both still passed out, and I didn’t want to know. I got dressed and I left, and I was in the shower before Wes realized I was home. I told him the partial truth, that I went home with Dallas, but I said I crashed on his couch after we talked all night. Realized we couldn’t be friends. I don’t think Wes bought that last part, because Dallas kept texting me. He thanked me for a great time on my birthday, asked to see me again, and I spent fucking weeks trying to remember anything about that night. But it’s a complete blank. And since I couldn’t remember, it was easier to convince myself over time that nothing happened.”
“Miles.” Reyes’s voice was so heartbroken that Miles wanted to cry. “Please, look at me.”
Miles somehow found the strength to raise his head and face this. He expected anger, but Reyes only looked sad and upset, and Miles swallowed a sob. Was he upset because Miles had let Dallas drug him? That he hadn’t fought or reported it? Did he think Miles was a coward?
Reyes cupped his cheek in one rough palm, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry you’ve been hurting, but thank you for telling me now.”
“For what? For letting someone you used to care about buy you a drink? Never. And nothing that happened after was your fault. Dallas took advantage of you for years, and to do what he did...it was an escalation of behavior, just like confronting you at your apartment in March. Just like showing up at the ghost town looking for you.”
“I know.” Miles blinked back relieved tears. “I was so ashamed of myself for what happened. And then I was furious with myself for taking that damned drink in the first place. But the worst part is that I never really blamed Dallas until recently. Until you helped me understand all the ways Dallas preyed on me and abused my trust. So no, what happened wasn’t my fucking fault.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Reyes tucked him against his broad chest and held him tight. Miles sagged into his strength, so glad to have this final secret out in the open. Maybe in the light of day, the last of Miles’s guilt would wither and die. “You are so strong to have carried this alone, Miles.”
“I don’t feel strong most days.”
“Sometimes the strongest among us are those who feel the weakest.”
“Who said that?”
“My grandmother. She died when I was ten, but I remember her very clearly. She was a spiritual woman who believed in hard work, discipline, and never giving up, and she liked to see the best in others. That was one thing she said to me that I’ve never forgotten.”
“She sounds wonderful.”
“She was. I think she would have liked you and your quiet strength.”
Miles pressed his nose into Reyes’s neck and inhaled his familiar, comforting scent. “I’m just glad to have finally told someone. Looking back, I’m pissed I didn’t report it, but what would have happened? Really? Three guys got drunk, did drugs, and had sex. That’s how police would have seen it, and since I didn’t remember anything, Dallas and that guy could have told the cops any story they wanted.”
“You do realize I’m now going to have to murder Dallas with my bare hands.”
He sat up, because Reyes sounded perfectly serious with his threat. “Remember that knight in shining armor conversation?”
“Spoilsport.”
“I want you with me, not in prison.” And since Miles wasn’t one hundred percent certain Reyes’s threat was a joke, added, “Don’t seek revenge on my behalf, Reyes. Promise me.”
The fact that it took a ten-count for Reyes to nod showed how silently angry he was about this. But he wasn’t angry with Miles, and that was everything. “I won’t go after Dallas, I promise.”
“Thank you.”
“Can I text him photos of severed horse heads as a warning?”
“Jesus, Reyes!” Miles jumped off the bed, horrified at the idea. “What the hell?”
“Not real horses, Miles, like The Godfather.”
“I’ve never seen it.” But now that his initial horror was subsiding, he did get the cultural reference. “Still, gross. And no texting. No contact of any kind. Dallas hasn’t shown up here again, so hopefully it’s over. Did he get away with doing some epically shitty—”
“Also illegal.”
“Things to me? Yes. Am I worried he’ll hurt someone else? Yes. But there’s no proof. Emotional manipulation is impossible to prove, and it’ll end up being ‘he said/he said’ in the end. I’m just...relieved that he’s finally out of my life.”
“But is he fully out of your mind?”
“No.” Miles returned to sit next to Reyes and lean into him. “I’ve known him since I was eighteen, Reyes, I don’t know that he’ll ever be completely out of my mind. But talking about this today is a big step in getting him to shut up. Maybe go hide in the back for a while and leave me alone, so I can build wonderful new memories with you.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“I thought you might.” Miles tilted his head so he was looking up at Reyes through a fan of eyelashes. “Want to make a fun new memory right now?”
“By all means.”
With a bark of grateful laughter, Miles pounced on his boyfriend.