A Wild Ride (24 page)

A hand landed on Ryan’s shoulder. “You weren’t shitting, were you?” the man behind them asked.

“Nope. He’s all mine,” Ryan said and turned back around to watch as Dante was awarded his championship belt buckle.

T
HAT
evening, the three of them spent the night in a hotel, which was problematic, given Hy’s health, but driving the hours back to the ranch wasn’t an option. Ryan knew how important it had been to Hy to see Dante win, and if that meant putting off their own private celebration that night, so be it. In the morning, they got Hy up, bathed, fed, and into the truck for the ride home. Ryan and Hy followed Dante most of the way, and Ryan had never been so happy to see home in his life. He could tell Hy was pleased to be back as well, because once they transferred him to his living room chair, Hy fell right to sleep.

“He doesn’t have long,” Dante whispered with a hitch in his voice, and Ryan nodded. “I was afraid the trip was going to be too much for him.”

“But it made him so happy. He’s home, he’s taken care of, and he got to see you win,” Ryan said before pulling Dante into a hug. “If he goes tonight, he’ll have everything he wanted, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. He’s comfortable and content. That’s all we can ask for.” Just then Hy began snoring up a storm, and Ryan chuckled softly. “He’ll probably sleep for a while,” he said, and then he yawned.

“Now don’t you start that,” Dante chided. “I have something for you.”

“You do?” Ryan asked with a slight lift of his eyebrows.

“Yeah. I need you to do whatever it is you need to and come out to the practice barn in fifteen minutes,” Dante told him with a smirk of satisfaction.

“Okay,” Ryan said, wondering what Dante was up to.

“And no sneaking out to peek,” Dante said, and Ryan rolled his eyes.

“I wasn’t the one who shook every Christmas present under the tree,” Ryan teased. “Fine, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Dante hurried away, and Ryan went into their bedroom and began unpacking his things, checking the clock every thirty seconds. He thought he might have heard a truck door close at one point, but he wasn’t sure. Once the allotted time was almost up, Ryan put aside what he was doing. He stopped in the living room on his way out to check on Hy before continuing outside and into the practice barn.

The door was closed, and Ryan wondered for the millionth time just what Dante was up to. He pulled open the door and took a single step inside before stopping still. Dante sat on top of the mechanical bull in his chaps, hat, a belt with his championship buckle, and not a stitch else. Ryan’s throat went bone dry instantly. “Jesus Christ!” Ryan rasped as he closed the door and stepped closer, swallowing multiple times so he could talk. “Is that my present?”

“I know how you like me in my chaps,” Dante said, leaning forward to give Ryan a good view of his backside.

“Do you want me to turn that on so you can go for a ride?” Ryan said, walking over to the controls but not reaching for them. He had no intention of turning on anything except his Dante, in every way he could.

“I’d rather you gave me a ride,” Dante said, and Ryan slipped off his shoes and stepped right next to where Dante was sitting. He slowly stroked Dante’s back and then down over the curve of his butt. Ryan stepped back, and Dante slowly lifted himself off the leather-covered machine and climbed down onto the padding. Dante’s dick stuck out of the opening in his chaps, sticking straight up in front of the huge belt buckle like a flag pole.

“Take off the belt and hat,” Ryan said, and Dante unfastened the belt, placing it inside his hat and setting both to the side. “God, you’re beautiful,” Ryan murmured as he stepped closer to Dante. Over the past few months, they’d both evened out. Ryan’s desire for control had waned somewhat, and Dante’s need for Ryan to be in control seemed to have waned as well. But Ryan felt the old need rising, and he slowly took off his shirt. “You remember the rules?”

Dante shuddered visibly. “Yes,” he breathed.

“Did you bring stuff?” Ryan asked, and Dante inclined his head. Ryan followed his gaze to the bottle sitting just off the padding. Ryan got it and returned. “Turn around and place your hands on the bull.” Dante complied as Ryan shucked his pants. “I’ve wanted to get you alone since your ride yesterday,” Ryan said and then stroked slowly down Dante’s warm back. “You scared the life out of me, and I’ve never been prouder of you in my life.” Ryan cupped Dante’s cheeks. He loved how the old, tan leather of the chaps framed his white skin.

“Ryan, please,” Dante whimpered.

“I know what you want. I want it too,” Ryan said before kissing Dante’s shoulder. “This isn’t gonna last long.” Ryan needed Dante too badly. “I need to know you’re okay.” Ryan traced the bruise on Dante’s side, knowing there were others he’d map later when they had time. Ryan slicked two fingers and pressed them into Dante’s body.

“I know,” Dante said, and the damned scamp actually wagged his butt at him. “I need you too.”

Ryan pulled his fingers away and slicked himself fast before pressing into Dante’s body, and damn if he didn’t slam himself backward. “You’re getting pushy, you know that?” Ryan grabbed Dante’s hips and held them still, their bodies locked together. “You didn’t obey the rules,” Ryan said even as he soaked in the feeling of his lover surrounding him skin to skin.

“I know, but I need you so bad,” Dante said.

“Don’t break the other rule,” Ryan warned. Dante whimpered something that sounded like “never” as Ryan pulled out and then slammed back into Dante before holding him tight around the chest, pressing them together back to front. They moved together, their bodies in tune with one another, just like their lives fit together.

Sweat poured off both of them in the hot barn and neither backed away. Beads of water ran down Ryan’s chest and his hair stuck to his forehead. “Just do it,” Dante groaned, pressing back against him. “I need it as bad as you,” Dante ground between his teeth. Ryan bent his knees slightly to change the angle and drove forward. Dante threw his head back and yowled to the rafters.

“Stroke yourself, baby,” Ryan told Dante. “I’m right there and I want you along with me.” He continued his nearly frantic thrusting. “That’s it, now!” Dante shuddered, and Ryan thrust one final time and then came hard inside his lover. Dante’s body gripped him tight as he went to pieces. Then all was still.

Neither of them moved as they stood together. Ryan was afraid he might fall down. Ryan separated them, and Dante turned in Ryan’s arms. They hugged and held each other until Dante guided them down onto the padding. “You were naughty,” Ryan said without any heat.

“I know. Do you forgive me?” Dante wriggled closer, and Ryan hummed his forgiveness. Like he could deny Dante anything.

“Are you going to miss it?” Ryan asked, shifting to look up at the mechanical bull. “The excitement has to be hard to walk away from.” Ryan knew Dante was retiring partly on his account, and guilt began to creep up on him.

“Hey. I ended the way I wanted to, on top,” Dante said.

Ryan huffed slightly. “That was some ride you had yesterday, wild beyond belief.” Ryan swallowed hard. “Are you sure you want to walk away?”

“Well,” Dante said thoughtfully, resting his head on Ryan’s chest, “it doesn’t compare to the wild ride you just gave me, and it never will.” He reached over and lightly stroked Ryan’s cheek. “Not by a long shot.” Dante paused. “And just think about it—that’s a ride we can have for the rest of our lives.” Ryan closed his eyes as Dante stroked his arm. “That’s one rodeo I’ll always be ready for.”

A
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G
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grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived all over the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation. Andrew's hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Visit Andrew:

Website: http://www.andrewgreybooks.com

Blog at http://andrewgreybooks.livejournal.com/.

E-mail him at [email protected].

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NDREW
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REY