Chance of the Heart (19 page)

“No, sweetie, we’re good. You and Caitlin wanna come by for dinner tonight? We hardly ever see her.” His mother’s loaded question was two parts accusation with a heavy dose of guilt, hidden behind a smile. She wasn’t sneaky at all, so he doubted she’d intended to be.

“No, ma’am. I’m headed out tonight.”

“Sure are spending a lot of time out,” his daddy said, eying him. “Sure everything’s good between you kids?”

He clenched his fists. “We’re adults. Whatever is or isn’t going on is between us.” He knew he sounded like a brat but they’d been like dogs with a bone since he and Caitlin had rejected their gift. He wanted to at least fess up to the break up, but Caitlin insisted she needed a little more time.

“Now, you ain’t gotta—” Chance’s daddy started, but his mama rolled her eyes and squeezed his hand to silence him.

“Okay, Chance. Have fun tonight,” she said, none too pleased, but she turned to fussing about her husband’s blood pressure. He was glad. His daddy had been a hard ass his whole life. If he thought he could force Chance to marry Caitlin tomorrow he would. He ruled his roost with an iron fist and Chance’s back talking had not sat well with him. But Chance really couldn’t care right now. He was trying to make too many people happy and for the first time in his life, he realized it was a fool’s errand.

And how liberating that knowledge was.

Chance was too giddy about what he had planned for Bradley and him. He’d focus on that for now. Assuming Bradley hadn’t gone home. He knew it was close to five p.m. He still had a couple hours before they needed to be at the arenas.

He was glad to see Bradley’s Jeep still parked next to his truck in the garage. He took the steps two at a time, but came up short when he opened the door to find the loft empty when he opened the door. He frowned, noticing the bathroom door wide open with no Bradley in sight.

He walked to the kitchen area, picking up his phone and opened a text message from thirty minutes ago asking where he’d gone. He hit the option to dial Bradley and heard the buzzing of a vibrating phone. Upstairs.

He went up the steps and couldn’t help smiling as butterflies let loose in his belly at the sight of Bradley curled up in his bed. He’d never thought it’d be so significant to see someone there, hugging one of his pillows while snoring quietly. Bradley was one beautiful man. His blonde, trimmed chest hair covered broad golden-skinned pecs. His face in sleep was sweet and strangely vulnerable, which was  odd since an awake Bradley was all rakish charm, even if he was using it to cover how stressed he was about something.

Chance left Bradley to sleep for a moment, showering and starting a pot of coffee. Afterwards he went upstairs and just didn’t have it in him to wake the man, so he crawled on the bed beside him. Bradley rolled over, barely cracking his eyes open. He smiled sweetly and threw a strong arm over Chance’s waist, pulling him into a spooning position, making happy humming sounds in Chance’s ear.

God but he could get used to this. His bed would never be the same, so much lonelier without Bradley. He had no doubt.

Chance’s breath hitched when Bradley let out a contented hum of pleasure, grinding his hard, clothed cock against Chance’s ass.

Chance turned in Bradley’s arms and their mouths found each other, meeting perfectly the first try. Their kissing and grinding on one another was gentle and lazy. Each wearing just one layer of clothing helped things, as they pushed down their sleep pants and stroked each other’s cocks.

“Want my smell in your sheets,” Bradley said.

Chance bucked into Bradley’s fist, pulling firmly on Bradley’s cock.

“You’re the only one. Ever.”

Bradley’s eyes opened fully and he eyed Chance, pausing. When he must have realized Chance was telling the truth, he let out a guttural sound, almost a growl, as he rolled on top of Chance and took his mouth again. They stroked and fondled for what seemed like forever, but not long enough. When they fell off the edge, flying together, it was perfect and a quiet, whisper of an orgasm. But it felt more special than any of the others before it. Chance felt the strangest sensation of just being… Home.

It was scary as hell, but the best thing he’d ever felt.

“What?” Bradley asked, staring at Chance, studying his expression.

Chance was overwhelmed with the moment, full to bursting. If he’d thought he was in love before, it had nothing on that moment in his bed, the smell of Bradley and their sex on his sheets. Bradley looked adorable—a word Chance would never have thought to use with Bradley—with his hair sticking up and his orgasm flushed cheeks. He just leaned up and kissed Bradley in pecks, like he was taking sips rather than a full drink of the man.

Bradley eventually pulled off his sleep pants and wiped the cum off their hands and bellies. Chance was feeling like he may doze off. But he shot up when Bradley had wrapped him back up in his arms.

“No, no. We can’t nap. I’m sorry helping my dad took so long but I got plans for us tonight.”

Bradley covered his head with a pillow. “Do we gotta go out?”

“Yes. I’ve been looking forward to this all week.” Chance got out of bed with a smack to Bradley’s bare ass. His cock perked up a bit with the way that bubble butt jiggled under his hand. He was perfectly content being the bottom in this relationship, which was still a bit weird for him, but he wouldn’t mind spending some time enjoying that mighty fine ass.

“No,” he scolded. “Up, now Heart. We’re already gonna be late.”

Bradley made a noise, a pitiful sound like a recalcitrant child not wanting to get out of bed for school.

Chance smiled devilishly and leaned close, speaking just loud enough in Bradley’s ear to be heard clearly. “You go with me now, and after you get to do anything you want with me.”

Bradley’s head popped up from under the pillow. “Anything?” he asked, eyes practically burning with passion.

“Promise,” Chance said with a wink.

“Well, what’re we waiting for, Becket?” With that Bradley was bounding out of bed and headed down the steps to dress. Chance laughed, feeling so light and happy he might fly away if he sneezed right then.

Bradley couldn’t help the smile on his face as he listened to Chance sing along—if you could call it singing—to a country song on the radio. It was a night of firsts, apparently. First time they’d been in Chance’s bed, first time anyone had done what they’d done there. Now it was the first time he was riding in Chance’s truck.

It’d been a long time since someone else drove him somewhere. Even longer since he’d hung out with someone he was sleeping with while country music played rather than some pop song. His friends weren’t exactly country music folks. Neither was he, honestly but there was something right about Chance, in his jeans, plaid shirt and baseball cap, driving his Ford pickup and singing happily to a song about being barefoot in blue jeans.

The levity of riding down a road with nothing but pasturelands and barns, Chance being free as a teenager in love, made Bradley let go of his annoying insecurities. He didn’t feel suffocated. How could he, driving into the gorgeous sunset with a gorgeous man?

To say he was surprised when Chance reached over the center console to place a hand on Bradley’s knee would be an understatement. When Bradley looked at Chance, the man turned his face toward him just long enough to smile playfully and wink. Bradley’s heart did that crazy pitter-patter thing it did around Chance. As he turned his gaze back toward the road ahead Bradley placed his hand on top of Chance’s where it rested on his knee and threaded their fingers together.

He’d never been much for hand holding but it just felt right, like everything else about this day.

“Hey you never said where we were going.” Bradley said, bouncing their fists on his knee.

Chance rolled his eyes with a little more exaggeration than was necessary and said, “You’ll see” without turning the radio down. Bradley had never had someone plan an evening for him. If he’d taken the time to date anyone, they’d usually expected him to be in charge. Apparently toppy in the bedroom meant he had to be in charge everywhere. And while he knew he could be a cocky, bossy S.O.B., he’d never thought of himself as controlling. In fact it was a turn on that Chance had his own mind and he seemed to be getting more independent by the day.

If only Bradley could believe that’d translate into a future. There was a long way between becoming independent and actually coming out and being your own man when you’d been under people’s thumbs your whole life. He stopped that train of thought. It wasn’t charitable. He knew how it worked and it wasn’t fair to Chance to act like he’d been weak.

After Chance turned off the two-lane highway, Bradley finally caught on. Another two turns and they came up on the county’s arena where they held a local arts and craft festival, family reunions, and where the two of them had competed in many a horse show.

“Hot damn. I didn’t realize it was time for the regional!”

Chance laughed as he took his hand back so he could steer the truck through the process of parking in the busier-than-Bradley-recalled lot. After he switched off the ignition and the radio went silent, Chance looked at him fondly. “Of course. You been in the city too long, pardner.”

Bradley fell back against his seat and sighed dramatically. “First you go all cowboy porn fantasy on me, now you’re sayin’ shit like ‘pardner’. Apparently you need more time in the city.”

Chance didn’t even have to lean over and caress Bradley with the way his eyes raked over Bradley and his deep voice rumbled with a chuckle. “I s’pose if you don’t like it I can cut it out. I’ll just put those chaps back in the closet.”

Bradley’s body heated, cock becoming very interested in the visions in his head of Chance in nothing but riding chaps, bubble butt naked and on display. “You’re pretty good at this gay sex thing for a greenhorn.”

“Now who’s using the dude ranch lingo?” Chance winked. “I’m makin’ up for lost time, you see.” He placed a hand on Bradley’s inner thigh, then moved it up the inseam slowly. 

Bradley hissed a “Goddamn,” as Chance’s fingers brushed over his rigid cock. But his hand was gone quicker than Bradley could try to thrust into the touch. He scowled at Chance, who was going to open the door. “You’re a fuckin’ tease Becket.”

Chance gave him a stern look that had a little too much smile in the eyes to take seriously. “This is a family event, Bradley.” And with that he shut the door and left Bradley to get his shit together. After a moment of reciting the alphabet, Bradley straightened his jeans and got out of the truck, walking to where Chance was shaking hands with old familiar faces from their days of competing.

They did that for a good while, everyone giving Bradley the good-old-boy welcome back. Bradley couldn’t deny he enjoyed being around the smell of manure, fried food, and dirt. The sounds of kids laughing and announcers on loud speakers. He was momentarily swamped with grief when someone apologized for Shelly’s passing. Chance must’ve caught on to the fact his mood had plummeted because he excused them from re-acquainting and ushered him over to concessions.

Soon they’d taken their seats under the large pavilion; cold sodas, nachos and chicken-on-a-stick in hand. They were just in time to see the senior pole bending pre-lims.

“Damn,” Bradley said after taking a bite of the chicken-on-a-stick. “It’s been so long since I had one of these I’d forgotten how good they were.”

Chance snorted. “Remember that time you ate two before your final ride?”

Bradley groaned, shaking his head. “Of course
you
do.”

“How could I not? You puked again while you were cleaning the first puke off your saddle.” Chance was laughing loudly now.

“Yeah, well I seem to remember a certain junior racer being called Banger the first two years of his illustrious career.”

Chance scowled and shoved Bradley’s shoulder. “I was eight years old!”

“I’d never in my life seen someone hit every barrel on the way around on every ride they ever did. Ever.” At Chance’s delicate sniff Bradley added, “For two years.”

“Okay, okay. Shut it. You were perfect. The golden boy.” Chance glanced out the side of his eyes at Bradley, who was looking at him closely. “Guess that ain’t bad, though. It’s how I knew…” Chance didn’t finish that thought, though. Bradley realized they’d probably moved a little too closely together. Not that anyone had noticed in particular, but Chance had started flicking his gaze around to see if anyone was watching them.

He scooted away from Chance a bit, trying not the clench his jaw. He knew he couldn’t get pissed. Shouldn’t. Hell, even he didn’t exactly want to hold hands in front of this crowd. Precisely why he’d avoided it for so long.

But Chance stood up and started cheering for one of his baby cousins who came out into the arena atop a pretty palomino gelding. Bradley couldn’t stay mad. The man was in his element and even Bradley had to admit it was nice being here with Chance. Sweet that Chance had thought to do this with him. They had started at a place just like this so long ago. Maybe not being able to touch wasn’t awesome, but being here with Chance was worth it.

Their night couldn’t just go right, of course. They’d made it through another soda and halfway into another event before things got hinky.

“Chance!” a sweet feminine voice shouted from somewhere. Chance looked at Bradley with a confused frown before he started looking around. Then Chance grimaced and looked to Bradley before tilting his head in the direction of three people moving up the stands toward them.

Chance’s best friend David and ex Caitlin were following a wildly waving redhead Bradley thought he may know, but couldn’t place. David and Caitlin’s cheeks were pink and they didn’t look quite as comfortable as their smiles indicated when they arrived on the same riser as Chance and Bradley. But the redheaded woman was clearly oblivious to their discomfiture.

“Chance! Honey how are you? We thought that was you! Why didn’t you tell us you were coming? We could have doubled!” Redhead hugged him, thrusting Caitlin toward him. They hugged awkwardly and Bradley’s jaw ticked.

Chance turned to Bradley. “Bradley, you remember David Singleton. This is his wife Jeri.”

“Oh my gosh, Bradley Heart, right? I just love your daddy. Can’t get this one to go to services with me,” she pointed at David, who was decidedly not looking at Bradley. “But he’s a fine preacher.”

“What’re y’all doin’ here?” Chance sounded more stony than he had in a while. Damn.

“Had a sitter,” David said.

“They invited me because we thought you weren’t coming,” Caitlin supplied. Her voice was accusing as she looked between Chance and Bradley.

“No harm, no foul though, right?” Jeri said, cheerfully. “You two have an excuse to hang out now. I know you’ve both been busy lately.”

Caitlin smiled and sat next to Chance. David looked at Chance then at Bradley, and shook his head sadly before taking his wife by the elbow. “Why don’t we let them alone now? We’ll go sit with your mama and them.” That didn’t seem to bother Jeri and she went off with her husband. Of course not before winking and saying the love-birds could ride home together.

Chance looked at Bradley with an apologetic smile. He knew Caitlin and Chance had decided not to fill Jeri in and it was making things kind of tense between him and David. But two out of three knowing wouldn’t hurt so long as Caitlin and Chance didn’t have to kiss or anything in front of him. Right?

Chance was annoyed, to say the least. He’d wanted this to be special. This was the closest to a real date they’d been able to go on. Caitlin wasn’t even a fan of horses so why she was here he didn’t know. But it wasn’t her fault Jeri had forced them into this awkward situation. And now they had to give Caitlin a ride home.

Fucking great.

He just really hoped Bradley wasn’t too angry. He realized after a minute that
he
was probably the most rigid of the three of them. He opened his mouth to speak to Bradley, but Bradley beat him to it.

“I’m gonna go to the little cowboy’s room.” The line was delivered like their early teasing, but the light that had been in Bradley’s eyes all day was gone now.

“Damn, damn, damn,” Chance mumbled as he watched Bradley’s retreating back.

“Could you not,” Caitlin said.

He snapped his head in her direction. The sour look on her face was all displeasure.