Heart of a Cowboy (9 page)

She gripped his golden hand in hers. “I see you too.”

It was weird watching the two of them connecting like this, but Derek stood standing by her side.

“Can you help me?” she whispered intently to Ishwar.

“I can try. Hold still.” He kept one hand on hers and the other he placed on her head and began chanting softly.

* * * *

“This is your home?” Ishwar couldn’t believe Derek lived this way. Derek’s home was in a shed in the back of an old house. No bathroom, no water or utility services of any kind. It was almost as bad as being homeless. Only good thing about it was Derek had a roof over his head and could get out of the rain.

“Yeah, don’t knock it. I supported myself for the last six years.”

Ishwar had a pretty good idea though. Melissa, Derek’s mother, had been misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, but the state hospital didn’t believe in demonic possession. So how did they treat the delusions and hallucinations? They medicated her until she couldn’t function in society.

“I wasn’t trying to judge you, Derek. It could actually be kind of nice with a few flowers and some curtains.” He flashed what he hoped was a disarming smile.

“That would make my manly pad kind of girly, don’t you think?”

“Having plants brings you closer to nature, it doesn’t make you girly.”

“Sure, but curtains?”

“Gives you added privacy.”

Derek shrugged.

“I don’t need it. I never bring anyone home.”

Derek went back to throwing clothes into his black backpack. Ishwar came up from behind, wrapping his arms around his waist, spreading his fingers to cover the expanse of his stomach muscles.

“We could have a lot more fun in here with some privacy,” Ishwar murmured under his breath. He kissed the nape of Derek’s neck, and he leaned into him.

“You gonna let that stop you?” Derek turned around to face him, his hard body pressed against him. “No one will ever see. No one comes back here to check on me.”

Ishwar was distracted when Derek wet his lips, running his pink tongue along the tip of his teeth, and he had to make a point to move his stare into Derek’s eyes. “We should probably get your things and get back.”

“It’s hot in here.” Derek moved to the bed, lounging across it. “Do you mind if I take my shirt off?” He didn’t wait for a response, but removed it, baring a perfectly chiseled chest. A dappling of chest hair lightly covered it. He was tanner and more muscled from the weeks he’d spent working the ranch. And damn it, Ishwar knew how to work him over. He’d love to take him over his knee and give him a good spanking. Derek tempted him more than any man should. His cock grew hotter and harder in anticipation.

“I want to see more than your shirt come off.” Ishwar unbuttoned his clean white shirt and watched the young man on the bed like a predator ready to move in for the kill. “I’d love to see you naked.”

“You first.” Derek smiled back, leaning on one arm.

Ishwar sat down on a chair, pulled off his boots, and took off his pants. He neatly folded his pants and laid his underwear on top of the chair, taking enjoyment at dragging this moment out. His cock flagged forward, jutting out in front of him proudly.

“God, you have a beautiful dick.” Derek scooted eagerly to the edge of the bed.

“I didn’t know that.”

“You just needed someone to appreciate it—like me.” He stroked it and Ishwar’s cock reacted like a hot iron. “Can I suck it?”

Ishwar’s gut twisted inside, clenched with desire and something else. Lust, maybe? He wanted to be sucked off and so much more, but he didn’t want to be just another night of sex in this young man’s life. He felt from the instant he met Derek he wanted more than that.

“Go ahead.” His voice sounded deep and throaty, even to his own ears.

Derek slid his tongue along Ishwar’s length before slipping the mushroom-shaped head into his mouth. He closed his eyes, running his fingers through Derek’s hair, opening himself up to the wonders of his senses.

Derek wrapped his mouth around Ishwar’s cock like a glove, squeezing it under his tongue, and the silky smooth wetness was pure pleasure.

“Oh, fuck!” he gasped, his hands on the back of Derek’s head. “That feels so fucking good. Take more in. You're terrific at giving head.”

Derek murmured something unintelligible, his mouth full, but Ishwar didn’t care. He was so close to coming he had to warn Derek or he’d be eating his cum. “I am going to come. You might want to sit back for a minute when I blow.”

“No, let me taste you.” Derek released his death grip on his cock for only a second, but his constant attention continued even as he talked. “Please.”

Ishwar stopped fighting his body and let go, feeling the pressure that had been building immediately dissipate. His cock erupted and an orgasm ripped his body. He grunted, holding Derek’s lips close to deep-throat his cock. The man was good. Derek may be young but he knew what he was doing and he sucked cock like a professional. He drank every last drop of his cum and milked him dry with his mouth.

“Thank you.” Ishwar dragged Derek up from his knees to kiss him. He could taste himself, but he didn’t care. Derek had to know how he felt and this seemed the best way to show him.

He undressed him fully, until they were both naked, and laid him down on the bed. He tilted his legs up and knelt between them, dipping down to taste his lover. “My turn.”

“I’ve never had anyone do this to me.”

“I’m surprised. You seem to like giving head.”

“Yeah, I just don’t get it.” Derek laughed, but it sounded awkward and forced.

Ishwar caressed his body, circling his butt cheeks and holding him close. He was willing to bet the man was afraid of loving, or being loved. Derek sometimes was so full of himself, Ishwar could consider him cocky, but there were other times he reminded him of a lost child that needed to be protected.

He brought his lover to ecstasy, holding him and tasting him, but most of all, loving him.

* * * *

Derek wanted Ishwar in every way. He felt complete in this man’s arms, but he felt the hard-on pinned against his side and wanted to take advantage of it. “I want you to do something for me.”

“I want to be fucked by you. I want to feel you inside of me. Will you do that for me?” He looked up at Ishwar hopefully. He hadn’t expected this to happen here tonight, but he would be more than willing to take advantage of Ishwar’s eagerness, and there was no one he wanted to fuck him more than his Indian. Ishwar’s stone façade didn’t change, and that made the nervous pitter-patter of Derek’s heart increase. The fear of rejection, yet again, rearing its ugly head.

“Where do you keep the lube?” Ishwar asked.

Derek nearly laughed out loud. He suddenly rolled over and grabbed a small, clear bottle of fluid next to the bed. He had to break the clear plastic protection covering the tip to use it. Ishwar took it from his hands, rubbed it along his cock, and spread it over his fingers.

Derek got into position on all fours, allowing access to his ass.

Ishwar’s fingers slid around his head, threading through his hair and running along his spine to pat him on the ass. His fingers caressed each cheek and then parted them, feeling Derek’s asshole stretch around his fingers. He entered, pushing inside with first one then two fingers, smoothing the way with the liquid lubricant. It was cool to the touch at first, but then the liquid warmed Derek’s skin and his entrance.

“Relax, lover.” Oh God, he just called him his lover. Just the sound of those words made his heart swell. Ishwar entered slowly, until his dick was up to the hilt inside of his lover. “Oh man, you feel so good wrapped around my cock like that.”

“Fuck me.” Derek focused on keeping his butt muscles from clenching down, easing Ishwar’s entrance. He wanted him deep inside, and fully up his ass.

“Like this?” Ishwar stroked in and out, holding onto his hips and teasing him with the tip of his dick.

“Just like that. Fuck me! Fuck me!”

“You feel so damn good wrapped around my dick. Tight and hot and wet. I wish you could feel it from this side.” The more Ishwar talked and complimented him, the more Derek wanted to please him. He moved with him, angling up for each thrust, until the Indian pulsed inside of him, his body limp against his backside and Derek’s tight ass filled with cum.

“Come home with me, Derek.” Ishwar angled him down so they were both on the bed; he was spooning him, his limp dick still inside of Derek. “I don’t want to let you go now that I’ve found you again.”

“Okay.” He didn’t want to end things with Ishwar now, but the thing between him and Bo wasn’t likely to go away. Bo was always going to be a pain in his ass, but he didn’t care because he wasn’t likely to change his mind anytime soon. He could avoid him for a little while, and he did promise to help out with the Christmas dinner with Angela. After that all bets were off. “I’m not making any promises though, but I do have a question for you.”

“Eh, what’s that?” Ishwar brushed a kiss on his skin and nibbled on his ear.

“What did you say to my mom while you were talking to her?” He couldn’t understand a word since most of the chanting had been in Ishwar’s native language. “It sounded like a prayer.”

“It was. Kind of. It was a prayer to the Great One to help her release her demon.”

“Prayers won’t fix her.” God, if it were only so easy, but it wasn’t. The biggest thing standing in the way of her being a normal functioning member of society was her. “She needs to take her medicine and then the court will release her.”

Chapter Nine

The ranch was decked out for the Christmas party Jesse’s family held every year for the orphans and needy children of the city. “You look adorable.” Angela pinched Derek on his cheek. Her almond-shaped eyes drew laugh lines as she smiled. She was pretty friendly to Derek, treating him like he belonged here and just another family member, not working off a debt. Derek couldn’t help liking her.

“Hey, knock it off. The other guys will see and tease me.”

Angela shook her head. “You don’t need to worry so much about what other people think of you. You’ve got to live your life for you, not other people, Derek. You look great, just like an official North Pole elf.”

“That’s what the sign says.” Derek waved his thumb toward the Winter Wonderland set up for the Boys and Girls Club. Tinsel-lined trees and a life-size mockup of the North Pole village were set up for the kids to look at while they waited in line to see Santa. The train that wrapped through the trees and presents was a real crowd pleaser.

“Well, I don’t want to keep you from doing your job. I just wanted to say thank you and tell you how cute you looked, but you don’t need to know that. All the little girls are probably falling in love the moment they see you.”

“Maybe after I hand them their present.” Derek rolled his eyes. He had healed from his fights, but he was no Casanova, and he didn’t look like Tom Cruise or Johnny Depp. Those little girls giving him great big doe eyes were only interested in their presents he handed them, but it still made him feel good to see their eyes light up and their enthusiasm over such a small gesture bubble up.

The girls’ presents were wrapped in red and the boys’ gifts were wrapped in blue. Luke was the other cowboy lucky enough to play an elf for Santa, and Derek didn’t mind him being here. It was Bo staring at him from across the room that bothered him. He hadn’t said a word to Derek since they’d begun handing out gifts this morning, but Derek was fine with his intermittent icy glares as long as the guy left him alone.

Bo had gotten the duty of helping to feed everyone and frying up the turkeys for the masses of children and their parents. So he wasn’t there all the time and spent most of his time outside in the bitter cold.

Derek wasn’t going to let Bo’s presence ruin the experience for him. He continued to do his job and ignore the other man until he reached the bottom of his pile of presents and the last of the kids.

Angela surprised him, taking him by the arm and ushering him outside. “I am so proud of how hard you have worked around here. We have a surprise for you outside. Can you come to the barn with me?”

She opened the door and took him to the tack room. It gave him kind of a weird feeling being alone with her like this, but it was nice too. He trusted her, and the other people living at the ranch felt like family. The family he never had.

“There it is.” She waved toward the tack room.

“The saddle room?” Derek looked around to see the usual leather work saddles. One new one with golden brown leather was in the center of the room thrown over a sawhorse. “I really don’t understand.”

“No, silly! It’s your first saddle. Jesse had it custom made.”

“But I’m no cowboy.” Derek frowned. “I don’t even have a horse.”

“You do now.” Ishwar led a roan mare down the hallway.

“You have the heart of a cowboy and that is what is important.” Angela beamed.

“I don’t know what to say.” Derek didn’t like the idea of crying in front of his friends, and just the thought of him breaking down now made him fight back the tears welling up in his eyes.

“A thank you might be nice.” Angela chuckled.

“Thank you!” He gave Angela a hug.

“Thank Ishwar, it was all his idea to give you your first horse.”

Derek moved to the horse and patted her nose. She had a white star on her forehead, but most of her body was a solid reddish brown, the color of red cedar. He had no idea how he would take care of a horse, and if he ever moved he would have to find it a home. He should be thinking of it as a pain in the ass, but he didn’t care. She belonged to him now, and he would enjoy her as long as he could.

He turned and embraced Ishwar, kissing the man fully on the lips. He had never given any public displays of affection, but this just felt right. “Thank you so much!”

Ishwar kissed back and even when he left his embrace held his hand in a warm but comforting grip.

“I think she likes you.” Angela laughed at the horse nuzzling between the men for more attention.

Derek scratched her behind the ears and stroked her neck and back. “I like her too. She’s beautiful.”