Rough Ride CV4 (3 page)

“Pissed?” Wyn asked.

Ezra shook his head. “Depressed. By that time, I’d bought a little ranch. I moved to the bunkhouse until she could find somewhere else to live.” He blinked several times, dispelling the threatening tears. He hadn’t told anyone this story. It had been his hidden shame for years. “I got a call the next day. Nancy’s sister found her, dead. She took a bunch of pills.”

“Oh, oh damn.” Wyn reached out and cupped Ezra’s cheek. “I’m sorry.” ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

16

Ezra nodded. “I sold the ranch and moved to a town I’d heard about in Wyoming. I knew I wasn’t ready to get into a relationship, but I’d hoped someday…”

“And it took you twenty years?”

“I was taken with you the first day I stepped into your new store. You did something that day that hurt me. I’m used to people being intimidated by my size. It’s been that way my entire life, but when you first laid eyes on me, you backed away. It hurt. I lashed back by calling you that name that you’ve never forgiven me for.”

“Mr. Fancy Pants,” Wyn nodded. “I remember. It hurt because it was so similar to what people from Pamona had taunted me with before I left town.”

“I’m sorry. Anyway, I just kind of stepped back after that. I never found anyone else who I felt any sort of attraction to, and you seemed to hate me.”

“I did,” Wyn confessed. “I’m not saying I wasn’t attracted to you, but yeah, you hurt me pretty good.”

“Can we start over?”

“I think that would be a fine idea.”

He stuck out his hand. “Hi, I’m Ezra James.”

Wyn grasped Ezra’s hand. “I’m Palmer Wynfield, but my friends call me Wyn.” Ezra was surprised when Wyn pulled him closer and kissed him. The kiss awakened a passion in him like he’d never known. He broke the kiss and pulled back enough to whisper.

“I’m very pleased to meet you, Wyn.”

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

17

Ezra’s stomach growled, and the moment was broken. “Have you just eaten a bear, or does that sound mean you’re hungry?”

Smiling back, Ezra rubbed his flat stomach. “I haven’t eaten in a while. Someone said they’d take me out when I got here.”

Wyn’s hand moved to Ezra’s stomach. “I’d best feed you then.” Ezra covered Wyn’s hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. “I can find something on my own. You should probably rest.”

With all that had happened in the last few minutes, Wyn had forgotten about his face.

He hadn’t looked at himself in the mirror yet, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. He’d never been vain when it came to his looks, but he knew from the amount of blood loss he had some big cuts.

Ezra leaned in and gave him yet another kiss, this one slower, deeper. “Are you hungry?” Ezra asked.

“Not for food,” Wyn answered, surprised at his bold statement.

Ezra’s thick black brows shot up. “In that case, I’ll grab me a quick sandwich and be back before you know it.” The big man ran his tongue over Wyn’s lips before hurrying to the kitchen.

Standing, Wyn made it up the stairs to the bathroom. He had to know. No sense getting in over his head with Ezra if he was going to look like a freak. With his beard shorn, Ezra was breathtaking. He’d never known the man had such sexy dimples in his cheeks. He’d always lusted after Ezra’s one predominant facial feature, the deepest blue eyes he’d ever seen. Yep, clean shaven, Ezra was way out of his league.

Looking in the mirror, Wyn took in his injuries. With all the gauze in place it was hard to tell how many stitches he’d actually received. Feeling the small bandage over the bridge of his nose, he determined only two or three. The jaw and cheek were a little harder.

He was trying to peel back the hospital dressing to take a peek, when Ezra’s deep voice made him jump. “I don’t think you’re supposed to be doing that.” Wyn’s hand went to his chest. “Shit, you scared me.” ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

18

Ezra walked in to stand in front of him. He carefully reaffixed the surgical tape back into position. “Don’t worry. I’ve already told you, you’ll look hot with a couple of scars.” Wyn rolled his eyes. “Did you eat already?”

“Yeah. I just slapped some peanut butter on a couple pieces of bread.” Ezra grinned. “I was in too big a hurry to taste it anyway. I have something else on my mind.”

“Really?” Wyn asked. “Even though I look like the mummy man of Oklahoma?”

“I’m not looking at your bandages. I’m more focused on this,” Ezra said and cupped Wyn’s half-hard cock through his jeans. Ezra cleared his throat and took a step back. “I’m not sure you’re up for much this evening, but I’d love the chance to hold you, if you’d let me.” Wyn melted into those blue eyes. “I’d like that.”

“Let me get your bottle of pills and a glass of water, and I’ll meet you in the bedroom.” Wyn nodded and watched Ezra walk from the tiny room. It was easy to admit to himself that he was afraid. After his experience with Brian Doles, he was still a bit leery.

With one last look in the mirror, he walked down the short hallway to his boyhood bedroom. He couldn’t imagine sleeping in his dad’s bed this soon after the funeral. As he undressed he surveyed the small full-sized bed.

He was still standing naked beside the bed, when Ezra set the glass and bottle of pills on the nightstand. Ezra slipped an arm around his waist and kissed the top of his head.

“Something wrong?”

“I don’t know,” Wyn answered. “I don’t think we’ll fit in this bed, but there isn’t anywhere else to go. I can’t sleep in my dad’s room.” Ezra kissed Wyn’s shoulder. “Would you be opposed to bringing your dad’s mattress out of the bedroom and down into the living room?”

“What’ll we do with it during the day? What if someone comes over?” Ezra chuckled. “I’ll carry it back upstairs every morning if you’re that worried, but have you had many visitors?”

“No,” Wyn confessed. “Everyone pretty much stays away from me except when they’re punching me in the jaw.”

Ezra’s arm tightened around his stomach.
Shit, he hadn’t meant to bring that up again.

“In the morning you need to tell me the names of the fellas who hurt you.” Wyn turned and wrapped his arms around Ezra. “They won’t mess with me with you around. Let’s just try and forget them.”

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

19

Although the big man said nothing, Wyn had a feeling the subject was far from closed.

Standing on his toes he tilted his head up for a kiss. He’d never been more aware of their height difference. The strain of stretching his neck, pulled at the stitches and he withdrew his mouth quickly.

“You hurt?” Ezra asked with concern in his eyes.

“Just pulls a bit,” he downplayed.

Ezra broke away and turned down the bed. “For now, we’ll make this work. I guess I’ll just have to hold you a little closer.”

Wyn slid in and Ezra handed him the water and a pill. “One?”

“Yes, please,” Wyn answered taking the pill and washing it down.

Ezra started to undress, and Wyn couldn’t help but to stare. The heavily muscled furry chest took his breath away. What would it feel like against his bare skin?

“So what kind of work still needs to be done?” Ezra asked. He sat on the bed and started pulling off his boots.

“Well, I still need to find a buyer for the horses…oh shit, I forgot about the horses.” Wyn threw back the covers and started to get out of bed.

A large hand held him down. “I’ll take care of it. I can’t believe I didn’t think about them. Damn, you’ve got me distracted.” Ezra chuckled. “Are they in the barn?” Wyn shook his head. “In the east pasture right off the barn. There are three of them and they should come right to you when you whistle.” Ezra nodded and put his boots back on. Wyn wanted to whimper as that heavenly chest was once again shielded from view.

Before he left the room, Ezra leaned over the bed and kissed Wyn. “Keep a spot warm for me.”

Wyn cupped Ezra’s cheek. “I’ll never be able to repay you for this,” he whispered.

“Yeah you will. I plan to take it out in kisses.” Ezra grinned, showing off his dimples.

After he heard the front door close, Wyn sat up in bed and looked out the window towards the barn. He followed Ezra with his eyes, and wondered how things would play out between the two of them.

Would Ezra be a good lover? Yeah, he imagined so. Wyn wasn’t about to kid himself.

He knew the way a man fucked had nothing to do with his qualifications as a boyfriend.

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

20

He’d had several lovers over the years, and none of them were worth shit in the relationship department.

Maybe it was his fault? Did he expect too much? He’d grown up with tales from his dad about life with his mom when she was alive. Wyn barely remembered his mother. She’d died of cancer when he was only seven.

One thing he knew for certain. His dad had loved her with all his heart. He never even considered dating anyone else after her death. He knew it was idealistic, but Wyn wanted that kind of love.

He grinned as he watched the horses stop dead in their tracks when they got a good look at Ezra. “I know what you’re thinking,” he mumbled. He’d had the same reaction when he’d first set eyes on the man. It wasn’t that he was scary. It was the size of him.

As Ezra disappeared into the barn with the horses, Wyn laid back down. He ran a hand over his cock. He wasn’t exactly small in that department, but was he big enough to satisfy someone of Ezra’s size?

He must’ve drifted off, because the next thing he knew, a cold body was pressed against his side. Opening his eyes, he smiled as much as the stitches would allow. “You’re cold.”

“Yep, why don’t you warm me up,” Ezra said.

Wyn started to turn to his side, but remembered his injured shoulder in time. “I’m on the wrong side of the bed. Hold on.”

Without getting out from under the warm covers, Wyn crawled over the top of Ezra.

Goosebumps broke out on his body as their cocks momentarily brushed. The soft moan from Ezra proved he wasn’t unaffected by the contact, either.

Wyn rested on his side and faced Ezra. The big man pulled him closer. “I don’t think you understand just how cold I am.” He grinned.

Running his fingers through the thick mat of black chest hair, Wyn found and pinched a dark brown nipple. “With all this fur?”

Ezra turned to his side and pressed his hard cock against Wyn’s. “I didn’t say my chest was cold. Not everything on my body is covered in hair.” He thrust playfully against Wyn.

“Hmmm, I suppose not,” Wyn said, reaching down to wrap his hand around Ezra’s erection. He nearly choked when he felt the size of Ezra’s cock.
Shit. No way, no way in hell.

Ezra moaned and began to grind against Wyn’s touch.

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

21

“This could be a problem,” Wyn finally admitted.

Shaking his head, Ezra closed the distance and kissed him. “No problem. We’ll take it slow when the time comes.”

Wyn’s cock was enveloped in Ezra’s large callused hand. “I’m not in your league in the size department,” Wyn confessed biting his bottom lip.

Ezra’s fingers rubbed against Wyn’s balls. “Are you always this negative about your body? Because I gotta say, you feel damn good to me.” He shrugged his shoulder and winced at the bite of pain that followed. “Look at me.

Why do you think I dress the way I do? Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I think I’m an ogre or anything, but I try to do the best with what God gave me.” Scooting down, Ezra’s tongue ran over Wyn’s chest. “I can see I’m going to have to show you how sexy you are until you believe it.” Ezra latched on to his pebbled nub and sucked.

Tired of talking, Wyn shut up and enjoyed the warmth of Ezra’s mouth. Slowly working his way down Wyn’s chest, Ezra licked the length of Wyn’s cock.

Wyn’s legs automatically parted, giving his lover all the room he needed. A groan escaped him as his cock was enveloped, Ezra paying special attention to the crown. “Oh, feel’s good.”

Ezra nodded and pulled off. “It’s been many years since I’ve been intimate with anyone but myself. You’ll have to tell me if I get too aggressive.”

“No worries there,” Wyn admitted.

One black brow rose in question. “You like it rough?” Wyn grinned. “Not like beat-me-up rough, but fuck-me-against-the-wall rough, yeah.” Ezra groaned and swallowed Wyn’s cock to the root. “Aahhh fuck,” he howled in pleasure.

As the mouth licked and sucked, Wyn began to tremble. “Not going to last much longer,” he panted.

A grunt was the only answer he received as Ezra swallowed him once again. Thrusting up, Wyn emptied his seed down his lover’s throat.

Ezra went nuts, moaning his pleasure. The bed started to shake as Ezra began jerking his own cock.

“Up here,” Wyn moaned, still vibrating from the pleasure Ezra had given him.

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

22

Crawling back up until they were face to face, Ezra kissed him, sharing the flavour of Wyn’s essence. “I need…” Ezra whispered.

“I know,” Wyn said and wrapped both hands around Ezra’s cock. He would have happily given Ezra the same treatment he’d just received, but he knew he couldn’t open his mouth that wide with the stitches in place.

Using Ezra’s pre-cum, Wyn began a steady rhythm up and down the length. Within seconds, Ezra began thrusting against him, talking sexy. “So good. I’ve waited for these hands for so long. Only you.”

Wyn wondered if Ezra even knew what he was saying, he seemed so caught up in the moment. Ezra came with a howl Wyn felt rumble his chest, not to mention the windows. He continued to milk Ezra’s cock until the last of the seed covered them both.

Ezra seemed drained after his orgasm. Without bothering to clean up, Ezra pulled Wyn into his arms and swiftly slipped into a soft snore.

Wyn grinned at the hold Ezra had on him even in apparent sleep. Yes, he could easily get used to this.

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

23

Wyn couldn’t stop looking at Ezra the following morning. They were eating bacon and scrambled eggs. It shouldn’t have been a big deal, but there was something about the way Ezra ate that turned him on. Maybe it was the strong jaw twitching with every bite, or the way his thick chorded neck moved when he swallowed.