Ram was a loner and he liked it that way. He was close to his momma and his uncle Bob but that was the extent of his allies. He didn’t have a single friend in Arizona and he’d lived there for damned near ten years. He was perfectly content to do his job and travel every couple of months to Phoenix to feed his sexual hunger. Ram had never been in a relationship and wasn’t interested in one. So why did working for Gray appeal to him on so many different levels?
Ram found himself smiling. The fact that Gray was sex on a stick could have something to do with it. The ranch owner had everything in one tall well-muscled package—black hair, bronze skin and eyes the colour of liquid silver. The eyes got Ram most of all.
Damn.
If Ram guessed right, Gray had felt the same instant attraction he’d felt. Now he was actually considering putting himself in the centre of all that heat. He was pondering the job when someone took hold of his arm. He looked down to see Raleigh, Gray’s niece, looking up at him with stars in her eyes.
“Havin’ a good time?” He tactfully pulled his arm out of her grasp and took another drink of his beer.
“I’m bored, and I thought I could show you around the ranch.” She reached up and latched on to his arm once more, making sure to rub her breast against him. Oh, if she only knew.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ve already had a tour.” He tried to walk away respectfully, but Raleigh was having none of it.
“Dance with me, Ram.”
It wasn’t a question. It was more like an order, and Ram didn’t take orders. “Don’t dance.” He pulled his arm away and walked off towards the bar to get another beer. As he reached for a bottle, a small female hand also reached for one. Ram raised an eyebrow at Raleigh.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He opened his beer and searched the crowd for Gray. He spotted him across the dance floor talking to an elderly lady with light pink hair. Ram watched him bend over to try to hear what the lady was saying.
Gray must have felt Ram’s stare because he suddenly looked and made eye contact. They gazed at each other for a few seconds before Ram remembered why he was trying to get his attention. He nodded his head towards Raleigh who was now openly drinking a beer.
Gray nodded and spoke to the elderly lady before skirting the dance floor on the way over. As he approached, Ram couldn’t help but admire the view, although he kept his face expressionless.
Gray nodded as he passed Ram. “Thanks.” He walked up to Raleigh and exchanged a few heated words.
Ram watched Gray take the beer out of her hand and point towards the house. Raleigh narrowed her eyes. Although Gray’s voice never rose above a whisper, the look on Raleigh’s face said it all. She pulled away from Gray and stomped like a spoilt child back to the house.
Gray walked over to Ram shaking his head. “Lord help me, I have no idea how to raise a seventeen-year-old girl.”
Ram didn’t want to pry but he had to ask. “Where’s her momma?”
Gray shook his head. “Who the hell knows?” He filled Ram in on Rebecca’s antics.
Ram nodded his head and looked into Gray’s silver eyes. “Sorry to hear that.”
Smiling, Gray took a pull from the confiscated beer bottle. “You’re not much of a talker are you?”
Chuckling, Ram shook his head. “I’ve done more talkin’ to you tonight than I’ve probably done to my present employer in the past ten years.”
Gray watched him closely. “So why am I so special?”
Ram knew Gray was teasing him but for some reason he didn’t mind. “I wish the hell I knew.”
“I don’t need to worry about you around my niece, do I?”
Ram’s gaze landed on Gray’s lips. What the hell was wrong with him? He couldn’t have made his attraction to Gray clearer. It was totally out of character for him. “Your niece isn’t who you should be worried about.”
Gray licked his lips, drawing Ram’s attention to the soft pink tongue he longed to suck. “I haven’t shown you the barn yet. Are you interested?” Gray drank the last of the beer and tossed it into the trash barrel. The heated expression on Gray’s face said it all.
Finishing his bottle, Ram did the same. “I believe I am.”
Walking towards the barn Gray nodded friendly hellos to several of the guests. His hand occasionally brushed Ram’s, sending Ram’s body into overdrive. As they entered, Gray looked around to make sure the barn was empty before pulling Ram close. “Tack room. I need to show you the tack room right now.”
“Uh-huh.” Ram followed Gray to the corner of the barn, reaching out to brush his hand against the hard firmness of Gray’s ass.
The second the door was closed and locked, Ram pulled Gray into an electrifying and tongue-swallowing kiss. Their tongues duelled as they both fought for dominance.
Ram had never in his life been kissed so expertly. His hands roamed Gray’s body as the kiss ignited, knocking his Stetson off in the process.
Gray thrust his hips towards Ram. “Good…oh God you feel so good.” Gray began to unsnap Ram’s western-style shirt. When he had the shirt open completely he broke their kiss and worked his lips down Ram’s five-o’clock shadow to his throat and then on to his chest. He licked the area around Ram’s right nipple before zeroing in on the tiny hard nub.
Ram lifted the bottom of Gray’s shirt, trying to get to the rock hard abdomen that he knew lay underneath. “Fuck, you’re sexy.”
Suddenly they both wanted more and began to unfasten each other’s pants. Gray’s khakis were easy enough but Gray was having trouble with Ram’s low-rise extra tight jeans.
Chuckling, Ram finally took pity on him and unzipped his fly, his cock springing out. Gray’s eyes seemed to eat him up. They rounded as he caught sight of Ram’s Prince Albert piercing. The silver jewellery sparkled in the light coming through the small window. “Fuck me…that’s sexy.”
Ram ran his palm down Gray’s chest through the thin patch of black curls to his cock. When he wrapped his hand around the man’s length Gray gave a little moan. Ram’s free hand brushed Gray’s ass before running down the crease.
“Yes,” Gray moaned again. “Do it.”
Ram leaned in and took Gray’s mouth in another soul-stealing kiss. “Oh, I intend to fuck ya but not tonight.”
Gray looked from Ram’s hairless groin to his face. “And just what do you intend to do tonight?” He began playing with the hoop running through the head of Ram’s cock head.
Ram moaned and thrust his hips towards Gray. “I think we’re doin’ fine just like this for now.” He began to stroke Gray’s cock as he landed another kiss on Gray’s lips. “I must be crazy.”
“I don’t know if you’re crazy but I’m sufferin’ the same damn thing right now.”
When Gray slid his hand down the back of Ram’s jeans and began running his finger up and down his crevice Ram thought he’d lose it. “Mmm…feels good.” He pushed his ass into Gray’s hand.
Gray found the tightly puckered hole and slowly probed with one digit. “Damn, you feel tight.” He kissed his way around Ram’s face, doing more licking than actual kissing.
Ram’s muscles tightened as Gray nipped his way along the tendons of his neck. He thrust harder towards Gray. “Gonna…can’t not.”
“Do it. Let me watch you come.” Gray looked down at his hand as Ram’s heat spurted from his cock.
Gray gazed deep into Ram’s dark brown eyes and shot his seed into his fist. “Ohhhh…fuck, that’s good.” Gray licked the side of Ram’s face before dropping to his knees to clean Ram’s cock. Gray slid his tongue up Ram’s length to the piercing. He licked and sucked the crown, taking time to play with the silver ball attached to the hoop.
After thoroughly cleaning Ram’s cock, Gray stood and pressed himself against Ram’s chest. “You set me on fire.”
“Uh-huh.” Ram leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. He’d never come so hard in his life and, damn, did it feel great. The man in his arms felt good…right.
Gray was a little more together than he was because the next thing he knew Gray was cleaning himself up with a snow white handkerchief before bending over to pick up his hat. He resettled it on his head and smiled.
For years Ram had worked hard to keep his sexuality from his employer. Ranch folks were a fickle lot when it came to someone being different. Although it was more than obvious he had a kind of connection with Gray, Ram had to wonder how long something like that would last with the two of them working together. He took a deep breath. He was about to make either the best decision of his life or a career ending mistake. “I’m gonna like workin’ here I think.”
Gray got a funny look on his face and stepped back. “No one here knows about me. I’d like to continue seeing you but it’ll have to be after working hours and be kept discreet.”
Ram pulled him back into his arms. He kissed Gray once more. “I agree. I can’t expect to earn the hands’ respect if they know I’m sleeping with the boss.” He winked and released him. Pulling up his jeans, he stuffed his semi-hard cock down his left pants leg.
Gray openly watched Ram as he fastened his own pants and pulled his shirt down. “I’ve never seen a horse wrangler wear low-rise jeans like that. And why no underwear?”
Ram paused in snapping up his shirt to smile at Gray. “I don’t wear the low-rise to work in, but I like the way they feel. As for no underwear, well it should be pretty obvious that they would show over the top of the jeans. Why, don’t you like ‘em?”
Trailing a finger down Ram’s abdomen Gray stopped at the top of the jeans. “I think they’re sexy as hell. I especially like this lovely v shaped area leading down to your cock.” He dipped his finger under the waistband.
Ram moaned before stealing
another kiss. “I’ll make sure they’re a regular part of my wardrobe after hours then.”
Gray massaged his cock once more and sighed. “I could become very addicted to you.” He leaned in for another deep kiss. “We’d better get back to the party before anyone notices we’re gone.”
Ram couldn’t help but cop a quick feel as Gray opened the tack room door. “I’ll give notice to my present employer on Monday.”
“Good.”
Chapter Two
Three weeks later, Ram arrived back at the Sunset Ridge Stables with his horse trailer in tow. He pulled up to the stables and got out. He thought about the papers in his glove box as he walked to the barn. Ram caught sight of an old-timer leaning against the corral fence, shouting instructions to the young fella working a horse. Ram knew the man had to be Slim, the ranch foreman.
The man spotted him as he walked closer and held out his hand. “You’re the new manager, I presume? I’m Slim Garrett.”
Ram shook the older man’s hand and smiled. “Nice to meet ya. I’m Jack Ramsdale but you can call me Ram.” He motioned towards his horse trailer. “Where can I put Bean?”
Slim pointed at the pasture. “You can put him in with the rest of the work horses for now. We’ve got a couple of stalls empty in the barn there on your left if you care to put him up later in the day.”
“Sounds good. I’ll get to it. Nice to meet you, Slim,” he said with a tip of his brown Stetson.
Ram retrieved his black and white pinto gelding from the trailer and led him to the pasture. After taking care of Bean, Ram headed for the main house.
He walked up the porch steps and knocked on the front door. A pleasantly plump older woman of around sixty opened the door.
“Afternoon, Ma’am. I’m Ram. Gray hired me to be the new ranch manager. He in?”
“
I’ve been expecting you. Gray
’s in his study.” She stepped back and led him inside.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Ram tipped his hat to the older woman before knocking on the study door.
“Come in.”