The Eagle and the Fox (A Snowy Range Mystery, #1) (35 page)

Josh muttered, “I’ve got it.” He glanced back at his sister and Calhoun. “Let’s give them a little privacy.”

Marcus held the door open, keeping one eye on his lover, and another on the lovebirds doing an awkward mating dance next to the sports car. Meantime Josh moved around the small space, eyes sweeping the room before moving into the kitchen area. When Marcus joined him, Josh admitted, “For a minute there, I thought I’d never get to see this again.” Bracing on the table he swung to face Marcus, tears in his eyes. “But that wasn’t the worst part.”

His throat tight, Marcus asked, “What was?”

“Leaving you.” He ducked his head and rubbed a palm across his cheek, grinding away the evidence of his emotions. “I pr-promised myself, after the fire... Shit, after you came for me, begging me not to leave you. I knew then, Marcus Colton. I knew, right that minute, I loved you, and as God is my witness, I’m never going to leave you alone. Never again.”

Chest aching, Marcus moved into the shelter of Josh’s arms, siphoning off all the warmth, all the kindness and strength from a man who’d surprised him, taking him out of his own pale excuse for an existence and teaching him how to love again.

A crashing noise had them whipping their heads toward the back door where a thundering herd of girls in combat boots swarmed into the kitchen, tackling Josh and Marcus, encircling them with squeals and hugs. Polly entered next, lips set in a hard, pouty frown.

Josh asked, “What’s with the face, Polly?”

The woman pointed a thumb over her shoulder and mouthed, “Petilune.”

Marcus knelt down and said to the girls, “Your mom’s out front with her new beau. Why don’t you go say hi to him before he leaves?”

Maudie screeched, “Uncle Cal’s here,” and yanked her older sister away from Josh and in the direction of the front porch.

Marcus huffed, “So it’s ‘Uncle Cal,’ is it? Huh, that was quick.” He glared at Josh. “Please tell me he’s not an accomplished horseman.”

Laughing, Josh assured him Cal was anything but. That was a small consolation. Maudie wasn’t likely to switch her affections completely when horsemanship was on the line. After he’d won some hard-earned karma points with the tartan saddle pad he’d found for Maudie’s pony, he’d hate to lose her esteem so quickly.

They both turned to Polly who spoke barely above a whisper, obviously not wanting Petilune to overhear. “She’s decided she wants to stay here with you, Marcus. And Josh. I tried to explain that right now isn’t a good time. That you need peace and quiet to heal...” She looked at Marcus, “...and
you
need to devote your time to making sure Josh does what he’s supposed to do.” She threw her hands in the air. “The reverend and his wife offered. Me and the girls offered. Even the Barnes’ family said they’d take her now that their girls are in school. I’m not sure what to do. You know how she gets.”

Marcus groaned inwardly. The child, the one he’d thought “simple,” was anything but. She was a young woman who knew her mind and had finally decided to take the reins in her own hands and make a future for herself. With him. In Josh’s house.

He exchanged a glance with Josh whose mouth quirked into a devilish grin. He whispered in Marcus’ ear, “It’s what you’ve been wanting, Marcus. She needs stability. And if that’s us, then I’m happy for it. But it’s up to you.”

Marcus shook his head no and said, “It’s up to
both
of us.”

He could have lowered his voice, he could have
not
said the words, just left them hanging out there, implied and never expressed, but he was done with putting his life on hold because he was afraid of losing someone again. One thing he’d learned, painfully, was that life didn’t come with a guarantee or a get out of jail free card. It came with heartache and worry. Bad things happened. So did the good. And standing there in front of him was the best thing that had ever happened, so he said out loud, “And that’s why I love you, Josiah Foxglove.”

Polly clapped and chortled, “It’s about time, you two.” She approached both of them with a wicked grin on her face, murmuring, “If it helps you with your decision, Petilune will be in school all day long.”

Josh went scarlet to his roots, asking as they pushed aside the screen door, “Does everybody know?”

“Mostly. The others will figure it out soon enough.”

Petilune sat on the top step, her feet on the next tread down, knees tucked tight together. She clutched a small plastic bag to her thin chest, the backpack on the step below her. She looked frail and so alone, Marcus could barely stand it. Josh gave him a shove, urging him to join the child. He settled next to her and said, “Polly tells me you’d like to stay here with me and Josh.”

She nodded, her hair loose and falling about her shoulders in a fine waterfall.

“Can you tell me why?”

She turned and gave Marcus a quizzical look, the kind she used to dispense in the store when he was being overbearing and overprotective.

Marcus muttered, “You don’t have to. It’s okay.”

Scooting closer, the girl wrapped an arm around Marcus and said, “You saved me and Kit. Now it’s my turn.”

Perplexed, Josh asked, “Your turn, sweety?”

She nodded and leaned her head onto Marcus’ chest. “I can cook.”

Marcus glanced up at Josh, feeling helpless and close to losing it. Josh didn’t look much better. Placing his chin on top of the girl’s head, Marcus said, “Sweety, you don’t owe us anything. If you want to live here, then that’s how it’s gonna be.”

“Like family.” It wasn’t a question.

Marcus choked out, “Yes, just like family.” He stood and pulled the girl up as he handed her the backpack. “How about you put your things away in your room. You know the one?”

She nodded, then glanced up at Josh, pondering something. Then she asked Marcus, “Where will you sleep, Uncle Marcus?”

“With Josh, honey.”

She thought on that, her demeanor slipping into that serene place Marcus envied, but then she said, “Good,” and drifted into the kitchen, letting the door ease closed behind her.

Josh had found something compelling in the direction of the barn to stare at, leaving Marcus to deal with Polly. The woman said, “Well, don’t that beat all,” as she turned to leave, then stopped, snapping her fingers. “Dang it, almost forgot. The Reverend says to give him and the missus a call when you’re settled. He might have some ideas about...” She jerked her chin toward the house.

Marcus thanked her, though it seemed hardly enough given what the woman—the entire town—had done for him and Josh. He suspected, once the novelty of their misfortune had worn off, there might be additional hurdles to overcome. People like Ted Sorenson weren’t the exception, he knew that and accepted it.

Years ago, if someone had suggested that his secret life with Tommy hadn’t been so secret after all, he’d have been mortified. They’d kept it quiet out of fear, not because it was too special to share. With Josh, their relationship was a polar opposite. Marcus wanted to shout it from the top of Sheep Mountain that he was shacking up with Josiah Foxglove, and to hell with hiding the fact he loved the man more than life itself. He’d been given a second chance, and he hoped he was wise enough and brave enough to deserve the man who’d made it possible.

Josh limped toward him, one hand on the railing, but moving mostly under his own power. He grunted with pain when he took a bad step. Ruefully he said, “If it’s all the same to you, Nurse Marcus, I think I need my meds and something decent to eat.” He cocked his ear toward the kitchen. “Sounds like the girls are coming back. Guess that means ‘Uncle Cal’ finally hit the road.” He made finger quotes and smirked.

Marcus pulled him up before heading into the house. “Is Calhoun going to be an asshole about Kit?”

Josh’s face turned thunderous. “Not if I have anything to do with it.”

Becca appeared at the screen door, asking, “Everything all right?”

Marcus plastered a big grin on his face and chirped, “Dandy. Our boy here is already moving under his own power.”

Josh muttered, “Don’t provoke her. You won’t like it if you do.”

Becca laughed and guided Josh through the door, shoving a cane into his right hand. Though her voice was light and cheerful, her eyes were deadly serious. “Listen to him, Marcus. He knows what he’s talking about.”

For the second time that day, he wondered if Detective Calhoun had a clue what he was getting into.

****

J
osh had put on his obstinate hat and was buckled in for a fight. Marcus pleaded, “I know you’re hurting. I can see it in your face. Just take one tablet so you can do your rehab exercises this morning.” He wheedled, “Do it for me, please?” Josh scowled and turned his head away. Marcus was ready to shove the pill down his throat, or into any convenient orifice—at that point he didn’t much care which one.

Setting the pill on the table, he tapped it once and said, “Give me one good reason not to take this. Just one, and I’ll leave it be.”

Crossing his arms over his very naked chest, Josh gave Marcus an appraising look. “Just one?” Feeling like he’d finally broken through the man’s resistance, Marcus nodded enthusiastically. Josh’s eyes glinted as if he’d won a bet. “All right then. It’s a deal.”

Josh stood up and braced his palms on the table and stared into Marcus’ eyes. The look was so soulful, so agonizing beautiful and intoxicating, Marcus damn near melted. Josh owned him heart and soul, and he didn’t care who knew it. All he comprehended was how his blood boiled every time they were in the same room. They didn’t even have to touch, it was like some crazy telekinetic energy. So focused on the flare of lust lighting his nerves on fire, he missed most of what Josh was saying.

“Um, I’m sorry... What?”

Josh gave Marcus a feral, toothy grin. “I said... I’m giving you a choice.”

Stuttering, Marcus blurted, “B-but, I thought you were giving me one reason?” He looked at the pill, then back to Josh.

“This is better.”

“Okaay... Shoot.” Marcus choked back a groan as his cock filled, making his jeans snug enough to be uncomfortable.

“You’re getting close, Colton.”

Marcus moaned, “Jesus, you’re driving me nuts, Josiah. Make up your mind.”

Josh limped around the table, gripped Marcus by the shoulders and spoke in a deep, sultry voice. “Here’s the deal, I take the pill and turn into a zombie who can’t keep it up. Or...”

Marcus quivered under the relentless pressure Josh exerted on his shoulders. He managed to ask, “Or what...” although he had a good idea what option B might be. His cock did a happy dance, already on board.

“Or... I bend you over this table and fuck you into next week.” He stuck his tongue in Marcus’ ear and swished it around, completely numbing Marcus to anything but the sensation of his lover possessing him. Josh gently curved his body across the surface of the table. Marcus flicked the offending pill out of the way and yanked at his belt, desperate for contact of skin to skin. He didn’t have long to wait.

Cool air caressed his flesh, sending shivers of anticipation up and down his spine. Thighs quivering, he braced for the brisk assault of lube chilling his flesh, the first penetration and soft susurrations of Josh’s voice as he worshiped his body with wicked strokes and heated kisses. Teeth and tongue left a trail of desire so profound Marcus could only moan the melody as Josh strummed him into a state of nirvana.

Gasping, “Oh God, I’m close,” Marcus rocked into the punishing pace, his hips lifting as Josh drove into him, each stroke flooding him with such intense pleasure he saw stars. Succumbing to the familiar tightness, to the way his bones melted and reformed, Marcus sobbed his release as his muscles tightened and gripped the fullness of Josh’s cock pulsating deep inside him.

Sweat-soaked, his heart hammering in his chest, Marcus collapsed onto the table, wearing Josh as a cape. It felt right. Josh was right. Everything was finally perfect with his world.

Josh whispered, “Would you consider me a wuss if I asked for that oxycodone now?”

“Yes, but I’ll keep it just between you and me, cowboy.”

Josh straightened with a grunt and helped Marcus upright. He wobbled and reached for the table for support. Marcus steadied him and adjusted his gym shorts so he could get him into the bedroom without him tripping and falling. That was the last thing he needed.

Marcus muttered, “You’re an asshole, you know that.”

Josh smirked and teased, “I think you got that turned around, lover.”

Marcus shook his head, knowing that was an argument he wasn’t going to win. “Come on. You need to do your stretches. If you’re good and do all the reps, I’ve got a surprise for you later.”

“A surprise? You mean I get a blowjob, too?”

Marcus chuckled. “You are incorrigible, cowboy. Now get in bed. I’ll be back with your pill and the elastic bands.”

Josh shouted as Marcus left the room, “And a blowjob!”

Marcus grinned. He had something better in mind.

Privacy.

––––––––

T
hat first time Josh had made the trip to the barn, back when his wounds were fresh and the future murky, he’d done it like he was doing it now... alone and hesitantly, one cautious step at a time. It had been spring and the stream had been gushing high enough to nearly cover the foot bridge. Now it was a trickle, a sparse memory of how much they relied on forces they couldn’t control.

He’d ignored the ramshackle building lurking in the trees, opting instead to teeter-totter over the bridge, getting his boots soaked and the walker coated with slime, all for a glimpse of raw freedom and unfettered movement.

Today he didn’t need the validation—that somehow he’d be graced with a second lease on life, to become whole once more. It had taken a long time to understand he hadn’t been owed anything except a chance to try. It could have gone down differently.

His rescuer might have chosen to leave him. To flee for freedom. He hadn’t. What made a man do that, sacrifice himself? Josh understood doing it for love, for family—even for tradition—but none of that pertained at that point in time. In that vehicle. On that sand track in the middle of the desert, they were strangers. And then they weren’t.