Wilder, Winona - Loving Tyler [Coming Out 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (11 page)

“A passing fancy, is all.”

“You wanna tell me something?” Jet was all dominance, hard to deny. He had a sixth sense about human nature, so lying was out of the question.

“They’re back. Slashed my tires again.” He’d told the older man details about his past that made him cringe to this day. Jet was a good listener, didn’t judge, and the only other man on the circuit he knew of that was openly gay and proud of it.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me this? You can’t keep hiding forever!” James held Jet’s arms when he started to throw them around in anger.
Tyler
continued to feel like an outsider and just wanted to get to his room.

He dragged his hand through his hair, not comfortable even discussing the situation. “What would you do anyway, Jet? You know what kind of people they are. You gonna get yourself killed and leave your little sweetheart here all by his lonesome?” He shook his head, knowing the answer.

“This have anything to do with the guy you were seeing?”

“It always does. You know that. Love isn’t in the cards for me, not now, not ever.” He dipped his hat to James out of courtesy and began to walk backwards up the road. “Don’t be worrying about little ol’ me, Jet Cartwright. I’ve managed to survive this long…”

He twisted to face the road, picking up his step. There was nothing to say that could change the situation, no matter how much he wished it.

“Join us at the pub tonight!” Jet called from the distance. He only raised his arm to confirm he’d heard, no promises.

The next morning, after a fitful night, he showered, shaved, and dressed for the big event. It would be a media circus today with the much anticipated bull riding events.
Tyler
rarely entered, but today he did. Why the fuck not?

He donned his finer plaid shirt, knowing his fans would ask him to pose for photos. As much as he respected Jet and had no personal reservations about his beau, he hoped he didn’t run into them. He needed to be alone in order build up his barriers again, to kiss away everything Marcus brought to the surface.

The first thing that caught his eye as he walked the perimeter of the main event ring was the oversized banners for Cavendish. His heart immediately clenched in his chest. Visions of Marcus had his pulse racing. But a banner meant nothing. Cavendish advertised at most medium- to large-size rodeos, so it didn’t mean the man he loved was somewhere just out of sight. Even if he was, nothing could come of it. He had to avoid Marcus for his own good.
Tyler
’s life was riddled with danger, and Marcus didn’t deserve to deal with his baggage.

He didn’t have to ride for hours, but liked to size up his competition and check out the temperament of the animals before his turn. From his seat on one of the bleachers, his pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes and lit one up. He’d quit the filthy habit for Marcus, but now needed any help he could get to help his frayed nerves.

There was plenty of horse trading going on.
Tyler
only paid half his attention to the different groups of people around him, half in a daze. He exhaled a cloud of smoke, but ended up swatting away the fog when he swore he caught a glimpse of his angel. He sat straighter, focusing on the distant figures. His eyes hadn’t deceived him. Marcus Vinetti, in all his masculine, refined glory was standing just out of earshot. He was talking to Bryce Coldwater, one of his greatest threats in competition. Was he here to sign Bryce to Cavendish? Had Marcus fallen for another man so soon? Just seeing the two talking, laughing, only a foot separating them, made the stink of jealousy pierce his heart. He stood up a couple times, but sat himself back down. It wasn’t his business. He’d cut Marcus loose, so Tyler had no right to interfere in his life.

Why was it so hard to look the other way? He didn’t know much about Bryce, but he already judged him to be his enemy.
Tyler
sized him up, knowing he could easily take him down in a fight, if it came to that. He took another drag, trying to calm the vicious desire swirling in his head. Marcus was his.

“Bryce. Good ride earlier.”
Tyler
couldn’t resist. He came up behind the couple, keeping his best poker face in place.

“Thanks.”

Marcus turned, recognition blanching his features. “
Tyler
, what are you doing here?”

“Looks like a rodeo, and I’m a cowboy.” He returned his attention to the other man. “So, you signing on with Cavendish?”

“Thinking on it.”

Why was Bryce acting so cool and collected? He leaned against the fence, hips thrust out to show off his buckle.
Tyler
gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached. Was he trying to impress a potential sponsor or Marcus, the man?

Tyler
nodded, not knowing what the fuck to say, but not willing to leave the men alone. He brought what was left of his forgotten cigarette to his lips. Marcus reached out and grabbed his wrist before he could inhale. “Smoking’s not good for you.”

He did care. Tyler’s body slumped in relief, his previous tension pooling around his prized boots.

“I tend to remember you mentioning that before.” He stomped out his cigarette. They stared at each other now, mirroring a similar longing. As much as he should push Marcus away, every cell in his body screamed for him to hold on, to never let him go. They’d find a way to make it work. They had to. Even if he had to go to Jet for advice or leave the rodeo altogether, it would be worth it to have Marcus back. Without him, he was just existing, as he had all his adult life. He’d never really live until they were together again. Really together as a committed couple.

“We still talking business, Marcus?” Hearing his man’s first name on Bryce’s lips made him see red, especially when Tyler was vying for Marcus’s attention.

“He’s done talking business,” said
Tyler
, still entranced by the dark-haired, Italian stud.

Reality and fantasy momentarily blurred as he nearly lost his balance. Had Bryce really just shoved him? He laughed out loud. “Worried about your sponsorship?”

His nonchalance appeared to piss the younger cowboy off. “Hell no! They’re looking for rising stars, not fags with a death wish.”

Tyler
did what he did best, reacted without thinking. He barreled forward into the other man and let the punches fly. They swung back and forth, muttering curses and trying to dole out the most damage.

Marcus finally pulled him off Bryce, and he landed back on his ass, hyped up for more. The city boy’s strength surprised him, but then again, he’d seen his developed muscles up close and personal. “Enough!”

“He’s trying to weasel in on my sponsorship. Cavendish sent you here to recruit me, not him.” Bryce stood up and tucked in the tails of his shirt.

“
Tyler
already refused a sponsorship from us last month.” He ran a hand through that silky, black hair he adored.

“Good. Then why don’t you fuck off.”
Tyler
lunged at the other man again, but Marcus intervened, holding him back with an outstretched arm.

“Marcus, I need to talk to you in private. Just you and me, darlin’.” He didn’t care what Bryce thought. In fact, he wanted him to know they were an item, that
Tyler
had claim over the man.

“
Tyler
, I have business…”

“Business with me.” He deepened his tone, letting Marcus know he wasn’t playing games. This wasn’t just about getting him away from Bryce. He did need to talk with him, to confess his true feelings, explain why he pushed him away, and plan a future they could both live with.

Chapter Ten

Marcus always had
Tyler
in the back of his mind, but he never expected to find him way out here in
Smithfield
, especially when the events were centered around the bulls.
Tyler
promised never to ride the bulls again, and he didn’t like the thought of him risking his life.

When he showed up, Marcus swore his heart stopped beating for a second. It was like seeing a ghost after grieving for his love for so many weeks. But
Tyler
had claimed to not want him, which was why he returned to the city with a cloud of despair hanging over his head. Now
Tyler
acted possessive, as if he wanted him for more than a casual affair. Although he stopped the fight soon after it started, he had to admit that it made his cock hard as granite. Watching
Tyler
fight for him, display such passion, proved he wasn’t as cold as he had portrayed.

He allowed
Tyler
to lead him away, unwilling to witness another fight, and he desperately wanted to hear what the cowboy had to say. He prayed now, as he did every night, that
Tyler
would actually love him, that the man he fell in love with wasn’t just a mask.

“Where we going?” he asked as they entered the dim interior of an aging barn. Sunlight beamed in through the many cracks, like lasers, highlighting the dust motes. It smelled rich of sweet hay.

“I needed to find a little hideaway. My motel’s at the other side of town, and I couldn’t wait another second to get you alone.”

“The air’s heavy in here. I doubt it’s good for my lungs.” He kicked at the hay littered on the concrete center of the barn. This barn hadn’t been maintained in ages.

“That’s right. You’re delicate, aren’t you, sweet thing.” He cupped Marcus’s face and leaned in for a kiss. Marcus pulled back in a rush, straining his neck he moved so fast.

As much as he wanted to succumb, he couldn’t forget the fact
Tyler
had pushed him away, made him feel smaller than an ant. “You told me you weren’t meant to change. You made me feel like a man whore.”

Tyler
shook his head. “Darlin’, you know I didn’t mean any of that.”

“Then why? I thought everything was going so well between us, then the whole three-sixty. I don’t know what to believe.”

He grabbed him by the belt, tugging him against his chest. “Believe that I love you,”
Tyler
whispered against his ear.

Marcus closed his eyes and exhaled, savoring the words, wanting to believe them. “For how long this time? A day? A week? Until something better comes along?”

“I know I hurt you, but I did it because I care, not because I don’t. My life ain’t peaches and cream. You deserve better.”

“That should be my choice.”

“You’re right. And I’ve been sick since you left. I want you to choose me, choose us. I’ll do everything I can to make you happy. No cigarettes. No bulls. No lies.”

He knew his voice would crack, but he spoke anyway. “Promise?”

Tyler
chuckled and dropped his face against the side of his neck. Marcus could hear him breathe in his scent, and feel the heat as he exhaled against his sensitive skin. “I missed your smell. It was on the shirt you wore for a couple days, but then it faded away.”

“I’m here now.” If
Tyler
was playing with him, it would utterly destroy him, but he couldn’t resist. Didn’t want to resist. “All I’ve thought about is you. I’ve been like a zombie most days.”

“I’m so sorry, baby. If it’s any consolation, I’ve felt worse than shit since you left. You give my life meaning.” He kissed his lips. Once. “I need you, Marcus Vinetti.”

“You do realize we’re the worst possible match, don’t you?”

“That’s why it’s gonna work.” He pressed Marcus’s hand against the front of his jeans.
Tyler
was hard, threatening to blow the zipper clean off his Wranglers.

“What about my condo? My job at Cavendish?”

He nipped Marcus’s jawline, sending an erotic current sizzling through his body. “Details.”
Tyler
continued his assault with his lips and now his hands. He unbuckled him without looking, and then began to tug up his shirt.

“You sure you’re not just horny?”

“I promise you I’m horny,” he said in that sexy Southern drawl. “You’ll find out soon enough. But that’s just one element. You’re mine, Marcus. I won’t leave you, I won’t share you, and I want you for more than sex.”

* * * *

Tyler
continued to undress Marcus, needing to feel him skin to skin. It had been so long. Every minute felt like an hour, every day, a year, when they were apart. He wanted to indulge himself on his lover’s golden muscles, to give him enough pleasure he that he’d never want to return to the city.