Journey to Lobster Cove
Author: Carol Lynne
Date: 2000-01-01 05:00:00+00:00
Keywords: M M Romance; Romance; Gay; Contemporary; Adult; Erotica; Lgbt; Novella; Westerns
Description: Spreading acceptance one town at a time. When the town of Cattle Valley runs out of room for new construction, Asa Montgomery begins to look into alternative locations. He discovers a picturesque fishing village in Maine for sale and begins to make plans to purchase Lobster Cove. Unfortunately, setting up a new community takes him away from his partner, Mario, who isn’t pleased about being left behind. Meanwhile, after years of dancing around their mutual attraction, Cullen Bryant decides the time has come to lay his feelings for Joseph Allenbrand on the line. Unfortunately, his plan is cut sh
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Table of Contents

Legal Page

Title Page

Book Description

Dedication

Trademarks Acknowledgement

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Epilogue

New Excerpt

About the Author

New Excerpt

A Totally Bound Publication

Journey to Lobster Cove

ISBN # 978-1-78430-445-4

©Copyright Carol Lynne 2015

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright February 2015

Edited by Sue Meadows

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Burning and a Sexometer of 1.

Cattle Valley

JOURNEY TO LOBSTER COVE

Carol Lynne

Book thirty-two in the Cattle Valley series

Spreading acceptance one town at a time.

When the town of Cattle Valley runs out of room for new construction, Asa Montgomery begins to look into alternative locations. He discovers a picturesque fishing village in Maine for sale and begins to make plans to purchase Lobster Cove. Unfortunately, setting up a new community takes him away from his partner, Mario, who isn’t pleased about being left behind.

Meanwhile, after years of dancing around their mutual attraction, Cullen Bryant decides the time has come to lay his feelings for Joseph Allenbrand on the line. Unfortunately, his plan is cut short when Joseph sends him away with no other explanation than he should move on.

Joseph knows sending Cullen away is the kindest thing to do for the younger man, but when he hears Cullen truly may be moving on, he realizes it’s time to reevaluate his life. Will he work out his issues in time to save what he’s spent years denying?

Dedication

For Theresa and Lorelei, the two women who help keep me sane each day.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

iPad: Apple, Inc.

Range Rover: Jaguar Land Rover

Xbox: Flextronics International, Inc.

Froot Loops: Kellogg’s

Kool-Aid: Kraft Foods

UPS: United Parcel Service of North America Inc.

Brawny: Georgia-Pacific

Chapter One

Vigorously brushing his teeth, Asa Montgomery stepped out of the bathroom to stare at the handsome man who still refused to get out of bed.

Mario Benta glanced up from his iPad and grinned. “Don’t look at me like that. How many times have we waited for Nate, Ryan and Rio to get to a council meeting? It’s my turn to make them wait.”

With a shake of his head, Asa strode back to the sink and spit out the minty foam. “We’ve got over a hundred applications to go through before we can call an end to the meeting. The sooner we get there, the faster we can get back to doing better things,” he said over his shoulder.

“I found an entire town that’s being auctioned off,” Mario replied from the bedroom.

Chuckling, Asa leaned against the doorframe. He crossed his arms and stared pointedly at Mario, hoping to get his partner up and moving. “Tired of Cattle Valley already?”

“Hell no.” Mario held out his iPad. “Stop being a smart ass and look at it while I wash my cock and put on clothes.”

Asa strode to the bed and took the device from Mario. He’d heard of towns being auctioned off, but he also knew it wasn’t the actual town being bought but the expenses involved in running a town. “Buying a town is a poor business decision. Vanity, pure and simple.”

“Just read the goddamn thing and watch the video,” Mario said moments before the shower turned on.

With a sigh of exasperation, Asa sat on the edge of the mattress and looked at the iPad. “Charming oceanside town Lobster Cove to be auctioned,” he read aloud. He tapped on the attached video that showcased the small but picturesque town on the coast of Maine. At only three minutes and twenty seconds long, the video did a good job of highlighting the town and surrounding landscape. He turned his attention to the written article. Lobster Cove had been a thriving New England town until the local economy suffered a devastating blow when the boatyard located at the edge of town had gone bankrupt. According to the article, more than two-thirds of the community’s houses were currently empty.

“Shit,” Asa cursed. He played the video again.

“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” Mario asked, running the towel over his short black hair.

“Yeah.” Asa set the iPad aside before reaching for his shoes. It hadn’t been an easy choice to sell his various businesses and concentrate solely on Montgomery Enterprises, but he’d done it in an attempt to carve out a more peaceful life. His gaze slid to Mario. Yeah, being able to spend each night in bed with his partner had definitely been worth the changes to his portfolio. He’d be crazy to consider taking on another project that would take him away from the man he loved.

* * * *

Mario Benta sat between Asa and Hearn Sutherland at the long city council table. The special meeting had been called to weed through the incoming applications. The final phase of housing was near completion, signaling the need to handpick the future residents of Cattle Valley. He was silently pleased he hadn’t been put through the rigorous application process when he’d decided to pull up stakes and move to the small Wyoming town.

Mario read through the application in front of him. He was impressed by the guy on paper, but he also knew the final thirty residents selected would also have to go through a short interview. “Hey, Ryan, do you have openings at the sheriff’s department?”

Ryan Blackfeather, sheriff of Cattle Valley, glanced up and shook his head. “No, why, you got someone good?”

“Yeah.” Mario passed the manila folder to Ryan. “Mick Hennessey. Originally from a small town outside Allentown, Pennsylvania, he took a job with the NYPD right after graduation. Worked his way up to detective by the time he was twenty-eight. Says in his application that he needs out of the city and is willing to do damn near anything we need for a spot.”

“Sounds like a good man.” Ryan put Mick’s folder on top of the stack of finalists before turning his attention to his partner, Nate. “There room in the budget for another deputy?”

Nate shook his head. “We barely squeezed out funding for the last two we hired. Sorry, babe, but we can’t do it.”

Mario glanced at the folder on top of the stack. He hated this whole fucking process. So far, there hadn’t been a single application that he’d put on the no pile. “Does anyone else feel like we’re playing God or something?”

Several men around the table nodded, including Asa. “Unfortunately, it can’t be helped. Housing’s at capacity and we’re out of room to add more.”

Frustrated, Mario shoved his pile toward the center of the table. “We’ve been at this for hours and we’re not getting anywhere.” He stood and stretched his arms over his head. “Can we call it a night and work on these later?” He wasn’t one to shirk his council duties, but he was tired and out of sorts. All he wanted was to get back into bed with Asa and fuck out his mood.

Mario moved to stand behind Asa. “Please?” he begged, bending down to kiss his partner’s neck.

“George’s on shift tomorrow night, and Trick’s on the road, so I don’t have anyone to watch Lucy,” Carol Manning said.

“Bring her along,” Nate replied. “I’ll bring Hannah and she can watch the little sugar demon.” As mayor, Nate had the final word on forestalling the decisions for another day.

“I’d rather just power through.” Asa reached behind him to give Mario’s leg a squeeze. “It shouldn’t take more than a few hours.”

Mario scraped his teeth across his lower lip in an attempt to keep his biting reply to himself. Of course, Asa would want to stay. Despite claiming otherwise, Asa was a workaholic, and Mario was getting sick and tired of evenings spent alone in their monstrosity of a house. “Forgive me for wanting to have a few hours with you before you run back to the office.”

“Mario,” Asa said.

Mario threw up his hands in disgust and moved toward the door. “I’m going home. I’ll be more than happy to stop by after work tomorrow to go through my share.” He turned his attention to Carol, their nearest neighbor. “Do you mind giving Asa a ride home?”

“Not at all,” Carol replied.

“That won’t be necessary.” Tapping the stack of folders with his forefinger, Asa got to his feet. “I’m not sure what my schedule looks like tomorrow, but I’ll let you know.” He shot Mario a narrow-eyed gaze as he left the room without another word.

Mario caught sight of Ryan’s smirk and shook his head. “Shut up.”

Ryan held up his hands. “Didn’t say a word.”

* * * *

“You ready for that test?” Cullen Bryant asked from his position in front of the television.

“Yeah, I think so,” Jared, a sixteen-year-old under Cullen’s care, replied as he headed up the staircase. “Right now, my bed’s calling.”

“Sleep tight,” Cullen called out before Jared made it to the top. He grinned at Jared’s groan of protest. Sixteen was a tough age, especially when you were used to being on your own. Of all the teenagers at the Second Chance ranch, Jared reminded Cullen most of himself. On the streets at fourteen, Jared had resorted to selling his body in order to stay alive. It had been Joseph Allenbrand, an ex-priest, who had rescued Jared from the streets of Washington, DC.

Cullen rubbed the heels of his hands against his eyes. Even after two years living and working on the Second Chance ranch, he hadn’t been able to get over his crush on Joseph.

“Shit,” he spat. It wasn’t a crush. No way in hell would a physical attraction last nearly five years.

Mandy walked into the living room before flopping onto the sofa beside Cullen. “The house is locked up tight.”

Cullen lifted his arm and welcomed Mandy against him. The two of them had gone through hell together when they’d lived on the streets of DC and had grown even closer since moving to the ranch.

“I should go to bed,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

“I need to talk to you about something.”

Cullen tensed, praying the something Mandy wanted to talk about didn’t include Joseph, because as much as he loved Mandy, he was tired of her pity. “Okay.”

Instead of speaking, Mandy began to pick at a hole in her striped sock. Cullen sat, trying to be patient for about two minutes before clearing his throat. “You wanted to talk?”

Mandy buried her face against Cullen’s chest. “I think I wanna take Asa up on that scholarship.”

Cullen breathed a sigh of relief. It had been seven months since Mandy had graduated high school with the offer from Asa. Mandy had put their billionaire benefactor off by saying she needed time to decide whether or not college was something she was interested in. “That’s good, right?”

Mandy shrugged. “I thought I could go to the community college in Sheridan a few nights a week. That way, I’ll still be able to live and work here.”

Cullen shook his head. As much as he needed Mandy near him, she deserved better. “No, sweetie, you need to go away and get the full experience.” He brushed the blonde curls away from her face before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “You’ve earned it, and you won’t have time for work here if you’re still planning to go into veterinary medicine.”

“I’m not.” She looked up at him. “I’ve been thinking about social work.”

Cullen’s breath hitched. After her grandmother’s death, Mandy, then thirteen, had been thrown into the foster care system where her foster parents had abused her, both physically and sexually. “To help other kids like you?”

“No, to make sure there are fewer kids like me.” She pulled away from Cullen and sat up. “I’d like to concentrate on the foster parents. I think that’s where I can do the most good.”

Cullen bumped his shoulder against Mandy’s. “Great idea.”

“Yeah, so you see, there’s no reason I can’t go to the community college for a couple years.”

While Cullen understood her point, he still didn’t like the idea. He knew what she was doing. Hell, it was the same thing he’d been doing for the last few years. They were using the ranch as a safety net, both afraid their happiness was due solely to their location.

Conjuring up his best smile, he poked Mandy’s ribs with his finger. “You’ll flourish in college.”

“Yeah? Then why didn’t you go?” she countered.

Cullen snorted. “I had to take my GED three times before I passed.” He sobered when he noticed the scowl on Mandy’s pretty face. “Some people are meant to work with their hands instead of their minds. I’m one of those.”

“Stop selling yourself short,” Mandy barked, genuine anger in her stormy gray eyes.

“I’m not. I promise. I’m not saying I’m stupid. I just don’t have the drive it takes to complete a degree, and I know it. I get bored. I like working with my hands.” To earn extra money and learn a trade, he’d been working with Hal Kuckleman’s construction crew for the last year and a half. “Besides, Hal says I’m a quick learner. I can damn near do everything except the electrical and plumbing and Collin Zeffer’s promised to teach me that the next house we build.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” Mandy mumbled. “I love you, Cullen.”

His eyes filled with tears as he fought to speak. As shitty as Mandy’s life had been before finding the shelter, his own life had been so much worse. “No one’s ever said those words to me,” he confessed.

Mandy hugged him tighter. “I’m sorry. I should’ve said them years ago.” She stared up at him. “You’ve always looked out for me, and I’ll never be able to repay you for that.”

Cullen rolled his watery eyes. “No kissing,” he warned.

Mandy giggled before giving him a light punch in the stomach. “I don’t want in your pants, asshole, just your heart.”

“Good because you’re already there,” he replied.

* * * *

Joseph Allenbrand continued to pace the community room in the shelter he ran for runaways. It was after one in the morning and Pip hadn’t returned from his part-time job that had ended hours earlier. Joseph knew better than anyone the temptations and dangers that lured seventeen-year-old boys into the darkened alleys between the shelter and the small diner where Pip washed dishes.

He glanced at his closed office door. Inside the safe Drake had ordered be installed was another locked box containing a gun. Joseph had argued with Asa’s chief of security over the ridiculousness of having a firearm in a home with troubled teens, but Drake had been adamant about leaving it.

The neighborhood surrounding the Rainbow Youth Shelter for homeless GLBT teens had tried to revitalize several times since Joseph had obtained the property. Unfortunately, families with small children didn’t last long in the area because so many of Joseph’s kids came with the kind of baggage that captured the attention of dealers, thugs and pimps. It hadn’t been easy to get his boys off the street and the scourge of the city hated him for dipping into their profit margins by taking one of their recruits away from them. The last time Joseph had pissed off one of the dealers, the shelter had been burned to the ground. Thanks to Nate Gills and Asa Montgomery they’d rebuilt in time for the cold, harsh DC winter.

The sound of the buzzer startled Joseph from his thoughts. He immediately strode toward the front of the shelter and stared at the high-tech security screen Drake had also installed. Bile rose in his throat as he stared at the bloody teenager.

No! Joseph quickly unlocked the door and caught Pip as he fell into his arms. He eased Pip’s limp body to the floor before shutting and locking the door. “Hang on,” he urged, reaching for the phone.

“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?” the calm male voice asked.

“I need an ambulance at the Rainbow Youth Shelter.” Joseph rattled off the address as he tried to assess Pip’s condition. There was so much blood.

“I have an ambulance on the way. Can you tell me the nature of the injury or illness?” the operator asked.

“I don’t know.” Joseph squeezed his eyes shut. He felt so helpless. “He’s covered in blood. I don’t know if he was shot or stabbed, but he collapsed in my arms when I opened the door then he passed out.”

Joseph cradled Pip in his arms as the operator continued to talk but he couldn’t hear him. He was lost in the pallor of Pip’s normally light brown skin. “Stay with me,” he whispered as he began to rock back and forth.

It had been almost two years since he’d been in the position to bargain with God for the life of one of his boys. The last had been Cullen. Joseph’s chest squeezed at the mere thought of Cullen. No, he told himself. He’d done the right thing by sending Cullen away.

Pip opened his eyes and stared up at Joseph.

“Who did this?” Joseph asked.

“Big G. He told me to give you a message,” Pip rasped.

“You can give it to me later,” Joseph replied.

Pip shook his head. “I won’t be here later.” Blood sprayed Joseph’s face as Pip began to cough.

Joseph refused to look away from the dying boy. “Save your strength.”

“Big G said…” He coughed. “…there’ll be more.”

More? Anger filled Joseph at the thought of that fat piece of scum harming another of his boys. He glanced at the safe again. For the second time in his life he wanted to kill a man. The first had been Willy, Cullen’s slimy pimp, who had beaten and tied Cullen to a bed before carving a W on his forehead.

* * * *

Asa ended the call with a heavy heart.

“Who was it?” Mario asked before yawning.

“Joseph. One of the boys was attacked on his way home from work, and according to Joseph, the asshole responsible said there’d be more if the shelter isn’t shut down.”

“Shit. Is the kid okay?” Mario rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

“He’s in surgery.” Asa threw back the covers. It wasn’t the first time he’d received a frantic call from Joseph in the middle of the night. For all the good the shelter did, it seemed to attract the wrong kind of attention. “I need to make some calls. Hopefully, I can get a few people to fly out to DC with us. Joseph’s worried about the rest of the boys.”

Mario sat up. “Send Drake. That’s what you pay him for.”

Asa leaned over and gave his partner a soft kiss on the lips. “Come on, babe. Get dressed.”

“I can’t go. I have to be at work in a couple hours.”

“A kid’s been shot,” Asa replied as he climbed out of bed. “I think that takes precedence over your damn job.”

Mario narrowed his dark eyes. “Don’t make me out to be a heartless bastard. I’m sorry someone was hurt, but Rio’s out of town, and I promised to handle the gym. Besides, there’re plenty of men in town who’ll gladly take up Joseph’s cause to protect those kids. For that matter, there’s no real reason for you to even go except for the fact that you can’t seem to say no to anyone but me.”

Fuming, Asa walked into the closet. He dressed quickly before he began to pack a small suitcase with several changes of clothes. He’d worked his ass off to get to the point where he didn’t have to be in the office every day or travel nearly as much as he once had, but each time he was called away, Mario started shit. Hell, it wasn’t like Mario needed to work. Asa had more than enough money to support them through ten lifetimes, but it was always Mario’s job that kept him from traveling with Asa when needed.

Once he’d finished packing, Asa dropped his suitcase beside the door. Mario was lying on his side with his back to Asa’s side of the bed. He knew Mario wasn’t asleep. “Babe, can we talk about this?”

“Just go,” Mario mumbled. “I’ll be fine here without you.”

Asa wasn’t sure if he wanted to scream or climb back under the covers and make love to his partner. He walked around the bed to stare down at Mario. “I’ll be home in a few days.”

Mario didn’t bother to open his eyes.

With a heavy sigh, Asa bent over and kissed Mario’s forehead. “Love you,” he whispered.

* * * *

His ringing phone woke Cullen out of a deep sleep. He fumbled for several moments before closing his hand around the cell and lifting it to his ear. “Yeah?”

“It’s Drake. Sorry to wake you, but I got a call from Joseph.”

Cullen sat up in bed before reaching for one of his elastic bands. If Joseph had called Drake in the middle of the night, the news wouldn’t be good. “What happened?” he asked. He cradled the phone between his ear and shoulder while he pulled his shoulder-length curls into a haphazard bun.

“I don’t know all the details, but according to Joseph, Pip was stabbed multiple times tonight on his way home from work. Pip’s in surgery now but Joseph isn’t holding out much hope that he’ll make it. I talked to Asa and he and I are heading to DC.” Drake cleared his throat. “Joseph isn’t handling it well, and Asa and I thought you might be able to help with that or the shelter…whatever.”

“I’ll throw some stuff in a bag and be ready in ten minutes,” Cullen replied, already out of bed and digging in his closet for his duffle. He didn’t know Pip well but he knew Joseph would blame himself just as he’d blamed himself when Willy had tried to beat Cullen to death.

“I’ll be out front when you’re ready,” Drake said before hanging up. It helped that Drake lived with Oggie in the old farmhouse across the ranch yard.

Cullen dressed quickly before shoving a few changes of clothes into his duffle. He shouldered the bag, left the bedroom and jogged to Mandy’s room. He knocked softly before opening the door. “Mandy?”

Mandy groaned.

Cullen moved to sit on the side of the mattress. “I’m leaving for DC.”

“What?” Mandy asked, rubbing her eyes. “Why?”

“Pip was stabbed. He’s in surgery. I’m catching a ride with Drake and Asa.”

“Should I go?” Mandy reached to the bedside table and turned on a lamp.

“I need you here. I’ll probably split my time between the hospital and the shelter, and I need to know things here aren’t going to shit.”

Mandy entwined their fingers. “How’s Joseph?”

“According to Drake, not good.” Cullen squeezed Mandy’s hand. Although several people knew he had feelings for Joseph, only Mandy understood the depths of those feelings. “Do you think I’m making a mistake by going?”

“No. I think it’s about time you make Joseph see reason,” she countered.

Cullen shook his head. “He knows I lied about my age when I entered the shelter, and he still doesn’t want me.” He shrugged. “I can’t really blame him. I used to fuck for a living and he’s an ex-priest.”

“Stop it!” Mandy barked. “Joseph knows you had to work for Willy in order to stay alive.”

Getting to his feet, Cullen pulled his hand away from Mandy. Joseph might know what he had to do but that didn’t mean he could accept someone like Cullen in his bed. “I’ll call you once I know anything more on Pip.”

“Cullen?”

Already heading for the door, Cullen glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

“You are good enough for him,” she said.

Cullen grinned. Of course Mandy would believe that, she loved him. “Thanks, sweetheart. Take care of the demons while I’m gone.”

“Will do.”

Cullen left the house and climbed into the front passenger seat of Drake’s new Range Rover. “Sorry. I had to let Mandy know what was going on.” He looked back at the house that had become a home to so many of Joseph’s street kids. Despite his love for Joseph, he’d never jeopardize the shelter or the Second Chance ranch. Cullen knew Joseph was worried about how a relationship between them would appear to the outside world, and he’d accepted Joseph’s position, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

“No problem. Asa wasn’t sure whether or not he could talk Mario into going anyway, so he said we’d leave as soon as we all boarded.” Drake put the SUV in gear and took off.

“Did Joseph say who did that to Pip?” Cullen asked.

“Big G. You know him?”

Cullen closed his eyes and nodded. If Joseph and the shelter had captured the attention of Big G… “Fuck!” he spat. “They don’t have a chance against Big G.”

“Why? Who is this guy?”

“Someone even Willy’s afraid of.” Cullen started to run his fingers through his hair but stopped when he realized he still wore it in the elastic band. He wished he could convince Joseph to close the shelter and move to Cattle Valley, but he knew that wouldn’t happen. Still, there was no way he could abandon the man he loved to take Big G on alone. “I should’ve brought more clothes,” he mumbled.

* * * *

By the time Asa boarded the plane, Drake and Cullen were glowering at each other. “What’s going on?” he asked. His mood had already gone to shit after Mario refused to make the trip. Christ, he hated to argue with his partner. He made a mental note to text Mario before the plane took off.

“Evidently, Big G is some badass who everyone in the city’s afraid of,” Drake began. He gestured to Cullen. “Little Man thinks he’s going to go to DC and protect Joseph from further attacks.”

Asa noticed Cullen’s flinch at the old street name. He wanted to reprimand Drake for using it, but there were more pressing concerns at the moment. Meeting Drake’s gaze, Asa rubbed his forehead and let out a loud sigh. The shelter was as secure as they could make it yet no matter what they did the assholes always managed to get to Joseph and his rescued teenagers.

Asa stowed his suitcase before dropping into one of the comfortable leather chairs. He turned to address Drake. “First thing in the morning, call in favors, Priest, Snake, whoever you can get. I’ll pay for their time. Get them to the shelter.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to just move the kids?” Drake asked.

“Move them to where?” Asa asked. “The ranch is at capacity.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket when he heard the engines fire up. “Give me a minute.” His fingers moved deftly over the virtual keypad. I love you, he typed. He wasn’t sure if Mario had gone back to bed after their argument, but he couldn’t leave home without telling Mario how he felt.

Asa’s phone vibrated, signaling an incoming call. He swiped his finger across the screen before putting it to his ear. “Hey,” he answered.

“I love you, too, you sexy sonofabitch, but you need to understand that I take my job just as seriously as you take yours,” Mario said.

“I know you do.” Mario’s indifference to money had been one of the things that had attracted Asa in the first place. “I don’t like to be away from you.”

“I have Sunday and Monday off, so if you’re still there, I’ll fly out on Saturday night.”

“Okay, babe, I’ll call you when we land.” Asa still didn’t feel good about leaving Mario, but at least he knew he’d only be without his partner for two and a half days at most. “I’ll miss you, but I understand.”

“Thank you,” Mario returned. “I love you, too.”

Asa closed his eyes and ended the call. He’d spent years as a bachelor before he’d met Mario. He hadn’t known how truly unhappy he’d been until Mario had kissed him for the first time.

“What do you think?” Drake asked, pulling Asa from his thoughts.

“About?” Asa pocketed his phone.

Drake eyed Asa for a moment. “You okay?”

Asa nodded but didn’t speak. He’d never been the kind of man to discuss his private life, even with his friends.

“I’ll get two teams together. One to guard the shelter while the other looks for this Big G character,” Drake replied.

Asa shook his head. “Taking Big G down isn’t the answer.” It was hard for him to admit his vision of helping Joseph take the homeless teens off the street wasn’t working. “Cut one head off and another will just appear.”

Asa scrubbed his fingers over his eyes and sighed. The solution to their problem was to find a new location for the shelter. Somewhere like the Second Chance ranch where the kids could feel safe stepping outside their home. Unfortunately, he would have to spend a lot of time and money to make that dream come to fruition. “Once we land, I’ll go to the hospital to check on Pip. After that, I need to take a trip up north. There’s something I need to check out.”

“Are you seriously going to let this asshole get away with what he’s done to Pip?” Drake asked.

“Pip needs to talk to the police and let them handle it. What we need is to find a place for these kids to be safe, and that’s what I’m going to focus on,” Asa shot back. He wasn’t used to having his orders questioned by his head of security, but he knew emotions ran high when it came to DC. “Put the shelter on lockdown for the time being. The kids won’t like it, but it’s the safest thing to do. According to Pip, Big G isn’t going to stop going after the boys until Joseph stops his attempts to pull the kids off the streets. We all know Joseph would die before he’d give up his mission.”

“Are you thinking about moving them to Cattle Valley?” Cullen asked.

Asa shook his head. “Mario found a town for sale in Maine. I think I’ll fly up and check it out.”

“What’re you saying?” Drake questioned. “You’re going to move the shelter?”

“I won’t know anything more until I see Lobster Cove for myself.”

Chapter Two

Cullen paced the hospital lobby while he waited for Joseph to come down and update them on Pip’s condition. The long flight from Wyoming had given him too much time to think about what Mandy had said, leaving him anxious. He loved Joseph more than he’d ever loved anyone, and he knew in his heart Joseph felt the same.

Asa rose and started toward the bank of elevators, drawing Cullen’s attention. “How is he?” Asa asked.

Cullen drank in the sight of Joseph as he neared. Although Joseph was in his forties, Cullen had never met a more handsome man. The black hair Joseph always kept short was threaded with more strands of silver than the last time Cullen had seen him, and his normally bright blue eyes looked dull and lifeless. Cullen’s muscles ached with the desire to reach out and wrap Joseph in a tight embrace.

Joseph stopped abruptly when he spotted Cullen. “I didn’t realize you were coming.”

Cullen took a step toward Joseph and gathered his courage. “I thought you might need me.”

An unreadable expression crossed Joseph’s face before he addressed Asa. “Pip’s out of surgery, but the damage was extensive. The doctors don’t know whether or not he’ll make it.” He glanced at Cullen again. “I’m sorry, but they won’t let you in to see him.”

Cullen nodded. “I didn’t figure they would, but I thought you might need someone here.” He knew better than to tell Joseph to go back to the shelter and get some sleep. “Can I get you anything? Coffee? Something to eat?”

“Coffee would be nice,” Joseph answered.

“I’ll get it,” Asa offered, leaving before Joseph could stop him.

Cullen was grateful for the moment alone with Joseph. “You look so tired.”

Joseph’s gaze roamed Cullen’s face for several moments before he spoke. “You look good. Wyoming agrees with you.”

“I’d rather be here with you.” Cullen reached out but dropped his arm back to his side before connecting with the man he loved. “It’s killing me not to touch you.”

Joseph’s eyes filled with tears. “Have you found someone special yet?”

“Yeah, but he keeps pushing me away.” It was the same conversation they had every time they saw each other. “I love you, and we both know that’s not going to change.”

“I can’t,” Joseph whispered. “It’s important to me that you’re safe in Cattle Valley.”

Cullen knew it wasn’t the time to get into Joseph’s bullshit reasoning for them to be apart, but he was so damned tired of the excuses. He thought about what Asa had said on the plane. “And if the shelter wasn’t under constant attack? Would you still push me away?”

“I can’t answer that.” Joseph moved closer to Cullen and reached up to cup the side of his face. “My life’s not my own, and you know it. There was a time when I thought I could have both, but God had other plans.” He sighed heavily before taking several steps back. “I won’t take that chance with you.”

Before Cullen could stop himself, he moved to wrap his arms around Joseph. Tears dripped slowly from his eyes as he buried his face against Joseph’s neck. “God didn’t take Phillip to punish you.”

Joseph didn’t hug Cullen in return, but Cullen did feel Joseph’s cheek press against the top of his head. “I need to get back upstairs. You don’t need to stay.”

Cullen knew the subject was closed for the moment so he released his hold. He wiped his eyes as he moved away. He wanted to argue with Joseph but after years of dealing with him, he knew Joseph was shutting him out again. He caught sight of Asa coming toward them with three cups of coffee balanced between his hands.

Asa handed Joseph a cup before holding one out to Cullen. “I grabbed some sugar and creamer,” he said, pulling small packets out of his suit pocket.

“No thanks,” Cullen said, taking a sip of the strong brew.

“Black is fine for me.” Joseph gestured to the elevators. “I’m going to get back. I’ll keep you updated of any changes.”

Cullen’s chest squeezed when Joseph left without a backward glance.

“I can tell by your face that didn’t go well,” Asa said, putting a hand on Cullen’s shoulder.

“Never does,” Cullen mumbled. He took a deep breath. “Mind if I go with you to wherever you’re going? Staying here with him refusing to speak to me will drive me crazy.”

“Yeah. Actually, I could use your opinion on a few things.”

“Thanks.” Cullen wondered whether or not Joseph would even realize he’d left DC.

* * * *

“Christ, no wonder this place is a ghost town,” Asa grumbled as he continued down the narrow winding road. The flight from DC to Bangor hadn’t been bad, but the drive to the coast had been a nightmare of twisted roads once they’d turned off the highway. At least it was a pretty drive. The heavily wooded landscape opened without warning to small towns or well-maintained farms. And green. Christ, Asa had never seen a state that was so fucking green. He couldn’t wait to see the trees in the fall.

From the passenger seat, Cullen woke and sat up. “We close yet?”

Asa glanced at the map the rental agency had given him. “Mile-wise, yeah, but no telling how long it’ll take us.”

Cullen stretched and let out a yawn. “Want me to drive so you can get some sleep?”

“I’m fine. I just want to get there.” The longer the trip, the more dollar signs Asa saw. It wouldn’t be cheap or easy to get the building supplies they’d surely need to the small town. He handed the map to Cullen. “Do me a favor and see how accessible Lobster Cove is to the ocean. I know it’s on the water from the video, but there’s some sort of barrier island between it and the Atlantic. It might be cheaper to ship supplies in rather than to have semi’s make this trip.”

Cullen pulled his attention away from the gorgeous view to study the map. “I’m not good with these things,” he began after a few moments. “It definitely opens to the Atlantic. I just don’t know how wide these passages are.” He looked up from the map and through the windshield. “One thing’s for sure, I doubt Big G or any of the other dealers or pimps would come all the way out here to cause trouble.”

“That’s the point. Well, that and the fact that Cattle Valley is out of room for expansion,” Asa replied.

“So you’re really thinking of building another Cattle Valley?” Cullen asked as he attempted to refold the map.

“I don’t know.” The countryside was beautiful, Asa couldn’t deny it, but there’d be no way a town could thrive without jobs. The biggest question wasn’t whether or not he could sink part of his fortune into a new company. Hell, he had more money than he could ever spend, but a new venture would mean time away from Mario, and that was the price he wasn’t sure he was willing to pay. Turning his thoughts away from his own problems, he glanced at the young man sitting next to him. “He cares for you. You know that, right?”

Cullen shrugged. “Joseph has a million excuses to keep me away. He worries about my safety in DC because of what Willy did.” He ran a finger absently over the faint W that had been carved into his forehead. “Last time we were together, he said the shelter was under heavy scrutiny by the neighborhood and it would only be worse if they found out he was sleeping with a former resident.”

“I could see his point if the shelter depended on donations, but it doesn’t.” Asa knew firsthand how special it was to find the person you were meant to love. He hated that Joseph was being so damn stubborn.

“Yeah, well now he’s blaming himself for Phillip’s death. According to Joseph, God has a plan for him that doesn’t include being selfish with his personal life.”

“Fuck.” Asa shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault.” Cullen pounded his fist against his thigh. “I’d like to think moving the shelter out of DC would help, but I have a feeling he’d just find another excuse.” He groaned and stared at his hand. “Did I ever tell you about the first time I saw him?”

“Nope.” Asa didn’t say more. Cullen rarely opened up, and Asa wasn’t about to do something to spoil the moment.

“I’d just finished with a john and was hoping for another when I saw two men walk down an alley. I knew by the way they were dressed that they didn’t belong in the area, so I crossed the street and followed them. At the time, I assumed they were looking for either drugs or sex and if it was the latter, I wanted to volunteer my unique services.” Cullen didn’t say anything else for several moments, prompting Asa to look at him. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this,” Cullen said.

“I don’t judge,” Asa reminded his friend.

“I know.” Cullen took a deep breath. “Okay, so I followed them into the alley and called out to them. “Phillip’s first instinct was to put himself between Joseph and me.” He snorted. “Since they were both bigger it didn’t take long before Joseph moved out from behind Phillip just enough for me to see his face. One look at him, and I was lost.” He took several deep breaths. “I offered them sex free of charge. Went on and on about doing them anytime anywhere. That’s when Joseph moved toward me, and I saw his clothes. Black dress pants, black shirt with one of those short collars and a big silver cross hanging from around his neck.” He made a disgusted sound. “I’ve never been more ashamed of myself than I was at that moment, but instead of reprimanding me, Joseph asked me if I needed help to get off the street. He told me about the shelter, and how he’d devoted his life to giving homeless gay teenagers a safe place to call home until they were old enough to be on their own.”

“That’s why you lied about your age?” Asa asked.

“No, but I told him I couldn’t go back with him to the shelter. I can’t remember exactly what excuse I gave, but I backed out of the alley, telling them I’d steer others their way if I saw them.”

“So why’d he think you were so much younger than you really are?”

“After Phillip died, Joseph started taking more chances, going into neighborhoods he had no business being in. It was like he was tempting fate or testing God or whatever. I tried to keep an eye on him, but as you can imagine, I didn’t pull in as many tricks because I was too focused on making sure he was safe. Willy, my pimp, knew he could beat me bloody, and it wouldn’t matter, so he went after Mandy.” Cullen met Asa’s gaze. “She also worked for him at the time, and I’d kind of taken her under my wing at that point. Willy nearly killed her he beat her so bad. I tried to convince Mandy to go to the shelter, but she refused unless I went. Unfortunately, I knew I was too old, but I also knew I looked younger than I really was, so I carried Mandy to the shelter, and Joseph welcomed both of us even though he didn’t usually take in females. I think he was glad to get me off the street because he’d first approached me while Phillip was still alive. It took Willy almost three weeks to find me, and you know what happened to me once he did.”

“Yeah.” Asa remembered that Cullen had been bound to a bed, repeatedly beaten, and raped by Willy before Drake and Oggie had rescued him. Asa knew the memories of that day still plagued Drake each time he looked at Cullen. He also knew Joseph still felt guilty that he’d failed to protect Cullen.

Asa was relieved when he passed a faded sign that read Lobster Cove population 683. “We’re supposed to meet the realtor in front of the old hardware store.”

When Cullen didn’t comment, Asa reached over to pat the young man on the shoulder. “If this works out and Joseph agrees to move the shelter here, he won’t have to spend all his time worrying about his kids, and maybe the two of you can get your shit together.”

“Maybe, or maybe he’ll come up with some other excuse. Could be that he’s too nice to tell me he just isn’t into me,” Cullen said.

“Bullshit. Everyone in town’s seen the way he looks at you when he thinks no one’s watching.” Asa spotted a gray sedan parked in front of an abandoned storefront. “Maybe I should lock the two of you in a room until you can work it out.”

“Promises. Promises.” Cullen grinned for the first time since leaving DC.

* * * *

After touring the town and the abandoned factory, Asa climbed back into the rental car and called home.

“Hey,” Mario answered. “How’s Pip?”

“Still in ICU last I heard.” Asa cleared his throat. “Remember that town you showed me that was for sale?”

“Yeah,” Mario replied. “You thinking about it?”

Asa waved to the realtor as he drove off. “I’m in Lobster Cove right now with Cullen.” He spotted Cullen checking out a rotted windowsill several buildings down.

“Well, what do you think?” Mario asked.

Asa leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “I still don’t know. My gut tells me it’s the right thing to do, but my heart tells me to walk away and forget the whole thing.”

“Why, what’s bothering you? The money?”

“No. Don’t get me wrong, it’ll take a huge chunk to get it started, but there’s a hell of a lot more here than Cattle Valley started with.” Asa couldn’t help but smile as Cullen continued to the next building to do a more thorough examination.

“So what’s the problem?”

“It’ll take time.” Asa’s heart ached just thinking about it.

“Of course it will, but think how much good’ll come of it,” Mario countered.

“Yeah, but it’ll mean spending a lot of time away from you, and that’s what’s holding me back.” Asa waited for Mario to reply, but his partner remained silent. “You still there?”

“I’m here.” Mario huffed. “How long do you think it’ll take?”

“That depends. What’s there can be ready within a few months, but we can’t bring people in unless we have a way for them to make a living. I’ll call Nate and get his take on the situation, but I talked to him on the plane and he said he could put a council meeting in place within a matter of hours.” Asa silently begged Mario to give permission to proceed because if his partner was against it, he knew he’d have to pass on the idea.

“Can we talk more about it once you get home?” Mario asked.

Asa closed his eyes. He’d hoped to put a bid in before leaving Maine, but if Mario needed to talk first, he’d talk. “Okay. By the time we get back to Bangor it’ll be late and Cullen and I haven’t gotten more than a catnap, so we’ll stay overnight and leave first thing in the morning. I haven’t talked to Cullen yet, but he may want me to drop him off in DC before I head home.”

“I’ve got to work until two, but I’m all yours after that.”

“You’d better be.” Resigned to the fact he wouldn’t be making a deal that day, he let himself relax. “You should see this place, babe. I don’t know who the hell made that video, but it definitely didn’t do it justice. Every house is unique both in structure and color. God, Mario, you won’t believe the paint choices people used.”

“That bad?” Mario questioned.

“That good.” Asa searched for a description that would help Mario visualize the area. “From the docks, you can see what the locals call Protection Island. The only thing on it is a lighthouse, but the realtor said it isn’t safe to build more houses on the land because the waves continually crash against it.”

Asa didn’t mention how emotional he got when he stared at the lighthouse. For years he’d felt like that structure—alone despite the fact that others were always so close. It hadn’t been until Mario that he’d truly let another into his heart. He shook his head to dispel the depressing thoughts and returned his attention to the description of Lobster Cove. “The town itself is kind of laid out in a crescent-shape. It follows the banks of the prettiest cove you’ve ever seen, and when you’re standing on the beach and look back toward the town…” He took a deep breath, awed at the memory. “Hell, babe, it looks like a Monet painting—tiny dots of color that blend together to make a peaceful picture.” He chuckled. “Christ, listen to me going on and on. You probably think I sound like a damn fool.”

“Not at all. Did you take pictures?” Mario asked.

“A ton of them. I can’t wait to get home to you.” Asa knew he’d have to bring Mario to Lobster Cove to make him understand why the town was so important to him. Foolish or not, Asa felt a connection to the place that went beyond searching a good location for the kids in DC and the men and women who were looking for their own place in the world.

“Like always, I’ll be here waiting.”

“Yeah,” Asa said before hanging up. His good mood evaporated as reality sank back in. Mario had done a lot of waiting since the early days of their relationship. It wasn’t that Asa enjoyed being away from his partner, but there were a lot of people who depended on him to make Montgomery Enterprises profitable. Without the software company that employed nearly half of the residents of Cattle Valley, their slice of Wyoming heaven would turn into a ghost town like Lobster Cove. He had a strong feeling his relationship with Mario would suffer even more unless he could figure out a way for them to spend more time together. How that was going to happen with him flying back and forth from Lobster Cove to Cattle Valley was anyone’s guess.

* * * *

“I was thinking,” Cullen began, after swallowing his bite of steak. “That elementary school would be a good place for the shelter. It would need some retrofitting and shit, but I doubt Lobster Cove will attract many families right away and the high school is more than big enough to house K through twelve.”

Asa took a sip of red wine before answering. “Not a bad idea. What do you think it’ll take to get it operational?”

Cullen appreciated that someone like Asa would ask for his opinion. “Kitchen’s there, so that’s not a problem, but there aren’t any showering facilities, so that would be the top priority. Other than that, throw down a few rugs in the big common area, pile in plenty of furniture and it’d be ready to move in. The classrooms are pretty sizeable, so I think we could get as many as six to a room, although, the lack of privacy might be an issue for some.”

“Why?” Asa asked. “At least they’d be safe.”

Cullen took a deep breath. He didn’t blame Asa for his lack of understanding. Although Asa had funded the shelter for several years, he usually didn’t get involved in the lives of the teenagers. “Some of the guys are getting better about trusting people, but there are a few who’ve been through shit that’ll make it virtually impossible for them to ever feel safe again. It’s hard to get a good night’s sleep when you’re worried about a roommate sneaking up on you when your eyes are closed.”

Asa looked appalled at the idea. “Are you telling me these boys are preying on each other?”

“No!” Cullen realized he’d spoken too loudly and glanced around. He smiled at an elderly couple seated at the next table before returning his attention to Asa. “As far as I know, no one’s ever been attacked or anything, but when you put guys used to fucking in an enclosed environment, there’s gonna be some messing around. What I’m saying is there may be a few who aren’t okay with that and should have their own room. We could always take one of the classrooms and put up more walls to divide it into two or even three smaller bedrooms.”

Asa nodded. “I didn’t even think of that.” He pushed his plate away. “Do you think we should talk to Joseph about making some kind of house rules about no sex?”

Cullen chuckled. Bless him, but Asa really had no clue. “I think Joseph is aware that certain things go on behind closed doors, but he doesn’t make a fuss about it because he knows the guys are there voluntarily. Some of those boys have been having sex for years for money, shelter or whatever. You make them quit and they’ll bolt. Better to have them there and well supplied with condoms than to let them go back out on the street.”

Asa rubbed the back of his neck.

“Sorry to be so blunt about it, but I had to be honest.” Cullen took another bite of his dinner.

“No, don’t apologize.” Asa tapped his fingers on the table. “Is it happening at Second Chance?”

Cullen shrugged. “I don’t think so. I’m not saying it always happens, just that it’s a possibility, and we need to make sure those with severe trust issues have a bedroom to themselves.”

“Are you going to want dessert?” Asa asked.

Cullen waved his hand. “I’m full already, but the food’s too good to waste.”

Asa said nothing more for several minutes while Cullen cleaned his plate. “You understand them.”

Cullen glanced up and met Asa’s gaze. “Of course I do. I’m one of them.”

“You used to be one of them.”

“I’ll always be one of them.” At least in Joseph’s eyes. Cullen wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

Resting his forearms on the table, Asa leaned toward Cullen. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to downplay what you’ve been through.”

Cullen broke eye contact and stared at the condensation dripping down the side of his water glass. “I know you didn’t, but my past will forever follow me. It doesn’t matter what I do from here on out, there’re some who will always see me as the boy who used to prostitute himself.”

“Surely you don’t believe that,” Asa argued.

Cullen pointed to the faint W that marred his forehead. “Be honest, how many times since this morning have you looked at me and not thought about where I got this or why?”

Asa pulled back. “When I see that scar, it’s a reminder of why I do what I do with the shelter, but it’s not Willy I think about, it’s you and the man you’ve become.”

Cullen knew Asa was trying to make him feel better, but it was no use. He decided it would be best to drop the whole discussion. “Thanks.”

Asa paid the bill before getting to his feet. “Do you think Mandy can handle things at Second Chance for a few months?”

“Yeah, but she wants to go to college next semester.” Cullen followed Asa out of the hotel restaurant. “She wants to become a social worker.”

“That’s good to hear. I’ve been waiting for her to take me up on my offer for a while now.” Asa pressed the elevator call button. “I’d like to hire you to be my liaison in Lobster Cove during the construction. You’ll oversee the progress and report back to me.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think I’m qualified.” Cullen stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the third floor.

“You’re wrong. What I need is someone I can trust who understands the importance of what we’re trying to accomplish, and you’re my choice.”

Cullen was floored by Asa’s confidence in him. He stared up at the billionaire businessman and shook his head. If someone like Asa could see the man he’d worked hard to become, why couldn’t Joseph?

Chapter Three

Joseph set his lunch tray on the small table across from Drake. “You mind if I join you?”

“Not at all.” Drake wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. “How’s Pip?”

“Better, I think.” Joseph stared down at the cafeteria food and grimaced. He hadn’t eaten a thing since Pip had fallen into his arms. He’d come out of Pip’s room the previous evening to check on Cullen only to find that he wasn’t there. Ashamed of his disappointment, he’d retreated back to the small family waiting room outside the ICU to do some soul searching.

“You gonna eat that?” Drake pointed to Joseph’s Salisbury steak.

Joseph shook his head and eased the tray toward Drake. “You can have it.”

Drake took a drink of his coffee and grimaced. “No thanks.” He pushed Joseph’s dinner back toward him. “Cullen’s been getting a lot of attention from the new men who’ve moved to town.”

Joseph nodded. It had only been a matter of time before others saw in Cullen what he always had. “So he’s dating?”

“He flirts a little, but that’s as far as it goes.” Drake met Joseph’s gaze. “I think the tipping point for him will be this trip.”

Joseph had a good idea where Drake was heading with the conversation, and he didn’t want to talk about it. “I can’t worry about whether or not Cullen’s seeing other people right now. I’ve got a boy up in the ICU who needs me.”

Drake stretched out his arm and tossed his cup into the nearest trash bin. “When you say ‘seeing other people’, it implies other than you, but according to you, there’s nothing between the two of you.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to go pick Cullen up from the airport. Should I take him directly to the shelter or will you come out long enough to talk to him?”

Joseph cleared his throat. “I know you mean well, Drake, but I think we both know the last thing Cullen needs is to get tied down by a man twice his age. He deserves a full life with someone.”

“It’s a nice thought, but what if he doesn’t find someone who loves him the way he deserves for another twenty years? I was thirty-eight before I found Oggie.” Drake continued to stare at Joseph. “Do you begrudge the years you spent with Phillip?”

The mention of Phillip’s name caused a bone-deep ache in Joseph’s chest. “Of course not.”

“Would you have fallen in love with him if you’d known the two of you would only have nine years together?” Drake asked.

“Eight years and seven months,” Joseph corrected automatically. He understood Drake’s point, but he didn’t think his heart could handle losing someone else. Despite what Cullen said, Joseph knew the younger man had fixated on him out of a misplaced need for family. The first time they’d met, Joseph and Phillip had been together, and for a kid who’d never known love, seeing the bond Joseph and Phillip shared had fascinated him. After their first meeting, Cullen had often followed them, always sticking to the shadows of the streets, watching their every move. It got worse after Phillip’s death, and if Joseph didn’t know better, he’d have thought Cullen had grieved right along with him.

“Sorry,” Drake mumbled. “Point is, would you give up the time with Phillip if you’d known?”

“No,” Joseph admitted. He wouldn’t share his shame regarding Cullen with anyone. There were plenty of excuses he’d used over the years, and he’d stick with those. It didn’t matter that his desire for Cullen went beyond anything he’d felt before. He’d loved Phillip beyond measure, but the sex had always been less than stellar. It wasn’t Phillip’s fault. Joseph had never been able to let himself go in the bedroom. He’d never understood how two people who were perfect for each other in every other aspect of their lives couldn’t successfully manage the more personal side of their relationship.

Drake stood, drawing Joseph’s attention. “Finding someone you care about to share your time with is too damn important to waste, but if you’ve really set your mind on not working shit out with Cullen, cut him loose. That man deserves to be happy.”

* * * *

Cullen was allowed to sit vigil in the small waiting room on the floor of ICU where he’d spent hours making notes in case Asa decided to go ahead with the plan to purchase Lobster Cove. It was still hard for him to believe there were people in the world with enough money to buy an actual fucking town. Harder yet to believe a person would spend that kind of cash in order to keep a bunch of street kids safe.

“If Pip continues to improve, they say they’ll move him to a private room tomorrow,” Joseph said, stepping into the waiting area.

“That’s great,” Cullen replied, looking up from his notes. “How’re you holding up? The offer’s still open to sit with Pip if you need to go get some sleep.”

Joseph sat across from Cullen and sighed. “I’ll be fine. I can’t leave until he wakes up.” He glanced at the pad of paper in Cullen’s hand. “I see you’ve kept yourself busy.”

“Yeah.” Cullen had told Joseph about Asa’s idea of relocating the shelter to Maine, but he didn’t get the feeling Joseph was as onboard with the plan as they’d hoped. He knew Joseph’s primary objection had more to do with the kids he hadn’t saved yet, and how they’d be forgotten if the shelter moved.

Cullen flipped the pages of his notebook before handing it to Joseph. “I’m trying to come up with a list of people in DC who could call and give us a heads-up when they run across someone who needs our help. He’d written down details of several shop owners from the neighborhood who seemed to give a shit about the teenagers living in the alleys and behind their buildings.

Joseph tapped the tablet. “Corrine Bloomfield’s been real good lately about working with us.”

Cullen retrieved the pad and wrote Corrine’s name down. “She’s that social worker who’s always at the St. Martin’s food kitchen, right?”

“Yeah, she’s the one.”

Cullen tore off the page and handed it to Joseph. “If you think of anyone else, you should write them down.”

“Okay.” Joseph looked uneasy.

“Asa’s not trying to take over by doing this, but what’s the point of saving these kids if we can’t give them a fresh start in a safe place. I know you’ve worked your butt off to make the shelter a success, but until the cops can get the crime under control, it’s too dangerous here.”

Nodding, Joseph stood. “You keep saying we, but your place is in Wyoming. DC’s my problem.”

Cullen felt the words like a physical blow. His body jerked and it took every ounce of his control to hold onto the tablet. “Don’t cut me out,” he pleaded. “It’s bad enough you shipped me off to Cattle Valley after I got out of the hospital. Please don’t push me away completely.”

Joseph’s normally bright blue eyes filled with tears. “You’re wasting your time waiting for me. It’s not going to happen.” He looked away for several moments before turning back to face Cullen. “You should move on.”

Cullen sat stunned as Joseph left the room without another word. Move on? How the fuck was he supposed to do that? He threw the pad of paper across the room before storming toward the elevator. Joseph had put him off for years, but Cullen had always held out hope—until that moment when Joseph told him to move on.

Once on the street in front of the hospital, Cullen considered his options. For the first time since moving to the shelter, he wanted to get drunk and fuck whoever looked at him twice. His ringing phone saved him from a very bad decision. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the display. Although he didn’t recognize the number, he knew it was a Wyoming area code.

“Hello?” Cullen answered.

“This is Snake. I was wondering if you’d come down to the shelter? One of the boys is threatening to leave, and we can’t hold anyone here against their will.”

“Yeah, but I’ll catch the bus so it might take me a while.” Cullen started toward the nearest stop. “Who’s giving you a hard time?” He had a good idea, but it would help to know for sure what he was walking into.

“The one who wears makeup, Zander, I think is his name,” Snake replied.

“Shit.” Cullen wondered how much he could tell Snake without betraying Zander’s trust. “That’s what I was afraid of. Zander was locked in his parents’ basement for almost two years after they caught him dressed in his sister’s clothing. I can understand why he wouldn’t handle lock-down well. It’s one thing for Joseph to lock the doors to keep them safe while they’re there, but probably an entirely different situation if he feels trapped.”

“Hell.” Snake cleared his throat. “No wonder he freaked when Priest stood in front of the door and wouldn’t let him out.”

Cullen passed a drug store and stopped. He pulled out his wallet and checked his cash. “Tell Zander he needs to wait for me to get there. Tell him I’ve got a present for him.”

“Will that work?” Snake asked.

“I don’t know,” Cullen answered honestly.

“Take a cab, and I’ll pay the fare.”

“Thanks.” Cullen ended the call before opening the store door. He sent up a quick prayer that he was doing the right thing. Joseph would know, but Joseph was the last person Cullen would call for advice.

* * * *

The taxi pulled in front of the shelter and before Cullen could ask the driver to wait for payment, Snake was there, shoving a wad of bills toward the cabbie. Cullen grabbed his duffle from the seat beside him and climbed out. “How’s Zander?”

Snake studied the area briefly before opening the shelter door. “He’s in his room.”

“Thanks.” Cullen nodded to Priest and Al Jessup as he crossed the common room toward the hall of bedrooms. He stopped outside Zander’s door and knocked. “Zander? It’s Cullen.”

It took a few moments, but Zander finally opened the door. Dressed in low-rise jeans and a vintage black T-shirt, he beckoned Cullen into the room. “Will you talk to them and tell them I need to leave?”

Cullen sat on the end of Zander’s bed. “I hope I can talk you into staying.” He handed Zander the plastic bag he’d carried in. “I’ve had a real shitty day, and I’d love someone to talk to. I thought we could put this shit on our faces and chill out.”

Zander dumped the items onto the bed and sucked in a sharp breath. Tears filled his eyes. “You bought me makeup?

“Yeah.” Worried that he’d overstepped, he reached for the products and started putting them back into the sack. “I’m sorry. I’ll take them back.”

“No.” Zander took the pallet of eye shadow out of Cullen’s hand and clutched it to his chest. He stared at the floor for a long time before lifting his chin to meet Cullen’s gaze. “No one’s ever bought me something like this. Does it mean you’re okay with me wearing it?”

A lump formed in Cullen’s throat. The jeans and T-shirt Zander wore finally registered. “You should feel free to be who you want to be.” He thought of Kit. “There’s a fantastic woman in Cattle Valley who was born a man but chooses to live her life as a woman. She seems perfectly comfortable being herself.”

A look of surprise crossed Zander’s face. “Really?”

Cullen nodded. “I’d love for you to meet her.” He reached for Zander’s hand. “What’s going on with you?” He gestured to Zander’s clothes. “I thought Joseph told you it was okay to wear whatever was comfortable to you.”

Zander dropped to the mattress beside Cullen. “I don’t want to do anything to hurt the shelter.”

Cullen had a bad feeling someone had given Zander a hard time about his usual choice of skirts, blouses and makeup. “Did someone in the neighborhood say something to you?”

“Nick said we’d never fit in here if I kept drawing attention to us.” Zander released Cullen’s hand and tugged on the end of his waist-length dark brown ponytail. “He said I should think about everyone else.”

Cullen searched his memory for the name. He seemed to recall Joseph mentioning a seventeen-year-old who had stopped him on the street to ask for help. “The new guy?”

“Yeah.” Zander worried his bottom lip with his teeth. “Do you think what happened to Pip was my fault?”

Fuck. “No! God no.” Cullen jumped to his feet and began to pace the small room in an attempt to control his anger at Nick for putting that guilt in Zander’s head. “Nick should’ve never said those things to you.”

“I think I make him uncomfortable.” Zander set the pallet of eye shadow on his small, three-drawer dresser. “Don’t be mad at him.”

With a sigh, Cullen decided to swallow his anger and concentrate on Zander. He picked up a tube. “Have you ever put one of these masks on? Mandy made me do it a couple months ago, and I couldn’t believe how good my skin felt afterward.”

Zander shook his head. “That stuff’s expensive.”

“Well then, you’re in for a treat.”

Twenty minutes later, Cullen stared at Zander’s bedroom ceiling. The mask was dry but there was something soothing about the slight discomfort of feeling like his skin was too tight.

“Do you think that town up north will work?” Zander asked.

“If Asa decides to commit to it—absolutely. He’s not the kind of man to do anything half-assed.” Cullen turned to look at Zander who was stretched out beside him. Since it wasn’t a done deal, he may catch heat for telling Zander about Lobster Cove, but he felt Zander needed hope. “If you move there, you’ll be able to dress however you want.”

“Do you think it’s wrong?” Zander rolled to his side to face Cullen.

Cullen took a moment to form his response. “My own brother tried to kill me when he found out I was gay,” he began. “He said I was an abomination and the world would be better off without another fag in it.” He lifted the bottom of his T-shirt and fingered the lump on his ribcage, remembering the beating he’d taken at the hands of his older brother. “I was twelve, and when I went to my parents for help, my dad did this.” He ran a finger down the bridge of his nose that had obviously been broken.

Zander nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Getting away from them was the best thing that ever happened to me because even at twelve, I knew who and what I was.” Cullen reached for Zander’s hand. “So, to answer your question, I guess it depends on what your definition of wrong is. To me, it’s wrong to live a life that doesn’t fit just for the sake of others.” Joseph’s handsome face came to mind. “It’s wrong for someone you love to push you away.”

“You’re right.” Zander smiled, cracking the dried green mask around his mouth. “You’re pretty good at this.”

“Not really.” Cullen took a deep breath. “We should probably wash this stuff off, huh?”

Zander glanced at the clock on his bedside table. “Yeah, probably.” He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the mattress. “Hey, Cullen? Do you think I’ll ever meet that friend of yours who’s like me?”

“I guarantee it,” Cullen replied as he followed Zander out of the room.

* * * *

“I’m home,” Asa announced as he shut the door.

“In the kitchen,” Mario called.

Asa dropped his suitcase before making his way to the man he loved. The strong odor of taco seasoning filled the air as he entered the kitchen. “Smells good.”

“We missed Taco Tuesday because of your meeting at work, so I thought I’d make it up to you.” Mario turned away from the stove and pulled Asa into his arms. “I’ve missed you,” he said before drawing Asa into a deep kiss.

Asa groaned and pressed his body against Mario’s hard, muscular physique. They had a lot to talk about, but he couldn’t think of anything other than the feel of the man in his arms. “I need you,” he whispered.

Mario reached between them and started to unbutton Asa’s dress shirt. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He turned off the stove. “The best thing about tacos is they’re just as good warmed up.” He grabbed Asa’s hand and led him out of the kitchen.

By the time they reached the stairs, Asa had his shirt off and was struggling with his shoes and socks. “Need you,” he growled when he looked up in time to see Mario push his sweats down. Asa automatically leaned forward and captured the head of Mario’s erection between his lips.

“Fuck, babe.” Mario buried his fingers in Asa’s hair. “Missed your mouth.”

Asa nodded, taking more of Mario’s length down his throat. Nothing was worth risking the love he felt for his partner, not Cattle Valley, not Lobster Cove, certainly not business. He released Mario’s cock and stared up. “I won’t do it,” he whispered. “It’s not worth it.”

Mario sat on the step, putting them eyelevel. “You won’t do what?”

“Lobster Cove.” Asa moved to kneel between Mario’s thighs. “I won’t risk what we have.” As much as he loved the quaint town, nothing was more important than his relationship.

“Oh, baby.” Mario cupped Asa’s face. “We had a fight. It was just a stupid fucking argument, but we’ve had them before.” He stood and held out his hand. “We’re a team, and it’ll take a hell of a lot more than Lobster Cove to break us.”

Asa closed his eyes, the fear he’d allowed to consume him over the last two days falling away. He got to his feet, chuckling when his knees popped and protested the action. “Make love to this old man, will ya?”

“Absolutely.” Mario turned and continued up the stairs. “Promise me something?”

“Anything.” Asa couldn’t take his gaze off Mario’s tight ass as they reached the second floor.

“If we’re going to be spending half our time in Lobster Cove, you let me buy a house for us.”

Asa stopped beside the bed. “Wait. What? You’ll go to Maine with me?”

“Every chance I get,” Mario conceded. “I’ll need to talk to Rio about a revised schedule at The Gym, but I should be able to travel back and forth with you as much as possible.” He opened the drawer and retrieved the lube. “I can be a stubborn asshole at times. After you left, I realized I should’ve gone with you.”

Asa threw back the covers before sliding between the sheets. His initial reaction was to argue about the purchase of a home in Lobster Cove. It didn’t make sense for Mario to spend his savings on something that wouldn’t put a dent in Asa’s bank account, but he knew it was Mario’s sense of pride that had prompted the request. “How about this, I’ll buy enough land to build a home and a landing strip, and you can design and pay for the house.”

After tossing the bottle of lube onto the bed, Mario insinuated himself between Asa’s spread thighs. “Buy land for your plane if you want, but I’d rather get something in town.” He leaned down and gave Asa a quick kiss. “I miss having neighbors.”

The feel of Mario’s naked body on top of him went a long way to convince Asa he could handle nosy neighbors if it meant he could shut them out and be alone with the man he loved. He buried his face against Mario’s thick black hair and inhaled—coconut. The smell of Mario’s shampoo always reminded him of the week they’d spent in Hawaii. “Do we have to be friendly to them?”

Mario nipped Asa’s chin before soothing it with a swipe of his tongue. “Don’t worry. I’ll be the friendly one. You can be the town curmudgeon.”

“I’ll be anything you want me to be.” Asa applied pressure to Mario’s shoulders, silently asking for what he needed.

“Love you,” Mario whispered, inching his way down Asa’s body.

Asa moaned at the bite of pain when Mario’s teeth clamped down on his nipple. It had been Mario who’d taught him that making love didn’t always have to be sweet and slow.

Mario reached over and grabbed the lube. “Need in you, babe. Need to remind you that you’re mine.”

“Always.” Asa felt a cold, slick finger circle his puckered hole and closed his eyes. “Not going anywhere. It took me forty-seven years to find you.”

Mario pushed a finger inside Asa. “I’m the one who found you.”

“Liar.” Asa bit his lip. God he loved the way Mario touched him. It was like every move he made was meant to please. “I took one look at you that day at the gym and wanted you.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t do shit about it. I’m the one who had to wear you down,” Mario shot back.

“Don’t even start.” Asa grinned. It was an ongoing argument—one neither would concede to being wrong about. Mario added another finger and it no longer mattered who made the first play because Asa had everything he’d ever needed. He stared down at the man who had quickly become his entire world. Even if the sex between them hadn’t been so damn explosive, he would still love Mario. Other than the ongoing disagreements about work, the two of them fit so perfectly together. “Want to feel your mouth on me.”

Mario licked his way up Asa’s length to capture the tip.

“Oh, fuck,” Asa moaned. He was moments away from coming as Mario’s skilled tongue and fingers pleasured his body to perfection. As much as he hated to stop his partner, he wasn’t a young man and it would take a while to get hard again if he lost his grip on his control. “In me,” he croaked.

Mario gave the crown of Asa’s cock one last swipe before sitting up. “Turn over.”

Asa groaned, knowing exactly what the tone in Mario’s voice meant. He rolled to his stomach before bracing himself on his hands and knees. The sharp slap to his ass confirmed his previous thought. Although the sting to his flesh was delicious, as usual, he wasn’t sure he had the energy to play the game after his long day. He glanced over his shoulder and met Mario’s smoldering gaze. “Not too many of those. I’ve been sitting on a fucking plane for hours.”

One corner of Mario’s mouth quirked up in a wicked grin as he soothed his palm over the reddened mark he’d imprinted on Asa’s butt. “Okay, I’ll go easy on your ass.” He leaned over and bit Asa’s shoulder blade.

Asa winced as Mario’s teeth sank into his flesh hard enough to leave a damn good dental impression. He was thankful Mario marked him in places only the two of them could see because going into a business meeting with welts or hickeys wouldn’t work. “Do I taste good?”

“The best.” Mario pressed the head of his cock against Asa’s hole and rocked his way inside. Still draped over Asa’s back he hummed and laved his handiwork. “You’re the only man I’ll ever put my mark on.”

Asa melted at the words because he knew it was Mario-speak for a life of togetherness no matter what. “I love you, too.”

“One more,” Mario said a split second before another smack landed on Asa’s ass. He followed the blow by surging as deep into Asa as he could get.

“Fuck!” Asa barked through gritted teeth as his body stretched to accommodate Mario’s girth. He fisted the soft gray sheets under his hands and braced himself for more.

Mario pulled out before slamming in again. “Goddamn, we’ve only been apart for two and a half days and you already feel tight.”

With each thrust of Mario’s hips, Asa was reminded why he hated to be away from home. He pushed back, hoping to prove to Mario how much he wanted him because despite the fact that Mario was far better looking, he still worried that Asa would find someone else on his travels. The whole idea was insane to Asa. Before Mario, the only men in Asa’s bed had treated him with kid gloves in deference to his money, but Mario was different. Mario didn’t give a flying fuck about Asa’s money, something that had been hard for him to understand in the beginning. “You feel so good. I love you so much.”

Predictably, Mario didn’t reply, preferring to use actions instead of words. He kissed the bite on Asa’s shoulder before moving to the opposite side and marking him there as well.

The pain combined with the punishing rhythm of Mario’s cock in and out of him hurtled Asa headlong into his climax. “Fuck!” he howled, drawing out the word as he splattered the sheets with cum. He watched his seed soak into the high thread count bedding and grinned when he realized it was Mario’s side of the bed.

Mario let out a string of grunts and groans as his body shuddered with the force of his orgasm. “Jesus Christ, babe,” he gasped before collapsing on top of Asa.

Sandwiched between the mattress and his hunky Italian, Asa sighed. The two of them still needed to work on a set travel schedule to and from Lobster Cove, but at least he was certain they’d spend as much time together as possible.

Chapter Four

Cullen adjusted the pillow under his head and tried once again to get comfortable. The large sectional should have been the perfect spot to crash for the night, but he couldn’t relax enough to fall asleep.

“Wanna play one of the new Xbox games I brought?” Snake asked before shoving a spoonful of Froot Loops into his mouth.

Cullen shook his head. “No thanks,” he mumbled. “It’s been a long day. I thought I’d just try to get some sleep.”

“You should take Joseph’s room. He’ll probably stay at the hospital anyway.” Snake lifted his feet to the coffee table and crossed his ankles.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Cullen couldn’t imagine sleeping in Joseph’s bed after what had happened between them earlier in the day.

Snake continued to eat his cereal without a word, and Cullen wanted to scream at the man for keeping him awake. “Is there something else you needed?” Cullen finally asked.

“He has feelings for you.” Snake stood and walked toward the kitchen without another word.

Cullen threw off his covers and followed him. “What the fuck, Snake? You can’t say something like that and walk off.”

Snake refilled his cereal bowl before pouring fresh milk over it. “I was coming back.” He gestured to his food. “I just needed more.”

Cullen leaned against the island and crossed his arms over his chest. “What did you mean by that comment? Who’s the he in ‘he has feelings for you’?”

Snake shrugged before digging into his cereal. “Joseph,” he replied around a mouthful of Froot Loops. “He called earlier to make sure you’d made it back safely and asked me to keep an eye on you. I think you being here worries him.” He took another bite. “His voice changes when he talks about you just like mine does when I talk about Riley.”

Cullen thought of the way Joseph had spoken to him at the hospital. “It’s not tenderness you detected in his voice.” He sighed. “It’s guilt. He told me earlier that it was time I moved on.”

Snake lifted the bowl to his mouth and tipped it back, drinking the sugary leftover milk. “You’re not giving up on him, are you?”

In an attempt to avoid the question, he changed the subject. “If Asa goes through with the Lobster Cove deal, I’m going to work for him as the go-between guy.” He turned away from Snake’s assessing gaze. “I think I’ll go ahead and use Joseph’s room,” he said, needing some time alone. “See you in the morning.”

Cullen grabbed the pillow and blanket off the sofa on his way down the hall to Joseph’s bedroom. Once inside, he turned on the light and leaned against the door. It was the first time he’d ever stepped foot in the private space, and the subtle smell of Joseph’s citrus cologne surrounded him. He inhaled deeply as he remembered the first time he’d gotten close enough to Joseph to smell that wonderful scent.

Cullen dabbed at the blood dripping from his split lip as Willy continued to hold him against the brick wall. The grip Willy had on his neck meant his pimp meant business, so Cullen kept his mouth shut and listened.

“I don’t know where the fuck you were last night, but you owe me money,” Willy growled.

Cullen winced when Willy’s spit landed on his cheek. There was no way in hell he could tell his pimp he’d been shadowing Joseph as he roamed the most dangerous section of town in search of homeless teens. He still didn’t know why he’d done it. Maybe Joseph always looked so damn sad. Maybe because he wished he’d had a guardian angel like Joseph when he’d stepped foot off the bus in DC.

“Are you fucking listening to me?”

Cullen nodded as much as he could. He had a few bucks in his pocket that he’d planned to use to buy a warmer coat. “I’ve got about sixty bucks. You can have it.” Making sure Joseph was safe was worth a damn winter coat.

“Is there a problem here?” a deep voice asked.

Cullen looked away from Willy and into Joseph’s bright blue eyes.

“Get lost,” Willy demanded.

“I can’t do that,” Joseph replied. He pulled out his cell phone. “You leave me no choice but to call the police.”

Willy released Cullen before stalking toward Joseph.

“No!” Cullen yelled, moving to stand between the two men. He shoved his hand into his pocket and withdrew the money he’d saved. “Here. Take it, and I promise to make up the money tonight.” He swallowed the bile in his throat as he cupped the front of Willy’s jeans. Having sex with Willy was the most disgusting part of his job, but he knew it would appease the slime. “I can come by in the morning after I’m finished if you want?”

Willy narrowed his eyes. “Bring Mandy with you and you’ve got a deal.”

Cullen shook his head. He drew the line at offering Mandy to Willy. “Mandy’s got the flu. I don’t think you want her puking all over you.”

“Then bring Carlos,” Willy ordered.

Cullen jerked his head in acceptance, hating that the needed conversation was taking place in front of Joseph.

Willy grinned, and Cullen made the mistake of relaxing. “Good. You know where to find me.” He glanced at Joseph over Cullen’s shoulder. “By the way…”

Before Cullen had a chance to brace himself, Willy’s fist slammed into his stomach. Cullen dropped to his knees as he struggled to catch his breath.

Willy jabbed his finger at Joseph. “If you ever try to get between me and one of my boys again, I’ll fucking kill you.”

Cullen scooted back toward Joseph, knowing Willy meant every word. “He won’t,” he said, hoping Willy would leave Joseph alone.

Willy nudged Cullen with the toe of his heavy boot. “Get to work.”

Cullen nodded but didn’t meet Willy’s gaze. He waited until he heard the sound of Willy walking away before breathing a sigh of relief. “You should go,” he told Joseph as he struggled to get to his feet.

Joseph gripped Cullen under the arms and helped him to stand before turning Cullen to face him. He dug a white handkerchief out of his pocket and held it to Cullen’s lip. “You don’t have to suffer this kind of abuse. Come back to the shelter with me.”

Cullen had pointed several kids toward the Rainbow Youth Shelter, so he knew they had a strict age requirement—a restriction he didn’t meet. “I can’t.” He gestured to the street. “I belong out here.”

“No you don’t.” Joseph handed Cullen the handkerchief before resting his hands on Cullen’s shoulders. “You deserve to have people around who genuinely care about you. You can find that at the shelter.”

Cullen ran his tongue over the split in his lip. After the night he’d met Joseph and Phillip in the alley, he’d fantasized about having someone as pure as Joseph at his side, but as he stared into those big blue eyes, he knew in his heart he’d never be good enough. Phillip had been the perfect partner for a man like Joseph. The two of them seemed so at peace when they were together. It was that sense of peace that had been missing from Joseph’s eyes since he’d lost Phillip.

“Please,” Joseph begged.

Cullen shook his head. “I can’t.” He inhaled the citrus scent of Joseph’s cologne before stepping back. “You’re doing a good thing, Father, but you need to do your searching during the day. These streets are no place for a man like you after dark.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ve begged God to take me and evidently he doesn’t want me yet.”

The statement prompted Cullen to look down at the scars on his wrists. “Yeah, God doesn’t want me either.”

Cullen let out a sob as he opened his eyes. Other than a full-size bed, dresser and simple straight-back chair in the corner, the space was sparse. He covered his mouth with his hand as he walked farther into the room. When he stopped to look at the pictures on the dresser, another cry of pain left him. There, along with multiple pictures of Joseph and Phillip together, was a single picture of him.

Wiping his tears away with one hand, he picked up the framed photo with the other. It was one Oggie had taken of Cullen making a snow angel. Warmth filled him at the thought of Joseph caring enough about the picture to set it alongside those of Phillip. Just as quickly as it had started, the warmth left him. The photo didn’t mean a damn thing. Joseph had made up his mind, and nothing Cullen could say would change that.

He set the frame back onto the dresser face down before picking up his pillow and blanket. After one last look at the room, he turned off the light and retreated to the sofa.

* * * *

Cullen was surprised to find the entire city council onboard Asa’s plane when he stepped into the luxurious cabin. He handed his duffle to the flight attendant before finding an available seat. “Did I miss something?” he asked Mario.

Mario leaned over and spoke in a low tone. “Asa wanted everyone who’ll have a say in the construction and revitalization on this trip.” He grinned over at Asa, who was seated at a table with Ryan, Nate and Rio. “I hear you’ll be our site manager. Congratulations.”

“I tried to tell Asa I’m not qualified, but he insisted.” Cullen still felt weird about his new job because although he knew what the shelter would need to make it work, he only had a few years construction experience.

“It’s not about being qualified. Asa doesn’t trust easily when it comes to handing out his money. He’s seen your work at Second Chance and knows you’ll spend his cash wisely.” Mario jabbed Cullen with his elbow. “Smart move in my opinion. It’ll give him the peace of mind he needs and give you real-life experience and a good paycheck.”

Cullen had spoken to Mandy at length about Asa’s offer, and she’d agreed to hire a temporary replacement until the Lobster Cove project was completed. He still couldn’t believe how quickly Asa’s money made things happen. It had only been two days since he and Asa had visited the small town.

“They’re over there dividing addresses,” Mario said.

“What?” Cullen looked back at the assembled group.

“They’ll go to all the existing residents and try to buy them out. If that doesn’t work, they’ll explain, in detail, our plans for the community.” Mario shrugged. “If they aren’t tolerant of our lifestyle, they’ll probably jump at the chance to sell.”

“It’s kind of sad,” Cullen mumbled. “I mean, I’m proud of what we’ll be building, but I feel bad for the folks who’ve been trying to hold onto their homes and businesses despite the town’s demise.”

“I can understand that, but don’t forget about all the people who have had to live surrounded by assholes who hate them simply for who they love. You should see the stack of applications we’ve been going through. Some are from couples who want to raise their children in an open environment, some nearly desperate to get away from the small-town mentality they’re living in.” Mario readjusted himself in the seat. “There’s a real need for another place like Cattle Valley. What Asa’s doing, what we’re all doing, is worth it.”

Cullen had been born in a small, predominantly Southern Baptist, town, so he understood. He felt better after talking to Mario. “Hey, not to change the subject, but there’s a sixteen-year-old at the shelter that I think could really benefit from a talk with Kit.”

Mario’s black eyebrows rose in question.

“Zander’s struggling with his desire to be the person he feels like inside. He was punished for it in the past and made to feel guilty about it from one of the other guys at the shelter,” Cullen explained. “I told him about Kit, and he seemed interested.”

“Does Zander identify as a he or she?” Mario asked.

Cullen shook his head. “I don’t know. To be honest, I’m not sure he knows. He likes to wear women’s clothes, and I believe he’s gay, but whether or not he wants to live his life as a woman he hasn’t said.”

“I think you’re right about having Zander talk to Kit. I’ll discuss it with her when I get back to work.”

“Thanks,” Cullen replied.

When Mario’s eyes closed, Cullen pulled out his phone and started scrolling through his messages. He found the one he was looking for and opened it.

Sully: Hey, thanks for giving me your number. Feel like getting a beer later?

Cullen: I can get a beer and shoot some pool, but that’s as far as it can go.

Sully: You’re killing me. I’ve watched you at O’Brien’s and I’ve never seen you with a partner, so what’s up?

Cullen: It’s complicated. Sorry. Let me know if you still want to get that beer.

Sully: I do, but maybe after you sort out your complication.

Cullen: Fair enough.

Cullen licked his lips. Maybe it was time he took the sexy motherfucker up on that offer. He glanced at a sleeping Mario before texting Sully.

Cullen: Hey. Where’ve you been?

It took several moments but Sully’s reply finally came through.

Sully: Working. Why? Miss me?

Cullen: I think I’m finished with that complication we spoke of if you’re still thirsty.

Sully: Parched. I’ll be back in CV next week.

Cullen: Well, that sucks because I’ll be in Lobster Cove, Maine for the foreseeable future. Working on a project for Asa Montgomery. We’re working on another town like CV.

Cullen wasn’t sure where Sully went when he left Cattle Valley. Actually, he didn’t know much about the man at all, including his last name. Sully would come to town out of the blue and stay for a few weeks before disappearing again.

Sully: That the deal Priest’s working on?

Cullen: Priest’s guarding the shelter in DC. We’re going to Lobster Cove to work on a new shelter to transfer the teenagers to. Interested in helping?

Sully: Do they have beer in LC?

Cullen rested his elbow on the arm of his seat and rubbed the scar on his forehead. Part of him felt like he was cheating on Joseph, but how could it be cheating when Joseph had never admitted there was something between them in the first place?

Cullen: There’s a bar in town, but I don’t know how long it will take for us to get it up and running. You could always bring some with you?

The longer their conversation continued, the more Cullen felt stupid for not just calling Sully in the first place.

Sully: Might just do that. Gotta go. We’ll talk later.

Cullen: Yep. See ya.

Cullen winced after sending his last message. Stupid.

“Joseph?” Mario asked, pointing toward the phone.

Cullen felt his face heat with embarrassment. “Umm, no.” He cleared his throat. “Sully,” he admitted.

Mario whistled. “That’s a big step for you. Is there something there?”

“Probably not. He asked me out a few months ago, but I was still holding out for Joseph at the time.” Cullen shoved his phone in his pocket.

“And you’re not anymore?”

Cullen shook his head. “Joseph made it perfectly clear that I should move on, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”

* * * *

After five days of sitting at Pip’s bedside, Joseph finally made the trip to the shelter to check on the kids. He knew the place was running smoothly in his absence, but he missed the boys and had good news to share with them.

He pushed the buzzer on the front of the building and waited. He had a key, of course, but with the increased security, he decided it would be safer for either Snake or Priest to let him in.

“Hey there, stranger.” Snake opened the door.

Joseph reached out and shook Snake’s hand. “Thanks for helping out.”

“Not a problem, although, I have to admit that I’m going home tomorrow for a few days. Don’t worry, two of us will always be onsite.”

“I understand.” Joseph ran his palms over his face. He was exhausted. “Pip’s awake and improving. They’re finally moving him out of ICU to the private room Asa arranged.”

“That’s good.” Snake leaned against the doorjamb leading to the common room. “The boys have been antsy, but we’re trying to keep them entertained.”

“Any trouble?” Joseph asked.

Snake shook his head. “No, but then we didn’t expect Big G to come directly to the shelter. We should be fine as long as we can keep the kids inside.”

Joseph entered the common room and looked around. “Where’s Cullen?”

Snake seemed confused by the question. “He left three days ago. I assumed you knew.”

Joseph’s steps faltered at the news. “No,” he admitted. It wasn’t surprise he felt at the news but pain. He’d always taken comfort in the bond he had with Cullen, and even though he’d told Cullen to move on, it hurt to know Cullen had taken the first step to do just that. “I’m going to grab a few hours’ sleep before heading back to the hospital.”

“Probably a good idea,” Snake said as Joseph headed down the hall.

Joseph quietly shut his bedroom door before sitting on the side of the bed. He stared at himself in the mirror mounted over the dresser and sighed. He looked every one of his forty-four years and then some. The hours spent worrying about Pip, the other boys in the shelter and Cullen had taken their toll. Now that Pip was on the road to recovery and the shelter would soon be relocated, the only thing he had to think about was Cullen and whether or not he’d done the right thing.

His gaze fell to the pictures on his dresser and he noticed the change immediately. He crossed the distance and stared at the single, facedown photo. It was his favorite shot of Cullen because it served as a reminder of why he couldn’t have him.

Joseph picked up the frame and gazed at the laughing man who was spread eagled with faint white wings behind him. Picture clutched to his chest, he dropped to his knees and gave in to the grief that had threatened to overwhelm him the moment Snake told him Cullen had left. He knew he’d done the right thing by breaking Cullen’s hope of a future together, but, damn, did it hurt.

He turned back and managed to crawl onto the mattress as his heart continued to break. The sobs that escaped him were reminiscent of the weeks that had followed Phillip’s unexpected death. The only comfort he had was knowing that the pain of losing Cullen would lessen with time as it had with Phillip’s passing.

Joseph sat up and dried his eyes, catching the few errant tears that continued to escape. He needed to get himself together, shower, catch a few hours of sleep and talk to the boys. Cullen would move on, and Joseph would continue to do God’s work by giving other unwanted young men a future.

A light knock on Joseph’s door drew him out of his emotional haze. “Yes?”

The door opened and Snake stepped inside. “I know this isn’t my business, but I heard you.”

Joseph cleared his throat. “I’m fine. It’s been an emotional week.”

Snake stared at Joseph for several moments. “I spoke to Mario a few days ago, and he told me something that I think you should know.”

Joseph scooted to the edge of the mattress. “What is it?”

“Cullen’s planning to meet up with Sully in a few days in an attempt to move on.” Before Joseph could comment, Snake held up his hand. “Yes, he told me what you said to him, and even though I’m a man who believes strongly in minding my own business, I can’t with this. The Cullen I’ve gotten to know since moving to Cattle Valley isn’t the same man who returned from the hospital after you sent him away.”

Joseph squeezed his eyes shut, determined to do the right thing by Cullen and the other boys in his care. “Before he came to the shelter, he protected me for two years from the wrath of his pimp by fucking him. I knew it was going on, and I didn’t do a damn thing about it because while he was fucking Willy, I was free to rescue the boys Willy hadn’t got his hands on yet.” He stood and took a step toward Snake, allowing Snake to see just what a worthless piece of shit he really was. “I knowingly sacrificed him to Willy and all the other scum on the streets, and every time I’m with him, I remember what I did.”

Snake crossed his heavily tattooed arms over his chest. “And for his sacrifices, you’ve shut him out.”

“It’s not like that.” Joseph bit back a curse. “I can’t take from him the one thing other men have used him for. It’s bad enough that I let it happen for so long.”

Despite his bronzed skin, Snake’s complexion darkened as his nostrils flared in anger. “You walk the streets and preach to those kids how much better their life will be if only they come to Rainbow Youth Shelter, right?”

Joseph didn’t answer. Instead, he set Cullen’s photo back onto the dresser where it belonged.

“Cullen protected you for two years before finally giving into his feelings and coming to you, not because he needed the shelter. We both know he was overage and lied to get in. He came here for you. Probably because he hoped you would accept him like you had all the others who came before him.”

“I did accept him. I fell in love with him!” Joseph snapped. Realizing what he’d admitted, he turned his back on Snake. “What do you think he would have thought of me if he’d known I wanted to do all the things those other men had done to him over the years? If he’d known how many times I’ve touched myself while thinking of him?” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m no better than the men who’ve used him in the past. The only difference is I wear a cross around my neck that isn’t meant to be a fashion statement.”

“There’s not a fucking thing wrong with getting kinky with someone you love as long as you both enjoy it. Whether you realize it or not, Cullen’s a man who’s gone without sex for a long time. If you think his past is going to keep him from having it again, you’re naïve. The question is…” Snake paused. “Do you want him to have it with someone he loves or with a man like Sully? Don’t get me wrong, Sully’s a nice enough guy, but he’s not the kind of man who plans to settle down with one person anytime soon.”

Chapter Five

Cullen lifted the bottle to his mouth and took a long pull before ending his story. “So, that’s how I got this.” He pointed to his forehead.

Sully reached out and ran a fingertip over the scar. “Thanks for telling me. I’ve always wondered, but I’m not one to pry.”

Cullen waited for his body to respond to the touch, but nothing happened. Perhaps he’d been foolish to think he could move on so quickly. He sat back in the booth and took another drink of his beer. It hadn’t taken long for Asa and the other council members to realize the construction crew being brought in would need a place to unwind, so they’d set up a temporary spot in one of the storefronts while the actual bar was rehabbed.

“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” Sully asked.

Cullen snorted and ran a hand over his newly shorn hair. He’d thought the haircut would feel cathartic, after all, he’d grown his curls out in the first place because Joseph had once made a comment about how pretty they were, but he’d been so very wrong. Not only was he stuck with hair barely an inch long, but it hadn’t helped him feel any better about not having Joseph in his life. “Yeah, the haircut was a bad idea.”

“I like it,” Sully replied. He slid out of the booth and moved around to the opposite side to sit next to Cullen. “I’m rather fond of everything about you.”

Cullen wasn’t sure what to say or how to react to Sully’s close proximity because although he’d had sex with more men than he cared to count, he’d never once been on an actual date. Would he be expected to invite Sully back to the small house he’d temporarily moved into? Was it too soon?

“Relax,” Sully whispered as he leaned in for a kiss.

Kissing wasn’t something Cullen was comfortable with either. Very few men had cared enough to pay for kisses when they’d had full access to his cock. He held very still and waited for their lips to touch. When they did, he waited to feel something. Sully licked at the seam of Cullen’s mouth until Cullen opened for him. He responded automatically to the kiss, but it didn’t feel any different than the few he’d shared with clients.

Sully broke the kiss and moved back slowly. Staring into Cullen’s eyes, he grinned and shook his head. “I take it the complication is still there?”

Cullen broke eye contact, ashamed of himself. “I’m sorry. I thought I could do it.” He slammed his bottle on the table. “I’m fucked up.”

Sully toyed with his glass of whiskey, twisting it back and forth, before swallowing its entire contents in one gulp. “If you’ve found something special, you owe it to yourself to fight like hell for it.”

“I wish it were that simple.” Cullen groaned and scrubbed his palms over his short hair. “I was told to move on with my life.”

“Just an observation, but you don’t strike me as the kind of man to take orders.” Sully slid out of the booth and gestured to the opposite side of the room. “Care for a game of pool?”

* * * *

Suitcase in hand, Joseph waited for the white pickup to pull to a stop. It might have taken him a week to get his shit together and make arrangements for the boys before he could go after the man he’d wanted for far too long.

Mario grinned at him through the open window. “You gettin’ in?”

After stowing his bag in the back of the truck, he climbed into the passenger seat. “Thanks for picking me up.”

“No problem. Asa needed to come to town anyway to meet with the bank, so we decided to make a day of it.” Mario pulled away from the curb. “I just got a text from him, and he’s ready, so unless you want to stop to get something to eat, we should be in Lobster Cove before dark.”

“I’m fine. Priest made me a couple of sandwiches to eat on the plane.” Joseph didn’t want to waste another minute before seeing Cullen again. He’d prayed nonstop for the last few days that his love wouldn’t be too little too late.

Mario glanced over. “Tell me you’re here for more than a check on the shelter.”

Uncomfortable, Joseph turned his attention to the view out of the passenger window. “Looks like a pretty place.”

“It is.” Mario thrummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Well?”

“Well what?” Joseph wasn’t about to volunteer information. As much as he appreciated Mario giving Snake a heads-up about Sully, Joseph wasn’t about to confess his feelings to anyone but Cullen. “How’d Cullen’s date go?”

“Really? It’s okay for you to ask me questions, but you won’t answer mine?” Mario stopped at a red light. With a dramatic sigh, he spoke, “They’ve been hanging out together, but I don’t get the feeling they’ve slept together. Is that what you needed to hear?”

Although it did make Joseph feel better, he was still worried. What if Cullen and Sully were trying to build something beyond a sexual relationship? That would be reason enough for them to take things slowly, right?

“How’s the shelter coming along?” Joseph asked.

“Smooth dodge there, Padre.” Mario took off again. “The plumbing was supposed to go in today for the communal restroom as well as the three private baths.”

“Private baths?” At the home in DC, Joseph’s was the only room attached to a private bathroom. “Why do we need three?”

“Because Cullen insisted on it. He said there might be occasions where the shelter takes in females, like Mandy,” Mario explained. “He’s thinking ahead, which I know Asa appreciates.”

“I can see Cullen’s point,” Joseph agreed. “He’s done a great job at Second Chance. I have no doubt he’s putting the same dedication into his work for Asa.”

“Wait’ll you see your space.” Mario flashed a mischievous smile. “I designed it myself.”

“I don’t need much.” Joseph hoped Asa wasn’t spending money on him. “I’d rather you focus your talents on the boys.”

“Don’t worry about the boys. They’re gonna love it.” Mario turned into a parking lot and pulled up in front of the bank.

Joseph climbed out of the truck to shake Asa’s hand. “It’s good to see you again.”

Asa released Joseph’s hand before thumping him on the back. “How’s Pip?”

“Good. He’s anxious to get out of the hospital.” Joseph opened the rear passenger door. He shoved his suitcase over before getting in.

“How’d it go?” Mario asked Asa.

Asa shook his head. “They said they won’t put a branch in Lobster Cove until we can prove to them we’re a viable community.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Fuck ’em. I’ll talk to my lawyers and see what we have to do to form a credit union in Lobster Cove.”

Mario pulled the truck to the side of the road and stared, open-mouthed, at his partner. “Are you kidding me?”

“No,” Asa replied. When Mario continued to stare at him, Asa threw up his hands and sighed. “Is that a problem?”

Mario broke eye contact. “It’s your money.”

Joseph cursed his decision not to rent a car. The last thing he needed was to be privy to an argument between Mario and Asa.

Another sigh came from Asa. “It’s our money, and if you want to discuss it…”

“Nope. You’ve obviously made up your mind,” Mario shot back. He put the truck into gear before pulling back onto the road.

“Babe,” Asa growled.

“Don’t.” Mario met Joseph’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “Sorry.”

“No need to apologize. As much as I loved Phillip, we still went head to head at times.” Joseph wondered if he and Cullen would argue in the future or if they even had one. If they did, would they enjoy making up? A sense of excitement filled him at the prospect.

* * * *

Mario managed to keep his mouth shut until they dropped off Joseph at the shelter. The long drive had given him time to think about Asa’s latest plan. “It’s not that I’m against a credit union in town, but I don’t think it’s vital and your resources could be better used in other areas.”

“How do you suppose people cash their checks or get home loans without a fucking bank or credit union? It won’t do much good for me to pour money into this town unless I set it up to succeed,” Asa argued.

“There’s a bank thirty minutes away. I think they can make that trip once a week without having the entire town fall down around them.” Mario felt that all too familiar throb of the vein in his forehead that signaled he was getting pissed. The last thing he wanted was to fight with his partner. “All I’m saying is that we should handle things in stages. Right now we have the construction guys living in town, along with the plumbers and electricians. Our next step should be putting the public safety personnel in place. After that, we can contact the applicants who are interested in opening their own businesses.” He reached for Asa’s hand. “We build Lobster Cove up slowly, a phase at a time. We make sure there’s a good foundation before adding all the conveniences of the city.”

Asa unbuckled his seatbelt. “You’re right.” He leaned over the console and gave Mario a deep kiss.

Mario was glad his tongue was busy tangling with Asa’s because being heard he’d been right was rare enough that he might otherwise feel the need to crow.

* * * *

Cullen stood in the newly constructed shower room and watched Jordan Bailey plumb the fourth shower stall. He’d learned a lot from Jordan and hoped to learn a lot more in the weeks and months to come. It wasn’t his goal to become a plumber, but it would be nice to be able to fix issues without calling in professionals every time.

“I have the tile guys coming in tomorrow afternoon. Think we’ll be ready?” Cullen asked. He put his hand on Jordan’s shoulder and leaned closer to inspect Jordan’s work.

Jordan paused for a moment before shaking his head. “Shouldn’t be a problem. I still have to run the new lines in the single baths, but I should have that done by lunch.”

A throat cleared behind them, and Cullen glanced back and froze. Fuck me. “Joseph.”

Joseph stepped into the shower room. He didn’t look around at the newly constructed room because his gaze was on Cullen. “I need to talk to you.”

Cullen swallowed around the lump in his throat. The last thing he’d expected was to see Joseph anytime soon. “Umm, yeah, okay.” He squeezed Jordan’s shoulder before getting to his feet. “I’ll be out front if you need me, Jordan.”

“Yep,” Jordan replied before going back to work.

Cullen hadn’t asked Joseph’s permission to work on the shelter in Lobster Cove, so he wondered if he was about to be ordered back to Cattle Valley. He picked his way through the debris left by the carpet installers in the common room before throwing open one of the double front doors. “What’s up?”

“Who was that?” Joseph asked.

“Jordan? He’s the plumber. Why?” Cullen couldn’t read the expression on Joseph’s handsome face.

“The two of you were a little close to be co-workers.” Joseph pulled Cullen by the arm and led him to the side of the building. “Something going on between the two of you?”

Anger filled Cullen at the accusation. Joseph had pushed him away and told him to move on, so why the fuck was he acting jealous? “What do you care?”

“Answer the question.”

“No, I’m not going to answer the question because it’s none of your business. You don’t want me. Remember?” Cullen knew he sounded like a stubborn asshole, but he was pissed.

“Damn!” Joseph ran his fingers through the short strands of his salt-and-pepper hair. “I waited too long, didn’t I?”

Cullen crossed his arms and leaned against the brick wall at his back. He wondered what kind of game Joseph was playing. “I’m so tired of your indecision. I’ve waited for years. Years for you to acknowledge that you actually felt something for me, but you didn’t. Instead, you threw me away. Told me to move on then turned your fucking back on me.”

“I want you,” Joseph said before leaning over enough to capture Cullen’s lips in a kiss.

Shocked by Joseph’s unexpected assault, it took Cullen a few seconds to open his mouth for Joseph’s insistent tongue. He melted into the kiss. It was everything he’d known it would be and more, but why the hell had Joseph changed his mind after everything they’d been through? Had Joseph found out about his date with Sully? Was jealousy the only thing fueling their war of tongues and lips?

When he felt Joseph’s erection pressing against him, Cullen broke their connection and turned his head to the side. “Why now? What changed?”

Joseph spun away and began to pace. “That wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like that.”

The low growl that escaped Joseph’s mouth flabbergasted Cullen. Never had Cullen witnessed Joseph in his current mood. “What’s going on with you?”

Joseph stopped walking but kept his back to Cullen. “Is there somewhere more private we can go?”

“Sure.” Cullen pushed away from the wall. “My place is just down the block.”

Without waiting for Joseph to follow, Cullen retrieved Joseph’s suitcase from just inside the shelter doorway. “It isn’t far.”

“I can carry that,” Joseph offered.

“I got it.” Cullen shook his head in an attempt to clear his muddled mind. Was it possible that after years of waiting, Joseph finally saw Cullen as more than the street kid he’d rescued? He concentrated on the bricked street in front of him. Although the majority of the roads in town were paved with blacktop, several streets had survived unchanged for nearly a century. He loved the old-world look of the bricks, and even though the ride wasn’t as smooth, he couldn’t imagine paving over them.

“This is a pretty town,” Joseph said from behind Cullen.

“Wait ’til you see the rest of it,” Cullen replied. “Or did you already?”

“No, Mario and Asa drove me straight to the shelter. I think they were in a hurry to get rid of me.”

Cullen slowed his stride until Joseph was beside him. “They were horny?”

Joseph shook his head. “They were having a disagreement about whether or not Asa should build a credit union in town. I think they probably had it out with each other once they dropped me off.”

Cullen remembered the sullen mood Asa had been in on the night of Pip’s attack. He wasn’t used to being around couples who fought. His mom and dad had been worthless in their roles as parents, but they’d never fought with each other. There had been times when he’d hated their solidarity against him.

“Do you think they’ll be okay?” Cullen gestured for Joseph to precede him up the flower-lined brick trail to the front porch. He loved the navy-blue paint combined with the white trim and bright red door. There was something so freaking New England about the whole place that it made him smile each time he came home to it.

“Asa and Mario? Absolutely. It was just a disagreement. They’ve probably already made up.”

“Do they fight a lot?” Cullen reached for the screen door and held it open for Joseph.

“All couples fight.” Joseph turned in a circle as he surveyed the house Cullen had grown to love.

“I don’t have much experience with couples.” Cullen shrugged. He wished he had at least one relationship under his belt so he knew about stuff like that. “Want something to drink?”

“Water would be nice.” Joseph sat on the sofa Asa had purchased when Cullen had moved in.

Cullen walked into the kitchen and grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator, but instead of going back to the living room right away, he gave himself a moment. He stared out of the window at the old elementary school that would soon be known as the Rainbow Youth Center. He’d put his heart into the building in an effort to prove to Joseph that he was good enough to stand at his side, but from their earlier exchange, it seemed he had it all wrong. Joseph saw him as an easy piece of ass, nothing more.

“I shouldn’t have sent you away,” Joseph said from behind Cullen.

Cullen rested his fists on the counter. “Why? You hating yourself for not getting me into your bed before you kicked me out?”

“What? No.” Joseph sighed. “I’m sorry about the kiss. I came to tell you what a fool I’ve been, but when you looked at me, all I could see was the hurt in your eyes—hurt I put there.”

The floor creaked, and Cullen could feel the heat of Joseph’s body as he stepped up behind Cullen. “I went on a date with Sully.” He glanced over his shoulder at Joseph. “It was the first legitimate date I’ve ever been on.”

Joseph’s jaw tightened. “And how’d it go?”

Cullen returned his gaze to the view out of the window. He wished he could lie about the experience, but he’d always been honest with Joseph. “We kissed.” If he thought Joseph would back down, he was mistaken.

Joseph put his hands on Cullen’s arm and tugged, turning Cullen to face him. “Did it feel as right as the one we shared earlier?”

“No.” Cullen licked his lips. His cock hardened when his thoughts strayed to their earlier encounter. He’d waited years for Joseph to touch him like that, so why had he freaked out when it had finally happened? Fuck! He was so confused. “I don’t know what you want from me.”

“I want everything you have to give, but first we need to talk. After you hear me out, the decision on whether or not to move forward will be your choice.” Joseph gave Cullen a tentative smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Please?”

Still reeling from Joseph’s declaration that he wanted everything, Cullen retrieved the water bottles from the counter. “Sure. We can talk out on the deck.”

Cullen led the way through the small laundry room to the back door of the house. He gestured to the portable fire-pit surrounded by four comfortable chairs. Asa had been more than gracious about furnishing the house, claiming they could always use the stuff in one of the other properties after Cullen returned to Cattle Valley.

“This is nice,” Joseph said, looking around the yard.

“It’s beautiful here,” Cullen agreed. He took a sip of his water and waited for Joseph to begin. He still couldn’t figure out why Joseph had had a change of heart, and if he was honest with himself, he didn’t trust the turn of events. Nothing in his life had ever gone the way he’d hoped, so why should a relationship with Joseph be any different?

Joseph began to pick at the label on his bottle. “I’ve gone back and forth with myself for the last few days, trying to figure out how to explain my actions, and I’m not any closer to the answer than when I started.”

“Just spit it out,” Cullen blurted.

Joseph took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “I know what you did with Willy to keep him off my back, and I should’ve put a stop to it. I didn’t because I told myself that what I was doing by getting those kids off the street was the most important thing.”

Fucking Willy hadn’t been anymore humiliating than what Cullen had been forced to do on a daily basis with the creeps who paid him. The only difference was Willy got it for free. “That’s it? You pushed me away for years because I fucked Willy?”

Joseph shook his head. “You continually sacrificed yourself for me, and I let you.” He stared at Cullen with a confused expression on his face. “If I was the man I claim to be, I would’ve stood up to Willy on my own, but instead I allowed him to do those things to you.”

Cullen closed his eyes and started to silently count. It was a tool he’d told the boys at Second Chance to use when their anger started to get out of control. He heard the guilt in Joseph’s voice, but he also heard a modicum of disgust at what he’d done with his pimp. Not that he understood it, but Joseph’s guilt he could deal with. The other worried him the most. He couldn’t change his past, no matter how much he wished he could. “Are you sure it’s just the sex I had with Willy that’s bothering you?”

Joseph was quiet for several moments before speaking. “The sex with Willy was my fault all the way, so, yes, I think that’s why that bothers me the most. What you did with other men was your choice. I wouldn’t rescue kids off the street if I thought any less of them for what they had to do to survive. You should know that by now.”

Was it Cullen’s imagination or was Joseph starting to get pissed off? “I don’t know what to believe. First I’m too young, then you can’t get over Phillip’s death, then I’m needed in Cattle Valley…” He moved his finger in a circle. “Although I have to say, this excuse is a new one.” He tilted his head to the side. “I wonder what you’ll use to wedge between us next.”

“Dammit!” Joseph jumped to his feet. “Why’re you making this so hard?”

Cullen snorted. “Hard?” He leaned forward in his chair and glowered up at Joseph. “Hard is being thrown out of your house broken and bloody at the age of twelve. Hard is digging through the garbage in order to eat. Hard is sucking some middle-aged father off in a mini-van when all you want is to beg him to take you home and let you become a part of a real family. Hard is loving someone for years and knowing you’re not good enough to have them.”

Cullen broke off when his throat constricted around the sob that was trying to break free. He took several deep breaths before continuing. “I’ve worked my ass off in an attempt to prove that I’m not the same man I was when you met me, but each time I try to get close to you, you shove me away with one of your bullshit excuses.”

Joseph dropped to his knees in front of Cullen. “I’m so sorry.” He rested his head on Cullen’s thigh but didn’t look at him. “You’re wrong. You are good enough. It’s me who doesn’t deserve you, not after what I sat by and let happen to you.”

Cullen lifted his hand to hover over Joseph’s head for several seconds before he gave into the temptation to bury his fingers in Joseph’s thick hair. He wished he could push Joseph away, but rejecting the man was impossible. “Is that all of it?”

Joseph shook his head. “But I’m not ready to tell you the rest yet.” He peeked up at Cullen. “It’s personal.”

By personal, Cullen assumed Joseph meant it was sexual in nature. Since Cullen had dealt with every kink out there at one time or another, he doubted anything Joseph was into would shock him. He put the brakes on his thoughts. Jumping into a sexual relationship with Joseph wasn’t the way he wanted it. Thousands of men had enjoyed his cock, but never had one of them taken the time to get to know him, the real him.

“Tell me I haven’t lost you?” Joseph grabbed Cullen’s hand and kissed it.

“You haven’t,” Cullen whispered. He gathered his courage. Setting demands wasn’t something he was used to, but he wanted to be real with Joseph. “Ask me out.”

Joseph smiled. “I don’t know what there is around here to do, but would you go on a date with me?”

Chapter Six

Joseph felt lighter than he had in years as he walked hand in hand with Cullen. They had decided on a tour of the town before grabbing a bite to eat, and so far, he couldn’t have imagined a more perfect first date.

Cullen pointed toward the frame of a new building. “That’ll be a restaurant. Some chef Erico knows who’d been trying to get him to take on a partner in The Canoe.” He grinned. “Erico’s put him off because we both know he doesn’t work well with others, but when Asa announced his acquisition of Lobster Cove, Erico gave his friend, Dante, a call.”

“What kind of food?” Joseph asked absently. His attention was once again on Cullen’s short haircut. He wanted to ask why Cullen had shorn the long curls, but had an idea of what had prompted the change. The need to reach out and run his hand through the short waves threatened to overwhelm him, but Cullen’s earlier reaction to his intimate touch stopped him. He returned his attention to the discussion at hand. “The building looks awfully small for a restaurant.”

Cullen shrugged. “I’m not sure. I assume Italian, but I could be wrong. I guess it’s supposed to be some kind of intimate dining experience because there’ll only be room for thirty guests at a sitting. Don’t worry though. There’s also The Bluebird Café owned by Carl and Bev Walters.” He grinned. “Asa offered them a lot of money to sell, but they refused, unlike the majority of the bigoted bastards who were still living in town. When Asa told them exactly what he was planning on doing with Lobster Cove, they still refused, saying they didn’t care who their customers were as long as they paid their bills and had enough respect to take off their hats when they entered the diner.”

“They sound like good people,” Joseph commented.

“They are. I’d say they’re in their late-seventies. Bev’s become a surrogate mother to most of the guys on the construction crew.” Cullen tugged on Joseph’s hand, pulling him toward a small white church.

“Do you have a minister yet?” Joseph asked. He’d given up his position at the nondenominational church across the street from the shelter almost six months earlier in order to devote more time to the teenagers in his charge. As much as he missed working on and delivering sermons, he knew he’d made the right decision.

“No one definite. Nate and the others on the Cattle Valley City Council are still going through the hordes of inquiries and applications. They did hire a police chief though. You’ll probably meet Mick soon. He’s been spending a lot of time helping out where he can.”

Joseph was impressed with the progress of Lobster Cove. He was even more impressed by the job Cullen was doing on the project. If things between them worked out, he hoped to convince Cullen to stay. “You like it here?”

“Love it. I miss everyone back in Cattle Valley, especially Mandy, but I like that no one here knows my past.” Cullen glanced up at Joseph. “If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate if you didn’t tell anyone.”

“I won’t.” Joseph would like to say he’d never betray Cullen’s trust, but he’d done just that for years by pushing Cullen away. He draped an arm over Cullen’s shoulders and pulled him closer. “Would you be willing to move here?”

They walked the next block in silence before Cullen cleared his throat. “To be with you like I’ve always wanted, I would definitely move here, but that’s the only way.”

“And how do you want us to be?” Joseph asked.

“Equal,” Cullen said. “I know you’re used to taking charge of every situation, but I’m no longer under your care. If you can’t see me as an equal, this won’t work no matter how much I want it.”

Joseph stopped walking and let his arm drop from around Cullen’s shoulders. “I don’t treat you like that.”

“Yeah, you do.” Cullen put his hands on Joseph’s chest. “You’re the one who ordered me to Cattle Valley against my will, and even after you found out my real age, you told me to stay in Wyoming instead of returning to DC.”

Joseph wrapped his arms around Cullen. “That wasn’t me trying to take charge. I wasn’t ready to give into my feelings, and I’d hoped that by urging you to stay in Cattle Valley, you’d be safe until I worked my problems out.” He kissed the scar on Cullen’s forehead. “I’m sorry if you thought I was trying to boss you around. If I do something to make you feel that way in the future, I hope you’ll call me on it.”

“When you think of me, do you see me the way you did Phillip?” Cullen asked.

Joseph silently cursed. He still wasn’t sure how to explain his relationship with Phillip.

“I guess that’s my answer.” Cullen tried to pull away, but Joseph refused to let him.

“No,” Joseph blurted. “I don’t see the two of you the same.” He held Cullen as tight as he could without hurting him. “Phillip and I were partners in every sense of the word except in the bedroom.”

“You didn’t fuck?” Cullen reared back enough to meet Joseph’s gaze.

Joseph shook his head. “You don’t understand.” He struggled to find the words. “Phillip was so gentle in everything he did that our lovemaking was…”

“Boring?”

Please forgive me, Phillip. “Yes,” Joseph confessed. “I never doubted for a second that he loved me, but our sex life was a failure.”

“That’s not possible.” Cullen fingered the buttons on the front of Joseph’s black dress shirt. “Don’t get mad at me, but it could have something to do with the clothes you wear. Phillip was religious, right?”

“Yes, that’s how we met. I was still a priest at the time, and Phillip was a member of my congregation.” Joseph still remembered his body’s reaction when he’d first laid eyes on Phillip.

“So you left the priesthood for him?” Cullen asked.

“Not right away, but eventually,” Joseph replied. “Phillip used to apologize all the time for luring me away from my faith. I tried to make him understand that I left the Catholic Church but God would forever be in my soul, but I don’t think he ever truly believed me.”

“And his guilt affected your sex life?”

Joseph brushed his cheek against Cullen’s. Admitting the truth about his relationship was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. “By the time Phillip and I had sex for the first time, I’d left the priesthood. It was apparent after our first time together that we weren’t compatible in bed, but Phillip felt too guilty to leave me at that point, so we made our relationship work by concentrating on other aspects of our love for each other.”

“You still haven’t answered my original question,” Cullen reminded.

“Ask it again.” Joseph had no intention of dodging the question, but he needed to make Cullen understand how different he hoped their relationship could be.

“When you think of me, do you see me the same way you did Phillip?”

“No,” Joseph whispered. “Because in the end, Phillip and I loved each other more like brothers. I’m not complaining. We were happy despite our failings.” He glanced around them, making sure they weren’t being watched before he continued. “My love for you is different. I can’t explain it, but you make me feel like a complete man. I want things with you that I’d never be able to admit to someone else.”

“What things?” Cullen asked.

Joseph felt his face heat. “Can we talk about it later when we’re not standing on the sidewalk in full view of the neighborhood?”

A devilish tilt of his lips transformed Cullen’s masculine face into a boyish grin. “We can grab a couple of burgers from The Bluebird before going back to my place if that suits you?”

“Lead the way.”

* * * *

Joseph held the door open for Cullen as they entered The Bluebird Café. The old wooden floor, along with the mismatched tables and chairs, gave the place a homey feel that he appreciated.

“Hey, sweetie, I wondered why I hadn’t seen you today,” a heavy-set woman, Joseph assumed was Bev, said. She grabbed two menus and made her way toward them. “Who’ve you got with ya?”

Cullen surprised Joseph by giving the woman a kiss on the cheek. “Evening, Bev.” He gestured to Joseph. “This is my friend Joseph Allenbrand. He runs the shelter in DC that’ll be transferring to Lobster Cove.”

Bev’s big brown eyes softened as she stared up at Joseph. “Bless you,” she said. “Carl took me down to New Orleans for our anniversary a few years ago, and I saw so many young people on the street there.” She covered her mouth and shook her head. “I don’t mind telling you, I wanted to pack them all up and bring them home with me.”

Joseph smiled at her kindness. “Thank you. I’m glad you feel that way. The neighborhood we’re in now doesn’t feel the same, so it’ll be nice for the boys to be around people who don’t look down their noses at them for being who they are.”

Bev’s face reddened. “None of that will go on here. I promise you that.” She placed her left fist on her ample hip. “Carl’s nephew, Bishop, prefers men, and we don’t put up with any bad talk about him. He’s a chef down in Portland. Good boy.”

Joseph nodded. It warmed his heart to know his boys would be as accepted in Lobster Cove as they were in Cattle Valley.

“Listen to me, going on and on.” Bev chuckled. “Let me show you to a table.”

“Thanks, but we just need to place an order to go. Joseph and I have a lot to talk about.” Cullen glanced up at Joseph. “Burgers okay?”

“Sounds good,” Joseph replied.

“Give us two double cheeseburgers, loaded, with seasoned fries and a couple chocolate malts.”

Bev nodded but didn’t bother to write down their order. “Made cherry pie earlier.”

Cullen chuckled. “Okay, two pieces of pie.”

“Good choice.” Bev returned the menus to the front counter before yelling their order through a pass-through to the kitchen.

A balding man’s face appeared in the opening and waved to Cullen before disappearing again.

“Seem like nice people,” Joseph said, sitting in a straight-back chair near the front door.

“They’re gold,” Cullen agreed. “Night before last, I was trying to finish work in the shower room before Jordan came to handle the plumbing, and I missed dinner. Bev showed up with a to-go container and a speech about how important it was to eat three meals a day.” He sat next to Joseph and leaned toward him. “I have to be honest though, as good as the food is here, Bev and Carl aren’t able to keep up. Most people know to schedule an extra-long lunch if they’re coming.”

“They’re probably getting too old for this kind of work.” Joseph couldn’t imagine spending forty-something years on his feet every day.

“They’re definitely too old, but since their four kids are grown and gone, Bev claims the diner helps them feel needed.”

Joseph rubbed the back of his neck as an idea began to form. The new shelter would have room for at least forty by the time the renovations were finished. At present, the Rainbow Youth Center in DC only housed seventeen, which left a lot of room to rescue others. “Once the shelter is up and running, would you be interested in traveling with me to New York City? I’ve already spoken to a contact of mine there about the overwhelming need of a program like ours for the young men on the streets.”

“If I travel with you, who’s going to look after the shelter?” Cullen asked.

Joseph nodded toward Bev who was busy delivering a tray of food to one of the tables. “If they’re interested, they’d be the perfect choice. Of course we’d have to do a routine background check.”

Cullen snorted. “Oh, they’d pass. Those two are perfect, but as much as I love them, I don’t think they could handle the boys. You know what some of them are like when they first come to the shelter.”

“Yeah, but I also know most of them have never experienced the love and kindness Bev would bring. I haven’t met Carl, but if he’s anything like his wife, I think I’ve just figured out what the shelter’s been lacking all this time.”

“What’s that?”

“A family atmosphere. I’ve been bringing young men into the shelter to keep them safe, make sure they get their education and counseling, but what if all they really need is to feel loved?” The reality hit Joseph like a ton of bricks. He’d always cared for the boys, but he’d been too afraid to love them because he’d always known their stay was temporary. Cullen had been the one exception, and he’d never loved the man sitting beside him as he would a son.

Joseph noticed Cullen hadn’t said anything and turned to look at him. “Cullen?”

Eyes brimming with tears, Cullen stared up at Joseph. “I’m sure most of them have never been loved.”

Joseph couldn’t help but wonder whether Cullen was speaking of himself, but that wasn’t right because Joseph had loved him for years. I’ve never told him before today. He wrapped his arm around Cullen and pulled him closer to his side. “You’re loved.”

“By you?”

“Definitely by me, but don’t forget Mandy, Drake and Oggie. We all love you but in different ways.” Joseph spotted Bev walking toward them with a big brown sack in her hands. He placed a quick kiss on Cullen’s temple before releasing him. “We’ll finish this discussion when we get back to your house.”

Cullen quickly blinked away his tears before getting to his feet.

Joseph pulled out his wallet to pay for the meal, but Cullen shoved it away.

“I got it,” Cullen offered.

“You don’t have to pay for me,” Joseph argued.

“Yes, I do. We’re on a date, and I’m the one receiving a regular paycheck these days.” Cullen stepped up to the counter and waited for Bev to ring up their dinner.

Joseph stayed back, marveling at the body in front of him. Cullen had matured a lot in the last few years. Joseph’s gaze traveled across the muscular back he could see through the thin, cotton T-shirt Cullen had on. Although Cullen only stood five-foot-six-inches, he was incredibly muscular for someone who weighed so little when he’d first moved into the shelter. Joseph assumed it was a combination of regular meals and the physical work he’d taken on in Cattle Valley and now Lobster Cove. Whatever it was, Joseph couldn’t wait to get his hands on his date.

* * * *

Instead of eating at the kitchen table, they’d set up in front of the television with Joseph sitting on the sofa while Cullen sat on the floor next to the coffee table. “Good?” Cullen asked, holding up his burger.

“The best. I can’t remember the last time I bought a burger that was obviously handmade and didn’t come frozen in a preformed patty.” Joseph took a sip of his malt and sighed.

Cullen’s dick thickened at Joseph’s throaty moan. Fuck. His hand shook as he reached for his drink. He wanted to wait for Joseph to make the first move but, damn, he was beginning to think it wouldn’t happen. Joseph seemed almost shy when it came to talking about sex, which led Cullen to believe he’d never been the aggressor. Tired of dancing around the subject, he wiped his hands and mouth with a napkin before crawling toward Joseph. “Tell me you’re done eating?” he asked, insinuating himself between Joseph’s thighs.

Joseph reached around Cullen and dropped his cheeseburger onto the table. “Done.”

Cullen started at Joseph’s top button. “I’ve never seen you wear anything besides these black shirts.”

“I have a few T-shirts I use to sleep in.” Joseph cleaned his hands with a napkin.

“Will you tell me why you always dress like a priest minus the collar?” Cullen tugged on the tail of Joseph’s shirt before he finished unbuttoning it. “Shit.” He feathered his fingers through the gray and black hair on Joseph’s toned chest. “You definitely don’t have the body of a man in his forties.”

Joseph squirmed a little, and Cullen couldn’t tell if it was his touch or his words that had caused the reaction. Cullen decided to press on. He leaned forward and swiped his tongue across Joseph’s right nipple.

A groan erupted from Joseph’s throat at the contact.

“Tell me what you want,” Cullen whispered, scraping the opposite nipple with his teeth.

“Just you.” Joseph arched his back when Cullen latched on to one pebbled nub and began to suck. “Love the way your mouth feels on me,” he praised.

“Mmm hmm.” Cullen began to kiss his way down Joseph’s chest. In the past, body hair had turned him off in his johns because cleanliness wasn’t always a priority for the men who paid him, but Joseph was different in every way that counted. Cullen relished the wiry curls against his face as he licked a path to Joseph’s belly button. He paused to rim the indention with the tip of his tongue and stared up at Joseph. “Can I taste you?”

Joseph worried his bottom lip with his tongue. “If I come, it’ll take me a while to get hard again.”

Cullen rubbed his chin across Joseph’s erection. “That’s okay. We have all night.” He unfastened the clasp before easing Joseph’s zipper down. When he noticed his hands had started to shake again, he chuckled. He’d given thousands of blowjobs in his life, but none of them had mattered. “I’m nervous,” Cullen admitted, fishing Joseph’s cock from his underwear.

“Really?” Joseph leaned back to rest his head on a couch cushion.

Cullen ran his finger up the heavily veined skin of Joseph’s length. “After what you told me about you and Phillip, I’m worried you won’t enjoy my touch.” He followed the path his finger had taken with his tongue.

Joseph sighed. “No need to worry about that.”

Cullen licked the dollop of pre-cum on the tip of Joseph’s cock before taking the head into his mouth. Joseph’s girth was an absolute perfect fit for Cullen. He’d had sex with men who seemed overly proud of their humungous dicks, but Cullen had never understood why. What use was a huge slab of meat if you could only comfortably fuck someone with the first five or six inches? He eased Joseph’s length down his throat. Perfect.

“Damn,” Joseph growled.

Cullen waited for Joseph to move—expected it. When it didn’t happen, he withdrew from Joseph’s dick and looked up at him. “What’s wrong?”

“Not a thing.”

Joseph’s eyes seemed glazed and his lids appeared heavy with desire, so Cullen couldn’t figure out why he was just sitting there. He wondered if it had something to do with the less than stellar sex he’d gotten used to with Phillip. “Joseph?”

“Hmm?”

Cullen stood and began to strip out of his clothes. He had a feeling if he wanted Joseph to lose control, Cullen would have to get the former priest out of his own head. “Sex isn’t something you think about.” He dropped his T-shirt onto the floor before toeing off his boots and starting on his jeans.

Once he was naked, he held out his arms, giving Joseph an unobstructed view of his body, and slowly turned in a circle. “My body’s right here, ready for anything you have in mind. Now, tell me what you want to do.”

Joseph stood and pushed his slacks the rest of the way off, stopping only long enough to remove his black dress shoes. “I want everything,” he replied, reaching for Cullen.

Cullen took a step back and shook his finger. “Nope. Keep your hands to yourself. I want you to tell me exactly what you want.”

“To touch you.”

“Where? Be specific,” Cullen coached. Cullen wanted Joseph to get over his embarrassment in regards to sex because there was nothing on earth more natural than desire.

“Your chest,” Joseph answered. “I want to run my hands from your chest down to your groin.”

“My groin or my cock?” Cullen grabbed his erection by the base and squeezed.

“Your cock.” Joseph’s gaze was glued to Cullen’s hand as it worked its way up and down his length.

“What do you want to do with my cock?” Cullen could tell by Joseph’s flushed face he was being pushed out of his comfort zone. He prayed his plan wouldn’t backfire on him.

Joseph dropped to the couch and buried his face in his hands. “I’m a man of God.” He scrubbed at his face. “I shouldn’t want to feel your cock buried inside me.”

Fuck. Cullen released his dick and moved to kneel in front of Joseph. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting that. We’re both consenting adults. What we do together is between us, and as long as we’re both in agreement and it feels good, what else matters?”

Joseph lifted his head. “God sees everything.”

Cullen wrapped his arms around Joseph’s waist and rested his cheek against Joseph’s chest. “Do you believe you were born gay?”

Joseph nodded. “Yes, but I also believe I was chosen by God to do his work.”

“I believe that, too.” Cullen pressed his lips over Joseph’s big heart. “But, I don’t think God would’ve made fucking so pleasurable if he thought it was wrong. To procreate, tab A goes into slot B. It’s that simple, and even if sex didn’t feel so damn good, people would still do it in order to multiply. Enjoying sex is natural. We’re supposed to do it.” He encircled Joseph’s cock with his hand. “Otherwise, this wouldn’t feel any different than me shaking your hand.”

Joseph grinned. “It feels a lot better than a handshake.”

“I know,” Cullen agreed, breaking away. He stood and held out his hand. “Let’s go lie down.”

“I brought stuff,” Joseph said, getting to his feet.

“Good thing because I don’t have anything here.” Cullen grabbed Joseph’s suitcase from beside the front door and carried it down the short hall to the master bedroom. He still wasn’t sure he’d gotten through to Joseph, but at least he thought he understood the sexual issues between Phillip and Joseph.

Cullen handed Joseph his suitcase. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to jump into the shower.”

“I don’t mind,” Joseph said in a hushed tone.

“Wanna join me?” Cullen brushed suggestively against Joseph.

“You sure?”

Cullen hated the uncertainty he saw. It was obvious by the way Joseph covered his cock with his luggage that he wasn’t yet comfortable being naked in front of Cullen. “A shower is one of the best ways to learn someone else’s body. I’ll let you wash every inch of me before I return the favor.”

Joseph slowly lowered his suitcase. “I think I’d like that.”

* * * *

Joseph studied Cullen as he moved around the small bathroom—gathering towels and getting the water temperature just right. He wondered if Cullen’s ease with his own nudity had something to do with his past or if most people felt confident enough to walk around naked in front of their partners.

“How hot do you like the water?” Cullen asked.

“I’m good with anything. I prefer a hot shower, but there’s rarely any left at the shelter by the time I get in.” Joseph held his hands in front of his erection. It didn’t seem to matter what he tried to think about, the darn thing wouldn’t go down.

“You won’t have that problem at the new place. I had them put in one of those automatic water heaters, so you’ll have as much of it as you need on a moment’s notice.” Cullen spread several towels on the floor beside the bathtub before getting in.

“What is there left to do on the shelter?” Joseph stepped into the shower. He wasn’t sure if he should feel proud of Cullen for taking over the decision making on the new shelter or ashamed of himself for not becoming more involved.

“Well, a few days for the plumbing and tile work to get done, then it’s really a matter of filling it with furniture. Although, I haven’t found everything yet for that. I still need to find a couple dining tables that will be large enough to sit everyone without being too big for the room.” Cullen positioned himself under the spray to wet his skin before changing places with Joseph.

“I could help with that while I’m here. Just give me a list of what you need.” Joseph took the offered shampoo and poured a small amount in his hand. He ached to touch Cullen’s body, but he was still incredibly nervous, so starting with Cullen’s hair seemed like the best thing. In all the years he’d been with Phillip, not once had they bathed each other, and for the life of him, Joseph couldn’t figure out why.

Cullen turned and tipped his head back.

“Why’d you cut off your hair?” Joseph asked as he worked the shampoo into a lather.

“To be honest, I never really liked it long. When I was on the street, it got me the attention I needed. Then, when I came to the shelter that first time, you told me to go in and take a shower. Afterwards, you made a comment about how pretty my hair was.” Cullen shrugged. “At that point, I would’ve done anything to get your attention, so I kept it.”

Joseph withdrew his hands. “You can rinse now.” He switched places with Cullen and watched as the suds ran down the length of Cullen’s muscled physique. He didn’t need to hear more. “So you cut it after I told you to move on,” he surmised.

“Yeah. It reminded me of you, and I felt it best to get rid of it.”

Joseph closed his eyes at the realization that he’d nearly lost Cullen for good.

His own hair rinsed, Cullen began to wash Joseph’s. “I didn’t say that to hurt your feelings.”

“I know.” Joseph opened his eyes and stared at Cullen. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a coward.”

Cullen moved Joseph under the showerhead. “The important thing is that you don’t push me away again.”

“But what if I don’t satisfy you?” It was Joseph’s biggest fear, and rightly so. Cullen was a very sexual man, and Joseph hadn’t even managed to please Phillip.

Cullen picked up the bar of soap and began to run it over Joseph’s chest. “That depends. Will you be too embarrassed to let me show you things that will feel good?”

Joseph shook his head. “As long as you won’t think less of me for doing them.”

“We’ve already covered that.” Cullen dropped the bar in the dish before reaching between Joseph’s legs. He ran his soapy hands up and down the length of Joseph’s cock. “Do you need me to prove to you that nothing between the two of us should be embarrassing?”

Joseph had no idea what Cullen had in mind, but he did want to learn all the ways to please him. “Yes.”

Cullen turned off the water. “Don’t worry, I’ll turn it back on in a minute.” He handed Joseph the soap before bending at the waist. “Gather some lather in your hands then wash my ass.”

Shocked at the request, Joseph just stood there. “You want me to wash your butt?”

“No, what I really want is for you to stick your finger in my hole, but I figured it’d help get you used to touching me if you washed my ass first.”

Pushing aside his reservations, Joseph rolled the bar of soap in his hands several times before setting it back in the dish. He started with the cheeks and slowly worked his way to the crack.

“Oh, fuck, yeah, right there. Rub back and forth over my hole,” Cullen instructed.

Joseph turned his hand so he could slide just the pad of his middle finger over the tight pucker. He wondered how long it had been since another man touched Cullen but decided not to ask.

“When you’re ready, slide inside. It’s been a while though, so go easy on me.”

Joseph wrapped his free hand around his cock as he pressed the tip of his finger against Cullen’s hole. He’d tried making love to Phillip on several occasions, but Phillip never allowed Joseph to enter him with anything but his dick. He needed to talk to Cullen about it, but he wasn’t sure if Cullen knew about his early relationship with Nate. “I’ve only done this a few times, but that was years ago, before Phillip. Make sure you let me know if I’m hurting you.”

Cullen wiggled his butt. “Don’t worry. You feel amazing.” He glanced over his shoulder. “But I thought Phillip was your first.”

Joseph shook his head. “Before I took my vows, I had a brief relationship with Nate.”

Cullen’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Gills? As in the mayor of Cattle Valley?”

“Yeah. I was still a seminary student at the time, and it didn’t go well when our parents found out. Nate was sent away, and I begged God to forgive me for the transgression. I was told by my priest at the time that what I had done was morally wrong, and God may not cleanse me of my sin.” Joseph sighed as he remembered the awful words the priest had said to him. “Even though I eventually left the church to be with Phillip, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten past those words.”

Cullen reached back and stilled Joseph’s hand before turning around to face him. “I don’t think you have either, but you’re lucky because now you have me. I can prove to you there’s nothing more pure in this world than making love to the person who owns your heart.”

Joseph nodded. “I want that.” He wanted to feel like a whole person for a change. Reaching back, he turned on the shower. “Let’s finish this so we can go to bed.”

Cullen rubbed the bar of soap briskly between his hands. “Your turn.”

Chapter Seven

By the time Cullen had given Joseph a thorough scrubbing, Joseph’s body vibrated with need. “Now,” Joseph urged, climbing out of the tub.

Cullen threw a towel at Joseph. “Dry off. Otherwise, we’ll have to change the sheets after we’re done, and believe me, all you’re gonna want to do is sleep after I’m finished with you.”

Joseph swiped the towel across his heated skin enough to absorb most of the drops of water before charging back into the bedroom. He opened his suitcase and removed his shaving kit. “How many rubbers do you think we need?”

Cullen pressed himself against Joseph from behind. “I haven’t had sex in years, and I’m clean. I have faith that you are, too, so unless it’s a sticking point for you, we don’t need condoms.”

Joseph picked up the small box he’d purchased before getting on the plane. “Just as well we don’t use them because there’re only three and the way I feel, we’d use them all tonight.”

Cullen chuckled as he peppered kisses across Joseph’s neck and shoulder. “I think you’re right about that.” He guided Joseph to the bed. “You said earlier that you wanted my dick inside you. Is that still the case?”

Joseph licked his lips. “If you don’t mind.”

“Mind?” Cullen pulled the blanket and top sheet to the foot of the bed. “That would be my preference as well.”

Weird. Joseph always assumed it was the other way around. “You didn’t let those men make love to you?”

Cullen’s spine stiffened. “First of all, I’ve never made love, so that part’s going to be all new for me. Secondly, there were a few occasions when I had to allow one of those pigs to fuck me, but most of them enjoyed my cock. Thirdly, please don’t ever ask me specific questions about sex with the men who paid me.”

“I’m sorry.” Joseph was confident in every other aspect of his life. How he’d let one man destroy the one part of himself that should have come naturally to him, he still didn’t understand. Oddly, he wasn’t angry with Father Matthews because he knew the priest was only trying to be loyal to his beliefs. Nope, the only one Joseph could be angry with was himself for hiding his feelings for Cullen behind his fear of intimacy.

“Lie down.” Cullen soothed Joseph with a hand on his lower back. “Let me show you how much I love you.”

Joseph stretched out in the center of the bed and stared up at Cullen. Younger by a little more than twenty years, Cullen’s body was true perfection, and if Joseph thought too much about it, he’d probably throw the covers over his own nudity. He worked out regularly with the boys in the shelter, but nothing he could do short of surgery would give him the tight skin he’d once had. “Should I lie on my back or stomach?”

Cullen rested his right knee on the foot of the bed. “Back for now. I want you to watch me as I pleasure you.”

Goosebumps broke out on Joseph’s skin. “I’ve thought about little else for years.”

“Me, too.” Cullen lowered himself over Joseph and kissed him.

Joseph held the back of Cullen’s head as he opened his mouth. Damn. With each flick of Cullen’s tongue, Joseph fell further under his spell, and soon he forgot about being nervous.

“I want to taste every inch of you,” Cullen groaned as he broke the kiss and worked his way down Joseph’s neck to his chest. He lapped at both of Joseph’s nipples before venturing farther south.

The brush of a warm tongue up the length of his erection nearly had Joseph spilling his seed. He reached down and buried his fingers in Cullen’s hair, directing him lower. Although he’d never dared to rim Phillip’s hole with his tongue or ask his long-time partner to do it to him, he’d always wondered what it would feel like.

“Tell me what you want,” Cullen whispered, gazing up at Joseph.

“Your mouth. Down there.” Joseph hoped Cullen understood because he wasn’t sure he could say the words out loud.

Cullen drew his finger over Joseph’s balls to the puckered hole he’d washed so thoroughly. “Here?” he asked, drawing circles around the sensitive skin.

“Yes.”

Cullen sat back on his heels. “Hook your legs over your forearms for me.”

Swallowing his apprehension, Joseph did as asked, exposing himself fully to Cullen’s perusal.

“Fuck, you’re sexy,” Cullen leaned down and swiped his tongue across Joseph’s hole. Moaning, he grasped the cheeks of Joseph’s ass and spread them farther before burying his entire face in Joseph’s crack.

“Cullen!” Joseph cried when he felt the tip of Cullen’s tongue breach his opening. It felt even better than Cullen’s finger fucking in and out of him in the shower, and Joseph hadn’t thought that was possible.

Cullen continued his assault for several moments before backing off. “I’m sorry, but I can’t wait any longer.” He reached for the bottle of lube. He wasted no time sinking two slicked fingers inside.

Joseph squirmed under Cullen’s touch. “Never,” he mumbled. “Never thought it could feel so good.”

“Please tell me you’re ready?” Cullen opened the lube again and dripped several drops onto his erection. He scooted closer to Joseph’s ass and waited.

“Beyond ready,” Joseph replied.

Cullen fit the crown of his shaft against Joseph’s stretched hole. “If you need me to stop or slow down, just tell me.”

Joseph would swallow every cry and hide every wince because the moment was too important to screw up with fear, so instead of answering, he eased his legs around Cullen’s back and pulled him closer. He needed to remember that although Cullen was the expert at fucking, it was his first time to make love to someone. “Tell me what would make this more special for you?”

“You’re the only thing I need to make this special,” Cullen said as he worked his length inside Joseph.

Staring up at the man he loved, Joseph wondered why he’d ever doubted Cullen’s ability to deal with their combined demons. He waited until Cullen was all the way in before speaking from his soul. “From this day forward, I don’t want to live a single day without you in it.”

Cullen’s eyes filled with tears. He pulled out before sliding back inside. “Can you really forgive my past?”

“There’s nothing to forgive. It was my issues that kept us apart, not your past.” Joseph cupped the back of Cullen’s neck and pulled him down for another kiss.

With each thrust, Cullen set Joseph’s fears at ease. “You were right,” Joseph whispered. “There’s nothing dirty about what we’re doing. It’s beautiful.”

“Yes, it is,” Cullen agreed. “Can you handle more?”

“Much more and I’ll come,” Joseph confessed.

“Good,” Cullen panted. He sat up and gripped Joseph’s hips. “Because I’ll last a lot longer the next go ’round.”

Longer? For years, Joseph had worried their age difference would be a detriment to their relationship, but he was starting to understand there were benefits to falling for a younger man. He wanted to say something about it, but before he could spit out the words, Cullen slammed in hard. “Fuck!” Joseph howled.

Cullen’s jaw dropped. “Did you just say what I think you said?” he teased.

Joseph chuckled. “Just shut up and fuck me.”

“Such language coming from the man in black.” Cullen reached for Joseph’s cock. “Say it again for me, and I’ll make you come.”

Cussing had never come naturally to Joseph, and Cullen knew it. The fact that he’d said the F word twice was highly unusual, but Cullen made him forget himself. More importantly, Cullen made him happy. “I’ll say it when you make me come,” he countered.

“Then you’d better get those vocal chords warmed up.” Cullen began to screw Joseph so hard, Joseph was forced to put his hands over his head to keep himself from bashing into the headboard.

When Cullen countered the assault with a soft touch to Joseph’s balls, the words spilled out of Joseph’s mouth as he came. “Oh fuck. Oh fuck.” He sucked in a sharp breath. “Jesus!”

Cullen buried his cock inside Joseph and went rigid before bucking his hips. “Best ever,” he ground out between clenched teeth.

Although struggling to catch his breath, Joseph couldn’t take his eyes off Cullen. Had Cullen meant what he’d said? Was it possible that Joseph had actually pleased him? Joseph pulled Cullen down and into his arms. He wanted to ask, but he didn’t want to sound like an insecure bastard. “Wow.”

Cullen chuckled. “Shit, babe, you almost ruined me.”

Joseph felt as if he couldn’t breathe. He squeezed his eyes shut and pushed against Cullen’s chest, needing to get away. “I told you. I’m not good at this part of a relationship.”

“Wait. What?” Cullen wrapped his arms around Joseph, preventing Joseph from getting out of bed.

Joseph sighed and shook his head. He didn’t want to give up. “I’m sorry. I can learn to be better if you don’t mind teaching me.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Cullen asked.

“You said I ruined you.”

“Yeah. You’ve ruined me for any other man,” Cullen said, sounding confused.

Joseph spun around to face Cullen, the breath finally returning to his lungs. “You mean it was good for you? I was good?”

Cullen tackled Joseph before climbing on top of him again. Joseph expected to see humor in Cullen’s expression but was surprised to see a mixture of hurt and anger. Damn. Once again, Joseph had screwed things up between them. “Talk to me,” he begged. “Tell me what’s going on in that pretty head of yours.”

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt alone. I’m not sure why my parents even had children unless it was to have someone to take their anger out on between bible meetings. When I was five, they caught me watching a television program they didn’t approve of, so they tied me to a chair, taped my hands together in a prayer position and set me in front of a picture of Jesus. I sat there for two days before they released me.”

Joseph’s blood boiled. There was nothing he hated more than people who abused their children in the name of God. He wanted to tell Cullen how he felt, but he had the feeling Cullen wasn’t finished. For years, he’d tried to talk to Cullen about his past, but Cullen would always change the subject.

“Unfortunately for them, my parents’ determination to save their kids had the opposite effect on me. My brother, Adam, drank the Kool-Aid and had started doing their bidding by the time I was eight.” Cullen shook his head. “Needless to say, the people who should’ve loved and accepted me the most became my tormentors.” He broke eye contact. “After that last beating, I stole my father’s wallet and ran.” He glanced at Joseph. “My real name isn’t Cullen. It’s Isiah. When I stepped off the bus in DC, I wanted to forget my past and be reborn in a different life.”

Joseph rolled Cullen’s real name around in his head, trying to associate the name with the man he loved.

“But after what we just shared…” Cullen pinched the bridge of his nose. “If I didn’t like the way you say my name so much, I’d change it again. I’d lose every memory except those I have of you and become someone new.”

Joseph was stunned. He didn’t know how to thank Cullen for the gift he’d just been given. “I fell in love with Cullen. This town will soon be full of people who don’t know our pasts, so you can keep the name Cullen and still be reborn in a way. We both can. From here on out, we can be the people we were always meant to be.”

* * * *

Keys in hand, Mario stared at the house he’d just signed papers on. It was a simple Cape Cod-style home, white with dark green shutters, but he’d never seen anything more beautiful. “I did it,” he whispered to himself.

Growing up with an alcoholic mother and no father to speak of, Mario had lived in a series of apartments, some good, some bad. It all depended on which man his mom had conned into supporting them. He’d always dreamed of living in a real house with a real yard. When he’d moved in with Asa, he finally got the house and the yard but they weren’t his because he hadn’t paid for those luxuries. But this house is mine. He’d nearly cleaned out his savings to buy the house outright from the bank, leaving only enough for a few minor repairs, but it was worth it.

One lesson Mario had learned growing up was luxuries could be easily taken away if they weren’t yours to begin with. He planned to be with Asa for the rest of his life, but if the unthinkable happened and the two of them parted ways, he’d still have a place to call home. He heard the truck pull into the driveway and knew it was Asa. He wasn’t mad at his partner for missing the signing because he’d known when the appointment had been made that Asa would be busy picking up the town’s new police chief from the airport in Bangor. Truth was, Mario had wanted to go through the process without Asa there to hold his hand.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” Asa said, getting out of his new pickup.

“Don’t be. I just got here myself.” Mario continued to stare at the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home. “I’m in love with this house,” he admitted.

“It’s a nice place.” Asa wrapped his arm around Mario.

Mario leaned against Asa and tried to figure out a way to tell the man he loved that he didn’t want to return to the mansion in Cattle Valley. They both had jobs in Wyoming, he managed The Gym and Asa’s company was the largest employer in Cattle Valley. He decided to use Asa’s new business venture as an excuse to stay. “I think Lobster Cove needs a health club.”

“Where’d that come from?” Asa asked.

Mario shrugged. “I’ve been wondering what I’ll do here in town while you’re busy getting the new manufacturing facility up and running. I could go back to Wyoming and come out on my days off, but we both know you’ll be spending the majority of your time here for the foreseeable future.” He bit his bottom lip. “I just thought while you’re busy at the plant, I could keep myself occupied here by setting up a health club. Of course I’ve spent most of my money on the house, but since you own most of the buildings in town, I figured I could get a break on the price of renting one of them from you.”

Asa turned Mario to face him. “Are you asking me to go into business with you?”

“Yeah, I guess I am. I won’t need much capital. I can start small and build the gym up slowly,” Mario explained.

Asa shook his head and Mario’s heart fell. “Never mind,” Mario said, breaking eye contact.

Cupping Mario’s chin, he turned Mario’s face back toward him. “If we’re going to do it, it needs to be done right. You know the money doesn’t matter to me, but even if it did, I have faith in you. You’ve done a damn good job with The Gym since you’ve taken over, and I have no doubt you can work your magic here.” He leaned in and gave Mario a deep kiss. “What’ll you tell Rio and Nate though?”

“The truth,” Mario replied, missing the feel of Asa’s lips against his. He jangled the keys in his hand. “Want to break in the new house right?”

“Hell yes.”

* * * *

Cullen glanced at Joseph as he dipped his roller into the paint tray. He couldn’t get used to seeing Joseph in anything but his usual black wardrobe, but they’d stopped by the supply building on the way to the shelter and grabbed a pair of coveralls for Joseph to wear. The simple change made Joseph seem more approachable.

As if he could feel Cullen’s gaze on him, Joseph paused in the process of painting to look over his shoulder. “What?”

Cullen smiled. They’d made love three times in the last sixteen hours, and he doubted he’d ever get enough. “Have you ever owned a pair of jeans?”

“Years ago.” Joseph went back to rolling paint on the apartment wall. “I know you hate the black, but it makes it easier to approach the boys who need my help. If I were to dress casually, they wouldn’t see me any different than the johns who offer them money for sex.”

While it made sense to Cullen, it didn’t explain why Joseph wore his uniform-of-choice at all times. “Okay, I get that, but why not wear normal clothes when you’re not actively looking for kids?”

Joseph shrugged but didn’t stop what he was doing.

The truth came to Cullen in a flash of insight. “You wear the black to keep yourself apart from everyone else.”

Joseph spun around and dropped the roller into the tray. He crossed the distance between them in no time, his face a mask of uncertainty. “Why would you say something like that?”

Cullen set down his roller before squaring his shoulders. “Because I think it’s the truth.” He reached for Joseph, and was grateful when Joseph accepted his embrace. “I think you need to remind yourself that you’re a man of God instead of allowing yourself to simply be a man because you know men make mistakes.” He pressed his cheek against Joseph’s chest, headless of the splatters of paint on Joseph’s coveralls. “I’ll love you no matter what you wear, but I think this is another of your throwbacks to that priest who gave you such a hard time.”

Joseph held Cullen tighter. “Maybe. My father always told me the clothes make the man. As you might guess, he was the kind of person who always dressed for success. His idea of weekend wear was khakis and a designer golf shirt. It’s possible my dad’s words combined with Father Matthews’ nonstop speeches has something to do with my wardrobe choice.”

“So can we order you some jeans and flannel shirts? I’ve always wanted to fuck a lumberjack,” Cullen said, trying to lighten the mood. He pulled back and stared up at Joseph. “When we go into the cities to help rescue, you can transform back into the man in black, but when the two of us are here, you can just be Joseph.” A thought struck him. “Or Joe.”

Joseph scowled. “I have never nor will I ever be a Joe.”

“Okay. I’ll concede the name thing as long as you’ll promise to play my hunky lumberjack on occasion.” Cullen pursed his lips and waited for the kiss he so desperately needed.

“Fine,” Joseph agreed a split second before his mouth closed over Cullen’s.

Epilogue

Joseph led Cullen into the café for their evening meal. He’d been in Lobster Cove for nearly two weeks, finishing the last details of the shelter and getting to know a different side of Cullen. It seemed if they were at Cullen’s place, the two of them were having sex, and Joseph wasn’t about to complain.

“Hi, Bev,” Cullen called as he slid into their favorite booth next to Joseph.

“I thought you boys would be gone by now,” Bev replied, bustling over to the table with two glasses of iced tea.

“Nope. Our plane leaves at ten in the morning, so we’re going to have to get up early and drive into Bangor.” Cullen squeezed Joseph’s thigh. “Joseph thinks it’ll only take a day or two to pack up the shelter. Two of our friends, Al and Snake, are driving the moving trucks up while we come back with the boys on the used school bus Asa bought.”

“Carl and I have started packing, so whenever you decide it’s a good time for us to move in, we’ll be ready.” Bev leaned down and spoke in a softer tone. “I think Carl’s more excited by this lifestyle change than I am. Of course he would be since he won’t be cooking for nearly as many people.”

Joseph smiled at the older woman. He still couldn’t believe how quickly Carl and Bev had jumped at the chance to upend their lives to help care for the young men they’d bring up from DC. Carl had even started to rework some old poles so he could teach the boys to fish. “Have you found someone to run the Bluebird or are we all gonna starve?”

Bev reached out and patted Joseph’s hand. “I wouldn’t let you starve, sweetie. Carl called his nephew. To be honest, we were both kind of surprised that Bishop would be interested, but we felt offering the café to him first was the right thing to do. Turns out, Bishop knew all about Cattle Valley and was ecstatic to hear about Lobster Cove. He put in his notice three days ago.”

Joseph nodded. “That’s great. I think you’re right about keeping the café in the family.”

The smile on Bev’s chubby face said she was excited that her nephew would be close. “You two want the special?”

“Joseph loves the meatloaf, but don’t tell Carl that it isn’t my favorite. I’ll take the chicken fried steak, but can I get brown gravy on my mashed potatoes instead of the white gravy?” Cullen asked.

“Sure thing.” Bev looked at Joseph. “You want the meatloaf?”

“Absolutely.” Cullen had been right—Joseph did love Carl’s meatloaf.

As soon as Bev left the table, Joseph reached down and directed Cullen’s hand higher on his thigh.

The front door opened and Mick Hennessey walked in. The new police chief had introduced himself on his second day in town when he’d asked to sit with them for dinner.

“Hey, Mick,” Cullen greeted.

Mick tipped his head slightly in acknowledgment before crossing the café to talk to Bev. After a brief exchange, he approached Joseph and Cullen’s table. “Mind if I join you while I wait for my order?”

“Sure,” Cullen was quick to say.

Joseph liked the police chief well enough, but he’d already admitted to Cullen that the man made him jealous. Especially because Cullen had used the term hot to describe Mick to Mandy during one of their phone calls a few days earlier.

“Are you eating here?” Cullen asked.

“No. I need to hire two officers, so Ryan Blackfeather sent me a bunch of applications to look through. I pulled a few out of the pile to call this evening. Once the town’s fully operational, I have to hire more, but three of us should be able to handle it for now.”

Joseph jumped when he felt Cullen’s hand on the fly of his new jeans. He tugged on the blue-and-white checked tablecloth, hoping to cover himself from view as Cullen lowered his zipper. What in heavens was Cullen thinking? They were seated across the table from Mick for goodness sake.

“Something wrong?” Mick asked.

Joseph tried to play off his reaction to Cullen’s hidden touch. “No, I thought I saw someone I knew.”

Mick glanced at the large table of construction workers before returning his gaze to Joseph. “In a town this size, I’d think you’d know everyone by now.”

“Joseph’s only been in town a week,” Cullen said, wrapping his hand around Joseph’s cock.

Joseph decided to change the topic. “Have you talked to Asa about the space above the police station?”

Mick’s expression brightened. “Yeah. He gave me the go-ahead to start rehabbing it. I should be able to move in as soon as I get the necessities in place. It’ll be a lot easier to run the department with a smaller staff if I’m there if someone needs backup.”

“Understandable, but I can tell you from experience, when you live in the same place you work, you never feel comfortable taking a day off.” It was for that reason that Cullen and Asa had ganged up on Joseph about letting Carl and Bev move into the shelter. Once Joseph returned from DC, he’d officially move into the small house Cullen had grown to love. Joseph still wasn’t entirely comfortable with the arrangement. It would probably feel strange for a while to have the boys living down the street from him, but he and Cullen would start traveling soon, so he supposed it made sense. If Carl and Bev were going to take over the day-to-day running of the shelter, they should have the newly completed apartment.

“Yeah,” Mick agreed, “but until I can justify hiring more staff, I wouldn’t feel right about living anywhere else. It’ll be enough for now.”

Joseph nearly groaned when Bev delivered their dinner, and Cullen released his cock. He wondered how fast he could shove the meatloaf into his mouth so they could run home and jump into bed. Damn. He was quickly becoming a sex maniac.

“You’re order’s almost ready,” Bev told Mick.

Mick rapped his knuckles on the table as he got to his feet. “How long before you get back to town?” he asked.

“Three or four days. It depends on how comfortable the bus is and how well the boys travel. Most of them have never been out of the city, so we may stop along the way and let them do some sightseeing,” Joseph explained.

“Well, be safe.” Mick dug into his back pocket and produced his wallet. He took a card out and laid it on the table. “If you run into any trouble, give me a call.”

“Thanks.” Joseph hated that he didn’t like Mick more than he did. The police chief had been nothing but friendly to him and Cullen since they’d met.

“Want us to pick up anything for you while we’re gone?” Cullen asked.

Mick grinned. “Thanks, but what I want you can’t find in a store or I’d have already bought it.”

“Don’t stop shopping and you’ll eventually find what you’re looking for,” Cullen replied.

Bev returned to their table and handed Mick a brown paper sack. “I put a piece of chocolate cake in there for you, too.”

“You’re the best.” Mick kissed Bev’s cheek before following her to the front counter. He paid for his dinner, but stopped to call out to Joseph and Cullen before he left. “See ya in a few days.”

“Yep,” Cullen returned.

Once Mick left the café, Cullen elbowed Joseph in the ribs. “You really don’t have anything to worry about with Mick.”

Joseph concentrated on adding salt and pepper to his mashed potatoes. “I’ll probably always be jealous of men who look like that. It took me too damn long to get my head on straight, and I’m not sure I’d survive losing you,” he admitted.

“I fought too hard to get you. No way are you losing me. Besides, Mick’s nice, but I know his type just from watching him. He’s not a one-man kind of guy.” Cullen took a bite of his steak and smiled.

Joseph picked up his fork. “You think he’s a player?”

“Nope, didn’t say that. He’s bisexual.” Cullen reached for his tea. “I saw him checking out the rack on the UPS lady the other day, but I’ve also caught him looking at a few of the construction workers, Jordan in particular.”

Joseph shook his head. He didn’t doubt Cullen’s assessment. Living on the streets as long as he had, Cullen had learned to read people better than anyone Joseph had ever met.

Cullen shrugged. “To each their own, but I prefer lumberjack cock.”

Joseph sighed heavily. “Fine. I’ll get a damn flannel shirt.”

* * * *

Cullen slammed the front door before ripping off his T-shirt. “Stay right there,” he ordered Joseph before taking off toward the bedroom.

Joseph paused in the process of taking off his clothes. “What? Why can’t I follow you?”

“Just trust me!” Cullen rushed to his bottom dresser drawer and pulled out the shirt he’d picked up several days earlier. He wished he had a pair of work boots to finish off the look, but he doubted his gaze would travel lower than Joseph’s fly anyway.

“Here.” Cullen tossed the red and black checked flannel to Joseph. “Put that on.”

Chuckling, Joseph slid his right arm into the long sleeve. “Really? You happened to have one of these in my size?”

Cullen lowered his zipper as he watched Joseph put on the shirt. Damn, Joseph looked even better than he’d hoped. “I got it the other day. I thought about making you wear it that night, but decided to ease you into dressing like a Regular Joe instead.

Joseph finished buttoning before holding out his arms. “Shouldn’t I have an axe or something?”

Pushing his jeans and underwear down, Cullen shook his head. “I draw the line at sharp tools near my dangly bits.” He kicked out of his boots before stepping free of his clothes. “I wish we had a more secure backyard. I’d make you fuck me with the birds watching.”

Joseph stilled. “Yeah?”

Cullen grinned. He usually topped, but Joseph had screwed him on a few occasions. “Lumberjacks don’t bottom—at least not in my fantasies.”

Joseph puffed his chest out a bit and grinned. He stuck his fingers in his pockets and stared down at Cullen. “I’ve been chopping wood all day, and I’m ready to fuck you.”

Cullen couldn’t help but chuckle. “Jesus. You kinda suck at the role playing thing, babe, but you’ll get better at it.”

Joseph ran his hands down Cullen’s chest before moving to cup his ass. “Are we using lube or maple syrup?”

“Seriously, you’re gonna have to stop talking now.” Cullen loved Joseph, but he wouldn’t let Joseph ruin the moment with cheesy lines. He dug the small tube out of his jeans’ pocket before handing it over. The two of them had been caught too many times without the slick stuff when they needed it, so he’d started to carry it with him. He pressed his cheek against Joseph’s chest. Heaven. Despite the stubble on his jaw, the flannel was soft on his face. He made a mental note to pick up some kind of woodsy scent for Joseph to wear on special occasions. “Keep your jeans on,” he whispered.

Without a word, Joseph stepped back before pushing Cullen’s torso toward the small table just inside the door.

Cullen licked his lips as he spread his legs. He shoved his ass out as far as he could and waited. After a long day of packing and getting the shelter ready for their trip, he knew Joseph wouldn’t bother with niceties. Sure enough, it only took a moment before he felt Joseph’s lubed finger circle his puckered opening twice before plunging inside. He knew they’d explore each other more after they’d both had a shower, but for now, Joseph’s rough treatment was what Cullen had been hoping for.

“Lean over so I can feel your shirt slide against me,” Cullen ordered. It was hard for him to give up control, so they were both used to him topping from the bottom.

Joseph fit his cockhead against Cullen’s hole before draping his body over Cullen’s back. “You sure this table will hold us?”

“Nope.” Cullen hissed when Joseph’s length pressed inside. Damn he loved the burn. It hadn’t always been that way, but he’d learned quickly how different sex was with Joseph. Trust was new to him, but he’d decided it made all the difference.

“You feel good.” Joseph withdrew before shoving back inside.

Cullen gripped the edges of the table before readjusting himself until his cock was pressed between his stomach and the smooth, cool surface. He loved the friction against his dick each time Joseph thrust his hips.

Cullen moaned. The brush of the soft flannel against his back was a stark contrast to the brutal fucking Joseph was doling out. He rested his forehead against the tabletop and inhaled the lemon polish Joseph preferred. He wondered what his cum would do to the spotless surface because he was about to blow.

Joseph kissed Cullen’s shoulder. “Sorry, but this is killing my back.” He lifted off Cullen without breaking rhythm.

The new position drove Joseph’s cock even deeper, prompting a long drawn out groan from Cullen. “Oh, fuck, I’m gonna come.”

Joseph grunted and gripped Cullen’s hips with his large hands. “Yeah.”

Cullen swiveled his hips as the first strand of cum shot between his stomach and the table. The thick fluid felt warm against his skin as his body began to slip and slide against the wood surface.

“Cullen!” Joseph’s body jerked as he buried himself to the hilt.

Cullen grunted when Joseph collapsed on top of him without warning. “Now my back’ll be killing me.”

Joseph took the hint and stood the moment he regained his breath. “Couch,” he grumbled. He pulled his jeans up before grabbing Cullen’s hand. “I’d say bed, but I need a few more minutes before I can make it that far.”

Cullen dropped onto the sofa and curled himself around Joseph. He smoothed his hand down the front of Joseph’s shirt. “Lumberjack-sex rocks.”

Joseph chuckled. “What is it with you and lumberjacks anyway?”

Cullen had known Joseph would eventually get around to asking the question. “It’s stupid.”

“Maybe so, but I’d still like to know.” Joseph pulled a throw blanket over and readjusted Cullen to sit on it.

Cullen grinned. Even after a fantastic orgasm, Joseph was thinking about preserving the furniture. “When I was a kid, my mom used to shut me in the pantry if I misbehaved. It wasn’t really like a time out or anything because I had to stay in there until my dad got home to deal with me.” He took a deep breath. He didn’t want to get lost in that side of his life again. “Anyway, Mom had this weird thing for paper towels. I swear it was a compulsion or something because there were times when we barely had food in the house, but the pantry was always well stocked with roles of Brawny. They sat on the floor under the shelves all lined up neatly. Mom didn’t let me turn on the light because she said it was best I had nothing to distract me as I said my prayers. Lucky for me, the pantry door didn’t go all the way to the floor, so the light from the kitchen shined a beam onto the roles of Brawny.”

Cullen shrugged. He wondered what Joseph thought of him as he finished his story. “Instead of praying, I’d sit in the dark and stare at those damn lumberjacks. I came up with all kinds of stories to pass the time. The prominent theme was that one of those hunky Brawny men would rescue me from the hell I was living at the time.”

Cullen stopped and kissed Joseph’s chest, patting the flannel. “I told you it was stupid.”

“Not stupid at all.” Joseph rubbed his cheek against the top of Cullen’s head. “When I was a kid, I had a crush on Tarzan. My dad used to watch those old black and white Tarzan shows on the weekends.” He chuckled. “I didn’t really know what being gay was at the time, but I used to lay on the floor, hoping that I’d get a peek of what was under that loin cloth.”

“Does this mean I need to buy a small piece of leather?” Cullen asked.

“Not at all. From now until the day I die, you’re the only fantasy I’ll ever need.”

Cullen snuggled closer. “Good answer, but I’m still gonna want you to wear that flannel shirt from time to time.”

Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:

Buck Wild: Cowboy Pride

Carol Lynne

Excerpt

Chapter One

Terrance Walker, better known as Dub, glanced up from his breakfast plate as his younger brother, Trent, shuffled into the kitchen. “You look like hell.”

Trent grinned and gathered the front of his hair into a ponytail. “Long night, but it was worth it. You should try it once in a while.”

Dub sopped up the egg yolk with the corner of his toast. Trent was a whore who’d bed anything with two legs, be it man or woman. It wasn’t the fucking that bothered Dub, but Trent’s drinking was becoming a problem. “You need to lay off the booze.”

“Why? I’m up and ready for work, aren’t I?” Trent shot back.

“Your usual?” Gracie, their sixty-two-year-old housekeeper, asked.

“Yeah. Thanks, sweetheart.” Trent flashed Gracie the smile that had gotten him out of trouble his entire life. Few people around Buckhead County had been able to resist that damn smile over the years.

Gracie set a large cup of strong black coffee in front of Trent along with a small plate of buttered toast. She went back to the counter and started fixing her famous hangover cure, a staple in the Walker house.

Trent sipped at his coffee. “Damn, that’s good.”

Gracie cleared her throat.

“Sorry.” Trent winked at Dub. “Mrs Jefferson gave me a basket of apples last night. I thought maybe you could make Dub one of those crisps he likes so much.”

Dub inwardly groaned. Sandy Jefferson was the wife of their nearest neighbor and one of Trent’s favorite fuck buddies when her husband was out of town. Dub had told his brother on more than one occasion he was playing with fire. Brian Jefferson was twice the size of Trent, which was saying something. All the Walker men were tall with well-muscled upper bodies. “I take it Brian went to that cattle auction after all.”

Trent polished off his toast and reached for the brownish-red liquid Gracie passed to him in a large glass. “Yeah, but only overnight. He’ll be back sometime this morning.” He tipped the glass and drained the entire thing in one long gulp.

Dub watched his brother for another moment before getting to his feet. After years of trying to push morals on Trent, Dub had eventually given up. Although they both had their father’s build, they had unfortunately received their mother’s looks and in Trent’s case, her values, which wasn’t saying much for either of them. It was Trent’s light brown eyes combined with his Mexican coloring that lured lovers in.

That said, Dub needed Trent to concentrate on the ranch. “We’ve got those new students in this morning, don’t forget.”

“I won’t.” Trent smacked his lips. “Perfect as always, Miss Gracie.”

Gracie took Trent’s empty glass. “You’d best behave or Mr Jefferson will ask me to slip some arsenic in it next time.”

“What Brian doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Besides, Sandy’s way too much woman for a man like Brian to handle. I’m doing him a favor.” Trent stood and kissed Gracie on the cheek. “See ya at lunch. I’ll put those apples on the porch.” He grabbed his baseball hat off the peg beside the door. “Later, bro.”

Dub carried his plate to the sink. “Fine breakfast.” He kissed Gracie on the cheek, something he’d done every morning for over twenty years.

“He’ll grow up someday,” she said, nodding toward the closing door.

“He’s twenty-four. At what point is that miracle going to happen?” Dub lifted his battered brown Stetson from the table and settled it low on his forehead. He knew Gracie had always babied Trent, just as his father had, but enough was enough. In the beginning, even Dub had blamed Trent’s bad behavior on their mother, Marcella, walking out on them when Trent was barely seven, but that was a long time ago. The decisions Trent made were reckless, and Dub had no doubt the lifestyle would catch up to him eventually.

“No matter what kind of trouble he finds at night, Trent always puts in a full day’s work.”

Dub glanced at Gracie. Some things, he reckoned, would never change. “I won’t be in for lunch.”

“I figured as much,” Gracie replied, knowing Dub always ate with the new students on the first day of roughstock training.

Dub left the house and headed toward the indoor arena. He had tried to make the ranch his father had left him solvent, but times had been hard. When his best friend from the rodeo circuit, two-time world champion Hank Strong, had suggested they open a training school for people who wanted to compete in roughstock rodeo events, Dub had seen a way of holding onto the farm while still being a part of something he’d loved. Bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding were, in Dub’s opinion, the hardest events in any rodeo. Most of the riders they trained went on to compete in the gay rodeos scattered around the country, but a few went on to ride in the professional circuits.

They’d been lucky enough to talk David ‘Easy’ Laurel into coming onboard to do most of the teaching. Easy had gotten his name from his easygoing temperament, so he seemed like the perfect choice to mold the men into rodeo champions. Dub stepped into the arena and stood in the back while Hank lined out the program for the new students. It was easy to tell by their size which men were there for bull riding and which preferred the broncs. Bull riders tended to be short and lean while the bronc riders were usually taller, some up to six-one or two.

“As you’ve already agreed, you’ll put in at least forty hours work on the ranch in exchange for your room and board. Meals are served in the cookhouse. Familiarize yourself with the hours because Tim won’t put up with latecomers. You’ll train at night as a group, and we’ll put up a schedule of individualized training during the day.” Hank held up a clipboard. “It’s up to you to check this every morning. Miss two training sessions and you’re out, no excuses. This’ll be updated and hung on that nail over there by the door every morning by five.”

“Some pretty good-looking candidates,” Easy said, sidling up next to Dub.

Dub glanced at his friend. Easy looked more like a surfer than a rodeo rider, but Easy’s shaggy blond hair seemed to work for the guy. More than half the students who came through the Rocking W fell in love with him. Thankfully, for Dub, Easy never got attached. He was used to his friend’s particular tastes and could pick out which one Easy would go for next.

Dub scanned the gathering of five men. “What the hell’s Hutch doing back here?”

William Hutchinson had gone through training nearly three years earlier. At the age of twenty-six, Hutch should know if he hadn’t made his mark on the circuit by then, it wasn’t likely to happen. Dub almost felt bad for taking the man’s money. Hutch was a good kid, but Dub didn’t feel he had the heart for competition.

“He called and begged to come back. Said he needed a refresher course. We had an open spot, so I agreed.” Easy stuck his hands in his back pockets.

Dub bumped Easy with his shoulder. “More than likely, you’re what he wants a refresher on.”

“That was a long time ago.” Easy chuckled. “Although I wouldn’t mind teaching him a few new tricks that I’ve picked up since he left.”

“Hard to believe an old dog like you could learn anything new,” Dub joked, feeling better than he had earlier.

“I’m only thirty-five. You’re the one knocking on forty’s door.”

“I’m only a year older than you,” Dub argued.

Easy adjusted his cock in his jeans. “That little one there on the left looks pretty sweet, too.”

Dub spotted the one Easy referred to almost immediately. The problem with bull riders was that they averaged around five-foot-eight and usually weighed less than one-hundred and fifty pounds. For men who were attracted to the smaller body frames, it was hard to be around the riders without wanting them. The one Easy pointed out was maybe five-seven with short black hair and a closely cropped black beard.

“He’s young,” Dub noted.

Easy sighed. “Aren’t they all?”

True. Dub had sampled more than his share of students, but he tried to keep his dick in his jeans on the ranch, preferring to sow his wild oats elsewhere. An image of a tall, sexy bronc rider came to mind, and Dub quickly pushed away the thought. No good would ever come of dreaming about Justice Bryan. “Yeah,” he agreed.

“See anything you like?” Easy asked.

Dub had never had a problem with Hank or Easy fucking the students or them fucking each other. The adrenaline produced while riding a bronc or a bull needed an outlet, and unless he wanted fights breaking out all over the ranch, it was better to allow the men to release their aggression in other ways. “Not this time. Just be careful,” he warned.

“Always am, and you know me, it never gets them special treatment.” Easy licked his lips. “At least in the arena.”

Rolling his eyes, Dub decided to leave Hank and Easy to the new students while he checked on Shane, one of the full-time ranch hands and the man who most occupied his thoughts and dreams. “See ya at lunch.”

“Sure thing,” Easy replied without taking his attention off the assembled group of men.

Dub left the arena and headed to the barn. The closer he got to Shane, the harder his dick became. Shane was a dream, the fantasy of every man who stepped foot on the ranch. He was also the biggest slut next to Trent. Just thinking about Shane made him groan in frustration. More than just his looks, it was Shane’s good heart and fun disposition that people were drawn to, and if Dub thought it was possible, he’d have staked his claim on the younger man years ago.

Shaking off the impossible dream, he neared the barn. If he were lucky, Shane had already saddled Gravy for him, but he doubted it. Defying Gravity, or Gravy, as Dub called him, was a bay gelding that stood nearly seventeen hands tall and Shane barely topped five-foot-six-inches in height. Although Shane had saddled Gravy before, Dub knew it hadn’t been an easy job for him. Stepping into the barn, he was brought up short. Shane was bent over with his cute little ass in the air.

Dub nearly groaned as he tried to keep his cock in check. “Morning,” he greeted.

Shane glanced up from the hoof he’d been cleaning. “Morning, boss.” He released Blackjack’s leg and stood. “You want me to saddle Gravy?”

“Nah, I’ll take care of it.” Dub leaned against his horse’s stall. There were only a handful of workhorses that were lucky enough to get a stall, and Gravy was one of them. “What’s on your plate today?”

“Bobby Baynard’s coming by. He’s looking to sell his saddle. I told him I might be interested in a new one,” Shane replied. “After that, I promised Colt I’d fix the well pump out in the east pasture.”

Dub hated the thought of Bobby stepping foot on the Rocking W. There were only a handful of people that Dub didn’t like, and Bobby was at the top of the list. “Why didn’t you tell me you needed a new saddle? We could’ve worked something out.”

Before Shane could answer, a spider the size of a quarter landed on the bill of his ball cap. Shane swatted at the spider, knocking it and his hat off at the same time. He ran his fingers through his soft brown curls as he shook his head. “I fucking hate spiders.”

Chuckling, Dub reached down and retrieved the hat. He pounded it against his thigh several times to knock off the dust before moving closer to resettle it on Shane’s head. “Spider free.”

Shane smiled up at Dub. “Thanks.”

Dub stared at Shane’s plump lips. Fuck, the man was gorgeous. He took a deep breath. How many years could he go on being tempted by the man in front of him? Shane was Trent’s best friend, and, if Dub wasn’t mistaken, his brother’s occasional fuck-buddy. That was two strikes against them from the get-go. The fact that Shane lifted his ass for anyone who looked interested was another.

Shane continued to meet Dub’s gaze. He moved closer, putting his body into direct contact with Dub’s. “Is there anything else?”

Dub wrapped an arm around Shane’s waist and hauled the kid even closer to capture Shane’s mouth in a deep kiss.

Shane opened immediately and moaned as Dub continued to thrust his tongue in and out of Shane’s mouth. It was one of the hottest kisses Dub had ever experienced. He lifted Shane off his feet before slamming the kid against the stall. Sweet Jesus. It wasn’t until he felt Shane’s hand on his belt that Dub snapped back to reality and lowered Shane to the floor. He took a step back and ran a hand over his face. What the hell had he been thinking? Without a word, he strode to the tack room.

Dub hoisted his saddle and favorite horse blanket onto his shoulder and stopped to catch his breath. He’d been two zippers away from fucking Shane—and God help him, he still wanted the sexy sonofabitch—but losing control with Shane was unacceptable. It was one thing to screw one of the students that would only be on the ranch for two or three months, but Shane was a fulltime employee, which meant Dub would have to work beside the younger man after knowing the bliss of being buried in Shane’s ass. Dub knew he had little choice but to go back out and try to make things right. At the very least, Shane deserved to know why Dub had put a stop to that amazing kiss. He walked back into the main part of the barn.

“That won’t happen again,” he said as he passed Shane.

“Why?” Shane asked. “I thought it was about time you made a move. I’ve only been throwing myself at you since I was sixteen and spending the night with Trent just to be around you,” he said in a sarcastic tone.

Dub remembered the first time his dick had grown hard at the sight of Shane. It had been Shane’s twentieth birthday and Dub had found Trent and Shane on the porch, passed out after getting into the liquor cabinet. Dub had poured a bucket of water on Trent and had managed to wake him enough for him to get up and head inside. Shane was just a little thing, so Dub had decided to carry him upstairs to Trent’s room. It wasn’t until he’d held Shane in his arms that his body had reacted. He remembered staring down at Shane, knowing without a doubt that he wanted to take care of the man.

By the time Dub had carried Shane upstairs, Trent was naked in bed. Trent had brushed the sheet beside him and thanked Dub for bringing Shane up. When Trent had pulled Shane into his arms, Dub had known there was no future with Shane. He’d done his best since that night to keep Shane at arm’s length.

Dub threw the blanket and saddle over Gravy’s back. “That’s precisely the reason it’ll never happen again.” He glanced over his shoulder at Shane. “Set your sights on someone else, kid. You’ll never be anything to me but Trent’s friend.”

“You’re a real asshole, do you know that?”

“So I’ve been told a time or two.” Dub turned his back on Shane and continued to saddle his horse as he tried like hell to get his body under control. Shane wasn’t the staying kind of man, not that Dub was looking for a steady partner, but even if he was, it sure as fuck wouldn’t be someone as flirty and sexy as Shane Ackerman.

Shane retreated to the tack room in an effort to get out of Dub’s line of fire. He wasn’t a fool, that kiss he’d shared with Dub had meant something. When he heard Dub and Gravy leave the barn, he stood in front of the dusty window and watched them ride off into the pasture.

“Give it up already,” Trent said with a chuckle from behind Shane. “It’s starting to get pathetic.”

“Fuck off.” Shane turned to face his best friend. “I figured you’d be eyeing the new guys by now.”

Trent picked up a set of reins and slapped the leather against one of the saddles. “I’ve found a couple of good candidates, but it’s not the same unless you’re with me.”

“Me? I’m not interested,” Shane denied. He would have been if the incident with Dub hadn’t happened.

“I know, you always get like this when Dub shoots you down, but I need you. I look even better when I’m standing next to your puny ass.” Trent laughed and smacked the saddle again.

Shane groaned. He had no idea why he continued to put up with Trent. It helped that Trent knew all his darkest secrets and had managed to keep them private. He watched his friend and shook his head. Trent was a goof who loved to have fun no matter what. Yeah, Shane loved the guy like a brother, warts and all. There weren’t many people who’d witnessed the insecure side of the sonofabitch. Shane had not only seen it but had held Trent while he’d cried for hours.

“He kissed me,” Shane blurted out.

“What? Who?”

“Dub,” Shane admitted. “Just a few minutes ago. Of course then he pushed me away and told me it would never happen again.”

Trent tossed the reins back onto the dowel before crossing his arms over his chest. He tilted his head to the side and stared at Shane.

“What?” Shane prayed his friend wasn’t angry. He’d never kept his desire for Dub a secret from Trent, so the kiss shouldn’t have come as a shock.

“Nothing,” Trent finally said and turned as if to leave.

“Oh no you don’t.” Shane moved quickly to stand in front of Trent. Despite their size difference, Shane had learned to fight at an early age and wasn’t afraid to take someone on, even his best friend. The expression on Trent’s face was murderous. “You’re pissed.” He couldn’t believe it. “Why the fuck’re you mad?”

Trent sighed. “Because I don’t want you getting messed up with Dub. Despite his holier-than-thou attitude, he’s a fuckin’ player. Just like me,” Trent mumbled. “I never really cared that you had a crush on him because I thought he’d never take you up on it, but I see it differently now.”

“You think I’m not good enough for him or is it the other way around?” Shane asked.

“Neither. It’s just that the two of you aren’t a good match. Believe me, I’ve lived with the prick my entire life, and he can’t make you happy. Besides, I think he’s still hung up on that rodeo guy.”

“What rodeo guy?” Shane hadn’t heard that Dub had been seeing anyone lately.

“Some asshole that really did a number on him. Back when Hank was still riding, Dub used to disappear on the weekends to follow him around on the circuit. He’d come home from a long weekend looking strung out but happier than I’ve ever seen him. That ended about five years ago, and he hasn’t been in a good mood since.”

“So that doesn’t mean he’s still hung up on him.” Shane refused to consider the fact that Dub had loved someone else.

“I don’t see him sweeping you off your feet.” Trent shook his head. “I love you, Shane, but you need to move on.”

“Anyone here? Shane?” a deep voice called.

Trent nodded toward the barn. “Bobby’s been sniffing around you a lot lately. Why don’t you forget about Dub and go a round or two with him? At least neither of you would get hurt in the process.”

“Be there in a minute!” Shane hollered back. He stared up at Trent. Was Trent warning him away from Dub out of love or jealousy? Trent hadn’t attempted to get into his bed for years, so Shane tried to listen out of a place of love. Did Trent know something about Dub that he wasn’t saying? Bobby reminded him of Dub in a lot of ways. They were close to the same size with Dub being only slightly taller than Bobby’s six-foot-two frame and they both had midnight-black hair and big brown eyes. Shane bit his lower lip. He’d loved Dub for years and had still managed to have a very active sex life. Maybe Trent was right. Fucking Bobby could be the answer to weaning himself from Dub.

Trent dug into his front pocket. “The easiest way to get Dub out of your head is to have Bobby fill your ass.” He handed the supplies to Shane.

Shane looked at the condom and individual packet of lube. “I can’t believe you had these in your pocket.”

Trent chuckled. “I’ve got more where they came from. Come on, this place is crawling with fresh ass, and I plan to sample the goods.”

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About the Author

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favorite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Email: carol@carol-lynne.net

Also by Carol Lynne

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Campus Cravings: In Bear’s Bed

Campus Cravings: Office Advances

Campus Cravings: A Biker’s Vow

Campus Cravings: Hershie’s Kiss

Campus Cravings: Theron’s Return

Campus Cravings: Live for Today

Campus Cravings: Incoming Freshman

Campus Cravings: A Lesson Learned

Campus Cravings: Locky in Love

Campus Cravings: The Injustice of Being

Campus Cravings: Watch Me

Campus Cravings: Coming Clean

Campus Cravings: Professor Sandwich

Good Time Boys: Sonny’s Salvation

Good-time Boys: Garron’s Gift

Good-time Boys: Rawley’s Redemption

Good-time Boys: Twin Temptations

Good-time Boys: It’s a Good Life

Cattle Valley: All Play & No Work

Cattle Valley: Cattle Valley Mistletoe

Cattle Valley: Sweet Topping

Cattle Valley: Rough Ride

Cattle Valley: Physical Therapy

Cattle Valley: Out of the Shadow

Cattle Valley: Bad Boy Cowboy

Cattle Valley: The Sound of White

Cattle Valley: Gone Surfin’

Cattle Valley: The Last Bouquet

Cattle Valley: Eye of the Beholder

Cattle Valley: Cattle Valley Days

Cattle Valley: Bent-Not Broken

Cattle Valley: Arm Candy

Cattle Valley: Recipe for Love

Cattle Valley: Firehouse Heat

Cattle Valley: Neil’s Guardian Angel

Cattle Valley: Scarred

Cattle Valley: Making the Grade

Cattle Valley: To Service and Protect

Cattle Valley: The O’Brien Way

Cattle Valley: Ghost from the Past

Cattle Valley: Hawk’s Landing

Cattle Valley: Shooting Star

Cattle Valley: Confessions

Cattle Valley: Shadow Soldier

Cattle Valley: Alone in a Crowd

Cattle Valley: Second Chances

Cattle Valley: Finding Absolution

Cattle Valley: Fingerprints and Muddy Feet

Cattle Valley: Snake Charmer

Poker Night: Texas Hold Em

Poker Night: Slow-Play

Poker Night: Pocket Pair

Poker Night: Different Suits

Poker Night: Full House

Men in Love: Reunion

Bodyguards in Love: Brier’s Bargain

Bodyguards in Love: Taming Black Dog Four

Bodyguards in Love: Seb’s Surrender

Bodyguards in Love: I Love Rock N Roll

Bodyguards in Love: Seducing the Sheik

Bodyguards in Love: To Bed a King

Neo’s Realm: Liquid Crimson

Neo’s Realm: Blood Trinity

Neo’s Realm: Crimson Moon

Neo’s Realm: Royal Blood

Seasons of Love: Spring

Seasons of Love: Summer

Seasons of Love: Fall

Seasons of Love: Winter

C-7 Shifters: Alrik

C-7 Shifters: Seger

Buck Wild: Cowboy Pride

Buck Wild: Cowboy Rules

Fabulous Brits: Moor Love

Naughty Nooners: Dalton’s Awakening

Gaymes: Highland Gaymes

Unconventional at Best: A New Normal

Unconventional in Atlanta: Seeing Him

What’s his Passion?: The Brick Yard

Carol loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.

Totally Bound Publishing