The Eagle and the Fox (A Snowy Range Mystery, #1) (25 page)

Using his height and mass to leverage Marcus’ body into different positions, Josh changed the angles and the depth until Marcus thought he could feel Josh’s cock at the base of his throat. He howled, “Christ, I’m close,” as the familiar tightness gripped his balls and convulsive waves drove both of them over the edge.

His body vibrating like a tuning fork, Marcus exhaled a long groan as Josh lifted him off the sofa and gathered him tight in his arms, his cock still inside, still teasing at the edge. Marcus wrapped his arms and legs around the bigger man and nearly wept at the emotions leaking from every pore.

Somehow they were back in the bathroom, Marcus on the toilet seat and Josh removing the condom, disposing of it in the plastic bin under the sink. Euphoria and exhaustion took over as Josh wet a washcloth and made quick work of cleaning both of them up. He didn’t remember standing up, didn’t recall Josh positioning him in front of the mirror, arms wrapped around his torso and stubbled chin resting on top of his head.

A slow grin transformed the scarred warrior into his tender lover, a man who melted his bones and made his heart sing.

He’d been wrong. It wasn’t anything so mundane, so pedestrian, as riding a bicycle. What they’d done was take dance steps learned from years and years of practice and transform them with a choreography as old as time into entirely new patterns. For all his years with Tommy, he’d taken and given pleasure, enjoying every moment, but now... God, now he realized the one thing he’d been missing all his life.

Passion. Passion fueled by a raging inferno, by an all-consuming appetite, by a melody of lust and desire that touched his very soul.

Josh’s voice rumbled against his skull. “What’re you thinking about?”

Marcus snickered. “If I said I’m getting too old for this shit, would you believe me?”

“No.”

“How about if I said I’m finally old enough to understand it?”

They locked eyes in the mirror and Josh’s face softened with comprehension. “Now
that
I can believe, because I feel it too.” Josh turned his head sideways and gently kissed Marcus’ temple. “We don’t have to be at my place until ten. Would you think less of me if I suggested we recuperate in bed?”

Marcus grinned and said, “Cowboy, I’d think less of you if you didn’t want to, ’cause with age comes wisdom.”

As they settled once more under the covers, Marcus tucked his head into the crook of Josh’s neck and surrendered himself to the serenity of knowing he’d maybe found that missing piece of himself.

As Marcus drifted toward sleep, Josh whispered, “What’s for breakfast?”

“Larder’s pretty empty. Would another blowjob do?”

“I guess. But, um... no strawberry jam, okay? Man, I can’t take any more of that stuff.”

Suspecting he’d be asking himself,
How did I get so lucky
, a whole hell of a lot in the coming weeks, Marcus took a few seconds to count his blessings before replying, “Agreed. Now go to sleep, cowboy. See you in the morning.”

****

A
s Josh pulled into his lane, he remarked, “You know, you don’t have to go out with us. Everybody will understand.”

“Understand? Right. Your sister’s gonna smile and say
well done, you
when I tell her her brother fucked me so good I won’t be able to walk right for a week, let alone sit in a damn saddle.” Marcus crossed his arms and pouted. “Besides, Maudie will never forgive me if I don’t go. From what I hear, she’s gone to a lot of trouble to find the best mount for me.”

“Second best.”

“Come again?”

“
I’m
your best mount. And, as for coming again? Sorry, much as I’d like to oblige, you ain’t the only one who’s sore and tuckered out.”

Marcus teased, “That topping from the bottom wear you out, babe?” He sighed and shook his head. “Gotta admit, I kind of surprised myself.”

Josh agreed, then added, “Not bad for an old fart like you.” Marcus reached over and poked Josh’s arm.

Parking the truck in his usual spot, Josh turned off the ignition, but instead of jumping out and heading to the barn, they stared out the windshield toward the spot where Kit and Petilune had sat that night after the dance. Kit braiding the girl’s hair, Petilune wailing over the aftermath of the vicious attack on the boy.

Marcus asked, “Where do you think he is now?”

Josh shrugged. “He could be anywhere, but my gut tells me he’s close. Too damn close.”

His insides in turmoil, Marcus debated confessing to Josh about the boy being with Petilune after they’d all settled in for the night, how he’d redone her hair, then vanished into thin air at the ass crack of dawn. Yeah, there was no doubt in his mind the kid was close. In fact the odds were good he was watching them right that minute.

He kept that episode to himself since no purpose was served having Josh go apeshit. What they would need to do, and soon, was decide on how to deal with Petilune. Shuffling her from one place to another was eventually going to wear thin. The child had been amazingly resilient, but eventually something would give, and the potential fallout from that was never good.

Giving a furtive glance toward the line of trees, Marcus opened the door and retrieved his duffel bag. Josh had offered the use of his shower so he’d brought a change of clothes and extra underwear. The underwear, plus a toothbrush and a few sundries, had been added at Josh’s suggestion.

Marcus had teased, “Then this isn’t a once and done?” only to be hurled onto the bed and ravaged with a kiss that had rattled his brains and left him gasping for breath. He’d been so disoriented, he’d barely caught Josh whispering, “Over my dead body.”

Josh asked, “You want that shower now or after the ride?”

“After. If memory serves, the odds of me being dumped in a pile of manure the minute the horse starts walking are fairly high.”

“Oh come on, it hasn’t been that long. Besides, it’s just like riding a bicycle. You never forget.”

There was that bicycle thing again. Marcus grinned to himself and followed Josh into the house. He tossed his bag onto the spare bed and then joined his lover on the porch. Josh pointed up the lane. “Gang’s arrived. Let’s go down to the barn and round up some horses. Becca will bring the girls down.”

They’d barely gotten to the stream cutting the property in half when squeals from the girls alerted them they were about to be tackled. Laughing out loud, Marcus and Josh each scooped a bundle of energy into their arms and jumped the stream to yelps from Becca reminding them to not get their feet wet.

In less than a half hour the horses were saddled and ready to go. Marcus sidled over to Becca and asked, “Is Petilune all right? Is she scared to ride?”

Becca shook her head no and whispered, “It’s a girl thing, if you know what I mean.”

Blushing, Marcus mumbled, “Oh,” and let the subject drop. Then he felt stupid, because what if...

What if I could take her, raise her up like a daughter, be the father she never had? I’d need to deal with shit like that, wouldn’t I?

Well, the likelihood of him getting custody was slim to none. He put it out of his mind and accepted Josh’s help in giving him a leg up. It was about as bad as he expected it might be. He wanted to whine and moan, but Josh muttered under his breath, “Cowboy up, Colton,” and left to see to the girls.

With Becca and Petilune looking on, he kept his retort to himself. There would be plenty of time later to show Josiah Foxglove exactly what “Cowboy up” meant.

****

A
fter the trail ride, Becca had picked up the girls and told them to be at her place in an hour. That gave Marcus and Josh enough time to shower and change their clothes.

When Josh asked whether or not he wanted to walk over or drive, Marcus said, “I feel like I did two hours on that damn horse sitting on the horn, so if you don’t mind... drive?”

As they approached Becca’s tidy log cabin, Marcus noticed a state police car angle parked by the front porch. He asked, “What’s Sorenson doing here?”

Josh’s mouth was pinched tight as he exited the truck and stalked toward where Becca and the trooper appeared to be arguing. He grabbed the cop’s arm and spun him around as Becca yelped, “Josh, don’t...”

Marcus circled to the other side, keeping one eye to the screen door where Petilune and the children gawked wide-eyed at the drama unfolding.

His voice low and threatening, Sorenson said, “Hands off, Foxglove.”

Marcus noted the man wasn’t in uniform, although his body language and demeanor broadcast official asshole business. Jumping onto the porch, he hissed, “Petilune, take the girls out back. They don’t need to see this. Okay, sweety?”

Petilune nodded and shepherded the girls away from the budding conflict.

Marcus had missed the opening salvo, but when he approached the two men going
mano a mano
, Josh was shouting, “You don’t get to do anything on our property, is that clear, Sorenson? You want something, then you either ask nice, or you come with a warrant.” He glanced at Marcus briefly, then hissed, “Since I don’t see a warrant, and Becca here doesn’t think demanding to talk to a child without an adult present qualifies as being nice, then I want you off this property.”

The cop glared at Josh, chewing the inside of his lip, his face florid. But there was nothing he could do and he knew it. Stomping to his car, he said, “That girl knows something. I think she knows where that Giniw kid is, and I think she told him we were coming. I want answers, Foxglove, and I intend to get them.”

Josh looked like he was going to follow the cop to his car and beat the living crap out of him. Marcus took his arm and whispered, “Not worth it. He’s got jack shit so he’s here fishing for anything to make himself look good. Let it go.”

Becca joined them as they watched the trooper drive off, leaving a parting shot of... “Don’t cross me Foxglove. You’ll regret it.”

Becca said what they were all thinking. “What. An. Asshole.”

A chirpy voice from the house called out, “Language, Mom,” leaving them all clamping their mouths shut to keep from laughing.

Still grinning, Becca said, “Come in, fellas. Dinner’s about ready. And I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.” She stood on tiptoe and gave her brother a kiss on the chin. “I’ll leave the bartending to you. Marcus, how about you help carve the ham?”

Marcus entwined his fingers with Josh’s, giving his lover a moment to compose himself before going inside. The little eavesdroppers had heard and seen enough for one day.

When Josh took a deep breath, Marcus finally relaxed and said, “We can talk about it later. For now, let’s enjoy a nice meal while I try my damnedest to earn back Maudie’s respect.”

Josh chuckled and said, “Good luck with that,” as he led Marcus into the cabin.

While he stood in the kitchen and sharpened the knife, Marcus thought,
we’re going to need a lot more than luck to deal with the shitstorm that’s coming.

––––––––

J
osh watched Marcus slip out of bed and pad toward the bathroom. Reaching to feel the jumble of bedding still whispering his lover’s body heat, he marveled at how easily they now fit. It might have taken them a couple years to break the ice, but once it had happened, trust and respect had followed almost without effort. Then there’d been the passion that probably took both of them by surprise.

Now Josh couldn’t imagine not having Marcus in his life and in his bed. Or Marcus’ bed. A couch, any couch. The back seat of the truck...

He grinned and muttered, “Maybe not the back seat. I think we’re both a little too old for
that
shit.”

Marcus leaned around the door jamb. “Bathroom’s free. I’ll get coffee started.” He ducked out, then back in. “Becca’s pulling in. Better get your ass in gear, babe.”

Now it was babe instead of cowboy. He yawned, not wanting to move out of the bliss of having greeted the morning with Marcus wrapped around his body, his lips teasing and demanding until Josh had moaned, “Have your way with me,” and surrendered.

As if surrendering had been a hardship...

By the time he got to the kitchen, Becca was sitting at the table and sipping coffee. She fluttered her eyelashes and smirked, giving him that
I know what you’ve been doing
look. The one that meant she approved and was happy for him. And for Marcus, too.

Marcus asked, “So, how are we divvying up the chauffeuring today?”

After pouring himself a mug of coffee, Josh took a sip, then pursed his lips in thought. Petilune had stayed over at Becca’s and was watching the girls while they fed the stock and sorted out who to get where on time.

“Becca and me will feed the horses. If we both do it, it won’t take long. Then, how about I get you to the store, Marcus. I know you need a little extra time to open first thing Monday’s.”

Marcus had said he was an early riser, but it still surprised Josh that he’d been the first one awake and ready to party before even the hint of dawn. He guessed you could take the boy out of the ranch, but not the ranch out of the boy.

Becca suggested, “How about I take Petilune and Felicity to school while you head into town, Josh. I brought a list of stuff we need.” She fished a slip of paper out of her pocket and set it on the table. Looking toward Marcus, she asked, “How about you, do you need anything at Bartle’s?”

Josh answered for him. “Peanut butter. Crackers. Anything edible that comes in a can or a box and can be heated on a one-burner propane camp stove.”

Marcus snorted. “It’s a two-burner, and if you don’t mind, maybe a six pack of beer.” He pointed at Josh. “For you.”

Becca scribbled on the back of the note paper as Marcus lifted his eyebrows, daring Josh to refuse the bills he fished out of his wallet. Josh knew better. Tit-for-tat accounting wasn’t his way, nor was it Marcus’. In their world, you paid your own way at the same time you accepted favors offered out of kindness and neighborliness.

Josh took the list and the money, then said, “I’m going to stop in at Laramie PD and find out why the hell Sorenson was here yesterday.” He was still boiling mad at the trooper overstepping his boundaries. “He’s no detective, and he’s got no jurisdiction here. There’s more to this than him just being a nosy bastard.”