13. Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Mickey stood in the doorway of Jon's bedroom, not sure what else to say. He'd given the man an out, and he expected him to take it. The news Jon was gay wasn't that much of a shocker. Mickey had hopefully deduced as much, even if he doubted his gaydar. How they'd proceed from that revelation was the biggest question.

Mickey exhaled. "Look, Jon, I'd never, ever out you. You have parents who love you, and I envy that. You come out when you're ready, if you're ever ready." Mickey wished with everything inside him that he could just kiss Jon one last time.

Jon chuckled as he took a seat on the bed. "I used to lay here and dream about a day when I'd be able to bring a boyfriend out for the weekend, and we'd go swimming or ride horses through the woods surrounding the property. I like to pleasure ride, which is why Mom keeps Hercules, but I've let other stuff get in my way. I've let my worry over how my parents would take the news I'm gay shadow everything I do in my life.

"Hell, Audrey's engaged, and she hasn't told her parents yet because I'm not ready to tell mine that she and I won't be getting married and giving them grandchildren. How fuckin' sad is that?" Jon asked with a humorless chuckle.

Mickey could tell Jon was angry about something, but he was pretty sure it wasn't his fault. Obviously, Jon had some shit to sort with his parents, and some unresolved issues he probably needed to think about. "Look, Jonny, I'm not tryin' to take over your life. I just… Well, you have things to discuss with your parents. I sure as fuck ain't gonna interfere."

Jon looked down, bending forward to rest his elbows on his thighs as his hands covered his handsome face. Mickey could see he was in a bad spot, so he decided to attempt to ease some of the tension by taking a seat on the bed next to him. "Dude, seriously, this ain't that complicated. Your momma wants to breed Charlie to her mares, so I'll make sure it happens tomorrow, and then on Monday mornin' before I take him home. It's likely we won't run into each other again…" Mickey tried to alleviate the man's anxiety. He'd lived Jon's fear and knew how hard it was when people you loved turned their back on you.

Jon turned to him and pushed him down onto the bed, straddling his hips. "I have it on good authority that if I ask enough questions, I'll find something in common with damn near anyone I ever meet, so Michael Warren, are you in an exclusive relationship at the moment?" Jon knelt over Mickey.

Of course, Mickey was nervous. "N-N-No. Not for a while." A tender smile crept across Jon's lips which he appreciated. He placed his hands over Jon's thighs, squeezing gently.

The lawyer relaxed a little. "Okay, that's a start. I'm not either right now, but that doesn't mean I'm looking for exclusivity or anything. I'm very attracted to you physically, Michael. Unfortunately, I'm not ready, nor do I really have time, for a monogamous relationship, but that doesn't mean we can't spend some time together when we're both available, or maybe just tonight."

Mickey laughed and took a deep breath, preparing to let his heart break one more time. "Well, I reckon I've got one more, one-night stand left in me. I want to settle down someday but maybe I got one last wild oat to sew. You a top or bottom?" He continued circling his thumbs over Jon's inner thighs.

Jon grinned. "You first, Michael."

Mickey chuckled. "I guess you can call me Mickey if you wanna. Nobody calls me Michael, but that's okay, too. I lost my ass cherry without it bein' a lot of fun, but I expect I can take it again if you're a top." He couldn't look into those beautiful, silver-green eyes of the man on top of him. He hoped to hell Jon didn't ask for an explanation.

When Jon sat up and looked at him, Mickey could tell something was horribly wrong, and it made him uneasy. "Hey, we don't gotta do… Fuck, I should go." Mickey tried to push the man off him so he could do just that.

Jon pinned his hands next to his head and looked into his eyes. "How old are you, Mickey?"

Mickey chuckled. "I feel about a hundred most days, but I'm twenty-three. I lied to Tim and the Simmons' family, tellin' 'em I'm twenty-five to get the job because… Well, that's all a bunch of bullshit you don't wanna hear. I'm old enough to know right from wrong, and that's all you need to worry about, Jonny."

Jon smiled. "So, you're that much—ten years younger? What on earth do we… What could we ever have in common?"

After a minute, Mickey laughed. "Well, I like to get my cock sucked. How ‘bout you, counselor?"

Jon glanced down at the bed for a minute, and Mickey decided it was time to be honest. "Look, I've been with a few guys over the years, and for a while, I was in an exclusive relationship with a younger guy, so I know how leery you probably are of the age difference. Jackie was a good guy, or so I thought, until he took off without a word. It broke my heart, but I took the time to get over it. I'm not lookin' to feel that kind of pain anytime soon, so I'm not in a hurry for anything serious right now. Hell, I'm just gettin' back in the game."

Much to his surprise, Jon Wells stripped the two of them in record time. It was like heaven when Jon's velvet mouth encased his hard cock, and when he finally got Jon's hard rod in his mouth in a vigorous sixty-nine, Mickey didn't hesitate to treat it with the respect it deserved. It was big, as he expected because the man carried himself like was carrying a load where it counted, and that dick was no lie.

He sucked it and licked it, jacking the part he couldn't fit into his mouth as Jon schooled him on the art of sucking cock. Never in his life had he felt the kisses and the licks, along with the suction of the gorgeous man's mouth. If it was the last time they'd see each other, it would be a grand send-off.

After swallowing Jon's release, equally surprised when Jon swallowed his, they both lay panting on the bed, holding onto each other's legs. Mickey decided to speak first because he damn well didn't want the man to think he was going to become an obsessive asshole, so he flipped around and lay with his head on the pillow next to Jon. "That was really fuckin' great. Thanks, Jonny." He leaned forward and kissed the man's cheek before he hopped up and pulled on his sweats to slip out of the room.

Inside, Mickey could tell Jon was already backtracking on what had happened and before he had to hear how sorry the other man was about taking advantage of someone Mickey's age, the cowboy decided to leave the scene of the beautiful crime.

It had been incredible to suck that beautiful cock, but to hear Jon say it was a mistake wasn't a hurt he wanted to suffer. A preemptive strike was necessary, and he'd made it. He slept a restless sleep, but at least he felt he had the upper hand and ended things on his own terms.

Standing in the barn hallway at the Wells farm, Mickey was considering his options. Allison Granger Wells was standing next to him, having led her mare to the breeding stall she had behind the barn. Mickey had seen horses being bred before but not in a breeding stall like the one she was planning to use.

"So, um, ma'am, how's that work? I'm not sure Charlie will know what to do in that thing. Usually, we just stake the mare and pad her back, so he doesn't bite her, though he's generally a gentleman. I'm worried if she gets in that thing, he might throw a fit," Mickey explained to her as he took in the red, metal stall.

Allison examined the stall and then walked back to the space where the stallion was waiting, having raised its head because the mare was in range. She'd brought the mare in and led her past the stud a few times to get him riled up, and he was ready to go. The next step was the one upon which they disagreed.

"I've never bred any of my mares freestyle, and I'm not so sure about trying it with that stallion. He's awfully damn big." Allison stared at the large stallion with a skeptical eye.

Mickey nodded but offered his own argument. "I understand, but I know Charlie and I think that thing will confuse him. He's really a gentle horse, and I'm sure he won't hurt Rosie."

Allison stared into space for a few minutes before she opened the front gate of the stall and led the mare out of it. "Okay, if you believe he'll be okay, I'll take your word for it. I'll get a breeding pad, but if anything goes wrong, it's on you, young man."

Mickey nodded with a sense of relief, but he knew the woman meant business. Thankfully, Charlie was a dependable stallion. A prayer wouldn't hurt, either.

After the mare was settled in the hallway of the barn, Mickey hooked a lead to Charlie's halter to lead him away for a bit, causing the large horse to balk . Mickey slapped him on the back with the rope to get his attention, and the horse calmed. He took Charlie into the fresh air to clear his nose as Allison got the breeding pad placed on her mare.

He'd never been around when a woman was present as Charlie did his thing, so he hoped things didn't get too uncomfortable when he had to lubricate Charlie's magic wand. He definitely had to quit thinking about Jon, or he would sprout wood just like the stallion, which would be embarrassing on a whole other level. None of it would be productive at all.

"I thought fucking was taking place," Mickey heard behind him as he brushed his hand over Charlie's neck to calm him before they returned to where the mare was ready to go. He turned to see Jon with a cup in his hand and a look on his face that was anything but friendly.

"We hit a snag. Your mom is used to using a breeding stall, and usually, we let Charlie into the pen with the mare. This one's orchestrated, but he's too big for that stall and I'm worried he'd hurt the mare. Miss Allison's staking her mare in the hallway to put on the breeding pad, and then I'll bring him in to get him ready, but I needed him to clear his nose for a bit. I don't want him to hurt any of us." Mickey didn't meet Jon's stare.

"Well, let's hope he doesn't run off like you did." Jon dropped that bomb before walking into the barn hallway, leaving Mickey totally confused—once again.

Not surprisingly, Ebony Prince Charles performed his duties four times that afternoon without hesitation. He was truly the stud his papers portrayed him to be, and when Mickey put him to bed that night with lots of grain and hay, he patted him on the neck. "Well done, old man."

The horse snorted and settled into the corner, closing his eyes which brought a chuckle to Mickey. He could only imagine the horse was tired and satisfied. If he'd fucked two different people twice each, he'd likely be tired as well. Little did Charlie know he'd have another go ‘round in the morning before they loaded up and headed back to Holloway.

As Mickey was about to walk out of the barn, a very handsome man walked in with a bright grin. He was a flaxen-haired, blue-eyed beauty, a bit older than Mickey, but he seemed pleasant. "I took the day off, but I'm betting you're Michael Warren and that's your stud," the man stated as he pointed to the stall where Charlie seemed to be sleeping.

Mickey laughed. "Ebony Prince Charles is taking his rest before he performs his responsibilities in the mornin'. I think he likes a little mornin' delight." Mickey laughed as he stuck out his hand. "It's not my stud, it's my boss', but I think he takes after me." Mickey teased the man, grinning when the guy's eyes grew wider.

"I'm Clyde, the barn manager. Loved by the owner's wife but hated by the husband. That stud is amazing. He's gaited, right?" The two of them ventured into a discussion regarding horse breeds, and Mickey was enjoying himself until he heard a throat clear.

Mickey looked over to see Jon Wells in a pair of tight jeans and a poppy-red sweater that set off his handsome features. "Sorry to break up the party, but Mom and Pop are waiting for you. I didn't realize it took so long to put a horse to bed." Jon glared at Clyde. Mickey could see immediately the two men didn't like each other.

"Sorry, Jon. I'll be right there. Give me fifteen minutes to get cleaned up. Apologize to your folks for me." Mickey hurried out of the barn toward the house. The Wells family had been kind to him, and he didn't want it getting back to Tim and Matt that he'd been anything other than a gracious guest.

He ran up to his room and stripped off, heading to the bathroom to shower. He'd shaved that morning, and hair didn't seem to grow that fast on him, so he washed his face and cleaned up under the hot spray. To say he was muddled when it came to Jon and his behavior was an understatement. Jon didn't want him, but it seemed he didn't want anyone else to have him, either.

When he walked out of the bathroom, he saw Jon sitting on the bed, relaxing against the headboard. "Counselor?"

"The barn manager is younger than me, and you likely have more things in common with him, though I find him a pompous windbag. He's after my mom's money in one way or another, so don't get caught up in that shit."

Mickey nodded as he turned to the dresser where his things had ended up being unpacked, much to his surprise. "I'll be very careful, Mr. Wells. Thank you for the warning. I'm glad I don't gotta pay the hourly rate," he stated as he pulled on his boxers.

Jon stood from the bed and left the room without a second glance. It was pretty much the way Mickey thought things between them would go. Blow jobs were nice, but nobody ever fell in love over a blow job.

"Michael, thank you so much for bringing Charlie here to breed my mares. You were both perfect guests and you're both welcome back anytime," Allison Granger Wells told him as she, Mickey, and the stallion walked to the horse trailer.

Mickey, however, was stunned. Jon had left at five o'clock in the morning. Mickey saw him because his room faced the driveway. He thought it was pretty funny the man couldn't wait to get away. Mickey was grateful to be free of the sexual tension that crackled in the air between the two of them when Jon was around. It was a good thing nothing more had happened.

"Miss Allison, it was a pleasure to meet you and spend time here at your place. I'm pretty sure Charlie would be more than happy for another visit. Matt asked me to remind you to send him an email if either of them stick so he can update his records." Mickey led the stallion into the trailer, securing the lead rope before he walked back out and closed the gate.

"Crap! Wait till I get the check," Allison hurried away.

Mickey smiled. "Mail the check if it sticks. If they don't stick, get ‘em vet checked, and then call the ranch. Matt would want me to bring him back, I promise, ma'am. His business is cattle. This stud thing is just because his partner bought Charlie for him as a Christmas gift. You've got Matt's email, right?"

Allison smiled tenderly and took his hand. "What did Jon say this morning before he left?"

Mickey offered her a fake smile. "Nothin', ma'am, but I reckon he's a busy man and had some important matters to address in Richmond."

"I'm so sorry, Michael. I… Well, I have no idea what to say."

"Miss Allison, there's nothin' for you to worry about. Me and Jon are acquaintances because of Matt and Tim, and that's as far as it goes. Call us if you have any issues." He secured the back door of the horse trailer and gave her a wave as she headed toward the house.

It was time for Mickey to get back to the real world at the Circle C. It was where he belonged.

Mickey waved to Allison and Ham Wells as he circled the fancy driveway and headed toward the outer road back to Holloway. Much like the commercial about Vegas—what happened in Dillwyn, stayed in Dillwyn. Eventually, the memories would fade like the lights on The Strip at dawn.

Mickey's life in Holloway was waiting for him, so he turned on some music and sang along with the radio as he drove home. He and the stallion needed to get back to their own routines, not spending one damn minute thinking about what they'd both left behind in Dillwyn, Virginia.