Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

C al wasn't sure what the hell got into him in that moment, but the dare and accusation of cowardice had his blood roaring in a red-hot mix of anger and desire. How dare that smug son of a bitch throw down such a bold dare and follow it up with a slap in the face? Coward? Calhoun?

Why'd you run?

The cards were slipping into place as Cal dealt them, his hand moving in a smooth, automatic motion like it was the most casual thing in the world. As if this poker game didn't have something Cal wanted so desperately he ached for it hanging over him like a fever dream. How would Jesse look on his knees for him? How would those whiskey-colored eyes look hooded and pleading for him?

"Play good, Sheriff." Jesse grinned, those pretty, full lips revealing his sharp smile. Luck hadn't been on his side tonight, but that wasn't about to stop him. The prospect of taking Jesse, tasting him, made his cock just as hard. Either way, it was going to be a good night.

But I want that man on his knees, goddamnit.

Cal furrowed his brow and tried not to let his mind ricochet to fantasies and teasing promises. He had to win to make sure any of the filthy thoughts racing around his head would become reality. Each time Jesse moved, Cal's eyes shot up to watch him, and the man would chuckle and smirk at him.

"You're antsy." Jesse didn't bother looking up from his hand, casual and relaxed in the confidence that he already had Cal on his knees.

Grinding his teeth, Cal focused back on the game.

Focus, Calhoun. Don't let this prick win.

"You're in luck today too. Mack let me have a nice long bath. I'll be all clean for you."

Cal's eyes automatically shot to Jesse's hand as he adjusted himself as he spoke, making him growl and tear his eyes away from Jesse's bulge to keep playing. Jesse snickered at the reaction, and Cal realized how easily he was playing into Jesse's game.

Alright. Two can do this dance.

"I did too. Had I known I was going to have someone swallowing my cock I would have trimmed for you," Cal shot back easily, locking eyes with the man as he adjusted his stiff erection behind his pants. "Maybe next time."

Jesse's eyes widened, and he inhaled a slow, long hiss. "Fuck, Sheriff. I love it when you talk like that."

"Focus on the game," he added. "Or I'll cuff you while you're deep throating me."

"You into that power play stuff? Didn't take you for the type, but I'll let you tie me up, Sheriff." Jesse put his wrists together in front of him and licked his lips slowly.

Cal narrowed his eyes and pointed to the cards.

"Play, goddamnit."

The air around them was heavy with anticipation and heated glares from either side of the table. Jesse had grown quiet as the game continued, but Cal didn't know what it meant. He seemed to be smirking a little too much, and his heart was starting to pound. The angel and devil on Cal's shoulders were practically having a fist fight over how incredibly stupid and overwhelmingly hot the situation was. The sheriff was playing for a chance to get his pecker wet from a prisoner who was sentenced to die?

No.

Calhoun was playing for a chance to have his cock worshiped by an incredibly sexy man Cal had grown to actually like despite everything. Despite his cocky attitude, his troubled past, the fact that the man constantly prodded at Cal as much as he possibly could… Cal liked him. The attraction was deep, bone fucking deep, and he hated how hot and bothered the rugged man made him. The curve of his mouth made Cal's heart rate spike. The way his whiskey eyes sparkled at the promises of debauchery. The way he moved like a stalking panther when he was anxious.

Gods, angels, and demons, this man is dangerous, and I want him.

There was a pause, and their eyes locked, and the bandit across from him gave Cal a cheeky wink as he straightened his spine. As Jesse slapped his hand down onto the table, his straight flush fanned out against the wood, Cal let out the breath he had been holding.

And unfolded his winning royal flush.

Jesse stared at it like Cal had tossed a gold bar onto the table, his cheeks warm and eyes dilated.

"Well, I'll be damned," Jesse whispered, pulling his eyes back to Cal. "You won."

Cal wasn't sure what to do. His ass seemed to be glued to his seat. The silence hung around them for what felt like forever before Jesse pushed up from his bed and walked around it, watching Cal with a wicked smile.

Cal was moving cautiously, his eyes never leaving the lithe figure inside his cell who watched him like a hungry animal. Stepping up to the space in front of the bars holding Jesse, Cal watched as the man slowly got to his knees, Jesse's eyes watching Cal coolly before moving down to his waiting prize. He knew he should step up closer, unbuckle his belt, say something, but Cal's hands had begun to shake, and his nerves were ratcheting up too high.

A calm, strong hand reached out from behind the bars and hooked his finger into Cal's belt loop, drawing him closer to where he could run wide palms over his thighs.

"You don't get to back out." Jesse aimed his hungry gaze up at him, causing Cal's stomach to tighten in excitement.

Seeing Jesse on his knees was even more erotic than Cal had visualized in his head. His cock started to pound as the warm hands Jesse had placed on his thighs began to roam, curving around his legs up to his hips before running down over the screaming erection pressing against the front. Cal gasped as Jesse cupped him and squeezed. A low chuckle of amusement bubbled from the man on his knees at Cal's noise.

"Hands on the bars, Sheriff," Jesse purred as he flicked Cal's belt buckle open, aiming a teasing look up his way. "Give you something to hold onto for the ride."

Cal nearly swallowed his tongue at that but took a breath and put his hands on the bar to brace himself as Jesse took his sweet time pushing clothing out of the way.

I need to stop wearing so many clothes… Cal huffed, getting impatient with the eternal layers keeping him from skin contact.

"Patience, patience," Jesse tsked. "Good things come to those who wait."

"God's fist, hurry up and fucking touch me," Cal growled, his fingers clutching at the bars, shocking himself with the blatant order. The eyes below him danced with amusement, and suddenly the atmosphere shifted from playful to deliberate and rough. Jesse grabbed Cal's pants and tugged them down his thighs, freeing Cal's aching cock to spring up towards the handsome face in front of it.

Cal was finding it harder to breathe as Jesse looked at Cal's length like he was starving and it was a goddamn steak dinner. The stare that had been piercing into his body since the moment they met finally roamed over what he clearly had been after for days. Even before he touched Cal, his eyes seem to give the sensation of phantom kisses moving over his skin.

As Jesse moved closer, his breath fanning over the sensitive skin caused Cal's cock to jump in anticipation. The firm hands were back on Cal's thighs, moving around to feel his bare ass and squeeze as he pulled Cal closer to the bars. Once Jesse had Cal's dick through the bars and his hips touching the metal, he let his eyes flutter shut and ran his tongue slowly down the underside and brought it back up again. Cal tried like hell to stifle the noise ripping from his throat, but his body was lit up with pleasure like a goddamn bonfire. Once at the thick head, Jesse lapped at it with the flat part of his vicious tongue and opened his eyes again.

Oh my god. Cal exhaled at how Jesse's hooded eyes looked up at him, hazy with lust, all cocky bravado gone as his desire took him over. Before Cal could keep admiring how fucking beautiful he looked on his knees with Cal's cock against his lips, the man swallowed him down to the root in one motion.

"Son of a bitch," Cal gasped, gripping the bars like they could help stamp back the overwhelming sensation of something so blissfully fantastic. Jesse's hands gripped his ass as he slowly started to move his head, bobbing and sucking deep. Never one to pride himself over being a bigger man, Cal was impressed as hell that Jesse could take all of him down his throat without even a hint of resistance. A little wave of possessiveness swam over him at the realization that this wasn't the first time a dick had been buried in the man's throat, and the thought made him want to mark Jesse as his.

He's not yours. Stop thinking and just feel, Cal.

One of the hands gripping him from behind moved around to grab the base of his shaft as Jesse pulled back with a pop, stroking as he caught his breath. Lips red and slick and grinning, and his breaths a ragged pant, Jesse looked like Cal's wet dream playing out in front of him .

Unable to stop himself, Cal reached through the bars and ran his fingers through Jesse's dirty blond hair to know how soft it was in his grip. Jesse shut his eyes and seemed to enjoy the affection, which tugged so fiercely at Cal's heartstrings it almost hurt. With a grunt, he guided Jesse's hot mouth back to his cock, which made the man chuckle and take him deep again.

Each pull from those lips had Cal's heart pounding, his body riding the wave of pleasure Jesse's mouth and fist gave him. One hand firmly clamped on Cal's ass like it was his possession, Jesse moved his other up to push past Cal's shirt to feel his abs with a low moan, the vibrations sending a thrill up Cal's spine. The teasing fact that Jesse was enjoying feeling Cal's body while he gave him pleasure was firing through Cal's veins like liquid fire, clouding his thoughts and drowning out the rest of his rational thinking.

Cal moved his hand against Jesse's and pressed it against his skin, shamelessly letting out a groan of approval as Jesse dug his nails a little into him.

"Yes," Cal whispered, not caring how needy he sounded. "Fuck yes, Jesse."

Jesse pulled free of Cal's cock, breathing heavily, his body language shifting to something raw and territorial. Cal was forced against the metal by Jesse suddenly jerking him forward by his ass cheek, and Jesse dipped his head to pull one of his balls into his mouth. Cal hissed and bucked his hips, reaching out and grabbing Jesse's hair to grip the soft strands like a lifeline. Jesse curled his fingers to run nails down Cal's stomach, clutching his hip as he licked and sucked.

Something had changed, something clicked on inside Jesse, and Cal could feel it in how he moved, how tightly he grabbed him, and Cal wasn't sure how the hell he was going to keep his feet on the ground. He craved this, all of this, the demanding grabs, the intense pleasure, the way Jesse's eyes bore up at him like he was staking his claim .

Mine.

Mine.

MINE.

"Jesse," Cal warned, his breath ripping from him in hard waves. There was no way he could hold on anymore after that, the raw sensations curling in his gut and making his balls tighten. Jesse moved up from where he had been teasing and dropped his hand to Cal's cock again, pumping. Cal expected him to take him down his throat, but he didn't. He locked eyes with him like he was reading his thoughts.

He licked his lips. And held out his tongue.

Cal came undone at the sight. Wrapping his hand tight around the fist milking him, he moved his hand with Jesse's as thick ropes fired forward and painted the fucking masterpiece before him. Some made it onto his tongue, but the orgasm was so strong it stripped across his face and chin as well, marking Jesse all over.

As the roaring wave calmed, Cal released Jesse's hair and himself, resting his head against the bars in hopes the cool metal would help lower his body temperature. Never taking his eyes off Jesse, he watched as the man licked his hand clean and wiped Cal off his face with one of his dirty shirts.

"Gods in heaven…" Cal whispered.

"Glad I could make you a religious man." Jesse got to his feet after scrubbing his face clean and tossed the shirt away again. Cal had the powerful urge to catch the man and bring him close, wanting to taste himself on his mouth. Reaching through the bars, Cal tried to grab at the ignored bulge Jesse was hiding behind his pants, but his hand was smacked away.

"I don't think so," Jesse said, smirking at Cal's confused scowl. "Doesn't feel good not to be able to give back, does it?"

"This is punishment for last night? Not letting you get me off so you're giving yourself blue balls? "

"Oh, I'll take care of it, but you're not allowed to help." The cheeky fucker palmed himself, making Cal's mouth water.

"So, that's how it's gonna be, huh?" He pulled his pants back over his ass and tucked himself away casually. "Be my guest, then."

"Not allowed to watch either." Jesse strolled over to his bed and tucked it back against the wall, flopping down onto it and rolling over so his back was facing Cal.

"Do whatever you want." Cal tried to keep his tone casual instead of pining like hell to watch Jesse because he desperately wanted that. He was pretty damn sure the cocky asshole knew that too and was playing him like a damn fiddle.

There was no way in hell Cal was going to be able to focus on reading like he was trying to do when Jesse was only feet away from him, aroused and ready. Even with his back to him, Cal could see Jesse's arm moving as he clearly stroked himself, his other arm tucked under the thin pillow supporting his head. Cal's arousal had died down right after the mind-blowing mouth fucking Jesse had given him, but his senses were too raw not to absorb the electricity of sex in the room.

Soft breaths puffed from the cell, back muscles tensing as Jesse slowed his pace to draw out the high of masturbating and to drive Cal insane. The moment Cal caught the scent of Jesse, his more primal side still scratching at the surface and heightening his senses to the extreme, Cal's dick shot straight up again, and his control failed. The chair slammed to the ground as Cal shoved to his feet, stomped to the cell, ripped the door open, and pounced on Jesse. Grabbing his hips, he flipped the man onto his back, grabbed the waist of his pants and jerked them down to fully expose his flushed, pink cock.

Jesse huffed approvingly, lifting his hips to allow Cal to strip him and wrapped his legs around his waist to hold him flush against him. Cal ground his hips into him and growled, grabbing his belt and pulling it loose to get himself out and in contact with the man writhing under him. The moment Jesse's hand went to continue stroking himself, Cal grabbed his wrist and pinned it against his pillow to hold him in place, hell-bent on him being the one to make this beautiful man reach ecstasy.

Freeing himself from his pants, Cal pressed his iron-stiff length against Jesse's and wrapped his big hand around both of them, causing a blissful moan to leave Jesse's parted lips as his eyes rolled back happily.

"Fuck, Cal," Jesse breathed, pushing his hips up to grind himself against the leaking cock pressed against his own, gripped just right. "You fucking cheater."

Cal slowly stroked them both, torturing him each time their heads kissed and making Jesse squirm with delight. Abs flexed and rolled as he moved his hips with the friction, his head angled back in bliss, red lips parted and singing with happy whines. Cal released his wrist to push his hand under Jesse's shirt, feeling his strong chest and light hair under his fingertips, loving how strong he felt under his touch. A grin spread across his face as he flicked his thumb over one of Jesse's hard nipples, provoking a shiver to rack the man.

"Fuck you." Jesse laughed. "Fuck you. That feels too good."

So, Cal did it again. That time pinching as he picked up speed in stroking him.

"Goddamnit!" the man under him called out, jerking his hips up and gripping the simple bed frame above his head with both hands. The move made his chest tense, his flexed muscles on display for Cal's viewing pleasure as he started rocking his hips in time with the motion from Jesse.

One of Jesse's hands let go, reaching up to tug Cal down closer to him by the nape of his neck. For a heartbeat, Cal's breath caught when he thought the man was about to kiss him, his lips so damn close to his own. Instead of connecting them, Jesse buried his nose and mouth under Cal's jaw and nipped, inhaling and licking so he could taste him and breathe him in .

Cal could smell himself still clinging to Jesse's skin, the sensation blooming hot in his chest as his orgasm started racing up quickly. Jesse's breath crashed against him, his hips pistoning up off the mattress and his hand clutching to Cal's neck like he couldn't bear to have him too far away. He was reading too much into it, he knew it, but the fantasy of Jesse wanting to be close to him, to be intimate with him, was just too intoxicating to let go. For the moment, he rode the high of it and allowed himself to pretend.

Pretend Jesse wasn't just a passing fling.

Pretend this feeling wasn't going to hurt later.

Pretend he's really mine.

Instinct to drive the point home kicked in, and Cal sank his teeth into the muscle of Jesse's shoulder and bit down. With a shout, Jesse threw his head back and came at the contact, his body pressing up against Cal as powerful bursts fired from him. Unable to hold back his own mounting orgasm, Cal let loose and growled against Jesse's skin as his come mixed with Jesse's still spurting seed, coating them both with each other's scent. Cal was drunk from the explosion to his senses, the smells and tastes of Jesse's skin, the sticky evidence between them, and the agonizingly sweet sounds of Jesse's panting breath.

He was thankful Jesse didn't move to pull away too soon, letting the big Centaur rest on top of him while they caught their breath. It was too easy to shut his eyes and listen to his heart hammering against the drumming heartbeat under him, and Cal wanted to pretend just a little longer.

Jesse had half a mind to tell Cal to just stay with him and sleep after the night they had together, but reality came swiftly back into place as soon as the man rolled off him and got to cleaning himself up. What had started as an attempt to goad the man into some fun, no-strings-attached sex had turned into something a little deeper than he had originally thought. The air had changed so quickly between them once the heat was ignited that Jesse could barely keep up with where his emotions drifted.

Base, sexual desires had fired to passion so goddamn fast it was making Jesse's head spin, and instead of shaking it off as just a good time with a gullible sheriff, Jesse was actually craving to feel him again. The way Cal had manhandled him, the way he tasted, how well their bodies seem to mold around each other gripped something deep inside Jesse that he couldn't understand. He wanted to feel it again more than he wanted breath.

The sound of the cell door shutting had been the ice bucket he needed to douse that flame. There was no mistaking that Cal certainly didn't feel any different about their arrangement. Cal was the sheriff, and Jesse was the no-good bandit. A bandit who had a date with the hangman despite Cal's naive thoughts that Jesse's actions during the Blight Wraith would do him any favors. Jesse was still on his own, but he now had an ace up his sleeve.

During the hot and heavy, fantastic night with the well-endowed lawman, who had his cock in his prisoner's mouth, that same crafty bandit was able to get the keys from the distracted man's pants. While Jesse had played hard to tease the horny sheriff, he tucked the keys away under the mattress to wait until he had the chance to use them. Cal was too high on coming twice in one night to notice he was a set of keys lighter and left that morning without so much as a glance back in Jesse's direction once Mack arrived to relieve him.

The pang in his chest caused by that stung like a son of a bitch, but Jesse didn't have time to mull over it. Mack wasn't going to put his guard down around Jesse, but Cody was a different story. Around lunchtime each day, Cody came in to guard the place while Mack took a break and left for about two hours. Things had been cordial between Jesse and the young man since the Blight Wraith, but the kid never did seem to want to fully warm up to him.

Which meant Jesse still knew how to push the kid's buttons.

Foregoing real sleep, Jesse napped lightly until it was Cody's watch and watched as the young piss ant milled around cleaning up and making the place look practically polished.

"I thought you were a deputy…?" Jesse mused as he watched the kid work, sweeping and dusting the place like a good little maid.

"Not yet. I just help out for now, but they're gonna make me a deputy soon enough." Cody swept quietly.

"How long you been helping out?"

"Bout a year or so."

"A year? You been doing bitch work for a year?" Jesse almost laughed outright at how ridged Cody's spine got.

The kid sent a glare over at him and snarled. "It ain't bitch work, asshole."

"Sweeping, dusting, running errands. I don't see the rest of the men doing that."

"Mind your business, outlaw. These are good men, and I don't mind helping out till they say I'm ready." Cody's light eyes sharpened, his cheeks red from either anger or embarrassment.

Jesse got to his feet and strolled over to the bars to lean on them, watching the volunteer kissass assaulting the floor with the broom to work out his anger. This kid was just too easy. It was like he proudly wore his fragile little pride on his shoulder just begging to have someone slap it to the floor.

"If you say so," Jesse mused, looking around the place casually before pointing over to a place on the floor. "Missed a spot, darlin'."

"Fuck off, prisoner. You're usually asleep during the day. Go cover your head with a pillow and don't wake up," Cody hissed, refusing to face him now .

"Easy, easy. No need to advocate suicide over some innocent questions."

"Just leave me alone."

Jesse took a moment to mentally ask for forgiveness before he decided to go in for the kill.

"So, if I want something from you, should I whistle? That seems to be how you're summoned, right?"

Cody shot another glare his way, tightening his grip on the broom.

"Like, for example, if I wanted you to… clean my cell or do my laundry, should I just…" He paused, giving a little horse whistle with his fingers pressed into his mouth just so. He grinned afterward. "You do my laundry, don't you, boy?"

" Boy ?" Cody threw the broom down, his face beet red in anger. "You limp dick bastard! I ain't a goddamn servant, and I don't do shit for you!"

"Oh, my dick works just fine, sweetheart." He cupped himself through his pants.

Cal would know, firsthand. Yeah, that'd piss him off, but too much.

Jesse gave him a wide grin and licked his lip. "How long I gotta whistle to get you to serve me then? I'll whistle all you want, honey."

That was the last straw holding Cody's adolescent temper in check. Like a flash pan of bruised ego, piss, and vinegar, the boy flew himself at the bars to try and get a good swing in to knock Jesse's teeth out. Jesse grabbed the boy by the collar and slammed his head into the bars with a resounding thud, knocking the kid back on his ass. The kid was out cold.

Not allowing himself time to feel the creeping, cold guilt at hurting the poor dumbass grip his conscious, Jesse moved quickly to unlock the door and get out. Grabbing the kid's gun from his hip, he stuck it into his waistband and took his hat from the desk to slip it on over his hair. Jesse ducked outside and walked casually down the steps like he didn't have a care in the world, not wanting to bring attention to himself as he meandered down the street. The town was different in the middle of the day, people milling about in the sunshine, too busy with their affairs to pay him any mind.

Jesse recognized Cody's horse from nearly a week earlier and realized it had felt like a damn lifetime so far. Days had been blending together since he was stuck in that cramped little cell, the only nights of note—

Had been with Cal.

Damnit, he had to let that shit go. He made quick work of untying the horse's reins before swinging up into the saddle. Once astride and moving in a good quick trot toward the edge of town, Jesse was finally able to take an easy breath. It was time to get the hell out of Stallion Ridge.