Chapter Seven

Brian had Molly in a pet carrier. Her sad puppy eyes and the dramatic whining let him know what she thought of getting locked up like a criminal.

Mrs. O'Reilly had a cat that hissed from its carrier. The cat aimed all that aggression at Molly and a pit bull, who wagged his tail and had his tongue lolling out.

The other dog even appeared as if he smiled. When Brian had first sat down and placed Molly, carrier and all, on the floor, the bigger dog pulled against his leash to get to Molly as if he wanted to make a friend. The owner of the pit bull was a woman with chaps covering her jeans and a leather vest over a long-sleeved, blue western-type shirt. Brian had never seen the woman before, but then that didn't mean anything. Lots of people came to Doc V in Pickleville because she was the best around.

The bell above the door dinged, which was a blessed distraction from Molly's whining, not that he couldn't hear it anymore because he so could. He sighed and tried to ignore her. He was close to caving, though. His poor baby wasn't a criminal.

Brian smiled and wiggled around in the plush chair, turning toward Greg as he walked in. Since Kyler's party, Brian had had a hard time focusing, and he blamed it on Greg. Greg was very sexy in a cowboy-next-door kind of way. The more Brian thought about him, the more he wanted to keep thinking about him.

Greg stopped next to the door, looking around before his gaze landed on Brian. The corner of his mouth turned up right before he closed the distance between them. He sat down without a word.

Greg's body heat radiated to Brian without them even touching. It made Brian scoot closer because the air conditioning inside the office was on full blast, and Brian had grown a bit chilled sitting there.

Their arms brushed and Brian's insides melted a little.

"Hi." Brian leaned in as much as he could and whispered the word because Mrs. O'Reilly watched them, and she was a nosy gossip.

Greg turned to him, meeting Brian's gaze. He smiled. "Hey."

"Thank you for coming."

Greg nodded at the carrier. "She sounds unhappy."

Yeah, that was putting it mildly. "I know. Do you think it's okay if I take her out? I'm trying to get her used to it."

Greg stood and knelt in front of the carrier. As soon as Molly saw him, she stopped whining, and tried to lick him through the square holes. He chuckled and released her.

Molly came barreling out. Her tongue and tail went a million miles an hour.

Greg scooped her up and held her. "The carrier's good for transporting with her so young. She'll be a bigger dog, so you'll want to leash train her when she gets big enough."

Greg snuggled her, running a hand across the top of her little head.

Brian smiled and shook his head. "You made me the bad guy."

Greg turned with his eyes wide. "I didn't realize."

Brian chuckled. "No, it's fine. I feel like now I know what my mom went through. She was always the one who disciplined me. Dad spoiled me rotten."

Some of Greg's good mood disappeared from his face as if it had a right to leave. Whatever Brian had said, he hadn't meant to upset Greg. "I guess it's good we're friends. For Molly's sake."

Was Greg friend-zoning him? If he was, then the statement was deliberate. "‘Friends'?"

Greg darted his gaze over to Mrs. O'Reilly. She watched them with the eye of a gossipmonger and a little glee, although she tried not to show it. "You don't do long-term."

Brian opened his mouth, but all that came out was a little squeak. The shrug Greg gave him brought heat to his cheeks, and he wasn't sure why. Having fun wasn't something that should've embarrassed him. Greg should've felt embarrassed by not having fun, especially at his age.

Shit. I made that about age.

Brian turned into Greg, hiding his face against his shoulder. With his eyes closed, he could pretend he wasn't stuck on partying endlessly. He gripped Greg's arm and got a good feel of his bicep. His arms were thick and not something manufactured at a gym. He'd gotten all those muscles from hard manual labor, and something about that made Brian respect Greg a little bit more.

"I've never been serious about anyone before, if that's what you're asking."

"I know. It wasn't a question. It's fine if we're friends. That's all I'm saying here."

Brian lifted his head and opened his eyes. He couldn't bring himself to pull his hands away from Greg's arm. Yeah…he liked the feel of it underneath his fingers too much for friend-zoning.

He met Greg's gaze and held it. "You are, in fact, friend-zoning me."

Greg ran his hand down Molly's back. "I don't have the emotional capacity for casual. Not right now, anyway."

Brian would have commented, but a man in scrubs called Molly's name, and Greg stood, leaving Brian no choice but to follow. Standing, he bent to pick up the empty carrier and met the gaze of the woman in the chaps. He smiled at her as an idea formed in his mind.

When he straightened and followed Greg, the smile never left his face. He hoped the vet gave Molly a clean bill of health and they could get out of there in the next few minutes, because Brian had a date with a pair of chaps. He bet Travis had some, somewhere on the farm. Brian hoped they fit. If not, then he would have to buy some because short of point-blank telling Greg he wanted to get to know him better, there wasn't any other way to get Greg to understand what Brian wanted.

****

Greg pulled his truck next to the one Leonard used regularly. Leonard's vehicle technically belonged to the Heath farm, but no one cared who drove what. Everyone who lived on the farm was family. It was how the Heaths were and probably always would be.

The second he shut off the engine, Carter came running out of the barn straight for him. Greg opened the door but didn't get a chance to exit the truck because Carter stepped into the space. "Dad says Ginger is pregnant. We're gonna have a foal. That's so friggin' cool."

Friggin' cool? It was a good thing Jaron hadn't heard Carter say that. The word friggin' was way too close to a curse word.

"A foal would be fun." Greg had known Ginger was pregnant a month ago, which was when he'd tested her. She'd been artificially inseminated. Greg had been the one to make sure it all went smoothly.

"Dad says he bred her to sell the baby." Carter stuffed his hands into his pockets and hung his head.

Greg nodded. "Ginger is from good stock, and so is the stallion we used. The baby is worth a lot of money."

Carter backed up when Greg moved to exit the truck. "Yeah. That's what Dad said. But I was thinking maybe you could talk him out of it and we could teach the foal reining. Ginger's kinda good at that. Training the baby would make her even more valuable. Right?"

Hm. That wasn't a bad idea. "Maybe. We'll talk to your dad about it."

Carter grinned and nodded. "You'll let me help if you think the baby would be good at reining."

"I'll do one better. You can be in on the meeting."

"Seriously? Cool. Dad will listen to you."

"He'll listen to you too, Carter."

Carter shrugged. "Him and Papa think I'm too little."

"Nah, you have a good head for horses. Your dad knows it."

Carter grinned and opened his mouth to say something but shut it and listened. Jaron called Carter's name—except he kept calling him Bobby. The sound traveled from Travis and Jaron's house.

Carter rolled his eyes and sighed, "Guess, I got to go."

"Guess so. See ya later, Carter."

Carter waved as he ran out of the barn. Greg could hear him yell, "My name's Carter now, Papa."

Greg made his way into the horse barn, intent on checking on Ginger since she was on his mind. He would let her out into the arena since she needed a little exercise.

On his way to her, he stopped at Misty's stall. "Hey there, girl."

She came up to the stall door and stuck her head out, letting Greg run a hand down her nose. She probably smelled Molly on him. Maybe even Brian, too.

Someone had cleaned Misty's stall because the bedding was fresh. The pine scent from the wood shavings met his senses, mixing with the other horse smells. There wasn't a better place to clear his head than the horse barn.

Misty snorted and then stomped her feet.

"I know. I like it when it's all clean too. A little OCD, aren't you, girl."

He supposed he'd have to wrap his head around the Brian situation, and that required thinking about him. It turned out Brian liked touching him. Or so it had seemed at the vet's office.

That came as the biggest surprise. Getting Brian's complete attention came a close second.

That last one was also the thing that bothered Greg the most. He couldn't have Brian being so attentive and stay friends without wanting something more.

Greg ran a hand down his face.

He'd pined for too fucking long. He should have taken a page out of Brian's book and fucked his way through that gay bar in Harbor Shire. Maybe he would have forgotten about loving Brian Stockwell eventually.

That would have been fun too. Except love didn't work that way. Sex didn't stop it. Nothing did, which was one of the reasons he hadn't done that. Fucking for the sake of getting off wasn't his style.

No sooner did he think that than someone came into the barn. Greg turned toward the entrance and saw Brian.

Why the hell was Brian wearing chaps? The chaps were the kind that covered everything from the front. They were made of brown leather and had a pretty scrolled design running down the legs.

Greg had borrowed a pair like them when he was a teen. He'd since grown out of them and had bought some of his own.

Brian wasn't the cowboy type. Besides, they weren't wrangling cattle anytime soon.

The cowboy hat looked cute and contrasted with Brian's glasses.

Greg raised his eyebrows when he got to the part where Brian was shirtless. Greg took notice of Brian's left nipple, which he'd had pierced with a tasteful gold hoop.

No one was as perfect for a sexy cowboy calendar than Brian. He had the right amount of muscle tone, and that pouty quality to his lips would make every guy think about them wrapped around his dick.

Greg certainly thought about them like that enough times to know. He would make a great Mr. July.

Brian, walking in chaps, came off as awkward, mostly because they were a little too big for him, so he kicked the bottom flap out of his way with every step. And wasn't that one more thing Greg found cute as hell.

Damn. He had it bad.

Brian stopped in front of him and ran a finger down the center of Greg's chest. "I'd like to go riding. Which horse would you recommend for a beginner?"

"Umm…probably Rupert." Greg cleared his throat, trying to rid himself of the huskiness in his tone. He pointed to Rupert's stall, which Brian had passed. "Umm… Behind you on the left. Second from the door."

Brian ran circles around Greg's nipples through his shirt. Not touching them but coming close enough to make Greg's already hard cock take notice. "Want to come riding with me?"

Greg shook his head and put a hand over Brian's, stilling him.

"That's a shame." When Brian turned, Greg nearly swallowed his tongue. Greg got a clear view of Brian's naked ass, and what a perfect ass it was too.

"Jesus Christ. Chaps, Brian. Really?" So yeah, he imagined himself on his knees, tasting Brian's sweet, little puckered hole. Who wouldn't, given the view?

Leonard came in through the back door, whistling some tune only he knew.

Greg ran across the barn and grabbed Brian around the waist, covering the naked flesh with his bigger body.

Brian let out a little squeal and tried to turn around. His bare ass rubbed against Greg's hard cock.

"Be still." He pressed his cheek to Brian's as he whispered the demand. He kissed Brian's temple almost as if on autopilot right before he spoke to Leonard. "I got the barn chores."

"Yeah, I know. I wanted to make sure that boy of yours was covered. He nearly gave me a heart attack. I'm too old for that shit." Humor laced through every word Leonard spoke.

"He'll be covered."

Leonard outright laughed at that. "Yeah, I can see that. I'm out of here then."

Greg sort of duck-walked Brian over to an empty stall. Pine shavings were piled in one corner and someone had stacked bales of straw in there. He couldn't bring himself to release his hold. Greg liked how his dick fit all nice and snug against the crack of Brian's bare ass.

"What the hell possessed you to walk around the farm naked?" Maybe Greg's tone was harsher than he had intended, but he couldn't help it. He was so hard it hurt, and he wanted relief. Also, he hated the feeling of jealousy and someone seeing Brian's naked ass set that emotion off like a firecracker.

"I'm not naked," Brian stiffened in Greg's arms. "Let me go."

"Oh, no. That's not going to happen, honey." Greg kissed where Brian's neck and shoulder met. "You wanted my attention, and now you've got it." Greg licked at the spot he had kissed. He ran his finger across the nipple that didn't have a piercing in it.

"Greg. God." Brian arched his back, demanding more as he leaned into the touch.

"I don't like the games you play. I'm not going to be another one of your fuck buddies." Greg took the lobe between his teeth.

"I don't want that either."

"I want exclusive. No one else." Maybe talking about the dynamics of their relationship wasn't fair, considering how responsive Brian was to his touch. It probably made him a shithead, but he didn't want to stop tasting, and those little sounds Brian made were like heroin, instantly addictive.

"Yes. Okay." Brian moaned when Greg flipped the nipple ring up.

"And I want dates."

"Dinner and a-a movie. Go-got it." Brian covered his hand with one of his own and tried to push it down. When Greg wouldn't budge, he growled. "Stop teasing."

"If anyone is a tease, it's you. You walked in here with your ass bare." Greg couldn't stop pushing his length against Brian, wanting even a small measure of relief. Even through his jeans, it felt amazing.

Greg slid his hand down Brian's chest and abdomen, untying the leather lace at Brian's waist. When the chaps fell around Brian's feet, he wrapped his fingers around Brian's slender dick. "I've wanted you like this for a long time."

"I didn't know. I swear." Brian moved his hips, countering Greg's strokes, resting his head on Greg's chest. His cowboy hat fell to the floor.

"And now that you do?" Greg released Brian's cock long enough to spit in his hand, wanting something more than pre-come to smooth the way.

"I-I want this. You." Brian moaned his name. The words came out breathy and thick with need. And for the next few minutes, they didn't speak. Instead, Brian made his cute sex sounds, and Greg continued to pull them from him.

It didn't take long for Brian to come all over the pine shavings. Greg had a sudden urge to put a hand over his mouth but figured everyone already knew what they were doing so why bother trying to stifle Brian's shout of bliss.

Greg kissed the side of Brian's neck and then released him. "There's tissue in the office. Stay here, honey."

Greg started out of the stall, but Brian grabbed his arm, stopping him. Brian pulled him into a hug. "What about you? I want to make you feel good too."

Greg smiled and held Brian to him. "Not until after a couple of dates."

"Why?" Brian backed away until their gazes met.

"I want a date first."

"Of course, I'll go out with you. I've already promised we'd date exclusively." Brian studied his gaze, scowling with confusion. "I don't get why you won't let me touch you until then. Do you think I lied about being exclusive?"

"No." Greg averted his gaze, staring at a straw bale instead. "Don't want you to get bored."

"Bored? That doesn't make sense, Greg."

Greg could feel heat rise from his neck to his face. "I've never done it before, okay?"

Brian leaned into him, pressing his forehead against Greg's shoulder. He let out a breathy chuckle. "That's a relief. I thought you had something weird going on. Like you have an aversion to someone touching your dick or something."

Greg hesitated but only once before he put an arm around Brian, pulling him close.

"I want you to touch me, but I'll come too soon." And he didn't want any more embarrassment than he had already, but having confessed to the problem, it couldn't get much worse.

Brian tilted his head up, kissing Greg on the neck. "But that's long enough for me to get a little taste. I bet I'll want more."

God, all Brian had to do was talk about sucking Greg, and it made his body happy. First, he had to get their date locked down. "Saturday. Seven o'clock."

"That's perfect." Brian kissed him one last time before falling to his knees. He worked the button on Greg's pants.

The anticipation worked its way into Greg's lungs, making it difficult to breathe until he panted as if he'd been running. "That worked well enough that maybe I should ask you to marry me." Because Greg was on a fucking roll, so why not go for more.

Brian chuckled as he pulled down the zipper on Greg's jeans. "Set the date."

"Tuesday, October 16th, three years from now."

Brian pushed down his jeans enough to tuck Greg's underwear under his balls. "How do you know that day is a Tuesday? Smarty-pants."

Greg couldn't think about anything but the way the barn air felt on his bare cock or the fact that he could feel Brian's breath fan across it. When Brian gripped it at the base, he thought maybe he had died and didn't know it like the guy in that movie about the little boy who saw dead people. Maybe he had done enough good in his life and had gone straight to heaven.

"You're a big boy." Brian licked across the head, swirling his tongue. He made a sound as if he'd tasted something delicious. It vibrated down Greg's cock as Brian wrapped his lips around him.

Brian didn't sink very far down his length, but he worked the rest of Greg's length with his hand, jacking him as he sucked.

And that was all it took for the orgasm to work through him, hitting him so hard he didn't have a chance to warn Brian. The warning wasn't needed. His experience proved beneficial as Brian swallowed down his cum.

He licked until Greg grew sensitive, and then tucked Greg back into his underwear and jeans, patting the clothed package when he'd finished.

He stood and snuggled in for a hug, which Greg gave him. "That is, by far, my favorite part of your body. Your pretty face is a close second."

Greg wrapped his arms around Brian. "No one has ever called me pretty before."

"Probably didn't want to say it to your face." Brian pulled back and met Greg's gaze. He grinned. "You never answered my question."

"Which question?" Greg's brain wasn't work.

"How do you know our wedding date is on a Tuesday? And who gets married on Tuesday anyway?"

"Not all cowboys are stupid, honey." Greg ran his hand up Brian's back, feeling his smooth skin. He didn't bother answering the second question, because why not a weekday?

Brian hit him playfully on his chest. "That has nothing to do with it. No way could you possibly know what day that falls on."

Greg snorted. "Look it up, and if I'm wrong, I'll give you one wish. Anything you want. Within reason."

"Really. Anything? Even if I want to tie you up and have my wicked way with you."

"Especially then." Greg chuckled. "And If I'm right, which I am, then you have to do whatever I say for one entire day." Brian shivered in his arms. So he liked that idea. Very interesting. Maybe Brian liked to give up control during sex. It was something Greg would be sure to explore someday soon.

Brian's bottom lip stuck out like a spoiled child's. "Can I see you tomorrow?"

Greg gently bit the pouty lip and then sucked the sting away. "Tomorrow I need to see my father." He was on a damn roll so he should see both parents. Besides, his father hadn't ever been violent or verbally abusive toward him, although he had toward Mom. Maybe that had been more about self-defense than anything else.

Brian nodded his understanding and settled against Greg again, pressing his cheek against his chest. "What about afterward?"

"I don't know how it will go. I haven't seen him in years." And he could get emotional. He didn't want to hurt Brian. Not with words or in any other way.

"Will you call me after then?"

"Okay."

"And we'll go out on Saturday?"

"Yes." His first date with the man of his dreams. He couldn't wait.