Chapter Eight

Seth tugged Rueben into the cabin and attacked his mouth as soon as he shut and locked the door. He'd meant to take things slow, but he hadn't seen his guy in a week. Desperation rode him hard, so he pushed Rueben against the door and pounced. The little minx bit Seth's bottom lip and made his dick jerk. Just knowing Rueben was on his way had been enough to get Seth hard. The little nip of pain only amplified his lust. Seth pinned Reuben's arms over his head with one hand and worked his tight jeans open with the other.

Rueben tore his mouth free and moaned when Seth's hand found his bare, velvety erection. He loved how his guy showed up commando and ready to go. His dick leaked against Seth's palm, aiding the lazy pace he set with his fist. "God, I need you," Rue whimpered.

Seth chuckled and pressed kisses along the column of Rueben's throat. "You said that last night on the phone as you fucked yourself on a dildo."

"And it becomes truer every day." Rueben arched his neck, giving Seth more skin to kiss and nip. "But maybe don't mark me again."

Seth pressed a gentle kiss to the faint pink mark still showing on Rueben's golden skin. "I'm sorry." It had potentially caused a big problem for Rueben, though he swore things were okay. Seth wasn't crazy about Cash and Keegan knowing the truth about them, but he admired Rueben's unwillingness to lie to those he loved. Seth had expected a visit and a warning from Cash, but neither thing had occurred…yet. "Can I mark you someplace no one will see?"

Rueben's dark eyes sparkled with mischief. "I go shirtless a lot during the summer."

"I was thinking someplace lower." Seth released Rue's cock and traced a spot on his bare pubis. He knew from previous explorations how sensitive that area was. "Right here, maybe?" He licked a path from collarbone to full lips. "That way, you can look at it and think about me while you jack off."

"Yes."

Seth claimed his mouth in a bruising kiss that left them both breathless. He ignored the urge to strip Rueben down, bend him over, and claim that sweet ass in a single thrust. Their time together might be limited, but Seth still wanted to make it special. He also wanted to stare into the gorgeous eyes that owned a chunk of his heart. Seth nearly snorted. Who the hell was he trying to kid? Rueben had a death grip on the organ and was in a position to strike a fatal blow, yet an instinct far greater than any he'd used in the military or law enforcement assured him he was safe in Rueben's hands.

When they parted to catch their breath, a new kind of excitement shimmered in Rueben's gaze. Seth was used to seeing his ornery and seductive sides, but this was more intense than either of those. If he didn't know better, he'd think they were on the cusp of something new and thrilling. Rueben rocked back on his heels and worried his lip between his teeth, looking uncharacteristically nervous.

Seth arched a brow. "What are you up to?"

Rueben released his tortured lip to heave a sigh. "I had an idea, but I think it might not be the right time."

"Tell me and let me decide for myself."

"You have a lot on your mind."

"I do." There was no point in denying it. Seth slid his fist up and down Rueben's cock again in a solitary, lazy stroke. "Getting your dick inside my mouth is near the top of priorities."

The noise that escaped Rueben's gifted lips started as a chuckle and ended in a moan when Seth added a second stroke. "But you have that town hall meeting tonight, and I—"

Seth cut him off with a kiss. The face-off against Martindale was the last thing he wanted to think about, let alone talk about, during his stolen time with Rueben. He slid his other hand down the back of Rueben's jeans and trailed teasing digits between firm cheeks until his fingertips brushed up against something hard. Seth's lips curved into a smile. "Found your surprise." He traced the crinkled entrance at the base of the plug. "You make it so damn hard to take my time and love you slowly."

Rueben groaned and swayed into his chest, then lifted his hands and went to work on the buttons on Seth's shirt. "That's not my only surprise."

"But wait, there's more?" Seth asked. His voice was too husky and lust-drunk to sound like an infomercial, but the joke still landed. Seth kissed Rueben's smiling lips. "I don't need more. Just you."

Rueben's hands stilled, and he raised his head to meet Seth's gaze. He swallowed audibly before swiping his tongue over his bottom lip. Seth wanted to ease his nerves by any means necessary, but it was obvious this moment was important to Rueben, so he waited patiently. His reward would be something he never would've predicted when they agreed to meet at the cabin again. "Giving myself to you is exactly what I'm trying to do, but I'm probably fucking it up." Rueben reached behind him and pulled out a folded piece of paper from his back pocket.

Seth's heart hammered in his chest, and awareness cut through his fog of lust as he read down the list of test results. Rueben was offering all of himself without limitations and barriers. "Are you serious?"

Rueben nodded. "But we don't…if you don't…"

Seth gripped Rueben's ass hard and held him flush against his throbbing body. "Oh, I want. So fucking much." The words came out in a snarled growl that matched the possessiveness clawing at his guts. "I also got tested a few months ago, and you're the only one I've been with since last fall. I don't have documentation with me, but—"

Rueben's lips cut him off as the piece of paper fell to the floor. Seth started backing him up through the cabin. There were a few different surfaces in the living room they could've used, but he wanted to lay Rueben out on the big bed. They continued to kiss as they undressed one another in the cramped quarters. Seth didn't immediately remove the plug and thrust home; he took his time worshipping Rueben's body to show how much he cherished his gift. Seth used his broad shoulders to spread Rueben's thighs apart and made himself comfortable there. He nuzzled the sensitive skin he wanted to mark while pushing on the base of the butt plug. Seth sucked the delicate flesh between his lips, and Rueben made a keening sound, arching his back and digging his heels into the mattress. Seth gazed up the golden expanse of skin, committing Rueben's flushed cheeks, parted lips, and shimmering eyes to memory. Another nudge made Rueben's dick jerk, and Seth knew he could make him come just from this. Maybe someday, but he wanted more from Reuben right then.

Seth licked, sucked, and nipped the spot just to the right of Rueben's throbbing dick until he'd sufficiently left his mark. Then he took Rueben's erection into his mouth, not stopping until his nose touched bare skin at the base of Rueben's cock. The butt plug bounced every time Rueben's pucker flexed, and salty precum splashed onto his tongue. Rueben growled lustily and fisted his hands in Seth's hair, snapping his hips up to fuck Seth's eager mouth. His scalp stung, his eyes watered, and his lungs burned, but Seth was too concerned about pleasuring Rueben to worry about little things like baldness or breathing.

"Pull off." Rueben used his grip to ensure Seth's capitulation. "I want to come with your cock inside me, then I want you to pump me full."

Seth was already revved and ready, but Rueben's words were almost enough to push him over the edge without additional stimulation. This was one load he didn't want to waste, so he eased back onto his haunches so he could watch the pretty pucker relinquish the plug. Seth pushed Rueben's legs toward his chest to give himself unrestricted access and view. The plug was a deep purple, and when Seth eased it free, he noticed it was shaped like an eggplant. He was tempted to push that curved tip back inside Rueben to torment his stimulated prostate some more, but the quivering, relaxed hole was too tempting to ignore, and his aching dick was too eager to come.

Seth paused long enough to slick a thin layer of lube on his dick before lining up to Rueben's hole. His first thought was to plow straight to the heart of him, but the little minx arrived with plans to drive Seth wild, and he wanted to return the favor. He slid the fat head of his cock inside the tight ring of muscles and fought his instincts to thrust in balls deep. Seth used his slicked hand to work Rueben's drooling cock.

"Fuck me."

"I'll get around to it," Seth replied as if his body wasn't demanding release too.

Rueben unfolded his legs to rest his heels on Seth's shoulders in a fluid motion, then used the leverage to impale himself on Seth's cock. "Come down here and fuck me properly, you sexy bastard."

Seth lowered his body onto Rueben, who hooked his knees over Seth's shoulders to hold on for dear life while taking the pounding his words and actions begged for. "Like this?"

Rueben's brown eyes lost focus, but his mouth was still sharp and full of sass. "It's pretty good."

Seth dug his knees into the mattress and pegged that prostate until Rueben's teeth rattled. His tormentor's breath caught in his throat, and his asshole put Seth's dick in a chokehold while Reuben came hard enough to paint his chin and neck with his spunk. The sexy sight obliterated Seth's control, and he relaxed into the orgasm clawing at his guts. He came hard enough to see black dots as Rueben's tight channel milked him dry. Seth collapsed fully on top of him, rutting and glorying in the feel of his slick seed in Rueben's tight passage. His hips eventually stilled, and Seth finally lifted his head.

"When you spot me in the crowd tonight, you'll know I've got part of you inside me."

Seth's breath hitched, and his nostrils flared. The sentiment was both sweet and sexy and deserved a response of equal value. Seth captured Rueben's wrist and kissed his palm before settling his hand over Seth's pounding heart. "That's not the only thing of mine you've hijacked."

Rueben gave him the most beautiful smile Seth had ever seen. "I'm not giving it back."

Seth lowered his head to see if the grin tasted as good as it looked. Yep. "Good."

And like the previous week, they performed minimal cleanup and twined around one another in a tangle of limbs in the center of the bed. Seth wouldn't usually bring up touchy or heavy subjects at such a tender moment, but the full weight of what Rueben had said about the town hall meeting finally sank in.

"Are you really going to be there tonight?" The idea of seeing Rueben in the crowd should terrify him since Seth didn't trust himself not to give away his feelings in a single glance. But the notion comforted him instead, especially since his parents had left for a month-long Alaskan cruise to celebrate their anniversary. Seth could use as many people in his corner as he could get.

Rueben lifted his head off Seth's chest to look at him. "The entire ranch is coming, and it would look weird if I skipped it." He traced Seth's mouth with his fingers. "And I want to be there to support you. Is that okay?"

Seth nipped Rueben's fingertips, then snagged his wrist before he could pull his hand back. "It's more than okay. I don't know what kind of criticism or questions I'm going to field tonight. Amos has looked incredibly smug after the latest polling in the paper showed us in a virtual tie."

"Who the hell is going to vote for Boss Hogg for sheriff?" Rueben asked.

Seth barked out a startled laugh. "Holy shit. Amos does look like Boss Hogg. He just drives a massive truck instead of a long Cadillac to overcompensate for his, um…shortcomings."

Rueben laughed with him, then cleared his throat. "Seriously, Boss Hogg didn't work out so well for Hazzard, and Amos isn't the right man for our county either. And I wouldn't give a lot of credence to those polling numbers. There's no telling what kind of method they're using."

Seth rolled Rueben to his back and kissed him soundly on the mouth. "You're right. There's a reason I didn't hire a campaign manager to drive me nuts. I just want to have an honest conversation with my constituents and have faith they'll make the right choice."

"They will."

And if they didn't, would it really be the end of the world? Seth had been so focused on becoming sheriff that he'd never allowed himself to consider an alternative path. Not even for Oliver, whom he'd loved dearly at one point, or so he'd thought. Seth was startled to realize he'd make a completely different decision if he faced a similar dilemma with Rueben, who stared at him with a curious expression in his warm brown eyes.

"What are you thinking?" Rue asked.

Seth inhaled deep to clear his cluttered thoughts. "I don't want to waste our precious time talking about Amos Martindale, voter polling, or the election." He carded his fingers through silky dark hair.

Rueben leaned into his caress and practically purred. "What do you want to do?"

Seth lowered his mouth and showed him. They didn't make love for a second time, and Rueben didn't want to shower Seth's scent off his skin. They kissed, touched, and talked about the most insignificant things until it was time for Rueben to get dressed and head back to the ranch. Seth put his hand on the front door before Rueben could open it. He slid a hand around Rueben's waist and pressed his mouth to Rueben's ear. "I'm fucking crazy about you." He released a frustrated growl for acting like a coward. "My feelings run so much deeper than that. The truth hits me like a freight train when I least expect it. I want to call and tell you every time, but I—" Seth took a deep breath. "You deserve better than what I can offer you right now."

Rueben whirled around and looked him square in the eyes. Not an ounce of fear or hesitation shimmered in his dark gaze, only certainty. "I'm crazy about you too. And what we deserve is to be together regardless of how long it takes."

Seth backed him against the door just like he'd done when Reuben arrived. He poured every ounce of emotion into the kiss, hoping Rueben could feel even a fraction of the love blossoming in Seth's heart. He pulled back after a few minutes and cupped Rueben's face. "Drive carefully, baby."

"I will. See you tonight, handsome."

One last kiss and Seth reluctantly released his hold. He didn't watch Reuben leave through the window like a lovesick fool, though he felt like it. As much as he wanted to wear Rueben's scent for the rest of the night, he probably shouldn't show up at the town hall meeting smelling like cum and sweat. He padded to the bathroom and took a quick shower. The water heater was ancient and untrustworthy. Seth wanted to hold on to the warm and fuzzy feelings Rueben stirred instead of blasting them away with frigid water. He'd just stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist when he heard footsteps on the front porch. Grinning, Seth walked to the living room and yanked open the front door.

"What did you for—" His words ended on an unmanly squeak when his sex-addled brain processed who stood on his front porch. "What are you doing here, Oliver?"

Green eyes widened in surprise before Oliver gave Seth's nearly nude body a slow perusal. He'd once lived for the appreciation shimmering in his gaze. Oliver's interest shifted from attraction to suspicion when his shrewd eyes met Seth's once more. "I recognize that just-fucked expression and posture. Who were you expecting on your porch just now?" When Seth didn't respond, Oliver cocked his head to the side. "You'd started to say ‘what did you forget' before you realized it was me." He gave Seth another once-over and waggled his brows. "You sure as hell haven't forgotten to hit the gym. Damn, baby. You look better at thirty-eight than you did at nineteen or twenty. Want to tell me who the lucky guy is?"

Seth hated the endearment rolling off Oliver's tongue but tamped down his rising temper. "What the fuck do you want?" His annoyance, however, was a completely different ball game.

"Are you going to step aside so I can come in?"

"No."

Irritation crackled in Oliver's gaze, and arrogance turned his cheeks ruddy. He didn't like it when people told him no, and Oliver wasn't used to hearing it from Seth. That might've been only the second time he'd said it to him. The first refusal occurred when Oliver asked Seth to move to Denver with him. "I see." Oliver's voice was as flat as a day-old cola. "Then we'll do this out here." Seth opened his mouth to say they wouldn't be doing anything—inside or out—but Oliver spoke again before he could respond. "What the fuck are you thinking?" Anger replaced the flatness in the blink of an eye, and the rapid shift caught Seth off guard, not allowing him to clock the source. "You gotta be hard up. That's the only explanation." Oliver's vitriol was a bucket of ice water on his after-sex mellow, and his ex wasn't done. "Of all the asses to tap, you just had to—"

Seth stepped aside and opened the door wider when he really wanted to plow his fist into Oliver's mouth. "Get in here, damn it."

Though he'd given his ex plenty of space to enter, the behemoth guy brushed against him when he entered the house. Seth grabbed the towel that hung precariously around his hips and slammed the door shut. "Stay here." He didn't want Oliver in the special place he shared with Rueben, and he liked the idea of flashing his junk to Ollie even less. His ex had never liked the cabin when they were together and opted not to tag along whenever Seth wanted to fish. This space held no significance in their relationship, and Seth wanted to keep it that way. He quickly dressed and returned to the living room in bare feet.

"You really do look damn good, Seth. It caught me off guard when I saw you at the Feisty Bull. You were always handsome, but age looks amazing on you."

Seth crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. "What do you want?"

"I'll tell you why I came here after you tell me why I just passed Rueben Sanchez on the access road a few minutes ago? The kid was grinning from ear to ear like he'd found the golden ticket. Guess that makes you Wonka."

Fuck. Seth knew that's what he'd alluded to when he'd spewed hot garbage at him, but he needed confirmation. He refused to take the bait and ignored the insulting "kid" comment and the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory reference. "I don't know what you're talking about, Oliver. There are about thirty cabins tucked around this lake and only one main access road."

"I could've bought that excuse until you opened up the door wrapped in a towel. I figured this was where you were hiding out before the town hall meeting, but I didn't expect to find you screwing away your nerves." He cocked his head to the side. "It's not a bad idea if you were doing it with someone that wouldn't cause a judge to dismiss the entire case against Mick and Quinton Carson."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Ollie."

"It's Ollie again, huh? Our previous relationship won't save you now, dumbass." He shook his head. "You thought your smoking-hot lover returned to collect something he'd left behind when you answered the door. I'll ask again. What the fuck are you thinking?"

Seth called on his training to prevent his thoughts from showing in his expression. "All I hear is a bunch of bullshit supposition. Who do you work for now, TMZ?" The insult landed, and Oliver bristled like a pissed-off porcupine, but Seth didn't wait for him to respond. "I listened to your insulting speculation, so it's your turn to tell me why you drove out here."

"I was going to give you a heads-up about something big I'm about to break, but you don't deserve it." Oliver pursed his lips and shook his head. "You disappoint me, Seth. I thought you were so much better than this."

Seth snorted. "Funny. I had the same reaction when I heard you were chummy with Amos Martindale."

Oliver's green eyes opened wide, and Seth knew he'd fucked up. Keeping his expression neutral became nearly impossible when Ollie pointed at him and shouted, "Aha! I fucking knew it!"

Seth rolled his eyes. "You don't know jack."

"Who's Jack?" Oliver asked coyly. "And what does he have to do with you fucking a victim slash material witness in what will be the county's biggest trial in history?" Ollie shook his head and waved his hands. "Forget I asked. You're not going to admit that you're meeting Rueben Sanchez at your fuck pad." He held up his hand to cut Seth off before he could respond. "And I don't need you to tell me, Seth. I know damn well your boy toy saw me talking to Martindale. I caught him watching me when I tracked the wily man down to give him the opportunity to confirm or deny some jaw-dropping information I uncovered about him."

Seth stood taller. "What information?"

"Oh ho," Ollie said. "Look who perked right up." His ex tsked like a schoolmarm and sighed dramatically. "You disappoint me, Seth. You've gone from a crusader for the people to just another elected official who abuses his position."

Seth staggered back a step from the blast of that blow. "Fuck you, Ollie."

Ollie advanced, pointing his finger again. "No, fuck you. I bet you're not thinking about what will happen when this affair leaks, and you know damn well it will. Neither of you are being smart about the situation. I saw the little shit buying a burner phone at the local general store a while back, for fuck's sake. Is that how you arrange your little assignations?"

"Are you writing scripts on the side for Lifetime?" Seth fired back.

Ollie smirked but otherwise ignored the barb. "People are going to eviscerate Rueben when the story breaks and the Carsons will walk free. Is that what you want?"

Seth ground his teeth together to keep from spewing hateful things in return. Oliver was right about it all, and he was just pissed. "Of course not."

Oliver's expression softened at the admission. "Then stop this before it's too late."

Did that mean Ollie would keep his secret? Seth wanted to plead with him not to expose his relationship with Rueben. Ollie had once felt guilty about breaking Seth's heart, and he could probably lean into that to gain his favor. Seth took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. But he wouldn't do that. It would only make him as despicable as Ollie claimed. "Do what you think is best, Ollie. I won't try to stop you from going public with your allegations."

And they both knew that was all Ollie had, but for how long? Despite Seth's digs, Oliver wasn't a journalist who reported wild speculation, but the prospect of a juicy story turned him into a dog with a bone. He would not let this go, so Seth and Rueben would need to be smarter.

Ollie's face was completely devoid of emotion as he studied Seth. After a long stretch of awkward silence, he said, "See you at the town hall meeting." Oliver turned and left without giving Seth a hint about the information he had on Amos Martindale.