Chapter 16

Percy could admitto being clueless when it came to such things. How could he possibly know?

What on earth had given Albie the idea, Percy had no clue. But he was sure glad he did.

Percy liked that Albie seemed to think of bedding him almost as much as Percy did.

Almost.

Surely Albie didn’t think of it as often Percy did. Heaven help him, it was all Percy could think about.

And since his accident, Albie had been so gentle with him. While he loved that Albie took care of him and felt the need to protect him, he’d almost gone a stretch too far.

He’d been so restrained in their bed. Was being too tender a problem? Was being too tentative, too careful a bad thing?

Goodness, no.

But Percy was feeling more than fine now.

And he had needs.

Needs that he’d never had before. Needs that Albie had awoken in him, needs that burned in his belly. And now he needed it all the time.

He never wanted to stop.

He felt wicked sometimes, the way his thoughts would take him down memory lane. He’d be sitting at the table with Des and Robert while he was remembering Albie’s body, naked and hard in all the right places and doing ungodly things to him.

He thanked all the heavens that his thoughts were private.

And he thanked all the heavens that Albie’s thoughts were aligned with his. To move the dresser against the door, to use the butter.

To have him face down on the bed, naked and willing, before the sun had barely set. The talk and laughter from the bar downstairs filtered up, disguising any noises Percy might make.

He always tried to be quiet. In bed, late at night or early in the morning, fearful that Clara and Elsie across the hall might hear him. He’d heard certain noises come from their room before, though he’d never dare to mention it.

But he was well versed in biting back groans and practising silence, though Albie had never sunk all the way inside him before. Not fully erect, not rock hard.

Percy was sure tonight would be the night he did.

And he wanted it more than he’d ever wanted anything.

As Albie smeared the butter over Percy’s entrance, Percy grew impatient. He raised his hips and spread his thighs more, murmuring into the mattress. He even slid his hand underneath and gave his cock a few strokes to ease the desperate ache. “Albie, please.”

Then Albie’s chest pressed against Percy’s back, and Percy could feel Albie’s hand on his buttocks as he positioned himself, his cock to Percy’s entrance.

“You’ll regret your impatience,” Albie grunted at the back of Percy’s ear.

“You’ll regret my impatience,” Percy snapped.

But then Albie pushed into him. It took Percy’s breath, took his ability to speak, to think. The breach was immense and too much, and Albie was too hard, too big...

Percy clawed at the mattress and the pillow, his head lifted from the bed, mouth open, and he was just about to object, to say no, to beg, when there was a push and a pop as Percy’s body surrendered and took Albie in.

And Albie slid into him, slow and deep, his breath shuddering at Percy’s ear. “Please tell me if I hurt you,” he murmured, his voice strained. Then he pressed his forehead to Percy’s shoulder and rolled his hips, pushing all the way in with a shuddering breath. “Oh sweet heavens, Percy, what are you doing to me?”

Percy couldn’t explain how it felt.

An intrusion at first. Discomfort that soon became something else... a reward. He wanted Albie inside him. He wanted this, to take his cock inside him, to take his seed.

He wanted Albie to have him, to claim him. To finish inside him.

And the more Albie slid in and out, pushing in deeper, the more Percy wanted it.

He was gentle, yes. But he was also owning Percy with every thrust, with every grunt and quiet groan. “Oh, you feel like heaven, Percy,” Albie whispered. “I can’t... I can’t hold back any longer.”

“Then don’t,” Percy breathed. He rose his arse to meet Albie, and Albie drove into him, impaling him, so deep, so perfectly.

His pace quickened, giving Percy everything he wanted, everything he’d yearned for, craved. And when Albie drove up into him one final time before he grunted and groaned, he spilled inside him. Percy could feel the pulse, the release, and Albie held him tighter, kissing his shoulder and that sweet spot on the nape of his neck.

He collapsed on top of him, Albie’s weight on Percy’s back a comfort, and when he began to pull back, Percy was quick to stop him. “Stay there,” he murmured. “Inside me, on top of me. Never leave me, Albie.”

He hadn’t meant it to sound like that, but once those words were out, he wasn’t sorry.

He meant every word.

Albie slipped his arms underneath him, around him, and he held him. “Never,” he breathed. “I will never leave you.”

“Forever is a promise, Albie,” Percy said. Not entirely sure why he was so emotional, so vulnerable.

Albie kissed the back of his neck again, nudging his nose into Percy’s hair. “My promise to you. I love you, Percy Collins. Now, and forever.”

Albie’s words filled Percy with such warmth, with security and comfort he couldn’t explain. “I love you too,” he said, his voice catching and his eyes filling with tears.

Albie pulled out of him then, and Percy felt empty at the loss. Hollow, bereft.

But Albie flipped him over, scooping him up in his arms, cradling him. “Why the tears? Did I hurt you, Percy?”

Percy gave a teary laugh. “I can’t explain my emotions,” he said, sniffling. “You gave me everything I needed, Albie. Not just here tonight, but every day. And to hear you say you love me, for me to tell you I love you...” He shook his head, fresh tears welling in his eyes. “To find love when I was alone. To find you, Albie. I don’t know what I ever did to be so lucky.”

Albie swiped his thumb across Percy’s temple, wiping away a tear that escaped, and searched his eyes. “I was alone too, until you came into my life. I can’t say what the future will hold for us, and maybe it won’t be easy, but as long as we have each other.”

Percy’s reply was soft and honest. “Always. I’ll be at your side forever.”

Albie smiled and kissed him softly. “Are you sure I didn’t hurt you?”

Percy gave a teary laugh. “You can hurt me like that any time you have the need.” He clenched his buttocks, feeling worn and wet. “The butter was a good idea.”

Albie pulled him in close, holding him tight. “The butter was a great idea.” He shuffled Percy closer, feeling Percy’s erection, and he stilled. “You, uh... you didn’t finish.”

Percy chuckled. “No, but it’s okay. If you feel up for a second round—” He wiggled his bottom. “—I’m ready.”

Albie groaned. “A second round, and third, and more. How much can you take?”

Percy hummed, warming at the thought alone. “All of it.”

They lay there for a moment, holding each other tight, relishing the closeness, the quiet, the privacy.

The love.

And Percy must have dozed off because he woke sometime later to Albie’s mouth on him, taking in his cock, sucking and summoning his orgasm from just under the surface. Albie drank down Percy’s release, and while his mind was still swimming in pools of bliss, Albie flipped him over and entered him once more.

Percy bit the pillow to muffle any sounds and he let Albie have his way with him again.

“You said you wanted all of it,” Albie murmured between thrusts.

“Yes. Yes,” Percy cried. “Please.”

He felt bigger this time, harder too, and more determined, but somehow no less gentle. And he pushed down on Percy’s back, rearing up as he spilled, and Percy could feel the rush of it inside him.

Heaven.

He collapsed on top of him again, breathing hard, his chest heaving. “Oh, Percy.”

“Don’t move,” Percy murmured. “Sleep as we are.”

He was spent and content and couldn’t have moved if he wanted to. He closed his eyes and fell asleep, dreaming of weighted clouds of bliss and forever.

* * *

They were up beforefirst light and had the horses loaded with their store goods. Percy ached in all the right places, and he smiled at every twinge, reminded smartly of where Albie had been.

But it wasn’t until he swung himself up into his saddle that the pain became a bite. “Ooh,” he hissed, adjusting in his seat with more care this time.

“Are you sore?” Albie asked him, concerned.

Percy laughed. “Not terribly. Just reminded of last night.”

“We have a half-day’s ride. You must tell me if you need to rest.”

“Don’t concern yourself with my matters,” Percy said.

Albie cocked an eyebrow at him. “Your matters? Am I not the cause of such things? Shouldn’t we share?—”

Percy met his gaze. “If I tell you it hurts, would you do it again?”

“Well, I... No, I probably wouldn’t. I don’t want to cause you any?—”

“And that is why I won’t tell you. Because you will be doing it again. Many times, between now and forever, I’ll have you know.”

Albie glared at him. “Percy.”

“I won’t hear any more of it, Albie. Though I will let you draw me a hot bath tonight, deal?”

He feared he’d need it.

“Fine,” Albie said, somewhat mollified.

“And while I’m soaking away any aches and pains in the tub, you can steal some more butter from Clara’s larder.” Percy grinned at him. “If she catches you, it’ll be your hide that needs soaking.”

Albie finally smiled. “Maybe I should buy us a private stash of butter from the store before we leave.”

Percy laughed. “I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.”

* * *

Albie didn’t buyany butter from the store, though he did call past the saleyard to double check when the next intake was. It was early, the yards mostly empty and not many people around, but Mr Bailey was there, and he most definitely was whistling a different tune in regards to Albie.

And yes, it was unfair that the saleyard, the bank, and the store all bowed to McAllister. They should have respected Albie before he found himself in McAllister’s good graces. It clearly irked Albie, and rightly so, but Percy found it a little funny.

“Imagine living your life as a puppet like that,” he said as they rode out of town. “McAllister’s the puppeteer that makes all his little marionettes dance. They’re fools to think he respects them. But you,” he said, giving a pointed nod to Albie, “you he respects. Begrudgingly, perhaps. But respect, nonetheless.”

Albie laughed. “I don’t know about that.”

“You didn’t bow down to him when a weaker man would have,” Percy added.

Albie wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he settled for silence. It was an easy silence between them, comfortable even. They’d catch each other’s gaze and smile, making Albie’s heart thunder.

Percy whistled a tune for a bit, then he told of a story from his childhood when he’d been in trouble at school and caught the teacher’s wrath.

Then his father’s when he got home.

“Do you miss them?” Albie asked. It wasn’t the first time, but he knew longing and sadness was something that came and went.

Percy scrunched his nose. “Sometimes. I think a part of me always will. But I’m not sorry I left. I’m sorry they told me to leave, and I’m sorry they felt me more of a burden than a son. I’m sorry for that. But I’m not sorry I left. Because if I hadn’t gone out on my own, I’d have never met you. I’ve never been this happy, Albie. I’ll take this life, this authentic life, over a lie any given day of the week.”

Albie would never stop being amazed at this man.

“Do you think they knew?” Albie pressed. “That you were never inclined to bed a woman?”

Percy’s smile turned rueful. “I think so, yes. Some part of my mother always knew, I think. My father lived in denial and would never think of such things. If I’d have told him the real reason I didn’t want to marry Emily...” He shook his head. “He’d have flayed the skin from my bones and buried me with a Bible.”

Albie sighed, his heart heavy.

“I wish it weren’t so. And I’ll never understand how people can clutch a Bible in one hand while they beat you with their other. It reeks of hypocrisy.”

Percy was quiet for a few beats. “What about you? Do you think your father knew?”

Albie shook his head. “No. We were too isolated, too removed from the townsfolk for me to have any interest in courting anyone, much less a lady.” He made a face. “Thankfully.”

“Do you think Des and Robert know?”

“About us?”

Percy nodded.

“I would hope not.” Albie dreaded the thought.

“I think Des might wonder.”

Albie shot him a bewildered look. “What? How?”

Percy just laughed. “He misses nothing.”

“He thinks it’s good I have someone now who’s closer to me in age,” Albie justified. “I’ve never had that. He’d mistake us for nothing more.”

“He knows we share a room.”

“Yes, but that’s... that’s because there is little alternative. Unless you want to move back to the bunkhouse.”

Percy threw his head back and laughed. “You’re not getting me out of your bed that easy.”

“Even after last night?” Albie asked boldly. He really wasn’t one to say such things outright, but he’d noticed Percy shifting in his saddle more and more.

Percy rocked his hips forward and palmed his crotch. “Especially after last night.”

* * *

They rodeinto the farm around two in the afternoon. Tired, sore, and hungry, but oh-so happy to be home.

Elsie and Clara met them on the veranda, smiling widely. “Good to have you back, Albie,” Elsie said, immediately starting to unpack the food supplies.

“Everything well here?” he asked, sliding down off his horse and stretching his back.

“Oh, yes. Robert and Des went down to the west paddocks not too long ago. Said they’d be back by four. I kept a lunch aside for you both. Figured you’d be hungry,” she said, lifting out the bag of sugar from the saddlebag. She hefted it as if it were nothing and handed it over to Clara who struggled with both arms.

“You should remember I’m not accustomed to moving kegs of beer,” Clara said, giving her a cheeky scowl.

It was the first time Albie had seen any cheek from Clara, and it made him happy to see it now. It also made him happy to see Elsie grouse and fuss about it. She hefted the sack of flour up onto her shoulder and trudged up the steps, following Clara inside.

Then Albie noticed Percy walk around in front of Bandit. He limped and winced, giving Albie a sorry smile. “Remember how I said you should mind your own matters?” he whispered. “And how I’d let you run me a bath?”

Albie wanted to slide his hand along Percy’s jaw and pull him in for a hug, to rub his back, to maybe even carry him inside. But he couldn’t do that in case Robert or Des happened to come back and see.

“I shall draw you a bath. I’ll have Clara heat some water,” he said quietly.

Elsie came back out and saw Percy, making her frown. “What’s wrong with you? You’re being too quiet.”

“He came off his horse,” Albie said quickly.

Percy shot him a wild glare, because he’d probably rather tell her the truth than ever admit he fell off a horse. He huffed at Albie but softened at Elsie. “I’m fine, just a bit sore after the ride home.”

“Can we prepare him a hot bath, please?” Albie asked.

She ushered Percy inside. “Ah, sore and sorry is never a good combination.”

He stopped at the door. “Sore, yes. Never said I was sorry.” He shot Albie a parting glance over his shoulder as he went inside.

Albie finished unpacking the horses, then he led them to the stables. When they were looked after, he went inside. Elsie was serving up his plate of stew while Clara poured more water into the washroom, to the tub where Percy was, no doubt.

“Has Percy eaten?” he asked, taking a seat at the table.

“Not yet,” Elsie replied. She put the plate in front of him. “Fancy Percy coming off his horse. Never would have thought he’s come off a horse in his whole life.”

Albie didn’t like the innuendo in her tone or the way she hovered over him. He didn’t dare meet her eyes.

“And he landed right on his backside,” she added, not even trying to hide her smile. Then she gave Albie’s shoulder a gentle shove and lowered her voice. “And the day before he has to spend eight hours in a saddle, Albie.”

He felt his face flame from his hairline down to his toes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he tried.

But he knew.

Just like she knew.

How she knew these things, Albie could never guess. Part of him didn’t want to know.

“When you’re done eating,” she said, “you take his lunch into him and hand-feed him while he soaks before Robert and Des get back.”

He almost said yes, ma’am. It was on the tip of his tongue, and he had to stop himself from saying the words out loud. Instead, he cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, still not meeting her gaze, his face burning hot.

“Fine,” he managed. “Thank you.”

Gee whiz.

For the boss of this place, he just got schooled.

She left him to eat in peace and he’d almost lost his appetite, but the smell of the fresh stew and hot bread was too good to ignore. He shovelled in a mouthful just as Elsie brought out a small plate of butter and slid it in front of him, and he almost choked.

“You all right there?” she asked, thumping him on the back.

He nodded, still trying to not die.

There is absolutely no way she could know about the butter. It was purely coincidental that she offered him some. Nothing more.

“Yes, yes,” he said, then took a sip of water. “Fine, thank you.”

He was just glad Percy wasn’t there to witness his shame.