Chapter Twelve

The second round of big dick in his ass was all because of Marius. Dallas lay casually next to them, watching with a grin on his face as Marius ravaged Ruben's ass. He was tossed around like an old rag doll, being flipped this way and that, whichever way Marius wanted.

When he came, Marius grunted and fell over him, smashing Ruben to the floor. Dallas pushed him off and pulled Ruben to him, kissing him sweetly. That was a hell of a change from the rough man that had fucked him. "You are beautiful when you're being plowed."

"There is that romance I was expecting," he said, giggling.

"I'm a romantic fucker."

"You look so different. You don't have those lines on your forehead. A few more days of those and you'd never get rid of them."

"I know a good Botox doc in Toledo," Marius said as he recovered from his climax.

They both stared at him as Dallas asked, "Botox?"

"Why not? Why shouldn't I keep my boyish good looks?"

As Ruben laughed, Dallas warned, "Don't spread that around up here, please. I don't want you tarred and feathered."

"They'd do that?"

"Even the women around here don't do that kind of thing. Things are more…natural here."

Ruben agreed, "Ask Vic some time. Just duck right after. She has a very strong opinion about people trying to fight age."

"Yeah, she says she earned every wrinkle, so why would she hide them?"

Marius just laughed, but then he looked at Dallas and asked, "Does she know anyone for the sheriff job yet?"

"I'm going to talk to her tomorrow about it. I was giving her a couple days to think it over, maybe talk to some people."

"As long as they don't tip off Daily," Marius said. "He'd hear that and resume the search. Frankly, all those people here were giving me the creeps."

Marius's phone rang, and he hunted through the pile of their clothes until he found his pants and grabbed his phone from the pocket. "Yeah," he said as he answered. "Well, fuck! Where did they go? Are any vehicles missing?" They watched as his eyes met Dallas's. "Right. Well, fuck ‘em then. We can import some more if we need them. My friend, Teddy, has a front of a construction company."

Dallas chuckled, but Ruben waited until Marius's call ended. "What's wrong?"

"Two guys are gone. The foreman, that chick, she called Dante when she couldn't get me on a text message." He looked at those and said, "Here they are. Ten messages. How did I not hear them?"

"We were…loud," Ruben reminded him.

"Right. Anyway, she said they aren't needed, but if more disappear, it will be a problem. I need to call Teddy."

"Disappeared," Ruben whispered.

"What, babe?" Marius asked as he scrolled through his contacts.

"What if they didn't leave on their own?"

Marius and Dallas both stared at him, and he sat up, hugging his knees. Dallas dismissed it after a few moments. "Can't be. They probably didn't like how remote this is. It's a lot for city guys, I'm sure."

"It is. I'll never get used to all this fucking quiet."

Ruben took their hands and then took a deep breath, sorting his words. "I know we're…just whatever we are right now, but promise me something, both of you?"

"Sure, babe," Marius said readily.

"I'm in," Dallas said.

"We don't go anywhere alone. We don't lose each other. Okay?"

Dallas and Marius descended on him at once and fought each other to kiss him. It was a great fight, no losers. Ruben was pulled into Dallas's arms and Marius kissed him, then Dallas. "Nowhere alone."

"Nowhere alone," Dallas repeated. "And I'll go one further. None of our people will either. I'll never send out anyone alone, not even to take a piss. If they're on the trail, they can stand by their damn horse to piss."

"I can do the same. My guys won't either. I'll talk to Dante about it."

Ruben felt relief flood him, but also love. He knew he loved Dallas, sure, but Marius's caring eyes were looking into his, and if he wasn't mistaken, feelings were showing through that inherent cockiness.

What an adolescent, he thought. Falling in love so fast. With Dallas, maybe it hadn't taken as long as it should, but with Marius, it was ridiculously fast. Still, the way they were flirting with each other, and with Dallas's smile, Ruben suspected he wouldn't be the only one overthinking how quickly they'd grown close.

"I'm starving now. Can we eat?"

They both looked over and Dallas said, "Fuck. I knocked over the strawberries!" He scrambled to gather them and Ruben and Marius watched him in awe. He collected them all in the bowl, exclaiming, "I'll go wash them. Thank goodness the bowl didn't break."

As soon as he was out of the room, Marius whispered, "Is that the same guy that practically chewed off my nipple?"

"Or fucked me so hard I will feel it for a month?"

"Hey! I was part of that!"

"I know, and you're big and fucked me great, too. Still, you…are the same guy. That one?"

"You've known him longer."

Ruben nodded. "That's the thing. He's…always sweet, doesn't talk a lot, humble. That guy that fucked us? Who is that?"

Marius wrapped his arm tighter around Ruben's neck, kissed his head, and said, "He's the part of Dallas that needs to come out now and then to keep the other part from imploding. I think it's in all of us."

"I guess."

"You were all sweet and shy when I met you. That's not who you are, either."

"I am, but…there's more to me than that."

"Well, we just saw the rest of Dallas, and I frankly want to get to know both of him better."

They grabbed their clothes and Dallas's and met him down in the kitchen. The sun was falling from the sky in a slow, gentle way, casting a romantic glow in the kitchen. There were two candles on the counter as Dallas unwrapped the stools, throwing the plastic in the corner. "Dinner is served."

They parted ways that evening, kissing a long time with Dallas pushing each of them against the truck they'd driven to the house. He looked longingly into Ruben's eyes, as he had Marius. "I'll see you guys back at the bunkhouse, but for now, we're not messing around there or letting anyone know about us. Not until things calm down. We don't want people to have another reason to be nervous."

"Fine by me," Marius said, laughing. "No use making all the folks jealous that you two have me."

Ruben poked him in the stomach. "Conceited much?"

"I'll see you both back here tomorrow night," Dallas said. "And I'll make sure they have all the lights on and if I have to bring the one off my bunk, we'll have a damn bed."

"Your bunk is a twin. I'm not sleeping on a twin bed with you two gargantuan guys."

Marius grabbed his face and kissed him roughly. "You won't be sleeping."

Getting the chills from that, Ruben sighed and slapped his butt playfully. "I'll count on it."

In the morning, Ruben felt it before his eyes opened. The ache of his lower body was massive, and then a thought came to him that terrified him enough to make him sit up as his eyes opened overly wide. "Ugh," he breathed.

The sudden movement made it hurt more and after that, the terror intensified. "Horse. I have to ride a horse."

He got out of bed, barely, and he stiffly walked to the bathroom to relieve himself. Just as he finished, Dallas came into the room and smiled when he saw Ruben. "Hey!"

"Ugh. I'm dying."

The chuckle was expected, but after the rampage on the bedroom floor, the blush that bloomed over Dallas's cheeks wasn't. "Oh. Sorry about that."

Ruben walked to the door and quickly locked it. Well, quickly wasn't true. It was a stiff lock, as the thing hadn't been engaged in years, if ever. Ruben walked to Dallas and lay his hands on the man's gorgeous bare chest. "I'm not complaining about the sex. I'm complaining about the pain it left."

"Because I got too rough."

Ruben didn't connect the man in front of him to the one that fucked the hell out of him, but they were both guys he was crazy about. "Listen, I'm happy about our time yesterday. I'm just going to ask what I didn't think I ever would. Preferential treatment."

Dallas set his hand on Ruben's cheek tenderly, his thumb rubbing there as he whispered, "Anything."

"Before I bitch at you for saying that, I'm going to take it first. I can't sit a horse. Can't do it. I will literally die."

"Literally, huh?"

"Yes, so maybe a couple of days in the stables or barn or something?"

"Barn, yeah. I need inventory on the bags of grains. We also need one on the horseshoes, and Jace recommended I get a blacksmith."

"That would be great! And cute too, you could set it up in town and people could watch him, maybe. Especially if he was some hunk with sweaty, rippling muscles."

"So, you'd want him bare-chested? While working with liquid metal?"

Ruben laughed with him. "Guess not. Well, you know what I mean."

Dallas's fingertips ran over Ruben's forehead to move his hair from his eyes. "Beefy blacksmith. Got it."

"Maybe you can come into the barn, and, uh…"

"I thought you were sore."

"Never too sore," Ruben said, moving onto the balls of his feet so he could kiss Dallas in the way he'd fantasized for years. His lips touched Dallas's, he sucked in Dallas's bottom lip and then nipped at it while Dallas laughed.

Then, to break the mood, Avery started hollering and banging on the door. "Who the fuck locked the door?"

Dallas laughed silently. "Guess we have to get better at hiding this or let everyone know."

"You were right. No one needs more shit to worry over right now. I'll see you later."

"Later," Dallas said with a kiss.

He saw Dallas speaking in whispers to Vic as he went to grab breakfast. Deciding to sneak to the counter and slowly take from the chafing dishes, he did so quietly so he could listen.

"Vic, I can't ask you to do that, and besides, who's gonna cook for the hands?"

"I am! You don't think I can do both? I've been working three jobs all my life, four, if you count my husband and kids! This place is not worse than that. My kids were feral heathens and my husband…well, we won't get into that."

Dallas backed down from that point. "Fine, you can, but should you?"

"Yes. I've been talking to some folks. They hate that damn Daily too, but none of them have the oomph to get off their Barcaloungers and run for the office themselves."

Ruben had to hold back his laughter. He wouldn't question Vic if someone gave him a million dollars. Vic was invincible and a powerhouse woman who didn't suffer fools. But that being said, he didn't know what she was being asked to add to her long list of jobs.

He had to wait until he was inventorying the grain. Dallas came in and kissed his neck from behind. "Hey, you."

Ruben turned and hugged him, dropping the clipboard to do it properly. "Hi, Dallas."

"Seen our…our…?"

"Our…yeah, what do we call him? What do we call us?"

"Nothing, yet. Let's give me a chance to catch up."

"Right. No labels yet, no pushing the manager."

"I hate that label the most," he groaned. "I mean, I love it, but you know."

"I know. You don't think you're up to it, but so far, you are far and away better than any manager, or owner, or anything has been here. Stop second-guessing yourself."

"Yes, sir. I live to obey."

Ruben snatched the clipboard off the hay-covered floor and pointed out which of the grains needed restocked. "The oats are really low. Hunter says no to the corn, so I skipped the checkmark there."

"We still need drugs, despite the organic thing. I'll never get the hang of that, no matter how great Hunter is at explaining."

"Yeah, I'm heading to Jet later to get that list. He called me once he heard I was doing inventory. Word travels fast here!"

"Tell me about it," Dallas said, giving Ruben the perfect in to ask what had been bugging him for two hours.

"Say, you and Vic were…I wouldn't say arguing, but talking strongly."

"Right! Fuck, I meant to talk to you and Marius about it. Vic is going to run for sheriff herself."

If he'd said Santa Claus was riding a bull in the field, Ruben would not have been more shocked. "She what?"

"She asked everyone. There's a reason Daily's had that job so long with no one ever running against him. No one wants the job. Either they're too busy with their own ranches or businesses in town, or they're just not interested at all. Vic wants it. I think I saw it today, when she was bitching me out. She actually wants it."

Ruben smiled as he thought of her, the tough lady who had given him so much advice over the years, who'd always had a smile for him, wearing a sheriff's uniform. "That's…that is great. I think she'll be amazing."

"And on our side. I don't expect her to break the law in our favor, or even bend, for that matter. Still, it would be someone who didn't automatically go after us."

"Yes, it sure would. Listen, I need to get back to work before my mean boss spanks me. Oh, wait…you're my mean boss and I wouldn't mind a nice spanking."

"Oh?" Dallas changed in front of his eyes. That sweet, unassuming guy morphed into an untamed animal, and his eyes dilated and darkened at once. "Really?"

"I mean…sure, but…"

Dallas grabbed a fistful of hair and brought him in for a bruising kiss. "Later. I have to go get Jet's list next and meet with that Neil guy to see about that money that is unaccounted for in the old budgets."

His words, spoken against Ruben's lips, the hot breath, piercing eyes…

"Dallas?"

"Yeah, Ruben?"

"I can't wait for tonight."

Another heated kiss and then Dallas was off, and Ruben was left to swoon. "Damn. He's so hot."

His second visit of the day came while he was in the stables, counting bridles and reins, checking over each with a fine eye to make sure they weren't frayed. "Hey, there's the sweet ass I've been thinking about all day," Marius called as he walked in the tack room.

Ruben smiled as he turned. "I thought you liked all of me."

"Oh, I do," he said, then kissed him quickly. "Every inch."

"Mmm, thanks. I can say the same," Ruben flirted, grabbing his package. "Every inch."

"Slut," he accused before grabbing him to kiss him roughly, more violent kissing to go with their less-than-conventional new affair.

"Have you met Neil?"

Marius shrugged as he let go of Ruben. "Yeah, why?"

"Is he…handsome?"

"He's hot, yeah. Why?"

His shoulders fell and he ducked his head. "No reason."

"Oh, is our boy seeing him today?"

Ruben didn't want to appear jealous. He set his clipboard on the workbench and tried to pass it off. "Yeah, but it's for work."

"Of course it is. Ruben, Neil is married. Very married. And, from what I hear, his husband is a former porn star."

Ruben spun and gawked at Marius. "He is?"

"Yeah. Dante told me. Sam…something. Can't remember. Anyway, Neil is totally devoted to him, just like Dallas is totally devoted to you."

"Us."

"Yeah, he knows you better, and you two are already connected. I'm going to be running to catch up for a while."

That made Ruben feel terrible. "I don't want you to feel like that."

"It's not your fault." Marius smiled at him and whispered, "I don't mind that you two are tight. In fact, it's nice. I am new to being out, you know? Even my family, only about half know. To see two guys enjoying it like me? It makes me feel less weird. Besides, you're hot together. You two fucking was…"

"You two fucking was just as hot. It was like snarling animals fighting for dominance."

"Yeah," he sighed, shaking his head as he grabbed the metal stool and took a seat on it. "He has this thing, man, and I never thought I was the type to be submissive, ever, but with him? Damn, if I don't want to drop to my knees for him. It's hot."

"It is, and unexpected. I saw him taking charge as far as herding the cattle and not allowing them to stray, and if they did, he could round them up like no one I've ever seen. Still, when he wasn't on a horse or wasn't branding and stuff, he was sweet and quiet."

"Like you were shy and sweet?"

Ruben preened a little about his acting skill. "I am, at times, but it's easy to be that way in a room full of dominant men and women. My sister alone has that personality that overshadows everyone around them. It's easy to slide into that, but with you guys, I feel like I can spread my wings a little and fly out from under those shadows."

"That's the best thing I've heard all day. If anyone can do that for you, then they're my idol, and if it's me? All the better."

Ruben went to him and slipped his hands around Marius's waist. "It is you, it is Dallas too, and it's me. I find I feel much freer, being at a ranch, that is…what do they call it?"

"Gay friendly."

"Right. That's so fucking stupid. Why do we have to say something like that? Why can't we just have a place where we can be and be happy?"

"We'll get there, baby. We'll get there."