Home of His Own by T. Chase (classic fiction .TXT) 📗

his hips like a slut. Brody whistled low. The other men were doubled over, cackling.

Brody climbed to the platform built at one end of the indoor arena. He settled in one of the chairs and watched. Randy arrived to help get Tony ready to ride. Brody watched the two men and wondered about the dynamics between them. They were comfortable with each other, like long time friends or old lovers would be. He felt an unwelcome surge of jealousy. It was a stupid emotion, especially since he’d only slept with Tony twice and didn’t really know the man at all.

“They never were.”

He glanced around to see Les standing at the back of the platform, resting a hip against the railing. Brody wanted to pretend he didn’t know what Les was talking about, but neither of them was stupid.

“I’m that obvious, huh?”

The corner of Les’ thin mouth lifted slightly. “Just a little. No one else would notice if they weren’t looking for it.”

Brody watched the older man as Les made his way around the chairs to sit next to him. Les studied their lovers for a moment before turning to look at Brody. He was startled by the intense stare he received from Hardin. He wanted to shift or straighten his shirt. He wanted to do anything to stop the man from peering into his soul.

“We don’t get to meet Tony’s lovers.” Les looked away when Randy’s laughter drifted from the other side of the arena.

“You wouldn’t have met me if Yancey hadn’t become friends with Juan.” Brody snorted. “Strange coincidence.”

Les shrugged. “I don’t believe in coincidence. Everything happens for the right reason at the right time. Tony and Randy are good friends, probably best friends in many ways.”

“Really?”

Tony climbed up and settled down on the back of a large red bull. Randy leaned over the side of the chute, his hands under the vest Tony was wearing.

“They both lived in a world where they couldn’t be themselves. For the most part, Randy is out of the rodeo circuit, but he still is careful about who he tells or shows. Tony lives in that world and though he’s managed to find ways around the restrictions put on him, he’s very much in the closet.” Les settled back and rested his right ankle on his left knee. “They understand each other better than I could ever begin to.”

“You never hid who you were.” Brody could see that.

There was an air of confidence in the way Les walked and moved that spoke of Les’

surety of his place in the world. Brody figured thateven after his accident and getting dumped by his lover, Les never really doubted who or what he was.

“Didn’t have to. As long as I rode well, people didn’t care who I loved. It didn’t make me less of a man in their eyes.” Les nodded towards the other men. “They’re good men or I wouldn’t have them working for me. Yet there are ones who believe if you fuck men or get fucked by them, you’re less male than a straight guy.”

“I’ve never understood that philosophy.”

“Doesn’t have to make sense.” Les shook his head. “It just takes someone believing it.”

“True.” He held his breath as the red bull burst from the chute and spun to the right.

He found his body moving with each rocking motion Tony made. His lungs burned and his hands clenched on his thighs. A buzzer rang and Tony tugged on the tail of his rope, unhooking his hand from the hemp. Dusty and Burt flagged the bull, getting it to spin left so Tony could bail out to the right without getting stomped on. Brody’s breath hissed from his chest when Tony sprang from the dirt and waved at him.

“Don’t hurt him.”

Surprised, he turned to Les, who wasn’t looking at him. Les waved to Tony, a laugh bursting from the older man as Randy raced over and tackled Tony.

“I would think you’d be more worried about his chosen profession than me hurting him.” Brody stood.

“I always worry when he rides, but his body will heal. If you break his heart, I’m not sure if he would be as giving as he is now.”

“You give me more power than I have. I’m a one-night stand that he got to see again.

Besides, if he is hurt, he has you and Randy to comfort him.” He started to leave the platform, but he stopped and turned back to Les. “Tony’s a lucky man to have people who care so much for him.”

Les bowed his head, acknowledging the compliment.

Brody caught Tony as the smaller man threw himself at him. Tony’s bright smile burned through Brody’s chest and touched his heart. He realized he wanted to see Tony as happy and relaxed as he was at that moment.

“Did you see me ride that bastard?” Tony wrapped his arms around Brody’s neck and kissed him.

Brody held Tony’s compact body tight to his and kissed him back. Their mouths fused, the kiss going deeper and hotter. Tongues tangled. Teeth nibbled. A moan rose from one of their throats. Neither knew which one it came from. Brody slid his hands down, cupping Tony’s ass and rocking their hips together.

“Hey you two. Don’t make me get some snow to cool you off.”

A voice broke through the heat of desire, pulling them back to reality. Brody let go and stepped away, his cheeks hot and chest heaving slightly. He’d met a few guys who could turn him on in an instant, but none had made him forget where he was. He turned to see Randy grinning at them.

Tony shot his friend the finger, but didn’t move further away from Brody. “There have been plenty of times I thought I’d have to hose you and Les down, cowboy. Don’t make me come over there and kick your ass.”

“Like you could,” Randy dared him.

Brody shook his head as Tony took off after Randy, chasing the taller man around the arena.

“And then there are times when I think they’re