Mason snorted. “I think that horse has well and truly bolted from the barn now, don’t you think.”
“But. . .” Colt leaned toward him, so much closer now. One minute there was a couple of feet between them, and the next there was maybe a couple of inches. Did he move, or did Colt? Or did they both move? “I can’t be near you without needing to touch you.”
“Then don’t fight it,” Mason whispered, and he closed the distance between them.
He pressed his mouth to Colt’s, soft and tender, and the world that he’d never realized had been off its axis righted itself. Turned out that all the missing puzzle pieces of his life were in Colt’s hands, waiting for his return to click back into place.
He parted his lips, and Colt dove in, sliding his tongue against Mason’s. A growl rumbled up Colt’s throat and vibrated throughout Mason’s whole body. Goose bumps of excitement and anticipation rose on his skin.
Mason deepened the kiss, his need growing frantic. His pulse quickened, and his senses heightened, hyperaware of Colt’s every touch and breath and sound.
Colt shifted around, pressed gently on Mason’s shoulder, and guided him backward until he lay on the soft bed of early summer grasses. Colt half covered him with his solid body and began unbuttoning Mason’s shirt while his lips charted a smoldering trail down the column of Mason’s throat, into the hollow at the base, and then downward to his pecs. Mason’s shirt fell open, and Colt teased a nipple with his teeth and tongue. Mason gasped at the jolts of electricity arcing through him.
He fisted one hand in Colt’s hair and yanked Colt’s snap-button shirt open with the other. Hot skin over solid hard muscle singed the palm of his hand as he used touch to map Colt’s pecs and abs. He pinched a hard nipple between his fingers, earning a growl from Colt, and then reached lower to unzip Colt’s jeans. He dove under briefs stretched tight by Colt’s straining erection, took him in hand, and smiled when Colt bucked.
“Mase . . .” Colt hissed, and Mason shivered from the desire blazing in his blue eyes.
“Jesus, you feel good,” Mason rasped. “I want to make you come so hard your eyes cross.”
“Yes,” Colt breathed, and then kissed him again while easing him back enough to work his hand into Mason’s jeans without breaking their kiss.
Mason’s eyes rolled back when Colt engulfed his cock in a hot and sure hand, and his whole body trembled. Two strokes from Colt had Mason galloping toward the edge of climax. It would have been embarrassing if he could think of anything other than the feel of Colt’s body pressing against his, of Colt’s hand deftly working him into a frenzy, of Colt’s mouth telling him everything words couldn’t.
Wanting more, Mason angled onto his hip so he and Colt faced each other on their sides. He rocked his pelvis forward, erection sliding over erection.
“Take us both,” Colt grunted as he released Mason’s cock from that heavenly grip.
Mason would have complained, but when he wrapped his hand around them both, Colt placed his over Mason’s, and together they stroked and rocked as one, chasing inevitable release.
“I’m—” was all Mason managed to say before his brain short-circuited and blinding bliss raced through him.
Colt followed on his heels, groaning and gasping, riding out the waves of pleasure with Mason until they subsided.
Spent in a way he’d never been before, Mason flopped onto his back and stared up at the sky, a blue nearly as bright as Colt’s eyes. He looked over at the man he’d never stopped loving as his breathing slowed. There was a softness in Colt’s gaze that sent a cascade of happy shivers through him. He reached for Colt’s hand, and Colt twined his sticky fingers with Mason’s.
“That was . . . intense,” Colt whispered.
“Yeah. And perfect.”
Colt pulled their joined hands to his lips and kissed Mason’s knuckles, and Mason thrilled at knowing Colt would taste them both on his skin.
Mason smiled on a sigh and snuggled closer to Colt. He lost track of how long they lay there, staring up at the heavens in contented silence as puffy, white cotton-ball clouds drifted overhead.
“The sun is getting low,” Colt said. His voice was quiet, as though he didn’t want to disturb the peaceful lull.
“Had to spoil the moment, didn’t you?” Mason teased. He understood though. They couldn’t stay up here forever.
Colt leveled a serious look at him. “We’ll have more moments.”
Mason’s chest suddenly felt too small to contain his heart. Yes, they would have more. As much as they could fit in before Colt eventually left. For good this time.
Mason jumped up and righted his clothing while kicking away the intruding thoughts. “We’d better get going. Don’t want to navigate the trail in the dark.”
Mason woke early the next morning and smiled. Even though the threats still hung over his head from some unknown assailant, he felt lighter in spirit. The time he’d spent up on the outlook with Colt had been pure magic. An easy expression of their feelings through reverent touch and mutual desire. Mason had ridden back from the lookout point in a blissful state of sated peace, sharing private smiles and hungry glances with Colt.
Mason rose to let the dogs out but didn’t get more than a foot away from the bed before Colt’s sleep-warm hand wrapped around his wrist.
“Get back here,” Colt mumbled, and his voice, rough from sleep, made all the little butterflies in Mason’s guts flutter and dance. He leaned down and kissed Colt on the nose.
