Chapter 79

So there they both were, sitting at the table, Rory with an itchy ass and a half hardon, with everyone looking at them, or in Barry’s case, pretending not to.

“Guess you two will want to skip dessert so you can, uh, play some more,” Jake observed, trying but failing not to smirk.

“Jake!” Barry warned quietly. “If they want me to box up their dessert to eat later, I will. Just like I would for anyone who wanted to eat later.”

“What is it?” Zane asked.

“Apple pie a-la-mode.”

Zane seemed to consider it. Rory hoped they could get out of there, like, yesterday.

“Naw, we’ll have pie here. Ice cream will melt otherwise.”

Rory held in his grimace. 17

A heavy snow storm blew in and dropped over a foot of snow, severely restricting what the hands could do around the ranch. Apart from checking on the herd and making sure they had access to food and water, plus the usual taking care of the horses and the tack, as well as whatever equipment maintenance needed attending to, very little else could be done. Fortunately they didn’t lose power, although Rory wouldn’t have minded. It would have given him and Zane more excuses to cuddle. Not that they needed excuses.

There was plenty of time for them to continue with Zane’s reading lessons, although the man was doing pretty well on his own. Rory guessed Zane liked the lessons more for the rewards he’d receive once their reading session was concluded.

Some of their favorite reading times were in the evenings when Rory would read aloud to Zane, the choice of books had moved from American classics to ones with a much higher homoerotic content. It was quite a challenge to read while Zane was sucking on Rory’s neck, nipple, ear, or penis. When the latter happened, the story was often abandoned in favor of more practical and immediate pleasures.

In addition to his reading, Zane also spent time with his drawing, asking Rory to pose for him.

“What, nude?” Rory asked, not sure if he’d want anyone else to see such a drawing.

Zane shrugged. “Wasn’t thinking of that, but sure, if that’s what you want. Although, I’m not sure I can draw naked stuff.”

They agreed that for the first drawing at least, Rory should have his clothes on. So he’d posed, one leg bent, foot resting on the bottom rail of a split rail fence. His arms rested on the top rail, of the fence. His eyes, shaded by his hat, were focused on the middle distance.

By the time Zane had finished the initial outline, Rory’s foot was aching. Zane had refused to allow Rory to see the drawing until after it was complete. However, it had been worth it. The final version looked so lifelike, Rory couldn’t quite believe it was him, but everyone who saw the image said Zane had caught Rory’s likeness perfectly.

Zane had been commissioned by everyone on the ranch to draw a picture of them.

“I, uh,” Zane said, blushing. “I ain’t that good at drawing people. Like doing buildings or things best.”

“But you did a wonderful job with Rory,” Barry told told him.

Zane shrugged. “He’s my boyfriend.”

Eventually—with offers of extra food from Barry, lighter chores from Liam, boxing lessons from Wayne, and more money in his wage packet from Jimmy and Jake—Zane was persuaded to draw them.

Later, when they were alone in their room, Zane confessed he was uneasy about accepting favors from the other guys.

“No more than you deserve,” Rory told him. “Artists sell their work for a lot of money sometimes.”

“I ain’t an artist. I just like drawing stuff.”

Rory shook his head. “Okay, What about instead of buying each man a gift for their birthday, you draw them instead?”

“God, Ror, that’s perfect!” Zane said, kissing Rory passionately. “I’m shit at buying gifts.”

Rory sighed but chose not to argue. It was all good. Zane would draw, and he wouldn’t have to go through the problems of choosing suitable gifts.

* * * *

Finally, after a week or so of stretching with their sex toys, Rory had decided he was ready to take on ZJ.

At first, Zane had refused, claiming he’d hurt Rory. He’d offered up his virgin ass instead. That certainly made more sense—Rory was smaller in the dick department and Zane was regularly taking dildos that were larger than him—but Rory had wanted to lose his cherry first. Although he couldn’t be certain until he’d tried topping, Rory was fairly sure he was more of a bottom. He feared when he topped Zane, he wouldn’t be enough to satisfy his big, virile lover. However, Rory was sure Zane would be more than enough of a top for him.