Chapter 46

In the back of my mind, I thought of Tyler, and hoped he was well. I wanted him to come back to me, but I knew it would have to be of his own free will. We would make a great team, the two of us. Both strong men, with a love of the land, and each other.

Those thoughts kept me going through blisters, a sore back, and broken equipment. Winter was harsh and lonely, but I used the time to study up on growing techniques so I’d be ready. I was determined to have something to offer Tyler when he came home. That was the point of all this. To offer him a home and love. Enough love to heal his broken heart and make up for the loss, hell, the murder, of his family, and a life spent afraid and alone.

It was the middle of July, a hot and sweaty Tuesday afternoon with barely any wind. I had planted pumpkin seeds at the beginning of June, and the plants were looking healthy. I’d installed an irrigation system to replace the old one. As I walked back to the front of the house to get some water from the pitcher there, I heard the beep of a horn down the road.

I turned and saw a lone figure walking slowly up the gravel path. My heart knew who it was before he was in my line of sight. I started running, not caring how dirty or desperate or lovesick I appeared as I barreled toward Tyler Panterone, my only love.

I stopped before him, and looked him over. He was thinner than I remembered, and his hair was longer, almost-shoulder length now. He wore dirty, worn jeans and a faded T-shirt, along with dusty cowboy boots. Good God, he was sexy.

“Hey, Felix. How you been?” he said, with a precious half smile.

I cut through the pleasantries. “Are you here to stay?”

“Can I?” he asked, his pale eyes clear and full of emotion.

“On one condition. You know what that is, don’t you, boy?” I said, hands on my hips as I stared hard at him.

Tyler dropped the bag on his shoulder and stepped up to me. “I love you, Felix Cotter, more than the air I breathe. I want to make a life with you, be with you however you’ll have me.” He cupped my face, brushing away the tears that fell at his words. “I’m sorry about Uncle Ben, sweetheart. You must miss him terribly.”

And then I broke. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him close to me, squeezing him as tightly as I could and knowing he wouldn’t break. “Thank you, love,” I said, my head buried in his neck, breathing him in. He smelled of sunshine and sweat.

We stood like that for a long time, our scents mingling with each other and the land. He was home. Tyler had come home to me and was here to stay.

I dropped to my knees before him, and pulled down the zipper of his jeans. “It’s been too long, Tyler. I need to taste you, to remember what we’re like together.”

“I need you, too, honey. Stand up.” He pulled me up, and put a hand on my zipper. “Let’s do this together.”

With mutual grins, we worked together to push down our pants and pull both our cocks out. Using spit, Tyler and I lubed up each other’s dicks and attacked our lips, open-mouthed and messy, spit dripping down and fangs descending. The taste of copper was in my mouth, and it was like the best wine.

I sucked on his tongue and cut his lip, as he did mine. We pumped each other, humping our fists and working toward an explosion that would tear us apart and bring us back together again.

“Soon, Felix. I’m almost there,” Tyler panted between nips and sucks.

“Come on, boy. Let go. I’m ready, too.”

Tyler’s head fell back and he yelled, “Fuck!” as he came. I looked down at us together, his pale skin to my tanned and saw his seed glistening in the daylight.

“Oh shit!” I exclaimed, coming at the sight of us together. When it was over, we dropped our heads onto each other’s shoulder and just breathed, limp dicks hanging out, asses bare as the day is long.

I lifted my head and looked into his eyes. “I’ll always love you, baby. You make me so happy.”

Tyler gave me a smile that rivaled the sun. “You make me happy, too. You were the only thing that kept me going while I was in jail, the reason for me to keep my control and not let the beast out, knowing that I would get the chance to do that once I was here with you.”

“You love me?” I asked again, wanting to hear him say it, and knowing it would never get old.