Moonlight and Trust
Disclaimer: Not mine and no money is being made.
Genre: ATF - Thanks goes out to Mog for creating such a wonderful world and allowing us to play in it!
Notes: This is the story that was submitted in 'My Seducer II', a Magnificent 7 Zine created by Lumina.
Ezra Standish was not an impulsive man. At least, not when it came to his life outside work. Hell, it took him two years to work up the nerve to approach Vin about how he felt about him.
And it looks like it might take two more for him to ask the Texan to join him for the weekend.
Now, as he sat at his desk, he once again questioned why he hesitated in asking Vin to join him on a trail ride this weekend. It wasn't as though he didn't enjoy spending time with the long-legged, blue-eyed Texan. Vin touched something deep within Ezra, something that made him feel complete. Truth be told, Ezra wanted to spend every waking minute with him. No, that's not right either. They both enjoyed their solitude; both needed time apart.
Ezra had known Vin was different from the start. The Texan knew when to push, and more importantly, when not to. Vin also knew how to be quiet and didn't feel the need to fill every minute of every day with excessive talking.
From the first day Ezra joined the team, Vin had been there, patiently waiting for him to accept that Vin wasn't going away, that Vin truly wanted to be his friend. Something Ezra secretly craved. So Ezra gave him a chance, but they would do it his way and on his terms. He figured that getting to know the others one-on-one would be safer, that he'd have a better chance of being allowed to stay. He'd start with Vin, then move on to Josiah, gradually working his way to Chris. However, the more he got to know Vin Tanner, the more he wanted to know. And before Ezra knew it, he had fallen in love with the man. Ezra then found out that Vin felt the same way. These last few months had been some of the happiest of his life.
With a shake of his head, Ezra thought about his current problem. It wasn't that he was afraid of rocking the boat, for he had always rather enjoyed doing that. He just didn't want to risk having Vin fall out of the boat. Ezra wanted, needed Vin helping him rock the boat.
Just ask him, Ezra chided himself. All he can do is say yes or no, he pointed out. Dammit, he silently swore, you face dangerous situations everyday. Hell, you've had your life threatened more times than you can even remember, but you can't work up the nerve to ask your lover a simple question. Yeah, that's easy for you to say, he mentally snorted. You want him to come with you. You want more from Vin than just stolen moments. Ask him, his heart pleaded.
Squaring his shoulders, the Southerner opened his mouth, only to snap it shut as JD walked up and sat on the edge of Vin's desk. There was no way he was going to ask Vin in front of a witness.
"Come on, Vin," JD whined and gave him his patented puppy dog eyes.
Vin shook his head. "Look, JD, I already told you I can't. I got plans this weekend," he stated. "And don't give me that look 'cause it ain't gonna work."
"Why not? It works on everyone else," the younger man said, reinforcing the look.
"Not Ezra," Vin told him with a grin, making JD roll his eyes. "Why don't you ask Buck? I'm sure he'd love to go with you."
JD gave him a look and shook his head. "You've obviously never gone to a car show with Buck, have you?"
Vin just laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry, JD, maybe next time."
"No," Ezra said, without raising his head and before JD could even ask. He'd heard every damned word."But-"
"No."
"Fine! I'll just go by myself," he muttered and walked away. "See if I ever ask the two of you to go with me anywhere ever again!"
"Could I have that in writing?" Ezra taunted, still not looking up. Phew, he thought to himself, that was a close one.
"What are you doing this weekend?" Vin asked him.
"I'm going out of town," he replied, then began clearing his desk, missing the disappointed look on Vin's face.
As he walked to the elevator, Ezra called himself every kind of fool there was. If he hadn't been such a coward then Vin and he would be spending the weekend together. Ezra had half a mind to just cancel and stay home. Alone. Like he deserved.
(~)
Later that evening as Ezra unloaded his horse, he spotted a lanky, longhaired man that reminded him of Vin. It couldn't be, he told himself. Could it? With a shake of his head, Ezra dispelled that wishful thought and led his horse closer to the others.
Rounding a horse trailer, Ezra almost collided with another man. Looking up, he froze as he saw who it was. "Vin?" he cried, just barely keeping the joy out of his voice.
"Ezra? What are ya here for?" Vin asked with huge smile on his face.
"I'm going on the trail ride."
"Me, too," he said and stepped closer. "This is gonna be even more fun than I thought."
"Yes, it just might," Ezra agreed and fought the urge to kiss him.
Just then, Richard Bradley, the trail boss, stood on the tailgate of a truck and began going over the rules stating that everyone should pick a riding buddy. Ezra and Vin looked at each other with a heated gaze, having already picked who they'd be riding with. After a meal of hamburgers and hot dogs, the large group broke up into smaller ones to get ready for the night.
"This is gonna be great," Vin told him, as they walked a little bit away from the others. "We can sleep under the stars."
"You can sleep under the stars," the Southerner told him, as he set up his tent. "I'm sleeping in the tent."
"Have you ever made love with nothing but the moon watching you?"
"Yes, but it isn't just the moon that's out here, is it?"
"You have? When? With who?" Vin didn't care about the when or the who, at least not much. Right now the only thing Vin did care about was the fact that Ezra was sharing part of his past with him.
"In a peach orchard in Georgia," Ezra told him, with a smile.
"Really? Female or . . . male?" Please say it was a female, Vin silently pleaded. He didn't like the idea of any man that wasn't him seeing his Ezra wearing nothing but a moonbeam.
"Female."
"How old were you?"
"Eighteen."
"That when you lost your cherry?"
"No," Ezra said with a laugh. "I lost that a couple of years earlier in New Orleans."
"Female or male?" Please say it was a female, Vin silently pleaded once again. Vin didn't like thinking of his Ezra with other men. He knew that neither of them had been virgins, but so long as he didn't know about the men in Ezra's past then Vin could pretend that he was Ezra's one and only.
"Female."
"When'd you-"
"I was twenty-one," Ezra told him, "but it wasn't lovemaking. It was sex. I never made love to a man . . . until . . . one rainy Friday night when my best friend gave me a lift home and wound up staying the weekend." He watched the joy spread across Vin's face as he realized that Ezra was talking about him and their first time together.
"Was it good?" Vin asked with a sly smile.
"Oh yeah," he sighed. "So good, in fact, that I'm . . . reacting even now."
"Yeah?"
Ezra nodded. "How about you?"
"I'm reacting."
"So I see," Ezra teased him and laughed as Vin blushed. "Have you ever made love in the moonlight?"
"No," Vin said, with a shake of his head. "Made love in a barn once, though. I was sixteen, her name was Becky."
"We'll have to do something about that."
"And I ain't ever made love to a man until you either," he told him. "I want to make love to ya now, Ezra. I want to see your skin washed in moonlight."
"I want that too," Ezra panted, "but not in front of an audience." Stepping closer, he leaned over and gave his lover a quick kiss then stepped back. He didn't want anyone seeing Vin's delectable body except him. "You are more than welcome to join me, if you like," Ezra said, then disappeared inside the tent.
Vin stood there tingling from that all too brief contact with his lover. His heart was singing at what Ezra told him. He couldn't believe his luck when he saw Ezra earlier. He had struggled all week with whether he ought to ask the Southerner to join him this weekend. He wanted to but feared that he might scare Ezra by moving too fast. Of course, if Vin had his way, they'd already be married and living together. Vin knew that Ezra was his one and only.
But that was him.
He glanced from his sleeping bag, his cold, lonely sleeping bag, he amended, to the shadow he could see moving inside the tent. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and jumped as something soft hit him in the face. Looking down, he felt his breath lodge in his throat as he saw it was a pair of boxers. Ezra's boxers. And they were still warm.
"Screw it!" Vin swore, snatching up his bag. Now that he knew that Ezra liked to go trail riding, Vin figured that the two of them could go on their own private trail ride and he'd get his chance to make love to Ezra in the moonlight.
Vin threw open the flap, never noticing that his sleeping bag had slipped from his fingers. He was fighting not to come in his pants at the sight that greeted him. There stretched out on his own sleeping bag lay his very naked lover. Vin lazily ran his eyes across those small feet. Up his sexy legs. Strong thighs. He bypassed his lover's groin because he knew he'd lose his battle with his pants. Ezra's washboard stomach and well-developed chest drew his eyes next. Vin had to admit that he was very pleasantly surprised at how sculptured Ezra's body truly was when he'd first seen it.
Looking into those green eyes, Vin saw that they were nearly black with passion. "Ezra!" he panted, then quickly closed and zipped the flap.
He practically tore his clothes in his haste to get them off. Dropping to his knees, Vin placed a kiss on the top of each of Ezra's knees before giving his shaft a playful lick, causing Ezra to arch up in pleasure. He gave Ezra a wicked smile, then slowly stretched out on top of his lover. "I should torture you within an inch of your life," Vin teased him, in between kisses. "What if someone else had opened that flap?"
"Then someone would have gotten an eyeful," Ezra whispered, with his own wicked smile.
Vin tensed. He didn't want anyone getting an eyeful of Ezra. Ezra was his, dammit, and he would not share, he silently vowed.
"Vin? Are you all right?"
"Yeah," he whispered. "No," he corrected, deciding that it was time to be honest. "I don't want anyone getting an eyeful of ya, Ezra. Don't want anyone seeing what I see, touching what I touch." Vin bit his lip to stop himself from saying anything more.
"I feel the same way, which is why we're in here," Ezra whispered in response.
Vin felt his heart soar at those words and leaned closer, frantically capturing Ezra's lips in a searing kiss. Pulling back, he kissed and nipped at the Southerner's throat leaving a dozen or more love bites.
Not wanting this to be over before they got started, Vin's movements became much slower, less frenzied. He shivered as Ezra's hands softly played over his skin. He was pulled closer and he moaned as his lover gently bit him on the neck, leaving his own mark. Vin then began exploring every inch of Ezra's body with his agonizing slowness.
Soon, they were both breathing heavily, their bodies almost at a fever pitch as they responded to each other's touch. Their need for each other was almost unbearable and Vin, ready for any eventuality, reached for his jeans and pulled out a condom. He prepared Ezra gently, loving the feeling within himself as he watched Ezra, eyes closed, helpless with pleasure. As Vin entered him slowly, Ezra groaned and opened his eyes to gaze into Vin's. Then Vin began moving inside him, keeping his thrusts prolonged and insistent. After the tender build up, the end came faster and harder for Vin than he expected, and he collapsed on top of Ezra. The Southerner quickly followed with a harsh cry and clutched Vin closer, tightening his hold. They lay tangled together for a long while, until their breathing and heartbeats slowed and they drifted off to sleep.
(~)
The next morning Vin couldn't keep the smile off his face. He knew people were looking at him like he was crazy or something, but he didn't care. He was happy. His smile grew as he watched his lover. God, he loved that man, he thought as Ezra checked his horse over very thoroughly before mounting it. The man knew what he was doing, and not just with a horse. He felt his face heat up as Ezra glanced as him at that same moment and winked at him.
They soon got on their way and had been riding for about an hour when Ezra turned to him and asked, "Is something wrong?"
Vin felt himself blush at being caught staring, but knew he couldn't tell Ezra the real reason why. At least not yet. Ezra wasn't ready for that, so Vin said the first thing that came to his mind. "Can I ask you something, Ezra?"
"You may ask me anything you wish," he said with a smile.
Marry me? Spend the rest of your life with me? The words popped into his head, but he refrained from voicing them. Instead, he asked something safe. "How many of these have you been on?"
"This is my fifth."
"Fifth? Really? I never would have guessed that you knew how to rough it."
"Well, you'll find that I'm not as inept as you gentlemen think I am," Ezra pointed out.
Aw hell, way to go, Tanner, he silently fussed. "No one thinks you're inept, Ezra," Vin told him. "It's just that… Well, you don't seem the type, is all."
"I may not be able to do everything you can, but if there's one thing I do know, it's how to survive."
Shut up, his mind screamed at him, before you make it worse. "Yeah, I learned how to survive at a young age."
Ezra looked at him with those all-seeing eyes of his, but only asked, "Yeah, but can you do this?"
Vin couldn't help but laugh, as he saw Ezra rubbing his belly and patting his head at the same time. "No, but I can chew gum and walk at the same time," he said, after trying to imitate the other man.
"I'm impressed."
"I can also walk on my hands," he boasted. "I used to be able to burp the alphabet," Vin said with a grin.
"Me too!"
Vin burst out laughing. "You can burp the alphabet?"
"No! Walk on my hands," Ezra told him in between laughs. "Why would anyone want to burp the alphabet?"
Vin shrugged his shoulders and explained, "It was something else I learned in the Army." The Texan looked at Ezra and asked, "So what's a habit you used to annoy Maude?"
The smile left the Southerner's face. "Well, Vin, my mother always believed that children should be seen and not heard. That policy worked even better if said child was in another state or even another country," he said. "But on those very rare occasions when Maude could not pawn me off on someone and was forced to endure my company," Ezra paused and grinned at the other man, "I took great pleasure in annoying her. I questioned everything. Why? Why? Why? It drove her crazy. That, and snorting. Maude cannot stand to hear someone snort."
"Snorting, huh?" Vin repeated, with a laugh. "I'll have to remember that." After exchanging a look, they enjoyed a companionable silence for the rest of the morning.
They traveled until noon before taking a break. The sky was steadily getting darker, and the wind had started to pick up, as well.
Ezra frowned as he looked up at the mountains.
"It's gonna rain," Vin said, standing close beside him. "Probably start in the next half-hour."
The Southerner nodded in agreement. "We need to start back down the trail before we get trapped," Ezra said. "I'm going to have a word with Bradley. You get these people mounted and ready to move out." He hadn't taken two steps before the skies opened and it began to rain. Without missing a beat, Ezra walked up to Richard Bradley and overheard him telling one of the other riders that they weren't leaving.
"Mr. Bradley, are you aware that this area is prone to flash floods? And with all the rain we've gotten in recent weeks, it's more susceptible than normal?" Ezra asked him. "If we leave now, we should be able to make it back to the trucks before it gets too bad," he went on to say.
"We'll wait an hour and see if it lets up. If it doesn't, then we'll head back."
"Like hell! We're leaving now," the Southerner said, then turned away.
"I'm in charge here!" the other man said and grabbed his arm. "I will not allow you to just take over. We'll wait the hour, and that's final."
Ezra pulled his arm free and walked toward the other riders. "Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention? My name is Ezra Standish, and I'm afraid that, due to the weather, we're going to have to cut this ride short." He paused and looked at as many of them as he could. "We leave in five minutes."
"You can't do this!" Richard said, stepping up in Ezra's face.
"That's where you're wrong. My friend and I are Federal agents and are commandeering this trail ride," Ezra told him. "Now you can either come quietly and not take the risk of having formal charges placed against you for willingly endangering the lives of these people . . ."
"Or we can throw your sorry ass over your horse and lead ya back down in handcuffs. It's up to you," Vin added, as he joined them.
Richard Bradley stood there just staring at them, as if trying to decide if they were serious. "Fine," he finally said.
"Now get your ass on your horse." Vin looked at Ezra and suddenly grinned, slapping him on the back. "Come on, friend. Let's get going."
Ezra grinned and gave the taller man a playful shove.
"Just think," Vin said, stepping closer, "if you'd called me lover, he'd already be down the hill."
The Southerner laughed in agreement.
The small stream they had crossed earlier wasn't so small anymore. Ezra rode back to them and had to shout to be heard over the rain and the rushing water behind him. "Only two at a time! Take your time and trust your horse! Now let's go!" he told them.
Everyone made it across without incident. Ezra's horse did slip, but he managed to hang on and not fall into the rushing water.
The rain was now falling harder making it difficult to see, but they knew the trucks were at the bottom of the next hill so they pushed forward. Upon reaching the hill, Ezra and Vin stood to the side watching as the rest of the riders slowly made their way to the bottom. The twenty riders before them made a slippery, sloppy mess of the hillside. The two men gave serious thought to going another way, but with it raining so hard, they knew that any way could be just as dangerous.
Vin was keeping pace with Ezra until his horse suddenly pitched forward as it slipped in the mud, sending Vin flying over its head where he landed face first. Spitting the mud and muck out of his mouth, Vin wiped his eyes, then watched in horror as his horse slipped again and went barreling into Ezra's, knocking the Southerner to the ground. Luckily, horse and rider weren't moving, so the impact wasn't that great.
The Texan jumped to his feet and immediately hit the ground as his feet slid out from under him. Determined to reach his lover, Vin began to crawl.
Ezra slowly got to his knees and met Vin halfway. "Are you all right?" Ezra asked, giving him a brief hug.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied.
Then they helped each other to their feet. Both men grimaced as they looked at the mess they had to trek through in order to get to the bottom. Ezra suddenly turned and gave Vin a small shove. "This is all your fault," he accused, then frowned as he realized he used a much harsher tone than he intended. Glancing at Vin, Ezra saw the guilt in those blue eyes and knew he had just added to it.
"How ya figure?" Vin asked with a defensive tone.
"If you could have just stayed on your horse-"
"Well excuse me, Wild Bill, but it's not my fault my horse slipped!"
"I don't like mud!" Ezra shouted, then with a wild wave of his hand, said, "This is one of the reasons why I didn't become a forest ranger."
"A forest ranger? You?" Vin asked in disbelief.
"Yes, me! I could have been a forest ranger if I'd wanted," the Southerner told him in a stubborn tone. "Well, except for the wild animals and the mosquitoes . . . and well, the whole forest thing."
Vin couldn't believe what he was hearing. Ezra, a forest ranger… That was too funny, and he couldn't help but laugh.
"Go ahead and laugh, Vin! Especially since you're Team Seven's very own Rambo!"
That shut him up fast. "At least I was in the military! What'd you ever do?"
"I served my time! Six years!"
"Which branch?"
"Army," Ezra said, stubbornly raising his chin.
"The hell you did! What division?"
"Infantry."
"The hell you did!"
"Are you calling me a liar?" Ezra asked in a tight voice that should have been a warning to the other man.
"No!" Vin cried. He couldn't believe they were standing in the rain and the mud having this argument. But he'd be damned if Ezra's whole don't ask, don't tell philosophy on life wasn't grating on his nerves. Vin wanted to know everything about Ezra. Wanted to know about his hopes and dreams. His fears. Everything. But especially Ezra's past. Because Vin knew that the past was something Ezra shared with no one. Vin didn't want to be a 'no one' he wanted to that special someone that Ezra could confide anything to. However, this 'wasn't' how he wanted to find out about Ezra's past.
"Then why? Why is that so hard to believe?" Ezra questioned him. "I can kick ass with the best of them."
"It's not that I don't believe you . . . it's just that I . . ."
"It's just that you'd like some proof," the Southerner finished from him. "That won't be a problem Mr. Tanner. After all, I've only been proving myself most of my life."
Oh, shit! This is just great, Tanner, he berated himself, you stupid son of a bitch. He'll never share anything with you again. Not his body. His bed. And you can forget about that tentative hold you have… had on his heart, 'cause it's probably gone.
Neither knew what to say. Neither wanted to make matters worse. Darting a look at his lover, Vin raised a hand and brushed some mud off Ezra's cheek. And relaxed just a little when the Southerner did the same.
"Ez…"
"Vin…"
They spoke at the same time, stepping closer to each other. Then, just as they were about to kiss, the ground disappeared beneath them and they went rolling down the hill, knocking their heads together along the way before a small group of bushes broke their fall.
(~)
Josiah had just stepped out of the shower when the phone rang. "Hello?" he said, and felt the blood drain from his face as the nurse on the other end of the phone asked him if he knew Ezra P. Standish. Josiah nodded his head, then remembered that he was on the phone. "Yes. Is he- I'll be right there," he said, dropping the phone on the floor and quickly dressing before running out the door.
Across town, Chris Larabee swore as he finished his own conversation with another nurse. "Dammit, I swear I can't let that skinny sonofabitch out of my sight for one minute," he fussed, as he grabbed his keys and punched Buck's number.
No sooner had he gotten off the phone with Buck than his phone rang. "Larabee."
"Chris, Ezra's been hurt," Josiah told him in a hurried voice.
"What? How?"
"I don't know yet. I'm calling from my cell phone and am headed for County General now."
"County General? That's where Vin is."
"Vin? What happened to him?"
"I don't know, but I bet whatever happened, the both of them are mixed up in it together."
The two overprotective men arrived at the hospital at the same time and raced up to the receptionist's desk, only to stop as someone called Chris's name.
"Mr. Larabee?"
Chris turned and frowned for a moment, then recognized the young police officer. "What happened?" he asked, getting right to the point.
Officer Mark Reed stood a little straighter and cleared his throat before answering. "They got caught-"
"They who?" Josiah interrupted.
"Ezra and," Mark looked down at his notes, then continued, "Vin Tanner."
"I told you they were together!" Chris cried. "Well, what happened to them?"
"They got caught in a mudslide," the younger man quickly said.
"Mudslide? What? How? Where?" Josiah asked.
"Well, they were on a trail ride-"
"A trail ride? Ezra?" Chris couldn't believe it. "Are you sure you have the right Ezra?"
Mark had just opened his mouth to continue when Nathan and the others showed up. The five men fussed and cussed for a couple of minutes, before turning their attention back to him. Clearing his throat, Mark started over. He told them about the trial ride, the rain, and finally Ezra and Vin falling down the hill.
"Are they okay?" Nathan asked.
"I think so." Mark started to say more, but was nearly flattened as the two men in question were being wheeled out of the emergency room.
"Where are you taking them?" Chris asked. "Are they okay?"
"Mr. Larabee and Mr. Sanchez?" the doctor asked, then took a couple of steps back as five men suddenly surrounded him. As Chris and Josiah both spoke up the doctor continued. "Mr. Standish and Mr. Tanner both have mild concussions, a couple of bruised ribs, and a few cuts and scrapes. They're both going to be just fine. We're admitting them for the next twenty-four hours for observation."
"Thank you, Lord," Josiah said in relief.
"We're going to clean them up a little," the doctor said. "Due to the storm, the hospital's full, so I'm afraid we'll have to put them in the same room."
"That's fine. Great, in fact," Chris told him, as they followed them down the hall.
An hour later, the two men were just starting to come around. Vin opened his eyes first and immediately thought of his lover. "Ezra?" he whispered. "Where's Ez?"
"Calm down," Chris told him. "Ezra's right there. He's fine."
"You both are," Josiah added.
Vin turned, and sure enough, there was his lover. Sleeping. He loved watching Ezra sleep. Hell, he just loved watching him. Didn't much matter to him what Ezra was doing.
"Tell us what happened," Chris said.
Dragging his attention away from Ezra was hard, but he managed it, then told them exactly what happened, without mentioning that first night, or what he and Ezra had shared.
Ezra played possum, waiting to see if Vin was going to say anything about their argument, and was pleasantly surprised when he didn't say anything about any of their conversations.
While hearing Vin's voice reassured the Southerner that his lover was alive, it wasn't enough. He blinked open his eyes to see for himself that Vin was indeed all right.
Worried blue eyes met anxious green eyes for a moment, then were blocked by Josiah as he asked, "Ezra, how are you?"
Ezra looked up at him then swore as he saw the IV in his arm. Dammit, can't a person ever go to the hospital without these cretins sticking things where they don't belong?
"Ezra?" Josiah asked.
"I'd be much better if they'd take this damned unnecessary piece of equipment out of my arm," he told them.
"Hell, Josiah, there ain't nothing wrong with him," Buck teased.
"Why didn't you tell us you could ride?" Chris wanted to know.
Ezra raised one eyebrow at him before answering. "You never asked."
Chris gave him a hard look. "So what happened? Did you get thrown and take Vin with you?"
The Southerner clenched his jaw and refused to comment. Oh, but you will pay dearly for that, Chris Larabee, Ezra thought to himself.
"Leave him alone," Josiah said in a quiet voice.
Five men looked at him in surprise, the sixth in shock.
"What?"
"You heard me," he said. "Ezra is not always the guilty one. Shit happens, Chris. You better than anyone should understand that."
"My horse slipped and collided with Ezra's, knocking him off," Vin explained in a hard voice.
Ezra saw the heated look Chris sent Josiah, before turning to look at him. He could tell that the blonde was about to say something when the door opened and a nurse walked in.
The nurse checked Ezra first, and as she took his temperature and made sure his IV was working properly, Ezra was quick to notice a pair of blunt scissors that fell out of her pocket as she removed her stethoscope to monitor his blood pressure. Without blinking an eye, he placed his hand over the small scissors. After making a note on his chart, she did the same to Vin.
"Damn!" Nathan suddenly swore after the nurse left, capturing everyone's attention. "You two need to stop putting so many passion marks on each other."
"Yeah, it looks like you've been mauled by a swarm of mosquitoes," Buck laughed.
Ezra and Vin felt their faces flame and then lose their color as they realized that their secret wasn't so secret after all.
"Don't look so shocked, boys," Josiah told them. "We couldn't be happier for the both of you."
"Damn, Vin, what are you trying to do?" JD asked. "Mark him for life?" he went on to joke.
"Hell, this is nothing," Ezra suddenly said. "Sometimes I think he's trying to spell his name."
"Well, he bites!"
"Once! I bit him one time!" he declared. "Besides I… I like it when he marks me," Ezra said with a bashful shrug of his shoulders and a hint of color in his cheeks.
"I like it when ya mark me, too," Vin confessed. Then he straightened his shoulders and stated, "What Ez and I do when we make love ain't none of your damned business!"
The others laughed, but didn't say anything more.
"Ezra, are you all right?" Josiah asked, when he noticed how quiet the younger man was. Ezra gave him a slight smile, then with a sigh, closed his eyes.
"Okay, boys, what say we get out of here and let them rest?" Buck suggested. "We'll be back tomorrow."
"Buck's right," Chris said. "Come on, Josiah, let's go home. We'll come get these two knot-heads in the morning."
(~)
Vin watched them leave and breathed a sigh of relief that their secret was out and that the others didn't have a problem with it. Turning his head, he thanked God that Ezra hadn't been hurt any worse than he was. Now if he could just find a way to make things right between them.
An hour later, Vin still hadn't come up with anything and was on the verge of sleep, when he noticed Ezra sit up in the bed. "Ezra? You okay?"
Ezra nodded his head and proceeded to clamp the scissors around the IV tube.
"Ew, Ezra! Ew, don't do that!" he cried, as he saw Ezra removing his IV. "What are you doing?"
"I'm effecting our emancipation," Ezra told him, then rephrased it when Vin just looked at him. "I'm getting the hell out of Dodge," he said, as he made his way to the door.
Vin watched him ease the door open then peer down the hall. When he turned back around, he had a big grin on his face and was about to leave.
"Ezra, wait! Ya ain't gonna just leave me here, are ya?" The Southerner didn't say a word, but the look he gave Vin spoke volumes. He knew that shit he said on the hilltop would come back and bite him on the ass. "There wasn't nothing in your file!"
"And I suppose your entire life is in your file?"
"No, but me being in the Army is," Vin told him. Then, with a frown on his face, he asked, "You ashamed of it?"
"Certainly not! I served my country with pride. However, I do not wish to be questioned about my time in the military."
Vin nodded his head. He could understand that. He didn't like remembering some of the things he'd seen or done, either. "So, are ya going to take me with you?" Fear pierced his heart at just the thought of Ezra leaving him behind.
"Only if you promise to do as you're told."
"Deal," he quickly agreed. "Where ya going now?"
Again the Southerner gave him a look. "The closets are bare, suggesting that the others much have taken our clothes in fear of this very thing happening. And I, for one, do not want to be flapping in the wind."
"I don't know, Ez. I wouldn't mind seeing you flapping in the wind," Vin told him with a grin.
Ezra blushed and said, "Yes, well… That may garner us more attention than we want. I'll just go procure us something to wear." Then he slipped out the door.
Vin was sure that bruised ribs didn't allow a person to slink very well, but knew that if anyone could do it then it would be his lover. His Ezra.
A few minutes later when Ezra hadn't returned, the Texan began to fear that he had gotten caught. Vin was just about to throw back his covers when Ezra walked back in carrying doctors' scrubs. Ezra quickly changed then laid another set of clothes on the foot of Vin's bed before reaching for his IV.
"What are you doing?" Vin asked, pulling his arm away.
"Call me crazy, but I think someone would notice if we took this with us," Ezra reasoned. "I removed my own without any problems. Don't you trust me, Vin?" he asked.
Vin looked him in the eye and said, "Yes, but . . . " Then, to his pleasure, Ezra leaned in and gave him a sweet, mind-numbing kiss.
"Don't be afraid. I'd never hurt you, Vin."
He could only stare at him, feeling slightly dazed from Ezra's kiss.
"Look at the wall," Ezra whispered.
Vin turned, and before he even had time to tense, Ezra was placing a band-aid over the small puncture wound. "Damn, Ezra, ya should have been a doctor," he said as he looked at his arm. "I didn't feel a thing." Of course, after a kiss like that, Vin barely remembered his name.
"And have to deal with people like us?" He shuddered. "Never."
Once Vin was dressed, they headed for the door. Stepping out in the hall, Ezra went one way and Vin went another. "Ez, the elevator is this way."
"Yes, but the stairs are this way."
"You want us to walk down six flights of stairs?"
"Good heavens, no! And keep your voice down," Ezra told him. "We're only going down one. We'll take the elevator the rest of the way."
The two unlikely friends turned lovers made good their escape, and as Ezra hailed a cab, Vin said, "I'm going home with you."
"If you wish," the Southerner said in a nonchalant way.
I wish I'd kept my mouth shut, Vin thought to himself.
Twenty minutes later, Vin stayed with the cabbie while Ezra hurried inside to grab some cash to cover the fare.
After following his lover inside, Vin felt his heart sink when Ezra showed him to the spare room and said, "You can sleep here."
"But I want to sleep with you."
"Goodnight, Vin," Ezra said and closed the door to his room.
Shit, he swore and pushed the door open. Sitting on the bed, he rested his head in his hands and fought back tears.
"You can't just screw up, can you, Tanner?" he fussed, as got to his feet. "Oh no, not you. You have to royally fuck up, don't you?" Vin cursed, whipping the covers back on his cold, lonely bed. Then, still wearing his hospital scrubs, he climbed into bed wishing Ezra was there with him.
After an hour, Vin gave up and got to his feet having come to the conclusion that if he could just get in Ezra's bed, then his lover wouldn't kick him out of it. Easing the door open, he froze as he saw Ezra standing in his own doorway. Then, to his relief, the Southerner crooked his finger at him beckoning him into his room.
"Don't say a word," Ezra said. "Just hold me."
"Gladly," he said, then grimaced at the look Ezra gave him. "Sorry," he mumbled, then relaxed when his lover sighed.
"Get in here," Ezra said in mock exasperation.
Vin laid his head on Ezra's chest and sighed in contentment. This was where they belonged, wrapped in each other's arms.
(~)
Way too early the next morning, someone began beating on the door. Ezra was all for ignoring it and would have, if not for the fact that Vin made to get up. Turning over, he gave Vin a quick kiss and said, "You stay here, and I'll get rid of whoever that is."
Crawling out of bed, he staggered for just a moment then managed to make it to the door, but had to lean against the doorframe to get his bearings.
"I thought I told you to stay in bed," Ezra said, as Vin wrapped his arms around him from behind.
Vin nuzzled the side of his neck, and around a really big yawn, said, "Reckon the shit's about to hit the fan, sweetie, and I ain't letting you face it alone."
"Ya reckon?" the Southerner quipped, then froze and said, "Sweetie?"
The sharpshooter smiled at him and replied, "You're the sweetest thing I've ever tasted."
Ezra returned his smile, then with Vin's arms still wrapped around his waist, he headed for the door. He stopped by one of his recliners and helped Vin sit before continuing, reaching the door just as a fresh wave of pounding started. Looking over at Vin, Ezra suddenly grinned. "Who is it?" he asked.
"Who the hell do you think?" Josiah bellowed. "Open the damned door, Ezra!"
"I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name." Ezra could hear Vin laughing behind him.
"Is Vin with you?" they heard Chris ask.
"Vin? Could you describe him?" The Southerner was fighting not to laugh.
"He's got blue eyes and long- Dammit, Ezra!" Chris shouted.
"Look, we just want to make sure you're both okay, to make sure that neither of you have hurt yourselves by leaving the hospital without being released!" Josiah thundered.
Ezra looked at Vin and wiggled his eyebrows. "That sounds like a reasonable request; however, I will only allow you in if you promise to behave yourselves," he told them.
"Deal," Josiah quickly said.
"Both of you," Ezra added.
"Fine!" Chris said in a tight voice.
"Say it."
"Deal."
"Thank you. Now let go of the knob and step away from the door," the Southerner said in a firm voice, as he peered at them through the peephole. "Keep going," he told them. Only when they were as far back as Ezra dared push him did he unlocked the door and ran as fast as he could with bruised ribs for the other recliner. He reached it just as the door was thrown open.
"Of all the crazy, stupid, half-baked, careless, irresponsible things you two have done in the past, this has got to top the list!" Chris growled, as he paced back and forth in front of them. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't do this again, Ezra."
Ezra gave him a bored look and replied, "I have no recollection of agreeing to any such thing. If memory serves, I recall you telling me not to and I believe I told you that I'd do as I damned well pleased."
Chris shook his head. "It's one thing to risk your own life, but to risk Vin's is unacceptable-"
"Now you just wait a damned minute!" Vin interrupted. "I asked him to take me with him. There wasn't no way Ez was gonna leave me behind." The Texan shot Ezra a look, then continued. "Besides, we made it here without any trouble at all. So obviously we didn't need to be in the hospital to begin with."
"This is all your fault," Josiah said, placing the blame on Chris.
"How the hell do you figure that?" Chris snapped.
"Oh, how soon we forget," he replied, with an impatient wave of his hand. "What did you tell me after we left their room? 'Come on, let's go home. They'll be fine. Ezra's learned his lesson about leaving,'" the older man mimicked.
"No one made you leave," the blonde pointed out.
Josiah opened his mouth only to shut it, then threw his hands in the air and said, "Well, Nathan's on his way. Just you wait until he gets his hands on the both of you."
"He can try," Ezra said.
"Dammit, Ezra, why haven't you unpacked these boxes yet?" Chris questioned, as he noticed the boxes still stacked in the corner of the room.
"Dust."
"What about it?"
"I don't like to."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Chris was reaching the end of his patience.
Ezra gave a very dramatic sigh, then explained in his own unique way. "Like it is, it's just a few boxes. However, if I were to unpack them, I'd have several items to dust, and quite frankly, it's just not worth the effort."
Vin ran a skilled eye over their friends before asking, "Did either of you bring our guns?" Then, with a shiver, continued, "I don't know about you, Ez, but I feel almost naked without my guns."
Ezra grinned at him for a moment and felt his body respond to the thought of a naked Vin. Then he remembered that he was mad at him and suddenly turned away from him.
Nathan walked into Ezra's house like some kind of avenging angel at that moment and gave them both a royal chewing out, checked them over very carefully, and reluctantly declared them both fine.
"So you're saying that Mr. Tanner is going to be all right?" Ezra asked, causing Vin to tense.
"Yes, he's fine."
Ezra nodded, and with a cold look, said, "Good. Then take him with you when you leave."
Vin got to his feet as fast as he could, then headed for the door, "Fine, Ezra! Fine. I'm going. Trust is a two-way street, buddy, and you can't have it both ways!"
"First of all, I am not your buddy," Ezra told him. "And second, this has nothing to do with trust!"
"Then what is it?" Vin cried.
"Instead of jumping to conclusions, you might have given me the benefit of a doubt," the Southerner said. "It's one thing for you not to have believed me, but another thing entirely when you call me a liar."
"How do I know what to believe when you never tell me anything?"
"It all comes back to proof, doesn't it?" Ezra asked, with a shake of his head. "Well, Mr. Tanner, if it's proof you want then by all means find someone you trust and get it."
"Ezra-"
"And while you're getting," he said, as he walked over to the door and opened it, "the four of you can get the hell out of here!"
Vin gave Ezra a hard look and walked out.
Ezra saw Josiah, Chris and Nathan exchange a look then follow the younger man. Ezra waited all of two seconds, then slammed the door shut and locked it. Then he walked over to the boxes and began to search for proof even Vin could respect.
(~)
Monday morning found Vin in a foul mood and moving a little slower than usual, but he at least was moving. He grabbed JD as soon as he walked into the office area. "JD, I need you to do something for me," Vin said.
"Sure, Vin," JD said, with a nod. "What do ya need?"
"I need a military background check on someone."
"Not a problem. Who is it?"
"Ezra."
JD looked at him in surprise. "Ezra was in the military?"
Vin slapped him on the back and said, "That was my first reaction, too!"
"That why he's mad at you?" Josiah asked.
The Texan shook his head no. "Ezra told me he was in the Army and I called him a liar," Vin told them with his head lowered. "There's nothing in his file about him being in the Army!"
"There's nothing in my file about me being in Vietnam, but I was," Josiah stated. "Are you going to call me a liar, too?"
Vin held up his hands in surrender. "No, but then you've talked about being in the military. Ezra never tells us shit! Never tells me . . . " Vin ran a frustrated hand through his hair and gave a deep sigh before continuing. "Look, I know I messed up. Believe me, I know. I… I love Ezra. I let my need to know all about Ezra get the better of me." I made a mistake, he silently added. One that could destroy the future I had planned for Ezra and myself. "He's so mad at me right now that I don't know if he'd tell me what I want to know."
"Do you blame him?" Josiah asked, with a thoughtful look on his face.
"No. No, I don't," Vin replied.
"I knew Ezra had been in the military," Nathan suddenly said, capturing everyone's attention. "And no, he didn't tell me. I guessed."
"How?"
"Think about it," the ex-EMT told them. "Everything has to be in order, done a certain way. The next time we go to a raid watch how he handles himself and his weapon. Ezra certainly didn't learn to shoot like he does at the academy. Hell, Vin, he can be as silent as you when he wants to be," Nathan said.
"I've noticed that with the weapon," Josiah agreed. "I think our boy has seen some action."
While they were talking, JD was busy pulling up Ezra's record. Seeing what came up made him whistle, causing everyone to turn to him. "Ezra has seen action," JD told them. "Most of this stuff is classified, but it does say that he enlisted in the Army at the tender age of eighteen. Served two years in the regular infantry, before becoming a Special Forces Operator, where he served another four."
"Damn," Buck whistled, then nodded his head. "Yep, Ezra has the balls for it."
"What's a Special Forces Operator?" JD asked.
"It's an elite group of soldiers that no one is supposed to know even exists," Josiah told him.
"Ezra was a part of Delta Force," Vin whispered in awe.
"Delta Force?" JD repeated. "Like the movie?"
"Yeah, only what he saw was real," Chris stated.
"No wonder he doesn't want to talk about it," Buck said. "There's no telling the shit he's seen."
"Damn," Josiah said, with an odd mixture of pride and sorrow coloring his voice. "He was only twenty. What little innocence Maude didn't steal from him, the Army got."
Vin cleared his throat and said, "Look, let's not mention any of this to Ezra. Okay?" The others nodded. "I don't know how, but I'll make this up to him," he went on to say. I have to."
Chris slapped him and Josiah on the shoulder and said, "Let's try and get some work done."
An hour later Vin looked up as Ezra shuffled into the room, and before he or anyone else could say anything, Ezra dropped a rectangular-shaped box in front of him. Vin had a pretty good idea what was in the box, and wished he could go back in time and take his words back.
"Open it," Ezra told him, ignoring the others as they gathered around them.
Vin shook his head and pushed the box away.
But Ezra would have none of it, and said in a hard voice, "Open it."
Ezra's tone of voice brought a sting of tears to the Texan's eyes, and a pang of regret made his stomach lurch. Reaching for the box, Vin lifted it with trembling hands and eased the lid opened. He wasn't really surprised to find the Purple Heart encased inside, nor was he surprised by the one in the shape of an octagon, with an ancient suit of armor and with two flags and two cannons embossed on it. The medal hung from a blue, white and green striped ribbon. It was a basic medal for military achievement; most soldiers got them, so long as they did their jobs. Vin had one himself. What did surprise him was the other one.
It was six-sided, with an eagle grasping three arrows and hung from a green and white striped ribbon, and was given for military merit. A soldier only received it for doing something outstanding. Meaning Ezra had earned it, probably at great risk to himself.
"Is that enough proof for you, Mr. Tanner? Or do you want to see my military record?" he asked, then tensed as Vin's eyes shifted a little. "You already saw it," Ezra stated. "Did it tell you everything you wanted to know?"
"Most of it was still classified," Vin admitted to him with a shrug of his shoulders and a catch in his voice. "I'm sorry, Ezra. I shouldn't have doubted you, and I should never have called you a liar. I let a ghost from my past interfere with our future."
"I understand ghosts all too well. I know how they play with a person's mind. How they can make a person react in a manner that is slightly less than normal," Ezra told him.
Shifting his feet, Ezra then gave Vin sheepish look and admitted, "You were partially right. However, just because I don't wish to speak of it, or because it isn't written anywhere doesn't mean it isn't true." In a tight voice, the Southerner continued, "There have been very few things in my life that I have done on my own that I've been proud of and this," Ezra tapped his finger on the case and said, "is one of them."
"Ezra-"
"As is my place on this team."
"Ezra-"
"And my relationship with you," Ezra told him in a quiet voice.
The Texan got to his feet and stepped closer to him. "I'm so sorry, Ezra. Can you forgive me?"
"Of course, I can," Ezra replied, pulling him closer still then giving him a sweet kiss. And to everyone's surprise said, "I love you."
Vin smiled and said, "I love you, too."
(~)
Two weeks later Vin had just finished showering and stepped into their room wearing nothing but a towel. "Ezra?" he said. He thought that his lover would have been waiting on him, but he was nowhere to be seen. Hearing something in another part of the house had Vin heading for the door.
Walking quietly to the kitchen, Vin came to a stop and watched Ezra root around in one of the kitchen drawers. "What are you doing?" Vin asked, and grinned as his lover jumped in surprise.
Ezra smiled at him and said, "I'm looking for something."
"Tell me what it is, and I'll help ya."
"No!" he quickly said. "I mean I found it!" he told Vin, holding up a pack of batteries.
Vin frowned for a second then, with a smirk on his handsome face, he leaned against the doorway. "Good, now let's go to bed," he suggested in a husky voice, lazily running a hand across his chest, down his flat stomach inching his way toward the slightly tented towel at his hips. Vin smiled as Ezra's breathing changed, and he actually heard him swallow, as he slowly removed his towel and tossed it at him.
"You go ahead," Ezra panted. "I'll make sure that everything's locked up, and be right there."
"Better be," Vin whispered, then turned and walked away. Once he was back in their room, he turned down the covers and crawled into bed. He sat there for what seemed like forever, but was actually only a couple of minutes. "Where the hell is he?" Vin muttered. "Ezra!" he hollered. "Aren't ya coming to bed?"
Grumbling under his breath, Vin climbed out of bed and stalked from the room into the kitchen. But Ezra wasn't there.
"Ezra?" he called out. Stepping back into the dining room, Vin noticed something out of the corner of his eyes. Turning, he walked up to the patio doors and saw what looked to be a blanket spread out on the ground. Easing the door open, he gasped as he noticed what had to be every candle they owned scattered about the yard. The soft glow created a romantic air, stealing Vin's breath.
"Ezra?"
"Surprise," came a voice from behind him, causing him to jump.
"What's going on?" he asked, then shivered as Ezra gave him a hug from behind.
"I'm giving you what you wanted," Ezra said, nuzzling his neck. "I would have done this sooner, but had to wait for Mother Nature's cooperation."
"Mother Nature?" Vin replied in confusion. He almost groaned in disappointment as Ezra stepped away from him, but he willingly followed as Ezra walked into the yard.
"Look up," Ezra told him.
Glancing up, the sharpshooter frowned because he wasn't sure what he was supposed to be looking at. Then he saw it. The moon, in all its splendor, shining brightly. Its fullness almost outshone the billions of stars that surrounded it.
"I know it's not a trail ride. Or a peach orchard. Or even a hayloft," Ezra said the last with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders. "But…"
"This is much better," Vin whispered in a tight voice and stepped closer to his lover, then slipped his arms around his waist. "I think someone is a little overdressed," he told him and began tugging at Ezra's shirt, before slowly removing the rest of his clothes.
"Vin," Ezra sighed, as their flesh brushed together.
He loved hearing Ezra say his name like that. "Say it again," he said, gently cupping Ezra's cheek.
"What?"
"My name," Vin pleaded. "Say it again."
"Vin."
Vin shivered and pulled him closer, then with a groan, kissed him as fiercely as he could, wanting, needing to claim Ezra once again as his. Easing him down onto the blanket, Vin covered Ezra's body with his own.
Ezra rolled them over and began planting kisses along his neck, biting and nipping, suckling and doing some claiming of his own. With a moan, Vin arched his back as Ezra teased his nipples. "Ezra," he panted, as his lover moved further down his body. Feeling a finger skim his opening, Vin spread his legs giving Ezra easier access. Grabbing his lover's hair, Vin pulled him up and captured Ezra's lips. He sighed into his mouth as the finger breached Vin's opening. A second finger was added, causing Vin to gasp. Not since college had Vin given anyone this kind of control over him. But Ezra was different. With Ezra Vin would give everything.
"Ahhhh!" Vin groaned, as the third finger brushed against his prostate. "Ezra. Ezra, please. I need you." He watched as Ezra reached for a condom, then carefully smoothed the lube along its length.
"Are you ready?" Ezra asked, poised at his opening.
Sliding his hands up Ezra's strong arms across his broad shoulders, Vin then cupped the back of his neck and pulled his lover to him. Against Ezra's kiss-swollen lips, he sighed, "Yeessss."
Vin bit his lip and waited with bated breath as Ezra made them one. "Wait," he pleaded, clutching his lover closer to him. He treasured this connection. This bonding. This mating. This man.
"Did I hurt you?" Ezra asked in horror.
"Never, Ezra. You could never hurt me," he told him with a smile.
"You're savoring the connection."
"The bonding."
"The mating," they both said, then grinned at each other.
Vin felt Ezra trembling in his effort to control himself. Wicked man that he was, Vin clenched his inner muscles around Ezra's body and smiled as those green eyes widened with pleasure.
"Vin…"
"Move."
They spoke at the same time.
Soon they were both moving in a dance as old as time. With deep thrusts, they pushed each other closer and closer to completion. Legs tightened and clutched at the waist they were wrapped around. Hands squeezed hips with a bruising force. Vin never felt the pain, just as Ezra never felt Vin's fingers biting into his shoulders.
Forcing his eyes open, Vin watched as Ezra threw his head back, squeezed his eyes closed, and grunted Vin's name as his body jerked, exploding deep inside him.
"Ezra," he groaned, as he too found his release and coated both of their chests. Vin welcomed Ezra's weight as he collapsed on him. Pulling him closer still, they both continued to shake and moan in the aftermath.
Several minutes later, Vin opened his eyes and smiled at all the stars he saw above them.
"That was nice," Ezra sighed against his chest.
Vin laughed. "Nice? Hell, Ez, nice doesn't even come close to what we just shared."
"How close did I come?" Ezra asked, as he rose to rest on his elbows.
"What?"
"How close did I come to your fantasy?"
Vin blushed. "The reality outshines any fantasy. I love you, Ezra."
"I love you, too, Vin," Ezra replied, then gave him a sweet kiss. "Now then, are we sleeping out here or in our big, comfortable bed?"
"Out here," he quickly told him.
"Did I mention that our bed was big and comfortable?"
Vin grinned at him. "Come on, Ezra, I want to sleep with you under the stars."
Ezra rolled his eyes, but returned Vin's grin. Moving to lay on his side, Ezra removed the condom, then pulled a blanket up over them. "Fine, but next time we fulfill one of my fantasies."
"And that would be?" Vin asked, as he settled against Ezra's side.
"Have you ever heard of the Mile High Club?"
Vin jerked up and gaped at his lover, then laughed at the twinkle in those green eyes. "You are a bad man, Ezra Standish!"
"What can I say?" Ezra shrugged. "It's the company I keep."
A giggle bubbled up in Vin at that, and he pressed a kiss to Ezra's cheek.
"Seriously though, Vin, this," Ezra waved a hand between them, "this, the two of us together, is my fantasy."
"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," he whispered.
"I love you, Vin Tanner."
"I love you, too, Ezra Standish."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Really and truly?"
"Absolutely." Vin could see the teasing light in those green eyes, and knew his mischievous lover was up to something.
"Then kindly lay back down and stop letting the cold air in!"
"Oh, sorry!" He laughed and immediately lay down, but not against Ezra.
"Better?"
"No," Ezra quickly snorted. "What the hell are you doing way over there? Come over here."
Vin scooted over a little.
"Closer."
Vin scooted over a little more.
"Closer."
Vin moved an inch closer, eliminating the space between them. Pressing up against Ezra's side, he asked, "Better?"
"No, come closer."
"If I get any closer, I'll be inside you."
"Exactly."
Vin grinned and pulled a laughing Ezra down under the covers with him. Soon the sound of laughter was replaced by sounds of passion, sounds of love. And as the full moon, in all her glory, gazed down at the couple, it seemed to glow even brighter in the face of a love so true.
The End