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Middles |
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Ezra woke with a dull thud, tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and feeling several sizes larger than normal. His eyes were sealed shut with dried crust, and his whole body ached. With great effort he pushed up onto his hands and slid onto his feet – not too great a task considering they were already dangling off the side of the mattress. He looked down at his rumpled clothes that he´d fallen asleep in after stumbling to his room last night with disgust. These would probably have to be laundered twice. With leaded limbs he crossed to his dresser, thinking to retrieve something more suitable to sleep in, wanting to crawl back into bed and spend the rest of this awful hangover in merciful oblivion. As he fumbled with the buttons on his shirt a memory from last night seeped into his muddled brain, the vision like a sharp slap, waking him completely. Vin.He´d laughed at the tracker, had actually sat there and laughed at the sincere, almost stuttering entreaty for his aid. Instantly Ezra abandoned thoughts of burying himself back in his bedding, moving to the closet with hurried motions to get something out to wear for the day. As he scrubbed his face and teeth clean he thought about his laughter, and how cruel it must have seemed. It was not I that was cruel, but the fates and their delighted mishandling of myself and my only love. He grimaced, the cold water bracing him further as he washed his neck and torso. He hadn´t laughed because Vin had written a poem – certainly not that. He hadn´t laughed to mock the fact the Texan couldn´t read. He laughed because it was now that was chosen that this vital information be revealed to him, that now he had some insight as to why the blue-eyed man had never showed two long years ago. Laughing at the bitter irony had been his only defense against breaking down and crying in front of the entire saloon.
With slightly trembling hands he dressed, then shoved his hat on his head and made his way down the stairs. He ignored the surprised hails from his other early-rising comrades, walking quickly past the table where Chris and Josiah were sharing a pot of coffee, waiting for their breakfast. As soon as he´d seen Vin was not about he´d instantly shifted gears, mind working furiously as to where he might be able to find the tracker. His first destination was the livery – Tanner had morning patrol, and if he were lucky he could catch the man before he´d left. He squinted at the gentle dawn, ignoring the throbbing in his head and pressed determinedly on. The gambler walked quickly down the street, but right before stepping into the shadowed building his steps faltered, his resolve leaving him for a moment. He gritted his teeth and shook his head, then forced himself the last few paces into the stables. He stood in place, letting his eyes adjust, listening for familiar sounds. He knew relief when he heard the Texan shifting about, voice murmuring low to his mount. Ezra walked into the building further and cleared his throat.
“Mr Tanner?” He grimaced when his voice broke a little, grunting again to work past the sudden lump that had gathered above his heart. The longhaired man didn´t even look up, just grabbed Peso´s reins and started them out of the stall towards the wide, low doors at the end of the corridor. Ezra licked his lips and tried again. “Mr Tanner.” His voice was stronger this time, smoother, but still the lean man didn´t pause. When the pair had almost exited the livery the southerner finally said, “Vin…” His tone was now quiet, almost pleading but at the same time firmly compelling. He sucked in a breath when the man´s body turned, then blue eyes were regarding him steadily.
“Mornin´ Ez.” The gambler had to stop himself from shaking his head as the normalcy of the offhand greeting, feeling it quite out of place but knowing it wasn´t insincere. He took two steps forward then stopped, still arms length from Vin but close enough now to hear the man´s breath. He opened his mouth then shut it again, and Vin smiled gently. “It´s okay, Ez. I know whacha mean.” Instead of being calmed and reassured the southerner felt a spike of anger at the words. He wanted to tell the lean man that he didn´t know, couldn´t know all that it had taken to come here, to put himself so close to the only thing he´d ever desired – that which had decided against desiring him in return. He shook his head and slashed the air with a hand.
“No, Vin, you do not know. You cannot know unless I tell you.” His words were sharply spoken, and Ezra worked to keep the heat of his anger from them. The ex-bounty hunter inclined his head, an invitation for the other man to continue. The southerner thought over the well-formed speech he´d worked out in his mind as he´d stalked over to the livery, the fine words and articulate sentiment he´d mentally penned to express his regrets. After another second of looking into his heart´s eyes he discarded it completely, saying instead, “I´m sorry, Vin.” The simplicity of the words was not lost on the tracker. He nodded.
“It´s as much my fault as yers, Ez. It´s okay. I shouldn´t a done that ta ya with ya drunk, and especially not after the day ya had. I knew better…did it anyway. Guess I´m sorry too.” He paused, strong teeth appearing to worry briefly on a lower lip. Blue eyes saddened. “It´s jus´ that, even knowing ya weren´t in any place fer it, I thought – I wanted…” Suddenly the Texan but down on his words, stopping whatever else he had been tempted to say. He shook his head again, then reiterated in a quiet voice, “Like I said, it´s okay. Ain´t gonna hold it against ya, so don´t worry on it anymore.” Ezra thought about the halted sentence, focusing on where it might have led if the tracker had continued. He could come to only one conclusion – one that he decided to reveal himself. He licked his lips and answered softly,
“I´d no idea you were unable to read, Vin. No idea at all.” Something indefinable flared to life in blue orbs, and Ezra saw the tracker´s hand tighten on Peso´s reins. A long silence stretched between them, but it wasn´t strained or uncomfortable; rather it was pregnant with the burgeoning hint of promise. Finally the longhaired man nodded, and he said huskily,
“Yeah, something I´ve regretted many times – especially when it´s taken from me being able ta get ta what I really wanted.” He cocked his head a little, studying the shorter man with new intensity. “Figured that made now a good time ta learn, finally get back some of what I missed out on, stuff I still want jus´ as bad.” Ezra´s mouth opened slightly and he nodded slowly. He swallowed once.
“If you are finding yourself in need of further assistance…” he trailed off, not really knowing exactly what he was offering, just knowing he had to extend himself for the other man. Vin´s mouth quirked in a bare smile, and for the first time he looked without the tension that had claimed his lean frame for many long weeks now.
“Thanks, Ez. I´ll do that.” He glanced behind him, regarding the lightening day, then turned back. “I should be getting on.” The gambler took a step forward and motioned ‘out´ with his hands while nodding.
“Yes. I would not want to be responsible for your being late to your duties.” They walked out together and Vin swung into his saddle, then looked at the southerner.
“Ain´t about being late sometimes, Ez. Jus´ about being able ta make it at all.” With that he touched the brim of his hat and set Peso off at a fair clip, leaving a shaken, yet heartened man in his wake. Ezra took a few steadying breaths then returned to the saloon, this time sliding into the chair opposite Josiah as he was invited. The ex-preacher regarded Ezra and had queried if all was as it should be with the younger man, and the answering smile coupled with serene green eyes was enough to satisfy, and nothing more was said. The southerner enjoyed a rare breakfast in the quiet company, thoughts possessed by the conversation he´d just had, and the hope that had sprung to life at the words shared – and those left unspoken.
+ + + + + + +
Vin straightened quickly, making down the shadowy corridor on light feet. He ducked into the alcove that led to the back stairs and waited, breath held in. He listened as a door opened, listened as hands gathered what he´d left, then heard the door close again. With his heart beating in his throat he almost ran from the saloon, dashing to the far end of town where Peso was saddled and waiting. Well, he´s got it – I know that. Up ta him now. He mounted smoothly and set them off at a fair trot out of town to a campsite he´d prepared earlier. As he rode he thought back on the months that had preceded him finally making this gesture, hope and anxiety bubbling up at intervals at the unknown that was to follow.
The day after Ezra had found him in the livery to apologize for laughing the gambler approached him again, this time with a halting question of his own. To help amend his transgression, would the tracker be interested in starting some lessons to help him master reading and writing? Vin smiled softly. Hell, I was more´n interested. Jus´ managed ta stop short a jumping on him ta say yes. He´d never been one to carry a grudge – but even if he was he figured the green-eyed man could laugh at him several hundred more times before it came near to equaling what he´d done on the wagon train. Even before the southerner had come to him and apologized the Texan had forgiven him, but seeing the look on Ezra´s face and hearing the words meant a great deal to him, and he held close the promise that had glittered in those green eyes.
The lessons had been somewhat strained at first, Ezra trying to figure out the best way for the Texan to learn, and Vin trying to figure out how to keep his hands off his tutor. After a few fits and starts they´d found and established a rapport, the ease with which they´d shared one another´s company in the hotel room finding a new, subtler outlet. Their quiet meetings became the focus of Vin´s days, the thing he looked most forward to when he woke in the mornings. At first Ezra had suggested that he didn´t want to take up too much of the tracker´s time, offering to hold sessions every three days or so. Vin wanted nothing of that – this was the best he and the southerner had connected, and he was taking all he could. He also had great incentive to learn, something he wanted to write all himself for his love´s eyes only.
It had been slow, but progress was steady – and not just regarding his reading skills. Ezra proved to be an exceptional teacher – always ready with an explanation, never condescension. And no matter what he was never made to feel stupid, and that wasn´t something he could claim from past experience. Vin felt free to ask whatever came to mind, and he wasn´t surprised that the southerner was never without an answer. As time had passed he´d felt brave enough to ask things that went beyond reading and writing, and he was asked things in return. There was nothing earth shattering shared, no intimate secrets revealed – but it was a start. Enough of a beginning to coax Vin into taking further steps.
He´d started small – seeing to Chaucer when he´d finished with Peso; delivering things to Ezra from people around town so the gambler didn´t have to go after them himself; seeing that he requested the southerner´s favorite pie at the restaurant so it would be baked and ready when the green-eyed man awoke. The gambler had let him know of his appreciation, and had started to reciprocate, making small gestures of his own. It was enough to have Vin spending his days in a euphoric cloud. To his delight it had recently started to get better.
He´d come back to his wagon one day to find a small gift, some braided rawhide strips he´d admired before, commenting on how useful they´d be when he and Ezra had passed the display in front of the store offering them. When he´d thanked the gambler, the green-eyed man had smiled and told him it was his pleasure, and had left it there. Vin was more than eager to return the favor. The lessons too had grown into something more, with long, shared silences on either side, or quiet conversations that neither man stumbled over. Vin smiled – yesterday had been the best yet, his impetus for acting today.
Ezra had suggested they ride out of town for their lesson, thinking that they could amble along as Vin practiced reading aloud. The Texan had accepted readily, always glad to get away from town and have the green-eyed man to himself. At the nearby stream they´d stopped to water the horses, and he and Ezra had dismounted in tandem – Vin to the right as Peso had taken several steps into the water, and the tracker hadn´t been keen on getting wet past his boots. Ezra´s foot had caught in his stirrup just enough for them to stumble together, and they´d both turned to face one another on the slippery bank, apology ready on their lips. Vin´s hands had gripped the southerner´s hips automatically, and for a breathless moment they´d stared at one another, trapped in the spell woven in those first seconds that suspend before a kiss. After what seemed an eternity that passed in a blink the gambler had smiled warmly, lifting a hand to pat on the tracker´s shoulder, then stepped away easily. It was enough to make Vin feel like he´d caught fire – enough to have him finally writing what he´d wanted to say for so long, leaving those words for the southerner, ready to wait out the result.
He pulled up on Peso´s reins, slowing them to a walk as they approached the place he´d found and had set up as a campsite that could be lived in for several days. A quiet word with Chris had made it clear that they might be there a few days, and the man in black had agreed without complaint. Vin had been doing his best to amend things with the blond as well, and the gunslinger had accepted those gestures as easily as the other men had. As the tracker took care of Peso he thought about how lucky he was that all his fellow peacekeepers had forgiven his stupidness with Charlotte – and even luckier still that he was feeling that Ezra could be his again. He smiled softly thinking about what Chris had said to him as he made his way up the rocky path leading to his chosen spot.
“Good to see you two finding yourselves again. Don´t fuck it up, Tanner.” Vin was determined not to.
+ + + + + + +
Ezra carried his treasure back to his rocker with shaking hands. He dropped into the chair almost bonelessly, breath shallow as he stared at the cloth-covered bundle. My scarf… It was still the rich burgundy red, the only showing of its age being the slightly frayed edges. His initials were still embroidered in the corner in matching thread, the silk as smooth as the day he´d purchased it. He brought it to his face and inhaled deeply. Vin. He´d been reading when a single rap on his door had interrupted, and he´d gone to answer, throwing the book on the bed as he hurried to the door. His heart had accelerated a little – for the past few weeks a single tap on his door had meant one thing – Vin had been there. They had begun exchanging small gifts, mere tokens really, but the ritual was making the gambler feel he was in the throes of a gentle courtship. He greeted each day with excitement at the prospect of another small reminder that the tracker was thinking about him. A small, shiny bundle had been on the dull floorboards just in front of his door. He´d known what it was immediately.
The final day he´d remained waiting for Vin next to the spring pool he´d left that scarf, proof he´d waited if the sharpshooter ever did show up. As he was riding away he´d almost managed to fool himself into believing he´d accidentally forgotten it – but his heart knew the truth. It seems Vin did much more than discover my little token. For a long time he simply stared at the cloth, not quite believing in its reality. A finger outlined the scripted ‘EPS´ that was in the corner, smiling softly that this was the area on the fabric with the most wear. It was obvious the article had been treated with great care. The thought that the tracker had kept it with him all this time made his belly flip-flop, a tingling warmth spreading through his person. After a few more minutes of study he turned the folded fabric over on his knees, pulling it open slowly. What he found made his breath catch in his throat and he was sure his heart missed a few beats. An unsteady finger reached out to touch then paused, not quite certain that it wasn´t an illusion. My heart…Vin´s heart…our heart.
The paper had once been white and crisp – now it was yellowed and very soft. But the image he´d drawn on it while listening to Vin breathe remained, clear as when he´d watched it flow from his pen. He traced the outline, going over the scallops and scrolls, moving with the circular lines as they carried the finger inward, until they passed first over an ‘E,´ then a ‘V,´ the letters entwined with each other at the center of the heart. Further examination of the heart revealed something had been added – words had been carefully written just under the tip of the heart, and Ezra read them slowly, wanting to savor every syllable.
+++My only heart
With you gone
Not substitute –
But salvation.
Now want
You to mend my heart,
Broken –
Healed when yours, mine
Make whole+++
The poem stilled his body and stirred his soul – it was everything he ever would have attempted to say to the tracker, but with a simple eloquence that distilled his own hopes and fears far better than he would have been able. He read the words three times, reassuring himself that he was really seeing what was there. He shifted a little, discovering under the poem lay another small sheaf. On this new piece of brown parcel paper was a map. He chuckled at the small picture, remembering the very similar one he´d drawn all those years ago. Next to the spot indicating his destination was written, “tonight.” It was more than enough to have him pushing out of the rocker and gathering his things in haste. The gambler ran down the back stairs and to the livery, not caring who saw him put on such an unseemly display. In moments Chaucer was ready to ride and they were off. As they trotted out of town Ezra patted his lapel pocket, making certain the things Vin had left for him to find were still there. A glance at the sun told him he´d have enough time to make a stop if he was quick about it and he leaned lower in the saddle, his horse taking the cue, hooves thundering faster, churning up a cloud of dust as they ran.
+ + + + + + +
Vin stilled his pacing, ears straining when he thought he´d heard movement outside. After a few moments he let his breath out and resumed his restless movement. He´d told himself plenty of times now to just sit and wait, do something to take his mind off whether or not Ezra was coming. It hadn´t done any good, so finally he´d given up and allowed himself to pace through his nervous energy. He chewed at his lower lip absently, then caught himself and stopped. Damn…getting late. Wonder if Ez is coming? Thought fer sure after yesterday I was reading things right…thought we were finally ready fer this. He sighed and slumped in front of the fire, throwing a few hunks of wood on it, watching the dancing embers as they trailed towards the starry sky. He stared into the night, hoping that his invitation would be accepted, wondering what he´d do if it wasn´t.
After what seemed forever Vin tensed, hearing Peso whinny in answer to a grunt. He grinned. Chaucer. Only Ez´s horse held his own with the tracker´s stubborn mule. The Texan jerked into a stand and hastily brushed his clothing with his hands, reaching up to make certain his hair was smooth. He walked a few paces to the entrance of the little half-cave he´d built the campsite in and waited, nearly breathless. Several minutes went by and he listened to the southern drawl as it murmured to the horses, then boots were scuffling in the dust. A hatless head emerged over the small rise, moonlight creating an icy halo around chestnut curls, the beauty of the man stealing Vin´s heart all over again. He cleared his throat.
“Ez.” He ran out of words abruptly, letting the man climb the rest of the way in silence. They stood face to face for a long time, each man smiling softly, eyes busy as they carefully studied each other. Vin shook himself and laughed quietly, reaching out to take his heart´s saddlebags. “Sorry, Ez. C´mon up.” The gambler followed easily, stopping at the mouth of the stone hollow to look around. The sharpshooter hadn´t doubted the southerner would like the spot – he´d picked it because it had reminded him of their original destination of two years ago. Green eyes twinkled in the firelight.
“A most excellent choice, Vin.” The Texan nodded and smiled, noting the ease at which the southerner had used his name. He moved around the fire to sit, motioning for the gambler to do the same. After they were settled with a cup of coffee Ezra spoke again. “My sincerest apologies for being so late. My errand took a bit longer than I´d intended, otherwise I would have arrived much earlier.” Vin´s interest was piqued. He´d already made sure Chris let the other man leave town in the clear, so it must have been of a personal matter. He chanced to ask,
“What did ya hafta do?” Ezra pursed his lips, then shook his head a little. He held out a hand for the tracker to take. In seconds their fingers were entwined.
“I´ll get to that in a moment. First I should tell you how much I wanted to come here tonight, how very glad I was you asked me to come. I want so much a chance for us to begin again, to be friends.” Green eyes regarded Vin with intensity, and the tracker smiled reassuringly, reading the doubt and insecurity lurking in those beloved depths. He squeezed the hand in his, trying to get past Ezra´s usage of the word ‘friends.´ He decided to just say what he was feeling, hoping the southerner returned the emotions.
“That´s why I asked, Ez. Wanted ta start like the two years never happened – wanted ta start from where we should have all along, but this time get it right.” The gambler answered his smile, then broke away to lift his jacket, his other hand reaching inside. He pulled out the heart with Vin´s poem, and something else the tracker couldn´t make out before it disappeared into a shadow at the southerner´s side. Ezra turned back to him and licked his lips.
“The poem you wrote…” The soft drawl trailed off, and the tracker felt a faint sweat of apprehension heat his brow. The gambler laughed a little, reaching out to take his hand again. “I loved it.” The strong grip shook him gently, and Vin chuckled back, a new kind of heat entering his body at the sound of the word ‘love´ coming out of those lips. Ezra snatched up the object next to him and held it out. “It said everything I would have wanted to, but with an art I could never compete with.” He shook his head when Vin would have argued. “I have a fine vocabulary at my disposal, to be sure – but there are no better words than those spoken from the heart. And the eloquent words you wrote from yours spoke to mine.” The tracker let out his breath, the two sharing a warm silence. Ezra thrust his other hand into the firelight a little further. “It made me want to get this, which is why I was late. I had been keeping it in an Eagle Bend deposit box…somewhere I knew it would be safe, somewhere I knew it wouldn´t be found if anything happened to me in Four Corners.” He smiled again. “I no longer have feelings that it shouldn´t be discovered.” Long fingers opened, revealing what had been hidden against the shapely palm. Vin´s brow rose.
“Ya kept that?” Ezra smiled, nodding. He allowed the tracker to take the small tin. The sharpshooter studied it, opening it with one hand – a sudden memory of having to do that before making him clench his mouth shut so he didn´t groan. A finger tapped on the lid and the southerner supplied,
“It was the only memento I had of our time together, the only physical thing to tie me to it. I never had thoughts of parting with it.” Vin shook his head.
“I´m sorry, Ez.” Green eyes looked at him in question. He nodded at the silver container.
“I had the most beautiful drawing I´d ever seen, and a note ta prove ya wanted me. All that ya had was the…” His face burned red. He´d been about to say ‘lube,´ which is what he´d termed it mentally, but just couldn´t. Instead he finished, “liniment that we used.” The gambler sighed softly.
“I was glad to have it, Vin. It was something I cherished, the representation of sentiment making it of such importance to me regardless of what it actually is. But don´t let that worry you – it isn´t the point of why I brought it.” The tracker bobbed his head once, thinking he understood the other man, handing the little jar back. Vin flashed an inviting grin,
"We gonna put that ta good use then?" The southerner looked down at it, closing his fingers around the silver tin. He shook his head.
"No, I did not bring this for a purpose other than to show you I'd kept with me as token of our time together." Vin blinked rapidly, embarrassed heat rising in his chest, flushing his cheeks. He almost cursed aloud for making assumptions that the southerner was here to resume their physical relationship. Ignoring the dull ache that was starting in his belly at the thought he nodded and mumbled,
"Yeah, okay. Sure Ez." His humiliation was furthered when his voice broke a little at the end. He twisted away, hastily dashing at his face with a hand when a few tears managed to spill. Shit - pull it together, Tanner. He's wantin' ta make up, offering ta be yer friend. That's enough...suck this up and grab at what he's willing ta give. He started when strong hands pulled at his shoulders, and he fought being turned back around, not yet in complete control. He heard Ezra shift then the gambler was kneeling in front of him, poking a handsome face under his own so green eyes could meet blue. The southerner smiled softly.
"I only meant for now, Vin. Not indefinitely - never that." The conman lifted a brow. "Allow me to finish?" Tanner closed his eyes and sighed, then nodded. He was feeling more foolish by the second, but he also couldn't deny the swift rush of relief that almost swamped him. A warm laugh made him open his eyes again. Ezra popped up and gave him a short but sweet kiss, then settled into the Texan's lap, leaning his chestnut curls against Vin's chest. A strong hand reached out and took one of the tracker's and held it close. The gambler sighed. "One day we'll figure this out, that's a promise. I don't know how much more of this miscommunication our hearts can withstand." Vin couldn't help smiling in response, and he looked down at the man he was cradling, hand running idly up and down the muscled back relaxed against him.
"Sorry, Ez. Guess I kinda let my worry get ahead a me." The hand holding his squeezed tighter for a beat.
"I do believe considering our history such behavior is quite understandable. What I want us to agree upon will, I hope, put an end to that." He looked up and smiled, "Or at least most of it." The sharpshooter nodded.
"Sounds good ta me. What´s yer idea?" There was a pause and Vin knew the other man was gathering his thoughts.
“I want us to continue getting to know one another, grow as friends before we move further. Our time in the hotel room was…wonderful. I´d not trade it for anything. But you have to admit it did nothing to teach us about one another, did nothing to allow us to cope with adversity. We will need that if we want to succeed together.” He shifted some, moving so green eyes could look into blue. “I have treasured our time as you have learned to read – there has been nothing I have wanted more each day than to share your undivided company for those hours.” Vin smiled and nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, I like it too Ez. I´m glad we finally found something ta get us talking, something safe in the middle ta find our balance on.” The gambler squeezed his hand again.
“That´s why I want only that for as long as it takes for us to establish our relationship; not just as lovers but as friends. I want to learn everything about the two years we spent apart, want to know why we had so many misunderstandings…all the things you were trying to say that I didn´t interpret correctly…and all the things I should have said to you but didn´t.” Vin closed his eyes and couldn´t help the bit of complaint that entered his tone.
“Aw Ez…it´s not that I don´t wanna know that too, but I´m about ta go crazy wantin´ ya – and telling ya everything, and having ya tell me everything…that could take months!” He paused and sighed, then admitted, “Yer right – I want this ta work, and what yer saying we need ta do will help us do that.” He wrinkled his nose. “Kinda wish ya weren´t right though. Had a few things in mind fer tonight.” The gambler grinned and sat up even more, swooping down to kiss the longhaired man briefly. He pulled back, green eyes dancing, pulling the tracker´s hand so it rested over his heart under the red jacket.
“My love, what is a few months when we are planning on sharing forever?” Vin´s breath caught as his own heart accelerated in pace. He could feel Ezra´s thundering under his palm. With a soft groan he leaned forward, capturing soft lips with his own. The kiss was long and languid, none of the frenzy of before – but still simmering with barely bridled passion as always. He pulled back when forced to take in air, resting his forehead against his spirit´s.
“God, Ez…I love ya too. So much…don´t know why I didn´t jus´ tell ya ta begin with.” He tightened his arms around the compact form nestled alongside his own. “All this damn time we´ve wasted.” Ezra pulled back and shook his head.
“Admonishing ourselves now will serve no purpose. It was my hard learned lesson that there is no going back, no matter what the intentions. Which is why we need to make sure that from here we take every care to get it right. Do you agree?” Vin nodded his head without hesitation. Gold flashed as dimples showed themselves during a playful grin. Vin smiled back, whole body suffused with warmth and happiness. The gambler added, “Besides, it´s not as if I´ve called for a complete moratorium. There are plenty of quite satisfying activities we can engage in for the meantime.” Vin smiled and pulled at his mate, drawing them down to share another kiss.
“Ya mean like this?” He held the smaller man close, running his hands all along the hard body he had come to worship. After awhile the gambler broke away with a breathy moan.
“I see you intend to make this hard on both of us.” The tracker grinned evilly.
“Oh yeah, Ez. I intend ta make it hard alright. Real hard.” He laughed through an ‘oof´ when the southerner poked him in the ribs.
“That isn´t what I meant at all, and you know it. You are a wicked man, Mr Tanner.” Vin lifted himself onto his hands so he could look down at Ezra, the face below him warm, emerald eyes finally completely open to him. He waggled a brow.
“Ya said ya wanted ta know everything about me, Ez. Me being wicked is jus´ the beginning.” He licked his lips. “And it ain´t like I´m alone in this – I already know jus´ how wicked ya can be.” A mischievous smile escaped despite the gambler´s best efforts to hide it. The gambler´s happy chuckle rippled along Vin´s nerves, warming him even more.
“I shall be happy when you are able to fully explain to me the depth of your own wickedness, Vin.” Strong hands reached up and tangled in his hair, combing out and pushing back in with a steady rhythm. He leaned his head back into it and purred. After awhile he let himself be pulled onto the sturdy chest under him, cheek pressed against the solid warmth. A voice rumbled in his ear, “Let us get to talking then – with enough discipline and efficiency I´m certain we will be able to cut the time down to less than a month.” Vin laughed a little, nodding his head. A kiss was planted on his sienna crown. “Here´s to new beginnings, then.” Vin murmured softly,
“New beginnings - sounds good ta me, Ez.” He paused, trailing a hand along the faint pattern on the white silk shirt in front of him. “Why don´t ya go first.” The southerner laughed.
“Well, my idea…my onus I suppose. That is fair.” He paused long enough to still the tracker´s hand with his own, locking them in a solid grip. He made a soft noise of satisfaction then continued. “The reason I left alone was I didn´t want for you to endure Maude´s company for even a day. I knew if you were awake I´d never be able to talk myself out of letting you go with me. Anyway, Mother was running a con…”
Vin closed his eyes as the gambler spoke, relaxing completely as the beloved drawl soothed his senses, mind focused on what his love was saying, the whole of him ready for their new beginning.
the end
Continues in Endings
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