Main Characters Chris/Vin
Chris sat there, enjoying the late-morning sun of a beautiful spring morning. He smiled to himself as he sipped his coffee, then looked down at his young lover, now sleeping peacefully with his head on Chris's thigh. Larabee carded long, calloused fingers through Vin's silky dark curls. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, nearly overcome by the strength of his feelings for Vin. He never would have believed that he would again love anyone after Sarah's death, and certainly not another man. Yet his life was made complete when a long-haired, strong but lean tending toward skinny, blue-eyed, impossibly young sharpshooter showed up at a bust and was later recruited to his ATF team. There had been an instant connection that Chris had tried hard to believe was merely friendship, but finally Chris had listened to what his heart was trying to tell him all along. Vin Tanner was the person he was meant to be with, and looking at the slender form curled so trustingly beside him, Chris knew that he was the person who had all this time been meant for the younger man, also. Chris sighed contently. He loved this man with all his heart, and there was no place in the world he would rather be than right here, right now, with Vincent Michael Tanner next to him.
Earlier:
The men from Team Seven were at the Saloon having lunch, and finalizing plans to meet at the Larabee-Tanner ranch over the weekend for Vin's birthday party. Vin's shy smile and relaxed manner was so different from the previous year's tension and anxiousness on the part of the loner who suddenly found himself part of not only a team of coworkers, but part of a tight-knit group of friends. As the conversation hummed around him, Chris let himself think back over the previous year...The team was formed and in place, but Chris Larabee and Orin Travis were still trying to settle on a sharpshooter to complete the makeup of Larabee's Team Seven. They had a case that broke open suddenly, and the team went in with plans to cope without a sharpshooter. Unbeknownst to anyone, Vin Tanner, bounty hunter, was already set up in the warehouse after tracking a bounty to the same location. The coincidence proved to be fortuitous for Larabee and his men, because even though the bounty hunter was furious that they had managed to lose his bounty by them all showing up to capture their perps, his deadly accurate shots fired from his location in the rafters had saved Nathan's life as well as the lives of Ezra and Buck.
They'd gotten Vin onto their team, and Chris smiled to himself as he thought of the ways each member of the team had worked to convince Vin they thought of him as not only a teammate and coworker, but as a friend and finally as family. It was with a lot of ups and downs, as well as a certain amount of jealousy that Buck had to overcome as he felt himself being displaced as Chris's best friend. Mostly, however, was the struggle they'd had to convince Vin that he could trust them. That boy hadn't had a lot he could believe in other than himself, and it was a long time before he let himself relax and trust that his friendship and loyalty wouldn't be betrayed.
Chris's thoughts drifted back to Vin's first birthday with the team. He'd only been with them about three months. When Chris had invited him out to the ranch, it had been ostensibly to look over some plans for a bust, and Chris had said that after they worked maybe they would go riding later. Vin was secretly excited about riding. He knew no one knew it was his birthday, but this was going to be something fun to do on that day. He was really looking forward to riding, and having something secretly special happen on his birthday. He'd been used to spending the day in solitude, and some years he would stick a candle in a bakery cupcake but many years the day was just one more in a never-ending time of misery and pain. Vin allowed himself to look forward to riding, when normally he was scared to trust that anything good he was promised would really happen. But he'd been with these men for three months, and they'd been nothing but good to him. Maybe, just maybe, if he worked hard and didn't screw up too badly, this job would work out and he might, for the first time in his life, have real friends.
When Vin got to the ranch and Chris welcomed him and led him through the house, grabbing a couple beers on their way through the kitchen and out to the deck, Vin had nearly had a heart attack when the others on the team, including Nettie and Casey and Raine, had yelled, "Surprise!" Vin had turned stark white, his blue eyes huge, and he started shaking so badly that Chris had to grab his elbow when the beer slipped out from suddenly nerveless fingers. Vin had been truly stunned that anyone even knew it was his birthday, but was truly overwhelmed that they had gone to this much trouble for him. There wasn't a dry eye among them when Vin whispered that he'd never in his life had a birthday party.
Mostly, however, Chris thought about his own relationship with Tanner. He'd fought against his feelings as long as he could, but he finally realized he couldn't ignore them nor deny them. He and Vin had become lovers, and Chris knew that nothing was more perfect than his love for Vin. They'd kept the true nature of their friendship secret from the others, not knowing how they would take it, but that only lasted until Vin was severely injured. Chris couldn't keep his feelings in check any longer, and the men picked up on his worry and fear for Vin. What had surprised and touched him deeply was the show of support and continued affection his team maintained towards both men. Chris and Vin had been surrounded by their friends, and even though each of them had been surprised and had varying levels of adjustments to make in their perceptions of the other two, nothing was lost and something was gained when Chris and Vin were accepted as a couple.
The months went by, and Chris and Vin's love only deepened. After Vin had been shot and nearly died, Chris's pressure on Vin to give up his apartment in the dangerous location in Purgatory stepped up. Vin finally moved out to the ranch, and was settled in by their first Thanksgiving together as a couple. Both men had been nearly overwhelmed at how much they truly had to be thankful for, and it was a memory they would both cherish for the rest of their lives.
That Christmas was amazing. Vin had been completely and totally stunned when Chris had deeded half the ranch to him. Nothing - no ring, no commitment ceremony - nothing could have demonstrated the truly lasting and abiding love the older man felt towards his younger partner. Chris had been equally stunned when Vin's gift to him was a beautiful mare, pregnant and scheduled to deliver in early spring. The horse was to be the start of Chris's - now their - horse ranch. When Chris looked over the paperwork of the breeding lines, he hadn't known how Vin managed to afford such a fine animal. Vin told him that he had some money saved from when he was bounty hunting. Over the years he had taken out only enough to live on, a meager enough amount for his Spartan existence, and sent the rest to a friend on the reservation who was a CPA and financial planner. Vin had received periodic statements - when his mail had caught up to him - but he'd barely glanced at them before throwing them away with the rest of the junk mail.
When he wanted to do something special for Chris, he'd placed a call to Gordon Redfeather. After they caught up with their news, when Vin admitted the purpose of the call was to ask whether he had enough money to buy a horse, Gordon had nearly choked. The accountant had assured him that he had enough to buy several horses, a horse ranch, all the equipment to run a ranch, a nice house.... Vin had felt his knees weaken and he'd sat heavily on the kitchen chair.
After all the guys had left and Chris and Vin were alone Christmas night, Vin had told Chris that he had something to talk to him about. The serious tone of Vin's voice and his quiet edginess had Chris nearly panicked. Maybe he had rushed his young lover, and Tanner felt further pressured by the gift of half the ranch. Larabee was terrified that his skittish Texan might tell him he wanted to move out, that he needed more space. Chris knew that Vin was fiercely independent. Maybe owning half a ranch was too much for him to deal with. It was all Chris could do to take a deep breath and steel himself to listen quietly to whatever he was going to hear.
In turn, it had been Chris who had been stunned to learn that the younger man, who most of them had assumed from the place he lived, the broken-down jeep he drove, the meager wardrobe he owned, was bordering on destitute until he started earning a steady paycheck from his federal ATF job, was actually a very wealthy - extremely wealthy - young man. Vin had been terrified that Chris would think he had hidden the information from him and that Chris would be angry that he hadn't trusted him enough to tell him. It all had made sense when Chris had seen the change in Vin in the last two weeks. The younger man had become suddenly more distracted and preoccupied, but Larabee had chalked it up to the excitement of the holidays and his inexperience at having true friends and family. That had been part of it, certainly, but now Chris was made to realize that Vin truly had no idea how much wealth he had accumulated from investments made from his bounty hunting days. The younger man had gone after the worst of the worst, but rather than going after them for the biggest payoffs, it had been from a true sense of justice to get the most dangerous criminals off the street to protect society.
The two men had been thankful that Travis had given the team the week off between Christmas and New Years, and that the men didn't have specific plans to get together as a team until the New Year's holiday. It had been a period of adjustment for them both to come to grips with the reality of Vin's wealth. It made Vin feel proud and happy that he could actually bring a lot more than himself into their bond and partnership. But it hit him overwhelmingly hard to know how much Chris loved him. He had wanted Vin, and only Vin, for the rest of his life. He had written up the change in the deed in the belief that the only thing Vin was bringing to their union was himself, a battered old jeep, some well-worn clothes, ... and several really expensive rifles.
Together Vin and Chris had adjusted to the news that Vin had financial wealth, but they were taking things slow. The others had admired the addition of a second pregnant mare to join Vin's gift, after Vin had admitted to Chris that he had loved them both, but they'd all assumed that Chris had bought the horse. If they thought about it at all, which they didn't more than a passing thought, it was only that now Vin's paychecks would go farther now that he wasn't paying rent on an apartment, and the two men could pool their resources for the upkeep of the ranch. Buck kept up his teasing of Vin that he could use his rent money toward getting a new jeep, but was only rewarded by an enigmatic smile from Tanner, and he didn't catch Chris's grin and wink directed at the younger man. Only Ezra had raised a questioning eyebrow, a thoughtful look on his face when the two men had used a vacation week to spend their time off at an old New England lighthouse on a small island off the coast of Maine. He knew that a week's stay there was ridiculously expensive. It seemed extravagant to him, knowing that the two men had recently purchased two quality horses that would soon increase their herd by two more. When Vin and Chris had returned, the others had teased them about the glow they each had from their 'honeymoon.' The shy smiles and blushes from Tanner, and the relaxed and smiling acceptance of Larabee to their teasing only confirmed how good the two men were for each other.
*7*
"That okay with you, boss?" Vin's voice broke through his thoughts and brought him back to the present.
"Sorry. What were you saying?" Chris blinked and sat up straighter.
"I know that you're probably going to be busy on Saturday getting ready for all of us to come out on Sunday," JD explained, "but I just got a notice from the review board that I have to get recertified on firearms within two weeks. I was asking Vin if he would work with me, maybe get some time in Saturday. I know Vin has the keys to the indoor range, as well as access to the outdoor one any time. If we could work outdoors maybe late Saturday afternoon, then move inside when it gets darker, that would be great."
"Sure, I don't see a problem, JD. You don't mind, Vin, do you?"
"Nah, Larabee. I'd be glad to work with you JD. You have the skills, you just need to have a little more confidence in yourself."
Chris struggled to keep his expression neutral, but inside he was happy and relieved. This worked perfectly into his plans. This year there was no surprise in the party for Vin. The guys had celebrated each agent's birthday together, and this year Vin had been included in the planning for his own. It had touched each of his teammates to see Vin's shy excitement and little-boy happiness as the day grew closer. Vin hadn't had much in his short life to enjoy, and they were all pleased and touched to know they were able to do something that obviously meant so much to him.
Chris, however, had been planning a surprise gift, and he wasn't sure how he would be able to pull it off. Now here was perfect timing, with JD's innocent excuse to keep Vin away from the ranch. This would give Chris the perfect amount of time to do what he needed without trying to make up a reason to send Vin away on a made-up errand.
It was well after dark when Vin got home from working with JD. Chris was in back, enjoying the night air from one of his comfortable chairs on the deck. He stood and waved to Vin from the deck as the jeep pulled in. Vin parked his jeep by the big, black Ram, and Vin met him in a warm embrace as Chris pulled the smaller man close.
"Let me get you a beer," Chris murmured after the two men's long and tender kiss. He went inside while Vin leaned against the railing looking out toward the corral. He could see the horses in the light from the nearly full moon, and sighed contentedly.
Chris came outside just in time to hear the sigh. He came up to lean his elbows on the deck railing, hips and sides touching his lover's.
"Happy?"
Vin looked up, blue eyes shimmering nearly silver in the moonlight.
"More than happy, Chris. Never thought I'd ever be this happy in m' whole life. You're everything to me, Lar'bee."
"I love you so much, Van Tanner."
"Love you, too, Cowboy."
"Sit with me?"
The two men moved over to the comfortable lounge chair. Chris had good deck furniture, and enough good seating for several people at a time on the large deck. There were lounge chairs and rocking chairs, plus matching Adirondack-style chairs. But the two men moved automatically to their favorite seat. Chris sat first, leaning against the comfortably padded back, and then Vin settled between his legs. Vin's hair was silky where it rested against Chris's cheek as Vin settled his head on Chris's shoulder. The older man's arms wrapped securely around his young lover, and Vin's long fingers of his free hand held onto the strong forearm. The two men were silent and unmoving other than for the occasional sip of beer from the icy cold bottles. They held each other close, enjoying the peace and security of each others' presence and comfort and love.
Chris snorted quietly, and Vin twisted to look questioningly up at his partner.
"Thinkin' awful hard up there, Cowboy."
"I was just thinking of the gift you've given me."
Vin frowned.
"Gift? I ain't given you no gift. Well, not since yer birthday party."
Chris laughed out loud, thinking of how the men had howled when he'd opened his gift from his lover at his own birthday party with the team and other friends. He'd received his personal gift from Vin that morning, something very personal and very sexy that a very nervous young Tanner had done for him. Come to think of it, they hadn't celebrated that particular 'gift' for a while..., maybe tonight or in the morning would be the perfect occasion for a repeat. Chris's cock stirred at the memory.
But now Chris remembered the looks exchanged from the other men as he opened his gift from Tanner. No doubt they'd all been wondering just how personal Vin would go, knowing that the present would be opened in front of all of them, including Miss Nettie. Buck's teasing comments about it had started making Chris nervous, seeing how Buck's own gift had pushed the limits of good taste for mixed company.
Chris had unwrapped the box and pulled aside the tissue, then looked at the tee-shirt carefully folded and placed. He'd stared silently as he took it in, then looked up, his ice green eyes meeting laughing blue ones.
"What is it, Stud?" Buck demanded.
Chris glared as he held up the black tee-shirt. The other men looked at each other, frowning in puzzlement. They knew their leader was notorious for always wearing black, although ever since a certain maddening, skinny young Texan had strolled into his life, he'd been seen wearing other colors occasionally.
Then Chris turned the tee-shirt around and they read the writing emblazoned in white across the front:
I'M ONLY WEARING BLACK UNTIL THEY COME UP WITH SOMETHING DARKER
"Damn, Junior! You are playin' with fire!" Buck shook his head, laughing.
Giggles turned to guffaws, and soon everyone was howling until tears streamed from their eyes.
In the commotion, Chris tried to glare at Vin, mouthing "I'm going to get you for this."
His cock had awakened with immediate interest when Vin had given him a slow wink, and with a smirk mouthed back, "I'm countin' on it, Cowboy."
Chris had flushed and his eyes had flown toward Miss Nettie, praying that she hadn't noticed anything. He would never know that she had seen everything, but had looked away and begun picking up discarded giftwrap before Chris saw her. It would have mortified her boy to know she'd seen that exchange between Vin and his lover, but in truth it warmed her heart. She was thrilled that Vin had found true love. Lord knew that if anyone deserved it after his hellish childhood, it was the son of her heart.
Now, however, Vin was truly unaware of the gift he had given Chris; more like the gift he had taught the older man.
"This, Vin. Just..., enjoying the outdoors. Enjoying the peace and truly appreciating it. You taught me that."
"Ain't nuthin'," Vin protested, shaking his head.
"It is, Vin. It really is. I mean, I know that Sarah and I originally bought this place for the land and the view of the mountains. And I did enjoy it. But not the way you do. I would never just sit and look at the mountains for their sheer beauty with the pure appreciation you have. I'd never enjoyed sunrises until you came into my life and shared that with me. I didn't take the time to watch sunsets, and I never sat out and just stared at the stars and the moonlight. You even amaze me with the way you love the storms, standing out until the last minute as the clouds roll in and the thunder and lightening clash in the distance. Hell, sometimes I think you'd stand out in a driving rainstorm and brave the lightening if you could."
"Jist..., always liked the outdoors. Felt right, somehow. Like it w's th' only place I belonged. People would hurt me, and I got so's I didn't want t' be around people. Couldn't trust 'em, and w's locked up s' many times I never wanted t' feel s' trapped. But I didn't never feel trapped outside."
Chris swallowed hard and his hold tightened reassuringly around the slender body of his lover.
"Don't wanna make ya feel bad, Chris."
"I know. I can't help it when I think about all that's been done to you, though."
Chris knew how Vin thought, and rushed to clear up what he knew Vin would be thinking.
"It means a lot to me that you tell me things, though. It means a lot to me that you trust me enough to tell me what happened to you, some of what you went through. I'd be a pretty poor lover if you felt like you had to hide things from me to protect my feelings."
Vin sighed, and Chris knew he'd been a little underhanded. However, making Vin think he was sharing for Chris's sake and not his own would be the only way the younger man would ever open up.
"It means a lot ta me, too, Chris, that ya share the outdoors with me," Vin told him.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, I was kinda surprised when ya started comin' outside with me. I figured I'd watch the sunrises by m'self like I always done, but when ya came out and watched with me, well, then it w's jist one more way ya showed that ya loved me."
Chris kissed the top of Vin's head, setting his beer bottle down on the table beside them. He reached for Vin's bottle and set that aside, then with his hand he cupped the beautiful, strong jaw and turned Vin's face toward his, capturing the luscious mouth in a deeply passionate kiss. Vin turned in his arms, and even though the night was starting to get chilly, their passion warmed them and they shed clothes, lowered the backrest flat, and moved together to hold their naked bodies close. Their love-making began gently, and then grew increasingly more intense as they touched and licked and nipped at each other, skilled mouths and hands knowing the places on each other's bodies that could send the other spiraling into an overload of sensation.
Chris prepared Vin's opening, and was grateful he'd taken to keeping a small tube of lotion in his jacket pocket. Lying flat on his back, his hands on Vin's hips helped support the younger man as he lowered his body onto Chris's flushed and swollen cock. A sharp intake of breath had Chris gripping the slender hips tightly until Tanner's body adjusted to the invasion. By then Chris could control himself no longer. The sight of Vin's body, silvered and bright in the moonlight, the shadows emphasizing even more starkly the planes and ridges and definition of deep muscles on his slender frame, sent Chris over the edge.
Vin's hair shadowed his face as the younger man bent forward, talented fingers playing with Chris's velvety oval nipples. Chris's own hands pulled Vin's ass cheeks further apart while he dug his heels into the chair, slamming his body up into the smaller one riding him. His fingers moved across Vin's hips to the flat belly, skimming the shallow navel and pressing into the skin above Vin's dick but not touching it. Vin gasped and whimpered as the hands continued their exquisite torment without touching his cock. Then the hands smoothed up across the sharp hip bones and the ladder of ribs, finding the enticing small nipples of his lover. He pulled and tweaked at them, already raised into sharp points from passion and the coolness of the night air. Vin gasped and his head went back as his back arched into the overwhelming sensation of exquisite currents racing through every nerve ending to pool in his cock.
Chris thought that a naked Vin in the moonlight was maybe the most erotically sexy thing he had ever seen in his entire life. With one hand he reached up and curved his long fingers into the tangled mass of Vin's silky hair cascading in waves down his slender back. He tugged on the hair, causing Vin's back to arch even more and his face to turn full into the moonlight, exposing the long, slender neck. Chris knew his own explosion was near. He'd never seen anything so beautiful, and knew he couldn't last much longer. His other hand grasped Vin's cock, and the younger man jerked at the touch. Chris pulled on Vin's shaft, unable to tear his eyes away from the taut belly and abs and nipples and throat, all pulled tight as Chris fisted his hand in Vin's beautiful, long hair.
Vin breath caught, and Chris began slamming into Vin harder and harder. He grabbed Vin's hips, long fingers curving around to Vin's ass cheeks, and began pounding into that willing body harder and harder. He lifted Vin's ass as his own ass lowered to the cushion. He raised his knees to give himself better leverage, and with his heels dug in he lifted his own hips to pound into Vin's body as he slammed the smaller man down to meet his thrusts. Chris varied the tempo, and at times held his hips up, twisted back and forth with his pelvis to grind their bodies together and change the angle of his cock in Vin's exquisitely hot, tight opening. Vin continued to arch backwards, his long hair nearly reaching his waist as his hands gripped with bruising strength on Chris's calves and ankles.
Both men reached a climax together, and it seemed to last forever as Chris emptied his seed deep inside his lover while streams of cum coated the bellies of the two lovers. Finally with a deep shudder and final thrust, Chris released his grip on Vin's hips and pulled him down to hold the now-trembling body close in the circle of his arms.
"Shh..., shh...., baby. Damn, Vin. You're so goddamn beautiful. The things you do ta me...,"
"Ya ain't s' bad yerself, Cowboy," Vin rasped softly, after taking a shuddering breath and swallowing hard.
"I love you, Vin. I love you so much."
Vin tightened his hold on Chris, and then tilted his head up for a kiss. He raised up until he could see into Chris's eyes, and the older man saw the shimmering glint of unshed tears.
"I know. I really know that now, Chris. I mean, I did before, but...."
"Shh..., I know, baby. You didn't think you could let yourself trust that it was real. That my love for you is real. But it is. And nothing in the world is ever, ever gonna change that."
"Love you, too, Chris," Vin whispered. "More every day..., when I never thought it w's possible to love ya any more than I did from th' start."
Vin had shivered violently then, and Chris had muttered about goddamn thin-blooded southern Texans, which set Vin off on a tirade about how maybe he'd just let himself get real fat and then he'd have all these extra layers of padding to keep him warm.
Chris had laughed out loud, shaking his head to think how much food - and junk food - Tanner already ate on a daily basis. If any of the rest of the seven ate what Vin ate, they'd all weigh three hundred pounds. When he told Vin that he'd have to eat Twinkies by the truckload, Vin had gotten all indignant and started in on Chris for making fun of him.
"You're awful cute when you pout, ya know that, Tanner?"
"Cute! You callin' me 'cute'?!"
"Sure am!"
Vin drew in a breath, but before he could let loose with the string of curses Larabee knew was sure to follow, the bigger man scooped the startled Texan up in his arms, carried him the width of the deck and into the house, not stopping until they reached the large bathroom in the master bedroom.
He kissed Vin on his wide generous mouth, smiling to himself as Vin's furious tension at being grabbed faded as he melted into the kiss.
"Now behave," Chris scolded, "or I won't get into this warm shower with you."
"Be- ..., behave?"
"Yep," Chris nodded, swatting one tantalizing ass cheek. "Don't want you sick. You need to get into this hot shower and warm up."
"Could use a long tall Cowboy ta warm me up," Vin looked up at him hopefully through thick, dark long lashes.
"Don't give me those baby blue puppy-dog eyes," Chris told him. Then he softened. "You don't need to, Vin. I was coming in anyway."
Deep dimples creased Vin's cheeks as he smiled in awe at Chris's obvious love for him. Vin looked so young sometimes, like now when he was truly unguarded and happy. Chris nodded his head toward the shower, the water now warm and steaming. He turned on the electric towel heater that had seemed like such an extravagance at the time but now was something he didn't think he'd ever want to go without. When the men finished in the shower, their towels would be nice and warm and toasty, perfect to wrap around damp skin.
They had made slow and gentle love in the shower. With their arms around each other as they snuggled into bed, Chris had told Vin again how much he loved him. He said that Vin was always beautiful, and he'd loved looking at his body whenever they'd made love. The two men had had sex in every room of the house, outside in the barn, and once in Chris's truck. They'd even made love outside in the woods, but tonight had been the first time they had done it by moonlight. Chris could feel Vin's smile as his face rested against his chest, and he tightened his arms around the slender back.
"God, Vin. You were amazing. So beautiful."
Vin sighed, drifting into sleep.
"Y'ain't s' bad yerself, Cowboy," Vin replied, than yawned.
"Love you, Lar'bee," he whispered.
"Love you, too, Kid. Forever and always," Chris murmured. He happened to look at the clock as his lover grew heavier, deeply asleep. "Happy birthday, Vin Tanner."
The next morning Vin was awake and out to the barn before Chris rolled over and squinted his eyes at the morning sunlight. He gradually became aware of the sounds coming from the shower, and shoved the covers back. Goddamn stealthy Texan. He stumbled into the bathroom, taking care of business but being careful not to flush with Vin using the shower. He lowered the toilet lid and placed the tissue box on it - their signal to each other to flush once the other was out of the shower. He pulled the shower door open, only to be met by flashing blue eyes and Vin's happy, little-boy smile.
"Happy birthday, Vincent Michael Tanner."
"Afternoon, Old Man," the younger man teased.
"I'll 'afternoon' you, Tanner," Chris growled. "It's only barely after nine."
"After nine! Hell," Vin shook his head. "Already got th' chores done in th' barn. Horses are taken care of, fed, watered, stalls cleaned, got the coffee started,..."
"All right..., all right... I get it. Let me get through the shower and I'll start my share of the chores."
"Ain't no chores left," Vin huffed in mock disgust.
Chris thought, then nodded.
"True. The steaks have been marinating since last night, and everything else is pretty simple to throw together when everyone gets here. Can't think of anything else to do....," Chris shook his head thoughtfully.
Without warning Chris's arms reached out and he grabbed the wet, satiny body of his lover, pulling the smaller man close to him. Gazing into wide startled blue eyes he smiled, a grin both feral and loving.
"Nothing to do, I guess, but make love to my best friend, my lover, and the man who means more to me than anything or anyone in the world. Nothing to do but wish my soul mate the best birthday ever."
Vin's arms reached up around the powerful shoulders and Chris pulled him close, arms tightening around the slender back. After a long passionate kiss, Chris's hands started moving until they cupped the firm ass cheeks. Vin's breath quickened, and both men were lost in the sensations of overwhelming passion. When both were spent from the intensity of their completion, they gently washed each others' bodies. They finished with Chris washing Vin's hair. The younger man raised his arms and rested his head on them, leaning against the wall of the shower. As Chris washed his hair, the older man could have sworn that his young Texan was purring.
They got out and dried off, then dressed for their company. With the possible exception of Ezra, who probably would have preferred more formal settings for their team celebrations, the rest of the men enjoyed casual and laid-back situations. Both men wore jeans, Vin's light and faded, Chris wearing his usual black. But today Chris wore a green polo shirt that he knew Vin loved to see on him. Vin wore a blindingly white tee-shirt under a soft blue denim shirt left unbuttoned. The blue brought out the color of his sky-blue eyes even more vividly than usual, and when Chris turned at his lover's approach his breath caught again at the man's beauty.
Chris poured them each a cup of coffee, fixing Vin's the way he liked it, and handed a mug across to Vin.
"Let's enjoy our coffee outdoors, shall we?"
Vin blushed shyly, remembering their passionate love-making last night and thinking of Chris's new appreciation for the outdoors. He moved toward the French doors leading from the kitchen to the deck, but Chris motioned toward the front of the house.
Meeting Vin's puzzled frown, Chris smiled enigmatically. "Let's go out to the porch. See the morning sun from the south."
"Okay," Vin shrugged, still looking a little confused. He was only still wearing thick white socks and buttery soft moccasins.. If Chris wanted to walk down the lane he figured he'd come inside and put on his boots.
Chris opened the door and Vin followed. His eyes immediately caught sight of the difference to the left, seeing the large bow centered along the backrest of a brand new porch swing. His wide blue eyes flew toward Chris's, and the older man saw the question and hope and delight chasing across the expressive features. Chris took Vin's coffee mug and set it down beside his own on a small end table.
"Like it?" he finally asked of his speechless lover.
"Like it? I love it!" Vin whispered, almost as if speaking out loud would break the spell and it would disappear.
"It's yours, Vin," Chris chuckled.
Vin walked across the porch on slightly unsteady legs, and reached out a hand to touch the satiny wood and run his hand over the padded seat cushions.
"But how...? When...?"
Chris grew still and frowned to himself. This was the one part of the gift that always made him feel angry and sad and a little guilty. Knowing that he would have very little time to assemble the bench, he'd paid extra to have it shipped mostly assembled. But he also knew that it would be really hard to hide something this big. Chris wanted them both to be able to enjoy the porch swing, so he had bought the biggest, sturdiest one they made - one that could easily sit four adults and was designed to hold over a thousand pounds. But when Chris was trying to think of a way to hide it - or deciding whether to just arrange to have it delivered on Vin's birthday and they would assemble and hang it together - it suddenly made his stomach clench as he remembered how claustrophobic Vin was. In the barn they had a tack room with a small window where they stored most of their gear. But off to the side of that in a back corner was a small, windowless, completely dark storage shed. Vin would never go in there, and Chris had had to deal with a shaking and nearly traumatized Vin, who had panicked after forcing himself to go in there once when Chris sent him after something not realizing that Vin couldn't deal with small, dark, closed-in spaces. For that reason, Chris had felt guilty when he realized that the shed would be the perfect space to hide his gift.
"Whatcha thinkin' on so hard, Chris?" Vin asked softly. There was a look of understanding and compassion on Vin's face, and Larabee suspected that Vin knew exactly what Chris was thinking. He was smart, and knew something this big would have been hard to hide. And he also would have come to the same conclusion about the perfect place to hide it.
Then Vin smiled, and all the sadness and regret for the past was erased in Vin's little-boy happiness.
"Did you make JD get me to the range last night so you could do this?"
Chris laughed and shook his head.
"Actually, I didn't. I was sitting there in the Saloon yesterday kicking myself for not coming up with a plan earlier, trying to think of an errand to send you on or something. Then completely out of the blue JD pipes up with asking you to help him with his firearms training. I tell ya, Vin, I could have kissed him."
Blue eyes narrowed threateningly.
"Better not be kissin' nobody else, Cowboy."
"Never anyone else, Vin."
"God, Chris," Vin sighed, turning back to the porch swing. Chris motioned him toward it and Vin sat down. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, relaxing into the comfort as he began swinging gently. "This is perfect. I love it."
"Really?"
"Of course, really. Come sit."
Chris sat beside Vin as the younger man stopped the motion, and Vin curled into his arms for a kiss.
"You remembered, didn't you?" Vin breathed in awe, suddenly struck by a distant memory.
"I remember everything you tell me, Tanner. You share so little of yourself. I try to remember every detail."
Blue eyes widened in shock, and both men thought about a far-distant, casual comment that Vin had made and Chris had somehow remembered. They had been investigating a case where a man had been stockpiling weapons in his basement, and the men had teamed up in pairs to go door-to-door to question the neighbors. Chris and Vin had walked up to a small house a couple doors down the block, and that house had a porch swing. As they waited for the owner to answer the door, Chris had caught Vin looking longingly at the swing. He'd asked Vin about it, and the younger man had shrugged and told him it was nothing. When Chris pressed a little harder, Vin had admitted that one of his foster families had had a porch swing like that.
'They didn't like me, and I sure as hell didn't like them. But I loved that porch swing. Whenever I could I'd try to get outside and away from them. I don't rightly remember if my Grandpa had a swing like that or not, but it seemed like whenever I was in it I felt like he had; like it brought me closer to him and my ma.'
They'd continued with their rounds, and Vin had thought no more about it. But when Chris was trying to think of a gift, he remembered that conversation and the look of longing in Vin's eyes.
"This is a gift for me, too, Tanner," Chris said, pulling them back from thoughts of the past. He didn't want Vin to associate the swing with memories of a bad foster situation, but to bring back good memories of his young life with his mother and grandfather, and create new memories of their new life together as a couple.
"Oh, yeah, Lar'bee?" Blue eyes flashed in wicked humor. "We gonna have sex out here 'r somethin'?"
"Tanner!"
Vin laughed, white teeth flashing, and Chris grinned at the pure joy and fun in the sound of that laugh. He didn't hear it nearly enough, but there had been more in Vin's life the longer they were together. He was determined to make sure there was even more laughter and fun in the younger man's life.
"Behave," Chris scolded.
Then Larabee's eyes narrowed and his grin turned feral.
"Or maybe I'll have to turn you over my knee and paddle that sweet behind. It is time for your birthday spanking, you know."
Vin gasped, his body stilling and eyes widening. Then he looked nervously toward the driveway as if convinced that Miss Nettie was pulling up the drive in her old pickup truck right then.
"Out..., out here?" he rasped.
"Hmm..., that's a possibility," Chris looked thoughtful. Then he smiled and leaned over for their coffee mugs, handing one to Vin.
Tanner relaxed and took his mug. Chris sat at the end, one arm wrapped around Vin's shoulders as the other man snuggled his head against Chris's shoulder and chest. He held his mug in two hands, warming them on the heat of the ceramic. Vin leaned sideways just a little more, and pulled his feet up on the bench seat, his knees almost touching Chris's thighs.
"Mmmm...., this is nice," Vin sighed happily. "Thanks, Chris. This is so wonderful. I love it; it's perfect."
Chris kissed the shining curls.
"I love it, too. I love you. I almost thought I gave the gift away last night. But that's what I meant when I said this was a gift for me, too. You gave me the gift of a deeper appreciation and love of being outdoors. We just tend to walk up the steps and across the porch and into the house, and don't ever spend time out in the front. And sure there's a great view of the mountains from the back deck. But out here in the front is real pretty, too. We've got a long drive toward the road, and fields and stands of trees, rolling hills and horse pasture on the sides. Not a lot of traffic. It's beautiful out here, too."
Vin smiled, shyly happy. He didn't say anything, but Chris knew that he was taking everything Chris said to heart. It would please Vin to no end to know that he had been responsible for Chris thinking this way.
"It is real pretty out here," Vin agreed, taking another sip from his coffee. "You're awful pretty, too."
Chris snorted, but squeezed Vin's shoulder affectionately. He didn't dare start anything they couldn't finish, not with guests arriving within the hour or possibly sooner. He'd already been struggling with his swelling cock ever since Tanner's wicked suggestion that Chris bought the swing to have sex on, and then he'd just *had* to go and mention paddling Vin's sweet ass. Both images had him instantly hard.
"And you are beautiful."
Vin shook his head, but tilted his face up for a kiss. Chris obliged, and their lips met, mouths opened and tongues explored as their passion intensified. Finally they broke apart, flushed and breathing hard.
"What..., what time are people coming?" Vin asked.
Chris frowned and shook his head.
"Soon, I'm afraid," he sighed. "Too soon."
Vin sighed heavily and shrugged.
"Oh, well. We got time."
"We do, Vin. We have all the time in the world."
Vin curled closer, relaxed and happy and secure in the embrace of his older lover. Chris held his coffee with one hand, and carded his long fingers through Vin's soft curls with the other. Vin finished his coffee and Chris sat both mugs on the end table beside the bench. The younger man grew heavier with sleep, and it didn't take much coaxing for Chris to slip his body even lower until Vin's head was resting on Chris's thigh. The bench was long enough for someone to lay nearly stretched full length, although it easily fit on the wide porch. Vin's knees were only slightly bent to get his slender sock-clad feet comfortably onto the cushions as he lay on his side.
Chris had managed to hang the bench at the perfect height, to where his feet easily reached the floor. He kept up a gentle, soothing motion, and that swinging, combined with Chris's long fingers threading through the silky waves of Vin's hair, sent the younger man into a deep sleep. Chris smiled, thinking of how Vin's little-boy excitement about his birthday party had probably been the cause of him waking up even earlier than usual. Poor kid had probably tired himself out with nervous excitement, cleaning the barn and doing all the chores at the crack of dawn. It was good to let Vin sleep. This was going to be a big day for him.
Chris looked out across the land, and nodded to himself. The porch swing was a great idea. It was beautiful here, too, and they didn't tend to enjoy this view in addition to the one from the back deck. The horses were grazing in the pasture to the side, both of the new mares they'd added along with their young foals beside them, sharing the pasture with Peso and Pony.
Vin sighed in his sleep, and Chris smiled down at the younger man. His heart swelled with the love he felt for Vin. Tanner's young life had been filled with pain and fear and brutality, all things dark, but yet he had brought nothing but light and peace into Chris's life. They were good for each other. They completed each other. He continued to rock them, continued to gently stroke Vin's hair, whispering a prayer of thanks that Vin Tanner had come into his life.
And that's how their friends found them. Chris with his head tucked into the corner of the porch swing, his long fingers threaded through Vin's soft, long hair. And Vin, curled up on the bench beside him, his head resting on Chris's thigh. Both sound asleep and looking more peaceful than most had ever seen them. Their friends looked at each other with something akin to awe, knowing that Vin's reflexes would normally have had him wide awake - and lashing out - at the first sound of their car tires hitting the long lane up to the house. The very fact that both men were still sleeping soundly only gave truth to Vin's deep realization that here, with this man, was he truly and completely safe.
A whisper broke the silence.
"Happy birthday, Vin Tanner."
The End