Early the next morning, the doctor woke them hurriedly."Sorry to rush you, but you've got to go. Mine caved in."
Vin stood, trying to get the ache out of his back from sleeping sitting up against the wall. "You need help?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
"No, no, just get him out of here." The doctor grabbed some equipment. "Get some whiskey, and watch for infection. He should stay in bed at least another week." The doctor rushed back down the stairs. Vin walked to the cot, where Chris was already struggling to sit up.
"How are ya feelin'?" Vin asked.
"Better than if I'd been trapped in a mine," Chris said. Vin helped him into his coat; the shirt was ruined and Vin stuffed it into one of the duster's pockets.
"I'll get ya a new shirt from the mine supply store," Vin said, helping Chris stand.
Chris grimaced, then gained his balance. "Don't get me one in those pretty colors you like so much."
Vin smiled at him. "I think you'd look real nice in red," he said. "Or maybe green, to match yer eyes."
"Are you turning into a woman on me, Tanner?" Chris asked.
Vin shrugged. "What was it Ezra said? Men aren't allowed to like pretty colors?"
Chris grinned. "Yeah, something like that."
They walked slowly down the stairs, pressing against the wall as two men covered in soot carried another man up the stairs. The man was moaning and clutching his middle, where blood and purple tissue oozed from between his fingers.
"Never thought I'd be thankful for just getting shot," Chris said.
"Amen," Vin said, and they continued to the hotel. The proprietress met them just inside the lobby, her arms crossed over her ample chest and a scowl on her powdered face. "I gave away your room," she said, blocking their way.
"Then we need a new one," Vin said. He dug in his pocket until he found a dollar. "We need it for a week."
The woman shook her head. "This ain't a hospital."
Vin made sure Chris was steady against the doorframe, then he stepped to the woman. "Ma'am, I would never in my life do nothin' to hurt a woman, except in this case my friend here needs a bed to heal up in. And right now I don't see a woman, but just you standin' in my way." His voice was low but the look in his eyes made the woman back up. She quickly snatched the dollar and hurried behind the desk.
"Room 301. Food and baths are extra," she said, grabbing a key and holding it out like it was a dead rat. "Any trouble and I'll get the sheriff."
The glare disappeared from Vin's face. He tipped his hat to her. "Thank you for your kindness, ma'am." Chris had already started to the stairs, and Vin followed behind, ready to catch him if he fell.
As soon as they reached the room, Chris lay down on one of the narrow beds, easing his boots off using only his feet. He sighed as he lay back against the headboard.
Vin walked around the room nervously; this room was only a little bigger than the doctor's clinic. He opened the small window, hoping for some fresh air, but the still heat of the day brought no relief. He could hear yells in the distance, of panic and pain as the men tried to recover from the cave-in. He took a few deep breaths of air before turning back into the room, hoping he looked calmer than he felt.
Chris watched him, realizing Vin was feeling penned in. "You don't have to play nursemaid for me, Vin," he said. "I'm just going to sleep anyway. Why don't you go down and get some food, maybe a drink."
"You don't want me to stay?" Vin asked.
"You look like you're about to jump out that window. I'll be fine. Go on and get some air."
"What about food?"
"Ask the owner if she'd send something up."
Vin nodded. He did really want to get out of this room, not just because the walls were closing in on him. The itching was back in his stomach, stronger than ever, and the more he tried not to think about it the worse it got. He stepped out the door, glancing back at Chris, his eyes closed, and shut the door behind him. He hurried down the stairs, past the empty desk and out into the street. He walked to the saloon, but it was already crowded, and he couldn't make himself go in, despite his thirst and hunger. Instead, he headed for the livery, quickly saddled his horse, and rode away from the town and the mine, trying to find a bit of quiet so he could think.
He rode hard until he found a small pool of water, surrounded by a few sparse scrub trees. He climbed off to let his horse drink and cool off, and leaned back against one of the trees. As soon as his eyes closed, the vision of Chris crumpling to the ground returned, and with it, the itching, the need for freedom, and something else, something he could only name as fear. Fear of losing Chris, fear of letting someone have that much control over his emotions. What if a bounty hunter came for him? Not if, he corrected himself, when. Chris would stand beside him, as he did when Yates caught him, and the thought of Chris swinging from a rope scared him more than watching him get shot. With Chris putting down roots, building a house and looking into breeding horses, he wouldn't want to give that up to help Vin clear his name. Again, Vin corrected himself. Chris would give that up without a thought if Vin asked him to, but how could he ask the man to give up his home, when it'd taken him this long to find one again. The best thing for them both would be if Vin left, headed out alone to clear his name or die trying. Hell, Chris had found someone twice now-first his wife and now Vin-so he'd have no trouble finding it again. He'd maybe even find a girl he didn't have to hide. Yep, Vin decided, best thing would be for him to leave.
But that thought pained him as much as the thought of staying. He couldn't leave Chris; he just couldn't. Ever since that first day they'd met, he'd felt like he belonged, in that small town with that ragtag group of peacekeepers, and especially at Chris's side. Before he'd met him, Vin was fine being on his own, never getting too close or staying in one place too long, but then he hadn't known what he was missing. Now, if he walked away, he'd miss what he no longer had, and he realized he couldn't do it. He couldn't leave.
"Aw hell," he said out loud. Quite a mess you've gotten yourself into, he added silently. Can't stay and can't leave. As his eyes drifted closed, he thought of the only thing that he knew for sure. Being with Chris was where he belonged.
<<<<<<<~~~~~~~>>>>>>>
Vin stayed out until past sundown. He was able to shoot a small rabbit and cooked it over a small fire. He knew he should get back, but he wanted to stay out a bit longer under the stars, allowing the clear air and night sky to purge all the doubts from his head. Then he'd head back and stay with Chris. He nodded at his plan, and with his decision made, he concentrated on getting rid of the slight itch that still tickled his stomach. Swimming in that pool might do the trick.
He quickly shed his clothes, banging them against his legs to get out the dust, then tested the water of the pool. It was still luke warm, and although only about ten feet across, it looked deep. He eased his way in. As the warm water glided over him, he sighed. It felt good to be clean, soaking in the water, just the stars over him and the light breeze tousling his hair. He lounged on a rock near the edge of the water, submerged to his chest, and breathed in and exhaled the calm of nature. He wished Chris were here with him; the man could use some relaxing. The thought of Chris naked in the water with him brought a smile to his face, and he brought his hand to his shaft, stroking himself to full hardness. He closed his eyes, picturing Chris with him, Chris's hand stroking him instead of his own, Chris lips on his, Chris's shaft rubbing against his. The memory of when Chris had sucked him was next, and he stroked quicker, his hand instead Chris's lips and tongue and the light nip of teeth. He came with a hoarse cry, his eyes opening, disappointed to find himself alone. A low rumble sounded in the distance, and Vin wondered if it was another mine accident, but then lightning speared across the sky, lighting the angry clouds that had rolled in quicker than Vin anticipated. He heard a terrified whinny behind him and the clatter of hooves as his horse broke free of the loose rope and ran, just as lightning flashed again and fat drops began to fall from the sky. Vin hurried out of the pool and looked around for his horse.
He saw the black gelding hiding under a tree, and walked towards it slowly, soothing the frightened animal with his voice. As he neared, another bolt of lightning slashed across the sky, and the horse took off again, with Vin running after it. His annoyance at the horse faded as his limbs moved in the light rain; he felt free and strong, and very much alive at that moment, all his doubts gone, his confidence in himself pumping through his veins with his blood. He hadn't felt like that for a long time. Not since he'd been with the Kiowa on the buffalo hunts, when he used only his body and mind, not his gun. He stopped chasing the horse and stood legs spread, arms reaching for the stars, his head tossed back as the rainwater coursed down his body. He listened to his own heartbeat slow and he smiled, all his doubts left in the mud at his feet. A low neighing made him lower his head, and his horse stood in front of him, pawing at the mud, head hung. Vin walked to the recalcitrant animal and rubbed its wet neck. "I understand," he said to it. "Sometimes ya just gotta run." He led the horse back to where his clothes were, soaked now, but he pulled them on slowly, letting the rain wash off the last of the dirt. He then grabbed the reins and started back towards town, not wanting to risk riding in the slippery mud.
The rain fell harder as he neared the town, and the frequent lightning had the horse ready to bolt again. He passed a small abandoned mine, and decided to wait just inside the cave, hoping another mine accident wasn't going to claim him. Inside it was dark and musty; whoever had mined here must have been desperate or stupid; even Vin knew this old hill wouldn't contain more than rocks. Maybe he'd been sold the mine by a shyster, someone like Ezra who could sell sand in the desert. When the rain didn't look like it would be letting up soon, he led his horse a bit further in and took off the wet saddle, lying on the wet bedroll to wait. He knew Chris would wonder where he was, but he'd told him to go. Vin sat up as he remembered what else Chris had told him: to ask the lady at the hotel to bring him some food. "Shit!" he said, earning a glance from his horse. He peered back out at the darkness, wishing the rain would let up just a little so he could get back to Chris.
<<<<<<<~~~~~~~>>>>>>>
The rain finally stopped early the next morning, and Vin hurriedly saddled his horse and galloped back to town as fast as he could on the still muddy trail. Miners were already on their way to the mines as he rode into the livery, tossing the reins to the sleepy stable boy and nearly running to the hotel. As he turned the corner, he almost ran into the doctor, who was stepping out of the store with bandages and whiskey.
"There you are," the doctor said. "Your friend was asking about you. Afraid something happened to you. I told him you hadn't ended up in my clinic, so you couldn't be too bad off. Then I told him to get himself back to bed before he fell over."
Vin's heart fell at the doctor's words. He thanked him and ran the rest of the way to hotel, taking the steps three at a time on the way to Chris's room. He burst in to find himself staring down the barrel of Chris's gun. He held up his hands and stopped in the doorway, grinning sheepishly. Chris didn't speak, as he reholstered his gun and turned around. He was already dressed, except for his hat, which he grabbed off the hook and placed on his head.
"Doc says you should be in bed," Vin said.
Chris stiffly bent and grabbed his saddlebag. "I'm getting the hell out of here," he said.
"But the doc said you should rest."
"I'll rest when I'm clear of this goddamned town." He stepped towards the door, where Vin stood in his way. "You gonna move?" His eyes met Vin's; they were the cold hard green of a statue.
"Chris, I'm sorry," Vin said, not moving from the doorway. "The lightning spooked my horse and...."
"Save it," Chris said, pushing his way past Vin and starting down the stairs. Vin shook his head and followed.
<<<<<<<~~~~~~~>>>>>>>
Chris rode out, not waiting to see if Vin was following but knowing he was. He'd also known Vin had a good excuse for not coming back all night, and it wasn't because of a storm. He was feeling penned in, but not by walls. By Chris. The more Chris had thought about it, which he'd had plenty of time to do, the more it pained him that that's what had happened. He hadn't meant to; he'd wanted the stability he'd had before with Sarah, and he'd forgotten that what he had was gone, destroyed, and he wasn't going to get it back no matter how hard he tried. He called himself ten kinds of fool for getting his teeth kicked in, but he asked for it. He knew better than to try and trap a man who valued his freedom as much as Vin; he'd have better luck trying to catch the wind in a jar. He also knew better than to expect happiness again. He'd had more of that than most men ever get; he'd gotten to feel the overwhelming pride and sheer joy of holding his son, of being called pa, of drying tears and rocking to sleep a human being that he helped create. Most of who he was inside died the day that was taken away from him, but the small glimmer that was left of that joy kept him from eating his own gun. He wasn't going to find that joy with Vin, and it was unfair to even ask him to try to fill that void. What people said about him was true; he was a cold bastard with a heart of stone. The glimmer of joy was his own, and he was going to treasure it in private, because if no one knew about it, then no one could take it away.
Vin rode up beside him. "Chris, I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have worried ya like that."
Chris shrugged. "You don't need a keeper. Besides, you were right. I made things too complicated."
"No, I wasn't. I didn't see that before, but I do now."
Chris reined in and looked at him. Vin thought he saw a glimmer of hope in Chris's eyes, but it was gone in an instant. "It won't work, Vin, and I'm not going to force it on you. We had best go back to how we were."
"Go back how far?"
"To not being together. It ain't natural anyway. Could both end up hung."
Chris looked at him, waiting for a response. Vin felt an incredible sense of loss, a need to fight Chris's cold logic, to tackle him off his horse and shake him until he stopped talking sense and instead kissed the breath out of him. But instead, he nodded. Chris nodded back. "We'd best hurry. Another storm's coming in."
Vin looked back at the clouds gaining on them. "We won't make it. There's some caves up a bit." Chris nodded, and they rode off to find shelter.
<<<<<<<~~~~~~~>>>>>>>
The cave Vin found was narrow, with a ceiling barely tall enough for Chris to stand up in. The rain came down in heavy sheets as they led the horses to some nearby rocks and hurriedly unbuckled the saddles. Water ran in streams off the brims of their hats and ran down the collars of their coats to chill them as it ran down their spines. Vin wrenched off his saddle and set it inside the cave, patting his arms to try and warm up. When Chris didn't follow right behind him, he peered out into the rain. Chris had the saddle half off his horse, and was struggling to lift it; the wound in his back must be ailing him, Vin thought. He rushed out to grab the saddle but Chris held on.
"I got it," he said through clenched teeth.
"Don't be a fool, Larabee," Vin said, pulling on the slippery saddle. "You're hurt and it's freezing. Let go."
Chris didn't let go. "I don't need your help," he said, pulling back. Stubborn bastard, Vin thought, as he let go, and watched in horror as Chris, not expecting him to let go, fell back against the rocks, dropping the saddle. He bent over double, trying to catch his breath. Vin rushed to his side. "Chris, you OK?"
Chris nodded. "I will be," he replied. He glanced up at Vin. "You can carry the saddle now," he said, standing slowly and limping to the cave. Vin followed, setting the sopping saddle next to his own to dry.
"We won't get a fire started in this," Vin said, peeling out of his wet coat and tossing his hat off, shaking out his wet hair. Chris started to remove his coat, but the grim set of his mouth and the paleness of his skin revealed that it must hurt like hell.
This time Vin didn't ask permission. He walked behind him and said, "Drop yer arms." Chris obliged. Vin gingerly removed the heavy duster and then walked around to unbutton Chris's shirt. It was the same one he'd been wearing when he was shot; buying a new shirt was another thing Vin had forgot to do. When he peeled off the shirt, he noticed thin lines of blood, mixed in with the rainwater, streaming down Chris's back. "Stitches came undone," Vin said. "Don't suppose ya have needle and thread?"
Chris glared at him. "No, and if I did, I wouldn't let you stitch me up. I've seen how you sewed on a button. I'll just bleed."
"Godammit, Chris, you wanna be pissed at me go ahead, but don't take it out on yerself." Vin stalked to his saddlebag and pulled out a bandanna. "Sit down."
Chris sat, slowly, his back straight as a board. Vin thrust the bandanna on the wound, and Chris winced, which Vin took a small amount of satisfaction in. "Sorry," he said, suppressing a grin.
"I'll bet you are," Chris said. "Bastard," he said under his breath.
"What was that?" Vin asked.
"I said bastard," Chris said, wincing again as Vin pressed harder.
"That's what I thought you said," Vin replied. It was going to be a long night.
They settled into silence, watching the rainfall outside the cave, occasional thunder rumbling far off. Chris tried to relax, to not think about Vin so close, and he gritted his teeth in frustration. What was that saying? Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. That saying was bullshit. If they hadn't loved, then he wouldn't be sitting here thinking how easy it would be to turn around and love again. Vin wanted just the act, not the emotion; surely Chris could hide his feelings from him. Then he realized he was wrong; he couldn't hide anything from Vin, and if he could, then the sacrifice of their friendship would be too much. Better to stay apart, physically and emotionally.
Vin noticed the sudden slump of Chris's shoulders. He was so close, relaxing his defenses, and Vin wanted him more than ever. At first, he'd wanted whatever Chris would give him, and now, he wanted everything the man was. Vin pulled the bandanna away; the wound had stopped bleeding, and he wiped away the blood that had run down Chris's back. He felt Chris shiver at the motion. He tossed the bandanna, and reached out to lightly touch the knobs of Chris's spine, tracing them with his callused fingertips, eliciting another shiver from the proud man in front of him. He moved one hand higher, to his neck, running his fingers along just under his hairline, in a place he knew Chris liked, and as expected, Chris's head bowed. Vin moved closer, replacing his hand with his lips, running his tongue where his fingers had been. For a second, Chris didn't move, expelling a long breath at the sensation, but then he remembered himself and stood quickly, knocking Vin backward as he backed to the side of the cave. He didn't say a word, but Vin knew a fighting stance when he saw it, and if he got near, he'd end up with a fist in his jaw, so he shrugged and looked back out at the rain. It had slowed a bit, so he could see some trees and the hills beyond. The drops hit the ground in shallow puddles, doing a dance to their own music as they splashed and splashed again. He grinned as he remembered his earlier run in the rain, in the freedom and strength he had felt and how it had eased away the last of his doubts. What the hell, he thought. I'm already soaking wet. He stood and began removing his clothes and boots.
Chris looked at him warily. "What are you doing?" he asked.
Vin just smiled at him and took off out of the cave, untying the horses and running out into the puddles. He had a vague memory of doing this as child; he didn't remember when, but the memory was tinged with bittersweet happiness and pure laughter that was his memory of his mother. He stood with his head back, letting the water hit his face, until his horse knocked into him from behind, and he pet its wet nose before faking left and then darting right, running around the trees, the horse in pursuit.
Chris watched incredulously from inside the cave. "You've lost your mind!" he yelled at the naked figure sprinting in the rain.
"Hell, yer just figurin' that out now," Vin yelled back. He stopped running and stood again proud, his arms spread high to the sky, welcoming the rain as it ran down his body and cleansed him. Eyes closed, he felt again the strength of himself, his own blood and the rain, his own breath and the wind, his own skin and the mud and grass beneath his feet, and he smiled at the feeling of being alive.
Chris was in awe as he watched from the cave. He'd never seen anything so beautiful, and it didn't shame him that he was thinking of scruffy Vin Tanner as being beautiful. The man's soul was the purest and most courageous and generous of any he'd ever known, and he was witnessing that freedom of spirit that made Vin who he was. He knew he was being given a gift, not only of being allowed to watch, but also an invitation to participate. He envied Vin in that moment, wondering what it was like to be so free. As he wondered, the darkness of his reality came crashing back, the bleakness he suffered as punishment for failing his family rooted him to his place inside the cave, dry, desolate, and alone.
He wanted to turn away, but he couldn't, so he continued to watch, leaning against the wall of the cave to take in the image of the man before him; even if he couldn't touch, he'd have this memory forever.
Vin lowered his head, and wiped the water from his eyes. He looked at Chris watching him. "Come on, chicken," he called to him. "You could use a bath."
Chris hesitated, looking out at the rain. The image of Vin had been so perfect, and he didn't know if he could let go enough to be that free. But he also wanted it, not just to understand Vin but to achieve some of that peace that Vin wore like that old hide coat. He pulled off his boots and stepped tentatively out into the rain. "Damn, it's cold," he said. "Thought you hated cold."
"Quit yer bitchin' and get out of them pants," Vin replied. "Unless an old guy like you needs some help."
Chris thought about wiping that grin off his face, but instead slowly stepped out of his pants. "This old guy can still teach you a lesson," he said as he tossed his pants back into the cave, and turned back around to find Vin's eyes on him, the blue orbs looking at him like nothing else existed in the world. Vin's gaze strengthened him, gave him the confidence to walk out further into the rain.
"Close yer eyes," Vin said. "Listen to the music."
"What music?" Chris asked, closing his eyes.
"Just listen."
Chris did listen, trying to hear if there was some far off musician playing that Vin had heard; what would he think if he stumbled on two naked guys not smart enough come out of the rain. But he didn't hear any music.
"I don't hear anything," he said. Vin didn't answer, and Chris listened for him instead. He heard the horses, one pawing the ground. He heard a splash as the other stepped through puddles. He heard a whoosh as the wind rustled the nearby trees, and the crinkle as the wind loosened a cascade of raindrops from the leaves. He was about to tell Vin he was hearing things, when he heard it, an erratic pattering as the rain alighted on the earth, splashing into puddles or soaking into mud, or nearly silent as the water hit his skin, the feeling of the drops on him registering as sound, as musical notes that he heard like a song. He didn't even notice as his head leaned back to feel the drops on his eyes and lips, or when his arms raised to feel the drops on his palms. He wasn't thinking of anything, except being right where he was, and with the music came the first happy memory he'd ever had, of his son asleep in his arms, on a rainy evening like this one. That was the last time he'd truly felt alive, until now.
He was about to thank Vin for allowing him this experience, when he felt something wet and cold plop against his chest. He lowered his head slowly. Vin stood across from him, grinning and holding a handful of mud just like the mud running down his chest. "You're a dead man, Tanner," he said, grabbing a hand full of mud of his own. He stood back up and patted the mud into a ball.
"Them's fighting words," Vin responded, mirroring his actions. "Word is, old Chris Larabee's lost his edge."
"A lot of young punks thought the same are now wearing a coffin." He adopted his fighting stance, legs slightly bent and spread, hand held at his hip, eyes narrowed to only his target.
Vin followed suit. "On the count of three?" he said. Chris nodded.
"One." Chris's wrist flexed, and Vin raised his elbow.
"Two," Vin said. He took a deep breath. "Thr..." Before he could finish the word mud hit him square in the forehead. He wiped it from his eyes. "You cheat!"
Chris's grin was unremorseful. "I won," he replied.
"Not fer long," Vin said, and ran at him, thinking to tackle him into the mud.
Chris backed away quickly. Vin stalked him, his hands packing the mud. "Now Vin, remember, I'm wounded," Chris said, still backing away.
"Shoulda thought of that before ya cheated."
Chris kept backing up until he felt a tree behind him. "I wouldn't be hurt at all, except I was protecting you. And then when you shoved me into the rocks..."
"Shoved you?" Vin stopped walking.
"Yes, and my stitches came undone."
"Larabee, yer not only a cheater, yer a whiner too. But because I'm generous, I won't toss this at ya."
"Really?"
"Hell, no," Vin replied, and aimed the mud at Chris's head. Chris ducked, but it still covered his hair and ran down his back. He looked up at Vin, covered in mud and rain, and knew he must look just as silly, and laughed. He had mud in his mouth, and he could feel it sliding down his back, and that made him laugh more.
Vin walked closer. "Ain't exactly the reaction I was expectin'." Then he started to laugh too. "Do I look as silly as you?" he asked.
Chris nodded, reaching up to pick a leaf out of the tangle of curls above Vin's ear. At the touch, his breath stopped, and he let his hand run through the wet stands and around the pointed shell of his ear. It was right, what was between them. His eyes dropped to Vin's mouth, lips slightly parted, and all he wanted at that instant was to taste those lips again. He started to move his hand to trace those lips, but then a crash of thunder brought him back to reality and he pulled his hand back quickly. "We should get back inside," he muttered, not able to meet Vin's eyes.
Vin grabbed his arm as he started to turn away. "Chris," he said quietly, waiting until Chris looked at him. "Kiss me," he said.
Chris only hesitated for a second, and then pulled Vin towards him. The kiss, at first tender and tentative, quickly deepened, as they both tasted what they thought had been lost forever. They pressed together, Chris's back against the tree, tongues intertwined and rapidly swelling cocks brushing against each other.
Vin gasped as Chris's lips moved to his neck, his teeth nipping at the skin. "Think we better take this inside," he panted.
"Why?" Chris asked, nibbling along his collarbone.
"Because I'm about to fuck ya up against this tree."
Chris smiled. "Sounds like fun," he said. Their lips met again, and Vin wrapped his hand behind Chris's neck, moving the other down to his ass, kneading the taut flesh before teasing the puckered hole with his fingers. Chris's hands were moving too, one sliding between their bodies to cup Vin's balls and squeeze the full sacs. Vin groaned, and slowly slid one wet finger inside Chris, trying to concentrate as Chris gently sucked on his tongue and fondled his balls. Before he completely lost all his senses, he pulled his head away, panting.
"I don't want to be with nobody else but you," he said, staring into Chris's smoky green eyes, mesmerized by the tiny crystals of water caught in his dark lashes. "But I don't like being told I can't."
"Fair enough," Chris replied, leaning in for another kiss, and spreading his legs so Vin could enter another finger. Then he pulled away. "I don't share," he said.
Vin grinned. "Fair enough," he said, and with one last kiss, turned the gunslinger around, pulling his hips out and lining up his cock. He slid in slowly, holding his breath as the tightness enveloped him. He'd forgotten how good it was. He wasn't going to call it love, not yet, but it was right.
When his cock was all the way in, he waited for Chris to adjust, beads of sweat mingling with the raindrops that had slowed to a light mist. "Ya got a nice ass, Chris," he said.
Chris smiled. "I know."
"Cocky, ain't ya," Vin said.
"I think that more describes you," Chris said, squeezing his cheeks together. Vin groaned again.
"Reckon that means yer ready," he said.
"Reckon it does."
Vin started moving, slowly at first, sliding his full length in and out, the exquisite heat consuming him as he thrust faster, reaching around to stroke Chris in the same rhythm, thrusting faster and harder until he felt the explosion as he came, crying out as kept pumping until he was empty.
Chris was still hard in his hand, so he leaned against Chris's back and stroked him, Chris's hips moving his shaft into the hot friction of Vin's hand.
Chris let himself give in to the sensations, the strength of Vin's body pressed against his, the warmth of his cum and soft cock still inside him, the friction of his hand, all under the music of the soft raindrops he felt on his skin, the cool drops running down his heated skin made him amazed there wasn't steam rising from him. He leaned his head back, again catching the rain on eyes and lips, and let go, his orgasm washing over him like a tidal wave and he cried out, unable to contain himself as the intensity charged through him. Then he leaned against the tree, spent, his breath slowing. The rain caressing his skin, Vin's arms wrapped tightly around his waist; if this wasn't perfection, it was as close as he was likely to get.
<<<<<<<~~~~~~~>>>>>>>
Vin was dreaming of the ocean, although he'd never seen it, waves curling and rolling over white sand and a full moon painting it all with yellow light. From that deep sleep he was instantly awake and reaching for his gun before he realized what it was that had woken him up. Then the gun slipped out of his hand as his cock was engulfed again in a warm pliant mouth. "Jesus, Chris," he said, looking down at the tousled blonde head bobbing up and down.
"Morning," Chris said around his shaft, then resumed his actions, teasing his balls with his fingers. Vin could feel the slight scratch of Chris's morning beard along the sensitive skin of his shaft, and he stiffened, exploding into Chris's mouth with a hoarse cry. Chris swallowed and raised his head, a glint in his eye.
"My turn," he said, straddling Vin's legs with his own, then moving slowly up his body until his knees rested on either side of the tracker's head. He leaned forward, resting one hand on the ground before him, while Vin raised his head to take his hard cock into his mouth, relaxing his throat as it slid in. Chris held himself back from thrusting, instead closing his eyes and letting Vin set the pace, his tongue swirling around the swollen head as he sucked. Finally Vin laid his head back on the ground. Chris looked down at him questioningly, and Vin wrapped his hands around Chris's thighs and guided his cock back to his mouth, angling his head back so the long shaft slid in smoothly. Chris smiled at the trust Vin was showing in him, allowing him to thrust into his willing mouth as he wanted. He moved his hips, easing his cock in and out, tentatively at first, then as he judged how much the man beneath him could take, faster, bucking as Vin's lips closed around him tighter and he slid into his mouth to the hilt, Vin's lips buried in his pubic hair. He heard himself moan as he repeated the action several times, finally coming straight down Vin's throat, gasping as his cum was swallowed. He rolled away slowly, lying next to Vin on the blanket. "Holy shit," he said. Vin laughed beside him. They both lay panting for a while, until Chris felt a light touch along his arm.
"I could get used to waking up like that," Vin said. Chris looked over at him and smiled, and a sense of calm flowed through him. He never thought he'd find it again, and still didn't think he deserved it, but no way in hell was he letting it go, and anyone who tried to take it from him would regret it. He sat up and moved closer to Vin, whose eyes were closed. He reached out and gently touched the relaxed mouth, which smiled at the touch, tracing the lips, then moved down to the chin and shoulders. He moved his hand down Vin's chest, tickling the small thatch of hair before moving to one small brown nipple, tracing it slightly, then rubbing as it puckered at his touch. He moved his hand across Vin's chest to the other nipple, leaning down to take the first between his teeth and tugging gently. Vin responded with a soft grunt, and Chris smiled, growing bolder in his exploration of this beautiful body beneath him. He moved to the other nipple, teasing it with his tongue and teeth, his hand tracing the line of hair from Vin's bellybutton to his cock and back up again. He could hear Vin's breath quicken and his heartbeat start to pound in his chest as Chris traced the outlines of his chest muscles with his tongue, tasting the salt of sweat and the clean mist of rainwater and the taste that was just Vin. He moved on, higher, to his shoulder and neck, then his ear, swirling his tongue around the delicate shell and then flicking it along the slightly pointed tip. Moving back down, he kissed and licked along Vin's neck to the other side, to the juncture where his neck met his shoulder, and placing a kiss there, heard Vin whimper at the contact. He kissed the place again, and smiled as Vin raised his shoulder, silently pleading for more.
"You like that?" Chris asked, and Vin nodded so Chris leaned back into him, sucking hard and then nibbling at the tender spot, Vin's hand coming up to the back of his head to hold him in place as his teeth sank in deeper. Vin's other hand reached down to his own cock, stroking himself as Chris marked him, his knees bent and his hips raised off the ground as he pumped himself, a second away from coming. Then Chris let go, and cold air hit him where Chris's warm mouth had been, and Chris knocked his hand away from his cock, holding it down as he moved over him, covering Vin's mouth with his own. Vin had to cum so bad it was nearly painful; he would have begged but he didn't want to end the kiss. His hips were thrusting into the air, desperate for any contact, and then he felt Chris lower his full weight onto him, felt Chris's hard cock rub against his own, and he began rubbing against him wantonly, wildly, groaning as his breath was sucked out of him by Chris's kiss, his lips and teeth and tongue all tasted and explored by this man above him. His hips moved frantically against Chris's and when he thought he would die, he came, warm seed shooting on to his stomach. The kiss continued as Chris came right after him, his cum mingling with Vin's in between their sweaty bodies. When they were empty, Chris reluctantly pulled his head away, leaning his forehead against Vin's as each tried to catch their breaths.
"I ain't ever been kissed like that before," Vin said.
"Me neither," Chris said, kissing him one more time, almost chastely, then placed another quick kiss on the reddening welt on Vin's neck. His hand traced Vin's nipple then moved down his stomach, through the still warm seed coating Vin's stomach. He looked down, then moved his head down, looking to Vin like a cat with a bowl of milk as he lapped up the cum. Vin smiled; Chris obviously wasn't done yet, as he moved lower to lick more cum off Vin's cock, then lower still, to his inner thigh.
Chris licked and nipped all along his right thigh, leaving tiny red marks on the pale tender skin, moving down to his knee and flicking his tongue along the ticklish inside crease, using long licks on his calves, until he reached Vin's feet, massaging the instep so that Vin groaned; no one had ever touched his feet before, and Chris's strong fingers eased out tension he didn't even know he had. When Chris started sucking on his toes, he nearly bucked off the ground, but then he relaxed to the gentle motion. Chris was determined to taste every inch of him, and repeated his ministrations on the left leg, toes, heel, knee, and thigh, until he stopped, hovering over Vin's hard again cock, gently blowing and smiling self-satisfactorily as the weeping organ twitched.
"Please," Vin whispered, straining his cock towards that beautiful mouth. Instead, Chris lowered his head to once again lick along the inside thigh, so close yet so far, then moved to his heavy swollen balls, drawing in one at a time and tugging gently before letting them fall out of his mouth. He pushed Vin's legs up and laid between his knees, wrapping his arms through them and slightly lifting so he had access to the tight pale ass, and he ran his tongue, first over the curve of his cheeks and then along the sensitive spot between his balls and hole. But when his tongue touched his hole, tentatively at first, then swirling around, Vin knew he had lost any semblance of control. Chris tongue grew more insistent, probing inside him, and he writhed in the pleasure and intimacy of it, grabbing frantically at the blankets, repeatedly moaning and pleading as he was tongue fucked. He tried to wrap his mind around the fact that Chris Larabee, the man he had wanted for so long, the man he would admit he loved if he was ever able to speak again, was kissing him inside and out. When Chris's hands started roaming over him again, Vin was on sensory overload. Chris Larabee didn't do anything halfway and right now all that intensity and passion was focused completely on Vin Tanner. Before Vin could cum again, Chris pulled away, resting his head on Vin's thigh as he tried to catch his breath. He couldn't believe what he'd just done; he hadn't intended to, but it just seemed like the next step. He also couldn't believe how much he'd enjoyed it, not just making Vin writhe and beg, but also making him his, possessing him as no one had and no one would. That possession didn't mean ownership. Instead, it made his heart swell that this free creature was coming to land long enough to let Chris possess him, and Chris was sure as hell going to make it worth it for him.
He moved back up to Vin's mouth, kissing him, letting Vin taste the wonder of himself that Chris had tasted, then whispered in his ear, "God, I want to fuck you." Vin could only nod. Chris kissed him again, then sat back between Vin's raised legs. When Vin started to turn over, Chris stopped him, spreading his knees and coating his own fingers and cock with the commingled cum coating Vin's belly. He moved his fingers to Vin's hole, but he was already relaxed, pulsing and ready, so Chris lifted his ass and slid his knees under, entering Vin slowly, leaning forward as he did, so he could kiss him, wrapping his hand around Vin's cock as he started thrusting, the tightness, warmth and friction making them groan in unison. Chris thrust faster and harder, rocking Vin's ass up and down and Vin pumping his hips hard on Chris's cock. Vin couldn't remember the time when he wasn't with this man, when he had doubted what he felt for him, when he didn't have Chris's mouth on him, didn't have his cock in him, didn't know what he looked like sweating and thrusting and groaning in ecstasy as he fucked him. Vin realized he'd never had an orgasm before compared to the one he had as Chris's cum filled him and he shot his load, their tongues still swirling as their hips still moved uncontrollably, wanting the rapture to continue.
Chris laid his head on Vin's chest, their hands clutched together. This is what it meant to belong to Chris Larabee, Vin realized, body and soul, and Chris would never let him go. And that didn't bother him at all.
The End
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