Vin Tanner wished he could freeze this moment in time. He looked around the bar, watching as his six friends joked and laughed with each other. It was going to be so hard to leave it all behind."Why so down cowboy?" Chris Larabee asked as he sidled up to his best friend.
"It's nothin' Chris," Vin replied, giving the older man a poor imitation of his usual grin. "Just tired is all."
"Yeah, it's been a long week," Chris agreed. "I think I'm going to call it a night soon."
"Me too Chris," Vin said softly, but he stayed in his chair. He had no intention of leaving so soon. This would probably be the last t me he saw his friends, and he wasn't ready to leave them just yet.
*************************
An hour later, things were winding down. JD's eyes were starting to droop, Buck had sucessfully secured his date for the following evening, and Nathan needed to leave for the airport to pick up Rain. The seven men paid for their drinks, exchanged their farewells to Inez and each other and left the bar.
"Where'd you park Vin?" Chris asked as he caught up to the sharpshooter.
"Next to you," Vin said, working hard to keep the wistfulness out of his voice. It wouldn't do to tip Chris off in any way. He didn't want Chris to think anything out of the ordinary was going on.
"I'll walk with you then," Chris stated.
Vin nodded and they headed toward the cars.
Chris stole a glance at Vin, unable to resist another peek at Vin's handsome features as they walked. Being this close to Vin was such sweet torture. So near to the object of his affection, but unable to act on his feelings. Vin looked up at him suddenly, and caught him staring. Chris hastily dropped his eyes, feeling the heat bloom in his cheeks, glad for the poor lighting in the parking lot.
All too soon, they were at the Jeep and SUV.
Reluctantly, Vin turned to Chris. "See ya around cowboy," he said sadly.
Instead of answering, Chris reached out and grabbed Vin's arm, surprising the younger man. "Vin, you'd tell me if something was the matter, wouldn't you?" he asked hoarsely.
"Yeah, sure Chris," Vin replied in a choked voice, staring into the interior of his car, afraid of what would happen if he dared to meet Chris's gaze at that moment. Falling apart in front of the older man right now was not in the plan. He could feel himself weaken and knew it was time to go. "Gotta go, cowboy. See ya."
Chris didn't like it. There was something wrong with Vin, he just knew it. "Vin?" he said, unwilling to let the matter drop.
Vin jumped into the Jeep and started it up, waving at Chris as he backed out of the space. Then he was gone.
"Damn," Chris cursed under his breath. He slid into the Ram, wanting to follow Vin to his apartment, then remembered he'd left some work at the office, that he needed for the weekend. He decided to let Vin have some space for a while, and headed for the ATF offices instead.
*************************
Chris flicked on the lights in his dark office. His eyes were immediately drawn to the white piece of paper placed in the center of his desk. He picked it up and read it quickly, hands shaking by the time he finished.
"Like hell you are Tanner!" he snarled to the empty office and stormed out the door, shoving the paper in his pocket.
*************************
"Vin, what the hell are you doing?" Chris Larabee asked angrily as he stormed into the sharpshooter's apartment.
"Packin'. Leavin'," Vin Tanner replied shortly as he threw down a full suitcase in front of Chris and headed back into his bedroom.
"But why Vin?" Chris asked, grabbing his best friend's arm to stop him from packing up more of his belongings. "What's with leaving the resignation on my desk, Vin?" he spat out. "Just going to leave like that, with no explanation?"
"Time to move on is all," Vin hedged, jerking his arm out of Chris's grasp and continuing to pack up his things.
"Well, that's not good enough Vin."
Vin continued to pack, unable to even meet the older man's gaze as he entered the room behind him. He prayed Chris wouldn't notice how badly his hands shook as he dumped the contents of his dresser drawers into a plastic garbage bag. He felt the panic rising in his chest as Chris walked closer to him.
"I'm not leaving until I get an explanation," Chris stated in a low, deadly whisper.
Vin shivered at the tone. When Chris got quiet, there was usually hell to pay for somebody. Right now, it looked like he was going to be on the receiving end.
"Just go Chris, leave me alone," Vin pleaded desperately, in a last ditch effort to get the older man to back off.
"Not a chance Vin," he replied evenly, turning around and walking to the doorway, crossing his arms and leaning against it, blocking Vin's path out of the small bedroom. "Out with it," he ordered.
Vin turned his back on his best friend and continued packing, his mind spinning with a thousand scattered thoughts. 'Yeah, Chris,' he said to himself mockingly, let me just spill my guts and tell you how much I want you. How much I love you. How I've used any excuse to get near you for the last six months. I'm sure you'd understand. He could just imagine the reaction Chris would have if he dropped that bombshell on him. Yeah right, what a laugh. Chris had been a happily married man. And Vin was just going to walk up to him and announce that he was in love with him. Vin doubted there'd be enough of himself left to bury after Chris beat the crap out of him for saying it. No, things were better if he just packed up and moved along.
Chris leaned against the wood door frame trying to slow his ragged breathing. God, he wished he could tell Vin how he felt about him. He wanted to take Vin in his arms so badly, hold him tightly and beg him to stay. It had been torture for Chris, yearning for Vin from a far, so Chris had bided his time and hoped that the attraction would wear off. But it never had. In fact, it only increased as the months flew by. And now, the thought of Vin leaving town and stepping out of Chris's life forever was too much to bear. If Vin went away, Chris knew he would never survive the hurt.
"You gonna help me or just get in my way?" Vin asked frostily as he struggled with his bags, trying to get through the doorway that Chris was blocking.
"You're not leaving," Chris growled as he moved into the center of the doorway, effectively cutting Vin off.
"The hell I ain't!" Vin snapped back and pushed against Chris.
The bigger man leaned into Vin hard, making him take a step backward.
"Son of a bitch!' Vin cursed and tried to twist around him.
Chris's arm snaked out and grabbed his bag of clothes, tossing it aside. It burst open, spilling the contents onto the floor. He smirked at Vin, then pushed him backward.
Vin sprawled onto the bed, eyes narrowed with anger. He tried to push off the mattress, but Chris pounced and landed on him heavily.
"You ain't going anywhere until you explain why you're leaving," he bit out as he pressed Vin onto the bed.
"Get off me you bastard!" Vin shouted, his cheeks burning with embarrassment as the close proximity to Chris made his cock spring to life, pressing hard and high against his jeans. He struggled frantically under the larger man, trying to push him off. This was just too humiliating.
Chris flinched as Vin moved sideways, causing the younger man to wish he could die on the spot. When he'd moved, he had inadvertently pressed his hard erection right into Chris's groin. There was no mistaking it for anything else. Shit. Now Chris knew. Knew how he felt about him, what he wanted to do with him. He squeezed his eyes shut, praying for the floor to open suddenly and swallow him. Anything to get him out of this horrible situation.
Vin choked back a strangled gasp of surprise when he felt a slight pressure on his throbbing cock. His eyes shot open to stare up at Chris with confusion. The older man's hand was lightly rubbing Vin's erection through his jeans. A slow smile worked its way across his face as he stared back down at Vin.
"C-Chris?" Vin finally managed to whisper, when he was able to find his voice.
"Vin. Oh, God, Vin," Chris whispered back and lowered his lips, hungrily pressing them against Vin's mouth.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Vin shyly returned the kiss. That was all the encouragement Chris needed to continue. He kissed Vin again gently, easing the younger man's lips open with his tongue, then working his way slowly into Vin's mouth.
He kissed Vin deeply, plundering the moist cavern, jumping at the electric shock as his tongue met Vin's. Vin moaned and ground his hips upward, pressing his swollen length into Chris's groin. His need for release emboldened him to reach between their two bodies and stroke Chris through his pants. The older man hissed at the touch, thrusting his hungry cock against Vin's hand. Pleased at Vin's boldness, Chris decided to speed things up. He broke the kiss and moved to nip at Vin's neck, as his hands busily worked at unbuttoning Vin's shirt. He shifted lower, licking a hot trail down Vin's now exposed chest, pausing to tongue and tease Vin's tiny brown nipples until the sharpshooter was writhing beneath him, gasping for air. With a wicked smile, he worked his way down even lower, barely able to keep himself from ripping Vin's jeans off his body as he exposed the rest of the younger man's body to his appreciative gaze.
He leaned down, just inches away from Vin's rock hard organ, and stuck out his tongue, lightly licking the head of Vin's cock for a brief few seconds, before stopping.
"M-more.....Chris.......please....." Vin moaned, slowly rotating his hips and reaching out to pull Chris's head down toward his cock once again.
Chris moved close to the needy cock once more, letting his hot breath envelop the organ, making it quiver and dance before him. Then in one swift movement, he plunged the entire length in his mouth and began sucking at it voraciously.
Vin's eyes flew open at Chris's assault on his manhood. His body shook at the feelings Chris was releasing deep down inside him. Mumbling incoherently, head thrashing from side to side, hips pumping furiously, Vin soon found himself spurting his creamy essence into the older man's mouth.
"You like that pard?" Chris asked unnecessarily when he'd finished swallowing all that Vin had given.
"God Chris, I never knew it could be like this," Vin said breathlessly.
"You think that was good, just wait Vin," Chris said hungrily. His cock was hard and ready for Vin.
"Whadda ya have in mind Chris?" Vin teased. He couldn't imagine feeling any better than he did right now, but, looking down at the huge bulge in Chris's pants, he knew the older man needed his own release.
"I'm gonna show you Vin, if you'll let me," Chris said huskily.
Vin's response was a lazy grin. Chris got up and went to the bathroom, rummaging around in the medicine cabinet and returning with a bottle of lotion. He stripped out of his clothes quickly, pulled Vin's jeans off the rest of the way and climbed back on the bed.
"Spread your legs for me Vin," he coaxed, helping the younger man part his lean, well muscled thighs. He poured a liberal amount of lotion on his fingers and pushed one digit into Vin's entrance.
"Just relax Vin, you'll like it in a minute," he assured as Vin tensed up around him. He added another finger, then another and soon Vin was thrusting against them, begging for more.
"Chris....Chris....please, I want more.....need it, need to feel you inside me...." Vin panted, groping wildly for Chris, aching to feel the older man's hard length inside him.
Chris managed to hold onto the last shreds of self-control as he quickly eased Vin's legs up onto his shoulders, then spread the lotion onto his throbbing cock. He slipped inside the sharpshooter's body carefully, not wanting to hurt Vin. He was so ready to make love to Vin that his head hurt from the effort of holding back.
Vin shifted his hips and moaned, drawing Chris further into the tight channel. "Do it Chris. Harder. Give it to me now!" Vin begged frantically. He needed Chris inside of him, as far as he could go. It felt so good, he never wanted it to stop.
Chris had imagined this for so long that he thought for sure he was dreaming. But if he was, this sure was one hell of a dream. When he felt Vin move beneath him, grab at him, trying to push more of his cock into his beckoning body, he couldn't hold back any longer. Chris thrust for all he was worth and soon he was sheathed into Vin as far as he could go.
"God....Vin, yes...." Chris groaned out between gritted teeth as he pulled out, then slammed back into the hot passage, never able to get enough, always wanting more.
"Oh...oh....Ch.....Chris.....yes....harder...." Vin moaned out as his body rocked and jerked with each powerful thrust from Chris. He bit his lip and dug his nails into Chris's back to keep from screaming as Chris's cock drove into him again and again.
Grunting with the effort, sweat dripping from his face, Chris pounded into Vin hard, nailing the younger man's prostate gland. A jagged cry tore lose from Vin and Chris soon felt Vin's warm fluid spraying on his chest and abdomen. Pushing into the younger man's body one final time, he released his seed deep into Vin's welcoming recesses. With a satisfied groan, he slid Vin's legs off his shoulders and collapsed on top of the sharpshooter.
"Senor Vin?"
"Shit!" Vin hissed out as he and Chris scrambled off the bed, staggering to their feet. Fortunately, the door to the bedroom was closed enough to block the view of the bed from the other room.
"Senor Vin?" the voice called again.
"Yeah, hang on a minute," Vin called out, throwing on his rumpled clothes and trying to calm himself down before he faced his visitor. With a quick glance at Chris, he left the bedroom.
"Mrs. Ramirez? Is everything all right?" Vin asked the woman as he walked into the living room.
"Yes, Senor Vin, everything is fine. I just wanted to thank you for helping me at the police station last night. They caught the boys who stole my purse," she said gratefully.
"That's good news," Vin said. "Glad I could help."
"Will you come for dinner next week so I can thank you properly?" Mrs. Ramirez asked.
"Uh, I'd like that ma'am, but I may be going out of town," Vin squirmed.
"You just let me know, Senor Vin, the offer is always open," Mrs. Ramirez said with a wave as she left.
Chris waited until the woman left the apartment before he stalked out of the bedroom. Vin jumped at the hot breath on the back of his neck.
"Guess you better pack Vin," Chris growled.
The younger man hung his head sadly. 'So nothin's changed between us,' he said to himself morosely.
"Yeah, guess I better be goin'," he said softly.
"Damn right," Chris agreed, grabbing Vin's arm and pulling him toward the bedroom. "We've got some things to discuss, and I don't want anybody barging in. I want you all to myself. We're going out to the ranch."
Vin looked at Chris incredulously. What did he mean, 'things to discuss?'
"C'mon Vin, let's go," Chris urged. "Pack enough for the weekend. I want you to stay with me."
Vin blinked, but otherwise made no movement.
Chris leaned over and kissed him on the lips, then stood watching him expectantly.
"Why?" Vin forced the single word past his dry throat at last.
"Because I love you," Chris said softly. "Because I've been thinking about you for the longest time, wanting you, watching you. And I never dreamed you felt the same way about me."
Vin nodded and stumbled over to the jumble of clothes on and around the bed. He found a duffel bag and packed quickly, then walked out of the room numbly, still not able to believe what was happening.
"Vin, wait," Chris said as the two men stood at the front door of the apartment. "You do want this, don't you?"
"I-I don't know," Vin said in a frightened whisper. "I don't know what we're talkin' about here, Chris." His cheeks reddened as he cast a furitive glance at his best friend, then dropped his eyes to the floor. Being with Chris had been what he'd wanted for months, but now that it had finally happened, everything was moving way too fast for him to handle.
The older man's heart melted when he looked at Vin, so scared and shy. He hadn't meant to frighten him and come on so strong, but when he'd found Vin's letter of resignation on his desk, and then saw him packing up to leave town, he'd gone ballistic. The thought of not having Vin in his life and by his side was too much to bear. Vin seemed as eager as he was to make love, but maybe he'd pushed the younger man into doing something he wasn't ready for. He'd gone over the edge and made Vin afraid of him. Dammit! This wasn't how he wanted things to be at all.
Vin finally found his voice. "I-I want you, too, Chris," he said shyly.
"Want and love are two entirely different things Vin," Chris said hoarsely. "I'm not sure you understand what I'm saying to you. I want more than just...."
"I love you Chris," Vin interrupted. "Least I think I do. Haven't really had a lot of experience with it, cowboy, but sure feels like it anyway. Not really sure what I'm supposed to do about it, though," he said, giving Chris a weak smile.
"That's all going to change Vin," Chris promised in a voice thick with emotion. He hugged Vin to him tightly, his heart constricting as he thought about how lonely Vin's life had been, growing up without a family, feeling so unloved and so unwanted. Chris would do whatever it took to erase those horrible memories from Vin's mind.
"Let's get out of here," he coaxed, pulling away from Vin, tugging on his hand lightly. "You ready?"
"Yeah, let's go," Vin said, giving Chris another small smile and a quick kiss.
"We'll take the Ram, and talk on the way back to the ranch," Chris suggested.
"Sounds like a good idea," Vin agreed.
The End