Quietly spoken, but harsh none the less, a string of profanity cut clearly through the cold night air. Chris stood up from his chair by the fire and moved quickly but cautiously to the door of his small cabin. He thought he recognized the voice, but it never paid to be careless. Peering through the window to the right of the door, he could just make out the silhouette of a rider against the star filled sky. The slouch brimmed hat was easily recognizable, the same as the fringe hanging from the shoulders of the horseman's coat. Vin Tanner.
Chris stepped out on his porch and he could hear the litany of curses much clearer. He could also hear a strange kind of ‘squelching' noise as Vin dismounted and walked the few extra steps to the cabin.
"You're wet."
"No shit."
Chris smiled at the disgruntled reply. "What happened?"
"Damn horse spooked comin' across the river."
"Threw ya?"
"Hell no. Lost his footing and took me down with him."
Vin stood on the porch next to Chris and the light from the open door shone on his wet hair and dripping clothes. Chris stepped back and motioned Vin into the warmth of his home. "Go in and use a blanket to dry off. I'll take care of your horse."
"Yeah, I'd like to take care of him alright, put a bullet right where it would do the most good. Sorry so-and-so..."
Shaking his head and still smiling, Chris closed the door behind his friend and moved to gather up the reigns of the much-maligned animal. "C'mon, you can use a little drying off too. I'm sure you didn't enjoy that dunkin' any more than he did." The horse's only response was a wet swish of its tail and a jerk of its head that made the metal pieces of its halter ring sharply.
By the time Chris returned to his house, Vin was settled down in front of the fire with his wet clothes laid out to dry. He had a blanket wrapped around his body and a cup of hot coffee held tightly in both hands. His hair still hung down his back in wet waves and Chris noticed an occasional shiver rack the slim figure.
"Cold night to be out for a ride."
"Got a lot colder after the river."
Chris smiled and settled himself back into his chair and sipped on his own cup of cooling coffee. "Goin' some place particular?"
"Got somethin' needs takin' care of."
"Somethin' you need help with?"
Vin shook his head and frowned at the fire. His blue eyes became clouded with some deep emotion but he merely shook his head again as he dodged Chris' question. "Sometimes a man gets needs that he can't satisfy in a town."
Setting his empty cup on the floor, Chris leaned his head back and folded his hands across his middle. He studied his friend thoughtfully before hazarding a guess. "I reckon that's true. Some needs, though, are kind of hard to satisfy alone."
Vin shot the older man a quick glance and didn't like the knowing look he saw in the green eyes. "Yeah, and some just don't get satisfied at all." And with those words, Vin stood and moved to gather up his still damp clothes.
"Be morning before your clothes dry completely, might as well spend the night."
"Reckon the hay in the barn'll be softer than this wooden floor." The tracker had his hand on the door latch but hesitated before turning it.
Chris gave a small sigh then made his offer. "Reckon the bed's softer than both."
"Don't reckon to put you out like that."
"Don't reckon you will."
Vin licked his lips nervously and glanced over his shoulder at the piece of furniture in question. "Mighty narrow bed."
"It'll do."
Chris stood and began banking the fire, not even bothering to look to see whether or not Vin moved away from the door. He knew Tanner was thinking about everything that had been said ...and not said. He knew what he was offering and he knew why he was offering it. Now it was up to the young Texan whether or not he accepted it. Chris got his answer when he heard the floor boards creak, followed by the sound of the wet clothes landing on the table.
Straightening up from the fire, Larabee took a deep breath and moved over to the bed. Still not looking at his friend, he sat on the edge of the mattress and pulled off his boots. Standing, he began a slow and methodical strip, knowing that a pair of glittering blue eyes was watching his every move. The glow of the fire highlighted the muscles of his arms and chest as he peeled the long-johns down from his torso. He bent over slightly to work them down his legs and heard a slight gasp of in-drawn breath. Tossing the last of his clothing on a nearby stool, he flipped back the covers and climbed into the bed.
"Gonna stand there all night?" He finally looked Vin in the face and saw the flush of excitement that colored his cheeks. The tracker appeared speechless as he silently crossed the few feet to the bed. Turning his back, he let the blanket drop and then slid quickly under the covers. Chris was amused at the tenseness of his friend's posture as he lay on his side, fairly hugging the edge of the bed. Taking the initiative, the older man turned on his side as well and moved up behind the tracker.
"Damn, Tanner! Skin's colder'n ice!"
"Yeah, well, you try swimming in the river at this time of year and see how your skin feels."
"Could'a warned a fella."
There was a long moment of silence broken only by the gentle breaths of the two men. Then came the soft rustle of sheets and the creak of the wooden bed frame as Vin slowly shifted to lie on his back and Chris moved to give him room. The next sound was the whisper of flesh moving against fabric, followed by a hiss of sharply in-drawn breath as a warm, questing hand began a gentle but firm exploration of chilled flesh.
"Lose somethin'?" There was humor in the question as well as a breathless encouragement.
"Can't lose somethin' you've never had."
The calloused palm and strong fingers gripped Tanner's cock and gently slid back his foreskin, causing the man to shudder and moan softly deep in his throat. His hips bucked forward slightly, making the hand slide further down his throbbing erection. Reaching the base of his cock, the hand squeezed once then began a slow slide back to the top. Another low moan rumbled in Vin's chest and he drew a sharp breath through his teeth. There was more rustling of the covers and then another hand moved into play. Tanner felt his tightening sack being cupped and squeezed and his whole body jerked in response.
"Damn, Larabee. Best stop this right now."
Chris' hands did stop but they did not relinquish their hold. "Stop? Got the impression you were enjoying this."
"Ain't a question about enjoying. Just ain't partial to sleeping in wet sheets."
A dry snort of amusement was Larabee's only verbal response. The creaking of the bed frame and the shifting of his body were explanation enough. Vin shifted his own body to accommodate Chris' new position. Using his elbows, he worked his way a little higher on the narrow mattress, spreading his thighs at the same time. When the two men settled, Chris was on his knees between Vin's legs with his hands once more stroking the tracker's throbbing erection.
"Like I said, don't like wet sheets. And don't plan on taking another bath this month."
"This month? Damn, Tanner, guess I should be glad you're horse tossed you in the river."
"Told you, he didn't ..." Vin's words choked off as Chris suddenly crouched forward and took the head of his cock in his mouth. His fist clenched the bottom sheet as his hips thrust up into the moist heat. "Shiiiiiit."
Chris kept his fist tight around the base of Vin's cock while his mouth slid down to meet it. His tongue caressed the smooth skin and traced the thick vein that ran down its center. Adding a little suction, he slowly drew his head back up and let his tongue explore the loose skin and then the swollen tip. A sharp cry was all the warning he had as Vin suddenly climaxed, shooting his entire load into Chris' mouth. Larabee swallowed quickly and kept his lips locked around the pulsing cock as he savored every drop the tracker had to offer. His left hand gave the loosening sack a gentle squeeze as if making sure the man was entirely spent.
"Damn, Chris."
"Feel warmer now?"
"Uhm hmm."
"Tanner, you ain't fallin' asleep on me, are you?"
"S'what a bed's for, ain't it?"
"Shit. You ain't the only one with needs, boy."
A soft chuckle sounded from the darkness but Chris felt cool fingers slide down his chest. "Might help if you moved up a little higher, cowboy." Chris smiled and felt his own cock jerk at the invitation. Shifting once more, he straddled Tanner's narrow chest and leaned forward to rest his hands on the wall behind the bed. He felt the cool hands grip his thighs and then a warm breath against the underside of his sack. The moist tongue making sudden contact was a pleasant surprise and Chris felt a dribble of pre-cum sliding down his cock.
"Heads up, Vin."
"Mmm hmm."
The exploring tongue worked its way up and caught the fluid before it could fall. Chris shuddered and the muscles in his back tightened in reflex. Vin shifted slightly between his legs and Chris suddenly felt himself being drawn into a hot, wet cavern of pleasure. Now it was his turn to moan, as he felt soft lips tighten around his shaft and that devilish tongue stroking and caressing. And Vin didn't shorten his draw by using a fist; he kept both hands locked on Chris' thighs as he slowly swallowed his friend's entire length. Clenching his teeth, Larabee forcibly held himself back when all he wanted to do was thrust his hips forward as fast and furious as he possibly could. Instead, he let the pressure of Vin's hands guide and control him and the ecstasy slowly built.
"Ah, gawd Vin. Can't...hold..."
Chris gave a quiet shout as he actually felt Vin's throat tighten around the head of his cock. The muscles in his back locked and he couldn't stop the small jerk of his hips that drove him a fraction deeper as he came. Tanner's fingers dug into his thighs and his muffled groan sent vibrations shooting up Chris' pulsing cock and straight into his sack. He gasped again as he actually felt Vin swallow the torrents of cum flowing down his throat.
"Oh, hell yes." Larabee sagged against the wall, grateful for its support as tremors racked his body. Dimly, he was aware of Vin shifting beneath him and pulling his mouth away. Moaning at the supreme effort it took to move, Chris pushed himself free of the wall and flopped back down on his side. The bed creaked ominously but continued to support the combined weight of both men. A brief flurry of rustling fabric followed by twin contented sighs signaled the end of the night's activities. Silence broken only by gentle snores filled the remainder of the night.+ + + + + + +
"Still headin' out?" Chris watched from his front porch as Vin tightened the girth strap on his saddle. He grinned as he saw the tracker struggle to make the ornery horse release the air swelling its chest.
Vin finally resorted to kneeing his horse and finished securing the leather tie before he answered. "Yeah, for a little while anyway. Got some business to tend to." He kept his eyes averted from the cabin and in turn, away from Chris.
"How long?"
"Couple a days, maybe three." Tanner shrugged his shoulders, still not looking at his friend.
Chris could tell the young Texan was uncomfortable with the night's events. Things always looked different when viewed by the sun's unforgiving light. Even memories of innocently shared pleasure had a way of becoming tarnished when viewed too closely. But sometimes, all it took was another set of eyes to set things straight.
"Stop by here on your way back?" It was more than just an invitation and the words seemed to hang on the cold morning air.
Blue eyes finally met green and there was a long moment of silence as a truth was searched for and eventually found. A smile curved Vin’s lips as he quickly gathered up the reins of his horse. "Yeah, I guess I can do that."
Chris nodded his head and smiled in return. "Reckon I'll see you in a few days then."
Vin swung up into his saddle and gave Chris a two-fingered tap of his hat brim as he turned to head out.
"Yeah, reckon so."
THE END
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