Staying Power Book 14 in the Action! Series (9 page)

Mark leaned against Steve, Mark's eyes
meeting his in the mirror. Steve placed the brush down on the
vanity and embraced Mark from behind, holding him tight, kissing
his hair and cheek. "He'll be fine. Think about it, Mark. Alex will
be a big movie star."

"Yes. He will. His career has only just
begun. It's Billy I worry about."

Steve rocked Mark slowly, side to side. "He
married a young man just starting out in his career. He has to be
aware that Alex may go someplace in his life. Billy still has a few
years left to give the LAPD. He's not ready to retire."

"He should. You see…" Mark said, making a
move to face Steve. Steve loosened his grip so Mark was able to
spin around in his arms. When they were nose to nose, Mark
continued, "This is all because of Mum. If she would give me the
money from the sale of the estate, I could give it to Alex. Then
Billy—"

"Mark."

Mark pouted and met Steve's gaze.

"Billy will never quit working. He was shot
on duty and still is going back out there."

"But."

"Mark, they either will make it or they
won't. It's not up to us, or your family's wealth to determine
that."

Mark's eyes watered and he appeared
devastated. "Look into this Randy-fellow, would you?"

"I will." Steve smiled and kissed him. "Let's
get dressed and hang with the boys, okay?"

"Okay." Mark dabbed at his eyes and tried to
smile.

Saturday morning, Alex opened his eyes.

He stared at the ceiling and came around
slowly from an odd dream. Bits and pieces of the dream came back to
him. Feeling lost, frustrated, trying to find his way home from a
place that was not familiar, asking people to help him get back
home…and realizing they didn't understand him.

Moaning softly, Alex rubbed his face and ran
his hand through his unruly long hair. He heard the bed shift and
looked beside him. Billy was laying on his side, facing him, his
jaw dark with his new beard growth. Alex stared at him, studying
him. The love he had for Billy was very powerful. Alex trusted
Billy completely, but it gnawed at Alex that Billy did not trust
him.

Alex thought about the kiss he shared with
Randy in the audition. It was nice, but it didn't light him up like
making love did with his husband. His 'forever' partner. Captain
Billy Sharpe!

Alex smiled at the thought. How many young
men were lucky enough to have an LAPD captain to play with?

Would Billy be back on shift work when he got
promoted? Alex didn't have a clue how the department worked. And
until Billy was transferred out of IAG, the odds were Billy didn't
know where he was going to go either.

What will it be like to be without you while
I am shooting in Rome?

If Billy thought the separation anxiety was
going to be hard on him, he had no idea how attached Alex was to
his husband. Alex would go literally crazy without Billy in his
arms every night. But that didn't mean it would drive him into the
arms of another. Never.

As those thoughts meandered through Alex's
mind, Billy's eyes opened. The first impulse Alex had was to smile.
The bright blueness of Billy's eyes was so intense to the contrast
of Billy's tanned skin, brown hair and dark eyelashes.

"Hello, Captain." Alex sidled closer, and
intertwined their legs.

Billy smiled and glance back at the clock on
the nightstand.

"Saturday, sir," Alex said playfully. "A day
off."

Without a reply, Billy reached down towards
Alex's morning wood.

As Billy's fingers wrapped around it to give
it a gentle pull, Alex purred. "You know how much I love you,
right?"

"Uh huh." Billy used both hands to stroke
Alex from the base to the tip.

Alex shivered and held Billy's shoulder. "I'm
yours Captain Sharpe. Yours."

After meeting Alex's eyes, Billy vanished
under the covers. Hot wet heat surrounded Alex's cock.

He spread his legs and closed his eyes.
"Forever…" Alex held Billy's head through the sheet and thrust his
hips into Billy's mouth. "Ah!"

~

"I do like this new Jaguar, Jackie." Mark
inspected the high-tech dashboard with hands-free Bluetooth and a
computer panel. "I suppose I should finally give up the TVR."

Jack glanced over at him. "Don't. You'll
never find another one like it."

"Still." Mark ran his hand over his tight
britches. "Two-thousand and two…it's archaic. Old and obsolete like
its owner."

"You do say some stupid things, ya know
that?"

Mark heard the built-in satellite navigator
tell Jack where to turn. He adjusted his sunglasses and looked down
at his high leather boots. "Shame to get horse shite in your
car."

"You're not going to get horse shit in my
car," Jack said, raising his eyebrow at Mark's snarky grin.

"You'd look good in britches and boots,
Jackie." Mark ran his hand down Jack's thigh.

"Not my thing. I prefer blue jeans and cowboy
boots."

"Then you need a cowboy hat." Mark caressed
Jack's blond hair lovingly.

"I'd wear one. Not in public, but out
riding."

"Look at us," Mark laughed as he spoke,
"You're going to be riding western and me English."

"So? I don't want to post. I prefer
western."

"It's not proper riding. Western saddles, you
just grab the horn and bounce around."

"Mm." Jack ran his hand inside Mark's thigh,
across a dark brown suede patch. "Sounds good to me."

"You rode English at the estate. Mum never
had western saddles." They paused as the navigator warned them of
an approaching turn off after what was nearly a three hour
drive.

"I don't mind English. But I do prefer just
relaxing on the saddle."

"I suppose it doesn't matter, really." Mark
combed his fingers back through his hair. "That must be it." Mark
pointed to a wide open space with a white wooden fence surrounding
it. Out in the distance was a large two-level home and stable.

"Yup. Looks nice. Well kept."

"I'd assume so. The man breeds very high
quality horses."

As they drove down the long lane, Jack shut
off the navigator which kept announcing they had arrived at the
location. Mark inspected the enormous property, with dozens of
horses grazing, including mares with new foals.

Jack pulled his shiny new white XKR-S GT
model beside a horse trailer and pickup truck. Mark climbed out of
the low slung sports car and inhaled. The scent of horses and fresh
air made him smile. "Oh, how I have missed this."

Just as Jack stood with Mark to approach the
home, someone called out, "Mr Richfield?"

Mark cringed, hating being referred to that
because he instantly thought of his late father, whom he detested.
He spun on his boot heels to see a familiar face. 'Dan' was the
handler of the horses at all the cologne shoots.

Mark approached him, hand extended. "Mark,
please." He shook Dan's hand. "And Dan, this is my dear friend Jack
Larsen."

"Nice to meet you, Jack." Dan shook Jack's
hand. "Come this way. Piccadilly is ready to see you."

Mark followed behind Dan, who was in dusty
jeans and a flannel shirt. He walked up to a stall with the
beautiful white stallion already poking his head out curiously.

Mark felt his insides light on fire at the
sight of such beauty. "Baby." He walked towards the horse,
caressing it lovingly. The horse obviously recognized Mark,
snorting and nodding its head, trying to rub against him.

"Let's get him out." Dan opened the stall
door and held the halter of the big white stallion, walking him
outside the freshly cleaned stall.

Mark was madly in love. He caressed the
horse's long white mane and patted its high shoulders. "Oh, Jackie.
He's gorgeous. Well, if Mr Banks is willing to sell, there's no
reason for waiting."

Dan hooked Piccadilly's halter to a ring by a
lead, and waved Mark over. "Here's Shadow."

Mark elbowed Jack to go have a look.

As Mark enjoyed Piccadilly, giving his head
and muzzle a good rub, a spectacular black thoroughbred was brought
out of its stall, swishing its tail and perking up at the
commotion.

The jet black horse had a white star, and one
white patch on its back hoof, that was it. Mark whispered into
Piccadilly's ear, "Jackie will fall in love. Just watch."

Jack patted the big horse's nose, allowing it
to sniff him and check him out.

"Jackie, he's a beaut. And big enough for
you, He-man." Mark smiled and left Piccadilly to see the new
horse.

"Wow." Jack stroked the big black horse's
forelock, which was long and well maintained. "He's
outstanding."

"Want to take them out for a test drive?" Dan
smiled impishly.

Piccadilly made a noise and stomped his foot.
Mark peered over his shoulder. "I think my baby is jealous."

"I'd love to ride him." Jack grew more
familiar with the big horse, stroking its long neck. "If I ask for
a western saddle do I get throttled?"

Dan laughed. "No. We have both." He used a
lead to clip Shadow to a hook and walked off.

Mark leaned on Jack as he admired the black
horse. "Brings back so many memories."

"It does. But my horse was gray, not
black."

"You want to find a gray?"

"Not really. Look at this animal." Jack
gestured to the horse. "He's gorgeous."

"I think Jackie is in love."

Another whinnying sound came from
Piccadilly.

Jack laughed and said, "You better go to him.
He thinks you're about to cheat."

Mark pecked Jack on the lips and returned to
the big white horse. As he did, he noticed a heavy-set man in a
cowboy hat entering the barn. He moved slowly, as if he were older,
and possibly not in the best of health. The man was back-lighted so
Mark couldn't see his features clearly.

Hearing noise behind him, Mark turned to see
Dan had returned and was placing a western saddle on Shadow of the
Knight.

"Mr Banks!" Dan shouted to the older man.
"This is Mark Richfield."

Mark felt a strange twinge in his gut and
wasn't sure why. He tried to shake off the effect and approached Mr
Banks, his hand outstretched in greeting. "So nice to meet
you."

Mr Banks stopped and waited, not reaching out
his hand until Mark was directly in front of him. He gave Mark's
hand a strong but brief shake and then eyed Mark suspiciously. Mark
glanced down at his attire, which was appropriate for any man out
for a ride on an English saddle, or at least it was at the estate
he grew up on in Paradise.

"Richfield…" The man with the heavy jowls and
deep creases narrowed his gaze on Mark. "Any relation to Milt
Richfield?"

The bile rose in Mark's throat at the mention
of his father. With great reluctance Mark said, "Yes. I'm his
son."

Mr Banks took a step back, as if to take Mark
in once more. "I used to sell horses to Milt back in the day. He
had excellent taste in thoroughbreds."

With his back muscles tensing from the
annoyance of the topic, Mark tried to keep calm. "Yes. He did."

"He's been gone a while now. I recall seeing
the article in the paper when he passed. Sorry, Mark."

"Oh, well…I've gotten over it now." Mark
became anxious. "You know…life goes on."

"How is Leslie? Does she still have that
enormous place up north?"

Mark glanced behind him. Jack was seated on
Shadow, holding the reins as Dan put an English saddle on
Piccadilly. "Um, no, actually. Mum remarried and is living in
London now."

"Are you planning on taking the horses up to
the estate?" Mr Banks looked beyond Mark, up at Jack who had walked
the big black horse towards them.

"This…this is a friend." Mark became a
nervous wreck. He was terrified; if this man knew he and Jack were
gay, he would not sell him the horses. "Jack, this is Mr Banks.
He…he was a friend of my father."

Mark knew Jack immediately understood. He
reached down from the saddle. "Nice to meet you, sir. Your horses
are spectacular."

Mr Banks shook Jack's hand, as briefly as he
shook Mark's. "You two planning on finding a nice place to
board?"

"Well," Mark began to sweat and feel ill. "I
was actually hoping to discuss the possibility of that with you."
He tugged at his collar and fussed with his hair. "You know, if we
could arrange…" Mark felt dizzy and reached for Jack for
balance.

Jack moved the horse closer and as he did,
Dan brought Piccadilly over to where they were standing. "He's all
ready for you, Mark."

"Yes." Mark stood beside the white horse,
trying to decompress as this man brought back images of his
childhood so powerful he was about to curl into a ball and
weep.

"I don't usually board horses I don't own,"
Mr Banks said.

"Yes. Right." Mark tried to get over the wave
of dizziness, but this man reminded him of his father and it was
nauseating him. Dan stood behind him, ready to give him a leg-up to
the saddle.

Mark heard the horse blow out and shake the
bridle with a jingle. He put his boot into Dan's hands and was
hoisted to the saddle, taking the rein.

"Well, there's no deal unless you can arrange
a proper place for them." Mr Banks adjusted his cowboy hat, looking
slightly hostile.

Jack said, "We'll work something out. We
would never place them anywhere that wasn't top notch."

Mr Banks said to Dan, "Go show them the
trail. Take them out for a bit."

"Yes, sir." Dan nodded and said, "Hang on,
guys. Let me get one saddled up quick."

"No rush." Jack looked at Mark.

Mark tried to behave like a normal human
being but it was growing difficult. "So…" Mark avoided Mr Banks'
eyes and looked at the horse's mane, running his fingers through
it. "There's no possibility for us to keep them here, and come to
ride? That's out of the question?"