The Tin Star (23 page)

John gave one last grim look at Ethan, then turned and stormed out.

Ethan looked at Jamie. “Was that really necessary?”

“He looked guilty.”

Oh, good lord!
Siblings!
“He looked guilty because he wants to tell your dad to take a flying leap, he knows deep down he should, but he can’t. It doesn’t mean he was in on anything your father might have done. Hell, we brought him in here to tell him about your dad hiring Carl and Jeff behind his back. Damn, you have a temper! Remind me not to piss you off.”

Jamie scoffed. “He started it!”

Ethan shook his head, suddenly seeing the situation from a different perspective. “Your daddy started it. This is probably what he wants, you and John at each other’s throats. Your brother might not be handling this the way we want him to, but he’s always supported you otherwise and he doesn’t deserve being called a turncoat. You gonna let your daddy win?”

“Fuck!” Jamie ran out of the room.

Ethan followed at a more leisurely pace. Walked through the living room where everyone else was watching the football game. No one but Julia seemed to notice the upheaval. She was looking toward the kitchen where Jamie and John had gone. She caught Ethan’s gaze and stood up.

Ethan shook his head and held up his hand, silently reassuring her that he had it covered.

She bit her lip, her attention darting back to the kitchen, but she sat back down.

He walked into the kitchen to find John standing at the door and Jamie in front of it, blocking his brother’s exit. “I’m sorry. I’m just a little ... I finally realized that he isn’t going to let me go home, that it’s irrevocable.”

John sighed and grabbed Jamie, hugging him. “I’m sorry, too.”

Ethan started a pot of coffee, then leaned against the counter. “Have you seen any proof of him having Jamie drugged? Or being involved in the damage to Jamie’s truck or the fence?”

John shook his head. “That’s just it. I can’t find any evidence of it. I don’t want to believe him capable of it, but at the same time, I’ve been looking. I have to know for sure. I didn’t find out about Jeff and Carl hiring on at the Quad J until yesterday.”

Ethan nodded. He’d had a feeling that John had known.

“You knew?” Jamie blurted out.

Damn, Jamie was on a roll today. He wasn’t usually so quick to jump to conclusions, but apparently the strain of the situation was getting to him. Ethan gave him the don’t-start-any-more-shit-look and got lucky. Apparently, Mr. Hothead was going to pay attention to the warning.

Jamie sighed and lowered his voice. “Couldn’t you have called and said something?”

John dropped his head. “That’s just it, Jamie. I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t want to upset you.”

Ethan reached for three cups. He was beginning to see part of the problem.

Apparently, Jamie did, too. He smiled at his brother. “I’m a big boy. I really can take care of myself. I don’t need you ...” He glanced over his shoulder at Ethan. “... or anyone else to shield me from things. You aren’t helping me by keeping me ignorant of what’s going on. I know he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about me, John. He never has. It hurts but it’s okay. I can’t make him care, never could, so he did me a favor by kicking me out. It’s turned out to be the best thing ever to happen to me.” Jamie looked at Ethan again and smiled.

Ethan smiled back. Jamie was finally getting it.

Chapter Sixteen

Jamie was bent over picking up tack in the stables when Ethan snuck up behind him and pressed his hips against Jamie’s butt. He couldn’t see Ethan, but he knew it was his cowboy. No one else would dare or even think about touching him like that. He chuckled and straightened. “You want something, Cowboy?”

Ethan’s hands landed on his hips and pulled his back flush to Ethan’s chest. Warm breath tickled his ear. “Umm, how did you know?”

Jamie reached behind him and grasped the hard prick pressing against his ass. “Lucky guess.” He spun around and put his hands on his cowboy’s shoulders.

Ethan was in a pair of sweatpants, a tee-shirt, and sneakers. His hair was tousled and he looked like he’d just gotten out of bed. Which was entirely possible, because that’s where Jamie had left him when he’d gotten up and dressed earlier. “You just get outta bed?”

“Nope. Just haven’t gotten dressed yet.” He leaned in and kissed Jamie, his tongue probing.

Jamie grinned and opened for him.

Ethan wasn’t playing around; he devoured his mouth and pressed himself against Jamie, his hips rocking side to side, his cock rubbing against Jamie’s. It didn’t take long for Jamie’s own cock to swell. Damn, somebody was horny this morning. He chuckled and reached into Ethan’s sweats, gripping that sweet prick.

Ethan groaned and bucked into his hand, coming up for air. “Where is everyone?”

Jamie squeezed his cock, watching his lover writhe and moan. Oh, geez, the sight was unbelievably arousing.

“Bill went to Margie’s, and Hayden and Ed are out fixing the gate between the north pasture and the road. And our new hand doesn’t start until next week. Just me and you here.”

Ethan tugged and maneuvered Jamie until they were in the stall that held all the hay. The backs of Jamie’s legs hit a bale and he nearly went head over heels. Ethan steadied him, then pushed on his shoulders, making him sit. The next thing Jamie knew, there was a hot, hard dick nudging his lips. He smiled and pulled his hat off, handing it up to Ethan, who set it on his own head. Looked like his cowboy was in a hurry.

He flicked the jutting organ with his tongue, then licked up its length, one hand holding the base, the other on Ethan’s hip. He glanced up at Ethan’s gasp. His heart clenched at the picture his cowboy made. Ethan’s face was a study in bliss. Underneath Jamie's hat, Ethan’s eyes were closed, his mouth pursed. Jamie briefly wondered how long it would take for him to throw his head back and lose Jamie’s hat in the hay. From the looks of it, not long at all. He focused back on the thick cock in front of him and took the crown into his mouth, sucking lightly.

“Oh, fuck!” Ethan arched, grabbed Jamie’s head, and the hat dropped on the floor behind him.

Jamie grinned around the throbbing cock in his mouth and engulfed it all the way, burying his nose in the curls above.

God, he loved this! He couldn’t decide if it was the feel of the thick, hard penis sliding through his lips and over his tongue, or if it was the complete and utter enjoyment that Ethan got out of having his dick swallowed. The man was sexy as hell. Whatever the reason, Jamie couldn’t think of anything he’d rather be doing. Well, that wasn’t exactly true; he’d rather be getting fucked, but this was a close second. And damned if he wasn’t getting good at it. He already had Ethan panting and thrusting into his mouth.

His lover reached down and grabbed Jamie’s hand from his hip and slid it back to his ass. Jamie squeezed and eagerly moved his hand, intent on teasing that tight little hole. His fingers ran into something. His eyes widened in surprise. Oh, fuck! Ethan had one of Jamie’s plugs in. His cock jerked, and he groaned, the fat prick in his mouth jerking in response. Tugging on the end of Ethan’s plug, he jostled it around a bit. Oh, Ethan was going to get it but good! Jamie was so freakin’ turned on his balls ached. As soon as Ethan came ...

It wouldn’t be long now. His cowboy’s fingers were wrapped tightly in his hair now, his hips thrusting hard into Jamie’s face.

Jamie moved the plug again.

“Oh, shit, yeah! Oh, fuck! Jamie!”

He did it again.

Ethan’s cock spasmed in his mouth.

Oh, yeah, Jamie had him now. He pulled the plug out.

Ethan threw his head back and let out a long, ragged groan. His belly pressed into Jamie’s face, and he came down the back of his throat.

Jamie swallowed the tangy flavor down, pleased as punch. Mmm, yeah, just what he’d wanted. He continued to lick and suck until Ethan relaxed. Then Jamie stood up and pushed him against the wall, face front, dropping the plug by his hat. He had his jeans undone in record time and flattened himself against Ethan. He licked up his neck.

Ethan shivered. “Guess this means you liked my surprise?”

“Oh, yeah. You’re about to find out how much.” He moistened his fingers with his saliva, smoothed his fingers down his own cock, then spread the tight, lubed little hole with his fingers and pressed his dick in. Oh, damn, that felt good. He sighed, dropping his forehead to Ethan’s shoulder.

Ethan chuckled and moved his hips back, undulating in a circular motion.

Jamie’s breath hissed out. The sensations were too much. He didn’t want to come yet, but if the man didn’t stop his motions ... He grabbed Ethan’s hips, stilling them. “Ah, man! Give me a minute, Cowboy.”

“Yeah, well, don’t take too long.” Ethan grabbed his hand and brought it around to his erection. “Damn, that feels incredible.”

Jamie groaned. “Can’t believe you’re hard again.”

“Never went soft.”

Oh, God!
Jamie bit Ethan’s shoulder and thrust, squeezing the hot prick in his hand as he did. At this rate, Jamie knew he was never going to last. His cowboy felt too damned wonderful and had him too damned turned on. And if the man didn’t quit clamping his ass muscles on his cock like that ...

“Oh! Yeah, good! Real good!” He couldn’t stop himself now even if he wanted to. He plunged hard into Ethan again and again, still pumping Ethan’s cock.

His lover took it all, propelling against him and giving as good as he got. “Oh, yeah, fuck me, Blue Eyes!”

That raw, needy voice was all it took to push Jamie over the edge. He slammed his hips forward, stiffened, and came with a hoarse grunt. He stayed where he was for several moments afterward, then realized that he still had Ethan’s dick in his hand and that he hadn’t come. In fact, Ethan was squirming around, trying to force him to move his hand. Jamie chuckled and obliged.

He tugged on his cowboy’s rod, twisting and compressing, whispered encouragement into his ear. It wasn’t long before Ethan was gasping for breath again and his thick cock was pulsing in Jamie’s fist, spurting. The muscles around Jamie’s cock where he was still embedded tightened as Ethan came, making him groan as well.

“Damn, Cowboy! You trying to kill me?”

Ethan’s head flopped back on his shoulder. “Me, kill
you
? I think you have that backward. I’m the one that just came twice. My freakin’ balls are already protesting.”

Jamie chuckled, pulled out, and slapped him on the ass. “Serves you right, coming out here with a plug in. Geez! You could have warned me at least.” He yanked his pants back up, then picked up his hat and the plug. “Fuck, that was amazing!”

Ethan turned around and frowned. “Apparently, I didn’t plan as well as I thought. I need a rag.”

“No, you don’t. You aren’t even dressed yet. Just use your shirt or something.”

Ethan rolled his eyes. “It’s cold out there.”

“Apparently, it’s not too cold since you’re wearing a tee-shirt. Here, let me help.” He grabbed Ethan’s sweats and pulled them up.

Ethan groaned. “Butthead!”

Jamie laughed and gave him a quick kiss. “What are you doing today?”

“Just finished the herd records. So, nothing. I came out here to see if you needed help.”

“Good! You can come with me to town. Melissa just called and our order is ready at Hatchers.” He patted Ethan’s butt again. “Go get dressed. Here.” He handed him the plug. “Take this. Don’t forget to clean it."

“Damned bossy foreman!”

He watched Ethan walk out of the stables with a grin. “Damned sexy cowboy.”

Jamie pulled up at Hatcher’s Feed and got out. He’d been driving the Mustang while his truck was in the shop, but getting all their supplies into the trunk of the car was not going to happen, so they’d taken Ethan’s truck.

Ethan came out of the passenger side, shut the door, and joined him on the sidewalk. “How ’bout after we pay Melissa, we go get a bite to eat, then come back and load the stuff up? I’m starving.”

Jamie nodded. “Sounds like a plan. We’ll have to drive around back to load up anyway. I doubt that --”

“Well, well, if it isn’t my faggot son and his lover.” Jacob stepped in front of the door, blocking their entrance. There were three Quad J workers behind him, one of whom was Jeff.

Jamie sneered. “Well, well, if it isn’t my asshole father.”

Ethan chuckled.

Jamie couldn’t see him because there was no way he was going to take his eyes off the four men in front of him, but he was pretty sure Ethan had dipped his head in greeting before he said, “Jacob. Can’t say it’s nice to see you.”

Jeff reached around Jacob to push Ethan’s shoulder.

Jamie made a grab for the man, but Ethan pulled him back.

His father chuckled. “Ah, come on, Whitehall. If he wants to fight, I’m sure my boys will oblige him.”

Jeff spat on the ground close to Ethan’s boot. “What, Whitehall, you got nothin’ to say about what the boss said? You a fag now, too?”

Jamie tensed, ready to pounce.

Ethan squeezed his shoulder a little, trying to calm him, he supposed. Cool as you please, his lover responded to Jeff. “Jamie doesn’t need to prove anything. He’s already stomped your ass once.” Jamie looked up in time to see Ethan bare his teeth. “You touch me again, I’m going to break you in two. Now, we have business to attend to.” He steered Jamie between the men and past the door.

His father simply walked off. His men, on the other hand, yelled all sorts of slurs at the two of them.

Jamie was seething. He turned on Ethan.

Ethan held up a hand. “Don’t! Just don’t.”

Damn it!
He knew Ethan was right, but he was pissed. Just itching for a fight, but clearly he wasn’t going to get one if his cowboy had his way. He sighed, took several deep breaths, a few turns around the room, then walked back to the counter.

“They were asking for it.”

“Yeah, they were. And I bet it pissed them off that they didn’t get it. Besides, I doubt Melissa wants blood in front of her store.”

Melissa chuckled as she came out from the storeroom. “Actually, Ethan, I’d just hose it off. You should have let Jamie have them.” She looked past them toward the door. “Guess they got the picture and left, but you two be careful when you leave here. Watch yourselves.”