Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“Was he surprised? I mean, you were always straight before this.”
“I don’t think I was. I just hadn’t met you yet. I needed to do that in order to learn about myself. But I know how I feel, and there was no way I was walking out that door if there was even a chance you felt the same.”
JB pulled him closer and buried his face in Cole’s neck to breathe him in. Just to take a few deep breaths and let the happiness chase away the last of his fears and dark thoughts. Suddenly, anything felt possible. He grinned and tightened his arms around Cole. “I can’t believe you’re going to stay.”
“I’ll have to return to clean out my apartment and take care of a few things. Think you’d be able to go with me? I’d like you to meet my family.”
JB leaned back to look at Cole’s face. “How do you think they’re going to feel? Not only am I taking you away from them, but I’m also a man.”
“They’ll miss me, but they’ll be happy for me. I can’t see my parents having any issue with the fact that you’re a man, either. They’re pretty damn liberal. And my mother will want to know if you want children eventually.” Cole’s eyebrows lifted and his statement kind of hung in the air as if he were waiting for JB to reassure him or crush him.
Best to be honest up-front if they were going to do this. “I do want children. Not right away, though. I’d like to have you to myself for a good long time.” He ran his hands up Cole’s back and slid his fingers into his hair. “I can’t believe you’re going to stay,” he whispered. “It’s like all my dreams are coming true.”
“I didn’t expect to fall in love so hard and of course, didn’t expect to love this part of the country as much as I already do. I want to build a life here on the ranch. With you.” He leaned in to kiss JB.
It didn’t take long for passion to spark between them. JB tugged Cole toward the bed and they stretched out on it, still kissing like they couldn’t get enough of each other. He stroked his hands down Cole’s chest, resting his palm over Cole’s heartbeat. It pounded hard and he could feel his own answering that fast beat.
The unbelievable elation in his chest threatened to overwhelm him, and he suddenly wrapped his arms around the man and held him close.
“Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you for loving me back. Thank you for wanting to stay. I was this close to leaving everything I have and following you to Cincinnati.”
“Would you really have done that?” Cole kissed the side of his head.
“Give up everything for you? Yes, I would. And I can’t tell you what it means to me that you’re going to stay here instead.”
“This ranch is a part of you. I’m not attached to my apartment quite the same way. I love my family, but I can always go see them whenever I want, and since my job can be done remotely, it just makes more sense for me to move here. Plus, I like it here more than I expected. It’s a beautiful place.” His hands started exploring JB’s body. “But we were getting somewhere with all that kissing. Where were we?”
JB grinned and returned to kissing Cole. Soon, they both sat up to start removing clothes and when they were naked, they lay against each other, JB sliding his thigh between Cole’s legs. He wasn’t in a hurry now that he knew Cole wasn’t going to leave him. But the passion he felt made him roll Cole beneath him. He fell between his legs and stared at him. “I didn’t know I could be this happy,” he whispered.
“I’m feeling it myself.” Cole reached up to stroke his hair from his eyes.
“How could you possibly think I wouldn’t want you? Never felt anything like what we have. You bring something out in me, a kind of passion I didn’t know was possible. And the way you make my heart feel—it’s like nothing I’ve experienced. I was dying inside at the thought of you leaving.”
“So was I,” Cole said softly. He wrapped his arms around JB and pulled him all the way down on top of him.
They held each other for long moments. He rested on Cole’s big body, loving the heat and hardness of him, the silky skin and the tightness of his arms. But desire soon reared its head and they started kissing again. Cole’s beard felt good against his cheeks, his tongue sliding along JB’s. JB forgot about all the chores he should be doing and reveled in Cole.
When he reached for the lube and condom, Cole stayed his hand. Blue eyes looked up at him.