A Subtle Breeze Read online

  Shaking himself from his thoughts, Brendon folded up into the front seat of the little car, not surprised to find that, once seated, his knees were practically in his armpits. Why did the choice have to be clean air or contortion? He was sure there had to be a third ‘c’—compromise—that should be thrown into the whole hybrid craze.

  The drive to the cemetery wasn’t very long, and even before they pulled in, before Enessa and Gloria pointed and nudged him, Brendon had spotted the lone figure kneeling at one of the graves. The image tugged at his heart. Ezekiel looked so solitary, though not just in the physical sense. Brendon didn’t know how to explain it except that he could swear he felt the loneliness rolling off the kneeling man.

  He watched the man rise and turn to see who was pulling into the cemetery drive. Brendon noted the moment Ezekiel spotted the passengers in his sister’s car—that was when he made a beeline for his truck.

  “Better hurry, Nessa, looks like your brother is going to bolt.” Not that it would deter Brendon. He would meet the man one way or another.

  “Oh no, he isn’t!” Nessa declared, stomping on the hybrid’s brake pedal. She slapped the gearstick in park and jumped out, running after her brother. He watched Ezekiel’s back stiffen, saw him hesitate as though he were contemplating leaving his sister there, hollering in the graveyard. Of course he didn’t. Brendon hadn’t thought he would, not after the way Enessa had talked about her brother.

  Ezekiel turned around to catch Nessa, who almost smacked right into him. Brendon gasped when he saw the man in person, he couldn’t help himself. That man was just so gorgeous, so fine that Brendon felt a quiver of uncertainty as he practically popped out of the little car to stand by Gloria. For once he worried about his looks, even if it made him feel like a vain fool. He simply didn’t know if he was attractive enough to catch Zeke’s attention, and that was a fear he’d never had before regarding another man.

  Doesn’t matter, he thought as he watched the interaction between the siblings. He wanted the man, and would do his damnedest to make it happen. Even though it was obvious from watching Enessa and Ezekiel that he wouldn’t have the opportunity just yet. Zeke was shaking his head at Enessa, then paused to hear her out on something, agreeing with whatever it was she said this time.

  Never once did Zeke look over and notice the two people waiting by the car, but rather than be offended, Brendon thought it might work in his favor. If the man didn’t notice him, then he wouldn’t be wary about meeting him. It would all work out, he’d make it work out. Determination and hope coursed through him as he stood still, enjoying the gentle breeze that wafted around him. Enessa’s grin when she headed back toward them fed that hope, as did her words.

  “Zeke’s not up to company right now, he has to get back to the ranch, but y’all are invited to supper tonight. With us both.” Nessa and Gloria smiled and waggled their eyebrows at Brendon, who couldn’t tamp down his own answering grin. He was just glad the girls couldn’t see the way his cock had tented his pants, again. Maybe tonight he would find some relief.

  Chapter Two

  Zeke finished the work he had scheduled for the day, and after stopping to check with his ranch hands, Charlie and Miguel, he managed to slip through the side door of the house. Tired, sore and generally just ready to go to bed, he was wishing he’d never agreed to supper with Nessa and her buddies. A sound caught his attention, and Zeke paused outside the door to his room, recognizing Nessa’s and her friend Gloria’s voices.

  It was the darkly sexy masculine voice that froze him in his tracks. That voice smoothed over his cock like a warm tongue. Zeke grew erect so fast he almost felt dizzy. He couldn’t make out what was being said, but the sound of laughter soon followed, and suddenly the idea of supper with Enessa’s friends, at least one of them, didn’t seem so bad—even if he had to sit through the meal with a hard-on. Zeke listened a few more minutes, then slipped inside his room.

  Stripping quickly for his shower, Zeke stared down at his dick, watching it tap against his taut belly, begging for attention. He thought about grabbing it, stroking himself until he came, which wouldn’t take much at this point. He hadn’t slipped away to Fort Worth to find someone to get off with since before Mama had died, and had been taking care of it himself when he couldn’t hold off any longer. This, though… Well, he was flat-out hornier than he could ever remember being, but he didn’t want to do anything about it. Not yet, anyway. Not until he had matched a face to the voice that had caused this reaction. Decision made, Zeke turned the hot water off, hoping the cold would blast his cock into submission.

  Zeke debated using the blow dryer on his hair, but after spending several minutes combing out the mid-back length mass, he decided that enough time had been spent on grooming. His cock was still semi-erect, and Zeke tried not to think about why it was still in such a state as he slid on a black pair of jeans. He grabbed a tight black tee and put on his socks and boots, then topped it all off with his black Stetson. Good enough, he hoped, for tonight’s guest.

  It didn’t occur to him that the man in the kitchen might be one of the girls’ date until he was almost to the kitchen. The very thought caused him to stumble, and accomplished what the cold shower hadn’t—his cock went soft with disappointment. Bracing himself in the hall, Zeke took a deep breath and could have sworn he smelled his mother’s scent.

  He felt his chest tighten with panic, then the sweet smell had the effect it often did. Calmness washed over him, helping him to breathe and focus his thoughts. By the time he pushed away from the wall, Zeke was back to himself, though he didn’t regain his erection.

  Until he stepped in the kitchen and saw the owner of the voice, or rather, the back of the man. And it was a very fine back, broad shouldered and lean muscled, showcased in a white T-shirt, tapering down to a narrow waist and hips, a beautiful firm ass, and long legs that Zeke wanted to feel flung over his shoulders. His cock sprang back to life so fast that Zeke grunted, then immediately moved to take a seat when he realized the man, along with Nessa and Gloria, had heard him.

  “Zeke! I thought you were going to stand us up there for a few minutes!” Enessa teased, walking over to him. He started to explain about ranches and constant work, but the words froze in his throat as he finally got a look at the man in the white tee. Zeke managed to snap his mouth shut before he made a bigger fool of himself, but there was no way he could look away from the fire he saw burning in those light brown eyes. Moisture slipped from the head of his dick, enough that he now had the added worry of standing up and revealing a wet spot.

  Nessa and Gloria gave each other some look Zeke knew he would never decipher, and didn’t really care to as the man with the pretty eyes stepped around the table. He reached out a hand to Zeke, smiling and showing off a dimple that did all kinds of things to Zeke’s cock.

  “Brendon Shanahan, Gloria’s cousin. Nice to finally meet you, Ezekiel. Nessa’s told me a lot about you.” Brendon winked at him when he added that last bit, and Zeke felt the tips of his ears burn. Somehow, he managed to reach out and shake Brendon’s hand, but words were simply beyond him. He nodded, keeping his eyes locked on the man’s even as Zeke started to let go of the guest’s hand. Except…Zeke felt Brendon’s reluctance to release his hand, felt the gentle caress of fingers as he lowered his hand to the tabletop.

  Zeke finally made himself look away, only to find Nessa sliding the plate of fried chicken into the oven. What’s she doing that for? Gloria had left the kitchen, not that he had noticed when it happened. Brendon pulled up a chair beside Zeke as Enessa walked over and tipped back Zeke’s hat. She planted a big, smacking kiss on his forehead, then stepped back, edging to the kitchen door.

  “What—? Where are you going, Nessa?” Zeke was glad his voice didn’t crack, and doubly glad it finally worked.

  Nessa looked around a little nervously, smiling first at Brendon then Zeke. “Well, um, we, ah, we didn’t think…um. Gloria?” Enessa was almost out of the kitchen door when Gloria p
opped her head in, grinning from ear to ear.

  “She means we didn’t think about how to exit and leave you two alone. Subterfuge is so not our thing. Bye!” Gloria’s head, along with the part of Enessa that was still visible, disappeared as Zeke sat there, stunned and so embarrassed he felt his lungs start to seize up. Breathe, he told himself, closing his eyes to try to battle back the panic he felt welling inside. Not now, not in front of Brendon, please God.

  “Hey, it’s okay, Ezekiel. I can leave if you want.” Brendon spoke in a soothing tone.

  Zeke kept his eyes shut, all too aware that his breathing was too fast, too irregular. He thought he shook his head slightly, but knew he’d failed when he heard Brendon’s chair scrape against the kitchen floor. Zeke’s heart kicked into overdrive when a hand touched his shoulder, and another cupped his cheek, turning his head to the side.

  “But I’d much rather stay, if that’s all right with you.” Brendon’s breath fluttered against his lips, so close Zeke knew he had only to lean in a little bit. He opened his eyes, surprised to find the man squatted down beside him, those sweet brown eyes soft with understanding. Zeke lowered his gaze to Brendon’s plush lips and his panic start to subside. It couldn’t compete with his need to taste the tempting mouth so near his own.

  “Stay,” he managed to get out before moving in that last little bit and lowering his mouth to Brendon’s. Zeke groaned when his tongue met the other man’s, the flavor exploding throughout his senses, his cock jerking and releasing more pre-cue as he reached out to pull Brendon to him. The hand that cupped his face slid down, across Zeke’s shoulder and lower still until it found his nipple, already hard and aching. Zeke moaned his approval as their tongues twined together and Brendon scraped at the nipple with his thumbnail.

  Zeke’s back arched so fast his hat fell off and he almost slid out of his chair. Grabbing Brendon by the arms, Zeke pulled him up as he stood without breaking their kiss. He steered them to the living room, knowing he’d never make it to the bedroom, never survive the walk. Twisting around, Zeke fell back onto the couch, pulling Brendon on top of him and reaching down to grab his firm ass.

  Brendon threw his head back, groaning as he thrust his cock against Zeke’s. “Need to…ah, God, Zeke,” Brendon panted, pushing himself up on his knees between Zeke’s thighs. “Clothes. Get them off.” He jerked off his own shirt before reaching down and tugging the hem of Zeke’s tee from his waistband. Zeke rose up enough to pull the shirt off over his head, then reached out and stroked Brendon’s nipples, pinching the hard buds. Brendon moaned and unfastened the snap on his pants before pushing them and his underwear down his thighs.

  The sight of Brendon’s cock, the fat crown glistening with moisture, had Zeke’s hands stilling on Brendon’s nipples. It’d been too long since Zeke had seen another man like this, touched a dick other than his own. He slid his hands quickly down Brendon’s hard abs, unable to fully appreciate the firm muscles there when something much more tempting was so close to his fingertips.

  “Oh, God, Brendon, you’re so thick, so…” Zeke trailed off, eyes wide as he ran his thumb over Brendon’s glistening cockhead, pressing slightly on the slit. With a low groan, Brendon grabbed his hand, stilling the movement.

  “Going to come if you keep doing that, Ezekiel,” he explained, then stood to pull off the rest of his clothes. Zeke straightened and started to unbutton his jeans, but Brendon stopped him and waited until Zeke met his gaze. Only then did he bend down and pick up his discarded pants. Zeke watched him dig through the pockets and pull out a strip of condoms. He tossed them on the floor beside the couch with one hand while dropping the jeans behind him with the other.

  “You had a plan or something, Brendon?” Zeke teased, enjoying the way a bright blush swept over Brendon’s body. Nope, he decided it didn’t offend him in the least that Brendon had come out here with the idea of seducing him somewhere on his list of things to do. Zeke knew, judging by the hardness of his own erection, that particular part of him was really glad about the whole seduction scheme.

  “Yes,” Brendon admitted, not a trace of humor in his steady gaze. “I’ve wanted you since…since Gloria showed me your picture weeks ago. Enessa and Gloria thought we’d, uhm, get along.”

  Well, then, hallelujah, and far be it from Zeke to deny either of them this night. He admired the way Brendon didn’t flinch or beat around the bush—he’d stood proud and almost daring when he made his proclamation. The man both humbled him and made him want to fuck until they were boneless lumps. Even knowing Gloria and Nessa had been priming Brendon, feeding him information on him, couldn’t douse the sheer need Zeke was feeling. He was hot, he was horny, and his cock was so hard he could hammer nails with it.

  Zeke was also determined to meet Brendon’s honesty tit for tat even if it was embarrassing. “I haven’t…been with anyone in over four years,” he offered. The effect that statement had on Brendon was immediate and apparent. His whole body vibrated with a level of anticipation Zeke could almost feel.

  “Well, then,” Brendon drawled, reaching to unbutton Zeke’s jeans, “maybe it’s time we stopped talking and…” Zeke’s cock nearly burst out from its confines as a swift jerk from Brendon freed all the buttons at once. He watched as Brendon paused when he saw how big the cock was that he had just released.

  “Damn, Ezekiel, that thing is almost…illegal,” he muttered before tracing a prominent vein running down one side. Zeke took Brendon’s hand and cupped it around his dick, hips jerking when the man fisted the heavy length.

  “It’ll fit, you’ll fit it just fine, but I want…” Zeke sucked in a breath as Brendon pumped his cock, “I want you to fuck me, Brendon.” Brendon’s head jerked up, hand stilling on Zeke’s shaft.

  “You sure, Zeke? ’Cause we can…either way, you know?”

  He had seen that quick flash of fear in Brendon’s eyes, and Zeke didn’t view it as a sacrifice to be on the receiving end tonight. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d bottomed. Generally, he did prefer to top but he wanted to feel the man’s long, thick cock spearing his ass. Zeke kissed Brendon, intending for it to be a soft, reassuring kiss, but it quickly became a mashing of lips, nipping teeth and thrusting tongues. When Zeke was finally able to make himself pull away, he was breathing like he’d run a marathon.

  “You include lube, baby, in all your planning?” Zeke teased, fighting the desire to cross his fingers in hope. The way Brendon pinked up all over again practically answered the question for him.

  “Yeah, yeah, just let me…” Brendon turned back to dig through his pants pockets again, finding the little packets of lube he had brought with him. He turned and almost dropped the lube while grabbing the base of his dick and squeezing hard. Zeke had pretty much hoped for such an effect when he’d turned and bent at the waist, forearms braced on the arm of the couch. There was something to be said for the element of surprise, even if Brendon had planned to get in his…pants.

  “Holy shit!” Brendon looked so stunned Zeke felt a moment of doubt. Maybe he should have taken a more subtle position, but he did have a reason for this one.

  “Brendon,” he murmured, voice heavy with need, “I need… I can’t, my knee sometimes it acts up and I can’t, can’t…but I…” Goddamned bigots and their pipes. Zeke felt like a bashful teenager fumbling through his first time.

  “I know, Zeke, I know. Just, man, you’re so damned sexy it sucks the air right outta my lungs.” Brendon tore open the packet of lube, coating his fingers and cock with it. He trailed his fingers over Zeke’s balls, following the crease above them until he found the tight ring of flesh he sought. Zeke growled, startling himself, as Brendon stroked the sensitive opening, teasing and tormenting with each touch. Zeke thought he was going to go crazy by the time Brendon slowly, steadily, slid one finger into the tight channel.

  Zeke went from growling to groaning as he pushed his ass back, riding Brendon’s finger.

  “More,” he ordered, glaring over his shoulder at Brend
on until he complied and worked a second finger in deep and hard. When those probing fingers lightly rubbed Zeke’s prostate, he couldn’t stop the hoarse yell that was torn from him. It was bliss and agony, because as great as it felt, his aching dick still needed some friction. Brendon seemed to understand, even without Zeke begging like he wanted to…if his pride would have allowed it. A rough hand slid over Zeke’s hip, then snaked around to grab his cock, spreading the leaking pre-cum around the flared head. Both of Brendon’s hands began moving in synch, stroking Zeke inside and out.

  “So fucking hot,” Brendon gritted out. The hand fisting Zeke’s dick moved faster while Brendon’s fingers curled inside him, pegging Zeke’s gland again and again. Zeke bucked wildly, hands clawing into the furniture as his cock pulsed and his balls drew up tight, spurting cum through Brendon’s fingers.

  When his vision finally shook off the orgasm-induced haze, Zeke watched as Brendon brought his spunk-covered hand to his lips. Eyes glued to Zeke’s, he flicked his tongue out and licked the white globs from his fingers. God. Damn. And the man thought he was hot? Brendon had him beat, hands down.

  “You taste so good,” Brendon ground out, pulling his fingers from Zeke’s stretched opening. “Gonna fuck you now.”