|
The Lay of the Land
| Season: |
None |
| Spoilers: |
None. |
| Rating: |
18 |
| Story Type: |
Short Story |
| Past Life:
|
Late 19th Century. American Old West
|
| Warnings: |
This one contains a little taste of
Bottom Jack ;-) |
| Notes: |
Thanks to Cimmie and Teresa for the
beta :-) |
| Word Count: |
11,394 |
“Yoohoo! Sheriff!”
Jack O’Neill turned to face the voice calling him, finding
the madam from the brothel – ahem, saloon – a few doors down smiling and nearly
on top of him. He smiled and tipped his hat. “Miss Anna. Can I do something to
help you?”
Anna Reilly chuckled, reaching up to clutch her
precariously perched hat and new wig. She tapped his chest when she reached the
tall, silver haired law officer. “Well now, that depends if you’d like to take
me up on my standing offer. It’s not every man in town I offer personal service
to, Sheriff.”
His grin widened and he caught her hand between his. “Why
thank you, but I’m afraid I can’t do that, Miss Anna.”
“I’d have been more surprised if you had,” she sighed. “I
got some new girls in, Sheriff, if you’re so inclined to do with one of them
instead.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” he chuckled, releasing her, “but–“
“Oh, nonsense, Sheriff, you most certainly could, however,
if you’re not interested in one of my girls – or me – then you should at least
walk me home and have a drink with me. I’ve got a new bartender, too, he’s from
back east, cute little thing. To tell you the truth, I hired him for his
buttocks.”
Jack blinked. “Excuse me?”
Anna tapped his chest again and looked at him knowingly.
“Fabulous behind on him, Sheriff. It’s not only you men that notice things of
that sort. He’s got a pretty face, too, but it was really his behind I noticed
first. He could be dumb as a stump, though I don’t think he is, but he can pour
drinks and he can keep an eye on my girls and that’s what matters.” She pulled
Jack along, looping her arm through his and heading toward her saloon. “Come,
Sheriff, walk me home. Truth to tell, I’ve even asked him if he might be
interested in a more lucrative position than bartender, but he’s refused. It’s a
shame really, I don’t get that many pretty men passing through here and he could
make me a bundle, I’m sure. The men would pay a handsome price once they saw
that derriere,” she sighed mournfully.
Fighting not to laugh and control his surprise at the same
time, Jack patted her hand and kept his eyes facing forward. “Imagine how
difficult life would become for him had he said yes, Miss Anna. The other men in
town might not think too highly of one that took on that sort of position, and
wish him ill will. His safety couldn’t always be guaranteed.” He glanced down
sharply when he heard a loud snort, and found her looking up at him.
“Please, Sheriff. Hypocrites are what they’d be, and
they’d be putting him out of commission and they wouldn’t want to do that. Half
the men around here and plenty of those that travel through here don’t care as
long as they’ve someone under them. Rutting animals, it’s what most of them are.
Present company excluded, of course,” she added, winking and smiling.
“Thank you,” Jack chuckled. He listened as she continued
to press her point, pointing out how if the men were anything else, she wouldn’t
do nearly as well as she did. In fact, she’d be out of business and wearing a
dress that buttoned up to her neck. Jack decided it was none too soon when they
arrived at her doors. He released her arm and tipped his hat again. “It’s been a
pleasure, ma’am.”
Her hand shot out and curled around his wrist, dragging
him in behind her. “You promised me a drink, Sheriff, on inside with you.”
Jack frowned, but allowed himself to be led along… to the
best of his recollection, he’d done no such thing – it’d been her who’d invited
him for a drink.
“Yoohoo! Daniel!”
Daniel Jackson straightened from behind the bar, setting
the now clean glass on top of it. “Miss Anna.”
Anna sailed up to the bar, parking herself on one of the
seats in front of the bartender and not releasing her captive until he settled
beside her. She peeked in the mirror and gave her wig a gentle nudge to set it
back straight. “Daniel Jackson, I’d like you to meet Sheriff Jack O’Neill.
Sheriff, this is my new bartender.”
Jack smiled and nodded. “Nice to meet you, Mister
Jackson.”
Daniel put his hand out and shook the other man’s when he
gripped it. “Same here, Sheriff. Can I get you and your guest a drink, Miss
Anna?”
“Whiskey, straight up.” She leaned over and nudged Jack as
she pointed to a bottle over the bar. “From that one, Daniel.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Daniel pulled a stool over and hopped onto
it, reaching for the bottle.
“I told you it was a beautiful sight,” she whispered
conspiratorially. “I bought him some tighter pants while I was out shopping,
too.”
Jack was unable to hold back the smile and laugh at that
one, and glanced quickly up at the vision, then turned back to her. “To be such
a nice lady, you have some very bad thoughts, Miss Anna.”
The madam laughed with him. “It’s a cold, cruel world,
Sheriff, and I have to take the beauty where I find it.”
Daniel set the bottle on the bar and pushed the stool
away, wondering what the two had been laughing and whispering about. He poured
two glasses and set them in front of the occupants. “Anything else, Miss Anna,
Sheriff?”
“Just the pleasure of your company, Daniel,” Anna smiled,
pushing a package toward him. “Your new uniform.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he smiled, tucking it behind the bar.
Jack sipped his drink. “So, Mister Jackson, what brings
you to our little town?”
“A new start, Sheriff, and please, call me Daniel,” he
answered with a friendly smile.
“It’s a nice little place, I like to think.”
“With the most handsome sheriff around,” Anna agreed,
trailing her fingers over the black coat sleeve.
Jack looked down, then stopped the roving hand and smiled.
“Thank you, Miss Anna.” He belted back what was left of his drink and stood up,
catching and holding the clear, blue eyes of the bartender. “Now you two have a
lovely evening and I’ll be seeing both of you.”
Anna pouted. “Come on, Jack, you don’t have to rush off.
Are you sure you don’t want to go upstairs for a while? I don’t even have any of
the new girls down here yet, I’m saving them for tonight.”
“I’m positive,” he assured her, “but thank you for the
offer. Mister Jackson, Daniel,” he corrected.
“You have a good evening, too, Sheriff,” Daniel smiled. He
watched the tall, lean man walk out and focused on his employer. “Anything I
should know about the good sheriff, Miss Anna?”
She finished her drink as well and signaled for a bit
more. “Sheriff’s a good man. He’s never paid us a personal visit, and he’s not
married, so I’m not sure where he finds his satisfaction, I just know it’s not
here. I try to tempt him, goodness knows I’d do that one myself if he’d take me
up on it, but he doesn’t. I keep hoping to sway him one day. Just be nice to him
whenever you see him and things should be fine.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Daniel glanced at the doors again, wondering
about the law man and silently echoing his employer’s thoughts on how the man
might be finding his satisfaction.
~
Jack savored his slice of fresh cherry pie, smiling as he
let it warm and flavor his mouth. When his eyes opened, he found the lady of the
house standing across from him. “Miss Emma, I don’t know how you do it, but your
pies are enough to bring tears of joy to a man’s eyes.”
“I’m just glad to see someone who truly enjoys it,
Sheriff.” She sat down and played with her sleeves. “So the town fair is coming
up…” Emma bucked up her courage and looked into the brown eyes, “and I was
wondering if I might impose on you to escort me,” she asked softly.
The frown knit his brow and Jack looked down at his pie,
put on a grin and lifted his face. “It’d be my pleasure. I’ll come for you just
before lunchtime?” He watched the relieved smile blossom as she nodded and rose
to her feet, taking a few steps before stopping and giving him another shy
smile. He made quick work of the rest of his pie and wiped his mouth, finishing
his coffee and going for a fast exit, sighing when he was outside. He never
would’ve invited Emma had she not pointedly asked him, but when put on the spot,
what was he to do other than be a gentleman?
When he found himself close to Anna’s house of ill repute,
he stopped, thinking about her new bartender. She’d been correct in her
assessment of the man’s appearance, his butt in particular – it had been quite
the sight and just as firm and round as she’d described. He shook himself – he
had no business thinking such thoughts. That part of his life had been over for
quite a while. He glanced up when the doors opened and leaned back against the
clapboard wall, watching the very object of his thoughts help someone out.
“Ramsey, I think you’ve had quite enough to drink tonight
and I’d hate to see you say the wrong thing to the wrong person. Just go walk it
off on your way home, okay?”
“Don’ feel like leavin’,” the drunken man slurred.
Jack kicked his foot up against the wall and tipped his
hat back, arms folded over his chest. “Donny, you heard what Daniel said. I
suggest you do what he told you unless you’d like to spend the night in a cell.”
Donny Ramsey snorted, but weaved down to the street,
casting a baleful look back although continuing on his way.
Daniel smiled and turned to face the shadowed man. “Thank
you, Sheriff. Care to come in for a nightcap for your trouble?” He watched the
sheriff straighten up and smile, and hoped the answer would be affirmative.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m heading on home. Sun’ll
be up bright and early and I’ll need to be minding the jail.”
“Perhaps lunch then?” Daniel offered instead. “Considering
I’m new to your town, I don’t think there’s a better man to give me the lay of
the land than the town’s officer of the law.”
Jack mentally kicked himself as he nodded – he’d do much
better not to be around temptation. “Come by the office tomorrow and we’ll go
eat together.” He’d as soon stop breathing as keep his hand at his side when it
lifted and patted the bartender’s shoulder. “Have a good evening, Daniel.”
“You too, Sheriff,” Daniel smiled, observing the jaunty
gait of the rapidly moving law man.
~
The barred door clanked when Jack closed it. “Now don’t
let me find you trying to sleep off a drunk spell in the middle of the
Morrison’s garden again, Wilson. If you’re going to overdo it, try doing it
somewhere you won’t have to leave, ya hear?”
“I hear, Sheriff. Sorry for any trouble.”
Jack grinned and walked the man to the door, finding an
alert Daniel Jackson on the other side. “Daniel!”
“Sheriff.”
The generous mouth curved upward, drawing Jack’s stare
until the newly freed man elbowed his way past the one still standing in the
doorway. “See ya, Sheriff.”
Jack gathered his wits and looked past the broad
shoulders. “Let’s hope not in an official capacity.” He stepped back and
gestured Daniel to enter. “I’ve got to make notes on Wilson and then I’ll be
ready.”
Daniel looked around before settling in the seat opposite
the other man. “I thought we might go to Emma Hanson’s. Anna said she’s a prude,
but also a hell of a cook.”
“She’s a nice lady,” Jack gently corrected, working on his
papers. “And of course Anna thinks she’s a prude. She is right about her cooking
ability though… Miss Emma makes fresh pie every day, so wonderful it’ll melt in
your mouth.” He reckoned he’d be safe enough to go to her boarding house for
lunch with Daniel in tow, and as soon as he was done, he stood and smiled at his
companion. “Ready?”
“Very. I’m surprised you haven’t heard the commotion from
my stomach,” Daniel grinned.
Jack laughed and led the bartender to the door, taking his
hat from the rack and putting it on before turning to lock the door.
“You don’t have a deputy to watch while you’re away?”
“I do normally, but seein’ as his wife just had their
first ankle biter, he’s tending her and the baby for a few days.”
“That’s kind of him. How about you, Sheriff? Anna said you
weren’t married, but she didn’t mention any children.”
“Nope, none for me,” Jack answered. “I had a wife, but she
didn’t take to being away from home, called it the devil’s land, said it was
full of heathens and corruption, so I put her on a train back east and received
divorce papers within a year.” He didn’t add that she’d nearly caught him in a
compromising position with a neighbor and while she hadn’t seen much of
anything, she’d suspected and accused, and thus he couldn’t get her to the train
station fast enough.
“You don’t sound too pained over it,” Daniel observed,
seeing a shrug from his companion.
“There wasn’t a whole lot of love there. I’d known her for
a long time, our families were close and we were expected to get married so we
did. How about you, Mister Jackson… did you leave a wife or children behind on
your way out here?”
“No,” Daniel laughed, “never married, certainly never had
children. I needed a change and this seemed like the best place to find it.”
Jack smiled. “I like it out here and I agree, it’s a good
place to start over. If I were to look into your life back east, I wouldn’t find
anything to worry about, would I, Daniel?”
Daniel’s brows rose and he looked over at Jack. “No,
Sheriff, you wouldn’t. Can I ask if you’re this thorough with every new town
citizen, or am I special for some reason?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” Jack said, softening it with a
wink and opening a door. “This is Miss Emma’s.”
Delightful scents wafted around him as soon as he entered,
and Daniel decided Anna and Jack were both right about the owner’s cooking
skills before he even got a bite. He saw a petite blond woman enter the dining
room bearing plates and then watched her flush as she caught sight of the
sheriff. He looked over and saw Jack had seen the same thing.
“Let’s grab that table in the corner,” Jack suggested,
slightly separating them from the rest of the occupants.
Daniel nodded and followed, taking the chair across from
the law man but facing the kitchen. He wasn’t surprised when the blond made a
beeline for them.
“Sheriff,” Emma greeted with a smile, and then looked at
the other man.
“Miss Emma,” Jack nodded. “Meet Daniel Jackson, he’s Miss
Anna’s new bartender. Daniel, this is Miss Emma Murphy.”
“Hello,” Daniel offered, not sure what else to say
considering the instant tightening of her face when Anna’s name had been
mentioned.
“Mister Jackson. We have chicken and dumplings and a pork
roast today, and I’ve a nice blackberry cobbler or apple pie for dessert.”
“I’ll take the pork, Daniel, how about you?”
“I’ll try that, too.” Once Emma had left to get their
lunch, Daniel leaned forward and smiled. “I don’t think she likes me much. I
take it she and Anna don’t get along?”
“No,” Jack grinned. “Miss Emma has problems with Anna’s
profession.”
Daniel nodded. “Understandable. I’d imagine a lot of the
women that don’t work for Anna have problems with her profession.”
Jack had to agree. “Neither Anna nor her girls have much
to do with the other womenfolk of the town.” He hesitated momentarily to bring
up Anna’s original plan for the bartender, but forged ahead. “Anna did mention
to me that she’d offered you a position other than bartender and you refused.”
A light blush colored Daniel’s cheeks. “Er, yes, she did.
She seems to think there might be some customers that’d take a fancy to me over
the ladies. I didn’t think accepting that position would be the smartest thing
for me to do.”
“Good thinking. Even if you were so inclined to be with
men yourself, I couldn’t protect you all the time and that’s more or less what I
told Anna.”
Glancing around, Daniel assured himself no one else could
overhear their conversation. “She’s going to do it, you know. She’s looking; she
has every intention of hiring a man as an alternative. Will you visit more often
once she does, Sheriff?”
Jack frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean? I don’t
utilize anyone’s services there, Daniel. I haven’t in the past and I don’t
intend to start.”
“No offense intended, I just wondered if you would stop by
and make your presence known once she hires him.”
Sighing Jack folded his arms. “You’ve got a point. I guess
I’ll have to do that and make sure my low tolerance for stupidity gets around.”
It wouldn’t be a bad thing to see more of the sheriff,
Daniel decided. “Moving on to something else…” he trailed off when Emma came
back to the table bearing their lunch, and watched Jack lean back to make room
for her.
“Smells wonderful, as always,” Jack said appreciatively.
Emma smiled at the praise. “Thank you, Sheriff. I was
wondering if you might have a favorite color?” she inquired, getting Daniel’s
plate next, and giving them both large glasses of iced tea.
“Um, peridot?” he offered, a slight crease to his brow,
wondering at the question.
Daniel grinned. “That’s an interesting choice.”
Jack shrugged. “It’s not black even though I have to wear
it every day.”
“But it’s not plain green either, since you specified
peridot.”
“And? So? Therefore?” Jack winked at him. “There’re a lot
of shades of green – I like peridot.”
“Peridot,” Emma murmured, mind running through her closet,
hoping she had a dress with something near that shade in it. “Enjoy your lunch,
gentlemen.”
“Thank you, Miss Emma.”
“Yes, thank you,” Daniel added. When they were alone
again, Daniel voiced his observation. “She fancies you. A lot. Looking to be
marriage material again, Sheriff?”
Jack swallowed quickly and glared, reaching for his tea.
“No.”
Daniel’s brows rose at the defiant tone. “Is that directed
at marriage in general, or Miss Emma in particular?”
‘Women,’ Jack thought. “Marriage,” he answered. “Tried it
once, not for me.”
“Is it the whole monogamous aspect?”
The sheriff leaned back. “You’re full of questions today,
aren’t you?”
“I want to get to know you.”
“Why?”
“Why not?” Daniel countered. “Miss Emma and Anna certainly
think there’s something worth getting to know.”
“Yeah, and it’s acquiring my last name for one and
acquiring what’s in my pants for the other,” Jack snorted.
Daniel chuckled after momentary surprise. “One sounds
infinitely more interesting than the other.”
Jack directed a sharp look at the man sitting across from
him, finding the bright blue eyes still twinkling. “Enjoying a laugh at my
expense, Mister Jackson?”
“Not at all, Sheriff O’Neill, just commenting. I’d imagine
being part of an illicit tryst would be much more fun than attending a wedding.”
Unable to resist the banter that seemed to come so
naturally, Jack arched a brow. “So you’re thinking three definitely wouldn’t be
a crowd if I spent an afternoon indoors with Anna and… you?”
His expression softened but Daniel held the other man’s
gaze. “I’d think it would be the less boring of the two… don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do,” Jack whispered, momentarily wondering if
he’d lost his sanity, then trying quickly to make up for it. “If that were the
sort of thing we were both interested in,” he said, shrugging and looking at his
food, scooping up another bite.
“Of course,” Daniel murmured in agreement, realizing that
bit of the conversation was over, but noting the sheriff said it with no rancor
or intolerance for the notion. “So do you think she had a particular reason for
wanting to know your favorite color? She might be knitting you a scarf or
blanket perhaps?”
Jack sighed. “No, no knitting. She asked me to escort her
to the town fair in a couple days, so I suppose it’s more likely to be related
to that.”
“She asked you to take her?” Daniel asked, surprise
evident. “Maybe she’s just as forward as Anna, only masking it with politeness.
I’d prefer Anna’s directness myself.”
“I guess so, since you work for Anna instead of Emma,”
Jack chuckled.
Daniel shrugged. “Yeah. You don’t seem to be overly
enthused about being her escort.”
“I couldn’t say no. She flat out asked me if I’d go with
her, Daniel. What should I have said? Really rather not, but thanks for asking?”
Jack caught and held his lunch partner’s eyes again. “Say… why don’t you go with
us? You need to meet people who don’t frequent the saloon anyway, and this will
be a good opportunity for you to do that.”
“Huh,” Daniel sniffed, “more like it’ll be a good
opportunity to run interference for you and keep you from being cornered like a
desperate animal?”
“That too,” Jack grinned. “Be a pal, Daniel, I know you
want to, or else we wouldn’t be sitting here right now. You do this for me and
I’ll even let you bunk at my place if you want to leave Anna’s while you look
for somewhere of your own.”
Daniel’s eyes widened, again taken by surprise by the man
sitting opposite him. “Really?”
“Really. Unless you’re getting other benefits staying
there that you’d not like to give up?”
“No, like you, I don’t use any of the ladies’ considerable
charms. And I’m thinking there’d be benefits to staying with you that I’m not
likely to ever get by continuing to live at Anna’s.” Daniel regarded the sheriff
carefully. He’d already decided his physical attractiveness was no small part of
his charm, and he had a sense of humor and appeared to be clever and witty, too.
He was also of a like mind in that he wasn’t looking for a wife… just how far of
a like man in his preferences was yet to be determined as he hadn’t raised a
ruckus at the light flirting they’d already engaged in. At least in his mind,
the sheriff had flirted right back with him.
He cocked his head and batted his lashes, lips playing in
a grin. “Need I promise not to invite Anna over for that three member playtime?”
Jack had to laugh at the bartender’s audacity, quickly
recovering from the fluttering in his belly that the blue eyes, long lashes and
smile had caused.
Daniel liked what he saw. He liked the long column of
throat that was exposed when Jack’s head went back, and he liked the even teeth
and the warm, amber eyes, not to mention the graying hair. “How old are you,
Sheriff?”
“Forty-three. How about you, Daniel?”
“Thirty-two.”
“So you plan to benefit from the wisdom of my older
years?” Jack teased, looking forward to the younger man accepting his offer more
than he should even while thinking he should laugh it off and tell Daniel he
hadn’t meant it. He should tell him that he could find him a better place to
stay, that they barely even knew one another instead.
Then Daniel took the decision out of his hands.
“I’d be happy to do just that. So when is a good time for
me to move in? I don’t have much, just two trunks.”
“I guess tomorrow morning is as good a time as any,” Jack
incredulously found himself saying.
“So soon?”
“Um, well, you don’t have to.” Jack scrambled, wondering
what was wrong with him – he’d just done something so spontaneous, possibly the
most spontaneous thing in his life, and Daniel was still a stranger for all
intents and purposes.
Daniel saw the doubts as Jack’s expression changed and
began to close off. He worked fast to keep the offer from being rescinded, “No,
tomorrow’s fine.” When he leaned over his plate, he reached out to touch the
other man’s wrist, and rubbed his thumb over the underside of it. “Thanks for
taking me in this way and giving me a chance with the town folk instead of them
just writing me off because I work for Anna. I really appreciate it and it means
a lot that you’re befriending me. You were new to the area once, you know how it
can be difficult to fit in sometimes, I’m sure.”
Jack looked down at the long, slim fingers resting on his
wrist, but made no move to draw away. When his eyes lifted, he wondered if his
gaze was as soft and lingering as the one looking back at him. Of all the men
that came and went through his town, he had to not only meet and make nice with,
but also offer use of his home to one who just might share his… unusual
proclivity?
“Shit.”
Daniel jerked his hand away, alarmed by the curse the
sheriff had uttered. Had he pushed his luck with that touch? It had just seemed
the right thing to do, a way to assure Jack of his sincerity. “I-i-is something
wrong?”
“I don’t know yet,” Jack answered harshly, alarm at having
his orderly life turned upside down by this man at his very own invitation
coloring his tone and mood.
His lips pursed, Daniel pushed food around on his plate.
“Did I just make an ass of myself? Did you not really mean for me to accept that
offer and I just put pressure on you to stick to it?”
Honesty was supposed to be the best policy. “Hey,” Jack
said softly, forcing the blue eyes to lift and meet his. This time he reached
out and caught Daniel’s wrist. “I meant it. I mean it. It’s been a while since
I’ve lived with anyone, so you’ll have to help me get used to it again. It won’t
be a problem, Daniel – I won’t let it.” He smiled, telling himself his statement
was true, that he would keep himself under control and that there wouldn’t be a
problem with Daniel staying in his home.
Daniel probably wasn’t like him anyway, he was probably
reading more into the teasing and the touch and the look than what was there.
It’d just been so long since he’d been with anyone…
“And you’re right, I do know what it’s like to be new
around town and if I can make it any easier for you, I don’t mind helping.”
Daniel smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Jack. You won’t regret
it; I’ll make sure of that.”
“I know I won’t,” Jack agreed, feeling strangely sure of
Daniel’s word and Daniel himself. “You saving room for dessert?”
“Not quite, but Miss Emma’s food is really tasty.”
“That it is.” Jack put money on the table, enough for both
their meals, when they were done. He saw Emma at another table and tipped his
hat to her on their way out. When they reached the jail, he opened the door and
pointed inside. “You coming in here for a while, or going back to Anna’s?”
“I think I’ll go back to Anna’s, need to break the news to
her,” Daniel grinned.
Jack rolled his eyes. “She’s gonna really love me this
time, isn’t she?”
“She’ll get over it.”
“Eventually.”
~
Jack wasn’t surprised when he heard a familiar greeting a
short while later.
“Yoohoo! Sheriff!”
He sighed and looked up as Anna shut the door behind her,
peeking at the cells. “Miss Anna.”
“Anyone else here, Sheriff?”
“Nope, just the two of us.”
“Good. Now what in tarnation are you trying to do, Jack?
Are you trying to steal my Daniel right out from under me? I already told you he
turned me down for the other position I offered him.”
Jack took in the hard set of her lips and the way her
hands were parked on her hips. “I’m not stealing anyone, Anna. I’m an officer of
the law – it’s my job to do good deeds and giving Daniel an opportunity to be
known as someone other than the saloon’s bartender is a good deed. He’s not
quitting, he’s just moving out. There’s something to be said for separation of
duties, you know, and he’s only staying with me until he decides where to settle
himself.”
Anna plopped into the chair. “I’m still not happy with
you, Jack. I like having Daniel on the premises. Ed’s gettin’ so old he’s not
good for much other than sweeping or playing the piano and he’s got it so out of
tune it’d wake the dead. Lucky for me, my customers don’t give a good damn about
his playing, they’re all more interested in my girls.” She crossed her legs and
leaned forward. “Mind you I’m not going to be happy with you over this Daniel
thing for quite a while, Jack, but I might forgive you a smidgen if you tell me
that this rumor I’ve heard about you and Miss Prude going to the town fair
together isn’t true.”
Squirming slightly in his chair, Jack managed to keep his
eyes on Anna’s blue ones that were drilling him. “I guess I really am on your
bad list then, Anna, because it’s true, I’m taking Miss Emma.”
“What on earth is wrong with you, Jack?” she demanded. “I
know I’m considered a bit of a pariah because of my whorehouse – yes, I’ll call
a spade a spade – but at least you’d have a bit of fun if you were with me.
Other than keeping her legs crossed tighter than her corset strings and being
handy in the kitchen, what in the hell does she have to offer that’s better than
what I’ve got?”
“Oh for cryin’ out loud, Anna! Emma’s a nice lady and I’m
taking her to the town fair, not proposing. What do you want from me? Take her
during the day and then take you back at night?”
“Yes!” Anna answered, standing up and smiling. “I’d be
happy to go with you, Sheriff. I’ll be ready at six o’clock on the dot, so dump
Miss Boring off, get cleaned up and come for me. I’ll see you Saturday, Jack. Ta
ta, you handsome thing, you.” She stopped at the door and turned to wink at him.
“Take me home with you and I’ll guarantee you an even better time. Oh, and
Daniel will be there, too, won’t he? I see an exciting night in store for you,
Sheriff!”
Jack stared at the closed door, openmouthed. He got up,
crossed to it quickly, and stuck his head out, seeing Anna waving to everyone
and hotfooting it back to her place. “Anna!”
“Saturday, Sheriff!”
“Well fuck,” he snarled, wondering how he’d ended up with
not one date, but two.
~
Jack set his razor blade down and listened, soon hearing
what he figured to be the second knock on his door. He left his room and walked
through the main room, peeking out the window close to the door and seeing
Daniel and his two trunks. Ah shit… he’d been somewhat hoping Daniel would
change his mind, but that hadn’t happened. He twisted the knob and stepped back,
letting it swing wide open. “I figured I wouldn’t see you until later in the
morning, or early afternoon.”
“Surprise,” Daniel muttered as he quickly recovered from
the vision of Jack’s bare chest and moved up to the still half lathered face.
“Is it inconvenient for me to do this now? I thought I’d get it taken care of
before you left for the day.” Damn, it wouldn’t be difficult to get used to
seeing the sheriff like this every morning.
Jack flushed lightly under the obvious scrutiny,
immediately straightening further and discreetly sucking in his stomach in case
his posture was unflattering. “No, you were obviously thinking further ahead
than me. Now is a perfect time and if you give me a few minutes to finish
shaving, I’ll be glad to help you bring those in,” he offered, gesturing to the
trunks.
“Sounds good… can I come in and look around while you do
that?”
“Of course.” Jack waved his arm as Daniel entered. “This
is where I spend a lot of time, and that,” he said, pointing toward the kitchen,
“doesn’t have a lot of food – we’ll have to rectify that situation.” He looked
back to make sure Daniel was still following and wasn’t sure the other man had
seen anything, considering it looked like his butt was where Daniel’s attention
was focused. He stopped by the mostly empty bedroom and turned to face the
bartender. “This’ll be your room.”
Daniel tore his eyes off the black clad behind and looked
around, seeing the bed, dresser and pitcher and basin set. “It’s bigger than my
room at Anna’s.”
The room wasn’t very big and Jack frowned, wondering just
how much more cramped Daniel had been. “Did she make you live in a closet?”
“No,” Daniel grinned, “but it wasn’t much bigger than one
either. This is very kind, Jack, thanks for letting me stay here.” He licked his
lips slowly. “I’ll find a way to repay you.”
Jack cleared his throat. “Not necessary. I’m just gonna
finish shaving.”
“Okay.” Following him once again, Daniel walked into the
older man’s room, right behind him, and leaned against the wall beside the
mirror over Jack’s basin. He saw the half made bed and smiled. “So, I heard you
have a second date for the fair.” Daniel chuckled at the long groan from the
other man.
Pausing again mid-stroke, Jack looked at him. “I don’t
even know how it happened! She was yelling at me for stealing you out from under
her one minute and then we had a date the next. Hell, she even mentioned what
fun could be had after the fair with all three of us together! Are you sure you
didn’t put that bug in her ear?” he asked suspiciously.
“I’m sure,” Daniel smiled. “I don’t like to share; I
prefer to focus all my energy on pleasing one person at a time.”
“Oh,” Jack whispered noncommittally, resuming his shaving.
“Better watch out, Daniel, or you might wind up with dates you didn’t mean to
make either, if those ladies keep getting their way. I’m sure they both have
friends for you.”
“We’ll just have to tell them I’m unavailable then.”
Jack swiped another stripe, swishing his blade in the
basin. “Nothing short of a wedding band seems to do the trick. I should know,
I’ve tried nearly everything and it’s all been for naught.”
“They prey on the fact you’re a gentleman.”
“Or so they think,” the shirtless man answered, taking his
last stroke and checking his face as he cleaned the blade. He blinked in
surprise when he turned to get the cloth to wipe the excess lather off, and
found Daniel had stepped closer and already held it, raising it and performing
the task for him. “Thanks.”
A slight smile and steady blue gaze answered him. “You’re
welcome. Ready to help me with those trunks now?”
“Yeah, I’ll just put on my shirt.”
“No, don’t.”
“Huh?” Jack asked, brows drawn.
“In case there’s any dirt or grease on the trunks, no need
to chance getting it on a clean shirt,” Daniel explained.
“Ah, makes sense. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” the bartender grinned. He mentally
thanked his new roommate for being an agreeable sort and allowing him a bit
longer to enjoy the view.
Jack led the way and bent down, getting a grip on the
handle. “Lift on three… one, two, three.”
They carried the first trunk in, then returned for the
second, getting both into Daniel’s room to rest at the foot of the bed. Dusting
his hands on his pants, Jack smiled. “Looks like we’re set. I’m going to go
ahead and get dressed, need to get on into town, and you can unpack and get some
rest before you go back to Anna’s. I’ll stop at the dry goods store and bring
some food home with me tonight.”
Daniel dug in his pocket, holding out a few coins and a
couple bills. “I’ll give you more after I unpack; I’ve got the rest of my money
stashed in the trunks.”
The sheriff shrugged and waved it off. “I’ll pay for it,
you save your money. Being new, you’ll need to hang onto as much of it as you
can while you establish yourself.”
“I’m not a charity case,” Daniel insisted stubbornly.
“I know that. I’ll get some seedlings and we’ll plant a
garden, and you can help out around here to earn your keep. With two of us
living here, I’ll need the help a lot more than I’ll need your money, Daniel.”
Jack reached out and clapped the younger man’s shoulder, smiling. “Don’t worry,
you won’t get off easy around here – I’ll make sure of it.”
“I’ll count on that,” Daniel called out as Jack walked
away. He turned a circle in his new room, a grin curving his lips. He wouldn’t
be the new guy for much longer, he had a job, and it looked like he had a
friend… one that might become more if his gut wasn’t steering him wrong. Yep, it
felt like a good day already.
~
Jack kept his smile in place when Emma met him in the
parlor, wearing a light green dress. “Miss Emma. You look lovely.”
“Thank you, Sheriff,” she smiled. “Since you’re being kind
enough to take me to the fair, I thought I might wear something you would like.
This is as close as I had to peridot,” she breathed, looking down and running
her hands over her skirt.
“It’s very nice,” Jack assured her, holding out his arm.
“Shall we go? I’ve heard rumors of pie, cake and fudge.”
“Certainly, Sheriff.”
The slightly beleaguered man struggled not to wince.
“Please, call me Jack. It’s a fair, no need to be quite so formal, is there?”
“Jack,” she smiled, squeezing his arm after tucking hers
inside it.
He escorted her down the street until they reached the
grassy land on the edge of town where various booths and services had been set
up. After checking his watch, he reckoned Daniel should be meeting up with them
shortly. “What would you like to do first, Miss Emma? Care for some lemonade or
a bite to eat?”
“Please, Jack, just Emma. You can drop the ‘Miss’… like
you said, no need to be quite so formal.”
“Very well, Emma… any suggestions?”
“I do have need of some candles,” she said, pointing
toward a stall.
Jack led her to the display, sniffing and commenting
appropriately as she offered them to him for his opinion. The antsy feeling he’d
been suffering with all day continued to intensify – all he could envision was
her dragging him to the local church and finding these candles lighting his way
down the aisle. Once she’d settled on her selection, he felt duty bound to pay
for her purchases and stilled her hand as she reached inside her reticule.
“Allow me.”
Emma reached out and squeezed his arm again, stepping
closer. “Thank you, Jack.”
Daniel rolled his lips together to wipe the smirk off his
face. For a man who didn’t want to get ensnared by a woman, the sheriff seemed
to be having a little trouble figuring out how to discourage said ensnaring. He
walked right up behind the couple and clapped Jack’s shoulder. “Hey, getting us
candles for when we run out of oil? Miss Emma,” he smiled, bowing a bit at the
waist.
“Mister Jackson.”
Yep, that look could’ve frozen boiling water. He wasn’t
welcome by Emma at all, but then he supposed no one would’ve been since she had
the town’s own law man in her grasp.
“Daniel!” Jack bleated, hoping his relief wasn’t showing
as obviously as he was afraid it was.
“Sorry I’m late. So… you getting candles for us?”
Jack grabbed on like a drowning man. He snatched up
several and handed over more money, then pushed the bag at Daniel. “Good idea,
never know when we’ll need them. You remember Daniel, don’t you, Emma?”
“Yes. He works at the… saloon.”
“For Anna, yes, I do,” Daniel smiled. “Have you eaten yet?
I’m starving myself, and I didn’t see any dishes, Jack, so maybe you haven’t
either?”
“No, no, I didn’t. Food sounds good. I think they have
some meat pies over there.”
Daniel turned and looked toward the stall. “Let’s go then,
and it’s my treat.”
Jack knew better than to object to the younger man paying,
so he followed and graciously accepted the food given to him. “Daniel’s been
making his way out here for several months now,” he told Emma, trying to get her
to warm up to their companion. “He’s worked an assortment of jobs; bartending is
yet another skill he’s picked up. Who knows,” Jack said, winking in Daniel’s
direction, “I might turn him into a deputy before all’s said and done.”
Daniel’s brows went up and he sat down beside the older
man. “Don’t count on that one. I stay on the right side of the law – I’ve never
cared to be the long arm of it.”
“We’ll see.” Jack sat down once Emma had, taking the seat
across from her, and beside Daniel.
Both men spent the afternoon trying to involve Emma in
conversations, with Jack finding the entire situation much more tolerable and
manageable with Daniel a part of it, instead of him being her entire focus, but
he was none too upset when the time came to take her home. He stayed outside her
door as they said goodbye, thanking her for a lovely afternoon, and sighing with
relief when the door closed.
“You’ve just repaid me for quite a while yet to come,
Mister Jackson,” the sheriff chuckled, patting Daniel’s back as they walked
away. “I’m glad you showed up when you did since I really didn’t know what to do
with her.”
“You could’ve fooled me,” Daniel teased. “You had her
eating out of your hand until I showed up. She really doesn’t like me.”
“And I don’t know why.” Jack frowned, thinking about it.
“If it’s because you work for Anna, that’s pretty narrow minded of her, but I
can’t think of any other reason she wouldn’t – you’ve done nothing but be nice
to her.” If Emma’s problem with Daniel was that, she would have a much bigger
problem with him, should she ever discover his preferences.
He hadn’t been grateful only for Daniel’s presence in
making his communication with Emma easier, but also because it gave him a chance
to spend more time with the man. One would think that with the two of them under
the same roof, they would have been tripping over one another, but that was
nowhere near the case yet, not with their disparate working hours. He was
distracted from his thoughts when Daniel nudged him. “Hmm?”
“Now you just have to get through the evening with Anna.”
“Don’t remind me,” Jack groaned. “Talking to Anna won’t be
a problem, her roving hands though… she can put a drunken man in a whorehouse to
shame.”
Daniel laughed. “Anna knows a good thing when she gropes
him. Unfortunately, I have to work, so you’re on your own with her.” More was
the pity, the bartender figured, seeing as there was bound to be more fun had
with Anna than there had been with the prim Miss Emma. At least Anna liked him.
“Are you sure you can’t get someone to cover for you?”
“I’m sure.” Daniel reached over rubbed between Jack’s
shoulders. “Good luck.”
“Yeah, thanks,” Jack muttered, sighing again. He closed
his eyes and tensed up as soon as they entered the saloon and Anna’s typical
greeting went out.
“Yoohoo! Sheriff!” Anna sashayed over, a broad smile on
her face. “Well lookee here, if it isn’t my favorite lawman and my favorite
bartender.” She turned in a circle, fluttering her lashes at them. “What d’ya
think, Sheriff? Am I a sight for sore eyes or what?”
Jack grinned, looking at Anna’s scarlet shaded dress and
bountiful curves. “You certainly are, Anna. Shall we have a drink before we go?”
“Why the hell not. Serve us up, Daniel. Me and the sheriff
are gonna have a good time tonight, aren’t we, Jack?”
“It’ll be interesting, to say the least,” Jack murmured.
“That’s the spirit,” Anna chuckled, leaning up against her
date. She caught Daniel’s wrist when he went to go behind the bar. “If I
could’ve let you have the night off, we could’ve all gone back to Jack’s and had
a really good time,” she winked.
Daniel patted her hand. “One at a time, Anna, it makes it
better for everyone involved.”
Anna shook her head. “You boys just don’t know how to have
fun. Whiskey all the way around, Daniel, then me ‘n the sheriff are off to get
the rumor mill grinding.”
Jack’s smile was weak and pained when Anna’s hand shot out
and he felt a sharp pinch on his behind. He downed the whiskey, sent Daniel a
pitiful look, and let himself be pulled along behind the madam.
~
Daniel carried his oil lamp and walked through the house
quietly, bypassing his own room and stopping at Jack’s. He carefully opened the
door, somewhat unsurprised to find both Jack and Anna in the sheriff’s bed. He
moved further in until he was at the bedside. Anna was in her chemise and
pantaloons, and Jack wore only his pants and shoes. He ran critical eyes over
his roommate, then crouched down beside the bed where Anna lay, reaching up to
shake her arm. When she turned unfocused blue eyes on him, he snapped his
fingers in front of her. “Wake up, Anna.”
Anna yawned and sat up, unconcerned about the creaking of
the bed. “Did we make good money tonight?”
“Of course. What’d you do to him?”
“To whom?” she asked, aiming for innocence and missing by
a wide mile.
“Jack, Anna. What – did – you – do – to – Jack? He looks
half dead.”
She turned back and leaned over the prone man, her ear on
his chest. “He’s not.” When her fingers began to walk down the center of his
chest, heading for his groin, Daniel stood up and grabbed her wrist.
“Uh uh, no more messing with him. I didn’t think he had
this much reason to be afraid of you.”
“Aw, Daniel, don’t be like that. I slipped him some of my
secret stash; I didn’t know it’d be too strong for him. I thought he was hiding
the real him behind the badge – didn’t realize he really is a bit of a fuddy
duddy. But it’s not too late,” she said with a sudden grin. “I checked him out
after I dragged him to the bed… he’s packing some heat down there.”
Daniel rolled his eyes and picked up her dress. “Out,
Anna. You’re not gonna molest him further. Let’s go out to the other room and
you can get dressed and I’ll take you home.”
Anna cast another look at the sleeping man then sidled
closer to Daniel. “He’ll be out a while longer, and since I’m already undressed,
maybe the two of us can have a little fun instead.”
“Oh, no,” Daniel chuckled. “No way am I sleeping with the
boss. Come on, Anna, let’s just get a move on.”
“You’re as much a fuddy duddy as him, aren’t you, Daniel?
Fine, be that way,” she snorted, snatching her dress from him and wrangling it
on before presenting her back. “Fasten me up.”
With a grin, Daniel did as he was ordered, hurrying her on
out to the buggy and driving her back into town. “I’ll see you later, Anna.”
“Bring the sheriff,” she commanded. “I’m not giving up on
that long, tall drink of water just yet. I’ll work the stuffiness out of him
somehow.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Daniel shook his head and hustled home as
quickly as he could. He found Jack still asleep when he got there, and shook his
head. “It’s no wonder you ended up married the first time, and without me, you
just might get there again. Lucky for you, though, I’m willing to nip that in
the bud because I want my shot at you, Sheriff.”
Daniel went to the end of the bed and pulled Jack’s shoes
off, leaving his socks on, then clambered onto the bed and straddled the man’s
knees, nimble fingers working his belt and pants. “Very lucky for you, Jack.
Between Emma’s pies and Anna’s homegrown hooch, you’ve been a complete sucker.”
He wiggled down, pulling Jack’s pants with him, but leaving his thin
undergarment. The bartender turned and finished removing the black pants, then
tossed them in a heap on the floor. When he looked over the now mostly nude
body, his eyes rested in one spot, and his lips pursed. “Anna checked it out, so
I think it’s only fair I get the chance, too.”
The younger man hopped up and grabbed the lamp, turning
the wick up. He held it in one hand and reached to pull Jack’s waistband away
with the other. A low whistle escaped him. “Anna wasn’t wrong, we have something
very nice to work with, Jack.” Daniel set the lamp down and maneuvered his
charge until the sheriff was tucked comfortably under the covers. “I’d love to
join you there and see what the morning brings, but just in case I’m wrong, I’ll
hold off.” He bent over Jack’s face and ran his finger over the slightly parted
lips, chuckling softly. “I wonder if it was just her drink, or if you were so
aggravated with the day you just wanted to escape to oblivion. Either way, I’m
stealing a kiss.”
Daniel licked his lips and bent closer, pressing his mouth
against the dry one beneath it. A hand moved to trace over Jack’s neck and his
tongue slipped inside, licking the other man’s palate. When there was a subtle
shift beneath him, Daniel reluctantly drew back, brushing his fingers over a
soft nipple. “Good night, Sleeping Beauty,” he grinned, getting his lamp and
going to his own room.
~
Jack groaned against the bright light streaming into his
room. He got up and stepped into his boots, grabbing a dressing gown and
throwing it on to make his trip outside to relieve himself. He trudged back
inside and to his room, taking the time to rinse his body off and his mouth out
when he got there. Thinking back to the previous night, the last memory that
came to mind was stumbling through the house and leaning heavily on Anna. He’d
hit the bed and that was it, nothing else came to mind. All he could hope for
was that nothing undue had happened with Anna, but with him passed out, he
didn’t see how it could have. The body had been less than willing; it had been
completely defunct as far as he was concerned. Even sober and alert, he would
have had trouble getting it up for her – she just didn’t have the parts that
turned him on.
Once he dressed, he peeked into Daniel’s room, pausing to
let his eyes roam appreciatively over the smooth, broad back and strong neck
that was exposed. He wasn’t sure what time Daniel had gotten in, but couldn’t
resist going over to stand beside his bed and reach down, fingers stroking up
and down the other man’s spine. He straightened immediately when Daniel arched
his back and, well, it certainly sounded like he was purring.
Daniel rolled over and stretched, then folded his arms
behind his head, smiling up at the man standing over him, seeing the dark eyes
follow his body’s movements. He scooted over and lowered one hand, patting the
bed. “Bet you’re curious about what happened between you and Anna last night,
eh? Sit down and I’ll tell you what I came home to.”
Jack flushed a deep, dark red and nearly fell onto the
bed, groaning. “Please tell me I had clothes on.”
“Some,” Daniel answered, winking. “Since Anna didn’t come
back before we closed up last night, I was quite curious about what I’d find
when I got here.”
After a few seconds pause from Daniel, Jack’s eyes widened
and he leaned down, closer to him. “And?! I know we couldn’t have been in too
compromising a position because I pretty much passed out by the time I made it
to the bed, and with my head out cold, I don’t think there was the slightest
chance any other part was up.”
Daniel sat up and drew his knees up, resting his arms on
them, and smiling. “Probably not for her lack of efforts. Did you check yourself
for rouge stains?” he teased.
Jack immediately glanced down at his own groin. “Um, I
didn’t notice anything when I washed up.”
“I was just kidding, Jack. When I got here, your pants
were still on, but she was cuddled up tight against you.” Daniel leaned in
closer. “She did comment that you were rather impressive down there,” he said,
brows wiggling suggestively. He laughed when the sheriff blushed yet again.
“Don’t be so shy, though I’d suggest not partaking of her special reserve again
if you don’t want her to see even more. I rounded her up and took her home and
finished undressing and tucking you in when I got back.”
“Thanks,” Jack muttered, toying with the bedspread. “By
the end of our evening, I didn’t care if it was absinthe or poison – I was just
ready to forget most of the day.”
Daniel reached out to still the restless hand. “Why are
you so uptight and nervous with them, Jack? You’re not like that with me. I’ve
watched you, I’ve seen how uncomfortable they both make you and yet you still
indulge them… why?”
“I’m the town sheriff, Daniel, the fewer enemies I have,
the better off I am.”
“Is that the only reason?” The long, slender fingers
wrapped around Jack’s wrist, rubbing it. “I’ve got an idea about why they really
bother you so. Want to hear it?” He watched as the sheriff unconsciously leaned
in.
How did a person have such a hypnotizing gaze, Jack
wondered. Looking at Daniel half naked and having the man’s hand on him was
distracting, it was making him remember old feelings, bringing up old desires.
He shook his head to clear it. “I already told you. Emma wants me to marry her
and Anna wants me to bed her.”
“And you don’t want to do either, not because you don’t
like them, but because you can’t.” Daniel’s hand left the other man’s wrist and
moved to his thigh. “Not because you can’t with anyone, but just not with them
because of what they are.” He saw Jack’s eyes widen and his lips part as his
breathing increased to shallow pants. Leaning in closer, Daniel eyed the
sheriff’s mouth, fingers still wandering upward. “Takes one to know one, right,
Jack?”
“Daniel…” Jack breathed. “I don’t… I can’t… this isn’t
right,” he murmured. “I…”
“You what?” Daniel asked, hand staying where it was, its
journey halted, but still caressing.
“I’m the sheriff,” he whispered, sounding desperate.
“People look up to me, they depend on me, I have to be, to be… strong. I have to
be seen as strong.” He laid his hand over the one on his leg, fingers clutching
it.
Daniel reached up with his free hand and cupped a slightly
whiskered cheek. “You are strong, you’re a good man, the people here like you,
Jack, and they admire you – they’re glad to have you as the sheriff. Look at
me.” He watched as the wary, confused, dark eyes met his. “It’s not wrong, it’s
not hurting anyone, it’s just two people finding that something in each other.”
Jack broke away, stumbling to his feet, his fingers raking
through his hair with little spikes and tufts standing up in their wake. “I
don’t even know you! Not really. I shouldn’t have let you move in here,” he
muttered, more to himself, starting to pace the room. “You could be an outlaw, a
robber, a rustler, a wanted man, and no one here would even know.”
Oh, he was definitely a wanted man, it was just the man
who wanted him wouldn’t entirely own up to it. “You know enough,” Daniel
interrupted softly, getting to his feet and not bothering to hide his nudity. He
saw the sight of him immediately halt the older man in his tracks, Jack’s gaze
fastened on the partial erection between his legs. “I haven’t lied to you about
anything, Jack. I haven’t committed any crimes and I’m nothing but what you see.
You know that, you’ve felt it since you first met me or else you never would’ve
let me move in here. Kindred souls, Sheriff, that’s what we are.”
When he was standing in front of the still man, Daniel
reached for Jack’s hands, slowly bringing them to rest palm down on his chest.
“Can you feel my heartbeat?” He took his time, dragging one set of their hands
down his chest and inward. They rested over his shaft and he twined his fingers
with Jack’s, then wrapped it in their joint grip. “I know you can feel that.
It’s for you, Jack.”
“Oh, god,” Jack ground out, closing his eyes with a pained
grimace on his face, and dropping to his knees, the fight to resist the
temptation he’d battled for years gone from him. He buried his face in Daniel’s
groin, inhaling the scent of the semi-aroused man, their hands still stroking
him, bringing more life to the erection. He nosed and kissed his way over to
Daniel’s shaft, and up it, finally reaching the tip.
Daniel watched and moaned with somewhat surprised pleasure
when the kneeling man’s lips wrapped around the head and suckled; he hadn’t been
completely certain Jack would acquiesce.
Jack stroked with his hand and tongue, his lips sliding
further down the shaft. When Daniel’s cock hit the back of his throat, he
withdrew a bit, and then pushed further, repeating the movements until he had
all of it in his mouth and down his throat, swallowing around it, taking breaks
for deep breaths and then plunging back down. When his eyes opened and he looked
up, he found Daniel panting, watching him, pinching and rolling his own nipples.
He wanted this, wanted to taste Daniel’s relief on his tongue, but he wanted so
much more.
With a last kiss to Daniel’s shaft, he stood, wavering for
a moment, and then reached for the fastening of his pants, seeing Daniel’s
highly interested gaze as he stripped down. He could only assume Daniel would’ve
stopped him if he wasn’t interested in going further, and after having denied
himself for so long, why not be in for a penny, in for a pound at this point.
Once he was nude, he walked to the bed and climbed onto it, getting on his hands
and knees, legs spread, presenting himself.
Daniel was stunned – this was more than he could’ve hoped
for. He approached the bedside, reaching out and massaging the pale cheeks,
watching the tiny bud play hide and seek. “We need something slick or it’ll be
difficult, and it’ll hurt,” he whispered.
“Spit, we’ve got that,” Jack muttered, anticipation
causing his shaft and entrance to throb.
“Not enough.” Daniel bent down and kissed the small of the
prostrate man’s back. “Stay here, just like this, while I see what I can find.”
‘It can’t be very difficult’, the bartender thought,
glancing around the room. He darted out after one more ‘stay here, I’ll be right
back’, and went into the kitchen, finally setting on cooking lard. It wasn’t the
best choice, but it was on-hand. Fearing he’d get back to the room and find Jack
dressed and gone, Daniel heaved a sigh of relief when he saw him lying on his
side, stroking himself instead.
Jack read the relief in Daniel’s expression and his lips
curved up the tiniest bit. “I wasn’t going anywhere. I’m tired of fighting and
denying it. I like you,” he offered. “More than I should.”
“I like you, too,” Daniel smiled, pushing him onto his
back. He dipped two fingers into the lard and positioned them between Jack’s
legs, bending over him and sucking his lower lip. Their tongues rubbed over one
another and Daniel’s fingers slowly entered and plundered the tight heat,
stretching and widening. “You’re so tight,” he whispered. “How long, Jack? How
long have you gone without it?”
“Years,” Jack answered hoarsely, arching up into the
touch, spreading his legs wider and hooking his arms underneath his knees. “I’m
ready, Daniel, I need this… need you…”
There was no way to resist that plea, not with the
delicious vision spread before him like a buffet. Daniel looked down at himself,
and Jack’s slackened entrance, and knew it was still going to be a bit of a
rough ride at first. He coated himself and knelt on the bed, reaching for the
pillow and shoving underneath Jack’s lower back. “It’s going to hurt some,” he
warned.
Jack nodded. “I know, but that’ll go away soon. Please,
Daniel…”
Smiling, Daniel lined himself up, pushing in, watching
Jack deliberately take deep, measured breaths. He pushed further, then waited,
repeating the process until his balls were tight against his partner’s cheeks
and sweat dripped from his brow, the difficultly of going so slow showing itself
that way. “You are so damn tight,” he whispered, “and hot. It’s like a brick
warmed glove, being inside you, Jack.”
And Daniel felt like a log securely lodged in his ass.
Even as gentle as his new lover had been to enter him, he was still experiencing
some discomfort. But it felt sooooo fucking good, too. He felt… complete, whole,
and for the first time in a long time, it seemed all his needs were being met.
He let his legs go, resting them against Daniel’s chest and shoulders, one of
his hands going to cup his own softened shaft and the other rolling his nipple
between his fingers, pinching it to hardness. “You can move now,” Jack grunted,
pushing his ass at the man nestled within him.
“Not a problem,” Daniel grinned, holding onto Jack’s legs
and gliding in and out of his body. Rolling his hips as he thrust, he saw when
Jack’s expression changed and heard the gasp. He did it again and knew he was
hitting it just right. “I’ve got it, don’t I, Sheriff? Got that spot you like.
Well, you just lay there and enjoy it. This is a good ride, best I’ve had in
quite a while, and I intend for us both to enjoy it as long as we can.”
Jack’s fingers left his nipple and slid down, stopping to
rub the crown of his shaft as he continued stroking its length. He hissed when
it got too sensitive, gripping the base of his cock tightly, and moving his hand
away, going further, massaging his balls, rolling them in his palm and lightly
tickling the underside with his nail. He moaned and thrust up.
Daniel’s heated gaze clouded with lust as he watched Jack
pleasure himself while he continued to ride the channel holding him so tightly.
“Yeah, do it for me, for both of us, touch yourself, just like that.”
When the thrusts into his body quickened, Jack pulled his
hand back up, rubbing the head of his shaft again, this time not stopping when
he felt the heat pooled in his balls climbing out through his dick. He aimed at
Daniel’s stomach and shot his hot seed onto the smooth surface, panting and
gasping. When the last of his release emptied, he wiped his finger over the tip
and brought it to his mouth, sucking it clean, and watching his lover’s face
turn red as Daniel grunted his own way to completion.
“Fuck,” Daniel groaned, pulling out slowly, enjoying the
lingering pulsing of Jack’s ass around him. He lowered the other man’s legs and
then lay down beside him, rubbing Jack’s fluid around his stomach and chest.
“That was great, Sheriff, can’t tell you just how damn good it was.”
“Don’t have to,” Jack murmured. “I was there, too, ya
know.”
“Why’d you give it up, Jack?” Daniel asked curiously. “You
like it, that much I can tell… what made you stop being with men altogether?”
“I wanted a new start. I wanted to be a sheriff, a
leader.” He felt like he owed Daniel the explanation in some way, since he’d had
his suspicions when he’d invited Daniel to move in, not that he’d put any
expectations on the man. “When my wife left me, she wondered, had suspicions. We
had a neighbor that was hard to resist, and I felt trapped by my marriage, so I
didn’t resist very much. She almost caught us. We’d just been together and he
had dressed – I was in the process when she came in. I made up a lame excuse
about having been bitten by something, and worried that it was a snake.”
Jack chuckled. “I’d been bitten by a snake all right, and
it had left a mark, just not one she could see. That was the closest call, but I
think she had an idea. I saw the way she looked at me and when she suggested
leaving and a divorce, I was eminently relieved. I put her on a train and went
home, told the neighbor, and we didn’t leave the house until a traveling
salesman came by. Didn’t hear his knock, but he heard noises and let himself in.
We all got quite a surprise and then I panicked, thinking we were done for, that
he was going to tell everyone in town. I couldn’t stand it, couldn’t take the
suspicions and whisperings if he did, so I gave him my place and got the hell
out of town. I moved on, went through a couple more towns until I got here.
“This felt like home, so I settled in and stepped up to
the sheriff’s job seein’ as the town didn’t have one. No one questioned it, they
were all just pretty glad to have some lawful representation, and I’ve been here
ever since.” Jack turned on his side. “That was nine years ago and there hasn’t
been anyone since that neighbor. I can’t lose what I have here, Daniel. I need
you to understand that.”
“I do,” Daniel promised him, cupping the back of Jack’s
neck and pulling his head down. “I’m not a threat, Jack. All I want is what we
have; I don’t need to tell anyone about it.” He took the law man’s mouth in a
deep kiss. “Give us a chance. Promise me that and I’ll help you cook breakfast
and then bring you back to bed and make you come like a stampeding herd again.”
The lascivious grin did Jack in, and he gave up the fight
for good. “Do I get that promise from you in exchange? Do you promise to give it
to me regularly?” he teased, reaching down to squeeze Daniel’s balls.
“Oh, yeah,” Daniel whispered, pulling the older man atop
him and fitting them together. “I think I can promise to do just that for quite
a while yet to come.”
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