“Me too.” George lightly pressed his lips to Levi’s. “Thank you for this. It’s nice having someone to wake up to when I’m scared.”
“You’re more than welcome. You okay to go back to sleep?”
“I think so. Good night, Levi.”
“Good night. I hope the bogeyman leaves you alone.”
“Me too.”
Levi hugged George before leaving his bed and returning to his own. In the dim light, he watched George settle beneath his covers on his back. He watched George for a long time, until sleep finally stole Levi away again.
* * *
George woke before the sun had risen, likely because he’d gone to bed early the night before, so he spent time simply staring at Levi, who was asleep facing George. Dark hair a mess, one arm bent awkwardly above his head. So handsome George could barely stand it.
His nightmare flitted back, and he reveled in how wonderful it had felt to be held afterward. To be comforted when he was scared. He didn’t have loud nightmares, and they almost never woke Orry. He was glad for that. Orry did so much for him already. And wasn’t that partly what this entire trip was about? Getting George into the world and doing things for himself, so Orry didn’t have to do it all?
Yes. His brother deserved a real life. George deserved a real life. And by God, they’d get it.
His bladder finally urged George out of bed, and by the time he got out of the shower the sun was rising. Not long after, the rooster call sounded, startling Levi awake. George was reading on his bunk when that happened, and he couldn’t help laughing. “Morning.”
“Hey, good morning.” Levi rubbed both palms into his eyes. “You know, the rodeo settled on farmland more times than I can remember, but I swear this is the only time I’ve ever been woken by an actual rooster call.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard a live rooster call but whatever Patrice uses is effective. How’d you sleep?”
“Mostly like a rock. How was the second half of your sleep?”
George grinned. “It was good. I know I thanked you before but thank you for comforting me.”
“It was my pleasure.” Levi climbed out of his bed and came over to George’s. Leaned down and rubbed their noses together. “I’m glad I was here.” Before George could say or do more, Levi straightened and went into the bathroom.
As much as George would have liked a good morning kiss, he loved that Levi was respecting boundaries and not pressing for things. If they kissed today, it would be because George initiated it. And George absolutely planned to initiate kissing. As soon as Levi was washed, dried, and dressed from the bathroom, George initiated a lot of kissing with Levi’s back against the wall.
They kissed until George worried about his ability to attend breakfast without tented jeans. “I don’t care about my nightmare. Yesterday was amazing. I know we can’t sneak off to your house every afternoon but I am definitely up for more physical stuff if we get the chance. Here or after this vacation is over.”
“I am very glad to hear you say that.”
No good opportunities arose that day. After breakfast, they went on a group trail ride, and after lunch anyone interested in touring the horse rescue down the road was invited along. George definitely wanted to see it. It hurt his heart to see some of the thin, still-wounded horses in their stalls but he also adored watching one of the women in charge demonstrate some of their rehabilitation methods with a horse named Wicket, who would be able to join the Clean Slate Ranch stable soon.
George had never given a lot of thought to horses before now, and he spent a few minutes chatting with the handlers. He could almost see himself doing work like this. Undoing the damage of cruel owners. Giving these beautiful animals a second chance at life.
Kind of how George was finally getting his second chance.
That night he was too nervous about other guests hearing them to do more than kiss Levi for a long time. He went to bed with a woody but it was worth it.
Thursday afternoon, Levi texted ahead to Wes that he’d be at the cabin to feed the cats, and they spent a long time naked in Levi’s bed. “Can I touch you?” George asked between luxurious kisses and thrusts of their hips.
“You can touch any part of me you want. Please.”
George shifted sideways and studied Levi’s erection. For all the porn he’d watched in his lifetime, this was his first experience with another guy’s dick. He loved the size and shape of Levi’s, and he clasped the root, unsure but curious. It was somehow both hard and velvety soft. George slowly stroked up and down his length, loving the way Levi’s foreskin moved. Levi’s breathing deepened, and George understood what sort of power he had right now. He literally held Levi’s orgasm in the palm of his hand, and it was an intense thing to realize.
“Tell me what you want,” George said, surprising himself with his commanding tone.
Levi moaned. “Whatever you want to give me. Anything, George.”
He wanted to make Levi come with his hand, so George did exactly that, twisting his wrist in an unpracticed way. Using his free hand to massage Levi’s balls, until Levi came over George’s fist and his own stomach. The way Levi gasped for air and his entire body shook was almost too much for George, but he held off on touching himself.
“Wow,” Levi said. “Thank you for that gift.”
“You are very welcome.” Emboldened in a new way—and intensely curious—George did something brand new to him. He leaned down and licked a bit of come off Levi’s abs. The salty, slightly bitter taste fascinated him. He tried more, licking Levi clean before concentrating on his own hand.
Levi watched him with wide, lusty eyes. “I love watching your confidence grow. To see you testing boundaries and trying new things.”
“It’s easier to let go when I know I’m safe.” George stretched out next to Levi and rested his head on Levi’s shoulder. “You make me feel safe to explore my sexuality. And just be me. No front.”
“Do you put up a front for others?”
“Usually. Before this summer, I hardly saw anyone who wasn’t Orry, and I was really uncomfortable the first few times we ate downstairs with Derrick, Slater, Dez and Morgan. And when we came for July 4th, I faked it because I could see how much fun Orry was having when all I wanted to do was go hide in the car.” He traced circles on Levi’s pecs. “I don’t know why it’s so easy to put my guard down with you.”
“I think maybe you do.” Levi tilted George’s chin up and kissed him. “But it’s new and scary and hard to admit.”
George was smart enough to know what Levi wasn’t saying: George was attracted to Levi and had strong feelings for the older man. Feelings couched in more than just being the first person to shine direct—and positive—attention on him in years. “All of the above,” George finally said.