"I look at your chance arrival at my ranch as serendipity," Harry's face was a study of seriousness as he was driving home, saying things he never dreamed he'd say to Louis.
Louis was speechless. To have such a thing said about him put him into a near-stupor.
He hadn't thought he was anything special – not even after the praise that had come from Earl Hoffman's mouth. Harry's words hit him like a thunderbolt.
Harry was holding his gaze too long, and Louis felt powerful vibes. When Harry's gaze stayed off the road too long, Louis didn't remark on it for fear of losing this special connection. It was just a dirt road anyway; no traffic, no trees in this area and no ditches. But was he that gone on Harry that he'd even risk a minor wreck to keep Harry's focus on him?
Harry was really serious. The look on his face was sober and earnest. The hairs on Louis' arms and the back of his neck stood on end. This moment was crucial, and Louis knew Harry needed to understand that he realized this. The importance of it was monumental and immense.
"Uh . . . what a compliment," Louis said, somehow combining care with clumsiness in his reply. He wasn't good at this kind of thing, but he absolutely could not fuck up right now. He wanted Harry to know how much it meant to him.
"Not a compliment, although I could always find lots of them for you. It's how I really feel. You came along exactly when I . . . needed you."
"I'm glad," Louis said, feeling like that was a lame reply. He quivered and even shivered a little.
"You alright?" asked Harry.
"You caused me to shiver, and I can't seem to shake it."
"You're the shiver that I can't shake," said Harry thoughtfully. "Could be good lyrics for a song."
Harry knew how vulnerable he was right now; assailable. Louis could so easily hurt him, yet he didn't.
It wasn't that Louis didn't want to let Harry know how he himself felt; he just didn't have the words.
"Maybe I kind of, sort of, put you on the spot with that . . . declaration," Harry said impishly. "But then, you kinda made one of your own."
Relieved, Louis sighed deeply. "Yeah, true, that. But . . . destiny, and all that, yeah?"
"Yeah." Harry looked almost serene, as if he'd been afraid to venture where he just had, and now had come to discover that he didn't have to be afraid. Unguarded moments like this left Harry feeling completely without defense, but Louis was quickly erasing the trepidation with his acceptance.
After dinner and a shower, Louis was reclining on the couch, and Harry strolled over to sit next to him. Louis started to sit up to give him more room, but Harry discouraged that.
"You can put your head on my lap," Harry said, his green eyes gleaming in a very nice way. Louis cleared his throat, shy about answering.
"It's not as if we haven't done it before," Harry reminded him. "I mean, outside the pig pen," he said quickly, as if Louis might take it a different way. "When the breath was knocked outta you."
Laughing nervously, Louis laid his head in Harry's lap. Harry began to run his fingers through his hair, which jolted Louis just a little bit. He'd done it a lot to Harry, but Harry had only done it to him once.
"I feel so bad about Mr. Hoffman's saddle," said Louis thoughtfully, trying not to let Harry see how skittish he was feeling with his head in his lap.
"I know," Harry murmured. "I've been thinkin' about it too."
"He bought it for his wife, and now she's dead, and it's gone. I wish we could somehow find it for him."
Harry nodded. "You and me both."
"It's so tragic," Louis added.
Silence cloaked them as they contemplated the situation, Harry's fingers still lazily massaging Louis' scalp, his fingertips exploring the smooth texture of his hair.
"Not to change the subject, but I'm changin' the subject . . . for a minute," Harry said with a smile. "You didn't even ask Mr. Hoffman about how much he would pay you if you went back to work for him."
Louis answered lightning-quick. "Because I don't care how much he pays, or about benefits or anythin.' I don't wanna work there."
Harry sighed with satisfaction, his burrowing fingers still at work with Louis' freshly washed, still-damp hair. Louis was struggling not to show his pleasure.
"One of these days, maybe we can take a shower together," Louis suggested, raising his eyebrows.
"No complaints about that," Harry responded. "Anytime is fine with me. I've been tryin' to accomplish that for a long time," he joked.
A little later: "Why haven't you suggested we carry your boxes in yet?" Harry had been waiting for Louis to say something since they'd gotten home, and wondering why he wasn't eager to look at the contents. "I know I'd be dyin' to see what's in there if it was me."
Louis hesitated, as if he didn't know how to articulate his thoughts.
"I . . . um . . . I'm not sure."
"Oh yes you are. You know exactly why," Harry accused gently. "You wanna share the reason?"
Louis ran his hand over his stubble, the noise making a sandpaper kind of sound that went straight to Harry's crotch.
Down boy! He thought. Now this wasn't the best of times to get a boner, but he couldn't stop thinking of how that stubble felt on his inner thighs.
"Okay, you know me too well. I guess I'm kinda . . . scared to find out."
"Think you might find sommat you don't want to know?"
Louis shrugged. "Yeah, maybe. I'm not really sure meself."
"Okay. But don't let the rain get to them before you do. You know how it sometimes creeps up on us here."
"You talked me into it. Can we get them now?" Louis asked.
"Sure."
They carried the boxes in, then Louis went and sat on the couch and just stared at them in the corner of the living room where they'd put them. Harry wasn't going to push. Louis would look when he was ready.
"I'm, um . . . kinda chicken to look in them," Louis gestured at the boxes.
"Then wait until you feel ready."
Louis seemed to be relieved at that, and relaxed, but only by so much. The boxes were weighing heavy on his mind, Harry knew.
"Oh, I forgot to say sommat earlier. When those ranch hands you worked with came over here, I didn't want you to get the impression I was angry with you. I wasn't."
Louis remembered it now. He'd almost forgotten. "You mean when you said 'your stalker is back,' and left the room?"
"Yeah. Just wanted you to know it was nothin' against you. I was just distracted and a little concerned about what shit they might have tried."
"Good. I was a little concerned about it. God knows I've fucked your life up since I got here."
"Lou, you might have upset me the first couple of days, but you should know by now that those guys comin' over here can't change my feelins' for you. It's been a long six months, and a short six months.
Ups and downs, but mostly ups."
"I don't want them comin' back." Louis was alarmed – he was working himself up. "I don't want anythin' to happen to you or your animals. I'm worried about that," Louis finally broke down and professed this fear that had been haunting him since Brian and Nathan had made their appearance. "If sommat happened, it would be all my fault."
"No, don't you see, Louis? We're a team now. Whatever affects you, affects me too. We're in this together. And they're not my animals, they're ours. You're so much a part of his ranch, that I'm gonna get a frame for that photo of you and hang it on the wall, and I don't care who sees it!" Harry summed up his case with a bang.
"Now . . . were you serious about that shower?" Harry asked, dimples peeking out. How could Louis resist that?
"Sounds fine to me," Louis murmured, his cheeks hot.
"I love how you still get embarrassed," Harry professed.
"Let's wait until tomorrow night though," said Louis, and this sent rivers of disappointment cascading over Harry, like the shower he'd thought they would have had together tonight. He wondered if Louis was teasing him just a little, tantalizing him by suggesting they wait. The cuddling was superior that night, but Harry could sense Louis was holding back. He wasn't quite sure why.
The next day, they went into town, Harry determined to find just the right frame for the picture of Louis. They got the photo from Harry's camera printed, and after looking at a couple dozen frames, Harry chose the one he wanted for Louis' picture.
"Look! It's perfect!" Harry finally announced his pick.
And Louis had to agree. It was a knotty alder wood frame that looked as if it had been made for Louis' picture. Very rustic, and with the picture in it, it was striking.
"Am I allowed to kiss you?" asked Harry, catching Louis completely off-guard.
"Here?" Louis' eyes got wide, as they were on the sidewalk outside of the store they'd just come out of. Despite himself, the thought of Harry kissing him aroused him more than it should have.
"No, silly. Somewhere no one can see us."
Louis looked around. "I don't see anywhere where there aren't people around." He was so embarrassed, and he knew he had to get over that. If he and Harry were to be in a relationship, he'd have to get used to them kissing in places other than just the bedroom or couch. Or were they even in a relationship? He wished he knew.
"I'm sure a private place will present itself." Harry sounded sure of himself.
They went into a few other stores, hitting the feed store too, as they were starting to get low on a few things. Every nook in every store was under Harry's watchful eye. They passed an open space at the side of the road where a few horse trailers that were for sale were displayed. Harry looked them over, Louis at his side.
"Let's check out the inside of it," Harry said, slipping into the back of one of the trailers, his eyes twinkling. Louis followed him, and before he could even look around, Harry grabbed him and kissed him on the mouth. It lasted only about two seconds, but it set Louis afire. Harry had made sure there was no one near the back of the trailer that would be able to see in.
"Wow," Louis breathed.
They went to exit the trailer, but just before they reached the ramp, Louis made a split-second decision and grabbed another peck from Harry, surprising Harry so much that he nearly stumbled and fell down the ramp. Of course, they both started laughing, and Louis felt good about stealing that kiss on the sly. He was gaining the confidence because Harry had shown him how exciting it could be, and by the example he had set, it was becoming apparent that Harry was very open.
In the truck before they drove off, they kissed twice. They were only brief kisses, but maybe they weren't quite as discreet as they should have been.
As they drove back home, Louis confessed something excitedly. "Harry, I'm rememberin' even more! I think that trip to Stockholm Ranch helped the process along. I remember Fletcher now; the guy that was only employed a few weeks, and I remember Nathan and Brian now. I'm also startin' to remember the foster home a lot better, and the homes where I stayed. There must have been six or seven families."
Harry was giving all his attention to Louis – as much as he could while driving.
"Why were you in so many foster homes?" he asked.
"I wasn't very well behaved, and when I reached adolescence, it got even worse."
"No wonder, bein' in so many homes."
"The one thing I can't remember though, is my parents, and why they either died, or got rid of me."
Harry's gut clenched. He hated to imagine Louis losing both his parents and going into foster care. Especially the home, with all those other kids. It must have been traumatizing, to say the least. He said as much to Louis.
"Well, I guess I turned out alright in the end."
"More than alright. You're resilient, alright." Harry admired Louis even more now.
"I wonder how old you were when you went into the foster home."
"Hopefully we'll be able to find all that out. I guess I'll have to go through those boxes tonight and see what it reveals. I'm afraid it might be too much or not enough. Know what I mean?"
Harry understood entirely. There might be dark secrets, or they might not find out much at all, but Harry was certain that there were had to be other avenues to getting information.
"I remember now that Nathan and Brian were really good, experienced ranch hands. That's why Mr. Hoffman hired them. He told me that when he hired me. He said they impressed him, and how, after the fact, he was almost sorry he'd hired them. They could be shady at times. Mr. Hoffman confided in me now and then.
"And I also remember doin' whatever I could to make money to live here in America before gettin' the job with Mr. Hoffman. That man is amazin,' Harry. I didn't even have ranch experience, and he took me under his wing and taught me everythin' I needed to know."
Harry waited until Louis paused, then whooped out the window. "You're rememberin' it all!" His tone was so celebratory that Louis let out a loud "Oi, Oi!" from his own window. He was overjoyed that Harry was happy for him.
"Well, do you know why Brian and Nathan would be accusin' you of stealin' the saddle?" asked Harry.
"They never liked me. I never felt like I fit in. They mocked me accent, and since they could ride, rope and do all the ranch chores better than me, they teased me. So I withdrew and kinda kept to meself. I should've been more open with Mr. Hoffman – I can see that now. He never would've shared anythin' with anyone else like he did with me, but I didn't trust anyone. Brian and Nathan resented me bein' the end of two years, I could do things as well as them. But I didn't have any friends. All I did was work, dawn to dusk. No social life."
"What was that Fletcher guy like? I wonder if he took the saddle. Did he seem like the type?"
"No, he was quiet, like me. Just did his work. I never really saw a dodgy side to him. I tried to make friends with him, somewhat, but he wasn't responsive. I felt like he was ignored by the others, but then, so was I."
"I think maybe the others were a little jealous of your relationship with Mr. Hoffman," Harry commented. "They'd been there longer – at least the two of them had, and I think it's pretty clear you were his favorite."
"I dunno. I guess it's possible."
"And I think that's probably why they're accusin' you of stealin' the saddle. Anyway, pretty soon you'll know your whole history!"
As soon as they walked in the door, Harry mounted the picture of Louis in the living room. He found just the right place, and you would see it on the far wall as soon as you walked in the door. Harry fawned over it, making sure it was hanging absolutely straight, then stood back and admired it. All Louis did was blush.
They decided to shower before eating dinner and then getting into the boxes. They stripped and stepped behind the shower curtain, Louis evidently as eager as Harry was. Harry saw how hard Louis was before he even got his jeans off. This was a huge compliment to Harry.
Harry cupped his face in his hands and kissed his cheek. It was such a tender moment. But soon after that, Harry pushed him up against the shower wall so he could kiss him harder. All he'd gotten all day was soft pecks, not the kind of kiss he craved. He devoured Louis' mouth, angling his head to deepen the kiss. He couldn't get enough, and Louis was clinging to him, their harsh, raspy breathing filling the bathroom.
Harry could feel Louis' entire body quaking. And then Harry went to his knees . . .
Louis was paralyzed by the first touch of Harry's lips on his cock. He couldn't move, and he couldn't make a sound. The feeling was so intense, Harry's tongue licking right below the head, where it was extra sensitive.
"Sweet creature," Harry whispered, and then he swallowed Louis whole, savoring the taste all the way down. Louis abandoned all thoughts of anything else. Well, really, he couldn't think of anything else. The sensation was overpowering. So erotic, as Harry moaned as if he himself were getting a blowjob. Harry alternated between sucking vigorously and then softly and sweetly. Bobbing his head quickly and then slowly. Louis took it all in, enjoyed it to the hilt.
He looked down at Harry's curly head, his long hair soaking wet and dripping down his back, his mouth wide open on Louis' cock. Just the sight was so wanton and sinful, and that made it all the more arousing. Harry's hands were fondling Louis' balls one minute, and the next, he was cupping his butt in his hands, massaging the globes with fervor. His fingers dipped into the crease, and Louis startled when Harry delved a little deeper, almost, but not quite, touching his hole.
Louis' hips were moving on their own, Harry's hands encouraging it.
"Fuck my face, Lou," Harry murmured after pulling off his cock for a moment. Then he swallowed him again.
The words Harry had said, the sudden loss of his warm, sucking mouth, and then the return of it on his cock was too much. As Harry swallowed him, Louis' cock was rubbing against the roof of his mouth as his tongue licked the underside. His entire cock encased in Harry's mouth, it was Louis' undoing. He could hold off no longer. He did as Harry had asked, and thrust into his mouth. Harry begged silently for more, and Louis thrust deeper. When Harry's throat muscles worked on the head of his cock, Louis exploded.
His legs were shaking so badly that he feared he'd collapse. But Harry somehow held him up, even as he swallowed his come. Louis thought he would never stop spurting, being very expressive with his library of moans and groans and even grunts. His vision blurred, so he closed his eyes and just gave in to the ministrations of Harry's magical mouth. After thrashing and pumping for what seemed forever, his movements slowed, and he looked down to see Harry's cock spurting hard and fast against the shower wall.
Louis thought things couldn't possibly be any more erotic than they already were, but the sight of Harry coming without control, and having to grab his own cock to drain the rest of his release made Louis come again in that instant. It wasn't as much in volume, but it was a treat Harry was delighted with, sucking avidly and swallowing, and after they were both sated, he looked up at Louis and gifted him with a fully dimpled smile.
"I guess we turn each other on, yeah?" he asked.
Louis smiled back at him.
"Innit."