A/N: Maximum three chapters left?

Cowboy Lust

Chapter 7

"You've really improved." Natsu told Gray with a smile as he slid his lunch tray forward. The cafeteria was buzzing with excitement as the today was the second to last day of the final week and the rodeo was the next day. Activities were happening all day until dinner. As of now it was lunch and the cafeteria was the fullest it's ever been. The much older riders who were always in the twenty one and up bar joined in today as they too were exciting chattering about the rodeo.

Both Natsu and Gray were in riding clothes (Gray had invested them from Loke) and flushed from being outdoors all morning. The activities were filled with all that would be in the rodeo tomorrow: barrel racing, jumping, etc. Since it was the final week of the activities, Macarov had let anyone who wanted to participate join. Gray had met a quite a few Fairy Tail riders today.

There was that big brute of a giant from the first day Gray and Lyon arrived, Elfman. He was a nice guy but everything had to be manly with him. Cana was the female rider who had helped out when the stampede happened but Gray actually talked with her instead of watching her chase down wild horses. There was a long list of them, Bacchus, Laxus (Macarov's grandson), Gildarts, Freed, Cobra, Max, Levy, Jet, Droy, and more.

The activities had been paused for lunch which was where everyone was at. "Think so?" Gray replied with his own smile. He stood behind Natsu in line. The pinkette nodded.

"Your posture is so much better and you handle Ur almost perfectly. The way you went around the barrels was flawless. See what four weeks can do to a person who's never been on a horse?" Natsu laughed and picked his tray up when he had all the food he wanted on it.

Gray just smiled before eyeing the tray while mimicking Natsu's actions. "That's not all for you is it?" he asked with a cocked brow.

"Natsu's fat." Loke said while passing the duo by with his own tray.

"Don't hate 'cause you can't eat as much as me." the pinkette shot back and followed the older teen to a packed table.

"NO one can eat as much you." Pantherylily chuckled as he walked the opposite direction with Gajeel.

Gray took a long look at Natsu's figure, eyes ending up at the pinkette's stomach which was flat and showed no sign of fat. "And where does it all go?"

Natsu shrugged. They had reached the table and he made space for himself between Lisanna and Zeref. Lisanna scooted over more and pushed up against Juvia. "Natsu's a bottomless pit." the silverette commented. She stole a piece of lettuce from Juvia's plate and nibbled on it.

"Can we let it go on how much Natsu eats?" Natsu demanded while holding up a cheesy pizza. He took an angry bite out of his and chewed it indignantly. Everyone laughed.

"Okay, we will." Gray assured the now pouting Natsu. Softly the ravenette kissed Natsu's cheek earning squeals and awwws around their table.

"So it is true then. You did start dating." came a female's voice from behind. Everyone at the table turned to look at the speaker. Gray looked up and was met with a beautiful girl who looked to be seventeen. She had short light blue hair and beautiful big rounded honey brown colored eyes. Her outfit was a blue and white romper with flowy short sleeves. It showed off her curvaceous slender body. Heavy riding boots bore her feet. "Natsu."

Natsu's mouth was slightly ajar. "Yukino?!" the pinkette shot up and immediately trapped the girl in his arms. Gray heard her tinkling laugh and watched her own arms come around Natsu. "It's been forever."

Yukino smiled sadly at the boy in her arms. "It has. Hi everyone." she greeted the rest of the table. Lisanna stood up smiling.

"Yu-Yu, it's been awhile!"

Natsu moved away so the two girls could hug it out. Lucy joined in squealing. Loke chuckled. "Girls." but he too stood up and waited to greet Yukino. Gray watched as a good chunk of the table stood up to greet the girl. Natsu plopped down beside him again grinning.

"That's Yukino. She's a rider from Sabertooth." the pinkette informed Gray whose eyes widened slightly.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't they your biggest rival?"

"Yes, but just because Yukino is part of them doesn't mean she's like them all." Natsu winked. "Her father owns Sabertooth so she has no choice basically. And she wasn't in the brawl."

"Ugh, let's not even talk about that." Yukino herself groaned and knelt down at the end of the long table. Catching Gray's eyes she extended her hand. "Hi, you must be Gray. I'm Yukino."

Gray took her hand and they shook. "How do you know me?"

"I don't, I just know of you. Word spreads quick in the stable world. I heard through the grape vine that Na-Na here was dating a new guy."

Natsu frowned. "So if you know, does that mean all of Sabertooth knows?"

Yukino chuckled dryly. "Yup. Even big brother. You should have seen his face when he heard about it."

"Big brother?" Gray asked out loud, to no one in particular.

Natsu rolled his eyes and resumed eating. "Like I give a fuck about what that ass hole thinks." there was a pause before the pinkette apologized.

Yukino shook her head. "No, you're right. Even if he is my brother, Sting is a handful."

"An arrogant handful." Natsu moodily supplied.

"So you're Sting's sister then?" Gray asked, not wanting to be left out of the conversation. Yukino nodded. Natsu suddenly shot back up again.

"WAIT!" he shouted, earning stares from around the room. "Does that mean-"

"He's not coming until tomorrow. I came before everyone. You know, to re-connect with people I actually like here before my stable tries wreak havoc." the girl chuckled.

"Nah, we can take on you guys any day." Loke waved a hand dismissively. Lucy whacked the back of his head.

"Obviously we're not trying to start any drama." she scolded.

"In any case," Erza chimed in from her seat next to Zeref. "why don't we stop talking about this and finish up so we can go back outside. I was sure Natsu challenged me to a race."

Natsu suddely powered up and began yelling excitedly about how he was going to kick Erza's ass. "Yu-Yu should join us." Lisanna said with a smiled.

"Of course. I'll tack up Sorano." Yukino smiled back as she stood to her feet. Lisanna and Lucy got up with her.

"You want something to eat before we go?" Lucy asked as she took one side of Yukino's.

The light bluenette girl shook her head. "I'm fine." Lisanna was on her other side and the trio left the cafeteria.

Natsu took three huge bites up of his pizza and stood up as well. "Come on Gray!" he said in a muffled voice, crumbs spewing from his mouth. Before Gray could register what was happening, he was yanked out of his seat and stumbling behind the hyper pinkette. "We're gonna crush Erza!"

" 'We'?" Gray fretted.

...

By the time dinner rolled by, everyone was exhausted. Activities were back to back and too fun not to join. The student riders could barely move any of their muscles they were so sore. But everyone had a blast and now, after dinner past, all were lazing around in groups or pairs. It was the second to last day of the four month program and lots of friendships were made. No one was found by them self at Fairy Tail stables.

As of now, Gray and Natsu were in the teen bar snuggled up together on one of the many plush sofas. Music was playing in the building and voices were laughing and chattering happily throughout the room.

Lucy, Yukino, and Lisanna were all sitting at the bar drinking un-alcohol drinks through fat colorful straws. The trio were giggling amongst themselves and catching up. Wendy, Carla, Happy, Pantherlily, and Levy were at the pool table. Zeref and Gajeel were by the DJ station. Loke and Jellal were hanging it out with a couple of guys Gray had met earlier, one being Loke's sibling (Gray had been shocked to find out Loke had 11 other siblings; such a riot they were all named after astrological signs) Scorpio, and the other Hibiki.

Gray couldn't help but smile small at the people gathered in the room. He had really grown to like them.

"What are you smiling about?"

And of course the one Gray was fond of the most was settled in his arms. The ravenette looked down at Natsu who was also smiling. "Nothing." Gray chuckled. "It's just, I guess this place has grown on me."

"That's good. We'll all be sad when you leave. I can't believe the time has gone by so fast." Natsu sighed and leaned against the other male. "What will happen to us when this is over?" he mumbled.

"What do you mean?" Gray asked quizzically. "Despite the program ending doesn't mean we have to end Natsu." the ravenette tipped Natsu's head up and leaned down to kiss him softly. "I enjoy being together with you and don't want to stop until you get sick of me."

Happy made a barfing sound as he walked by but Natsu ignored him and beamed brightly at Gray. "You mean that?" the pinkette was so excited that he raised up on his knees and tackled the other in a hug, making them both fall over on the couch.

Gray laughed and held Natsu around his middle with an arm. "I do. I like you a lot." Natsu could only marvel at how attractive Gray's smile was and how it was aimed only at him. The pinkette felt a rush of warmness surge throughout his body. He blushed lightly as he and Gray held eye contact.

"Get a room." Happy snickered teasingly, coming back with a drink in his hand.

"Want to?" Natsu asked softly. Gray's eyes rounded.

"Seriously?"

"I was totally kidding." Happy chimed. Natsu threw a pillow at him before climbing off Gray and the couch.

Gray accepted Natsu's offered hand and allowed himself to be led out of the bar.

...

Gray collapsed on Natsu panting heavily. Both of their naked bodies was covered in sweat but neither cared as they stuck flushed together. Natsu had his arms permanently glued around Gray's neck and had his face hidden away against it.

"Are you alright?" Gray managed his voice and rasped out his words. Natsu gave a tiny nod, not loosening his hold on Gray, nor making a move to move away. He quite enjoyed being pinned down under a body, Gray's specifically. "But you're shaking a bit." the ravenette continued and gently brushed some of Natsu's pink damp strands away from sticking to him.

It was true that Natsu trembled slightly, but it was only because he hadn't had sex in for so long and was a little over sensitive. And Gray was.. well... Natsu felt his cheeks heat up. Gray was everything and more in bed. They went on for six rounds, each time better than the last. Natsu's member jumped at the recent memories but he was so exhausted. Not to mention that Gray was still buried deep inside of him.

The pinkette focused on the feel of Gray, the warm and thickness of him all the way up to his stomach. Knowing that it was Gray made it nice to Natsu. He clenched gently around the older male who inhaled sharply.

"Hey-" came the warning.

"Sorry." Natsu mumbled and nestled closer, if possible, to Gray.

"You still have energy for more?"

"Nope. Spent as a mother."

"Then don't go starting something you can't finish. You're tight as a virgin, I didn't-?" Gray let his question trail. He slowly began to pull out of the pinkette's teasing hole.

"No, Sting was my first. I just haven't done anything with anyone in that span of time after Sting and before you. Ah~" Natsu gasped when Gray rubbed his inner walls in the process of pulling out. "Sensitive." the pinkette blushed and let go of Gray who fell on the bed next to him. Natsu curled into him instantly, wincing slightly at the growing pain in his lower regions.

"Sorry." Gray grinned sheepishly. He scooted in close and enveloped the slighter male in a hug.

"You're fine. It's fine. I had fine- I mean fun." Natsu laughed at himself and hugged Gray back.

The two fell silent after that, just basking in one another's presence and holding each other. It wasn't until a full ten minutes passed that Natsu opened his mouth.

"You know, and this is a craaazy idea, but going back to when you said this place was growing on you... if you uh, really liked it here, maybe Gramps would get you your own place. Ya know, here. If it's cool with your parents of course, and with you if you want to live here. Not here with me but in the dorms. I don't know." the pinkette finished awkwardly. There was a long stretch of silence that made the pinkette fidget. "Gray?"

The sound of a throat clearing and Gray's voice cut out. "Sorry, I was surprised a little. I mean, could I stay here? Isn't there something I have to do to get in?"

"You-" Natsu started but Gray's hand covered his mouth.

"Wait, I'm not done." Gray cupped Natsu's cheeks and tilted his face up close to his. "As much as you make me want to stay here, with you especially, horses aren't my thing. I've had fun learning about them but they're not for me. This doesn't mean I won't visit you until you won't want me to anymore, because I definitely will."

Natsu looked down away from Gray's dark blue orbs and studied the male's bare collarbone instead. "Well... as long as you visit me." he yelped in surprise when he was flipped on his back and caged in by Gray who smiled down at him in amusement. "What?" Natsu muttered, face heating up.

"You're just cute is all. Asking me to live here, I'm flattered really. Thanks."

"I-it's nothing to be so choked up about, okay?" the pinkette stammered and refused to meet Gray's eyes. The ravenette leaned down and caught Natsu's lips with his own. Natsu sighed into the kiss and wrapped his fingers around Gray's arms.

"Back at home Lyon and I did argue a lot." Gray said quietly as he pulled off the younger's mouth. He settled his weight on Natsu knowing that the male could handle it and got comfortable. "It was always over something petty because we're both thick headed and stubborn. Our parents didn't know what to do except send us to programs they found online. When I was 13 and Lyon 15, one of the programs our mom found was this ski resort program that takes place every year. It was a month long out in these mountains in the middle of nowhere. She signed us up and flew us there."

Gray rested his chin in the dent of Natsu's collarbone and dipped his head to the side, his right cheek touching the smooth skin. "Lyon and I were angry about it only because we had to spend our time there together. But in the end, we had fun. And there wasn't just skiing, there was snowboarding and a huge ice rink for skating."

"What about those moving chairs that you have to jump off?" Natsu asked almost excitedly. Gray chuckled.

"Yes, it was all there. That and the never ending snow. See though, Lyon and I didn't want to come here to this horse thing because our ski resort trip is coming up. The thought of having to spend extra time with that bastard brother of mine pissed me off. Which was why mom was relentless and basically forced us to attend this program as well. But seeing as I met you and other awesome people, I'm not complaining. Getting back on track, I found out that I'm, not to be biased, a beast at snowboarding. Like you with horses, it's my thing." Gray sat up to hover above the intrigued looking Natsu.

"How come I'm not just finding out about this? I want to see you snowboard."

Gray grinned sheepishly. "Eh, it honestly slipped my mind. But one of these days you, me, and the others can go for a weekend to the mountains. My father has a cabin up there. I'll teach you. Or have you been on a snowboard?" Gray's voice held a teasing tone which Natsu caught and stuck his tongue out.

"The only thing I've been on is a horse. But I would try snowboarding. Even skiing. They sound fun. And that trip sounds fun! Do you go up there often?"

Gray sprawled himself next to Natsu again and said, "It is fun. Not as much as I should. But if you're interested-"

"I am!" Natsu climbed on Gray grinning.

Gray smiled and wrapped his arms around Natsu, pulling him down. "Good."

...

It was morning. Everyone was in the cafeteria getting breakfast before their busy fun filled day. Gray didn't realize how big this rodeo deal was because a few other stables were also here for it.

Lamia Scales, Mermaid Heel, Quatro Puppy, and the irony, Blue Pegasus were all present for the huge commotion known as the rodeo. Gray had only been awake for an hour and had already met about a hundred more riders. He wasn't even awake enough to remember all their names. Natsu and all the Fairy Tail riders were bouncing around greeting the newcomers. It seemed that these stables got along together well.

'So it's just Sabertooth.' Gray thought as he took a sip of his coffee. Natsu had been glued to his side but disappeared after the other stables arrived. He was somewhere in the sea of people but Gray was too tired to care.

"So." a body plopped down beside him. "You weren't in our room last night."

Gray ignored his brother and forked his way through his fluffy scrambled eggs.

Lyon smirked. "Look. It's not my business so I won't pry. I just came over here to tell you that we got sent to this place to 'bond' and I haven't rarely seen you let alone talked with you since these past four weeks."

Gray swallowed his true and glanced at Lyon with uninterested eyes. "And you care why?"

Lyon's smirk slowly fell as he stared at his younger brother. Finally, with a sigh, he looked down at the table. "Maybe mom and dad aren't the only ones tired of us two fighting." Gray's eyes widened slightly. "Unlike the other programs we've been to, this one really kind of made me open my eyes I guess. Fairy Tail is rowdy, I'll give them that, but they also have good hearts. And being with them for these past weeks has made me open up with myself. Yes, we fight a lot, most of the time about pointless things, but in the end you're still my little brother. So there. That's what I came over here to say." Lyon finished and stared at Gray.

Gray wanted to slap a hand to his brother's forehead and ask him if he was feeling okay but Lyon looked serious. The ravenette sighed. "Yeah sure, whatever." he muttered and returned to eating. For a full minute he felt Lyon still sitting there and in that full minute Gray grew a little guilty. Here Lyon was basically trying to make peace and here Gray was brushing him off. Before Lyon finally made a move to get up, Gray stopped him. "Wait." Lyon did.

Gray struggled to find words as he stared at his tray of food. "I.. I- you're right. Being here I felt a change and to be honest I never really liked fighting with you. We're brothers and it's natural to argue but we took it to a whole new level that didn't need to be there. So..so I mean-"

Lyon smiled for a split second before reaching out to tug on a few strands of raven black locks. "Don't strain yourself." he stood up as Gray finally looked up at him.

Lyon's smirk returned and Gray, smiling inwardly, rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

And like that Lyon was gone. But this time while watching his brother walk away, Gray didn't want to find the nearest object and throw it at the back of his head. This time a small hint of a smile was there instead.

And then it was gone when the cafeteria doors banged open and the people who entered the room silenced everyone in it almost instantly. There were four guys standing in a line. On the ends were a mint green hair bulky guy and a blonde guy wearing a large crimson hat that had a long pink extravagant feather. In middle were two guys. One had black hair and a big patch of it covered one of his eyes which Gray was puzzled to see were red. He, like the mint green one and blonde with the frilly hat, wore expensive looking riding gear.

The last one Gray had a hunch who it was. With the way he held himself up like he was king and his annoying smirk, Gray narrowed his eyes slightly at the spiky haired blonde with electric blue eyes. Those blue eyes landed on Gray, or Gray thought so until he felt someone brush against him. It was Natsu. He was glaring at the newcomers.

"Sabertooth." someone said.

"Sting." Natsu growled.