Chapter 10
Packing his toiletries Austin lifted his
gaze to look in the bathroom mirror. He
ran his fingers through his hair, setting it
just right. He'd packed dinner with a
couple of bottles of wine and used a
small backpack for a change of clothing.
Kitt was bringing a sleeping bag and the
little bit of gear they needed to camp out
tonight. As far as Austin knew, they
were taking Kitt's truck and going a few
miles further back on the Kelly's
property to a tucked away section of
land Kitt always went to watch the
sunrise.
A grin spread across Austin's face
when he thought about lying in Kitt's
arms last night after a particularly gentle
session of their love making. Austin
persisted on the idea of their camp out
until Kitt whispered quietly into his hair
he wanted to share a place with him. For
some reason, those were some of the
sweetest words ever said to Austin.
Especially since he knew Kitt had never
taken another out there before.
It surprised Austin how much he
looked forward to tonight. Kitt always
got up and left in the middle of the night,
refusing to stay until the morning, and he
wouldn't let Austin stay either. Kitt kept
vigilantly conscious over where they
were and who might be around to see
them. Austin slung his backpack over his
shoulder at the same time his phone
sounded from the dresser. A groan began
to erupt and he warred within himself on
answering. If he hadn't stopped to check
his appearance, he never would have
heard it. It was always his plan to leave
the phone here when he left to go to Kitt
tonight. He almost didn't check it.
But things were too rocky with Cara
right now and the press was still all over
his ass for him to ignore whoever it was
contacting him, and more importantly,
why were they contacting him.
Frustrated, Austin stalked across the
room to his dresser.
He palmed the phone and read the
message. A frown tugged across his
brow. His manager, Phillip Philips, sent
their designated emergency code through
text message. It was the one not to be
ignored. He dialed the number quickly
back and his call was answered on the
first ring. "Grainger, I think you're gonna
be done with this seclusion thing when
you hear this. Scorsese has a new movie.
It's big and he wants you. Sandra
Bullock has already signed on. You need
to do this, Austin."
"Please tell me that wasn't the
emergency," Austin said a little relieved
this was all there was going on. He
pivoted and walked down the hall to the
living room.
"It's not, but it's in my hand. You
need to take it," he said.
"No. I've told you I'm done. Now
what's the real reason you're bothering
me?" Austin adjusted his pack across his
shoulder and headed for the back door
where the cooler was waiting.
"The security reports show you're
spending regular time with some
cowboy." Phillip didn't even try sugar
coating it.
"So?"
"Who is he?"
"Why?" It came out defensive as hell.
"Cara's concerned." Phillip's tone
changed from aggressive to worried.
"Why?" Austin repeated his earlier
question giving nothing back in way of
an explanation.
"She isn't doing too good, Austin.
She's drinking too much. The pills are
stronger and more frequent."
"I spoke with Seth last night and I'm
heading back to L.A. tomorrow. I'll take
care of it," Austin said deciding his
manager might not have to be fired by
the end of the phone call after all.
"She thought you'd already be back by
now."
"I know, she's told me, but I couldn't
have been any more clear to everyone.
I'm done. I'm actually happy again. You
should give it a try," Austin said,
grinning at his last little dig.
"Austin, just be careful. We don't
know anything about this guy. Let me run
him."
"No! Besides, that would be a waste
of time. I've known him all my life.
Listen, keep the cameras and media
focused elsewhere. He already doesn't
know we're being so recorded. I'll meet
up with you tomorrow, I'm late now,"
Austin said reaching his thumb out to hit
end to this call.
"Late for what? Cow chipping?"
The question made Austin smile as he
disconnected the call.
A knock sounded on the back door.
He looked down at his phone to check
the time. How was he again late to meet
Kitt? He opened the door a little more
aggressively than he planned to before
seeing Mike on the back porch.
"Hey boss man, you wanted to see
me? You haven't been around much
today," Mike said in his generally good
natured way.
"Something's come up. Come in for a
minute." Austin held the door open,
antsy as hell. His right leg bounced as he
tried to slow down and not be rude to
Mike.
"You goin' somewhere?" Mike asked
stepping in only a step or two like he
normally did, just enough to shut the
door behind him.
"No… Well, yeah, I am. I'm packing
for a trip. I have to head back to L.A.
tomorrow for a day or two." Austin said,
keeping a hand on the door knob.
"Alright. Well, I've got things
covered here." Mike nodded. "I was just
headin' into town. Need me to pick up
anything?" Mike asked, his fingers
shoved in his front pockets.
"No, I'm good," Austin said and
opened the back door again, praying he
didn't offend Mike, but the sooner he left
the sooner Austin could get out the door.
He still needed to walk over to Kitt's
which would make this whole night even
later to get started.
Mike took the hint. Halfway down the
porch steps he looked back at Austin
over his shoulder. "Take care."
"Yep, you too," Austin responded and
he shut the door, watching until Mike
drove off.
Both back to back conversations
totally stressed Austin out. How had he
shut down his entire life to move back to
Podunk Texas in the hopes of finding
some freedom only to still be hiding so
completely? He'd loved these last few
days more than any other time in his life.
Having Kitt around changed everything
for him.
Austin was happy again, and his heart
actually had a feeling other than negative
cynical energy coursing through it. His
tattered soul began to heal by leaps in
bounds and it was all due to the sexy
cowboy next door who paid him only a
little bit of attention.
Kitt didn't give Austin an inch. He
made Austin work for every smile, every
conversation they shared, and Austin
loved every minute of it all. Even with
Cara clearly flipping out, calling him all
day and all hours of the night, drunk and
stoned, talking smack to everyone,
Austin still felt a smile come to his lips
when he thought of Kitt.
Their only problem, if it were even
possible, Kitt hid more than he did. And
Austin was beginning to think the five or
six hours a day he spent with Kitt wasn't
nearly long enough.
For the first couple of nights it wasn't
much more than non-stop, fantastic sex.
Way more sex than Austin had had in
years. Neither of them seemed to get
enough of each other. But during those
marathon hours spent together Austin
realized he actually enjoyed Kitt's
company. The guy was funny, smart and
sexy as hell. After two days and tons of
ridiculous debating Austin managed to
talk Kitt into agreeing that once they
were inside his house, it should be
considered nudist territory. Everything
they did should be done naked for the
sole reason Austin loved to look at
Kitt's rocking body.
By day four, Austin seemed to eat,
drink, and sleep Kitt Kelly. He craved
everything about him, thinking of little
else for most of each day. Without
question, Austin was totally taken with
his super-hot cowboy, and he felt like
Kitt shared his feelings. It seemed like a
win-win situation for them both.
Yet something had changed last night.
He'd watched Kitt sitting outside on his
porch, relaxing and waiting for him. The
moonlight hit Kitt just right and Austin
had lost his mind for a moment. Kitt
looked stunningly handsome. His strong
jaw and chiseled hard features were all
softened by the long sweep of hair
falling down across his forehead and the
moonlight shining right down on him.
That moment, Kitt literally took his
breath away. Austin took the steps
separating them and the strong emotion
he felt for Kitt grew with each step.
In every way, Kitt was perfect for
Austin. He didn't make a big deal about
Austin's celebrity status or fame. He
never wanted anything from Austin. If
Austin made a meal for Kitt, Kitt
insisted on returning the favor. They
spent as much time at Kitt's house as
they did at Austin's. Kitt seemed to just
like his company, and he seemed to like
their sex just as much as Austin did.
Those were both such foreign concepts
to Austin that helped seal the deal for
him, but as he took the porch steps up to
Kitt, jealousy racked through him like
nothing he'd ever experienced before.
Austin hadn't asked about Fisker
since the first day and Kitt hadn't said a
word, but if he was going out of town, it
could give Kitt the opportunity to see the
guy. That would never do. Austin might
have to have one of his security guards
shoot Fisker onsite for daring to touch
what Austin claimed as his…. And then
having Fisker killed would create all
sorts of complications for him, because
surely, there was someone who might
miss him. However satisfying the idea of
killing Fisker was, he'd quickly decided
it also would be a very bad idea.
Besides, Austin didn't truly have a
killing bone in his body. So instead of
having the guy offed and buried six feet
under, he needed to ask Kitt about him.
Kitt could own the title of Expert
Dodger. He was so good at avoiding
direct questions. But Austin had learned
the best way to get answers from Kitt
was through sex. Kitt couldn't lie during
pleasure, and it was the coolest thing in
the world to know he could have that
effect on another. So as any normal
person might do, Austin manipulated the
situation, moved them past dinner and
straight into bed. In return, Austin
promptly forgot the questions he wanted
to ask and lost track of what he tried to
accomplish when Kitt put his lips on
Austin's ass.
Armed with new-found determination,
Austin decided he'd find those answers
tonight. If everything went the way he
hoped, by tomorrow night he'd have an
exclusive commitment from Kitt, a
Fisker no longer in the picture – without
bodily harming the man – and a Cara in
rehab. Please God, let it end like Austin
wanted it to!
Austin got a good look at Kitt as he
climbed over the fence, and realized Kitt
had dressed up for him. His sexy almost
boyfriend could easily be a male model
for Wrangler. The thought tugged a smile
on his lips.
Kitt wore starched jeans, a pearl
button, button down, shiny belt buckle
and equally shiny boots. His cowboy hat
that Austin had grown to love rested on
the hood of his truck as he worked to
load their gear in the back of his
Silverado. Kitt wore it regularly and it
fit him and his style perfectly.
Austin didn't say a word on his
approach. He carefully positioned his
backpack with their dinner in the bed of
the truck. Kitt kept it casual as the air
between them intensified. It crackled as
Kitt started to walk past Austin back to
the cabin, never willingly doing a PDA
even out here so isolated from everyone.
They were clearly the only two around
and Austin grabbed Kitt by the waist,
easily gathering Kitt in his arms. He
leaned in to give a tender kiss adding
only a small swipe of his tongue in the
chaste kiss. He loved kissing Kitt. His
reward was the slight tremble of Kitt's
lips. God, he loved that tremble!
"I'm sorry I'm late again. I missed
you." Austin's voice was low as he
looked down between their bodies,
letting his eyes freely roam over Kitt.
"You look seriously hot all cowboyed
up like this..." He let his palms push
down Kitt's ass to grab each cheek.
"Are you sure it's safe for some of
your security to know about us?" Kitt's
body stayed tense in the embrace,
causing Austin to narrow his brow. No
simple hello or I missed you too, just
straight to the point.
This morning Kitt finally saw the
security lurking around when Austin left.
He'd only spotted one of them, and
Austin had tried to put it off as the man
being his bodyguard, but he should have
known better than to think Kitt bought it.
He was too smart. The look Kitt gave
him just now made it clear he'd figured
it all out in his head.
"They're keeping everyone else away,
I promise. They keep me hidden and the
cameras away. They keep Mike, or Jose,
or anyone else from finding my fourwheeler
out here or yours at my house.
I've never had a problem with any of my
security staff. They sign all sorts of
confidentiality agreements. And I asked
them to stay away tonight, so it'll be just
us," Austin said. Kitt listened, but tugged
free of him to finish loading the last few
things from the cabin into the back of the
truck.
"It worries me," Kitt said on a pass
by he made a minute or two later.
"I know it does and I'm sorry for that,
but it can't be helped." Austin didn't let
Kitt pass by again without taking his
hand. Austin walked beside him up to
the house. "What else do we need?"
"Just the sleepin' bags, they're by the
door. Everything else's loaded." Kitt
stepped in to grab the two sleeping bags.
Austin took one from him, tossing it on
the sofa.
"This will be more than fine," Austin
said.
The move erased the worry from
Kitt's brow. He laughed and let Austin
circle him in his arms as he pulled Kitt
back out the front door. Kitt tossed the
one sleeping bag in the back seat of the
truck while Austin made his way around
the truck and got in on the passenger
side. He watched Kitt grab his cowboy
hat, and place it on the center console as
he slid inside the truck.
"We dub this place Kelly Ridge," Kitt
said as he started the truck and backed
away from the house.
"I used to hear about that place.
What's the story?" Austin asked, content
with just listening to the sound of Kitt's
voice.
"It sits overlookin' the back pasture
on a slight hill. There used to be a pond
down there, but it dried up years ago,
before I was ever born. My dad used to
take me down there to camp when I was
little. You can see for miles and
miles…" Kitt said sounding a little
distracted. He didn't finish the thought,
but turned on the radio to the local
country station he liked, turning the
volume down low.
"Lots of memories then," Austin said,
taking the cowboy hat and carefully
placing it in the back seat. He lifted the
console before sliding in the middle of
the seat, closer to Kitt. Austin couldn't
decide if it were a good thing or bad
thing to be going somewhere Kitt's
father use to take him.
There wasn't a trail and Kitt drove
slowly. The headlights of the truck were
bouncing around with every rut they hit.
Austin watched Kitt as closely as Kitt
watched the pasture in front of the truck.
He lifted a hand and brushed Kitt's hair
back from his forehead. Austin got a
sideways glance and a small grin as he
ran his hand down Kitt's thigh, scooting
in as close as he could.
"I used to do this in high school. The
girls would sit right next to me. I think
about that when I see you in this truck.
Me sitting right here next to you," Austin
said tucking his hand between Kitt's
parted thighs, and slid his fingers under
Kitt's leg.
"My friends always did it too. Their
wives still do it," Kitt said. His eyes
were back to watching the field in front
of them.
"You never did?" Austin asked. His
only real care in the world seemed to be
the man sitting next to him.
"Nah, I never dated any girls. I
haven't ever really dated anybody. I've
always known I was gay from the time I
was little." Kitt said it all so matter of
fact, keeping his hands on the wheel,
navigating all the ruts in the pasture. He
only tossed them around a little as he
drove.
Austin kept his eyes on Kitt, watching
him closely for any sign of emotion
about what he just said. He wasn't at all
sure he liked that statement. Kitt
deserved someone to be nice to him.
Take him out to be his date or vice
versa. He was sure Kitt would be an
excellent date. Someone you'd be glad
to have on your arm. The thought made
Austin smile a little before his heart
ached. He wouldn't ever be the man to
take Kitt anywhere. He closed his eyes,
turning his head back straight.
"What?" Kitt asked, looking over at
Austin.
"Nothing," Austin said absently.
"What?"
"I just wished I could take you out on
a real date and I realized that it will
never happen," Austin finally said.
"No, it can't. I've got too much ridin'
on things right now. I've learned to live
with it. And so have you." Kitt bumped
Austin in the shoulder, giving him
another sideways glance until the truck
hit a good, deep rut and bounced them
around, making Kitt quickly cut his eyes
back to the pasture.
"It's not bad, Austin. It's actually the
only life I know, so I'm good. We should
probably slow this down some between
us. If we keep goin' every night
someone's gonna catch us." The words
came so easily, like it truly was an
option for them. "Maybe this trip you're
takin' would be a good time to start
makin' this a weekly deal or something
like that."
"Ah, well, Kitt Kelly, you just
managed to take the small ache in my
heart and make it into a major throb. I'd
hate to slow this down," Austin said, his
brow narrowed, his eyes focused on
Kitt's face. It took a minute, but Kitt
looked over at him, slowly giving him
that grin of his until another damn rut
lurched the truck, making Kitt turn his
eyes back to the pasture.
"I'd hate it too, but it's risky what
we're doing."
Austin didn't reply, instead he lifted
his hand between Kitt's parted thighs
and slid it up his dick. The bulge under
his hand hardened inside the Wranglers.
"So… You've never had sex with a
girl?" Austin asked, keeping his hand
massaging Kitt's cock. One thing was for
certain, Kitt's cock seemed to really like
Austin being around.
"Nope, not once," Kitt said, his voice
a little deeper since Austin began the
intimate massage.
"Huh."
"What's that mean?"
"Just huh, nothing more," Austin said
casually. He'd had more sex with
women in his life than with men. As he
got older, he needed to be drunker, and
even maybe stoned, but honestly, he'd
learned to take sex however it was
offered. A girl's ass wasn't much
different than a guy's, and if he closed
his eyes and imagined, he seemed to get
through it alright.
"I couldn't even get it up with a girl.
You probably go both ways, right?" Kitt
asked.
"I'm all of the sudden a little ashamed
to say yes to you. I prefer men. I need to
drink quite a bit to be with a woman, but
I do it," Austin said.
"Have you been with Cara?" Kitt
asked, now looking directly at Austin
and the truck slowed almost to a stop.
"I'm not sure I wanna answer that,"
Austin said, looking out the front
window.
"So it's a yes," Kitt said, and now it
was his turn to look out the front
window as Austin looked at him.
"Not recently. Once I decided I was
really done with that world, I sobered
up, put the drugs down and cleaned
myself up. I've only been with men since
then," Austin said.
"How did you work that and keep it
quiet?"
"I wasn't always discreet. There're
lots of rumors out there. Cara's good at
lying about where I was, on and on."
"But she isn't here if we get caught."
"No. But for me, I've decided it can't
really affect me anymore. I left that
world behind although no one seems to
believe me. It's just the cameras are
such a pain in the ass. I need a few years
to be out of the picture, prove I'm really
retired before I let anyone know. If I
ever let anyone know. I want my
privacy. I miss my privacy." Austin said
it all again for what felt like the
hundredth time in the span of just a few
days moving his hand back and forth
across Kitt's thigh, finally tucking it
back under his leg.
"I can't ever come out, Austin. No
way this ranchin' world would ever
accept it. It's like the 1950's around
here. It would ruin everything and I just
can't have that. I have Lily and my
sisters to think about."
"No one questions you?" Austin
asked.
"If they do, I never hear it. We're
here." Kitt brought the truck to a stop at
the base of a small ridge. He put it in
park, resting one arm on the steering
wheel while he hooked his other arm
around Austin's shoulders. He used his
thumb to lift Austin's chin as he leaned
in to kiss him. When he pulled away,
Kitt slowly opened his eyes.
"I don't wanna talk about this
anymore. It depresses me. I like what we
have right now, and the future doesn't
look so good for either of us. Just know
that when you're ready to go, it's okay,
no hard feelings at all," Kitt said looking
straight at Austin. Austin leaned
forward, kissing Kitt again, swiping his
tongue forward this time before he
brought his hand up around Kitt's neck
and pulled him back to deepen the kiss.
He drove his tongue forward,
dominating the kiss and felt Kitt's heart
pounding in his chest when they broke
apart.
"We need to set up camp," Kitt
whispered still in Austin's face,
searching his eyes with his own.
"Kitt, I don't want this to end between
us. I feel more alive now than I've felt in
years. If we have to stay hidden, then so
be it, but I want this between us." Austin
realized he gave Kitt no choice but to
stay close as he gripped at Kitt's shirt.
Kitt nodded, looking at him closely for
several long moments before he pulled
away and slid out of the truck. Damn
how he hated it when Kitt went quiet on
him!