Stallions and Studs Box Set

Shoulda Been a Cowboy-6

The two hour drive to Stallions and Studs was pleasant enough for Charlie, with Wade sitting next to him, leg pressed against Charlie’s. He could smell a mixture of clean man-sweat, leather, and what he assumed was horse, as he had never been that close to one, he couldn’t be sure. But whatever it was, it was intoxicating.

He occasionally wondered how Jared was feeling. But he didn’t dwell on it. Rather, he allowed himself to enjoy the sensations of being in such close contact with a hunk of a man as well as listening to the narrative Mack was giving on the countryside and history of how the ranch had come to be. He learned there would be twenty guests that week, and the foursome in the van was the last to arrive.

When they turned off the main highway, Mack pulled the van to a stop. “Here we are,” he said, gesturing out of the window.

Charlie and the others looked in the direction in which he indicated. They saw a stone gateway with a wooden arch from which hung a sign that read Welcome to Stallions and Studs. Beyond the sign, a long lane seemed to stretch to the horizon.

“Where are we? Where’s the ranch?” Jared asked.

Charlie could tell Jard was irritated. Wade must have picked up on it, too, because he leaned forward, gestured out the front window, and said, “It’s about ten miles down the lane. But it’s there, trust me. Welcome ta the wide open spaces of the wild west.” Wade turned back to Charlie, winked, and gave his thigh a squeeze.

Turning down the two-track lane, they passed pastures with herds of cattle in them. Some were black while others were a reddish-brown with white faces. Wade explained the black ones were Angus, and the others Polled Herefords. As he talked, he would occasionally lean across Charlie to point out something of interest. When he did, his face was sometimes within inches of Charlie’s and his shoulder would press against Charlie’s. He left his hand on Charlie’s leg.

Charlie was in heaven.

The trip down the lane to the ranch was over much too quickly for Charlie. He knew Jared would be in a foul mood but he didn’t care. They had been in Idaho only a few hours and already the vacation was turning out to be a success as far as he was concerned.

They pulled into the ranch yard. It was beautifully landscaped and the buildings were perfect. The western theme was carried out with much attention to detail. The buildings were all obviously newly constructed, but the design was that of an old-time western ranch.

When they’d all piled out of the van Mack officially welcomed them to Stallions and Studs. Wade and Rio carried their luggage into the hotel. A sign hung over the door: The Bunkhouse it read. The building was a replica of an old-fashioned bunkhouse, only much larger.

“We do have our own room, don’t we?” Jared asked, eyeing the sign with suspicion.

Charlie just rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Two large Labradors rose from the porch and joyously lumbered toward the group, tails wagging vigorously. Jared, who was afraid of dogs—the main reason Charlie, who loved them, had been deprived of one during their relationship—edged sideways to hide behind Charlie.

Mack laughed. “Ya don’t have ta worry yerself none about Caesar and Cleopatra. They won’t eat ya. The worst they’ll do is lick ya ta death.”

Charlie dropped to a knee and petted the yellow female, whose happy tail wagged energetically, while Jared reached out tentatively to let the big chocolate male sniff and lick his hand. Cleopatra then bounded off, returned with a stick in her mouth, and stood in front of the men.

Mack laughed. “Cleo wants ta make sure ya know she’s a retriever. Don’t ya, girl?”

Cleopatra’s tail wagged even more enthusiastically and she trotted around proudly, carrying her prize.

After the dogs had completed their greeting, the group followed Mack into the hotel, where they met Seth, who Mack introduced as his partner both in business and in life. Seth’s was the voice Charlie had heard when he’d called to make reservations. The man matched the voice—a big, burly guy with twinkling eyes, salt and pepper goatee, and a ready smile. He passed out room keys and was in the middle of giving directions to their rooms when Jared spoke up.

“Sorry to interrupt this cozy little welcome ceremony, but if I don’t find a bathroom soon…”

“Oh…yeah…right,” Seth said. “Down that hall on yer right.”

“Oh, goody, indoor plumbing!” Jared said as he trotted off in the direction Seth had indicated.

Charlie felt obligated to apologize for Jared, but Seth waved him off saying he should have thought that after a long ride someone might need the facilities.

Jared returned just as Mack was announcing he’d be giving a tour of the ranch in about two hours. “After you’ve all had a chance to settle in.”

Introductions over, the men made their way to their rooms. Once inside, Jared flopped on the bed.

“Well, what do you think so far?” Charlie asked tentatively.

“Have to admit, the place is pretty impressive…the staff especially.” To that Charlie could certainly agree. “But we’ll have to see what they have to offer before I give my final approval. Now, I’m going to take a nap. You want to join me?” he asked somewhat suggestively.

Charlie didn’t feel tired. He was too hyped from the excitement of actually being at the ranch. But he felt he should be accommodating to Jared as, after all, he’d agreed to take a vacation that he didn’t really want to go on.

He lay down on the bed next to his boyfriend. Jared scooted over so they lay on their sides facing each other, bodies pressed together. Jared kissed him. Charlie’s mind immediately went to Wade. What would it be like to kiss a hunk like that? He was so handsome, those dimples when he smiled, the neatly trimmed cowboy ‘stache, the full lips.

“Wow, you must really be horny,” Jared said, breaking the kiss. “Guess this cowboy environment is your aphrodisiac.”

Charlie came back to reality. He was fully hard and feeling very aroused. The brief fantasy had certainly had an effect on him. He’d kissed Jared in a way he hadn’t in a long time. Of course, in his mind it wasn’t Jared at all…it was Wade. Feeling guilty, Charlie tried to focus on the man in bed with him, but Wade kept making frequent appearances all during the disrobing and foreplay. Finally, Charlie gave in and let Wade take center stage as he and Jared had s*x. Images of the big, hunky cowboy filled his mind and made his hard-on ache. So when Jared finally slid inside him it was only with conscious effort that Charlie kept from saying Wade’s name out loud. And when he came he bit his lips to keep his fantasy from escaping them.