Colorado Fire - Colorado Heart 2 (11 page)

Marshal pulled him into a hug and squeezed him tight. "I'm happy for you. You deserve someone great. I have Zander and I love him. You deserve to have Roger. He's a good guy."

Grant pushed Marshal to arms' length. "Thanks, that means a lot coming from you."

"Good, now let's head in, it's freaking cold out here."

Marshal walked between he and Roger on the way into the house. He didn't move or try to get his hands on Roger because he knew they'd have time later. Tonight, he'd go to Roger and hold him tight as he slept.

Having Marshal between them was a safety measure that kept him from reaching out and trapping Roger in his arms, kissing him until they both had to come up for breath. If he did that, he'd ruin their desire to remain quiet about the matter, letting everyone at the ranch know that they were together.

Chapter Nine

Life had a funny way of turning the tables. A few months ago, he'd been at the top of the world. Then rock bottom came screaming at him, slamming into him like a freight train. Now, he was at the top again. Maybe not the top of the world, but at least he was at the top of the mountain which left him in control.

Craig had hidden well, keeping his shit together, and leaving no trace. Every fake name had been burned. When he'd left England, he had nothing to fall back on but a few thousand Euros he'd stashed in Paris. Wire transfers took time, forcing him to lay low, living in conditions he'd never had to endure before. Finally, after weeks at the bottom, he had enough of his money in his hands that he was able to create a new identity. When he felt he was safe, he flew to Alaska, the last place Duff and his team would look. It took two weeks to make his way to the contiguous fifty states, working fishing boats, doing things almost no one else would in the name of revenge. In Canada, he finally caught a ride with a group of hippies to get over the boarder and in to the US.

The trip south from Washington State to Colorado was easy. He'd bought supplies and went camping two days ago, setting up on the other side of the mountain from Wild Bluff, staying away from their sensors, and keeping far from any trip wires. The equipment he'd purchased leaned toward the technical in nature, granting him a good view of the ranch and the barns.

Earlier in the day, he'd climbed over the top of the mountain, searching for a spot to watch from. That's when he'd pointed the thermal imaging device he'd procured at the barn. At first he didn't recognize what he saw, then he realized two of the guys were banging each other. Engaging in sex in the barn, just like he and Grant used to do. If only he could figure out who the fuck was fucking. The last light of day was fading fast, already the details of the landscape were muted, leaving him at risk of tripping and falling. He didn't want to use a flashlight, but he might be forced to once he headed back to his camp. The couple was blowing each other, one guy on his knees. Images of guys fucking filled his mind, and though he did have a voyeuristic streak a mile wide, he wanted to see who was getting it on. When he took a break for a piss, a third body joined the pair. But the third wasn't in for the sex. When they headed for the door, he pulled out his high-powered binoculars, trying to catch a glimpse of who was getting it on in the last of the light.

The men in the barn opened the door and stepped out. He looked through the lenses, focusing. Shock coursed through him. Marshal and Grant hugged. A new guy stood uncomfortably off to the side. Craig wished he had a parabolic mic trained on them so he could hear what they said. He almost laughed out loud.

Grant had finally slept with Marshal. He wondered what it would be like to see them together. He'd fucked Grant plenty of times to know what he was like, but what would the guy he'd stolen Grant from be like? Maybe he'd get a chance later, once he enacted the first part of his plan.

He wondered how long Grant had waited before slipping between the sheets with Marshal. Maybe the bastard hadn't been as into him as he pretended. But Grant had sworn he loved Craig. That had been the best part of being with Grant. The devotion the guy showed him was much more than he expected. Too bad Grant didn't know the truth. Of course, that would have ruined everything. Grant had been so stupid at times. The guy was desperate, taking anything Craig offered, even if he wasn't offering much.

The sky was almost pitch black and he needed to get back to camp. He wanted to stick around and see what else he could find out, but that could wait for another day. Craig turned and retraced his steps, finally pulling out the flashlight as he headed back over the mountain to bed down.

Leaving the ranch had been easy. Actually, the first time he'd ever gone against Duff's rules, he'd set his course. The mission was easy compared to some. In and out, kill the bad guy then go home. But he hadn't killed the guy. It was one of those split-second decisions he made, setting him on a different course. When he'd arrived at the hit, he'd woken the guy up instead of killing him on the spot. They talked. It had been easy. Craig had taken a payment in exchange for a life. It took him an extra day to help the man disappear.

It hadn't seemed like much at the time, but he'd made millions from that one twenty-four hour time slot. No one figured it out. That first day back at the ranch after taking the bribe, he was sure the guys knew. But they hadn't. He kept waiting for Duff to call his bluff about the sequence of events. But no one ever figured out the truth. He thought it would have been trickier than it had been to convince the men that their target had jumped to his death, his body lost in the ocean. Setting up the scene had been easy. The target even endured being sliced on the hand and leaving a trail of blood that ended at the railing of his mansion overlooking the ocean. When he'd told the story, his whole body had vibrated with excitement. Everyone thought he was just hyped up from the mission. That night, he'd lain in bed realizing that he'd done it. He'd fooled the old coot, Duff, proving to be smarter than the rest.

Grant never knew about his arrangements with a few of their targets. It hadn't taken Craig long to realize that Marshal didn't trust him, but that was just the way Marshal was. He hooked up with Grant soon after, making sure he could manipulate the man, which in turn meant he could manipulate Duff. Grant was the favorite, the leader. He might not have been there as long as the other guys, but he was the one Duff counted on the most. That had ticked Craig off. He'd wanted to be the one to count on, but maybe Duff knew even back then that though Craig seemed solid, he didn't give a shit. He'd worked to hide the truth, and he had for the most part, but something had made Duff not trust him.

Craig worked with purpose to get food into his belly. He ate a cold can of beans and hung the trash in a tree a few hundred yards away. Sleeping in the wilds of Colorado was dangerous, but he'd slept in much more dangerous places and survived. His food was hung in a tree, and he wasn't eating near his tent. If a bear came around, he'd not be drawn to Craig's tent.

The sleeping bag he'd chosen was rated down to thirty below freezing. Before it got that cold up here, he'd make his move, showing Grant, Duff, and the rest of the guys, especially Marshal, just how dangerous he could be. The world didn't know about Wild Bluff, but once he took them down, a lot of people would thank him for making the playing field even again.

*~*~*

Roger settled in his room, wishing that Grant would stop by. Of course, Grant didn't owe him anything. They'd come together so quickly, and with few words, he wondered if Grant regretted it. He pulled off his clothes and stepped into the shower, feeling the need to rinse the dirt away.

The heat of the water relaxed his shoulders, and he sighed as he closed his eyes, relaxing with one hand against the shower wall. The door to the shower opened and he snapped open his eyes, taking in Grant's naked body and hard dick.

No words were exchanged as Grant stepped in and pulled Roger into a kiss. He allowed Grant to touch, lick, and kiss him. Then Grant's soaped up finger was at his ass, sliding along his crease, relaxing his opening. The digit slipped in and he clenched a bit. This was the first time anyone had breached him since Hayden.

He rested his forehead on Grant's shoulder, letting the emotions roll over him. During his time with Hayden, he really thought no one else would ever do this to him. It was his and Hayden's to share. But now Grant's finger was inside him, searching for his prostate. He arched into Grant, making his search easier.

Long fingers stroked his channel, finally hitting the spot. He groaned and pulled Grant tighter, digging his fingers into Grant's shoulder. They rocked together, Roger's balls riding high, his dick sensitive as it moved between them.

"You like?" Grant asked.

"Yes," Roger breathed out, pressing as close to Grant as he could.

Grant spun him around and pushed him against the side of the shower. His dick slid between Roger's cheeks, riding his crease hard. Roger wanted more. He wanted to feel the sting of being fucked hard.

Grant pushed Roger's cheeks together, trapping his dick as he thrust forward. It was almost enough. The brush of cock against his hole had him gasping. He reached down and grabbed his dick, stroking in rhythm to Grant's movements.

"Grant, fuck, I'm gonna come."

"Do it...gonna...fuck."

Grant's hot come hit the small of his back, and he couldn’t hold it in. Roger came hard, shooting against the wall as Grant spread his come over Roger's crease and down to his pucker.

"You know I'm safe, right?"

"Yeah, frequent medical tests and all."

Grant pressed his come coated finger into Roger, then another. He ground back against Grant's hand, forcing his fingers deeper.

"When you get back, I'm going to fuck you hard." Grant's words came out in a growl, racing through Roger like hot lava.

Roger closed his eyes, trying not to think of Hayden and the times they'd been together, but he couldn’t stop the memories from flooding through him. Tears burned the back of his eyes. Grant pulled his fingers out and spun him around.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Everything."

Grant placed one hand on the back Roger's neck and the other at his waist. "Tell me. Trust me."

Roger didn't want to tell, he didn't want to have to trust. Because they worked together, he felt that he had no option. They were brothers in arms and they needed nothing between them, no secrets left unshared. Other guys told him to go fuck some stranger after Hayden passed away. Told him it would make it easier once he found someone he actually wanted to be with, but he hadn't listened. With Hayden, everything had been special. They were the type of couple who made others jealous, now they were nothing, but he still had feelings. But where did that leave Grant?

"Babe, please don't shut me out."

"I'm afraid of what I'm feeling. Hayden was it for me. I didn't think I'd ever be with another man. And now I'm with you. I like that, but I'm torn. I feel guilty, but I know I shouldn't. He's dead and yet, I don't know what he'd say about us being together."

Grant pulled him closer and kissed his forehead. They stayed like that for a moment then Grant grabbed the soap and washed Roger's body, shampooing his hair before cleaning himself. When Grant shut off the water, Roger still didn't know what to do. Grant dried him and led him to the bed where they snuggled under the covers.

He drifted off quickly in Grant's arms and when he woke, he knew exactly who held him. Hayden hadn't come to him in his dreams, and he hadn't woken up feeling guilty. His flight was later in the afternoon, but he'd have to drive to Denver so staying in bed wasn't an option.

While he puled on his clothes, he watched Grant, studying the slope of his brow and the rough stubble on his cheeks. How he'd found a man so good was a miracle. He hadn't thrown a fit about the Hayden thing. Grant had been through hell and yet he was still nice.

Grant's eyelashes fluttered before he opened his eyes. They stared at each other for a moment before Grant sat up. "Give me a moment to brush my teeth. Don't go anywhere."

Roger stood in the doorway to the bathroom, watching Grant as rinsed out his mouth. The flex of Grant's muscles was turning Roger on but they had things that had to be done before he left on his trip.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, but what are you thanking me for?"

"Not freaking out when I mentioned Hayden. He was a huge part of my life, my first real lover. I mean, I'd fucked other guys and a few girls before him, but there was no one in my life like Hayden."

Grant turned and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked totally relaxed though he was naked. Roger didn't know if he'd be so relaxed standing nude while talking about his new lover's old flame.

"I know you wouldn't have even looked twice at me if Hayden were still alive, and I'm fine with that. Hell, you wouldn't even be here. I get that he was your world and one day soon, I want you to tell me all about him. I'm not jealous, how could I be? I would wonder about you a bit if you weren't still in love with him."

"You mean that?"

"Yeah. He's a part of you and I can't expect you to forget about him or the things you shared just because I'm here. He didn't mean to leave and you shouldn't have to stop loving him just because he's gone."

"Thanks, really, it means a lot that you don't want me to forget him."

"Come here." Grant opened his arms and they stayed together for a long moment, holding and comforting each other. They'd both been through a lot in the last year. When he left the Marines, he didn't think he'd ever find anyone whom he'd want a relationship with, but with Grant, he could see them lasting.

They parted, and Grant pulled on his clothes before they headed to the kitchen for food. Roger was leaving within the hour and Duff had a lot of information to deliver to him. He would be studying on his way to South Africa. It was a bit ridiculous to fly into South Africa then up to England, but he was entering the country under the name of a current government official. They were risking a lot, hoping the real official didn't want to leave the country, but the subterfuge was necessary to make their plan work.