Cowboy Gangster 02 - Gunnin' for Love (CMS) (MM) (14 page)

♦

Dane put in one of the rented movies and they sat down on the sofa to eat and watch TV. The television set was small –one of the furnishings that came with the apartment.

“Sorry about the small screen,” Axel said.

Dane shook his head and smiled. “Not a problem. TV is TV.”

Axel appreciated the sentiment, but was fairly sure the man had a big screen at home. At least much bigger than this one. The small set didn’t bug Axel himself, he’s wasn’t much of a television buff. Of course, he might be if Clint wasn’t around to keep him occupied. His head was suddenly filled with images of how Clint “occupied” him and he smiled, twisting his fork in the spaghetti on his plate.

“Is the food okay?” Dane asked from the opposite side of Angel who sat between them.

“Oh…” Axel glanced up. “Yeah. It’s great. It’s nice to have a home cooked meal. I usually exist on lunch food and TV dinners.”

Angel laughed softly. “This is kind of a
TV
dinner.”

“My usual ones aren’t this good,” he chuckled. He took a bite and looked out the window. A skiff of sunlight sliced the tops of the buildings but was steadily sinking into the horizon beyond the cityscape. Clint hadn’t said where he was going, or what had to be taken care of –though Axel wondered if Dane knew. A knowing look had passed between Clint and the three men at the club when he’d gotten up to leave, yet no details of the cowboy’s
errand
had been relayed to Axel. The fact that Clint didn’t inform him of his destination –was that a clue within itself to leave it alone and not pry?

Lying in Clint’s arms, cuddled beneath the blankets at night, it was easy to forget what Clint’s world consisted of. And truthfully, Axel didn’t really know the specifics –but he had a healthy imagination. The man surely had to do some pretty ugly things at times. There was a reason he called himself a bad guy and didn’t think he was redeemable. It took committing some seriously nasty shit for a man to come to that place…didn’t it? If Clint didn’t feel at ease sharing the darker side of his existence with Axel, maybe that was okay. Maybe Axel didn’t want to know the intricate details. It was enough knowing that Clint could –and would –do what he had to do in any given situation.

“So how do you like your job?” Angel asked. “You said you work as a courier?”

“Yeah,” Axel murmured and wiped his napkin across his mouth. “It’s okay. Pretty easy, actually.” Anxiety began to pinch his stomach at the thought of going back to work, though. Walking past the alley every day. Having Clint’s belt helped ease some of the tension –even Clint seemed certain it provided a measure of protection in itself. The street thugs were familiar with “the cowboy” and his buckle was his calling card. But it was only logical that there were those out there who
didn’t
know of him…to whom the buckle would hold no significance. Or sense of threat.

“What’s wrong?” Angel frowned when Axel laid down his fork.

“Nothing,” he mumbled, then shrugged. “It’s just that…the alley where those guys grabbed me…”

Dane nodded. “You have to walk by there to and from work.”

“Yeah,” Axel released a slow breath and stared at his plate.

“It scares you?”

Axel cringed inwardly. He hated feeling like a coward.

“That’s perfectly understandable,” Dane told him. “You were the victim of two violent assaults in a very short period of time. It’s going to take some time before you feel at ease going back out there on your own.”

Axel pursed his lips and shrugged. “Don’t have any choice. I have to go to work.” He swallowed thickly. “And I have to walk. Don’t have a car.”

Setting his plate on the small coffee table before the sofa, Angel looked at him. “I could come by and take you to work, pick you up after.”

“What?” Axel stared at him, astonished. “No, that’s…that’s not necessary. I can walk. I’ll…” He averted his eyes. “I’ll get over it.”

“Axel,” Dane said gently. “It’s okay to take steps to get through it. Like having someone there with you when you first go back out. The anxiety and fear that you’re experiencing is a natural human reaction to a frightening incident. It doesn’t mean you’re weak or a coward. It’s okay to lean on others when you’re overcoming a traumatic experience.” He smiled warmly. “We’re here for you. It’s important that you know that.”

“Thank you,” Axel whispered. “I guess I’m so used to Wade making me feel like a chicken shit, it’s…it’s sometimes hard to admit to being afraid.”

Angel gripped his wrist lightly. “You know what,” Angel murmured. Axel raised his eyes and Angel gazed back at him, a quiet fierceness in his crystal white eyes. “Fuck Wade. He’ll never be a fraction of the man that you are.”

A sudden sting in his eyes made Axel blink. “I went to see him,” he whispered unsteadily.

“What?” Angel frowned. “Who –Wade?”

Axel nodded. “At the jail. Just before your birthday.”

Angel and Dane exchanged a surprised look. “What…did you say to him?” Angel asked slowly.

“I told him…” Axel stared at them. “I told him I was going to testify against him in court.”

“You did?” Dane cocked an eyebrow. “And what did he say to that?”

Axel shrugged and smiled a little. “He accused me of kissing Angel’s ass to get in his good graces.”

Angel smirked. “What a prick.”

“And he got all pissed and said you don’t turn on your family.”

“What?” Angel stared at him incredulously. “He seriously said that?
Him?
After what he did to you?” Real anger darkened Angel’s eyes. “What a fucking hypocrite.”

“And what did you tell him?” Dane asked curiously.

Axel said quietly, “I told him he was right. Family doesn’t turn its back on family. But that…” He pursed his lips in a smile. “…But that he wasn’t my family. Not my
real
family.”

“Good for you,” Dane nodded emphatically. “I’m proud of you. Don’t let that fucker intimidate you.”

Axel’s smile broadened a bit. “Then he called me a fucking little whiny ass sissy bastard.”

Dane stared at him then laughed. “Well, that was creatively descriptive.”

Chuckling, Axel nodded. “I memorized it for future reference.”

♦

Anthony shifted on the stool. “Do you think the hit was directed at the kid personally…or at you?”

“I don’t know,” Clint shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense that someone would pay that much to have Axel…” his throat clenched at the words, and a sharp pain stabbed his heart. “He’s…nobody. No threat.”

Anthony sighed and glanced at Angelo a moment before returning his attention to Clint. “Then maybe we should treat it as a direct attack on you.” He raised his glass to his lips. “You may have caught yourself a contract.”

The suggestion didn’t come as a shock to Clint. He’d considered it himself, and wouldn’t be surprised if he had multiple notes on his head. “So why not just come gunnin’ for me? Why go after Axel? No one even knows him and I are…” He faltered. He and Axel were what? Boyfriends? Is that what he’d been about to say? It wasn’t
untrue
but was he ready to claim it before his “family”? Anthony and Angelo had yet to reveal their thoughts on him and Axel. They’d merely listened to the details and went right to trying to puzzle out this newly developed dilemma.

“If someone is watching you,” Anthony pointed out. “Tracking you. They would know of your interaction with the kid.”

“I understand that,” Clint said. “But why go after him, if it’s me they want? What’re they trying to prove or accomplish? And why pay out that kind of cash on him if I’m the fucking one they want
dead?
” He exhaled hard and shoved his hand through his hair. He didn’t like this fucking shit one bit. Didn’t like not knowing who the fuck was snapping at his heels. Having to watch his own back was nothing new. But this fucker –or fuckers –were crossing unacceptable lines. For whatever reason, they had set their crosshairs on Axel. But the hit had failed. Would they try again?

“Maybe it isn’t a contract,” Anthony murmured. “Let’s not get stuck on one option. We need to stay open to other possibilities.”

“Such as?”

“A personal vendetta?” Angelo offered quietly. “If it is about you personally…you’re not the only one in danger. And taking you out won’t be the prime objective.”

Clint stared at him.
A personal vendetta
.

“Making you suffer would be the objective,” Angelo said. He glanced at Anthony. “Taking away what’s important to you.”

That list was slowly growing. Clint’s heart thumped hard and fast. “If that’s what this is…” he said low. “Then we’re all at risk.”

♦

Axel was starting to drift off in the middle of the movie, the exhaustion of the day hitting him early, when a knock came at the door. Angel’s head rested on Dane’s thigh, his eyes heavy, and feet drawn up on the sofa. He blinked and lifted his head when Axel got up to answer the door. His pulse spiked when he found Clint on the other side.

“Clint…” he swallowed, heart pounding. “You…you don’t have to knock-”

A soft grunt burst from him as Clint dragged him across the threshold and into his arms, hugging him fiercely. And the man was no weakling. Axel gasped as he was crushed in the cowboy’s embrace but didn’t fight him. He flung his arms around Clint’s neck and clung to him. Clint’s mouth found Axel’s lips and kissed him deep and strong, drawing it out until Axel feared he might pass out from lack of oxygen –then gasped when Clint withdrew.

Axel shuddered against him and gripped the back of his head. “I missed you,” he whispered shakily, his lips brushing Clint’s. The man kissed him again, as urgently as before but not as long.

“I want you,” Clint’s voice trembled with need…and something more. “I want to take you to bed…now.”

Shivering with anticipation and excitement, Axel glanced at the open door. “Dane and Angel are still here,” he whispered.

Clint stared at him, a slight pinch in his brow, saying nothing.

“Is…is everything okay?” Axel asked with uncertainty.

Clint swallowed slowly, his throat working. “Yeah,” he rasped. “It’s just been a kind of…rough day. I really want to be with you right now.”

“I want that, too,” Axel said softly and stroked his fingertips down Clint’s face. A fine layer of stubble scratched his fingers and Axel ached to feel it grazing his bare skin as Clint kissed him all over. His body instantly responded to the notion and he pushed closer to Clint, feeling the man’s own desire for him.

Loosening his arms, Clint released Axel and ushered him inside the apartment but left the door open.

Angel was sitting up, fully awake. He and Dane stood up. “Clint,” Dane nodded his greeting. “Did you…get everything taken care of?”

Another knowing look passed between them and Clint nodded once. “Yeah.” He cleared his throat and glanced at Axel. “Excuse me a minute,” he murmured. “I need to talk to Dane for a moment.” He looked at Dane and motioned toward the door.

“Okay,” Axel mumbled, a slight frown on his face. He looked at Angel who remained standing before the sofa as Dane stepped around him and followed Clint out into the corridor, closing the door behind them.

“What’s that about?” Angel wondered.

“I don’t know,” Axel said quietly. When they returned a few minutes later, there was a new strain in Dane’s face that he attempted to conceal behind a smile that he flashed at Axel.

“It’s been fun,” he said. “Let’s do this again real soon.”

Angel clearly wasn’t oblivious to the change in Dane either, but he made no mention of it and smiled at Axel. “Yeah, maybe we should make this a weekly thing. Dinner and movie night.”

“As long as Dane promises to always do the cooking,” Axel mused.

“It’s a deal,” Dane nodded and winked.

Axel laughed then said sincerely, “Thanks for hanging out with me. I had a good time.”

“See?” Dane nudged Angel. “We can all have fun without taking our clothes off.”

Angel sighed. “I suppose,” he grumbled then laughed softly as he followed Dane to the door. “You guys have a good night.”

Axel bid them goodbye, a sudden anxiety creeping through him as the door closed and he was left alone with Clint. “Is something wrong?” he asked quietly. “Please tell me the truth.”

Licking his lips slowly, Clint touched Axel’s face and kissed him. “There’s something we need to talk about,” he murmured. “But not right now.” He cupped Axel’s head and kissed him more deeply. “Right now, I just want to make love to you.” He brushed his lips along Axel’s jaw to his ear. “Hold you.”

Axel shifted and kissed him on the mouth. “What’s stopping you?”

Clint smiled.

It seemed only moments before Clint was laying him down naked on the bed, granting Axel’s silent wish as his lightly rough stubble raked wonderfully down Axel’s neck…and then lower. Clint’s strong hand stroked Axel’s stiff member with a slow, steady rhythm as he took his time tasting Axel’s chest and stomach, following the hills and valleys of his lean torso with the tip of his tongue.

“Mmmm…” Axel’s breath shuddered in his throat. He slipped his fingers into Clint’s hair and gently raked his scalp as the man’s warm, probing lips grabbed at his warm skin, sucking sensually. His teeth tenderly nipped Axel’s stomach, causing his abdomen muscles to quiver and jump. The cowboy’s hand was doing wonders to thicken and lengthen Axel’s erection, and he lifted his hips a fraction, pushing through Clint’s fist, begging without words for his cowboy to give him more.

Clint groaned and dragged his warm, slick tongue through Axel’s navel then traced the path of his happy trail down between his thighs. Axel whimpered and lifted his hips again, desperate to be inside his lover’s mouth. With his hand gliding up and down Axel’s shaft, Clint ventured lower.

“Uuh!” Axel’s breath caught sharply when his full balls were suddenly engulfed in warm, wet heat and sucked with a firmness that made his body arch and wrenched free a loud, drawn out moan. “Fuck…” He gripped Clint’s hair and choked on a whimpered cry. “Oh my God…”

Clint squeezed his shaft a little tighter but maintained the same pace. Such sweet torment.

“Mmm…Clint…” Axel shuddered as his body curved, writhing slowly. “Yes…”

He was released from Clint’s mouth but was given only a moment to truly catch his breath before Clint’s lips were at the base of his cock, sucking strong up the length of his hard muscle.

“
Uuuhhh
…” Axel’s heart hammered at his ribs. His hands dropped to the bed and squeezed fistfuls of the blanket as Clint made his way to the tip of Axel’s cock, lathered the head with his wet tongue, then took him in his mouth and began to push down on him. “Oh fuck…” Axel gasped as his back slowly arched, pressing his shoulders into the bed as his head tilted back forcefully into his pillow. “
Uuuhh
!”

Axel shuddered hard when Clint’s lips squeezed around the base of his shaft –his full length engulfed in Clint’s mouth and nudging into his throat.

“Fuck, baby…” Axel cried shakily. His quiet fears of possibly waking up one morning un-gay –disintegrated in the heat of Clint’s passion. There was no coming back from this, and Axel never wanted to.

♦

Clint took him to the brink of release then withdrew and sat up. Axel gazed up at him, eyes hazy and radiating a depth of want and desire that nearly crippled Clint’s heart. Axel reached for him and Clint laced his and Axel’s fingers, drawing the kid forward, up to him. They kissed softly, then deeply.

“I miss you when you’re not here,” Axel whispered, his breath warm against Clint’s mouth. “I miss you a lot.”

Touching his head to Axel’s brow, Clint closed his eyes. “I miss you, too…when we’re not together.” He pressed his lips tenderly to Axel’s mouth. “That’s one thing you can always count on…” he whispered. “If I’m not here…then I’m missing you.”

Axel untangled his fingers and wrapped his arms around Clint’s neck and hugged him. “The truth?”

“The truth,” Clint assured quietly, sliding his arms around Axel’s body. He buried his face in the kid’s soft hair and breathed him in, holding him closer. He wanted to stay locked in this apartment with Axel, keep him safely hidden away from the faceless threat outside these walls. How did a person fight a ghost?

“Clint?” Axel drew back and touched his face. “You’re trembling.” Uncertainty shadowed his eyes. “What’s wrong?” A glimmer of fear sparked his gaze.

Clint shook his head slowly and kissed him, laying him down on the bed, then sat back again. “Turn over, baby.”

“Clint…” Axel stared at him with a worried frown.

Leaning forward, Clint caressed his cheek. “I don’t want you to worry about anything,” he murmured. “I’ll always protect you.” He lowered his head and kissed his lips. “No matter what I have to do.”

“Protect me from what?”

Clint traced his fingertips lightly across his brow. “The world.”

Axel dragged his fingertips down Clint’s chest. “I wish I could protect you, too,” he whispered.

“You do,” Clint kissed him again.

“How?”

You remind me that I’m human.
He smiled and rubbed his thumb along Axel’s lower lip. “You keep me sane.”

Axel gazed up at him. “So this is the…
sane
Clint?” A faint smile quirked the corner of his mouth.

Growling, Clint smiled and kissed him firmly on the mouth. “Don’t be cute.”

“I can’t help it,” Axel pursed his lips. “I am what I am.”

Clint shook his head. “One afternoon with those club boys and you’re already getting cocky.”

His arms slinking around Clint’s waist, Axel murmured, “
They
aren’t the ones who make me…
cocky
.” He pushed his hips up, rubbing his stiff cock head against Clint’s stomach.

Axel’s sweet playfulness eased the anxiety inside Clint and helped him relax a little. “If I’m to blame…I guess it’s my place to handle it.”

“Yes…please,” Axel moaned, eyes pleading. “
Handle
it.”

Clint chuckled softly and kissed him again. “Turn over,” he whispered.

Twisting onto his stomach, Axel tugged a pillow under his chin and hugged it. His eyes closed as a smile lingered on his lips. “I have something I want to give you,” he murmured.

Clint rubbed his hands up Axel’s back and leaned over him, laying kisses between his shoulder blades and up to the nape of his neck. “I have something for you, too,” he moaned and lowered his hips a fraction, running the tip of his cock between Axel’s ass cheeks.

“I mean a real gift,” Axel laughed quietly.

“Mm,” Clint brushed Axel’s hair away from his neck and nipped the tiny hairs on the nape, tugging gently. A shiver rushed through Axel. “So what I have isn’t a
real
gift?” he smiled.

“You know what I mean,” Axel groaned with a short laugh.

Clint kissed the curve of his shoulder then brushed his lips across his ear. “So what is it?”

“I’ll give it to you after,” Axel sighed.

“After what?”

“After you make it up to me for being gone so long,” Axel murmured.

“So I’m in trouble? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Maybe…a little.” He smiled. “And I was advised not to let you get out of it by using sex.”

Clint growled. “And who’s been giving you such poor advice?”

“I can’t say.”

“A little cherub, no doubt,” Clint muttered and kissed his neck. “Good thing you didn’t listen.”

Axel hugged the pillow tighter and buried his face in the softness, muffling his laugh.

How did you do it?
Clint wondered and pressed his lips to Axel’s warm back.
How did you become so necessary to my life?
He kissed a slow path down Axel’s spine as the boy’s body responded with quivering muscles and tiny shivers. His fingertips raked tenderly over Axel’s soft ass cheeks and his lips followed, dropping sensual kisses as his thumbs slipped in between and massaged his tight entrance.

Axel’s breath caught then released on a shaky moan. Clint spread him open and dribbled saliva onto his hole, rubbed it in then slowly inserted one finger.

“Uuh…” Axel tensed briefly, clutching his pillow. He relaxed moments later, though his breath remained quick. “That feels so good,” he mumbled as Clint pushed in deeper and stroked him firmly.

“It does,” Clint agreed and continued to lay kisses all across his cheeks. “Hand me the lube,” he whispered.

Axel reached out and worked open the nightstand drawer, fumbled inside then brought back the tube Cory had included in his “care package” last night. Clint withdrew his finger and applied the gel, working deep inside Axel’s cavern, drawing whimpered moans from the kid. He sat up on his heels and generously coated his rigid shaft then leaned down and kissed Axel’s back as he slowly entered his lover.

“Fuuuck…” Axel gasped and shuddered. His ass cheeks flexed, body tightening, as Clint pushed in deeper. “
Uuuhh
…” Axel clawed the pillow, panting softly, unevenly. “Yes…Clint…”

When his hips shoved up against Axel’s warm cheeks, Clint slid his arms under Axel’s chest and hugged him as he kissed his shoulders. He remained still for a moment as Axel’s body adjusted to his presence and waited for Axel to shift and move against him, urging Clint to take him.

He started slow, gliding his slick cock back and forth through Axel’s tight inner sleeve, so soft and hot engulfing his shaft. He buried his face in Axel’s hair, breath puffing as he pushed into him again and again, hitting the “spot” repeatedly and inciting a string of shuddered moans in the kid. Clint closed his eyes and held him tighter…and fucked him a little harder as the events of the day began to tumble in on him, spiraling inside his head, spinning round and round until just one thing remained in focus;
He said to take him out…snuff him.