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"Oh hell, that was close," he said as Tor came out of the other stall.

Tor looked pretty fucking relaxed and Jake glared at him. "Bastard. Least you were quiet about it."

Tor just grinned and looked pleased with himself.

Jake went to the tack room and got Lug's saddle. "You coming out with me?"

"Fuck, yes, don't be an idiot. You saddle him, I'll go get some stuff from the bunkhouse.

Back in five minutes." Tor took off and Jake just grinned, heading for Lug's stall.

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When Tor got back Lug was ready to go and they started stowing the mountain of stuff Tor had brought into the saddlebags. Blankets, feed, apples, water. Then Tor started handing him the rest: bread, cheese, three bottles of apple juice, bag of cookies, condoms, lube, another blanket, and something wrapped in foil.

Jake raised his eyebrow and Tor said, "Apple pie, of course." Of course.

They led Lug out the back of the stable and Jake said, "Wait, forgot to sign him out. Hold on." They had a system for the horses, so if anyone went looking they would know where the animal was. It was just a small chalkboard in each stall, and when a horse was taken out the hand either wrote 'field', if the horse was out to pasture, or just the hand’s initials if they were out for a ride.

Jake went into the stall and marked a 'T' on the board. That was easy – Taggart/Tornado.

No problem.

When he went back out Tor was already mounted, so he grabbed the back of the saddle and swung up behind him. "Where we goin'?"

"Know a spot. Won't take long."

They rode for about twenty minutes, Jake feeling slightly odd being behind Tor and not holding the reins. He couldn't remember the last time he'd ridden with someone else, and it took a bit of getting used to. They worked into a rhythm, though, and Jake started to get bored, not knowing where they were headed, and not having to pay attention to the land or guiding the horse.

He wrapped one arm around Tor's waist and started unbuttoning Tor's shirt with the other hand.

"Hey. What do you think you're doing?" Tor asked, a smile in his voice.

"Getting started."

"'Kay. Just checking."

Jake got Tor's shirt undone and started running his hands over the man, feeling his muscles work, twitching and stretching under his fingers. He teased Tor's nipples, grinning at the sound Tor made in response. He pinched one nipple and dropped his other hand down to Tor's cock, stroking hard, using the movements of the horse to find a rhythm.

"Fuck, Taggart, I'm going to fall off the horse if you keep that up. We're almost there, just cool off a bit."

Tor actually sounded like he meant it, so Jake kept squeezing and stroking.

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Tor moaned. "Bastard. Fine, have it your way." He hauled up on the reins and they practically fell off the saddle, trying to get to the ground as fast as they could.

Jake didn't have a chance to find his footing until Tor caught him around the waist and got him steady on his feet. Once he was sure he wasn't about to fall over he kissed Tor hard, tongue plunging in and fucking his mouth. He could feel Tor's hands at his waist, undoing his jeans and then there was a rough hand around his cock, stroking him hard.

Tor smiled into the kiss and said, "Gonna make you scream, Taggart." Then he dropped to his knees and Jake moaned as he felt Tor's mouth surround his cock with wet heat.

Tor took him in, fast and hard, tongue doing magic things to the head of his cock and lips sliding on his skin. Jake dropped his hands to Tor's head and stroked his hair, not trying to guide him, just touching him.

Tor hummed a little, the vibration running up Jake's spine, fire settling in his belly. He thrust into Tor's mouth, moaning, feeling himself getting close already. Something about Tor just made it impossible for him to have any control, made him needy for more, no matter how much he got.

Then Tor started to suck. Long, pulling strokes that made Jake shudder and go weak at the knees. "Oh God, yes, Tor. So good, so hot, yeah." He knew he was raving, but he didn't care. He let his head fall back as his hips moved with Tor's mouth, just letting the sensations drive him.

Tor stroked his balls and he felt them draw tight, felt himself about ready to go over the edge. "Tor, fuck, move, gonna come," he groaned, and Tor sucked harder, but moved, his mouth coming off Jake's cock with a slurping popping sound and then Jake was coming, shuddering and twitching and damn near falling over.

Tor stood up and kissed him, wrapping his arms around him, holding him up until he was able to stand on his own.

"Better?" Tor said, breaking the kiss.

Jake grinned at him. "Yeah."

"Let's go then. We're almost there. Keep your fucking hands to yourself, Taggart."

Jake smacked him on the ass and they remounted Lug.

They rode for another ten minutes or so in silence, finally stopping in a field of sweet grass. They dismounted, spreading out the blankets, and then settled Lug in with his feed.

It was different this time, Jake knew. Before, they had pretty much just run from people so they could get off, hunger and need and lust driving them. That was there this time too, but they weren't rushed, they weren't desperate to be naked and writhing and touching. It
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may have just been overload from the day before, or simply the growing easiness of being in each other's company.

Jake sat down on the blanket and pulled off his boots, Tor sitting beside him, stripping off his shirt. Jake looked around them and smiled. "Pretty here."

Tor glanced at him as he pulled off his boots. "You've never been here?"

"'Course I have, just not at night. It's…nice."

Tor nodded and lay back on the blanket, one arm crooked behind his head, looking up at the sky.

As Jake took off his shirt Tor asked, "You ever think about leaving here? I mean the ranch, not the country. Buy yourself some land of your own?'

"Nope." Jake lay down next to him and said, "Like my work. Like the ranch. I don't want the headaches of running a spread, don't need the pressure. Just want to do what I'm doing."

Tor looked at him and nodded. "Yeah, I get that."

"Besides," Jake went on, "it's not like I'll ever have to worry about supporting a wife and kids."

Tor chuckled. "Yeah, I get that, too." Then he sobered and said, "She's gonna figure it out, you know."

"What? Who?"

"Missy. She's either just gonna decide we're queer out of spite for tonight or she's actually going to think and get it right. I mean, hell, Taggart, you've been here for thirteen fucking years. How many women you brought around?"

Jake nodded slowly. He knew Tor was right, and that if Missy wanted to, she could start all kinds of shit just by talking to the right people.

He rolled over and looked at Tor, staring into those brown eyes. "What'll that mean for you?"

Tor shrugged. "Couple bar fights, maybe a tussle with some of the hands. Nothing I haven't gone through before. You?"

"Not much. Boss knows, has since I got here. Couple of the others know, figured it out on their own. Nobody says anything, never had a real problem."

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Tor nodded again and looked at the sky. "Might be different if she figures that we're…"

he stopped and gestured with his arm.

Jake didn't know what to call what they were either, so he let it slide and just lay on the blanket, looking at Tor.

"Hey."

Tor turned his head to look at him and Jake leaned over, kissing him softly. He brushed his lips on Tor's, then pressed in a little, teasing his lower lip and sucking gently.

Tor brought a hand up to the back of Jake's neck, holding him there, deepening the kiss.

Jake relaxed into it, letting Tor’s tongue slide into his mouth, tasting him.

He moved closer on the blanket and wrapped an arm around Tor's waist, just holding him. They kissed like that for a few minutes before Jake pulled away. "Better?"

Tor grinned at him. "Yeah. But now I'm worked up again."

Jake laughed, and felt his cock jump, going from half-mast to full in about three seconds.

"You're easy."

Tor leered at him, eyes focussed on Jake's crotch. "So are you. Strip 'em off, Taggart."

They both peeled off their jeans and stretched out on the blanket, tangling their legs together as they started to rock. Jake's mouth was hungry now, sliding over Tor's collarbone and neck, leaving a trail of open mouthed kisses and licks.

Tor started moaning and pushing against him with his hips, hands on Jake's back, holding him tightly. "Want you. Want you inside of me, Taggart."

Jake sucked on the soft skin just below Tor's ear, then whispered, "I can do that."

They separated, Jake reaching for a condom and the lube, Tor lying on his back, letting his thighs fall apart. When Jake moved between his legs Tor pushed himself up on his elbows and they kissed again, long and slow.

Jake felt like he was melting.

Still kissing Tor, Jake slicked his fingers and slid one in, teasing the soft skin around Tor’s entrance with the others. He smiled when Tor moaned into his mouth and slid two more in at once, sinking into the warmth of that body and stroking gently, loving the way Tor moved with his hand.

Tor's kiss was getting hotter, tongue dancing now, instead of just stroking, so Jake eased his fingers out and rolled the condom on. He moved closer to Tor, and entered him with one long, slow thrust, burying himself in the soft, tight, heat.

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"Oh yes," Tor breathed into his mouth.

"Feel so good," Jake sighed as he started to move, slowly at first, then a little faster, a little deeper.

Tor broke off the kiss, his head falling back. "Jake…God, what you do to me. Feel so good."

Jake closed his eyes and moaned, moving his hips faster and moving a hand to Tor's shaft, stroking him in time with their movements.

"Tor…Tor, look at me."

Tor opened his eyes and lifted his head. Jake smiled at Tor and winked, then dipped his head to kiss him. As he bent over he changed the angle of his thrust slightly, and felt Tor shudder. He thrust again and again, hitting the same spot, feeling Tor lose his rhythm and pick it back up again, before he lost it for good and just rode it out as Jake took him over the edge.

"God, yes," Jake said, feeling Tor come in his hand, ass clamping hard around his cock.

"Yes, so good."

Jake came deep in Tor and stayed there, hips rocking nice and slow as they came down.

When he started to soften he grasped the rubber and eased out, kissing Tor and sighing softly. He got himself cleaned up and lay down on the blanket, drawing Tor into his arms and kissing Tor's face lightly.

They curled around each other, lying quiet and still. Jake listened to the insects and the frogs, feeling peaceful and warm, letting random thoughts wander in his mind as his hand stroked Tor's side and down his thigh.

He wasn't sure what the hell was going on with him and Tor, but he damn well knew that they were past the 'getting off together and that's all' stuff. Tor could still piss him off by times, but that was okay. Wouldn't be Tor if he didn't.

Tor shifted a little and smiled at him. "Nice night to be out," he said.

Jake nodded. "Love this piece of land. Have since I got here."

Tor rolled onto his back and stretched. "How old were you then? Twenty–two?"

Jake nodded, and looked at the sky. Lots of stars, and the quarter moon was low and bright.

"What did you do before you got here?" Tor asked.

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Jake paused. So fucking easy to say what he always did, leave it open ended and move on. But it was Tor asking and even if they were past the just fucking stage Jake wasn't sure if the truth was a good idea. He glanced at Tor and then watched the sky again, drawing in a deep breath.

"Time." He said the word as a sigh.

Tor didn't freeze so much as just…stop. He was perfectly still, not even breathing. Jake waited.

"Time. Jesus." Tor didn't move and Jake didn't say anything.

Then Tor was on top of him, kissing him hard before sliding off and wrapping strong arms around him, nuzzling at his neck.

"Shit, you were just a kid," he said into Jake's shoulder.

Jake nodded. "Just a kid. With a messed up life and making all the worst mistakes." Then he started to shake.

"Shhh….I'm here, I've got you….shhh." Tor's arms were strong around him, his voice low, breath soft and warm on his skin. Jake felt himself calm, growing still and Tor was still there, still holding onto him, making soothing noises.

When they were quiet and still again, Tor kissed his shoulder. "Didn't have to tell me."

"Yeah. I did."

They lay on the blanket for a couple of minutes and Jake waited for Tor to ask what Jake had done. He was pretty sure that Tor would happily just let it go and not bring the subject up again, but there were sometimes things that needed to be said. A man could go to jail for a lot of things.

"How long?" Tor asked, not looking at Jake.

Jake swore to himself. That was not the question he had anticipated, and one that could only bring more questions. Hard ones.

"Five years of an eight to twelve sentence."

Tor pulled away from him a little, and now he did meet his eye. "That's a long time, Taggart." Not Jake.

Jake nodded slowly, feeling himself close up inside. Damn.

"That makes you seventeen when you went in. Transferred to adult court."

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"Yeah."

Tor sat up, still looking at him. "Long sentence. This wasn't pissy little shit that kids pull, was it?"

Jake rolled onto his stomach. "No. Wasn't." He waited a heartbeat and then said, "Fuck, Tor, just let me tell you what I did." Having Tor sitting there running through crimes in his head, making his eyes distant, was starting to make a knot in Jake's belly.

Tor shook his head and looked away. When he looked back his eyes were softer again and he leaned forward, dropping a kiss on Jake's back.