Ropes and Dreams (2 page)

Drake bit his bottom lip, debating. He wanted Buddy to love him best, did that make him petty? Then again, he wouldn’t be able to keep Buddy if he lost his job and was homeless.

“That his leash and collar you’re holding onto?”

Drake remembered the leather in his hands and despite his best effort not to, he blushed. “Er, yeah. I was”—
getting turned on by it
—“waiting for him to get done eating and drinking so I could put it on. Now he’s all wet.”

“That he is.” Salt came over to where Buddy was splashing and having entirely too much fun spreading the water all over. He bent and picked up the puppy. Buddy looked tiny in Salt’s hands. Drake looked away, not wanting Salt to think he was interested. Salt was probably a good guy and all, but Drake simply had never been attracted to guys so much older than himself. And, he admitted silently, he always dated jerks.
Always.
That was another reason for his intended celibacy.

“Looks like he’s got a crate, too. That’s good. Puppies like feeling safe, and they’re pack animals. Those kennels become like a den for ’em once the dogs get used to them.”

Drake glanced at Salt. “They aren’t cruel? Like, locking the poor dogs in jail or whatever?” He felt like a fool for asking, but reminded himself he wasn’t out to impress Salt. Besides which, Buddy was his. “I don’t want him to hate me.”

Salt gave a crooked grin and rubbed Buddy’s belly. “Aw, nah. He won’t. He’ll try to guilt ya out of it, but it’s better to put them in there than let ’em tear stuff up. Lots of dogs end up being dumped because their owners don’t bother training ’em, but just like a kid, they gotta be taught how to behave. It’s best to do that with love, not force.”

“Okay.” That was a lot to think about. Drake would deal with it later, because he just had to know something. “But—I just got him. Is he going to think he’s yours if you take him now?”

“He’ll figure out he’s your little boy in no time,” Salt assured him.

Drake handed over the collar and leash, careful to keep from touching Salt. “Okay then, thanks. I’ll have the cakes done in a couple of hours.”

“We’ll be back at lunchtime—that work for you?” Salt watched him so seriously, as if searching for something in him. Whatever it was, Drake was certain Salt wouldn’t find it.

“That’d be great.” He petted Buddy’s back, and before he was even aware of doing it, bent and kissed Buddy’s head. “Be a good boy.” Drake left quickly, before he could change his mind and snatch his baby out of Salt’s hands.

Chapter Two

Drake peeked in on Buddy. Salt had been nice enough to set the kennel up in Drake’s bedroom off the kitchen. Buddy was snoozing peacefully, looking cute and cuddly on the pillow and blanket Drake had lined the crate with. He sighed in relief and wished he could just go in and have the rest of the evening to himself to bond with Buddy, but there was a birthday party about to kick in, and he had cakes to cut and serve.

There’d been a gathering of all the ranch hands at lunch, and they’d sung ‘Happy Birthday’ to Will then. Drake had made three cakes, actually, because he’d known the hands would wolf down one at lunch. There had only been crumbs left of the vanilla and raspberry cake. Drake had been warned that all the cowboys and cowgirls would be letting him know their birthdays and putting in cake requests. He was flattered and nauseated at the same time, because he doubted there’d be so many requests if any of them even suspected he might have been exposed to HIV.

But they don’t know,
he reminded himself. Except for Troy, Carlos and Will, of course. Drake knew they wouldn’t tell anyone.

Drake looked at Buddy again. He really wanted to pet him, which was amazingly comforting for Drake, and Buddy sure liked it, too, but waking up the sleeping baby would just be selfish.

Drake’s gaze darted around the room. He was stalling, but he couldn’t help it. He was ready for quiet and yeah, probably to brood for a bit. Or just play with Buddy. Drake needed to pick up his shoes and dirty clothes before he gave Buddy free run of the room. There really wasn’t much else Buddy could hurt. The room was sparse. Drake hadn’t had much to bring with him when he’d left Rigo, just some clothes and shoes, a few books and his laptop. He really needed to do something to make the room feel more like his.

The click-clack of heels on the floor had Drake closing his door and spinning around. What he saw made his mouth drop wide open. He couldn’t even speak.

“You like?” the stranger purred, fluttering her lashes at him. She looked out of place in the country kitchen. All sparkle in a tight, shimmery dress that emphasised her trim form, the woman giggled and ran a hand down her stomach. It was only when she cupped her—his—package that Drake realised who it was.

“Will?” he squeaked, staring at that hand jiggling Will’s junk.

“Of course. I didn’t want to bother with the tape tonight, but don’t I look amazing?” Will asked.

Drake dragged his gaze up to Will’s face. The man really was beautiful, though the makeup was kind of applied with a heavy hand. The blonde wig was different, long and fluffy, nothing like Will’s dark hair. “Uh.”

“Speechless!” Will crowed, clapping his hands. “Tell me you have better legs!”

Drake remembered the conversation when he’d first been interviewed, and how he’d claimed to have incredible legs. They were incredible, but Will just might have him beat. “Maybe.”

“We’ll have to make a contest out of it one night,” Troy said, coming up behind Will and grabbing his ass so that Will shrieked. Troy smirked and popped Will’s ass hard enough to make Will wobble. “I gotcha.”

“Jerk,” Will muttered.

Troy cocked a brow at him. “Oh now, I think you’re just mad ’cause I stopped with one. You’ll get your birthday spankings in full later.”

“Too much info,” Drake told them, his cheeks burning as he fought down arousal. “We’ll see who has the better legs another time, when there are impartial judges. You and Carlos’ll pick Will or else he’ll have your balls.”

“They’ll pick me because I’m fucking gorgeous.” Will sniffed.

Drake tilted his head to one side and pretended to think it over as he frowned. “I don’t know, your legs are kind of—”

“If you say I have bird legs, I’ll hurt you,” Will muttered.

“I wasn’t going to,” Drake said, holding up one hand. “Calm down. I was going to say ‘manly’, because you missed a spot shaving.” He gestured in the general direction of Will’s legs while Will cursed and bent down, running his hands over his gams. Drake had been going to tell Will he had scrawny legs, which wasn’t true, he’d just have been teasing, but there’d been something in Will’s expression that had stopped Drake. Will was thin, and the quickly hidden hurt in his eyes told Drake he’d likely been teased about it. Drake had no desire to make Will feel bad.

“I don’t feel any hair,” Will said, glaring at him.

Drake pointed at him. “Gotcha!”

“Jerk,” Will huffed, then ruined his miffed act by running over and giving Drake a hug. “Where are my cakes? I want cake!”

“You had cake at lunch,” Carlos said as he joined them in the kitchen while Drake playfully pushed Will off. “Stop mauling Drake before he decides to drop your cakes.”

Will turned big eyes on Drake. “You wouldn’t.”

“I wouldn’t,” Drake assured him. “I wouldn’t do anything to ruin your night.”

Will’s red-lacquered smile was kind of creepy, but underneath all the makeup, he was still Will. “You’re so sweet. Maybe we can do each other’s makeup sometime.”

“Eh, no.” Drake moved back a step. “I don’t mind wearing heels and some other stuff, but makeup’s not my thing.”

Will wrinkled his nose up. “I guess I can see that. Your beard shadow would show through no matter what.”

Drake ran a hand over his jaw. It wasn’t quite smooth. “I do have to shave daily.”

Carlos was frowning at him and Drake tipped his chin up in a ‘What?’ kind of movement. Carlos shrugged. “Ain’t my business, but I was just trying to figure out what the other stuff you wear with heels would be.”

Drake merely smiled and turned around so he could get the cakes. He ignored Will’s attempts to get an answer from him and Carlos’ wry grin. Troy grabbed plates and silverware to take into the dining room. Drake hoped he wasn’t going to have to participate in this party, too. He’d think the guys would want some time alone, and maybe be able to mess around in the dining room if they wanted.

“Just the three plates,” he called out before Troy. “I’m still stuffed from lunch.”

Will and Carlos looked at him. Drake shrugged. “You guys should have some privacy, and I was there for the lunch party. I’ll be serving the cake and ice cream, then I’m going to clean up in the kitchen and go play with Buddy.”

“You’re more than welcome to hang with us,” Troy said, but Drake shook his head.

“Eh, seriously, you three have fun. Will deserves an awesome birthday, and he won’t be getting quite the awesome if I’m hanging around, plus I’m tired.” And he really wanted his puppy. Maybe he’d let Buddy in the kitchen when he was cleaning up after all. He could use the kennel box to block the kitchen door leading to the rest of the house.

“As long as you know you’re welcome to join us,” Carlos told him.

“Nah, y’all have a wild time. I won’t poke my head out of the kitchen once I’m done serving the cake and ice cream.” Drake took the strawberry-topped cake out of the refrigerator. He wasn’t a chef or a baker, but he was learning and the cake had come out really well. Pretty, too. He’d managed to ice it evenly without tearing the cake itself. The rosettes weren’t perfect, but they weren’t half bad. Some were just a little bigger than others. The strawberries were mouth-wateringly gorgeous. Drake had been lucky enough to find some online, guaranteed to be perfect and fresh. They’d been shipped overnight and Drake had been tempted to eat them all himself.

“Oh my God, I want!” Will clapped his hands again, something Drake was guessing he did as part of his dress-up routine, because Will sure hadn’t been running around clapping before now. “Drake, you’re the best cook-friend ever!”

“It does look like something you’d get at a bakery,” Carlos said, holding out his hands. “Why don’t you let me take it into the dining room, and you get the other one? Troy can get the ice cream and candles.”

Drake went back for the German chocolate cake. He’d added cherries around the top of the cake and hoped it’d taste good all together.

“Damn, I’m gonna get fat,” Troy said as he reached past Drake for the freezer handle. “I could just wallow in that cake.”

“As long as I don’t have to clean up that mess, go for it.” Drake got the cakes positioned just so on the table, and opened the ice cream Troy had set beside them. “Who has the candles?”

It’d been a while since Drake had celebrated anybody’s birthday, his own included, but soon he was singing along with Troy and Carlos as Will camped it up for them. Will took a deep breath and blew out the candles, and everyone clapped. “Looks like you get your wish,” Drake said, remembering that old saying from his youth. “You blew out all the candles.”

Will batted his lashes and licked his lips. “Well, I am particularly good at blowing.”

Drake groaned. He should have known Will would make a dirty joke. “Behave or I’ll skimp on the ice cream.”

“You wouldn’t do that to me. You love me.”

Drake huffed like he was the most put-upon guy ever. “I guess,” he said, dragging the second word out into a hiss.

Will beamed at him and held out a hand.

After Drake had served up the cake and ice cream, he left the guys alone, telling them goodnight and wishing Will a happy birthday. He hadn’t got Will anything, but he had made the guy three cakes, and used his own money buying the stuff for them, so that had to count as a gift. Will had seemed happy enough with the cakes.

There wasn’t a lot that needed doing in the kitchen, Drake realised as he looked around it. The pale blue walls needed some decorating, just like his room did, but the kitchen still felt homey to him. He considered hanging around and waiting for the guys to finish eating so he could wash up their dishes along with the few others in the sink. Chances were, though, that dishes would be the last thing on their minds.

Drake washed up the dishes and when he turned the water off, his cock hardened so quickly he got a little dizzy. He could hear the sounds of a hand slapping flesh, the grunting of Troy or Carlos with each swat and Will’s needy moans.

“Jesus,” he mumbled, reaching down to give his cock a squeeze. Masturbation was definitely still on the table for him after all.

“Oh, oh fuck, yes,” he heard Will cry out, and Drake practically ran to his bedroom. Buddy sat up and yipped, his tail thumping a rapid beat on the pillow.

“Bet you need out, don’t you?” Drake said, forgetting his own desire. Salt had given him some pointers, suggesting he take Buddy out after meals, naps and playing.

Buddy barked at him in reply and did the whole body-wagging thing that was too adorable for Drake to resist.

“I’m coming, baby.” He picked up the leash and crossed over to the crate. As soon as he unlocked the latch, Buddy began pushing at the door. Drake caught him by the collar and clipped the leash on. “You gotta go do your business, sweetie?”

Buddy wasn’t exactly leash trained. He sat down and leant back stubbornly when Drake tugged on the leash, but they’d been through this earlier. Drake clicked his tongue against his teeth then slapped at his leg, and Buddy sprang up like a ball of energy on legs.

“Good baby,” Drake crooned, petting Buddy. “Now, remember to walk, not sit and drag your butt. That can’t feel good.”

Drake braced himself for the sounds he’d hear when he left his room, and sure enough it was pretty clear that Troy, Carlos and Will were having a good time. He’d never been so glad that the kitchen had a door leading out to the back porch.

Outside, it was almost dark. Stars twinkled in the sky, and the moon was rising. It wasn’t quite full, but it was beautiful, and for one moment Drake felt a peace he’d not experienced in a long, long time. It was silly, thinking he was safe, secure, coddled in Mother Nature’s arms as he stood looking up at the sky. Drake snorted softly at the ridiculous thought and turned his attention to Buddy.