The Guarded Heart (9 page)

Chapter 25

The glow from the snow surrounding the cabin woke Ryder and he squinted and shook his head at the time. It was just a little after 7:00 and he didn’t want to wake Clint but he felt too restless to go back to sleep. He slipped from beneath the covers and immediately regretted it as the cold air attacked his naked body. He cursed silently as he pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweater and tiptoed out of the room. Within a few minutes he had a pot of coffee started and his bare feet stuffed into a pair of snow boots. Ryder hummed under his breath as he prepared a cup of coffee and went out on the deck.

It was breathtaking. The forest was ethereal and tranquil under the moonlight but the morning sun made it look crisp and pure. It sparkled and seemed to hold its breath, waiting for feet and wings to travel its pristine paths.

“Good morning,” Clint whispered as his arms wrapped around Ryder. Ryder sighed happily as he leaned back and rubbed his cheek against Clint’s.

“It’s so beautiful,” Ryder said and Clint nodded.

“I knew you’d love it here. It’s the perfect place for an elf,” he teased and Ryder laughed as he turned in Clint’s arms.

“An elf?” He asked and Clint shrugged.

“You’re such a hippie-elf-flower child,” he said and Ryder’s head pulled back.

“No, I’m not,” he argued and Clint nodded.

“Totally. You always look at trees like you want to hump them and you practically live off leaves, grass and berries,” Clint explained and Ryder’s lips pulled in and he shook his head.

“There’s a bit of exaggeration there,” he complained and Clint shrugged.

“Whatever,” he said then pressed a quick kiss to Ryder’s lips. “Let’s go for a walk before breakfast,” Clint said and Ryder almost danced, he felt so giddy. He quickly tamped down his enthusiasm. He didn’t want Clint to think he was right about the hippie-elf-flower child thing.

It took fifteen minutes to pull on long underwear, heavy socks, sweaters, jackets, gloves, hats and boots and Ryder was fidgety and on the verge of a tantrum by the time they got out the door. He grabbed Clint’s hand and tugged him toward the woods and urged him to hurry. Clint laughed as he broke free and a moment later a snowball hit Ryder in the center of the chest. They were twelve as they ran for the trees, whipping snowballs and jumping and ducking as the cold air and snowflakes attacked their cheeks and noses. Ryder ran under a tree and grabbed a branch as he passed bringing a shower of snow down on Clint and he gasped in shock as he dove at Ryder, tackling him to the ground. They laughed into each other’s mouths and kissed tenderly before Clint stood and offered Ryder his hand. Ryder let him pull him to his feet and Clint held on to his hand as they walked deeper into the woods.

“This might be the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen,” Ryder whispered as his eyes followed the tall trees as they reached for a clear, pale blue sky.

“So beautiful,” Clint said softly and Ryder turned and found Clint staring at him. His eyes were heavy and full of warmth and longing and lust flared within Ryder. He reached for Clint and groaned as their bodies collided and he was thrown against a tree. Their lips and tongues tangled hungrily and Ryder jumped when the chilled leather of Clint’s gloves pressed against his neck. Clint ripped them off and dropped them before gathering Ryder’s face in his hands. Their kiss was wild and joyful and Ryder felt potent and safe in the middle of the silent forest with Clint.

The altitude, the bright blue sky, the cold air, the smell of the trees and the snow… it was so intoxicating. Ryder felt a little high and his body tingled with euphoric energy as Clint’s teeth and lips slid down his throat. He could imagine he was an elf and he wanted to tempt the human that found him in his forest. His lips curved wickedly as his palms slid down Clint’s chest and over his stomach. Clint’s lungs locked and a gasp was trapped in his throat as Ryder’s hands glided lower and cupped and squeezed Clint’s hard-on.

“Is this for me?” Ryder asked and Clint nodded jerkily. Ryder purred as he licked his lips and slowly slipped off his gloves and Clint swayed as he exhaled slowly. “I want it,” he declared as he flicked at Clint’s belt and fly.

Clint hissed as Ryder’s cool hand closed around his throbbing heat and began to stroke. He was so large and hard and enthralling in the bright solitude of the woods, Ryder was helpless to stop his body from sliding down the tree and dropping to his knees. He cradled Clint’s cock in both of his hands and prayed to it before gently pressing his lips to the head. They slid and clung as he let them drag along the shaft before rubbing his face all over Clint’s erection. When he looked up, Clint was panting and spellbound, his eyes deep and dark as he watched Ryder adoring his cock. Ryder’s mouth fell open and his tongue slowly stretched past his lips and Clint held his breath.

“Oh, God,” Clint breathed when Ryder traced the head with his tongue. Clint’s hands braced against the tree and his head fell as Ryder’s lips closed around his cock and he began to suck. “Ryder…” It was a hoarse plea as Clint’s body started to shake.

Ryder felt pagan and primitive as his hands slid around Clint’s hips and tightened around his ass, urging him to fill Ryder’s mouth with his pulsing length. Clint moaned and was helpless to stop his hips thrusting as he hung on to the tree for support. Ryder relaxed his throat and moaned in delight as he swallowed Clint. He could feel Clint’s need overwhelming him and Ryder felt drunk and powerful as the taste of Clint’s pre-cum flooded his mouth. Then it was gone and Ryder stared up in shock. His mouth felt stretched and hollow as steam spilled from it. Clint’s chest heaved and his eyes and jaw were clenched shut. Ryder rose on shaking legs and Clint groaned as he pinned him against the tree.

“Fuck, I need you,” Clint whimpered as his lips and hands attacked Ryder’s face and neck. It was snowing and their breath hung around them like fog but Ryder felt like he was on fire as his lips and tongue tried to capture Clint’s.

“Then you should take me,” Ryder whispered against Clint’s cheek as he reached between them and unbuttoned his jeans.

“Ryder, I don’t…” He sucked in a breath as Ryder shushed him and the sound of Ryder’s zipper filled the silence.

“Take what you need,” he said silkily as he pushed the heavy protective layers down his legs and exposed himself to the cold and a thousand fears he refused to let follow them into the forest.

Clint’s hands slid beneath Ryder’s shirt and pulled at his skin as Clint’s tongue slipped between his lips and lapped at Ryder’s urgently. Ryder twisted his hands in the front of Clint’s sweater and held on tight as everything rational within him slipped away and he was swept up in Clint’s desperation. He pulled away from Clint’s lips and carefully turned and pressed his chest against the tree. Clint’s hands shook as they swept down Ryder’s back and over the curve of his ass.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he breathed against Ryder’s ear and he shook his head drunkenly.

“I want this,” he murmured and Clint sighed against his neck before he leaned back.

Ryder heard him spit and his nerves tightened and his heart slammed against his ribs in anticipation. His fingers strummed the bark of the tree and Clint’s comment about him wanting to hump trees brought a smile to his lips. He might have laughed if Clint’s wet fingers hadn’t slid into the cleft of his ass and gently pushed into his tight hole. Ryder bit his lip as warmth trickled into his groin and tingling hunger bloomed in his passage. He splayed his hands against the tree and used them as a pillow as Clint gently fingered his ass. There was a flash of searing pain as Clint’s cock slipped past the clenching ring of Ryder’s ass but he shut his eyes and breathed through it as he pushed back. Clint slowly pressed forward, filling Ryder with hard heat. There was unbelievable friction as Ryder gripped his length. He suffered every inch until Clint’s groin pressed against his ass.

“Are you ok?” Clint huffed into his hair and when Ryder opened his eyes it was the most exquisite moment of his life. He was so aware of everything. The color of the sky, the trees and the snow were so vibrant and his skin stung from the cold, dry air as scalding tears slid from the corners of his eyes. He could taste snow, pine and Clint’s skin and his body vibrated with desire and joy as it clenched around Clint’s. Heat seeped from Clint and spread through Ryder and he felt protected and fully possessed. He couldn’t remember feeling more connected and in love with anyone. They were alone in the most beautiful place in the world and their bodies were locked together and Ryder could feel his heart swelling and filling his entire chest.

“I’m ok,” he said and his eyes blurred as Clint’s lips slid through his hair.

“I’m afraid to move,” Clint confessed and Ryder grinned.

“Why?”

“It’s so good, just like this,” he said shakily. “I know it’s going to be even more beautiful when I start moving and I’m going to lose my mind. I won’t be able to last long and then it’ll be over,” Clint said and Ryder laughed softly.

“Want to stay like this, then?” He asked and he felt Clint shake his head.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to for much longer, my body’s starting to hurt. I need to move,” he said and Ryder squeezed tight around him and Clint swore.

“Move,” he commanded.

Clint’s arms closed around Ryder as he slowly pulled his hips back and they both moaned. There was still the gripping friction but Ryder had relaxed around Clint and he could slide a little more freely. But it was the heat. It swirled in Ryder’s groin and pushed through his veins. It bled through his clothes and saturated his skin as it became slick under his shirt. And there was that solid, driving heat pushing against every inch of Ryder’s passage. They had to be melting everything around them for miles.

“Ryder…” Clint whispered as he slid forward and pressure pushed up Ryder’s shaft and his eyes rolled as pleasure swept through his limbs and they became weak. Clint chanted Ryder’s name into his hair and it wasn’t long before Clint was thrusting smooth and deep, filling Ryder relentlessly. Stinging, heavy heat crept up Ryder’s erection and he shivered and writhed in Clint’s arms as a long, swelling orgasm rolled through him. “Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck…” Clint rasped. “You’re so fucking tight!” He cried as he continued to drive into Ryder.

“Please, don’t stop,” Ryder slurred as his neck went limp and he clawed at the tree to keep from slipping through Clint’s arms. He felt boneless as pleasure licked at his nerves and made him lighter.

Breaths, gasps, curses and moans filled the forest as Clint rode Ryder. Time slowed and Ryder felt as if he grew warmer and brighter with each slide of Clint’s body into his until he was sure he’d go up in flames or burn the tree wherever he touched it. Clint’s breathing became ragged and the rolling of his hips frantic and jerky as he drew closer to his release.

“I’m about to come!” He panted and Ryder’s jaw fell as his sack drew tight and pressure rushed up his length. “Please, I can’t pull out,” Clint begged and Ryder was too lost in his own rapture as his nerves contracted. His body shattered a second time and he screamed as Clint bucked hard and froze. Ryder arched against Clint as molten heat flooded his passage and come burst from the end of his cock as Clint convulsed behind him. He could feel Clint pulsing deep within him as he shivered through the aftershocks of his own climax and Ryder felt completely drained as a few stray drops of come dripped from the head of his cock. “Ryder, I…” It died on Clint’s lips and he sighed heavily as he tucked his head into the corner of Ryder’s neck. Ryder’s throat tightened as the magic vanished and a wave of panic and regret filled him.
What have I done?
He wondered as his eyes flared and he stared unseeing at the tree.
What the fuck was I thinking?
He forced his body to breathe and pulled a steady breath through his nose then released it.

“I think we need to go back,” he mumbled as he wiggled his shoulders and tried to straighten.

“Are you ok?” Clint asked softly and Ryder nodded.

“I want to go back,” he said then grit his teeth as Clint slid out.

“Did I hurt you?” Clint asked as he ducked his head, trying to find Ryder’s eyes.

“No!” He snapped and Clint’s head pulled back. Ryder kept his eyes on his hands as he reached for his pants and ignored the come that slid down the inside of his thigh. He cleared his throat as he zipped, tucked and buttoned. “I just really want to get back and get cleaned up,” Ryder lied and Clint took his chin and held his gaze.

“Talk to me,” he said firmly. “Please,” Clint added and Ryder shrugged as he pushed past him.

“I just got carried away,” he admitted and Clint swore under his breath as he scrambled to fix his pants as he followed. “I’ve never done that before. I’ve always been so careful,” Ryder said as he stomped toward the cabin.
I was supposed to save that for someone that loved me, that I knew I could trust,
he scolded as he shoved his hands into his pockets. He forgot his gloves but it was ok because Clint bought him four pairs.

“Hey,” Clint said as he grabbed Ryder’s arm, halting him. “I’m clean. I’ll get tested as soon as we get back if that will make you feel better.” His eyes searched Ryder’s and he nodded then pulled away and rushed toward the cabin. “Tell me what I did wrong,” Clint demanded and Ryder waved him off as he ran up the back steps.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he lied.
You don’t love me. I forgot and fell in love and I can still feel you inside of me and it’s freaking me out.
“I just need a little time. Let me take a shower,” Ryder said as he pulled the door open and strode quickly through the living room and into the hall.

“Alone?” Clint asked as he followed and Ryder nodded.

“Please,” he stated as he threw his coat on the bed and kicked off his boots. “I just need a little space.”

“Ok,” Clint said gently as he backed away. “I’ll make breakfast,” he offered as Ryder pulled his sweater over his head.

“Thank you,” he mumbled as he went into the bathroom and shut the door. He locked it and collapsed against the panels as tears streamed down his face.