Cain Ranch (9781311658128) Read online

  The photos were arranged in a collage on the wall above the dresser. It was a unique design and showed off Prince’s love of modern but quirky. The frames were blacks and greys and a few pops of color here. Prince had all of the color photos in black frames and then all of the black and white photos in color frames. It worked. Otherwise the room was pretty empty, he clearly made his bed his prime workspace with a charging area for his phone and his computer, paperwork on the one table with the bookshelf over it and reference books in that bookshelf. The other table had all of his relaxation stuff, a little iHome, a few novels and a pair of headphones.

  "I was thinking put the bed over here." He stood where he wanted the bed. "And then shift the whole room around so I can yoga in front of the window as the sun peeks through." Or also see right out to the pastures and watch Micah work from his bed.

  “Sure thing.” Micah didn’t get the whole being able to watch him thing, but he nodded anyway and then got to work. He bent to grab the bottom of the frame to pull it. Damn those Levi's. The cowboy grunted softly with effort as he manhandled the bed to where Prince wanted it. It wasn't easy, but he got it over there inch by damn inch. When he was done, he stood there panting, wiping his face with a bandanna from his back pocket.

  "Ah.. Thanks. Here?" He offered the root beer and Micah took a swig of it. "I can move the rest myself." He added, regarding the bedside table and tiny shelves.

  "Thanks. Oh sure. Glad you're more comfortable," he said lightly, still a little out of breath. Then there was a lapse of silence. Prince watching Micah... Micah watching Prince until finally the rich boy broke the silence. "Micah. That was a clue for you to suggest moving that stuff, too."

  "Ohhhh,” He chuckled. “Well that makes sense. Your wish is my command." Winking, he handed the root beer back. Micah had to move the stuff on the tables first, but then he easily carried them as Prince watched. Both tables went back where they were before he'd moved the bed, but he paused, looking at the shelf as he caught his breath. "So... Where do you want this again?"

  "Over the table on the right." Prince liked Micah's heavy breathing, all of it. "Thanks, again.." He reached out to squeeze Micah's shoulder. The cowboy flinched like a startled horse. Then he ducked his head and turned away.

  “Okay.” He mumbled. As he moved the shelf, he was a little stiffer. One leg seized and he had to pause. Teeth clenched, Micah just breathed heavily for a minute.

  “Are you okay? Did I upset you?” Prince knew from experience that Micah suddenly started hobbling around when he was frustrated.

  "No," Micah growled. "Just. Old injury. Acting up." The spasm passed quickly enough. Then he just went back to moving that damn shelf. His manly pride wouldn't let him give up. Once he was done, he leaned against the wall, one fist digging into his thigh trying to get at that ache. He didn't seemed inclined to explain further.

  "Do you need medicine? Or I could massage the muscle and see if it relaxes..."

  Micah grimaced. "Ugh, I dunno. I don't like the medicine, makes me all sleepy." Scowling, the cowboy limped over to Prince's bed, sitting heavily. Eyeing him, Micah debated. Should he let the rich boy massage him, or would he embarrass himself?

  Micah decided to risk it. "It's uh this leg if you wanna..."

  "Sure... You're probably straining it." He explained and pushed him to lie back a little. But Micah wouldn’t lie back completely, kept himself propped up on his elbows as the rich boy started to massage his leg. He started gently, feeling just how tense the muscle was and what needed to be worked out before he got too involved with the process. He could feel the twisted muscle and thick scar tissue in that thigh. Micah hadn't been kidding about an injury, but it had to be old because he moved all right most of the time. Prince looked up to catch that nervous look and the cowboy chewing his bottom lip. He offered Micah a soft smile, trying to comfort him just before he hit the magic spot - a knot of muscle up around his hip.

  Micah gasped. A groan slipped from his lips next accompanied by a shiver as fire shot through him. "Whoa! Ok that's enough of that."

  Prince pulled back just as Micah started to slither away, murky green eyes watching him. He sat back on his legs, putting his hands on his lap as Micah bent that one leg up and then stretched it. “Does your leg feel any better at all?” His eyebrows quirked together, knowing all of those muscles were still tightly knotted in Micah’s thigh.

  “Uhh… yeah. Tons.” Micah lied. It did feel better, but not tons. He was still all tense because that massage was feeling a bit too good. The cowboy closed his eyes, trying not to think of Prince’s mouth, his eyes, his surprisingly strong hands… Grunting, he stretched that leg again, hoping the pain would calm him down. “I just… needta lie here a second.” Ok, well that wasn’t a lie.

  “Okay, well, I’m going to start getting ready for bed, then. Just take all the time you need.” The rich boy slid off the bed and started going through his clothes, selecting a pair of loose boxer-like shorts for sleeping, and a tshirt, before he disappeared into his remodeled bathroom. The Whitsons had kept it rather simple and quaint in style, but Prince had turned it into something of a spa and it was all in the colors and decoration. He left the door ajar as he washed his face and checked his pores and then remoisturized his skin and hair. It did take a little bit of work to look so charming, but not really a whole lot. Plus, he kind of liked having Micah up there with him, even if Micah was just lying there while he got ready for bed. It was nice to see him for a few lingering minutes longer.

  “Thanks…” Micah said softly as Prince got up. He laid there and watched him through the open door, a gentle smile on his face. Just watching the rich boy actually relaxed him more than anything. Until, of course, his mind started running off—imagining coming up behind him, trapping him against the sink, and… Groaning, Micah put his face into the covers, knowing the running water would cover the sound.

  Finally, he sat up to work his pulled muscle out a different way, calmed down enough to concentrate on that and not fantasize about fucking his boss against the sink in Mr. Whitson’s bathroom, for god’s sake. After a minute, Micah got up to take slow, careful steps across the bedroom. “I’m gonna call about the calf for practice tomorrow. Was there any office kinda business you needed me to do?” Business, Micah reminded himself, keep your mind on business, cowboy.

  “That sounds good.” He agreed about the calf. “Not too much business but I did want you to know that I’m going to be going grocery shopping at the end of the week. Let me know if you need anything specific from the store.” He called out, but not interrupting his bedtime routine to speak to Micah.

  The cowboy leaned against the dresser to watch him, just talking through the open doorway, watching his graceful hands smooth over his face and comb through his hair. “Yeah, I need some stuff. And the horses too. I’ll make up a list.”

  “Okay… Hey.. Micah. Good night.” He poked his head out of the bathroom, looking normal, too, and just smiled.

  Micah smiled back. He leaned in before catching himself. Ducking his head, he waved awkwardly as he slipped out of the room.

  Unceremoniously, Prince stripped down when Micah left and climbed into bed, breathing in the lingering scent of Micah and thinking about the whole day,thinking about Micah doing all those things he saw on the youtube videos. He drifted off to sleep with those thoughts, hugging his pillow as he slept through the night.

  Micah limped to his room for his own shower, this time warmer and longer than usual. The cowboy needed to work out some tension. In his thigh, his hip, and yes in other places too. The rich boy was definitely getting to him.

  Thank you for reading the second chapter of our book, Cain Ranch! We're really excited to share more of the romance at Cain Ranch with our readers. If you liked it, please leave us feedback on Smashwords or any other ebook retailer. Stay tuned for more from Cain Ranch and more m/m romance, erotica, and paranormal romance from Gaddis & Glover.

    Gaddis, A. C.; Glover, C., Cain Ranch (9781311658128)