Page 37 of Dust and Desire (Sagebrush Cowboys #5)

S ummer had come and gone, taking with it the scorching days.

Now things were a bit more tolerable, and the nights were downright cold sometimes.

Even though it was October, the trees were still green.

I’d never quite gotten used to that. The seasonal changes back in New York were spectacular, but Sagebrush always sort of stayed the same.

The prairie was a bit more golden I supposed, but not much else.

But this fall was far different from any I’d ever experienced before. This time I had Alex.

He was sprawled across our bed this morning, still fast asleep with one arm flung over his eyes to block out the early sunlight.

The cock ring from last night was still around the base of his shaft, forgotten in our post-sex haze.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him, completely naked, completely mine, and completely at peace in a way he’d never been during those first weeks when Keith’s shadow still haunted him.

The therapy had helped. Dr. McGreggor in Amarillo had been worth the hour-long drive twice a week, helping Alex work through years of trauma that went far deeper than just Keith’s stalking.

Some days were harder than others, but Alex was learning to trust that love didn’t always come with conditions, that home didn’t have to be temporary.

It also helped that Keith had a restraining order now.

I padded to the kitchen to start coffee, glancing at the calendar on the refrigerator.

Today was circled in red, the Turner Ranch barbecue and bonfire.

Beau and Lucas were throwing the annual party for their friends and workers.

But Caroline had hinted that this one was special.

She thought there might be some ulterior motives, though I wasn’t sure what they could be.

The coffee maker gurgled to life just as Alex’s alarm went off in the bedroom. I heard him groan, then the soft thud of his feet hitting the floor. A moment later, warm arms wrapped around my waist from behind, and I felt the press of his bare chest against my back.

“Morning, beautiful,” he murmured against my neck, his voice still rough with sleep. His lips found that sensitive spot just below my ear, making me shiver.

“Morning yourself,” I replied, leaning back into his warmth. “Sleep well?”

“Like the dead.” His hands splayed across my stomach, thumbs tracing lazy circles. “Though I had some very interesting dreams about you and that rope again.”

Heat pooled low in my belly at his words, but I forced myself to focus on pouring coffee instead of turning around and dragging him back to bed. “We have that barbecue tonight. Caroline will skin us both if we’re late.”

“Mmm.” Alex’s teeth grazed my earlobe. “What time do we need to be there?”

“Six.” I handed him a steaming mug, finally turning in his arms. He was gloriously naked, his short hair sticking up at odd angles, the silver ring still encircling his cock. “You might want to take that off before you get dressed.”

Alex glanced down and chuckled, carefully removing the cock ring. “Don’t want to get the boys too excited at the bonfire.” He gave me a wink.

I watched him move around our tiny kitchen, completely comfortable in his skin now in a way that still took my breath away. The man who’d been so afraid of being seen, of being known, now walked around naked making breakfast like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“What?” he asked, catching me staring.

“Just thinking about how much has changed,” I said honestly. “A couple years ago, I was a miserable corporate lawyer in Manhattan pretending to be something I wasn’t. And now I’m here with you, living in a tiny house in the middle of nowhere Texas. And I’ve never been happier.”

Alex’s smile lit up his entire face, that sunshine grin that still made my heart skip a beat.

“Funny how life works out, isn’t it?” He cracked eggs into a bowl, his movements practiced and efficient.

“I spent years running, never staying anywhere long enough to put down roots. Now I can’t imagine being anywhere else. ”

I sipped my coffee, watching him cook. The morning sunlight caught the angles of his face, highlighting the relaxed set of his shoulders that had once been perpetually tense. “Do you ever miss it? The wandering?”

He paused, considering the question seriously as he whisked the eggs.

“Sometimes I miss the freedom of it. The not knowing what was around the next bend.” He poured the eggs into the heated pan.

“But I don’t miss the loneliness. The constant looking over my shoulder.

” His eyes found mine, warm and certain.

“And I’d trade a thousand open roads for one morning waking up next to you. ”

My chest tightened with emotion. “Careful, cowboy. Keep talking like that and we might not make it to the barbecue after all.”

He laughed, the sound filling our small kitchen. “Promise?”

After breakfast, we spent the day working around the house.

Alex had taken on more responsibility at the ranch, helping Logan with the breeding program, but he still had Saturdays off.

We’d fallen into a comfortable routine, working side by side, building a life together one small project at a time.

So far, we’d put a small addition on the house to expand the bedroom, mostly.

Alex didn’t have much, but trying to fit two of us in a small house barely big enough for one was difficult.

Besides, I didn’t mind having extra room for more books.

Our next project was going to be adding an office onto the other end, so I had a place to work.

I figured I deserved it after finishing my first book.

By late afternoon, we were showered and dressed, ready to head over to the Turner Ranch. Alex looked particularly handsome in his best jeans and a dark blue button-down that made his brown eyes seem deeper. He’d even polished his boots, a sure sign he considered this a special occasion.

“You clean up nice,” I said, adjusting his collar.

“Not so bad yourself.” His eyes raked over me appreciatively. “Though I’m already thinking about getting you out of those clothes later.”

I leaned in, my lips brushing his ear. “Play your cards right, and maybe we can sneak away for a bit during the bonfire.”

His eyes darkened with interest. “Is that so?”

“Mmm,” I nodded, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before pulling away. “But first, we need to be social. Caroline will never let us hear the end of it if we’re late.”

The drive to the Turner Ranch was short, the familiar landscape rolling past our windows.

Alex’s hand rested on my thigh, a casual touch that still sent warmth through me.

In the distance, smoke curled up from the barbecue pits, and as we got closer, I could see trucks and cars parked in the field beside the main house.

“Looks like a good turnout,” Alex observed as we pulled in beside Caroline’s pickup. The sun was starting to sink toward the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and reds that made the whole landscape glow.

“Dustin! Alex!” Caroline’s voice carried across the yard as we climbed out of the truck. She strode toward us, her dark braid swinging, dressed in clean jeans and a Western shirt that was a far cry from her usual dirt-stained work clothes. “About time you two showed up.”

“We’re right on time,” I protested, checking my watch.

“Which means you’re late by Caroline standards,” Alex laughed, accepting her one-armed hug.

“Damn straight,” she nodded. “Come on, Beau and Lucas are about to make some big announcement. They’ve been actin’ all secretive and giggly all day.”

As we followed Caroline toward the gathering crowd, I spotted Ali chatting with Jack Turner near the barbecue pits.

She’d been making more frequent trips to Sagebrush lately, claiming she needed the break from city life.

The fact that those breaks always coincided with Caroline’s barrel racing competitions was something none of us mentioned, but all of us noticed.

“Look who I found,” Caroline announced as we approached, her hand sliding naturally around Ali’s waist in a gesture that still made me do a double-take.

Ali’s face lit up when she saw us. “Dustin! Alex!” She hugged us both, the stiffness that had marked our early interactions completely gone now. “How’s the house expansion coming along?”

“Slow but steady,” Alex replied, his arm settling comfortably around my shoulders. “Should be finished before winter hits properly.”

Jack Turner clapped a hand on Alex’s back. “Good to see you boys. Grab yourselves a plate!”

The food was laid out on long tables. There was brisket, ribs, potato salad, and all the fixings of a proper Texas barbecue. We filled our plates and found seats around one of the picnic tables, joining Logan and Dakota who were sitting shoulder to shoulder.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the ranch, Beau and Lucas made their way to the center of the gathering. Beau looked nervous, fidgeting with the brim of his hat, while Lucas stood beside him, radiating quiet confidence.

“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Beau called, his voice carrying across the yard. The chatter died down as people turned toward them. “Lucas and I wanted to thank y’all for coming tonight.”

“Free food always draws a crowd,” someone called out, prompting laughter.

Beau grinned, visibly relaxing. “Well, we actually have a couple announcements to make. First—” he glanced at Lucas, who nodded encouragingly, “—we’re getting married. In the spring.”

A cheer went up from the crowd, followed by applause and whistles. Caroline let out a long sigh.

“About damn time,” she said.

“And second,” Lucas said, stepping forward with a broad smile, “we’re happy to announce that we’ve hired some extra help for the ranch. Starting next month, we’ll have Diego Martinez joining us as our new ranch manager.”