Page 40 of Wellspring

The leaves of the scrub oak would work. “Three strikes, three oak leaves,” he told Erick.

Erick’s gaze followed his hand as he flicked the whip once, a crack echoing back from the bluff as he caught the stem of a leaf with the tip of the whip and separated it from the tree.

A second crack, a second leaf. He shot Erick a cocky grin and sent the tip of the whip skyward to pluck a leaf almost from the top of the tree.

“Is there anything you do not excel at?” Erick asked, shaking his head. “You must show me the way of it, though do not expect me to match your talent.”

“Reading,” Cade replied. “And writing. I don’t excel at those.

” He recoiled the whip and handed it to Erick.

“And it’s not hard if what you’re trying to do is get the whip to crack so the sound helps drive the cattle where you want them to go.

Let the tail drop, bend your elbow to flick it behind you, then bring your arm forward sharply. The whip will do the rest.”

Erick shifted the whip’s handle in his palm a few times until he found a grip he seemed comfortable with.

He swung the tail back and forth, then bent his elbow and swung the whip forward quickly, generating a respectable crack .

He smiled warmly at Cade and cracked the tail a few more times before offering the handle back to him.

“I see I must acquire one of these for myself. Though this skill is far easier to master than reading and writing. Do not denigrate your advancement in that regard. You have shown much proficiency already, and will only improve more with further practice.”

Cade flushed at the praise–and at the memory of everything else they had done during their reading lessons.

“You can find a whip at Miss Hart’s mercantile,” he said hoarsely, wondering if they could get back to the “other prowess” Erick had mentioned earlier now that he’d shown Erick how to use the whip.

“Next time we go into town to get more books. Do you want to keep practicing while I make camp?”

“I do not suppose I shall need to match your accuracy, since the goal is not to strike the cattle but only maneuver them. I would prefer to assist you in setting up camp and preparing our meal.” Erick glanced over his shoulder to the west. “We may still have an hour or more of daylight before we retire for the night, should you wish to practice… your letters.”

Cade’s pulse quickened along with his cock, because he’d heard that pause, and he was going to follow up on the promise in those heavy words. “Come on, then. Let me show you my favorite place on earth.”

He led Erick around the bend in the bluffs to where they could see the waterfall and pool at its base.

With the relatively low rainfall, the waterfall wasn’t running hard, but it was still a steady flow, certainly enough that they could stand underneath it for a quick shower.

And the pool at the base had enough water for a soak if they felt like it.

The cool water would be refreshing after the heat of the day.

Erick took Cade’s hand, twining their fingers. “I can see why this place is special to you. You are fortunate to have found such an oasis of beauty and peacefulness, and I am honored that you would share it with me.”

There wasn’t much Cade wouldn’t share with Erick, given the chance, although he wasn’t sure Erick was ready to hear that yet.

He wasn’t sure he was ready to say it. “I’ve been dreaming about bringing you here since the day we met.

” He could admit that because it was about sex, not emotions.

“About stripping you out of your suit and finding out what was underneath.”

“You have seen it now,” Erick said with a shrug. “I find what is beneath your work garb far more alluring.”

Cade stripped without hesitation and reached for Erick’s buttons. “You’re all flushed. We should cool off, don’t you think?”

Erick’s gaze slid over Cade’s body like a caress before he shed his own clothing, folding it and setting on a rock clear of the fall’s spray. “Seeing you unclothed is not likely to cool me off.”

“The water would,” Cade said, though he made no move to step into the pool or beneath the falls. He traced a finger from the base of Erick’s neck down his chest to just below his navel. “Or I could get you even sweatier first.”

“Even the coolest water would not temper my desire for you,” Erick murmured, his body proving the truth of his statement. He nudged Cade in the direction of the falls, startling a yelp from him when the water, still cold from its underground source, splashed over them.

Cade pulled Erick beneath the water with him, then turned, keeping his hands on Erick’s arms until they were back to front, Erick’s arms around Cade, holding him close. Cade ground back against Erick, his cock a hard, hot line against Cade’s ass. “Gonna bend me over the rocks and fuck me?”

Erick rutted against Cade, mouthing a string of kisses up his throat.

“As tempting as it sounds, I have not the supplies nor the patience to prepare you.” He turned Cade in his arms and sank gracefully to his knees.

It was Cade’s turn to yelp when Erick opened his lips around him, the warmth of his mouth a vivid contrast to the cool water showering over them.

He cradled Erick’s head in his hands, caressing rather than guiding him, as Erick licked and sucked and generally did everything he could to drive Cade out of his mind.

When Erick flicked his tongue over the slit, Cade almost lost it right there.

He grabbed at Erick’s hair. “Too much,” he gasped. “Too fast.”

A wicked grin was the only response Erick made as he gathered Cade’s sac in one cool palm, his other hand pushing his ass closer, taking him deeper.

Cade threw back his head and surrendered to the inevitable, shuddering as Erick swallowed around him.

“Most refreshing,” Erick said as he sat back on his heels and wiped the water from his eyes.

Cade’s stomach did a slow roll at the idea that Erick had found getting him off refreshing, but he pushed it aside to focus on returning some of the pleasure Erick had lavished on him. He pulled on Erick’s hands until he stood, then flipped them around so Erick leaned against the rocks. “My turn.”

Erick pulled him into a kiss, the taste of himself on Erick’s tongue whetting Cade’s hunger. He lingered over the kiss, his own body sated. He was definitely going to get his mouth on Erick before long, but he didn’t have to rush to do it, not when Erick seemed as lost in the kiss as Cade was.

When Erick bucked restlessly against him, Cade took it as a sign to get moving.

He reluctantly released Erick’s mouth to nibble his way down his neck, the salt of his sweat mixing with the slightly mineral flavor of the water.

He licked at Erick’s nipples until they hardened beneath his tongue.

He might have stayed there longer, but Erick bit off a groan and pressed down on Cade’s shoulders.

Cade nipped once more, in gentle retaliation, before dropping to the ground.

Erick’s hard cock stood at attention, and Cade gave in to the desire to taste.

He had wanted to get his mouth on Erick since…

well, since they met if he was honest about it.

Definitely since the first time they’d had sex.

Erick was heavy on his tongue as Cade drew him deeper, thick and leaking. He swallowed around the head, dragging another groan and a babble of incomprehensible words from Erick. Cade pulled back with a grin. “You sound so good.” He gave the slit a quick lick. “You taste even better.”

“Cade…,” Erick rasped, burrowing his fingers into Cade’s hair to push his head back down.

Not that Cade needed the encouragement to swallow Erick down again.

The garbled sounds grew in intensity until Erick stiffened and spasmed against him, and Cade drank him in, not releasing him until Erick’s hand on his shoulder drew him away.

Licking his lips, Cade looked up to see Erick red-faced, his eyes downcast. “My apologies,” he murmured, stroking Cade’s hair. “I should not have pawed at you so.”

Cade pushed to his feet and tipped Erick’s chin up so their eyes met.

“Paw at me all you want.” Erick’s expression didn’t change so Cade leaned in and kissed him softly.

“I grew up in a very different world than the one you did. There was no shame attached to sex with the Comanche, as long as both partners were willing. I want to know how good I’m making you feel. ”

“You make me feel things I have never felt before.” Erick lowered his head, but raised it again a moment later. “I hope I am bringing you the same pleasure.”

Cade reveled in the thrill of Erick’s admission as he brought Erick’s hand to his cock, which had tried valiantly to harden again while he was sucking Erick. “More than I thought possible.”

“I as well.” A gust of breeze wafted through the air, making Erick shiver. “Perhaps we should dress to prepare dinner. We have still cattle to find, after all. It would not do for us to fall sick and have to return to Payne without them.”

Cade wasn’t worried about falling sick. Once they were out of the water, the May heat would warm them back up quickly, but he let Erick retreat from the intensity of the moment.

He gathered his dirty clothes to wash in the pool and let dry overnight and dug in his saddlebags for his clean set.

He had just started to pull on his pants when he heard the distinctive lowing of cattle.

He shot Erick a grin. “I think the cattle have found us.”