The Ride

"Nick, I'm not going to try this again." Gil's voice was cool. He did not meet Nick's eyes as he said the words because he did not want to see the hurt that he knew would be there.

"Fine." Nick's voice was laced with disappointment.

Gil heard the door shut and spun around. Nick hadn't argued at all. He had just left. Gil had expected an argument. He had expected Nick to try to change his mind. Gil sat down heavily on the edge of the bed. A second later, he was up again and racing through the house.

"Gil, are you okay." Mrs. Stokes voice held concern as she watched her son's lover run around the corner of the kitchen.

"Nick? Did he leave yet?" Gil panted. He thought to himself briefly that he was going to have to start going to the gym, if a run down a flight of steps winded him.

"I think he's down at the barn. Gil, what's the matter?"

"I told him I wasn't going to try again. I think I really hurt him." Gil said as he stared out the window towards the barn.

"Gil, Darling, Nick can't expect you to enjoy everything he enjoys. And vice versa." Mrs. Stokes poured herself a cup of coffee.

"I know that, but I feel like I'm letting him down."

She met his eyes and said softly, "Tell me why you won't try again."

"I'm scared." Gil hung his head.

It was hard for a grown man to admit fear. Being married for almost 48 years had taught her that, so she proceeded with caution.

"Tell me what you are afraid of."

"Looking foolish in front of Nick." Gil mumbled.

Mrs. Stokes moved over to Gil and embraced the man. "Oh, Gil. Nick loves you. He would never make fun of you. Just because he has been riding since he was a toddler doesn't mean he doesn't understand what it's like to learn something new."

"I know he wouldn't make fun of me, but I feel...Hell, I don't know what I feel. What if I fall off? What if the horse doesn't like me? What if..."

She cut him off, "What if you never tried anything new?"

Gil looked up at the woman he had grown to love almost as much as his own mother.

"I'm being stupid, aren't I?"

She smiled and nodded. "Now, hurry out there and catch up with him. I'll call the barn and tell Joe to tell Nick you're coming."

Gil practically ran out of the house and she watched as he trotted towards the barn. She picked up the phone in the kitchen and pressed the extension to the barn.

"Joe, tell Nick to wait. And saddle up Glory for Gil. Thanks." She stood by the window, as Gil got closer to the barn. She watched her son appear in the door and even from this distance; she could see the grin on his face. She continued to watch as Gil stopped in front of Nick and the two men spoke briefly before Nick leaned in for a quick kiss before taking Gil's hand and pulling him into the barn.

She sipped her coffee and smiled to herself. At first her and her husband had been apprehensive about their youngest child's relationship with a man 14 years his senior, but this past year had proven to them that Gil was the one for Nick. After Nick's abduction and burial, Gil had been the one who had brought her son back from the edge of insanity. Over this last year, she had seen the changes in both men. Nick had become so much surer of himself and Gil had learned to let go and have fun.

When Nick had brought Gil home last Christmas, only two months after the abduction, Gil had been so introverted around the large Stokes clan, but it didn't take long for the family's infectious laughter and closeness to draw Gil closer into the fold. That was the visit that Nick first talked Gil into getting on a horse. It had been a disaster. Gil had been so nervous, that the horse had picked up on it and had taken off at a dead run. Gil was thrown and even though he was not seriously hurt, his pride had taken a beating. All through the rest of the visit, Nick had done his best to get Gil back on a horse.

The phone ringing startled her out of her thoughts. "Hello."

She smiled as she recognized her husband's voice. Judge Stokes was in Austin and was driving back today. Briefly she filled him in on what had been happening on the home front. She laughed softly when he suggested they get Gil cowboy boots for Christmas this year.

She hang up and went to the window again. She was just in time to see Nick and Gil on their horses, heading towards the wooded area at the back of the north pasture. She loved to ride that trail. There was a small creek that ran through the woods and that had become a perfect picnic spot for the family.

****

Nick had been tightening the girth on his horse, Tonka, when the barn phone rang. Joe, the Stokes' handyman/ranch manager picked it up on the first ring. He listened briefly, said 'okay' and hung up.

"Mr. Nick, your mama says to wait for Gil. We need to saddle Glory."

Nick grinned as he handed Joe Tonka's reins. "Would you hold him, while I saddle Glory?"

Joe smiled back at the younger man. "Sure."

Nick led Glory out of her stall and put her bridle on. He kept glancing out of the barn door, watching has Gil got closer. He ran a quick brush over the chestnut horse and had just gotten the saddle blanket on when Gil had reached the barn. Nick met him at the door.

"I'm glad you changed your mind."

"I'm sorry I disappointed you."

"You could never disappoint me, Gil. Even if you never got on a horse again, I would still want to be with you forever."

"Promise you won't laugh if I wind up on the ground again."

"I didn't laugh the first time. The first time you hit the ground, I had a panic attack."

Nick leaned in and gave Gil a quick kiss on the lips. "Come on, let's finish saddling Glory and we'll go for a slow, easy ride."

Gil followed Nick into the dim interior of the barn. Joe was standing there holding onto Tonka and Gil eyed the horse standing in the middle of the aisle. Her halter was attached to crossties and she nickered, as Nick got closer. As Gil passed Joe, Joe held out a slice of apple. "Make friends. Glory is a sucker for apples."

Gil held the apple out on his palm in front of Glory and she delicate took the fruit and Gil smiled at the velvety softness of her mouth.

Nick swung the saddle onto Glory's back and tightened the girth and cinch strap. After he was satisfied that Glory was ready for Gil, he led the horse out into the sunshine. Joe followed, leading Tonka and Gil brought up the rear.

Under Nick's supervision, Gil mounted up and Nick adjusted the stirrups. Nick placed his hand up on Gil's thigh. "I love you."

"I love you too." Gil covered Nick's hand with his own for a second and then Nick turned to mount his own horse.

Nick took the lead and Glory fell right in behind Tonka. Both men were quiet as they walked slowly across the pasture. Even though it was the end of November, the grass was still a rich green. The horse's rocking motion relaxed Gil and he forgot he was on the back of a huge animal as he watched Nick's back. The breeze was blowing Nick's dark hair and Gil wondered for the millionth time since their first kiss, how someone like Nick could belong to him.

As they entered the woods, Nick slowed Tonka, so that Glory could come up on the side. His leg brushed against Gil's as they rode side by side.

"Doing okay?" Nick asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, I am." Gil replied. Actually, he found that he was doing better than okay. He was really enjoying himself. It was peaceful and he was with the man he loved.

They rode in silence for a few more minutes, and then the horses quickened their pace some. Gil was alarmed for a second, but realized that his horse was still walking, just a bit faster.

"They smell the creek and know they are going to get a break to drink and graze."

"Oh." Gil said as they entered a clearing and stretching out before him was a beautiful clearing and running right through it was a small, bubbling creek. It was only about twenty feet wide and the pebbled banks were shimmering in the sunlight.

Nick dismounted and held Glory's reins as Gil eased himself out of the saddle.

"This is beautiful, Nick."

"It's my favorite spot on the whole ranch."

"I can see why." Gil watched as Nick pulled two lead ropes out of his saddlebag and snapped them to the horses' bridles. He handed Gil Glory's and they walked the horses to the water's edge. The horses drank and Gil absently petted Glory's shoulder. When they had drank their fill, Nick and Gil led them over to a fallen tree and Gil copied Nick by tying his lead rope onto one of the branches. The horses had enough rope so they could graze on the lush grass growing near the creek.

Nick began unsaddling Tonka.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought we'd just hang out here for awhile. Is that okay with you?" Nick slung Tonka's saddle onto the log and went to work on Glory's.

"Sure, Baby. Anything you want." Gil replied. While he waited for Nick to finish, Gil walked down to the water's edge and was pleased to see trout swimming through the crystal clear water.

When he turned to tell Nick about the fish, his breath caught. Nick had spread out one of the horses' saddle blanket and had removed his shirt. While Gil watched, Nick began unbuckling his belt.

"Nicky?"

"You ever have sex outside, Gil?" Gil's couldn't seem to form a coherent thought as Nick bent down to remove his boots and socks. When Nick's hands unzipped his jeans, Gil began to frantically look around.

"Jesus, Nick. What if someone comes?"

"Oh, I plan on coming." Nick said with a laugh and the jeans dropped around his ankles. He kicked them off and hooked his fingers around the waistband of his boxer briefs.

"Nick, I don't think this is a good idea."

The underwear came off and was tossed into the pile with the rest of Nick's clothing. Nick took his cock into his hand and stroked it seductively.

"Come here, Gil."

Gil took a step forward then stopped and looked around again.

"Gil, no one is going to show up out here." Nick's other hand moved slowly across his stomach and up to one of his nipples. He lightly pinched it.

Gil groaned. They hadn't had any sexual contact since they arrived at the ranch for the Thanksgiving holiday on Sunday. It was Wednesday and Nick was apparently very horny. Slowly, Gil walked towards Nick. His eyes took in Nick's gorgeous body as he got closer and closer. Nick's eyes sparkled as he watched his lover's pants tighten around the groin.

When Gil was close enough to touch him. Nick backed up a step and knelt down on the blanket. His hands reached up to unfasten Gil's zipper. His hand snaked inside and he pulled out Gil's erect cock.

"Oh, Nicky." Gil's knees felt weak. Gil quickly pulled his t-shirt over his head and tossed it. Nick's hand was wrapped around the base of Gil's cock and Nick was licking the head slowly, pushing the tip of his tongue inside the slit. Gil looked down and he ran his hands through Nick's thick hair. "Baby, that feels so good."

Nick smiled and leaned back on his haunches. He worked Gil's pants down and helped him get his shoes and socks off. Between the two of them, they made short work of getting Gil's pants off.

Gil found himself on his knees in Nick's arms. Nick's mouth claimed his and he wondered if being outdoors like this made his senses keener, then as Nick's tongue swept across his, all thoughts fled. He just felt.

Nick stroked Gil's back and flanks as he invaded Gil's mouth. Soon the two tumbled sideways so that they were lying on the blanket, Nick on top of Gil. Gil felt as though Nick were trying to crawl inside of him. Nick's hands and mouth were everywhere.

Nick's hips began grinding against Gil's. Their erections rubbed against each other. The friction was intense and Gil moaned and began thrusting up into Nick's groin. Gil's mouth left bites down Nick's neck and shoulders. Their movements became frantic and it was Nick that came first. He had called out Gil's name as his orgasm rocked through him and his hot semen coated their bellies.

"God, oh God, Gil." Nick panted. He was still trembling with the aftershocks of his orgasm, but he managed to slide down Gil and took Gil into his mouth. He licked and sucked his own semen off of Gil's cock. He took Gil deep into his mouth and his hand gently squeezed Gil's balls. Gil screamed as his cum streamed down Nick's throat. Nick swallowed it all and then licked Gil's stomach clean. Gil watched Nick licking his own semen from Gil's stomach and thought it was so incredibly erotic.

Gil pulled Nick up to lie beside him and murmured, "You are so beautiful. I love you so much."

"I love you more." Nick whispered.

"Not possible." Gil whispered back.

Nick chuckled. They rested on their backs until the slightly chilly air drove them to get up and put their clothes on. Nick saddled the horses despite Gil's fumbling attempts to help and they mounted.

As Nick turned the horses towards home, he grinned over at Gil. "So, how'd you enjoy your ride?"

THE END