Page 198 of Ride With Me

“Ain’t that the truth.”

There was no greater feeling than being in the company of someone who got you. It was a rare thing, in Keely’s experience, and yet it was something he craved so much that it was on the short list of attributes he sought out in the people he met.

“So, are you really out here with no destination in mind?” Keely asked, curiosity about Taz drowning out even the awesome collection of music that had thrummed from the radio so far.

“I have a general idea of what I’m looking for, but it’s more likean I’ll know it when I see itkind of thing,” Taz replied.

“Yeah, I get that. My folks are that way. Sometimes they park the RV and are willing to rent a place until the wanderlust hits again and other times they just live in campgrounds and move on when they get bored, or they’ve exceeded the number of nights they’re allowed to stay.”

“Now that’s the life right there,” Taz declared. “There’s nothing better than seeing where the road takes you; each new day filled with unknown possibilities.”

“Tell me about it,” Keely said. “I love that life. The RV will always be home.”

“Then why the hell are you out here in this mess?” Taz asked as someone cut in front of him, narrowly avoiding a head on collision with an oncoming SUV.

Keely gripped theoh shithandle as Taz laid on the horn and the brake simultaneously, cussing up a blue streak as the red sports car roared off down the road.

“Fuckin’ dumbass!” Keely grumbled as they watched the taillights getting further and further away. “He’s gotta be doing a buck-twenty, easy.”

“That’s what racing to your doom looks like right there. If there’s not a wreck in his future than he’ll be seeing blue lights in his rearview soon enough, even on a stretch like this one,” Tazsaid. “Drivin’ like that, there’s no way his guardian angels can keep up forever.”

“Don’t tell that to my old man, he’ll just take it as a challenge.”

Laughing, Taz cut him a look and shook his head. “I bet. Doesn’t answer my question, though.”

Chuckling, Keely cut a glance at him, then turned his attention back to the horizon, where the light show had finally begun to kick off in earnest. “Just looking for something of my own. I couldn’t keep riding along with them on all their adventures, as awesome as they were.”

“I can appreciate that, though I doubt you’ll find two chicks willing to hitch across the country with you,” Taz said.

“Then it’s a good thing that’s not my end goal.”

“The chicks or the cross-country odyssey of orgies?”

Now it was Keely’s turn to choke and sputter on the piss-warm bottle of water he had pulled from his backpack, not wanting to abuse his host’s hospitality by asking if he had another cold one.

“When you put it like that, I seem almost lame for not being interested,” Keely said with a little shrug.

“If it’s not your thing it’s not your thing,” Taz said. “I know it’s not mine, though I’d love to find a guy who loves long stretches of road and the uncertainty that comes from living like a nomad.”

Had he said…

Keely fell silent, letting Taz’s words and the beat ofRockin’ in the Free Worldsoak in.

Okay, but was he saying it to bait Keely into admitting something that might get him dropped on the side of the road, or had he seriously just announced his sexuality without a smidge of hesitation, or a care in the world, if the way he drummed along on the steering wheel was any indication?

Best to tread with caution.

“You got all silent over there,” Taz said. “Is that not your thing either?”

“I…” Keely stammered, cutting a sidelong look at him while nibbling his bottom lip.

They were going at least seventy, way too fast for a bailout if this went sideways, not that caution had ever been his strong suit. Either the man was a damned good actor or the heated looks he kept shooting Keely’s way were real. Holding back had never gotten him anywhere, so he smirked and brushed his hair out of his eyes as he regarded Taz.

“Oh, that’s my thing,” Keely purred. “It’s just not always the best idea to advertise it.”

Another chuckle from Taz, but it was warm and filled with heat, like his molten gaze when he glanced over at Keely again. “Consider this a fly your flag zone.”

Keely licked his lips and saw Taz’s eyes darken before he returned his focus to the highway that stretched out in front of them.

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