Page 19 of Head Above Water

ChapterEight

Hazard shiftednext to him, waking Bryce. He slipped his arm around him, snuffled a few times, and then settled once more. It was still dark, and he didn’t need to move, but Bryce was anxious, and he didn’t know why.

“Are you okay?” Hazard asked, groggily. “We don’t need to get up yet.”

“I know.” He sighed softly. “It’s just that I keep worrying about things. What if I screw up and cost the ranch a fortune?” He huffed softly as the list of things he needed to do ran through his mind. “I went over the books with your mom.”

“Is the ranch healthy? Is there a problem?” Hazard lifted his head.

“No. Everything is fine in that regard. But it brought home how we exist from year to year. Selling the cattle early isn’t going to break us, but it’s going to hurt. We can get a good price now, but if we wait, I know we can do better. Dad already has a top-price buyer, but we’d have to wait. Selling now is going to mean we have to back out of that deal and take a lower price.” He hated that thought, and it grated on him something fierce. “I keep thinking there has to be a way to make the deal work.”

Bryce sat up, and Hazard snuggled closer. “Why don’t we look into the cost of transporting water to the south pastures? Figure out how much it’s going to cost and then look at the amount you’ll get by waiting. Make your decision based on the money—what’s best for the business.”

Bryce nodded and lightly kissed Hazard. “I did that. It isn’t the cost, but the fact that we’ll stress our existing water sources,which are low for this time of year.” He rolled over. “I guess what I need to do is make peace with what I have to do.”

“I refuse to accept that,” Hazard said, and Bryce turned to him and nodded.

“I get that. But this isn’t your decision. It’s mine, and I have to make it.”

Hazard sat up, glaring at him, confusion and hurt shining in his eyes. “Okay. From now on, I’ll keep my opinion and my help to myself.” He got out of bed, and Bryce scrubbed his hands down his face.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then how did you mean it?” Hazard asked. “I know you’re the one who has to make the decision, but I don’t want you to be forced into it. I’ve been trying to find alternatives and….”

“You think I should fight harder?” Bryce asked.

Hazard returned to the bed. “I think you should fight for this with everything you have. I know your father thinks selling is the only alternative, but there has to be another way. Could you lease water from one of the other ranches?”

Bryce shrugged. “I already contacted out neighbors, but they are in the same boat we are and have no extra capacity to spare. The rain we have gotten has only staved off the decision for a few weeks. But others are thinking of selling as well.”

“Which is only going to drive down the prices,” Hazard said, and Bryce nodded.

“Okay. I get it now, and I’m sorry if you think my questions are annoying.”

Bryce tugged Hazard to him. “They’re not. You ask because you care.” He closed his eyes, inhaling Hazard’s earthy scent. “I just don’t have any answers.” And sleeping was becoming more and more difficult. “I wonder how my father did this all those years.”

“He had your mother,” Hazard told him. “Running a place like this is something you can’t do alone.”

Bryce pulled back. “I know that. But I didn’t want to… I don’t know… rush into it. I mean, it hasn’t been that long since you and I….” He grew quiet. “I don’t want to speak for you.”

“I appreciate that and I guess each of us is just figuring things out, but I’m not going to do that with anyone other than you.”

Bryce smiled and nodded. “Okay.” Things with Hazard had been amazing, but he never knew quite what they were to each other. “I like knowing where I stand with you.”

Hazard rolled onto his side. “Me too.” He drew even closer. “And just so you know, I have a stake in what happens here, just like everyone else on the ranch. We all want to find an answer to what’s happening. So you don’t need to carry this all on your own. Everyone is here to try to help, and that means me too.” He kissed him, and Bryce tugged him back down onto the bed. “We have to be quiet,” Hazard whispered.

“I can be, but I don’t know about you,” Bryce retorted, and then kissed Hazard before he could argue with him.

Hazard chuckled softly and held Bryce tighter. Bryce loved the way Hazard could hold him, cradling him in his arms like he was precious and special. No one had ever done that before, and it made him feel as though nothing could harm him. For most of his life, Bryce had known he was different, and he figured he had to hide it. So trusting people, especially with his biggest secret, was not something he did with almost anyone… ever. Knowing that Hazard had shared and honored his privacy only added to the man’s many charms. He felt he could trust Hazard with his deepest thoughts. That was something pretty special. He also knew he could trust him with his pleasure, which was completely amazing, especially the way Hazard knew exactly how to touch him.

“Is this what you want?” Hazard asked just under his breath, his hands sliding down the curve of Bryce’s ass. Damn, just that touch made him shiver with anticipation. Bryce nodded, and Hazard reached to the bedside table. It was too far away, and Bryce stretched to get the supplies. Bryce found them, setting them on the table. “Do you want to be on top?”

Bryce nodded, and Hazard grabbed the bottle. Bryce slicked himself as Hazard rolled on the protection, and then Bryce settled back, slowly taking in Hazard’s impressive length. He closed his eyes, luxuriating in the stretch and burn of the initial penetration. He bit his lower lip to keep from crying out as Hazard sat up, encircling him in his arms.

“Damn… you make me want….”

“What?” Bryce asked, with a sharp intake of breath.

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