Page 29 of Rust and Stardust

The sun was setting over the rolling prairie hills of Sagebrush, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Lucas leaned back in his seat, his long legs stretched out as far as the cramped cab would allow. I couldn't help but steal glances at him as I drove, admiring the way the fading light caught his gold earring and danced in his green eyes.

“So, cowboy,” he drawled, a hint of his East Coast accent peeking through, “where are you whisking me away to tonight?”

I grinned, keeping my eyes on the winding dirt road ahead. “You'll see. It's a surprise.”

Lucas chuckled, a sound that shouldn’t have had such a strong effect on me, but it did. “I like surprises,” he said, his voice low and teasing. “Especially from handsome cowboys like yourself.”

I felt my cheeks flush and grow warm. I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure, if only a tiny amount. “Well, I hope this one lives up to your expectations then.”

We drove for another fifteen minutes, the truck bouncing along the uneven road as we climbed higher into the hills. The sky darkened, stars beginning to twinkle above us. Finally, I pulled off onto a small dirt path, barely visible in the growing twilight.

“Almost there,” I said, navigating carefully between the scrub brush and rocks.

Lucas leaned forward, peering out the windshield. “You're not taking me out here to murder me, are you?” he joked, but I could hear a hint of nervousness in his voice.

I laughed, easing the tension. “Nah, nothing like that. Just thought you might like to see a bit more of Texas than just the fairgrounds.”

We crested a small hill, and I brought the truck to a halt, parking it at the very top amongst the tall grass. I cut the engine, and the sudden silence enveloped us. The only sounds were the gentle whisper of the wind through the grass and our own breathing. I turned to Lucas, drinking in the sight of him in the soft starlight.

“We're here,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas's eyes widened as he took in the view. From our vantage point, we could see for miles in every direction. The rolling hills of Sagebrush stretched out before us, bathed in moonlight. In the distance, the twinkling lights of the town looked like fallen stars.

“Wow,” Lucas breathed, his face filled with wonder. “This is... incredible.”

I smiled, pleased by his reaction. “Thought you might like it. City boy like you probably doesn't get to see the stars like this very often.”

Lucas shook his head, still mesmerized by the landscape laid out before him.

“Come on,” I said, still smiling as I pushed my door open. “I got some blankets in the back so we can get a better view.”

He shot me a knowing look, and he was right of course. Sure, I hoped that our night might end in another lust-fueled romp like we’d had in the backseat of my truck the day before. But I also just wanted to spend time with him. There was something about this city boy that made me want to try new things. And, since I knew he was going home after the fair, my chance to do so was on a strict time limit. Being too shy meant I’d miss out on this wonderful opportunity.

I hopped out of the truck, my boots crunching on the gravel as I made my way to the tailgate. Lucas followed, his movements graceful despite the uneven terrain. I couldn't help but admire the way his jeans hugged his ass as he walked. Every time I saw it, I couldn’t help but appreciate how perfect it was.

“Here,” I said, tossing him a thick wool blanket. “Spread this out while I grab the other stuff.”

Lucas caught the blanket with ease, his eyebrow quirking up. “Other stuff? You really came prepared, didn't you?”

I felt my cheeks warm again, grateful for the darkness that hid my blush. “Just a few things to make the night more comfortable,” I replied, pulling out a small cooler and another blanket.

We laid out the blanket in the bed of the truck, the soft wool a stark contrast to the hard steel beneath. I set the cooler between us and we both took a seat on the tailgate. Flipping the lid open I was hit with the scent of roasted meat, dry rub, and delicious homemade rolls as soft and fluffy as clouds.

“Fuck…” Lucas groaned, leaning in and taking a deep whiff of the food tucked inside. “Oh my god… that smells amazing.”

I smiled, enjoying the compliment. “I figured I’d let you try some of my world-famous barbecue before the competition at the end of the week,” I said, pulling out the still hot container of brisket. “And Mabel made us some rolls and coleslaw so we could make sandwiches out of it.”

I spent a moment unloading the cooler and opening everythingup, the smells filling the night air around us. Lucas's eyes lit up when I handed him a paper plate loaded with tender brisket, a soft roll, and a heap of tangy coleslaw. He took a bite and let out a moan so sultry that it went straight to my cock.

“Oh my God,” he mumbled around a mouthful of food. “This is incredible. You made this?”

I nodded, a surge of pride warming my chest. “Family recipe. Been perfecting it since I was old enough to reach the grill.”

We ate in comfortable silence for a while, savoring the food and the view. The night air was cool but not cold, and the blanket beneath us provided just enough cushioning against the truck bed. As we finished our meal, I pulled out two bottles of beer from the cooler, popping the caps off with the opener on my keychain.

Lucas accepted his with a grateful nod, taking a long swig before letting out a sigh of pure satisfaction.

“This is perfect,” Lucas said, leaning back on his elbows and gazing up at the star-studded sky. “I can't remember the last time I felt this... relaxed.”

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