Page 41 of His Fresh Start Cowboy
“I’m sorry I didn’t realize how bad things were for you at home.”
“No one did. Rem didn’t even know all of it. But he knew a lot.”
Brand gently dragged his thumb across Hugo’s cheek. “No one should ever hurt you.”
Hugo’s smile gentled and he threaded his fingers in the back of Brand’s hair. “Kiss me again?”
The sweet, earnest way Hugo asked pushed all of Brand’s buttons, and he dove in for another taste. Hugo pulled him down, in a mirror of the last time they’d done this: Hugo on his back, Brand slotted between his spread legs, their erections thrusting together. Everything about it was both new and familiar, perfect and scary. It was everything Brand had been waiting for without realizing it. Sure, he’d had good chemistry with Jackson but this was different.
This was... Hugo.
His Hugo. Older and stronger, but still so fucking vulnerable. And arousing. Brand couldn’t let his attraction to Hugo go to his head and ruin their working relationship, but goddamn, he wanted this. Needed this.
Hugo broke their kiss and nipped at Brand’s chin. “Fuck, I’ve wanted to get off with you for the last eleven years. Please.”
Brand ground his cock against Hugo’s, which earned him a sharp gasp. “Gonna be hard to explain two wet spots on our jeans to Jackson if he catches us.”
“Then let’s not come in our jeans.” He reached between them, the back of his hand pressing against Brand’s erection as Hugo thumbed open his own fly. Hugo’s expression was so open, so trusting, like nothing would make him happier than this one thing.
Brand sat up and shoved his own jeans and boxers down to mid-thigh, baring his straining cock. He barely had time to catch a glimpse of Hugo’s as he did the same, shimmying clothes down his narrow hips, before Brand pressed his entire body against Hugo’s. Hugo sighed in a “yes, please” kind of way, then adjusted them both, his touch hot and wonderful, so their cocks aligned better. Then Brand began to thrust.
He’d gotten off like this with other guys before, but this was unique. This was...something bigger than just a hookup. Hugo gazed up at him, dark eyes filled with tender emotions and arousal. His cheeks were stained red, and a light flush colored his neck and shoulders, too. Brand wanted to study his blissed-out face, but he needed to kiss Hugo more, so he did. Long licks and sips from that enticing, talented mouth. The world went away, and for a long time, nothing existed but them, their moving bodies, and finding their pleasure.
Brand shoved Hugo’s shirt up and stroked the firm muscles of his abs and pecks. Pinched his nipple just to swallow Hugo’s gasp. Hugo’s entire body tensed as he came, his release slicking their bellies, smoothing the way for Brand to follow him over. He moaned into Hugo’s mouth as he continued to rut, milking this for every last scrap of pleasure that swamped his body and left him boneless. He collapsed on top of Hugo, face pressed into the crook of his neck. All he could do now was breathe for a little while.
Hugo’s hands smoothed up and down Brand’s back in a soothing massage that made Brand want to roll over and take a nap. Except their bare asses were hanging out in the hayloft, the big loft doors wide open to the world. The chaff in the air made Brand sneeze hard, and that effectively broke the spell. Hugo chuckled, the sound rumbling from his chest into Brand’s.
“Wow,” Hugo said. “That was better than I imagined it would be.”
Brand wasn’t sure if he should preen over that or not, so he levered up and sat back on his heels. Hugo’s shirt had been spared, but his own was a mess. He always wore a sleeveless undershirt, though, so Brand whipped his work shirt off and used it to clean his belly and pubes. Then he handed it to Hugo, who did the same while Brand tucked his business back into his clothes.
Hugo sat up, then yelped softly and flinched.
“What?” Brand asked. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just. Ouch.” He raised his hips off the floor, reached under his butt, and then threw a few bits of hay to the side. “Got some hay in an uncomfortable spot.”
Brand laughed. “Ouch is right.” Not used to sex being more than simply sex, an odd sense of shyness overcame Brand. He waited until Hugo was zipped back up before asking, “Any regrets?”
“Fuck no.” His face went blank. “Do you?”
“No.” Brand balled up his soiled shirt. Even though he did his own laundry, he’d still rinse it out before he stuck it in the hamper. “Didn’t plan for it to happen, but I don’t regret it. It was...really good.”
Hugo quirked an eyebrow. “Just really good? I’m losing my touch.”
He kind of hated the idea of Hugo having been with someone else, even though that was superhypocritical, considering Brand’s own previous arrangements with Ramie and Jackson. They each came with a sexual history, and besides, it wasn’t as if either of them had declared their love for each other, or that they were dating. Hugo’s life and past weren’t his to police, period. “It was fantastic. Is that better?”
“A little.” Hugo’s amused grin sobered. “Thank you. Not just for the sex, but for coming here to check on me. For caring.”
“I do care. Probably more than I should, considering you’re my employee. But you were hurting, and I needed to do something.”
Even though Brand’s statement had been genuine, something in Hugo’s expression shuttered right away, and Brand wasn’t sure what he’d said wrong. “Got it,” Hugo said in a hollow tone Brand didn’t recognize. “Well, I’ve been hiding up here long enough, so I should get back to work. Thanks, boss.”
Brand sat there, completely stupefied, until Hugo had disappeared down the loft ladder. What the fuck had just happened? They’d gone from basking in the afterglow and sharing their feelings about what they’d done, to Hugo practically running away. Hurt and confused, Brand grabbed his shirt and climbed down the ladder. Hugo wasn’t anywhere in the barn, damn it.
Brand stomped toward for the main barn doors, only for Jackson to step out of the break room and block his way.
Great. Just what I need right now.
