Page 305 of The Texas Sterling Collection
Grover came into the kitchen and placed a hand on each cowboy’s neck. “You two quit horsing around,” he chuckled. “You’re going to make a mess, and we don’t want to make Mabel’s job any harder than it already is.”
“Yes, Pa,” they kept nudging each other as they dried their hands and moved to their chairs on opposite sides of the table.
Grover washed and dried his hands and joined them. Mabel dished up the chicken and dumplings and set a steaming bowl in front of each of her men. She added a plate of sliced homemade bread to the table and then sat.
“This tastes great, Ma.” Joey swallowed the first mouthful.
“Thanks, Joey.” Mabel lifted her spoon to her mouth.
Felix brought a piece of dumpling to his mouth and blew on it. “You sure do feed us well, Ma.” He shoved the dumpling in and began to chew.
“I’m lucky to have four wonderful men in my life, counting Jacob,” she smiled. “I want my men to be healthy and happy.”
“Mabel, I think you had a lot to do with those men growing up to be wonderful.” Grover smiled at her. He was proud of his wife and couldn’t imagine loving anyone more than he loved her. The passion they shared passed to their sons. He didn’t know about Jacob, but he watched as Joey began to recognize his love for Felix and allowed himself to appreciate and accept that love. While he didn’t understand Joey’s love for another man, he did understand how love worked and what it meant to him and Mabel.
“Let me say something,” Felix said. “Before this summer, I never experienced the love I see in this house. I didn’t have that in my family. We existed together, but the closeness here was missing there.” He looked down at his bowl of stew and said, “Thank you for showing me what love is and letting me be a part of that love.”
“We didn’t have anything to do with that, Felix,” Mabel said. “You two young men bonded from the day Grover brought you to the ranch. As your friendship grew, you learned how to deal with feelings that neither of you understood, how to accept those feelings, and how to share them. You let yourself love Joey, and Joey let himself love you. It’s that simple.”
Felix gazed at Mabel and smiled. “Thanks, Ma.” He winked at Joey.
After lunch, they spent the afternoon practicing branding. They would be branding for real next week, and it would go much faster if two of them could tackle the task. By evening, they were hot and tired. After supper, they played dominoes for a while, then climbed the stairs and snuggled in bed. There was something very secure about being together. They drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Early Sunday morning, the cool breeze wafted through the open window. Felix woke up to Joey sleeping by his side and couldn't imagine how lucky he was. Felix always knew he was different, but to find Joey and fall in love with him was more of a blessing than he expected.
Joey stirred and opened his eyes. “Good morning, cowboy.” His deep, sleepy voice vibrated the bed. He raised an arm to welcome Felix.
Felix moved into Joey’s embrace, his hard dick rubbing against Joey’s hip.
“Someone is excited this morning,” Joey whispered with a smile.
“You always excite me.” Felix groaned, leaning in to give Joey a good morning kiss. He stroked Joey’s chest and stomach and bumped his hard dick. He teased Joey’s dick with his fingertips. “My Joey is hard, too.”
Joey gasped as Felix caressed the sensitive nerves on his shaft. “Where did you get those magic fingers, Bonner?”
“You taught me, remember? I asked you to show me what you meant byplaying with your dick, and you did.”
“Oh yes. Well, I taught you very well.” He did the same to Felix’s hard dick. “I like your dick and watching your face when I play with it.”
Felix gasped as the sensations flowed through his body. “What does my face do?”
“It looks happy.”
“It is happy.”
They joined in a kiss as they continued to caress each other, and before long, they were on the verge of extreme pleasure.
“Joey, you’re gonna make me squirt if you keep doing that.”
“Felix, you’re doing the same thing to me.”
“Jo-eee,” Felix moaned as the sensations built. Joey groaned, and Felix felt Joey’s dick throbbing as he squirted. Pleasure overcame Felix, and he squirted all over Joey.
“That felt good, Felix,” Joey panted.
Felix kissed Joey. “For me, too.”
