Page 15 of The Finding Series: Vol. 1

“It’s Dane, please,” the man responded. “Thanks for keeping an eye on Emma for me. We’re still trying to get settled and I haven’t had a chance to find someone to help me watch her yet.”

“We just appreciate you taking a look at the calf,” Rhys interjected as he reached out to shake Dane’s hand.

“Not a problem. I haven’t decided if I’m going to start a new practice right away, but I’m glad I was able to help.”

“Did you and your wife just move here?” Rhys asked.

“Yes, from L.A. But I’m not married anymore. I lost my husband four months ago,” Dane said matter-of-factly.

“Sorry,” Rhys managed to say, though truth be told, he was more than caught off guard by learning the man was gay.

“How old is she?” he heard Callan ask.

“Six months,” Dane said, a slight unevenness in his tone. He forced a smile to his lips and said, “I’d like to keep the calf overnight if that’s all right with you.”

Callan nodded, then pulled out his wallet. “How much do I owe you, Doctor?” Rhys watched as Callan nervously counted the few bills he had in his wallet.

The vet must have noticed too because he said, “Actually, I have a proposition for you. Mrs. Greene tells me you occasionally board horses and I was wondering if you might be willing to do a little trade?”

Rhys knew from talking with Finn that the only horses on Callan’s property were his own so if he did board them at one time, Rhys guessed the owners had removed them after Finn’s run in with Hunter Greene and his father.

“You need a horse boarded?” Callan asked somewhat suspiciously.

Dane nodded. “My husband inherited this property and everything that came with it when his aunt and uncle died last year in a car accident. Kirby’s a nice, quiet horse and I’ve decided to keep him for Emma,” he said, motioning towards his daughter who was blessedly still asleep. “The barn here is in pretty bad shape so I’m having it torn down next week and rebuilt. I hate for Kirby not to have a place to escape from the heat. What do you say?”

Rhys wanted to shove Callan for the dark look he was giving the vet. Trust was clearly something Callan had lost somewhere along the way and a man like him wouldn’t look too kindly on charity or pity. He finally relaxed and reached out his hand to the vet. “Sounds good. I can pick Kirby up tomorrow when I come get the calf,” Callan offered.

“That’d be great. Thank you,” Dane said, shaking Callan’s hand, a wide smile on his kind face. They followed Dane out of the building and gave him a wave as he carried his daughter into the house.

“You think he has any idea what a fucked up town he moved to?” Rhys asked.

Callan grunted and went to the truck. Rhys climbed into the passenger side and within minutes they were back on the dirt road leading to the ranch. Callan seemed edgy and tense as his fingers drummed on the steering wheel, but Rhys was too worn out to try and draw the moody man into conversation.

Suddenly Callan slammed on the brakes and threw the truck into park, the motion jerking Rhys forward.

“What the fu-” Rhys said an instant before Callan reached across the seat, grabbed him by the neck and slammed his mouth down on his. The pleasure that surged through Rhys was instantaneous, but his entire body lit up like a brush fire when Callan’s tongue licked across his lips, seeking entry. Before he could even react though, Callan was pulling back, but he didn’t let go of Rhys’ neck.

Callan dropped his forehead to Rhys’ and the combined sounds of their harsh breathing actually seemed louder than the idling truck. Rhys’ hand had somehow found its way to Callan’s thigh and the muscles were tight beneath his palm as Callan seemed to try to regain his control. Any second now he knew Callan would pull away from him, put the truck in gear and they’d both try to forget this had happened – they’d just chalk it up to the traumatic events of the day.

But Callan didn’t pull back, didn’t release him. Instead, those lips found their way back to his and Callan kissed him softly, almost reverently. Rhys knew it was crazy, but Callan’s sudden gentleness somehow seemed like an apology. Rhys opened to Callan’s seeking tongue and groaned in satisfaction as his mouth was explored – worshipped. Callan kissed him like he had all the time in the world and Rhys felt heat spread from his belly to his groin as the need intensified. He pushed his own tongue into Callan’s mouth to get a taste, then used his weight to press Callan back against the seat. It took only a little maneuvering before he was sprawled on top of the bigger man. He grabbed Callan’s arms to pin them above his head so he could plunder Callan’s mouth exactly the way he wanted to, but the second his fingers closed around Callan’s wrists, the other man froze and then it was like his whole body shut down.

Rhys pulled back slightly and saw that Callan had his eyes squeezed shut and his face was clenched as if in pain. “Callan,” Rhys said gently as he carefully released his hold on Callan’s wrists. “Callan, look at me,” Rhys ordered softly as a surge of realization went through him. The man had been enjoying what was happening between them until Rhys had taken control – had restrained him. But instead of lashing out in fear or anger, Callan had shut down, turned off.

Worry shot through Rhys at the complete lack of response. “Callan, please, open your eyes, baby. You’re safe,” he said as he stroked his fingers along Callan’s tight jaw. The man’s teeth were gnashed together so hard Rhys was afraid he’d hurt himself. Rhys carefully lifted all his weight off of Callan, but continued to stroke him gently. Finally, he felt some of the tension in Callan’s body ease and his eyes opened and focused on Rhys. Something inside the other man seemed to switch back on and he pushed up, then grabbed for the door handle and stumbled out of the truck. Rhys followed him out and watched him suck in deep gasps of air as he fought to regain control of himself.

* * *

What the fuck had he done?Callan tried to drag in air, but his chest hurt so bad that every breath seemed to just whistle uselessly through him. He felt a warm palm settle over his back and rub in large circles, but the touch made things worse so he pulled away. Feeling Rhys’ knowing gaze burning into him, Callan took several steps away from the truck and was glad when he didn’t hear Rhys follow. He bent over and closed his eyes and forced himself to focus only on taking in a breath and releasing it. Then another. He wasn’t sure how long he did it for but the stabbing pain finally went away, only to be replaced by a knot of shame low in his belly. Not only had he just outed himself, he’d done it with a man he knew Finn was interested in. Worse yet, Rhys had witnessed his secret shame.

“You okay?” he heard Rhys ask from just behind him. The pity in the other man’s voice was proof that Rhys suspected what had caused Callan’s reaction. Callan managed a quick nod, then pushed past the other man and headed back to the truck.

“We should get moving. Finn’s probably got his hands full with the fence.”

“We need to talk about what just happened, Callan,” he heard Rhys say.

Callan climbed into the truck and kept his eyes straight ahead as Rhys returned to the passenger seat. The second the door closed he put the truck in gear and hit the gas. He was glad when Rhys didn’t press him further. Pulling the truck in front of the barn, he put it in park and turned it off, but didn’t get out. Rhys sat quietly next to him as if waiting for Callan’s next move.

“He can’t find out about this,” Callan said quietly. He actually felt sorry for Rhys when he saw the indecision flicker across the other man’s features.

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