Excerpt from All Play and No Work

Nate Gills looked out the passenger window at the Rocky Mountains. It was beautiful country, but he was ready to get the hell out of this truck. It seemed like he hadn’t really had a home since he left Chicago to help his friends, the Good brothers in Nebraska.

He looked over at the hunk of a man driving. Rio was like a wet dream, the best bits from all his fantasy men rolled into one. At least he now had a family. Rio and their other partner Ryan meant the world to Nate. They may have only been together for a month, but damn, what a month.

Thinking of Ryan had him depressed again. He sighed and crossed his arms, putting his expensive Italian loafers on the dash. Feeling Rio’s hand cup his cheek he turned his head.

“What’s wrong, baby?” Rio asked, trying to keep one eye on the winding mountain road.

“I’m tired of this damn truck and I miss Ryan.” Nate automatically nuzzled against Rio’s hand.

“About two more hours and we’ll take care of both of those problems. We’ll kidnap Ryan away from the Sheriff’s office if we have to.”

Nate turned his head and kissed Rio’s palm. “I think that sounds like a good plan.” Ryan had left the small Texas town they’d been living in nearly two weeks earlier to take a job in Cattle Valley, Wyoming. Seemed the town needed a new Sheriff and they were looking for a bad ass with law enforcement training. Ryan fit their description to a T. Nate didn’t think he’d ever seen a man who looked more like a rebel than Ryan.

With the shining, long black hair of his Native American ancestors, Ryan exuded confidence and sexuality. The town of Cattle Valley had been experiencing a few problems with protestors coming in and threatening its residents. The mayor wanted someone tough. Since Ryan looked more like a heavily tattooed biker than a Sheriff, he was perfect. Nate was just worried about what he would find. He and Rio hadn’t yet seen Cattle Valley and Nate was born and raised in Chicago. It wasn’t like he was snooty or anything, heck he’d loved Sommerville, the small Nebraska town where’d he’d met Rio and Ryan. Nate and Rio had been hired to investigate a scumbag in Sommerville who’d shot a good friend’s partner. If you booted out the few assholes in that town, it would have been kick ass fun. But Cattle Valley…

At least from what he and Rio had been told, there were more gays that lived there than straight people. What would that be like? The town had been founded by a man whose son was murdered for being gay. Having no other heirs, the man had donated one of the biggest parcels of privately owned land in Wyoming. His entire financial portfolio had founded the town of Cattle Valley. Seemed the guy wanted a place where gay people could live without fear or prejudice. It was all fine and dandy with Nate as long as the town had a decent coffee shop and a good restaurant.

Rio started humming along to the radio, bringing Nate’s attention back to that fine face. As he studied Rio’s profile, he thought back to the night Rio and Ryan had saved him in a club in Lincoln. He’d gone with his friends Rawley and Jeb to the upscale gay club. Nate remembered trying his best to get over his attraction for Rio and Ryan that night. They were already a long standing couple, and it didn’t appear they had a need for a third.

Since Nate had planned to make a weekend out of the trip to Lincoln, he’d rented a hotel room right down the street from the bar. When Rawley and Jeb said they wanted to take off, Nate happily waved them on their way. That was when the real fun began…

* * * *

Nate begged off the next dance and returned to his table. Finishing off his scotch and soda, he signaled the waiter for another. Deciding to brave the restroom, he headed to the rear of the club. You never know what you might find in a gay bar’s restroom. Opening the door, he was pleasantly surprised to find it empty. “Excellent,” he said unzipping his fly.

After a quick wash of his hands he went back out amongst the vultures. He had several men circling his table, trying to get him to dance but Nate’s heart just wasn’t in it. Drinking though, he thought as he spotted his fresh scotch and soda on his table, now that, he felt like doing.

Sitting down, he took several sips before one of the birds of prey landed in the seat next to him. “Care to dance?” The big oaf in leather pants said. Who the hell wears leather pants in the summer?

Nate shook his head and held up his drink. “No thanks, I’m taking a break.”

The man smiled and nodded his head as he watched Nate closely. “I’ll wait for you to finish.” He ran his hand up Nate’s thigh, and narrowed his eyes.

“If you want to keep that, I’d suggest you move on.”

The guy rose and held up his hands. “Sorry,” he said as he walked off.

Nate finished his drink. The booze seemed to be hitting him hard and fast. He went to signal for another but his arm felt too heavy to lift. Noticing his vision was starting to blur, he thought he’d had enough. “Time to get myself to bed,” he slurred.

“I’ll help you with that,” the guy in the leather pants said, reaching for him.

Nate tried to get out of the man’s arms, but his body wouldn’t cooperate. What the hell was wrong with him? He felt his eyelids becoming heavier and realized he’d been drugged. “What de hell d’you pud in my dink?”

Bending over, the guy picked Nate up. “Just a little something to make you friendlier.” Nate tried to squirm his way out of the guy’s arms, but he couldn’t keep his eyes open.

He heard a voice that sounded like Rio’s, a split second before he was grabbed out of the man’s arms. He managed to open his eyes enough to see Ryan holding him. “Drugged,” he slurred slowly. “Need ta be sick.”

Ryan looked at him for several seconds before looking back at Rio. “Take out the trash, while I see if we can get this thrown up.”

Holding him close to his chest, Ryan carried him back to the restroom. Ryan sat down on the floor of one of the stalls and leaned him up toward the toilet. “Can you stick your finger down your throat?”

Nate felt his head fall back, helplessly. “Shit,” Ryan said seconds before Nate felt a long finger work its way into his mouth. Ryan poked the back of his throat several times but Nate didn’t gag enough to throw up. “Come on, baby, we have to get it up.” Ryan tried again, using two fingers while applying pressure to his stomach.

Coughing, Nate finally was able to gag enough to throw up most of the several drinks he’d consumed. He felt another set of hands holding his head above the toilet and new Rio was with them in the tiny stall.

“Get a wet paper towel,” Ryan told Rio. Seconds later, a cold towel was pressed to his forehead as another wiped his face and mouth.

“You think he got it all up?” Rio asked.

“Enough I think. He’ll be dopey for a while, but I don’t think it’ll be enough to do any damage.”

He was picked up again, only this time it was Rio who cradled him. Nate snuggled against Rio’s chest. He turned his face enough to place a kiss on the skin visible above Rio’s T-Shirt, feeling the vibration of Rio’s groan as he made his way through the club.

The next thing Nate knew he was in Rio’s arms in the backseat of Ryan’s rental car. “Hotel,” Nate said still slurring a bit, although he was feeling more alert.

“Think we should take him there, or back to the apartment?” Rio asked Ryan.

“Which hotel?” Ryan asked.

“Around the block, key card’s in my billfold. Room two-forty-six.” Nate was starting to feel a little better, but he didn’t let on because he didn’t want Rio to put him down. He felt the car start and pull away from the curb.

Within moments, Ryan pulled up to the front of the hotel. “You go ahead and take him in, and I’ll find a place to park and be up in a minute.”

“You think you can walk? They might look at us funny if I go carrying a grown man into a hotel lobby.”

“Think so,” Nate mumbled. He ended up having to rely heavily on Rio for support, but he made it to the elevator. “You’ll have to get my wallet for me.”

“Gladly,” Rio said reaching his hand inside Nate’s back pocket.

Nate moaned as Rio seemed to take his time. They were walking down the hall to their room and Rio was still fumbling around in Nate’s jeans. When they stood in front of his room, Nate faced the wall and stuck his butt out toward Rio.

“Tease,” Rio said in his ear as he finally pulled the wallet out.

“Not teasing,” Nate said as he turned around to face Rio.

Picking him up, Rio lifted him until they were eye to eye, Nate’s legs automatically wrapped around Rio’s torso as he leaned in for a kiss. Snaking his tongue out, Rio licked at the seam of Nate’s lips until he thrust inside. Fuck, Rio tasted good. Nate felt his cock throb in the close confines of his jeans. He ground his groin against Rio’s as their kiss went even deeper. Rio started humping him right there in the hallway, and Nate couldn’t have been more turned on.

Excerpt from Mistletoe

“Kuckleman Construction,” a deep gravely voice answered.

“Um, yes, hi, I’d like to speak with Halden Kuckleman.”

“You got him. How can I help you?”

“Hi, Mr. Kuckleman, this is Reverend Casey Sharp from the Cattle Valley Community Church. I was wondering if you would be willing to come out and give me a bid on completing the church expansion.” Casey adjusted his reading glasses, a nervous habit of his from grade school. He was starting to worry he’d never find anyone to finish the reception hall and at this late date, he was desperate enough to call on Halden Kuckleman.

“Sorry, I don’t do churches,” Halden said.

“Yes, well, I heard that, but I’m kinda desperate. The contractor we hired to do the work, quit in the middle of the project, and we’ve promised to have the building ready for the annual Christmas Eve party. I know you’re not a religious man, Mr. Kuckleman, and if you’d be willing to come take a look at the building, I promise not to try and save you.” Casey bit his lip. Shoot, maybe he shouldn’t have said that. Even though it was common knowledge around town that Halden was a tried and true atheist, maybe Casey should have just kept his mouth shut. He was the new guy in town, and making enemies wasn’t his idea of fitting in.

There was a loud sigh on the other end of the phone. “How much still needs doing?”

“Well, the basic shell is there, but nothing has been done on the inside. I’m sorry to say, there isn’t any heat yet, but at least you’ll be out of the snow and wind.” Casey looked out his office window at the snow on the ground. It was only mid-November and already, the city had been blanketed with almost two feet of snow. He sure as heck wouldn’t want to work in an unheated building, but then, if a person was used to working outside in weather like this…

“The heating issue won’t bother me, just the location.” Casey didn’t say a word. Halden seemed to be considering it, and at least he hadn’t hung up on him.

After a few seconds, Halden continued. “Will you be around this afternoon?”

Casey pumped his arm in the air in triumph. “Yes, I’ll be here all day.”

“I could probably swing by after lunch and take a look, no promises, though.”

“Yes, of course. My house is next door, which is probably where I’ll be. If you could just honk when you pull into the parking lot, I’ll be right out.” Casey closed the phonebook, and put it back on the shelf.

“See ya then,” Halden said and hung up.

Casey put the phone back into its cradle and looked around his office. He still had boxes to sort through, and a sermon to practice for Sunday. Scratching his head, he got up and wandered into the kitchen. Maybe a cup of strong coffee would get him going.

The house still didn’t quite feel like home, but what did he expect? He’d only been in Cattle Valley for two weeks, two very lonely weeks. Despite his chosen vocation, Casey was a man who enjoyed sex, lots of sex. It was the only reason he’d chosen to go to college to get his Master’s degree in religious studies instead of entering a seminary.

Now with his dream job finally in place, his social life seemed to be paying the price. It wasn’t that folks in town weren’t friendly. They just tended to keep Casey at arms length. He knew it was further fall-out from his predecessor, Reverend Brian Doles, but Casey needed them to understand he wasn’t like that man. He’d never even considered beating up lover. Maybe the town just needed a chance to heal.

Pouring a cup of java, Casey idly walked through the living room to his bedroom. Although the front room and kitchen had been unpacked, most of his personal belongings still lined the walls in boxes. Casey just didn’t have the heart to dig through memories yet. Leaving his family and moving to Wyoming had been a big step for him. His mom still didn’t understand why he’d needed to go.

Maybe he’d get back to Kansas City after Easter for a short visit. He already missed his nieces and nephews and he’d just gotten here. Pictures of his close-knit family should have comforted him, but Casey knew they’d only make him more homesick.

Bypassing the boxes, Casey headed for the small bathroom off the living room. If he was going to meet Halden Kuckleman it was best he didn’t smell like his own cum. Casey and his hand had become best friends since moving to town. Even though he relieved himself several times a day, it never seemed to scratch that itch he just couldn’t reach.

Setting his cup on the sink, Casey undressed and looked at himself in the mirror. He knew he was a good-looking man. The line of men vying for his attention back home testified to that, but how did the people of Cattle Valley see him? Yeah, he wore small wire-framed glasses most of the time, but he didn’t think they made him look dorky. Maybe the haircut his mother had insisted on was too short. Casey ran his hand over his blond head. He guessed it wasn’t too short, just right actually, given his new vocation. There had to be something about him that didn’t attract men in this town.

The ringing phone brought his gaze away from the mirror. Looking down, he debated whether or not to answer it. He was as naked as the day he was born, and the house tended to be a bit drafty. Suddenly worrying it might be Halden calling to cancel, Casey sprinted toward the phone, bare cock swinging.

“Hello,” he panted.

“Uh, hi, Casey?”

“Hi, Nate,” Casey smiled. Nate Gils and his partners were his only real friends so far.

“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Nate asked.

“No, I was just getting ready to hop into the shower. I managed to convince Halden Kuckleman to take a look at the building.” Casey sat on the couch, aware passing motorists might be able to see in the window. He knew it wouldn’t look good if they spotted their new reverend walking around in the nude.

“Well, congratulations,” Nate chuckled. “On getting Hal over, not being naked. I’m sure you’ve been doing that for a while.”

“Yeah, I’m a pro at getting naked, though not recently,” Casey laughed. The nicest thing about Nate was he didn’t have to put on airs about who he really was.

“You’ll be snapped up before you know it. Listen, I was wondering if you’d like to grab some lunch later.”

Casey brushed his hand over his exposed cock, poor neglected thing. “It would have to be an early lunch. I’m not sure what time Halden is coming other than he said sometime after lunch.”

“Eleven at Deb’s?” Nate asked.

“Sounds good. I’ll meet you there.” Casey hung up and walked back to the bathroom. Just then he had a date with hot water, and his hand.