Mossy Glenn Ranch 3 -Saddles and Memories (19 page)

Andy wanted to give Ty that family again. It wouldn’t be the same, with Destry gone, but it’d be good. Really good, if Salt wanted them both. Taking Ty in would mean no more week-long sales trips. Andy could get down with that.

He thought about it for another half hour, waffling between calling the lawyer or Salt first. It shouldn’t have been a difficult choice, but Andy couldn’t seem to decide what he needed to do next. What he did know was that Salt made him a better man, not that Andy thought he’d ever been evil, exactly. Self-absorbed, certainly, but that had changed.

What he had to figure out, too, was if he could truly be the guardian Ty needed. There would be no more screwing up with his nephew, not on his part. And he needed to put Ty first. That meant deciding what was best for him. It certainly wasn’t living with Brandt.

Andy loved his nephew, and would do anything for him. Giving him up had hurt, but he had only himself to blame for that. Now he needed to step up. As much as he loved Ty, Ty couldn’t make all the decisions. Andy had to start, and hope that Ty would agree to live with him.

Which meant he was calling James Stratton first, because Andy wanted Ty. If Salt didn’t want to help raise the boy, then as much as Andy would hate to, he’d have to break things off with Salt.

Chapter Fifteen

Salt wasn’t a hundred per cent certain that showing up at Andy’s apartment was the wisest thing to do, but there’d been so much worry in Andy’s voice last night as they’d discussed Ty. He guessed Andy should be forgiven for not knowing how much Salt wanted to help him—be that with raising Ty, or not. Salt wanted Andy, and if Ty was included, then he was in.

Being a father had never really been something Salt had imagined for himself, and while he wouldn’t be if Andy gained custody of Ty, he would be some sort of parental figure. Maybe. Salt wasn’t sure.

There was no denying, not to himself, nor to Andy, that he was growing more and more excited about the opportunity. That was why Andy’s fears that Salt wasn’t on board with him had hurt so badly.

Andy was under a lot of stress, however, and he didn’t need Salt’s bitching about his feelings being stomped on and such. Salt was a big boy. He understood that Andy had to put Ty first. Every kid needed someone who was completely on their side.

So he told himself to put Ty first, too, and Andy. His own perceived snubbing was something he needed to get past. Andy had wronged Ty once, as much as Salt hated to admit it. There were reasons for it, sure, but the kid had been the one to suffer most.

There would be a lot for Andy to make up for, and Salt would be at his side, helping him. That Andy was terrified of not being stable enough in his life to raise a kid was just Andy’s old fears and judgments biting him on the ass. Salt would build that man up until he knew no one could be the parent Ty needed but him.

He parked in the apartment building lot. It was almost dark. Salt had worked half the day before making the drive to the city. Carlos, cool boss that he was, had told Salt to take his time. That probably meant a few days at most, but Salt appreciated it.

Andy’s apartment was on the fifth floor. Salt took the stairs—elevators made him borderline panicky. Someone had told him that there’d never been a case of an elevator cable crashing and sending people to their deaths, but he still hated the damned contraptions.

Five flights of stairs left him a little winded, but not too badly. He was in pretty good shape. Salt waited until his breathing was steady, then he lifted his hat up long enough to run a hand over his hair. Assured by the gesture, he settled the felt hat back in place and started looking for Andy’s apartment.

He was nervous, a little concerned that Andy might not want him there in person. Then again, Salt believed the surest way to show Andy that he wasn’t going to run off because of a kid was to make his presence known. Talking and texting was fine, but you couldn’t see a person’s expression and sometimes nothing was as reassuring as a hug.

Salt made sure his shirt was tucked in good then he knocked on the door. A few seconds later, he heard movement from inside the apartment. Then an exclamation. “Salt!” The door flew open and Salt was grabbed up into the arms of the man who meant the world to him. “You’re here!”

“Yeah,” Salt squeaked out as he was hugged tightly. Andy was definitely happy to see him, judging by the kisses landing all over Salt’s face. Salt cupped Andy’s chin and held him still for a deep, joyous kiss.

“Wow.” Andy looked dazed as he blinked rapidly. “That was… I think you just made me fall in love with you all over again.”

Oh, that was well beyond sweet. Salt had to fight not to blush. “Was worried about you. Carlos told me I can have a few days. If you want me here…”

Andy pulled back and gawped at him. “You have to ask that?”

Salt nodded. “Yeah, kinda, since we’d talked about me maybe having to stay a secret.”

Andy’s eyes went huge and he cursed softly. “Damn. Damn. I forgot, with everything going on. My lawyer’s gay and he said a stable relationship would help not hinder my case. Gay or not. He thinks we can get a trial before a judge who’ll be fair and not homophobic.”

“You just now thought to tell me?” Salt wasn’t sure if he should be offended or not. Probably not, he decided. Andy had a lot on his mind.

“He called me back last night and told me, once he’d done some checking on the judges here.” Andy took his hand. “I should have called you then, but I crashed. Didn’t think I’d be able to sleep, so I sat at the table and the next thing I knew, it was morning and there were cops banging on my door wanting to know about Ty showing up here. Let’s sit down. I’ve been pacing, waiting to hear from them or Stratton, telling me they’ve got Ty and he’s safe. I just want him to be safe.”

Salt settled on the couch beside Andy, then he pulled Andy to him, almost across him for a hug they both needed. “You know I want to be there for you, and Ty. He might hate my guts, but I won’t let him run me off.”

“He won’t hate you,” Andy said assuredly. “He might hate me, but he won’t hold that against you. Ty’s a good kid, he’s just understandably angry at me and Brandt.” Andy twisted around to lie with his head in Salt’s lap. “All Brandt wants is Ty’s shares. I’ll give him mine, same thing. That’ll give Brandt a huge amount of the control, but…” Andy shrugged awkwardly. “Then I’ll quit and he’ll run the company into the ground.”

“What about making it a legacy for Ty?” Salt asked as he stroked Andy’s hair. “I thought Destry wanted that for him.”

“He wanted Ty to be loved and cared for,” Andy explained. “He will be, with us. Besides, I have Destry’s business plans for other projects. The organic feed isn’t all he wanted to start. He just ran out of time.” Andy gave him a quirky grin. “We’ll have to talk to Ty about it first, of course. I’m not making any decisions like that without his input. I learnt my lesson.”

Salt used his free hand to take off his hat and toss it onto the coffee table. “You think you’ll hear something today?”

“I’m hoping, but I didn’t really have a great description of the kid Ty was with. I saw him, but I was so focused on Ty.” Andy closed his eyes. “I keep trying to picture the guy, but I just get a generic image of a teenage boy. I don’t even know if he had acne or not.” Andy opened one eye. “Or if he was a boy. I just assumed.”

“Maybe it was enough. Did that PI of yours ever access those records?”

“I don’t know,” Andy mumbled as he closed his eye. “I’m so tired. I shouldn’t be. It’s such a relief to have you here with me.”

“I’m glad.” Salt gently nudged Andy’s shoulder. “Why don’t we take a nap? I’m worn thin, too.”

He let Andy help him up then they made their way to the bedroom. “This is a nice place. Bright colours and paintings on the walls. Looks like it was professionally decorated.”

“Des was an ace at decorating. Most of what’s done here is from him. Luckily, I can bring it with me if I move.”

Salt stopped beside the bedroom door and looked at Andy. “Where would you move?” They hadn’t really talked about that. “We’ve discussed us both being there for Ty, but we haven’t discussed how that’s gonna happen.” Salt laughed and shook his head. “Man, we got to nail everything down.”

“We do,” Andy agreed, looking amused. “I guess I was thinking you and I would live together, and Ty with us, if it all works out.”

Salt cocked and eyebrow at his lover. “Is that a roundabout way of asking me to move in?”

Andy glanced past him and licked his lips. “Well, see, I was thinking small-town life would probably be better for Ty.”

Salt was almost dizzy with relief. “You want to move to Ashville?”

“If you’ll have us.” Andy sighed and focused on him. “If it all works out. We might be wasting our time on planning.”

Salt didn’t think so. “Damn right I’d welcome you both, and it’s better to be prepared.”

The smile lit up Andy’s entire face. “Yeah, it is.” He moved close to Salt, brushing their chests together. “I’m not so tired anymore.”

Salt’s cock perked up at that. “Yeah, me neither.”

They grinned and Salt nudged Andy into the bedroom.

“Lock the door,” Andy told him. “I’ve been leaving the front door unlocked, in case Ty shows up again.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Salt locked the door then put on what he hoped was a predatory smile. “Now why don’t you get naked and let me ride you?”

Andy sucked in a sharp breath. “You, too. The naked part. All of it.”

A babbling Andy was a very sexy man. Salt reached for his hat then remembered he’d left it in the living room. He backed up to the bed, sitting on the midnight-blue comforter. The bed itself was of the four-poster variety, made of dark red wood. Salt began tugging off his boots and Andy came right over.

“Allow me.” Even dressed, Andy’s ass looked divine when he turned his back to Salt and straddled his right leg. Salt’s cock was fully erect and ready for Andy’s touch.
Maybe too ready
, Salt mused. He glanced around the room rather than staring at Andy’s butt. The walls were painted a light beige tone and the rest of the furniture matched the bed. On the wall closest to him hung a picture of a laughing Andy beside a man who was also laughing while holding a baby.

He didn’t need to ask who the man and baby were. Salt knew. Destry resembled Andy a little, but he wouldn’t have pegged them for brothers right off the bat.

“Other leg.”

Salt put his right leg down and raised his left. Andy held it between his knees as he pulled on Salt’s boot. “I have a boot jack,” Andy said, grunting between every other word. “I just like doing this for you.”

“I like you doing it for me, too.” Salt was touched. No one else had ever been willing to do things like that for him.

Andy stripped off his boot and sock then patted his foot. “Now we can get naked.”

Salt pointed at him. “You stay dressed. Just pull your pants and briefs down.”

“Kinky,” Andy teased. “I like it.” He began unfastening his belt.

“Me too.” Salt stood and quickly removed his clothes. Andy had his cock out and was stroking it in no time flat. “Want that in me.”

“Come and get it.” Andy shot past him and landed on his back on the bed. “Come on and ride me.”

“Lube?” Salt wasn’t fixing to take that monster cock without some slick and a finger or two.

“Under here.” Andy dug under a pillow. “I was jerking off, thinking about you the night before last.”

“This’ll be better.” Salt opened the lube and coated his fingers. “I’ll do me, you do you.”

“Deal.” Andy caught the lube Salt tossed to him. “Turn around and let me watch.”

Salt did as Andy asked, then reached behind him. He pulled one ass cheek back and used his other hand to tease along his crack.

“You’re so fucking sexy,” Andy rasped.

Salt hoped so. He didn’t see it, but he sure hoped Andy did. He must have, Salt reasoned. Andy wouldn’t lie to him.

“Bend over a little,” Andy said.

Salt bent then touched his ass hole. “Yeah.”
Damn, that feels good.
He teased the ring for a minute then pushed two fingers in, hard and fast. “Oh, hell.”

“Fuck,” Andy muttered. “So hot.”

Andy was the hot one, with that deep, velvety voice. Salt moved his fingers around, opening himself up for his lover. He didn’t do it for long, because his need was too great. He stopped fingering himself. “I’m ready.”

“Come on up here then.” Andy was patting his belly when Salt turned around. He held his cock pointing straight up, waving that big thing around. “Come and get it.”

Salt almost laughed at that. “I sure as hell will.”

He got up on the bed and straddled Andy’s hips. “I got this.” Reaching behind him, he kept his gaze locked with Andy’s. He fisted Andy’s thick shaft and pressed the tip to his hole. “You know I’m always gonna be here for you. You got me, heart and soul.”

Andy’s eyes looked a little misty as he replied. “Same goes, Salt. I want you in every way, so much.”

“We’ll start here.” Salt sank down, that fat cock breaching him. It almost felt like being split open in the most pleasurable of ways. Andy’s shaft stretched him to his limits and when Salt leant forward and rocked, it caused the most delicious contact between Andy’s dick and Salt’s prostate.

As good as it felt, Salt didn’t sit still. He began a hard, rough ride, grinding down and shooting up, taking Andy into him over and over again. Andy reached up and pinched Salt’s nipple and Salt moaned, closing his eyes. His dick was then encased in a firm, slick grip that shattered any lingering control he’d had.

Salt went after his climax like it was a gold trophy. He pressed his hands to Andy’s thighs behind him and gyrated his hips, clenching his ass cheeks every time he came up.

“Come on, baby, give it up for me,” he heard Andy demand.

Then Andy pressed against Salt’s slit, a thumb or finger, he didn’t know which. “Again!”

Andy worked his slit and Salt rode harder. Stars shot in gold and white streaks behind his closed lids as his orgasm slammed into him. He drove down and arched as he shot his load, Andy milking him with a demanding grip.

After he could breathe again, Salt yelped when he was flipped over. Andy pulled out of his ass. “On your belly. I’ve got to pound that ass.”