His skilled fingers working my shaft combined with the perfect angle of his thrusts was my undoing. I came a second time with a strangled cry, my release coating both our stomachs as my body seized around him. The intensity of it left me shaking, overwhelmed by sensation and emotion.
Cash wasn’t far behind, his rhythm faltering as I milked him with my contractions. He buried himself deep and came with a low groan, adding to the mess inside me. This time when he stilled, we were both completely spent, breathing hard and clinging to each other.
“Jesus,” I whispered, my voice hoarse from crying out.
“Not bad for a preacher,” Cash grinned, pressing soft kisses to my temple. “You’re a champ at takin’ dick.”
I just smiled, shaking my head.
We lay like that for several minutes, neither of us wanting to break the spell. When Cash finally pulled out of me, I winced at the loss and immediately missed the connection. He disappeared into the bathroom and returned with a warm washcloth, cleaning us both with gentle, careful touches.
“Stay with me tonight?” he asked quietly as he tossed the cloth aside. “I… I like waking up next to you.”
I looked into his eyes, seeing vulnerability there that made my heart ache. “I’m not going anywhere,” I promised, settling into his arms as he pulled the covers over us. “I’m right here.”
Cash tightened his hold on me, his face buried in my hair. “Good,” he murmured. “Because I don’t think I could let you go tonight, even if I wanted to.”
As I drifted toward sleep in his embrace, I realized that everything had changed between us tonight. We’d crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed, moved from just sex to something deeper and more meaningful. And despite all the uncertainty about the future, I’d never felt more content than I did right then, wrapped in Cash Callahan’s arms.
I wanted it to last forever.
Chapter 24
Cash
“Hey there, Dolly,” Mike said as we stepped inside the diner. “Need any help?”
From the looks of things, that was a rhetorical question. In the past week, Dolly’s diner had undergone a transformation. During the day, business went on as usual. But after closing the place had people going in and out at all hours of the night. There were decorations strung everywhere, equipment set up, and flyers hung up all around town just to get ready for this karaoke fundraiser. And by the buzz heard everywhere, it seemed like the entire town and then some were ready to show up on Dolly’s doorstep.
“Hell yes, I need help!” she called back, looking up from the massive roll of tickets she was prepping for the raffle. She had a red handkerchief tied around her neck and a blue denim blouse on. She kinda looked like that one guy from Jurassic Park. “I need a couple more strong backs and preferably a pair of strong arms around me.”
Mike started laughing, but I just stared at her. The woman was ridiculous.
She gave us both a dramatic wink. “But seein’ as I know which street you two amble down, I guess I’ll just take somehelp with the tables. We’ve got about an hour before people start showin’ up.”
I felt my face heat up at her casual comment said loud enough that the entire diner could hear it. I knew it was obvious we were gay, but did she mean something more than that? We’d decided to keep things secret for now. I shot a glance at Mike, who was trying to hide a grin behind his hand. Had he told her?
“Tables it is,” I said quickly, desperate to change the subject. “Where do you need ‘em?”
Dolly pointed toward the back of the diner where several folding tables were stacked against the wall. “Those need to go outside under the tents. And we’ve got more chairs coming from the church in about twenty minutes.”
I nodded and headed for the tables, grateful for something physical to do with my hands. Mike followed, and together we started hauling the heavy folding tables through the back door and out into the parking lot where two large white tents had been set up. I was told they were the same ones from Beau and Lucas’s wedding.
“You okay?” Mike asked quietly as we positioned the first table.
“Fine,” I muttered, not meeting his eyes. “Just didn’t expect the whole town to know about... us.”
“I didn’t tell anyone.” Mike’s hand brushed against mine as we unfolded the table legs. “Would it bother you if they knew?”
I considered the question as we moved to grab another table. A month ago, the idea of anyone in Sagebrush knowing I was sleeping with a man would have sent me running for the hills. But now...
“No,” I realized with some surprise. Things had been pretty easy so far. Not a single person had called me a faggot, so that was a good start. “I guess it doesn’t. I’m just not sure I’m ready to make any announcements.”
Mike’s smile was soft and warm. “That’s totally fine. But be warned, Dolly’s been dropping hints all week about how ‘cozy’ we look together.”
“Jesus,” I groaned. “That woman has no filter.”
“None whatsoever,” Mike agreed cheerfully. “But her heart’s in the right place.”
