“I trust you.”
Raul’s smile turned tender as he gazed down at him.
“I know you do.”
Outside, one of the four wheelers was waiting for them. Raul got on and Ji-Su climbed on behind him, wrapping his arms around Raul’s waist to hold on. The four-wheeler rumbled to life when Raul started it up and they rode out over the property, guided by the light of the full moon. Millions of stars twinkled in the endless ebony sky and cool, spring air rushed over them as they rode. Ji-Su pressed his face to Raul’s flannel shirt covered back to keep warm.
They hadn’t ridden long when a large white tent came into view. Raul pulled up and parked the four-wheeler to the side of the tent. He turned off the key, the sudden absence of the engine leaving them in the quiet of nature.
Ji-Su swung off first, then waited for Raul to dismount. Raul took his hand, leading him to the front of the tent. As they walked, Ji-Su took in everything around them. The tent itself had sides sheer enough to see through and was lit from within. There was a stone fire pit a safe distance away and Raul’s black stallion Ace was there in a portable corral. Raul squeezed his hand to get his attention.
“We both enjoyed it the last time we were in a tent,” Raul said as they passed through the entrance. “I thought we could repeat the experience for our blood bonding.”
Ji-Su stopped just inside the tent, his eyes wide as he looked around. The tent had an actual hardwood floor with several thick, white faux fur rugs scattered across it. There were multiple lamps around the space, along with twinkle lights strung across the ceiling. A low to the ground platform bed enclosed in a sheer mosquito net took up the back wall. In one corner were lots of giant, squishy floor pillows, a small TV, and a vintage gaming system. In the other corner was a small, two-chair dining table, and a mini-fridge. Somewhere behind the tent a generator hummed, which accounted for the electricity powering everything.
“It’s several yards away, but there’s a small building that has a bathroom with plumbing and a shower,” Raul said. “Nothing fancy—the ranch hands use it when they’re out on the property—but it’ll allow us to stay out here for a few days without having to go back to the house. And there’s clean clothes and other supplies there,” he added, pointing at a cabinet behind the dining area.
“Wow,” Ji-Su whispered in awe of the cozy set up Raul had created for them.
“Do you like it?” Raul softly asked.
Feeling like he was about to burst with happiness, Ji-Su threw his arms around Raul’s neck and squeezed him in a tight hug. “I love it.”
THE FIRST NIGHT OFtheir getaway, they relaxed in bed, kissed until their lips stung, and made love. Then, as they sun began to rise, they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms and slept the day away.
This evening they were more active outside of the bed. They’d played strip poker—which Ji-Su repeatedly lost. But he got his revenge coming up with strip stakes for the vintage race car video game they’d finished playing a minute ago. Now Raul lounged on the floor pillows as naked as the day he was born.
“I still say the buttons on my controller were stuck,” Raul said in teasing protest of his losses.
Ji-Su laughed. “Sure they were. Just like the cards were shuffled wrong when I lost at poker.” He shook his head in amusement. They’d had fun, their playful complaining over losses a part of each game. “What do you want to do next?” Hewondered when Raul would bite him, but he hadn’t brought it up yet.
“How about a horseback ride? Ace needs to stretch his legs.”
“The last time I was on a horse it was barely bigger than me and there were balloons, party hats, and a birthday cake involved. So, I don’t have any riding skill but I’m game to try.”
Now it was Raul’s turn to laugh. “All you have to do is sit. I’ll do everything else.”
“Okay, then. Let’s do it.”
They turned off the game and got up, Raul pulling on a pair of loose cotton pants and slip on shoes before they left the tent. Ji-Su was already dressed in sweat pants and a hoodie.
Outside, Ji-Su rested his folded arms on the top rail of the corral while Raul went in to retrieve Ace. The stallion was huge, his black coat, mane and tail blending in with the dark night. If it wasn’t for the moon’s silver light, he might have been invisible. Raul brushed Ace down first, then tossed on a saddle blanket, and applied what he needed to lead him.
“Where’s the saddle?” Ji-Su asked when Raul brought the stallion out without one.
“No saddle. This is a bareback pad,” Raul said as he settled what looked like a thick, black cushion with a small bag attached on Ace’s back. He cinched it closed around the horse’s belly. “It’ll be more comfortable using this instead of a saddle since there are two of us riding.”
“But how will I stay on?” Ji-Su asked in genuine confusion. As far as he knew, he needed a saddle to hold on to in order to stay on top of the horse.
“Don’t worry, cariño. I won’t let you fall.”
“Okay.” He trusted Raul knew what he was talking about since he was around horses all the time while he knew next to nothing about them.
Raul picked him up and set him on Ace’s back. Ji-Su had a moment’s nervousness sitting high off the ground with nothing to stop him from falling if Ace decided to bolt or buck him off. But then with a powerful jump, Raul swung up behind him without the aid of stirrups and immediately locked his arms around him in a secure embrace.
“That was a fancy vampire trick,” he said in admiration.
“Not a vampire trick. Just practice. But I admit that I was doing my best to show off for you.”
