Page 161 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

Furi’s eyes flicked to Syn and his smiled turned quieter. “No. That’s my heart.”

The little girl considered that, then nodded as if it explained everything.

“You survived your training,” Furi said.

“It was pretty cool. The view from on top of his horse is unlike anything.” Syn pfft’d. “I need a better teacher though.”

Furi laughed. “It’s always the teacher, huh?”

Syn glanced past him at the little crowd still watching. “You wanna to go for a walk?”

Furi nodded. “Sounds good.”

Syn held out his hand, and Furi took it, brought it to his lips and kissed his knuckles in full view of everyone. He didn’t care who noticed, as pride swelled deep inside.

They walked along the back pasture, away from the barns and noise of the ranch early in the morning.

The path curved beneath shade trees, past a fence line where horses grazed in the wide field, flicking their tails lazily at flies.

The land opened up to rolling green hills, scattered with wildflowers and bright patches of sunlight. They didn’t talk for several minutes. Peaceful contemplation seemed to be the ranch’s gift.

Furi looked out over the pasture, the breeze moving loose wisps around his face where Amelia’s braid had lost a few strands. “It’s so beautiful here.”

“Yeah.”

“I see why Fox stayed.”

Syn glanced at him. “Bull helps.”

Furi smiled faintly. “I’m sure.”

Another stretch of quiet passed between them before Furi said with a wide smile. “I could spend all day in that petting zoo. The kids are so innocent and funny.”

Syn could tell how happy he was with all those animals nuzzling his face and fighting for room on his lap. If only their life could be that simple.

When they reached the far edge of the back pasture, the path dipped behind a cluster of old trees near a shallow creek bed. The house disappeared behind them. The barns were hidden by the slope and weeping willow branches.

Syn stopped.

Furi paused with him, a question in his eyes.

He took Furi by the front of his tank top and pushed him back against the trunk of a massive oak.

Furi’s breath left him in a sharp rush.

Syn cupped his jaw and kissed him with zero restraint. Furi answered with a sound that went straight through him. His mouth opened beneath Syn’s, warm and eager, and Syn pressed closer, pinning him to the tree with his body while the rough bark framed Furi’s shoulders and the breeze moved between them. Furi sank his fingers into Syn’s hair, pulling just enough to make his control flash white. Syn let the kiss end for half a breath before taking another from a deeper angle.

Furi tipped his head back against the trunk and Syn followed, mouth moving over his lower lip, the corner of his mouth, his strong jaw. Furi smelled like sunshine, and earth, and the faint trace of his favorite soap. The scent he’d missed in his sheets at night.

“Corbin,” Furi breathed.

Syn kissed him harder.

Furi wrapped his arms around his shoulders, holding him close. Syn slid one hand into the thick braid and Furi shivered when his fingers closed around it.

He pulled back just enough to look at him.

Furi’s lips were parted, his eyes bright and dazed, his chest rising fast beneath the black tank. Sunlight cut through leaves above them and landed in pieces over his face, his tattoos, the long sweep of his hair where it hung over one shoulder.