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Authors: BA Tortuga

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BOOK: The Terms of Release
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H
E
WOKE
in the dark, curled into Adam’s warmth as best he could, cramped together on the old sofa, his muscles throbbing. Oh, damn.

Damn.

They could stretch out on the bed some.

When he tried to move, though, an explosive grunt escaped him. Ow! That was—Ow!

“Adam.” He wasn’t in the joint. He could ask for help, right?

“Hmm?” Adam jolted a little under him. “Wha’?”

“Bed. Cramps, huh?”

“Oh. Oh, crap.” Adam eased him down on the couch, then stood and stretched. “Here. I can help.”

“Uh-huh.” He reached up, his muscles like frozen rope. “Damn.”

“No worries, babe.” Carefully, gently, Adam picked him right up, one arm around his shoulders, the other under his legs. Sage didn’t know what to say, if anything, so he didn’t speak. Everything hurt.

Adam moved them into the bedroom and eased him down as carefully as he could. It still jostled Sage’s bones, and he felt oddly like a kid, but the kindness of it warmed him.

“Stay with me?” He was so sore, so sore.

“Hell, yes. You need anything? I’m gonna take a leak and be right back.” Adam bent and kissed his mouth, so gentle on his lips.

“I’m good.” He rested there, eyes on the ceiling as he focused on breathing. The soft noises as Adam moved around sounded a lot like the hamster he’d had when he was eight. Then Adam was there with him, warm and bare, sliding them under the covers.

“Hey.” He looked over, trying to see in the dark, trying to see Adam’s face.

A flash of teeth was all he could see. “You okay?”

“Sore some. Like seeing you, right there.”

“I like being here.” Another soft kiss made him sigh. Adam made him happy, deep inside.

This was damn stupid. Bad enough that the whole town wanted to kick his ass, now he was corrupting the local police?

He couldn’t help his grin. Corrupting Adam. Right. Sweet, innocent Adam. Shee-it. The man probably knew more about gay porn than Sage could ever learn, as long a head start as Adam had.

“You look better already.”

“This feels better. You look good in my bed.” Could he say that?

Apparently he could, because Adam slid across the sheets, closer than his own skin, hand on Sage’s belly. “Thank you.”

He could feel the gentle pressure of Adam’s hand, just a bit heavier on each slow breath in. If he concentrated on that, on sharing their breath, the pain faded to something bearable. Something understandable, familiar.

Real, if not right.

Adam shifted, sighed a little, and Sage thought he was asleep until Adam murmured, “What’s it going to take to keep you safe, babe?”

“They don’t let people like me be safe. You know that. I gave that up the day I ran off with Angel.” He hadn’t known then, what he was sacrificing, and he wished he could say he would have done it different, but he had been young and stupid. Nothing on earth said stupid wasn’t what he’d be again. Shit, he’d spent years looking for the moment where he could have stopped, said no, and he couldn’t find it, still.

He wouldn’t wish being queer on anybody, not ever, but he was, so he reckoned he had to pay for it.

“Yeah.” Adam snorted. “If Angel had come home, still gay and tossing it in their faces, they would have beat him down too.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Your people have money. Things are different when you do, at least a little.” He would have shrugged, but it hurt too much. “Angel wasn’t ever coming back, though. He wasn’t meant to be here. He loved California, the city. Being high.”

“Well, I’m sorry it’s been such a rough time, but I’m glad I’m here with you.”

“I’m glad you came.” Sage’s lips quirked. Smiling would hurt too much. “This is worth it.”

“Oh, I’m not sure we need to go that far. People are assholes, and this should never happen.” Adam laughed for him, though. “I like you, Sage. A lot.”

“Good. It would be fucking weird if you didn’t.”

“I guess it would.” Adam paused, both of them breathing. “Do you miss him? Angel?”

“No.” He blushed dark at how fast he could answer. “I…. We’d broken up, that day. He wanted….” He stopped, sighed. “He’d been sleeping with Luis. Said he needed something more.”

“Oh. Oh! Wow, ouch.” That hand on his belly moved, Adam stroking his skin lightly.

“We were eighteen. Luis was thirty and experienced. Me? Not so much with that.”

“Lord.” The brush of a bristly chin on his cheek told him Adam had nodded. “When I went to basic, I thought I knew it all. Sneaking around with the guys, getting a few blow jobs, you know? The first guy who took me on there almost ruined my ass forever.”

“Oh Christ, I bet. I thought I was so fucking studly, all cock and crow, not a lick of sense.” He hadn’t fought with Angel about fucking around, though, weirdly enough. He’d been the one who started the downfall, telling Angel he wanted to go home to Texas. He’d been the one to say the high wasn’t working like it had, the buzz wasn’t what it’d been. That they’d tied it up over.

California was a big, big place and was set to eat little cowboys alive.

“It’s weird, when you go somewhere the first time.”

“Yeah. LA was huge. I’d thought Dallas was big.” He’d bet Adam got that. Adam had been all over the world.

“Dallas seemed so huge when we were kids, huh?” Adam agreed. Everyone in their high school had thought so. It had seemed so far then too.

“I know. You’d run to Mesquite to the mall, and it was like an all-day thing.” Sage chuckled, and it sounded rough as a cob, even in his ears.

“Did you ever go down to Arlington? We ditched one day, and my cousin’s twenty-something boyfriend took us to Six Flags. I was fifteen, and I thought I was a big deal.”

“Oh hell, yes. We went for Spanish club when I was a junior. We loved it… went in the spring. It was empty, raining.” He’d had so much fun. He’d ridden the coasters over and over until he was sick as a dog.

“Oh man. That had to be a blast.”

They shared a grin there, brighter now that Sage’s eyes had adjusted to the dark. “It was. I remember thinking that place was magical when the lights went down.”

“We should go there sometime,” Adam said. “I mean, it might be lame now that we’re adults, but it might be fun.”

“It’s Six Flags. How lame could it be?” Besides, it would be dressed up for Halloween.

“That’s it.” Adam yawned, and Sage could hear the man’s jaw cracking.

He chuckled and nodded. “You need an alarm or something?”

“Huh? Oh. Yeah. Seven?”

“I can do that.” Sage would be up at five thirty anyway.

“Thanks. That will give me time to get back into uniform.” Adam yawned again, making this great snorting noise.

Sage took a deep breath, ribs creaking, sore. Tomorrow would be better.

It was hard to believe it could get worse.

 

 

T
HE
ALARM
clock jolted Win right up out of the bed. He reached for it and slapped his hand down against something that was not his night table.

“Ow! Fuck a duck.”

He looked around wildly. What the… fuck. Fuck. Sage’s room. The little room was stark, clean, one picture on the wall—a horse. He breathed deep. Right. Sage. Huh. Where was Sage?

He heard water running, and he slipped out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Sage was a giant bruise, sleeping in the bathtub, water pounding on him. Oh man, the hot water was gone, so Sage had been in there a bit. The cold wasn’t gonna help.

“Babe. Come on.”

“Huh?” One eye didn’t even open.

“Sage. The water has run cold.” Win turned off the tap before grabbing a towel.

“Oh.” Sage’s teeth started chattering.

“Shh.” Easing down, he pulled Sage out of the tub, gently, and wrapped the towel around that poor body.

“Sorry. Sorry. I fed the horses.”

Jesus. The man was tough as nails. Feeding the animals in the wee hours of the morning when he could barely move? That was insane.

“S’okay. I think you should take it easy today.” He led Sage back to bed. Win would stop by the main house and tell Sage’s momma about this on the way out.

“I hurt, man, deep. The shower helped.”

“Did you take some anti-inflammatories?”

“I don’t take things. I won’t let them catch me during a piss test with anything.”

“Advil isn’t going to ruin a drug test, babe.” He eased Sage down. “I’ll make us some breakfast, huh?”

“I can cook for you.” Sage’s eyes closed.

“Will you let me take care of you, babe?” Win growled a little, knowing Sage was used to going it alone, but it wasn’t necessary now.

“Little bit. Maybe.” That was almost a grin.

“Good. Nap.” He tucked Sage into the covers. “I’ll be back.” He hoped Sage had oatmeal or something soft.

Sage’s kitchen had eggs, oatmeal, butter, bread. Someone’s momma took care of him. Adam made some scrambled eggs and some soft toast as well as some instant oatmeal. That way Sage could pick what he wanted.

He headed back into the bedroom, hands filled with plates. Sage was sleeping, sitting up against the headboard.

“Babe? I brought you food.” Sage needed to eat. Then he could snooze the day away.

“I smell oatmeal.”

“Maple and brown sugar.”

“Yum.” Sage’s one eye opened. “You been busy.”

“It’s not much, but you can nibble.” He crawled into the bed and sat cross-legged with his own plate, then handed Sage his breakfast.

Sage took a spoonful, humming softly. “You’re being awful good to me.”

“You look like a giant sore spot, babe.” He reached out to touch Sage’s cheek. “And I like pampering you a little.”

“I feel like I got my ass kicked by a herd of rampaging elephants.”

“Ow.” Elephants might be kinder than the folks who did this to Sage. By far.

“No shit on that.” Sage frowned a second. “You told me Bulldog and Wilma are okay, right?”

“They’re fine. Just fine.” Bulldog was utterly furious, and Win had talked hard to keep the man from going after the guys who’d done this.

“Good. They’re good folks.”

“They are. You have some good friends there.” Sage needed friends, so Win was grateful.

“I do.” Sage licked his cracked lips. “I have a good friend here.”

“You do.” He kissed Sage’s mouth before sitting back. “Eat up. I got to go here in an hour or so.”

“Eggs look good.” They ate together, Sage seriously drooping toward the end. Poor guy. His body needed to heal, to rest and recover.

“You gonna be okay if I go, babe?” Win took the plates and gave Sage one last kiss.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll just sleep for another hour or so.”

Uh-huh. Another twelve, maybe. He grinned. As long as Sage slept, Win was cool. “I’ll check on you tonight, okay?”

“Okay. Okay, I’ll think ’bout supper.”

“You do that.” He would bet Sage’s momma would provide supper. He pulled on last night’s clothes and stopped to drop a last kiss on Sage’s mouth. Sage was sound asleep by then, so Win headed up to the main house to talk to said momma, real quick.

 

 

E
LLEN
WAS
sitting on the front porch with the dogs, coffee mug in hand. “Deputy.”

“Hey, Mrs. Redding.” He took the coffee and sniffed
appreciatively. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. What’s up?” No nonsense. That was Ellen Redding.

“Sage had a tough time last night at the cafe. He was attacked in the parking lot.” He watched her face with a cop’s eye, needing to see her reaction.

She stood. “Does he need to see a doctor? Is anything broken? He didn’t start it. I know it.”

“No, he didn’t.” Win sighed. “I stayed with him last night, and he looks to be all right—beat to hell but nothing broken. He got up to feed this morning, but he’s sleeping now.”

“Stubborn boy.” Her lips tightened. “I’ll let him sleep, and we’ll
do the night feeding, take spaghetti over tonight. You know who did
it?”

“It was too dark to see, apparently. He says he didn’t see faces, and Bulldog couldn’t tell me.” Win spread his hands. “I got there as soon as I could.”

“You’re not his bodyguard, son.” She sat hard, rubbing her forehead. “I shouldn’t have asked him to come back here.”

“Well, now he’s here and staying, I think.” Impulsively, he reached out and touched her shoulder and squeezed. “I’ll help any way I can.”

“You’re a good boy, Adam.” She stood up and hugged him tight. It was the first time she’d called him Adam and not Win. “You know that he… that he likes boys, don’t you?”

“I do. I like him too. That way. I hope that’s okay.” He hugged her back.

“I think it’s probably stupid of you, ’cause your family will hate it, but you’re welcome here, so long as you’re good for him.”

“I never said I was all that bright.” He winked, happy that she chuckled for him. “I have to go in. I’ll check on him tonight.”

“I’ll bring over enough for two. Have a safe day and don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

“I know you will.” He gave her one more squeeze and left her. He needed to call his own mom, needed to hear her voice, and needed her to tell him that he was going to be okay too. He hit speed dial, knowing she’d be sitting at the breakfast bar, sipping her coffee.

She answered as he slipped into the truck. “Hey, baby. What’s up?”

“Hi, Mom. Just needed to hear you today.” She said that to him a lot, but today he wanted her to know it went both ways.

“Oh man. Hard night?” He heard her coffee cup clank down.

“It was tough, yeah. Sage Redding was assaulted.”

“Is he okay? Are you? Were you there?” The questions came bullet-fast.

“He’s beat up. Wilma called me, and I got there when everyone was running for it.” He sighed. He knew he was pushing things with his family, and he felt more than a little responsible for the attack.

“Oh man. That sucks. How can I help?”

“Just tell me it’s okay? I’ll believe you if you tell me.” He smiled a little, the joke an old one for them.

“He’s a good man and you like him. It’s going to be hard, but I have your back.”

“Thanks, Mom. I love you.” He was almost to his place, and he needed to get dressed.

BOOK: The Terms of Release
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