"I know how you feel." Sam's tone suggested that there was more to his words than what he'd said. Taylor felt himself blush.

Sofia finally turned back around and began to pat Gabe's face as she babbled. Taylor concentrated on his half-eaten plate. He wasn't sure what to say to that. He definitely didn't have a pretty face. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't striking enough to win someone like Sam.

"Sam tells us that you know how to cattle ranch," T-Rex said. He pushed his empty plate aside and sipped on his coffee. "That true?"

Once again Taylor was the center of attention. He wanted to crawl under the table and hide. He didn't like having all eyes on him. It made him uncomfortable. His shoulders rose and fell with a shrug. "I guess."

Sam's whole hand rested on Taylor's back and the heat of his palm seared through Taylor's thin shirt. Sam's hand began to move up and down. "You're being modest again."

"I spent summers on my uncle's ranch," he admitted to everyone. "I hung out with the foreman a lot."

"Good." T-Rex nodded in approval. "Then you can decipher what Rowdy is saying. That man is more confusing than-"

"Women," Stripper finished for T-Rex. "Dated a few who tried to cuff me after one night of sex. I don't do commitments."

"Language." Gabe glowered at Stripper.

"Cuffed?" Taylor asked.

"Yeah," Stripper said. "Tried to chain me down. You know, claim me as their boyfriend. They wanted more but I don't do more."

Taylor shook his head. Stripper was definitely unique.

"Had a few guys try the same thing. Both sexes are confusing if you ask me. Bang 'em and keep going." Stripper shoved a biscuit into his mouth.

"That's my cue to leave." Gabe stood, holding Sofia to his chest. "When you decide to clean up your topic of conversation at the breakfast table, we'll be back."

Stripper had the decency to blush. "I didn't mean any harm, Gabe. I'm still getting used to having a little lady in the house," he called out but Gabe was gone by then.

Taylor almost felt sorry for Stripper. He was a character, but under that playful exterior, he could see the man cared about his friends' opinions.

Legend tossed a biscuit at Stripper's head. "Next time you use that language in front of my girl, I'll feed you your balls." Legend got up and walked out.

Stripper scowled and then left the room as well.

"Been that way all his life," Colton explained to Taylor. "Ain't easy for Stripper to change overnight. But he's tryin'. Legend's a new dad. Flips if you say the word heck around Sofia."

Taylor understood both men's sides. True. It wasn't easy to change. And Legend was just being an overprotective father.

Sam patted Taylor's back. "Let's go walk breakfast off."

That was an easy request. Taylor didn't like the tension that still lingered in the kitchen and was glad to get away from it. He didn't like to be around men who were fueled with anger. It tripped a trigger in him that he would gladly steer clear of.

Chapter Four.

The day had turned out to be bright and sunny. A few puffs of clouds slid lazily by as Sam and Taylor made their way to a corral that had been built only a week before. There were two brown horses grazing the grass. T-Rex had just purchased them the day before. Sam's boots kicked up dust as the two approached the wooden gate.

Rowdy had saddled the horses after breakfast when Sam told the foreman that he wanted to take Taylor for a ride.

Sam stared at the saddle on his horse and wondered if his size-twelve boot would fit in the stirrup. Not only that, he wondered if he could get into the saddle. He'd never ridden a horse before and was trying his best to impress Taylor. But first he needed to impress himself by swinging up into his leather seat.

Taylor must have felt Sam's hesitation. The guy walked over and placed his hand on the horse's rump, squinting his eyes at Sam while wearing an encouraging smile.

I can do this. How hard can it be to swing up into a saddle?

Grabbing the horn of the saddle, Sam shoved his foot into the stirrup and then swung upward. His foot connected with something solid. He turned and was horrified to see Taylor holding the side of his head as a loud curse left his lips.

"Oh fuck!" Sam had kicked the guy in his head. Taylor went down, landing on his ass. Sam twisted and dropped to his knees. "God dammit. Are you okay? Of course you're not okay. I just kicked the crap out of you."

The last thing Sam wanted to do was hurt Taylor. The guy wasn't all that big to begin with. His fingers hovered over Taylor's hand that was cupping the side of his face. The guy's eyes watered, and he shook his head as if trying to shake his marbles back into place.

"I am so sorry." Sam peeled Taylor's hand back and winced when he saw a big red blotch marring the man's pale skin. That had to hurt. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on Taylor's temple. "If you want, I'll let you kick me in the head."

Taylor blinked a few times and then stared at Sam as if he had just realized where he was. Concussion? God, please don't let it be a concussion.

"I'm okay." Taylor tried to stand and Sam helped him. He clasped their hands together as if they were about to arm wrestle and hauled Taylor to his feet. The man swayed slightly but stayed upright. Sam started brushing the dust off of Taylor's backside before Taylor jerked away.

Sam stepped back as his eyes fixated on the red blotch. "I'll understand if you want to go home."

A wavering grin appeared on Taylor's face. "I didn't think my cooking was that bad."

Sarcasm. Just that quickly, Sam's heart melted. "Nah, the sausage was perfect. Didn't you know that kicking somebody in the head is customary before going for a ride?"

The smile on Taylor's face widened and the crisis was averted. Everything was as right as rain.

"Okay, let's try this again," Taylor said. "But I might need a helmet this time."

Sam pointed toward the front of the horse. "Just stand over there. Because if I kick you again, I might knock some common sense into you and you'll wonder what you're doing with an ape like me."

Taylor gave a soft laugh and the sound was infectious. Sam found himself smiling from ear to ear. He just stood there with his hand on the saddle horn and his eyes riveted to Taylor's knockout looks. He wanted to kiss the man and not just on his cheek. He wanted a full lip-lock, touching, and caressing until they both lost their minds from lack of oxygen.

Sam's heart thumped hard in his chest as Taylor's eyes sparkled with merriment. He'd noticed a sadness to Taylor that the man tried very hard to hide. But right now, that inner turmoil was gone and Taylor was genuinely enjoying himself.

"Wish me luck," Sam said after he tore his eyes away from Taylor. For a second time, Sam shoved his foot into the stirrup and swung up into his seat. He threw his arms in the air as if he was at a football game and his team had just scored a touchdown. "Triumph at last!" He cupped his mouth and made a noise as if the crowd had gone wild.

Taylor was busting a gut with laughter. Sam sat atop his horse and felt like a knight trying to win the affections of his fair lady-er...man. The horse moved slightly to the side and Sam grabbed the horse's mane in a death grip. Although Sam wasn't afraid of heights, he felt too far off the ground. Still grinning, Taylor handed Sam the reins.

"Such a newbie," Taylor said.

"That obvious?" Sam chuckled. If he were any more of a newbie, he probably would've kicked Taylor into a coma.

Taylor held up his thumb and index finger, leaving only an inch between them. "Just a tad."

When Taylor swung up into his saddle with an ease that Sam envied, Sam playfully muttered, "Show off."

The guy was actually beaming. "You have your cooking and I have my horseback riding." Pride filled Taylor's face as if he were delighted that he knew how to do something that Sam didn't.

Sam bowed his head slightly. "Then, my dear sir, teach away."

Taylor spent the next ten minutes explaining to Sam how to steer the horse. Why the hell couldn't the saddle just come with a steering wheel? That would've made things so much easier. Even better, the stirrups should've been a gas pedal and a brake.

While Sam held a rein in each hand, trying to figure out how to maneuver his horse, Taylor held both of his reins in one hand as he turned his horse and headed out.

Sam didn't follow right away. Instead he leaned forward and whispered to the horse, "Don't make me look too bad, okay? I'm trying to impress the guy. Go easy on me."

After Sam made the little clicking noise with his mouth, his horse moved forward. Sam's thighs tightened against the worn leather of the saddle as his fingers gripped the reins until his knuckles turned white. He jerked the reins around and the horse began to move away from Taylor.

Taylor, with his experienced riding skills, moved easily around Sam until they were side by side and moving out into the open plains. "You doing okay?"

Sam forced himself to relax. "Piece of cake."

"Good. Then you won't mind if we go a little faster."

"Faster?" Sam swallowed hard. "I don't see a speedometer on this damn horse."

The soft lilt of Taylor's laughter did nothing to quell the knot of tension building in Sam's stomach. He had morbid visions of falling off his horse and snapping his neck, or getting trampled, or, for fuck's sake, catching fire. Faster was not something he wanted to do.

"What's wrong, Sam?" Taylor teased and his smile lit up his face like a fallen angel out to torture Sam. "Afraid of a little speed?"

"Afraid?" The challenge in Taylor's voice made Sam stupid in the brain. He clenched his jaw as he leaned slightly toward Taylor. With a low and growly tone, he said, "Bring. It. On."

Taylor narrowed his eyes. "On three."

Sam gripped his reins tighter.

Taylor rolled his shoulders.

The horses snorted.

"One. Two. Go!" Taylor shouted.

Sam didn't have a fucking clue what he was doing. He kicked his feet and snapped his reins, yelling at his horse to go faster.

And the horse took off.

Taylor was already way ahead of him, his horse running at breakneck speed. Man and beast. The image Taylor made as he guided his horse like a true cowboy had Sam hard enough to pound nails. Which was not very comfortable while sitting in the saddle.

Sam mimicked Taylor, leaning forward as his horse tried to catch up with the other. He was going too goddamn fast. Sam's foot slipped from the stirrup. He jabbed his boot at it, trying to get his foot back in. He accidentally yanked the reins. The horse jerked and tried to come to a hard stop. The sudden lack of momentum threw Sam from the saddle. He didn't even have time to shout as he hit the ground and rolled.

Closing his eyes, Sam lay there on the soft patch of grass as he tried to assess the damage. His back hurt like hell and his legs throbbed.

"Sam! Sam! Talk to me, Sam!" He could feel Taylor at his side. There was franticness in the man's voice. "Goddamn it, Sam. Open your eyes!"

Sam groaned. "I think I broke my dick."

Taylor began to pat Sam down like a mugger rolling a wino. The guy's slim fingers slid over Sam's chest, sides, and then his legs. Sam just lay there and enjoyed the molestation. His dick wasn't broken after all. It grew thicker and thicker with every touch. Taylor pressed his fingers over Sam's shoulders and then smoothed over the nape of his neck before the man checked Sam's head for any lumps or bumps.

"Does anything hurt?"

Sam slowly opened his eyes and then cocked a brow. "I just fell off a horse. Everything hurts."

Tears filled Taylor's eyes. "That was so stupid of me. I shouldn't have challenged you. You could've-" Taylor swallowed hard and his voice came out shaky. "You could've died or broken your back."

Sam reached up and used the knuckle of his index finger to wipe away Taylor's tears. "I'm hip to your diabolical plan. I kick you in the head. You throw me from my horse. How about we call things even?"

Taylor slapped Sam on his chest. "This isn't funny. You could've been hurt."

Sam bounced his eyebrows. "You might need to check me over one more time. I have a deep ache between my legs."

Growling, Taylor stood. So much for a little fooling around. Sam grunted as he turned on his side and then pushed to his feet. He rolled his shoulders and then bent his head from side to side. "Nothing broken."

But Taylor didn't say a word. He stood there, visibly shaking. The guy appeared a bit green and his eyes were too wide. Taylor looked as if he were about to have a nervous breakdown.

Sam walked over and pulled Taylor close, wrapping his arms around the man. He felt like a giant holding a small goth angel. Taylor tried to pull free. Sam didn't let him go. "I'm not your enemy, Taylor," Sam whispered. "I'm not trying to do anything other than hold you."

Taylor stopped fighting though he remained stiff in Sam's arms. He had just won a small battle. Sam had successfully pulled one brick out of the wall that Taylor hid behind.

Don't panic. Just relax. You're just two dudes hugging in the middle of nowhere. Taylor swallowed hard as the heat from Sam's body soaked into him. His arms lay limp at his sides like wet lead and he wasn't sure what to do with them. Did he hug Sam back? What if that made the guy think Taylor wanted more than a hug? As much as he was fighting to keep things at a friendship level, there was no denying the fact that Taylor's insides did summersaults around Sam.

The longer Sam held him, the more Taylor began to relax. The guy wasn't making any kind of move. He was keeping his word. Taylor was waging a war inside himself. This wasn't Todd. Sam was different. Things could be good between them. Why was Sam attracted to him? The browbeating and questions went on and on until Taylor wanted to scream at himself to shut the hell up.

Sam's body began to jerk and Taylor realized the man was laughing. He pulled back, staring up into incredible hazel eyes. The man's smile was breathtaking. "What's so funny?"

"Us. You. Me." Sam pressed a quick kiss to Taylor's cheek. "We're a disastrous pair, don't you think? If we keep hanging out together, we might end up sharing a room at the hospital in matching body casts."

Taylor smiled and then chuckled. His shoulders shook with laughter as he rested his forehead against Sam's chest. "The disastrous duo."

He lifted his head at the same time that Sam was trying to place another kiss on his cheek. Their lips met. Taylor swallowed hard. They stared at each other. And then Sam's eyelids lowered as he held Taylor's head in the palm of his hand.

Taylor forced himself to relax as his eyelids slid closed. The kiss was awkward at first, skin smashed together.

And then Sam's tongue slid over Taylor's bottom lip, smoothing back and forth as if Taylor were a delicious treat. Taylor was stunned by the softness of Sam's lips, by the sweet taste of Sam's mouth. It was like heaven and hell and candy all rolled into one. Taylor panted and opened his lips, craving to feel Sam's tongue even further in his mouth.

The hand on the back of his head tightened its grip as Sam deepened the kiss, their tongues rolling together as Sam tilted his head to the side, his body hard, his hands gentle, his lips soft.

Taylor's arms lifted and he pressed his hands into Sam's back. The hard muscles flexed and Taylor moaned.

When they broke apart, Taylor was gasping for breath. Sam pressed his lips to Taylor's forehead and then used the hand on the back of Taylor's head to move Taylor until he was resting his cheek against Sam's chest.