Isaac nodded, knowing he was getting himself deeper into debt with T-Rex. This wasn't going to end well, but Isaac couldn't find it in himself to turn down anything the man offered.

Before he knew what was happening, T-Rex leaned in, framed his face, and gave him the most toe-curling, sensual kiss Isaac had ever imagined. He groaned and melted into the man, unable to resist. His bear was growling in satisfaction that Isaac had finally tasted the man.

Isaac swooned slightly when T-Rex pulled back. He licked his lips and wanted another taste. T-Rex smiled as he ran his thumb under Isaac's lip. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."

Isaac stood at the side of T-Rex's truck, ignoring the traffic going by, the mechanic, and everything else. "You smell so good, like leather and cedar."

T-Rex chuckled. "Glad you like how I smell." He dipped his head and gave Isaac a quick kiss. "Now let's go get something to eat."

Isaac would willingly follow this man anywhere.

Isaac was second-guessing his decision. He hardly knew T-Rex, but his bear was comfortable with the man. Heck, his bear wanted to curl up into the man's lap, and Isaac's face flushed with embarrassment at the thought.

T-Rex glanced at him and must've seen the reddened cheeks because he smiled and winked at Isaac. "It's just lunch."

Thank goodness the man couldn't read Isaac's thoughts. He would die of mortification if the guy could. All Isaac could think about was that kiss, and he wanted another one. It was Isaac's first kiss, and he had a feeling it wouldn't be his last if he kept hanging around T-Rex.

The thought excited him. He'd had sexual urges before and even a few fantasies of what it would be like to play with another man, but Isaac had always felt ashamed of his desires in the past. He knew what he wanted was sinful, but he couldn't find it in himself to regret that kiss.

Once they pulled up to the diner, T-Rex got out and opened the passenger door for Isaac. The man was such the gentleman. T-Rex had even opened the diner door and waited for Isaac to pass through. Never had Isaac experienced such chivalry.

They grabbed a booth in the back of the restaurant, and Isaac glanced around. He'd never been out to eat before. His mother always cooked his meals at home. Isaac could hardly contain his excitement as he sat there, smiling like a loon.

"Order anything you want," T-Rex said. "Lunch is on me."

Isaac watched T-Rex pick up a menu, and then he did the same. He had a hard time choosing what he wanted. Everything sounded so delicious. As he glanced over his choices, Isaac spotted a few people watching him. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

T-Rex glanced over his shoulder and then looked back at Isaac. "They're just jealous that their lunch date isn't as good-looking as you."

Isaac had never smiled so much in one day. He knew that wasn't the reason why people were stealing covert glances at him. As Simon had pointed out on many occasions, Isaac was different. The way he dressed had always attracted attention, but it had never bothered Isaac before.

It did now. Did T-Rex think Isaac dressed funny? If the guy did, he hadn't said a word about it.

"Smile," T-Rex said as he held up his phone.

Isaac frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Taking a picture of you," T-Rex said like it should have been obvious.

Isaac sat there mystified for a moment. "A phone can do that?"

"Smile first and then I'll answer your question." T-Rex still had the phone held up, and Isaac did as requested. T Rex snorted. "I want a genuine smile. Right now you look constipated. Relax."

Isaac tried to relax, but he'd never his picture taken before. His parents didn't own a camera.

"Come now, you can do better than that," T-Rex said. The man crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue, showing Isaac the silliest face he'd ever seen. Isaac burst out laughing and then heard a series of clicks.

"Much better," T-Rex said.

He turned the phone around and showed Isaac the pictures he had taken. Seeing himself in that picture only reminded Isaac of how thin he was, lacking the masculine features of his older brothers. He'd seen himself in the reflection of his mirror plenty of times, but he had never stopped long enough to study his features.

He looked a heck of a lot like his mother, even more so the older he got. Isaac was embarrassed at the fact that he looked so feminine. Not for the first time, he wished he looked more like his father.

"You look simply stunning," T-Rex said and then smiled before he set his phone down on the table. "And, yes, a phone can take pictures. I can also check my emails, text people, check on my siblings on Facebook. I can even bank on my phone, watch a movie, or read a book."

The man might as well have been talking another language. Isaac understood none of it. He decided to change the subject to talk about something else. "You don't look like a rancher," Isaac pointed out. "Have you always been one?"

"Not always." T-Rex turned when the waiter came to take their drink orders. Isaac settled for a glass of water. Once the waiter walked away, T-Rex continued. "I used to be in the military."

Now that fascinated Isaac. He sat there for the next twenty minutes grilling T-Rex on what it was like to be in the service. History was one of Isaac's favorite subjects, more precisely, the wars. He sat there with his chin cradled in his hands as he listened to T-Rex talk. He was captivated by everything the man said. He was captivated by T-Rex, period.

"So when my friends and I got out, we started up our own business." The waiter came and served them their drinks.

"Have you gentlemen decided what you want?"

Isaac quickly scanned over the menu again and asked for a burger and fries. T-Rex ordered the same. When the waiter walked away, Isaac asked, "So that was when you decided you wanted to be a cowboy?"

"Not at first," T-Rex said after he took a drink of his soda. "But a friend of mine, Sheriff Sparrow, talked me and the men into settling down here, and then one of the men from the Triple-B Ranch persuaded me and my friends to consider ranching."

T-Rex's life seemed so perfect. He had plenty of friends and a great career. Isaac found himself envious. If only he had that same kind of life. "What's it like living with so many friends?" he asked.

"Good most of the time. Everyone knows their job. But it can be irritating as well. Too many people under one roof, you know?"

Isaac laughed. "I know. I have four older brothers and a younger one. I know all about irritating."

T-Rex grinned. "I'm the middle child of seven."

Their conversation never lulled, and Isaac found himself charmed by the man. T-Rex had led a full life and had some very interesting stories to tell. Isaac never wanted their conversation to end. He was sitting in a perfect bubble of happiness, all smiles and his heart beating for every word T-Rex spoke.

Chapter Four.

Isaac pulled into the driveway at home, and he couldn't stop himself from smiling. Not after the lunch he'd had with T-Rex. They'd talked about everything from music to siblings to favorite hobbies and everything in between.

T-Rex was great company. The conversation had never once lulled, and Isaac had never smiled so much in his life. T-Rex was fascinating and had seen a lot in life.

Isaac didn't have much to offer to the conversation considering his life had been pretty sheltered, but he did tell T-Rex funny stories about his brothers and how growing up with them had always kept things interesting.

And to Isaac's delight, T-Rex confessed to growing up in a large family as well. Isaac was smiling from ear to ear when he got out of the truck. He grabbed the three bags from the back and headed toward the door. He stopped dead in his tracks when his father walked out, his face mottled with red as his fists curled and uncurled.

"Where have you been?"

Isaac took a step back at the menacing tone. He'd never seen his dad this angry before. "The truck broke down," Isaac said, telling his father the truth. "Someone was nice enough to have it towed and repaired."

His father moved to the edge of the porch, and something dangerous lurked behind his eyes. "And?"

Isaac's heart began to pound hard in his chest as his throat went dry. "And I picked up the groceries Mom needed."

"She needed them five hours ago."

"But the truck-" Isaac closed his mouth when his father clomped down the steps. He was much taller than Isaac, a lot wider as well. When it came to body structure, Isaac took after his mother-something his father had never liked. His dad wanted all of his boys to be strapping, able to pull their weight around the house.

Isaac and Robby, his younger brother, were built like their mother, and his father had always treated him and Robby differently because of that. But Isaac had never seen his father this angry.

His father towered over him, making Isaac lean back. The man's dark brown eyes simmered with wrath as his jaw clenched tightly. Isaac's stomach dropped as his knees grew weak. He couldn't seem to breathe as his father said, "And who was that man you were kissing?"

"I wasn't-" Isaac cried out when his father backhanded him so hard that he dropped the bags and flung sideways, hitting the ground. He tasted blood in his mouth, and the bone around his left eye felt as if it were shattering. Strange patterns swirled through his vision. His head throbbed in pain. Isaac was afraid to get up, to even look at the man who had never struck him once in his life.

"You need to choose your words carefully," his father said as he panted, rage still evident on his face, "because Henry saw you on his way into town. It's a sin to lay with another man. I won't have a sinful son. Now tell me who that man was."

Isaac scrambled to come up with an answer. He had never lied to his dad before, but he just couldn't tell the man who T-Rex was. His bear was growling, wanting to protect someone who had brought a small amount of joy into Isaac's life.

Turning, Isaac spit onto the ground and winced when his saliva was mixed with blood. He wanted to check to see if he had any loose teeth, but didn't. He'd wait until he was inside before he inspected his injuries. His entire life, he would have sworn that his parents loved him, but at that moment, doubt began to creep into his mind.

Isaac knew that being with T-Rex was dangerous, but he was torn that Henry had told on him. His oldest brother had always been his father's favorite, and the two were just alike. Their mannerisms, beliefs, even looks mirrored the other.

When Isaac remained silent, his father grabbed a handful of Isaac's hair. He yanked Isaac from the ground until Isaac was standing, tears gathering in his eyes. "Get inside. I'll deal with you after I've calmed down." His father pulled Isaac close until he had no choice but to stare into the man's hate-filled eyes. "Because if I don't calm down, I'll be minus a son."

The words chilled Isaac to the bone. Jacob Newton never issued an idle threat. The man was powerful, intimidating, and always did as promised. Isaac could barely walk when his dad released him. His legs were weak, unsteady as he climbed the steps to the porch and headed inside.

He wanted to tell his father that he was sorry, that it would never happen again. But he knew that would be a lie. Isaac didn't regret the time spent with T-Rex. He wouldn't turn T-Rex down if the man offered to take him to lunch again or if the man tried to kiss him again. It had been the most wonderful feeling in the world, and Isaac wouldn't trade it for anything.

He hurried up the steps and into his bedroom, where Isaac closed the door before he slumped to the floor. He hugged his midsection as he allowed himself to cry. Rocking back and forth, Isaac wished his life was different. He used to love being who he was, but not anymore. He wanted out of this house, out of this insane life.

"Hey," Robby said when he walked into the room and spotted Isaac falling apart. "What's wrong with-" Robby inhaled sharply when he saw Isaac's face. "What happened to you?"

Isaac wiped at his nose as he shook his head. He couldn't bring himself to utter the words. He didn't want to see the look of disgust on his younger brother's face. He'd dealt with enough loathing for one day. His secret was out, and now the hatred would begin.

Pulling himself from the floor, Isaac settled on his bed, curling onto his side. There would be no more trips into town for him. His father would put an end to that. Out of seven sons, only he and Robby remained at home. The others had married and started families, living on farms and raising a boatload of children.

But they came by often and had Sunday dinner here. Isaac would watch as his father swelled with pride at his eldest sons.

His father would never look at Isaac with pride. He would never play with any of Isaac's children. The man would never engage in man-to-man talks now that he knew Isaac was gay. His dad would look at him with scorn, shunning Isaac and pretend that Isaac didn't even exist.

He would be the Newton pariah, the son who had been born broken. The sinner.

"Isaac, talk to me." There was concern, and even a touch of fear, in Robby's voice, but Isaac wouldn't tell his brother of his shame. The man would soon learn, and Isaac cringed at the thought of Robby treating him differently.

"Nothing," he replied.

"Nothing doesn't give you a black eye," Robby said. "Someone hurt you. Who was it?"

His brother must have been tending to the animals out back and hadn't heard the chaos in the front yard. Isaac hugged himself tighter, wishing that Henry had come to visit on another day, that his eldest brother hadn't seen T-Rex kissing him.

But no matter what he wished, he knew his life would never be the same. Not when his father knew of his dark secret. Not when his brother had witnessed what had happened at that service station.

No matter what he wished, his days of going into town to see T-Rex, or even Simon, were over.

For two weeks T-Rex had been coming to town to see if he could catch up with Isaac, but the man had been nowhere to be found. When he'd taken the man to lunch, Isaac had confessed to coming into town at least once a week for supplies. Yet when T-Rex questioned the man who worked at the feed store, the guy told him that Isaac's younger brother, Robby, had been coming in lately.

His gut was telling him that something was wrong, but T-Rex had no way of contacting Isaac. He knew that Isaac was twenty years old. T-Rex had asked. He didn't want to be courting a minor. Although he'd argued with his friends that Isaac wasn't a boy, he'd made sure of it when they'd gone to lunch.

T-Rex was thirty-five, but the age difference didn't bother him. Not at all. They were both consenting adults, and there had been a huge age gap between his parents. He still didn't fully understand the strange pull Isaac seemed to have on him, but T-Rex was determined to find out what had happened to the guy.

He walked into the pharmacy, determined to find Simon. That was the man who had been with Isaac the first time T-Rex had laid eyes on the man. He wasn't sure if Simon could tell him anything about Isaac, but T-Rex wasn't going to give up until he had some answers.

Simon was in the back, checking over a clipboard when T-Rex approached the man. "Simon?"

The guy turned, and then his eyes widened slightly. That was a typical reaction T-Rex received when approaching a much shorter person. Simon eyed him from head to toe and then nodded. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to talk to you about Isaac." Although T-Rex had done a background check on the family, he'd come up empty. He found records of tax payments, but that was about it. None of them had ever been in trouble, and none of them had any sort of record. He had found school registrations on the children of the Newton household, but the trail had ended about ten years ago.

The only thing he could come up with was that the parents had homeschooled their children. There was very little information to go on. There were no employment records, but he did find land titles for a few Newtons. He just wasn't sure those records belonged to Isaac's family. It was amazing how many Newtons existed.

Simon's expression became wary. "What about him?"

"Can you tell me if you've seen him lately, over the past two weeks?"

Simon tucked the clipboard under his arm. "I don't even know you. Why would I tell you anything about my friend?"

"Because I'm worried," T-Rex said. "And if you really are his friend, then you're just a concerned."

He could tell Simon was assessing him, and any other time, he would admire the man's loyalty.

"His dad," Simon finally said. "Never did like the guy. I always got the impression he was a man who was ready to crack at any time."

"Crack?"

"You know," Simon said, "a ticking time bomb. The guy rules over his entire household. He has this look in his eye that says he's just waiting for Isaac to fuck up."

T-Rex's jaw tightened. "Would he hurt Isaac?"

Simon shrugged, but T-Rex could see the truth in the guy's eyes. Simon seemed to think so. "So far, I haven't seen any proof of abuse, but the guy's highly religious and runs a tight ship. He barely allows me and Isaac to hang out."

"Then why doesn't Isaac just move out?" T-Rex asked, although he had a feeling he already knew the truth from the conversation he'd had with Isaac.

"Either Isaac has to go to college or have a good-paying job for his parents to let him move out. The other brothers escaped by getting married though. That's one screwed-up-ass family if you ask me. Anyone who forces their grown son to live at home has issues."