I released his hand and carded my fingers through his hair. “It wasn’t. I wanted something more. I’ve always wanted something more. It’s just that I don’t know if there’s a place for me here.” I tugged Dell upward. “I don’t doubt you, though. It’s probably all in my head.”
Dell kissed me again. “How about you turn off that head of yours for a while?”
I hummed my agreement. There was a time to think about all this, and there was a time to just enjoy being together. I much preferred the latter, and Dell seemed to agree in a forceful but tender and heated way that left me shouting my happiness across the land and wondering just why I was putting up such a fight after all. Dell certainly knew what he was doing, and those lips of his played me like a fine instrument, sending me soaring to back-arching, mouth-hanging-open heights. I swear at one point I made sounds only dogs could hear.
Clinging to Dell, I stroked down his back as he kissed me hard, the two of us sliding together, his cock alongside mine. It was heady, and while I had brought supplies, he felt amazing just like that, and soon Dell had me on the edge. I held on for as long as I could, until we both tumbled into release in a blaze of sparkling passion that left me breathless and hoping this feeling never ended.
The darkness was complete and I lay in Dell’s arms. “You really are amazing.”
“So, no disappointment?” he asked, and I turned to kiss him.
“Not in the least.” I snuggled closer, letting our warmth combine as the night chill settled in deeper. I didn’t quite know what to say, so I just enjoyed the closeness. I had read somewhere that one of the most special things in life was being able to be quiet and content in bed with just another person. They called it the “Time for Two,” and I was coming to understand how precious that was. I didn’t need to fill the night with chatter, and neither did Dell. Though if we stayed out here for much longer, I think our teeth might have disagreed with us.
“I hate to say this, but I think you and I probably need to get dressed.” But Dell didn’t move, and I nestled as close as I could. “As much as I would love to stay out here and away from the rest of the world with you, we can’t.”
“I know.” I scooched away and hurriedly found our clothes. I don’t think I have ever dressed so quickly in my life. Once Dell indicated he was dressed, I handed him a flashlight, rolled up the blankets, and handed those to Dell as well. After that, I collapsed the canopy, folded the poles, and rolled the entire thing into a bundle. The only evidence that we were even there was the bed of straw that would be gone in no time.
Once we reached the farmyard, we stowed the supplies in the work shed and headed inside. Archie raced up to Dell for a hug and told his dad all the things he and Grampy had done.
“We even had cookies for dinner.”
“Only cookies?”
Archie shook his head. “Grampy made mac and cheese. It was good.” He licked his lips to demonstrate.
I turned to Dad. “Thank you,” I said, and Dad just nodded.
“I think it’s time for good little boys to go home, have their bath, and then get ready for bed.”
Somehow, with the way Archie was bouncing, I thought it was going to be quite some time before he settled down. Dad must have given the kid plenty of sugar.
I walked them to the door, where Dell put Archie down. While he got his coat on, Dell kissed me quickly.
“I saw that,” Archie said. “I wanna kiss too.” He made fish lips, and I chuckled before giving him a hug and a great big noisy kiss on the cheek that left Archie giggling.
“See you Saturday,” Dell said, then lifted Archie into his arms and carried him out of the house.
I stood in the doorway, watching them go before turning inside to face the music.
Dad sat on the sofa, his leg up, watching me like a hawk.
“Say what you want to,” I told him.
He shook his head. “I know better than to get involved in shit like this. You’re going to do what you want to do no matter what I say.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Then maybe try looking at things from someone else’s point of view other than your own!” God, I felt short-tempered with him tonight. “I’m going to go upstairs because I don’t want to fight with you tonight.”
“Why not? You fight with me any other time.” He put his foot down. “You think that you got all the answers and that you know what everyone else is thinking. Well, I’m disappointed in you. Dell is a good man, and his son is someone special. I only wish I had a grandson like little Archie. Your mama would have loved grandkids, you know.” He glared at me, his expression unreadable. “But still, I gotta say what you’re doing isn’t right.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Me being gay is wrong and I’m going to go to hell.” I had heard it before.
“Look, you little smartass pain in the butt. I know what I said earlier, and it got me to thinking. You can like who you want and you can marry a cow for all I care. But you messing around with Dell is going to hurt him and that little boy. They both care for you. Archie told me about you getting ice cream with him and making him grilled cheese, and how you’re going hiking and going to roast marshmallows with him. Little kids see everything, and they either take to people or they don’t.”
I was completely confused. This was not the kind of conversation I had been ready for. “You’re mad at me because I was spending time with Dell?”
Dad stood and reached for his crutches. “No, you fool. I’m angry because you’re starting something with them and then you’re going to leave, and Dell and Archie are going to have to pick up the pieces. But then, what can I expect? When the going gets tough, you leave. It’s what you did five years ago, and you’re gonna do it again.” He crutched toward the stairs. “I’m going up to bed. Lock everything up before you come up, and be quiet. I’m going to try to get some sleep.” He slowly headed upward, disappearing from view.
What the fuck? I could only stand in the room and stare. He…. I…. My hands clenched and unclenched, but Dad was already gone, and it wasn’t like I could race up the stairs and punch him out. Still, as his words sank in, it hit me. Mom had always said that there were two sides to every story, and maybe I had just gotten part of my dad’s. And maybe I’d assumed a lot of things that weren’t necessarily true.
Chapter Seven
“Is Rex going to come wif us?” Archie asked as soon as he was out of Dell’s car, racing toward his buddy. He skidded to a halt and threw his arms around his doggie friend.
“Yes. We’re going hiking, and Rex can come. Does he have a leash?”
I nodded and went inside to get it, trying not to yawn. I hadn’t slept well in the last few days. Dad had been avoiding me and was surlier than normal—not that I had been in the greatest of moods. I’d spent much of my time working on the farm wherever Dad wasn’t. I even managed to get the old tractor tuned up and running like a top. I thought I’d use it to till under the garden in preparation for next spring. The work on a farm was never done, but in the past few days, I had gotten to the point that I was starting to invent things. I was even contemplating getting out the paint sprayer to spruce up the barn and the sheds.