Tenino’s cock stirred, partially filled. But before his thoughts could veer to the carnal, a ripple of uneasiness passed through him as his eyes went to the Thunderbird image carved into the fireplace mantle.
He’d prayed for a sign from the Creator, had wanted to return to the cabin with Trey and find a cup waiting, filled with the honey-gold drink that would allow Trey to become one of The People. He’d hoped it would be for him as it’d been for Ukiah and Tekoa. Only now he realized that Ukiah had found Marisa slipping over death’s edge and chased her spirit back into her physical body, Tekoa had found Clay gravely injured, had done a sing for him, touched him with spirit energy and the power of their ancestors.
Tenino rubbed his hand over his chest, tried to recall the legends about the Creator changing those not born of The People. There weren’t many of them. Then again, in the
days when the Thunderbird flew freely and widely, the land had yet to be invaded and conquered by people fleeing Europe. The cultures and way of life giving birth to the Thunderbird and to those who could see and join with it in spirit flight had yet to be decimated and nearly destroyed.
A shiver slid down Tenino’s spine, spread into his gut with the fear the cup might only appear if Trey were gravely injured or near death. He looked down at Trey and knew he’d do everything to keep him safe, even if it meant they might never fly together, their spirits one with the Thunderbird.
CHAPTER 4
Trey woke to the smell of bacon cooking and coffee brewing, to a masculine voice talking quietly on the phone and memories guaranteed to cause a morning erection. He opened his eyes as Tenino ended his call. Need coiled in his belly and pulsed through his cock when Tenino turned toward the bed.
“Sun’s up,” Tenino said.
“So am I.”
Trey felt the telltale heat slide into his cheeks, guessed it was probably going to take a while for him to be totally natural when it came to interacting with a male lover. Tenino’s appreciative chuckle was positive reinforcement. And the dark hungry look that came after had Trey’s heart rate speeding up as Tenino crossed the room to stop next the bed.
“So you’re claiming to be up with the sun,” Tenino said, grabbing a fistful of covers and pulling them back, exposing Trey’s nakedness and the throbbing truth of his hard-on.
Tenino took possession of Trey’s cock, measured the length of it as he slid his hand up the shaft. “Damn, you make me crazy,” he said, fingers tightening so Trey’s hips lifted in silent pleading.
Without warning Tenino put a knee on the bed and bent down. Firm masculine lips claimed Trey’s penis. The wet heat of Tenino’s mouth and relentless command of it chased every thought from Trey’s mind, obliterated every need except to come.
He gripped the sheets, panted, fought to make it last. But he was no match for Tenino or the clawing hunger raking his insides. He gave up the battle with a cry, shuddered in release before settling into a weak heap of sweat-slick skin and lax muscles.
“You don’t expect me to get up after that,” Trey said when his breathing steadied.
Tenino laughed. “You’re lucky I’ve got breakfast cooking on the stove, otherwise I’d take that as a personal challenge. Trust me, I could definitely get you up again if I set my mind to it.”
Trey grinned. He knew he probably looked like a teenage boy experiencing his first crush but he couldn’t help it. He’d never really allowed himself to think about what it might be like to live with a male lover, to actually have a relationship. When he’d allowed himself to confront the truth of his sexuality at all, it’d been more like a quick, illicit fuck, a short fantasy engaged in while he was sleeping, or if he was awake, then when his mental resistance was too low to prevent it from happening.
Now he was finding he enjoyed the camaraderie, the teasing banter, the being with someone where there were no pretenses. He liked it just as much as the sex.
He was heading for heartbreak by falling in love with Tenino. Trey knew that. He’d made the classic mistake, fuck first and wonder what it means afterward. But it’s not like they’d met under normal circumstances. And a guy like Tenino… If he’d wanted a live-in lover, he’d have one already.
“You’re thinking too much,” Tenino said and Trey was glad to have his meltdown interrupted.
“Comes with being a teacher.”
“Better get dressed. I’m about to throw some eggs on. How do you like yours?”
“Over easy.”
Trey snagged the sweatpants from where they lay near the couch then hit the bathroom before joining Tenino at the kitchen counter. “Looks good,” he said, taking in the egg, bacon and toast piled on two plates.
Tenino pointed to the coffee maker. “Help yourself. There’s some milk and OJ in the fridge.”
Trey got some coffee then grabbed his plate and took a seat at the table across from Tenino. “So what’s the plan for the day?” he asked, contemplating for the first time that while he was bare-chested and wearing only sweats, Tenino was dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt.
“You know how to handle a gun?” Tenino asked.
“If you mean other than very, very carefully? No.”
“Then that’s first up. I want you to know how to protect yourself.”
Trey’s stomach did a funny little flip-flop at the same time his heart flooded with something that could only be labeled hope.
“Sounds good,” he said, ducking his head, concentrating on eating for fear his expression would reveal his rapidly escalating and out-of-control feelings for Tenino.
They finished breakfast, their conversation intermittent, ranging from discussing Xbox games and football to their jobs.
Despite Tenino’s claim the sun was up, it wasn’t visible through the clouds shrouding the land. “How cold is it outside?” Trey asked, drying his hands on the dishtowel and studying the scene outside the window above the sink as Tenino put the last dish away.
“Not too bad. You can probably get by with a t-shirt and a long-sleeved one over it. We’re not going far, just to the other end of the clearing. If you get cold, you can come back for your jacket.”
Trey draped the towel over the rack and returned to his duffle bag. He fished through it, pulling out articles of clothing and smiling when his hand touched the smooth surface of a ceramic pig.
He hefted the pig out with both hands. The thing was heavy. It was also eye-watering yellow and decorated with purple flower-shaped spots.
Tenino snorted from across the room. “I don’t believe it,” he said, leaving the gun safe he’d unlocked and walking over to stand next to Trey. “That your emergency stash?”
“Could be. It’s full of dollar coins. Only way I can keep myself from accidentally using them as quarters.”
“Yeah. I hate that. More than once I’ve tossed a quarter into a tip jar then realized it was a dollar.” Tenino reached out. “Let me hold that thing.”
Trey handed it off.
“Whoa,” Tenino said, pretending he could barely hold the pig up. “I can see why you packed it. And the paint job, great camouflage. Who’d guess a yellow pig with purple flowers would hold a fortune?”
Tenino turned the pig in his hands, laughter giving way to quiet seriousness when he read the words written in childish script. For Mr. Masters. The world’s best best best teacher. From Tanya K. Ward.
“She died over Thanksgiving break of a type of kidney disease that runs in families,” Trey said, remembering a little girl with a bright smile and a hundred tiny braids. “Her older sister is still alive thanks to a transplant, but her younger one didn’t reach three. I couldn’t risk leaving it in my house and having Patricia come back and destroy it. I can hardly believe it survived the first time.”