Marcus was just passing through Texas when he met Kent. In his cowboy hat, low-riding jeans, and black boots, Kent looks like the type of guy Marcus desperately wants to love.<br><br>But two years later, he's discovered Kent is cold and distant, the quintessential American cowboy, and spends more time drunk than sober. Marcus can never predict his mood and blames himself for the flailing relationship.<br><br>Then, one day when Kent rides into town, Marcus finds a young runaway hiding in their barn. Luke is warm, loving, and quick to please ... everything Kent is not. Though the answer seems obvious, Marcus finds himself torn between the boy who demands his love and the man whose love he craves.

Cowboy

“Fine,” I tell him, but my throat is


dry and my voice parched, and the only thing that could soothe my


thirst is him. Kent,I remind myself, but right at this


moment, with this hand on mine? I can’t recall the contours of my


lover’s face, the feel of his body, and I don’t quite remember what


Watching me, Luke starts to rub his thumb


across my wrist, just above the light hair on my arm. It’s a soft


touch, gentle, but it fills me with a sudden lust that trembles my


hands and weakens my knees. I want to lie him down on this table


and tear into him, his tender touch does that to me. I should tell


him to stop but I can’t find the words, and just as I’m about to


pull away, he lets go. “I’m a mess,” he says, slapping at his


jeans. A fine dust rises from the denim. “God, what I wouldn’t give


“I hate to have to tell you this,” I


laugh, at ease now that he’s not touching me and I can pretend that


Chapter 14