Page 18 of Saddle Studs
Since when did it get so damn hot in Oklahoma? I couldn’t remember ever feeling like I was in the second circle of hell when I lived here, but maybe that was nostalgia talking. Or possibly climate change.
One or the other.
“How ya doing out here, Sam?”
I looked up from the food trough I’d been cleaning out. Sky walked toward me with a beaming smile, their bright green hair matching a wrist full of green bracelets in all different shades. They were pretty new to the ranch, having practically stumbled onto it after chasing a storm—or, I guess in Sky’s case, after being chased by a storm.
It was likely one of their luckiest days yet, considering that tornado led them directly into the arms of Beau and Pris. The trio were nearly inseparable, their connection as clear as day.
It was nice to see. That’s something I loved about Rainbow Ranch. It served as a haven—not just for the animals that livedon the property or the teens who came seeking purpose, but also as a safe space for expressing yourself and live free from judgment. Maybe that’s why I loved living in the city, too. It was a different kind of safe space. The multitude of people and personalities and cultures made it easier to blend into the crowd.
But at Rainbow Ranch, there was no blending in, and no need to, either. Everyone’s individuality was celebrated equally.
“I’m doing alright,” I said, feeling beads of sweat drip down my shoulders. “Hot as balls out here, though.”
“Want some water?”
“Nah, I was just about to head inside for lunch anyway.”
“Oh, you might want to hurry. Benny made some killer mac and cheese bites. His cooking is trouble.” They rubbed their belly, grinning.
“Trust me, I know. He’s always been a great chef. Even in high school. He’d cook up the wildest, tastiest dishes. It was impressive. Especially at that age, when microwaving a Hot Pocket was already difficult enough.”
Sky laughed at that. They leaned against the barn door, sunlight painting the red wood slats behind them in bold strokes of gold. They wore a red and white plaid shirt half-tucked into their torn jeans. “You two have known each other since high school?”
“Since like fourth grade, yeah. My dad moved us here after my mom passed. He was born and raised in Johnson Springs, so he wanted to come back. It was just me and him. Then I met Benny—and bymetI mean I nearly ran away with him after we concocted a whole scheme during snack time, where he was going to teach me to ride a horse.”
“Whoa. Talk about a meet cute.”
“A what cute?”
“A meet cute. It’s like the special moment in romance books where the two characters meet for the first time.”
“Huh,” I said. “Never heard of that one before.”
“Not that I’m comparing you two to a romance novel or anything. Just saying. But also, the puppy eyes you guys throw each other are cute.”
I could feel my cheeks redden. Thankfully, they were likely already pretty flushed from the heat and exertion, so Sky didn’t seem to notice.
It had been a week since I arrived at Rainbow Ranch and reunited with Benny.
A whole ass week since I accidentally played porn loud enough for Benny to hear.
Seven full days since I hadsextedwith Benny for the first time ever.
And I’d been jerking off to the photo of him covered in cum every day since.
Talk about a state of fucking confusion. Neither of us brought it up after it happened. I wasn’t sure if that was because Benny wanted to bury it and never speak of it again or if he was just giving me space to talk about it first.
It was a lot for me to think about. Thoughts that weren’t new to me, not at all. Especially not when they pertained to Benny.
Dennis bolted into the barn, neighing happily as he body slammed one of the gates, spooking a peacefully resting Princess. She huffed out her annoyance and kicked at the wall of her stall. Behind him trailed a smiling Benny, looking like a Western film star. He wore a simple white tank top that showed off strong biceps, one of them artfully highlighted by dark black tattoos made of strong lines and sharp edges, looking almost like an alien script. His light jeans were tucked into his coffee-colored leather cowboy boots, an intricate and delicate floral pattern etched into the sides. He had a plate in his hand, fat and crispy mac and cheese balls resting in the center.
“Howdy, I thought you’d might want some,” Benny said as he handed me the plate. It smelled heavenly. My mouth started to water.
“Those weresooogood, Benny.”
“Thanks, they’re one of my go-tos.”
