Page 53 of Wistful in Wyoming
“Don’t say it.”
“Awesome.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
It’d beensix days since the events at Ducky’s, and Dale was recovering well. The ER doctor had wanted to err on the side of caution and had admitted his patient overnight, so they could monitor him and give him IV antibiotics. After they’d transferred him upstairs and gotten him settled into a room, Dale had slept off and on all night, while Jeremiah dozed in a chair he’d pulled up next to the bed. By 10:00 a.m. the next morning, Dale had gotten the all clear to be released.
Now, most of his pain was gone, but he was still stiff and had to be cautious not to tear out his thirty-six stitches. So, no lifting much of anything and lots of rest.
Before leaving the hospital, Jeremiah had insisted Dale stay with him at the JP for the duration of his recovery, at least until the stitches came out, and since Willow and Nathan had agreed, Dale had reluctantly complied. He’d said the only reason he wasn’t happy about it was because he felt like an invalid when he was so used to doing things on his own. The only person who hadn’t treated him with kid gloves had been Jenna, and damn if he didn’t keep telling her he loved her for it.
Over the past few days, Jeremiah had quickly learned that Dale was the worst patient in the history of patients. One would think a Marine wouldn’t be such a baby about being couch-bound, but if the guy was awake, he was complaining.
However, Jeremiah would gladly listen to every whiny word if it meant his man was here with him. It’d been a close call. If that asshole had stabbed instead of slashed, there was a good chance Dale wouldn’t be alive to drive Jeremiah crazy.
“Babe, come on. Put down Tal Bauer’s book, and let’s get you cleaned up. My folks will be here soon.” Jeremiah leaned over the back of the couch, peering down at a pouting Dale. John and Patricia Urban had decided last week to come for a visit after finding out that Jenna had moved back home. After hearing about Jeremiah’s coming out and his boyfriend ending up in the hospital because of it, they’d still insisted on coming so they could support both their children and Dale, who they apparently couldn’t wait to meet. All those years that Jeremiah had thought he’d done a great job of hiding who he really was hadn’t been necessary—at least not in his immediate family’s eyes. His father and then his mother had gotten on the phone with him and had told him how proud they were of him and that they loved him no matter what his sexual orientation was. Jeremiah had ended the call with relieved tears rolling down his cheeks before bawling like a baby on Dale’s shoulder while making sure he didn’t hurt him.
Dropping his Kindle onto his lap, Dale glared up at him, but that intense glower only made Jeremiah’s grin grow wider. He was too cute with his midnight hair sticking up all over and a week’s worth of scruff on his cheeks. “You’re saying I stink?”
“Yes, I am, Marine. Come on—a shower will make you feel better.”
“Actually, Jay, the only thing that’s going to make me feel better, besides sex, is getting out of the house. I hate this sitting around bullshit.” He gestured to the e-reader. “And speaking of which, you do realize that the closest thing to sex I’ve had all week is in Bauer’s books—which are freaking hot by the way. Ethan and Jack are killin’ me here and what the fuck? Siberia? Again!”
“I’m very aware, you big baby. And I know they’re hot—I’m the one who told you to read them. And yes, everything seems to go down in Siberia, huh? You think it’s bad now, wait until you get to Sasha and Sergei’s books. Don’t worry, I won’t judge you for crying—I’m sure Tal has that effect on all his readers.” The author wrote some amazing gay romance/suspense books, and Jeremiah had read every one of them so far. He’d thought getting Dale into one of the series was a good way for him to pass the time while lying on the couch, and apparently, he’d been right.
Circling around to the front of the couch, Jeremiah reached down and grasped both Dale’s hands. “Up you go. Swing your feet over, stand up slowly.” Dale had lost quite a bit of blood and still got dizzy when he stood up too fast. Another reason why he was forced to stay in bed or on the sofa for at least another few days. Most of the bruises were starting to fade, and his split knuckles were scabbed and healing.
“Ugh ...” Dale groaned but did as he’d been instructed. “I know I’ve been a pain in the ass, I’m just not used to being taken care of or needing to be, for that matter. I feel helpless, and I fuckin’ hate it.”
“You haven’t been a pain in the ass. Besides, it’s your turn to bottom anyway.”
Dale’s eyebrows shot up, and his mouth fell open. “Did you just make a sex joke?”
“Yup.” Jeremiah ducked under Dale’s armpit and gently grabbed his waist before slowly walking him to the downstairs bath. He was beyond grateful he’d had it installed during the remodel, since it meant that Dale only had to do the stairs twice a day. While Dale was recovering from the attack’s physical trauma, Jeremiah was recovering from theemotionaltrauma. The thought of Dale going back to live on the Skyview Ranch, after the stitches came out, was something Jeremiah tried to avoid. Dale belonged in Jeremiah’s bed, and if he had anything to say about it, the only thing Dale’s RV would be used for is if they went on vacation.
“Out and proud, making sex jokes, and introducing me to your parents—you’ve come a long way since I caught you ogling me at the rodeo, cowboy.”
Jeremiah blushed but, for once, didn’t look down at his feet. Instead, he met Dale’s eyes and found them watery with tears. When one droplet slid free, Jeremiah reached up and brushed it away with his thumb. He shifted so he was standing in front of Dale, facing him, while still supporting him. “It’s your fault you know. You loving me gave me the courage to finally embrace who I am.” He sank his hand into Dale’s hair and brought him forward for a deep kiss. “Your love set me free.”
“Oh, Jay,” Dale whispered against his mouth before kissing him back and tangling their tongues together.
Jeremiah felt Dale harden against his stomach, making him groan and thrust gently. It took everything inside him to end the kiss. Unfortunately, they didn’t have time to get carried away—his parents would be there soon, and Jenna was out running some errands, and who knew when she’d be back. “Let’s go get you cleaned up, babe.”
“I love you.”
Jeremiah cradled Dale’s whiskered face between his palms, reverently, joyfully. “I love you too. So much.”
“Hurry up and get me naked, even if we can’t do much about it, I need to feel your skin against mine.”
Dale took Jeremiah’s hand, and together, they slowly made their way to the bathroom. As he carefully undressed Dale, then himself, Jeremiah’s heart was full, near to bursting with love for this man. He was sure he must be dreaming.
There’s no way this is my life now, is there?
If it was a dream, he hoped he never woke up.
* * *
Jeremiah and Dalesat on the porch swing together, content in their silence. Dale had been tired after the shower, but Jeremiah had convinced his reluctant patient that some fresh air would do them both some good. Jeremiah had taken off every day since Dale had come home from the hospital, only doing the bare minimum of administrative tasks and leaving the outside ranch work to Anthony and the hands. Though he’d promised to return to his normal routine tomorrow. Dale was doing well enough to be alone for most of the afternoon, and after all, Jeremiah was only a text away, and Jenna was around when needed. A moving van filled with her stuff had finally arrived three days ago, and she’d had the company take it straight to a storage unit in Butterfield. She’d met them there to grab a few boxes and things she wanted at the house, but most of her possessions were now safely stored away. Jeremiah had no idea how long his sister was planning on staying with him. He had no qualms about it though, as long as she ignored the sounds coming from his bedroom after Dale got the all clear for physical activity. If she had a problem with it, well, she could invest in some noise canceling headphones and a sleep playlist.
