Chapter Twenty-Two: Checking Fences

Wednesday morning dawned bright and beautiful and for that Nick was damned thankful. He was also thankful that Liz had understood his request for he and Aiden to have patrol duty for the day, even though she hadn't planned on having anyone patrolling.

Nick was desperate to have a day alone with Aiden. A day when he could hold his hand, touch his face, kiss his brow and not have to worry about being stabbed in the back while he did so. While Nick knew that Liz and Brody had accepted them he still didn't figure that they'd appreciate the displays of affection and he knew the other hands wouldn't—sure it wasn't fair but it was a fact of life and one that Nick was okay with just so long as he and Aiden could stay together and safe.

Nick knew however that peace probably wouldn't last—once enough people in town found out about them or Aiden's parents received their letter and discovered their killers had failed—peace would be gone. Nick wanted to seize the hell out of what down time they had.

Nick walked up to Cookie who handed him a plate of watery eggs and charred sausage, "Thanks," Nick said with a grin.

"Well you sure are happy this morning," Cookie winked.

Nick thought of the man who was just now rousing himself from sleep inside the bunkhouse and nodded, "I am happy, Cookie. Finally."

"Well it's about damn time," Cookie stated. "I knew it when y'all first came striding up to the bunkhouse together that you were meant to be. Remember I told ya that when it happened I wanted everyone to remember I called it."

Nick tipped his head in acknowledgment toward the old man, "You did call it, Cookie. From what I hear you have a talent for that kind of thing."

Cookie waved his hand with a snort, "I just pick up on things is all."

Nick was raising a dripping forkful of eggs to his mouth when suddenly he was shoved from behind and his plate went clattering to the dirt as he stumbled forward and nearly fell into the cook fire before catching himself on the edge of Cookie's supply wagon.

"Sorry about that, Nick," Burt sneered and Nick turned slowly to glare at the man. "I'm so darn clumsy sometimes."

Nick clenched his fists and rose up straight, towering a good six inches above the other man, "That's alright, Burt, just so long as you work hard to make sure it don't happen again."

Burt laughed and a few of the other hands chuckled as well, "Sure."

Nick gave the other man his back and stooped down to pick up his fallen plate and fork. "What happened?" Aiden's voice questioned.

Cookie opened his mouth to speak but Nick shoved his plate into his chest and gave a nearly indistinguishable shake of his head, "I was clumsy," Nick replied as he turned and smiled at Aiden, "Dropped my plate right in the dirt."

Aiden frowned as he looked at Burt who was laughing and nudging another hand. Nick realized that most of the hands were either ignoring the situation or had already walked away. Only Burt and three other men were still standing there chuckling.

"I'll make you another plate, Nick," Cookie offered as he turned toward the large skillet of eggs and reached for a clean plate.

"That's alright, Cookie, I gotta get some stuff around," Nick replied as he held up his hand. He turned his gaze to Aiden once again and felt his body ache with the urge to hug him good morning. Aiden looked good this morning. Having those men dead and gone had clearly done wonders for the man. His brown eyes no longer held any trace of their past fear or sadness and his cheeks had good color. His shoulders weren't slumped or weighted down with worry and he had a smile on his lean face.

"Are we still patrolling today?" Aiden asked.

"Yeah," Nick nodded and glanced at the sun coming over the horizon, "I gotta go get a few things done first. You go ahead and eat some breakfast and I'll fetch you when I'm ready."

"Alright then," Aiden sighed and Nick nearly chuckled at the half-hearted smile on his face as Cookie placed a plate full of eggs and sausage into his hands.

"Don't forget your biscuit," Cookie grumbled and the rock hard morsel clattered against the tin plate when the old man tossed it.

"Looks delicious," Aiden mumbled.

"Doesn't it though?" Wendell laughed as he came from the bunkhouse and stood beside Aiden.

Nick did chuckle then, though as he walked away he made sure to throw a warning glance in Burt's direction and the other man shifted his feet before walking away. Nick knew that Burt was going to be trouble. Without his goading the other men would probably get over Nick and Aiden's presence rather quickly but with Burt fanning the fire—there was a good chance that things could get ugly.

***

"I thought we were patrolling?" Aiden asked with a frown as Nick stopped his horse beside a cattle pond surrounded by rolling hills and long grasses. They had spent the last hour riding side by side, laughing, and filling the morning with easy conversation. It felt so natural to be with Nick this way; just the two of them with no one sneering or glaring in their direction when they would reach out and touch one another or stare and smile at each other for a little too long.

"I lied," Nick replied with a grin. He dismounted and Aiden followed suit as his stomach filled with nerves.

"So what are we doing?"

"Spending the day together," Nick replied. He winked over at Aiden, "You aren't scared of me are you?"

"No, of course not," Aiden mumbled his face reddening a bit. Honestly this was what he'd been waiting on. Alone time with Nick! He'd been yearning to spend more time alone with the man since their rainy Sunday that seemed so long ago after all they'd been through in the last few days.

Aiden hoped Nick would once again forget about his old-fashioned beliefs in taking things slow and they could continue what they'd started the morning before—this time without the audience.

"Does Liz know we aren't working?" Aiden asked as he watched Nick pull a sack and a blanket from his saddlebags.

"Yes," Nick replied. He tossed the sack to Aiden and then began spreading the blanket down upon the grass. "I am under strict orders to have a good time and keep a close eye on the cow pond today."

Aiden laughed as he looked around them and saw the cattle in the distance, "Alone together at last," he smiled as he sat down on the blanket.

Nick took the sack from him and opened it, pulling out a canteen of water and a smaller sack. "What's that?" Aiden questioned.

"Biscuits, cheese and jerked beef," Nick replied. "Ellie made the biscuits so they're some of the best you'll ever have," he added.

"You never had any intentions of checking fences tonight did you?" Aiden teased.

Nick grabbed a biscuit from the sack and took a bite, "Sure didn't."

Aiden could no longer hold back his urge to be held by Nick. He scooted across the blanket and curled up against his side. Nick's arm instantly went around him and pulled him closer and Aiden felt his heart swell when Nick used his chin to knock his hat away and then kissed his head gently. They stayed that way a long while as Nick finished up his biscuit and took a long drink of water.

"What really happened this morning at breakfast?" Aiden asked finally. "I know you didn't just drop your plate."

Nick sighed, "Just Burt being an ass. He'll get bored of it eventually and quit."

"He better," Aiden snapped feeling his temper rise. "I might not be much of a fighter but I'd be happy to kick his—"

"Easy tiger," Nick chuckled. "If all we have to deal with are some people pushing and shoving us then we're doing pretty good."

Aiden picked up a small stone and tossed it into the water, watching the ripples drift across the surface of the pond. "Have you had worse?"

Nick stiffened and Aiden glanced at him to see his throat bobbing as he stared intensely at the horizon and swallowed hard, "Yeah."

Aiden pressed a gentle kiss to the bottom of Nick's jaw and snuggled closer, "What happened?" He had suspected that something bad had happened at some point in Nick's life but the man had never seemed very open to talking about it and Aiden hadn't known how to ask. He hoped that today would be the day that Nick would open up to him.

"I've only been with one other man before you. His name was Tyler and I loved him," Aiden fought the wave of immature jealousy in his gut and reminded himself that he was the one in Nick's arms now. "We lived in the middle of nowhere here in Texas. We had our own cabin and only got to town once or twice a month when we had to. We kept to ourselves so that no one would be offended by us and we wouldn't bother anyone. But someone found out what Tyler and I were to each other and they were plenty bothered."

Aiden didn't like where this story seemed to be going or the darkness in Nick's voice as he told it. He took Nick's hand in his. Nick stared down at their entwined fingers and then pulled Aiden's hand to his mouth before kissing his knuckle gently. "If you get people scared enough of something they don't understand then they turn into a mob of bloodthirsty animals and lose all sense of their own humanity. Tyler and I were asleep in our bed and we heard the hoof beats thundering. Before I could get to my gun the door was burst down and men poured in. We were grabbed, tied up and dragged into town. The townspeople threw things at us and screamed. I was scared for Tyler and when they yanked him away from me and led him toward the gallows I remember screaming and fighting with all I had but it wasn't enough. They hanged him right there in front of me and I watched him die. I knew I was next but while they were leading me up and cutting him down, I managed to slip out of the grip of the man holding me and I ran. They shot me but I kept running and somehow I managed to get away. That was six years ago and I've never told a single person that story."

Aiden felt his own heart break at the sadness he could hear in Nick's voice. No wonder the man had been all out volatile toward Aiden at first and no wonder he was so protective of Aiden now. Aiden kissed Nick's knuckles gently and laid his head upon his shoulder, "I'm sorry that happened to you, Nick."

"I was mad for a long time, Aiden, but it led me here and it gave me you so I reckon I can't be too mad anymore."

"I guess sometimes bad things happen just to lead us to where we're supposed to be," Aiden stated thoughtfully. "I didn't see how I'd ever be happy again after what my parents did to me but now I have a home and a family—and I have you,"

"Yeah you have me," Nick agreed, causing Aiden to smile.

Aiden looked up into Nick's eyes to see that he was looking Aiden's body up and down. Aiden felt heat spread from his boots to his hair and he swallowed hard, "Did you only bring me out here to stuff me full of cheese and biscuits and then have your way with me?"

"Hey now, I brought jerked beef too," Nick smiled, a gesture that was hungry, though Aiden knew it wasn't the cheese that had the man licking his lips, "What would you say if I said yes?"

Aiden was shaking now both with nervousness and anticipation. This was actually going to happen, he could feel that deep down. He was going to give himself to Nick today and Nick was going to take him.

"Are you okay?" Nick asked gently.

"Yeah," Aiden replied much too quickly. "I'm just.. uh..." Aiden felt his ears turn red.

"I promise we'll go slow, Aiden, and if you want me to stop all you have to do is say so," Nick offered.

"Yeah..okay," Aiden stammered as he moved away from Nick and turned to face him on the blanket, unsure of what else he was supposed to do.

Nick smiled comfortingly and crawled toward him before coming to rest on his knees right in front of him. Nick laid his hand on Aiden's cheek and leaned in close until their noses were touching and Aiden was going cross-eyed attempting to keep his eyes locked on Nick's gray ones. "Would it help if I told you I love you?"

Aiden stopped breathing and his heart skidded to a stop. He swallowed hard several times and let his eyes slip closed, "You love me?" He had thought that Nick did but hearing those words coming from the mouth of the man you loved were different than just believing it to be true.

Aiden felt himself being laid back gently and Nick's hand was behind his head before it hit the blanket. Aiden opened his eyes and looked up at Nick hovering above him as he lay on his back beneath him. The sun was shining behind Nick's head and casting his face in shadows beneath his sweat stained brown hat but those gray eyes were clear to see and so was the emotion shining out of them, "Of course I do, I was sure you'd done have that figured out by now."

Without giving Aiden time to reply, Nick brought his lips down and pressed them tenderly to Aiden's mouth causing him to forget how to speak as he got lost in that gentle caress.

***

Nick knew that Aiden was innocent in every way, the man hadn't said as much but it was obvious to Nick in the way he carried himself and in his honest and open reaction every touch and kiss they had shared so far.

It made Nick glad they had all day because he was going to take his time with Aiden and make this first time memorable. That way if the worst happened and Nick was killed, Aiden would never forget him. Morbid thoughts perhaps but Nick had learned from life that it was a very real possibility and he wanted Aiden to always remember his first time and the man who had loved him so completely.

Nick kissed Aiden gently, breathing him in and then nipping at Aiden's lip before deepening the kiss and savoring the sensation of Aiden's tongue crashing against his own.

Pulling his mouth from Aiden's, Nick let his lips trail along Aiden's jaw and toward the tender skin of his neck. Aiden began breathing faster as he gripped at Nick's arms and turned his head to give him better access. Nick traced his lips down the long lines of Aiden's throat as he kept himself braced above him with one arm and used his other hand to quickly undo the buttons of his shirt.

Just as he had before, Aiden's back arched from the ground as Nick tasted the hard lines and planes of his chest. Aiden wasn't very muscular but he was lean and hard and the sight of his bare chest fueled Nick's fire. Aiden shoved him up suddenly and quickly sat up to tear his shirt the rest of the way off.

Their gazes locked and Nick saw the hunger flash in the brown depths of Aiden's eyes. Nick lunged and devoured Aiden's kiss swollen lips, throwing the man once again to his back and losing himself in the taste of his mouth.

Nick had to have more and he forced himself to pull away from Aiden long enough to remove the man's boots but Aiden grabbed his hands to stop him when he reached for the button on his trousers.

"What's wrong?" Nick rasped, his breathing harsh.

Aiden's face was flushed but his eyes were once again scared, "I've never... I mean.. I... What if I don't know how?"

Nick smiled wickedly and ran his knuckles over the sizeable bulge in Aiden's pants, "I think you'll be a quick learner." Aiden still seemed unsure though Nick did notice that his hips shot up when Nick's hand touched him.

"Do you want me to stop?" Nick questioned, praying the man would say no. Aiden looked into his eyes a moment and then shook his head. Nick slowed his movements and took his time removing Aiden's trousers and the long johns he wore beneath.

Nick stared down at Aiden and felt his heart pound as hunger flooded his veins. He was perfect. Long, lean and flawless. There was a mole just below his ribs and Nick swooped down to taste it, running his tongue along the mole and the bottom of Aiden's ribs and feeling those muscles bunching and coiling beneath his mouth.

Aiden's hands knocked his hat away and buried themselves in his hair trying to pull Nick back up toward his mouth but Nick had no intention of moving up... No just now he was only interested in moving lower.

"What are you—" Aiden stopped speaking suddenly when Nick's mouth found that part of him that gave proof to the state of his arousal. Quickly Aiden's words became nothing but moans and whimpers.

When those whimpers became more urgent, Nick moved away, letting his lips trail back up Aiden's lithe body and finally find his mouth once again.

The kiss became hot, fiery, passionate. Aiden moaned and tore at the buttons on Nick's shirt and seconds later Nick was shrugging out of it and tossing it aside.

Aiden's fingers seemed to catch fire as they grazed across Nick's skin and Nick felt himself getting more lost by the second.

They become a tangled web of lips, tongues, mouths, fingers and hands as they both battled to learn the body of their lover. Nick realized quickly that when he lashed his tongue across Aiden's left nipple it would cause the man to nearly cry out with pleasure and dig his fingers into his back. Nick liked that.

He wasn't sure how, but somehow Nick found himself out of his clothes, and then Aiden's hands were closing around his pulsing arousal and causing him to bite down hard on his tongue to keep from yelling out with the pleasure and relief from finally having this man doing what he had been wanting this man to do since nearly the moment he had met him.

Nick felt himself rising higher as that fire in his blood burned to a raging inferno that threatened to completely engulf him. He pulled himself away from Aiden and chuckled when the man seemed to pout, "You're gonna end this too quick there, Aiden," he warned the other man and a blush colored Aiden's ears red.

Nick kissed Aiden again keeping the kiss gentle and tender as he positioned himself over him, "Will it hurt?" Aiden whispered against his lips.

"Yes but only for a moment and then it'll feel good, I promise." Aiden swallowed hard and nodded.

Nick distracted Aiden with kisses while he fumbled for the sack he'd brought with him and took out a tin can full of oil to help keep Aiden from feeling too much pain.

Aiden was clinging to him and kissing him desperately as Nick coated his fingers and gently slid one inside of him. Aiden moaned and stiffened but Nick simply continued kissing him, keeping his mind off of anything other than the warring of their tongues. Slowly Nick added another finger and then a third until he was sure that Aiden could handle more.

With a pounding heart, Nick removed his fingers, readied himself with the oil then once again braced himself over Aiden and slid ever so slowly inside of him.

Aiden's eyes flew open and he cried out with pain before hitting Nick in the chest, "Damn you that hurts!"

"I told you it would," Nick reminded him gently and then he silenced his protests with more hungry kisses and began to rock slowly against the other man.

Aiden's moans of pain soon became mixed with groans of pleasure.

Together they rose higher and higher. Nick continued to let his mouth roam over Aiden, kissing his lips, jaw and chest while Aiden gripped and clawed at his arms and back.

Nick knew he wasn't going to last much longer. Aiden felt too perfect and he was too aroused to hold back. So instead he took his hand to Aiden's arousal which was bumping against his stomach and stroked him tenderly.

Their eyes locked and neither looked away, neither blinked, neither spoke. Nick knew he was about to fall over that cliff and he could tell by the fire burning in Aiden's brown eyes that he was nearing his own peak as well.

Nick stiffened and felt Aiden do the same as both tumbled over that edge at roughly the same moment. Nick called out Aiden's name and then collapsed atop him, breathing harshly as he rested his head on Aiden's chest and listened to his thundering heart.

Aiden ran his hand through Nick's thick blond hair and sighed with contentment, "You know this really wasn't my plan," Nick spoke up after several long moments of silently catching his breath.

"Really?"

"No," Nick replied and then he smiled against Aiden's heated skin. "At least not this quickly. I had planned on eating first and talking and I was going to tell you how much I love you and how I want to be with you forever and then I was going to work at seducing you."

"Well I planned on seducing you too. I guess that's what we get for both being men... Wait a second—" Aiden's voice trailed off and Nick lifted his head to look at him.

"What?"

"You just said you want to be with me forever...."

Nick swallowed hard, "Is that a problem?"

"No!" Aiden replied quickly. "I just.. it's just... well I didn't... I'm just surprised."

Nick sighed and rolled off of Aiden, lying on his back on the blanket with his hands folded behind his head, "I'm not the type of man that takes laying with other men lightly, Aiden, I told you that. I know we can't get married but when I took that step with you it meant something more to me than just relieving urges."

Nick could feel Aiden's eyes burning holes in him and he turned to see the other man staring at him with a mixture of shock, disbelief and... .love.

"I don't understand why a man like you would pick a man like me but I'm real happy you did," Aiden whispered. Nick smiled as relief washed over him. He'd been a little worried that Aiden would run scared from his confession and Nick had known that in his current state he wouldn't be able to chase him—hell Nick couldn't even feel his legs.

He closed his eyes and let the sunshine beat down on him. It was a little past midday and considering he and Aiden had gotten here just a few hours after sunrise, he figured that he hadn't done too bad for a thirty-one year old man who'd been celibate for the last six years.

Sleepiness settled into his sated body and then he felt Aiden tap his shoulder. He opened one eye and looked at the man who was lying on his side and watching him.

"Are you going to sleep?" Aiden asked.

"The thought had crossed my mind."

"Really?"

"I get tired after.. aren't you tired?" Nick asked.

"No, I'm hungry."

Nick laughed, "Well there's plenty of food in that sack." He forced himself to stand and pull on his trousers, knowing he couldn't very well go to sleep when he was spending the day alone with Aiden and he couldn't very well be caught laying around naked should anyone ride up on them either.

Aiden slid into his trousers as well and then sat down cross-legged and pulled a piece of jerked beef from the sack. Nick sat beside him and they fell into a comfortable silence as Aiden ate and Nick watched the cattle grazing in the distance.

"Hey Nick?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we check fences again tomorrow?"

Nick laughed lightly and nudged Aiden with his shoulder, "I'll talk to the boss."