FIC: Western Lovers:Cowboys & Archaeologists 25/32

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

Title: Western Lovers: Cowboys and Archaeologists 25/32
Author: sassywitch
Pairing: BB/DM with a smattering of VM/LT and DW/OB
Rating: NC-17, to be on the safe side.
Summary: Billy is a man to be reckoned with. Can Dom heal his wounded soul and his own into the bargain. Could Billy make him forget the bitter lessons of the past?
Feedback: Feedback is my writers crack, which is not to be confused at all with plumbers crack.
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. These men whilst adorable and perfectly happy to slash themselves, their actual relationship is something that they only know. This story is adapted from a series of books that I adored when I was younger written by Elizabeth Lowell.
Word Count: 3759
Header Art: Courtesy of the incredibly talented loki_girl
Previous Chapters: can be found Here
A/N: A huge thank you to dylan_dufresne for the inspiration, the prodding and the beta. She really deserves far more credit than just beta. This fic wouldn't be what it is without her labour of love. My grammar sucks really, really badly so she had to suffer it so nobody else would. Next Chapter on Wednesday.

~*~*~*~*~*~

David stood at the door of the kitchen in the main house, fingers scratching his light beard as he waited for the heavy, black kettle to boil. It had taken a few moments to get Liv's pride and joy, her old fashioned wood burning stove, fired up before starting his pot of 'cowboy' coffee. Now, leaning against the doorframe, David scanned the grassy home yards. In a relatively flat field, covered in tiny wildflowers and fresh green grass, Dominic stood bare chested, soft flowing pants riding low on his angular hips, his arms lifted over his head, stretching lithely.

Tilting his head and gazing up, David saw his elder brother leaning against the edge of the second floor veranda that wrapped around the bunkhouse. Smiling to himself, David walked back into the kitchen and placed a second coffee mug on the bench, waiting to fill it with the hot coffee that was brewing in the kettle.

Not ten minutes before David had stepped into his pre-dawn shower, he had heard the unmistakable sound of his brother creeping into his own room in the bunkhouse. Noise carried on the still, night air, and not a soul on the Double L was ignorant of the new sleeping arrangements of their Ramrod, but nobody would dare to mention it to him. Well, no-one except Billy's brother, that is.

Walking back outside, David leaned just beside the door, letting the suns gentle rays warm him, back braced against the wall behind him, eyes fixed on Dominic's golden body. He'd be lying if he said that he didn't find Dominic attractive. The young man was as beautiful and beguiling as a siren's song, not to mention altogether far more arousing than David would be happy with Billy knowing.

Pale blue eyes were fixed on Dom's smooth skin as David watched him, stretching and moving through his yoga routine in a slow, precise manner. Hearing the kettle bubbling away on the stove top, David turned and walked back into the kitchen, and after filling both mugs with hot, steaming coffee, David made sure the fire in the stove was dampened before he lifted the mugs and made the short walk to the bunkhouse.

Striding almost silently up the stairs, David stood behind his brother for long moments, knowing that for more years than he cared to remember, Billy had all but closed himself off from the world at large. Yet now, standing at the end of the verandah, soft, violet shadows under his eyes, hair finger combed and pale neck spotted with mouth shaped bruising of varying ages, Billy had never looked more alive than he did in that moment.

"You know, you could go down there and actually be with him?" David offered quietly as he handed Billy one of the hot mugs of coffee he carried.

"He's exercising," Billy murmured fondly, sipping from the steaming cup, never taking his eyes from his young lover. Dom remained in the middle of the small field, his golden chest bare and glistening in the morning light, his yoga pants riding even lower than before on his hips as he gracefully went through his morning routine. "Why can't you just use the machine to make the morning coffee?" Billy asked, wincing as the strong brew washed over his taste buds.

"That's not coffee, that's lame-assed, French roasted, pretend stuff," David explained as he grinned. "This is the good stuff."

"Did it come from a jar labeled 'Paint Stripper'?" Billy chuckled and raised an eyebrow as he glanced at David.

"C'mon, Pip," David laughed. "It'll put hair on your chest."

Billy pulled the front of his shirt open, revealing the furry, ginger curls nestled there, and inadvertently showed the rosy bruise left above his right nipple by Dom's exploring mouth. "I think I'm covered in that department, don't you?"

Holding Billy's shirt open and gesticulating at the rosy mark, David spoke softly. "Stop changing the subject, Pip. Why's he exercising at all, is beyond me. Judging by the look of you, he's getting all the exercise he needs." David smirked as he turned his attention to the short grass of the paddock beside the old ranch house.

"Daisy," Billy warned, his voice gruff.

"I was thinking," David began, his eyes fixed on Dom.

"There's a first," Billy interjected with a laugh.

"Fuck off, Pip." David smiled in reply.

"So, you were thinking?" Billy turned his attention back to Dom. "Or have we suddenly fallen off that train?"

"Train?" David frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"The train of thought you just disembarked."

"Hah-fucking-hah, Pip." David smacked the back of Billy's head, transported back to the playful, yet not quite adult banter of their teenaged years. His playful blow had startled Billy, mug nearly toppling from his small hand. Smiling to himself, David watched Billy struggling not to spill his mud-thick black coffee.

"The train, Daisy?" Billy asked softly as he collected his composure again.

"You're sending him away, right?" David murmured, watching his brother closely in his peripheral vision.

"Is this leading somewhere?" Billy answered, nodding his confirmation as he leaned forward, watching intently as Dom nearly bent double, long arms wrapped around his calves.

"What would you do if I were to ask him out?" David inquired softly.

"Dom?" Billy's voice was paper thin in his response.

"No, you, you ponce. Of course, Dom." David spoke quietly, watching his brother's face closely. "C'mon Billy, he's more than attractive; he's beautiful inside and out. He's intelligent and bright. You'd have to be dead for him not to turn you on."

"I can't stop you, but you do what you feel you must," Billy replied through clenched teeth.

"But it would kill you to watch, wouldn't it?" David asked quietly. "For God's sake, Pip! You should ask him to stay. He might surprise you."

"Can't, Daisy," Billy said firmly. "I have to set him free."

"The way you've set him free when he's here?" David stated dryly. "You're unbelievable, the pair of you." David stood, hands pressed against his hips as he spoke. "And it's not just you. You're both guilty of wanting each other. You're never out of visual contact, you always know where the other is. Both of you practically know what the other is fucking thinking, and you may as well be eating him whenever you're close enough to touch. You're in each others souls, just as deeply as you're in each others hearts."

"Is there a point going to be coming soon, Daisy?" Billy asked flatly, his eyes following Dom's movements.

"He doesn't need freedom, he needs you," David stated bluntly. "More to the point, you stubborn old bastard, you need Dom. I haven't seen you alive like this since before that bastard hurt you. I hadn't realized how much I missed you."

"What I need is irrelevant. It's what he needs that's important," Billy murmured as he watched Dom bend, hold the pose and then stand up, his eyes meeting Billy's unerringly across the distance between them and then smiling before he turned and walked back into the old ranch house.

"Sure." David nodded sagely, gesturing towards Dom's house, his eyes fixed on his brother's face. "Sure looks like he needs freedom. That whole yoga routine is for you, far more than it is for him. He loves you, you daft prick. He loves giving you everything he thinks you want. He lives for having your eyes on him. Get over yourself and love him back before he believes you and goes looking elsewhere."

"He won't. Not yet," Billy murmured, watching the door that had closed behind Dom).

"Oh for fucks' sake, Pip," David cursed as he pulled the almost empty coffee mug from Billy's hand. "Go. You're not fooling anyone sneaking in here before sunrise. We all know you've been fucking like bunnies, all night, every night. Go, I'll cover for you. I don't want to know the details, just enjoy yourself. And make sure you come back without the lovesick puppy look, okay?"

"I can't. We've both got work to do," Billy stated.

"And by lunchtime, the both of you will be beyond hungry for food," David retorted with a smile.

"Go. There's nothing happening I can't handle."

"I've got work to do, Daisy," Billy hissed as he turned to look at his brother. "Even if there wasn't Double L work, I've got to sort out a way to get Craig home, you know that." Pausing he glared at David. "Don't press your luck, little brother."

Abruptly, David pushed both mugs into Billy's hands. "Funnily enough, I have work to do, too. Deal with these for me? I've got somewhere I need to be." David didn't wait for a reply, just turned and loped along the verandah and down the stairs in the centre of the building.

Looking back towards the old ranch house, Billy couldn't help but grin at his brother's antics. Billy wasn't stupid, he knew exactly why David had just made himself scarce, and given Billy the perfect excuse to visit the kitchen. Dom was walking up the hill towards the main house, a coffee cup in hand, obviously coming to visit with Liv for a little human interaction before he starts sorting artifacts for the day. Turning, his cuban heeled boots tapping sharply on the wooden boards beneath his feet, Billy moved downstairs quickly, hoping for a stolen moment with his lover before the day got underway, a happy tune whistling from his cherubic lips.

Stepping into the kitchen so closely behind Dom their boots almost touched, Billy stopped, hungrily watching Dom.

"Missed you when I woke up," Dom stated softly without turning around.

"I'm sorry." Billy peered around him. "Where's Livvy?" he asked.

"No, you're not, and she's changing Milo," Dom replied, turning to face Billy as he wrapped his arms around Billy's waist. "Upstairs."

"Good," Billy murmured, as his lips found Dom's, sliding his hands around Dom's slender waist. "Kiss me?"

"Thought you'd never ask," Dom murmured, lips brushing against Billy's wetly, tongue dipping inside Billy's mouth.

Pushing Billy against the door firmly, Dom let his hands roam at will across Billy's cloth covered back, his long fingers trailing across the pale, worn denim that was pulled taut across Billy's buttocks. Dom's ravenous hunger belied the fact that they had quenched their thirst for each other only hours ago.

Moaning into Dom's mouth, Billy's shoulders pressed against the heavy door as his own hands hungrily slid across Dom's back. Fingers tugging the soft cotton from the waistband of Dom's jeans, Billy's hands slid across Dom's bared skin and dipped beneath the denim, the calloused fingertips brushing against the gently curving flesh of Dom's buttocks.

While Billy's hands danced across Dom's bare backside, Dom's fingers swirled across the material covering Billy's back, and one of his hands lifted to tangle in Billy's hair as he tilted his head to give his mouth greater access to Billy's. Glistening, saliva-slick lips slid across stubbled cheeks, always returning to seal messily with the other's lips, drinking their mutual hunger greedily. Hands slid, groped and tussled with clothing that parted too slowly for their need. Lost in themselves, neither heard the sharp gasp as Liv walked into the kitchen. Both however, jumped when the door closed loudly behind her.

"Sorry," Liv murmured, her eyes round as she watched them. Eyes roaming along Dom's back, Liv saw his t-shirt rucked up high enough for Billy's hands to disappear into the loose denim. Denim pushed so low that it barely covered the curve of Dom's buttocks. With Dom's legs splayed wide, Liv could see Billy's thighs between Dom's, and pressed so close that she just knew his back was arched into Dom, desperately rubbing their torsos and more together wantonly. One of Dom's hands twisted in Billy's curling ginger hair as they kissed, and as Liv attempted to catalogue her mental description, the only word she could come up with was ravenous.

And incredibly erotic. Liv's hand was already twisting on the doorknob that had given away her presence, and as she turned it, she watched Dom lift his head from Billy's lips. Eyes so dark they seemed almost black when they fluttered open, Billy's expression was glazed and filled with intense desire and a raw passion that Liv had never imagined Billy capable of before. She watched them, their chests heaving as they struggled to catch their breath, and melting into each other, hands stroking gently, reluctant to release their hold on each other, even now that they had been discovered. Their inability to stop touching only succeeded in making the whole image even more erotic in Liv's eyes, and feeling like an intruder that had stumbled into a heaven she didn't deserve, Liv blushed furiously as she pulled the door open again.

"I'm sorry," she stammered. "I didn't realize. Don't stop on my account. I'll….um…I'll be in the dining room." She moved through the door, speaking softly. "I'm sorry."

Cheeks pink, Dom pressed his face against Billy's neck, kissing him wetly, hands roaming across Billy's back again.

"So I guess the cat is out of the bag?" Dom murmured as he suckled on the skin his mouth found, and then the door swung towards them for a third time.

"I'm sorry, I know," Liv murmured. "I said I was going, but I just had to tell you, I'm so happy for you. You're adorable together. This is really wonderful. I'm just so happy for you." She almost giggled. "I'm sorry for interrupting. Please go back to whatever it was you were doing."

"I think that may have been approval, Dommie," Billy whispered as he nuzzled against Dom's hair, licking at the shell of his ear, his hands caressing Dom's bare skin.

"I think so, Billy." Dom turned his head, catching Billy's mouth with his own. Their lips met in a wet, slick kiss as their hands slid across each other greedily, Liv's intrusion already forgotten.

~*~*~*~*~

Liv walked the length of the dining room and back again, face split by a wide, happy grin, footsteps bouncing more than pacing as her mind was filled with the images of her friend, and her husband's business partner, wrapped in a passionate, loving embrace. Speculation about their affection was one thing, but to actually see them, so much in love and engrossed by each other, beyond rational thought, was one of the most erotic, sensual things Liv had ever seen. Startled by footsteps entering the dining room, Liv grinned when she saw her husband approaching her.

"How's my pussy cat?" Viggo asked with a grin, watching his wife closely, recognizing the shimmering hunger in her eyes.

"I'm just fine, my love." Liv smiled, her back pressed against the kitchen door.

"Then how's the canary?" Viggo added, one eyebrow quirked, waiting patiently for her to reveal herself to him.

"Darling, I love you, but sometimes you make no sense," Liv sighed, the corners of her mouth curling up.

"You look like the cat that got the canary. There must be a reason." Viggo tried to reach around Liv to turn the handle of the kitchen door. "And my guess is, the reason is in our kitchen."

Rocking one hip, knocking Viggo's hand out of the way, Liv let it land at her waist and held it there. "None. I just love my husband."

"Livvy, I just want a drink," Viggo sighed as he reached around her with his other arm.

Grabbing Viggo's hand and pulling it to her lips, Liv pressed a wet kiss into his palm.

"I just want you, Vig," she murmured huskily, eyes dark with arousal.

"Liv, it's practically the middle of the morning, honey." Viggo watched her heavy-lidded eyes and pink, flushed skin, his own body tightening in response before he spoke with a frown. "We've both got work to do."

"Mmmm, but what's work without some fun?" Liv whispered, leaning up to wrap her hands around Viggo's neck, pulling his face down to hers.

"What's going on in the kitchen, Livvie?" Viggo asked suspiciously, turning his head to avoid her kiss.

"Nothing," she answered breathily, her lips finding his neck, licking and suckling the skin there. "I just want my husband."

"Ah huh." Viggo tilted his head back and let Liv's lips trail across his neck at will. "Likewise, I want my beautiful wife, but what don't you want me to see?"

"We'll see," Liv murmured softly against Viggo's ear. "I happened to walk in on Dom pinning Billy against the wall. By now I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't going at it on the kitchen table," she explained.

"Why didn't you say?" Viggo shrugged, bracing his hands against the door as he leaned down to give his wife a deep, wet kiss. "Good thing we don't eat off that table."

"We used to," Liv whispered in his ear as she nibbled on a fleshy lobe. "Until we christened it, remember?"

"Of course I do. I couldn't eat there again, not without wanting you." Viggo sighed against her skin. "So you liked what you saw, I take it?"

"It was ever so hot, Vig. They were so incredibly aroused and in love and it was beautiful; golden skin and fingers and slick, wet kisses." Liv wrapped her arms around Viggo's neck and pressed her body against his.

"Please don't tell me my Ramrod was the one that lit the fire under my delicious wife," Viggo murmured against Liv's seductive mouth.

"Wasn't just him." Liv lifted one leg across Viggo's hip and eagerly ground herself against him. "Was Dom, too. I've never seen him like that, so sensual and hungry and alive. So passionately entwined that they barely knew anyone else was alive."

"You liked that, did you?" Viggo whispered, his hands roaming down Liv's sides to rest on her hips and pull her tighter against him.

"There was something so erotic and sensual, Vig," she murmured, licking a trail across his lightly bearded chin. "They were so wrapped up in each other. They're so in love."

"Maybe. Or maybe," Viggo strung wet kisses across Liv's face. "I should go and thank them for warming my wife up for me." One hand reached out for the door knob.

"No." Liv grabbed Viggo's hand and pulled it back to her hip. "Milo's asleep," she whispered, nipping at his earlobe. "Can't you think of something else to do?"

"I think I could." Viggo lifted Liv by the hips, deepening their kiss as he dragged her body fully against his.

Wrapping her legs around Viggo's hips, Liv's arms encircled his neck. "Take me to bed, cowboy," she whispered in his ear as he started towards the staircase.
~*~*~*~*~*~

Billy groaned raggedly as Dom ground his body against him, Dom's arousal pressing firmly into his own, dragging a desperate moan of unbridled longing from his kiss-swollen lips. Closing strong, small fingers on Dom's slender hips, Billy walked him backwards until progress was halted by a collision with the kitchen table.

Arms snaking around his cowboy lover, Dom didn't hesitate, lifting his feet from the ground, legs wrapping around Billy's thighs and hips undulating wantonly against Billys.

"What have you done to me?" Dom murmured against Billy's throat as he licked and sucked the stubbled skin there.

Pulling back, his heavy lidded eyes searching Dom's face carefully, Billy's breath heaved as he struggled to strengthen his flimsy hold on control. One hand reaching out to smooth Dom's tousled hair off his face, Billy finally trusted his voice to speak.

"I'm sorry, Honey," he sighed on a strangled breath. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Dom pulled Billy's concerned face back down to his again, kissing him deeply, their tongues gliding slickly across each other, lips barely parting in their hunger to taste each other again. "Not hurt," Dom gasped as his hands slipped down Billy back, hips rocking into Billy's wantonly. "Desperate for you," he almost sobbed as Billy's hand closed over the damp, denim covered ridge of his aching arousal. "Need your touch." Dom licked the side of Billy's face wetly before he slid his mouth back to find Billy's perfect lips. "You're like oxygen to me."

"We're even then," Billy whispered as his trembling fingers slid the button at Dom's waistband loose.

Dom's long, elegant fingers closed over Billy's as they brushed across the remaining buttons on his blue jeans, and the increased pressure over his aching arousal tore a moan of longing from Dom's swollen lips, even as his hips pressed forward desperately, begging for more intense sensation.

"We can't, Billy," Dom gasped against Billy's mouth. "Not on Liv's table."

Billy struggled to rein in the rampant need that was pulsing through his veins. Hands, palm down on the table, framing Dom's waist, Billy pulled deep, gulping breaths into his oxygen-starved lungs. "I'll never make it back to your house, Dommie."

"Your room?" Dom asked, carding his fingers through Billy's hair and pulling him close for a messy, open-mouthed kiss. "Please?"

Slipping out of Dom's embrace, Billy laced his fingers with Dom's, quickly pulled him up from the table, dragging the younger man out the kitchen door and onto the porch. Pausing long enough to press his lover against the wall, Billy nudged a leg between Dom's thighs and kissed him wetly. While the kiss was filled with violent, burning passion, the touch of Billy's fingers on Dom's skin was gentle and poignantly tender.

"Your room?" Dom pulled his mouth away from Billy's before he spoke.

Clasping Dom's face in both hands, Billy pressed his forehead against Dom's as he struggled to catch his breath and regain enough control to make it to his thankfully nearby and private quarters.

Breath rasping in the silence that surrounded them, they fought against the raging desire that burned through their bodies like a wildfire, but as they calmed and the silence grew, unmistakable sounds drifted on the air around them. Bed springs creaking. Muted sounds of purely feminine pleasure. Deeper groans of masculine need. The gentle thumping of heavy furniture moving in response to frantic movements.

Pulling back, Billy looked into Dom's eyes. Both realizing exactly what the sounds they were hearing were, it did nothing to dampen their ardor, and only served to fuel the blazing inferno that burned like a flashfire through Billy's veins.

Catching Dom's hand in his, Billy pulled his lover away from the wall and dragged him across the short, grassy expanse to the bunkhouse. Tugging insistently on Dom's hand, Billy guided Dom up the stairs, barely pausing until they reached his room. Billy's fingers were working at the buttons of Dom's blue jeans before they'd even made it through his doorway, and pushing the soft, worn denim open, Billy's hand delved into the open V of fabric, closing around Dom's aching length as he pressed him against the door.

Aligned against Dom from shoulders to hips, Billy's erection thrust rhythmically into Dom's hip, calloused fingers sliding along the slick, wet length of Dom's leaking arousal. Billy's lips fastened onto Dom's throat, licking and sucking hungrily.

Dom whimpered brokenly. Each grinding, gyrating thrust of Billy's hips pushed him forcefully against the door, causing it to rattle heavily on it's hinges, each movement banging the solid panel against the wall noisily.

The rhythmic thudding of the door slowly penetrated Billy's passion addled mind, and fingers sliding down Dom's slender back, Billy gripped Dom's hips and backed into his room. Balancing Dom against the edge of a heavy oak chest of drawers, Billy swept his arm across the top of the cabinet, sending after shave, hair brushes and other toiletries clattering to the carpeted floor.

Dragged from his hazy, lust induced reverie, Dom's hands struggled with the heavy silver belt buckle at Billy's waist, and once finally open, finesse the furthest thing from Dom's mind, he gripped the waist band and pulled both sides desperately. The buttons popped open quickly, and as his long, elegant fingers pushed inside the elastic of Billy's boxer shorts, Dom's quivering hands shoved the fabric down until Billy's pants and jeans fell to the floor around his ankles.

Reaching out blindly, Billy's hand grabbed at the edge of the open door and pushed it closed forcefully. The resulting window-rattling slam enclosed them both in the privacy Billy's room provided, and Billy's mouth covered Dom's, even as Dom's fingers closed around his leaking, aching arousal.

"Honey," Billy gasped, his hips thrusting into Dom's grasp desperately. "Stop, please. Too close."

Pulling his hand away, Dom's lust-glazed eyes searched Billy's face. As Billy struggled with Dom's jeans, Dom reached behind him, his hands finding the dark wood edging the antique mirror behind him. Long fingers closed around the wood as Dom levered his hips up enough for Billy to pull the worn denim down his legs.

As Dom's jeans caught around his ankles, Billy's trembling fingers struggled to pull the boots from his lover's feet. One heavy leather boot dropped to the ground, already forgotten as Billy pushed the tangled denim from Dom's foot, and once the leg was free, Billy's fingers gripped Dom's buttocks and pulled him closer. Their erections met slickly between them as Billy rocked his hips into Dom, longing for friction and contact.

Arms stretched behind him, gripping the mirror and balancing on the edge of the cabinet, Dom thrust his hips desperately up into Billy's touch. With one small hand on Dom's angular hip, Billy leaned forward to catch Dom's mouth in a kiss that barely met, tongues dueling, hot breath mingling.

Hungry for the release that was already roaring through his trembling body, Billy reached between them and closed his quivering fingers around their throbbing erections. His eyes rolled back in his head as the sensation of hot, slick stroking filled his consciousness.

Heavy-lidded eyes watching Billy's wanton response hungrily and muscular arms quaking as he struggled to hold himself upright, Dom pushed his hips up into Billy's grasp. Seeing Billy's unconscious, wanton response was Dom's ultimate undoing. Dom's long legs, one wrapped in a hot pink sock, the other enclosed in a boot and trailing heavy denim, wrapped around Billy's hips, pulling him closer until Billy's thighs slapped against the front of the cabinet with every slick, rasping jerk of his fingers around their arousals.

Pushing into Billy's embrace, Dom's eyes focused on his lover's face, the perspiration dotting his pale skin, cherubic lips pressed together into a tight line as he struggled to hold himself together. Eyes closed and his head thrown back in wanton abandon, desperate moans escaped Billy with every thrusting stroke.

Dom's feet drummed against Billy's buttocks, a litany of begging, pleading words tumbling from his kiss swollen lips and piercing the lusty haze that shrouded Billy. Unable to withstand the wanton pleas of his lover, Billy's hand tightened on their mutual erections, his stroking fingers pulling on their slick flesh erratically as he let go of his tightly held control.

Watching Billy, Dom knew the instant he gave into the fire burning through him, and even as his own climax screamed through his body, Dom's legs tightened around Billy. Feeling Billy's pulsing release, spurting warmly across his belly, Dom's release followed rapidly. Glancing down, Dom watched his own release trickling across Billy's fingers before looking back up into Billy's face.

Billy's body sagged limply, and Dom's arms instantly released their grip on the mirror, folding around Billy's shoulders and holding him upright against his own body until Billy had control over his limbs again.

"Did someone mention a bed?" Dom whispered breathily into Billy's hair.

"Was too far away." Billy spoke into Dom's chest, his breath heaving.

"Might be a nice option now." Dom smiled against Billy's cheek as his fingers tilted Billy's face up to meet his before kissing him gently.

Drawing a deep breath that steadied the trembling of his limbs, Billy closed his arms around Dom's waist, lifting him. With lips fastened on Dom's mouth kissing him tenderly, Billy's burning passion was temporarily abated, and stepping backward to carry Dom to his bed, Billy's feet tangled in his own forgotten clothing and they both toppled.

For Dom, time seemed to slow. Alarmed by their sudden descent, he saw the rapid approach of the thickly carpeted floor and the shock on Billy's face. His own brow furrowed deeply, one hand moving to cover the back of Billy's head, the other reaching forward, trying vainly to slow their descent and absorb some of the impact.

Twisting himself in Billy's arms as they collided with the soft carpeting, Dom's head whipped forward to knock sharply against Billy's forehead. The impact knocked the breath from both of them, Dom's hands preventing Billy's head from hitting the floor. Struggling to catch the breath that the fall had knocked from his lungs, the first thing Dom became aware of was Billy rolling him onto his back, and a sharp pain in his wrist.

"Honey?" Billy murmured gently, his fingers tracing over Dom's forehead, coming away smeared with warm, wet blood. "I'm so sorry, Honey."

"I'm alright, Billy," Dom said, quickly flexing his aching wrist, ensuring himself that he was only bruised and jarred, not broken.

"You're bleeding," Billy stated. "Where does it hurt, Honey?" He paused as realization dawned on him. "I hurt you."

Looking up into Billy's worried face, Dom's brow furrowed, and a moment later, Dom was pulling his shirt over his head roughly, pressing it against the still healing wound on Billy's temple that was oozing fresh, red blood.

"I think technically, darling, I hurt you." Dom leaned forward to press a soft kiss to Billy's lips, urging Billy to lay back down.

"I'm sorry," Billy murmured, relaxing against the floor, hand pressing Dom's t-shirt to his head while his other hand smoothed Dom's hair back from his forehead, proving to himself that Dom wasn't bleeding. "You okay?" he asked, thumb brushing across the already forming bruise on Dom's forehead.

Tasting the coppery tang of blood in his mouth, Dom trailed his tongue around the inside of his lips and finding the jagged tear where his teeth had pierced the skin when their heads connected, he licked it cautiously. Stretching his limbs experimentally and discovering that one knee ached, Dom guessed it was from being first impact with the floor, and although his wrist was already swelling slightly, it didn't hurt too badly.

Looking back into Billy's face, Dom smiled. "Would appear that aside from the odd ache, I'm pretty good." He chuckled. "But I did have a fairly impressive cushion for landing."

"Good," Billy murmured before closing his eyes, allowing himself to relax. "Don't want to hurt you."

"I'm glad you've got thick carpet, or I'd be worried about you hurting something vital," Dom replied cheekily. "You hurt anywhere other than your head?"

Billy mentally checked his body. One hip ached, his shoulder throbbed annoyingly and a jackhammer was starting up inside his head, but for the most par he felt fine, except for the embarrassment of causing their fall.

"Never had anyone fall for me before," Dom murmured as he nuzzled into Billy's neck.

"Then we're square. I'm never tripped over my own feet before," Billy replied, fingers stroking Dom's bare back.

Leaning up on his elbow, Dom moved over Billy, his hand gently batting Billy's fingers away to check on his wound. Seeing that the slowly oozing blood had almost stopped, Dom sat upright. Reaching down to push his boot and tangled jeans off his foot, Dom leaned forward and slipped Billy's boots off his feet, then disposed of the denim tangle around his ankles. Skin flushing as Billy's hands stroked his bare back, Dom turned towards his lover and smiled, and Dom's fingers found the tangle of soft curling hair on Billy's chest as he finally spoke.

"How does bed sound?"

"Better than the floor," Billy replied.

Rising lithely to his feet, Dom extended a hand to Billy, waiting as it was folded into Billy's and pulled the cowboy gently to his feet.

"Okay?" Dom asked, his fingers tracing across Billy's face, looking into his eyes.

"I'm fine, Honey," Billy replied, arms sliding around Dom's waist before resting his head against Dom's shoulder.

Content to be encircled in Billy's embrace Dom's arms looped around Billy's waist and drew their bodies closer as his eyes drifted around the room that Billy called home. A queen sized bed with a thick, sky blue bedspread was the only color in a room filled with heavy and dark, antique furniture. Tears glistened in Dom's eyes as he realized that Billy lived in such an impersonal space. Surrounded by some of the most beautiful country in the world, and friends and family that loved him unconditionally, Billy tried to stop himself feeling anything, from connecting to something as frivolous as as possessions. A heartbreaking sigh escaped Dom's lips at the realization.

"That was a big sigh, Honey," Billy stated against the skin of Dom's neck.

"Was nothing," Dom replied with a shrug. "Didn't you promise me a bed?"

Untangling himself from Dom's arms, Billy moved the few steps to the mattress and flicked back the coverlet before extending a hand to Dom.

Reaching out to lace his fingers with Billy's, Dom crawled into the bed with him. Curled against Billy's side, Dom listened to Billy’s heartbeat, his fingers curling in the furry mat of hair on Billy's chest as Billy's breathing slowed, and he drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 26

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/travelqueen_/]

Soft and lovely Billy/Dom is the best!!
It was fun when Liv walked in on them and so hot, when they didn't stop. :)

[billyslass.livejournal.com]

Poor Billy's getting fair beat up recently - but if that what it takes to knock some sense into him so be it! Loved Liv and Vig's interactions, very sweet.

[mystery-ink.livejournal.com]

*G* Love the bit of realism, with Billy tripping on the jeans he was in a bit too much of a hurry to completely take off. And this is the first time Dom's seen his room; interesting observations. Love 'em!

[crsty1961.livejournal.com]

Now if I was to walk in on them I would NOT have left. I'd a told them to keep on going forget I'm there and then I'd take in the show. ;)
I do hope That he listens to his brothers advice.

[loozy.livejournal.com]

Poor Billy... In the hurt accounts and the accounts of him being so... Broken... He might have fixed Dom, but Billy is a far cry from healed :(

Love the two together... And I love Daisy :D

[divinemadam.livejournal.com]

Liv getting all worked up over seeing Dom and Billy is too delicious! I would be too! Having a sexy man like Viggo as a husband wouldn't dampen the fires much either.

This is one of those too weird moments. Many chapters back, I told myself that Billy would have sparse furnishings and nothing personal in his room to keep from being too attached. That and he probably learned to live that way when he was fighting too. "Don't take anything you can't afford to lose." Isn't that the way the saying goes? Well, in Billy's case, he can't afford to lose anything else emotionally, so he wouldn't take anything with him anywhere. When I read Dom's perception of Billy's room, I got chill bumps! Very cool!

I have to tell you that I enjoyed reading this chapter with Soft-baked Chocolate chunk macadamia nut cookies and milk. What could make it better? I suppose having Dom and Billy act out this scene for me would be better. Or if one of them wasn't available, I would stand in for him, just to be helpful, you know. I'm selfless like that.;)

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

I love being able to put in little bits of Liv and Viggo, I almost regret not doing the "Fire and Rain' segment but I couldn't have started with anyone other than Monaboyd.

Billy is desperate not to form attachments with anything even possessions, but Dom has wormed his way behind the wall, and I think he's starting to realise it.

I almost choked when I read your comment, I was sitting here munching on white-choc, macadamia cookies.

I'm all for being a stand in.....or maybe an addition.

[divinemadam.livejournal.com]

I'm telling you that somehow we are the same person spliced through time and space! I am eating more of the cookies right now too! Weird, huh? Or maybe it's because they are sooo yummy and delicious and I am PMS-ing in a major way.

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

I love macadamias in absolutely anything. Hey, I've meant to ask yu before, I've got a couple of Roger/Duran Icons that I've been hangin on to, would you like a copy of them?