A Subtle Breeze, Bailey Bradford [year 2 reading books .txt] 📗

dropped so low Zeke could hardly hear him, yet the words he spoke seemed to come screaming into Zeke’s head.

Brendon wrapped him in a tight hug when he flinched at the realization of the extent of his self-centeredness. He’d been worried about himself, his family, and now Brendon, but what about people other than his loved ones? Why had he never even considered there might be others like him in town? Not that he thought there was going to be any Gay Pride parades through downtown McKinton any time soon, but still. Everyone in town knew he was gay and knew what had happened to him—and how he had reacted. Hadn’t he, through his inaction, given the okay for other bigots to go after anyone different?

“Fuck,” he muttered. It was a lot to take in, and his brain felt scrambled in confusion. A sweet scent floated in on a breeze, ruffling his hair as Brendon’s arms tightened around him.

“Zeke?” Brendon’s voice trembled slightly. He raised his eyes to Zeke’s, the emotions swirling in their depths almost dropping Zeke to his knees. “Whatever you decide, Zeke, it’s okay. I’m with you.”

Straightening his spine, Zeke looked at Sheriff Stenley, studying the man’s intent expression. Zeke dipped his chin in agreement. “All right, Stenley, we’ll file a complaint about the attack on my ranch yesterday—and I’m pretty certain that’s just what it was.” He turned and led the way into the house, Brendon at his side and Sheriff Stenley at his heels, and hoped he was doing the right thing.

Chapter Seven

Brendon listened as Zeke finished up the call to Enessa, glad she and Gloria had finally agreed to stay in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for a few more days. His lover had argued and pleaded with the women after telling them about Eva and the attack on the ranch. Having them stay out of the area was one less thing for Zeke to worry about, which was exactly what he had texted Gloria while Enessa had been arguing with her brother on his phone. Luckily, Gloria had passed the text on to her friend, and the girls realized that at this particular point in time, Zeke needed to know they were safe more than he needed the comfort of his family. A united front was good, sure, but in Zeke’s mind, it was also a bigger target.

Brendon knew from the information he had printed off on panic attacks right before Sheriff Stenley had arrived that Zeke needed less stress. He’d also learned about managing the panic attacks with biofeedback, relaxation exercises, and of course, therapy, which he knew Zeke would never agree to. But all in all, he would rather just help Zeke prevent them. Watching his man suffer through one tore him up inside.

Zeke dropped his head down into his hands, looking so beat that Brendon felt his heart pinch. Walking over to him, he plastered his chest to Zeke’s back, wrapping him in a fierce hug. After a few seconds, Zeke reached down and covered Brendon’s hands with his own as he sighed heavily.

“Is that a relieved sigh or a frustrated sigh?” Brendon thought he knew, but sometimes it was best to ask.

“Relieved, I think. At least we won’t have to worry about them being bothered for a few more days.” Zeke turned in Brendon’s arms and placed a lingering kiss on his lips. Brendon’s cock perked up as soon as their lips touched, almost to the point of pain when he felt Zeke’s own thick length rubbing against him. He was still a little sore from Zeke pounding into his ass last night and this morning, but damned if he wouldn’t try again, if he didn’t suspect his man was trying to stall him.

“Nah ah, buddy, we don’t have time. We’re supposed to meet with Doc Michaels in twenty minutes to get the lab results and then take them to Stenley,” Brendon reminded him. He’d been impressed with the sheriff—well, once he’d gotten over the man trying to bully his lover around. Stenley seemed very efficient and determined, asking a multitude of questions and taking even more notes as well as photographing the crime scene. And Zeke was positive that it was a crime scene, as the lab results would hopefully prove. He knew without a doubt that someone had poisoned the stock tank and the pasture. All in all, Zeke was lucky he’d only lost the number of cattle he had. It could have easily been every head in the south pasture. More, if the other tanks had been contaminated, which thankfully they hadn’t been. This time.

Grumbling, Zeke released Brendon and reached for his Stetson. “All right, let’s go, then.”

Brendon smiled at the way his lover sounded like a petulant child. It was cute coming from such an alpha. Of course, he couldn’t let it continue, so he figured a distraction of his own was in order.

“So,” he mused, walking to the truck, “what do you think Stenley meant by that cryptic comment he made? You know, about being resigned to being alone? He’s a nice-looking guy,” Brendon bit his lip to keep from grinning when Zeke growled at that. “Seems a shame for him to spend the rest of his life alone.” The sheriff had dropped that bombshell seemingly out of the blue, right before he’d gotten in his vehicle and left. There’d been something close to envy in the man’s expression as he’d looked at Brendon and Zeke, their arms around each other’s shoulders.

It wasn’t anything like the way Zeke was looking right now. Brendon met Zeke’s angry glare, cock twitching at the look in his lover’s eyes as the man stormed over to him. Huh, looked like his Zeke had a little jealous streak. Strong hands gripped his biceps as Zeke leaned in so close to Brendon that his vision blurred.

“I don’t give a good goddamn what he meant, baby,” he ground out before taking Brendon’s mouth in a brutal kiss.

Oh, just damn. Brendon had