Starlight and Sawdust

It was over too soon, the pleasure cresting and breaking over them like a wave. They lay together in the aftermath, their bodies slick with sweat, their breathing ragged.

Caleb pulled Arlo close, tucking him against his side. Arlo went willingly, his head resting on Caleb’s chest, his arm draped over his stomach.

They lay like that for a long moment, just breathing together, enjoying the quiet intimacy of the moment. Caleb’s mind was a pleasant blank, his body sated and warm.

After a while, Arlo stirred, his head tilting back to look up at Caleb. “That was…” He trailed off, his voice rough with sleep and satisfaction.

“Yeah,” Caleb said, his voice just as rough. “It was.”

Arlo smiled, a sleepy, sated thing that made Caleb’s heart clench. “I could get used to this,” he said, his voice a murmur.

Caleb’s heart leaped at the words, at the implication behind them. “Yeah,” he said, his voice gruff. “Me too.”

They fell silent again, the only sound the whisper of their breathing in the quiet room. Caleb could feel Arlo’s weight against him, solid and warm, and a sense of contentment washed over him, so strong it took his breath away.

He didn’t know what the future held, didn’t know how they were going to make this work. But he knew that he wanted to try. That he wanted to keep Arlo in his life, in his bed, for as long as Arlo would have him.

He tightened his arm around Arlo, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. Arlo sighed, snuggling closer, his breath warm against Caleb’s skin.

They drifted off to sleep like that, wrapped up in each other, the night deepening around them.

Caleb woke the next morning to the smell of coffee and the sound of sizzling bacon. He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and looked around the room.

Arlo was nowhere to be seen. Caleb swung his legs over the side of the bed, reaching for his jeans and pulling them on. He padded barefoot out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.

Arlo was standing at the stove, his back to Caleb, wearing nothing but a pair of Caleb’s boxers. They were too big on him, hanging low on his hips, the waistband loose. Caleb felt a surge of warmth at the sight, at the domesticity of it.

“Morning,” he said, his voice rough with sleep.

Arlo turned, a smile spreading across his face. “Morning,” he said, his voice warm. “I hope you don’t mind, I thought I’d make breakfast.”

Caleb shook his head, crossing the room to stand beside him. “Not at all,” he said, dropping a kiss on Arlo’s shoulder. “It smells amazing.”

Arlo leaned into the touch, his smile widening. “I figured we could both use a good meal after last night.”

Caleb chuckled, his hand finding Arlo’s hip and squeezing. “You’re not wrong,” he said, his voice dry.

They worked together to finish breakfast, Arlo manning the stove while Caleb set the table and poured coffee. They ate in companionable silence, the morning sun streaming in through the kitchen windows.

After breakfast, they washed the dishes together, standing side by side at the sink. Caleb found himself stealing glances at Arlo, at the way the morning light caught the gold in his hair, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.

“You keep looking at me like that, we’re going to end up back in bed,” Arlo teased, bumping Caleb’s shoulder with his own.

Caleb grinned, not bothering to deny it. “And that’s a bad thing?”

Arlo laughed, a low, warm sound that sent a shiver down Caleb’s spine. “Not at all,” he said, his voice light. “But we do have things to do today.”

Caleb sighed, his grin fading. “Yeah,” he said, his voice gruff. “I guess we do.”

They finished the dishes and headed outside, the morning air cool and fresh. The ranch was quiet, the only sound the distant lowing of cattle and the chirp of birds.

Caleb took a deep breath, letting the familiar scents of the ranch wash over him. “I need to check on the herd,” he said, his gaze skimming over the pasture. “Make sure they’re settling in okay.”

Arlo nodded. “I should probably check on my equipment,” he said, a hint of apology in his voice. “Make sure everything’s still in working order.”

Caleb felt a pang of disappointment, but he nodded. “Yeah,” he said. “Of course.”

They parted ways, Caleb heading for the barn while Arlo made his way to the field where his equipment was set up. Caleb watched him go, his heart heavy.

He knew Arlo had a job to do, a life outside of the ranch. But the thought of him leaving, of things going back to the way they were before, filled Caleb with a sense of dread.

He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. They’d figure it out, he told himself. They had to.

He spent the morning checking on the herd, repairing fences, and doing the hundred other small tasks that needed doing around the ranch. It felt good to be back in the saddle, to feel the familiar rhythms of ranch life settling over him.

But even as he worked, his thoughts kept drifting back to Arlo, to the night they’d shared, to the future they might have together.

It was late afternoon when he finally made his way back to the house. He found Arlo in the kitchen, his laptop open on the table in front of him, a frown on his face.

“Everything okay?” Caleb asked, crossing the room to stand beside him.

Arlo looked up, his frown fading as he took in the sight of Caleb. “Yeah,” he said, his voice distracted. “Just… work stuff.”

Caleb nodded, leaning in to look at the screen. “Anything I can help with?”

Arlo shook his head. “No,” he said, his voice rueful. “Unless you’ve suddenly become an expert in atmospheric anomalies.”

Caleb chuckled, shaking his head. “Afraid not,” he said, his voice dry.

Arlo smiled, pushing his laptop closed and standing up. “I could use a break anyway,” he said, stretching his arms over his head. “Want to go for a walk?”

Caleb nodded, a smile spreading across his face. “Sure,” he said, his voice warm.

They made their way outside, ambling across the pasture towards the creek that ran along the edge of the property. The sun was setting, the sky fading to orange and red.

They walked in companionable silence, the only sound the crunch of grass under their feet and the chirp of crickets. Caleb felt a sense of peace settle over him, a feeling of rightness that he hadn’t felt in a long time.

As they walked, Arlo’s hand found Caleb’s, their fingers twining together. Caleb glanced at him, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Arlo smiled back, his eyes warm.

They reached the creek and stopped, watching the water ripple and dance in the fading light. Caleb turned to face Arlo, his free hand coming up to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice soft.

Arlo’s eyes widened, a flush rising to his cheeks. “Caleb,” he said, his voice a whisper.

Caleb leaned in, kissing him softly, sweetly. Arlo kissed him back, his free hand coming up to rest on Caleb’s chest.

They stood like that for a long moment, lost in each other, in the quiet beauty of the evening. When they finally broke apart, Arlo rested his forehead against Caleb’s, his eyes closed.

“I don’t want this to end,” he said, his voice barely audible.

Caleb’s heart clenched at the words, at the vulnerability in Arlo’s voice. He pulled back, his hands coming up to frame Arlo’s face. “It doesn’t have to,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “We can make this work, Arlo. I know we can.”

Arlo’s eyes fluttered open, his gaze meeting Caleb’s. “Yeah?” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

“Yeah,” Caleb said, his own smile growing. “We just have to want it bad enough.”

Arlo smiled, a real smile this time, warm and bright. “I do want it,” he said, his voice a whisper. “I want you.”

Caleb’s heart soared at the words, at the promise behind them. He pulled Arlo close again, kissing him deep and slow. Arlo melted into him, his body pliant against Caleb’s.

They stayed like that for a long moment, kissing and touching, exploring each other in the soft twilight. When they finally broke apart, Arlo was flushed and breathless, his eyes heavy-lidded with desire.

“Take me to bed,” he said, his voice rough.

Caleb nodded, a smile spreading across his face. “With pleasure,” he said, his voice gruff.

They made their way back to the house hand in hand, their bodies already yearning for each other. They stumbled into the bedroom, their hands reaching for each other, their mouths meeting in a tangle of lips and teeth and tongue.