Unravelling Zeke - Soul
Banner by aliensouldream
Title: Soul
Author: Gabi
Fandom: The Faculty
Pairing: Z/C
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Casey gets better acquainted with the horses. And with Zeke.
Disclaimer: I own neither the rights nor the characters. If I did, Mr Tyler would be sporting a lovely new collar. I make no money. I have no money. Don’t sue me.
Note: beta’d by the wonderful Aliensouldream. I lurve you. xxx
Previous
Epiphany / Party & Boring / Plans / Casa Del Tyler / The Suit / Mom / Hate You / Meet the Connors / New York - Friday / New York - Saturday / New York - Sunday / Texting / The Deal / Complex / Snow / Pictures of You / A Connor Christmas / Missed This / Photogenic / New Years Eve / Trust / Saint Valentine / Spring Break / Calm / Storm / Stages / Whispers / Echoes / Stokely / I Love You / Mercy / Thrift / Messenger / Anticipation / So Talk / Sand / Insomnia / Penance / Signals / Murdock / Pilot / Concert / Midnight / Perspective / Lost / Nightmare / Seventeen / Open / Cosy / Friends & Enemies / Brandon / The Wait / Ten / Shirt / Shell / Shock / Promise / Bella / Fritz / Pills / Facade / Heir / Void / Smoke / Search / Silent / Gesture / Milton / Drive / Retrogress / Transition / Liberty / Exposure / Resolution / Blue / Mess-en / Sanctified / Delicatessen / Want You / Apologies / Active / Reputation / Confrontation / Frustration / Rebecca / Going Through The Motions / Ranch Mosler, MO / Monday / Key / Cake / Communication / Letter / Pittsburgh / Anything but Prom / Finals / Asshole / Test / Different / Introduction / Evening Glow / Tradition / Closure
Three teenage boys watched their approach from a bench on the long porch. “Which one’s Norm?” Casey asked, remembering Zeke’s tale of the confrontation with his cousin the last time he was here.
“Guess.” Zeke replied flatly, pulling in to park in font of his aunt Gerry’s ranch house.
They were all about the same age, but the one furthest from the door wore a leather jacket. “He must be dripping.” Casey said, scrunching his nose in disgust.
“He’s an idiot.” Zeke cut the engine. “Whatever shit he spews, don’t react.” he said, getting out.
Casey followed him, ignoring the boys on the porch as they walked up the steps to the door.
“Yo, Zeke,” Norm called, “thought you said you had a ‘BOY’friend?” One of his friends snickered in response.
Zeke didn’t pause as he glanced over. “You also thought that jacket was a solid choice.”
Casey fought a smirk as one of the boys snorted. The other outright laughed. “Fuckin’ dolt.” Zeke muttered, entering the house without knocking. “Gerry?” he called from the hall.
Gerry appeared with a broad smile. “Hey Zeke. Casey. Can I get you a coffee?”
“I’ll grab one at grandma’s, thanks. We’ve gotta get back to Lou’s soon. She ready?”
“She’s doodling at the dining table. I had to split them up before she kicked Norman’s ass in front of his friends.” she grinned. Zeke chuckled. “She’s going to be quite the activist when she grows up.” she added.
“She loves me.” Zeke smirked.
She raised her eyebrows with a smirk of her own. “Don’t think you have the monopoly on her equal rights agenda. There’s a boy from Ghana in her class. She thinks his accent’s dreamy.”
“Jesus.” Zeke breathed. “Dreamy? That doesn’t sound like the Becky I know.”
Gerry chuckled. “She’s probably picked it up somewhere. Come on, she’s in here.”
They were led into a bright airy kitchen where Becky sat, surrounded by sheets of paper and various pens and pencils. Opposite her was a man who looked up as they entered. “Hi Zeke.” he greeted.
“S’up Stu?” Zeke replied. He glanced to Casey and smiled. “This is Casey,” he finally remembered to introduce.
Casey chuckled. Third time lucky. “Hi.”
“Hey Casey.” he cordially greeted, “Stu. Gerry’s better half.” She swatted him on her way past.
Zeke stepped to the table. “Hey scrumptious.” he said to the back of Becky’s blonde head, stooping to hug her from behind.
“Wait.” she demanded, not pausing the spiral she was concentrating on. “Can’t take the pen off. It shows.” Zeke rolled his eyes and hovered over her until she was done. She finally looked up and flung her arms out for her hug. “Hi Zeke.”
Her gave her a hug that rocked her in her seat. “You ready to go?”
“Almost. Let me get my bag.” She wriggled from her seat and dashed out of the kitchen.
Gerry returned with an envelope that Zeke eyed warily. “Mom tells me you’ve got a college place.” she smiled, “Congratulations.” She handed him the envelope.
Bless him, he tried not to react the same way he had the night before at his grandma’s. He took a breath and opened it with a tight smile. When he saw the contents he smiled politely. “Sweet. Thanks Gerry.”
“What’s that?” Becky asked, dumping her bag on the table.
“Book tokens.” he replied, “For college.”
“College books are excruciatingly tedious and ridiculously expensive.” Gerry said, helping Becky pack her art supplies. “The less of your own money you have to spend on them, the happier you’ll be.”
Zeke chuckled and thanked her again.
“Right you,” Gerry said to Becky when she was all packed, “have a safe trip and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
They said their goodbyes and made their way to the car. “Nice wheels, dude.” one of the teenagers called. Zeke merely nodded once in acknowledgement.
Once in the car he turned to Becky who’d beaten Casey to the passenger seat and asked if the all the family were coming for her birthday tomorrow.
She nodded. “Even Norm.” she grumbled.
Zeke attempted to hold his laugh with distinctly limited success.
~*~
“We’re back.” Zeke called from his grandma’s door. Becky ran ahead and they heard her excitedly greet her great-grandma in the living room. They followed the sound and found Becky sat on Cora’s knee on the armchair. Cora regarded Zeke carefully. “You get everything done?” He smiled and nodded in response. She too nodded with a small, warm smile. “Good.” She looked to Casey. “Don’t you have something to show Becky?”
“Me?” Becky asked, instantly interested.
“Yeah.” he said, remembering the outfit he’d bought her the morning before. “Where is it?”
“Kitchen.” Cora replied, “Let’s get a drink.”
The denim outfit lay neatly ironed and folded on top of the shoebox. A white folded t-shirt was beside the pile on the table. “They’re for you.” Casey said, sitting on the nearest chair.
She smiled at him with wide expectant eyes then approached the table and stroked the embroidered flowers on the pocket of the waistcoat. “It’s so pretty,” she said, holding it up, “but my birthday’s not ‘til tomorrow.”
“They’re not for your birthday,” he informer her with a smile, “they’re a thank you gift.”
She paused her inspection of the still-folded jeans. “A thank you for what?”
“Helping Zeke get better.”
“I didn’t do much.” she said with a small shrug.
“More than you know.” Zeke said in his softest voice. “What’s in the shoebox?”
Her smile returned as she moved the jeans and flipped open the box, rummaging past the paper padding. “Oh…” she breathed, holding up the little pink Converse with white rubber trim and laces. “They’re like yours, but pink.” she beamed. She dropped them back in the box and climbed onto Casey’s lap for a grinning hug. “Thank you.”
He hugged her back somewhat awkwardly, unsure how to cope with a six year old on his knee and glanced to Zeke who was forcing down a laugh. “You gonna try ‘em on?”
“Okay.” She jumped down, grabbed her outfit and sneakers and ran headlong out of the kitchen.
“That was a kind thing you did.” Cora said, bringing coffees over.
“She earned it.” Casey replied, “I mean… look at him.”
She glanced to Zeke and smiled. “She has.” She gave him his coffee and sat at the table. “So how did it go?” she asked her grandson, “You were careful?”
“Yeah.” Zeke replied. “Went okay. Got closure. Said bye to Moose, which was harder than expected. But I managed to catch Sarah, so that was good.”
“And how did she take your surprise visit?”
He shrugged. “It was difficult at first, but we talked it over and we’re friends again. We’re staying in touch.”
She smiled. “That’s good.” she said, sipping on her coffee. “Oh, I’ve come up with a solution to your finance problem.”
“I don’t have a finance problem.” he said, frowning.
“You, plural.” she explained, “Disproportionate finances.”
“Oh.”
“Let’s say, for demonstration purposes, that you have a thousand dollars and Casey has a hundred. If a utility bill comes in for a hundred dollars and you both pay fifty, it might seem fair, but it’s far more crippling to Casey only having fifty left. So why don’t you both pay the same proportion of your finances? It’s much fairer if you both pay nine percent. That way you both have ninety one percent left over.”
“Nine point one.” Zeke corrected, “or nine point… zero nine… recurring.”
“Smartass.” Cora chided, “There isn’t a coin for zero nine recurring.”
“I can’t just pay nine percent of a bill.” Casey said, mildly horrified.
“Why not?” Zeke asked, “We’d both pay nine percent.”
“Of the bill.” Casey reiterated. “My nine dollars to your ninety? How is that fair?”
“Because it’s the same percentage of our finances.”
“Casey,” Cora cut in, “If you contribute half to two bills at fifty dollars a pop then you’re flat broke and relying on Zeke for the rest of the month. How inadequate will you feel then? This way you both contribute the same proportion and you never need argue over it or feel ashamed about borrowing. It’s fairer.”
“Works for me.” Zeke said, turning to Casey. “Please tell me it works.”
He could see their point. While the percentage of the bill would be off, the percentage of their finances made it seem a little fairer. It still irked him though. “I guess it could work.” he admitted begrudgingly, “I just think half and half is fairer.”
“It isn’t when it could render you broke when I barely notice the difference.” Zeke countered. “I don’t wanna feel guilty about you going broke, and I know you won’t ask me for cash no matter how broke you are. If we’re in this for the long haul, we gotta pool our recourses. We live together, we put our finances together. For expenses anyway, I know you’ll get stroppy if I suggest combining everything. Please, Case,” he begged, “tell me we’re in this together.”
Casey smiled at that. While he’d wanted them to live together, pooling their finances hadn’t been something he’d considered. He realised now that it would make them a genuine couple, like his parents. It suddenly felt very long term, very grown up and real. “I don’t want your money,” he said quietly, allowing his smile to broaden, “but we’re in this together.”
Zeke offered him the most stunningly beautiful smile. “So percentage works?”
“For bills it works.” he agreed.
Zeke leant over and planted a lingering kiss on his forehead. “I love you.”
He blushed a little. “I know.” He was rewarded with a soft-lipped peck on the mouth.
“You’re both adorable.” Cora cooed at Zeke, “You won’t let him starve and from what I gather, he won’t let you splurge. You’re gonna be just fine.” she said, patting his hand.
Casey’s cheeks flushed a little hotter as he looked at them both in turn. He hid behind his mug to hide his ridiculous grin. They were gonna be better than fine. They were gonna be amazing.
Little footsteps approached and stopped in the doorway. Becky stood in her white t-shirt and open denim waistcoat; one hand on the doorframe and the other on her hip. “How do I look?” She’d added a belt to the jeans and they still touched the floor at the back; the toes of her new sneakers poking out beneath them.
“Beautiful.” Cora smiled.
“Like you’re ready to take on the universe.” Zeke answered with a narrow eyed grin.
She clenched her fists above her head and flexed her biceps then giggled and swung around Casey’s chair to hug him again. “Thanks Casey.”
“I’m just glad you like them.”
“I do.” she said, lifting a foot and wiggling it. “How did you guess my shoe size?”
“I made Zeke call your mom.” he explained.
“Why don’t you get a drink before you go.” Cora told her.
“Kay.” she said, before skipping to the fridge.
“What’s this I hear about a Ghanaian boy with a dreamy accent?” Zeke asked her as she poured herself a glass of juice.
“Kobie?” she sighed, “I could listen to him all day.”
“You’re not allowed to find people’s accents dreamy. You’re six.”
She snorted. “I’m seven tomorrow.”
“Still not old enough.”
“Well how old do I have to be?” she asked, approaching the table.
“Forty.” Zeke deadpanned.
“You’re funny.” she giggled, leaning against him.
“Grandma,” he whined, “will you tell her?”
“I ain’t telling her squat.” Cora replied smiling, “A little diversity will do her good.” She turned her attention to the girl who was now climbing into a seat. “Is he a nice boy?”
“Yeah.” she answered, “He’s always polite and shares stuff. Some kids bullied him when he first came, but we stopped them. Now everyone’s his friend cos he tells awesome stories. Sometimes I help him read hard words and he gives me his chin chin.”
“What’s that?” Zeke asked suspiciously.
She stared at him with a confused frown. “Pastry things his momma makes.”
“Oh, okay.” he said deflating, making Casey and Cora chuckle.
“He shares his tatale too. It’s so yummy. It’s got plantain in it. That’s a type of banana.” she informed them.
Zeke finally allowed a smirk. “I know.”
~*~
Becky had spent the first hour of their journey back to Lou’s in the passenger seat, excitedly discussing the finer points of Space Jam that she’d watched at her grandma’s. Every now and then she’d lift her feet and click her new sneakers together with a grin.
When they’d pulled in for a snack, Zeke had secretly sent him to grab wrapping paper and a birthday card because “I’m a fuckwit and I forgot.”. When he joined them at their table, Becky was digging into a massive ice cream sundae and Zeke had ordered him a float and a delectably huge pastry because “It’s been a few days since you ate pure sugar and I don’t want you keeling over.”
As promised, Becky had relented her shotgun position to Casey for the last hour and continued to talk about anything and everything from the back seat. Casey pitied Zeke all the way back. He was mentally exhausted himself and he wasn’t the one trying to concentrate on the road and a chatty six year old simultaneously. He managed to mask his sigh of relief when they finally pulled up at Lou’s.
Becky was first out of the car, yelling “Git!” at the dogs to prevent them jumping up on her new outfit. The boys followed suit and Casey helped Zeke grab the bags from the trunk. “Momma!”
They turned to see Lou crouching on the steps, awaiting her running daughter with open arms. “I missed you.” she said as Becky flung herself into the hug.
“I missed you too, momma.”
“Did you have a good time?” she asked her daughter.
“Yeah. We had hot chocolate and cake and watched Space Jam. Then I went to auntie Gerry’s and rode Raza.”
Lou balked. “She let you ride Raza?”
“He was on a rein.” Becky explained, “but she said my riding is excellent.” she beamed.
“It is.” her mother proudly agreed.
Casey glanced to Zeke who stood perfectly still, watching the exuberant conversation with an expression that Casey wanted to banish with a kiss. He realised that this was the kind of exchange he’d never received from his own mother. He took Zeke’s hand and squeezed it. Zeke silently smiled and squeezed back.
“And have you seen my new outfit?” Becky grinned, posing. “Look at my sneakers. Aren’t they smart?”
“They are. Are they a birthday present?”
“Nope. Casey said they’re for helping Zeke get better. I don’t know what I did, but… look at them!”
Lou smiled and cupped her daughter’s face. “You were kind. As always. I’m so proud of you.” She hugged her daughter again. “Daddy’s in the living room. Go show him your outfit.”
“Okay.” She ran into the house. “Daddy. Daddy, look!”
Lou watched her go with a smile then got up and made her way over. “Welcome back boys.” she greeted, “Nice time?”
“Most of it.” Zeke agreed, “Got shit done at least.”
“I’ll put some coffee on. You can tell me all about it.”
“Thanks.” They followed her to the door, but Zeke paused, staring at the ménage where Lisa was riding the big black stallion, Blue. “Can we hold the coffee? I wanna catch up with Lisa.”
“Sure thing.” she answered. “Just drop your bags in the hall. There’ll be coffee on the go when you’re done.”
They approached the ménage and Zeke greeted her from the high fence as he climbed up to sit on it, signalling Casey to join him.
“Hey guys.” she called, walking Blue around the sandy ring, “What can I do for ya?”
“Can you show him a sitting trot on my signal?” Zeke asked, “I want him to see the rhythm before his lesson.”
Casey gulped nervously, but she smiled. “Can do. You trotting today?”
“Looks like it.” he said with a forced smile.
“On my signal.” he called before turning his attention to Casey. “Right. You remember a walk is a four beat, yeah? Bit of sway in the saddle.”
“Yeah.”
“A trot’s a two beat. Two opposite feet off the floor at the same time. When you see Lisa, she’ll move in an ‘m’ motion as you’re observing from an outside stationary point, but in the saddle it’s almost vertical up n’ down. And as you’re new to it, you’ll have to learn to keep your ass tucked in the saddle real quick or you’ll do your balls an injustice.”
Lisa chuckled as she passed on Blue. “You’ll grasp it.” she grinned.
“Great.” he muttered.
“When I ask her to trot, she’ll shorten the reins cos he’ll naturally lift his head and she needs to communicate. You watching?”
“Yep.”
“Can you trot him?” Zeke asked her. On cue, she shortened her reins a little and the horse made his transition into a slow, showy trot. “See the way his feet fall? Two beat. Remember the rhythm.” Zeke said.
“He’s gorgeous.” Casey commented.
“He is that.” Zeke agreed. “See how Lisa isn’t bumping around, she’s got her ass firmly in the saddle, taking the motion in her hips and spine.”
“And don’t tense or grip with your thighs.” she added as Blue trotted past, “It’s like squeezing a bar of soap, you’ll pop right up. Just keep your butt down.”
“I don’t wanna trot.” he quietly complained.
Zeke chuckled. “Once you learn to stay sat you’ll be fine. You can’t canter until you can trot and cantering’s the fun bit.” He called over to Lisa, “Can you show him a canter?”
Blue broke into a wonderfully showy new gait. “This one’s a three beat. Watch the rhythm.”
Casey tried to concentrate on which feet fell in which order. After a full turn around the ring he’d properly grasped it. “Got it.”
“See how he leads with his inside leg. The inside front leg reaches furthest. It’s important, but I’m not going to bombard you with it yet.”
“You just did.”
Zeke snickered. “While you’re riding. Now watch how Lisa rolls in the saddle, this one’s an easy rolling motion. No jolts.”
He watched her as she circled the ring. Her motion was more dramatic at a canter, but it definitely looked easier on the groin. “Got it.”
“Great. You wanna try him out?”
He snapped his head to his boyfriend. “Blue? I’m not ready for Blue. He’ll eat me alive. Or dance or something.”
“Bravest person I know, remember? You’ll be fine, Case. Blue trots slower than Bella, so he’s not as ‘jolty’. Lisa can hold his head for safety and I’ll tell you what to do.”
“I don’t think so.” Lisa said, slowing Blue to a stop in front of them. “You run in the sand with him.”
“I can’t run by Blue’s head and see what he’s doing wrong.” Zeke countered.
“Guys…” Casey tried to interject.
“Get on board with this, Angel,” Zeke grinned, “it’s happening.”
Casey sighed hard. He was neither ready nor in the mood to have his balls bashed by a stallion. Lisa chuckled. “Go get him a longe rein and a hat.” she said, “I’ll get him on board.” Zeke kissed his temple, swung his legs over the fence and jumped down. “Come on,” she coaxed, “I’ll lead you at walk. Get you used to him.”
Not wanting to look a pussy in front of her, he resigned himself to his fate and climbed down inside the ring. She dismounted, gave him the reins then a ‘leg up’ so he could ungracefully climb into the saddle. “Jesus,” he breathed once he was sat upright, “he’s even higher than Bella.”
“Stirrups are a little long.” she noted, busying herself to shorten them by a hole each side. “How does that feel?”
“Okay, I guess. I don’t know how they’re supposed to feel.”
She smiled. “We’ll take care of you. You’re holding the reins correctly, so it’s sinking in. Shorten them just a little so there’s no slack.” He did as instructed and was rewarded with a grin. “You’re ready. Come on.” She clicked Blue into a walk and he allowed himself to be led on the giant beast, remembering to relax, move his hands with Blue’s massive head and take the sway.
By the time Zeke returned he was so relaxed that his focus was predominantly set on the aesthetics of the curve of Blue’s muscular neck and long wavy mane. He patted that neck when Lisa stopped them to receive the longe rein and hat. “Got my digital while I was at it.” Zeke said as Casey fastened the strap on his riding hat. “You look great on him.” Casey simply smiled a little proudly, feeling far less nervous than he had been a few minutes ago.
As Zeke climbed the fence, Lisa lengthened the rein and walked about four feet away towards the centre of the ring. “You can’t stop him from there.” Casey said, a little worried.
“Sure I can. But you know how to stop him, right? We’ll practice at a walk. Give him the signal, real gentle. It’s all he needs.”
Casey composed himself and gave Blue a very gentle squeeze. The horse walked on command and Casey now focused his full concentration on riding as he no longer had someone right by its head as support. Again, he began to relax when nothing dramatic happened. They practiced starting and stopping as Zeke called occasional words of encouragement and snapped the occasional photo, and Lisa talked him through how to ask the horse to transition between walk and trot and back again.
“Stop stalling and get it over with.” Zeke called from the fence with a cheeky smile. “Remember Case, hands down, heels down, ass down.”
“Your boyfriend’s a jerk, but he’s got a point.” Lisa chuckled, “It’s time to trot.” Casey groaned in response. “I promise he’ll stop on command.” she assured. “Come on, shorten the reins and squeeze.”
He squeezed his legs and Blue surged forward with a bounce that caught him completely off guard and forced him back a little. He instinctively raised his hands to counterbalance which actually pulled him further off balance and had him bouncing like a rag doll on a jackhammer as the saddle slammed up to pound his balls with every rapid stride.
Lisa stopped Blue quickly and bent over laughing. Zeke was trying not to fall off the fence as he doubled over, howling with laughter.
“Fuck you!” he snapped at his whooping boyfriend. He was sore and humiliated. “I’m NOT doing that again.”
“Yeah, y’are.” Zeke managed, wiping his eyes.
“No I’m not.” He pulled his feet from the stirrups to dismount.
“Casey wait.” Lisa begged, choking on her attempt to stop laughing.
“You did everything we told you not to.” Zeke said. “You know what to expect now and what not to do. You’ll get it, Angel, I swear.”
“Get your posture right and that’s half the battle.” Lisa explained, “Show me now how you’re supposed to hold your hands.” He huffed his annoyance, but did as he was told. He listened as she made him stretch the tension from his legs and explained how to open his hips, keep his heels down and to hold his spine to keep his balance. She spoke softly, without condescending him as she made him adjust his position to tuck his butt in the saddle without tensing his legs. “Now breathe, relax and squeeze.” she instructed.
He glared at his boyfriend who was lighting a cigarette on the fence. “Not a fucking word, asshole.”
Zeke choked on his grinning exhale as he snapped his Zippo shut. “Love you.” He took another drag and exhaled to the sky as he spoke, “If it makes you feel any better, I nearly fell off the first time I trotted.”
It did make him feel a little better. He sighed, readied himself, tried to relax then squeezed blue into a walk. This bit he could do, even with Lisa walking four feet away. Relax, he told himself, tuck your butt, don’t grip, relax… He squeezed again, ready for the lurching bounce this time. It was still bouncy as hell, but he felt a lot less like a rag doll.
“Hands down.” Lisa warned, “That’s better. Feel the rhythm, move with it.” After a few more painful strides she took pity. “Ask him to walk.”
Mercifully, Blue slowed to a walk immediately and Casey blew out a ragged breath. “Better.” Zeke called from his perch. “You’re still tense though.”
“Course I’m fucking tense, my balls are bruised!”
“Then tuck your ass in that fucking saddle.” he countered.
They made him trot three more times, Zeke constantly barking about tucking his ass and Lisa demanding he relax, before he was allowed to dismount. Each time he’d mastered it a little better and finally seemed to be getting the hang of it. It was still bouncy, but the saddle didn’t slam his balls as much on that last trot which is why they’d let him stop and get off.
Zeke jumped off the fence and walked over. “You’re getting it.” he encouraged, “It’s not an easy gait to learn, by any stretch, but you’re doing it.”
“You’re not fucking me for a week.” he whined, “My balls are already blue.”
Lisa held her hand up. “I do not need to hear the rest of this conversation.” she said, leading the stallion towards the gate.
Zeke snorted. “Thanks for the lesson.” he called after her before turning his attention back to Casey and stepping forward to hug him. “I’ll kiss them better.” he offered with a soft expression. “After coffee. Come on.”
Lou appeared in the hall as they entered the house and they joined her in the kitchen as she made coffee. Casey sat down at the table very, very gingerly. Lou regarded him with concern. “Taught him to trot.” Zeke explained.
“Ah.” she said with a knowing smile. “Sitting or rising?” she asked.
“There’s a rising trot?” Casey asked.
Zeke snorted and chuckled. “Gotta feel the rhythm before you can rise. And you can’t transition in rising trot. But I’ll show you on Bella later.”
“No you won’t.” he deadpanned. Zeke offered him his best pleading puppy expression. “No.”
Lou brought their mugs over as Zeke fiddled with his camera and laughed. “Trot attempt number one.” he said, passing it to Casey.
Casey looked at the viewfinder and cringed. The photo showed the beautiful black stallion in mid high step, neck arched and ears pinned back in annoyance as Casey sat, almost suspended above the saddle, feet way too far forward, hands up in the air, leaning back. “Christ,” he laughed, “looks like I’m riding a chopper.”
“That’s why you’re bouncing.” Zeke chuckled.
Lou signalled for the camera and laughed when she saw it. “Good lord.” she chuckled, giving Casey a sympathetic smile. “Everyone does that the first time.”
“So I believe.” Casey said, feeling less stupid for knowing it wasn’t just him. “Zeke said he nearly fell off the first time.”
“I was what, three? Four?” Zeke defended, flicking through images on his camera. “Remember little Rocko?” he asked Lou.
“At grandmas? Oh, he was a shit. Threw me about ten times.”
“Threw me twice,” Zeke recalled, “but I didn’t ride him often. Sneaky little fucker.”
Casey looked between them so Lou elaborated. “Ponies have more… character than horses. They’re intelligent and devious and Shetlands are the worst.”
“The worst.” Zeke parroted to drive the point home. He showed Casey another photo. “Latest attempt.”
Casey took it and couldn’t get over the difference. His hands were down, his back straight, lined over his feet. “Wow.”
Again Lou signalled for it so he passed it over. She looked up at them both. “Was that first shot taken today?” When they nodded she looked surprised. “You got him from that to this in thirty minutes?”
“More like twenty.” Zeke corrected.
“Wow,” she breathed, smiling. “Fast learner. You’ll be galloping the trails in no time.”
Casey smiled bashfully at the compliment. Zeke squeezed his thigh. “Told ya.”
~*~
Casey felt it was time he lived up to his end of the bargain, so after a bite to eat they went out to photograph some of the horses for the ranch website. The family rounded up the staff and they all each groomed a stallion to perfection before bringing them out in turn. They were paraded in the yard, posed at a stand, then set loose in the high fenced ménage to run and play while Casey took rapid burst photos to get the best of each.
He’d apologised over the time it took him to feel happy with his shots of the first stallion out, John’s prize Arab, Nazir. The horse was so graceful in motion that he couldn’t capture the essence of it on camera, but the family told him to take his time and get as many shots as he needed. They knew he wasn’t used to horses, the way they moved or how to shoot them at their best and they’d offered to bring him out again tomorrow if he wasn’t happy with the result. It allowed him to relax and take his time, asking them to encourage the horse to move at a particular angle or pace. By the time he photographed the second stallion, Samson, he was much more comfortable and confident.
It had taken a little over two hours to photograph all five stallions and the staff had gone home at around five leaving the family alone. John suggested they all go out for a ride along the trails and offered the boys a chance to ride with them, but Casey wasn’t confident enough yet, so he’d guiltily declined and felt bad for depriving Zeke. Worse, his boyfriend had taken that as a clear signal that Casey needed another lesson today.
As the family rode out of the yard a little later, he lost his doomed argument with his infuriating boyfriend. Under grumbling duress, he’d gone to the field with Zeke to catch Bella and was still amazed when she excitedly answered his call and cantered over to the gate. “Are all horses this excited to be ridden?”
Zeke smiled and climbed the fence to meet her in the field. “Just her.” Casey watched him greet her quietly and offer her a mint. He watched as he slowly stroked her neck behind her ear as she munched her treat, running his nimble fingers over her chestnut brown fur. He watched as the boy’s eyes closed with a beautifully serene smile as he put their foreheads together and tickled lightly under her massive cheeks. He watched Zeke intently as he offered her silent, tender affection. There was a deep, soft, stillness to him that was both wonderful and baffling to watch. His guard completely down, no walls, no cockiness, no show. He was the very essence of his soul with her. Quiet, still, unguarded and open. He truly loved her.
It wasn’t the first time Casey had seen him in this sublime, loving state. Zeke’s guard had long since dropped in the privacy of their bed. He’d seen this side of Zeke before, but only with him. He now realised that this was simply how Zeke loved. This was the manifestation of his soul.
Casey really, really wanted to make love to Zeke while his soul was still and open. “Baby?”
Bella’s relaxed ears flicked forward at the sound and Zeke grinned against her fur. He raised his head and gently ran the backs of his fingers from her forehead to her soft velvety muzzle. “Don’t be jealous.”
He wasn’t sure who Zeke was talking to. He wasn’t jealous, he was hard. “I want you.”
~*~
“Tell me again, why this is a good idea?” Casey called up from the foot of the short vertical ladder in the barn.
Zeke’s voice drifted down, “Gotta roll in the hay with you at least once Case,” His ginning face appeared over the platform edge, “otherwise, what’s the point?”
When Casey reached the top, Zeke was already laying the picnic blanket on the floorboards to protect them from scattered stalks. Surplus bails lay neatly stacked to various heights, coarse yellow straw on one side of the large platform and finer green hay on the other. “How the fuck do you get them up here?”
“Back a wagon through those doors and handball ‘em.”
It wouldn’t be so high a throw from the back of a wagon, but still… he knew from helping Zeke fill hay nets that those bails were heavy. “Still say she worked you too hard.”
Zeke knelt on the blanket before Casey, staring up with narrow eyed intent. He slowly peeled his t-shirt over his head and discarded it carelessly. “You think?”
Casey’s insides slipped loose and pooled, leaving him to stare dumbly at his lover’s tanned, post-ranch physique. While the difference was subtle, it was fucking stunning. Silently, Zeke reached out, hooked a finger behind the button on Casey’s jeans and pulled him a step closer. Large hands and skilled fingers dusted over his flesh, sneaking around beneath his t-shirt, hitching it up to expose just enough skin for Zeke to cover with a wet mouthed roaming kiss.
“Shit.” Casey cursed as his stomach muscles reacted to those sinful lips and tongue. The t-shirt had to go. He whipped it off and dropped it on the blanket. Zeke grinned against his belly before devouring it with suckles and licks that were beginning to drive him insane with want.
The button on his jeans popped while his head was swimming and Zeke squeezed both cheeks of his ass, delving into his cleft as his jeans slid down to his shins. Then that mouth. Those full, wet lips sliding obscenely over the head of his cock. He shuddered involuntarily as a hot agile tongue swirled, dancing to its own rhythm. “Don’t get me off baby. I want you.”
Zeke looked up, Lucifer grinning behind those shining almond eyes. He smiled and drew back. “I won’t.” he said, kissing his way down the shaft, “But I made a promise.” His balls were kissed; long, lingering, wet kisses that had him clutching Zeke’s head to stop his knees buckling when that fucking tongue toyed with them. Suckling. His balls buried in sweet, suckling heat.
This wasn’t what he’d set out to do, but his body was begging his brain not to intervene. Lucifer was out of his cage, and Lucifer made Casey see stars every goddamn time. His will to resist was slipping, but that image… The image of Zeke when every wall came down. That rare glimpse of the soul inside. He wanted that “Wait.” he gasped, finding his reserve. “Wait.”
Zeke paused and looked up, his hands cupping Casey ass, his cheek nuzzling his straining cock. “I’m waiting…”
Casey found his breath. “When did you become aggressor in this?” he asked with a soft chuckle, “I wanted you soft… still… and quiet.”
“You’re about to fuck me,” Zeke smirked, “I’m never soft, still or quiet.”
“Like you were before.” he explained, trying to keep the frustrated whine out of his voice.
Zeke’s expression softened as he looked up. “With Bella?”
Casey nodded.
“You want me to love you like I love Bella?”
He nodded again.
“Want me to ride you too?”
Casey snorted. There was only so far he was willing to let Zeke take that analogy before it got weird. “I want you…soft. And open.”
“To you?”
Casey stroked his lover’s brow with the back of his fingers and nodded with the ghost of a loving smile.
Zeke rocked back on his heels and curled back until he was lay on the blanket, knees raised and splayed, fingers entwined loosely above his head. “I’m open.”
He had to compose. He had to somehow tear his eyes away from that effortless sensuality before he could react. He swirled a pointed finger at the boy’s pants. “Ditch those.” he demanded, crouching to untie his own laces.
He was soon naked, but Zeke was quicker, already back in his splayed position when Casey looked up. He knelt between the beautiful boy’s thighs, mentally listing all the things he could do to him to drive him wild with lust. But this wasn’t about that. It wasn’t about proving to himself that he could compete with Zeke’s history. It wasn’t about whiting Zeke’s mind of all his problems using pleasure. It was about love in its purest form. Not desperately trying to be noticed over the white noise. Not desperately trying to memorise every last detail. Just love; pure and quiet and open.
Zeke raised himself on one hand to sit before Casey and with the other hand under Casey’s chin, he held his jaw firmly, pulling him forward into a quick, deep kiss. His groin flared under the delicious assault so it took him a good few seconds to place a finger over Zeke’s lips. “Shhh…”
“I’m hot for you.” Zeke’s voice was deep and sultry, breath hot against his finger, “I’m already geared up to fuck.” His finger disappeared between plump lips.
“Then gear down.” he said softly, prising his finger from the suckling torment. “Tell me you love me. Without using your mouth.”
Zeke paused, his eyes locked on Casey’s as he considered his next move. His expression softened as his eyes flitted over Casey’s features and he smiled.
Casey’s cheeks were cupped in warm hands as Zeke rested their foreheads together, still looking into his eyes with that beautiful smile. Fingertips caressed his temples and eyebrows then through his hair, tickling the nape of his neck then back along his jaw. Zeke slowly ran the back of his finger down Casey’s nose then back up and across his forehead, his lips dusting over the trail of his fingers. “Please let me kiss you.” he whispered.
His eyes had already fluttered closed, practically purring into Zeke’s affectionate touches. “Kiss me.” he whispered back.
A barely there kiss to his forehead, fleeting fingers dancing over his cheekbones, the light press of lips in the dip between his eyes, fingertips brushing over his parted lips, a reverent kiss placed against those lips still tingling from the memory of fingers. He moaned into Zeke’s mouth; his desire and love expressed in that one involuntary syllable.
“Lie with me.” Zeke whispered, still caressing his face. Casey’s eyes fluttered open and he melted at the open adoration on Zeke’s expression; a rare softness to his youthful features. Zeke curled back to rest on one elbow. “You wanna see how much I love you?” He reached beside him and offered Casey the crumpled tube of lube. “Fuck me.”
He eagerly twisted the cap and squeezed a large dollop of gel onto his hand. He slicked himself quickly, trying not to overstimulate himself further, then, with slippery fingers, he slid his hand between his expectant lover’s thighs and almost groaned at the reaction.
Zeke collapsed back with a long, heavy sigh, his feet finding Casey’s hips as his knees fell apart to accommodate Casey’s fingers. Casey couldn’t tear his attention away from the way his belly sank from his ribs as his back arched. He stooped to plant wet tongued kisses on that soft, warm flesh as he leisurely stroked Zeke’s cock, revelling in the way his lover squirmed; hot and tight around his fingers.
“Case...” Zeke rasped, “Now.”
He hovered over the beauty beneath him, one hand on the blanket beside Zeke’s head for support as he replaced his fingers with his erection. Watching intently as Zeke’s head fell back, biting his bottom lip, trying not to frown in discomfort. That glimmer of a frown soon dissipated in a long moan and Casey had to steady himself with a breath or two.
He moved slowly with long, deep strokes as Zeke moulded to fit around Casey’s smaller frame. Knees by his chest, his feet on Casey’s back, hands kneading and pulling at Casey’s ass as he moved inside him. Head stretched back, mewling sighs with a delectably outstretched throat. Casey aimed his mouth to capture that throat and forced himself deeper to reach. Zeke choked a moan and Casey suckled, curling his hips to stay deep enough to devour the offered flesh.
Zeke raised his head, folding in on himself. Casey immediately transferred his kiss to those luscious lips, completely immersed in the little noises Zeke made right into his mouth. Fingers slipped through his hair, holding his head in place to maintain their breathless, sliding kiss. Casey was consumed by the heat of his lover’s body curled around him. His tongue sliding inside a willing mouth, his cock sliding inside an equally willing ass. Sliding and kissing and fucking and utterly perfect.
He increased his pace and Zeke’s muffled moans intensified to match. He pulled his head up a few inches to see his beautiful boy’s reaction and almost lost it right there. He was breathtaking. Flushed features highlighted by the thin perspiration sheen reflecting the side lighting of the barn’s little window. The scent of him flooding Casey’s senses with pheromones. Swollen lips parted in bliss as he panted his moans to Casey’s increasingly rapid curling thrusts. But it was his eyes… The way he looked up with openly vulnerable adoration, his soul laid bare to Casey with such trust, such love, it was overwhelming.
Desperate to kiss him, Casey pushed forward, thrusting deeper to reach. The corners of Zeke’s parted lips hooked into the beginning of a grin before his eyes closed and his head fell back with a groan. If he couldn’t kiss, he’d watch.
He blindly grabbed for the lube, squirted a ridiculous amount on his hand and wrapped his fingers around his lover’s cock, letting it slide through a slippery rolling fist to the rhythm of his thrusts. Zeke arched and whined, his cries coming louder, his fingers splayed against Casey’s stomach as he rode the deep fuck. Casey was transfixed by the way his abs undulated with the rhythm. Zeke was close, but Casey was too lost in the moment to speak; mentally chanting to himself, cum for me baby, show me. The fingers on his stomach tightened to a grip, the muscle around his cock tightened to a grip and Zeke came beautifully with a curse of “Fuck!”
He needed to kiss him. He needed to. He hooked his arms under Zeke’s knees, doubled him over and drove into that divine heat as he stretched to reach Zeke’s mouth. Zeke lifted his head to meet him half way, his fingers fisting in Casey’s hair to pull him forward. Their lips slid together, their tongues plundering each other as Casey succumbed to a powerful climax that snapped his hips forward in slow deep thrusts as he whimpered into Zeke’s mouth.
He didn’t want to stop. He didn’t ever want to quit fucking the stunning creature beneath him, but the adrenaline left him in a rush and he collapsed his head on Zeke’s chest, trembling in the bliss of aftershocks.
Zeke unfolded himself, laying himself flat beneath Casey with a relaxed sigh. When Casey raised his head, Zeke was staring up at the roof with sparkling eyes and an amused, sated smile. “Get what you came for?” he asked the roof.
Casey smiled at his ridiculously beautiful lover. “That could be taken two ways.” he mused, linking his fingers through Zeke’s. “Yes.”