Zane’s finger started to mimic his tongue, plunging in and out, deeper, as he tried to give Ty enough stimulation to push him over the edge. He twisted his hand over Ty’s c**k and slipped the pad of his thumb over the wet cockhead, moaning appreciatively. Ty gritted out Zane’s name as he lowered his head and bumped his forehead against Zane’s chin. His entire body trembled as he pushed his hips into Zane’s hand, and his fingers tightened in Zane’s hair almost painfully as he rutted against him. “Fuck!” he growled in frustration. He was obviously close to release, needing just a little more to find it.
Gripping Ty’s c**k hard as his hand shuttled over it, Zane shoved two fingers into him just as he dipped his mouth to Ty’s chin for a quick kiss. Then he dug his teeth in at the crook of his neck and twisted his fingers around, pushing at the walls of muscle. Ty gave a short, sharp cry before managing to quiet himself, and he gasped and panted out several harsh breaths as he came into Zane’s palm. His body arched and tensed until it had to be painful. Zane spread his fingers wide as the muscles pulsed around them, and Ty’s knees went weak. He whimpered pleadingly, just as he almost always did when he came before Zane and Zane was still riding him hard to find his own release. It made Zane’s c**k throb pleasantly, and he cursed again for not being able to do anything more than this.
Zane shushed him as he gentled his grip and pulled his fingers free, petting the curve of Ty’s ass before pulling his jeans mostly up and then curling his arm around Ty’s waist to support him.
Ty cursed creatively, his lips moving against Zane’s unbruised cheek and the corner of his mouth. Zane just laughed softly and kissed him as he finally let go of Ty’s softening cock.
Ty gave a full-body shiver as he reached down to finish pulling up his jeans. Zane pulled out one of the individually packaged wet wipes he’d stuck in his back pocket for the next trip to the second tree to the left and worked on cleaning up his fingers and hands. He handed one to Ty as well got a wry smile from his partner.
“Fuck, it’s cold,” Ty breathed with a small laugh as he buttoned his jeans. They could see their breath now in the night.
“At least it’ll explain why we’re flushed,” Zane said.
“Fuck it,” Ty muttered as he made sure his shirt buttons were all straight. “Deuce already knows and to hell with Dad. He can’t think much worse of me,” he declared stubbornly as he reached out to fix Zane’s collar.
Zane stopped still and watched Ty’s eyes as he let Ty fuss. He wanted to say so many things: to call Earl a liar, to tell Ty he was the bravest man he’d ever met. He just didn’t know what Ty would believe in the aftermath of Earl’s words or what he himself had the courage to tell him. It was hard to open your heart to Ty; you never knew if you’d get a sincere response or a joke in return. There were some things Zane wanted to say that just couldn’t be met with a joke, and so he kept them to himself.
“Don’t think about it right now,” he said softly instead.
Ty looked up from his collar and met his eyes for a few seconds. Zane didn’t think he’d ever seen Ty’s eyes more honest than they were in those short moments. They were sad and worried, angry and lost. Haunted. It made Zane wonder just how much of Ty’s carefree attitude was put on all the time, how much baggage he truly carried with him and just never let on about. Zane told himself in that moment to remember this look the next time he wanted to strangle Ty for being an ass**le.
Then the moment passed, and Ty’s hazel eyes were clear again as he looked at him. He nodded his head. “Thanks, Zane,” he whispered.
Zane nodded slowly. “Any time.” After a long moment he reached out and let his fingertips trail down Ty’s chest. “I think I’ll go try to sleep while the endorphin rush is keeping the pain somewhat at bay.”
“Good idea,” Ty said softly as he lowered his head and looked away.
“You coming?” Zane asked carefully.
Ty looked back at him, his eyes flickering toward the camp in the distance and back to Zane. He nodded and smiled slightly. “We have a tent all to ourselves,” he informed Zane.
“Was that Deuce’s doing?” Zane asked drily.
“You complaining?” Ty asked with a raised eyebrow.
Zane shook his head. If it were anyone else under any other circumstances, Zane might have held out his hand. But even in his gentlest moods, that wasn’t Ty’s style. Zane slid his hands into his jacket pockets. “C’mon, Grady. I’ll give you the warm spot.”
Ty draped his arm over Zane’s shoulders as they walked. “I’ve trained you well,” he claimed, sounding very pleased with himself.
Zane chuckled. “You do realize the only warm spot in that tent will be under me?”
Ty turned his head to look at him innocently. “And?” he asked with a slight leer.
Zane bumped their hips together as they walked along. “Just saying,” he murmured, trying to hold down the grin that threatened. He wanted to hold onto this warmth and comfort as long as he could. It was a feeling he’d experienced fleetingly after they’d been reunited in DC, one he’d mostly lost in the last few weeks as Ty had drifted away from him. He’d almost given up hope on recovering it until Ty had invited him up to these godforsaken mountains. Maybe the trip wouldn’t be a complete loss if they lived through it.
Ty squeezed his shoulders tightly and then released him, letting his hand slide down Zane’s back as they entered the silent camp.
A long glance showed Redjacket and Earflaps had finally wrangled around enough to rest their heads against the tree—although uncomfortably—and they both appeared to be dozing. Zane had the intense desire to chuck a rock at them and wake them up. He restrained himself, however, and after watching them for several seconds to satisfy himself they were secure, Zane looked to Ty and waved a finger in question toward the tents.
Ty glanced at him before looking back at their prisoners with a deep frown. He looked around the camp, his eyes reflecting the firelight. To Zane he looked haunted as he gazed around the darkness, perhaps seeing other camps and other prisoners from the past.
Zane let him be for a few moments, but then he took a half step in Ty’s direction. “Hey,” he said softly. “Still with me?”
Ty looked back at him and cleared his throat. He met Zane’s eyes and nodded jerkily, and he brought his hand up to his mouth to rub at his bearded chin. “Let’s get warm, huh?” he suggested, jerking his head toward the tent they were supposed to share for the night.