A Fine Line

A Draft

The barn door slammed behind them as the men stumbled into the ground. Luckily, no one had returned from the Cattle Show just yet. The silence of the barn echoed with shivering laughter.

The Austin blankets had laid earlier cushioned their fall. Finger tips trailed along the base of his spine, sending a different kind of shiver down his body. He couldn't help but smile at the beautifully exposed man hovering over him.

"That was..." Rafa whispered as they came down from their strenuous activities.

Austin laid on top, his head cradled by crook of Rafa's neck as he placed gentle kisses along the man's skin. His stomach pressed against Rafa's rising chest.

"I don't think we've ever gone that long." Rafa continued as Austin kissed him softly.

Austin didn't reply. Instead he basked in the glory that was the naked man under him. Rafa's hand ran up Austin's side, from the base of his spine to the top of his shoulder. And back down again. Over and over again.

There was a long silence as the men gazed adoringly at each other, entranced by the musk of pleasure and comfort.

"You're so beautiful," Rafa whispered.

Austin couldn't keep back the smile that spread across his lips. Feeling so warm and, dare he say, loved. Because despite the freezing temperature of the barn, his heart felt so full of warmth. He never thought he'd hear such words spoken about him. And he certainly never thought he'd ever speak them back.

"Rafa, you are the most beautiful man in the world." Austin said as he ran bus hand over the pronounced muscles of his abdomen. "You should be in a museum. Standing right next to the Grecian God's statues." Then, "Everything about you deserves to be worshiped. And loved."

"Only if you're there next to me." Rafa whispered, kissing the top of his head. Then, "I'm never going to let you think you're not as gorgeous as you are. Whenever you have a thought like that, I want you to tell me. So that I can prove to you how untrue it is."

Austin swooned, his body melting into Rafa's. "That's kind of you, but at the end of the day I'm a reckless fool who reads poetry and rides horses all day."

"I wouldn't have you any other way." Rafa teased lightly, but was serious enough so Austin knew he was.

Austin turned on his side to face him directly. "Then you're a fool, too.

Rafa smiled the one Austin loved the most. "I suppose that makes us a couple of fools, hmm?"

Austin stared at him, allowing the words to sink in. Contemplating their meaning. And in that moment, he wondered if they were becoming something more than lovers. Something more than the physical attraction they shared. "I suppose we are."

Rafa brought a hand to Austin's hair, stroking it before leaning in for another kiss.

They broke apart at the sound of voices outside. The front door to the home opening. Austin was about to tell Rafa to hide when the latter put a finger to his mouth signaling him to be quiet then pointed to the door lock which was securely fastened. They were safe.

Their voices went distant as his everyone went inside. They sounded happy, and that made Austin feel a little less uneasy.

Rafa relaxed next to him, his head landing on the ground in a soft thud.

"We'll have to go back soon." Rafa said to the ceiling.

Austin's elation began to drop. And then he said something that shocked himself. "I wish I could stay with you forever."