In The Mountains (Tennessee and Paxton)

In Tennessee's bedroom

* In Tennessee's Bedroom. *

Entering Tennessee's bedroom, Paxton stopped and stared wide-eyed. The long rectangle room was huge, and Paxton figured the area spanned the width of the house. He'd never paid attention to that before because of the trees around this end of the cabin. Through the windows, he could see the bushes and the foliage that hid the space.

Stepping past the threshold, Paxton glanced to the left. One side of the room was a wall of books with an overstuffed chair and ottoman next to a door. The other side had a king-sized bed with matching side tables, lamps, and more shelves piled with books and other reading material. Above him was a light fixture made of deer antlers. The entire setup was cream and tan, with the art on the walls matching the cabin's birds and outdoor animals. He expected the darker greens and dark wood of the house, but this room was all light and bright.

"I'm leavin' him here." Gunner half tossed Tennessee on the bed, and the man was now sprawled face down on the light tan duvet. Tennessee didn't even bother to open his eyes at Gunner's surly statement. "I ain't throwin' my back out for his drunk ass. Ya hear me, Tennessee?" Gunner yanked off Tennessee's boots and dropped them to the side. "I'll check on the dogs and then see myself out. Yer gonna take care of him?"

"Sure."

"I mean it. Ya gotta make sure he ain't choke on his own vomit. So ya gotta watch him." Gunner scratched at his whiskered cheek. "Can ya do that?"

"I got it," Paxton assured the other man.

"My advice to ya is, fer heaven sakes, do somethin'," Gunner stood by the door. "I meant it when I said put both of ya out of yer misery." With that, Gunner left, and Paxton was faced with a passed-out Tennessee.

Stopping at the foot of the bed, Paxton ignored Gunner's advice for the moment. Tonight wasn't the time to be trying to figure out what to do with Tennessee. For now, he would simply put him to bed and think about all this mess tomorrow.

Paxton took off Tennessee's socks, but he didn't dare remove more of his clothes. After he put Tennessee's boots in his closet, he found a bathroom. That room was cream and light brown like the bedroom and decorated with eagles and hawks. The room was basic, except Tennessee had a large oval garden tub with jets and a private cove for the toilet.

Seeing the toilet had Paxton emptying the trash can. He returned to the bedroom and set the container next to Tennessee's head. He threw up earlier, so there was a good chance that wouldn't be the only time Tennessee did it.

After a few minutes of watching Tennessee's calm even breathing, Paxton left the room. He went to the kitchen and got the biggest glass of water he could find. He hunted through the medicine cabinet in the small bathroom and got out a bottle of aspirin. Tennessee would have a killer headache in the morning, and this would help.

When Paxton got back to the bedroom, he stopped in his tracks.

Tennessee was gone.

Paxton set the glass of water on the nightstand and then heard splashing in the bathroom. He headed to the partially open bathroom door to see Tennessee's reflection in the mirror. The man was brushing his teeth dressed in only a blue and white towel tied around his hips. His clothes were in a pile at his feet, and the sight of an almost naked Tennessee had Paxton drooling. Paxton knew without a doubt that the terry cloth was all the man had to separate his sexy ass from the air of the room, and it made him want to rip it off.

Sucking in his startled breath, Paxton froze. Like it was just waiting for the damn to break, all his blood rushed to his cock. This is exactly why Paxton didn't want Tennessee to lose any clothing. The man looked good in jeans and a shirt, but damn if he didn't look even better with all that smooth skin and muscles gleaming in the light of the bathroom.