TMOBR1 Jay by Xondra Day Page B

his shirt. Mark grinned, catching him looking.
    He quickly fastened his eyes back on the road, shifting nervously. “It certainly is. By noon it’ll be unbearable.”
    “Even more of a reason to stop by the river to take a dip. Whaddaya say? It would do us both good, and we can spare the time.”
    “But…Cal,” stammered Jay. His attraction to Mark had grown over the past few months. He didn’t want anything coming to light. It was a hard thing to hide and never again would he allow what he was to ruin his life.
    “Cal won’t know. If he asks anything, then we tell him we were tied up in town. The Mercantile was busy, and they had to tend to other folks before they got to us.”
    “You have it all figured out, eh?”
    Mark flashed one of his killer smiles, his deep green eyes highlighting a tanned chiselled face, his blond beard stubble glowing under the sun’s bright rays. “But of course. I’m always one step ahead. You got to be in this crazy world.”
    “The river’s just up ahead,” said Jay. “I know a spot just over yonder. It’s secluded and the current’s a bit slower. It’s a perfect spot to take a dip.”
    Under the scorching July sun, Jay was eager to strip down, yet hesitant at the same time. He reminded himself it was silly, he’d been naked around other men many times, and vice versa. This seemed different. This was Mark, the object of his many fantasies, the one who crept into his head late at night when he sought physical relief while the other men slept.
    All around them, bees and other insects buzzed as the wind meandered through the scattering of trees, them being the only sounds other than the gurgling from the river. Jay did his best not to stare at Mark who was already naked, testing the temperature of the river with one toe, standing on the bank’s muddy edge.
    “It’s warm.” Mark turned to face him. Their eyes met, and for a moment they locked before Mark took the initiative to dive into the river with a boisterous splash.
    Jay stripped off his clothes and slid into the water, revelling in its coolness. Like Mark had said, it was rather warm, yet still retained enough chill to refresh and invigorate at the same time.
    “This is glorious,” he proclaimed, feeling the ripples from the current washing past him, massaging his many muscles.
    “I love it here,” said Mark, only his head visible above the water. “This sure beats putting up fencing any day.”
    Jay sank beneath the water, and when he came up for air he was face to face with Mark. He lost his breath for a second when the younger man braced his two hands against his shoulders and moved in close.
    “What are you doing?” he asked, his heart thudding inside his chest. Was this really happening or just another one of his sexy dreams?
    “I’ve seen you looking at me. I know you watch me late at night from your bunk, when you think I’m asleep, and I want you to know, it’s okay, I don’t mind.” Mark slid one hand across the back of his neck. It felt good.
    “We shouldn’t. If someone… came along.”
    “Hush. That feel good, eh?” Mark pressed one finger against Jay’s lips to silence him.
    He nodded. It felt more than just good. And now, chest to chest, his cock thickened, pressing hard against Mark.
    “Touch me,” whispered Mark. “I want your hands on me.”
    They embraced with the water swirling around them, holding each other tightly. They kissed.
    At first, it was just a light touch of lips, a mere brushing and nothing more. Mark’s stubble tickled against Jay’s upper lip, and he couldn’t help but grin.
    “That was nice.” It had been so long since he’d kissed anyone. At times he’d thought he would go mad, the thoughts of men, so many men running through his mind. To him, it was natural, the attraction. He knew better than to ever let it be known. And even when he did notice Mark looking at him in odd ways, he put it off as him just being friendly and nothing more.
    The second kiss