Learning to Improvise… Chapter 6

by Katherine

Ezra closed his eyes and tilted his face toward the sky. He was a night owl by nature, fully appreciating the sable beauty of night with her silver finery of moon and stars, but that didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy the warmth of the afternoon sun and brilliant blue sky. And while he could never lay claim to reveling in Mother Nature’s bounty to the same degree his lover did, the gambler enjoyed being outside. He found the peace and quiet of their favorite spot to be soothing to his spirit.

Ezra sat near the spring in a half-dressed state his mother would be appalled to witness. He’d forgone his jacket, vest, socks and boots, leaving his shirt untucked and only half buttoned, his pant legs rolled up so he could dangle his feet in the water without soaking his clothes. He breathed deeply allowing himself to simply be in a way that wasn’t possible in town, in the presence of other people. Well, Ezra amended that thought, in with anyone other than Vin that is.

He opened his eyes to study his lover. Vin was dozing next to him, curled up on his side, his head pillowed on his capote. The tracker had been up at dawn, as per his usual custom. Ezra had really only fallen asleep after Vin had awoken. Despite thinking of this spot as being a safe place for them, ingrained habit had made it impossible for Ezra to sleep deeply unless he knew someone was keeping watch. So as per their usual habit, Ezra went to sleep when Vin woke. When Ezra got up shortly before noon, they shared the mid-day meal before relaxing near the spring and just enjoying the day.

Ezra reached out to gently ran his knuckles over Vin’s cheekbone, careful not to disturb his slumber. The tracker had professed his throat felt better, but the bruises Josiah’s hands had left stood out in stark contrast to Vin’s normal skin tone. The gambler knew the bruises would likely linger for several days. He worried more about the possibility of a cracked rib. That would take longer to heal.

He frowned, green eyes pensive as they turned back to stare out over the small pool. Ezra was so deeply lost in his thoughts he was honestly startled when Vin’s hand moved to encircle his wrist. "Stop brooding so loud."

Ezra cocked his head, one eyebrow arching. "Brooding doesn’t make noise."

Vin sighed. "Does when you do it." A half-smile appeared. "Probably ‘cause you don’t do it all that often. Yer rusty."

"Rusty?" Ezra chuckled. "Should I be insulted by that?"

Vin’s smile grew. "Nah. Not being good a brooding is not a bad thing." The smile faded. "Tell me what you’re thinkin’?"

Ezra waved his free hand in a vague gesture. "Little bits of everything, I’m afraid." He wasn’t sure he could articulate his thoughts any better than that. They were scattered, disjointed, half-formed at best.

"You worried about tomorrow?" Vin’s sky blue eyes studied him.

"No." Ezra laughed dryly. "More like what happens after that."

"Ah." Vin nodded his head, squeezing Ezra’s wrist in understanding. "It’ll be okay. Nothin’ we can’t face as long as we’re together."

Ezra smiled warmly, dimples appearing. "Such confidence is commendable."

"Haven’t had reason to doubt us yet." Vin’s tone was very matter-of-fact.

Ezra dipped his head, conceding Vin’s point. Since they’d become a couple they had yet to face anything they hadn’t been able to handle together. Ezra shook his head, slightly bemused by it. I wasn’t always so confident that would be the case.

"You know…I thought Chris would be the greatest obstacle." Ezra confided quietly. "I never expected him to accept us. Not really."

He was disappointed in himself to have misread his comrades so badly, to have sold the gunslinger short. Chris’ initial acceptance had been conditional, but it was a far better reaction than Ezra had anticipated. He had been so certain that he would lose both his place in Four Corners and Vin when Chris questioned their newborn relationship. And he never thought Josiah would be so hostile, or so physical in expressing his displeasure. He didn’t think he was losing his touch, his ability to read people, as much as he was sure strong emotions were clouding his judgment, his ability to assess people and situations logically. His own wants and desires, fears and uncertainty made it difficult to step back and make an impartial assessment.

"I figured it would be Buck we’d have trouble with." Vin snickered, raising himself up on one elbow, drawing Ezra back from his thoughts. "Was sure he’d be flabbergasted by two men who wanted ta be together."

"A good thing no wager was made." Ezra smiled wanly. It was comforting to know he wasn’t the only one to have misjudged their associates.

Vin bit his lower lip, expression thoughtful. "I’m not sure I’d call us being wrong about them as a loss."

"A loss…no." For once, Ezra had been relieved, grateful even, to be wrong. "More like a pleasant surprise."

Vin released his wrist and sat up. He stretched his arms overhead, and sighed. "Have ta admit the one who surprised me the most was JD."

Ezra arched an eyebrow. JD was actually the one he’d had been the least concerned about. "JD is decidedly loyal to those he considers friends…and family." The gambler still found it somewhat disconcerting to be placed in either category.

Vin nodded in response to Ezra’s comment. "I know. Jus’…", the tracker waved a hand clearly searching for the right words to express his thoughts.

"It is easy to forget that despite being the youngest of our number he is not really a child. Far from it actually." The cardsharp shrugged one shoulder. "Our outward influence may be pervasive but he is fully capable of making up his own mind and acting accordingly."

"Yeah." Vin waggled his eyebrows. "Kid is pretty smart. Guess I jus’ didn’t realize how smart until lately."

The tracker ran a hand through his hair, raking through the long curls and yawned widely. He bumped Ezra’s shoulder with his before laying his head on the same shoulder. "I love you," he whispered.

Ezra tilted his head to rest his temple against the top of Vin’s head. "And I you, Vin."

"Wanna show me?" There was an eagerness in Vin’s voice, a warm invitation. "Or I could show you if ya want."

Ezra smiled, lifting his head so he could glance slyly at his lover. "Show each other perhaps? Mutual displays of affection?"

Vin grinned, eyes lighting up. "I’ll make it worth yer while."

"You always do."

Vin moved swiftly. In one single motion he managed to straddle Ezra’s hips and push him on to his back without ever really gaining his feet. Vin’s hands moved to caress Ezra’s chest, the unbuttoned and untucked shirt proving to be no obstacle, giving him easy access to the smooth expanse of skin. A wicked smile lit Vin’s face.

"You should dress like this more often."

Green eyes narrowed. He would not be seen like this anywhere else. It would be undignified. It was not a condition befitting a gentleman.

"Such a state of undress is hardly," he gasped, unable to finish his sentence when Vin lowed his head to nibble at a spot just below his ear, a spot that always made him go weak in the knees. He tipped his head back involuntarily; unconsciously encouraging Vin to continue his gentle assault. The tracker’s hands continued to ghost over his chest, pausing to tease his nipples, making Ezra sigh softly.

As much as he wanted and needed to indulge their passion, he didn’t want his lover to suffer any pain either. He moved his hands to cup Vin’s face, pulling the tracker’s head up so he could make eye contact. "Your ribs?"

"Are fine." Vin answered firmly, blue eyes easily holding green. "Making love to you won’t hurt me any." His eyes twinkled. "Might even help." He smiled lasciviously, licking his lips. "You always make me feel mighty damn good, Ez."

His voice had roughened, gotten softer and deeper as he spoke, making Vin’s tone husky, warm and tempting. Ezra’s cock hardened just listening to it. The tone was audible proof of his lover’s rising ardor triggering a sympathetic response in him that Ezra couldn’t and didn’t want to resist. He pulled Vin toward him, kissing him deeply. Ezra tried to explore every bit of that well loved, familiar grotto, committing to memory again the texture, flavor, and terrain.

When they broke the kiss both were panting for breath. Ezra noted that Vin’s eyes had gotten dark, the shade shifted from sky blue to almost indigo. His suspected his own were equally dark with desire and need.

Vin shifted enough so his hands would have easy access to undo Ezra’s pants. Ezra was making short work of the buttons on Vin’s shirt eager to feel satin smooth skin under his hands. The tracker tilted his head back, eyes closed, hands suddenly still, clenching the material of Ezra’s pants when Ezra started to tease his nipples.

The gambler was fully aware of how sensitive Vin was and relished in the reaction such light, deft touches invariably generated. He liked pleasing his lover, liked generating pleasure as much as he enjoyed receiving it. He sat up enough so he could replace his fingers of one hand with his lips and tongue. He was careful not to dislodge Vin from his perch while he suckled, making the little nub he was laving peak and harden further. He applied his teeth, lightly nipping his way across Vin’s chest to the other nipple. Vin whimpered in response to his tender assault, arching his chest trying to get closer.

Ezra lazily kissed his way up to the hollow of Vin’s throat. He knew if he lavished too much attention of Vin’s chest it could get uncomfortably intense for the sharpshooter, more like pain than pleasure, and he didn’t want that. He was careful to keep his touch feather light, not wanting to aggravate the bruises his lover bore around his neck. He smiled against Vin’s skin remember when he’d suffered similar injuries and Vin offered to ‘kiss it and make it better’. Time to return the favor.

The tracker had started to grind his pelvis against Ezra’s in a languid, sensual movement. The gambler doubted his lover was even conscious of doing it. The effect on Ezra was undeniable and he moaned softly. There was too much fabric between them. He wanted more skin. A lot more. Only one way to rectify this.

He pulled back, waiting for Vin to look at him dazed blue eyes somewhat unfocused. He smiled softly. "You have on too many clothes."

Vin blinked and then grinned. "Can fix that." He placed a hand in the center of Ezra’s chest and pushed him down again. With graceful shrug Vin divested himself of his unbuttoned shirt. He rose smoothly to his feet, giving Ezra a slow wink as he undid his belt and button fly. He balanced neatly while shimmying out of his pants.

Vin bent from the waist to finish undoing Ezra’s pants. "Lift up." He commanded softly. Ezra complied and Vin slipped his pants down over his hips to his knees. Both eyebrows rose in surprise at the lack of any more clothing. A wicked smile appeared as one hand caressed Ezra’s bare flank. "You should definitely dress like this more often, Ez."

"I may consider it." Ezra licked his lips, eyes slanted coyly, his tone teasing when he spoke. "Perhaps I shall forgo my undergarments more often. Say while we ate dinner or played poker."

Vin took a ragged breath and swallowed hard. "Jus’ the thought…o’ you not wearin’ all them layers…not so covered all the time." He closed his eyes, sinking to his knees to straddle Ezra’s hips again. "God, Ez. Know it’s stupid. Yer not talkin’ about runnin’ round naked but…that really gets to me."

Ezra captured Vin’s hand where his fingers were still making light circles causing his skin to tingle. He raised the hand to his lips, kissing the palm. "It’s not stupid." It was rather endearing that his lover would find something so simple to be erotic.

Vin nodded slowly, turning his hand to cup Ezra’s face before he leaned forward and kissed him. He placed kisses on Ezra’s forehead and eyelids before landing on his mouth. He continued to work his way down Ezra’s chest, stopping to suck and bite hard enough just above his heart to mark him.

"Mine." Vin growled softly, kissing away the momentary inconsequential pain his action caused.

"Yours." Ezra agreed. He usually sported at least one of Vin’s marks and rather liked doing so. But then I mark him just as often.

Vin reached to grab his jacket from where it still lay folded near by. He withdrew from one pocket a small tin Ezra easily recognized. He offered the tin to Ezra.

"I feel like goin’ for a ride." He whispered hoarsely, nuzzling Ezra’s neck. Ezra nodded, not trusting his voice. ‘Goin’ for a ride’ was how Vin referred to the position when he took Ezra inside him while being on top. The gambler thought the expression rather apt.

He opened the tin and lightly coated his fingers. He prepared Vin’s tight entrance, taking his time, delighting in the small sighs and moans his ministrations produce. He did his best to ignore the affect Vin’s slow rocking of his pelvis and the rubbing against his leaking erection was causing. He bit his lip when Vin moved his hands to run fingers through his hair and stroke every reachable bit of skin, shuddering with the effort to not simply give in to the sensations.

"Now, Ez." Vin panted. "Please….Please."

Ezra nodded, unable to refuse such a heartfelt plea even if he wanted to. He offered the tin to Vin. He turned his head slightly, unable to watch as Vin’s long fingers stroked and coated his rampant hard on. He hissed out his enjoyment of being touched in one long breath. No one ever made him feel this good. Ever.

His hands gripped the earth, fighting to stay in control as Vin rose up and slowly lowered himself. He took in Ezra’s cock so slowly it was sweet torture. Ezra resisted the urge to thrust, not wanting to rush the moment. He wanted this to last as long as possible.

Ezra waited for Vin to adjust and settle himself before he rolled his hips in one long, deliberately sensuous movement. He knew he’d gotten the angle and motion right. The way Vin’s internal muscles clamped around him, the way his lover shuddered, mouth dropping open to emit a satisfied sound not unlike a big cat’s rumbling purr were unmistakable proof his lover liked what he did. So he did it again.

They began moving in concert, starting with a slow steady rhythm. Ezra always wanted to prolong these quiet, buzzing moments of simply feeling good. It would all too soon give way to driving urgency, spiraling tighter and upward to push toward completion.

Ezra moved a hand to stroke Vin’s cock. On each up stroke he let the pad of his thumb ghost over the glans, making Vin tip his head back, tendons standing out in stark relief. Ezra fought to keep his eyes open wanting to see the building ecstasy on Vin’s face, to see the flush that encompassed his skin, to watch the play of muscles of Vin’s powerful thighs as lifted himself up and down.

As their movements gained speed, Ezra closed his eyes, unable to handle the combined physical and visual input. Even with his eyes closed, Vin’s soft sighs, moans and mewling cries of pleasure continued to urge him to thrust harder, faster and deeper. He moaned softly, biting his lip trying to maintain some measure of control.

"God…Ezzzzra." Vin grounded out, his voice barely recognizable. The tracker was panting and saying his name over and over again, almost chanting it.

Ezra knew he was babbling something, giving voice to the same sort of desperate, unintelligible plea as his lover. It was like the whole universe was winding tightly down to a single point, like riding a tidal wave and trying hard not to drown. He could feel the tingle starting at the base of his spin and small tremors that heralded his climax. He resisted, not wanting to come before Vin.

Vin’s cock twitched in his hand as the tracker’s entire body tightened almost vibrating with tension. Ezra knew he was close. He ran his free hand up and over Vin’s chest, tweaking a nipple between thumb and forefinger knowing that was all it would take to push him over the edge. Vin shuddered and came with a coyote like howl. As he shot his seed on Ezra’s chest the corresponding internal spasms had Ezra releasing his own into Vin’s tight channel.

Vin collapsed forward, catching his weight on his elbows, resting his head on Ezra’s shoulder, breathing hard. Ezra’s own breathing was far from steady. He could feel his pulse pounding, which contrasted pleasantly with the overwhelming feeling of lassitude and satisfaction.

Vin’s skin twitched randomly, something Ezra knew happened after a particularly intense orgasm. He thought of them as aftershocks. With a soft sigh Ezra raised a hand to card through Vin’s curls petting him in a movement that they both found soothing. The action eased the passion of the past moments into something less intense.

Vin nuzzled his neck before raising his head to make eye contact. "You okay?"

Ezra chuckled, green eyes bright. "I think I should be asking you that."

Vin winked. "I am so much better than okay. I’m great." He kissed him, a soft press of lips to lips. "Told ya…you always make me feel good." The last bit was just as whisper soft as his lips had been.

Ezra smiled. "Yes, well, I would hate to have proven you wrong."

"Woulda been ungentlemanly of ya." Vin waggled his eyebrows. "Course since ya sort of takin’ to runnin’ around half dressed, I can’t really think o’ you as a gentlemen."

Ezra laughed lightly. "Does that mean you don’t want me to wash those hard to reach places for you?" His voice was decidedly suggestive. It was something of a habit for them to clean up in the pool after making love in this spot, to take the time cleaning each other, which more often than not led to a repeat performance.

Vin looked decidedly appalled at the idea of Ezra not washing his back. "No." Vin answered firmly. "Not just no, hell no."

He disentangled himself from Ezra and struggled to his feet. He offered a hand to Ezra to help him to his feet. The gambler didn’t need help getting up, but he appreciated the gesture just the same.

"I’m thinkin’ the water should oughta be almost as warm as what you like in the tub."

At this time of year, the pool was sufficiently shallow that the sun would have warmed it to a more or less comfortable temperature. Ezra made a graceful, inviting motion to toward the water. "Shall we find out, Mr. Tanner?"

Vin grinned. "We shall, Mr. Standish."

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