Ends of the Earth: Gay Romance Read online

  “We’ll definitely see you for the hike, and if you come by tomorrow night, Maggie can sing you another soul-crushing song.”

  Strange relief flowed, and Ben smiled. “Sounds like a plan. How long are you here for, by the way?” What are my odds of getting you alone?

  “Ten days, so we’ve got eight left.”

  “Great.” Ben glanced around the campsite. “You’ll be sealing up that cooler, I’m sure?”

  “Safe and sound in the trunk. And I’m glad you’re checking to make sure everyone else around here has too.” Jason grinned, his face lighting up as he brushed a stray lock of hair off his forehead, his red lips dark in the firelight. “Thanks again.”

  As Ben strolled off with a casual wave, he whistled to himself, imagining all the things they could do in eight days.

  The next morning, Ben had a spring in his step when he saw Maggie and Jason waiting near the ranger’s station. His stomach fluttered, and images of the dream that woke him up hard and aching flickered through his mind. He’d stroked himself roughly in the dawn light and imagined Jason on his knees, mouth hot and wet, those red lips stretched wide—

  As his dick stirred again, Ben closed his eyes and gave his head a mental shake. Last thing he needed was to walk up with a bulge in his pants. He took a deep, steadying breath. If he played his cards right, that dream could become reality at some point during the week. Hell, he should probably go to town and fire up Grindr, but Jason sent a thrill through him that he hadn’t felt in too long.

  Rain drizzled from the steel sky, the air thick. Ben hadn’t expected a big group for the hike, and so far no one else had arrived. “Morning,” he called out as he approached.

  Maggie waved excitedly. “Hi, Ben! What’s today’s hike going to be about?”

  He grinned at her excitement. “What do you want it to be about? Doesn’t look like too many other people are interested in this lousy weather.”

  “I want to know more about the birds around here. And people need to learn about raincoats.” Maggie indicated her bright red poncho, the hood drawn around her face, making her hazel eyes look even bigger.

  Ben laughed. “Apparently they do.” He wore a dark green rain slicker similar to the navy blue jacket Jason wore. He tugged on the wide brim of his hat. “Need to learn about hats too.” He turned to Jason, who wore a Phillies cap. “Have a good sleep?”

  “Aside from the fact that it gets way too cold here at night for July. The tent didn’t leak, so that’s something.”

  “Cold? There wasn’t even any frost this morning!” Ben teased.

  “Did I mention it’s July?”

  “City slicker.”

  “Damn right.” Jason grinned.

  Ben waited a few minutes to see if any other campers would brave the sodden weather, but soon led the way onto the trail. Maggie and Jason listened attentively as Ben told them about the birds in the area, giving background info on the various species.

  After he’d run through his bird lessons, he asked Maggie, “Do you remember what to do if you spot a bear?”

  Jason snorted. “Pray? Kiss your butt goodbye?”

  Maggie sighed. “Dad. Be serious, please.”

  He raised his hands. “Sorry.”

  She rattled off the information Ben had told them the previous day about bear attacks, and Ben nodded. “You know your stuff. Good job, Maggie.”

  “Oh, and we should sing while we walk so they can hear us coming. What do you want to sing?”

  “Know anything by the Beatles?” Ben asked teasingly.

  Her face lit up. “Of course! ‘Yellow Submarine’ is awesome.” She loudly launched into the first verse.

  Jason hummed along, peering into the dense woods, clearly ill at ease now that he’d been reminded of the potential for danger. “Whose idea was it to come out here again?”

  Maggie broke off from singing. “Don’t worry, Dad. Remember, Grizzly attacks are very rare.”

  “If you say so, honey.”

  “I say so. Sorry, didn’t mean to worry you.” Ben clapped Jason on the shoulder and led them farther down the path toward a lookout.

  Beyond a wooden railing, a vista of trees unfolded below, with mountain peaks disappearing into the clouds in the distance. Even in the gray drizzle, the view was remarkable, but Ben wished he could have shown it to them in the brilliant sunshine.

  “Wow,” Maggie breathed. “This is so cool.”

  Jason pressed a kiss to her head. “It really, really is.”

  Ben felt strangely proud and pleased by their awe. Not that he had anything to do with the gorgeous view, but it was gratifying to see his home appreciated.

  “Am I allowed to look for rocks?”

  It took a second for Ben to realize Maggie was talking to him. “Sure, just be careful. Make noise in the bush, and don’t go too far from the trail. Stay in sight.”

  “Okay!” Maggie darted off.

  Jason frowned. “Are you sure that’s okay? I don’t want her to damage anything.”

  “Don’t worry. The ecosystem isn’t quite that fragile.”

  “She’s a budding geologist too, as you can tell,” Jason added.

  “I can indeed.”

  They watched Maggie’s progress with an easy silence between them. Ben was dying to ask Jason some questions, but he figured it was best to play it cool and start slowly. “So, Maggie’s eight?”

  “Yep. Well, eight and a quarter, as she will insist loudly if you ask her.”

  “Funny how when we get a little older, we’re not so eager to add on to our age.”

  “True. Although I’m twenty-five, and I wouldn’t mind looking a little older.”

  Whoa. Jason didn’t just look young. Ben blinked at him, doing the math. “So you were…”

  “Seventeen when Maggie was born. I know, I was young. Believe me, I know.”

  “Sorry. I don’t mean to pry.”

  “Sure you do.” Jason smiled easily, a little dimple appearing in one cheek. “Most people are curious. It’s okay as long as they’re not dicks about it.”

  “Well, I try not to be a dick. How am I doing so far?”

  The dimple deepened. “Not bad.”

  In a rush of want, Ben leaned closer, taking a step despite himself. Jason was a grown man, but there was an innocence about him that affected Ben in a way he couldn’t explain. Jason hummed with a sweet warmth he wanted to touch. Needed to touch.

  Jason’s brows drew together, and he licked his lips. “Ben?”

  Maggie called out from the trees, “Dad! How many rocks can I bring home?”

  Heart thumping, Ben reached down and plucked a wet rock from the sodden leaves and dirt. “Speaking of which, this is a…” His mind whirled. Rock. “Um, I’m blanking on the name, but maybe Maggie would like it.” It was only an ordinary gray stone, but it was a little shiny in the rain, at least.

  Jason answered Maggie. “As many as you can fit in the pockets of your jeans. The ones you’re wearing, I mean.” To Ben he said, “Cool, thanks.” He took the rock, their fingers touching, and Ben could swear a spark shot all the way to his balls.

  “Sure. No problem.” He managed not to squeak like a teenaged boy.

  Jason shook his head as Maggie bent over again, her red poncho flashing through the leaves. “You should see her room. Rocks everywhere.”

  Breathing deeply, Ben regained control. “No Barbie dolls for her, huh?” He was being officially nosy now, but he needed to concentrate on something other than how hot Jason Kellerman was.

  “Oh, she likes her dolls too. Maggie isn’t…easily categorized.”

  “She’s a great kid. You’re lucky.”

  “I am.” Jason looked distant for a moment before he shook his head and smiled.

  “I’m sorry about her mother. It must be hard.” He had so many questions that would likely fall into the “dick” category, so he bit his tongue.

  Jason’s voice was steady. “I lost Amy a long time ago. It’s a challenge ra
ising Maggie on my own, but you do what you have to do. I’d give up anything for her. Everything.”

  “You don’t have any family helping you?”

  “No.” Jason’s jaw tightened, his spine stiffening. “We’re just fine on our own.”

  Hmm. Definitely a story there, but Ben didn’t think it was wise to press it. “Most guys wouldn’t be able to handle it—taking care of a little kid all alone. Sure as hell not as a teenager.”

  Jason shrugged and fiddled with a damp curl behind his ear, tugging down the brim of his baseball cap. “Guess I’m not most guys.”

  Definitely not. Ben watched Jason wipe a raindrop from his cheek. He cleared his throat. “How do you manage it?”

  Jason was about to say something else when he stood up straighter. “Where is she?”

  Ben realized Maggie had wandered completely out of sight while they’d been talking. “Don’t worry, I’m sure she’s right over there.” He pushed up the brim of his hat, peering into the gloom.

  “Maggie!” Jason called.

  A lark’s song whistled through the trees, and the raindrops seemed to echo in the stillness.

  Before Ben could say another word, Jason bolted into the forest. “Maggie!”

  Ben followed. “It’s okay, don’t panic.”

  “Dad, come look at this!”

  Ben could practically feel Jason relax, his breath whooshing out in a long sigh as Maggie reappeared and pointed excitedly at something in her hand. Jason listened patiently, running a hand over Maggie’s damp hair and pulling up her hood, retightening it under her chin.

  Ben found himself smiling as he watched them. How had this young man handled raising a child? And raising one so well? Not that Ben was an expert, but he flashed back to muddy hikes with his parents and their endless patience as they taught him about the land. How happy and safe he’d felt exploring the wilderness with them.

  Jason pulled his phone from his pocket, and Ben said, “No cell service anywhere out here. Sorry. You’d have to go down to Apgar Village.”

  “Yeah, it’s been weird not going online. But a good weird, you know? I was just looking at the time. Shouldn’t we be getting back? It’s almost been an hour.”

  “Nah, it’s okay. I don’t have another tour until after lunch. There’s a pretty cool cave nearby if you want to see it.”

  Maggie gasped and clapped, and Jason laughed, a throaty chuckle that tightened Ben’s groin. “That’s Maggie for ‘yes.’”

  As Ben led the way, he hoped he’d hear Jason Kellerman say yes again soon in an entirely different context.

  CHAPTER THREE

  “I don’t know about this.”

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “Dad, why do you always have to worry so much?”

  “Because it’s my job.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Is not.”

  “Is…” Jason stopped himself before he sounded even more like an eight-year-old. “Maggie, I just think it might be too dangerous.”

  Her sigh was decidedly longsuffering. “You’re such a control freak.”

  “What? I am not. You don’t even know what a control freak is.”

  “Sure I do. I saw it on TV. This is why you won’t let me go to sleepovers. You want to be in charge of everything.”

  So maybe he was a little overprotective. He could admit it. But after almost losing custody of Maggie, he kept her close. “No, I want you to be safe. That’s all.”

  “Look, those kids over there are younger than me. Besides, we have to wear life jackets.”

  “Right, because there’s a good chance of falling out.”

  “Dad, would you chill?”

  Jason laughed despite himself. They were in line at a small wooden kiosk to sign up for a morning of white-water rafting. The day had dawned sunny and perfectly warm. Down a gentle slope, the Flathead River was calm and placid. However, Jason knew that less than a mile away, the river became a frothy, frenzied beast, crashing violently over massive rocks.

  “The rapids are only twos and threes. That’s nothing.” Maggie had done her homework, as usual.

  “Why don’t we go canoeing on the lake back near the campsite? That’ll be even more fun.” He tried to sound enthusiastic.

  Maggie’s tone indicated that she thought her father was being completely lame. “You can still drown in a canoe, you know.”

  Terrific. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

  Maggie lowered her voice and leaned closer. “Is it too much money?”

  “No! Of course not. Don’t worry about that.” He smiled in what he hoped was a completely reassuring way.

  Truthfully, at just over a hundred dollars for the half-day trip, it was pricier than Jason would like, but he hated that Maggie was even aware of money beyond her allowance. At her age, he hadn’t had to think about what anything cost. Yes, his parents were rich, but still—kids shouldn’t have to worry about money. A hot slither of guilt snaked down his spine.

  They were almost at the head of the line, and the woman in front asked the ticket seller if she’d get wet. She wore pressed capris and a crisp white blouse, and her hands sparkled with jewels. Maggie and Jason glanced at each other and tried to hide their giggles.

  Maggie whispered too loudly, “It’s like she thinks this is Hersheypark.”

  “You will get wet on this ride,” Jason intoned in a deep announcer’s voice.

  “Excuse me?” The woman turned and regarded him with one eyebrow arched over the rim of her gleaming sunglasses. With her blond hair she could have been his mother, right down to the French manicure.

  Jason stammered. “I—I was just talking to my daughter.”

  “Daughter? You barely look old enough to shave. How sordid.”

  “You’re sordid!” Maggie crossed her arms and glared up at the woman.

  Jason pulled Maggie against him, arm around her tense shoulders. “I think it’s our turn.” He motioned to the teenage cashier, who watched the unfolding drama with wide eyes, twirling her ponytail around one finger. “If you’ll please step aside.”

  The woman flounced off without another word, and Jason pulled out his wallet to buy their tickets. Maggie watched the woman leave. “Why would someone like that go on vacation in Montana?”

  Before Jason could answer, a low voice behind them replied, “It’s the ‘in’ thing these days. The rich and famous are getting back to nature in droves.”

  “Ben!” Maggie squealed, her anger dissolving. “What are you doing here?”

  Wearing a tank top and shorts, with a life jacket hanging over his bare, hair-dusted arm, and a paddle on his wide shoulder, Jason was willing to bet Ben was going rafting. He tried to ignore the strange, spikey flush that spread from head to toe.

  Ben had come by the night before for marshmallows, and had surprised Maggie with chocolate and graham crackers for s’mores. He’d also taught her an old campfire song about barges. While Ben insisted he wasn’t much of a singer, his baritone was gentle and steady, and Jason wanted to hear it again.

  Maybe Ben could take time off work and spend a whole evening with them. Jason would cook a fancier dinner than pasta and jarred sauce, and they could sit by the fire and talk after Maggie went to bed. With Ben there, he wouldn’t worry about bears. Wouldn’t worry about anything much at all.

  Jason couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually made a new friend. His coworkers at the cookie factory were nice and all, but he never saw them outside the assembly line. He was far too busy with Maggie.

  He cleared his throat. “Hey. You’re going on this trip too?” It was dumb to think of Ben as a friend. He was older and probably just being nice. Just doing his job as a ranger.

  “I’m filling in this morning. I’ve been a guide here since I was a teenager. Still do it on my days off once in a blue moon.”

  “Cool! Can we be in your boat?” Maggie grinned ear to ear, and Jason found he was doing the same.

 
Ben winked at Maggie. “I think I might be able to pull a few strings.”

  Giddiness bubbled through Jason, his worries about safety evaporating. Ben wouldn’t let anything happen to them on the river. To be polite he said, “Don’t go to any trouble or anything.”

  “Nah, it’s no trouble.” Ben smiled, his cheeks creasing. “I’ll see you down by the first raft there.” He indicated with his chin.

  Jason paid the cashier, who directed him to the equipment shed. Inside, a teenage boy wearing a Metallica T-shirt and what appeared to be a perpetual frown sized them up and provided life jackets and helmets.

  Through the open shed doors, Jason watched Ben by the river’s edge, bent over examining the rigging on the raft, his white tank top stretched across tan skin and firm muscles. Jason fidgeted, excitement ping-ponging through him.

  The last time he’d felt this way about spending time with a friend was with Edward Martin at equestrian camp the summer before sophomore year of high school. Amy had teased him mercilessly about his “bromance,” and he’d brushed it off.

  “Dad, are you okay?” Maggie asked, hands on her hips. “You don’t have to be afraid, I promise.”

  “I know, baby. Thank you.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead and stood still while the teenager plonked a helmet on his head and tightened the strap.

  Ben waited by the large inflatable raft as people trickled down from the shed. He crouched and tugged Maggie’s life jacket. “You always have to make sure your jacket’s on securely. See these buckles?” Maggie nodded, listening carefully. She was like a sponge, always eager to learn, and Jason watched with pride as Ben went on. “You have to pull them like this to double check that everything’s nice and tight. Here, you try.”

  Maggie did as she was told. “Is that good?”

  “Looks great to me, kiddo.” Ben stood. “What about Dad?”

  “Huh? Oh, I’m fine.” Jason’s fingers were suddenly shaky and useless as he tried to fit one side of the zipper of his life jacket into the other.