Sequel to: 'Tis the Season (Chapter 13)

Two days had past since Ezra Standish enjoyed his first real Christmas with all the trimmings. He now sat astride one of his gifts and on his way to survey another.

"You ok?" Vin asked as he turned in the saddle.

Ezra resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his lover. "I have ridden before, remember?"

"Yeah, but this ain't Pepper."

"Chaucer and I are getting along fine," he assured him. Ezra shivered. Why on earth had he let Vin talk him into riding to look at the land his brothers had given them. They should have taken the nice warm truck. But no! Not his outdoors man. Oh, no, Vin had to feel the wind in his face. Ezra admitted that he also enjoyed the sensation, but not when said wind had a chill factor that equaled 30 below. He did however enjoy seeing Vin's ass bounce in the saddle.

Ezra had to grip the saddle horn as Chaucer suddenly stopped. "What's the matter boy? Are you hurt?" he asked, swinging from the saddle.

"What's wrong?" Vin asked.

"I don't know he just stopped." He watched as Vin gave the horse a once over.

"I don't see nothing wrong with him," Vin shrugged. Then smiled, "Maybe he's like you and doesn't like the cold."

"He's a very smart fella," Ezra reminded him.

"Come on, we're almost there," Vin told him. "We can walk the rest of the way."

Walk? In the snow? Ezra hung his head and gave Chaucer a dirty look. 'Bad boy,' he mouthed to the animal. The horse shook his head at him as if to say, no.

Coming to an overgrown area boxed off by a scattering of trees Ezra had to smile at Vin's enthusiasm.

"Ok, I'm picturing a log cabin," he said with a big grin. Spreading his arms out wide he continued, "Something a little bit bigger than what we have now. With one bedroom . . ."

"Better make it two," Ezra suggested. "In case mother ever decides to come back."

"Ok, two bedroom, with three bathrooms. Two full and one half . . ."

"Let's make it two stories!" he added. "Our room will be the only one on the second floor."

"Yeah, I like the sound of that," Vin agreed with a smile.

Looking at each other they suddenly smiled and at the same time said, "We can get a new shower!"

"A big one," Ezra smiled, taking his lover's hand in his.

"Yeah, one we can make love in," Vin told him.

"We have to have a front and back porch . . ."

"A wrap around porch!"

"With really big swings on them . . ."

"And rockers!"

"A large livingroom with a huge picture window for our Christmas tree!"

"And a stone fireplace, for the stockings . . ."

"A bigger kitchen . . ."

"We need a bigger room . . ."

"With larger closets!"

They both laughed at their excitement.

"It would be really great if our room had a balcony . . . so we could sit and the sun set," Vin told him.

"Or make love," Ezra whispered into this ear.

Vin turned and wrapped his arms around him and asked, "Can we have a hammock?"

"You want to make love in a hammock?"

"No!" he laughed. "Well, I don't know. I've never made love on a hammock before, but I don't see any reason why we can't try."

Ezra laughed and pulled him closer.

"This is going to be so great, Ezra. We're building our future here," Vin said resting his forehead on Ezra's.

"A place we can grow old together in," he gave Vin a slow deep kiss.

Pulling back Vin panted and whispered, "If it wasn't so cold I'd make love to you here and now."

"If it weren't so cold I'd let you," Ezra smiled against his lips. "Let's go home and finish this there."

"Sounds like a plan."

Hand in hand they walked back to the horses. "Hey, Chaucer you ready to go home?" Ezra asked the animal. Then laughed as he nodded his head as if to say, yes.

"Are you ever going to wear this?" Ezra asked, the next morning as they dressed. He held up the gold chain he'd bought Vin back in the summer.

"I done told you I wouldn't," Vin said as he tucked his shirt into his jeans.

"I think it would look good on you . . ."

"Real men don't wear necklaces . . ."

"For the last time it's a chain! A chain! Not a necklace," Ezra nearly growled at him. "Men wear chains!"

"Not me!" Vin swore.

"Fine!" he said stuffing the chain into his pocket.

"What are you gonna do with it?"

"What do you care?" Ezra quipped. "What about the silk shirt?"

"What about it?" Vin asked. "Look, Ezra I'm a jeans and t-shirt kinda guy . . ."

"I give up!" Ezra threw his hands up in frustration. Stubborn, pig-headed Texan! He muttered as he walked from the room.

"Hey! I heard that!" Vin hollered.

"Good!" he hollered right back. Then stepped out on the porch and waved at Sarah as she got out of her car. Darting a glance at the house then back at Sarah, Ezra was struck by an idea. We'll see if real men don't wear chains, he thought as he approached her.

Two hours later Vin stood at the kitchen door looking at his lover where he sat in the porch swing of their bunkhouse. For someone who claimed to hate the cold as much as Ezra did, he sure spent a lot of time on that swing. Of course, he was wearing his new jacket and had two blankets wrapped around him. Vin hated it when they fought. Or argued. Or what ever the hell it was they did this morning. He hated it even more when he hurt Ezra's feelings.

"What's the matter with you?"

Vin shook his head and didn't answer. Turning away from the door he looked at his brother and caught a flash of gold around his neck. "Where'd you get that?" he asked.

"Sarah gave it to me," Chris told him. "It's a nice chain, isn't it? It probably cost something, too, 'cause this is real gold. I can grantee that this won't be turning my neck green."

All Vin could do was nod his head. He knew where Sarah had gotten that chain. And even though he understood why Ezra gave it away, but Vin hated the fact that Ezra had. That was his chain, dammit!

What did you expect? His conscious argued. Ezra asked you if you were going to wear it and you said no. Just like that silk shirt . . . Oh, God, Vin swore. Not my shirt! He ran from the house. Darted across the yard, past his lover, into the house, and then their room. He stood in front of the closet almost afraid to open the door. Easing it open, Vin breathed a sigh of relief at seeing the dark blue silk shirt still there. Thank you, he thought.

Vin sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Stepping from the room, he headed outside. Standing on the porch Vin slowly approached his lover.

"Ezra?"

"Uhm?" Ezra said without lifting his head from the book he was reading.

"Are you still mad at me?" That brought Ezra's head up fast.

"I wasn't ever mad at you Vin."

Looking into those eyes Vin saw that he wasn't.

"If you don't like the necklace . . . then you don't," Ezra said with an assuring smile. "It's no big deal."

Vin smiled because he was glad things were back to normal. "Ya got room on that swing for me?"

"There's always room for you," his lover told him with a welcoming smile. "I'll even share my blankets with you."

Now, Vin knew that things were truly back to normal. If Ezra was upset with him then he wouldn't be offering to share his blankets.

Ezra got to his feet and handed one of the blankets over.

Vin wrapped it around his shoulders, sat on the swing leaving one foot on the porch, leaned back against the chain and patted the spot between his spread legs, indicating Ezra should sit there. Once seated Ezra draped the other blanket over their legs.

Pulling his lover closer Vin rested his chin on Ezra's shoulder. He felt his senses stir as he realized that Ezra was wearing the cologne he gave him for Christmas. Taking a deep breath, Vin closed his eyes, savoring the buzz it gave him.

"God, Ezra you smell good," he told him.

"Like it, do ya?"

"Oh, yeah," Vin groaned in his ear, then gently bit the lobe.

"I . . . I got it for Christmas," Ezra told him in a breathless voice.

"The . . . guy must . . . have really . . . good taste," he said between kisses along the back of Ezra's neck.

"Yeah, he . . . he tastes real good . . ."

Vin had to laugh.

"I . . . meant he has real good taste," Ezra laughed.

Turning Ezra in his arms, Vin gave him a slow sensual kiss that had them both wanting more. Impatient fingers burrowed under jackets and shirts needing to touch warm hard skin. They both froze as they heard someone step onto the porch followed by the sound of the door swinging shut.

"Did you hear the door?" Ezra asked.

Vin opened his mouth to answer him, when the door opened and Buck walked out.

"Don't mind me," Buck told them with a knowing smile. "I'm just borrowing some cinnamon. Inez is baking."

"Fine, now go away," he said in a tight voice.

Buck stepped off the porch and took about ten steps before turning back to ask, "Hey, Vin, what cha gonna do with that ratty old couch when ya move?"

Vin sat up nearly sending Ezra to the floor. "It's not a ratty old couch and I'm taking it with me."

"All right, all right," Buck laughed holding up his hands.

"You stay away from my couch," Vin told his retreating back. "Can you believe that? Buck wants my couch!"

"I know," Ezra said with a shake of his head. "I always thought he had better taste."

"Hey! There's nothing wrong with that couch. It . . . it . . ."

"Has character," Ezra supplied.

"Yes! Character," Vin quickly agreed. "You love that couch as much as I do and you know it!"

The Southerner snorted in response.

"Come on let's go finish what Buck interrupted on the couch," he said pushing them both to their feet. Wrapping his arms around Ezra from behind Vin propelled them toward the door, nuzzling the back of Ezra's neck as they went.

"You have a one track mind," Ezra accused with a smile.

"Are you objecting?" Vin asked and bit him on the shoulder.

Ezra shivered and shook his head. "Oh no, I love your mind."

Vin laughed and kicked the door shut behind him then turned Ezra in his arms. Capturing those tempting lips he swept Ezra up in his arms and gently laid him on the couch, never breaking the kiss. Stretching out on top of him, Vin groaned as someone knocked on the door.

"Ignore it," Ezra pleaded, tugging on the clothes that separated them.

Feeling those hands undo his jeans then slip inside and squeeze his ass, had all thought except Ezra leaving Vin's mind. Desperately needing to touch in return he sat up, quickly removed Ezra's jacket, and then his shirt.

"Vin? Ezra?" JD's voice could be heard.

Vin ran his hands up Ezra's chest.

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting something, but Peso and Chaucer have gotten loose . . ."

"Is that bad?" Ezra whispered.

"It could be."

"Then we'd better take care of it."

"We'll finish this later," Vin promised, giving him one last kiss. Then got to his feet and fastened his pants on the way to the door.

"We're coming, JD," Vin told his younger brother as he opened the door.

"I'm sorry, guys, but they wouldn't let me and Casey near 'em," JD apologized.

"It's okay, JD," Ezra said with a smile. "How do you suppose they got out?"

JD smiled and said, "Not sure, but I think Chaucer may have some hidden talents."

"Talents? What do you mean?"

"Chaucer knows how to open his stall."

Vin laughed and shook his head. "What about Peso?"

JD shook his head. "Chaucer must have let him out," he shrugged.

"He's a bad influence just like his daddy," Vin teased, then received a playful shove.

The four of them found the two horses chopping on what grass they could find in the snow. However, upon seeing their approach they darted away. A whistle from Vin stopped Peso, but when Ezra tried it with Chaucer the horse merely shook his head at him.

Ezra threw up his hands and shouted, "Okay, fine! Stay out here in the cold! We're taking Peso to a nice warm barn."

Chaucer stubbornly stood there.

"Come on, let's go," he said to the others, turning his back on the horse. "Be careful the cougars or wolves don't get you," Ezra turned back to warn the animal. "Specially the wolves."

Chaucer twitched his tail and looked at the wooded area then nickered.

"We can't just leave him here," Casey said.

"Don't worry, he'll follow," Ezra reassured her as he turned back around. "Come on, Peso, let's go get you some oaks and some fresh hay," he said loud enough so that Chaucer heard him. They had only taken a few stepped when they heard the sound of hooves pounding up behind them. As punishment Ezra ignored Chaucer as he nudged him on the shoulder.

"Looks like ya got yourself a friend there, Ez," Vin told him with a smile.

"Heaven help me, but I think you're right," he replied with a smile of his own.

They secured the horses and tied Chaucer's stall shut, preventing another escape. Stepping from the barn JD cried, "Let's have a snowball fight!"

"Let's not and say we did," Ezra suggested. Only to be hit in the chest by one. Hearing Casey cry out told him that she too had been stuck.

"Oooh, are we having a snow ball fight?" Buck asked as him and Inez stepped from the house.

No's and yeses' could both be heard.

"Come on, Ezra it'll be fun," Vin told him.

"You find being pelted with frozen projectiles fun?" Ezra shook his head.

"Yeah," Vin replied with a smile. "Tell ya what. If you play with us now, I'll play with you later," he promised with a wink and a silky voice.

Ezra slowly smiled, ignoring the heat that stained his cheeks, and agreed.

They broke up into teams. Or rather paired off into teams, with Chris, Sarah, Josiah, and Molly joining in. Nathan and Rain were in town. Soon the air was filled with flying snow balls. Screaming and laughter could be heard as people were pelted with snow balls. They were all having fun chasing and tackling each other when Nathan and Rain returned.

"Are you people crazy?" Nathan demanded. "Look at you! You're soaking wet! You're gonna catch your death out here!"

"Stop fussing old man," Chris told him. "Have a little fun, why don't cha?"

Ezra paid them little mind as out of the corner of his eye, he caught Vin sneaking up on him and took off running. With a laugh he darted through the others headed for the bunkhouse. Glancing back at Vin he didn't see the fallen limb and tripped, hitting the ground with a good deal of force knocking the air from his lungs. His momentum and the cold slick ground had him sliding into a near by tree, where his hit his head.

He vaguely heard Vin holler his name and tried to get to his feet, but only managed to get to his knees before he felt Vin's hands wrap around his waist.

"Ezra!" Vin hollered dropping to his knees beside him. "Are you all right?" he asked. "Nathan!" he screamed, as blood dripped onto the snow.

"Ezra let's sit you up, okay," Nathan said. "Gently now. Someone get me my bag."

They leaned him back against the tree.

"It's just a scratch and not that bad," Nathan told them a few minutes later. "Head wounds tend to bleed a lot."

"So he's g..gonna, be ok?" Vin asked in shaky voice.

"I'm fine," Ezra told him, even though he didn't feel very fine. His head hurt like hell.

"Nathan?"

"He's fine. Head's gonna hurt him some, but he doesn't have a concussion," Nathan assured him with a smile. "And he really shouldn't do anything too strenuous for a few hours," he went on to say.

Vin shrugged and said, "He don't normally, so that's not a problem . . ."

"Hey!" Ezra protested. "I do strenuous stuff all the time! Hell, I'd like to see one you of you keep the books balanced on this place!"

"Ok," Vin held up his hands. "Nathan meant no heavy lifting or stuff like that . . ."

"No," Nathan interrupted him. "I meant that you shouldn't . . . you know," he said, nodding toward the house.

"Ohhh," they both said.

Ezra watched as Vin ducked his head a little and gave a Nathan a thoughtful look before asking, "A few hours is how long exactly?"

That does it! Ezra thought and pushed Vin away from him as he got quickly to his feet. Too quickly.

"What? It's a valid question!" Vin defended himself.

Ezra jerked away from Josiah's helping hands, even though it felt like he was standing on a merry-go-round and declared, "Well, it didn't sound very valid. And I will not be discussed as if I weren't here! I will not be kept out of the loop!" He used to hate it when his mother did that to him.

"What loop?" he asked getting to his feet. "Hell, Ez, you 'are' the loop!"

"I know that!"

"Then why are we fighting?" Vin cried.

"I don't know!" Ezra exclaimed and lost his battle with the darkness and would have fallen if Vin hadn't have caught him.

Vin clutched Ezra to him and eased them both to the ground. "What happened?" he asked Nathan.

"He passed out . . ."

"No, shit, Sherlock!" Vin snapped. "Why? I thought you said he was fine."

"And he is!" Nathan snapped right back. "He just stood up too fast. See? He's already starting to come around," he said.

Vin saw those green eyes flutter open. "Ezra? Are you okay?" he asked.

Ezra nodded, then said, "I'm fine."

Vin gave him a questioning look. It's wasn't as though he didn't believe Ezra, but his lover had walked out of a hospital and driven from Denver with a knife wound. So he did have to wonder. He also wondered if Josiah hadn't pushed that first day would Ezra have told them about his injuries. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," he said. "I'm sorry, Vin. I didn't mean to snap at you."

"It's okay, Ezra. I didn't mean to upset you," Vin apologized. "Come on, love, let's get you inside and out of the cold."

"Call us if you need anything," Josiah told them as they walked away.

"Ok. Thanks," Vin said over his shoulder. "But we'll be fine."

Stepping into the house Vin headed straight for the bathroom. "How about a nice warm bath?"

"Sounds wonderful," Ezra told him.

Vin sat Ezra on the side of the tub then started the water. Turning back to his lover he began undressing him. Once Ezra was naked Vin removed his own. Stepping into the tub he then helped Ezra in. They both shivered as the warm water washed over their chilled skin.

Reaching for a wash clothe Vin began washing his lover. Starting with his hair and working his way down. Then after washing himself off he pulled Ezra back against him, welcoming the weight and feel of him.

"Are you ok?" Vin asked.

"Other than having a headache . . . I'm fine," Ezra told him.

Thank you, Lord, he sighed. "Good," he said pressing a kiss to his cheek. Pulling the stopper Vin got to his feet, pulling Ezra up with him. Stepping from the tub he grabbed a towel and dried them off.

Sitting Ezra on the toilet Vin removed some salve from the medicine cabinet and doctored the small cut above Ezra's eye, covered it with a band-aide, then kissed it for good measure.

Taking Ezra's hand in his Vin lead them to their bed.

"You want to go to bed now?" Ezra asked. "It's not even seven yet."

Vin shrugged. "I thought it was later. It don't matter though. You need to rest . . ."

"Vin it's just a scratch . . ."

"You passed out," he reminded him. "Now you're resting. Got it?" Vin poked him in the chest. He felt his body respond as Ezra grabbed his finger and gave it a kiss. "Nathan said we shouldn't," he felt the need to say.

"Nathan's not a doctor," Ezra pointed out to him.

"It hasn't been a few hours yet," Vin said. "We can't." Seeing the disappointment in those eyes almost had him giving in, but then he noticed the bandage on Ezra's forehead and felt his resolve tighten up a notch. And offered a compromise. "Just 'cause we can't make love doesn't mean we can't . . . cuddle," he suggested.

"Cuddle," Ezra repeated, with a thoughtful look on his face.

"I'll even read to ya," Vin threw in.

"Really? You'd read to me?"

"Sure. Why not?" Tanner felt his chest swell with pride at the happy smile on Ezra's face.

"Okay, then," Ezra said, then crawled into bed.

"Great! I'll get us some Christmas cookies and wine to snack on," Vin said, hurrying from the room.

A few minutes later Vin sat propped against the headboard trying reading 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens, while Ezra laid draped across his waist, his breath tickling Vin's lower stomach.

"Vin?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you," Ezra said.

"I love you, too," Vin replied, then began rubbing the back of Ezra's neck. After a minute he went back to reading.

"Vin?"

"Yeah?"

"I appreciate what you're doing, but I'm falling asleep here," he said, taking the book from him and dropped it on the floor. "Let's just go to bed and . . . cuddle. Okay?"

With a smile Vin scooted down the bed, adjusted his pillow, then pulled Ezra into his arms. His lover fell asleep almost immediately wrapped in his arms and Vin soon followed.

The next morning Vin stepped into the kitchen and headed straight for the coffee pot. "Hey, Josiah," he said after he'd taken a sip.

"Vin. How's Ezra?"

"Oh, he's fine. His cut's ok, too," Vin told him with a smile. "Buck around?"

"No, him and Inez have gone into town," Josiah replied.

"Damn!" he muttered. Then gave the older man a thoughtful look. "Maybe you can help me?"

"I'll do what I can."

"I need an idea for New Year's."

"Why? Did your other plans fall through?"

"What other plans?"

"Ezra gave me two ticket to see the 'Phantom of the Opera'. Told me you had other plans," Josiah explained.

Vin let his head fall forward, then winced as he struck the table top hard. "Damn," he whispered.

"You never had plans did you," Josiah said, rather than asked.

He shook his head, no. "I didn't know nothing about any opera tickets. All Ezra ever asked was if I ever planned on wearing the silk shirt he gave me."

"And you said?"

"That I was a jeans and t-shirt kinda guy," Vin told him. "Which I am. I've never been one to dress up . . ."

"But Ezra does," Josiah said. "Or used too, anyway."

Vin smiled as he pictured Ezra all dressed up or wearing a silk shirt like the one he gave him. Could see a hint of gold in his lover's smile. He loved that gold his Ezra's smile. "Maybe there is some benefit to dressing up once in awhile," he commented.

"Do you want the tickets back?" Josiah offered.

"No," he told him. "Ezra gave them to you . . . so you and Molly enjoy them. I'll think of something else."

"Are you sure? 'Cause I don't mind giving them back . . ."

"I'm sure," Vin assured him.

"Okay," his brother said, then glanced at his watch. "Well, I gotta go or I'm going to be late for my date with Molly."

Vin nodded and then smiled as he got an idea. He'd ask Ezra out on a date.

The next night most of them sat at the kitchen table eating supper, Buck, Inez, JD and Casey had gone to the movies. Ezra sat on one end of the table while Vin sat on the other. Which had him frowning. He didn't understand why Vin sat 'way' down there and beside him as usual, but he didn't say anything. Not after the tantrum he threw yesterday.

He'd just taken a bite of food when his phone began to ring. "Hello?"

"Hi, Ezra," Vin said.

Ezra felt his eyes widened and leaned forward looking past Nathan, Rain, and Sarah to see Vin do they same so that he could see past Molly and Chris. He smiled as Vin winked at him.

"This is Vin. Vin Tanner."

His smile widened. "Aww yes, Mr. Tanner," Ezra all but purred, making full use of his accent. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"

"I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

Ezra felt his pulse race as he heard Vin's voice drop a notch. "Nothing that cannot wait."

"I know it's short notice and all, but I was wondering if you were free for New Year's?"

"Free for what?"

"For a date?"

"A date?" Ezra repeated, totally forgetting that they were not alone.

"Yes," Vin sighed into the phone. "I could pick you up around seven at Josiah's and then we could enjoy a romantic candle light dinner. Maybe even do a little dancing. What do ya say?"

"I loved to," he told him. "What should I wear?" Ezra asked.

"That's already been taken care of," Vin assured him. "All you have to do is be ready by seven. I'll do the rest."

"I'll look forward to it," he replied.

"Me too," Vin whispered. "Until tomorrow."

"Until tomorrow," Ezra repeated as he looked into Vin's blue eyes. After disconnecting the phone he felt as giddy as a schoolgirl. He had a date. A. Date. God, he hadn't been on a date in years.

Chris rolled his eyes and sighed. Great! He muttered. Here we go again! It was bad enough that Ezra gave Vin that damned sleigh! Now, his brother had to phone his live-in-lover and asked him out for New Year's . . . in front of Sarah!

"I'll be glad when you two move!" he snapped without realizing it, until Sarah kicked him under the table. "Shit! That hurt!"

"Well, that wasn't a very nice thing to say!" Sarah fussed at him.

"I didn't mean it the way it sounded! And don't kick me!" he fussed right back. "It's his fault," he accused Vin.

"Me? What I'd do?"

"You called Ezra and asked him out, that's what!"

"So? What's wrong with that?" Vin asked in his defense.

"You're giving the girls ideas! Making them wonder why we don't do the same for them," Chris explained.

"It's not Vin's fault that you have no sense of romance," Ezra said in defense of his lover. "But then I suppose it's not really your fault, though."

"What makes you say that, Ezra?" Josiah asked, with a smile.

"Because he's a Yankee . . ."

"What?"

"Vin told me you were born in Indiana . . ."

"So?"

"So, you, sir, are a Yankee," he shrugged. "Being from the south romance comes as natural to me as breathing. And being from Texas is almost as good as being from the south. It's in our blood," Ezra explained.

"You're crazy!" Chris suddenly said. "That doesn't make any sense at all," he accused.

"Yeah? Well, when's the last time you did something romantic for Sarah?" Vin countered.

Chris frowned then boasted, "I have something romantic planned for New Year's eve."

"Brace yourself," Ezra told her with a smile.

"Shut up," Chris told him.

New Year's eve started like any other day. Vin got up at his usual time while Ezra slept in. Upon Vin's return they enjoyed a shower together then Ezra went over to the main house to work on the books.

Ezra worked until about noon then decided he'd had enough for one day and went in search of Vin. Stepping into the kitchen he smiled at Josiah and asked, "Have you seen Vin?"

"Yeah, he said he was going home to shower," Josiah told him.

"Without me," Ezra said in mock outrage.

Josiah smiled at him and merely nodded his head. "I think he's getting ready for whatever he has planned for tonight."

"I think I'll go see if I can't help him," he told him with a wink. Just as he reached the door his cell phone began to ring. "Hello?" Ezra said, then smiled as he heard his lover's voice. "What? Why don't you want me to come home? . . . What kind of plans? . . . Well where am I suppose to get ready? . . . Your room? . . . What about my clothes? . . . You picked out my clothes. . . . What exactly am I wearing? . . . Okay, I'll trust you. What are you wearing?" He smiled as Vin told him nothing. "Well if you're not wearing clothes then why am I? Oh, I see you'll be wearing clothes tonight," Ezra smiled and nodded his head in understanding. "Okay, I'll see you at seven."

Hanging up the phone Ezra turned to Josiah and said, "Well, it appears that I am to get ready here and wear the clothes your brother picked out for me."

"Maybe it won't be too bad . . ."

"This is Vin we're talking about," Ezra shook his head. "I . . . love him dearly, but he doesn't have the greatest fashion sense."

Josiah laughed. "Well, let's go see what he picked."

Heading up the stairs Ezra pushed opened the door to Vin's old room and paused at the sight that greeted him. There hanging on the closet door was a pair of dove gray dress pants and cream colored silk shirt.

"I stand corrected," Ezra stated, then smiled.

"Vin may be a jeans and t-shirt kinda guy, but he cleans up real nice," the other man assured him.

The Southerner nodded his head in agreement then noticed some of his things on the dressed.

"Ezra?" Josiah said in a quiet voice.

"Yes?" Ezra replied, picking up the cologne Vin had given him for Christmas. When Josiah didn't say anything, he turned to face him. "What's the matter Josiah? Is something wrong?"

"No, there's nothing wrong. I just . . . wanted to . . ." he deep baritone voice trailed off. "Thanks for staying. Or rather coming back. You have no idea the difference you've made in Vin's life."

"You don't have to thank me, Josiah," Ezra told him. "Vin . . . all of you and this place has filled a void in me. You've given me a home . . . A family. It's I who should be thanking you."

"We owe each other a great deal," Josiah said holding out his hand.

Taking the offered hand Ezra gave it a hardy shake then grinned at him. "Neither of us is for the faint of heart," he laughed.

"ain't it the truth!"

After Josiah left, Ezra crawled on the bed and drifted off to sleep. When he awoke he blinked at his watch trying to focus on the numbers, then swore as he saw that it was six o'clock. Jumping off the bed he quickly stripped his clothes and headed for the shower. A few minutes later he stood in front of the bathroom mirror and carefully shaved. Wiping his cleanly shaven face off Ezra then reached for his toothbrush.

Stepping from the bathroom he finished drying his hair then tossed that towel and the one around his waist into the bathroom. Reaching for his clothes, he quickly dressed then fixed his hair. Ezra had just slipped on his shoes when he heard Vin's voice down stairs. Glancing at the time, he saw that his lover was five minutes early.

Ezra took several took breaths trying to calm his nerves. He didn't know why he was nervous, he just knew he was. Reaching for the door he headed down stairs and felt his breath catch at the vision before him.

There standing by the front door was his lover wearing the dark blue silk shirt Ezra had bought him months ago. A flash of gold caught his attention and he had to smile at the gold chain around Vin's neck.

"Hey," Vin whispered, with a possessive look in his blue eyes.

"Hey," Ezra said with a smile that lit up his eyes, as he came to stand in front of him. "You look great," he reached out and ran a hand up Vin's arm.

"So do you," Vin replied. Then trailed a finger down his cheek.

"Nice necklace," he teased.

"Thanks, but it's a chain," his lover smiled at him. "You ready?"

"Oh, yeah. Most definitely." Ezra took the offered hand and let Vin lead him out of the house, across the porch, and then to their bunkhouse.

Stepping inside the house, he saw that their small round dining table now sat in the middle of the livingroom. The couch had been pushed up against the wall. And candles were scattered about the room. Vin even had the Christmas lights on.

"Right this way, Mr. Standish," Vin said.

"Thank you, Mr. Tanner," Ezra said, following him to the table. Once he was seated, he grabbed Vin's hand as he made to walk away and asked, "Don't I get a kiss?"

Vin swallowed hard and shook his head, "No. If I kiss you now, it'll ruin the rest of my plans."

Once they finished a meal of roasted chicken and steamed vegetables, Vin pushed the table back into the kitchen then turned on some soft romantic music.

Ezra shivered as he was pulled into Vin's strong arms. Resting their foreheads together they gently swayed to the music.

"What are you thinking?" Vin softly asked.

"How incredibly lucky I am," Ezra whispered in rely.

"No, Ezra," Vin countered. "I'm the lucky one. I was drifting, looking for the perfect man. That search had me slipping further and further away from my family. Then I met you and everything changed. For the better."

"I'd be dead, if not for you and your family . . ."

"No! Don't talk like that," he begged.

"It's true," Ezra continued. "I'd have driven until I passed out and then who knows what would have happened. You have no idea what you've done for me, Vin. All of my dreams have come true . . . because of you."

"This is only the beginning, Ezra, and like I told you before it's only going to get better."

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," Vin told him.

"Make love to me Vin," Ezra pleaded.

In stead of answering Vin swept him up in his arms and carried him into their room.

Setting Ezra on his feet Vin took his lips in a deep sensual kiss. Pulling back they slowly undressed each other, placing kisses and nips on the other's skin as it was exposed. Gently pushing Ezra back on the bed, he moved them so they lay in the middle of the bed. Lying over Ezra, he began a sensuous rhythm that had their bodies trembling. Gliding his hands over the body beneath him, Vin pulled back so that he could play with Ezra's nipples. Which were already hard with excitement.

Feeling Ezra shudder beneath him, had Vin shuddering as well. He groaned against Ezra's lips as he felt those hands begin a teasing dance of their own. Vin pulled back and blazed a trail of kisses across Ezra's face, pausing to nip at his earlobe before continuing and leaving his mark at the base of Ezra's collarbone.

"Vin," Ezra moaned as rubbed against him.

Vin moaned in response then moved lower, he bypassed Ezra's weeping shaft and nibbled at the inside of his thighs in stead.

"Vin, please," he begged.

Moving slowly up his body, Vin once again stretched out on top of him. Teasing them further. He tenderly brushed the hair from Ezra's brow, then slipped his fingers into those silky locks. Vin twinned the fingers of his other hand with one of Ezra's hands. He felt strong thighs hug him as Ezra hooked their legs together. They began a slow easy rhythm. With every thrust they made, those thighs squeezed tighter.

Reaching into the drawer beside the bed Vin prepared his lover to receive him. One, two, and finally three fingers were used to stretch Ezra. Raising those hips, Vin positioned himself. "Ezra," he panted as he leaned in and captured his lips.

Ezra grabbed his upper arms and impaled himself on Vin's shaft, nearly sending him over the edge then and there. Pulling back they breathed deeply into each other as their eyes locked together inches apart. Vin leaned into the hand that reached up and gently caressed his face, before playing with his hair.

Unable to be still any longer, Vin began slowly thrusting into Ezra's sweet heat. Again and again, he brought them closer to the edge. Vin barely heard his lover's moan, but did hear his name shouted over and over. Hearing his name shouted like that and feeling Ezra's inner muscles clinch around him sent Vin over the edge and he screamed Ezra's name.

"I love you," Ezra whispered over and over again.

"I love you, too," Vin panted once he'd found his voice.

"Happy New Year," Ezra said, with a smile.

"Happy New Year," Vin smiled. "This is only the beginning, Ezra. Only the beginning."

The End

<<<<<Happy New Year>>>>>

Continued in Will You Be Mine?