Fandom:	Houston Knights
Series:	Other Authors
Rating:	NC-17
Pairing:	Joe/Levon
Archive:	Starwinder's
Title:	Safe Harbor
Author:	Katherine Lehman
e-mail:	ksl2025@yahoo.com
Standard Disclaimer: Houston Knights belongs to Jay Bernstein and Michael Butler and Columbia Pictures. No copyright infringement is intended. This is fan fiction, written out of love for the shows. I am making no money off this. I have no money so please don't sue me. Any original characters that may appear in these stories are the property of the author.

Summary: first Time story with Levon/Joe

Author's Note: Because even though I grew up in the 80's I can't honestly remember much about them, I simply brought the boys forward in time. Story takes place in 2004 with no substantial changes to the boys.

Levon Lundy sighed silently and shifted again in the driver's seat. He loved his truck like he would his first-born, but after being on the road for more than a full day he was starting to think the seats were designed with torture in mind. Levon wasn't going to complain; the Jimmy was still more comfortable in than any of the department cars, even if it wasn't the most fuel-efficient vehicle on the planet. And the Jimmy had an added bonus of being better equipped to handle winter weather than anything the Houston Police Department owned since snow and ice weren't something they normally had to worry about. Houston might not have regular encounters with 'old man winter', but Oklahoma, Colorado and Wyoming definitely did. And since Cheyenne was the ultimate destination, Levon wasn't crossing half the country in January unless he knew he was prepared to handle damn near anything.

Levon snorted, unconsciously rolling his brown eyes in exasperation, thinking crossing the country wasn't really something he'd wanted to do at all. But since this little trek had been a direct order from his boss, Lt. Beaumont, who had gotten her orders from the Chief of Police, he didn't exactly have a choice. He supposed he should count his blessings and be grateful that he and his partner, Joe LaFiamma, didn't have to transport the protected witness they were babysitting all the way to Calgary.

Jason Harris was key to them being able to put a stop to a drug pipeline that ran all the way from Mexico into Canada. He also happened to be pathologically afraid to fly. The man hyperventilated at even the thought of getting on a plane.

Joe and Levon had gotten assigned one leg of Harris' journey because the FBI was worried their might be a leak within their organization. Only the regional director and two others knew Harris was aviatophobic. They were banking on that as a golden opportunity to flush out their mole. An undercover cop who looked enough like Harris to be his brother flew to Canada in the 'custody' of two agents, while Harris was driven across country from Houston to Calgary.

Never liking being kept in the dark, Levon felt sorry for the guys assigned to shadow the decoy, because he knew that in all likelihood they had no idea they didn't have the real McCoy. Only reason he and Joe knew was because the truth was the only way Beaumont could justify sending them on a trip to Cheyenne when they already had a full case load. That and Harris couldn't keep his mouth shut to save his life.

Harris was an intense, nervous man whose be bespectacled visage reminded Levon more of a librarian than a drug dealer. The Texan had had trouble picturing him as being the sort someone would find trustworthy enough to share secrets with, but evidently someone had. Either that or Harris had simply been overlooked as being a genuine threat and had ended up in a position to overhear more than he should have.

The fact that the man had diarrhea of the mouth would have bothered Levon a lot less if Harris hadn't been prone interspersing his monologue with a nervous laugh. And his nasally voice reminded the Texan a lot of nails running over a chalkboard. He was decidedly grateful that Joe seemed able to converse with Harris, giving his babbling some sort of direction and keeping him reasonably calm. Had it been up to Levon, Harris would have been bound and gagged in less than an hour.

Even with Joe's influence spending any more time than absolutely necessary with Jason Harris was not high on Levon's list of things he'd like to do. It was pretty evident that Joe felt the same way. At their first of what would prove to be many frequent rest stops because Harris had the bladder the size of a peanut and an addiction to coffee, it hadn't taken more than a minute to convince the Chicago native driving straight through was the best option. Levon grinned to himself thinking his partner might have been about to suggest the same thing but he'd beaten Joe to it.

Taking turns behind the wheel, stopping only to eat, use the rest room and gas up got them to Cheyenne in twenty-eight hours. The last few hours had easily been the best of the trip since Harris had fallen asleep at some point along the way. One more thing Levon added to the blessings column, particularly since it had been his turn behind the wheel when Harris had finally nodded off. Levon spent the last few hours listening to the radio delighted to be able to do so without having Harris randomly burst into singing along so far off key as to sound more like a cat with its tail caught in a fan than anything recognizable as music.

Levon glanced over at his dozing partner. The Texan envied Joe's ability to sleep. Most people riding as passengers found it easy to dose off, but Levon had never been able to do that. Something about being in motion made it nearly impossible for him to fall asleep.

He smiled enjoying the way the faint early morning sun gilded Joe's skin, highlighting his dark hair with a slight halo. His fingers itched to reach out and touch, making him clench the steering wheel to keep himself from doing something so foolish. He'd managed to keep a lid on his attraction to Joe for over a year. He wasn't going to slip up now.

Levon took a deep breath, and then another. It would have been a lot easier if he could right off his attraction as just being a natural reaction to the physical beauty of the man. There was no doubt Joe was a pretty boy, but that wasn't the only reason Levon found himself wishing he could take liberties. He couldn't and that was that. He'd just have to get over it. Joe was his best friend. He'd dragged him, kicking and screaming, into the world of the living helping him get over the guilt he felt when his wife had been killed and finally move on. He wasn't going to mess that up.

Two weeks after partnering with Joe, Levon realized he'd smiled and laughed more than he had in the two years prior. He'd yelled more too, but Joe just seemed to draw out extremes from him. It reminded him of how good it was to be alive, to care enough to fight for something.

Levon shook his head and rubbed tiredly at his dry, gritty eyes. He knew better than to let his thoughts wondered when it came to his partner. It would be far too easy to lose control. He didn't think Joe would appreciate his making advances, not when his partner had a different lady on his arm almost every weekend. Levon valued their partnership, their friendship too much to take the chance. He wasn't afraid Joe would be some rapid homophobic bigot and try to beat the shit out of him. No, Joe wasn't like that. Not with the degree of tolerance and outright acceptance the man had shown in the time Levon had known him, but that didn't mean he'd be receptive to the idea his partner was sweet on him.

Levon sighed and shifted in his seat again. He didn't want to make Joe uncomfortable and no matter how tolerant his partner was, Levon was fairly certain telling Joe that he'd like to get a lot closer to him couldn't help but do just that. The blond smirked in dark amusement thinking about what his partner's reaction would be if he'd confessed his fantasies and Joe's staring role. He just couldn't see his lady loving friend being okay with being the subject of his male partner's wet dreams.

Carefully taking one more look, memorizing the classic features and smooth olive skin, Levon resigned himself again to the fact that he was not going to be more to Joe than a good friend. It was okay. It would be enough. It would have to be.

Making sure his expression was neutral, Levon reached out to nudge Joe awake when they were only a few miles outside of Cheyenne. Joe gave him a bleary-eyed look, blue eyes relaying a dull curiosity. "We're almost there." Levon answered the unvoiced question, careful to keep his voice pitched low enough not to disturb Harris in the back seat.

Joe sat up straighter and executed an abbreviated overhead stretch. He ran fingers through his dark hair, rubbing at his eyes before frowning when he looked at his watch. "Thought we were trading off driving, Cowboy?"

Levon shrugged. "We did."

"You know what I mean." Joe gave him a dark look. "We were supposed to switch places every four hours."

"Yeah, well, if I'd stopped Harris would have woken up, and I didn't want to deal with that again."

Joe nodded, commiserating. "I hear that." He pursed his lips in annoyance. "Still should have woke me."

Levon bit his lower lip. He didn't think letting Joe sleep hurt anything. It wasn't like he couldn't handle being at the wheel for longer. And even when they had switched places, Levon hadn't really wouldn't have been able to relax or doze even if Harris had ever stopped talking constantly. Way he saw it, if he was going to be awake at three in the morning, he might as well be doing something. And he didn't mind having an opportunity to sneak adoring looks at his partner without having to sensor himself.

"You can take a longer shift on the drive home if it makes ya feel better." Levon offered after a moment.

"Hell no, we're finding some place to sleep on the way back." Joe shook his head. "No offense, Lundy, but these seats suck to sleep in."

Levon nearly muttered that he wouldn't know before he caught himself realizing Joe would be even more upset about his taking a longer shift if he knew Levon hadn't slept. Instead he offered a dry observation, "Probably 'cause they weren't meant to be a bed, LaFiamma."

Joe snorted. "That's for damn sure." Joe glanced over his shoulder, checking on Harris. "Think he'll sleep the rest of the way?"

"Lord, I hope so." Levon answered fervently. "Should be to the station in another half hour or so." The local police station was where they were supposed to make the transfer. A couple of Canadian Royal Mounted Police were due to meet them there.

Joe nodded. He reached into his jacket pocket pulling out directions he'd printed off the computer when Beaumont had given them this assignment. Levon lips twitched, suppressing his smile. He could have told Joe he didn't need directions. He always had a map in the truck. And not only did he know Cheyenne rather well having attended the Frontier Days Rodeo several times, he'd memorized the directions the first time he'd read them. But he also knew Joe liked feeling superior by using the computer to produce information. He jokingly described Levon as technologically challenged, and Levon honestly couldn't argue with that statement. However, he was far from helpless, computer or no, he still had the intelligence and instinct to hold up his end of their partnership.

"You're going to want to take the next exit."

"I know." Levon slanted a look at his partner. "Read the directions 'fore we left."

Joe frowned at him, dark blue eyes easily relaying his skepticism. "You remember that? That was a good three days ago, Cowboy."

Levon grinned, golden brown eyes sparkling with amusement. "You ever known me to forget where I'm going, or how ta get there?"

Joe snorted. "I've only know you a little over a year...and that's always been on your home turf."

"True." Levon conceded that point. He winked at Joe. "Now you know better."

Blue eyes rolled. "Right." The sarcasm singing in that one word statement before Joe's expression took on a challenging look. "Okay smart guy, remembering the exit isn't any big deal. Let's see you get us to the station. Loser buys breakfast."

"You sure you wanna do that?" Levon asked, knowing full well his tone was slightly confrontational but unable to not respond to Joe's challenge. "Already told you I know where I'm going."

"Sure you do." Joe quasi sang his answer. "You're just chicken." His grin clearly showing he expected to win.

Levon loved that cocky grin. It would be a shame to disappoint him. But it wasn't in Levon's nature to rig the game, so Joe would just have to suffer through buying him breakfast.

"Okay." Levon shrugged. He had given Joe a chance to back down. "Don't start whinin' when ya lose."

"I don't whine."

"Uh-hunh. Whatever you say, Joe." Levon made it clear he was must humoring his partner. His grin grew when Joe flipped him off in response.

The Texan smoothly navigated his way through Cheyenne unerringly taking the right turns and locating the correct streets. He could feel Joe's eyes on him but refused to glance his way knowing if he made eye contact he'd be unable to resist rubbing in his victory, something he didn't really want to do. As the police station came into sight, Joe made an annoyed noise and crumpled the directions in his hand.

"Hope this cow town has some place decent to eat."

"We'll ask the locals."

Joe snorted. "You really think they'll have any taste?"

"What makes you think they won't?"

"It's Wyoming, Cowboy."

"It's not the end of the world, LaFiamma." Levon arched an eyebrow, enjoying their lighthearted banter. It was so familiar to him and he never wanted to be without it.

"Pretty sure you can see it from here." Joe gave him a quick smile. "Not exactly one of the better known hot spots."

"Never heard of undiscovered treasures, huh?" Levon parked the Jimmy in front of the brick two-story building.

"Wouldn't say that." Joe chuckled. "Just not getting my hopes up here."

"Fair 'nough." Levon made a slight motion with his head toward the back seat. "You wanna wake up Sleepin' Beauty? I'll head on in and see if our Mounties made it."

"Why do I have to wake him?" Joe didn't quite whine but it was close.

"Because I'm liable to hurt him." Levon grinned as he undid his seatbelt and snagged his hat from where he'd left it in the overhead rack between the visors. "Would be a real shame ta have come all this way jus' to turn over a corpse."

"Good point." Joe sighed heavily. "You owe me."

"Yeah, sure." Levon agreed easily. He'd learned to pick his battles with Joe and this was definitely one he wouldn't win. Slipping out of the Jimmy into the cold early morning air he silently regretted he couldn't offer to even the score the way he'd like to.

He pulled his long duster closer about him, shivering. Southern born and bred, Levon had no real love for cold weather. He knew he'd surprised his partner by owning clothing well suited to the climate since it wasn't really needed in Houston. Levon still made regular trips to Colorado to go fishing, and even in the summer it got chilly in the mountains. His dislike for being cold made him more inclined to be prepared to deal with it when he knew it couldn't be avoided.

He'd dug out his heavier clothing after Beaumont told them they were headed for Wyoming. The silk wool blend long johns, a heavy cable knit sweaters and quilted flannel that still allowed him enough room in the shoulders to make wearing his duster comfortable, and hiking boots instead of his usual cowboy boots so he could wear two pair of socks. When packing and getting ready in Houston it had all seemed a bit excessive, but he knew there was no way he could possibly wear enough to be truly comfortable. At least he could make sure he didn't suffer any more than absolutely necessary.

Levon felt a moment of fierce joy at being able to move as he walked up the stairs to the main door of the station. It felt so good to be able to stretch out and unkink muscles that had been immobile for far too long. It was a temporarily rejuvenating effect. He took a deep breath of frigid air ignoring the way it made his lungs hurt, reveling in the fresh scent.

He stopped at the front desk, mentally comparing the station in Cheyenne with Reisner. Levon shook his head feeling just a touch of envy for the obviously simpler, more laid back atmosphere. No metal detectors to walk through. No bullet proof glass separating the visitors from the front desk. And the desk sergeant looked genuinely friendly, lacking the slightly wary expression John Phipps, Reisner's desk sergeant, regularly sported. As he moved forward to lean against the desk, Levon wondered if it was a sign of his age that the sergeant in front of him didn't look old enough to shave, or if it was just being tired that made him feel ancient in comparison.

"Can I help you, Sir?"

Levon managed not to grimace at being addressed as 'sir'. Maybe he looked as old as he felt. Realizing he hadn't answered the question, Levon sharply reined in his meandering thoughts.

"Hope ya can help me, Officer Anders." The name tag the young cop sported told Levon his name was Daniel Anders. Levon would bet good money the kid went by 'Danny'. He just couldn't see this kid as not going by a nickname of some kind.

"Name's Levon Lundy. I'm with the Houston Police Department." Levon flipped out his badge for Danny to review and confirm his identity. "My partner and I have a guy we're s'posed to turn over ta a couple a Mounties." Levon rubbed tiredly at his eyes trying to ease the dry, gritty feel.

"Oh, yeah." Danny nodded, smiling. "Captain told us about you comin' to do an exchange yesterday mornin' at the breifin'."

"That mean the Mounties are here?" Levon really hoped so. The last thing he wanted was for them to have busted their asses to get rid of Harris only to have to wait around with him for another day. Orders were to hand him over personally. Hell the FBI had even made sure they had pictures of the Mounties they were to meet to ensure they didn't hand over Harris to some imposter.

"They got here late yesterday afternoon." Danny told him. "Left the number of their hotel room so we could call them when you got in."

The door opened behind him, and Levon didn't need to look over his shoulder to know it was Joe and Harris. He hadn't really expected them to stay in the Jimmy. Not when it was only twenty degrees out. And he knew Joe was just as eager as he was to pass Harris off to someone else.

"Officer Anders....tall dark haired fella is my partner Joe LaFiamma." Joe gave Danny a small nod and smile by way of a greeting. "Guy with him is who we're turnin' over, Jason." Levon deliberately didn't include Harris' surname. Not that he honestly thought Danny could be a threat, but there was no reason to completely trust the freckle faced kid either.

"You got any coffee?" Levon asked Danny neatly redirecting him from asking questions he really didn't feel like answering. And a hot cup would be welcome, and he knew Harris was bound to ask.

"Pot just finished perkin' about ten minutes ago."

Harris immediately started talking, reminding Levon of a toy with a pull string, one that talked way too much. He tuned the man out, not caring what he had to say. It took more energy than he really wanted to spare to separate any important details from the random babbling. He knew Joe would rein Harris in if he got too carried away or started giving away anything supposed to be a secret.

While Harris made some of the smallest small talk Levon ever had the misfortune to hear, Danny poured them all a cup of coffee. The blond half expected his partner to refuse knowing his dislike for the cop shop sludge that usually claimed to be coffee. He honestly thought Joe had just taken the cup to be polite until he saw him take a sip.

Levon knew he wasn't the only one who was tired, so maybe Joe felt the need for a pick-me up. The expression 'any port in a storm' came to mind. He quickly reassessed his thought when he saw the look on Joe's face as he took another sip. Joe's eyes half closed, his expression one of genuine pleasure, lips curling slightly in a sensuous smile that made Levon catch his breath, his wayward imagination supplying another, decidedly more intimate reason for conjuring that expression.

He quickly averted his gaze, mentally slapping himself for loosing control of his thoughts. He'd need to watch that in the future. Too many mistakes like that and he'd go from just thinking about it to trying to act on it.

He murmured a thank you to Danny for his own cup. Taking a sip he could see why Joe was so pleased with it. This was not an average cup of coffee. Last time he'd tasted anything this good had been when Joe drug him to a fancy new coffee shop that had just opened in Houston to 'introduce him to the finer things in life'. Levon felt both his eyebrows rise as he looked askance as Danny.

Danny grinned, somehow managing to overlook Harris' ongoing nervous chatter about the weather, the trip and his eagerness to finish his journey. "Captain likes to keep the good stuff on hand. Said he had all the bad coffee he could handle when after spending eight years in the Navy."

Levon cut a glance toward Harris as the smaller man wandered about the waiting area chugging his own cup of coffee and then back toward Danny. The younger cop's grin grew a little wider as he answered yet another unvoiced question. "I got four sisters. All married and with little kids. When the family gets together you learn pretty quick what to pay attention to and what to ignore."

"Good practice ground." Levon agreed, knowing had Joe similar experience and it must have been what made it easier for him to deal with Harris. As an only child, with a small extended family, Levon knew he'd missed out on that whole 'big family' training.

"I'll just put a call into the Mounties and let 'em know you're here."

"Thanks."

Joe arched an eyebrow at Levon. "Mouties are here?"

"Yep." Levon nodded. "Guess they got in yesterday."

"Thank god." Joe's murmur was heartfelt.

"Amen, brother." Levon responded with a quick grin. He arched his back slightly, and rolled his shoulders in a futile effort to unkink the tightness that lingered. Joe winced when several vertebrae announced their presence by popping loudly.

"You know I hate it when you do that."

"Yeah, I know." Levon acknowledged, unrepentant despite having heard Joe's complaint countless times before. It felt too good for him to give up. Somehow knowing his habit annoyed Joe made it that much better, a secret revenge on his good looking partner for making Levon thinking about doing things he shouldn't.

Levon's attention was drawn to the radio as the local weather was being reported. He grimaced hearing the commentary on a winter storm warning. The Texan knew it was foolish to hope that the report might have changed in the last few hours but that didn't keep him from hoping just the same.

"I still know how to drive in snow, Cowboy." Joe commented quietly, blue eyes twinkling with a faint amusement.

"Ain't worried about you drivin'." Levon snorted. "Jus' don't like the way 'winter storm warning' sounds."

Joe chuckled. "This from a man who actually looks forward to tornado season."

"That's different."

"Oh?"

"Yep." Levon sipped his excellent coffee.

"I don't see how."

"I know tornados." Levon shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He remembered being in awe of storms as a child and never afraid of them although good sense dictated he should be. Even knowing just how deadly they could be hadn't lessened his fascination and enjoyment of the raw fury Mother Nature could display. He'd always looked at the green sky and sudden stillness of the air as harbingers of excitement rather than signs of impeding doom.

Hearing Joe's 'tsk, tsk' noise, Levon grinned. "Sides, tornados are over and done with pretty quick."

"Pretty damn destructive in that time frame too."

"Point." Levon's chuckle was interrupted by a wide yawn. He belatedly covered his mouth with one hand.

"You okay?" Joe frowned, blue eyes looking him over with an intensity that reminded Levon of a laser beam. He did his best not to flinch under that assessing gaze.

"Jus' a mite tired is all."

Joe's frown deepened. He opened his mouth but whatever he was about to say was lost as the door opened behind them and in walked two men wearing official uniforms of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Levon was grateful not only for their timely intervention but also for the fact that he didn't have to wear anything quite so blatantly formal.

He unconsciously did a mental comparison between their faces and the pictures he and Joe had been given before leaving Texas. The older of the two, Todd Jamison, had a rugged weathered look to him that made Levon think of his first commanding officer. The other, Randall Simms, could have doubled as a candidate for an enlistment poster; tall, blue eyes, square chin.

"I have a feeling you two don't really need to see our id's." Jamison said, his statement coming out with just a hint of self deprecation as he raised a hand to remove his regulation hat.

Joe smiled. "Uniforms do sort of give you away."

"Subtle as a sledgehammer." Jamison agreed, offering his hand to Joe. "I'm Corporal Jamison. And this is my partner Simms."

"Sergeant Lafiamma." Joe shook his hand. "And my partner, Lundy." Lundy raised two fingers to the brim of his hat in casual greeting to both men.

"You boys made good time." Simms noted.

"About an hour or so with Jason, and I'm certain you'll understand why." Joe told them, voice pitched so as not to carry to where Harris was discussing the finer points of coffee with Danny.

Simms immediately looked toward Harris. He looked skeptical that Harris could prove to be that big of an inducement. Levon mentally smirked. He'd find out soon enough. Jamison gave him a knowing look, and Levon had to hide his smile behind his coffee mug. He had no idea how long Jamison and Simms had been partners but he was pretty sure Simms was still a rookie compared to Jamison. The age difference being obvious but there was wisdom born of experience in Jamison's eyes Simms lacked.

"Y'all got the paperwork we need ta sign?"

Simms reached into his tunic and with drew a sheaf of papers, handing them to Levon. The blond pulled a comparable set of documents from his duster pocket offering them to Simms. "Iffen you'd sign on the dotted line there, we'll do likewise, and we can all be on our way."

"Eager to be gone?" Jamison asked with a perceptive smile.

"Yep." Levon wanted to rub at his gritty eyes but didn't knowing Joe was still watching him. "Already been a real long day---"

"And getting longer by the minute." Jamison nodded, sharp gray eyes warmed in empathy. He held up a pen. "You need one?"

"Nope." Levon had one in his shirt pocket. He offered it to Joe when he was finished.

With the paperwork was signed and exchanged, Levon let Joe introduce Harris to his new escorts while he asked Danny about a good place for them to get breakfast. Danny directed him to a small cafe just down the street. Despite the cold, Levon was looking forward to walking there. He'd be spending more than enough time locked in the cab of the Jimmy again, no reason to spend any more than necessary.

A round of handshakes before they parted was all it took for Joe and Levon to be able to complete their assigned duty. Levon sincerely hoped the Mounties found their time with Harris to be more pleasant than his and Joe's time with the witness had been. Especially since he figured they'd be together a bit longer.

Levon took a deep breath as he and Joe stepped outside. The air was still cold enough to be painful, but it was invigorating, making him feel more awake. Levon blinked in surprise when he saw a few flakes lazily drifting in the air. The sunlight that had greeted them earlier was now gone, swallowed up by the dark clouds he'd only vaguely been aware of hovering along the western horizon.

"Ya think it'll add up to much real quick?" He asked Joe knowing the Chicago native was a better judge of snow than he was.

Joe glanced skyward before blue eyes met brown. "Likely won't get too serious for a bit." Joe frowned slightly. "You want to head out after breakfast?"

"Might as well." Levon shrugged one shoulder, shoving his hands into his pockets as he unconsciously walked in step with his friend. Despite feeling the effects of being awake nearly two days, he knew sleeping wasn't going to be an option. This was the time of day he was up and doing things, his body was conditioned to it for so long he wasn't sure he'd have much success in trying to sleep now anyway. Might as well be on the road getting closer to home.

Levon gave Joe a sly grin. "Ain't like there's much goin' on in Cheyenne this time o' year."

Joe snorted. "Is there ever much going on here?"

"Durin' Frontier Days...quite a bit."

"Frontier Days?" Joe raised both eyebrows at him.

Levon chuckled and proceeded to tell Joe about rodeos around the country. It was conversation material that would see them through breakfast. If he played his cards right it would work through being on the road for a bit as well.

Joe flexed his hands, easing the cramped feeling that had come from gripping the steering wheel for the last half an hour. The storm had started slow, barely a dusting in Cheyenne by the time they'd finished breakfast and headed South. It hadn't seemed bad enough to warrant staying. Now just three hours later, the storm had changed dramatically, creating near white out conditions, icy roads, and deep drifts.

Before it had reached complete white out, Joe had decided to simply take the next exit off the interstate. It didn't matter where they ended up, just so long as they were safely off the road. Dumb luck had them pulling off into a small town called Rinn. Joe wasn't sure it was even large enough to be considered a town. Rinn was more like a wide spot in the road, but the expression 'any port in a storm' came to mind and Joe was in no mood to continue driving in the hopes of finding something better.

Sitting in the Lazy R Motel parking lot, unable to see more than a few feet, Joe sighed softly and sent a silent prayer of gratitude heavenward. Getting off the highway and finding a motel all in one piece was definitely a call for gratitude. It was probably the first time since meeting Levon that he had a real appreciation for his partner's choice of vehicles. The Jimmy's four wheel drive was probably the only reason they stayed on the road as long as they had.

"Sure glad you were the one drivin'." Levon's soft comment made Joe aware of just how long his friend had been silent. He knew the Texan had stayed quiet to give him room to concentrate on the road.

"I'm just glad we made it one piece." Joe flashed a quick smile. "Had my doubts there a few times."

"Yeah, me too." Levon gave a relieved chuckle. Golden brown eyes scanned the area around them. "Looks like we aren't the only ones lookin' for a place to hold up." What little they could see of the parking lot was full of cars, all in varying stages of being buried by snow.

Levon reached for his hat. "You might as well stay put and I'll see if they got a room left." He was out of the truck before Joe could stop him.

Joe shook his head in exasperation and sighed a second time. It wasn't like they couldn't both go. But he knew exactly what Levon had been thinking; there was no need for both of them to brave the cold and get wet when it only took one of them. Never mind that Joe could have just as easily checked for a room. Joe knew his partner well enough to know he volunteered since he'd view his having been the passenger rather than the driver as having done nothing for the last three hours.

Joe scowled. The man should have been sleeping. He knew full well Levon hadn't gotten much sleep on the way up. The dark shadows under his bloodshot eyes were a dead give away. It still rankled him that Levon hadn't woken him to take over driving when it was his turn.

Joe smiled realizing that Levon letting him drive during the storm was as true an expression of trust as the cowboy had ever shown. Hell, Levon letting him drive was a pretty amazing feat. After he totaled the cowboy's jeep it was a wonder the man trusted him behind the wheel at all.

His smile faded slightly wishing there was more the blond trusted him with than just his vehicle. Joe thumped his forehead against the steering wheel. "Stupid. Stupid. Just stop wanting more than you can have."

Joe sat back and closed his eyes. He lost count of the number of times he'd told himself that Levon was off limits. Why the hell did he have to find the man so attractive in the first place? He hadn't been interested in another man, really interested, in years. Years, for god sake. There was just something so appealing about his lanky, blond haired, brown eyed partner.

At first, Joe figured it was just because he was lonely, and Levon was initially the only friend he had in Texas. Not that they started out on good terms. Joe shook his head slightly still trying to figure out how he could be so drawn to Levon when he'd wanted to throttle the man for more than a month after he'd met him. Hell, they'd actually beaten the crap out of each other during the first week.

After he started settling in, making a place for himself, Joe thought maybe it was simply some sort of warped sense of gratitude. He'd made more than one mistake early on, stupid rookie type mistakes that anyone else would have been asking for a new partner over, but Levon stayed with him. At the very least, Joe had expected Levon to rant and rave, taking him to task for being so utterly stupid. All the blond had ever said was, "You learn yer lesson? 'Cause you don't ever wanna do this again." That calmly spoken admonition, with its accompanying unvoiced promise, was sufficient warning to Joe to get his act together.

Friendship and gratitude weren't enough to explain how seeing Levon smile made Joe's heart beat faster. They didn't even come close to being good reasons for him to wonder if his partner's blond curls were as silky soft as they looked. And they weren't a good reason for his repeated, casual and quasi-accidental touches, hands drawn to patting a shoulder, lightly slapping Levon's back, offering him a hand when it was apparent the man didn't need help. Joe's fingers itched to be able to explore more intimate contact, finding what he was able to get away with under the guise of just being a good buddy insufficient, but unwilling to risk more and unable to stop.

Joe sat up straight when the passenger door opened. Levon slipped in, shutting out the cold air and blowing snow. The Texan's teeth were chattering, adding audible emphasis to frigid temperatures.

"You okay?" Joe couldn't help asking.

"Y-yeah." Levon shivered again. "H-hate the c-cold."

Joe grimaced. "Well, you could have let me be the one to go ask."

Levon waved a hand in a dismissive motion, deftly changing the subject when he spoke. "O-only got one r-room left."

"One is all we need, Cowboy." Joe pointed out not quite understanding Levon's hesitation.

"Single room, Joe." Levon sighed, somehow getting his shivering under control. "Only one bed."

Joe swallowed hard. Shit. A glance out the window was all it took to convince Joe they were taking what was available. He was just going to have to suck it up and find a way to make this situation work.

He forced a smile on his face. "I'm from a big family, Cowboy. Not like I haven't shared a room before."

"Sort o' figured you'd say that." Levon nodded, and held up a room key.

"And just what were you planning on doing if I said no?" Joe arched an eyebrow.

"I'd stay." Levon laughed. "You wanna find somewhere else in this weather, partner, you are on yer own."

"Wuss." Joe accused, feeling unaccountably warmer hearing the blond laugh.

"Damn straight." Levon responded, not at all insulted. "Mother Minnie didn't raise herself a fool." He shifted to reach for his small duffle bag lying on the back seat. "Grab yer gear, boy, and let's go get in where it's warm."

Joe reached around and grabbed his duffle bag before joining Levon in heading for their room. He winced when he felt the full force of the wind driven snow. Joe was glad their room wasn't but three doors down from where they'd parked not wanting to brave the fury of the storm for any longer than absolutely necessary.

He grimaced as he realized their room also happened to be at the very end of the motel and would be bearing the brunt of the force of the wind. Given the appearance of the building, Joe was guessing it likely didn't have much in the way of quality insulation or mulit-paned windows. And he doubted the heater was going to be up to the job of real keeping the room toasty. Still, even drafty and chilly, it would be better than having to spend the night in the Jimmy.

Levon keyed the door open and flipped the on the lights, stepping aside to let Joe enter before leaning into the door to shut it against the force of the wind. Joe was pleasantly surprised by the decor of the room. No outdated shag carpet, no ugly bedspread, no pasteboard furniture. The furniture was rustic pine wood and solid looking. The white walls were unimaginative but gave the room a clean, austere look that Joe preferred to the alternative. The comforter on the bed was a simple, uniform deep blue that Joe could easily envision selecting for his own bed.

Joe couldn't help an internal wince as he studied the single, queen sized bed. He could do this. Piece of cake. Just stay on his side when they went to sleep, keep his back to Levon. He could do this.

"Not bad." He commented quietly, striving to keep things normal.

Levon nodded. "Better'n most motels, that's fer sure." The Texan walked across the room to place his bag on the floor near the dresser, shrugging out of his duster in one smooth move to hang it on the rack provided. His Stetson being positioned crown down on the small shelf above.

Joe's mouth went dry as Levon raised a hand to run his fingers through his hair. The damp ends his hat had been unable to completely cover curled around those long, graceful digits in a loving caress that made Joe unaccountably jealous. He swallowed hard and made himself look away.

Joe moved to place is bag on the small stand on the opposite side of the dresser. He forced himself to redirect his thoughts, and wondered whether or not to unpack or just remove things as he needed them. There was no telling how long they might be stuck here. The sound coming from the TV interrupted his thoughts. Levon had found the remote on the night stand and was flipping through the channels, all ten of them, until he located the weather channel. Seeing the report, Joe resigned himself to the fact that they'd probably be staying here for while.

Feeling the need to do something, anything, Joe grabbed out of his bag what he'd need for a shower. Getting a chance to freshen up and change his clothes would improve his mood. "I'm going to grab a quick shower."

Levon made some indecipherable sound of understanding, brown eyes focused on the storm report. Joe couldn't decide if he should be relieved or insulted by the lack of attention. He opted to go with relieved; with his recent roller coaster of emotions having Levon ignore him, even if only for a moment, was probably a blessing.

Joe closed the bathroom door and locked it. He leaned back against the door and took a deep breath, then another. Shaking his head, Joe turned on the shower, letting the water heat up as he striped out of his clothes. The bathroom floor was cold on his bare feet. He couldn't decide if the bathroom was cooler than other room or if it just felt like it now that he was naked. He shrugged, figuring it didn't really matter since the steam rising from the shower would rapidly diminish the chill.

He stepped into the shower, grateful for the relief the warm water brought to stiff muscles. It eased aches and pains brought on from being in the Jimmy for so long and left over tension from the last few hours of the hellish drive. Joe sighed and let himself just enjoy the cascade of warm water. Nothing wrong with the water pressure, a fact he was grateful for.

Joe lathered up with the soap he brought with him. He didn't like the harsh chemicals or fragrances found in the mass produced, cheap soaps typically found in motel rooms preferring to bring his own glycerin based, fragrance free brand.

Unbidden Joe's imagination readily supplied the scent he associated with his partner. He'd never been able to pinpoint what it was exactly; couldn't identify a brand of cologne or specific fragrance, but he knew it well enough he could recognize it anywhere. Whatever it was there was no doubt it was alluring, and not just to Joe if the reaction of some of the women they worked with was anything to go by. Joe knew it was stupid but their being able to get physically close to Levon without raising eyebrows made him feel incredibly jealous, and he found himself doing things to literally position himself between them and Levon. It was a wonder no one had caught on yet, but Joe figured most everyone just assumed he was flirting with them not staking a claim on his partner.

Just thinking about his lanky, blond partner made his cock harden. Joe bit his lip wishing he hadn't thought about him...not in the shower where jerking off seemed as natural to him as shampooing his hair. But once he started stopping was impossible.

His left hand was caressing his soapy nipples, teasing and pinching them just the way he liked, trying to pretend the touch was not his own hand but that of another. Joe's eyes drifted closed, leaning under the spray of warm water as his right hand stroked his cock in a rhythm guaranteed to bring him to climax quickly. He didn't want to enjoy this, to linger over it. Joe just desperately wanted to get it over with, hoping it would take the edge off enough that being in the same small room with Levon wouldn't make him do something foolishly irrevocable.

Joe raised his left hand, biting his fist to keep from crying out as he neared completion. His imagination brought his favorite image to the forefront knowing it would be all it took to make it over the edge. Levon, alone in the shower room, at Reisner, cleaning up after a long day, his pale skin flushed from the heat of the water, his expression one of pleased contentment, head tipped back exposing the long column of his neck.

Joe's whole body clenched as he reached his climax, throat aching with the need to not cry out. Joe shuddered, riding out the waves of pleasure as they faded, enjoying the bittersweet aftermath. It wasn't enough, it was never quite enough, fantasy didn't hold a candle to reality, but for the moment it had to do.

Recovering, Joe cleaned up and turned off the water. The towels were a bit thread bare but sufficient to do the job. He slipped into a pair of sweats and a long sleeved t-shirt. He debated pulling on a pair of socks before deciding against it. Joe gathered up his dirty clothes and mentally braced himself to leave the shelter of the bathroom.

He moved to where he'd left his duffle bag, debating whether or not to hang is clothes or not. They were already wrinkled from over two days constant wear. With a shrug, Joe left them folded lying on the floor near his bag. No point in packing them back in until they were ready to leave.

Joe turned to tell Levon that he'd left plenty of hot water for him. He registered what he saw before he spoke, words halting before they even had a chance to form. Levon was sound asleep, curled up on his left side, hugging one of the pillows to him. The blond had removed his shoes, the quilted flannel shirt and sweater he'd been wearing, leaving him in a turtle neck that hugged his form and slightly faded blue jeans.

Joe unconsciously stepped closer to the bed. The lines of exhaustion had eased in Levon's face, the tension gone, making him look a younger, almost innocent. Joe smiled gently, pleased his partner had finally managed to relax enough to get some sleep. His hand reached out to brush Levon's hair back from his forehead before Joe's self-control reasserted itself, freezing him in place.

The wind picked up force, rattling the door and creating a draft through the room. Levon shivered in response, burrowing deeper in to the bed, curling up tighter around the pillow. Joe pursed his lips, brows lowering in concern. Levon really should be under the covers.

He shook Levon's shoulder, absently noting the silken feel of the Texan's turtleneck, unable to keep from wondering if the man's skin felt just as smooth as the fabric. Joe couldn't help himself from lightly caressing the blond's arm. He stopped abruptly when Levon sighed softly.

"Hey, Cowboy." Joe whispered, leaning in closer, once more in control of himself, softly shaking Levon's shoulder again. He honestly expected a more animated reaction by now since the Texan was sensitive to having people invade his personal space. Joe grimaced, his suspicion about if his partner having not slept at all on the trip confirmed.

"Levon? C'mon buddy...you'll be more comfortable under the covers."

Levon mumbled something inarticulate, but otherwise didn't respond. Joe frowned wondering if there was a way to work the covers out from under the other man. And sleeping in jeans was not exactly the most comfortable way to rest.

He pursed his lips. Given how hard Levon had crashed the man likely wouldn't notice a bomb going off in the room. Safe bet he wouldn't notice if Joe manhandled him out of his jeans and under the covers. Joe swallowed hard and took a deep breath. He could do this.

Joe quickly undid Levon's belt and button fly jeans, relieved that the blond did not react. He pictured putting his nephews to bed back in Chicago and tried to put his partner in the same category; strictly platonic. Given how tight Levon normally wore his jeans, getting them off proved easier than he expected. Joe blinked and realized they must be a size bigger than Levon usually wore. There was no way he'd have been able to fit his usual skin tight jeans on over the long johns he was wearing. Joe couldn't decide if he was relieved or disappointed to miss an opportunity to see and accidentally feel more of Levon's skin.

Getting the covers out from under Levon proved to be a bit more of a challenge, but Joe managed. He sighed, hands shaking slightly with the effort to stay in control and not give into the urge to molest his partner. Joe nodded, pleased that his partner seemed more comfortable, not reacting to another violent gust of wind.

Joe shivered though, bare feet reminding that the room really wasn't all that warm. He resigned himself to the fact that sharing the bed really was the only option. He'd just have to stay on his side that was all. No big deal. Would be warmer if they curled up together...Joe forcibly stopped that train of thought. He was not going there. It was a bad idea. Very bad.

Joe moved to the other side of the bed, and slid in. He realized the TV was still on, volume low enough to make a comfortable background noise. Maybe he could find something on that would distract him from this situation. He glanced around for the remote, not surprised to find it buried in the covers. He flipped through the ten channels hoping for something worth watching. He ran through the channels twice before deciding on the discovery channel.

Joe leaned back, using the pillow to prop him up slightly. It was going to be a long day at this rate. He sighed, keying the volume up a notch and tried to focus his attention on the documentary on bats and away from the beckoning warmth of his sleeping partner.

Levon stretched and shifted, feeling warm and content. He blinked, eyes adjusting to the dark room. He frowned trying to make sense of where he was. The last thing he remembered was waiting for Joe to get out of the shower.

Levon frowned realizing he must have fallen asleep. Lying down on the bed had seemed like a good idea at the time, a temptation he simply couldn't resist. He hadn't thought Joe would take more than ten minutes in the shower and had been sure he'd be able to stay awake that long. Resting his eyes burning eyes, unable to keep them open, Levon didn't remember even falling asleep.

He sighed softly, still feeling tired. His internal clock told him, despite the darkness of the room, it was still day time and he really hadn't been asleep for all that long. The wind whistling outside let him know the storm was still raging. Levon vaguely remembered the weather channel saying something about conditions worsening until late evening before tapering off, but the faint sounds he could hear from the television sounded more like some sort of documentary than commentary on the weather.

Levon unconsciously responded to the howling wind by snuggling into the warmth radiating nearby. It was only then that he was aware he was being held, cradled really. He froze, suddenly conscious of who his bed partner had to be.

Mentally cursing furiously, Levon tried to control the rising fear. Joe hadn't said anything and judging by the faint snores Levon was now aware of his partner was sleeping. It was okay. Not a thing to worry about. He just had to get out of Joe's arms, maybe out of the bed entirely.

Levon shifted his weight, trying to pull away. Joe's arms tightened around him, burying his face in hollow that existed between Levon's neck and shoulder. The blond figured Joe was just doing what came natural when he had a bed partner; the Italian likely didn't even realize who he was cuddling up to. That lasted until Joe mumbled his name and moved his hand to caress Levon's silk covered chest.

Levon's breath hitched when Joe's fingertips brushed over a sensitive nipple. God...it had been so long since he'd had anything that resembled intimate contact. He wanted this, wanted it badly. It was wrong. He knew that. But at the moment he didn't care. Levon wanted this, consequences be damned.

He raised a hand to softly stroke Joe's fingers. Levon encouraged his partner to continue caressing his chest. He shifted his hips to rest squarely against Joe's groin, thrilled to find how well they fit together. Levon smiled, oddly reminded of spoons in a drawer.

Levon wanted, no he needed, more skin. His smile shifted into bared teeth, a silent snarl of frustration as he realized just how much clothing came between them. He pulled the end of his turtleneck up, carefully shifting so as not to disturb Joe, breathe huffing out in pleasure as Joe's warm hand rested against his now bare flesh.

Since his effort to pull away had resulted in Joe pulling him closer, Levon wiggled a bit trying to encourage his partner to repeat his earlier action. Joe tightened his hold, and nuzzled Levon's neck making a soft sound that clearly meant to sooth or offer reassurance. The blond's head tipped back, his eyes closing as Joe's hand stroked his chest, fingers once more brushing against sensitive nipples.

He shuddered when he felt Joe's warm, wet lips nibble at his neck just above the collar of his turtleneck. It seemed as though Joe's hand was now moving more deliberately across his chest, no longer a random soothing gesture but now with intent to arouse. Levon reveled in the feel of that warm touch, stunned by how good it felt. He took a deep breath and held it, locking in his memory the whole tableau; Joe's scent, his touch, how good being this close felt, how the room seemed to be a safe harbor isolated from the tumultuous storm outside.

Levon's cock stiffened, taking a greater interest in the proceedings, urging the Texan to do more; to get more. He didn't think Joe was awake, at least he hoped not. All this would stop if Joe woke up, and the blond wanted more than a few tantalizing, accidental touches. If he was going to end up getting the shit beat out of him or have to spend the next day or two sleeping in the jimmy, then by god he was going to deserve it.

With renewed determination and increasing arousal, Levon turned within Joe's hold, careful not to disrupt the fragile balance between them. He hesitated when Joe whispered his name, so much longing in that one word. Maybe, just maybe, his partner felt the same way he did. Levon lightly cupped Joe's face, brown eyes taking in the beauty of the man still in repose before he moved close enough to taste those incredibly tempting lips.

The kiss started out gentle, almost hesitant in spite of his desire. Joe's lips were warm and soft, encouraging Levon to deepen the kiss. Joe opened his mouth sighing softly into Levon's. The blond didn't hesitate to taste, tongue moving to explore fascinated by the sweeter than fresh honey taste he encountered. Hands that had simply been cupping Joe's face moved of their own volition to comb through Joe's dark hair, tilting his head to create a better angle for deepening the kiss even further.

He moaned when Joe's hands shifted under his turtleneck roaming over his back. Levon never would have thought his back and shoulders were erogenous zones, but at this point any skin to skin contact was sufficient to add fuel to the fire. He felt another surge of frustration when his roaming hands connected with Joe's long sleeved t-shirt rather than flesh.

The need for air broke the kiss sooner than Levon wanted. He opened eyes he didn't remember closing, freezing when he met his partner's warm aqua colored counterparts. Levon could feel his heart beating wildly as he waited for Joe to say something, anything.

"Am I dreaming?" Joe whispered.

Levon swallowed hard, tamping down on the need to lie. "No."

"You kissed me." It was more of a question than a statement.

"Yeah."

Joe blinked, a slow smile turning up the corners of his mouth. "Do it again?" The question sounded more like a plea, one Levon couldn't even consider denying.

Closing the distance between them once more, he kissed his partner. He thought kissing a sleeping Joe was heavenly, but having him awake and aware was so much better. This time it was Joe's tongue exploring his mouth, dueling for dominance with Levon's, engaging in a thrust and retreat rhythm Levon's hips seemed unable to not mimic.

Joe broke away, panting hard as he rested his forehead against Levon's. His eyes were so intense at this distance, holding Levon captive more so than the strong arms still wrapped around him. They were breathing in each other's air, inhaling and exhaling together.

"God."

Levon couldn't decide if Joe's whispered invocation was a blessing or a curse. He really hoped it was the former. He licked his lips nervously, still able to taste the incredible flavor that was Joe, desperately wanting to taste again, brown eyes uncertainly measuring the other man looking for a clue as to how to proceed.

"You okay?"

Joe chuckled, eyes a light with an odd blend of humor and passion. "Will be once we both get some clothes off."

Levon grinned, a surge of savage joy coursing through him. He immediately began trying to wiggle out of his clothing, tugging at Joe's, half afraid his partner might change his mind if they didn't strip fast enough. He'd have felt foolish if Joe wasn't doing the same thing.

Levon shivered when Joe raised the blankets to give himself more room to maneuver. The chilly air of the room raised gooseflesh on Levon's bared chest, nipples tightening in response. He caught a flash of something in Joe's eyes right before the Italian moved to suckle one rosy, pert point. Levon sucked in a breath, stunned by the wave of pleasure spawned by the wet heat that was a sharp contrast to the cold air. He moaned, back arching, hands moving to cradle Joe's head, wanting to stay just like this forever.

Joe worked his way across Levon's chest, licking, sucking, nibbling with just enough force to leave marks behind but not enough to cause any real pain. The Texan was certain Joe's mouth could qualify as a lethal weapon, killing him softly. Unbidden a sudden desire rose to feel that wonderful mouth everywhere, particularly his cock. He sucked in a harsh breath trying not to lose it yet, not yet. He'd waited so long for this moment, dreamt about it for so long to have it be over too quickly.

He tightened his hold on Joe, pulling his head up. Blue eyes shot him a questioning look. "Gotta....slow...down, Joe. Please."

"Thought you wanted...this?" Joe bit his lower lip, looking uncertain. "Thought since you... started it that you were okay with it."

"I do. I am." Levon's thumb lightly stroked across Joe's cheek in a soothing motion. "Jus' don't want the party ta be over 'fore we get started."

Joe frowned slightly before his expression cleared a wolfish grin appearing. "We can always do it again, Cowboy. Wasn't planning on this being a one time deal."

Levon wondered if it was possible for a man to literally glow because he felt like he had to be. Knowing there was going to be a next time was even better than having gotten to this point because it held so much potential, so much promise. Even if next time only meant while they were here, trapped in this room by the blizzard outside, Levon felt as though he'd been given something incredibly precious.

He pulled Joe into kiss him again. He kept the kiss gentle, sweet, trying to relay what he was feeling with that touch alone. When they broke apart the expression on Joe's face told him he'd succeeded.

"Can we get the rest of these clothes off now?' Levon asked with a smile.

"Yes." Joe answered fervently. "Hell, yes."

The need to touch was briefly subjugated to the need for efficiency and full body, skin to skin contact. Together they moved away from each other to make striping down easier to do. Levon quickly noticed the lack of warmth even that little distance served to emphasize. He wiggled out of his long johns in record time so that he could swiftly roll back to the heat that radiated from Joe. Levon shivered as warm, smooth skin met his, sparking another wave of bliss that came from just being close to another human being, someone he cared about.

"You cold?" Joe whispered, pulling him in even closer, body curling over his like a living blanket.

"Not now." Levon smiled. "Pretty damn comfy right here." He did a slow thrust with his hips rubbing their erections against each other, thrilled with how Joe's eyes drifted to half mast in an expression of delight reminiscent of the same look he'd had when they'd gotten coffee in Cheyenne.

Joe moaned, his hips moving to set a rhythm Levon found himself matching eagerly. Joe dipped his head to once more capture the blond's lips in fierce, prolonged kiss. Levon's hands roamed freely over every bit of bare skin he could reach in passionate desperation to cause the same exquisite pleasure Joe had inspired in him and to sate the growing hunger he had just to touch.

He felt bombarded by sensations, unable to classify them all, unwilling to take the time to do so preferring just to feel rather than think about it. Skin like warm silk gliding under his fingers and touching him everywhere made it hard to do anything but enjoy. Hot, wet mouth with such a talented tongue left fire in its wake. Breathy sighs and soft moans, his name whispered over and over like a benediction or some exotic sacred music. This was better than anything he had dreamed about, much, much better.

He wanted this to last, tried to slow down, to regulate his breathing, but Joe wouldn't let him. His partner kept doing things to keep the intensity building, striping him of his tenuous control, pushing him closer and closer toward climax. Levon trembled, hips losing their rhythm thrusting wildly against Joe, feeling his partner doing the same, pleased to know they were both close.

That familiar tingling feeling began at the base of his spine heralding his climax. Levon tightened his hold on Joe as his partner did the same to him, strong arms like bands of steel around him. Muscles tensed as his back arched, Levon's entire body vibrating with the force of his orgasm, pinpoints of light sparking behind tightly closed eyes as he called out Joe's name in a harsh gasp of completion. He was only just barely conscious of Joe doing the same.

Levon's breath slowed, instinctively matching Joe's. Of its own volition his right hand repeatedly stroked up and down Joe's broad, well muscled back in a soothing gesture. He sighed deeply, still fascinated by the feel of Joe's skin, unable to stop touching him. Joe made a small 'hmmmm' sound, and stretched luxuriously, nuzzling Levon's neck to place a light kiss on the pulse point.

"You okay, Cowboy?"

Levon couldn't help but chuckle. "You really gotta ask?"

Joe lifted his head, blue eyes twinkling. "Just checking."

"I am much better than okay." Levon smiled before placing a quick kiss on the tip of Joe's nose. "I am fantastic."

Levon chuckled again when Joe made a face at having his nose kissed. He opened his mouth to tease his partner but was interrupted by a yawn. Still tired from the long drive and the overwhelming lassitude that was a normal part of the afterglow for him was making it hard to keep his eyes open. He felt very good and he was warm, content making it hard to resist Morpheus' call.

Levon blinked sleepily, eyes open by force of will when he felt Joe shift, lifting his weight from Levon. While not fat, Joe was no lightweight, so breathing definitely came easier with him no longer resting on Levon's chest, but the Texan didn't want him to move, didn't want to lose their connection so soon. He made an abortive move to follow, a sound of protest slipping out.

Joe shushed him, a hand cupping his face. "Shhh...it's all right. Just need to find something to clean us up a bit."

Levon nodded his understanding, unconsciously rubbing his cheek against Joe's palm. He expected his partner to slip out of bed, bracing himself for the loss of warmth and influx of chilly air. To his surprise, Joe searched the bed, grinning in triumph when he found his t-shirt. Although sometimes something of a prima donna, no one could ever accuse his partner of being completely impractical.

"Don't want ta brave the cold, do ya?" Levon chuckled.

Joe laughed. "My mother didn't raise any fools either."

"No, I don't imagine she did." Brown eyes were warm with affection as Joe cleaned them both off before lightly tossing his shirt toward the floor near his bag. Levon yawned again, stretching before naturally curling up on his left side, his favorite sleeping position.

The Texan sighed in satisfaction when Joe curled up behind him, one arm wrapping around his midriff, hand moving to capture his and intertwining their fingers. He snuggled into Joe's lager frame, finding comfort for a second time in just how well they fit together. He'd give his right arm to be able to sleep like this all the time, not just because the circumstances required it.

Sheer determination kept him from voicing that thought, not wanting to ruin the moment by asking Joe for more than he might be ready to give just yet. He'd take it slow, just let things play naturally. A sleepy smile blossoming when he realized circumstances didn't require them to sleep naked. That was definitely a bonus.

"You comfortable?" Joe placed a soft kiss on his shoulder, pulling him in even closer.

Levon knew he mumbled something and he hoped Joe understood. He couldn't keep his eyes open any longer or form conscious thought. He felt another kiss being placed on his shoulder and smiled, slipping into sleep.

Joe wondered if it made him too much of a sap to realize he liked listening to his partner breathe. Levon didn't snore, in fact if they weren't so close to one another, Joe wouldn't be able to hear him at all. Cradling Levon, chest to back, he could literally feel his breath, finding his own naturally in sync.

Unable to resist the temptation, he carefully moved so he could see Levon's face clearly. One hand rose to brush errant curls from the blond's forehead. The cowboy's hair was just as soft as he'd always imagined it would be. The strands slid easily under his hand, curls almost wrapping possessively around Joe's fingers in a silken caress. Levon sighed softly, his near boneless state somehow relaxing even further.

Curious to see if he would get the same reaction again, Joe indulged himself in a second run through those temptingly soft tresses. Levon tilted his head slightly in a movement clearly intended to encourage him to continue what he was doing, reminding Joe of a petting a cat. The Italian grinned delighted, but reluctantly stopped when Levon seemed to become restless, eyelids fluttering faintly. He didn't want to wake his partner just yet. If the digital clock he could just get a glimpse of was anything to go by, Levon had only gotten about four hours of sleep since they arrived. Hardly enough to make up for nearly two days without.

Joe frowned suddenly conscious of being hungry. Breakfast was a long time ago and it was well past the usual lunchtime. Blue eyes scanned the room, unconsciously glancing toward the windows partially hidden by half-drawn shades trying to visually assess the state of the storm he could no longer hear.

Joe bit his lip. With a resigned grimace he released Levon and slid across the bed bracing himself for the chilly air he knew he'd encounter. He breathed easier when other than a quiet murmur and turning into the spot Joe vacated the Texan didn't react to his absence.

He quickly located his sweat pants on the floor and pulled them on before padding over to the window. The wind had calmed down to almost nothing but the snow was still falling heavily. Everything had taken an indistinct shape, details lost amid the heavy blanket of white. Joe wrapped his arms about himself, mouth tightening into a thin line as he quickly realized driving somewhere to find food was out of the question.

He couldn't remember if this motel had a restaurant near by or not. Probably did, but he wasn't too keen on wading through what looked to be more than a foot of snow to track it down. And with the weather, there was no guarantee the place would be open when he got there.

They'd had supplies in the Jimmy when they undertook this trip, replenishing periodically when they'd stopped for gas. Joe had no real idea what they had left or what all Levon might have stocked up on, but that appeared to be the only option. Maybe the office had a vending machine of some kind to give them something more to drink than water. Couldn't hurt to look. Unfortunately getting anything still meant going outside.

Turning away from the window, Joe made his way to his bag to get dressed. A sweatshirt, socks, boots and he shrugged into his coat, keeping an eye on his still sleeping partner as he did. Levon had curled up tightly under the blankets so that only his hair was now visible. Joe was glad the blankets on the bed were of good quality, more than adequate to keep the Texan warm while he was gone. Being southern born and bred, and having less body mass than Joe, there was no doubt that his partner was bound to feel the chill more than he did.

Joe grabbed the door key and the keys to the Jimmy. He checked his coat pocket to see if he had any change or singles on hand just in case he tracked down a vending machine. Three bucks and fifty cents should be enough to get them something to drink.

He slipped outside, grimacing as the frigid air hit him in the face. There was a large drift that had formed near the corner of the building, but fortunately it had stopped a foot short of the doorway. The awning overhang was sufficient to keep most of the walk clear.

Joe walked quickly to the office. He didn't see any tracks through the snow through the parking lot so he and Levon had probably been the last vehicle to pull in. The 'no vacancy' sign just barely visible through the curtain of falling snow must have been enough to encourage whatever traffic there was to go elsewhere.

A bell jingled musically when he entered. The older gentlemen behind the counter looked up from his newspaper, giving Joe a friendly smile. "Sorry, mister, but we don't have any rooms left. You're welcome to bunk here in the office if you like though. Wouldn't feel right about forcing you back out into this god awful weather."

"S'okay, sir." Joe smiled. "My friend got us your last room when we pulled in a few hours ago."

"Blond guy? From down Texas way?"

"Yes, sir."

The old man nodded, wisp gray bangs falling into his eyes only to be pushed back with a hand motion so smooth it had to be habitual. "Room okay then? Know he would have preferred a double but I didn't have anything else to offer."

"The room is fine." Joe stifled a lascivious self-satisfied grin, very glad now that there hadn't been another choice. The whole situation had worked out far much better than he expected, better than he'd hoped.

"Something else you be needing then?"

"Was hoping you had a vending machine. Looking for something to drink."

The clerk pointed to the wide, open doorway across from his desk. "Should find what you need there." The older man chuckled. "Don't think you'll be needing an ice bucket today."

Joe laughed. "No, I don't think I will."

He stepped into the small room the clerk had indicated. There was a Pepsi machine, a Snapple one and one that dispensed snack food and candy. Opting for something relatively healthy he got two Snapples, one pink-lemonade that he knew Levon liked and one orange, strawberry, banana blend for himself. He eyed the candy machine for a moment before selecting Levon's favorite candy bar, Three Musketeers.

Giving the clerk a polite nod, Joe headed back outside and for the Jimmy. The wind was picking up again and Joe struggled against it wading through the snow beyond the protective awning to get to the truck door. In the back seat was a small cooler Levon had stored food in for the trip. Joe popped the lid and smiled, shaking his head, when he spotted several Three Musketeers on top. Under them was a bag of potato chips, two cellophane wrapped sandwiches, an apple and couple of granola bars. Joe didn't even remember his partner picking up any of these items except for the chips. It seemed like every stop a small bag of them had made an appearance, which Joe suspected was due in large part because the only time Harris shut up other than when he fell asleep was while he was eating chips. He grabbed the cooler, locked the truck and headed back to their room.

Joe tried to quietly slip back into the hotel room but the wind conspired against him. He nearly lost his grip on the door when a violent gust of wind blew up behind him, an icy blast of air all but shoving him into the room. The former Chicago native was no stranger to the force of the wind, and managed to wrestle the door closed, breathing a sigh of relief to once more lock out the forces of nature.

Blue eyes immediately glanced toward the bed sure that the commotion and rush of cold air would have disturbed his partner. Joe frowned severely when he noticed the bed was empty. Empty! What the hell?! His eyes frantically searched the room. Levon's bag was still where he left it, as was the Stetson. Surely the Texan wouldn't have left without that damn hat he always wore.

The sound of the shower running penetrated the rising panic before it could run away with his good sense. Joe cursed himself for being every kind of fool. Where did he really think Levon would have gone? He had the keys to the Jimmy and even if upset about what had happened between them his partner wasn't likely to lose track of the solid common sense that guided nearly everything he did and run blindly out into a blizzard.

His moment of blind panic made him realize that he honestly had no idea how Levon felt about what had happened between them. Was he genuinely okay with them being lovers? Did he understand that Joe was serious about him? That he wanted more than just a convenient fuck? Joe had every intention of this being the beginning of something truly beautiful, not just a result of extenuating circumstances. Of course that intention largely depended on what Levon wanted.

Taking a deep breath, Joe slumped against the door. No doubt about it, they needed to talk. He had to make sure they were on the same page.

Taking another deep breath, Joe shoved himself away from the door. He set the cooler down on the small, rustic pine wood table before removing his boots and hanging up his coat. The room was decidedly warm when compared with the outside temperature, but it wasn't exactly what Joe knew his partner would consider comfortable, the light film of frost building up on the window was all too visible proof of that. He checked the baseboard heater and thermostat just to be sure they were indeed working, relieved to feel heat coming from the baseboard. It just wasn't up to the bitter cold outside. Joe pulled the curtain completely closed, hoping to cut down on the draft from the window, clicking on the table lamp to brighten the room. He spotted his dirty t-shirt on the floor and picked it up, rolling it and placing it on the floor in front of the door. Wasn't much but at this point every little bit would help.

Joe heard the shower shut off. He bit his lip nervously and told himself to relax. Wanting to keep his hands busy he started to unpack the cooler, arranging their meal.

He glanced toward the bathroom door when he heard a blow dryer. The Italian remembered seeing one mounted to the wall near the mirror, but hadn't felt the need to use it earlier. He was honestly surprised Levon would use it. The blond had made no secret of the fact that he found the time Joe spent styling his hair amusing. Joe grinned to himself wondering if he'd have fodder for teasing Levon now.

Unable to sit still, Joe thought about making the bed, but hadn't moved more than two steps when the bathroom door opened. He half expected his partner to appear wrapped in a towel, but realized immediately his should have known better. It was too cold to be wondering around naked. Levon had clearly been smart enough to take clothing in to the bathroom with him. Joe felt a rush of warmth noting how well the dark blue turtleneck molded itself to the cowboy's torso, remembering the feel of the silk blend under his fingers that didn't compare to the smooth skin beneath. He idly wondered if he'd ever be able to see Levon in turtleneck again without getting a hard on.

The cowboy hadn't noticed him yet. Joe blinked, hearing his partner talking to himself. Levon's tone was not one of anger as much as annoyance and frustration.

"Miserable son of a bitch couldn't have said something to me...No, o' course not. Finally getting somewhere and he jus' up and-" Levon's mini rant halted abruptly as he spotted Joe.

"I...ah...I got lunch." Joe nodded toward the table. "Didn't think I'd be gone that long." He added as brief explanation, feeling he should based one what he'd just overheard. "Figured you needed to sleep more than you needed to know where I went."

That statement earned him a dark look. Joe tensed when his partner stalked toward him, holding his ground as Levon got within a hair's breath, golden brown eyes locked on to his. "I can sleep any time you idiot." The kiss that followed the declaration erased any hurt Joe might have had the chance to register at being insulted.

Levon broke the kiss long before Joe was ready. He made a faint sound of protest and reached out to pull his new lover closer but the cowboy neatly side stepped him with a quick, gentle smile. "Food first. I'm starved."

Joe laughed, more relieved than offended. His lean partner typically ate frequently, his metabolism a lot higher than Joe's. But if worried or focused the way they both tended to be on a case, Levon would often forgo eating. Combined with the kiss, Levon being hungry was definitely a good sign.

"What'd ya find for us?" Levon asked as he moved toward the table.

Joe found himself naturally following, unwilling to let the blond get too far away. And right now more than arm's length seemed a bit too far. "Was a couple of vending machines in the office and I just grabbed the cooler from the Jimmy. Didn't want to go to far a field in this weather."

Levon nodded, taking a seat as Joe quickly took the other. One long-fingered hand hovered over the sandwiches, clearly hesitating. "You want the ham or the turkey?"

Joe hadn't even realized they weren't the same. "Turkey."

"Figured." Levon grinned, making short work of opening the ham sandwich. "Was why I got it in the first place."

Joe hesitated. It might be awhile before they could get out to get more to eat. Well, something more substantial than what could be had out of the candy machine. He grimaced picturing living off chips and chocolate. Levon probably wouldn't mind, having a habit of steady consumption of junk food, but Joe preferred something a bit more healthy and substantial.

"Somethin' wrong?" Levon's eyes narrowed, sandwich poised half way to his mouth.

"Just thinking it might be awhile before we can get something else."

"True." Levon sighed heavily. He gave his sandwich a regretful look, clearly prepared to forgo eating it when his stomach growled loudly.

"Eat it." Joe urged quietly, not wanting to see his friend go without. Getting a raised eyebrow in response, Joe shrugged and smiled. "Weather channel said the storm would blow over by morning. Even this one horse town there's got to be a plow or two, right? We can find something later."

Levon nodded, picking up his sandwich again. Joe unwrapped his own, knowing if he didn't eat it his partner wouldn't eat either. He opened the chips as well figuring they could easily get more of those anyway before opening his drink.

Watching his partner eat has always been something of a secret pleasure for Joe. Coming from a big Italian family, food and the kitchen were often central to nearly every aspect of life. Being able to share a meal with Levon, even if it was barbeque at Chicken's, always made him feel closer to his partner.

Joe sipped his drink, trying to work out what he wanted to say. The kiss Levon had planted on him definitely indicated he was okay with what happened between them. More than okay. But it didn't really tell Joe if Levon realized he wanted something permanent or if Levon was interested in doing so.

"Spit it out."

Joe coughed, caught off guard by Levon's order. "Excuse me?"

"Whatever it is ya been worryin' 'bout." Levon wiped his hands on one of the napkins that had also been in the cooler, reaching for a chip. "Ya got that look on your face." He nibbled the chip, delicate movement of his teeth and lips conjuring images of activities Joe would rather see that sensuous mouth engaged in.

Joe forcibly reined in his wayward thoughts and cleared his throat. "What look?"

"Don't go changin' the subject." Levon shook his head. "Now tell me what's bothering you."

If he were less well versed in his partner's mannerisms Joe would have missed the slight unease in his posture, the way he just barely fidgeted, normally quiet hands in near constant motion. Without thinking he reached out to capture Levon's left hand, wanting to establish a tangible connection between them. His thumb lightly ghosted over Levon's knuckles, in a minute caress.

"I'm not bothered, Cowboy. Or worried." Joe said softly. "I'm just trying to figure out how to put things into words."

If he hadn't been focused so closely he would have missed his partner's flinch. Levon was the only person he knew who could execute a nearly full body flinch without moving a muscle. The blond swallowed hard and pushed his sandwich away from him, brown eyes now focused on some point beyond Joe's left shoulder.

"Never noticed you ever havin' much trouble with words 'less you got somethin' ta say you think I ain't gonna want to hear."

Joe fought back a curse and realized why it was his partner had been uneasy in the first place. Evidently his reaction to Levon's kiss hadn't relayed as much as Levon's kiss had told Joe. His silence and whatever 'look' Levon had been referring to had clearly compounded the miscommunication. He tugged on Levon's hand to get his attention, wanting to make eye contact. "You didn't do anything wrong, Levon. WE didn't do anything wrong. And I have no regrets about what happened between us."

"But you don't really want it to happen again." Levon broke in, trying to pull his hand away, eyes holding a wealth of regret, longing and resignation. "I shoulda known better, and I'm sorry--"

"Will you shut the hell up!" Joe interrupted, grip on his partner hand tightening to prevent him from pulling away, blue eyes flashing in anger. "That IS not what I was going to say." With effort Joe managed to make his tone emphatic without actually shouting. "I wanted what happened between us. I've been wanting it for a long damn time. And I want it again, forever, you stupid schmuck. I want it to last beyond this fucking blizzard. I want it to go home with us to Houston."

Levon blinked, a slow grin spreading across his features. "Really?"

"Yes. Really." Joe answered softly, willing Levon to believe.

Levon shook his head, expression a mixture of amusement and affection. "Think you found the words you were lookin' for."

"Yeah, I guess I did." Joe laughed, before sobering a bit, blue eyes focused intently on his new lover needing to know for sure. "You feel the same way?"

Levon nodded once, firmly, without hesitation. "Wouldn't have even started anythin' if I didn't."

Joe released a breath in a soft sigh of relief. Golden brown eyes warmed considerably, amusement overriding affection and Joe wasn't at all surprised Levon had noticed his sudden return to breathing. The Chicago native smiled when Levon turned the hand, entwining their fingers in a gentle embrace so that Joe was no longer holding the blond captive.

A determined, almost resolute expression settled over Levon's features and Joe unconsciously tensed, knowing whatever was coming next was going to be important. Levon took a deep breath. "I love ya, Joe...ya know that right?"

"Yeah, I know that." And he did...now. He should have realized that particular detail long ago. So many little things his partner did every day that he did only for Joe, liberties he allowed no one else, the personality quirks he tolerated and preferences in indulged were all dead give aways to how Levon felt. Joe cursed himself for a fool. They'd wasted a lot of time because he simply hadn't understood what Levon had been trying to tell him. Not for the first time was he glad his partner was a willing to take a risk on him. No matter how much he wanted to, Joe knew he would never have made the first move.

He squeezed the hand holding his. "Love you too, Cowboy." The smile he got in return was nearly incandescent making him feel like he was basking in the warmth of the Texas sun.

"Finish your lunch." Joe ordered gently, hoping his partner's appetite hadn't been totally ruined. As attractive as he found his lover's lean, lanky form, he still thought the blond could do with a few more pounds. He winked. "You'll need to keep your strength up, because I think we might be stuck here for a few days."

Levon chuckled. His voice took on a deeper, husky tone when he asked, "And whatever shall we do with ourselves?"

"Oh, I'm sure we'll think of something." Joe shivered at the mental images that danced in front of his mind's eye. He was delighted to see a faint blush rise, adding just a hint of color to Levon's cheekbones, letting him know he wasn't the only one with a porn scene or two playing out in his head.

Levon cleared his throat. "Should call Beaumont an' let her know we're stuck."

Joe nodded. He sipped his drink, allowing the shift in conversation, knowing it wouldn't hurt for them both to get their feet firmly under them again, so to speak. "You think she's already called Cheyenne to see if we made it there safe and sound?"

"Probably." Levon's tone was dry, a wry smile twisting his lips. "She worries and thinks we're in need o' a full time keeper. I'm bettin' the weather report hasn't changed her mind none."

Joe scowled, not sure if he should feel insulted or not. "It's not like we're children."

Levon arched an eyebrow, clearly amused. "And if I'd made this trip without you...what would you be thinking?"

"That's different. I'm your partner." Worrying about Levon was just sort of second nature to him, not a reflection of a lack of trust in his intelligence or abilities.

"Yeah, well, she used to be my partner." Levon shrugged. "Don't imagine she's ever quit worryin' when it comes to me any more than I quit lookin' after her from time ta time." The blond picked up another chip pointing it at Joe. "Not like we got the best track record when it comes ta stayin' out o' trouble either."

It was hard to argue that point. The two of them had managed to get into all sorts of bizarre situations. "Not all that stuff was our fault, you know."

"Yeah, I know." Levon ate the chip he was holding. "But I think she'd worry less if it was our fault."

"How's that?" Joe frowned, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"If it were deliberate on our part, then there was a chance we could actually keep it from happenin'. Hard to just avoid dumb luck stuff." Levon grinned, giving Joe a sly look. "Course ever' once in awhile dumb luck turns out ta be a good thing."

Joe chuckled. "That it does."

Conversation stayed on light topics bouncing around from the weather to cases they were working on back home, allowing them to interact naturally until their meal was complete, the sexual tension a low grade background hum. Levon snagged one of the candy bars for dessert before Joe packed up what remained. The apple and granola bars would make for a decent snack later if they couldn't get out to get anything else until tomorrow morning.

While Levon called Reisner to let Beaumont know they were safe and sound, Joe headed for the bathroom to wash his hands and brush his teeth. It was also a golden opportunity to see if he could track down what soap or aftershave that Levon used that smelled so damn good. The tantalizing fragrance nearly drove him to distraction, teasing him every time the Texan moved and sent a faint whiff of it drifting his way.

Levon's bottle of shampoo was a non-descript travel size generic brand that a quick sniff revealed was nice but not the source of that enticing fragrance, part of it perhaps but not the source. Levon's shaving kit consisted of the same gel foam that Joe himself used and a straight razor that never failed to raise his eyebrows. Before meeting Levon the only other person Joe knew who used a straight razor was the barber his grandfather used to go to. No aftershave or cologne. Joe shook his head, a whispered curse escaping. No other solution then than to simply ask Levon.

Joe left the bathroom intent on getting an answer. Levon was standing near the bed, hanging up the phone, eyes on the television. He must have changed it back to the weather channel at some point. A cursory glance didn't show any change from the earlier report.

Joe quietly moved to stand behind Levon, careful to make enough noise not to startle his friend before gently wrapping his arms around him. He felt elated when Levon relaxed back into him, clearly welcoming his embrace. Not that he'd honestly thought he'd be rejected, it was just so damn gratifying to be able to do something he'd been wanting to do for so long.

"You get a hold of Beaumont?" Joe asked, letting his chin rest on Levon's shoulder.

"Yep." The blond nodded, his tone of voice giving away the smile Joe couldn't see. "She all but ordered us to jus' sit tight. Like we wasn't going to do that anyway."

Joe nuzzled Levon's neck above the collar of his turtleneck, breathing in deeply, eyes closing as he tried to consciously classify the wonderful scent he drew in. He sighed as baby soft curls lightly brushed his cheek, hands unconsciously stroking the silk covered chest, enjoying the way Levon rested more of his weight against him.

He took another deep breath. "What are you wearing?" Joe asked softly, delighted with the faint shiver he got in reaction to warm breath ghosting over Levon's ear.

"What?" Levon turned his head slightly, eyes slanting to get a look at Joe, a slightly glazed look to those normally eyes, pupils so large the brown eyes looked black.

"You smell good." Joe responded, shifting so he could place a kiss on Levon's jaw line. "Wonderful actually." Another kiss, moving closer to those sensual lips and alluring mouth. "What are you wearing?"

"Nothing." Levon turned in his hold, arms moving to wrap around Joe, pulling him closer.

"Nothing?" Joe raised his eyebrows, surprised that provocative scent was entirely natural. He'd heard of pheromones but somehow that didn't seem possible. "No cologne? No aftershave?"

"That stuff jus' irritates my skin." Levon moved to rest his cheek against Joe's. The warm skin against his was as baby-fine as Levon's hair had been, making Joe recall how incredible the rest of Levon's skin had felt beneath his hands, his tongue, his body. He couldn't contain a shiver of his own when Levon nibbled on his earlobe.

Joe pulled back enough to angle for a kiss. Warm, wet lips willingly opened beneath his, granting him access. He was not surprised to find Levon tasted as good as he smelled. No doubt about it, the man was simply a feast for his senses, heady and intoxicating.

Hands moved to burrow beneath clothing, hungry for more of that incredible skin. Joe caught Levon's moan of pleasure in his mouth, idly wondering if his lover's back was as much an erogenous zone has his nipples had been. Feeling Levon's hands roaming under his shirt leaving a trail of fire in their wake Joe decided anything and everything about his lanky partner was just one hell of a turn on.

The room that had seemed just a shade cool was now entirely too warm. There was too much between them. Too much that kept him from enjoying the banquet being offered. He nearly laughed recognizing this familiar frustration having experienced it only a few hours ago and he strongly suspected it was one he'd have a growing familiarity with in the future.

The need to breathe forced him to break the kiss. He rested his forehead against Levon's, smiling into passion dark eyes. "You...ah...wanna get...these clothes off?"

Levon chuckled a little breathlessly. "This all seem a mite familiar to you?"

Joe laughed lightly, kissing the tip of Levon's nose. "Yes. Very."

Levon moved to pull away from him and Joe tightened his hold. His action earned him an amused look. "Gotta give me some room here, Joe. Can't get out o' my clothes or get you out o' yours iffen we stay this way."

Joe nodded, feeling just a bit foolish, but unapologetic. He'd wanted to this close for so long it was hard not to want to hold on. Reluctantly he released his hold on Levon. The sooner they got naked the sooner they could get back to doing what he so desperately wanted. Incentive like that was bound to encourage rapid movement.

Joe started to strip out of his sweatshirt, but halted as his gaze followed Levon's movements as the blond quickly shed his own clothing, clearly not at all bothered by revealing his body. The Italian couldn't seem to take his eyes off his lover. Skin that had felt so good was equally easy on the eyes, covering long lean muscles that rippled effortlessly underneath, making his fingers itch to touch. Well-honed muscles of a physically active man flexed with each movement, adding accent Levon's natural grace. Hours spent in the saddle were readily apparent in the well-toned long shapely legs and smooth hemispheres of the most beautiful ass Joe had ever seen.

The naturally fair complexion was flawless except for a light scattering of freckles across Levon's shoulders. Not entirely unblemished, Joe was quick amend that thought as he noticed the scars. A surgery scar on his right shoulder, evidence of an old bullet wound on the left bicep, what could only be a laceration scar left from a knife skidding across one of his right ribs. Without conscious thought, Joe stepped forward to place a soft kiss on each one wanting to ease the pain they bore witness to.

Levon raised a hand to run fingers through his hair in a gentle, soothing caress. "S'okay, Joe. They don't hurt anymore."

"What happened?" Joe fingers lightly ghosted over the scar on his ribs, blue eyes relaying concern as well as curiosity. Had the knife wielder had more skill and gotten between the ribs he might never have met Levon at all.

"Domestic disturbance back when I was still in uniform." Levon's lips curled in a half smile. "Wife was a mite upset with us for arrestin' her husband."

"And here?" Joe moved to the left bicep.

"Suspect in a homicide winged me." Came the matter of fact answer.

Joe knew where the scar on Levon's right shoulder came from. That injury had ended his chances at a football career. Joe doubted his partner's assertion that 'they didn't hurt anymore' was entirely accurate when it came to that old wound. He'd seen Levon wince more than once when his shoulder reacted badly to whatever he was asking of it; knew he likely slept on his left side because the damaged joint simply wouldn't allow him to do otherwise.

Levon cupped his face; thumb stroking his cheekbone. "Bet you got a few scars you could talk about, too." He smiled softly, eyes aglow with something Joe couldn't quite identify. "Wanna play show and tell, or can we get back to what we was doin'?"

Joe grinned. "You mean we can't do both?"

"Seems a bit ambitious." Levon's eyes sparkled. "You think yer gonna have wind 'nough for both?"

"Point."

Levon shivered, goose bumps now readily apparent on the pale skin Joe had been admiring only a moment ago. With a faint grimace he realized that as heated as being touched by Levon and touching him made Joe feel, it still wasn't that warm in this room. He tried to pull his lover close to him again but Levon neatly sidestepped him. A wicked grin appeared.

"Gotta lose some clothes first."

Joe laughed, somehow not surprised his partner had not lost sight of the ultimate objective. He quickly slipped out of his sweatshirt and sweatpants. He blushed when he realized Levon was watching him, his gaze clearly one of appreciation as he studied Joe from head to toe and back again.

"Got nothin' to be embarrassed about, Joseph LaFiamma. Nothin' at all." Levon smiled, desire and admiration clear in his expression. "You are definitely easy on the eyes, my friend."

Hours in a gym had given Joe a physique he knew he could be proud of and lots of women, and more than a few men, had taken pains to comment on how handsome they thought he was. But somehow he knew there was more to Levon's statement about him than just a comment on his appearance. Levon was probably the only person he knew that really saw him...the real Joseph Anthony LaFiamma, not just who and what others wanted to see, not who they expected him to be. And the best part was Levon genuinely liked him anyway; faults, foibles and all.

Joe closed the distance between them, pulling his partner back into the circle of his arms. Full body contact brought with it a renewed rush of pleasure and desire. Before he could initiate another kiss, Levon's lips were already against his, hot and hungry.

Joe wasn't entirely certain how they ended up on the bed. He had a vague recollection of movement, but was too caught up in mapping the inside of Levon's mouth he hadn't really paid much attention. Being horizontal just sort of happened.

He broke the kiss, panting slightly, before moving to sample the rest of Levon. Joe nibbled along his jaw, before working down his neck to lightly suck on the throbbing pulse point. Levon tilted his head back, almost baring his throat to Joe, soft sighs encouraging Joe to continue.

He dipped his head to nuzzle Levon's chest before laving one of those pert tempting rosebud points. Levon arched his back, hands moving to cradle Joe's head pressing him to his chest, fingers lightly massaging Joe's scalp as they toyed with his hair. Breathy moans added audible proof to how much Levon liked what he was doing.

Mindful of Levon's earlier reaction, Joe was careful not to spend too much time teasing either nipple. He wanted to be able to take more time this time. Wanted to savor it, prolong it.

Joe allowed Levon to pull his head up, eyes meeting for a moment before they kissed. In contrast to their earlier kisses this one was nearly chaste, a leisurely familiar greeting, a promise of better things to come. It was the sort of kiss Joe wanted to get every day for the rest of his life.

He was caught of completely off guard when Levon executed a neat move to flip them over, putting him on top of Joe. Levon grinned at him. "I wanna drive this time."

Joe's chuckle became a gasp when Levon's hands caressed his chest, somewhere between a feather light touch and a massage. Lord but the cowboy had a magic touch. Joe moaned as Levon dipped his head to suck on a spot just below his ear. How the blond knew that was a personal hotspot Joe didn't really care so long as he didn't stop doing whatever the hell he was doing with his tongue.

"Tell me what you want?" Levon whispered, lips lightly caressing his ear. "Tell me and I'll do it."

Joe swallowed hard. What he really wanted was to have Levon fuck him, long and hard. Unfortunately, they didn't have the supplies for that. And he wasn't sure if it might not be too soon in their relationship for that anyway.

"God, Levon..." Joe tried to catch his breath as Levon sucked on his earlobe. "I want...don't think we can do what...I want."

Levon raised his head, ending the delicious torment, his expression puzzled. "Why?"

"No supplies."

A faint frown creased Levon's brows as he considered what Joe said. The Texan sighed regretfully. "Damn shame that."

"Quite." Joe agreed softly, hand moving to cup Levon's face. "Might have been a bit too soon for that anyway."

"Maybe." Levon turned his head to place a kiss in Joe's palm. "Don't mean we can't still have some fun." A wicked smile appeared. "You got a second choice?"

Joe felt the blush warming his face as he fought to find a way to ask for what he wanted. He bit his lower lip, not sure how to phrase it, not wanting to make a mistake and insult his partner. This was not the sort of thing a man typically asked of another man...well, at least Joe didn't typically ask. Levon waited, surprisingly patient.

"Would you...I mean I know it's...well, I-"

"Tell me." Brown eyes held his, open, honest and accepting.

"Fellatio."

"Blowjob, Joe." Levon snickered. "Be easier on both o' us if you jus' stick to English."

Joe found himself torn between amusement and annoyance. He moved a hand to grip the back of Levon's neck, shaking him gently. "Shaddup."

Levon grinned at him, unrepentant. He leaned in and kissed Joe, a thorough, breathtaking kiss that ravaged his mouth and left him hungry for more. The blond pulled away sooner than Joe would have liked, but he wasn't able to do anything about it as Levon began working his way down Joe's torso, mouth leaving exquisite sparks of pleasure and Joe a whimpering mass of need in its wake.

Joe's hands fisted into the rumpled bedding, seeking something to ground himself with as that wonderfully talented tongue found its way to his painfully hard erection. Warm, wet heat engulfed him and Joe raised his head to watch, unable to catch his breath at the sight of his beautiful lover treating his cock like a kid with an all day sucker. Joe shuddered when he felt Levon's hand begin playing with his balls. Dear God, that felt good.

He knew he was saying something, but for the life of him Joe couldn't figure out what. Pleas, encouragement, whispered endearments...whatever it took to keep Levon doing exactly what he was doing right now. Joe unconsciously began thrusting in a natural rhythm older than time and only Levon's weight across his hips kept him from choking his partner.

Joe felt like everything in the universe was condensing to one point, waiting to explode. He trembled, body arching, gasping for enough air to give his lover warning. He tried to pull away but Levon wouldn't let him, moving to swallow more of Joe, throat working as he hummed slightly, thumb pressing to that sweet spot just behind his balls. It was enough to tip Joe over the edge as he came with a harsh shout of Levon's name.

Joe struggled to catch is breath and calm his heart rate. Muscles randomly twitched as aftershocks of pleasure that rippled through him. He could feel Levon's hands moving over him in a light, soothing caress as though he were calming a nervous animal. Joe would be insulted if it weren't for the fact that the cowboy's touch felt so incredibly good.

"You okay there, boy?" Levon asked, sliding up to place a kiss at the hollow of Joe's throat.

Joe chuckled breathlessly remembering when he'd asked Levon a similar question not too long ago. He wrapped his arms around Levon, pulling him closer. "You really gotta ask?"

"Nope." A warm smile Joe could feel as well as see. "Jus' figured I should make sure."

"I'm good." Joe hugged him. "Hell, I'm golden."

"Good."

Joe became aware of Levon's erection caught between them. He rubbed his cheek against the mop of silken tresses. "Hey?"

"Yeah?" Levon's reply was little more than a sigh.

"Tell me what you want. Tell me and I'll do it." Joe parroted back Levon's earlier statement, a quick grin hovering about his mouth. "And you can pick whatever language you want to say it in."

Levon laughed lightly, raising his head to look at Joe. "Only know one."

"Well that ought to make it easy then."

Levon licked his lips, brown eyes still so dark as to be nearly black. He took one of Joe's hands, raised it to his mouth and thoroughly coated his fingers with saliva. His actions so closely mirrored what he'd been doing earlier that Joe shuddered in remembered ecstasy. Levon gave his fingers one last lick before placing Joe's hand on his ass.

"I want you to finger fuck me while ya jerk me off." Levon whispered, voice rough and needy. "We got 'nough supplies for that...ya think?"

Joe swallowed hard, and tried to breathe normally. "Yeah, we got enough supplies for that, Cowboy." The smile he got in return reminded him of the ones his nieces and nephews wore every Christmas morning.

He pulled Levon in for another kiss, as he moved his slick fingers to rim Levon's puckered opening. The cowboy's hips began lazily thrusting, erection sliding against Joe's hip. Levon had asked for him to jerk him off, and Joe rolled them over to give himself room to get a hand between them never losing contact with tight little pucker.

One finger slid in easily, past the tight ring of muscle with no difficulty. Joe captured Levon's moan in his mouth before relinquishing the kiss. He studied his lover's face for a moment wanting to make sure that sound was one of pleasure not pain.

Eyes heavy lidded with passion met his. A slow, sensual smile appeared as Levon began to deliberately thrust into Joe's fist and rock back on his finger, soft mewling sounds of pleasure escaping parted lips. Joe found himself grateful he'd come already or the image before him would have been enough to bring him off. If his partner had been this turned on by his reaction, Joe was impressed Levon hadn't come already.

Using Levon's sighs and moans as a guide Joe adjusted his grip, rubbing the pad up his thumb over the tip of his cock with each upstroke. He didn't want to risk adding another digit to Levon's hot, tight entrance. Joe wanted this to be about feeling good, no good reason to risk causing pain. More could wait until they were better prepared. And he had a feeling Levon wasn't going to last much longer.

Joe shifted slightly, angling to suck one of Levon's nipples. He fluttered his tongue repeatedly over the hard nub, delighted with the low, breathy pleas for more he got in response. What was being said wasn't entirely intelligible but the intent was crystal clear.

He worked his hands in tandem, never letting Levon escape the building spiral of ecstasy. He felt for Levon's prostate, brushing it lightly with each stroke. The tremors that rippled over his lover's frame heralded his coming climax.

Joe shortened his internal stroke, rubbing against Levon's prostate in short bursts. He deftly increased the speed of his hand working his lover's hard cock. Joe smiled as he heard Levon's near chant about being close, so close, please don't stop. Knowing it would be enough to push him over the edge, Joe went from lightly teasing the nipple he'd been playing with to sucking hard, adding just enough pressure from his teeth to enhance the sensation without causing pain. Levon came with a near silent cry that somehow managed to reverberate around the room.

Joe licked the spunk from his hand. It was a bit bitter but very appealing, somehow reminding him of dark chocolate. Next time maybe Levon would be interested in getting a blowjob rather than giving one. He closed his eyes to better savor the taste, opening them only when he heard Levon speak.

"Jesus, Joe...am I still alive?" Levon's breathing was ragged, chest still heaving.

Joe grinned. "Guess I don't have to ask if you enjoyed that."

"Pretty safe bet there." Levon laughed lightly. "God...I can't believe we wait so long for this."

Joe shrugged one shoulder, feeling similar regrets, but too grateful to have gotten this far to really feel bad about lost time. "My grandmother always said anticipation added spice."

Levon raised his head slightly to make eye contact, brown eyes warm, a long fingered elegant hand moving to cup Joe's face. "She might be right 'bout that. Thinkin' this was worth waitin' for."

"More than worth it." Joe smiled, dropping his gaze, feeling uncharacteristically shy.

Levon sighed. "Better than I dreamed about."

"You dreamed about this?" Joe looked up in surprise. "I mean...this," Joe made a gesture to indicate the two of them and what he'd just done.

"Oh, hell yes." Levon nodded. He grinned suddenly. "Why you think it didn't take me too long to know what to ask for?"

"Me too." Joe chortled. "Quite a pair the two of us."

"Yep." Levon's thumb caressed his cheek. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

"Me either." Joe wanted to say more, but caught himself when Levon shivered, sweat slick skin cooling rapidly under his touch. "C'mon, Cowboy, lets get under the covers."

"Kay." Levon easily agreed, movements languid and loose.

Joe found himself moving slowly, just too relaxed to move quickly regardless of the chill. Between the two of them they managed to straighten out the covers enough to get under them and curl up. Levon automatically rolling on to his left side with Joe curling up behind him.

Joe pulled Levon in closer to him, sharing body heat, and incidentally enjoying the added bonus of skin to skin contact. He placed a kiss on Levon's shoulder, inhaling the man's natural fragrance. If they could bottle that, they'd make a fortune, but to have this for himself was priceless.

"Love you, Joe." Levon murmured, his accent heavy, voice sleepy and blurred.

"Love you too, Levon."