Fandom: Houston Knights
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Joe / Levon
Archive: Yes
Title: Try a Little Tenderness
Author: Glo
email: goglow@mailcity.com

Standard Disclaimer: These Houston Knights belong to Jay Bernstein and Michael Butler and Columbia Pictures. No copyright infringement is intended. This is fan fiction and I make nothing from this story. Any original characters in these stories are mine.

Try a Little Tenderness
By Glo

The cowboy was getting on LaFiamma's nerves. No matter what he tried to do on a case, that blonde bombshell would strut right in front of him and create another roadblock. Good thing the man was so damn sexy he was creating heat waves inside Joe's libido. Otherwise, he'd be, what was the phrase he'd heard once on a western? Pushin' up daisies! Yeah, he'd be pushin' up daisies.

LaFiamma embellished upon this current daydream. He could almost picture the tombstone now, all gray granite and incised on the front, it would read 'here lies a real pain in the ass.' Trouble was, he really did have a beautiful ass, had Joe just aching to try giving it a friendly little grope sometimes. The dark Italian cop, formerly of Chicago, now of the lingering swelter of Houston, stood up from his desk and gripped a folder tightly as he frowned at his partner. Levon Lundy, the object of both his frustration and his lust, sat hunched over his own facing desk, ignoring the tall brunette in favor of a set of rather grim photographs of a crime scene.

When he got not even a flicker of interest from the blonde, LaFiamma shrugged and started around his desk, clearly heading toward the back of the bullpen. The only possible destination in that direction was Lieutenant Beaumont's office, their boss. As soon as Lundy sensed where his partner was going, he sat back and seemed to bonelessly sprawl out into the aisle, his chair rolling back just enough to block LaFiamma's forward progress.

"Lundy-"

"Where you headed, pardner?"

Joe took a deep breath. He was about out of patience. "I'm gonna go see the lieutenant."

"'Bout what?"

God, could the cowboy be any MORE irritating than he already was? Always wanted to take more time, check things out further, never wanted to take a chance, follow a lead, listen to an instinct. And Joe had great cop instincts. That had been clear since his days on a beat years back in the windy city up north. He could smell a bent cop, though, and Lundy wasn't crooked, just seemed, well, lazy, or, maybe, just too cautious. LaFiamma realized that Lundy was sitting there, blocking his way and still staring up at him with those gorgeous deep brown eyes. There ought to be a law against putting eyes like that on the same body as hair that blonde and honey colored, all curly and long enough to tangle around your fingers.

[Shit. Got to keep my mind outta the bedroom, especially around my partner.] He lowered the file to hold it casually in front of himself, covering a now rather flagrant erection that showed through his tight dark trousers. [I'm gonna have to start wearing my looser, heavier trousers, or someone's gonna notice my constant boner. Shit.]

"About, Lundy, the case we're working on right now."

"You going in there without me?"

"You didn't seem too interested when I told you what I thought."

The chair creaked as Lundy shifted forward and came up to his feet in a smooth, calculated roll. He ended up standing in front of his partner, still blocking the way to Beaumont's office. "Ah ain't. We cain't make a case for a warrant yet, Lafamma! Ain't likely we's gonna even get a chance to try, way you been hotdawgin' it."

The blonde's face wore an angry scowl and he had curled his fists and rested them on his narrow hips. Jeez Louise, Joey thought, trying to contain his anger in the face of further obstructionism by his 'partner'. He'd ask for someone else, someone more prepared to work, take chances, but he couldn't bear the thought of anyone else as close to Lundy as a partner would be. [Could be. Should be. Wished he was.]

Levon studied on hiz pardner, standing there like a challenged bull, nearly blowing steam outta hiz nostrils. [How in hell did ah git saddled with this ignorant gangster-style cop from way outta Chicago?] Iffn he hadn't a checked out Lafamma's credentials hizself, Lundy thought he'd a long since reported him to Joanne Beaumont on suspicion of incompetence. But, the files on the boy were jest the opposite o'what he'd expected. Boy'd been a damn hero up north, a regular one-man posse. Still, he didn't know nothin' 'bout the west er the south, neither. Kept trippin' over hiz own feet. A few weeks here and he thought he knew better'n the entire HPD force. Ready ta go off half-cocked agin now, less'n Lundy stopped him from embarrassin' them both.

Joe could see the tightness forming around Lundy's mouth. [Man's gonna blow again. Regular as 'Old Faithful'.] Anytime Joe had a good idea for a lead, there was Levon Lundy ready to shoot it full of holes. His resentment dampened his ardor of moments before. Stepping right up against Lundy, chest pushed into chest, LaFiamma poked a hard index finger into the smaller man's chest. Damn bantam rooster. "Get outta the way, Lundy."

"Drop the attitude, Lafamma. Ain't gonna go far down here."

"The name, Lundy, is La-Fi-Am-Ma! And, you are the one with the attitude and it's piss poor!"

Snarling, suddenly both men were shoving, arms drew back with tendons straining to pull fists into play. By this time, though, several other detectives had arrived and were grabbing the men and pulling them apart.

Nate Holiday grimaced as he and Joe Bill McCandless hung on LaFiamma's arms. Dale had an arm in front of Lundy. Beaumont was charging out of her office and storming down the aisle towards the angry pair.

***********

The scene kept replaying itself for Joe as he drove home that night. Only reason he wasn't on suspension at this moment was the timely intervention of MORE of those dim-witted cowboy detectives. Well, he admitted honestly to himself, not really dim-witted. But they sure knew how to act it!

His plainwrap from the police impound lot was getting bogged down in evening commuter traffic, allowing his mind plenty of time and space to experiment with thoughts of his partner, their case, the other detectives, their boss, what she'd said. She'd warned them both to back off and find a way to work together. He grunted in chagrin. [Not likely.] His hand went out to the radio dial, hopeful as always, though so far he'd yet to find anything to his liking in this land of countrified music. As the static and stations hopped back and forth under his relentless search for what he considered good listening music, a half-remembered melody suddenly emerged from the speakers with crystal clarity.

'Try a Little Tenderness'. That was the name of it, it had just taken a moment to place it. So, was fate trying to intervene? Joe shook his head. [Tenderness? With that armored cowhand? Huh. Not likely.]

The tune lingered in LaFiamma's memory, though, as he parked the car and walked in and up to his apartment. Not much to see. [Gotta find a place I can really like.] The brunette sank down on to the sofa in the living room area, then leaned back, stretching out his long runner's legs. He poked his hands into his trouser pockets and frowned out into space. [Tenderness.]

**********

Lundy was fuming. He hadn't had such a tongue lashin' from enyone, no less Joanne Beaumont... ever! Dang the man eny how! Gritting hiz teeth, he pitched a bale o'hay from the back o'hiz truck onto the barn floor.

Fooler looked on with interest from her box stall. She nickered softly and blew her lips at him.

Lundy grinned up at her from where he was heaving the bale over to the side wall. "Hungry, old girl?"

He stood and put a carrot on his palm, keeping the fingers flat. The offering was nearly sucked in by the mare as she eagerly took it. The crunching sound that followed soothed the Texan. It'd work out somehow, or he'd ask for a transfer. He'd heard there were still some openings back in Homicide. Didn't have to stay with Major Crimes, jest say it wasn't working out. [And ain't that just the truth?]

**********

This time they weren't in the bullpen when they reached explosive levels. Lundy swung the Jimmy over to the side o' the road and was already outta the driver's side and stomping around the vehicle when LaFiamma popped his seatbelt and dropped out on his side. The Texan rounded the hood and was in LaFiamma's face as he thunked the door shut. Damn, the blonde was furious, flush and fiery. Whatever Joe was going to say stuck in his throat. He stared in open fascination at the blonde fury stalking toward him.

[Tenderness.]

As Lundy skidded to a halt in front of LaFiamma, positively vibrating with indignation, as if in slow motion the brunette reached out and took hold of the edges of Lundy's vest. Pulled the man to him. And kissed him. Long, slow, wet. Since he'd caught Levon with his mouth partly open, ready to curse no doubt, Joe took advantage of that, too, and tongued his way deep inside his delectable partner.

Lundy had turned into a statue, blinking furiously and clenching his fists. He jerked back and finally found out just how strong his pardner really wuz. The man held him so fast and tight that he might as well 'a been pulling at the face of a cliff. He didn't have no normal tongue, neither, felt like a snake was wigglin' around inside hiz throat.

Then LaFiamma jerked hard, practically dragging the blond off hiz feet. Lundy found himself on his toes, body pressed hard against his partner as Joe's arms wrapped completely around Lundy, holding him warm and firm. [What the hell?]

Startled brown eyes sought out warmly humorous blue ones, so close that Lundy felt cross-eyed. Panic began to cloud hiz own eyes as he found himself unable to break free, unable to take in a breath. Something must have communicated itself to LaFiamma because he finally drew back from the kiss. He didn't let go of Lundy, however.

"LaFiamma?" The gasp was further proof that Lundy had been defused.

Joe's lips curled in an affectionate smile, "You finally said it right, Levon."

"Huh?"

"My name."

"Ah, Joe? What's happening here?"

"I decided to try a little tenderness. Seems to be working. You've been flaunting that body of yours around me for so long, I decided it was time to sample the merchandise."

"Wha - - 'flaunting!'" Levon struggled again to free himself. LaFiamma contained him easily. In was even kinda scary how strong the man really was.

Then Joe reconnected for a second kiss. This time it was slower, lingering and truly tender. He let some of his lust bleed into a kinder, softer feeling and realized that he'd already fallen in love with his blonde partner. [Gotta make it good, good enough so he might want some more.] Joe still hadn't a clue how Levon felt about all this.

Levon was in shock. Held so tightly against his pardner's body, he might as well be strapped to the man, and, to hiz surprise, it actually felt kinda nice. Not like he'd never made out with another man afore, after all he'd had Bobby fur a while, back in college. But, size-wise, he'd been on a' equal footin' with Bobby. LaFiamma was in charge now, no way o' denying that. The arms holdin' him were so strong that he could actually feel some separate muscle groups pressing against hiz sides and back.

The soft lips of the Italian were tender now. Real gentle, seeking a response. Until this moment, though, Levon had been passive, that is, onct he'd figgered out how useless it wuz to struggle. Tipping his head slightly to the side, to allow for a better angle, Levon experimentally kissed back, just a little movement of hiz lips and jaw, tongue comin' out to touch LaFiamma's. Joe's. He could nearly feel the smile on Joe's face in response.

Although hiz arms were pinioned to hiz sides by Joe's, hiz forearms had some freedom and he used it to bring hiz hands up and around LaFiamma's narrow waist. Funny thing wuz, even though he'd worked with the man fur three weeks, he hadn't really looked, looked at LaFiamma as a person, jest as a pest. Joe had finally got hiz attention.

Things changed when LaFiamma felt Lundy respond, kissing back, however hesitantly, tonguing a tiny bit, and then bringing up his arms and hands to hold Joe in turn. Joe shifted his weight back on his heels and let himself lean back against the tall side of the Jimmy. With his new balance, he lifted Levon clear off the ground and reached down with one hand to cup that wonderfully tempting ass, finally. Fit like it was made for him. [Oh, yeah.] He began to suck and drag at Lundy's tongue, pulling it back into hiz own mouth.

For Levon, time ceased to have meaning, hiz world had shrunk to within the arms of hiz new pardner, a man who seemed likely to devour him whole before lunch. To his utter amazement, he found himself liking the idea. All the anger, all the unhappiness vanished. This was too wonderful to have any place for those baser emotions. It felt so nice, so comforting to be held like this, to be kissed and consumed. He felt light weight, protected. Treasured. The hands traveling over him were gentle but firm stroking him like a child, like a lover. [Oh, my.] Without conscious thought, hiz legs rose on either side of the tall brunette, knees bending and heels digging in behind the other's legs, seeking a more complete joining with Joe.

LaFiamma squeezed his prize. [Damn, I shoulda thought of this before. Man, is Levon hot! I need to get him into a bed ...now!]

His thoughts were interrupted by the honking of a car horn. Then another.

He lifted his head to realize that they were standing there beside the Jimmy where it sat at the edge of the road. Motorists were waving, some grinning, some frowning. [Oh, boy.] Joe looked down into his partner's face. Levon's eyes were completely glazed over, an expression of bliss on his face, his lips slightly swollen already, pinkish and damp.

Joe lifted the man up higher still, into his arms like he might a young child. He took a step away from the Jimmy, pivoted on one foot and managed to open the passenger door with a hand that came away from Levon's back. Once the door was open, he carefully deposited his luscious bundle on the seat, stooping to lift and put inside the long, drooping legs. [Man's spacing out. Better than yelling, I guess.]

He closed the door. Then Joe went around the vehicle, ignoring the passing drivers. He was into the driver's side seat in moments and leaning over to secure a seat belt around his partner who still sat staring with little comment. Smiling, LaFiamma stole another kiss, getting another faint response, then let his fingers drag lingeringly along the face.

"Where we goin'?" The soft question was so unlike anything Levon had ever said to him before, that, for a minute, Joe wasn't even sure he'd heard it. Seeing the brown eyes flick a nervous glance his way, he decided that they were not done with this yet.

"Thought I'd take us over to my place. Think we need a little time to cement this partnership."

"Ah ain't shore...," the hesitation still, the blonde was clearly at a loss.

"Listen, Levon," now Joe paused, thinking about how much he should say and how soon he should say it. "We gotta make peace. And, maybe, if you're interested, we can also make love?"

"Ah... no, wait, Bobby...," Levon was confused, wanted to explain, but words just wouldn't come out right.

Joe sat back against the seat, staring straight ahead. [Bobby? Who the hell is 'Bobby' and is Levon calling ME that name or what?] He gripped the steering wheel more tightly and pressed on the gas, moving the truck at a faster than normal speed back toward his apartment, one of the few places he could now find from just about anywhere in the city.

The rest of the drive was done in silence. Joe concentrated on driving among the crazies of Houston's streets. His thoughts were running in circles. Levon had reacted better than he'd expected to his unexpected advance, but this "Bobby" business had him... he didn't know what, confused, worried... jealous?

Levon Lundy slumped in the seat next to LaFiamma. As his breathing normalized, he shifted slightly so's he could watch hiz pardner drive. [Never really looked afore. The man's a real looker alright, what they call a lady-killer. And, from what little ah've seen, these past few weeks, the man's inta the ladies big time. So, where'd this come from?] He might not ha' done much experimentin' with men, none really aside from Bobby, but he could tell that Joe wuzn't jest funnin'. No, those kisses, the way he'd held Levon, he weren't fakin' er nothin'. He's jest so big. Pro'bly big all over. Levon blushed mightily at the thought and shifted uncomfortably on the seat, feeling the beginnings of a hard on of hiz own.

LaFiamma, struggling with traffic, still managed to keep a weather eye on his partner and had noted both the blush and the body language. [Damn, the man is more'n ready for this. We coulda saved a lot of time and temper if we'd just hopped in the sack right from Hobby Airport that first day!] Who knew? Here the cowboy had been stomping around in jeans three sizes too small, ass out to the breeze, crotch sitting up for notice, and still Joey hadn't let the tumblers click. Well, he knew why, really. From the first, Lundy exuded an aura of touch-me-not and danger and distance. The blonde was laid back but like a snake coiled for the strike. All that prodding he'd been doing had enraged his partner but not broken through the distancing... until now. [We go up, have some beer, which I stocked special, just for him, and then, maybe talk can lead to more...interesting things.] Joe was hopeful for the first time since he'd arrived in this 'foreign' city. [Wait 'til I tell the cousins that I got me a real live cowboy!] His slow smile, as he navigated the final street to his apartment, lit his face.

Levon saw the smile and wondered. All thoughts of work were a hazy memory now, this new experience was so intense for the blonde that he actually found himself holding his breath, having to consciously tell himself to breathe. 'Cepting with Bobby, where it had really been jest playing up to Bobby's fantasies, he'd always been in charge in relationships. 'Course with Caroline, he'd tried to give her control but she'd not handled it well, seemed to think he'd been backin' out on their marriage, taken to the bottle when things got bad and hiz work started interfering on top o' that. The black thoughts lifted with Joe's smile. It had felt odd. Wonderful. To be held captive so completely, lavished with kisses and fondling. Not exactly like he'd been a woman er enythin' more like he'd let LaFiamma take over. [Let' nothing,] he thought honestly, [iffn the boy wants to do something, ain't no way I'm gonna be able to stop him less'n Ah use a gun.] That brought a smile to hiz own lips. [Ah likely ain't shootin' some'un Ah jest might like ta keep around fur a spell.]

Joe turned the wheel and the Jimmy came to a stop at the curb outside Joe's apartment building. Not looking at Lundy, he took the keys and got out of the truck's cab, closing the door and locking it. He walked around the truck and hauled open the door on the passenger side where he found himself looking into those melting brown eyes again. Lundy simply sat there, staring out at Joe. LaFiamma leaned across the cowboy and released the seatbelt, then hooked his arm around the cowboy's waist and pulled, bringing Levon out of the truck and back into his arms.

Lundy let his legs slide out and down to the ground. [Dang, Ah do hafta look up at LaFiamma, even in mah boots.] One of Joe's arms came up behind Lundy, cradling his shoulders close to the tall brunette's chest, while with his other hand, he closed and locked the passenger door. He reached up now and tipped the Stetson on Lundy's head back so that he could look into his partner's face. "Ready?"

Joe's smile held deep amusement and, wuz that love? at Levon's silent nod. [Boy's beginnin' to look like a might tasty dish. Wonder why Ah didn't notice afore?]

Joe swung them around and guided his partner across the sidewalk and into the building, one arm possessively around the smaller man's shoulders.

************

The getting - from truck to apartment - went by in a blur for both men. Once inside, with the front door closed, Joe guided Lundy to the sofa before getting two beers out of the refrigerator. Handing one to the silent blonde, he sat down beside him on the couch. [I'm afraid to get too far from him just now,] Joe thought as he settled into the soft pillows. [He might just put up that touch-me-not wall again.]

Lundy held the cold bottle in both hands and stared down at the longneck. The chill, damp surface seemed to take him out of his trance. [How the hell did we git here from where we wuz, in the middle of another argument, on the middle of a busy street?] Like a dream you couldn't wake from, this whole thing, with LaFiamma kissin' him and holdin' him, it didn't seem real. The beer, now that seemed real. Doubtfully he looked up at hiz pardner, sitting there so close upside him.

LaFiamma found himself reading the emotions chasing across his partner's face. [Man is in denial. Before my chance disappears, I better do something.] He put down his own bottle of beer, still untouched and flipped the Stetson off Lundy's head.

Levon sat up in startled bewilderment at this latest outrage to hiz person. [Mah hat!] Afore he could do more than blink, the beer that had been deposited in hiz hand was pulled back out and set down in front of him on the coffee table. And hiz pardner was standing up agin, looking huge so close.

"Enough small talk," Joe's voice sounded hoarse, even to himself. [Now don't scare the poor son of a bitch.] He pitched his voice lower to add, "let's go explore my place. Come on." He held out a hand, and as if still dreaming, Lundy took it with his own and rose.

Not letting go of Lundy's hand, LaFiamma led the way up the stairs to his bedroom. Lundy followed. Once they reached the small bedroom, Joe simply turned to Levon and began to undress him.

Feeling those hands on him again, Levon struggled to figger out what he should be doing. He caught the nimble hands as they worked down the front of hiz shirt, unbuttoning it. "Wait." He swallowed, hard. "Wait. LaFiamma? Joe? What'er you doing? What are we doing?"

Lundy's brown eyes were almost wet, pleading for answers to the bewildering turn of events of the past half-hour. From a near fist-fight to possible intercourse was obviously making his cowboy's head spin.

Joe smiled tenderly and leaned over their joined hands to place a light kiss on the man's trembling mouth. Then he released his hands from where Levon held the wrists and brought his arms up and around the cowboy again, pulling them close. "It's ok, really. Levon, we're gonna lie down together. I want to make love to you. If you let me. I promise, I won't force anything you don't like, but I think you'll like what I can do for you. I been wondering," his murmur was shifting blonde hairs slightly as he continued to speak into the closest ear of his lanky partner, "I been wondering why we fight so much. I think I finally figured it out. We both gotta do something real hot together, there's an attraction that I'm not denying anymore, only we both got sidetracked in another way to express that heat - we got angry." He sighed and planted a kiss on the high cheek bone so close. "Let the anger go, partner. Give love a chance."

"Joe...? Ah ain't been with a man for a long time."

"That 'Bobby' you named?"

Lundy started. Had he said Bobby's name aloud? He couldn't even remember doing that. Man, did he have it bad. "Uh, yeah. Not since Bobby, and that wuz in college."

Joe squeezed his warmth into his armful of partner. "Levon, give it a chance now, with me?"

Silence, then, "You be gentle?"

Joey almost laughed for joy, "Oh, Levon, I'll be ever so gentle. Oh, little Levon, I'll be just as tender as can be."

Lundy pushed his face up to look into Joe's eyes. "How'd you know mah nickname?"

"Nickname?"

"Little Levon."

Joy transmuted into love. Joe smiled again. "I didn't. It just came out that way, but I see how it fits." He kissed the raised face. "Will you come to the bed with me? Will you let me finish undressing us?"

"Us?" Levon looked surprised. "Yore gonna get outta yore clothes, too?"

Now it was Joe's turn to look surprised. Then in a flash he pictured this Bobby, playing with the rosy blonde, naked somewhere, toying with the slender body, having his way with the man, but never giving anything of himself back. Maybe even staying clothed the whole time. [Oh, shit, poor Lundy. I have to make this good for him.] "Yeah, Levon, me, too. I want to feel all of you against all of me."

Lundy nodded seriously and Joe could feel the other's fingers back between them, fumbling with the buttons on Lundy's shirt. Joe moved back a little to make room for the movement and began to unbutton his own shirt. From shirts, they moved to footwear and pants. In seconds, the two men stood nude, facing each other.

Levon reached out hesitantly and touched Joe lightly on his smooth, well-defined chest. The man was all steel, all muscles. Tall, too. Dark hair, blue eyes that looked almost white they were so light just now. Slowly, Levon's fingers began to explore, hiz eyes followin' along. Until he looked down and saw the pulsating erection nested in almost black pubic hairs that curled around the base of the tall cock. [Big. Like Ah thought, like the rest of him.]

Joe stood stock-still, enjoying the light touch of his partner's fingers as they slowly traversed his chest. His eyes began to close and then Levon stopped. Joe opened his eyes and looked to see Levon staring down at Joe's erection. LaFiamma looked over and saw that the cowboy's own cock, which had obviously been hard was now sagging. [Know I'm big, must be scarin' him.] "Levon. Look at me. Please." The last word brought the frightened brown eyes back up to his. "That's for you. But that doesn't mean it's going anywhere it's not invited. Relax. Let's just get to know each other." With that, Joe led the way over and sat them down, side by side, on the bed.

He took a deep breath and leaned back, dragging Lundy down with him, then using his elbows, dug into the mattress, he pulled them both up and fully onto the large queen sized bed. Turning, he faced the cowboy and started doing some exploring of his own, letting his fingers drift lightly over the freckled skin that goose bumped beneath the touch. Tracing a path from shoulder to hip, then down over the thigh to the strawberry blonde patch of curls, Joe reached his goal. Gently, he gathered the still shrinking member into his hand and squeezed a little. Not hard, but pumping lightly. He felt it respond, thickening and lengthening, even as he heard Levon's soft moan. He licked the shoulder, bony and prominent, near his face. Sucked at it, letting his rough tongue stimulate the skin's nerves. A sharp inhalation from Lundy told him that he was definitely making progress.

Joe wuz suckin' on hiz shoulder, of all things. And pumpin' hiz dick, makin' it hard agin. Levon gulped in a gutful of air, sure he wuz gonna die soon. And Joe wuz so purty, all dark and dusky, gleamin' in the dim lightin' here. Bobby'd never gone all the way with Levon, never got naked with'im, jest 'spected Levon to be ready fur whatever games ole Bobby'd wanted to play with Lundy's body. It was kinda interestin' really, jest being able ta see all'a'va 'nother man like this. Hot and ready - and fur him. [Mah, mah. Don't it jest make yore paint peel.] Curiously, he touched a close nipple and watched it spring into a tall, hard stone, all dark red and lush-lookin'. He pinched it lightly and heard Joe's gasp of pleasure. [Nice, very nice.] He experimented with the other one, it shot up too, an' Joe wuz croakin' somethin'.

"Gee-zus, Levon, take it easy, man! I want to make this good for you, but you keep doing stuff like that and I'm gonna come right in your face!" Joe was strangling on a laugh and a groan, a combination he'd never tried before in bed with anyone. Lundy was so clearly curious, he was positively endearing. Joe just wanted to cuddle him and protect him from the world.

Levon's hand was traveling now, down the sculpted torso to the abdomen and beyond, to run hiz fingers through the dark curly mass of hair below. Felt wiry, rough, and Joe's cock wuz bobbin' something awful, leakin' it wuz. With great daring, Levon touched the wine-red tip with a finger, probing into the slit and then smearing the fluid down over the crown.

Joe cried out now, "LEVON!" and came, pulsing thick cream over Lundy's hand and between their bellies. Panting, he slowed as the orgasm passed, leaving him spent and dazed. He tipped his forehead down on the shoulder, that only moments before he'd been licking with such passion. Eyes closed, he muttered, "Sorry, Levon, didn't mean to go before you were ready..." and as his voice faded, Lundy could hear a quiet snore, followed by the deep, even breathing of a sleeper.

Lundy stared up at the ceiling, one hand still trapped between them, sticky with Joey's cum, hiz other arm caught beneath Joe's body, hand curling round the heavy far shoulder that had collapsed on it. His legs were tangled with LaFiamma's, really not much he could do afore the man woke. 'Course he could do the wakin', but Joe looked like such a sweet little boy, a lying there against him. Trustin' him. Hadn't tried to take Lundy, hadn't even tried to do any o' the stuff Bobby'd liked to do. No whippin', no bite'n, none o'that. Hadn't tried to stick anythin' up mah ass, neither. Sometimes that had felt good, depending on what it wuz and how gentle Bobby'd been...and whether er not he'd used eny lube. Joe'd been right gentle, coaxin' even. Kinda like a horse whisperer Levon had met onct. Ony, Levon weren't no horse. Wouldn't mind ridin' this pony, he thought. Wonder what it'd be like? Lundy stared up at the ceiling and smiled.

He thought about what Joe had said 'bout hiz "flauntin'" hiz body. Wuz true that he'd taken ta wearin' tight jeans, but he'd liked the feel o'them that way. Didn't think he'd been puttin' it out fur ...fur what? Lundy felt hiz cheeks redden agin. [Damn, since LaFiamma obviously swings this way, it'd have seemed like a' invitation to him. Yep. Oh, mah.] He nuzzled into the dark, thick hair near his face and smiled some more. Ah could git used to this. He closed hiz eyes and rested his cheek against the top of Joe's head.

It was a good twenty minutes before Joe began to stir, slumberously shifting first, feeling the arm beneath him, the hand against him, and nearly butting the jaw resting on his head. Surrounded by Levon, felt good. [I want this always, not just one time. Poor Levon hasn't even cum yet.] He sighed deeply and stretched slowly so as not to startle his partner. "Levon? You awake?"

"Yep." The dry response was amused.

Joe found himself smiling in response, craning his head up to look into the brown eyes twinkling down on him. "Mmmm. That was very nice, even if I hadn't meant to blow so soon. I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you, man."

"'s'alright, Joe. Ah'm fine."

Joey moved back a bit and could feel the dampness between them. "Let me get us cleaned up a bit." He slid free of Lundy's arms and legs, then on off the bed. Weaving just a bit, he made his way to the bathroom and washed himself at the sink with warm water. Took a clean wash cloth and dampened it with more warm water, then returned to the bed.

Lundy was sprawled out now, taking advantage of LaFiamma's absence, to stretch arms and legs that had been unmoving for too long.

Joe sank down beside the lean form and carefully washed away the drying remains of his cum, ending by cleaning off the sticky hand that had caused all the damage.

Levon watched with half-shut eyes, expression serious, not quite fearful.

[Oh, oh. Now what?] Lafiamma wondered.

"Thanks, Joe." Levon's voice was quiet, utterly calm. His cock had shrunk down completely and his body was tense. Joe could see that the man was expecting something, but Joe had no idea what the problem was.

"Easy, cowboy. My turn to make it good for you."

If anything, Lundy seemed to tighten up even more.

Joe decided to go very slow, watch for reactions as he stirred his new lover back to heat. With one finger, he began to tickle at Lundy's pubic hairs, teasing the balls that hung in a pinkish-orangy sack below the tucked in penis. Like a flower blooming, the shaft began to emerge in response to the tantalizing touch, growing longer and taller and thicker.

Lundy's hands were fisted, with wads of sheet grasped within, on either side of his thighs now. He was taking deep, audible breaths.

Joe eyed the blonde uncertainly. It shouldn't be like this. [Why is he so tense? What happened to him in the past to create such fear, such tension? Well, all I can do is be gentle, be loving, be tender. Let him know that he can say no.]

"Levon, I won't do anything to hurt you, I promise. If you say stop, I will." Joe waited. There was no answer. "Levon, do you want me to stop?"

Lundy heard Joe but as from a great distance. He wuz travelin' inta the past, inta a time when Bobby'd bed him and, often, hurt him real bad - not thet he ever seemed ta mean to, jest happened. He wuz allas sorry afterwards... Joey wuz trying to say somethin'. "Joe?"

"Levon. Listen to me. Look at me." Joe waited until bewildered brown eyes locked on his. "Levon, do you want me to stop?"

"Na-na-no, it's okay Joe, you go ahead. Ah'll be fine."

Somehow that was not very reassuring, Joe thought as he listened incredulously to the tone of meekness from his firebrand of a partner. [This is NOT right. Well, give him some good loving, see if that helps.] He ducked his head down and, with his tongue, carefully touched the now hard, heated cock that swayed beneath his fingers.

"Ooooooh." The moan came softly from the blonde.

Joe let his tongue touch and lick its way down the shaft to the base, then back up the other side. He circled the crown with it, laving the sensitive skin of the head, tonguing the slit and tasting Levon for the first time. Salty and sharp, just like the man. Joe smiled and opened his mouth, taking the long slim penis in and in, swallowing deep, careful to keep his teeth off.

"Joe!" The gasp of delight and surprise spurred the brunette on. He began to move up and down on the cock, taking it deep then letting it out until only lips pursed around the very tip. His tongue was busy swirling and curling around the shaft, teasing at the pulse that he could feel, even when the cock was deep in his throat.

This time Levon stuttered. "Ja-Ja-Ja-oooooe!" It ended sounding like a wail. Levon heard himself but couldn't help it, he'd never, ever felt like this afore. LaFiamma wuz swallowin' him whole, damn it! [Oh, gawd, Ah never...]

Joe stopped, Lundy's cock deep in his throat, and thoughtfully pressed the length of his tongue against the shaft, pressed and withdrew, then again. He could feel the shaft pulsing and thickening even more. Time to move on. He slowly withdrew, leaving the rod waving in the air. He clamped a fist around it and began to pump firmly.

Levon grabbed at his shoulders and seemed intent on climbing up him to 'safety.'

[Oh, no, buddy, you aren't getting away from me.] Joe held on and with his free hand, caught Levon's jaw firmly and pulled him downward, securing him back against Joe's body. Now he let go of the thrumming cock and pressed against the man, letting their bodies fit together, length to length.

One large hand, he wrapped around Levon's ass, grinding their cocks together, his own now hard again. He groaned now too, in chorus with Lundy's muted sounds. "Okay, Levon. Time to give you a ride you'll not soon forget, cowboy."

Leaning over the blonde, Joe reached for the small drawer of his bedside table. Inside was a tube of KY jelly, been there since he'd arrived in Houston, unused until now. Pays to be prepared he thought smiling. Popping up the lid, he squeezed some onto his finger tips, then carefully reached down behind himself to begin lubing his own pucker, pushing apart his ass cheeks with deliberation and instinct bred of prior knowledge. He'd done this before. He kept Levon hard against him with one arm and a leg now flung across the cowboy's lean shanks. Twisting, he was able to push first one finger, then two, finally three into his opening, loosening the ring of muscles, consciously relaxing his body in preparation for penetration. Slick and moist now, he left himself and brought his hand forward to add lubrication to Lundy's dick. It was still hard and hot.

Joe wasn't about to turn away from Levon, he might lose him again to whatever ghosts haunted him. [No, I'll face him, force him to know it's me not someone else here with him.] He pushed Lundy over and down onto his back and brought one leg over to straddle the man.

Levon's cock was rising high into the air and he was gasping, like a fish out of water. "Joe? JOE! You gonna let me cum, Joe? Oh, please, I gotta..."

The cry was soft and full of fear, tearing at LaFiamma's heart. [Poor cowboy!]

He rested a hand on the side of Levon's face, fingers stroking softly, "It's alright, Levon, you're gonna cum. But, Levon, I want to feel you. I want to feel you inside of me, cowboy. Will you let me do this?"

Lundy didn't seem to hear, just continued to mutter quietly, pleadingly, for Joe to let him cum.

LaFiamma gave up trying to get through to the blonde. Just do it. He raised himself onto his knees and grasped Levon's cock firmly. He leaned over the man, bracing himself one-handed until he could steer the thick member to the entrance to his own body. Feeling the dull point prod his anus, Joe took a centering breath and sat back down on it slowly, letting it slide up inside him. He could feel it pop past the entry ring of muscle and then seem to expand and thrust up into the channel above it. Not a virgin, Joe was comfortable with the invader, settling down on his haunches, breathing shallowly until Levon was all the way in, then he just sat and waited, studying his partner below and in front of him. He let his hands rest on his thighs and sat unmoving, savoring the fullness within, feeling the throb of Lundy's penis as it swelled even more in response to the ripple of his internal muscles.

Levon's eyes opened wide and he cricked his neck to look down hiz length to where LaFiamma sat ON TOP o' him. [Oh, my gawd, he's sittin' on mah dick! Ah mean... Ah mean...mah dick is inside'o him!] He let hiz head fall back onto the pillows and took a shuddering breath. [Ah never, ah mean never done this afore. Feels...good. Mah, it feels... very good.] Experimentally, Levon thrust up, shoving with hiz hips.

Joe rode the thrust, grunting and sweating above him.

[He looks like he's enjoyin' this.] Well, it shore nuff felt good to Levon. The blonde reached down to touch Joe's knees where they nestled on either side o' hiz ribcage. Crept up the knees to thread hiz fingers with Joe's. Tighten them as he thrust agin. And agin.

Within moments, Lundy was rocking LaFiamma on his pelvis, ecstatic with the incredible sensation of being buried deep within the brunette. Loving the fact that Joe seemed to want this, seemed to be enjoyin' it as much as Levon.

Joe began to rise up now on his knees, then slam down again. Riding the hard, slender cock for all he was worth.

Then Levon was cumming, pumping deep inside of Joe, heat radiating outward from Joe's core, igniting his own explosion a second time, causing him to spurt out more thick cream over Lundy's stomach and his own.

Both men cried out in passion and release, their cries intermingled. Rigid, they hung in time and space, Lundy arched up away from the mattress, body trying to follow the cock in its drive into LaFiamma. Joe's body arched also, shoulders curved back, head hung back with chin toward the ceiling. Their linked hands were all that kept the two balanced enough that Joe didn't fall off his perch.

And then it was over.

Panting, Levon dropped back down onto the mattress, his hands relaxing and falling away from LaFiamma's. Joe sagged down, toppling forward to collapse on top of Lundy, Levon's shaft still buried deep within him, softening now.

"Oh, gawd, Joe," Levon murmured as he closed his arms around the Italian, "Ah ain't ever cum like that afore." He kissed at Joe's forehead, which rested close to his lips.

"Love you," spoken so softly that Levon almost didn't hear it, swelled his heart.

The boy said he loved me. Loves me. Lundy sighed and held on even tighter until a grunt of protest from LaFiamma made him ease off a bit. He closed hiz eyes and let sleep take him, the weight of hiz larger pardner seemingly light at this moment. He relished the closeness and the warmth. [Ah think ah got me a 'keeper'] he thought drowsily, happily.

LaFiamma didn't want to ever have to move again. He lay on top of Lundy and enjoyed the long arms wrapped around him, the feeling of caring even it Levon hadn't spoken of it aloud. Joe could wait, now that he knew the man was amenable. He could have all the time in the world, Joe would wait. He felt Levon slip out of him, decided it was time to move over a little, off of Levon's chest. He shifted to the side, sliding down onto the mattress without relinquishing his hold on Lundy. Levon turned with him, still holding tight as well. Oh, yes, this was gonna last, Joe thought with satisfaction.

Both slept deeply for several hours. The shrill ringing of the telephone finally roused them.

Levon looked around in confusion before memories of the past few hours froze him to the spot.

LaFiamma lurched up and reached for the bedside telephone, coming to a stop, sitting on the edge of the bed, one hand automatically resting on Levon's hip. "Yeah, LaFiamma." His hand began to stroke the soft skin, then stopped. "Uh, hi, lieutenant. Oh, well, we were followin' some leads and decided to stop here to talk over what we'd found out." A pause, then, "Yeah, he's here. Sure, hold on."

Joe turned to looked down at the stunned looking blonde cowboy in his bed. He swallowed a chuckle. "Levon? Lieutenant Beaumont wants to speak with you." He handed the portable receiver to Lundy.

Levon struggled to sit up, shoving up awkwardly with one hand while holding the telephone with the other, bringing it to his ear. "Hello, Lundy here." He listened. "Yeah, we're gonna follow up on that too, but most likely won't get to it until tomorrow, Joanne." He waited again. "Shore. Thanks. See ya tomorrow." He sank back down onto the bed, holding out the phone silently to hiz pardner.

LaFiamma took it and put it back in the cradle.

"She gave us the rest of the day off. Said she wuz glad ta hear we'd managed to spend a day together without killin' each other. She said she figgered iffn Ah wuz here with you, we wuz makin' some progress getting t'gether as pardners." Levon recited all this to the wall across the way, then snuck a look at his pardner.

LaFiamma wuz grinnin' ear to ear, a great big shit-eatin' grin. Levon stared for a moment, then felt the tug o' one on hiz own face.

Joe couldn't help it, he was so happy, and Levon was smiling back at him now, looking content, a new expression that Joe had not seen before on the blonde's face. "So, you think you might want to stay a bit longer? Maybe have some dinner here? Maybe spend the night?" Joe was careful to mask the hope he felt from entering his voice. Didn't want to scare him off.

Levon's smile faded slowly, regretfully. "Ah kin stay fur awhile, Joe, but Ah cain't spend the night." He saw the look of disappointment before LaFiamma's shields went up. Amazin' how he could suddenly read Joe. Not a mystery enymore. "Joe, Ah cain't leave mah horse overnight without checking her fur food and water, makin' sure she's alright. Ah am sorry. Iffn I'd known what was gonna happen, Ah'd a made arrangements and Ah coulda stayed."

LaFiamma brightened as he realized that Lundy wanted to stay but couldn't. He's not running away. Good. "Well, then, do you think you might like some company out at your place?" Joe held his breath. Had he pushed too hard, too soon?

Lundy didn't even hesitate, though, he just smiled and reached out to take the man sitting so close and pull him into his arms. Kissing Joe, he drew back to say, "You are a clever one, Detective LaFiamma! Ah guess Ah should listen more closely to yore ideas in tha' future. Yeah, let's get you bundled up and Ah'll take you home with me."

"Now you make me sound like a bunch of laundry or something!"

"Naw, more like a present, needs wrappin' so's Ah kin UNwrap it when Ah git home."

Joe kissed Levon back, soundly, hugging him close. "Oh, Levon. God, I love you so much. I've wanted you ever since I laid eyes on you. Thank god you're okay with all this!"

Lundy ducked his head back to look LaFiamma in the eye. "Joe, Joey, Ah'm more'n okay with this. I want you. Ah never been loved like that afore and ah want it to be a regular part o'mah life, pardner. Ah want you to be a regular part of mah life. Ah want to love you thet way forever." He gently stroked up and down Joe's shoulders and arms.

Joe smiled. Well, Levon wasn't ready to say he loved Joe yet, but Joe could feel the sentiment in Levon's caresses, see it in his eyes. Joe remembered the hesitancy, the very real fear that Levon had projected during the first part of their love-making. Someone, doubtless this shit 'Bobby' had treated Levon badly. Joe would be 'repairing' Levon for some time to come, he decided. He'd rid Lundy of that fear, that caution. He'd caught a glimpse of the lover that Levon could be, free of all that baggage. Liberating Levon might become a lifetime's occupation. Joe settled down against Lundy, snuggling close. "We've got time."

Levon nodded. "Yep, long's Ah git home t'night, some'eres afore ten, eleven o'clock, should be fine fur Fooler."

Joe's answering smile was a bit secretive. Yeah, and we've got time for everything else, too, a lifetime to be together, to learn to love. Yeah, a lifetime. He kissed Levon again and Levon kissed him right back.

--The end--