“What’s up?” he asked without expanding on the question.

Jack blurted out the question, “What do you buy the man who has the money to get anything he wants to?”

Robbie frowned. “What?”

“Riley. For Christmas. What the hell do you buy someone who can go out and buy a new Ferrari if he happens to feel like it?”

“Jack, it’s still November,” Robbie said patiently with a teasing smile on his face.

“I’ve been thinking about it since September at least. Hell, probably since last Christmas.”

Robbie stopped what he was doing and leaned on the stall side. “A watch.”

“He has about ten of them.”

“A chain?”

“He doesn’t wear chains.”

“A new phone?”

“Get real.”

“I don’t know, then.”

“What are you buying Eli?”

Robbie snorted. “Did I not mention it’s only November?”

“I thought about a vacation. Just the two of us somewhere. But how do I beat the freaking Caribbean island we went to for our honeymoon?”

“You don’t,” Robbie said. “You can't,” he added.

Jack groaned. He knew he’d never be able to top some of the things Riley had done for him. “I know.” He was resigned to at least four more weeks of attempting to think of the right gift, then at the last minute going to the nearest store and buying something crap. He sighed.

“Jeez, Jack, I just meant that you need to do something that he won’t expect, like installing a bed in your barn.” Robbie laughed again and Jack felt instantly that way too many people knew about his and Riley’s barn.

“We can’t,” he said immediately. “Too many leaks and no working door.”

Robbie shook his head. “So that is your answer.”

He collected up the brushes he’d been using and left the stall. For a minute Jack tried to make sense of what his friend had just said. Then suddenly it all made sense, and he knew exactly what he was going to do.

Fix the barn.

In minutes he was on the phone to the local hardware store and had ordered in a delivery with enough wood to build a new house and insulation, nails, and you name it, he ordered it. Finally he had something meaningful to give Riley, and it would likely end in mind-blowing orgasms for them both.

“Win, win,” he muttered.

“Sorry?”

Jack looked up at the sound of Liam’s voice. The young man looked tired but there was something in his demeanor that spoke of determination. Only a few days had passed since the attack, and Jack had noticed Marcus was more or less a permanent fixture in the small apartment over their heads.

“Nothing,” Jack said with a welcoming smile. “Was talking to myself.”

“First sign of old age,” Liam teased. Then he must have realized what he said to his boss and he colored. Jack decided to cut the awkwardness off at the pass.

“Don’t I know it,” he said. “So how you doing, Liam?”

Liam nodded. “Okay. Enough so I’m able to sleep. Sometimes I get all this shit jumbled up in my head, but it helps having Marcus there. That was why I wanted to come find you actually.” He straightened as he said this and hooked his thumbs in his belt loops at the same time. “Marcus said I should talk to someone about what happened, and I want to know if it’s okay for me to take some time off on a regular basis, to see a shrink.”

Jack’s chest tightened. Of course it was okay, but he had the instinct that Liam needed more than this from him. “How often would this be?” he asked carefully.

“I don’t know. Guy said I should book ten.”

Jack nodded. “Ranch will cover it on health benefits,” he said.

“Marcus said—”

“We have it covered. You’re a good worker, and I want to see you go far with the Double D. It’s an investment in your future.”

Liam’s eyes widened. “Really?” he asked, then just as quickly he realized what he said. Jack guessed Liam would have thought he’d kick up a fuss. “Thank you.” He turned to leave.

“Liam?”

Liam turned. “Yeah?”

Jack used his firm voice. “Just be sure to make the time up, okay?”

“I will. I’ll sort it out with Robbie.”

Jack leaned back against Solo’s stall and smiled to himself after Liam left. He felt like the biggest, baddest, and best boss in the entire world at this very moment.

“Looking pretty smug there, cowboy,” Riley commented from beside him.

Jack reached out and pulled Riley in for a heated kiss. Riley was right, he was feeling smug. He’d organized the best present ever for his husband and dealt with Liam in a way that made the guy leave feeling respected and wanted. “Yeah,” he said. “I rock.”

Riley chuckled and pressed Jack against the wood. He was hard and evidently had searched out Jack for a reason.

“Barn?” Jack asked.

“Barn.”

They walked with purpose, and as soon as they entered the dim light of their place, Jack was loosening his belt. This wasn’t about long and slow—he needed Riley inside him and he needed it now.

“Slow down,” Riley ordered when Jack has had his pants and shorts down to his knees.

“Nuh uh,” Jack murmured. “Come on, Riley, I need to leave to pick up Hayley in thirty. You need to get with the plan.”

Riley evidently didn’t need to be told twice. He manhandled Jack to the crumbling wall and grabbed the supplies they had there. Quickly and efficiently he had lube on his fingers and those fingers searching out Jack’s hole. He pressed one inside, and Jack felt himself tense quickly before allowing himself to relax. Riley was so damn good at this, whispering all kinds of promises in his ear even as he stretched Jack to get him ready.

“I fucking love you,” Riley punctuated each word with a kiss and a bite to the sensitive area at the nape of Jack’s neck. Jack muttered something back, but the sudden soft touch of Riley’s fingers deep inside him had him moaning nothing but nonsensical pleading.

“Deeper,” he demanded. “More.”

“You want me to fuck you just with my fingers?” Riley smirked. “You sure?”

“Nah,” Jack groaned. “Stop…with…” He couldn’t form the words as Riley twisted his searching fingers and lightly tapped inside Jack. “Gah” was as coherent as he could manage. He was twisted in material, trapped up against the wall, and if Riley wasn’t careful he was going to be painting the inside of this damn barn before Riley was inside.

“All tied up again,” Riley said with a chuckle. “Right where I want you.” He removed his hands, and Jack whimpered at the loss and prayed to any God he could think of that Riley would get with the plan already. When Riley pushed inside, the blunt head of his cock stretching Jack wide, it was like coming home. Balls deep, Riley pressed and held and Jack couldn’t move. He tried to push back but the way he was standing, legs near together with Riley holding his weight, he could do nothing except take what he was being given. He couldn’t even grip his cock when Riley moved him so he couldn’t reach. If he was coming it was on the end of Riley’s cock and nothing else.

Riley moved a hand and tightened his hold on Jack. “I love you,” he groaned. Jack’s orgasm came from nowhere, one minute he was close, the next he lost control, his spend marking the wood and Riley losing it and coming deep inside Jack. They stood in a shuddering embrace until finally Riley pulled away and cleaned up Jack as best he could with the wipes they kept there. He helped Jack to pull up his pants and they kissed.

“I am the best boss in the world,” Jack said.

“You are,” Riley agreed with a smile of love and affection, his brown eyes searching for more to that statement in Jack’s expression.

“And I’m the best husband,” Jack added.

Riley hugged him close. “Yep. You are.” Then he tightened his hug. “After me, of course.”

“Asshole,” Jack said without heat.

“Your asshole,” Riley replied.

Which had them sliding down to sit next to each other with uncontrollable laughter.

The barn wasn’t always about sex. Sometimes it was just about love.