Three days passed. Luke and I went into town every one of those days for some reason or another. Though I kept it to myself, I suspected that he found reasons to go because he almost wanted to face this man. As though he needed to face him, to prove to himself that he could overcome the past. I honestly admired him for that. If I had been hurt the way he had by this idiot, I would be hiding in the woods, not going out to find him. I did know one thing -- if we met that guy, I was gonna plant my fist squarely on his jaw. More than once!

I kept my boiling anger locked inside, not letting Luke see it again, not showing it to anyone. But the more I thought about this guy being in Hazzard, the madder I got. This man had tried, had dared to try to take something from Luke that he wouldn't even give to me. That said something to me. If he wouldn't with me, he wouldn't with anybody. This... person, had dared to attempt to force him. And now he'd trespassed on our own home ground! By the afternoon of the fourth day, I was really looking forward to seeing this creep, if he had stuck around at all. I wanted to fight him for what he'd done so bad my teeth hurt from clenching my jaw every time I thought about it.

That afternoon we had finished our farm chores early, and since it was such a hot day, we headed to the Boar's Nest for something cool to drink. We strolled inside the welcomingly air-conditioned building with our usual casual air, laughing together with the thrill of having landed Cletus in a stream once again just a few minutes ago. As we headed for the bar, I jogged ahead of my cousin a little ways, turning back toward him to describe an arc with my hand as I played out exactly how it had happened. Luke grinned and put his hand on my shoulder, squeezing slightly in a warm affection that only I recognized as more than just playful, seeing as his eyes were as guarded as ever. The few other patrons in the room chuckled, suspecting even without hearing our words that we'd just sent a local lawman into some body of water or another. It was kind of a common event, after all.

It was Daisy's shift at work, and she left the table she was wiping off to come over and stand between us, putting an arm around each of us in a hug. "Hey, there!" she greeted cheerfully. "What can I get for my favorite cousins?"

I giggled, in a good mood today despite recent events. "Daisy, we're your only cousins," I hugged her back.

"True." She flashed me a winning smile, one that, if we hadn't been close kin, would have had me after her in two seconds flat. I think she knew it, too. She'd always been prone to acting super-friendly -- not meant in an inviting way, really, just the way her personality was -- and me and Luke were safe targets. "So, what do you want?"

"Just the usual," Luke ran a hand back through his hair, which was slightly damp from the heat outside. "Man, it's hot out there. Ain't it fall yet?"

"Maybe fall and winter passed us by, and summer's comin' round again," I teased with a grin. He just shot me a rather fond 'yeah, right' look.

Daisy laughed a little at that, and patted us both on the shoulder. "Okay, boys, comin' right up." She spun and walked off along the length of the bar to talk to Al, the bartender. She was quickly back with a beer for each of us, and then with a final smile left to wait on a table that three dark-haired men had just come in and commandeered.

I found myself watching them, feeling edgy, although I didn't know exactly why. None of them looked like particularly savory types, though. One looked like he hadn't shaved in two days, one simply wore a beard, and the third was shaven but rough-featured. All three were dressed in dirty work jeans and shirts, although I couldn't exactly hold that against them, I smiled inwardly, seeing as Luke and I were dressed about the same. When the rough-featured man turned his head and met my gaze, however, something cold settled in my middle. I snapped my eyes away, but not before I saw a strange smile cross his face.

I refused to look their way again, returning my full attention to Luke, who was talking over a race next Saturday that we hoped to enter and win. I interjected a comment, and he nodded thoughtfully, agreeing that Ken Grear would be the competitor to watch out for, seeing as he was a ridge-runner's son and would be driving that souped-up Chevy of his. The General Lee had just barely scooted past the finish line ahead of that car last time, and the Chevy had likely been just as well re-tuned as the General had been after that race.

We went from there into a conversation about the racing cars we'd seen at the fair this summer, then wandered from topic to topic casually, talking for no other purpose than simple comfortable companionship. Daisy came back once to refill our mugs and popcorn, but mostly left us to ourselves, either too busy to hang around us or too interested in hanging around Deputy Enos Strate, who was standing at the other end of the bar with a glass of his usual buttermilk. The latter appeared to be more the truth, I smiled to myself as Luke got up to go to the men's room and I glanced over again to see them chatting. Sometimes I wished that those two would just stop being so shy around each other and be able to find as much happiness together as Luke and I had. They fit well together, and the flirting had been going on since eighth grade.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I jumped, startled, when a hand came down on the bar beside me. I followed the arm up to the face of the man whose gaze I had met earlier. I swallowed nervously before I thought about it, flicking my gaze to his ice blue eyes, almost the same color as Luke's but not as warm, for only a split second. "You want something?" I somehow managed to keep my voice steady, even a bit friendly.

The man smiled, a not completely reassuring expression, though I could tell he was trying to be charming, and sat down on the stool beside mine, on the other side from where Luke had been. A flash of annoyance swamped me for a moment; I didn't want his company. But he seemed oblivious to it. "Just wanted to say hi," he gave me a rather toothy grin. "Didn't know there were any country boys around here as good-lookin' as you are."

A shaft of surprise and wariness lodged firmly in my chest as I suddenly understood, and I drew back. "Thank you for the compliment," I replied stiffly, "but even if I did play around with other men... it certainly wouldn't be with strangers."

He just looked at me for a moment, then nodded slightly. "You were sure bein' friendly with your friend here."

"He's my cousin," I corrected quickly, not even sure why I was suddenly on the defensive when this man was simply stating what had been in my own heart for too long. "We grew up together; we've always been close."

"Ahh... I see." He sat back, taking a long pull on the mug of beer he held, then landing it on the bar heavily. "What's your name, boy?"

I slid off my stool and drew myself to my full height, my eyes cooling in Duke pride and a very definite dislike. "Bo Duke." I pointed a finger at his chest. "And don't you forget it. Mess with me, my family will nail your hide to the barn wall."

"Duke?" He raised one eyebrow, smiling just slightly, almost the way that Luke did. The similarity in expressions sent a chill through me. "It's not a wise idea to threaten me, son." He stood up as well, and I noticed for the first time just how big a man he was. He was maybe a couple of inches, if that, shorter than me, and his powerful build spoke of hours in a gym. He looked stronger than Luke, even. I began to rethink my decision to talk back, regretting it. He pointed a finger back at me, sharply. "Bo, I guarantee you that if you keep mouthing off, you'll soon learn not to mess with me."

I shivered at the undefinable, dangerous undertone to his voice, taking a single step backward as he advanced slowly. I wasn't quite sure what he had in mind, but I balled my fists, preparing to defend myself as best I could. I just hoped I wouldn't end up in the hospital again. I'd had more than enough of that place. "One last warning," I tried to bluff my way out of the imminent fight. "Back off or else."

"Or else what?" the man sneered, raising one disdainful eyebrow. I swallowed hard and tensed, determined to catch him off guard and deliver the first blow.

I never got to. "Henson!" The name was spat, sheer fury and disgust in the voice. "Get away from him!" I spun around in surprise to see Luke stalking across the room toward us from behind me, his body rigid, every muscle standing out, more ready to fight than I had ever seen him in all the years we'd lived together, played together, fought together. His head was held high, eyes flashing blue fire, and I suddenly realized, with a touch of surprise, that he was going to fight over me! The idea warmed me as much as it shocked me. But then I hesitated. They seemed to know one another... I looked back and forth between them, backing off to the side nervously, taking myself out of the line of fire.

The man named Henson turned. "Ah. Lukas Duke," he nodded curtly, an almost sinister smile flickering around the corners of his mouth. "Imagine seeing you again."

"Imagine," my cousin growled, halting at my side, not taking his eyes off his opponent. "I thought you'd have enough sense to leave town."

The smile widened slightly. "Me leave? I got the feeling you were the one nervous about hangin' around, after you took off the other day so fast."

"I don't recall bein' the only one that took off," Luke replied evenly, the hot fury that had been in his gaze cooling into ice. "Get out," he almost spat. "Get out of this town and this county, and don't come back. I don't ever want to see you again."

"You don't?" The man pretended surprise, chuckling low. "After all we shared, back in the service? I'm surprised."

Luke tensed, something strangely like fear sparking deep in his eyes, and it hit me then, like hot, furious lightning. This man was the one that my cousin had told me about... the one that had tried to hurt him, rape him... the one that, even in his absence, still kept us distant despite our love. Absolute rage, a bubbling heat that I had never felt even that night I had first heard the story, started boiling down around my toes, rising slowly. I took one step forward, fighting back the urge to outright growl. "You..." I breathed.

Henson looked at me, visibly surprised. "You stay out of this, kid. It's none of your business, just personal 'tween me and him."

I took another step, moving between him and Luke, glaring protectively. "When it has to do with you, it is my business. I've heard all about you."

"Oh?" That eyebrow went up again. "You have?" He looked around me at Luke. "You got more guts than I thought to admit what happened between us."

"Only thing that happened was that you got the prison sentence you deserved," Luke said quietly, too quietly, moving sideways to stand beside rather than behind me. I knew that tone. It was more dangerous than the loudest shout. If that man had any sense, he'd already be gone.

I noticed that everyone in the Nest was staring at the showdown now, so I jerked my head toward the door. "Shall we step outside, Mr. Henson? I think we have a few things to... discuss." I was standing at my full six feet, four inches now, eyes flashing my willingness to fight if he made a single move toward us.

He had a good thirty pounds on me, I'd say, but he did give my determined stance a second look. I smiled slightly in inward satisfaction at the brief glimmer of uncertainty I saw there, before he nodded. "All right. Maybe we should." He gestured. "Beauty first." The look in his eyes as he glanced me over again honestly made me nervous.

As if sensing that, Luke suddenly moved in front of me. "No," he smiled very tightly, dangerously, back. "A stranger gets that honor."

He and Henson locked gazes for a moment, then the other man nodded and turned, leading the way outside without another word. Luke followed, and I stayed close behind him, motioning for Daisy to stay back when it seemed like she would come too. We stepped out into the sunlight and walked along the side of the building, until there was no possibility of an unnoticed eavesdropper. Henson turned then, suddenly, and frowned in my direction.

"Your cousin there is askin' for trouble if he gets that high-headed with everyone, Lukas."

I bristled, suddenly hotly furious again, taking one step forward before Luke grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "Don't call him that!" I snapped. That was my name, for my love. He could not have Luke, he could not use that name!

"Steady, Bo," my cousin tried to calm my anger. He glanced back at the other ex-Marine. "He's right, though... I don't want you calling me that." He paused. "What in heck are you still hanging around a backwater place like Hazzard for, anyway? You said you were just passing through."

"Well, now, that's my own business." Henson put his hands on his hips, glancing back and forth between us thoughtfully. I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of asking. "All right, Duke," he returned his full attention to Luke, speaking curtly. "To be honest, I want to see you about as much as you want to see me. You stay out of my way, I'll stay out of yours. Deal?"

They seemed to stare each other down for a moment, then Luke nodded sharply, once. "As long as you keep your end of the bargain, I'll be happy to forget you exist."

Without another word, the man turned and walked back toward the parking lot. My eyes burned a hole into his back the entire way, until he pulled a brown sedan out of the parking lot. "I just wanna hit him so bad," I remarked to no one in particular.

Luke slid an arm around my shoulders, and I could feel him trembling behind the calm mask that had fallen over his face. "I know, Bo," he whispered. "I know. Thanks for takin' my part in there… you coulda been hurt, you know."

"I was too mad to be scared," I laughed ruefully. I turned to look at him, my anger fading for worry to take its place. "You gonna be okay?" I asked him softly, glancing around to make sure that nobody was around to see before pulling him into my arms. He fought half-heartedly for only a second, then leaned into the strength I offered, and nodded slowly.

"I think so." He moved back just as quickly as he had given in, and I let him. "Come on. We'd better go let Daisy know we're all right... then I just wanna get out of here," he ended in a whisper.

Fury flamed up inside me again at seeing my normally bold, confident older cousin seem so emotionally defeated, but I held it in, only putting an arm around his shoulders as we walked back toward the Boar's Nest, a gesture of comfort and support that from the outside would look like simple friendly companionship. Luke flashed me a thankful smile as he pulled away to open the door and lead the way inside. I smiled back, giving his shoulder a brief squeeze as I followed.

We explained very briefly to our cousin that Henson was a man that Luke had had some trouble with in the Marines, without going into any particulars. We didn't have to ask each other even with our eyes; we both knew that the story of what had really happened would never go any farther than private conversations between us. Daisy frowned and told us both to be careful, like normal, we laughed and said 'of course', like normal, and then we sauntered out the door, like normal.

Normal on the outside, anyway. But we weren't two miles down the road before Luke put a hand on my arm, and I glanced over to see a haunted look that I never had seen on him before on his face. Understanding the silent plea, I yanked the General Lee off the road and up a dirt trail, driving well away from civilization before shutting down the engine and turning to face the man sitting beside me.

"You going to be okay, Lukas?" I asked with a gentle touch to the back of his hand, purposefully using the name that Henson had thrown about so roughly. Between me and him, it had always been a gesture of affection and trust. I softened my voice now to an almost-caress as I said the name, wanting to erase the feeling of that man's voice from it. Luke winced slightly, then visibly relaxed, sighing as he nodded. As he turned to look over at me, I saw his normal calm, collected mask fall into place. It made me both glad and worried -- glad because he was regaining control, worried because I knew that a storm was still raging under the quiet surface. We just sat and looked at each other for several long seconds, then I smiled and brushed my fingers against his cheek, regaining his full attention. "Come on. Wanna go for a walk?"

I could see him thinking that over, about all that had come out the last time we'd gone on a walk together in the woods. But then he nodded, already maneuvering up and out of the passenger window. "All right. Let's go."

We wandered slowly, aimlessly, knowing the direction back to our car only by a ridge-runner's built-in compass. We did talk, but to my frustration it was about every topic but the one that Luke needed to talk about. He was acting like the encounter we'd just had with his old nemesis had never happened. Finally, I sighed inwardly and gave in, letting him do what he apparently needed to within himself -- just forget long enough to re-heal.

For the rest of the afternoon, we acted as though nothing was wrong. We joked and talked and even argued a little. I teased him about his date last Friday, and got chased through the trees for it. He dared me to a rock-throwing contest that he won, and I hoped he didn't notice that I had held back somewhat. I pretended to trip, sprawling out in the leaves on the ground and yanking him down after me when he stopped to help me up. That quickly became a fast-moving wrestling match, with us laughing as we struggled to get the advantage over each other, each trying to get on top to pin the other down. But I hadn't realized just exactly how much Luke had been shaken earlier... and just how little that ever-vigilant conscience of his was in control for once. Laughing, I finally fell backwards, letting him have the victory, and for a moment, we were just grinning at each other as he hovered over me, playful brothers like we had been for twenty-four years, since I was two years old and had come to the farm. But in the very next moment, his light blue eyes had darkened, the grin had faded, his entire demeanor had changed, and my heart lost a couple of beats when I recognized the look that he was now giving me.

Unashamed, unhidden desire.

I froze, instantly knowing that he wasn't completely in control of himself. Yet, despite my inner warnings, I found myself responding to his sudden fierce kiss, returning the open passion in it, my hands moving to grip the back of his shirt as he dropped on top of me. His weight was nothing I couldn't handle easily, but the feelings this was creating in my body, the way my mind was beginning to cloud over with a hunger I couldn't deny, were wrong, all wrong... I'd wanted this so very badly for so long, yet I knew that if there was even a possibility that we could ever have a chance, this could not happen this way, not here and now. So with the last vestiges of control, I turned my face away from his and brought my entire strength behind a shove that sent him rolling away from me to lay on his side on the ground. I fell back onto my back, panting for breath and glancing over in worry. But Luke had already sat up, guilt sliding over his features as he realized what he had done.

"Oh my God," he whispered almost inaudibly, looking down at me with striken eyes. "What did I just do?"

I pushed myself up and moved to his side, reaching out to touch his hand. He pulled it away, and I set my jaw in Duke stubbornness, grabbing his wrist firmly. "Lukas, look at me. Look at me," I demanded when he stared at a point somewhere over my shoulder. Finally he sighed deeply, meeting my gaze.

"I'm sorry, Bo. I don't know why I did that."

I smiled, trying to be reassuring despite the taut hum still resonating through my body from that too brief, too long almost-encounter. "I do. That guy made you feel like you were less than you were, scared you to death and made you remember being helpless, unable to control anything. You had to be the one in charge for a minute. It's okay."

"No it ain't," he muttered, jerking his wrist out of my grasp and standing up to pace away. I sighed, following him. He wasn't just regretting how he'd come after me, he was regretting doing it at all.

"Luke, nothing happened, okay? You're just..." I shrugged. "All tensed up. Nothing happened, and you sure didn't hurt me, so-"

He spun on me, eyes flashing. I shut up, knowing that look. "Don't make excuses for me, Bo! I did something I shouldn't have done. Leave it at that!"

I paused, swallowing, then braced myself against his anger and took one more step forward. "I'm not mad at you, Lukas. I love you. I know it wasn't right, and I'm not trying to make excuses for you really. Just..." I touched his arm, and when he didn't pull away or strike out, I stepped closer, smiling hesitantly. "Please don't be mad at yourself. It never happened, okay?"

Our eyes met, and locked. Finally he sighed, nodding, and pulled me into a warm hug that I happily returned, relaxing now. "All right. All right. It never happened." Then he stepped back, squeezing my shoulders. "But it is getting late. We need to get back home to give the animals their evening feed and get some dinner ourselves."

I nodded, laughing as my stomach growled audibly. "Yeah. Didn't realize it till now, but I'm starved."

"Then let's go." He ran his fingers gently through my hair, dislodging the leaves that had clung there, and I returned the favor, then we struck out back for where we'd left the General. We didn't speak again of what could have so easily happened there on a multi-colored bed... but I knew that inside myself at least, I would never be able to forget. I fell asleep that night only to dream of us, together, as true lovers. And as much as I knew I shouldn't wish that the dreams could come true... I did.

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Two weeks passed, and we didn't see ex-sergeant Henson again. Of course, we only went into town a few times during that period, since we were so busy with the harvest... but I wasn't all that eager to have that sort of showdown again anyway. As far as I cared, he could disappear into the city, and as long as I never saw him again, I'd be happy. I just wanted him out of Hazzard.

Nearly every night, I dreamed, no, more like remembered, the time years ago when the bad feeling I'd always had about Henson had proven itself true, the night when he and two of his buddies had pinned me up against a wall and had said things I would never repeat to anyone, touched me in ways that made me feel sick inside, threatened to do more, too much more. I had been saved back then by a lieutenant on patrol, and the three men had all been put to courtmartial and found guilty of attacking a fellow officer. But in my dreams, I was not rescued... things were going too far... and then just as Henson sneered down at me, ready to take things to the farthest degree, I would wake up, panting, sweat making my sheets cling to my skin, my body shaking with adrenaline and fear.

Bo slept through it all, thanks to my self-control at not yelling when I woke up. I was very glad of that. As much as I knew he would want to help me, in whatever way he found to do so, I didn't want him involved. I didn't want to talk about this, didn't want him to know exactly what had happened that night. He knew enough; he was already ready to fly into Henson with both fists, and feet if necessary, at the first chance. I could tell it every time the man's name came up. Each time, my blond cousin tensed in rage, his already dark blue eyes darkening further as they narrowed just slightly. I pretended not to notice, but I saw his hatred of my old enemy. That in itself worried me. Bo was too gentle, too much of an innocent in many ways, for his heart to be tainted by hate. That was why I always turned his mind to other things when that subject came up. But talking, comments, jokes didn't work. It took more... more that I inwardly longed for, yet could never go as far as it wanted to. It was so very sweet, but to be honest it was also sweet torture.

I tried to hold myself aloof, but I had never been able to manage that too well around Bo, even when we were children. So, feeling like I was at the same time rushing for disaster and flying toward heaven, I finally began to do things I would never before have dared. Hugs were becoming longer, warmer, quick touches were becoming more caresses, more heat was slipping into a kiss than either of us had ever dared before. We both knew we really shouldn't be doing this. But sometimes it seemed the only way to get our minds off our troubles, and soon I began to wonder if this wasn't just for his sake, but my own as well, in a different way. Because just as quickly as it became almost habit to kiss away his anger, it also became habit to go to him, to hold and be held, whenever my own painful memories started to surface again. And slowly, I began to realize that we were moving inescapably toward something we weren't supposed to have... but that we had both longed for so very much for so very long.

And, finally, one morning before Bo woke up, while I was watching him sleep, I made a decision, one that I hoped I wouldn't regret. It was time for us to have a serious talk about where this relationship was going. Sooner or later, I had to admit to myself, we would have to belong to each other in more than an emotional way. There was no denying the power of the electricity alive and humming between us. Neither one of us had even been on a date in so long... because what we wanted, needed, was never there. It was at home, in our own room, looking at us every day. It was too much to stand. Right or wrong, there was no way to stop now.

But that very morning, trouble showed up on our doorstep, halfway through breakfast. Uncle Jesse looked at the ceiling in unhidden irritation when Rosco P. Coltrane's unmistakable yell of "Open up! Police!" came through the kitchen door, along with determined pounding. He motioned for me and Bo, who were already out of our chairs, about to run, to stay put for a moment, and walked over to answer the demand.

The door opened on the angry yet smug face of Boss Hogg. That look was all too familiar, and I glanced at Bo at the same moment he looked over at me. It was 'frame the Duke boys' time again. "Jesse, where're your boys?" he demanded without so much as a 'hello', holding up a folded sheet of paper. "Those two stole some very valuable electronic devices right out of a transport van this morning!! Right in town when the driver stopped for a bite to eat!"

I raised one eyebrow, and Bo put a hand over his mouth to hide a giggle. "Hey, that's a new one, Boss," he called past Jesse's defensive stance in the doorway. "Electronics. You're gettin' better." We all laughed.

Boss jabbed a finger at us. "I know you did it! I saw you take off in that orange clunker car of yours!"

Me, Bo, and Daisy all stared at each other. "Boss," I started, "we ain't even left the farm yet this morning. We couldn't have if we wanted to; there were chores to do."

"We ain't been into town for three days," Bo rolled his eyes. "Come on, Boss, stop making a fool outta yourself."

The white-suited Hogg yanked his cigar out of his mouth, glaring past our uncle at where we stood in the kitchen. "I ain't lyin'! You stole United States property! And you're gonna rot in jail till you give every last piece back! Jesse!" he demanded. "Get out of our way!"

United States property? Man, he was playing dirtier all the time. We boys both looked at each other, then at Daisy. As Rosco shoved his way into the house, she threw a chair in his path, giving us a few precious seconds to dash for our bedroom and dive out the window. There were times to stick around and argue a point, and times to head for the safety of the hills until we could figure out what in the world was going on. This was definitely one of the latter. We raced for the General Lee, parked out front, and took off before I had even fully slid in through the passenger window.

"What in heck was that all about?" Bo asked, looking just as confused as I was feeling. "We ain't even been near any government stuff."

I shook my head. "I haven't a clue, cousin. Come on, let's just lose 'em and find somewhere to hide."

"Lose 'em? They ain't even after us yet."

As if to prove him wrong, a siren began to howl behind us. "Yes they are," I stated the obvious, and settled myself more firmly into the seat. "Head for the Choctaw Creek crossing; the bridge oughta still be out. We can leave them there and double back for... oh, the Indian caves or something. Someplace they'd never think to look."

Bo nodded, frowning in concentration at the road ahead, and put the pedal to the floor. The General's powerful engine roared as we put on a sudden burst of speed, the needle going from fifty-five to eighty in a matter of seconds. Only problem was, the police car was still right behind us.

"Rosco's getting too much practice," I muttered half to myself, glancing back over my shoulder. "He's getting better."

"How much better?" my blond cousin asked almost conversationally. I rolled my eyes. Nearly dying a year ago would have made anyone else more cautious behind the wheel. But not him.

"You just drive; I'll keep an eye on the hound dogs. Oh, no..." I groaned out loud, more in annoyance than worry. "Here comes Cletus right behind 'em."

"Oh, great. Now all we need is Enos ahead of us."

"Don't say that!" I ordered, looking ahead and pointing off at an angle. "There's the creek."

"I see it, I see it." He paused for a moment while I glanced back at our pursuers again. "Luke, you wanna know the latest news?"

"No." But I had a feeling he was going to tell me anyway.

I was right. "Enos is sitting right where we need to take off from."

I spun to stare out the windshield. He'd said things simply as they were. "Oh, great! Now what?" I cast all around for something, anything, to help us escape, as we sped toward the creek without slowing down one bit. Finally my foot caught it; a smoke bomb tucked into a corner of the floor, left over from our last escapade. I glanced down and picked it up, grinning. It was legal, sparkless, and nontoxic to wildlife, lawmen, and basset hounds. It was also very effective. "Bo." Getting his attention, I pointed toward Enos' car, using my other thumb to flip the safety away. "Aim right toward him, then at the last minute swerve and head downstream and back to the road. Got me?"

He nodded, looking a little confused but as usual trusting that I had a plan. We really did make a good team, I took a split-second to smile to myself. He could drive like nobody else I knew, and followed my directions without a question, leaving me to only have to worry about what directions to give. The teamwork made for quick thinking and fancy footwork at the same time, and more than once had been the only thing that had saved our hides. "Gotcha."

I held the smoke bomb up as we neared our target, judging just the right second to toss it. Closer... closer... now! I hit the trigger switch and threw it out the window, where it began spraying a thick cloud of white smoke before it even hit the ground, effectively blocking the patrol cars' view of us and each other. "Now, Bo!"

He yanked the steering wheel to the right, and we spun in a tight stop and turn, the General's rear wheels spitting out dirt as we took off again, following the streambed toward the dirt road just visible ahead. I heard a loud crash, then another, and glanced back over my shoulder. But the four different voices all hollering at each other through the smoke, as well as the occasional interrupting loud woof from Flash, seemed healthy enough, so I turned, satisfied, and sat back as Bo pulled onto the road and raced back the way we'd come.

"Worked good," I commented, unable to keep back a pleased grin. "We need to get us some more of those things."

"Yeah." Bo was laughing, and it didn't take much for me to join in with a rebel yell, giving him a high-five then falling back into my seat, laughing myself. We celebrated our victory for a minute or so, but then he glanced at me again. "Where do we go from here? Those Indian caves?"

"Nah," I shook my head, frowning. "Now that I think about it, going back for that wouldn't be a great idea. Too close to civilization. If we're really being framed for messing with the United States government, we'll need to hide from some pretty powerful lawmen."

Bo chuckled. "More than the dipstick squad, you mean."

I couldn't help but smile at that one. "Right. Hang a left on the next crossroads and let's head south, down for Okchee Swamp. Only a ridge-runner could find his way through there."

"Ten-four!" Bo grinned, reaching out briefly to lay a hand over my knee before yanking the steering wheel around a sharp bend hard. I tensed at the brief, unexpected touch, thinking to myself that that talk we were gonna have just might come sooner than later.

But then I brought my thoughts back to the here-and-now, and pointed out, probably unnecessarily, exactly where we needed to turn off. Thirty minutes later, we were so lost to the rest of the world that we might as well have disappeared into thin air.

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"So it's possible that Boss might actually not be pullin' a fast one this time. He does seem pretty serious."

Luke pulled one leg up underneath him on the General Lee's hood, tapping one thoughtful finger against the CB mike he held. He was holding a powwow of sorts with Uncle Jesse over the airwaves, seeing as we were camped out in hiding for now. I was lying back against the windshield next to him, listening. "Why would he think he saw us and the General Lee in town when we were at home all morning, though?" he questioned, frowning. "That don't make any sense. Unless..." He paused. "If Boss were gonna frame us, he would have found some way to make us look like we were guilty. Maybe he's pulling that doubles trick on us again."

I raised one eyebrow and pushed myself up on one hand, swallowing the piece of apple that was in my mouth in order to put in a comment of my own. "Yeah, and he could of had another Charger painted up to look like the General. We've done that before ourselves."

Jesse obviously heard me, because he answered, "You could be right, boys. I think you two ought to lay low for a bit, though. That's a pretty fair charge layin' against you. You get proved guilty for this, you could get life. Let me and Daisy do some snooping, then we'll get back to you as to what we find out. I'm gone." He broke the connection before Luke had a chance to protest. My cousin sighed, staring at the mike for a moment, then tossed it back through the driver's side window. I sat up crosslegged and popped the last bite of apple into my mouth, throwing the core into the bushes and wiping off and closing the knife blade I'd been cutting the fruit into pieces with.

"So, what now, Luke? We really gonna sit around and just wait down here?"

He gave me a disbelieving look. "Not on your life, cousin. I never made no promise to Uncle Jesse thataways. So as far I see it, we're still free to do whatever we need to. And we need to start trying to clear our own name, or we might never see daylight again." He was already moving for the driver's side, and I rolled off the General's wide hood to hop into the shotgun seat.

"Okay, sounds good to me." I paused, my hand on the ignition since, driving as a team as we did, the passenger usually started and shifted the car. "Luke, why do you think Boss would be stealing government electronics? Pretty big fish for him, and what would he do with the stuff anyway?"

Luke shook his head, frowning. "I don't know. It don't make any sense. Come on, start the car and let's go."

I turned the key, bringing the engine to life with a growl, and moved my hand to the gearshift between us. "Where are we gonna start first?"

"Well, since Uncle Jesse and Daisy are gonna start snoopin' around in town, we might as well scour the back roads and all the abandoned buildings for that fake General."

I shrugged, and shoved it into Drive. The racer's mighty engine replaced its idling purr with an eager snarl as Luke stepped on the gas. "Sounds good to me. Let's do it."

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It was evening by the time we pulled up again to our campsite, hidden on a sort of island inside Okchee Swamp thanks to our knowing just the right section of shallow streambed to cross from dry land to dry land without dropping our car and ourselves into quicksand. Luke hadn't said a word the entire way back, and as I looked over at him as he slid out of the driver's seat, I sighed. Even when he tried to hide what he was feeling, I had rarely ever had trouble reading him. And that task had become even easier since we had become closer. I could tell -- right now, Luke wasn't happy at all.

I walked up behind him as he stood over the empty firepit we'd created earlier. He was nudging at the rocks with the toe of his boot, hands slid partway into his jeans pockets. Without saying a word, I put an arm around him, pulling him sideways in a rather brief hug. "You okay, love?" I asked softly, looking at his face through the dimness of twilight. If nothing else would, my use of that name would get a reaction out of him.

But he only sighed and nodded, shrugging my one-armed embrace away and starting for the small woodpile we'd also stacked up earlier. "It's getting dark; we need to start a fire for light and to help keep away any predators."

"And to heat up some dinner on," I reminded him, crouching down to arrange some small sticks inside the circle of stones. "Luke, please talk to me." I looked up when he came back over to set an armload of firewood down on the ground, his face a mix of conflicting emotions that I for once couldn't quite make heads or tails out of. "Something's eating you; I can tell. And you're driving me nuts all clammed up like that." I touched his arm, trying to catch his gaze. He wouldn't quite meet my eyes. "Please, Luke..."

Finally he let out a heavy sigh, and knelt down to sit in the dirt beside me as I struck a match and lit the dry leaves under the sticks. A trickle of smoke was my only reward for a moment, then flames licked up around the kindling, and I smiled, satisfied. "Bo, it's kind of hard to explain. It's more than one thing."

"Well, just start at the beginning and work down," I suggested, getting up to set a portable metal grill over the fire and then grab a pan and two cans of pork and beans out of the emergency camping gear we always had stored in the General's trunk for times such as this, when we might be on the run overnight. "Can't be all that hard."

He shook his head, watching me. But a small, quirked smile had found its way onto his lips and into his eyes for just a moment. That made me feel a little better at least. "Well, we'll start with Boss and whoever is playin' us that robbed that van in town. That's upsetting enough; like Jesse said, we could get life for this. And I ain't a traitor!"

I came back, putting a calming hand on his shoulder. "We all know that. You fought for our country; you wouldn't betray it."

He sighed, still sounding upset. "Yeah. Well, number two. I hate not being able to find them, cause they can't have just disappeared into thin air!" It was almost, but not quite, a frustrated exclamation. I hid a smile by turning away to use a hand opener on the cans of food, then dumping them into the pan and bending to place it on the grill over the flames.

"And number three?"

He paused, not saying anything for a moment, then slowly turned to look at me. "You. Us. Who we are to each other... What we're becoming to each other..." He trailed off, standing up and moving away from the fire and me, leaning back against a tree and sliding down its trunk. I frowned, somehow feeling that I understood but hoping that I didn't.

"Luke, we're who we've always been. We're just a little closer now is all. And we've had that for over a year now. You never complained before."

He flinched as if I'd hit him, turning away again to stare into the darkness. "And I never would," he whispered. "I'm not sorry that I fell in love with you. You're the other half of my soul. But I have to admit I'm a little unnerved by what's been happening lately between us."

I stood still for a couple of seconds, biting my lower lip, understanding exactly what he meant. We had been becoming closer in the last couple of weeks... too close, really. We had barely stopped on the fence between the innocence we had had and being actual lovers. It would be so easy to fall now. Every time he touched me, even innocently, shivers of awareness went through my entire body. And to be honest, I liked the feelings his touch brought. I liked them a lot. Sighing, I skirted around the fire, walking over to kneel down beside him. "Things are changing, huh?" I asked quietly, looking down at the ground and tracing patterns with one finger in the dirt.

"Dang right they are. And I'm not exactly sure what to do about it. Except..." He sounded strangely thoughtful. I heard him shift position just before his fingers slid under my chin and tilted it up, making me look at him. I wasn't all that unwilling to do that anyway. I studied his gaze for a moment, confused yet exhilarated at the look of mixed turmoil and love in his eyes. "I'm scared," he finally whispered. "I would never admit it to anyone else... but I'm scared. I've never felt this way before, about anyone."

"Me either," I found myself almost whispering back. I wiped the dirt off my hand onto my jeans, then reached up to brush two fingers against the side of his face. He swallowed, but didn't move to push me away, only kept his gaze locked with mine. "Luke, if you're asking me, I don't know what we should do. It was all so easy when we started... we said we would stay as we were, free, just accepting that we loved each other emotionally but nothing more. Now..." I bit my lip. "I hardly even know exactly what I want. I want to be closer to you, I want to share my very life with you. But I know it's wrong. I know I'm wrong to want anything like that..." I looked away, trying to hide how very nervous yet drawn to him I felt at that moment. I shook my head and pulled back, starting to get up. "This is crazy, we shouldn't even be talking about this."

I hadn't expected Luke to stop me. His hand closing gently but firmly around my wrist came as a complete surprise, and I stared down at him, confused. "Bo..." He sighed, letting go of me and running his hands through his hair. Then he looked back up at where I was half-kneeling, ready to spring to my feet and take off. "Bo, don't run. Please. I'm not even sure I know what's right or wrong anymore. Here in Hazzard, in any small rural community like this, it's... forbidden. But other places, I've heard, I've seen..." He broke off, shaking his head. "I ain't saying this right," he muttered, seemingly to himself. Then he looked up at me again, crystal blue eyes holding something I had never seen in them before, something that somehow captivated me and excited me and scared me all at the same time. Slowly, I sat back down beside him as he took my hand into his, rubbing his thumb across my palm. "I guess what I'm trying to say is... I'm willing to take a chance, if you are. Will you trust me, trust our love, enough to let it just happen? Will you let me love you tonight?"

I couldn't speak, couldn't answer even yes or no. I stared at him, unable to believe what he had just said, what he had just asked of me. He was asking me to let go of all I believed, of all he believed, to let go of the ropes and fall when I wasn't sure exactly what was below. He was asking me for the one thing we had both once said we would never give or even want. But I did want it, so very badly... I wanted him, wanted his touch, his eyes caught in mine as I gave him much more than my heart. I wanted... didn't want... oh, I didn't even know anymore. I swallowed hard, shivering, not knowing what to say, what to feel, what to fight or not fight. I clung to the one thing I knew in the sudden storm inside of me -- Luke loved me. I'd loved him for a very long time, but now, finally, he loved me too. And now he wanted to give me his love in a way that I had never dared do anything but dream of. But maybe if it wasn't really wrong... if there was even a chance that he wanted it too...

His eyes were holding mine, gentle but with a flicker of nervousness very deep inside too. I realized suddenly that he wasn't sure of what he should be doing either. But he wanted to do this... wanted us to become closer, closer than would ever be allowed if this wasn't kept a strict secret. He was actually willing to do that, to hide what would be between us for the rest of our lives, in order to make us both finally complete.

And suddenly, I was too. I was still a bit frightened, still didn't know quite what to do... but I knew at that moment that I wanted it every bit as much as he did. I'd wanted it ever since he had told me that he loved me too a year ago. I'd dreamed, and complained, and flirted, but never quite let myself hope that it could really ever be. Now that it was in front of me, I was scared... but I still wanted it, wanted him, more than I'd ever wanted anyone or anything. Hardly realizing that I was speaking, I found myself whispering words that came straight from my heart, feeling strangely like I was making some sort of vow. "Lukas... I don't know what to say or do. But I love you... and I want to give you all of myself, everything I have. Will you accept me just as I am?"

"Oh, Bo... I have always, would always, do that." His hand came up against the side of my face, his thumb stroking my cheek, and I closed my eyes, leaning into the touch, turning my head to kiss his palm, then looking back at him silently. The faint light seemed to catch in ways I'd never really paid attention to before... his eyes were pale blue gleams of pure emotion in the moonlight, and his skin glowed warmly in the dim orange and yellow glimmer from our campfire. He was holding nothing back, completely emotionally open for the first time I could remember in... oh, man, I couldn't remember. I couldn't even think with him looking at me that way. I found myself trembling as he leaned in to kiss me, just a light touch at first, but one that still sent fingers of warmth beginning to spread through me. My eyes slid slowly closed as I returned the kiss, my lips parting slightly, inviting him deeper to take my mouth and body and make them his own, just as I, feeling almost as shy now as that first night at still site four, began to claim his. His hand that had been on my face was now sliding down slowly over my chest, and one of mine was tangling in his hair, my other on his thigh, feeling the heat of his body as he began to respond to the slow passion I was offering. When he kept the kiss shallow, I began to press in, restless, wanting more than innocence now that I had his permission to want him.

Suddenly he pulled away. I blinked, trying to clear my head for a moment, then suddenly smelled what he had. "Oh Lord, our dinner!" I leaped up and ran across the clearing to grab the pan off the fire grill, almost burning my hand in the process before Luke handed me a towel from seemingly nowhere to hold the handle with. I smiled my thanks and grabbed two bowls, pouring an equal share of food into each until the pan was empty. Luke took one bowl and handed me a spoon for mine, then to my surprise reached out and took my hand to lead me to sit down crosslegged a little ways back from the fire, close enough to feel its warmth but not too close. I hesitated for a moment, feeling torn between two hungers, but then my insides growled, and I shoved the other aside temporarily in order to satisfy my stomach, digging into the bowl of canned beans as though it were a home-cooked meal.

I couldn't keep from glancing up at Luke every once in a while, though, and I could feel his eyes on me as he did the same. We were sitting so close that our knees were almost touching, almost afraid to let each other out of arm's reach, afraid that the magic between us would end at any moment. I was still nervous about what we had practically promised to each other this night, and I was certain that Luke was too. He had to be! The only contact he'd had that was even close to the intimacy we were planning on sharing was at the hands of that sadist Henson, with his rough ways and willingness to hurt another person for his own pleasure. I would have to let him lead, I suddenly realized. It would push him away, bring back the terror, the memories, if I took control just yet. Maybe later, maybe next time...

I froze, suddenly realizing what I was thinking. Next time. There would be a next time, wouldn't there? There would be a this time. We were going to... "Luke," I whispered, looking up, meeting his gaze, hardly able to believe that this was happening. "I can't believe all this... I... we…"

Somehow he understood what I meant without my even saying. He just looked at me for a long second, then smiled and reached out to gently take my mostly-empty bowl from my fingers and set it aside with his own. I let him, not caring about the food anymore, keeping my eyes locked into his as he traced his fingers over my face, along my eyebrows, across my cheekbones, down my jaw and over my lips. Shivering despite the warm night, I kissed one finger, then caught it lightly between my teeth, not sure quite what I was doing here but following my instincts.

It seemed to be the right thing to do. Pale blue eyes darkened in desire much like they had the afternoon we met Henson at the Boar's Nest. But now there was no frustration, no anger, in his face or actions. Only gentleness, uncertainty, and a deep, deep love. My careful hold on his finger loosened, and he pulled it away... only to lean in for a slow, careful kiss, one I returned quite willingly. I closed my eyes as I slid one hand around the back of his neck, feeling his hand against my back, pulling me closer. When he pulled away just as I began to deepen the kiss, I tensed, afraid at first that I'd done something he didn't want yet. But that didn't seem to be the case. He just smiled at me, without a word, and pushed himself to his feet, holding a hand out to me. Tensing again in nervous but excited anticipation as I realized what he had in mind, I accepted the help up and let him lead me to where we'd hastily dropped our sleeping bags earlier. We each set to untying the strings around the rolled-up bedding, spreading one out widely over the leaves on the ground and leaving the other folded nearby for later use. Then we stood on either side of the makeshift bed, just looking at each other, until finally he broke the spell by yanking open the snaps on his shirt, pulling it off and tossing it aside as though he were suddenly feeling too hot. I almost felt like turning and running for a moment as I took in, as if for the first time, the visible strength in his powerful body, how very easily he could hurt me, and above all the fact that this was going against everything I'd ever been taught. At the same time, I half-wished that he would have let me do that.

Feeling uncharacteristically shy, I knelt down on the flannel cover, sinking slightly into the thick padding beneath, and looked up at him. He came down to sit crosslegged in the middle of the spread sleeping bag, and I moved closer, putting a hesitant hand out to touch his chest. I could feel him tense in reaction as I ran my fingers up through the dark hair there, so different from my own almost smooth body. Bolder now, I took my time in feeling him, getting used to him in a way I never had before. We lived together, dressed together, even swam together... but this was so very, very different. I met his eyes and smiled in a sudden sense of awe, moving my hand from his collarbone to stroke the side of his face. He smiled back and nestled his cheek into my palm, the slight scratch in my hand as his jaw rubbed against it making me giggle a little. He grinned back at me and moved to lay back on the flannel, nodding reassuringly when I hesitated.

"Go ahead," he said softly, the first words either of us had spoken for a while. "Do whatever you want to, angel."

I paused, my eyes widening at the same time that my smile did. "Angel?"

"Yeah." He chuckled, looking a little embarrassed now. He reached up and trailed his fingers through my hair, undoing any combing I had managed that day. I didn't particularly care. "You're the most beautiful angel I've ever seen. And you're mine… somehow you're mine." He shook his head, almost in disbelief.

I blushed, looking down and away. "Oh, Luke…" I could count the number of times that he'd called me by any endearment on one hand, and two of those times had been in the past two weeks. He wasn't as given to saying what he felt as I was... and hearing those words was a wonderful gift. I couldn't think of anything to say back, so just glanced back up and whispered his name. "Lukas... I love you..."

"And I love you," he answered, smiling and moving his hand to brush my bangs out of my eyes. Keeping my gaze locked in his, I traced his features with one hand, then trailed my fingers down over his chest and shoulders again, outlining each set of muscles and feeling them tighten under the feather touch. I couldn't help but smile, marveling at how much control I had over him. He was stronger than I, but right now, here, that didn't matter. He closed his eyes for a minute, a slight noise that I couldn't quite define, almost a groan, almost a growl, almost a purr, but none of those, coming from deep in his throat. I could hardly believe what that did to me, the heat I felt spreading through my body at the realization that it was me making him feel this way. Trembling again and not even sure why, I leaned down to touch my lips to his, and suddenly found myself dragged down to be held in powerful arms, then rolled onto my back with him hovering over me, his body just barely held off of mine. I literally moaned, the first time I could ever remember reacting this strongly to such a small thing, as he slid one hand down my chest, then slanted his mouth over mine to kiss me deeply, demandingly. I met his kiss with equal fervor, welcoming the invasion of his tongue and returning it, pressing my hands against his back and trying to pull him down to me. When I did that, though, he pulled away, half-smiling.

"Now it's your turn," he whispered, putting one hand on my chest to keep me down as I tried to sit up. "No. Just lay there. I promise I won't hurt you."

I looked up at him in absolute surprise. "I never thought you would."

He smiled at that, kissing me lightly once more before sitting up, straddling my hips, and rubbing his hands in circles across my shoulders, loosening muscles I hadn't even known were tense, then sliding them down my chest again. I closed my eyes, my breath coming a little faster than normal now. Without a word, he moved his hands up to undo my shirt, one snap at a time, his fingers just barely brushing against my skin as he did so. Unable to keep back an almost-whimper of surprise at the amount of pleasure that the slight touch created, I raised up slightly to let him pull the cloth out from under my belt and down my arms. I shoved the shirt aside with one hand, my other moving over his back and shoulder, massaging, almost unconsciously urging him on as he went over nearly my entire body in slow strokes. His hands, rough from work yet like velvet in the softness of their passing, were suddenly firm, then just as suddenly feather light. He paused to trace the fading scars below my ribs almost reverently, and somehow I knew he was thinking of how he'd almost lost me. I looked up at him, smiling softly and raising a hand to caress his jaw, feeling the tension there.

"I'm here, Lukas. I'm here. I'll always be here."

The tightness loosened after a second, and he smiled back, just as gently. "Hush now. You're not supposed to be talking."

Then he went back to it… or rather, went to it for the first time. I'd been enjoying before, but now I suddenly found myself moaning in surprise, arching into his touch with a wild abandon that I had never felt before as he found places that I hadn't even known could be that sensitive, his every move a gentle caress. His fingers on my skin did things to me, things I couldn't name, couldn't describe... I was willingly helpless in his hands as he made love to me in a way that no one had ever taken the slow time to do, speaking softly of his love, kissing me every few moments, looking at me with eyes so full of emotion that I could fall right inside them, making me feel almost like a virgin on her wedding night. I had abandoned all wondering how and why this was happening now. I didn't care. He was finally here, with me, touching me, loving me... the man I loved more than anyone, the one I wanted in my life for the rest of mine... I cried out, his full first name, feeling tears of joy and love in my eyes and not even trying to fight them.

He made a soft, happy sound at that, smiling slightly, then, surprising me again, he bent to trace the paths his hands were taking with his lips. I gasped and closed my eyes, every nerve ending suddenly full of electricity, coming alive with the slightest touch as the warmth of pure pleasure that had been before blended with a new passionate fire. I whispered his name over and over, my hands reaching up to grip at his shoulders tightly as my body and soul thrilled to his touch in a way they never had before to anyone's. As he trailed light kisses over my chest, shoulders, and neck, taking time to tease my nipples until they were as hard as the crotch of my jeans had become, his hands roamed freely, down my sides, over my hips and thighs, every muscle he touched becoming taut under his touch. Finally, with a final brush of his fingers just underneath the waist of my pants, he sat up to meet my gaze, smiling, still looking a little nervous but less so by the moment. I'd lost all my nervousness by now... I just never wanted this to end. I looked up at him with open need in my eyes, breathing hard, unable to speak, and moaned a wordless protest about his stopping. I was tingling all over, feeling more alive now than I could remember ever feeling. I was rather aware of my almost-painful state of physical arousal as well, but that somehow seemed to take a back seat to everything else at the moment. His touch, his presence, was filling my whole mind, until I could hardly even think of anything else.

Then he suddenly slid one hand downward from where it had been resting on my stomach, over the front of my jeans, and the center of my body's attention instantly changed. I growled, making a quick, sharp movement upward into his hand before I even realized what I was doing. He pulled back at that, and I looked up at him frantically, afraid that I had gone too fast, had frightened him. But he only smiled at me, brushing his fingers against my cheek.

"Too much?" I somehow managed to whisper, still worried.

He shook his head. "No. It's all right. I feel about the same way..."

"You do?" I was uncertain about how far he would let me go yet, but at the same time I couldn't resist. Keeping my eyes locked in his, carefully gauging his reactions as I moved, I slowly slid one hand down his chest and stomach, reaching down to gently cup him in my hand. He gasped as if I'd stung him, and I almost pulled back, but he placed his hand over mine, holding it there. I bit my lip, all this so new to me. I had never touched another man this way, had never even thought of it... except with Luke. I looked at him, awed again. His eyes were blue fire... Bracing his arms on the ground below, he just looked at me, lips parted slightly, breathing consciously slow and deep. I could see the sudden hunger in his face even before I felt his physical reaction pressing against my palm. That proof of what he was feeling made me shiver again, and I closed my fingers gently around the firm weight of him in my hand. "Okay?" I asked softly.

Okay. Was it okay? His touch felt like nothing ever had before, filled my body with a want that I'd never before experienced, something physical and emotional all tied up in one... it felt more than okay, it felt great. But it also scared me, deep down inside. I hadn't been touched in this way by another man since...

Bo seemed to see it the moment I drew away mentally, and dropped his hand like he'd been handed something hot. "Lukas?" he whispered. "You okay?"

I nodded slowly, not moving from my half-crouched position. I realized now that I was poised over him like a cat about to pounce... although he didn't seem to mind. He slid a hand down my chest, then around my side to my back, as if trying to reassure. I'm not quite sure that the reaction I felt to that was exactly what he had in mind. The touch did little to calm; rather, it made me want him all the more. "I'm all right," I somehow managed. "I'll be even more all right if you just keep doing this..." I opened my eyes from where I'd had them squeezed shut, looking down to meet his shy yet heated midnight gaze. Suddenly serious, I whispered, "Go ahead, Bo... please. Touch me, love me, wipe away his memory. Please."

He lay still for a moment, then slowly smiled, reaching up a hand to brush away tears I hadn't even realized had come to sting my eyes. "I love you," he whispered back. Somehow, full voices didn't seem... appropriate. "I'll do anything for you... how could I do anything less? You're my everything."

I tried to hide the rush of emotion that came up to choke me at that, but I was so open to him at that moment that he saw it all. I could tell that by the softness in his smile, the way he trailed his hand over my face, then up across my forehead, as if to wipe away anything and everything that Rick Henson had done to me. Then he caught his hand gently behind my neck and pulled me down to him, tilting his face up to capture me heart and soul in a warm, slow kiss. I felt his hands rubbing down my back, stroking firmly over my buttocks, gentle as one slid around my hip to brush lightly and finally settle again at where I was the most sensitive right now, the most needing. I couldn't help a soft groan at that, almost wincing from the strength of my reaction, and shoved slightly forward until his hand closed around me, where I wanted it. Settling myself, I moved against him a couple of times, experimentally, and instantly discovered that that action had two direct consequences. One, the stimulation made my jeans become even tighter than they were already, almost to the point of painful, and two, I found myself suddenly on my back, pressed down into the sleeping bag below by a weight almost equal to my own, yet one that didn't frighten me in the slightest.

Moving almost on instinct, I accepted the insistent deepening of the kiss that somehow through all of that hadn't broken, my hands sliding down his back to grip as gently as I could manage around his waist, pushing him up a little away from me. Old memories, old fears, were slowly melting away with his fingers tangling in my hair, his other hand gripping my shoulder with a gasp of surprise as I moved to do the same for him as he had done for me. At first I simply marveled at the sheer life that I held in my hand when I cupped around him, but then he made a low noise that was almost a whimper and twitched his pelvis down hard into my grasp, and I stiffened involuntarily as I felt the lean power in his thighs and hips in a way I never had before, and also the rock hardness of his need. Flashbacks snapped into my mind, of another holding me down, pressing his stronger body to mine, laughing coarsely, and I whimpered low in my throat.

Bo heard and moved back instantly, eyes wide and worried. I shook my head, pulling him back down to me, seeking his mouth with a desperation that was even more emotional than it was physical. In the unexplainable wordless way we had of communicating, he understood, claiming me gently but fiercely, leaving no room for memories, no room for fear. I was his, he was saying with hands, body, and mouth. Only his. I locked my thoughts around what my lover was doing to me, here and now, and raised my hips to press into his, feeling him respond with a gentleness that I knew must be difficult for him, seeing as he was every bit as aroused as I was, if not more so. I made a couple of short thrusting motions against him, and he pressed his hips harder into mine, tangling our legs and intensifying the demand of his mouth against mine suddenly. I let him, everything else but us two fading away again. I spread my hand over his backside, pulling him tighter to me, growling low as I brought both of us almost to the breaking point before suddenly pushing him up and away before we both lost it entirely.

He broke off the kiss, gasping both for air and at what I was doing to him even through the thick layers of denim still between us, looking at me with eyes so darkened by passion that they had turned almost black. The sane part of me in the back of my mind commented on the fact that in all the years I'd known him, I had never seen his eyes change color that way, then I was shifting to undo his belt and jeans with shaking hands, tugging them down, trying to get the clothing out of the way. He sat up and helped, shoving at the pants and finally kicking them away. He fell to his side beside me, his own hands moving to my belt. I put one hand on his waist and lifted my hips, allowing him to remove my jeans, at the same time tugging at the waistband of his underwear, desperate to have nothing between us. He did the same, both of us fighting to lose the last barriers, then we lay still for a moment, panting, trembling with a mix of desire and sudden uncertainty as our eyes traveled over each other's naked bodies in the pale light. The moon was full tonight, lending a silvery, almost magical tint to the world as I gazed unashamedly and amazedly at the young man I had once thought of as only my cousin. I had seen him unclothed many times, but never like this, never aroused and erect, more than ready, tense with a fire I could almost see glowing under his skin. It was a little unnerving, in a way, yet at the same time he was so very beautiful, so wild and untamed, with silver-edged golden hair falling into his dark eyes and his body trembling with the need to be sated and soon. I wasn't quite sure what I looked like through his eyes, but the look on his face was one of definite approval, which somehow made me fiercely proud, that I could pleasure the one I loved by just lying here. How could I have ever said, thought, that we could be in love without this happening? The fire that was inside of us had been building slowly for over a year now... and now it would not be denied.

Finally he broke the spell by wiggling a little closer, his gaze no longer shy, but rather pleading. He spread his hand against my chest and leaned in for a short, light kiss. I wasn't in the mood for anything so innocent anymore; I was surprised at his control, for that matter, especially considering the visible need that my touch had inspired in him. I would never have expected the one I knew as so quick and impetuous about everything else to be able to last longer than I in this way. Somehow, I knew that we still had a lot to learn about each other... and tonight, we were going to begin. Growling softly, low in my throat, I took his hand and pulled him hard against me, rolling on top of him, skin against skin with nothing else to hinder us, and moved against him as I would inside a girl. He responded in kind, trembling with the force of the passion running between us, then suddenly looked up at me. His eyes were dark for a moment, pondering something, but before I could gather my thoughts enough to ask what, that gaze had turned trusting, and determined. Shifting against me, he raised one strong leg to wrap it over my hips, tugging gently downward, offering something I had never planned on doing. I froze, eyes widening, and shook my head, knowing what he was asking probably better than he did.

"Luke." I was surprised he was even still able to talk. "Please. I mean it."

"No!" I shook my head again. "No, I'll hurt you."

"No you won't. Not enough to matter." His hands were on my body again, stroking down my sides, over my back and stomach, coming dangerously close to the fire centered in my groin. I gasped at the literal shock that shot through my middle at the near-touch. "Lukas. I want this. I really do."

I took a deep breath, knowing I was too far gone to argue much with him now. "Then you do it."

"No." His eyes narrowed, and he caught mine fiercely, his hands stilling on my hips. "No. You have to be in charge right now. Just the way it needs to be. I'm yours… claim me. Please."

I let out a held breath, painfully needing and exasperated at this unwanted conversation. "Bo, I'm stronger than you are. I could handle it bett-" His fingers on my lips hushed me midword. I swallowed hard as he just looked at me, capturing me in that dark, fiery gaze. His next words were a soft whisper.

"I'm not making any sacrifices here. I want it. I want you. I wanna belong to you. I want you to belong to me." Before I could reply, he drew me down for another long, soul-deep kiss.

Our bond had always been close, but now, with us so intimate both emotionally and physically, it had somehow become more. I could feel his reassurance, his confidence, and by the time we parted, all I could do was nod, unable to refuse, and proceed to touch him in ways that were new to us both, learning how to excite him further yet relax him at the same time that he learned how to relax under me. I was as gentle as I could be, and he never uttered a sound except for an awed whisper of my name as he welcomed me, took me in with less effort than I had actually thought it would take. I whispered his name back, his full name with its so-fitting meaning, and for once he didn't complain, only lifted his head to meld his mouth to mine yet again.

When I moved back from the fervent kiss, I shifted position to settle myself, met his eyes to see only an eager, joyful acceptance, and then began to make love to him body to body, willingly losing myself to the wild yet somehow not rough passion that threatened to consume my entire being. I could hardly believe that the thought of this had once filled me with terror... between us, now, it only created a pleasure and love that drowned out all uncertainties, all pain, all fear. No longer hesitating, we moved with each other with an ease and naturalness that made it seem as though we'd been doing this all our lives, taking the time to touch, kiss, speak soft words of love and desire, until neither of us could stand it any longer.

And when at last I held tightly to him and flung my soul to the wind with a shout, I knew at that moment that, bound to him forever, I was finally free.

Chapter Five