The summer heat shimmered off the cracked asphalt of Highway 12, somewhere in the middle of eastern Oregon. Miles of dry grass and distant mountains stretched in every direction, and the only sound was the tick-tick-tick of a dying engine.
Alex Kane killed the ignition on his ancient silver Mustang and slammed the heel of his hand against the steering wheel. Steam hissed from under the hood like an angry snake. "Son of a bitch," he muttered. At thirty-one, tall and lean with sun-bleached brown hair, sharp blue eyes, and a permanent scowl, Alex had spent the last five years building a small custom motorcycle shop in Bend. He didn't have time for breakdowns, especially not today when he was already late for a big client pickup.
A black Tacoma rolled to a stop behind him, hazard lights blinking. The driver's door opened and Noah Reyes stepped out, boots hitting gravel with a crunch. Noah was twenty-eight, built solid from years of construction work. He had broad shoulders, thick arms, dark hair cropped close, and hazel eyes that always looked half-amused, half-annoyed. The two of them had hated each other since high school, when Alex's bike crew and Noah's jock crowd spent every weekend trying to outdo each other. They'd stayed rivals ever since, trading barbed comments at local bars and glaring across crowded bonfires.
Noah leaned against his truck, arms folded, wearing a faded gray tank top already sticking to his chest in the heat. "Well, look who finally broke down. Thought that piece-of-shit Mustang would outlive us all."
Alex climbed out, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Funny. Thought your truck would've rusted out by now."
Noah snorted, pushing off the truck to peer under the Mustang's hood. Hot air rolled out in waves. "Radiator hose blew. You're not going anywhere for a while."
Alex pulled his phone and saw that there was no signal. He held it higher, pacing. Nothing. "Great. Middle of fucking nowhere."
Noah checked his own phone, shook his head. "Same. Closest town's twenty miles back, next one's forty ahead. Tow truck's gonna be hours." He glanced at the sky, cloudless and brutal. "We wait, or we cook."
Alex kicked a tire. "Fine. Your truck's got AC?"
Noah jerked a thumb toward the Tacoma. "Get in."They climbed into the cab, doors slamming shut like a seal. Noah cranked the air conditioning full blast. Cool air poured from the vents, but the tension inside stayed thick. Country radio played low but neither changed the station.
Minutes dragged. Sweat dried on their skin. Alex stared out the windshield at the empty road. Noah drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
"You still mad I beat you at the drag strip senior year?" Noah finally asked, mouth twitching.Alex shot him a look. "You cheated. Cut me off at the line."
"Did not."
"Did too."Noah laughed once, short and rough. "Still holding that grudge, huh?"
Alex shrugged, arms crossed. "You've always been a dick."
Noah turned his head, studying Alex's profile. "And you've always been an asshole. Guess we're even."
Silence settled again, the AC humming. Outside, heat ripples danced over the asphalt.
An hour passed. Then two. They drank warm water from Noah's cooler, traded the last bag of gas-station chips. Conversation crept in despite itself. Alex admitted business was slow this summer. Noah grumbled about a job site delay. Their voices stayed low, careful, like they were afraid of breaking whatever fragile truce the heat had forced.
Noah stretched his arms overhead to fiddle with something, tank top riding up to show a strip of tanned stomach and the dark trail of hair disappearing under his belt. Alex's eyes flicked there, then away fast. If Noah noticed, but didn't comment.
Another half hour. The sun slid lower, turning the cab orange. Noah killed the engine to save gas, cracked the windows. Warm air drifted in, thick with sagebrush and dust.
Alex leaned his head back against the seat. "This is fucking ridiculous.
"Noah huffed agreement. "Yeah." He shifted, thigh brushing Alex's. Neither moved away.
The touch lingered. A spark jumped under Alex's skin. He turned his head and Noah was already looking at him, hazel eyes darker in the fading light."
You ever think we wasted a lot of years hating each other?" Noah asked quietly.
Alex swallowed. "Sometimes."
Noah's hand moved, deliberately settling on Alex's knee. Calloused thumb rubbed a small circle. Alex's breath caught.
"Tell me to stop," Noah said, voice rough.
Alex didn't.
Noah leaned across the console. Alex groaned into it, hand fisting Noah's tank top, hauling him closer. Noah's beard scraped Alex's jaw as the kiss turned messy, hungry.
Seats creaked as they twisted toward each other. Noah's big hand slid up Alex's thigh, stopping just short of his crotch. Alex's cock was already hard, straining against denim. He rocked into the touch, cursing under his breath.
"Back seat," Noah muttered against his mouth.They scrambled over the console, clumsy and urgent, boots thudding. The rear bench was wider. Noah shoved Alex down onto his back, climbing over him, knees bracketing narrow hips. Shirts came off fast, Noah's tank peeled away to reveal a broad, sweat-damp chest dusted with dark hair. Alex's tee tossed aside, showing lean muscle and a few shop tattoos.
Noah's mouth found Alex's neck, sucking hard enough to bruise. Alex arched, fingers digging into Noah's thick biceps. "Fuck... do that again."
Noah did, teeth scraping collarbone, tongue dipping into the hollow of Alex's throat. His hand shoved between them, palming Alex's cock through jeans. Alex jerked, a sharp gasp ripping out.
"Off," Noah growled, tugging at Alex's belt.
Buttons popped, zip rasped down. Noah yanked jeans and boxers halfway down Alex's thighs, freeing his warm, hard cock. Noah wrapped a rough hand around it, stroked once, slow and firm. Alex's hips bucked, a low moan spilling out.
Noah's own jeans were tight, thick bulge obvious. Alex reached for him, fumbling the button open, shoving fabric down. Noah's cock sprang free, it was heavy, thick and uncut, with the foreskin pulled back to show a swollen head leaking steadily. Alex's mouth watered.
He pushed Noah onto his back, leaned down, and dragged his tongue up the underside in one wet stripe. Noah groaned deep, hand fisting in Alex's hair. Alex took the head into his mouth, cheeks hollowing, tasting salt and heat. Noah's hips rolled up; Alex gagged slightly, then took him deeper, spit slicking his lips.
"Christ... your mouth..." Noah panted, thighs trembling.
Alex worked him sloppy and eager, hand twisting at the base, tongue swirling. When Noah started thrusting shallow, breath hitching, Alex pulled off with a filthy pop. "Not yet."
He crawled up, kissing Noah hard, letting him taste himself. Noah flipped them fast, pinning Alex beneath his weight. He reached into the glove box, pulled out a small bottle of lube. Construction sites apparently kept workers prepared. Alex barked a surprised laugh that turned into a moan when Noah slicked two fingers and pressed one inside him slow.
The stretch burned sweet. Alex's back bowed, breath stuttering. Noah watched his face, added a second finger, crooking to find that spot. Alex cried out, cock jerking against his stomach, leaking more."Need you," Alex rasped. "Now."
Noah slicked his thick cock generously, lined up, and pushed in. The fat head entered. Alex's nails clawed Noah's back, a broken "Fuck!" tearing free. Inch by inch Noah filled him until hips met ass, both shaking.
"So goddamn tight," Noah groaned, pulling back, thrusting deep again.They found a rhythm of hard, steady snaps that rocked the truck. Windows fogged. Skin slapped wetly. Alex's legs wrapped high around Noah's waist, heels digging into his back, urging deeper.
Noah slowed when Alex started babbling, close already. He ground in deep circles, dragging it out until Alex was trembling, begging. "Please move... fuck..."
Noah sped up, pounding hard, one hand wrapping around Alex's leaking cock, stroking in time. Alex came first, his body seizing, cum streaking Noah's fist and both their stomachs in thick ropes as he shouted Noah's name raw.
Noah got some more thrusts in before came. He slammed deep, hips stuttering, and spilled hot inside Alex with a guttural groan, pulse after pulse flooding him.
They stayed locked together, panting, sweat cooling in the evening air. Noah stayed buried a long minute, forehead pressed to Alex's, breath mingling.
Outside, the first stars appeared. Crickets started up. Far down the highway, faint headlights finally approached—tow truck, hours late.
Noah pulled out slow, both wincing. They cleaned up with napkins from the glove box, dressed in silence that wasn't awkward anymore.
When the tow driver knocked on the window, Noah rolled it down, voice steady. "Yeah, we're good. Just needed a little… cool-down."
Alex hid a grin against Noah's shoulder.
The truck got hauled to the nearest shop. Noah gave Alex a ride into town. They didn't talk about what happened, at least not yet. But when Noah dropped him at the motel, he leaned across the console and kissed Alex once more, slow and certain.
"Text me when you're back in Bend," Noah said.
Alex nodded, throat tight. "Yeah. I will."
The tow truck lights faded down the highway. Two old rivals drove into the night separately, but both knew the road between them had changed forever.