TLR Chapter 2

Matthew 'Mutt' Tailor, one of the permanent residents of Teardrop Lake, looked around the bustling resort and smiled. He loved the place. Not only because of the safe haven that James had created, but because it was where he had met Jeff, and for that he would be forever grateful.

He didn't care that Jeff was older than him. Jeff had always said that age was just a number, and Mutt was inclined to agree. Jeff had more stamina than most 51 year old men, and their relationship was enjoyable in more ways than one. Much better than he'd had in past relationships with men his own age. Jeff was a doting husband, and their sex life was amazing. The twenty year difference in their ages was a good thing because Mutt was sure if he'd been older he wouldn't have been able to keep up.

That wasn't to say he enjoyed being over Jeff's lap when he'd done something seriously wrong and was receiving a paddling, but he did love the way Jeff held and comforted him afterward.

He spotted James, waved and ran to catch up to him.

"James! I'm glad I found you. I just checked the emergency generators and we have a problem. Geese have made nests in the cables again, and we can't get near them because the stupid things have eggs and have been attacking anyone who gets too close.

James sighed. It wasn't the first time they'd had this problem. "Get the umbrellas and the other guys and lets clear them out again. Where's Jeff?"

Mutt grinned impishly. "Gathering up the other guys and the umbrellas. Sorry I forgot to mention that. We just need to borrow your height to man one of the umbrellas. Then me and a couple of the other short shanks will run around and gather up the eggs." He continued, shading his sparkling brown eyes as he looked up at the much taller man.

"Smart alec." James replied fondly. He put a friendly arm around Mutt's shoulders and went with the younger man to tackle the goose problem.

James and a bunch of the taller of the permanent residents used the umbrellas as shields to keep the geese at bay while Mutt and the other, shorter men, ran around with baskets and gathered the eggs, scattering the nests. Jeff followed with the goose repellent, carefully aiming the hose away from the men around him.

Goose problem taken care of, the men paired up and went away, smiling and laughing, to tackle the next problem, or each other as the mood took them.

James smiled wistfully at the sight. He'd had lovers aplenty over the course of the years, but none that he'd ever really considered settling down with. He tried not to envy these men, but he couldn't help but feel a pang as he turned to go back to his empty bungalow.

Later that night Mutt and Jeff laid in bed after a very vigorous and athletic bout of lovemaking.

"I just want to hug him every time I see that look on his face, Chief." Mutt said quietly.

"I know, sweetheart, but we can't keep trying to match-make for him. He's never fallen for any of the guys we've picked out for him, and I'm not sure if he'd like a relationship like ours."

"You keep saying that age doesn't matter." Mutt argued, lifting his head to look up into his husband's eyes.

"To us, no. But not everyone feels the way we do." Jeff replied, rubbing his young lover's back until Mutt put his head back down on his chest.

"I know we can find the right guy." Mutt insisted. "I'll keep my eyes open. I'm sure we can find the right guy in the next batch that comes through."

Jeff reached down and tapped his husband's backside. "Hush now. Go to sleep."

Mutt grinned up at him. "Whatever you say, Chief."

"Damn right." Jeff muttered sleepily, an unmistakable smile in his voice.