Ride All Night

(This is my Valentine's Day 2025 entry. I usually don't write LGBTQA stories so I'm very interested in people's comments and criticisms. Please rate and vote!)

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"Come on Jeremy baby....don't be like that. Let's both be adults and admit we had fun. Now that fun is over and it's time to grow up." said the blonde-haired man as he wiped red wine off his glasses.

"You BASTARD! You lying deceitful asshole! I can't think of anything bad enough to say to you! We've been together for three years and you said you loved me! Now let me get this right you're breaking up with me? So all the time we were a couple, all the mornings in bed, the kisses, the hugs, the fucking...it meant nothing to you? You just wanted to get ahead, experiment...be fun at parties?" yelled Jeremy incredulously.

He'd already tossed the expensive red wine in Peter's face but he still had the wine bottle. It was all he could do, not to smash it on Peter and then stab him with the broken shards.

"Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy...honestly DON"T be such a child. You have that fireman's body...muscles and ass so tight. I did love fucking a sizzling hottie like you. You suck cock better than most women. But, you know who I am! You know what my parents expect of me! Did you honestly think we could be married like in some romantic fairy tale? Even a child knows fairy tales aren't real!"

"Someday, hopefully, sooner rather than later, I'm going to be mayor of this entire city....IF I play my cards right I'll be Prime Minister. DON"T get all new-age and say gay men can be elected officials...gay people can do anything. That's true BUT Statistics say a straight, white man is the most likely person to be elected! DON"T be selfish, I've had fun fucking you but this is not about YOU, so don't take it SO personally. It's all about the math and statistics. I have to do what's right for MY family and future.

"A white trash fag like you is definitely great at sucking cock, I'll tell you that as many times as you want--- you give the best blow jobs I've ever had BUT you are not right for MY family or future. However, Thanks to MY family's influence and money you're getting a promotion at work. Look on the bright side, that comes with a massive pay raise! Besides, you're on track to become the commissioner of the entire Toronto Fire Department."

"I've paid off the lease on our penthouse apartment. That's a penthouse apartment in downtown Toronto, you've gotten a promotion and are on track to become the Toronto Fire Department's Commissioner. You've turned quite a profit for three years of fun at parties. " stated Peter. He was explaining away their entire relationship.

Jeremy stared at him in horror, heard everything and understood nothing. This break-up was coming out of the blue. Just this past weekend, he and Peter had amazing sex, multiple times in one day. He'd found a receipt from Tiffany's in the trash. Jermey thought they were having dinner because Peter was going to propose. After all early February couple's dates at Michelin star restaurants were for marriage proposals?

Sobs started to rack Jeremy's body and he was at a loss for words. He LOVED Peter.

"Look, Jeremy, don't make such a scene. You didn't have to toss the red wine at me, this is a custom-made Hermes shirt for Christ's sake! A white trash faggot like you could work for a hundred years and not be able to afford this. Let's just say our goodbyes, like adults."

"I've already moved everything out of the apartment. You've been a hot piece of ass...but it's not like I'm gay...you're the faggoty one." Peter was trying to get the red wine out of his Hermes shirt.

"Anyway, my mother's arranged for me to marry Kendra. I have a very expensive ring from Tiffany's and there's an engagement party this weekend. I'd invite you to come but I'm afraid you'll make a scene. You can be uncouth and unclassy. It's not your fault really. You're such white trash, everyone knows white trash can't keep their tempers in check.

My engagement party is going to have roses, champagne, oysters....the whole nine yards! Mother is going all out, we're sparing no expense. Both the Toronto Star's Society page's editor and Vogue Magazine's Society editor are going to be there. Toronto's mayor is coming too! Now be a man for once, don't cry and pout. DON"T be selfish and ruin this for me. You have an apartment and a pay raise, that's all a white trash faggot like you needs." stated Peter. He had some red wine and cut into his steak.

"BUT, I love you and you've repeatedly said Kendra is a gold-digging bitch. You said she was the worst woman in the world. You said she was staying in Tokyo." yelled Jermey. He couldn't believe this was happening He loved Peter and Peter loved him? This was a joke...Peter was going to pull out the ring and start laughing anytime. Then they'd go home and well...ultimately, the only thought Jeremy could form was that he loved Peter. Love was all that a couple needed?

"The whole gold-digger is the best thing about it...right?" laughed Peter. She can have her affairs and I can have mine, with WOMEN naturally. We wouldn't want online blogs or TMZ gossiping about me and men. Think of what that would do for ME and MY political career. A high-roller lifestyle, that's what I'm going to have.

Well, not you...never you. Kendra and I are going to lead a high-roller lifestyle. I'm going to be mayor of Toronto and someday Prime Minster of Canada. Oh for Christ's sake Jeremy, stop being a pissy baby. Here's a napkin...why don't you go wipe your eyes or something? Calm down and no hysterics, this is a classy restaurant, people might recognize me and film me on their phones.

Now for Christ's sake, grow up and don't ruin dinner. We're not going to talk about this anymore. As far as you and I are concerned we just had fun at parties. Now suck it up buttercup, be a man, go wash your face." ordered Peter. However, if you'd like to give me one last blow job as a parting gift, or wedding present, I wouldn't say no. Peter dismissed Jeremy like nothing had ever happened and continued eating his steak.

"Uhmm....right," said Jeremy. He didn't know what he was supposed to say. He wanted to break one of the restaurant's solid oak chairs over Peter's head or stab Peter with the shattered wine bottle. But, as a fireman he taken an oath to help and care for people...blah...blah..blah. Oaths mean a lot to Jeremy. He was a man who kept his word. Jeremy expected others to keep theirs too. When Peter told Jeremy they were lovers and meant to be, Jeremy believed him. Peter wouldn't lie. Jeremy had loved Peter...no that wasn't right. Jermy still loved Peter.

Tears continued to stream from Jeremy's face and his eyes were all red and puffy. He knew he had dinner back at the table, a Michelin star dinner too but Jeremy could not eat nicely with Peter. Jeremy turned off the faucet and left his phone on the counter. Yes, it had pictures on it, his CandyCrush high score...whatever. But, it didn't matter. Did anything matter?

Jeremy's entire world and belief system had been turned upside down and shaken like a snow globe. The whole package of lies. A thought in the back of his head told Jermy that he should get out of Dodge before Peter came in for a blow job.

Jeremy took his bus pass out. He got on a bus and rode away. Jeremy's heart was shattering into a million pieces. He rode all night through the confusing streets of Toronto. He had no idea where he was going. Jeremy knew he wasn't going back to the luxury apartment.

Dawn was rising, it melted a light February frost off the grass when Jeremy found himself at his mother's house. Jeremy didn't want to talk to his mother. She'd just fuss and hug him. She'd call him her baby and make him breakfast. Jeremy didn't want tender love and care. He didn't know what he wanted.

He went to the garage behind the house and kicked in the rotting door. It wasn't hard, Jeremy was a firefighter. He'd done it many times and the wood was ancient. Inside the garage lay Jeremy's father's ancient 1970s GTO.

It was not a practical car for Canadian winters but it was a boss car. Jeremy felt like driving around in something awesome instead of his Ford Fiesta. His Dad had bought it to cruise around and pick up chicks. Once he married Jeremy's mother the GTO had been relegated to the garage. Jeremy needed to get away from everything. This was the only car he knew of without any modern GPS tracking system. He pulled the GTO out of the garage and drove. Only the open road and all of Canada lay ahead of him.

Bitter tears still fell, Jeremy didn't want any of Peter's shit but he still wanted Peter. Jeremy had loved Peter and he still loved Peter. At twenty-two, Jeremy was young, yes but that didn't mean he was foolish, his love for Peter had been pure, mean and true. Jeremy had taken Peter at his word. Jeremy knew that was his problem. He expected everyone to stand by their word.

For Jeremy, his and Peter's relationship had been more than sex. It just wasn't "fun at parties". He'd truly loved Peter. Jeremy had wanted to merge his atoms with Peter's. Jeremy blamed himself for being so trusting....so naive and gullible. Jeremy knew he was an idiot. Tru love...what was that?

The vast Toronto suburbs faded away as Jeremy drove into the early morning sunrise. He didn't even know what he was driving towards...if anything. He drove for miles and hours. If the car needed gas, he stopped and got it. If he needed food, Jeremy stopped. So it went for everything Jeremy needed.

Jeremy's destiny was about to collide with him. He just didn't know when it was going to happen. Jeremy drove down long Canadian roads in silence and anonymity. Jermy didn't want any contact with the modern world. The modern world was too noisy and Jermey was sure the news would cover Peter and Kendra's engagement. Jeremy wandered, for now, waiting for his fate.

On a seemingly abandoned dirt road which bordered Hudson's Bay in upper Manitoba, the GTO sputtered and died. It was out of gas. Jeremy got out and looked for the second gas can. That too was empty. Foreboding clouds hung in the sky and the wind howled. Jeremy couldn't remember the last time he'd seen a gas station. It had been several hours since he'd seen a town. Jeremy knew the car would go no further.

Yes, it was February and winter was almost halfway over, but that really meant nothing in freezing windswept Northern Manitoba. It was way too dangerous to be out in this weather. Jeremy had nothing to do but wait. He got back in the GTO and sat. He could only wait for his destiny.

Ronin flew overhead again. It was the third time he'd seen the same car in his territory. It was stuck and the weather was getting colder. Ronin could tell it had one occupant, a male mortal. He was starting to worry about the mortal who had strayed so far into his territory. The mortal man who had nowhere to go.

Who was this man? What was he doing here? Ronin had nothing but questions. Still, this man, whether accidentally or not, had wandered into Ronin territory and according to the ancient laws of his people's hospitality, Ronon had a duty of care. As a centaur, he had a duty of care to all creatures of this earth, great and small.

Jeremy stayed in the GTO. Days had passed. Even though he was in a car, it was cold, beyond cold and the snow piled up. Still, there was nothing Jeremy could do but stay in the car and wait for his fate. Jeremy had no way of contacting the outside world. Ronin had found himself flying over the car multiple times a day worrying about the mortal.

Ronin wished he could send in one of his mystical friends---the werewolves, skin changers or vampires. Magical creatures who appeared in human bodies. He did not have a human body. Ronin flapped his mighty wings and rose on his back hooves. It frustrated him that no one was around. The human's fate was entirely up to him. Ronin knew his mind was already made up, he flapped his strong wings which were bigger than eagles or condors and flew to the mortal's car.

After a week in the freezing car, Jeremy had weakened considerably, he was in the backseat, starving and shivering. The car was coated in deep snow but Ronin broke through the GTO's window with one punch. He grabbed the unconscious Jeremey, threw him over his shoulder and flew away.

In his muscular arms, Ronin could feel that the mortal was light...almost too light. He was nearly frozen to the bone. Ronin didn't want anything to happen to the man. The man needed to be warmed up. Ronon knew his body temperature at 38.4 C or 114F was much higher than a mortal's body temperature. Even though the mortal was naked, it would be best for the mortal to sleep with him. Ronon took the mortal under his wing. The mortal snuggled under his whiskey-coloured wings and was soon sound asleep and snoring against the strong Ronin. Jeremy's fever broke that night but the mortal slept for three days.

Three days later Jeremy awoke in a bed that was in a strange house. He looked around the little wood cabin. The cabin was decorated with 1970s decore. It looked like it would have been the ideal home for 1972. But, now wasn't the time for Jeremy to complain about someone's dated aesthetics taste.

Right now Jeremy was safe. He was warm. He could smell roasting potatoes and fish and they smelled delicious. His stomach stirred. It had been nearly two weeks since Jeremy had eaten. That had been scant overpriced appetizers at the Michlin Star restaurant where Peter had taken him.

"Sounds like you're up. I'll be right in." came a deep voice from the kitchen.

"Great man," Jeremy called back. He wanted to know where he was and what was going on. He wanted to know about the person who'd saved him. Jeremy owed his life to this person.

Suddenly a great whiskey-coloured winged centaur walked into the room, with a steaming hot frying pan.

"Sweet Jesus, Heavens and saints preserve me!" swore Jeremy, as he silently crossed himself. He did a double take but there was a winged centaur in front of him. 1/2 second later Jeremy realized that it was a naked male well-hung centaur. The winged centaur was on Jeremy's mind, as Jeremy kept mumbling for the saints to preserve him. He didn't know what was happening. The most logical explanation was that he'd died

"I'm glad you're up. You've been sleeping for days and I've been considering taking you to a mortal hospital. But, now you're up so we don't have to worry about that. If you're hungry, I have freshly caught Artic char fish with rosemary and potatoes to eat." Ronin said it casually like he had naked mortal men wake up on his sofa every day.

"I am hungry...beyond hungry...starving," said Jeremy. The fish was so hot that Jeremy burned his tongue when scarfing it down. He tried to look at Ronon without looking. Thoughts were slow to enter Jeremy's mind as he was trying to figure out what the fuck was going on.

Peter had broken up with him and then Jeremy had driven without a destination. He'd run out of gas and GTO had gotten stuck, he'd almost frozen to death. Jeremy arrived at the obvious conclusion that he was dead, but he didn't feel dead.

"You okay? You're so silent, do you want some coffee? I'm having some. I flew into town when it looked like you were getting better. It's instant but it's hot." stated Ronin. He passed Jeremy a large cup of steaming coffee. It was rich with heavy cream and sugar. Jeremy needed to gain weight back.

"Uhmm, okay...sure?" Jeremy was still uncertain but he quickly decided that if he was dead, he had nothing to lose, so Jeremy going to go on the adventure for better or worse. Sitting here naked with this winged centaur was better than being with Peter and being back in Toronto. Anything would be better, than being back with Peter in Toronto. Destiny and the Fates were upon him, Jeremy was going to follow this pass wherever it led.

"So Horse Lord, there's a town nearby?" questioned Jeremy. He'd decided his best move was to be courteous and treat the centaur as if it were a creature from a novel. Jeremy had read many fantasy novels in his life, so he knew how to talk to mystical creatures.

The centaur sat down next to him. It was so massive. Jeremy was definitely intimated. Hell, he'd been intimated by the police horses, this mythical creature was at least twice the size of regular horses and it had wings which were bigger than an eagle.

"Please don't call me Horse Lord. I'm not a Lord at all. I'm a winged centaur but honestly, I'm really quite like you. My name is Ronin." stated Ronin. Jeremy had to move over on the couch. Ronin made himself a plate of char and potatoes. The char and potatoes weren't much for dinner but the mortal was liking it, color was starting to return to his face. Ronin was glad that the mortal was getting better.

"I'm Jeremy. There's a store nearby?" Jeremy was grateful to Ronin for saving his life but wanted to be out of his hair. After all, what was he but a burden?

Ronin threw his head back and laughed."The Walmart is about 50 miles (80 km away). It's still freezing out and the terrain is rough. You could never walk there, in your condition. Even a healthy man couldn't walk there. Don't worry though, I've brought you clothes, coffee, and herbs for the fish. If you're hungry, we have the entire ocean outside the house, for more fish." stated Ronin.

"Here's a fleece blanket, in case you're, cold. I swear I'll get you better and my word is my bond. So don't worry Jeremy. You're welcome to stay here, as long as you need. You're my valued guest." said Roin, as he passed Jeremy a fleece blanket. Jeremy was naked, but he didn't want to tell his new friend that he liked coozing up to the warmth Ronin provided.

"I don't know a lot about northern Manitoba. Do people around here know about centaurs and keep you hidden from the rest of the world?" questioned Jeremy. His hands hand found their way to Ronin's amber feathers. They felt silky but strong. He liked the way they felt.

Jeremy's hands worked their way down to where the horse part of Ronin began. Jeremy's hands explored and he rubbed little circles into Ronin's thick fur coat.

It was hard for Ronin to concentrate under Jeremy's explorative ministrations. But, Ronin let out a little laugh combined with a Winnie.

"Honestly Jeremy, When it comes to residing in this world, there are many mystical creatures but we rarely reveal ourselves to mortals nowadays. Once, long ago, when I was barely a colt, the world was green and good, mystical creatures and humans respected each other. We walked together, we openly loved each other. Now that the mystical world is failing...humans lock up any magical creature, even the tree spirits, dryads and naiads. No matter how sweetly the naiads sing tirra lirra. Mortals slaughter, burn and slash everything in the Greenwood. They try to measure, weigh and analyze everything. Supernatural creatures know some cosmic mysteries aren't meant to be solved. So we rarely interact, with mortals. I'm only here with you because....well if I can help any creature, I try to do what I can. All creatures, bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small. I look after and try to guard them all.

"But, nowadays when it comes to getting caught by mortals, people who patronize or work at Walmart at 2:30 am are generally drunk or high. Who is going to believe they saw a winged centaur? I don't feel guilty about the items I purloin from Walmart, if they paid their workers a living wage, I might but for now Jeremy I hope you have everything you need. If you need anything, make a list. I'll get it in a day or two, how's the coffee?" questioned Ronin.

"It's good...everything here has been good I don't need anything Ronin, you've given me more than enough. I'm just getting sleepy again. Should I crash in a bed in the back or something?" asked Jeremy.