Jared got up from his seat and crossed to the door. “Thanks, I’ll go find him.” He turned back to Nate before he left the room, eyebrows raised. “See you Wednesday?”
Nate’s answering was smile was so wide his face ached. “Wednesday,” he replied.
Chapter Fifteen
Jared was halfway up the steps of the porch, large cardboard box in hand, when Nate’s car pulled into the drive, next to the removal van.
He was so nervous, he nearly dropped the box.
“Hey, watch it!” Tristan barreled past him and down the stairs. “Mom’s crystal is in that box.”
Jared grunted and headed for the living room.
He had no idea what they were going to do with four large boxes full of crystal ornaments but he hadn’t had the heart to throw them out when he’d packed up the contents of their house in Lubbock. He set the box down carefully and took a look at the others, piled high around the room. The removal men had turned up an hour earlier than expected and they were making good progress but he had no clue where everything was going to go.
“Jared, look who’s here.” Tristan entered the room with Nate following in his wake, each of them lugging a large, white box.
“Uh, where does this go?” Nate asked, looking around at the already overcrowded room.
“Just dump it anywhere,” Tristan replied.
Nate found a space near the window, put down the box then turned to Jared, his mouth curving into a tentative smile.
“Hi.”
Jared tried to ignore the goosebumps that covered his arms and the shiver that ran down his spine. He met Nate’s gaze and returned the smile, feeling absurdly shy all of a sudden.
“Hey.”
“How are you?” Nate enquired.
“I’m okay. Your face looks good.”
When Nate raised a curious brow, Jared felt the onset of a blush creeping up his face and spreading across his cheeks.
“Uh, I mean the scar, it’s…um, healed.”
“Oh, right.” Nate waved a hand in the general direction. “Yeah, I shifted.”
Tristan’s head swiveled back and forth between them as he watched the exchange with piqued interest.
“Wow. You two are like a couple of teenage girls.”
Jared was still glaring at his brother when there was an almighty crash in the hall.
“I’m going to kill them!” Tristan growled, rushing from the room.
“Guess I’d better see what they broke,” Jared said.
Nate grinned. “If it was anything expensive you should take it out of their fee.”
Jared chuckled. “I will, believe me. Thanks for helping out today.”
Nate shrugged and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “It’s no trouble. Actually, it’s nice to see the old place again.”
“You sure you’re good with this?”
“Yeah, more than. Pete not here yet?”
Jared shook his head. “Couldn’t make it. He said Kelan asked him to do something last minute and he couldn’t let him down.”
“Oh?” Nate raised an eyebrow. “That’s a shame.”
“Yeah.”
Jared nodded his agreement, but he wasn’t sorry Pete was busy—he was glad because it meant he got to spend more time with Nate. Whether that was a good thing or not, he hadn’t decided. Judging by the look on Nate’s face, he definitely wasn’t disappointed, despite his words to the contrary.
As it turned out, the crash had been a box containing framed family photographs. The glass had broken in a few but the frames had made it unscathed. Three hours and a broken vase later, Jared watched the van pull out of the drive.
With a weary sigh, he walked back into the living room and sat down heavily on the modular sofa, his muscles tired and sore. Tristan was perched in the middle and Nate sat the other end, his long, muscular-looking legs stretched out in front of him.
“Damn. Remind me not to move for at least another fifty years.” Jared rolled his head from side to side, cricking his neck.
“Why would you want to?” Tristan asked. “You’ve got everything you could want right here. Hasn’t he, Nate?”
Jared frowned and stared at his brother.
Just what was Tristan up to exactly? He’d been making strange comments for the past week but their frequency had increased since Nate had shown up earlier.
Nate scratched the top of his head. “Uh, yeah kid, I suppose he has.”
“You mind if we leave the unpacking until tomorrow?” Tristan asked. “I’ve got plans tonight.”
Jared narrowed his eyes. “What sort of plans? You’re not going to Jessie’s again, are you?”
“Have I been to Jessie’s in the last few days?”
Now that Jared came to think about it, Tristan hadn’t been back to the bar since the day before Luke and Mark’s party.
“I guess not, so where are you going?”
“I’m meeting Aaron and Cary at the Crazy Horse. They said we can take the horses out to the river.”
“Really?”
Tristan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, really. You mind?”
“No. Of course not. Uh…have fun.”
Tristan grinned and got up from the sofa. “Thanks. I’m gonna go get ready.”
When Tristan left the room Jared turned to Nate, eyebrows raised.
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
“What is it?”
“It’s just good to see him get out and make friends, I guess. Tristan hasn’t been interested in much of anything at all since our Pop died…well, other than getting trashed.”
“Aaron and Cary are good kids, looks like they made an impression on him.”
“Yeah, guess they did. I’m glad he’s cut down on the drinking at least. I was starting to worry about him. Jesus, speaking of alcohol, I could use a cold beer myself right about now.”
Nate’s eyes widened. “Crap, I forgot! Wait right here.”
Jared looked on in confusion as Nate got up from the sofa and rushed out of the room, heading for the front door. A couple of minutes later he returned carrying a large cool box.
“I left this in the trunk.” Nate opened the lid of the box and rooted around inside. “Nearly forgot about it until you mentioned beer.”
Pulling out a couple of cans, Nate handed one to Jared.
“I figured you wouldn’t have time to get anything in, with the move and all, so I brought supplies.”
Jared scooted to the edge of the sofa and peered into the box. “Wow, thanks, Nate. This is great.”
Nate shrugged. “It’s not much, just some coffee, sugar, sandwich fixings. Just to tide you over until you can get to the grocery store. And beer, of course—the most important item after a hard day’s work.”
Jared found himself grinning broadly, touched by Nate’s gesture. “Thank you, really, I appreciate this.”
Nate took a seat on the sofa, only this time he sat in the middle, closer to Jared, and stretched his legs out in front of him. Jared’s gaze was immediately drawn to those strong, powerful legs. Muscular thighs led up to a lean torso, a broad chest, long neck and…
Jared licked his lips.
When he made it to Nate’s face he realized the cowboy had been watching him salivate over his body, and he tore his gaze away, embarrassed.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
Nate chuckled and the sound was deep, husky.
Jared’s breath came faster.
“Can’t say as I haven’t been checking you out all day so I guess we’re even.”
When they next locked gazes, Nate’s eyes were smiling, practically teasing, and it made Jared chuckle, too.
“What are we doing here, Nate?”
Nate sighed. “I wish I knew. I don’t have any answers, don’t even know what the questions are anymore. All I know is, I like being around you. Feels…right.”
“Yeah, same here.”
“I’m sorry for what I did the other day…you know, when I kissed you.”
He swallowed, hard. “You’re…sorry?”
Nate nodded. “Yeah. I mean, I’m not sorry we kissed, but it should never have happened like that, not in front of a room full of people. It should have been in private when we were alone together…like now.”
“Oh…” Jared drew a breath and stared at Nate.
The tension in the room was palpable.
Every nerve ending in Jared’s body was on high alert, poised, waiting for something it seemed they both wanted. Nate snaked his tongue out and wet his lips. The action drew Jared’s attention there and he couldn’t look away.
Nate’s eyes darkened as he leaned in, his gaze fixed on Jared’s mouth. Jared’s heart rate must have been off the charts.
They were inches apart and…
“Hey, I’m heading out now. Can I have the keys to the truck?”
Jared jumped at the sound of his brother’s voice. Tristan strode into the room, seemingly unaware of their silent exchange or of the tension in the room.
“Uh, sure.”
He fished the keys out of his pocket and threw them to his brother.
“What time are you back?”
“Don’t know, why? Am I on a curfew?”
Jared frowned. “It was only a question, Tristan.”
Tristan looked at the beers in their hands and grinned, sheepishly.
“You sleeping over, Nate?”
Nate’s eyes practically bugged out of his head. “What?” he squeaked.
“You know you shouldn’t drink and drive, right?”
“Oh, uh, ‘m just having the one,” Nate mumbled.
“Right, well, see you both later. Thanks for the help, Nate.”
Nate nodded. “It was no trouble. See you, kid.”
Jared jumped up from the sofa and followed his brother to the front door.
“Don’t forget your promise, okay?”
Tristan stopped halfway down the porch steps then turned, his brow creased. “What promise?”
“That you’re gonna go by Joe’s place as soon as we’re settled to ask about a job.”
“Oh, that promise. Right. Haven’t forgot. Top of my to-do list. See you!”
“Yeah, bye.”
Jared closed the front door and nearly jumped out of his skin when he turned to find Nate standing behind him.
“Jeez, you scared the hell outta me.”
“Sorry. I guess I should get going. I’ve got an early start tomorrow.”
“Oh, right. Of course.” Jared tried to hide his disappointment but it was no easy task. “Well, thanks for helping us out today, I’m grateful. Uh, we both are.”
Nate nodded. “No problem.”
The seconds ticked by as they stood in the hallway, neither man sure of what to say or do next. Tristan hadn’t been far off the mark. Jared did feel like a damn teenage girl. Did he kiss Nate on the cheek as they said goodbye? Would they arrange to meet again? Did Nate even want that?
Why did this have to be so Goddamn difficult?
They were mates for Christ’s sake—talking, being together, should come as easily as breathing. Then Jared realized something. Actually, all that stuff did come easy. Being with Nate was easy…it was being apart that was hard. With that thought in mind, Jared lifted his hands, threaded them through Nate’s hair and pressed their lips together.
Jared wasn’t sure who groaned the loudest when their lips made contact but he didn’t care. Nothing mattered but the kiss, the combined beating of their hearts and the electric current that arced between them, joining them as if they were one life force in two bodies.
When Nate deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into Jared’s mouth, all rational thought fled.
It was evident that they both wanted this. Hell, they needed it.
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes could have been days, so lost was Jared in the kiss that was setting his body alight and making his heart dance inside his chest.
A low, needy growl ripped from Nate’s throat and he lifted Jared, twisted him and pressed him up against the wall before taking his mouth again with a fierce possessiveness Jared felt all the way down to his toes.
Jared could barely breathe but he was terrified to pull back, terrified that it would all end and he wouldn’t have this moment again.
What if this was it?
What if this was all Nate was prepared to give?
Each thought made Jared’s head spin and his heart ache so he put everything into the kiss and more. It was only when he tasted blood that he realized his incisors had lengthened and he’d bitten into Nate’s lip, but he still didn’t stop. He couldn’t.
Their hard cocks ground together roughly.
Jared was so turned on he was afraid he might come in his damn pants. Nate reached a hand down and palmed him through his jeans and Jared threw his head back and yelled out Nate’s name. He was so close to the brink, but he wanted more, he needed…
“Hey Jared, I forgot my wal—”
Jared gasped.
They pulled back from the kiss and turned to stare at the door. Tristan stood there, eyebrows raised and a shit-eating grin spread across his face.
“Well, it’s about damn time.”
Tristan rushed forward and threw his arms around Nate’s torso, hugging him close.
Nate met Jared’s eyes over the top of Tristan’s head and looked as shocked and confused as he felt.
What the hell?
“Watch your language, kid,” Nate said automatically.
“Right, sorry.”
When Tristan pulled back he didn’t look sorry at all.
He was still grinning from ear to ear. “Welcome to the family, Nate.”
Jared couldn’t process what was going on, and he couldn’t get his damn teeth to shift back either. It was small consolation, but Nate was in the same predicament. His eyes and teeth had shifted, too.
“You knew?” Jared asked.
“Well duh.” Tristan rolled his eyes. “I was standing next to Kelan when you guys found out.”
Jared closed his eyes and scrubbed a hand down his face, trying to remember the events at Jessie’s. It had been less than two weeks ago, but it might just as well have been a couple of years.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Tristan’s grin got wider. “I could ask you the same damn question. Uh, sorry,” he said, wincing at Nate. “I know how stubborn you can be and I figured Nate was just as bad, but I knew you guys would work it out eventually.
“I mean, you’ve got to, right? You’re mates.”
Right, mates.
Why couldn’t everything be as simple as it seemed to a twenty-one-year-old without cares or responsibilities?
“So, now that you’ve finally come to your senses,” Tristan plowed on, “I guess we’ll be seeing more of you, eh Nate?”
“Uh…”
“Why don’t you come to dinner on Saturday?”
Nate closed his eyes and shook his head.
He took a couple of deep breaths then when he opened his eyes again, they had shifted back to their human form and his teeth had shrunken into his gums.
“Thanks for the invite, Tristan, but I’m busy Saturday, and I don’t think I’ll be up to doing anything in the evening.”
“Oh, you’re busy, huh.” Tristan looked disappointed.
Nate nodded. “I’m going to visit my dad. He’s in a nursing home a couple of hours drive from here.”
“He is?” Jared’s heart ached when he took in the sad look on Nate’s face.
“Yeah.” Nate sighed, but held Jared’s gaze, his face filling with something bordering on hope.
“Would you like to come with me?”
Chapter Sixteen
&
nbsp; Nate got out of his truck then crossed the yard to the steps that led up to his old home. He pulled off his cowboy hat as he climbed, patting down the top of his head, trying to tame his unruly locks.
His heart beat furiously in his chest.
He felt like a damn high school student about to collect their date for the prom. Well, Nate supposed this was what it felt like—he’d given his own prom a wide berth. He’d known he was gay by then, didn’t even doubt it, so there was no way he was going to spend his evening slow dancing with girls.
He looked down at the clothes he’d chosen and chewed on his bottom lip, tucking the corner of his pale blue shirt into his jeans.
Had he put on the right outfit?
Shaking his head at his asinine behavior, he lifted his hand to knock on the front door.
It opened before he got the chance.
“Hi, Nate!” Tristan whizzed past him and down the steps. “Bye Nate!”
Nate’s mouth curved up into an amused smirk. “Where you off to in such a hurry?”
“I’m meeting Aaron and Cary,” Tristan threw over his shoulder. “See you!”
Tristan climbed into Jared’s SUV and screeched out of the yard without another word, tires kicking up dust in his wake. Nate chuckled then turned to walk into the house but Jared was blocking his path. Just the sight of the deputy made Nate’s breath come faster.
He smiled.
“Hey, you ready?”
Jared nodded and stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind him. “Yeah, but um, are you sure about this? Bringing me along, I mean.”
Nate frowned. “If you don’t want to come, you—”
“No! I want to! I mean, are you sure you want me to meet your dad? Will he be okay with that?”
Nate lowered his gaze and twirled the Stetson in his hands. “I don’t think it will be a problem. My dad has dementia, he barely recognizes me when I visit. He has good days and bad but most often he’s not…lucid.”
Jared laid a comforting hand on Nate’s arm. “It must be hard to see him like that.”
Nate nodded. “Yeah. It gets harder every damn time.”
They made it out of Wolf Creek and onto the freeway.
Nate’s nerves had calmed considerably but his arousal had kicked up ten notches. Jared’s scent filled the space in his truck, making him practically light-headed. He had to use all of his concentration to stop his eyes and teeth from shifting. That was the last thing he needed to happen when he was driving. His cock was like a damn lead pipe in his jeans. He was desperate to reach down and adjust himself, but he was too embarrassed to do it.
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