Storm Season (24 page)

At least, he hoped they could.

I
T
TURNED
out he didn’t need to worry.

The storm came on quickly when it started, but they were already walking back from dinner at a local diner in Needa’s Crossing when the first raindrops hit the ground. The first one Jasper saw splashed on the sidewalk in front of him, the second hit the bridge of his nose. He looked up to see the clouds that had been absent all day gathering in force, the sky darkening with alarming speed, and grabbed Tobias’s hand without thinking about it. “Come on!”

Tobias followed, his feet pounding against the wet pavement in time with Jasper’s, his eyes wide as he stared at the sky, letting Jasper do all the navigating.
It was clear ten minutes ago!

“I know! That’s how. These storms. Happen.” He had to gasp out every word, but he didn’t dare slow or stop to catch his breath. These storms that swung inland from the east coast before heading back out to sea tended to come on more suddenly and violently than the ones that crossed the continent west to east, and this one was clearly going to be typical. From the suddenness of the rain and the way everyone else who had been out was suddenly dashing for cover, Jasper doubted they had long before the full force of the storm hit. “Come on! We need to. Hurry!”

Rain pelted them harder as they ran, the tiny drops that first fell quickly growing in size and falling faster. By the time they reached the end of the block and rounded the corner, they were soaked, and the rain was hitting hard enough to hurt.

Tobias put forth a burst of speed as they approached the inn, dragging Jasper along with him. They stumbled under the inn’s overhanging roof together and pressed close to the wall to take advantage of the small amount of shelter it offered. The wind still whipped the rain under the overhang, pelting them with tiny droplets, but the heavier raindrops fell mostly straight, only bouncing to hit their feet rather than lashing at them so it was a slight improvement.

“Sleet,” Jasper gasped, tripping over a rock and pulling Tobias back a little. “Slow down a little. We’re safe.”

Almost,
Tobias agreed, but he eased the pace a little as he pulled Jasper to the main door of the inn, yanked it open, and dragged him inside.
Now we are.

This inn didn’t have outside access to the rooms, a fact for which Jasper was grateful as they walked through the lobby and down the hall toward their room. It was easier to dig in his pocket for the room key without the rain and wind and the threat of lightning or hail, and the thick walls protecting them from the weather made it easier to breathe even with Tobias maintaining his fast pace. He moved past the other rooms so quickly that Jasper couldn’t read the numbers on the doors, and only stopped when they reached the one they’d been assigned.

Come on,
Tobias said, bouncing on his toes as Jasper struggled to slide the key in the lock. It was old and a little rusty, and though both the key and the lock had clearly survived years of use, it was a struggle to get the key in and a fight to make the lock turn.

“Calm down,” Jasper admonished softly, grinning as they key finally slid into the hole. “We’re just as safe here as we will be in the room.”

I know
. Tobias pressed close, resting his chin on Jasper’s shoulder and watching as Jasper fiddled with the door.
Doesn’t mean I want to stay in the hall all night.

There was something in Tobias’s tone that shot through Jasper, making his whole body sit up and take notice. The way that Tobias was pressed against his back was part of it too, as were the emotions Jasper could clearly feel projected along with Tobias’s words, and the realization of what he wanted made Jasper’s hand slip on the key.

Tobias’s hand covered his, guiding it back.
Come on. We need to—

Bang! Bam bam! Bang!

Jasper’s hand slipped again as he jerked away from the door. He pushed Tobias out of the way and turned to look down the hall. There was no one there, and for a brief moment, Jasper was afraid that they hadn’t gotten enough of a lead on the men pursuing them. They’d been in town for at least an hour before the storm started, and it wasn’t as though there had been anywhere else to go once they’d gotten on the main road out of Haversdon. Their only hope was to leave Needa’s Crossing heading straight east or south and turn later instead of taking the southeast road that lead directly to Shaleton. It would take longer and both alternate routes held their own dangers, but either should keep them from being followed.

If they could remain undetected in Needa’s Crossing, that was.

The chances of the men making it in before the storm and picking the same inn were slim, particularly since Needa’s Crossing was big enough to provide a choice, but that knowledge didn’t stop Jasper’s heart from clenching as he stared down the hall. Tobias stayed pressed close behind him, the contact meaning something completely different than it had a moment earlier, and peered over Jasper’s shoulder.

What was that?
Tobias asked, his tone soft as though there was a chance someone could overhear him.

“I don’t know,” Jasper started, but he trailed off in the middle of the last word as the inn’s manager appeared at the end of the hall, herding a small boy holding a large ball in front of him. “Sorry!” he called, flashing an apologetic smile as he laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “The ball got away from my son, here. We didn’t mean to startle you.” He looked down at the child. “Did we?”

“No.” The boy scuffed his toe on the floor and sighed. “Sorry.” He didn’t look or sound sorry, just annoyed at being caught and made to apologize, but Jasper nodded anyway.

“It’s all right. No harm done.”

The manager sighed, looking relieved. “Thanks.” He patted the boy’s shoulder. “Come on. It’s time for you to head to bed.”

The moment they were out of sight, Jasper let out a deep breath, slumping against the door as tension drained from his body. “Hailstones. That was—”

A ball.
Tobias’s eyes sparkled with mirth and his lips twitched as he looked at Jasper.
We were afraid of a ball.

“It could have been―” Jasper started, but he stopped himself, and shook his head. There really was no excuse that made the whole situation anything less than completely ridiculous and bringing up the men chasing them would just ruin both of their good moods. “Never mind.”

Tobias reached around Jasper to fiddle with the key and titled his head to the right as he asked the question Jasper didn’t want to answer.
Could have been what?

“The―”

The lock clicked and the door swung open, sending Jasper tumbling. His head knocked against the door as he went down, which threw off his attempt to catch himself, and he landed in a heap on the floor, the air knocked from his lungs and his head feeling like it was spinning. “Sleet!” He tried to push himself up, but before he managed to sit, Tobias was there, looking down at him.

Are you all right?

“I’m fine. Just a little winded.” Jasper caught Tobias’s hand in his, stopping it from fluttering around, and pressed it against his chest. “See?”

Tobias tilted his head to the side and looked Jasper up and down.
Yeah,
he said after a minute, a smile blossoming on his face,
I do.
He leaned down then, moving so quickly that Jasper couldn’t process it, and pinned him to the floor. His lips brushed against Jasper’s, tentatively at first, but with increasing enthusiasm as Jasper first gasped at the unexpected contact and then moaned at its loss.

“Clear skies,” he whispered, wrapping one hand around the back of Tobias’s neck and holding him down. He pushed his tongue forward, sliding it over the crease of Tobias’s lips until they parted, letting him inside where he teased and stroked, then curled his tongue around Tobias’s before pulling back and parting his lips in a clear invitation to follow. Tobias took it, mimicking what Jasper had just done as he slid his hands over Jasper’s body.

Nimble fingers brushed lightly against Jasper’s side, reminding him of Tobias’s earlier desire, and he moaned into the kiss, thrusting his hips up as Tobias’s hand crept lower. It brushed over Jasper’s groin, pressing just enough to taunt him before moving back up, sliding under his shirt and bushing lightly against his stomach. Jasper made a soft sound of protest, shifting to draw attention to the area he wanted Tobias to touch, but Tobias just swallowed the noise with a kiss and continued to slide his hand upward.

It felt good, despite the hard floor beneath him, and Jasper moaned again as Tobias’s fingers brushed over his nipple. He arched his back, instinctively looking for more contact, and slid his hand down to tug at the hem of Tobias’s shirt. “Off,” he whispered, trying to pull it up over Tobias’s head without breaking the kiss for longer than it took to ask.

Trying,
Tobias replied, breaking the kiss. He ducked his head as he sat up to let Jasper pull the shirt off over his head.
Now you,
he said as he tossed the shirt toward the bags piled against the wall. Jasper took advantage of the opportunity and sat up and pulled off his own shirt before climbing to his feet and drawing Tobias up with him.

“Come on,” he said, pushing the door shut and kicking both their shirts toward the bags before pulling Tobias in so they were standing chest to chest. “The bed’s more comfortable.”

Tobias made a soft noise of agreement as he wrapped his arms around Jasper’s neck and went in for another kiss. This one was soft and tender, full of promise, and Jasper smiled as he kissed Tobias and slowly turned so Tobias’s back was to the bed.

It was only a few steps to the bed that dominated the small room, and Jasper guided Tobias across the space without ever breaking their embrace.
Seducing me?
Tobias asked as Jasper eased him down onto the bed, amusement coloring his words.

Jasper had to grin as he climbed onto the bed and straddled Tobias’s hips. “Maybe. But you started it.”

M
E
?
T
OBIAS
blinked up at Jasper, his innocent expression ruined by the smirk on his lips and the amusement coloring his tone.

“Yes, you.” Jasper grabbed Tobias’s wrists, pinning them to the bed above his head, and leaned in so their lips were almost touching. “Don’t give me that innocent look.”

Tobias’s smirk flashed into a wide grin as he tipped his chin up and pressed his lips against Jasper’s.
Okay,
he said as he slipped his tongue into Jasper’s mouth.
I won’t.

His tone was still mischievous and teasing, but Jasper couldn’t reply without breaking the kiss, so he settled for growling low in his throat and pushing their tongues into Tobias’s mouth. For a moment, it became a battle of wills, their tongues curling around each other as they moved back and forth, but then Tobias acquiesced, parting his lips further as Jasper’s tongue slipped between them.

Jasper relished the victory, grinding his hips against Tobias’s as he curled their tongues together and moaning into the kiss as his cock hardened further. Tobias pushed his hips up, increasing the friction, slid his hands down Jasper’s back, and moaned as well.

Sleet, Jasper,
he said, never breaking the kiss.

Their tongues and lips moved together with ease that felt fantastic. He could feel the echo of Tobias’s feelings as well as his own, the sensations muted, but still present and growing stronger with each stroke of their hands and roll of their hips. “Sunny day,” he whispered, pulling back from the kiss to take a breath. If this was what he was feeling now—more than he’d felt that first night—he could only imagine what it was going to be like when this went further.

The mere thought was almost enough to get Jasper to stop, but then Tobias lifted his chin, tangled his fingers in Jasper’s hair, and pulled him back into the kiss. He slid his tongue into Jasper’s mouth, twisted it, and thrust his hips up, and Jasper forgot everything except the sensation of Tobias moving beneath him.

Sliding one hand down and pushing it between their bodies, Jasper whispered, “More.” Tobias’s pants were buttoned securely, as were his, and neither wanted to come off easily, but after a few minutes of acrobatics that ended in his sitting up and Tobias laughing, Jasper managed to get both pairs unbuttoned. He pulled his own off quickly and kicked them to the floor at the bottom of the bed before tugging at Tobias’s and tossing them aside as well.

“Perfect,” he said when Tobias was lying naked in front of him, looking more beautiful that Jasper had imagined. He was still gaunt from the months of traveling and foraging he’d done before finding Jasper, but their time together had brought some tone to his muscles, and Jasper let his gaze roam over his body appreciatively.

Tobias bumped his thigh against Jasper’s.
Look later. Sex now.

He said it in such a serious tone that Jasper couldn’t help but laugh. He tried to hold in the chuckle and almost managed, but then he met Tobias’s eyes, saw the almost petulant expression on his face, and couldn’t keep it in. “Demanding,” he managed, still laughing as he crawled up Tobias’s body to kiss him again.