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Seth was never a big talker; he'd always preferred to let Aiden do it for him. But as he pulled into the crowded trailer park later that night, he realized how different he felt. Lighter. He'd missed the cheerful banter of a few good-natured friends. It gave him a fresh sense of hope and purpose that he hadn't felt since he was a teenager. Maybe he'd invite them out to the Double Jay for a bonfire when the weather warmed up. Tessa would be back at school by then, but Aiden would love it, and Seth would do anything to make him happy.
The first step would be getting Aiden out of his rattletrap trailer. The weather report predicted the coldest temperatures of the year, and the hunk of junk Aiden called home was going to be an absolute misery. The electric heater was already blowing full blast when Seth let himself in, but it felt only mildly warmer than the air on the other side of the flimsy walls.
Surely, Aiden was freezing his ass off lying there buck-naked on his bunk. He'd taken Seth's request to heart, sprawling on his stomach amid the rumpled blankets and pillows in a relaxed state of undress.
"Took you long enough," Aiden greeted without looking up from the mobile game on his phone. "Thought you might've gotten lost."
Seth grinned and locked the door behind him before stripping off his hat, coat, and boots. He left his clothes in a trail behind him as he made his way to the bed and crawled up Aiden's legs without a single word.
Aiden canted a look over his shoulder, his eyes bright and playful. "Long day?" he asked.
"Long…but good," Seth murmured, kissing his way up the exposed line of Aiden's spine.
"That's what she said," Aiden said, snorting out a laugh. He tossed his phone onto a pillow and flipped over beneath Seth to wrap his arms around his neck. His eyes were sparkling with humor, and his cheeks were windburned, probably from a long ride with Bandit. It eased the constant worry in Seth's heart to see him so relaxed.
"You look comfortable," he murmured, running his hands up Aiden's sides and warming his chilled fingers on his bare skin.
"It's all a façade," Aiden joked, shivering. "I've been freezing my nuts off for the past hour waiting for you."
"Why didn't you get under the blankets?" Seth asked, exasperated.
"I didn't want to miss the sound of your engine," Aiden admitted, leaning up to kiss Seth beneath the chin. "You asked me to wait for you…so I did."
Seth's heart swelled at the sentiment. He was truly the most thoughtful, caring man Seth had ever known, and he didn't even realize how extraordinary he was. His dedication and loyalty to the people he loved was breathtaking. Seth regretted how many years they'd missed together, but it was probably for the best in the end. Aiden would have eagerly, fearlessly sunk his future for Seth if he knew the truth.
"I'm here now," Seth murmured, brushing the bridge of his nose against Aiden's jaw before sealing their mouths together and kissing him deeply. Their lips clung, moving gently, reconnecting after what felt like a long day apart. It had only been a handful of hours since they'd parted at the diner, but even that seemed like too much these days.
Aiden's fingertips brushed up his sides, mapping each rib, and his thighs spread to accommodate Seth's weight between his legs. His cock was already heavy and swelling, and Seth rocked lazily against his pelvis.
"I missed you today," Aiden whispered, licking at Seth's mouth when they finally broke for air.
Seth grinned, nipping playfully at his shoulder and tasting the salt on his skin. "You'll get your fill of me if you come back to work at the Double Jay."
"I'll never get my fill of you," Aiden promised solemnly.
They lay together in silence, exploring each other with lazy caresses while their breath mingled and filled the space between them. The storm was picking up outside, whistling between the trailers and rattling a loose gutter against the wall above their heads, loud enough to nearly drown out the hum of the heater and the distant barking of a dog.
"I already called and checked on Tessa," Aiden said, carding his hands through Seth's hair and arranging it to his satisfaction over Seth's shoulders. "She's pissed that we aren't there to eat all the chili she made, but she told us not to risk driving up the mountain tonight. It's already iced over, and the temperature is only going to keep dropping."
Seth immediately objected. "The animals?—"
"They're fine," Aiden interrupted, stroking him soothingly. "She said Riley took care of them after he dropped her off. The horses are tucked in the barn with extra hay, and the cattle are sure to use their shelter now that we've secured the frame. You've got nothing to worry about except how to keep me warm."
"You could start by coming with me in the morning," Seth coaxed, gazing deeply into those twinkling blue eyes. "I won't sleep right if you're huddled alone in this trailer. The storm is going to keep coming, and I won't be able to get back down the mountain for a couple days. I know you've got your job, but… I'd like you to come with me."
Aiden made such a long, drawn-out production of thinking it over that Seth pinched him. He laughed, grinning up at Seth, so full of love and happiness that Seth felt like his heart would burst.
Aiden's voice was a warm whisper when he said, "Anything for you, cowboy."
Chapter Twenty-Five
SETH
They'd fallen asleep in Sweetwater, but it felt like they woke in Siberia. The town was covered in a thick, white blanket, and icicles dripped from every surface. A little weather didn't stop rural living, so most shops were open on a slight delay, giving Seth and Aiden a chance to stock up on groceries before braving the treacherous mountain.
Seth's hands were loose and confident on the wheel as they climbed in elevation, but his palms were sweating. The truck's engine labored against the incline, four-wheel drive churning through the ice and snow with an occasional gut-clenching lurch.
A steep, evergreen-lined bank rose up on one side of the road, but the other side was a sheer cliff with a drop so wide and deep that, back when he was a teenager, Aiden used to lean out the window and do a goofy yell just to hear it echo. Every now and then, they'd pass a landmark half-buried in snow: a jagged outcrop of rock, the twisted fence of an old farm, or a signpost barely visible beneath the drifts. The drive wasn't so bad for a properly equipped vehicle. The biggest threat was limbs breaking off the laden trees and striking them. Occasionally, a gust of wind rocked the truck and sent a shower of snow thudding on the roof like hailstones.
