Chapter 3
Chapter
Three
They ended up staying at the bar for another half an hour while they finished up their soup and sandwiches, and Rye ate yet another order of fried cheese.
Ryder knew he was doing that thing where he was feeding a different need in himself, not the one for food, but it didn’t matter. Little Nolan wasn’t ready to hear that right now. Whatever he was on the run from had him scared and exhausted, and Ryder felt pretty damn bad for him.
And if Race was this worried about whatever was chasing Nolan, then Ryder needed to be on his guard and not be caught up in the physical and mental stuff Nolan engendered in him.
So when Nolan started dozing off in the booth, Ryder grabbed his hand gently, making him catch his breath and look up, his eyes wide and startled.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to scare you. You ready to go? We should head back to my place so you can get some sleep.”
Nolan licked his lips, which were probably dry from breathing through them in his pre-sleep mode and nodded. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Are you okay with riding on the back of my bike, or do you need a ride share so you can have a car? I can come back and get my bike tomorrow.”
“I can ride. I’m not frightened. I know about bikes. I used to build Race’s for him.”
Okay, well that was a surprise, a pleasant one to be honest. “Good deal. I’ve got a little cabin in the woods, which is way less terrifying than it sounds.
I share a huge piece of land with my brothers, and we live in this weird triangle so that there’s plenty of room in the middle for us to have our own space. ”
Nolan blinked at him, following him toward the door with his bag. “It has to be pretty big for the three of you to have territory there.”
He nodded. “Yeah, it’s a huge piece of land. It’s got water, it’s got trees and foliage, it’s got everything we need when we want to go out and wander. And it’s very quiet.”
He could almost feel Nolan’s bear reaching for him, needing him.
No, not him specifically, despite his own feelings.
For peace and quiet.
Poor guy. He really seemed to have had it rough, whatever was going on in his life.
Ryder hoped at some point he would be able to get Nolan to talk to him about it, but he wasn’t going to push. Not yet.
Instead, he gave Nolan the helmet off his bike and strapped the bag to the back. Then climbed on.
“Come on, get on, and I’ll take you out to my place. It’ll be great.”
“Okay. Thanks. I appreciate it.” Nolan got on and clung to his waist, cheek against his back, and it was wonderful.
It was just the kind of thing he needed to settle the itch he’d had in his feet, which was wild.
To have Nolan pressed against him, touching him, arms around his waist felt like home, but he wasn’t going to say that either.
Instead, he took off, wanting to get them out to his place as quickly as possible. Being on the highway was always a vulnerable situation, and he didn’t want to think about what might happen if someone caught up with them while they were riding double on a bike.
Nolan had been honest about being comfortable on a bike, that was for sure. The little bear moved easily, shifting, becoming a counterweight when he needed to. It was great to have a riding partner who knew what he was doing. It took a while, but eventually they rolled up at the gate.
He opened it with the remote control he had in his jacket, closing it securely behind them. They passed Warrick’s place first, and then the road to Connal’s place. His home was at the very back.
The cabin was a two-story A-frame—a nice, solid building that suited the mountains, fitting right in, and also had a stunning panoramic view.
It was built into the foot of the mountain, so there was a literal cave of sorts behind the cabin. A big place. He could bear out and hibernate and know he was safe in there all winter if he wanted to.
“It’s beautiful.” Nolan stepped off the bike, staring a bit. “I bet the sunrises are amazing.”
“Stunning. Sometimes I’m still up to see them.” He was a night owl, absolutely. Sunbeams were for sleeping in during the day, dammit.
Nolan chuckled softly. “I hear that. I believe in naps.”
“Then we’ll get along well.” He was hardly lazy, but he was a bear. Hanging out in the hot tub, napping by the fire, wallowing in bed… These were all necessary things.
And man, he could sure wallow in bed with Nolan. He smelled so good. Like sunshine and raspberry jam and musk.
Ryder told himself he was going to have to be good. This was not an appropriate time to get all grr and snuggly. It was enough that Nolan was here and protected and safe—and so close.
Down boy.
“I think you’ll like the guest room. It’s got a great bed and its own en suite with a tub and a walk-in shower.”
“Oh-ho. I do like to have a tub bath.” Nolan’s face lit up as he opened the front door.
Ryder nodded. That was something all bears he knew had in common—soaking in tubs. “I also have a hot tub in the back, and I’m sure we can get you a pair of trunks if you want to come soak at any point.”
“Oh, that sounds nice. Warm, bubbly water.” Nolan glanced around at the huge great room, smiling. “Wow. You have a lovely home.”
“Thank you.” He grinned. His place was solid, rustic, woodsy, and cozy. “Welcome. You’re up the stairs to the left, the kitchen is open to you anytime, and the hot tub is out the back door.”
“The hot tub is tempting.”
It totally was. “All of us have one. Mine is biggest, but it’s just a hot tub.
Then my oldest brother has one of those infinity pools.
It can be hot, but it can also be a pool.
He’s way more exercise-forward, and then the other brother has more of a hippie pool situation—all natural hot springs.
He’s very down-to-earth, so it all works out. ”
“That must be so nice—to have a group with enough room and enough space.” Nolan’s smile was…shaky. “You get along?”
“Like a house afire. We’re super-close. But also, we’re not all up in each other’s business either. We’re just brothers in the best way.”
“That’s really cool.” Nolan shrugged. “Race and I always got along great, but we’ve been apart for a long time. He left long before I was old enough to get away from my folks, and then it was too late. But now, maybe we’ll get to know each other again.”
Ryder heard the wistful sadness in Nolan’s voice, and he gave up on trying to keep his distance from Nolan in order to step up close to wrap his arms around the sweet guy in a bear hug.
Nolan gave a little sigh and leaned against him immediately, head pretty much just reaching his collarbone, but that was okay.
It was a great match-up actually. He liked a smaller omega so he felt big and protective.
Maybe that made him kind of a jerk, but it was the truth, and he never abused the privilege.
“It’s gonna be okay,” he said, and he knew that was a platitude, but it was all he could come up with at the moment.
“Of course it is. There’s a hot tub.” Nolan’s teasing voice was exactly what the situation called for right at that moment. It lightened up the mood, and it made him feel like maybe he was doing the right thing keeping Nolan with him here.
“Why don’t you go on up, sweet, and get settled, rest. There’s a nice bathroom, a door that locks, and an amazing bed.” Ryder wanted him to be comfortable, and it seemed skanky to push the hot tub right away.
Nolan nodded, backing away from him a bit. “I think that that’s a good idea. Tomorrow should be a new day, right?”
“Absolutely.” Ryder offered Nolan a smile that he hoped wasn’t feral. “If you need anything in the kitchen, it’s yours. There’s milk, beer, soda, tea, coffee, and cocoa.”
Nolan’s belly rumbled, despite all the food they’d shared.
Oh, someone liked that.
Ryder grinned. “I tell you what, I’ll make us both some cocoa, and I’ll leave yours outside your room. There’s a little table outside the guest room door. I’ll leave it there and knock so that you know that it’s ready.”
Look at him not being pushy.
He was so proud because honestly he just wanted to grab the little bear up, take him upstairs to the master bedroom, and snuggle with him under ten thousand blankets.
Maybe snuggle with intent.
“Um, can I leave the door unlocked. Maybe open? That way I can know I can get out.”
Rage burned in his belly for a moment. Rye fought it down and tried not to let it show on his face or in his voice.
“Of course you can, sweet. And I’ll make sure no one comes into your room.
The only people who might show up here are my brothers.
” And he would text them and explain they needed to stay away for Nolan’s peace of mind.
“Okay, cool.” Nolan seemed to relax some. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Let’s get you settled.” He wouldn’t touch Nolan. Not tonight, at any rate.
But it was going to be so damn hard to leave the guy unsnuggled.