His pack weighed a ton by the time they stepped into the clearing at the base of the trail. Lights flashed ahead of them and people called out. Skip kept going, forcing his legs to move forward one step at a time. He’d lost feeling in his shoulders about an hour back. He kept up the chatter until his throat was raw. But he got them down the mountain in one piece, that’s all that mattered.

“They’re here,” he heard someone shout from the dark. Lights flooded the clearing, a couple of SUVs with Sheriff’s Department markings on them waited and Skip had never been so happy to see the fuzz in his life.

“We thought we were going to have to send out search and rescue,” someone else said. The voice sounded familiar. Probably someone from the café who’d been around long enough to be familiar with their group.

“Skip got us down,” Sam called out, running over to the hug the woman who was waiting with the deputies. “Where the hell did this storm come from?”

Skip tuned out the women chattering as Chad came to stand next to him. They did a head count. Everyone was there, though Stewart looked like he could use some medical attention. He glanced at the Marine standing sentry beside him. “You did good; no one panicked. That’s good. Thanks for that.”

“Not a problem.” Chad stared straight ahead, watching the deputies approach them. “Officers.”

The one in charge looked Chad up and down, “Sergeant,” he greeted the man holding out his hand. “Want to give us a Sitrep?”

Chad shook the man’s hand and went back to his sentry position. “Sir, Skip is the reason we’re back safe and sound. He’ll tell you everything you need to know.” He glanced over at Skip with an apologetic shrug. “If you’ll excuse me, Sir.”

“Yeah, sure, Kid. Knock yourself out.” Skip cocked his head at the man, trying to figure him out. “Go get some coffee or cocoa and get warm.”

Chad nodded and damned near clicked his heels together before heading off across the clearing to the back of one of the SUVs that had warm blankets and drinks in case they were found.

Skip held out his hand for the deputy. “Sorry to drag you out in this weather. But thank you for being here. Another hour and we might not have made it back.”

The deputy nodded and looked over their group. “Everybody accounted for?”

“Yes, Sir. I have one gentleman who is having trouble breathing. I’m hoping he’ll be okay now that we’re down, but we’re keeping an eye on him. There are several trees down on the blue trail. A few up at the lake. There were no other campers up there when we left this morning. We didn’t see anyone coming in from the orange trail. As far as I know, we’re the only ones foolish enough to be out in this mess.”

He must have said all the right words. The deputy closed his notebook and offered his hand again. “That’s what we’re here for. Just happy we weren’t needed in this case. We’ll let you go get warm. Take it easy.”

“Only way to roll,” Skip said, shaking the man’s hand again. They left as the campers loaded into the two SUVs, still there for the short ride down to the street, the motel and café.

Skip joined them, and someone shoved a cup of something hot in his hands. He waved on the full SUVs preferring to take the last half mile on foot. If he sat down now, he feared he’d never get back up again.

“Figured you stay behind.” Sam fell into step with him. She’d given up her pack to huddle in a blanket.

“You didn’t have to stay with me.” He appreciated the company though.

“I wanted to make sure you made it back. You took care of us, just want to return the favor.” They walked through the snow and the dark over the gravel drive down to the street, Skip moving slower with each step. “Chad is very impressive. The two of you make a great team.”

“He’s a good kid,” Skip said without thinking. Chad had been the force that kept him going the last mile or so. Knowing he had Skip’s back when they’d come to the last bunch of downed trees had been what got him down the mountain without killing at least one of his friends.

“He’s a man. A good man. You said so many times. Better than some of us.” She stopped walking and Skip nearly whimpered at the thought of stopping when he was so close to being able to collapse in private.

“Listen, Sam, can we just put the pettiness to rest. We’re down. Blake did a good job right up until that fallen tree threw him off. It threw me off too. We’re alive. We’re all mostly intact. It’s over. I want to go stand under a hot shower and get something hot in my belly. That’s all I want right now.”

She took his hand in hers and squeezed. They walked along in silence. Skip’s thighs screaming with each step he made. “We’re almost there,” she spoke softly, slowing her own steps to meet his. “They should have your room key waiting. I’ll make sure you are sent food.”

He didn’t need to tell her he was hurting. She knew. Maybe she was the only one who did know… or care. The others never saw past their own noses. “Something like some chili or a stew that doesn’t have to be chewed, and laced with something to make me forget I exist for a few hours. That would be awesome.”

“Coffee and a cot are all I need,” she agreed with a laugh, just as the parking lot came into view. The cottages weren’t far away. He could see the first one now. “Just a little farther,” she coaxed him along without much chatter. “I think this is probably the last time I’m making this trip. I’m too old for running through the mountains and getting high. It’s time to grow up.”

He knew it was coming. With Colt’s death and this storm, he couldn’t help but agree. “I’d hoped the younger generation would come and take over our tradition,” he confessed as he stepped onto the asphalt.

“Can’t get my kids out from in front of a smartphone or Xbox system. They’re not like we were.”

“Not all of them are like that,” he said thinking of Brian. He’d never seen Brian crashed on a couch playing a video game. He wasn’t even the oldest of their kids, but far from the youngest. “Look at Chad.”

“Chad is something to look at, I will certainly give you that.” She grinned at him and winked when the object of her ogling came jogging up to them with his pack still strapped to his back. “He’s like the Energizer Bunny… takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”

“That’s a Timex you’re thinking about.” Skip couldn’t let the word licking mean anything when it came to the Marine… he’d licked just this morning.

“Whatever. He’s still going. Like this was nothing. They need to bottle that and sell it. I’d single-handedly keep the government solvent for years to come, especially if it smells like Marine sweat.” Sam practically purred as Chad ran up to them. “And with that thought, I am leaving you in good hands for the night.” She practically shoved Skip at Chad who stepped back with a look of horror in his eyes. “Take this geezer off my hands like a good boy,” she quipped giving him a wink. “He’s carried all he can today.”

Chad handed him a hot drink, but didn’t take his hand. He looked alarmed, to say the least.  “This place is full. There’s only one room. I’ll understand if this is a problem.” He held out the key for Skip.

“We’re all doubling up. Or quadrupling up. Lots of people got caught in this storm. The roads are a mess right now,” Sam explained, taking a step back in case Skip exploded.

He’d been looking forward to a night away from his friends. The rooms here were tiny, and Colt usually got his own for this night on their journey. Which was sometimes their final stop when they’d gotten sick of the smell of each other. Most of the rooms only had one bed and enough room to dump one backpack without breaking a neck in the middle of the night. He looked at the carefully blank expression on the Marine’s face and sighed. He’d had the man’s dick in his mouth twelve hours ago. He could sleep with him for one more night.

And that was the problem right there.

He had no problem sleeping with him. Except for the fact that he was twenty-four years older than the man and had known him since he was in diapers.

“I’m so tired right now, I’m about to go to sleep standing here.” He didn’t take the key. He couldn’t move. “Just… which room is it?”

“It’s this way,” Chad said and set off at a trot. Sam laughed and covered her mouth when Skip shot her a filthy go-to-hell look. Chad stopped and looked back, surprise in his eyes. “Sorry, Si—”

“I swear to god if you call me, Sir, one more time I will end you, Marine,” Skip grumbled and forced his feet to move forward. One step, two step, one step, two step. Twenty steps later Chad had the door to one of the smaller cottages open, and the lights blazed on. He held the door for Skip to drag himself through and that’s as far as Skip got.

He waited for Chad to close and lock the door behind them to release the groan he’d been holding for nearly an hour. “Oh god, we’re alive. We’re alive. Tell me I’m not hallucinating and we’re all dying in a blizzard on a mountain, because I legit just had a nightmare that we were dying in a blizzard on a mountain and had to eat Blake to survive.”

He heard Chad chuckle from behind him and something heavy hit the floor. It clanked which led Skip to believe it was the kid’s pack, and not the kid himself. “No, Si… uh, Skip. We’re alive. I promise.”

Skip grabbed the first solid surface he could find. The back of the lone chair in the tiny room was the only thing holding him up now. “Okay. That’s good. Kid. That’s good.” He struggled with the strap across his chest with one hand. It was the one that hurt the most, digging into his skin, making it hard to breathe. He couldn’t do it one-handed, but if he let go of the chair he’d collapse under the weight of the pack. “Can you do me a favor, Kid?” He mumbled the words, hating to have to ask for help.

The Marine came to stand in front of him, and crossed his arms over his very impressive chest. One that was now covered by a fine layer of body hair and one set of dog tags. Skip couldn’t look away. The kid had a tattoo on both shoulders and one that wrapped around his right side. A really big one. And Skip could swear he’d grown about a foot since this morning.

“I’ll help you on one condition.” The man was going to be a dick about it all now, after everything they’d been through today. “You don’t call me Kid. And I won’t call you Sir.”

Skip clawed at the clasp on his chest, trying to get to the prongs to squeeze them open. His fingers weren’t working. And neither was his brain. He wanted to lick one of those tattoos. He just didn’t know which one. “Skip?” Chad said after a couple of loud heartbeats. “You okay, man?”

“Yeah,” he said, failing again to get the clasp undone. “Can’t breathe.”

“Shit.” Chad uncrossed his arms and grabbed Skip’s arms before Skip even had the last word out of his mouth. He had strong, nimble fingers. The clasps came undone quickly, and Skip dragged in a deep breath as the weight of the pack shifted lower on his back.

“What the hell do you have in this thing? It has to weigh at least forty pounds.” Chad lifted the frame which kept most of the weight off him and Skip slipped his arms out of the straps and almost fell to his knees in relief.

“More like fifty.” He wasn’t going to explain his packing to this kid. He groaned. “Chad.” He’d stop calling the kid… Chad… Kid. He’d had his dick in his mouth after all.

“Yes?” He said from right beside Skip. His hands were just as strong as his fingers when he lifted Skip up from his half collapse. “Hey, Skip, are you okay? You’re scaring me here a little.”

Skip gripped one of his hands and held it to his chest. His shoulders hurt so very badly. His thighs burned from hours of walking in the cold, going slowly over slick terrain and climbing over fallen trees. “I’m forty-seven years old and I just carried fifty pounds and eight people for way too many hours. With, I might add, very little sleep. I’m so fucking tired I don’t think I can crawl to the shower.”

Chad lifted him up and supported his weight. Skip couldn’t stop the groans that came with each step he made. He didn’t fight the help. He wasn’t ashamed to need the help. He was ashamed that he needed it from a stranger.

“We doing okay?” Chad asked when Skip sank onto the toilet with a long, drawn out moan. He closed his eyes and reached for a boot. Chad slapped his hands away and lifted his feet one at a time and dragged the damned things off. Skip almost screamed when cold air hit his bare toes.

“Eight hours. Nearly nine hours. To walk six miles. No, I’m not okay.” He managed to get his fleece off, pulling it over his head, his cap going with it. The three layers of shirts went next, leaving him sitting on the toilet in just his jeans and long johns.

“Uphill both ways,” Chad said as he squatted between Skip’s knees. He smirked for a moment, the moment enough to make his face shine like Skip was looking into the sun.

Skip reached out with both hands and cupped his face, the light in Chad’s eyes faded, the smirk turning to surprise, then wariness. Skip didn’t drop his hands, and Chad didn’t pull away. He leaned on Skip’s thighs, his fingers digging into Skip’s legs through his clothes. “You’re a good man, Chad. You got me through today. I want you to know that.” He caressed the man’s face with his thumbs while he leaned in.

Chad didn’t move. He didn’t drop his gaze or move in any way that made Skip think he wouldn’t welcome a kiss. And fucking hell, he needed to kiss the man. He’d never wanted to kiss anyone like he wanted to kiss this man at this moment.

He felt Chad’s breath on his lips. His breathing was almost as ragged as Skip’s had been just a few minutes ago. As if he was trapped, and being dragged down by a heavy weight.

“I’m a virgin,” he said softly, his lips barely grazing Skip’s as he spoke.

Skip groaned loud enough that the people in the next cottage could hear him. He dropped his head to rest on Chad’s shoulder. No way was he doing this. Not with this… Colt’s son. Jesus Christ, he had a hard-on for Colt’s son. A goddamned baby dealing with his sexuality and probably some serious self-hatred, if what he’d seen this morning meant anything. He should never have touched him. Then or now. But he had a taste and now he wanted more.

“Oh, baby, that makes it so much worse,” he managed to whisper before he turned away to pull the shower curtain back.

Chad was on his feet looking at the floor. The confident Marine gone now. In his place stood a lost boy… soul… with no clue as to what he was asking for.

Skip used the sink to haul himself up, wincing as his feet touched the floor. He reached for Chad, stroking one hand over his chest to tangle with his dog tags. He pulled the man to him, wrapping his hand around his neck to angle his head. He pressed his chest to Chad’s and cupped Chad’s face again. “I’m more than twice your age.”

Chad swallowed hard, but didn’t pull away. “You keep telling me that.”

“I’m telling myself. I’m too old for you. I’ve known you since you were little. And I want to kiss you like I’ve never wanted anything in my life. I shouldn’t even be in the same room with you right now.” He closed his eyes and tried not to moan when Chad touched him in return, running his hands down Skip’s back so softly Skip almost didn’t feel anything.

“But you’re not gay?” Chad whispered, despair in his voice.

“No, babe.” Skip breathed in his scent, forgetting how much he ached in that moment. “I’m bisexual. I’ve never struggled with my sexuality. I’ve just always been with the person I wanted to be with when we both needed to be. But you are scaring the shit out of me right now.”

“Why?” The doubt was back in Chad’s voice. He was too… well, naïve wasn’t even the right word.

“You’re vulnerable, and I don’t want to be the one that hurts you.” He slid his hands over Chad’s shoulders and down his arms. His soft, silky skin covering a hard body that made Skip’s mouth go dry.

Chad nodded and made to pull away. Skip wasn’t ready to let him go. He caught his chin again and held him with just his fingertips as he swiped his mouth over Chad’s soft lips. Chad trembled against him and leaned into the kiss, his arms encircling Skip’s waist as he pressed their bodies together.

He could feel his desire. He had none, at least not enough to match what Chad wanted. He could resist for now. Maybe he could resist long enough to send him on his way with his cherry intact.

He broke the kiss, and stepped away to turn on the shower. “Go get some chow, Chad. There will be hot water when you get back.”

He didn’t expect to turn around and find himself alone. He heard the outer door close and went about the excruciating task of taking off his jeans and putting himself under the water before he gave into the urge to chase the man down and drag him under the water with him.

No reason for both of them to drown. Just one more night and the kid… Marine… Chad, would be out of his life. He just had to hold out one more night. In the same bed. With a man who seemed eager for Skip to take his innocence.

As if he’d never been in that situation before.

Dharma had a funny way of bringing a man to his knees, when he least expected it. The fickle bitch.