Snowed In (2 page)

“I plan to,” Nate said, swallowing thickly. “That’s my big plan.” He smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m going to seduce him this weekend and tell him how I feel, and we’re going to ride into the sunset together.”

“You do that.” Faith smiled back.

Nate hugged her. Despite her harsh words she was speaking the truth, and he knew she’d follow up on her promise to kick his ass in gear.

Quinn or no Quinn...

Maybe that was exactly what he needed.

Chapter two

NATE KNEW the moment Quinn set foot into the house. His heart squeezed painfully, then started a jackhammer beat that made him dizzy. Faith had left him alone to pack his bag for the weekend trip to their parents’ cabin, but it had taken him longer than expected. He kept imagining scenarios and rehearsing what he was going to say to Quinn, and by the time he was done it was dark outside.

Voices drifted from downstairs up to his room, and Nate knew one of them was Quinn’s even if he couldn’t quite hear what they were saying.

“Oh, god,” Nate whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed. His hand shook when he lifted it to his chest to rub over his heart, hoping that would stop it trying to beat a hole through his ribcage.

The fact that he hadn’t seen Quinn in a year and was about to face him in a few short minutes suddenly seemed overwhelming. His plan paled in his mind, shrinking to an insignificant, pointless dot. What if Quinn was dating someone? What if he brought him here? What if he didn't feel the same way as Nate? Their friendship would be effectively ruined the moment Nate opened his big mouth.

“Nate?” A voice called from outside his door, followed by a soft knock.

Quinn. It was him.

“Yeah,” Nate rasped, his voice giving out on him. He had exactly half a second to get his fucking shit together and not look like a goat about to be sacrificed to the gods. “I’m in here, come on in,” Nate said, louder this time. He stood by the bed, hunched over his bag as if still putting his stuff together for the trip.

The door opened and Quinn walked in. Nate’s breath caught. Quinn was just as gorgeous as Nate remembered him – shortly cropped dark hair, slightly tanned skin, kind, dark eyes that drew Nate in until he was lost. Quinn's trademark dark beard was neatly trimmed to a little more than stubble, making the scar on his chin visible. Nate guessed Quinn wasn’t bothered by the old football injury anymore if he let it show under the much neater facial hair.

“Hi,” Quinn said, his full mouth spreading into a slow smile. “Long time no see.”

He closed the door behind him and suddenly the room seemed to shrink around them. Quinn’s six-foot-two, broad shouldered frame took a lot of space in any room, but in Nate’s tiny bedroom he looked massive.

Or maybe it was Nate’s imagination.

Quinn’s slight frown reminded Nate he still hadn’t said a word.

“Hi, Quinn,” Nate finally said, willing his body to relax and his mind to stop whirling. “Good to see you.”

Quinn raised an eyebrow when Nate didn’t move closer. “What? Don’t I get a hug after all this time?”

Nate’s feet moved on their own accord then, taking him right into Quinn's arms. Nate had to use every willpower reserve left in his body to stop himself from purring.

Because being in Quinn's arms was heaven.

Quinn’s scent – the familiar, comforting scent – rose all around Nate, making him instantly relax. He felt foolish for fretting like a schoolgirl just a minute ago. This was Quinn,
his
Quinn, the guy that had been his friend and confidant throughout his childhood. The guy that Nate’s family had taken in when his mother had died when he was seventeen. The guy that knew everything about Nate and still loved him.

As Quinn’s arms tightened around Nate and he rested his chin on Nate’s head, Nate’s resolve to admit his feelings grew stronger. They had the type of friendship that would never be ruined, even if Nate’s love was unrequited.

“How have you been?” Quinn asked, letting go, but not stepping away. They were standing so close their breaths mingled as they spoke.

“Good.” Nate stared at Quinn, and as his initial shock of seeing him in his room wore off, Nate noticed the dark circles under Quinn’s eyes. Had he lost weight? His face seemed a bit leaner... “How about you?”

Quinn's eyes flickered away for a second before he replied. “I’m good. Even better now that I’m here.”

He probably meant the trip they were about to take, but Nate’s heart fluttered at the off chance that Quinn actually meant seeing him.

Before they could say anything else, Nate’s mom called them down for dinner.

*    *    *    *    *

The next morning everyone was up at 6.30 AM. The kitchen filled with sleepy people, all trying to get to the coffee machine first. Nate hadn’t slept well, even though his mom had shooed everyone to bed straight after dinner. She refused to let them drive for five hours unless they’d all had at least eight hours sleep.

Nate’d tossed and turned most of the night, the knowledge that Quinn slept a thin wall away making him restless. More than once, he’d entertained the idea of going next door and sneaking under the covers, snuggling into Quinn's warm body. Common sense had prevailed and he’d remained in his room all night, finally falling asleep around 4 AM.

“Glowering at the coffee machine won’t make it work faster,” Brandon said as he passed by Nate, chewing a piece of bacon and carrying a steaming mug of coffee. Why was he in such a cheerful mood this early, anyway? He probably got laid last night. Repeatedly.

Nate couldn't say any of that in front of his mom who was busy making breakfast, so he settled for flipping Brandon the bird.

Quinn looked better this morning. He’d obviously had a good night’s sleep as well, making the circles under his eyes much less pronounced. He sneaked behind Nate, reaching up in the cupboard to get a mug for himself, then placed it next to Nate’s on the counter.

“You OK?” Quinn asked, crossing one foot over the other as he leaned back on the counter next to Nate.

Nate grunted in affirmation, glad to see the machine had filled the pot and coffee was ready. He filled both cups, then took his outside on the porch; he might as well try to improve his sleep deprived bad mood by having a cup of coffee in peace outside.

Fifteen minutes later, Nate was feeling half human again, the caffeine doing its job of waking his tired body. The delicious smells of breakfast drifted through the door, and after gulping the last of his coffee, Nate walked back into the kitchen to join his family for breakfast.

*    *    *    *    *

Quinn volunteered to drive the first leg of the trip. He claimed it was his car and he got to choose who drove it. Nobody protested much. Nate guessed they were all happy as long as his grumpy ass wasn’t the one driving. He settled at the front seat next to Quinn, slouching down as he tried to catch up on some sleep.

Brandon and Faith talked non-stop. They were both excited to move to LA next month, after graduating and both scoring internships with big firms in the city. Brandon was going to Fishburn Architects for a two year paid internship, while Faith was going to work for a big PR company.

Nate felt like the loser Faith had hinted he was. His brother and his girlfriend were building a life for themselves, studying and working hard, trying to be the best versions of themselves while Nate was content living with his parents and working in a bookstore.

“So...” Quinn said, glancing at Nate. Brandon and Faith continued to chat behind them, not paying them any attention as they discussed which part of the city would suit their commuting needs best. “We didn’t get to talk a lot last night.”

Nate’s mom had taken over the conversation the night before, too happy to have all her children back in her house, and asking all sorts of questions. She was determined to find out every single detail she’d missed while they’d been away. Nate noticed that Quinn reflected most of her questions, diverting the conversations back to Brandon and Faith. Nate had just sat there, content to have his thigh brushing Quinn's as everyone else talked over each other.

“How’s things, Nate?”

Nate shrugged. “The same as they were when you were here last year, I guess.”

Quinn's jaw muscle jumped but he didn’t say anything.

“How about you? How’s your degree going?”

Quinn was studying graphic design at DePaul University in Chicago. He’d told Nate he was taking longer to graduate because he didn't have a full scholarship and had to work to support himself, so he was taking less classes per semester than most students.

“Slower than I’d have wanted, but good. If everything goes according to plan I should be graduating next year.” Quinn's knuckles went white as he clutched the steering wheel tighter. Something about his posture, about his voice, bugged Nate. Was he lying? Why would he? As far as Nate knew, Quinn had never lied to him. To any of them, in fact. He was honest to a fault.

“I’m thinking of applying for some art programmes,” Nate blurted, desperate to show Quinn that he wasn’t the lazy, unmotivated slob everyone thought he was.

“Really? That’s great.” Quinn looked at him for a second before focusing back on the road, but in that fleeting moment Nate had glimpsed the pride in Quinn's eyes. “Where are you applying?”

“
Thinking
of applying,” Nate corrected him. “There’re lots of good universities that offer full scholarships, but I’m thinking either Chicago or LA.” Nate’s heartbeat sped up and he wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans as he waited for Quinn's reaction. He hadn’t lied, technically. He’d just baited Quinn to see if the idea of Nate moving to Chicago was as appealing to him as it was to Nate.

Quinn clutched at the wheel even harder. “Go to LA,” Quinn finally said, making Nate’s world crumble. “University of California has one of the best art programmes in the country, as far as I’ve heard. And you’ll be close to Brandon and Faith.”

I want to be close to you, asshole.

Nate wanted to scream and ask why the hell Quinn rejected him even before Nate had confessed the extent of his feelings, but held back. “Right,” he mumbled, slouching back in the seat.

“Nate...” Quinn said softly, as usual reading him like an open book.

“Forget it, Quinn.” His voice sounded sharper than he expected, but he couldn't help it.

His whole body hurt from exhaustion, and Nate thought that maybe his master plan, and this whole trip, was a really bad idea after all.

Brandon and Faith’s conversation from the back seat lulled him to sleep, and Nate gave in, hoping he’d wake up and everything would be OK in his world again.

Chapter three

NATE WOKE UP just as Brandon parked the car in front of the cabin. He must have been bone tired to have slept through the rest stop they’d made to stretch their legs and change drivers. The backseat was suspiciously quiet and when he turned around to see what was going on, Quinn was sound asleep with Faith drooling on his shoulder.

“Rise and shine, guys, we’re here,” Brandon bellowed, startling even Nate, who wasn’t sleeping anymore. Faith and Quinn jumped at the same time, somehow managing to knock their heads together.

“Fucking hell,” Quinn muttered, slowly blinking red eyes.

“You’re such an asshole, Bran,” Faith said, casting him a withering look.

“And yet you love me,” Brandon met her eyes in the rear view mirror and blew her a kiss.

Faith shook her head but decided against arguing.

*    *    *    *    *

The change in Quinn's behaviour was startling. As if sorry for what he'd said in the car, he’d stuck by Nate all day. He’d used every chance he got to talk to Nate, joke with him, touch him. As delighted as Nate was at the attention he was given – earning them a few odd looks from Faith and Brandon – he was also confused.

He’d made up his mind though – the moment they were left alone Nate would talk to him. Tell him how he felt and why he wanted to go to college in Chicago. Quinn probably already knew, or at least suspected, but Nate couldn't let him go back to Chicago without making sure he had all the facts laid out in front of him.

If he got rejected, then so be it.

“Uuuugghhh,” Nate grunted as Quinn buried his fingers in his hair, massaging his scalp. The fire burned in front of them, casting a warm glow on Brandon and Faith who were huddled together opposite them.

“Do you guys think we’ll ever do this again? Just the four of us?” Faith asked, a dreamy, slightly sad expression shadowing her features.

“Sure,” Quinn said, but nobody really believed him. At least, Nate didn’t.

That was the whole point of this trip, right? The last hurrah before everyone’s life changed forever. Brandon and Faith would jet off to LA and build a life together, probably start a family soon. Quinn would go back to Chicago, graduate, find a job. And Nate... Nate had no idea what the fuck he was supposed to do.

The fire played in front of them, its flames dancing to a silent beat. It crackled and hissed as if warning them not to get too close. Across the fire pit, Nate saw Faith’s eyes start to droop, and soon enough Brandon helped her up and led her back to the cabin.

The silence that remained after them was eerie. Nate relaxed back against Quinn's chest who’d moved to sit behind him when Brandon and Faith left. He continued to massage his scalp, making Nate purr at the back of his throat.

“So good,” he half-moaned, half-growled when Quinn's fingers curled around the base of his neck. Quinn's breath ticked his skin when he laughed softly, never stopping the sensual movement of his talented fingers.

Nate closed his eyes and his mind conjured images of what Quinn’s fingers would look like – feel like – wrapped around his cock; clutching at his hips as he fucked him from behind; weaved in his own as they clung to each other, coming down from the high of their ecstasy.

“Nate?” Quinn whispered, right in his ear.

Nate’s cheeks flushed as he realized he was rock hard underneath the thin cotton shorts he was wearing.

“Hm?”

“I asked if you want to go to bed.”

God, yes. If you’ll join me.

“Not yet,” he said instead, willing his traitorous body to calm down before Quinn noticed how turned on he was.

“OK,” Quinn said, his breath on Nate’s neck.

The first touch of Quinn's lips to the sensitive skin right underneath Nate’s ear was so light Nate thought he’d imagined it. But then, there it was again, firmer this time, rough stubble scraping the skin and a wet, gentle tongue tasting it.

Nate moaned and tilted his head to the side, exposing his neck further. He couldn't help it. He’d wanted Quinn all his life and now
Quinn
was the one kissing him, and Nate was on the brink of exploding.

With great determination, Nate pulled away, turning around and kneeling between Quinn's legs to meet his gaze. Quinn's dark eyes were swallowed by his blown pupils, his whole body trembling, buzzing, just like Nate’s was.

Nate couldn’t find it in him to stop this. They needed to talk, but it could wait until tomorrow.

“Come to bed with me?” Nate extended his hand, reaching for Quinn's.

Quinn nodded, his lips parting as if to speak, but he only tightened his hold on Nate as he helped him up, and led him to his bedroom.