“No, Pater did. But I thought it was a great idea when he mentioned it. We’d come up together to see what he thought regarding the place’s potential, and he spotted the quilt on what must have been your bed. He thought you might like to have it.”
Vale smiled. Miner was a good pater-in-law, even if he was sometimes annoyingly demanding of Jason’s time. But who wouldn’t be? Jason was perfect and wonderful. Vale was demanding of Jason’s time, too. “Thank him for me.”
Finally, he tore his eyes away from the quilt and looked around the rest of the room. Miner had clearly had his hand in this as well. The furniture was expensive, modern, and perfectly tasteful. Aside from the big bed, there was an armoire, a tan chaise lounge, a writing desk, and a vanity with a mirror.
“The bathroom got an overhaul, too,” Jason said, opening the en suite door and flipping on the light. “A big tub and a natural shower.”
Vale saw what Jason meant by natural when he entered to find that, like in the bedroom, an entire wall of the bathroom was now glass. A sliding glass door in the shower allowed someone to open it and step naked into nature if they wanted. Vale laughed under his breath. Of the two of them, he was more likely to use that feature. Though, perhaps not this trip. The weather was already so chilly.
He lifted his shirt and let in a waft of that cold air, hoping he cooled down soon.
“The laundry is behind the kitchen, and we added a separate outbuilding for all the storage.”
“It’s stunning,” Vale said, taking Jason’s hand and pulling him out of the bathroom and down the hallway. “Let’s get the groceries in before they spoil, and then we can take a walk around the property. I can show you all my old haunts.”
“I’d love that.” Jason lifted Vale’s hand to his mouth and kissed his fingers. “I want to see everything from your point of view.”
Vale turned at the doorway and pulled Jason close. “And I want to share it all with you.”
Every day with Jason was new and beautiful. They rarely argued and still desperately fucked. He knew thatÉrosgápewere obsessed with each other in ways few other humans could understand. But now he knew for himself how beautiful it could be, and he couldn’t imagine the emptiness of living any other way.
Jason’s scent, his laugh, his very way of breathing made Vale tingle with lust and shake with love, and when they came together physically, the world meant nothing outside of the pleasure they took in each other’s arms.
Bittersweet or not, being at the cabin with Jason more than made up for any sense of loss he had in the changes made. Being with Jason was always perfect.
Jason loved theway the cool air made Vale’s pale skin pink up. HisÉrosgápe’scheeks were rosy, and his eyes glowed as they finished their trek around the mountain property.
“The lake was always too far to go alone,” Vale was saying. They followed the winding path of the babbling spring that led down to the bright blue waters below. The trees overhung the area with fading green leaves, autumn coming on soon. “But I played in this brook all the time. I’d turn over the rocks looking for creatures. I bet little Jason would have loved to play here with me.”
“He would have.” Jason loved playing anywhere with Valenow.
Vale knelt beside the fresh stream and took the clear water into his palms and splashed his face and beard. He gasped when the shock of the water soaked into his beard and grinned up at Jason. “Here, you do it.”
“No way. It’s freezing out here as it is.” Jason laughed and held Vale’s coat out to him. “Put this back on before you catch your death.”
“You’re acting like your pater,” Vale said with a wink. Then he frowned. “You’re really not hot at all?”
“No! It’s cold as wolf’s own hell, and you’re being ridiculous. Here.” He shook the coat at Vale again.
Vale slid it on but didn’t button it, his brow furrowing thoughtfully.
“What?”
“We’re going back to the city tomorrow?” Vale asked, looking up at the sky and then around at the tall, creaking trees.
“That was the plan. But if you want to stay a few days, we can.”
“No,” Vale said quickly. “I think it’s best if we go back tomorrow.”
“Oh.” Jason didn’t exactly know why, but he felt a bit crestfallen. It was only now, in this exact moment, that he realized he’d held out hope that Vale would fall in love with the work on the cabin and they could stay to fuck sweetly for a few days—a second bonding-moon of sorts—and returning for sexy vacations throughout the year. He knew Vale loved the sea as much as he did, but whenever they went on those trips, so many others insisted on coming along. He’d imagined this place as a retreat for just the two of them.
Vale, of course, sensed his change of mood and turned, taking his hand. His palm was rather warm, but it was probably from all the walking. Vale was a sedentary sort, usually. It was remarkable he managed to stay so trim. Good genes probably. “It’s beautiful, and I want to come back,” Vale said. “It’s just that there’s business I need to attend to in the city.”
“What kind of business?” Jason asked.
Vale shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
A bear then lumbered out of the woods only a short distance away, and Jason grabbed Vale, placing a hand over his mouth to keep him quiet. They stared intently at the bear as it lumbered into the stream, took a drink, and then headed off in the opposite direction from the house.
