Two Spirits by Jory Strong Page A

sheriff's department have budget
problems?" Trey joked. "Looks like an arsenal in there."
    "Hazard of the trade. I don't know a single
cop who'd settle for just an on-duty piece."
    "Won't do you much good if you have to get
to them fast."
    "If I need this much fire power, I'm in deep
shit. I've got my service piece and the shotgun that stays in the
Jeep. The chance of someone breaking into the cabin is remote but I
don't like to take unnecessary risks. Last thing I want is for one
of my guns to turn up at a crime scene."
    Tenino put on a shoulder holster, then
slipped his Smith and Wesson service piece into it. He didn't
expect trouble, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be prepared for
it. Closing the safe, he stepped away, stopped because of a sudden
tightness in his chest.
    His touched the keypad on the safe, hit a
series of codes, then asked, "When's your birthday?"
    He keyed in the date. Felt ridiculous at
putting so much meaning into trusting Trey with access to the guns,
but… Hell, label it the strange twists and turns of falling in
love.
    "Just in case I'm not here and you need
protection, it's keyed for your birthday. Just hit TM first so
it'll match the user with the code."
    Trey visibly shivered. "Hopefully that's not
information I'll ever need."
    "Yeah, well, that's the plan. Better grab
your jacket. A storm's moving in. I think we can make it to the
place I want to show you and back before it hits."
     
     
    * * * * *
    Chapter
6
     
     
    Trey followed Tenino outside. He expected
them to take the Jeep but instead Tenino stopped only long enough
to retrieve the shotgun before going to the stand-alone garage with
doors that opened sideways.
    "ATV's on this side," Tenino said, grabbing
the handle on the left and pulling to create an opening just wide
enough for a four-wheeler.
    "Just one?" Trey asked, his cock reacting to
the idea of riding with his arm around Tenino's waist and his front
pressed to Tenino's back, even if the little kid in him wanted his
own ATV.
    "A guy can only ride one at time. But
there's room in the garage for two."
    Trey's heart tripped into its Morse code
tapping.
    Say you'll stay.
    Say you'll stay.
    Say you'll stay.
    If he did, he wouldn't have to hide that he
was gay. Not when the sheriff openly kissed his male lover and was
obviously part of a threesome. Not that it'd be a secret anyway if
he lived here with Tenino.
    Yesterday, their waitress's eyes had been
full of speculation, but the next time he and Tenino entered the
diner, she'd have her answer. There'd be no hiding he was Tenino's
lover.
    His skin iced and pebbled. His throat
locked. His heart banged harder, this time saying coward,
coward, coward .
    The shotgun went into a sheath secured to
the ATV. Tenino rolled the four-wheeler through the open
doorway.
    Trey closed the door. The ATV engine rumbled
to life. He slid onto the seat behind Tenino and within minutes
understood why they hadn't taken the Jeep.
    The trail was steep and narrow and
pock-marked. It was dark in places, shaded by thick evergreen
trees.
    Every low spot sent a shower of muddy water
over their legs and had him wishing for jeans instead of
sweatpants. It felt like they were heading straight up the side of
a mountain and when they finally leveled out and cleared the trees,
Trey's breath caught.
    Below was a valley with vast tracks of
old-growth forest containing trees that had been alive for
thousands of years. And in front of them, around them, above them
were snowcapped mountains.
    Tenino cut the engine and Trey slid from the
seat. Tenino got off the four-wheeler and the two of them stood on
a small rocky plateau that felt like an ancient gateway.
    In the distance the storm gathered. Dark
clouds formed and reformed, served as a backdrop for splintered
bolts of lightning.
    Thunder rolled across the land. Power
vibrated through the air, primal, unstoppable,
uncontainable—destructive but also life-giving.
    "Thunderbirds fly here," Tenino said and
Trey could only