Chapter 2

C hapter T wo

"We love the design," his client said as he stood, shaking Michael's hand. "When do you think you'll be able to get started?"

"Just as soon as you've chosen the builder you want to go with. I can work with them to ensure they are following the plans properly. I'll send copies of the final plans to you so you have them, along with the invoice." Michael saw his client and his wife to the door of his office, thanking them before closing the door behind him. Then he locked it, along with his computer, and left, heading back to the house.

Thor had the truck packed when he pulled up, and Michael hurried inside, changed his clothes, and met Thor at the truck.

"You ready?"

"Yeah." Energy zinged through him. He was more than ready to get out of town. Climbing into the truck, he settled in the seat, and once Thor climbed in, he pulled him over, kissing him hard. "I'm very much looking forward to this."

"I take it sex outdoors really does it for you."

Michael winked as seductively as he could. "You'll just have to find out for yourself." He loved the way Thor's breath hitched for a second. Then Thor returned the kiss with an energy and passion that made Michael consider getting out of the truck and dragging Thor up to their bed. But Thor backed away and started the truck engine, then turned around before making his way down the long drive out of the redwoods and back toward the main highway. The truck bounced over rough spots, but Michael barely noticed, his thoughts on the man in the seat next to him.

The past few months had been more than Michael could have hoped for. His relationship with Thor seemed to grow every day, but Michael still felt Thor holding back, like he held his breath just waiting for something to happen. Michael wished to hell he knew what it was that Thor seemed to expecting. Michael glanced over at Thor, his gaze sliding along his chiseled jaw line and then down his amazing profile, making his heart beat a little faster. He lowered the window for some fresh, cooling air, toying with the notion of asking Thor what was going on. But he knew well enough that a frontal assault would only send up Thor's defenses, so he kept quiet.

Thor put on some George Strait and settled back. "I made us a plan," he said, and passed Michael the map. "I figured we'd start with the farthest away and work our way home."

Michael nodded, looking over the map. "You know that location is going to be hard to get to. The road that shows on the map is little more than two-tracks, and as high as this truck is, I doubt you're going to want to try to take it down there." Michael looked up. "You're going to need to turn left toward Cloverdale in about a mile and then take another left after three miles or so."

"Got it," Thor said, humming along with the music.

"How can you be so calm about this?" Michael asked once Thor had made the first turn. "These men could be dangerous."

Thor slowed before taking one of the curves. "This is what I do. Blend in, scout things out, gather info, and then turn it over to the DEA to act on. I know how to blend in and draw as little attention as possible." He sped up once more. "I could take you back to the house."

"And leave you out here to do this on your own? No way in hell. I just…." Dammit, he hated to sound scared, and maybe that wasn't the word. "I want to be cautious—both of us need to."

"And we will be," Thor said as he slowed once again, making the turn onto an old road with cracked pavement. "But we also need to check out these remote locations. If you're going to cook meth, you need someplace out of the way, but with access to roads as well as power. This seems to have all of it, especially with the old buildings at the site. And if you notice, this road is old, but it has been used. If it wasn't, the limbs wouldn't have been cleared from the winter storms."

"True," Michael conceded. "We have a few more miles, and then we're going to need to hike in."

"Okay." Thor seemed to fill with energy the farther in they got. Once they reached the beginning of the other "road," Thor found a wide spot, turned the truck around, and pulled off the road. "Let's walk in, check the place out, and then we can return."

Michael nodded and grabbed a small pack with water and a few supplies. Then he and Thor headed off along the old path. "It doesn't look like this has been used at all recently."

"True," Thor said softly, pausing every few seconds to listen.

"What is it?"

"Birds and plenty of small animals scurrying through the brush. If people came here regularly, I'd expect the area to be quieter. And if this road were getting traffic, I'd think it would be in better shape. Still, we need to look, so we can check it off the list." He continued forward at a brisk pace, with Michael easily keeping up, but staying slightly behind, mostly to enjoy the view.

After hiking for nearly half an hour, Thor slowed and crouched down. "The building is right over there. I can just see part of it through the trees."

"Do you see anything?" Michael whispered.

"No. I want you to stay here, out of sight. I'm going to check it out. If I don't return in ten minutes, you go for help." Thor turned and headed off through the scrub and trees.

Michael wasn't too keen on this plan, but told himself that Thor knew what he was doing. He knelt behind a fallen tree to stay hidden and listened for any signs of trouble. Birds sang overhead, and Michael turned behind him as a black-tailed deer paused in its foraging to watch him. Michael didn't move until the doe bounded off through the trees.

"It's vacant, and no one has been here for quite a while," Thor said, startling Michael with how quietly he'd approached.

Michael stood and followed Thor back to the road and up to what had been someone's cabin in the woods at one time. "It looks long abandoned. Did you go inside?"

"No. I'm not sure the building is safe, but it's empty except for the animals that scurried away as I approached." Thor looked overhead and then back at the cabin. "We can scratch this one off the list and move on for now."

He slipped his arm around Michael's waist, the strong sun warming them in the small clearing that nature had already begun reclaiming. Michael wasn't sure whether to be relieved or not. Part of him hoped they didn't find any trouble, while the rest of him wanted to find the folks behind this trafficking so they could be put out of business.

"It's pretty out here," Thor said softly. "I can see why someone would want to build here, especially if they loved the solitude." The ocean breeze blew through the tall trees that stretched to the sky, battling the sun for supremacy.

"Yeah. I used to hike out here when I was younger. But I haven't been out here in years." He leaned closer, and Thor kissed him. It was like they were the only two people in the world, and Michael loved that sensation. Once he broke the kiss, and Michael's head quit spinning, he got out water for both of them. "It's nice to be away for a while."

"No family drama," Thor said as Michael drank and then nodded.

Michael finished the bottle, put the cap back on it, and stuck the bottle in his pack. Then he and Thor headed back toward the truck, walking more slowly this time. "I have to ask. What happens once you get to the bottom of this meth ring? Will Miller want you to head to LA or San Francisco?" There was a great deal more activity in the city than there was up here, halfway to the Oregon border.

Thor took his hand, squeezing it gently. "I don't know what she's got in mind. Not that it really matters. You have a budding business here, and as much as my father and I grate on each other, I want to be near my sister and nephew."

Michael nodded, but he knew Thor well enough to know that he wasn't going to be happy in a sleepy small town forever. Thor was going to need to go where the action was. "I know, but are you going to be happy?" Michael turned away.

"I'm happy with you," Thor said, and while Michael was pleased, Thor hadn't exactly answered his question… and that was part of what bothered him. Every time he tried to bring up the subject, he could feel Thor being evasive. Thor grew quiet, and Michael did the same. Pushing wouldn't get him very far. One thing he knew was that Thor tended to do things in his own time.

By the time they made it back to the truck, Michael was hungry. He handed Thor a granola bar and ate one himself as Thor drove to the next location. "This one is even more remote," Michael said as he gave Thor directions. They parked the truck a full two miles from the location indicated on the map, which didn't look like much to Michael. Still, once they got as close as possible with the truck, he and Thor headed out through the woods on a trail that wound between the redwoods. "Do you really think this is the kind of place where someone would cook up some meth? It may be remote and hard to find, but they have to get the product out."

"True, but the one location we don't check out…." He left the rest unsaid as they continued walking.

Once again, the site was empty, with this one even more run down. It looked like a shelter of some sort that had nearly completely collapsed. At one time, power had been run, but the pole had fallen down, and the lines seemed inactive. By the time they returned to the truck, Michael was hungry again, the granola only doing so much with all the exercise.

"Let's head toward the next location, and we can make camp nearby before we hike up to it," Thor offered as they headed out, winding along almost forgotten mountain roads until they reached a point near the next possible location. This one had signs of more recent activity, including tire tracks and even a few pieces of trash.

"What do you think?" Michael asked as he checked out the area.

"People have been back here recently, and there's a way in and out." Thor backed the black truck off the road into the center of a copse of trees, and they got out their gear, heading off along a narrow two-track path. The undergrowth was thick, and they stepped around trees.

Michael checked out the map. "I think we're going in the back way here."

Thor paused, looking over his shoulder and then pointed at the map. "We're heading here from this direction, and there's another road over here that just might come from the north."

He had a bad feeling about this. "We're going to need to be careful."

"I agree," Thor said. "We're about a mile away at this point." He stopped and looked around. "I'd say we have a choice. We can stop now and make camp far enough away that if someone is there, we won't come across them. Or we can continue on, find out if it's being used…."

"And somehow have to get out of the woods after it gets pitch-black? This isn't even much of a trail to follow when it's light. So I say we camp and check out the location first thing." He set down the full pack and unrolled the dark blue tent. Thor found a level spot, and they got the tent put up and the sleeping bags laid out. "I don't think we should build a fire. It's not going to be that cold, and the area around us is pretty dry." The last thing he wanted was to set the woods on fire or otherwise attract attention.

Thor got out a small propane burner and put on a pan of water, probably for some coffee. He hoped.

"What did you bring to eat?"

Thor grinned, opening his pack and pulling out a couple of containers of leftover pasta in sauce from the night before. "I know it's not haute cuisine, but at least it's not beans."

Michael chuckled, and once they had coffee made, Thor heated up the pasta, and they settled on the ground for a rustic supper as darkness quietly descended around them, and the forest seemed to come alive. "I love it out here in the quiet," Michael whispered.

"And I love the fact that no one can contact us. Miller can't interrupt, and neither can your family… or mine." He shifted closer as Michael took a final bite. Then he wiped his mouth and scooted closer to Thor, leaning against him. He sighed, resting his head on Thor's shoulder.

"Yeah, I know." He turned slightly, and Thor touched his chin. As he stilled, their lips met in a gentle kiss that surprised him. Thor was usually very aggressive, and Michael enjoyed the tenderness. "It's nice to have some time when it's just us."

Thor hummed his agreement, slipping his arms around him and pulling Michael nearer. "I know. My life is so busy, especially with Angie, Brian, and the baby."

"Hey, so is mine, but right now, it's just you and me."

Thor kissed him and then turned off the burner and finished his coffee. Michael wondered at the sudden change until Thor headed for the tent. Michael finished his coffee, then set down the mug before following. He had to crawl inside and managed to get undressed before slipping into the sleeping bags that Thor had zipped together into one large, warm bed. Michael settled, and Thor wrapped an arm around him, spooning his back, Thor's cock nestling against his ass. Michael hummed softly as Thor kissed his shoulder, his hand sliding down his belly before his fingers closed around Michael's cock.

"You like that?" Thor asked.

"Hell yes," Michael groaned and slowly rolled over, sliding a leg between Thor's, bringing their dicks together. Michael kissed Thor deeply, pressing him back before climbing on top of him, straddling his amazing hard body.

"I see. You want to be the one in charge," Thor whispered, his hands smoothing over Michael's hair and down his back to Michael's ass.

"Is that okay?" Michael asked. "I want you."

"You always have me. You know that." Thor drew him down, and Michael ground against him, the heat of their bodies keeping the cool of the night at bay.

"I do." But for a moment he wondered for just how much longer.

Then Thor wound his arms around him, kissing him harder, adding to the passion that built between them to the point that Michael could barely think. His entire body seemed to be on fire, and he shook with excitement, which only increased when Thor wrapped his legs around his waist, opening himself to Michael. This was something that Thor didn't do very often. He was usually the one in charge. Thor stretched in the darkness and then pressed a small bottle into his hand.

"Do you really want this?"

Thor kissed him again. "Yes. You are always there for me, and I want this."

Michael's excitement grew, and his hand shook as he slicked his fingers before sliding them into the intense heat of Thor's body. A soft moan filled the small space. He loved that deep, rich sound.

"You don't have to treat me like I'm made of glass."

Michael drew back and then slowly slipped into the tight heat of Thor's body. It took all his control to keep from pressing fast. The last thing he wanted was to hurt him, so Michael forced himself to go as slowly as he could. He was about to ask if Thor was okay when his breathing deepened, and the tightness around him increased. "Thor…?"

"Don't you dare stop," Thor ground out between his teeth.

"I don't intend to." He leaned over Thor, kissing him as his balls pressed against Thor's ass. He stilled, letting Thor adjust to the intrusion and waiting for his breathing to return to normal.

"Then move," Thor snarled with desire, and Michael slowly moved his hips, listening as Thor gasped softly. Out was hard, but in was so much easier as Thor's body seemed to pull him in, like their bodies longed to be linked. Thor felt amazing, and it took mere seconds before Michael was lost in sensation.

The tent was dark, yet it was almost like he could see Thor. He could practically see his half-lidded eyes and the way his mouth hung open. Thor's breathing became shallow and more intense as they moved together, the heat building in the tent. Sweat beaded on his chest as he picked up the pace, groaning as Thor pulled him down, their kiss intensely hot as passion built between them.

Michael had no idea how much longer he was going to be able to last, and yet he was determined that Thor's pleasure came before his own. Arching his back, he slowed his pace, holding on to Thor, listening to his breathing and moans that told him Thor was right on the edge. He held still for a second, drawing both of them back from the edge before stroking Thor's chest and driving deep, taking his lover back to the brink, and this time driving them both toward the edge.

Thor gripped him hard as he drew out a long, slow moan that sent Michael over the edge, spilling himself into the depths of Thor's body.

He didn't dare move, not wanting to break the spell around them. Eventually, he slipped from Thor's body and lay down next to him. Thor pulled Michael close, and they both breathed deeply, listening to the sounds of the night around them.

"You're damned amazing," Thor whispered.

He smiled. "So are you," Michael said, resting against Thor, his hands on Thor's, enjoying the quiet time between them. "I love moments like this. The heat is gone, and it's the time for just the two of us."

Thor chuckled softly. "Sweetheart, somehow I don't think my desire for you is ever going to go away." He drew Michael into a kiss, holding him gently as fatigue from a long day washed over him. Michael closed his eyes, secure in the arms of his lover, and let himself dream. He always found it easy to sleep with Thor next to him, and combined with the fresh air, Michael was out like a light, warm and safe in Thor's arms.

At some point in the night, Michael woke, Thor tense next to him as footsteps passed near the tent. Michael wasn't sure if it was human or a bear, but either way, it was danger, and he found himself frozen, scared, and wondering what Thor was going to do.