Page 25 of The Storm Within

“What’s wrong?” He tightened his hold, his heart thundering at Nate’s pained expression. All kinds of thoughts raced through Ryker’s mind. What if taking Nate from the motel had some unintended consequences? That hadn’t occurred to him before now.

“The spell must’ve broken as soon as we escaped the motel.” Nate panted heavily, staring up at him with a grimace. “My stomach…I feel like I’m starving to death.”

“Oh thank god.” Ryker let out a hard breath, his fears put to rest. “I thought it was going to be something serious.”

“Starving is serious!” Nate argued.

Keeping one arm locked around his mate, Ryker gestured toward the brick building with his other. “Not when we’re right next to a diner with some of the best food around.” Just thinking about what he wanted to order had Ryker’s mouth watering like crazy.

“I wouldn’t know since we’re standing here talking about food instead of eating it.” Nate stared daggers at him.

“Someone’s a little pissy when they’re famished.” Ryker chuckled. “Honey bear, there’s no need to worry. I’m about to easily fix our hunger issue.”

Heading toward the front of the diner, Ryker was positive he and Nate were about to eat Roman’s entire inventory of food.

Chapter Eight

Perched in a worn booth, Nate glanced around, stunned at how the world had changed since he’d been trapped in the motel. Sure, he’d caught glimpses of modern life through grainy TV commercials but they’d been limited and hadn’t prepared him for the staggering reality that surrounded him.

Almost everyone in the diner had a cell phone in their hands, their attention fixated on the screen as if it held some kind of mesmerizing power over them.

When the server took their order, Nate watched in astonishment as the guy used some sort of gadget to instantly send their choices to the cook.

The cars passing by on the street outside were nothing like the ones from Nate’s era. They had sleek, futuristic designs and moved with an efficiency he couldn’t comprehend. And what really blew his mind was the music blaring from one car as it drove by, a cacophony of sound that made his ears hurt.

It was almost like being on a different planet where everything seemed familiar yet somehow advanced beyond his understanding.

The noise level was what really agitated Nate and drove his anxiety even higher. After living in quiet solitude for so long, he found himself struggling to adjust to the constant bombardment of sounds from all directions.

Never would he have dreamt of longing for the simplicity of the motel. But now, surrounded by the chaos of this new world, Nate found himself missing its confining walls. He wanted the peace and quiet where his mind wasn’t struggling to cope with sensory overload.

Ryker’s strong, comforting arm slid around Nate’s shoulders, pulling him in close to his warm, solid body. The bustling din of the busy diner faded away as Ryker’s deep voice murmured reassuringly in his ear. “I can see taking you to a busy diner was the wrong choice. I should have taken you to my house first, where you could slowly acclimate back into the world.”

“It’s just…so much to take in.” Pressing himself even closer into Ryker’s side, Nate swallowed back his increasing panic. For one hundred years, the world had evolved without him, leaving him feeling lost and out of place, like a relic that didn’t belong here.

“Close your eyes, honey bear,” Ryker whispered against Nate’s ear. “Block out one sense so the others can better adjust.”

Doing as he was told, Nate closed his eyes and took a deep breath to center himself.

“Keep in mind that if you want to leave, we can go.” Ryker trailed his fingers down Nate’s arm, leaving a tingling sensation in their wake. “Whatever you need to cope, it’s yours.”

“You.” Nate rested a hand on Ryker’s muscular thigh, grateful for his comforting presence. “All I need is you.”

“Mmm. You have me, sweetheart.” The deep timbre of his voice rolled over Nate, smooth and slow, like whiskey poured over ice—heady, intoxicating, and impossible to resist. “But tell me what you smell.”

Taking another deep breath, Nate let the noise fade into the background, allowing the smells to fill his senses and trigger memories of foods he used to love. They flooded his mind, reminding him of how they tasted on his tongue, how the texture felt in his mouth, and the intense flavors he once took for granted but now craved more than anything.

“A strong, bold scent of roasted coffee beans. The sticky sweetness of maple syrup. Ooh, and the smokiness of hardwood bacon sizzling on the grill.” He inhaled deeper. “I also smell toasted bread with real butter melting into its warmth.”

Ryker rubbed gentle circles on his back as Nate continued to focus, relaxing as his breathing slowed and his racing heart began to settle. Then a smile tugged at his lips. “I also hear a child’s joyful laughter and faint Christmas music playing in the background.” He sighed in contentment, the laughter curling around him like a warm hug. “It’s distant, like it’s coming from somewhere down the street.”

“What else, honey bear?”

Opening his eyes, Nate looked up at him. “I want you to tell me what you hear,” he replied hoarsely. “Your voice…is soothing to me.”

Warm lips touched his temple, enveloping him in a dark, woodsy scent. “Your steady breathing, the way it hitches when your anxiety rises,” Ryker murmured. “And the beat of your heart that quickens every time I touch you.” His beard grazed Nate’s jaw, the soft scratch a contrast to the warmth of his breath. “And the naughty memories racing through your mind as you think about how good it felt when your cock slid into my mouth.”

Nate sucked in a sharp breath, his gaze darting to the scuffed tabletop. “You can’t hear thoughts.”

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