In the passenger seat, a soft glow from his phone lit Andrei’s face. “My weather app says the storm is going to last for hours.” He held the phone up, probably trying to see the keyboard in the minimal light as he typed. “There’s a motel about a mile ahead. We could crash there for the night.”
Snow glanced down at the man passed out on his shoulder, wishing he could see him in the darkness of the back seat. Instead, he lifted his free hand and touched Jude’s hair before he turned enough to bury his nose in it. He smelled like the shampoo they’d picked up on the road because they’d forgotten theirs. Snow had wanted to be home tonight in their bed. Smell the shampoo they normally used. But it was already after ten and they were still more than two hours from Cincinnati. They weren’t making it tonight. He’d enjoyed the hell out of their three-day weekend, though.
Andrei turned to hold his phone up so he could see Snow. “Sound good to you?” He cursed and dropped the phone when Lucas had to hit the brakes again.
“Yeah, we shouldn’t be driving in this.” Snow tightened his hand on Jude’s head to keep him steady, chuckling when he didn’t wake.
“I’m surprised Jude can sleep through this noise,” Andrei said.
Jude made a smacking sound and dropped his hand on Snow’s thigh. Snow grinned. “He can sleep through most anything.” Plus, he was exhausted from skiing. He’d never been before and he hadn’t quite gotten the hang of it. Tried his ass off, though.
One of Lucas’s business associates had offered his place so they could all take a vacation, though Lucas had spent most of it checking out properties in the area. He was thinking of purchasing a weekend place big enough for them all. Had even dragged Snow to look at one ridiculous house with six bedrooms and two kitchens. Who the hell needs two kitchens? Of course, Ian would have been in heaven. Snow had really liked the indoor pool, though. Any time he could get Jude into water was a good thing. It was like an aphrodisiac to the man.
Truthfully, skiing wasn’t Snow’s preference for a getaway and he’d only agreed to this weekend because he’d thought Rowe and Ian could make it. But at the last minute, both had work commitments. Though, in Rowe’s case, he knew it was bullshit. His heart ached for his friend. He was starting to hang out more, but he wasn’t himself and he hardly ever smiled. They should have known he wouldn’t be ready for a vacation.
Jude’s cell rang and Snow glanced into the cup holder to see Anna’s smiling face so he answered it. He knew exactly why she was calling. “We’re okay.”
“I just wanted to check in because the news is saying the storm is bad and I know you two aren’t home yet.”
“I see the motel,” Andrei said, pointing at some garish pink neon lights half-blurred through the thick sheets of rain.
Snow smiled when Jude turned his mouth into his neck and kissed him. “Don’t worry. We’re getting off the road now. We won’t be home tonight after all.”
“Okay. I put a casserole in the refrigerator at the apartment so you boys would have something ready when you got home. It’ll still be good tomorrow.”
“Thanks. Your son is pretty tired from falling on his ass all weekend so he’ll appreciate it.”
Jude, obviously awake now, opened his mouth and bit down.
Chuckling, Snow tightened his hand on Jude’s head, held his open mouth to his skin and worked to hold back a groan when Jude’s tongue came out to play. “I mean I’ll appreciate it, too.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re stopping for the night,” she said. “I won’t worry. Good night.”
She hung up just as Lucas stopped the car in front of the motel’s office. A lot of people milled near the door right inside. Before Snow had time to say anything, Lucas got out and dashed into the office.
Snow set the phone back into the holder. Anna Torres was nosy and she had hellaciously bad timing, but like her son, her heart was big and roomy—a welcome place for anyone she considered family. And she didn’t show up unannounced often, which was good because they still spent a lot of their free time naked.
Jude leaned back in the seat. “My mana loves you. Says you didn’t get proper mothering as a child and she needs to catch you up.”
Snow just shook his head. He’d never admit it, but he kind of liked her fussing.
“I take it we’re getting rooms to wait out the storm?” Jude put his hand on the door handle. “Want me to run in and get us one?”
“Don’t bother,” Andrei said from the front seat. “Lucas will get two.” He stretched his arms over his head as much as he could while pushing back against the seat. Snow couldn’t blame him. They’d been cooped up in the car for four hours and he was looking forward to getting out and straightening his legs.