Josh felts his skin heat at the thought of Reed or Hannah—or both—touching his bare skin.
Enough of that.
He pulled himself to a standing position, releasing a groan.
Dear God, every joint in his body hurt like that of an elderly man.
Josh looked toward the end of the bed to find his shirt laid out. It was still dirty, with soil and bloodstains, but didn’t smell that bad, so he shrugged it on, exhaling an oath when he did.
Yeah, this is going to be a long day.
The cotton slipped over his arm, and he gasped out in pain.
The demon bite.
If only he could forget.
Josh looked down at the offending wound. Though Hannah had helped it along some in the healing process, it was nowhere near where it needed to be. Red, angry lashes spread out from the bite like a sadistic web. He hated to think it, but it looked like an infection that was spreading. But he didn’t want to think about that. Apparently he didn’t want to think about a lot of things lately.
He pulled his socks and boots on, grateful to whoever had put them near the fireplace. They were nice and toasty on his cold feet. Sucking in a deep breath and gathering his strength, he left the warmth of the bedroom and ventured out to the living room. The resulting image made him smile and his cock harden.
Hannah sat before the fireplace, legs crossed in a position that promised more aerobic activities in his mind.
Her corkscrew curls circled her face, making it look like she’d just rolled out of bed after a long night of passion. Damn, had she and Reed done anything when he’d been asleep? So not his business, but the image that ran across his mind made him want to groan with need.
Hannah bit her lip in concentration, a delectable habit of hers, while chanting something he couldn’t quite make out. From the looks of it, she was meditating and doing a damn sexy job of it.
The front door opened, letting in the chill from the outside. Josh immediately pivoted towards the intruder, blocking Hannah from their path. He cringed at the sharp pain digging into his side from his fast movement but ignored it.
Reed stood in the doorway, red-cheeked and wide-eyed. He gave Josh a worried look then quickly covered it up with a smile.
Damn that smile could stop a train in its tracks.
Reed shut the door behind him, shook off the snow that had collected on his hair and shoulders, and came farther into the room.
“Good to see you up, Josh.” Reed looked him over, his gaze leaving scorch marks as it passed.
“Yes, Josh, how are you feeling?”
Josh spun around to Hannah, who’d opened her eyes and smiled warmly at both of them.
Reed and he both started toward her to help her to a standing position, but she waved them off, gracefully straightening her legs and stretching her back like a cat.
Like a fucking sexy ballerina. Damn.
Josh coughed to cover his staring. “I’m feeling a bit groggy and could use some water. But the sleep helped.”
“Oh, I’ll go get you some.” Hannah stretched one last time and ran to get him a glass before Josh could even open his mouth to say he could do it.
“Let her help you; you scared her. Me too.” Reed smiled again and led him to the couch where they both sat.
Hannah hurried back in as they were getting comfortable.
“Here you go; I hope this helps.” She smiled again and Josh almost fell in love right there.
Not something he should be doing.
Reed and Josh left enough space on the couch for her to sit in the middle. She snuggled up between them, reminding him of a very vivid dream with the three of them. Josh shifted a bit to relieve the pressure against his zipper.
His thought from before repeated like a loop in his brain.
Gonna be a long day
.
“We need to get out of here. I don’t feel comfortable staying in a cabin we don’t know, stealing from them, hiding from someone—or something—trying to kill us.” Josh was adamant on this. Fear crawled up his spine at the thought of what hunted them.
“We know,” Reed said. “The snow’s getting pretty bad out there though. I don’t know if we can hoof our way out of here. Plus, we needed to make sure we were all ready for the journey.”
Reed paused, and Josh felt his stomach fall. They’d waited because of him. He hated being the weak one—the human.
“I can’t get a hold of the Pack at the moment,” Reed continued. “We’re essentially cut off, but at least we have each other.”
Josh liked the sound of that.
“Okay, I understand. What about our defenses?” Something he was good at.
Hannah spoke up. “Well, between my wards and Reed’s senses, we should be able to get fair warning. It’s the best we can hope for the time being.”
Josh was at a loss. Did they even need him? He didn’t know how he felt about that.
“Josh, I need to know something.” Reed looked serious, almost as if he didn’t want to know the answer.
“Okay.”
“How did you find us? Why did you help us?”
Josh looked at both of them sitting stock still on the couch, as if waiting for him to tell them he was in on the Central’s deal. He couldn’t blame them for their worry, but it still stung just a bit.
“I’m a Finder.”
Silence.
Okay, apparently I need to explain exactly what that is.
Josh rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly nervous about what they would think of him.
Hannah’s soft voice urged him to continue. “What’s a Finder, Josh?”
“I can Find anyone I’ve met before. Anywhere and anytime. I just need to see their face personally, and then I can concentrate on the memory and Find them.”
“That’s remarkable,” Hannah whispered.
“I agree, but you’ve never met me. I’d remember.” Reed quirked a brow.
Did they not believe him?
“I know. I’ve never seen either of you before. But when some kids mentioned you, flashes of your lives and who you were came to me. I had to Find you.”
Hannah brought her hand to her mouth, trembling. “Thank you.”
Josh held her other hand. “You’re welcome. I don’t know why the two of you are so special, and why things worked the way they did. But I’m not unhappy about it. I’m glad I Found you.”
Reed nodded and something flashed across his green eyes.
Huh?
Relief spread through him at their acceptances, but he didn’t know why he’d told them exactly. He’d never told another soul outside his family about his gift—if it could be called that. But it felt good—complete even—to do so with them.
“I knew I smelled something different about you,” Reed murmured.
“Are you saying I smell?” Josh fought the urge to sniff his dirty shirt and sat back slightly offended.
“No, no.” Reed waved his hands. “I’m a wolf, remember? I have a better sense of smell, and while your scent was definitely human, it held a trace of something different. Now I know why.”
“Oh.” Josh shrugged, feeling slightly better.
“Were you always this way?” Hannah wondered aloud.
Josh nodded. “I don’t remember
not
having this ability, so yes. And no, it wasn’t some military experiment or anything.”
All three laughed, the tension of their conversation dissolving away.
On an offhand thought, Josh closed his eyes and tried to Find Corbin, just to see if the bastard was close. But his vision grew hazy, almost at a disconnect.
What the hell?
He rubbed his temples as a headache set in.
“What’s wrong, Josh?” Hannah asked.
“I just tried to Find Corbin. But I think the wards or something is messing it up. Don’t worry; I’m sure it’s nothing.” The bite mark on his arm tingled, but Josh tried not to connect the two incidents. No, it was just the wards. It had to be. His Finding would come back, and everything would be normal. He’d go home. Alone.
“You know, Josh, that’s a very useful talent,” Reed commented.
Ice settled in Josh’s chest. “I won’t be used by anyone for anything.”
Hurt crossed Reed’s face and Josh backed down. “That wasn’t what I meant. I’m sorry. I was just complimenting your gift. Not everyone can say they are useful in the world. I would never use you for myself or my Pack. And if they go against their nature and even think about using you, then they’d have to deal with me.” His eyes grew hard, threatening.
“Me too,” Hannah added in, a fierce expression on her face.
Warmth filled his chest at their promise of protection and acceptance. He’d never thought he’d ever tell anyone what he was, let alone feel as though they understood and wanted to know more. It was interesting to say the least.
Josh let out a breath. “It’s okay. I’m sorry for overreacting. It’s just odd to have others know what I am, ya know?”
Reed and Hannah looked at each other before smiling at him.
Yeah, the wolf and the witch would know for sure.
Hannah reached out and grabbed both of their hands, warmth infusing into his bones.
He shouldn’t get used to this. He
couldn’t
get used to this.
The windows rattled as the wind howled outside. Cold seeped underneath the panes and doorways, cooling the room considerably, despite the roaring fire. His arm rocked with pain, but he didn’t flinch because he didn’t want to worry the others.
Reed went to the door, making sure it was secured. Hannah put another log on the fire, to keep the warmth from leeching to the outside. Josh looked through the windows to see the blizzard had come down on them. Fat snowflakes fell to the ground in a blur. The wind picked up, carrying snow-drifts and slamming them into the surrounding trees and walls of the cabin. The snow had already accumulated to what Josh estimated to be at least three feet—and counting.
Shit, it looked as though they’d be stuck here for a lot longer than they wanted.
Josh tried not to feel excited about sharing a small cabin with two people who drove up his sex drive faster than anything he’d ever felt, but he couldn’t do it.
If he was going to be stuck with them indefinitely, he’d use it to his advantage. Even if it was going to kill him that much more to say goodbye when the time came.
Hannah came up from behind him, putting her hand in his. “Thank you again, Josh.” He turned toward her. Tears filled her eyes, but they didn’t fall. “I don’t know what we would have done. The things they did to me were horrible. But I couldn’t watch them hurt Reed anymore.” A single tear fell, leaving a thin trail down her face.
Josh wiped the tear from her cheek, hating to see her in pain. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. But I’d Find you again if I had to.”
Hannah looked down at the bite mark on his arm that throbbed with his heartbeat.