Edward.

Rowdy turned and composed his features before Cameron could see the pain he was sure showed in his eyes. Cameron was already on the defensive and had been through too much in one night. Rowdy wasn't going to stand there and explain himself, not tonight, maybe not ever.

"Since you're feeling better, I think I should go."

"You should." Why did Cameron look hurt? Rowdy hadn't meant to hurt the man's feelings. Cameron didn't seem to want him there, so why did he look as if Rowdy had kicked the guy in the gut?

He started to tell Cameron that he would stay, but his mate shuffled off to the private bathroom in his room. He closed the door behind him without saying another word. Rowdy stood there for a moment and then his shoulders slumped. He walked out, promising himself that he would keep a closer eye on Cameron.

Even if Cameron didn't know he was doing it.

Chapter Four.

Cameron stretched as he yawned. He hadn't been getting much sleep since the incident at the drugstore. He'd convinced himself that it was an "incident," not a life-threatening situation. Coping skills. Gotta love them.

But no matter how much he told himself that the danger was over, Cameron continued to have nightmares. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Nelson. In one dream, the gunman was laughing as he danced on Cameron's lifeless body. Another had Nelson talking to him, half his head missing. Last night Cameron had dreamt that Nelson shot Rowdy. Cameron had woken up gasping and sweating. His cheeks had been damp and Cameron knew he'd been crying in his sleep.

Maybe his coping skills weren't working as well as he pretended they were. But he was going to continue pretending that they were. That was his coping skill for dealing with his coping skills.

Closing his apartment door, Cameron jogged down the steps and out into the crisp, freezing morning air. He was only going for a two-mile run this morning. Anything more might make him fall over. Cameron tried to stay in shape, but it didn't always work out that way. He was slim thanks to genetics, but he smoked and loved his fried foods. He figured jogging was his way of paying back whoever gave him the good genes to staying skinny.

By the time he passed the sheriff's station, Cameron could feel a cramp in his calf. He really did need to do this more often. Maybe he'd sign up at the local gym. Did Bear County have a gym?

Okay, that had to have been a mile, right? Or it might have been half a mile...a quarter mile. Maybe an eighth. Who was counting? He jogged in place for a minute and then turned around, ready to head back to his apartment. Cameron was freezing his balls off. He could always jog in place at home while watching some television. That would be warmer than this crap.

As he passed the sheriff's station, he spotted Sparrow coming out. The guy stopped and watched Cameron as if memorizing his features. That was creepy.

Cameron jogged around the block, passing closed businesses. It was only six in the morning. The sun had yet to rise. But Cameron had tossed and turned all night and he figured jogging would tire him out. Tomorrow would be his first day back at work after the "incident" and his anxiety was growing.

In all honesty, Cameron didn't want to go back to the pharmacy but he had no choice. The bills weren't going to pay themselves and finding a job after being fired from Piggly Wiggly hadn't been easy. Although new businesses had come to Bear County, the positions had been filled fairly quickly.

Cameron cursed as he stumbled forward. His foot had caught on a raised piece of the sidewalk. He leaned his hand against the building and wiggled his foot, hissing. When he tried to put his foot back on the ground, pain shot through his lower leg.

God, please don't let it be strained. Cameron didn't have any health insurance and although he was paid for the three days off of work-due to the mental anguish, his boss had said-he couldn't afford to miss any days.

"Some new form of exercise?"

Cameron looked over his shoulder to see Rowdy sitting in his truck. No matter how hard he tried to stay pissed at the guy, the cowboy was too damn good looking not to ogle. But Cameron tried his best to keep his eyes averted. He wasn't going to be pulled into those dark-grey eyes or that charming smile.

"Hurt my foot on that stupid sidewalk." Cameron tried once more to put pressure on his foot and got the same results. He was going to have to limp home.

Rowdy got out and Cameron instantly smelled leather. Fuck if the guy didn't smell good. He'd showered recently, judging by his wet hair and soapy smell. Cameron inwardly groaned when his cock started to get hard.

The cowboy walked toward him with a sexy gait and knelt right next to Cameron, checking Cameron's ankle. "Seems irritated."

Cameron bit his lower lip as Rowdy's fingers glided over his skin. He had been ignoring Rowdy, even telling himself to steer clear of the cowboy. But to feel the man's rough hands skim over his skin was breaking down every defense Cameron had put into place.

"Let me give you a ride home." Rowdy stood and Cameron instantly missed the heat of the man's fingers.

"I think I can manage."

"You'll only make it worse," Rowdy warned. "Right now your ankle needs ice, not more pressure."

A burst of laughter escaped. Cameron waved his hand to the side. "I'm in freezing temperatures. I think ice isn't an issue."

"But you don't need to damage anything," Rowdy pointed out. He glanced down at Cameron's foot and Cameron could feel the weight of the man's gaze along his skin, as if Rowdy had reached out and caressed him. "Stop arguing and let me help you to my truck."

Cameron gave in and allowed Rowdy to give him a ride. Arguing might have saved him from getting into the truck and smelling a stronger scent of leather and clean soap. The aroma slid over him like velvet. Cameron inhaled deeply before Rowdy climbed in on the other side.

"Where to?"

"The apartments on Howard Street." Cameron sat back and tried his best not to openly stare at the man. But his eyes betrayed him and soon he was stealing covert glances. A painful awareness that he was alone in the truck with a man-with Rowdy-came over him.

They passed a secondhand clothing store, the post office, a flower shop, barbershop, a convenience store, and the dreaded drugstore before turning down Howard Street. Cameron felt as if he didn't know this place any more. Since the "incident," the town had changed for him. It was no longer the quint little Mayberry he'd once viewed it as.

He guessed having brain matter splattered all over you would do that to a person. Cameron gazed at the trees and wondered if he should just move on. Taylor was being well taken care of now and Cameron didn't need to worry about his best friend. A thickness formed in Cameron's throat when he thought of how life used to be with his best friend. There was no more bonding, no more late-night sessions of movie watching and just hanging out.

It was just Cameron now. In the apartment by himself. The shadows seemed darker when he was there at night, the place quieter, eerie. Cameron found himself using books and television to escape, talking to strangers to feel connected, and becoming more and more sullen.

Rowdy sat next to him quietly, as if deep in his own thoughts. Cameron wanted to ask what the guy was thinking, but didn't.

He wasn't usually this morose, but ever since his best friend had decided to get a life of his own, Cameron didn't feel as if he had a reason to stay. Unfortunately, he couldn't afford to move. He'd let Simon move in to lessen the overall cost and to have someone to talk to. The guy was coming by tonight. After what had taken place in the drugstore, both Cameron and Simon had felt it best to wait a few days before Simon checked the place out.

"That one." Cameron pointed to his building. The building was U shaped with the bottom part of the letter facing the main street and the two sides veering back toward the wooded areas. Cameron liked that his apartment faced the main street. It enabled him to people watch when he didn't work.

Rowdy eased the truck into an empty parking spot on the side of the building and then came around to help Cameron out. "Just place your arm over my shoulder."

Cameron managed, even though Rowdy was a few inches taller.

"Lean into me and let me do all the work." The cowboy's voice was deep and rough. Rowdy stayed close to Cameron, his warm body pressing against him. When the guy wrapped his arm around Cameron's waist, Cameron's dick became hard. Just that easily.

But if Rowdy noticed, he didn't say anything. Cameron took several deep breaths. The first two were shaky, but each subsequent breath became more solid until he had it under control.

They passed through the entrance and headed toward the first flight of stairs. It was awkward trying to hop up steps. It wasn't an easy task. Cameron had to keep one hand on the guardrail in order not to fall over. He doubted Rowdy would let him fall, but having something solid under his hand gave him a sliver of peace.

"Go slow. There's no need to rush."

Cameron nodded as he began to sweat. This was a tougher workout than jogging. He briefly wondered if Rowdy would be willing to come over every morning so they could do this routine. He quickly dismissed the idea.

By the time they made it to the first landing, Cameron's right leg felt like a wet noodle. It shook and the muscles strained. He could feel the sweat building on his scalp and back.

"Maybe you should rest." Rowdy tried to turn Cameron so he could sit, but Cameron's leg became tangled with his useless one and he went down, taking Rowdy with him. Cameron landed hard on his back and felt a shooting pain spread over him.

Rowdy landed on top of him and the man wasn't light. He wasn't bulky with muscles, but he felt as if he weighed a ton. The air was knocked out of Cameron and he shouted in pain.

"Shit." Rowdy tried to get up, but his hand slipped on the step. Someone had to have come up the steps before them because there was melted snow everywhere. Rowdy landed on Cameron again.

"I'm going to need a body cast if you do that again," Cameron said as he tried to catch his breath. Having Rowdy lying on top of him was wholly unexpected and didn't help Cameron's hard-on. He could feel that Rowdy wasn't unaffected, either. There was something solid and long jabbing into Cameron's stomach.

Their eyes locked. Cameron gazed into dark-grey eyes as his breath turned into small pants. Rowdy pressed his hands on either side of Cameron's body and licked his lips as the two just stared at each other.

"Did I hurt you?"

Cameron shook his head. He was suddenly aware of the blood rushing through his ears, his heart pounding wildly. The scent of leather and soap filled his lungs.

Rowdy seemed to be fighting some internal struggle. His eyes searched Cameron's face, and his lips parted before he licked them again. Cameron watched as the man's tongue slid slowly from one corner of his mouth to the other. The need to kiss the cowboy was so overwhelming that Cameron was sure he'd die if he didn't taste the guy's lips.

Cameron's breath hitched when Rowdy lowered his head. He grazed his lips over Cameron's in a slow, torturous way that had Cameron ready to beg.

"Damn you," Rowdy whispered and Cameron could feel the man's warm breath skitter across his chin. The kiss set Cameron's blood on fire. Cameron slid his hands over Rowdy's neck until his fingers were entwined in the hair at his nape. Rowdy deepened the kiss and Cameron was ready to come in his shorts.

"Oh my."

Rowdy yanked away. Cameron looked up to see Mrs. Howze standing above them. She was his seventy-year-old neighbor. Her hair was dyed pink and she wore a one-piece fusain pantsuit. Attached to her hand was a leash. On the end of the leash was her Yorkie. Biscuit barked.

Mrs. Howze blushed. "Don't let me interrupt. It's been too long since I've seen this kind of action. I don't even mind that it's two gentleman." She giggled. She sounded like a teenager when she made that sound. "If anything, it's sexier because it's two gentlemen."

Rowdy managed to push himself up without falling and he helped Cameron to his feet. There was a deep scarlet color on Rowdy's face. "Sorry, ma'am."

"Oh poo," Mrs. Howze said. "I should have been quieter and I might have seen some real action. I used to get jiggy in my day."

It was Cameron's turn to blush. It was like having his grandmother standing there and he was seven kinds of embarrassed. "I just fell."

She winked at Cameron. "I bet you did. I'd fall for this handsome cowboy as well."

The two moved aside so Mrs. Howze could get past them. Biscuit sniffed at Rowdy before turning her nose up and following the old woman.

"How many more flights?" Rowdy asked.

"One." Now Cameron wished that he'd taken the apartment on the top floor. It would've given him more time with Rowdy. But the spell was broken and they were back to hobbling up the steps. Cameron was out of breath by the time he made it to his door.

"Would you like to come in?" Cameron asked as he opened his door. He hadn't locked it. There wasn't anything worth stealing and carrying keys in loose shorts would have been irritating.

"I have to get to work. I just came into town to run some errands."

"At six in the morning?"

Rowdy glanced toward his feet. "Yeah. I better get going. Put some ice on that and keep it elevated."

Cameron didn't want the man to go. He liked having someone to talk to. But he didn't say anything else as Rowdy jogged down the steps. Cameron sighed as he limped inside and took a seat on his overstuffed couch. He touched his lips and smiled. It seemed Rowdy wasn't a frozen-hearted bastard after all. He was still a bear shifter, but that fact was becoming less and less important to Cameron.

He pressed the palm of his hand into his erection and moaned. He thought about that kiss, how Rowdy had smelled, how good it had felt to have the man's weight pressed into him. He let go of reality and sank deep into fantasy. His foot was still sore as hell, but his erection overrode that pain.

Cameron unsnapped his pants, his fingers slowly letting the zipper down, trembling as he thought of how Rowdy had looked at him, like he mattered, like Cameron was someone special.

The head of his cock was swollen and pre-cum was slipping down the side. Cameron shuddered. He closed his eyes, imagining that it was Rowdy's hand touching him, searching out his thick shaft. A shiver of electricity raced through him.

"Rowdy." Without opening his eyes, Cameron slipped his shorts to his knees and spread his legs wider, cupping his balls and rolling them in his hand. "God, Rowdy," he whispered.

His head rolled to one side as his breathing picked up. Cameron gripped his cock, squeezing, whimpering in disappointment that Rowdy wasn't really there, couldn't suck him off. He stroked himself a few more times before he let go and slid his hand under his sweat-soaked shirt, pinching his nipple.

He hissed. It had been so long since anything turned him on. Fantasies weren't cutting it anymore and jerking off had become mundane. But now he had something to work with. That kiss. God. It had affected him so deeply that Cameron should be frightened, but he ignored that thought and settled on the one where Rowdy's perfect lips wrapped around his cock.

That was much better.

He kicked his shoes off and sank deeper into the couch, his lips parting as he imagined what it would be like to be fucked by the gorgeous cowboy. It was strangely exciting and heart pounding as Cameron released his nipple and gripped his cock again.

As he pretended to feed his cock to Rowdy, Cameron's skin felt electric. He gripped his balls tighter. A grunted sound left his lips. He was breathing harder.

"Suck it, Rowdy." His voice rose as his cock strained in his hand. "Yes, like that."

His floorboard squeaked. Cameron's eyes flew open and Rowdy was standing just inside his door. The man's features were strained, pinched, as his eyes stayed locked onto Cameron's hand.

"I knocked, but you didn't answer." Rowdy swallowed. "I heard strange noises so I came in to make sure you were okay."

Cameron couldn't move. How long had Rowdy been standing there? From the look on his face, long enough. Cameron grabbed the hem of his shorts and jerked them up. He stood so fast that he nearly fell over.

"You don't have ice on your ankle," Rowdy stated, but his eyes were still fixated on Cameron's groin. "I came back to make sure you did what you were supposed to do."

Cameron glanced everywhere but at Rowdy. He was beyond embarrassed. He was mortified. Shouting at the cowboy for just walking in would have helped his awkwardness. But he couldn't form the words. Cameron could only stand there like a trapped animal.

Rowdy finally glanced away and looked around the apartment. He took a step to the side and then turned, walking into the kitchen. Cameron let go of a shaky breath, ready to bolt from his very own apartment.

He could hear the man rambling around and then he returned with a ziplock bag full of ice. "Sit."

Cameron did as he was told, still feeling out of sorts. His eyes dropped to his lap as Rowdy knelt in front of him and lifted Cameron's leg, resting his foot on the coffee table. He laid the bag on Cameron's ankle. The man's fingers lingered, pressed gently around the ankle, smoothing over Cameron's skin.

Cameron's cock jerked.

Rowdy moved up Cameron so quick that Cameron was caught off guard. He gripped Cameron's jaw and smashed their lips together. Cameron melted into the sofa. He slid to the side, ready to lie on his back, when Rowdy pulled away.

The cowboy blinked and wiped at his forehead. He turned, placing his hands on his hips. Cameron watched in disbelief as Rowdy crossed the apartment and walked out, closing the door behind him.

What the hell? Cameron needed a smoke and a drink. He headed into the kitchen and poured himself some vodka.

Chapter Five.