Tyler opened his eyes a crack and studied the pale light seeping into the bedroom through the curtains that Dan was holding open. Yeah, it was snowing, but he didn't know why Dan sounded excited about it. It was January. Snow happened.

Dan was naked, his bare feet shifting on the spot to avoid prolonged contact with the wooden floor, which meant that when he got back into bed, he'd be pressing cold skin against Tyler. Finding out that it was snowing didn't seem worth the discomfort to come and the present lack of Dan beside him. Tyler decided that he was getting soft. Six months of sleeping with someone who squirmed close at the first sign that Tyler was awake, arms and legs wrapping around him with flattering enthusiasm, did that to a man.

On the other hand, while Tyler was currently missing out on sleepy kisses and wandering hands, he had a good view of Dan's ass and the long line of his back, winter-pale skin covered in goose bumps. He hummed appreciatively, and Dan turned, still holding the curtain, blue eyes narrowed in pretended exasperation. Not that Tyler was really looking much at Dan's face...

"Did you hear me? Snow!"

"Yeah, I heard you. Not sure why you're surprised; the storm's been forecast for a few days now." Tyler ran his tongue across his teeth and felt the fur from one beer too many the night before. "And it's snowed already this winter. On Christmas Day, the ground was white."

"That was just frost. It's really snowing," Dan said. He let the curtain drop back and rubbed his hands briskly over his arms. "I can't see the trees, and it's about four, maybe five inches deep."

Tyler grunted and fought off a feeling of claustrophobia. He wasn't trapped, pinned down, or helpless, no matter how much it felt that way. His truck might not be able to make it down the long lane to the road, but he sure as hell could if he had to. He reminded himself, as he did at least once most days, that as far as he knew, no one was looking for him, and if they were, the storm would slow them down -- and found himself staring at the computer desk drawer where he kept one of his spare guns.

Enough.

Dan wasn't seeing the storm as anything but pure fun, and Tyler didn't want to ruin it for him. Dan grinning and lit up was like espresso on legs, the energy and enthusiasm contagious, and if Tyler could only take small sips before he had to walk away and find some peace, well, he knew ways to harness that energy and make it work for him.

They didn't all involve Dan being naked, either; when the storm blew out, there was shoveling to be done, and it was going to be a nice change to have help with that.

Right now, though... "Get your ass over here," he said. "You're shivering."

"I'm freezing," Dan said without sounding too concerned about it. "It's cold in here. Want me to go and build up the fire?"

"No," Tyler said, and threw back the covers, shuddering as the frosty air struck at him with a spiteful slap. "I want you back where you belong."

Dan didn't keep him waiting, landing on the bed with a thud a moment later. It reminded Tyler of his mother's cat, who'd woken him up like that every day one summer vacation after discovering how to open doors with his paw. Tyler had always suspected that Fluffy had had some help from his mother with the finer details of that little trick, but it hadn't been worth arguing over. Fluffy had usually just curled up next to him, purring and lulling Tyler back to sleep, anyway.

The cat had been a furry version of a hot water bottle, though; Dan was more like a Popsicle. Tyler gasped and tried not to flinch when Dan snuggled up to him, stealing his warmth.

"I'm buying you PJs," he said darkly. "The flannel ones with feet."

Dan snorted and nuzzled his face into the crook of Tyler's neck. "You'd only get pissed when they took me too long to take off."

"True," Tyler allowed, rubbing his hands over Dan to warm him, a less than altruistic gesture. Dan felt good this close, his arms working their way around Tyler, one leg pushed between Tyler's thighs. "Maybe I'll just get you some bed socks."

"Sexy," Dan said. "Maybe I'll buy you thermal long johns. Red ones."