After the Crux Read Online Free PDF

steering wheel.
    “Whoa.” Jake put his hand on Ross’s arm. “Yeah, I’m taking over.”
    “You drove two days. Need to rest.”
    “I’ll get all the rest I need at home. We’ve stocked up the pantry to last most of the winter. With that and the trout, we’re set and you know it. Besides, I’d like to get home to my wife in one piece.”
    Ross didn’t argue. His head was swimming too much for coherent speech anyway. When Jake opened the driver’s door and reached for him, he blinked. “How’d you get there so fast?”
    Real worry clouded Jake’s expression. “We need to get you home. Have to say, I’m getting scared here. We need our leader, you know.”
    “Not a leader.”
    “Bullshit. You’ve put together this little community and kept us safe. We all love you, Ross. You get really sick, it’s going to fuck up everything.”
    “At least we found another generator.” Ross leaned on Jake, shivering as the frigid air hit him. Jake helped him walk around to the passenger side of the truck and helped him inside. It wasn’t easy. Besides the deepening snow, Ross was six-four, topping Jake by at least three inches.
    “Jenna will love the DVDs we found. Can’ wai’ to show her.” Ross heard the slur in his voice and blinked.
    “Nearly delirious and you’re thinking of pleasing Jenna. You know, Ross, it’s a new world. None of the old rules apply. And even if they did, a family is a family. You won’t hurt Dorian.”
    Ross slumped into the seat, his mind unable to catch up to the fever now tearing through his big body. “Dorian. Beautiful.”
    Jake paused. “Really. Hmm.” He threw a blanket over Ross.
    “Found books for him. He’ll be happy.” Ross gripped the blanket, his mind going to the place it had gone every damned night since he’d driven away from home. Dorian’s butt, flexing as he pushed inside Jenna. Her long, slim legs wrapped around his back. He groaned.
    “I’m getting you home,” Jake assured him, completely unaware that groan hadn’t been pain but remembered desire.
    Ross had hardly slept, his dreams plagued by that vision. But in his dreams, he’d taken off his clothes and stepped into their embrace. He’d been welcome.
    “Want to be home,” he mumbled.
    “Almost there, Ross. Please hang on.”

Chapter Four
    “Dorian!”
    Dorian dropped the myrtle he’d been carrying across the room to repot. It crashed onto the floor and he dropped to his knees to save it. Getting his hands on seeds for this one had been a bitch and the fragile, young plants had to stay in the greenroom this whole first winter. The plant was good for so many things—was a natural antibiotic and could help with digestive problems, coughs and more. The essential oil would work as an antiseptic.
    The panic and insistence in Jake’s voice scared the shit out of him, but none of them could afford to lose any of these plants. He cradled the root ball in his palms and hurriedly placed it in the new pot before surrounding it with fresh, nutrient-rich soil. He did pour the water too fast, but his hands had started shaking.
    “Dorian! We need you now!”
    Dorian quickly washed his hands and dried them on his jeans as he ran toward the main room, his steps faltering when he saw the ragged fear in Jake’s expression.
    “Ross got stabbed. Think an infection set in.”
    Dorian didn’t stop to grab a coat. He raced outside, Jake at his heels. The late-November blast of freezing air slammed into his body as he ran to the truck. He saw Ross slumped against the passenger seat, so he was careful to open the door slowly so he could catch the unconscious man before he tumbled to the ground.
    “Where was he stabbed?” he asked Jake, catching a glimpse of fiery red hair as a kid peeked over the back of the seat. Scrawny thing, probably starved. Dorian hugged Ross close as he pulled him from the truck. The big guy could never pass up people in need. Not that any of them would.
    Jake grabbed Ross’s arm to