The Storm Within by Lynn Hagen

Ryker didn’t expect much when he pulled into the dilapidated motel—just shelter from the blizzard and a chance to catch his breath. But the moment he meets Nate, his instincts roar to life. The slim, blue-eyed man is more than he appears, and the storm outside feels tame compared to the questions swirling in Ryker’s mind. Something about the motel is off, and the more time Ryker spends there, the stronger his need to protect Nate—even as danger edges closer.
For Nate, Ryker is both a lifeline and a complication he can’t afford. Years of isolation have taught him to keep his guard up, but Ryker’s presence stirs feelings he thought long buried. As secrets threaten to unravel and the strange motel tightens its grip, Nate must decide whether to trust the stranger who claims he’ll stay—or let him go before he, too, is trapped forever.