Page 28 of Meeting Mr. Christmas
Jed attached the bauble to the tree, just beneath the battered Christmas angel, and stood back, hands on hips as he inspected their efforts. “It’s not bad, not bad at all.” He looked over at Noel and smiled his bright, confident Jed smile.
The moment had passed. Noel’s thundering heart didn’t know whether that was a good thing or a bad, whether it would have been an insane move or a missed opportunity, whether it would have damaged and skewed their friendship or taken it to a whole new level into something so much more. But in the room where the light now seemed so much harder and brighter, he would never know.
“The room’s so much better now, don’t you think?”
Jed slung an arm around Noel’s shoulders, the urge to lean into Jed’s body a near irresistible pull, but Jed’s arm was loose and easy, friendly and comfortable, the intimacy of a good and close friend. It would be a heap of madness and insanity, piled upon craziness, to put all that at risk. He’d done the right thing in keeping his secret locked away, even if his heart wanted only to weep. Noel eased himself out from under Jed’s arm and began to gather together the few scraps of decorations that were left, too few, too ratty and too bedraggled to be festooned around his living room.
The music stopped, Ella finishing up on a well-known classic; Noel turned it off.
Jed yawned and stretched, his T-shirt riding loose, revealing the hard muscles he’d honed and kept from high school sports. A trail of fair hair disappeared beneath the waistband of his jeans. “I could use a shower.”
You’re not the only one…Noel cleared his throat. “Sure. You know where everything is.”
“Thanks, bud.” Jed sniffed his armpit and wrinkled his nose. “Just a shame I’m gonna have to put this stuff back on.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
Jed’s eyes opened cartoonishly wide, and Noel groaned. “What I mean is, last time you stayed here, you left some clothes. Just sweat pants and a hoodie. I kept meaning to give them back.” The lie slipped easily from his tongue. There was no wayhe’d ever intended to return them, not when he could bury his face into the soft fabric, inhaling the fading but still there scent of Jed.
Noel dug out the clothes as Jed showered, leaving them on the bed. He stared down at the king size, which dominated the room.
One bedroom, one bed. They could share, because they’d shared a bed before. When they’d been kids… But they weren’t kids now. He sucked in his lower lip… It would be way more comfy than the couch… They’d each have their side… It was a new, firm mattress, so no chance of rolling into the middle together… It made sense to share. He’d suggest it. Fuck, he’d never suggest it, he’d?—
“Hey.”
Noel swung around — and almost keeled over. Jed stood in the doorway, his fair hair darkened from the shower. Stray droplets of water were scattered over his chest. One meandered down, gravity pulling it towards that mouthwatering treasure trail, darker and more defined on Jed’s still damp skin. Noel watched it fall, powerless to drag his gaze away as it made its way south, soaking into the towel wrapped low around Jed’s hips.
Jed stepped towards the bed. Noel couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. Hell, he could hardly breathe, because Jed in all his golden, almost naked glory, was taking up every inch of space and every breath of air in the room. Jed was so close, all it would take would be one tiny tug of the towel and it’d drop to the floor. Jed stepped in closer, and reached for the clothes that sat in a small pile on the end of the bed.
“I’ll make some more hot chocolate.” Noel rushed from the room, pulling the door closed with a bang.
He hung on hard to the edge of the sink, taking deep breaths to steady his galloping heart. Jesus, he needed to get a grip. He’d held it together with Jed for so many years, everythinghe dreamed of, fantasized about, and wanted so much it hurt, locked down in the dark, yet here he was, everything straining at the seams and threatening to unravel.
Two clumsy paws scratched at his leg. He looked down into Peter’s enormous eyes, and he snatched his little pet up into his arms.
“I’m just tired, that’s all. Honest. Works’s crazy. I haven’t got laid in too long a time, so I’m imagining stuff,” he whispered into Peter’s soft fur. Peter licked Noel’s nose before he snuggled deeper into Noel’s hold, his warm body a comfort.
“He’s the cutest thing when he’s not farting. Here, give him to me.”
Noel looked up and swallowed. Sweats were supposed to be loose and baggy, but these seemed to mold themselves around Jed, emphasizing rather than disguising his hard, muscular frame, the soft fabric cupping Jed’s plump dick. Jed stepped in close and Peters squirmed with excitement — yeah, Noel sure got that okay — as Jed took him into his arms. “You’re such a beautiful boy, a beautiful little cutie. You gonna give Jed a kiss? Are you?”
Peter yapped and caught the tip of Jed’s nose with his tongue. Wriggling hard and with his tail thrashing from side to side, he was exactly where he wanted to be: held tight in Jed’s arms.
You and me both, Peter…
“I’ll bring the chocolate through,” Noel croaked, stepping backwards, putting some space between him and Jed, giving himself room to breathe once more.
“Ah, okay.” Jed put Peter down, who whined at the sudden loss of attention before he waddled out of the kitchen. “I really appreciate you letting me crash here. I can’t believe I left my keys in the house.”
“I can. It’s not the first time you’ve got yourself locked out, but I’m surprised you didn’t look up one of your girlfriends first. I mean, I’m happy you’re here, and I don’t mind being second choice…”
Jed’s face froze.
Fuck… Why had he said that? Unless Jed had called Cora or anyone else on the long list of women whom Jed only had to smile and crook a finger at…
“Because I haven’t got a girlfriend.” Jed’s voice was a low rumble, and strained, as though he were holding back a storm that was pushing to break through. “You know I’m not seeing anybody, but even if I were, I’d rather be here with you. You’re not second choice. Okay? I don’t want to hear you say that again. Ever.”
Noel nodded and he swallowed hard. “Erm, go find something for us to watch on TV.”
