Page 41 of Light Up
When the door was closed, Corey tossed the chocolates onto a chair and corralled Tal back against the door, somehow managing not to touch him.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten,” Corey said. “Ask me again.” His eyes glittered. “And don’t sayask me what.”
“Would you like to hug me?”
Corey nodded. “I would like to hug you, but do you want me to?”
Knowing he could say no, being aware that Corey wouldn’t coerce him gave Tal the courage he needed.
“A hug would be nice.”
Corey dropped his shoulders. “Nice?” His indignation was clear. “My hugs are better than nice. A lot better than nice.” Then he winced. “Shit! Maybe they’re not. I’m not exactly experienced in hugging. Oh God, maybe I’m terrible.”
“That pile of snow didn’t think so.”
Corey bit his lip, then pouted. “But it didn’t tell me it liked it. I need constant reassurance.”
Tal laughed and kept laughing. Then he wrapped his arms around Corey. Corey’s head fell against his shoulder, and Tal heard him suck in a breath before he felt the pressure of arms sliding around his waist. They stood still, holding onto each other, and it felt…right. Tal wasn’t worried or desperate to pull away. Nor was he holding himself back. He sighed with pleasure.
“Okay?” Corey asked.
“Yes.”
“Nice or better than nice?”
Tal chuckled. “Acceptable.”
“Oh God. I need to change the subject before my confidence slides into a black hole. Have you ever been in a hot tub?”
“Yes.” Once. Not a particularly pleasurable experience because he’d been too concerned with hygiene issues, and the sweat, urine, and other body fluids that might be in the water with him, in addition to being too close to people, but this would just be him and Corey.
“I never have,” Corey said.
“It’s kept ready to use. Shall we?”
“Race you!” Corey began to strip as he crossed the room, almost falling as he kicked off his shoes, then again as he took off his jeans. Tal chuckled until Corey’s boxers came down too. Then he developed a lump in his throat.
“Tell me if it’s too cold,” Tal called which made Corey hesitate at the door.
But with a flash of bare backside, Corey slipped outside, folded off the cover and climbed in. The swirl of steam was a positive sign. Tal turned on the jets at a control panel inside the room and grabbed a couple of towels from the bathroom. A bottle of champagne was sitting in an ice bucket, along with two plastic flutes, presumably left by the maid and Tal carried everything outside. Only Corey’s head was out of the water. He’d tipped it back to the sky and he was groaning.
“I just had a nasty shock,” Corey said. “I hadn’t expected that jet of water to hit my arse. I had to move otherwise…” He opened his eyes and looked at Tal. “Hey, you’re still dressed. Get your clothes off. Now.”
“You’re suddenly very bossy.”
Tal thought Corey would make a joke, but he looked nervous.
“Is that okay?” Corey asked.
“Sometimes.”
Ten
Corey could hardly believe it when Tal stripped in front of him, then tossed his clothes inside. The rush of happiness he’d felt in being brave enough to give Tal an order, then for Tal to obey it… Then the pleasure in seeing Tal’s naked body—his hot, naked body—slowly revealed as he’d stripped… Coupled with Corey’s delight in being up to his neck in warm bubbling water when it was cold enough to snow…Please let it snow.Add in the excitement of knowing Tal was going to join him…andhe’d brought out the champagne…Oh my God!!!!!Corey was electrified with excitement. His heart pounded, his veins sizzled, his stomach fluttered and his cock was beyond hard. Was that possible? His cock not the other stuff.
Had that hug changed everything? His ice man had warmed up?
Tal settled on the opposite side of the tub and held out a glass of champagne.
