Christmas Delights 3 (21 page)

Screwing up his mouth, he checked his
watch. It had only been two minutes since he looked at it last. He got to his
feet and ambled across the room. He stopped beside the coffee table and picked
up the scented candle sitting in the centre of the table. Taking a deep breath,
he smelled the candle—spiced apple and cinnamon.

So good.

Keegan headed for the sideboard and opened
the top drawer. He pursed his lips as he rummaged through its contents—old bank
statements, cheque books, batteries, scissors. Eventually, he found the
lighter. Neither of them smoked and he’d had it since before he met Alex. For
some reason it was in a goodie bag at the Fresher’s Fair he’d attended when
he’d started university. He pushed the drawer shut and went to sit on the
couch. Pulling his thumb across the top of the lighter, he managed to create a
flame, then lit the candle. He waited for the wick to catch light, then placed
the lighter on the table and cupped the glass bowl of the scented candle in his
hands. He watched the flame and the orange glow it created against his palms.

Carefully, he placed the candle on a
coaster and sat back. He checked around the room and wondered if he’d forgotten
anything. He’d put his presents for Alex under the tree as Alex had done last
night before he headed out to work, and he’d made plans to make breakfast when
Alex got home—nothing said
I love you
more than a bacon and fried egg
sandwich.

Where are you?

He hated waiting and not knowing. What if
something had happened? No. He wouldn’t think like that. With a sigh, he leaned
back and took a deep breath. Cinnamon filled his nostrils and he closed his
eyes. He loved the smell. It was a very warming scent and he relaxed. Opening
his eyes, he stretched and pulled a blanket towards him. Settling in the corner
of the couch, he picked up the TV remote and turned on the television. He
flicked through the channels. He passed a few Christmas movies, a carol
service, a cookery programme and eventually settled for one of the music
channels and its countdown of the top fifty Christmas songs. He watched as East
17 somberly spun around in heavy white fur-lined coats. As the song neared its
end, information popped up on the screen.

Nineteen-ninety-nine. Christ, I feel
old.

Leaning forward, he slid the remote onto
the table, then cuddled back beneath the blanket. As much as he loved the space
the old house gave them, the place seemed to lose the heat really quickly. He
eyed the fire on the wall. He hated the smell of it. All gas and dust. The
heating wasn’t set to come on again until that evening, and it was pointless
putting it back on now as by the time the house warmed back up, they’d be
heading out for a day of food and family—Alex’s parents for lunch, his for tea.

The sound of his mobile phone ringing drew
Keegan’s attention to the arm of the couch. Freeing his hand from the blanket,
he grabbed his phone. Alex’s name was on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Hey. You decent?” Alex answered and Keegan
relaxed. “I could do with a hand.”

Keegan sat up and looked out of the window.
“Where are you?” The gate was shut.

“I’m round the front. Had trouble finding a
space.” Parking had always been bad on their street.

Pushing away the blanket, Keegan got to his
feet. He balanced on one foot then the other and pulled off the reindeer socks.
“Do I need my coat?”

Alex laughed. “It won’t take a minute.”

Keegan wasn’t convinced. “I’ll be with you
in a second.” He hung up and left the backroom, pulling the door shut behind
him to keep in what heat there was. He followed the corridor to the right,
pulled on his coat and trainers, and opened the door. He stuck his head out and
grimaced. As pretty as the snow and the whole winter wonderland thing looked
from inside, it was bloody freezing. Zipping up his coat, he stepped outside
and walked cautiously along the side of the house. He could do without a trip
to A and E because he slipped and cracked his head open.

Opening the single wrought iron gate at the
front of the house, he stepped out onto the pavement and looked up and down the
main road. He spotted Alex where he had parked in front of a house a few doors
down. Waving, he proceeded along the street.

“Hey,” Keegan said. He kissed Alex on the
cheek. He smelled smoky mixed in with the smell of soap. He glanced at the car,
catching sight of something in the back. Raising an eyebrow, he turned to Alex.
“What’s that?”

“A coffee table and a hamper.”

“Why do you have a coffee table? You know
we have one of those, right?”

Alex nodded. “Yeah. Well, you see, you know
how you enter raffles sometimes to be supportive? You know, give a couple of
quid but never really expect to win anything?”

“Yes…” Keegan said slowly.

“I won,” Alex said matter-of-factly.

Keegan eyed the prizes. “You won a table?”

“You remember Mike? Has the big ’tache?”

“Yeah.”

“His son made it.” Alex shrugged. “If I’m
honest, I wasn’t looking to win first prize. I’d have been happy with the wine.”

Keegan pushed his hands in his pockets and
laughed. “Okay,” he said. Where were they going to put it? “I don’t suppose we
need another gift for your mum, do we?”

Alex gave a low chuckle and opened the boot
of the car. “Nice try. I was thinking for your mum, actually.”

Oh yeah, right. Keegan’s mum was very
particular when it came to furniture and colour schemes. “She’d have a fit.” He
stepped down the kerb and looked in the car. “How the hell did you get it in
there?” The table was bigger than he’d realised, and Alex had needed to put the
seats down in the back.

“Don’t ask,” Alex said and pulled the
hamper towards him. “Take this and my bag and I’ll bring the table.”

Keegan pulled his hands from his pockets,
hooked the strap of Alex’s bag over his shoulder, and took the hamper in his
arms. “What’s in this?”

Alex shrugged. “Jam probably. There’s
always jam.”

Keegan laughed and stepped up onto the
pavement. “You manage?” he asked.

“Yep.” Alex dragged the table forward and
tilted it, angling it just right to free its legs. “Easy,” he said.

“I’ll see you inside,” Keegan said and made
his way back to the house. All he wanted now was to be wrapped up in one of
Alex’s hugs.

Having deposited the hamper in the kitchen
and Alex’s bag in the hall, Keegan shook off his coat and kicked off his shoes.

“Where shall I put it?” Alex asked. He
edged through the door, kicking it shut behind him. “Front room?”

Keegan nodded. They didn’t go in there all
that much, living mostly in the back of the house. He laughed as Alex twisted
the table and walked back and forth as he tried to get through the narrower
door. Eventually, he succeeded and returned with a burst of energy as he
wrapped his arms around Keegan and lifted him from the floor.

“I missed you,” Alex said and buried his
face in the crook of Keegan’s neck.

Keegan hugged him tight. “I missed you,
too.” He pressed his cheek to Alex’s head and enjoyed the shared warmth. When
Alex finally released him, all Keegan could think was how much he wanted to be
right back there in Alex’s arms. With a smile, he took Alex’s hand and guided
him through to the backroom. Having been outside, Keegan appreciated just how
warm the room actually was and the fragrance of the candle filled the air.
Breathing in the scent, he suddenly felt a lot more Christmassy and happy.

“What do you want to do first?” he asked.
Alex would probably want another shower and something to eat.

“You.” Alex surprised Keegan as he cupped
his face and kissed him soundly.

When Alex stopped, Keegan caught his breath.
“Wow,” he managed. They’d been together for eight years and crazy kissing had
made way for cutesy pecks and cuddles.

Alex laughed and wrapped his arm around
Keegan’s waist, pulling him close. “You look amazing,” he said and kissed
Keegan again, this time more controlled and sensual.

Keegan wondered about Alex’s shift. He
could smell smoke lingering in Alex’s hair despite him having had a shower. Was
there a reason Alex was kissing him so desperately? The thought was sobering
and Keegan did his best to push it away. Alex didn’t do talking, not about the
serious stuff he dealt with, but had shared the fact that he had realised on
more than one occasion just how short life could be. No matter what, Alex was
determined to love who he loved and live how he wanted.

“Your hands are cold,” Keegan softly chided
as Alex rolled up the material of the jumper. Alex’s touch caused Keegan to
shiver and his skin to raise in goose bumps. “You’re so mean.”

Alex dropped to his knees and pulled at the
waistband of Keegan’s sweatpants.

“What are you doing?” Keegan managed. He
didn’t feel like he was in control of his body as an ache shot through him.

“Merry Christmas,” Alex said. He pulled
down Keegan’s clothes and freed his erection from his briefs.

Before Keegan could say anything, Alex took
Keegan’s dick into his mouth. Oh shit, that felt so good. Alex’s mouth was warm
and wet, and fuck, he had his tongue working in waves over the head of Keegan’s
dick. Keegan rested his hands on Alex’s head for support and closed his eyes.
He bit on his lip as Alex sucked and licked and teased his dick. He had no idea
where this had come from, but damn just the thought of Alex on his knees for
him was the hottest fucking image ever.

Panting, Keegan shifted his weight, parting
his legs slightly as Alex massaged his balls with one hand and ran the other up
over his stomach.  Keegan curled his fingers in Alex’s hair and tempered the
urge to fuck up into his lover’s mouth. He was so damn close.

Oh fuck.

Alex slid his hand from Keegan’s balls and
back between his legs, teasing Keegan’s ass as he sucked harder and faster on
his dick.

“Gonna…” Keegan said and tapped Alex’s
head, giving him a chance to pull away. Alex didn’t pull away, instead he
squeezed Keegan’s ass cheeks and pulled the man close, encouraging Keegan’s
thrusts.

Twisting his fingers in Alex’s dark hair,
Keegan’s moved his hips, pushing forward as he sought release. A few sharp
thrusts and suddenly he was coming inside Alex’s mouth.

“Jesus!” Keegan said breathlessly,
squirming as Alex continued to suck and tease his balls. “Fuck.”

Alex combed his hand through his hair and
sat back. He wiped his mouth and looked up at Keegan. He didn’t say anything,
simply smiled as he watched Keegan pull up his underwear and sweatpants.

“That was…” Keegan shook his head as he
tried to catch his breath. Smiling, he leaned over and captured Alex’s mouth
with his. He held Alex’s face and stroked his jaw as he kissed him. “I love
you,” he said as he straightened up. He held out his hand to Alex, who used it
to pull himself to his feet.

Alex met his eyes and pulled him into
another hug. He laid tender kisses to Keegan’s mouth and jaw and down to his
neck. “I love you, too,” he whispered against Keegan’s skin. “Do you want your
other present?” He lifted his head. His eyes were filled with lust.

“Depends what it is,” Keegan said
teasingly. “And what about the ones under the tree?”

“Later,” Alex said and kissed him some
more. “I have something else for you to unwrap first.”

Keegan pretended to think about it and
received a playful slap on the behind.

Alex grinned and wrapped his hand around
Keegan’s. Together they headed upstairs. “Happy Christmas,” Alex said as they
reached the top of the stairs.

Keegan kissed him again and pushed open the
door to their bedroom. “Happy Christmas.”

THE END

Meredith Russell

Meredith Russell
lives in the heart of England. An avid fan of many story genres, she enjoys
nothing less than a happy ending. She believes in heroes and romance and
strives to reflect this in her writing. Sharing her imagination and passion for
stories and characters is a dream Meredith is excited to turn into reality.

Website:
www.meredithrussell.co.uk

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/meredithrussellauthor

Email:
[email protected]

Chapter One