Leap Through Eternity (3 page)

He knocked again, somehow impatient. Maybe Cole had decided to ignore everyone who came knocking. “Cole?” he called out. “I know you’re in there!” Mason had absolutely no idea why he sounded so certain, but his voice sounded confident. Urging Cole to answer or something like that.

“Go away!” Cole’s voice sounded distant and hoarse. He was most likely resting in his bed. If the room placement was the same as in Mason’s apartment, which located Cole down the hall.

“Cole,
come on
! You can’t still be mad! I set my own apartment on fire. Stop acting like I burned your place to the ground!” Mason yelled out bravely, determined to get to Cole.

“I’m not mad!” Cole croaked from inside the apartment, and Mason found himself smiling. “I’m ill. Go away!” He repeated his initial words, but Mason wasn’t giving up.

“I know! That’s why you have to let me in!” Mason hoped his voice sounded convincing.

“But I’m
resting
!” Cole sounded pretty certain Mason was crazy. He might even be right. Was he?

Mason frowned because this didn’t feel like a good moment to doubt his own sanity. “Just let me in! I’ll leave in a couple of minutes, I swear! Don’t be so stubborn.” Everything was quiet in the apartment, and he wondered if Cole would just ignore him. Maybe he thought Mason would give up eventually and just walk away. But Mason usually walked away from things, and for some reason, he was determined not to do it tonight. “It’s Christmas Eve! You
have to
let me in, or I’ll just stay here and yell and annoy your neighbors!” Mason felt like his argument sounded dirty and foul, but he couldn’t help it.

Finally he heard the door unlock, and a wave of excitement overcame him. “Thank you!” Mason used the chance to sneak in before Cole could change his mind and tell him to go to hell. The apartment was the same as his own, but it looked different. Cleaner, neater somehow.

Mason focused. “Cole, hi!” He turned to find Cole leaning on the door. He looked pale, and this time properly dressed. Mason smiled at him, even if he was a bit hesitant to do that. Cole could punch him for all he knew. Cole was forced to stay in his apartment because Mason was an idiot and didn’t take enough safety precautions while baking.

“Mason, what are you doing here?” Cole eyed the bags Mason held with suspicion. He didn’t seem pleased to see him. Then again, he didn’t seem capable of standing up for too long either.

“Well, the old lady told me you’re ill, and I was worried and felt responsible. So I decided to make you some soup to help you get better soon!” Mason declared, a firm believer in the healing powers of soup.

It seemed like Cole disagreed. “Are you
serious
right now? I don’t feel like eating soup. Go away,” Cole responded and arched his eyebrow.

Mason wasn’t eager to obey. “No.” He offered Cole a smile—like that could make it any better. “I’m sorry, but no. You just go lie down a little, okay? I’ll heat the soup up. My microwave didn’t do a great job, and my oven is…. Well….” He had no idea how to finish that sentence.

Cole helped him out. “Your oven is fried because you set fire to it.” His voice held an accusatory tone Mason couldn’t escape. Besides, it was fair enough. He
had
managed to set fire to his oven. Well, technically, he’d set the cookies that were
in
the oven on fire, but the details didn’t really matter in the given moment.

“That, yes,” Mason muttered and then perked up a little. “But it’s Christmas Eve, and it’s time for forgiveness!”

Cole grunted. “Fine! Heat up the soup! Just stop repeating it’s Christmas Eve. I noticed that! It’s all over the television. I can’t find a single normal thing.” Cole groaned and then wandered in the direction of his living room.

Mason followed, somehow eager because he’d just got his permission to stay. “Thank you! That wasn’t so hard, was it? I figured you’d hate the television programs, so I brought some movies with me. You can always watch those, and they aren’t Christmas themed so, you know….” He ran out of words and instead pulled the DVD boxes out of the bag. “Right, I’ll make the soup now. You just relax, okay? I also brought some pills with me because I didn’t know if you have them.” He put them on the table. He still felt like Cole could change his mind any second, so Mason rushed to the kitchen before he could do so.

He put the things from the bag on the counter. He wondered what had gotten into him. He never acted that… well, for lack of a better word, annoying. He never insisted people let him do what he wanted to do, and he always did as he was told. And yet look at him now! In Cole’s apartment, heating up the soup he’d made for him. This was new, and he refused to think about it.

Instead, he got lost in the little things he had to do. He eventually started to murmur a Christmas melody while moving around the kitchen. He tidied it up while he waited and almost danced around.

He winced when Cole coughed behind his back. He turned to find Cole leaning on the door frame and watching him. “Wh-What are you doing?” Mason felt his face heat up and could tell he was blushing and didn’t like it.

Cole studied his face. “Watching you. I’ve been standing here for the last five minutes, and you didn’t even notice. You were just humming something and dancing around my kitchen. I thought you said you’d just heat the soup up.”

Did Mason imagine it, or did Cole’s voice sound softer somehow? Cole looked at him and realized the old lady had exaggerated. Cole wasn’t exactly ill; he just had a terrible cold.

“Will you eat here?” Mason had always been horrible at evading questions. At least he didn’t lie this time, so he could be proud of that.

Cole nodded and sat at the table while Mason put the soup in front of him. Cole ate in silence, and Mason kept on biting his lip. He wasn’t sure whether Cole could handle another one of his rants.

“Thanks,” Cole murmured when he was done with the soup. “Did you cook it?” Their eyes met and Mason nodded.

“Yeah. I like to cook. And bake. Even though I might not bake in a while. I learned my lesson. And to be honest, I’m a bit afraid of those firefighters.” He wasn’t even kidding, but Cole laughed.

“Wow, you really are an idiot,” Cole pointed out and smiled.

Mason frowned. “That’s not a nice thing to say. But I’ll forgive you. You’re ill, and you don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mason smiled a little too, wondering if Cole forgave him. It couldn’t be that easy, though. “Look, I’m sorry about what happened. I just…. I didn’t know what to do or say, and I panicked and I lied and I brought you a present!” Mason hurried and said it all with one breath. It was almost impressive.

“You what?” Cole frowned.

Mason realized he hadn’t thought this through. Maybe Cole would hate the present. Maybe he would think Mason was out of his mind.

“God, you didn’t. Why would you do that? I told you I hate holidays. I hate everything about them, presents included.” Cole groaned, and then he got up. “Just…. Let’s go to the living room. The couch is more comfortable.” He walked there without waiting for Mason, who couldn’t blame him.

Mason leaned down and pulled a present out of the bag. He’d spent ten minutes wrapping it and trying to make it look decent. His hands shook a little during the process, so it wasn’t his best work. He followed Cole, and the nervousness he’d ignored so far finally crept up on him as he sat down on the couch.

“I felt bad,” Mason explained, and pushed his hand through his hair. This had turned out to be more complicated than he’d anticipated. “Here.” He handed Cole the present. Mason wished the wrapping paper was different. It had grinning snowflakes all over it.

Cole accepted the present, and Mason could see doubt on his face and cringed.

“Okay” was all Cole said. Mason didn’t imagine it; his voice sounded softer. And there was curiosity in his eyes as he turned the present around. “I don’t know how to open it nicely,” he admitted and looked up at Mason, who just smiled.

“Don’t worry about that. It’s supposed to be torn open. Come on, go ahead.” Mason urged him on, even if his stomach felt like someone had set it on fire.

He watched Cole as he tried to open the present without tearing the paper. He lasted a few seconds before he caved in and just grabbed the wrapping and peeled it away eagerly. And then he saw it. The green sweater with a white line where Christmas trees were dancing.

Such a ridiculous present. Mason suddenly felt hot. “It’s…. It’s nothing special, it’s just… I thought it might cheer you up, and I didn’t know if you’d like it or not, but you…. I was so nervous and….” Mason was just throwing words out, and Cole motioned for him to stop. It worked.

“Thank you.” A smile blossomed on Cole’s face, and Mason was not prepared for it. He groaned in protest. He lasted a couple of seconds and then gave up. He caved in and reached for his face. The touch set his skin on fire, and he locked his gaze on Cole’s for a couple of seconds. Cole had a cold. In one moment he wondered if that was contagious, and in the next moment he leaned in, throwing caution to the wind. Mason kissed Cole.

Mason forgot about the world. When his lips touched Cole’s, he realized he’d been aching to do that since he’d first seen him. It felt amazing. It felt like all the things he thought it would and more.

He initially planned it to be a short kiss, but he got consumed by it, and Cole wasn’t exactly helping either, kissing him back with demand. Cole touched Mason’s neck and then pulled him impossibly closer. A moan escaped Mason, and then he ran out of breath and pulled back. He refused to open his eyes. If he opened his eyes, then maybe it would turn out to be just a dream. Some sort of a mad, crazy dream Mason could never survive. But he could still taste Cole on his lips, and his eyes fluttered open.

“Oh.” He murmured when he faced Cole. He didn’t look so pale anymore, and Mason’s eyes lowered to his lips. Was he just kissing those delicious lips? Oh man, what had he gotten himself into?

“Oh?” Cole repeated with a whisper, but he smiled. He seemed calm. How could he be so calm?

“I’m sorry, I… I wasn’t thinking, I just….” Mason found himself stuttering again.

Cole stopped him when he touched his knee and left his hand resting there. Mason could feel all his blood rush to that point. “Don’t apologize. You know, that night, I was standing outside and freezing and then…. Then this beautiful boy almost crashes into me. You were so nervous and you kept blushing and I knew you were lying, but God, you were so adorable. I couldn’t even be angry with you. You were sending me so many mixed signals, and you seemed so excited over the holidays and…. You seemed so pure. And so confused and cute and…. And I was standing there in my underwear like the biggest moron ever. I didn’t know what to do about your invitation. I was so drawn to you, it seemed impossible. You feel it too, don’t you? It’s magnetic. I never felt anything like it before. It made me nervous. And then I started coughing my lungs out, and I got nervous about the whole thing.” This time Cole’s voice sounded rushed, like he was eager to explain some things.

Mason felt…. Odd. Weak. And Cole radiated heat and Mason’s heart was burning up and did Cole just call him beautiful? He’d never been called beautiful before. He didn’t know the words would rip his gut open. He didn’t know he’d love it because it would be the most stunning thing to ever happen to him.

Cole brushed his thumb over Mason’s lip. It felt ticklish and made him smile a little.

“You can’t say that,” Mason objected with a murmur.

Cole responded with a smile. “Stop me, then.” But he didn’t let Mason stop him because Cole leaned in himself, cupped Mason’s face, and kissed him again. It was hauntingly amazing and so easy to get lost in that kiss. It felt a little like getting lost in the sea, and Mason went willingly. Cole pulled him closer, and Mason ended up straddling his lap. It made it so much easier to kiss him. It also sent shivers down his spine, and it made his hands tremble with excitement. Without a warning, there was friction. Without a word, Mason pulled closer and moved his hips. It could’ve been the end of the world outside, and he wouldn’t have cared. He could only notice the soft lips, the touches that set his skin on fire, and the hard length against his own.

This time Cole broke the kiss. He pulled back and leaned his head on the couch, his eyes wide open, staring at Mason.

“What?” Mason muttered. He couldn’t read his expression. There might’ve been longing in his eyes, and the corners of his lips shaped a tiny smile. Did Mason imagine it? He moved his hand and placed it on Cole’s chest to check if his heart beat as violently as his own.

It did.

“What are you doing?” Cole smiled, and Mason felt his cheeks burning up. Cole saved him from replying when he went on. “I’m afraid I didn’t get you a present.” He smiled. “But there is something….” He didn’t finish his sentence. He scooped Mason up in his arms, and Mason objected.

“Hey, you can’t do that! You’re not well! Did you at least take the pill?” Mason felt a little ashamed, but in his own defense, Cole made it too easy for him to forget.

Cole put him down after a few steps. He leaned in and whispered in his ear. His hot breath tickled. “I’m all right. Don’t worry. I have a present for you. You’ll adore it. Close your eyes.”

Mason gasped for air when Cole bit his earlobe, but he did as told. He closed his eyes and waited, then felt Cole’s hands on his hips. It sent shivers all over his body. He felt Cole’s fingers dig into the skin. It made his breath hitch. Cole’s lips on his neck made him moan. Mason heard Cole laugh softly, and then he turned him around.

“Look.” Cole leaned his head on Mason’s shoulder.

Mason opened his eyes. It was snowing. Heavy snowflakes were falling from the sky, and they made it impossible to see anything at all. It looked beautiful. Mason forgot how to breathe. “How—how did you do that?” Mason murmured, amazed and shocked and dazzled all at once.

Cole chuckled and wrapped his hands around Mason’s body. “Magic,” he responded, and dragged his teeth over his neck.

Mason couldn’t hold back anymore. He turned and wrapped his hands around Cole’s neck, pulling him closer. He was spending Christmas Eve with Cole, who thought he was beautiful, while it snowed outside. What else could he possibly wish for?