Page 19 of A Kiss For The Holidays

Asher drags out one of the boxes. “Did you go through all of these?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I found the things we needed in the front box so didn't dig to the back.”

Asher pulls out another box then starts pulling everything out of the closet. A mountain of discarded items starts to build at his feet as he determinedly digs further into the closet.

“Perfect!” he exclaims, spinning around to show me the object in his hand. It's a rather sad looking ball that may once have been a football or quite possibly, a volleyball.

“What did you have in mind?” I ask as he throws me the ball. His reply is a cheeky grin and I want to stride over to him and kiss his entire face. Lap at him like a puppy because he's just so fucking adorable.

“Penalty shoot out?”

I look around the cabin, noting a few breakable items. “In here?”

“Sure. Let's move some things to the bedroom and set up a goal. I have some terms though.” He purses his lips and I can't hold back my chuckle.

“Of course you do. Let's hear them."

“For every goal I score, you have to read two facts about…” Asher walks over to the sofa and picks up the book he was previously reading as well as another from the pile. “The weather, which would be my choice.” He holds up a book about meteorology before showing me the second option. “Christmas traditions.”

Rolling my eyes affectionately, I'm reminded of the first time we played this game. How Asher was far better than either of us expected and how I'd kept up my end of the deal, reading line upon line about British trees. It was the first thing we ever did as best friends, a part of our origin story.

“Okay, my cloud boy, you're on.”

We move things around in the main room until we have a goal set up using two chairs and a sheet, then he stands with his legs spread and his arms out and waits for me to take my shot. We don't have much space for a run up and I'd rather not take out the window, so I kick the ball gently and he stops it. Cheering, he motions for me to swap places.

We switch around like this until the light outside has faded and the score is in my favour. By the time he's completely out of breath, he's scored enough goals to mean I'll have to read an entire chapter about Christmas traditions in Europe but it's so worth it.

My best friend knows me like no one else does. He knew what I needed, and even stranded in a cabin, somewhere in a snowy forest,he made it happen.

After throwing more logs on the fire, we’re sitting on the sofa picking at the least festive meal I have ever had. A selection of sausages from a jar, olives, popcorn and some close to stale crackers, black coffee and salty flatbreads that Asher mixed up with flour, water and salt then fried using the last of our gas. Outside the sky is dark and I can just make out the slow sway of the trees in the fading storm.

“Are we going to keep us a secret?” Asher blurts out before adding, “That’s if you want there to be an ‘us’ when we’re out of here.” I mull over his words for a fraction of a second because I know for a fact that I want there to be an us, so I don’t need to think too hard about it.

“You’re not a secret to keep, Asher. So no. I’m happy for our families to know that we’re… together. Is that what you want?”

He nods. “Yes! That’s all I’ve ever wanted but only if you’re sure. I don’t want to pressure you into anything.” Removing my plate from my lap, I grab him and pull until he's straddling me.

“No pressure. Iwantyou.” That is the truth. I know it’s sudden but then maybe it isn’t. Maybe the only sudden thing is that I finally understand my feelings for my best friend. That all this time I craved being close to him, the times I took comfort from lying on his lap, holding his hand and having him near were just moments in which I fell harder for him.

“I made you something,” Asher says, breaking me from my train of thought. His lip is trapped between his teeth and I lean forward and use my own lips to release it.

“You’ve already done so much for me today, and I’ve done nothing for you.” I wish I had a present to give him. I think back to the special edition book I have wrapped back at the villa, one I know he’s been searching for for months.

“That’s not true. You gave me the best first kiss I could have asked for.” He smiles wide enough to reach his eyes then leans in and kisses me again.

It’s been nearly ten hours since we first kissed and Asher hasn’t let us go five minutes without our lips finding a way to each other. If I was the clingy one before, Asher has taken that title for himself, kisses being his new favourite form of affection.

He pulls away and digs in his back pocket, producing a bracelet made from string, plaited with both ends tied together. He slides it onto my wrist then sits back. “I bought you one of those leather ones you wanted, but obviously it’s not here. So, this -” Asher runs his finger along the bracelet before tracing circles on my skin. “This is a temporary stand in.”

“I love it.” This time it’s me who initiates the kiss and I move us until I’m hovering over him on the sofa. I kiss him for a long time, then sit back and let him breathe beforekissing him again.

And I do it again and again until we’re both exhausted, our lips tingling and our hearts happy.

Chapter 16

Asher

Birds tweeting is the first thing I hear as I rouse from a deep, comfortable sleep. Sunlight is streaming through the window, bouncing off the vibrant white snow and Dalton’s naked body is pressed flush against mine as he lays gentle kisses to the back of my neck.

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