Page 20 of Decorated

As he helped Rhys and Blaine direct the kids as to where and how to hang their paintings on the wall so they would be on display for the party, memories of that girl from Afghanistan and so many other kids he’d seen watching him with everything from fear to anger to absolutely nothing in their eyes hovered around him. Those kids had grown up too soon. He really hoped they were all okay now, but sense told him that couldn’t be true for all of them.

“You know, you’re surprisingly good with kids,” Blaine told him after all the kids had left the dining hall to go back to their class, or probably all the way back to their school.

“Unexpected, I know,” Alfie said, rubbing the back of his neck to clear away the remnants of his feelings about those Afghani kids.

Blaine hummed and tilted his head to the side. “I don’t know. The more I think about it, the more I’m not shocked at all that kids like you. You have a calming presence.”

Alfie smiled. “Thanks. Coming from you, that means a lot.”

Blaine laughed. “A guy who likes kids but hates Christmas. You’re full of contradictions, Corporal Spears.”

Alfie grinned and nudged Blaine’s arm.

It was meant to be a playful gesture, but making contact with Blaine like that ignited something in him. He wanted more contact, more playfulness. He wanted more.

“Are you hungry?” Blaine asked, seemingly shifting gears.

“I’m starving,” Alfie said, throwing as much double-entendre into his words as he could.

Blaine flushed as his expression turned just as hungry. “You know, I’m staying in one of the flats here at Hawthorne House while I’m hiding from Dave and the disaster of my life. I think I have stuff to make sandwiches up there, if you want to come up for tea.”

“I’d love to,” Alfie said, wanting way more than a sandwich.

“Right this way,” Blaine said, his voice going rough.

He turned and headed out of the dining hall and into the noisy part of the house. Classes must have been switching over, because there were people everywhere. Alfie barely saw or heard any of them, though. He followed Blaine like he was a beacon, his heart beating faster with each step.

“My flat is just upstairs,” Blaine said, turning onto the grand staircase once they reached the front hall.

That quick turn, the glimpse it gave Alfie of Blaine’s heated face, and the expectation in Blaine’s eyes was enough to prompt Alfie to reach out and take Blaine’s hand. They continued up the stairs that way, probably telegraphing to everyone who might be watching them what was on the menu for tea that afternoon.

“I’m so grateful to Uncle Robert and Aunt Janice for converting all of these rooms that used to be part of the school dormitory into flats,” Blaine said, babbling a bit, as they walked down the family corridor, past another staircase, and on to theend of the hall. “It’s really convenient to have a home away from home when I need it.”

“Mmm hmm,” Alfie hummed, tightening his hold on Blaine’s hand as they reached one of the doors.

“It’s a nice thing to have when you’re part of such a big family,” Blaine went on. “Although we usually have to double up at Christmas, since the entire extended family likes to spend the holidays here.”

“Of course,” Alfie said as soon as Blaine took a key out of his pocket to unlock the door.

Blaine pushed the door open and led Alfie into the modest flat. It was simply decorated, but the furnishings looked comfortable. None of that modern, Scandinavian stuff. It felt homey as well, which may have had something to do with the original artwork on the walls. Even though it was a temporary home, Alfie could see Blaine’s things spread everywhere. It didn’t surprise him that Blaine was a bit of a slob. He didn’t mind, though. The military had given him enough neatness to last a lifetime.

“It’s not much, but it’s?—”

Alfie didn’t give him a chance to finish whatever cute thing he was going to say. He stepped right into Blaine, clasped his hands on either side of Blaine’s face, and slammed his mouth over his in the kiss he’d been wanting to take for days.

SIX

Talkabout a kiss that knocked the wind out of him and short-circuited Blaine’s brain! He’d definitely brought Alfie up to his flat for more than sandwiches, but the way his big, strong soldier launched into him, taking command and kissing him to within an inch of his life was everything Blaine could have asked for and more.

He moaned and melted into the kiss, grabbing the front of Alfie’s shirt not so much to be sexy, but because he needed something to help him stay upright.

“You’re really good at this,” Blaine panted when Alfie let him up for breath by kissing his way down to his neck and letting his hands slide down to grab his hips.

“Thanks,” Alfie said as he licked Blaine’s neck nearly causing a premature orgasm, then kissed his mouth again. “It’s part of standard RAF training.”

“Is that so?” Blaine’s question turned into a squeak as Alfie brushed one hand back to grab a handful of his arse.

“Yeah,” Alfie went on, glancing around briefly before backing Blaine towards the bedroom. “It’s right up there with flight and combat training. I came first in my squadron in kissing.”

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