Page 88 of Must Love Christmas

“Oh aye.” Garen lifted the duvet and burrowed beneath.

“Won’t you suffocate under there?”

“It’s too cold to peel the covers back.” Garen settled between Simon’s thighs and tugged down his sleep trousers and briefs. “Hold my hair, though?”

“Gladly.” Simon reached down and gathered Garen’s soft waves in both hands. His grip tightened as Garen eased down his foreskin and slid his tongue up the center of his shaft. “Shit…”

“You taste delicious.” Garen softly pressed his lips to Simon’s cock head. “You want it fast or slow?”

“Both.” Simon’s whisper was already shaky. “Slow, then fast.”

Garen obeyed, taking him in with a long, leisurely swallow, then backing off inch by inch, until Simon was gasping for breath, already craving more.

Then he closed his eyes and let every muscle relax, sinking into his pillow and the mattress. As Garen’s mouth worked its sublime magic, Simon just lay back and accepted this pure gift of a moment.

Garen’s strokes soon quickened, turning more purposeful. Simon looked down, relishing the sight of the duvet bobbing up and down with the motions of Garen’s head. It reminded him of being a teenager, stealing furtive orgasms wherever and whenever possible, whether by himself or with another lad.

He imagined Garen doing this to him during a “sleepover” in his room at home, both of them keeping dead quiet so as not to alert his parents. The illicit thrill shot straight down Simon’s spine, adding to the sensations sparking inside him.

“Yeah…” Fisting Garen’s hair, Simon lifted his hips. Garen took the cue, tightening his lips and taking him deeper than ever, his hungry moan fluttering the back of his throat against Simon’s head.

That was all it took. Simon gave a loud groan as he came, glad they lived on their own and didn’t need to stay quiet for anyone’s sake.

Garen crawled up from under the duvet and flopped onto the other pillow. “Whew, I’m definitely not cold anymore.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, just a bit out of breath from being under the covers.”

“I mean, are you okay not coming?”

“I’m twenty-six years old. I can survive without daily orgasms. Just about, anyway.” Garen kissed Simon’s cheek. “Sleep well.”

“Thank you.” Simon felt the tug of slumber, but he had something to say. “For what you told me before, about letting you help. I’ll try to stop resisting so hard.”

“If you need to resist, then resist.” Garen closed his eyes and nuzzled the pillow. “I won’t take it personally.”

Yes, you will, Simon thought.

This was a thin, frayed tightrope they were walking—living together, being together while trying to maintain their own individual spaces. Most couples eased into a relationship, sharing a bed once or twice a week at first. And most couples weren’t also dealing with a debilitating illness and all the power issues arising from it.

But maybe these challenges had made him and Garen stronger. Maybe the things that would pull most couples apart were actually cementing their connection. They couldn’t just storm off and stop talking to each other when times got hard. They’d have to work out their problems like adults.

The alternative was a breakup that would shatter their lives.

Chapter 19

10 Days UntilChristmas

“I’ve got brilliant news!” Garen said by way of greeting when his sister Skyped him after work Thursday.

“Me too, but you go first, since you’re the baby of the family.” She looked to the side and ran her fingers through her long blond hair, which seemed wavier than usual tonight.

He ignored her overused joke. “When you come for Christmas next week, you won’t need to sleep on the couch. You can have this bed.” He patted his duvet, now featuring a cover with swirling snowflakes.

“You’ve never given me your room before,” she said. “Where will you be sleeping?”

“In my flatmate’s bed.”

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