Page 12 of Once Upon a December
“The spicier, the better.”
Felix’s grin was infectious and Gibson had to kiss him again. They had plans. A date. He’d get to see Felix outside of the office. He wouldn’t have to pretend to be interested in the stupid party. He could only be interested in Felix and that was what he wanted more than anything this holiday season. He wanted to lose himself in this incredibly sexy, warm man instead of his cold, lonely work. He nipped at Felix’s lips, coaxing them into opening for him so he could take more of that addictive taste into himself.
They were deep in the midst of the kiss, bodies rubbing together, tongues tangled, breath all but forgotten, when the door of the office flew open so hard that it slammed into the wall behind it.
Gibson jerked back from the kiss and Felix gasped. Instinctively, Gibson put himself between the intruder and his man. Then his eyes came to rest on the person responsible for the interruption and his concern turned to downright irritation.
His brother stood just inside the door looking the same as he had the last time Gibson had seen him. Branson appeared hungover, in need of a shave, and mildly amused by what he’d walked in on. His eyes, the same color as Gibson’s own, quickly roamed the situation and when they came back to his brother, his dark eyebrow quirked, causing Gibson’s irritation to grow. Before Branson could say anything, another voice spoke up.
“Mr. Frost, I’m so sorry. I tried to tell him that you were in a meeting but he refused to wait.” Julian spoke up from his place just behind Branson and Gibson noticed his assistant was also in the room for the first time.
“If this is what you’re calling a meeting around here these days, maybe I will take you up on that offer of a job, big bro.” Branson smirked, his eyes going back over Gibson’s shoulder and perusing Felix with the type of interest that made Gibson contemplate punching his brother.
He forced his tense jaw to work even though his words came out like gravel, “What are you doing here, Bran?”
“What? I need a reason to come visit my big brother now?” Branson feigned hurt with the training of an Oscar winner but Gibson knew better than to take him at face value.
“You need a damn good reason to come storming into my office when my assistant tells you that I’m in a meeting.”
“Meeting.” Branson snorted the word and Gibson fought the urge to ball his fists.
“Yes, a meeting, but it wouldn’t matter if I was in here doing yoga for beginners, Julian told you I was busy and since you’ve made it clear you have no interest in being a part of Frost Financial then as a visitor you wait outside like anyone else.”
Branson’s eyebrows winged up and his lips quirked, “Yoga for beginners? Jesus, Gib. Did you just make a joke?”
“Of course that’s all you took from that.” He rubbed at the spot between his eyes.
“Jules, did you lace his coffee? Check him for drug use? Clearly he’s been body snatched and it must have happened on your watch.”
Julian flushed when Branson turned his attention to him, “No. Sir. He’s…”
“Juuuules.” Branson cut the other man off with a long drawl and a teasing look, “I’ve told you how I feel about that word and what’ll happen if you continue to insist on using it with me.”
Gibson frowned when his assistant flushed red all the way to the tips of his ears. Branson enjoyed teasing Julian. That was nothing new. Branson loved nothing more than making people uncomfortable and he had a serious knack for making Julian turn every color under the rainbow. Gibson opened his mouth, prepared to defend his assistant and good friend by telling his brother to knock it off but a small snort of laughter from behind him turned his attention.
“Sorry.” Felix cleared his throat, “Sorry. I uh… I think I should be going.”
Gibson shook his head, “No, you shouldn’t. Bran is the one that should be leaving.”
“Hey…” His brother started but Gibson kept his focus on Felix.
“I think he’s made it quite clear to everyone that our meeting was over.” Felix shot Branson a look of annoyance and then smiled at Gibson again, “Is our… are we… Is that other meeting we were discussing still on?”
Gibson’s heart warmed in his chest at the hesitation. He’d seen Felix a lot of ways over the last few weeks. Happy and playful. Proud and indignant. Angry and defensive. He’d never seen him unsure of himself though and the hesitation in his question was clear. He’d even phrased it to give Gibson an out in case he wanted it, so that he wouldn’t have to own what they’d been doing before the intrusion if he didn’t want to.
And if he hadn’t already been sure that he was falling for the man, Gibson was certain of it now.
Reaching out, he took Felix’s hand and pulled him close again, making sure they were eye to eye when he spoke, “I’ll see you at seven on Friday at my house.”
“Oh.” Felix bit his lip in that adorable way that made Gibson want to kiss him. “Okay.”
“And just so we’re clear, it’s not a meeting. It’s a date.”
The smile that overtook Felix’s handsome face made everything inside of Gibson turn to liquid heat. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken such pleasure in making another person happy. But he liked making Felix happy and in turn, that made him happy as well.
“Okay.” Felix repeated softly, “I’ll see you Friday.”
He started to step around Gibson, to leave, but Gibson wasn’t having any of it. Bran had already seen enough to know there was something going on between them. Julian wasn’t an idiot. He’d known for weeks. So instead of simply letting Felix walk out of the room, he pulled the other man to him and kissed him softly, sweetly and far too shortly before setting him back away from him in time to see the starstruck look of wonder on Felix’s face.
