Reno basked in the afterglow while his mind slowly came back online and coasted on a waning haze of euphoria.
“I’m really happy we ran into each other up here,” he said softly.
“Me too.”
Reno turned his head to face Tate. His eyes were sleepy, and his expression was content. Reno lost himself in that warm gold-flecked gaze and let it wash over him, fill him from the inside out. Peace. That’s what he felt in that moment.
Until a sliver of awareness that this was temporary crept into the background of his thoughts.
“I don’t want the roads opening again to be the end of . . . this.” Reno waved his hand between them as his heart squeezed in his chest. The backs of his eyes stung, and his throat constricted.
“I don’t either.”
Reno swallowed back his emotions, and a comfortable silence settled between them. He swore they were having a conversation with their eyes.
Tate chuckled under his breath.
“What?”
“I’m expecting your stomach to start growling any second now.”
Reno shoved playfully at Tate’s shoulder and glanced over to see the old-fashioned alarm clock on Tate’s nightstand. It was a quarter to eleven already. Reno never slept that late. Of course, sleeping had nothing to do with the hour.
“Let’s get cleaned up and go to the hotel for their Christmas brunch,” Reno said. “And if I can get a strong enough signal, I need to call my dad.”
His heart lurched at not being home to spend the holiday with his dad, but when he slid off the bed, all thoughts of his dad disappeared. His pleasantly tender backside reminded him of the night before. Hopefully, there would be many more nights like that in his future. He stretched his arms over his head, and just as Tate predicted, his stomach grumbled. Tate cackled all the way to the bathroom.
“Get in here and shower with me!” Tate shouted.
* * *
The brunch room was packed,and the vibe was happy and joyous. Everyone was missing someone this Christmas Day, but the hotel management was doing a fantastic job at making sure their stranded guests were enjoying themselves, nonetheless. Reno felt like they were all kindred spirits, sharing an event only they could understand. He missed spending the day with his dad—who he’d finally been able to get through to and wished him a Merry Christmas—but counted himself lucky that he got to share it with Tate.
There seemed to be an endless flow of mimosas. Every time Reno looked over at the bar, Grady was pouring a fresh batch. Today, he was wearing another naughty Christmas T-shirt. This one was green with a candy cane that had a rather phallic-looking tip, and “It’s not going to lick itself” in white letters as the caption. They ran into Sam again, who was happily kissing his match from the speed-dating event under the mistletoe. Tate pointed out the man who’d been stood up on his wedding day, the day the avalanche struck, but there was nothing melancholy about him. Not with the way he shared glances with the gorgeous man at his side. The ex-wedding cake had been repurposed into a superhero cake that had Tate laughing so hard he doubled over. Holiday music played quietly in the background, and when a few newly minted couples weaved their way to the dance floor, Reno decided they should join in.
He stood up and held his hand out for Tate, who slid his palm over Reno’s and laced their fingers together. Like every time before, his skin tingled at their touch. “Dance with me?”
“Always.”
Tate rose, and Reno led him to an open pocket of space amongst the growing crowd of couples on the floor. Tate took lead position, and they settled into a slow waltz. Reno sighed as Tate pulled him close.
“This is how I wanted to dance with you last night,” Tate said in a rumbling voice that Reno felt more than heard.
Reno had too. He rested his head on Tate’s shoulder, closed his eyes, and let the gentle sway of their bodies lull him until he was drifting on a cloud and the crowd fell away. The only people in the room were him and Tate. He nuzzled his nose into Tate’s neck and inhaled his subtle scent—bergamot and spice—and his heart sang. This was all he’d ever wanted, to be in Tate’s arms.
“You feel so good against me,” Tate whispered in his ear.
Reno nodded. Not wanting to speak and spoil the moment. He was lost in the music, lost in Tate. Truly the man of his dreams. If only he could bottle this moment and keep it with him forever . . .
“It wasn’t just the euphoria talking this morning,” Tate said against his ear. “I’m serious, Reno. I want to see you again.”
Reno leaned back and lifted his head to look into his eyes. He saw only genuine honesty in Tate’s gaze. His heart swelled with joy, and his throat tightened. “I want that too.”
A whisper of doubt chased his words, taunting that once the roads were all clear ,Tate would go his own way, and again, Reno would be forgotten. He pushed the unwanted thought aside easily because this time, it was different. This time they were adults. Tate had grown. He was out and secure in who he was. He was his own man now, and no matter what Ricky thought about them when he found out, or anyone else for that matter, Tate wouldn’t sway.
“Look up,” Tate said as a crooked smile tilted his lips.
Reno followed Tate’s gaze to see a large bough of mistletoe directly above them. He grinned. One had to respect the holiday tradition. Reno kissed him, and it felt like his dreams had finally come true.
