Page 13 of Christmas Lights & Sleepless Nights
Michael took a step closer, and the warm, comforting smell that always clung to him pervaded Keith’s nostrils. “No people means no one to see us. So if you wrap up warm and wear your jacket with the fur-lined hood, you won’t be recognized. I’ll do the same.”
“You want me to get out of bed to go stand in the freezing cold and look at the Christmas tree?”
That earned him another eye-roll. “God, you don’t have a romantic bone in your body, do you? No, I want you to get out of your bed to join me at the tree, so I can hold hands and kiss you with the Christmas lights on your face.”
Keith’s breathing hitched.
Michael smiled. “That got your attention. So... are we on for tonight?”
He nodded. “It sounds...”
Magical.
Michael went to the window. “And now I have to get back before I’m missed.”
Keith grabbed his arm. “Hey. No kiss?”
Michael grinned, pulled Keith to him, and held him close while he kissed him, slow as you please, as if they had all the time in the world. Then he released him. “Eleven forty-five, by the tree. I’ll be waiting.”
“I’ll be there,” Keith assured him.
Michael opened the window, hooked his leg over the sill, and scrambled out. Keith darted forwarded to plant a quick kiss on his mouth, and then he closed it.
A midnight assignation.
Michael had it wrong. Keith could be romantic—he just never got the chance.
Well, he’d get it that night.
Keith stood by the tree, amazed that there were still people out and about. Not that he recognized any of them, but he kept his face in shadow all the same. Lord, it was freezing, and that was with two sweaters and a thick jacket.
“Hey.”
Michael stood next to him, smiling.
“You know, the day you turn up without that smile, I’m really gonna worry,” Keith told him.
“I’m smiling because you’re here.” Michael gazed up at the tree. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
Keith had to agree.
Michael glanced around them before stepping closer.
“And now it’s even more beautiful because I get to do this.” He removed his glove, tilted Keith’s head up with his fingers, and closed the gap between them, his lips warm and soft on Keith’s. Snow fell on them, caught in the different colors of the lights, and a breeze picked up, causing them to swirl around him and Michael. He looped his arms around Michael’s neck, and deepened the kiss, unwilling for the moment to end.
His happiest holiday, and he was sharing it with Michael, the way he’d been dreaming of ever since the lights had begun to appear around town. So what if he was freezing his ass off? That didn’t matter. He was standing in the snow, multicolored snow at that, and Michael’s lips were on his, Michael’s hand cupped his nape in that way Keith loved, and between them they created warmth.
Then all went dark, and he realized their moment was over. The lights had been extinguished and the magic was lost.
“And now you go home and get back in your warm bed before you catch your death,” Michael whispered. “I’ll be over at some point tomorrow, once I know I won’t be missed.”
Keith smiled. “Technically it already is tomorrow.” He cradled Michael’s head and pulled him into one more kiss. “Thank you for the Christmas present.”
“I haven’t given you anything yet,” Michael protested.
Another kiss, slow and tender.
“Yes, you did.”
