Chapter 20 #2
It was charming and lush, with Christmas lights delicately framing the windows. The fireplace was blazing, and the bed was huge and covered in a white duvet. There was a sitting area in front of the fire, and the whole thing screamed, “relax”.
He sank into the comfy couch in front of the fireplace and started it with a remote control.
“I know you; you’ll want to unpack right away, so I’ll just sit here and keep an ear out for our cocoa, shall I?
” He was only half teasing. Ryder did like to make everywhere they stayed together feel like home.
“Sounds perfect to me. I want to get our shirts hung up. I hate wrinkled shirts.” Ryder leaned down and kissed him, soft and slow.
“Mmm.” Charles didn’t care about wrinkles, or much of anything else at the moment.
Just that Ryder was happy, and he seemed to be.
He had luggage to deal with and an empty closet to fill and, as lazy as it made Charles look not to help, Ryder needed that.
He needed to feel useful. He enjoyed doing while Charles sat and relaxed.
And Charles had dealt with the angry family, giving Ryder the headspace he needed.
Headspace was something he was learning about from River and Victor.
They had a group text going, and he used it frequently.
Charles was trying to give Ryder what he needed without using the customary lifestyle words that their friends—and even Roper—used.
Ryder didn’t like them; they made him anxious.
They added pressure somehow, or perhaps even frightened Ryder. He wasn’t sure.
Whatever it was, he was respectful. Labels didn’t matter. Health and happiness mattered. Love mattered.
Ryder mattered.
There was a knock at the door. That had to be the cocoa. He slid off the couch to answer it.
“Do you want to explore the place a little before dinner?”
“That sounds like fun. It’s bigger than it seems, isn’t it?” Ryder came in wearing a huge sweater. “Ooh, hot chocolate!”
“Be careful, it is hot.” The kid from room service gave them a wink as he set the tray down on the coffee table. “We make it from scratch with milk, and we even make our own marshmallows. You’re going to love it.”
He reached for his wallet as the kid started to leave.
“No tips but thank you. You paid for them in your service fee.”
“All right.” He’d tip a lump sum the day they left. “Thank you for the drinks.”
“You’re welcome. Have a nice evening.”
Charles closed the door after the kid. “No tips. Quite a place. I hope I didn’t insult him.”
“I bet it’s fine. He’ll get his part from the resort fees or what-have-you.”
His lover was very hotel literate, wasn’t he?
“You’ve done your research? Or have you just stayed in that many hotels?” He dropped a couple of the homemade marshmallows into each mug and brought one to Ryder.
“I’ve lived all my adult life in hotels, Sir. Literally, I’ve never had a home of my own. We were either in hotels or at home at the folks’.”
“Right, of course. I wasn’t thinking. You spent all your time on the road. But it seems like having a home suits you.” He sniffed his cocoa and hummed, then took a tiny sip, testing how hot it was. “Oh. Yum.”
“Is it amazing?” Ryder took a sip and groaned. “It is, and I love having a place. It suits me, having a solid spot, a routine. I like it.”
He nodded because he knew. “I like that you’re such a good cook, and you spoil me.” He took another sip, letting the rich chocolate slide over his tongue. This was a good idea.
“I like that you are the best to chat with and read with and…” Ryder blushed and grinned. “Snuggle with.”
“Mm. I like how you can’t sit still when we snuggle.” He waggled his eyebrows at Ryder.
“Well… I am a healthy gay man with the hottest thing ever doing the snuggling.”
“Mhm. Put that thought away, healthy gay man. I’m making you wait until after dinner.
I want to go explore after we have our cocoa.
” He liked making Ryder wait. The little buzz helped the cowboy relax.
He liked making himself wait too; it was good for him, to keep Ryder in mind, but not always in bed.
“Sounds good. I’m curious to see everything. It’s…friendly, right? Like for men like us?”
As if he would take Ryder somewhere not friendly. “Men like us—you mean gay couples? It’s friendly. It’s not exclusively for men, but it’s openly welcoming. And it’s not a very big place; it’s not like one of those enormous resorts right? So we’ll see a lot of the same people around.”
“Cool. I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable at all.” Ryder watched out for him so well.
And in return it was his job—his pleasure—to look after Ryder. “I wouldn’t want you to be either, love. This is our holiday.”
“Yes.” Oh, didn’t Charles love that sweet, happy little grin.
He put his mug down. It was sweet and delicious, but very rich. “I think that’s enough of that for me. I don’t want to ruin dinner.”
“It’s super sweet. I would want it in coffee, I think. It would be like a fancy drink.”
“Oh, a mocha. That sounds good. We’ll try that tomorrow afternoon while we’re lounging in front of the fireplace.” He stood and offered Ryder a hand. “Are you done with unpacking? Ready to go look around?”
“I am, and I am!” Ryder took his hand with a grin. “Let’s go explore.”
“I have been told there is a heated outdoor swimming pool, which I think we should try out at some point. We can snowshoe also. Have you ever been snowshoeing?”
“I haven’t, but I love to swim. It’s one of my favorite exercises.”
How did he not know that? “I was thinking more along the float and drink wine lines than exercise, but I am happy to watch you swim.”
There was plenty of room at the lake house for a pool…
“Oh, I can swim and float and… I’ve never floated with wine.”
“I don’t believe I have either, but it sounds lovely, doesn’t it?” He put an arm around Ryder as they left the room. It was dark, so it was hard to see out the windows, but he could tell by the frost and the snow settled on the sills that they were in for a treat in the morning.
“It so does.” Ryder was wide-eyed. “I love to imagine the inner workings of hotels, don’t you? It’s got to be a little like an airport.”
“There is most certainly all manner of prep work and organization going on behind the scenes, but all we see is cocoa and warm fires.”
“Right? All the people who have to work for us to have an amazing time?” Ryder’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “So cool.”
“Could be a good career for you. If you needed a career, which you don’t.” He chuckled. “You’re busy. And taken.”
“I am. And I am, balls to bones.” Ryder gave him a grin.
“So crude, my cowboy lover.” He winked at Ryder. “I think I see a Christmas tree.”
“Oh, are you a multi-colored light person or a designer tree type?”
“Hm. I like both. I appreciate the themed trees that someone has obviously put a great deal of thought into, but I also enjoy the family-type tree with colored lights and silly ornaments collected over the years.” He shrugged.
“I’ve never had a tree as an adult, so I think I’d be happy with anything. ”
“Well, I think we should start with one ornament, and see what happens, what calls to us, then.”
“I do love how you think. I love that you’re thinking about beginnings and new traditions.
We should see if they have something in the gift shop we can take home with us.
” He led Ryder into a big open room with couches and several central fireplaces.
It had a warm and cozy feel to it despite its size.
“Oh, that would be perfect.” Ryder moved toward the fire, warming his hands.
He slid behind Ryder, ghosting a hand over that tight ass, then wandered over to the enormous Christmas tree, It was real, and it smelled amazing.
The tree was a riot of colors—hung with huge to tiny balls that reflected all the lights. It was absolutely breathtaking.
Perhaps it was selfish of him, but he didn’t regret taking Ryder away from his family for the holidays. This feeling, and the relaxed look on Ryder’s face, was enough to convince him it had been the right move. They were basking in each other, and that was how it should be.
Ryder appeared behind him, arms wrapping around his waist. “Mmm…you smell good, Sir.”
“How is the fire? I was going to see for myself, but the tree called to me.”
“It’s so pretty, isn’t it? I love the colors.” Ryder held him until someone came into the big lobby.
“Where’d you go?” He reached back and put an arm around Ryder’s shoulders. Friendly meant they were allowed to be a couple near the Christmas tree and anywhere else they pleased. “Got you.”
Ryder blinked a second, then eased right in, relaxing into him.
“Better, right? We’re okay here.”
As far as he was concerned, they were okay everywhere.