Chapter 22
“Ifucking love it here!” Roper grabbed Ryder as soon as he came out of the city apartment to let his twin in. “How could you ever leave?”
“The lake house is magic?” And he loved Charles, not where they were. “I’m so glad you’re here. Merry almost Christmas!”
“Same to you!” Roper hauled two huge suitcases in, handing him one.
“Damn, Bubba, you got a body in here?”
“Christmas from the folks. All wrapped and everything.”
Charles was waiting in the foyer and smiled as they hauled the suitcases inside. “Staying a few days, Roper? Ryder, you better show your brother his room before one of you hurts yourself.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Hey, Charles! Merry Christmas! I brought presents for under the tree.”
“Come on, butthead.” He led Roper to the guest room. “Here you go.”
“Nice!”
“Isn’t it? I’m going to make it a little more homey, but it’s still nice.”
Roper parked one suitcase at the foot of the bed and took the other from him to do the same. “I can’t believe I’m in New York. For Christmas.”
“I’m tickled as shit, Bubba. I have missed your face.” He took a hard hug, and they breathed together, nice and slow.
“Ditto. I’m glad to be here. It was time to see your place.” Roper shrugged out of his coat. “Are you good? You look good. Charles is taking good care of you?”
“He’s amazing. I’m happy. We spend a lot of time just…hanging out.” And it was perfect. They talked, they played cards, they made love, they took walks.
“Ugh. Love. Gross.” Roper squeezed his shoulders. “Damn good to see your stupid face.”
“Good to see your ugly one. Jackass.” They laughed together, both cracking up.
Roper took a breath. “I do need a break though. This is good. This is real good.”
“I’m glad.” It was tough, riding alone. Ryder knew it. He knew Roper’s heart had to hurt.
Roper shook that off quickly. “Y’all got eggnog? I’ll settle for a beer but…”
“It’s homemade and everything. We bought it from this space in the grower’s market.”
“Yeah? For real? Let’s go pour some.” Roper followed him back toward the kitchen. “You got cookies too?”
“You know it.”
There was a low chuckle from the living room, and his plate of snickerdoodles was missing from the kitchen counter.
“Oh, someone is celebrating already.” He grinned. “Do you need a glass of eggnog, Mister Charlie?”
“That would be lovely, thank you. Come sit, Roper. Ryder will take care of things for us.”
“Yeah? Okay. Okay, sure.” Roper winked at him, teasing him, but he did like things a certain way, so he got the eggnog, topped it with nutmeg, and took it into the front room.
“How was your flight?” Charles held a half-eaten cookie in one hand. “I trust Alan took care of you on the ride from the airport?”
“It was great, and I have to say, he’s a sweetheart. He knew all the hot spots, and he told me to insist on seeing Christmas windows.”
“Everyone likes him. I’m very lucky to have him in my employ. We’ll be tourists for a day or two for sure; if you haven’t been to New York at Christmastime before, there is plenty to see.” Charles took a cop of eggnog off his tray. “Thank you, love.”
“Yes, Sir.” He put the tray down and sat, offering Roper a glass. “I’m glad you’re here to share the holidays, man. For real.”
“I jumped on the invitation. I’ve been looking forward to spending Christmas with you.” Roper looked at Mister Charlie. “And Charles, of course.”
“Oh, I’m not fooled.” Charles grinned. “I know why you’re here.”
“I’m here for my family, and you’re part of that now.” Roper winked. “Poor guy.”
“Woe is me. If it means I get cookies and eggnog you are welcome any time.” Charles smiled at Roper, then turned and winked at him. “We’ve been looking forward to having you. Please make yourself at home.”
“Thank you. So this is home?”
Ryder chuckled. “Home is the lake house. This is the apartment.”
Charles shrugged. “Ryder makes everywhere we go home.”
Ryder’s entire soul just melted, and he couldn’t stop smiling.
Roper shook his head. “Damn, y’all. You’re so sweet it makes my teeth hurt.”
“You just like spicy, Bubba. Leave us to our sweet.”
Roper nodded. “Hey, who am I to judge? Happy is happy. And it’s Christmas.”
“Yes. It is. And we’re going to have one hell of a great vacation!” Ryder was so tickled. His lover, his twin, New York City.
Charles nodded. “We have dinner plans tonight, one of Ryder’s favorites, and I think he wanted your assistance with decorating the tree. Tomorrow we’ll take you to a men’s club that a couple of my friends belong to. I’m sure Ryder has told you about the place.”
“Yeah. Yes, Sir. I—I’m looking forward to that…” Roper licked his lips.
“No doubt you are.” Charles sounded amused and hid a grin behind a sip of eggnog.
Ryder didn’t want to think about that. At all.
He would just focus on Mister Charlie.
Charles didn’t shy away at all. “I’ve been asked whether you’re interested in being set up, or if you’d prefer to mingle and meet people?”
“From what my brother says, I’m better off getting introduced around, right? I don’t want to waste time.”
“Wise. I’ll get you in touch with someone tomorrow so you can discuss what you need. They’re quite welcoming to—” Charles looked thoughtful, like he was choosing his words carefully. “Newcomers.”
“They were amazing to me. So kind.” Ryder had been welcomed with open arms, in fact.
“They are kind. That’s an excellent assessment. It’s a good place. I’ve been visiting with friends there for a few years. Not often, but enough that I know my way around now.”
“Well, I know how to be on my very best behavior.” Roper beamed at him.
“Good to know, but I think anyone there would tell you to just be yourself.”
Roper’s grin just went wider, and Ryder knew that look meant naughtiness.
Charles shook his head, smiling indulgently at Roper. “I picked the right twin.”
“I hope so. I’d be lost if you decided you liked his ugly mug instead.” In fact, he’d be devastated, but he knew that Charles loved him for him.
Charles laughed, bright and happy. “I hate to break it to you, Ryder, but he has the same mug that you do. It’s a handsome mug. But I look deeper.”
“Hey! I’m deep!” Roper winked at him, and they both cracked up, Ryder leaning into his lover.
Mister Charlie put an arm around his shoulders. He loved how Charles showed real interest in his brother. “You must be relieved to have a break.”
“I am. It’s harder than you’d think, going it alone.” Roper shrugged, so unhappy. “I’m used to having Ry.”
“I understand. I wouldn’t want to do without him now either. Is it hard enough that you don’t want to do it?”
“It’s just not fun anymore. Why do it, if it’s no fun?” Roper shrugged. “We’re not getting rich, right?”
“Agreed. It’s much too dangerous a sport to do for no good reason.” Mister Charlie glanced at him, then back at Roper. “Are you saying you’re retiring?”
“I don’t know what I’m saying. It’s Christmas. I’m not saying anything, right, Ry?”
“Totally.”
“Got it. You’re saying you need to put your feet up and sip your eggnog.” Mister Charlie nodded.
“Exactly. I want to not think and enjoy y’all.” Roper caught his gaze. “If I’d wanted to stress, I’d have stayed at the house, right?”
“You make a solid point. So, you haven’t been here at Christmastime, right? Ryder and I put together a little tour for you. Well, two actually. One is a daytime tour, and the other is at night.”
Ryder nodded, and he couldn’t stop grinning. “You’re going to love it. It’ll make you smile.”
“You know what I like, huh?” Roper winked at him, and Ryder felt a little like he was missing a joke.
Mister Charlie let it go and tucked him closer. “The eggnog is excellent, isn’t it?”
“Amazing. It’s one of my favorite parts of holiday food.” He was about as happy as he could be.
Mister Charlie reached for another cookie but stopped himself. “How are you feeling, Roper? Do you need a rest after your flight? Or are you ready to see the city?”
“I’d like to just have a nap, if you don’t mind. I want to go out tonight. I’ll buy y’all supper.”
“Of course. Please relax, have a nap. We want you to enjoy your vacation. Ryder and I are fond of naps.”
Ryder’s cheeks went red hot. “We…we so are.”
Naked naps. With orgasms.
Charles didn’t blush, he just smiled. “Ryder, why don’t you go help your brother settle in, show him where the towels are and such.”
“Of course, Sir.” He kissed Charles’s cheek. “Come on, Bubba. I’ll give you the nickel tour and let you breathe a little.”
Roper followed him, then grabbed him, holding him tight for a long minute. “Love you.”
“Ditto, cabbagehead.” Ryder hugged Roper until he backed away. “Good nap.”
“You know it.” Roper gave him a nod and a smile that didn’t seem as convincing as it should have been, then closed the guest room door quietly.
Ryder headed straight for Charles. He needed his lover. Right now.
He needed a hug; he needed direction. He needed Charles.