Chapter Nineteen
Greg couldn’t get rid of the idea that something was wrong with Micah.
No, not just Micah—Joshua and Naomi too.
There was nothing he could put his finger on, just an…
undercurrent, a feeling throughout the day that something was going on beneath the surface, out of sight.
Then it came to him, and he cursed himself for being so stupid.
Of course. Tomorrow is the anniversary of her death.
No wonder they were distracted. He guessed it would be a while before Christmas regained any of its former magic and sparkle for the Trant family.
They were working on it—well, Naomi certainly was—but Greg knew it wasn’t going to be plain sailing.
Then I need to make the day as easy for them as I can.
He just wasn’t certain how he could accomplish that.
This is sure going to be one messed up Christmas.
He’d gotten over his shock of the previous day, but it hadn’t entirely left his thoughts.
Now and again he fell to wondering what was happening.
Had the detectives taken the guys in for questioning, or would they leave it until after the holidays?
Was there enough evidence to charge them?
When would they need him to identify the bastards?
The conversation with Detective Riley had brought one issue to the forefront of his mind, however—Micah.
Six weeks. That’s all it’s been, six weeks.
Yet it felt like he’d known Micah for so much longer.
A line came to mind from one of his mom’s favorite musicals, My Fair Lady.
Something about growing accustomed to someone’s face, but there was more to it than that.
Waking up in the morning and seeing Micah’s smile.
Hearing him laugh and joke with his dad.
Watching him paint. Feeling that gentle hand on Greg’s face when Micah kissed him.
Heat raced through him at the memory of other more carnal activities, but he knew his feelings weren’t all about the sex.
Yes, he’d experienced a lot of firsts with Micah, but that wasn’t it either.
When Detective Riley brought up the subject of Greg leaving Wyoming, that set off a chain reaction of conflicting emotions, which all boiled down to one vital realization.
Greg had no clue what to do.
He’d told himself it was no use making decisions right then. Those could wait. But he knew he was putting off the moment when he needed to decide where his future lay—and with whom. And as the day dragged on, those thoughts continued to plague him, until he couldn’t take it any longer.
Inaction and indecision were no longer an option.
Greg tapped on Joshua’s office door.
“Come in.” Joshua was seated at his desk, peering at a monitor. Greg wasn’t surprised to find him working: he guessed it was Joshua’s way of coping. He smiled as Greg entered the room. “Hey. You need something?”
Greg hobbled over to the couch and sat down.
“I was going to wrap my gifts, until I remembered I didn’t buy any paper.
” He couldn’t ask Micah: he’d locked himself away in his studio.
Naomi had gone into Gillette for some last-minute groceries.
It seemed like all the Trants were hiding from the holidays.
“No problem. We have tons of that. I’ll find you a roll and some tape. Oh!” Joshua unlocked a drawer in his desk. “You might need this then.” He removed a small silver bag. “The results of my little shopping trip for you.”
“Great. Can we settle up? I can transfer the money to your account.”
Joshua got up and walked over to him. “Yeah, sure.” He handed Greg the bag, his expression thoughtful. “It’s a sweet gift. Not what I expected you to get. Kinda made me feel like…” He sighed. “I wish I knew where this is going.”
Greg didn’t have to ask what ‘this’ referred to.
“You and me both, sir.” Joshua blinked, and Greg smiled.
“No, I don’t have the answers either.” Then he remembered his real reason for paying Joshua a visit.
“Can I ask a favor? Do you have a laptop I can use?” Thus far, he’d used Joshua’s PC, but he didn’t want to impost any further.
“Sure. I’ll bring it to your room, along with the password details.
” He laid a hand on Greg’s shoulder. “I know the circumstances that brought you here were pretty awful, but… I sure am glad you’re here.
It’s been great having you around the place these last weeks.
” He swallowed. “And I’m gonna miss you when you leave. I know I won’t be the only one.”
Greg’s throat tightened. “Please… don’t.”
Joshua flinched. “I’m sorry. Ignore me. I’m just a little frazzled right now. Time of year, an’ all that.” He took a deep breath. “Anyhow, if you go to your room, I’ll bring you the paper, scissors, tape, and the laptop. That okay?”
Greg used the crutches to lever himself up onto his feet. “Thank you.” Impulsively, Greg put his arm around Joshua’s back and gave him a one-arm hug, as much as he dared do while trying not to overbalance. Then he took a careful step back.
Joshua’s face flushed. “You’re welcome.”
Greg made his way to his bedroom, taking his time.
At least he was going to do something.
When he’d lain awake for more than an hour, Micah decided enough was enough. He got out of bed, pulled on his robe, and crept downstairs. The house was silent, and through the windows he could see the bright lights that still burned. Then he realized: it was officially Christmas Day.
A wave of sorrow washed over him, and he fought back the tears.
“Merry Christmas, Mom,” he whispered. Fighting to maintain his composure, he went into the kitchen to make himself a warm drink.
When a noise disturbed the silence, Micah knew he wasn’t the only insomniac in the house.
He crept to the hallway that led to the back yard.
Light spilled from under Greg’s bedroom door.
Micah walked up to it, internally debating whether to knock, or just make his drink and go back to bed.
Like he could walk away, especially when he didn’t want to be on his own right then.
Micah rapped gently on the door.
“Come in.” He just about caught Greg’s quietly spoken instruction. Micah pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The room was lit by the lamp next to Greg’s bed. He lay under the comforter, no trace of sleep in his expression. “Hey. You couldn’t sleep either?”
Micah smiled. “It’s getting to be a habit.”
“I didn’t see much of you today.” Greg patted the space beside him. “Please, sit.”
Micah sat on the bed, leaning against the head board. “Sorry. I had something to do in the studio.” He knew that was only half the truth, but Greg didn’t need to know the rest, especially as most of it related to him.
“Did you get it done, whatever it was?”
He sighed. “Yes.” He had no idea how it would be received, however. “And why can’t you sleep?”
“Too much on my mind, I guess. I couldn’t switch my brain off.”
Micah came to a reluctant decision. “I should let you at least try to sleep.” He got up.
“Do you have to go?” Greg blurted out. He paused, and Greg held out his hand. “Stay with me? Please?”
Slowly, Micah grasped it. “You sure?”
Greg nodded. In silence, he released Micah’s hand and lifted the comforter and sheets, revealing his body, bare but for a pair of white boxers, and the ever-present cast.
Micah let his robe slip from his shoulders, then climbed into the bed, thankful that he was on Greg’s right. “I don’t want to accidentally nudge your leg or something.”
Greg smiled. “You won’t. You’re careful.” Micah liked the confidence that rang out in those few words.
Micah stretched out beside him, and Greg covered them both. He lay on his back, his head turned in Micah’s direction.
“Do you know how many times this past week that I’ve wanted to ask you to do this?” Greg chuckled softly. “Seems weird, huh? I know how your dick tastes, but I don’t know how it feels to spend a night with you sleeping beside me.”
Micah snickered. “Yeah, we have been doing that a lot, haven’t we?” He reached across and brushed his fingers over Greg’s nipples. “What about now? Is that all you wanna do? Sleep?”
Greg’s breathing hitched and he shivered. “Why—what else did you have in mind?”
“That depends on you.” Micah knew where he wanted this to go, but only if Greg was on the same page. Not to mention getting their heads around the logistics of the situation.
“So… if I wanted more than a midnight blow-job, you’d be okay with that?” Greg’s eyes shone in the lamplight.
Fuck. Micah wasn’t the only one who needed. Before he could reply, Greg grasped Micah’s hand and pulled it down his torso, until his fingers touched the soft cotton of his boxers—and the hardness that lay beneath them.
The breath caught in Micah’s throat. “And if I want this inside me?” Just the thought made him hot all over.
Greg’s eyes were huge. “Can… can we do that? I mean, with my leg and all?”
Micah grinned. “Where there’s a will….” Then sanity returned. “Only, I’ll have to go back to my room for supplies.”
“No need.” Greg pointed to the nightstand. “There are condoms and lube in that drawer.” When Micah gazed at him inquiringly, he flushed. “So I was hopeful. Not to mention practical. Bite me.”
Micah couldn’t resist. “I was thinking more along the lines of sucking you, but whatever.” Greg let out a dirty giggle. Then a thought occurred to him. “When did you buy those?”
“When you went to the restroom at CVS. And about that… damn, do you always pee so fast? I almost broke my other leg, trying to get back to where you left me, before you worked out where I was.”
“I’ll take my time in the future.” Micah knelt up in bed and pulled back the sheets.
“Okay, these need to come off.” He grabbed the waistline on Greg’s boxers and slowly eased them down, taking extra care when he got to the cast. Greg’s dick stood upright, and Micah licked his lips. “Damn. Someone’s in need.”
“Micah?” He glanced down to where Greg stared up at him. “Kiss me?”
Like Micah could refuse that invitation.
He got off the bed and removed his own shorts, his cock already at half-mast. Greg held his arms wide, and Micah rejoined him, their bodies touching as he leaned over and took Greg’s mouth in a languid kiss.
Greg moaned softly, his hands caressing Micah’s nape and shoulders, shuddering when Micah stroked lower.
“Love it… when you touch me,” Greg said, a shiver coursing through him. “Love the way you kiss me too.”
It was there, right there, on the tip of Micah’s tongue.
That’s because I love you. Only he didn’t dare.
Instead, he kissed down the length of Greg’s neck, feeling the tremors that rocketed through him.
It was like each caress, each kiss, caused a physical reaction.
Micah felt every explosion of sensation in Greg’s body, and it sent his own desire spiraling.
Then Greg grabbed him and tugged him higher, their mouths meeting in a heated fusion of lips and tongues.
Micah explored him, his hand moving slowly over Greg’s chest and abs, shifting lower, until that hard shaft was in his hand once more.
Only that wasn’t where he wanted it. And Micah didn’t want to wait any longer. He straddled Greg and leaned forward to kiss him. “You ready?”
Greg’s chest rose and fell rapidly. “You’re kidding, right? I think I’ll blow the second I’m inside you.”
Micah smiled. “We can always do it again, okay?”
A sigh shuddered out of him. “Yeah. Okay.”
Micah reached for the lube and slicked up a couple of fingers. He lowered his head until his lips brushed against Greg’s. “Kiss me,” he whispered.
Greg let out a low moan, his hands on Micah’s nape and head, pulling him into a deep, toe-curling kiss. Micah explored him leisurely, while reaching back to slide his fingers into his own ass.
“What are you doing back there?”
Micah grinned. “Something you get to do, another time.” He ran his tongue over Greg’s nipple, loving the shivers that multiplied through him. Then it was back to kissing, until both of them were breathless.
When they parted, Micah looked him in the eyes.
“You are going to lie here and let me do all the work, you got that?” Greg made a soft noise at the back of his throat, and Micah stared at him.
“I mean it. Keep that leg still.” When Greg pulled a face, Micah whispered in his ear, “There will be other times, baby. I promise. But for now, I don’t want you hurting. Okay?”
Greg’s gaze locked on his. “Okay.” His lips twitched. “Now can we make love?”
Micah’s heart soared at Greg’s words. “God, yes.”
Greg wanted to slow down time, to savor the moment, but all too soon, he was lost in the heat and tightness of Micah’s body as he slowly impaled himself on Greg’s gloved dick.
Greg held still, badly wanting to move, but not daring.
He loved how Micah bided his time, carefully lowering himself until at last, Greg was inside him. The sensations took his breath away.
Then Micah began to move, a slow rocking back and forth, his hands on Greg’s chest, and fuck, that was exquisite. Greg grabbed Micah’s ass, caressing and squeezing the firm flesh, crying out when Micah’s movements sped up. “Oh, God.”
Above him, Micah nodded. “I know. Feels so good.” He wrapped one hand around his own dick, tugging.
“Too good,” Greg groaned. “Not sure if I can—” And then Greg was coming, balls tingling as he filled the condom, stifling the urge to thrust up into Micah, his body jolted over and over again. Micah was shaking, his hand a blur on his cock.
“In my mouth,” Greg cried out. “Micah!”
Micah didn’t hesitate. He held his dick steady, shooting his load in an arc that landed on Greg’s chest, chin and lips. He scooped up come and fed it to Greg, who sucked on his fingers, cleaning them with his tongue.
Micah lay down beside him, and removed the condom. After dropping it into the small trashcan beside the bed, he pressed up against Greg’s body, both of them warm and damp.
“That was over way too fast,” Greg murmured sleepily.
Micah craned his neck and kissed Greg on the lips. “Then the next time will be better. And the time after that. And the time after that….”
Greg gave a drowsy chuckle. “Like the way you think.”
Micah pulled the comforter over them, and rested his head on Greg’s shoulder. Greg breathed in Micah’s scent, and let out a soft sigh of contentment, before drifting off into a deep, velvety sleep.