Chapter Twelve #2
Dean rubbed his bearded jaw. “Fuck it,” he said quietly. “That cat will have to get used to it.”
“And you might have to get used to sweeping up broken glass every time you come home from school.” Robin cocked his head. “You got any ornaments you wanna keep in one piece?”
Dean shook his head. “Mom has the decorations that belonged to my grandma. They date back to the fifties. I’ll get them when Mom goes.
No, everything that goes on my tree is only a few years’ old, and there are no special memories attached to anything.
So if the little bastard breaks a few, it’s no biggie.
” He gazed at the tree Robin had pointed out.
“You’re right. This one would be perfect.
” He smiled. “Let’s tell them to chop this one, and then we’ll truss it up, tie it to the roof, and be on our way.
We’ll be ready for lunch by the time we get back.
” His eyes glittered. “And then you’re going to work your pretty ass off, helping me get everything up before nightfall. ”
Robin grinned. “My ass is pretty, huh?”
“I’m guessing. I only saw the front part. And that was so pretty.” Dean stepped closer and leaned in. “I’ll let you know later if reality lives up to my imagination.”
Robin’s pulse quickened. “I thought we’re gonna be busy decorating. We won’t have time for anything else.”
Dean’s smile sent heat crawling over his skin, until he was sure his face and neck were flushed.
“We’ll make time. We have more cherries to pop, remember?
” And then Robin’s heart stuttered as Dean kissed him, slow as you please, not giving a damn who saw them.
Not that there was anyone around who had a clue who they were anyway.
When he drew back, Dean sighed. “I could so easily become addicted to your lips.”
Robin thought he could become addicted to Dean, period.
The tree chopped down, paid for, trussed up and secured, they drove back to Lake Placid, singing along to the Christmas songs that were already playing on the radio.
Dean chuckled. “When I was a kid, you couldn’t have heard wall-to-wall Christmas songs playing on the seventh of December. My mom would never put up the tree until about two weeks before Christmas. These days, you see decorations in the stores as soon as Halloween is over.”
“Ryan used to wear my mom down, whining about putting up the tree. There was one year when he started griping the day after Thanksgiving.” Robin smiled at the memory. “Dad said if he didn’t shut up, he’d be spending Christmas in the boatyard with the mice and the spiders. That did the trick.”
“Has your dad always built canoes?”
Robin nodded. “Well, for as long as I can remember.”
“And how long have you wanted to work with him?”
“About the same time, I guess.” Robin’s earliest memories were of being with his dad in the office, sitting on his knee while Dad gazed at the computer screen.
“Those books on Art… did you buy them?”
Robin shook his head. “That was Mom. I used to sit on the couch with her and look at paintings in her encyclopedias. I think she’s kept all my drawings and paintings from when I was little. And as I got older, she’d buy me books, usually about the painters I’d liked.”
“Can I ask you something? Where do your parents think you are right now?”
Robin’s stomach clenched. “Remember when we went skiing, and a couple of friends came up to me when we were in the cafeteria? Well, one of them was Ben Taylor.”
“Ah. And that’s where you told them you’d be—at Ben’s place?” When Robin nodded, Dean sighed heavily. “You don’t like lying to them, do you?”
Robin jerked his head to stare at Dean. “How do you know that?”
“Because I’m beginning to know you a whole lot better. I do understand. They might think it a little odd that you’re hanging out with a guy who’s older than you, who you don’t really know all that well.”
Robin let out a long breath. “Does that worry you? The age difference, I mean.”
Dean turned his head briefly toward him. “Does it worry you?”
Robin smiled. “Not at all. That’s part of why I came to you in the first place.”
“You figured I’d know what I was doing,” Dean said with a grin.
“Kinda. Well… yes.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” Dean declared. “Like I told you… I wish my first time had been with someone more experienced.” He chuckled. “I didn’t even think of doing what you did.”
“But they wouldn’t understand that. And it’s not like I can tell them… what’s going on.” His dad might call Robin a man, but when faced with the reality of their relationship, Robin knew he’d revert to being a child in their eyes. Their baby.
“So what happens if they find out?”
The thought had Robin’s stomach rolling over. “I don’t wanna think about that now.”
“I get that. But the best-kept secrets have a way of crawling into the light when we least expect it.” Dean reached over and patted Robin’s thigh. “It’ll be okay.”
Robin wished he were so certain of that. He intended to hide the situation from his parents for as long as possible.
They lapsed into silence for the rest of the trip home, Robin doing his best not to think about what might happen if his parents found out. We aren’t doing anything wrong, are we?
He had a sinking feeling his parents wouldn’t see it that way.
They pulled up in front of Dean’s garage, and Dean switched off the engine. “You’re allowed to change your mind, you know,” he said in a quiet voice.
“About what?” Robin whipped his head around so fast, it ached.
“This. Us. Sex.” Dean’s eyes were warm and compassionate. “It’s not as if we’ve done all that much.”
“Do you want to stop?” Robin’s heart started thumping.
Dean studied him in silence for a moment. “Being totally selfish? No, I don’t.” His hand was on Robin’s thigh, only now he stroked it gently. “But just because I want you doesn’t mean you have to go through with it. Not if you’re worried about your parents’ reaction.”
“I don’t wanna change my mind,” Robin said quickly. “These last few days, all I’ve done is think about you. About us.” He swallowed hard. “I want you too.” So much that it hurt.
“Then we don’t stop,” Dean said in an emphatic tone. “So let’s go inside, I’ll make us something to eat, and then we’ll see where the rest of the day takes us.”
“As long as there’s kissing involved, I’m in,” Robin declared.
Dean’s breathing hitched. “There will be kissing as soon as I get you inside,” he assured Robin.
Robin unfastened his seat belt. “Then why are we still sitting out here?”