Chapter Sixteen
Dean peered warily around the door to his living room, expecting carnage.
It was the first time since the tree had gone up that he hadn’t shut Loki in the bathroom when he went to work.
After watching the kitten the previous night, when the decorations had survived the evening unscathed, he figured it was safe enough to give it a go.
What he saw made him laugh out loud.
Lady sat near the tree, watching Loki. When the kitten approached it with his usual bouncing hop, she batted him away with a firm paw. Loki made another attempt, but met with the same reception, only this time Lady hissed at him with another well-aimed swipe of her paw.
It was enough to send Loki scurrying away.
Dean came into the room and walked over to where Lady sat, guarding the tree. He crouched and stroked her head. “Way to go, girl,” he said quietly. Lady pushed into his hand, purring. “Your other favorite human is coming over. More cuddles.”
Robin’s text that morning to say he’d visit after dinner had made Dean smile for the rest of the day. After his last visit, Dean had no clue what would come of the evening—until he glanced at the desk calendar sitting on the side table.
Damn. Is it December 12th already?
That meant Sunday would have to be the last meet-up with Diane and the gang before Christmas, because the following Sunday, Dean would be on his way home from NYC.
He’d already bought the fixings for their gifts—the usual wine, chocolates, and other holiday goodies that they’d exchanged the past three years—but they required packaging, and he’d forgotten all about it.
There was also the matter of his Christmas cards.
The cut-off date for mailing was a week away, and Dean had never left things so late before.
He blamed Robin.
Not that Robin was at fault. He was simply the reason why Dean was so distracted lately. And let’s face it, he’s a gorgeous distraction. But right then he had other things to think about, such as informing his little gang of friends that he was changing the date for their next soiree.
Dean had a feeling he already knew what the first topic of conversation would be when they got to his place.
Ryan’s text came through as Robin was trying to work out what he was going to wear.
Whatcha doin?
Robin wasn’t about to waste time typing. He clicked Call and then put it on speakers. “Going out. Keep your voice down, okay? I’m in my closet—”
“I thought you came out of that at Thanksgiving,” Ryan said with a snort.
Robin groaned. “I’m trying to decide what to wear to—” He lowered his voice. “Dean’s. I’m going over there.”
“Black.” Ryan responded promptly. “Black is always sexy as fuck. But you can talk to me while you look. How’s it going?” Robin told him about the New York City trip, and Ryan snickered. “Yeah, right. You’re really going there to watch some guy dance.”
“No, we are,” Robin protested. “There are photos in Dean’s hallway of him dancing with this Adrian.”
“Seriously?” There was a pause. “Yeah, I can see how Mr. Q would be hot as fuck as a dancer.”
That did it. Robin didn’t care that it would eat up his time?he had to talk about this. “Ryan, can I ask you something kinda… personal?”
“You can ask, sure.”
“It’s just that… you say things like Dean is hot. You watch gay porn and jerk off to it. You watch videos to decide which ones you’re gonna send to me. Because no freaking way are they random.” Robin took a deep breath. “Is there something you wanna tell me?”
Crickets.
Aw fuck. Apparently Ryan did not want to discuss it. Robin backpedaled quickly. “Forget I asked. I’ll go back to looking for a black shirt, seeing as you think that’s the way to go.”
“Robin.”
Ryan said the word so softly, Robin hardly caught it. “Yeah?” He braced himself for Ryan’s rebuke.
“You know all those girls I said I’ve been with?”
“Yeah?”
“Well… a few might have been guys.”
“Might?” Robin’s heart raced. Oh my fucking God. Okay, so Ryan’s actions had seemed a little suspect, but no way had he expected this.
“Okay. I’ve fucked a few guys, all right? But I’m not gay.”
“You’re not—” Robin was shocked into silence.
“Remember I told you about my roommate, Kyle? Well, he likes… oh geez… When he jacks off, he likes things stuck in his ass, okay? And this one time, he asked me to help him out.”
“Okay,” Robin said slowly.
“Well, since he’s my bro, I told him I would.”
This was getting interesting. “And?”
“Okay, so it started out with this dildo he has, but then he told me it wasn’t reaching… you know… that spot?”
“Oh yeah, I know the one.” Robin tried not to laugh.
“So he wanted to know if I’d be willing to… in the ass… and… I said yes.”
Robin stilled. “You said yes to having sex with a guy?”
“I was helping him out!” Ryan protested. “It’s not like either of us is gay.”
“That’s one guy, Ryan. One is not a few, which is what you said.” His head was spinning.
“Yeah, okay, so there were others. But that doesn’t mean I’m gay. I’m doing a favor for some buddies, is all.”
Robin didn’t have time to unpick Ryan’s argument. That would have to wait. “We’re gonna discuss this tomorrow when you get home, you got that?”
Ryan groaned. “Jesus, I knew I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth. I knew you’d get the wrong idea.”
Robin thought it was Ryan who had the wrong idea, but that was a conversation for another time. “I’m glad you told me.”
“And I’m glad you told me about Mr. Q dancing. Because that gives me an idea. Later, bro.” And then he was gone.
Robin wasn’t fooled for an instant. He saw Ryan’s quick exit for what it was—he was running away from the conversation. He went back to looking through his clothing, letting out a shout of triumph when he found a clean pair of black jeans and a black shirt.
His phone pinged. Wear a black T-shirt under your shirt.
Robin sighed. Fashion advice from my not-gay brother. He yanked open the drawer when he kept all his tees, and pulled out a plain black one.
His phone pinged again. This time, however, it was a link. The first four words of the title said it all: lap-dancer-gets-fucked…
Robin grinned. I can watch while I get dressed, right?
“I don’t know if you came here with a purpose tonight,” Dean said as he stood aside to let Robin enter the house.
“We could watch a movie.” Yeah, like they’d seen so much of the last one.
Dean made a mental note to get the removable seat covers cleaned before Sunday.
Kris’s eagle eyes missed nothing, even a cum-stain Dean was positive he’d gotten rid of.
And as for a movie, Dean had other plans for the evening.
“I don’t mind what we do.” Robin removed his coat and hung it up.
Dean was momentarily stunned into silence. He cleared his throat. “Okay, for the record? You can wear black as often as you like.”
Robin beamed. “You like it, huh?” His gaze flickered downward, and he chuckled. “Oh, you do.”
Dean was not about to have his plans for the evening derailed. Not that the idea of peeling off those tight-as-fuck jeans that clung to Robin’s slim hips and eating that hot little ass didn’t appeal to him. Not to mention sucking on Robin’s hard little nipples.
Down boy.
“I was a little surprised to get your text. Not that I mind you coming over, but I’ll be spending a whole weekend with you. And we’re going skiing in less than forty-eight hours.” He grinned. “You’re getting greedy.”
Robin nodded as he walked over to him, his shirt open at the collar, revealing a black tee beneath. “And right now you need to feed me kisses.”
Dean had plenty of those.
“Come here, beautiful.” He pulled Robin into his arms and held him close, breathing him in. “I’ve missed you,” he said quietly. God knew that was the truth. It wasn’t just the sex, the kisses, the caresses.
He’d missed Robin’s laughter, the faces he pulled, his wit, his snark…
Dear God, I’ve got it bad, haven’t I?
Robin’s hands were on his face as he drew Dean down into a kiss that had his engine revving in a heartbeat. It was a struggle to put on the brakes, but Dean did it, breaking their kiss.
“You know when we had that long chat about sex the other day?”
Robin grinned. “Sure, Teacher.”
Dean laughed. “Forget about what’s in your jeans for a sec. I’m being serious here.” Robin straightened his features, but there was still a wicked glint in his eyes. “Okay, another part of real-life sex is making compromises.”
“Is that when I wanna do doggy and you wanna do missionary?” Robin snaked his hands around Dean’s waist, and Dean reached back to grasp him firmly by the wrists, pulling Robin’s hands to his sides.
“You are incorrigible.”
Robin gave him a cocky smile. “Is that another word for horny?”
Dean kissed the tip of his nose. “Compromise means there might be nights when your engine is revving—like now, obviously—but mine wants to shut down.”
Robin blinked. “Oh.”
Dean gave a slow nod. “Now you’re getting it. And I’m not saying I don’t want to take you upstairs to bed—because God knows, I want that—but I have something I need to do this evening, and I was hoping you’d help.”
“What is it? How can I help?”
Dean crooked his finger. “Step this way.” He led Robin into his small dining room, where he’d laid out the boxes, glue, tubes of glitter and card he’d need.
Robin’s eyes lit up. “Oh wow. What are you making?”
“Christmas cards. I always make my own.” Dean opened one of the boxes to reveal the cutouts of reindeer, Santa, snowflakes, Christmas trees and baubles.
In another box he had cotton wadding for snow, and sheets of rhinestone gem stickers that he used as tree lights.
There was also gold ribbon and twine, and anything else Dean could think of.
Then he opened the wooden box containing his stamps and ink pads.
“You have everything,” Robin declared in obvious delight. He pulled back a chair and sat, surveying the supplies and smiling.
Dean chuckled. “I guess this means you want to help.”
“Of course. How many are we making?”
Dean joined him, pulling his phone from his pocket. “I have a list.”
“I think this is awesome.” Robin let out a happy sigh.
“And probably nothing like what you had planned when you chose that ensemble,” Dean commented wryly.
Robin bit his lip. “Can I be honest?”
Dean put down his phone and reached across the table to cover Robin’s hand with his. “I thought we agreed—no more ‘skiing lessons’, remember?”
“Yeah. Well… I sorta had a plan for tonight, but this…” Robin’s eyes sparkled. “This is great.”
Dean couldn’t help himself. He leaned over and kissed Robin on the lips, his hand on Robin’s neck, the kiss as soft as a whisper. “I am so glad you’re here.”
“Me too. But you know what we really need right now?”
Dean couldn’t wait to hear. “What?”
Robin’s smile was adorable. “Christmas songs.”
“Oh, I think we can arrange that.”
“In that case…” Robin grinned. “Farm boy… put on that music.”
Dean’s heart did a happy dance. “As you wish.”