CHAPTER 17
Matthew
Christmas rolled around impossibly fast.
I felt guilty that I couldn’t spend it with my family; it didn’t seem right.
Stryker was still in recovery but had been allowed to go home, so he was there to greet us at the door when we arrived.
Now that we weren’t in such a panic, I got to take the place in better. It was massive, the exterior walls a pale grey colour; the front garden had a statue of a roaring lion that developed into a fountain surrounded by flowers and plants right in the middle of it. There was a patio, too.
His appearance wasn’t the best- his gaunt face still held traces of his recent illness, his skin was pale, almost ghostly, with dark circles under his eyes and his hair falling in disheveled strands onto his forehead, but his eyes were vibrant and his smile brightened his features.
Theo left my side and wrapped him in a bear hug.
“Hello to you too.” He grunted, patting his back. Theo pulled back and pressed a wet looking kiss to his cheek “I’ve missed you.”
“I haven’t.” Stryker scoffed, rolling his eyes fondly as he wiped his cheek with his sleeve.
I limited myself to clapping him on the shoulder, not quite up to showering him with kisses like a certain someone, whilst Jack scrutinised him, dark eyes concerned “where are we at with this?”
“Hypoglycaemia.” He said softly, leaning against the doorframe “it’ll get better, I think.”
“And the sepsis? Gone?”
“Hmm.” He bopped his head, corner of his lips twitching into a smile. Jack huffed out a breath and pulled him into an embrace, much like Theo’s.
“What’s hypoglycaemia?” Theo whispered to me. I raised an unbelieving eyebrow “you don’t…” trailing off, I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. Never mind. I shouldn’t have expected him to know. My bad.
“Low blood sugar.” I muttered “it’s…he’s not better.”
“But he just said-“
“Sepsis related hypoglycaemia is a serious complication.” I continued in a low voice “high blood sugar would have been preferable.”
I watched some of the happiness Theo’s eyes had previously held morph into panic as they flickered over to Stryker, who was playing it off as nothing, making Jack, who was none the wiser, believe it was nothing.
I nudged his shoulder, unwilling to see such a sad expression on his face “he’s strong.” I reminded him “he’ll be okay. They let him out of the healers’ base.”
“Yeah.” Theo mumbled doubtfully.
Stryker stepped aside, allowing us into the house. It was just as massive on the inside as on the outside, with a white marble flooring, crystal chandeliers decorating the ceiling, an imperial staircase leading upstairs and a long corridor to the left of it.
Stryker’s dad stood in the kitchen with Armelle, perched on one of the three stalls lining the island.
There were creases of concern on his forehead, and the smile he offered us all didn’t reach his eyes, but I certainly couldn’t blame him. Stryker shot him an unreadable look.
Armelle, expression neutral, greeted the lot of us. “Merry Christmas.”
There was no real happiness in her tone.
I felt my heart plummet further, trying to push the thought that something worse was going on away because Stryker seemed unbothered.
Theo, evidently picking up on the atmosphere as well, leaned closer to me to mumble “you think something happened before we got here?”
“Probably.” I said softly “relax. He’s okay.” I was trying to convince myself just as much as I was trying to convince him.
“I just…yeah. I know.”
“Help yourselves.” Stryker cut through our whispering, gesturing to a very large plate of chocolate chip cookies on the island.
Theo stacked up seven, catching my disbelieving expression and grinning.
“Fatso gutso.”
He poked his tongue out.
“So, what’s the plan?” Jack asked.
Stryker shrugged nonchalantly “winging it, I suppose.”
“Can I make cocktails?” Theo asked, peering at Stryker’s dad.
I half expected him to refuse him because he was 16.
“I work at the pub. I’m good at them.”
“Help yourself.” The man replied gruffly, exceeding my expectations, “it’s Christmas. Alcohol’s in the top cabinet.”
Theo shot me a dazzling grin, clearly starting to get excited.
“Can I drink?” Stryker asked his dad cautiously.
His brows furrowed “one.” He murmured “it’s risky.”
“Okay.” He accepted easily, turning to Theo and grinning “bourbon.”
“Alrighty.”
Who’s up for getting destroyed at chess?”
My arm shot up. Theo made sure to lean in and whisper “boring.” Asshole.
After watching Theo have an absolute blast with the enormous alcohol collection- and I had to admit he'd made me an extremely tasty cocktail with bourbon, vanilla, lemon, apple juice, grape juice, probably something else, too- we made our way into the living room, Theo bringing the plate of cookies along and listening to Jack bug Stryker about how hot his sister was.
Typical Jack, though Theo was nodding along in agreement with him.
And I absolutely didn't feel a spike of jealousy despite knowing that they were talking about Stryker's sister.
I beat Jack at chess three times in a row, which was incredibly satisfying.
Theo got bored and forced me to engage in a push-up competition, which was still going on when Armelle came in, holding a scrap of fabric of a dress, heels and with an impressive smokey eye.
“Hey, guys. S, I need some help.”
“What?” Stryker grumbled, glancing up from the chess board.
“I’m going to a party tonight.” She said brightly.
Stryker’s eyebrows shot up. “Have fun?” He offered hesitantly.
“I will, S.” She winked “I need an opinion. Which underwear?”
The four of us gaped at the two tiny undergarments, one red and one black.
“I think the red one’s see through, see?” She said, holding it out to Stryker, who propped himself up on his elbows and grimaced.
“Okay, so, you don’t have to give that to me- and you’ve given it to me.” He sighed as she shoved it into his hand “okay, forgive me if I don’t want to imagine my sister wearing either of these. Matthew, you choose.”
“What? I can’t do-“ I glanced at Armelle’s impatient face “the black ones.” I muttered reluctantly.
Her whole face lit up and to my great surprise- and Jack’s delight- she started stripping in the middle of the room.
Armelle.” Stryker hissed “do you mind?”
“I don’t, actually.” She mused.
Stryker groaned.
Jack’s eyes were immediately on his sister, along with Theo’s. I respectfully looked away.
“Oi.” He snapped “that’s my sister you lot are gawping at.”
“Your sister’s hot.” Jack smirked back.
“Maybe she needs help.” Theo added cheekily.
“She doesn’t-“ I heard Stryker seethe, keeping my gaze firmly elsewhere “if you don’t fucking look away, I’ll break your nose. Matt?”
“Hm?” I tensed.
“Help her out, will ya?” He groaned.
Fuck no.
“Hey.” Jack frowned “how come he gets to?”
“Matt’s not fucking sex driven.”
“I think she’s good.” I pointed out awkwardly, scratching my jaw “she can- yeah, you look awesome.”
Armelle flashed me a smile.
Theo leaned forward, lips brushing my ear “you’re so gay.”
I shoved his shoulder but didn’t deny it.
Theo slid into my bed in the middle of the night. I hadn’t spoken to him since this evening- he’d gone to pay a visit to his parents and had been in a stinker of a mood ever since he’d come back, so I’d given up talking to him to avoid getting my head ripped off.
I hesitated, then turned my body to face him.
He didn’t speak.
“You want to talk about it?” I asked with a sigh.
He scowled at me, shaking his head “all you need to know is that they’re all pieces of shit.”
“Can’t be that bad.” I argued pointlessly.
He full on snarled at me. “My dad wasn’t even there, my sister fucking decided it was my fault that her stupid boyfriend died, and I know that your mum wasn’t sitting there drinking her weight in vodka at the mere sight of me.”
I winced. “No.” I said softly.
“And your mum hasn’t been stressing you out for the past five years because of her terrible habits!”
I swallowed hard at the inconsiderate comment and whispered “my mum hasn’t done anything much in years, Theo.”
I watched him filter my sentence, watched the gears begin to turn and the resulting guilt that swamped his expression “I…didn’t mean…”
“I know.” I let it slide. We were both tired. He was in a bad mood. It was fine. He leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to my lips before mumbling “I wasn’t thinking,” against them.
“I know.” I repeated.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know, Theo.” I loved him so much “it’s okay.”
He mumbled something incoherent, curling up to me. I smiled, slinging an arm around his waist. He was asleep in seconds; I, too, fell asleep to the sound of his even breathing.
I awoke first, by what, I wasn’t sure.
Probably by the sunlight streaming in through the gaps in the curtains, perhaps by Theo’s light snores.
I fought back a laugh, unable to resist pressing a kiss to his shoulder.
He stirred slightly but didn’t awaken, so I continued my path of light kisses down his back until he turned his head slightly, eyes half lidded.
“You’re awake, aren’t you?” I murmured.
Theo hummed. He rolled over to face me, only for me to catch his lips in a soft kiss, which he leaned into and deepened, hands tangling in my hair as he straddled me.
I smiled softly and rolled us both over, assuming the dominate position and noting Theo’s playful scowl as I did.
“Not fair” he mumbled against my mouth “I wanted to-“
His words trailed of in a breathy gasp, eyes half lidded as I broke the kiss and allowed my lips to gravitate over his stomach, leaving a dark trail of kisses that led upwards, between his ribs and close to his chest. My fingers traced the contours of Theo’s abs, his muscles tensing beneath my touch.
I teasingly bit at the skin beneath his ribs before returning my attention to kissing a slow trail to his chest, my kisses gradually growing longer and deeper. I fingered at the band of his boxers.
“Matt” he mumbled “we can’t.”
“Why not?” I rumbled back
“We’ve got-“ he hummed as I moved to his throat “a lot of people listening”
“But I want to.”
“Matt.”
I drew away to meet his gaze “fine” I murmured “later. When they’re asleep.”
“Later.” Theo agreed. He pushed himself up, my longing gaze tracking his movements.
“Later” he repeated with a soft grin “come on. I’m hungry.”
Jack and Stryker were discussing something in the kitchen when we entered; his dad was reading through paperwork at the table and Armelle was no where to be seen.
“Heya.” Jack greeted me. I waved back.
Stryker was looking at Theo, eyes scanning his clothed figure as if he were searching for something “try to be quiet. Later.” He murmured to him after a long moment, eyes glinting mischievously.
I felt my heart stop, and panic plastered itself onto Theo’s face.
He shot me a desperate look that seemed a lot like a plea for help that I didn’t know how to give.
The panic must have shown on both of our faces, because Stryker’s expression softened and he said, in a low voice “it’s not a problem. Unexpected, but I won’t tell anyone.”
I held his gaze for a moment, searching it for any signs that he was lying. Theo did the same; finding none, I nodded slowly whilst he let out a surprised laugh “no need to eavesdrop.”
“Wasn’t trying to.”
“Jerk.”
“Just saying, I’m planning on sleeping.”
“Piss off.”
Jack raised an eyebrow at us over his mug of coffee, clearly- and luckily- not having caught a word of our hushed back and forth.
The day was uneventful, mostly lounging around; that evening I went with Stryker to speak with Johnathan about the kidnapping situation, and when I returned Theo was passed out on the bed, lying on his stomach and wearing only a pair of sweatpants that he could do without.
Jack had gone to bed too.
“Theo” I murmured “hey”
He mumbled something incoherent.
“Theo” I whispered again, smiling.
“Wha’ time s’it?” He grumbled, rolling onto his back. I chuckled at how adorably out of it he was, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth and beginning to strip “midnight?”
“Hm.” He squinted “‘m tired.”
“I know, lovely. You were sleeping.” The nickname slipped out, and I momentarily tensed, wondering if he’d say anything about it, but he didn’t seem to notice in his drowsy state
“I know.”
I smiled fondly, changing into a shirt and sweatpants and lying next to him.
“Would you like to visit my house tomorrow?” Theo asked in a mumble.
I stilled for a moment, the request unexpected, then nodded slowly “alright.”
I chuckled at Theo’s lazy grin.
“Sleep” I murmured, nudging him. Theo frowned slightly, turning over and kissing me roughly, almost needy. Pleased, I climbed on top of him and kissed him again. I looked down at him, voice husky, knowing that my eyes had gone dark, “you’re so perfect, you know that?”
“I prefer hot.” Theo mumbled, already tugging at my shirt. I leaned down and licked at the dip of his collarbone, sucking on the skin. Theo hummed. The sound turned into a breathy moan, and he tugged on my hair, getting a moan out of me, too.
Theo kissed me once more, arching up into me, hands running down my back, tangling in my hair, as I supported myself on my elbows. We eventually broke away, both panting hard, with blown pupils, and I once again began kissing down Theo’s neck, sucking bruises into his skin. He whined.
“Thought you were tired?” I whispered
“Shut up.” He moaned, arching into my touch “fuck, I want you to fuck me.”
“Stryker can probably hear.”
“I don’t-hmm-care.”
“He will.” I rumbled, kissing his jaw
“Just fuck me.”
“I won’t be able to sleep after that.” Theo murmured, cheeks flushed and hair an absolute mess. I grinned at him brightly.
He lay still for a few long moments, then rolled off the bed.
I propped myself up on my elbows as he began to pick up the clothes all over the floor. I bit my lip, gazing at the way the shadows in the room accentuated the love bites on his throat and the way his hair fell in front of his eyes.
My dick was hardening all over again.
“Theo” I croaked.He turned towards me, smiling slightly.
“Do you think you can go again?”
He let out a bark of laughter “you horny, horny-“
“Theo.”
“Stop whining.” He put his sweatpants back on and lay back beside me “as amazing as that was, no, I cannot.”
I pouted, bitterly disappointed.
“Matt.” Theo smiled fondly “I need to sleep.”
“You said you couldn’t.”
“Then I lied.” He yawned, cuddling into my side.
He smiled when I started kissing his face- I saw it.
“Matt.” He laughed “goodnight.”
I just huffed, burying my nose in his hair. He shut his eyes, wiggling even closer to me.
He was deliciously warm against my body.
I couldn’t help finding myself amused when he was out in less than two minutes.