one’s missin’ a reindeer.”
He was still laughing as he followed Mitch inside the house. Mitch ignored him, turning on the lamps. He gave Web a couple of menacing looks but that just started Web laughing again. Mitch shook his head. He’d be laughing too if their positions were reversed, and it was nice to have company even if Web was starting to push his luck. Mitch wasn’t that drunk, no matter what Web thought. Of course, he’d rather be drunk than having a mental breakdown, but he was pretty sure he was as sane as ever. Which might not be a big endorsement. No, his reindeer sighting had to be the result of the play of shadows in the moonlight.
Whatever it was, it was over and done and he would just as soon forget about it. Mitch leaned against the wood-paneled wall, studying Web.
Web leaned against the sofa back, studying Mitch right back. He was smiling but there was no meanness in the smile. He looked like he thought Mitch seeing reindeers was sort of endearing.
Mitch relaxed a little. “Did you want another drink?”
That, surprisingly, sobered Web. He shook his head.
“Good. I was thinking of poisoning it.” Mitch crossed the distance between them. It took a fair bit of determination—it had been easier in the dark—but Web opened his arms, and suddenly everything was right again.
“Same ol’ sweet-tempered sidewinder.” Web smiled as he angled his face for Mitch’s kiss.
Yes, everything was right again.
He took his time savoring the taste and scent and feel of Web’s mouth moving on his. It seemed to melt his heart right in his chest, melt it all away and send the bittersweet distillation flowing through his veins in emotional adrenaline. To be with Web again. Even if just for this one night. How many times had he dreamed of it? Dreamed of it and been angry and impatient with himself for such weakness.
He caught Web’s hand and drew him down the hallway to his bedroom. There was only a single bed in there but no way would he ever be able to sleep in his father’s bed.
They stripped in the darkness with only the light from the hall to guide their movements, then lay down on the flannel sheets, holding each other not quite tentatively, but gently.
“I don’t have anything with me.” Mitch was thinking aloud. “I wasn’t planning on anything like this.”
“I’ve got it taken care of.”
Mitch raised his head. “You do?”
He felt rather than saw Web nod.
“You thought this was going to happen?”
“I didn’t know,” Web replied. “I sure wasn’t goin’ to take a chance on not being prepared if it did.”
Mitch squinted into the darkness, trying to see the small bottle Web held. “What the hell’s that? Hoppes Number Nine?”
Web chuckled. There was a whisper of plastic breath and the shine of liquid on his fingers.
“You always carry that?”
“Nuh-uh. No, sir. I picked up this here bottle in your honor.”
“I don’t know if my honor is—” Mitch caught his breath as Web leaned back so he could use the light from the hall to see what he was doing. His fingers slipped into the delicate crevice between Mitch’s flesh. His fingers worked, smoothing the silky liquid into the tensed muscles. He took his time.
“How’s that? That still your sweet spot?”
Mitch tried to swallow the revealing sounds threatening to spill out.
“Warmer?” Web teased with voice and hands.
Mitch nodded.
“Hmm?”
Mitch panted, “Y’all are gettin’ boiling hot. Hotter.”
“ Y’all are too.” Web nuzzled him. “You’re starting to sound like a regular Texan again. Did you hear what you said at supper?”
“When?” What were they talking about? Why were they talking?
Web mimicked softly, “ Are the drug cartels fixin’ to target Texas Rangers? ”
Now there was a way to kill the mood. “Don’t talk about that.”
Web responded to the sharpness in his tone. “Sorry. Shhh. I’m just foolin’ with you.” He went back to stroking Mitch with oiled
He was still laughing as he followed Mitch inside the house. Mitch ignored him, turning on the lamps. He gave Web a couple of menacing looks but that just started Web laughing again. Mitch shook his head. He’d be laughing too if their positions were reversed, and it was nice to have company even if Web was starting to push his luck. Mitch wasn’t that drunk, no matter what Web thought. Of course, he’d rather be drunk than having a mental breakdown, but he was pretty sure he was as sane as ever. Which might not be a big endorsement. No, his reindeer sighting had to be the result of the play of shadows in the moonlight.
Whatever it was, it was over and done and he would just as soon forget about it. Mitch leaned against the wood-paneled wall, studying Web.
Web leaned against the sofa back, studying Mitch right back. He was smiling but there was no meanness in the smile. He looked like he thought Mitch seeing reindeers was sort of endearing.
Mitch relaxed a little. “Did you want another drink?”
That, surprisingly, sobered Web. He shook his head.
“Good. I was thinking of poisoning it.” Mitch crossed the distance between them. It took a fair bit of determination—it had been easier in the dark—but Web opened his arms, and suddenly everything was right again.
“Same ol’ sweet-tempered sidewinder.” Web smiled as he angled his face for Mitch’s kiss.
Yes, everything was right again.
He took his time savoring the taste and scent and feel of Web’s mouth moving on his. It seemed to melt his heart right in his chest, melt it all away and send the bittersweet distillation flowing through his veins in emotional adrenaline. To be with Web again. Even if just for this one night. How many times had he dreamed of it? Dreamed of it and been angry and impatient with himself for such weakness.
He caught Web’s hand and drew him down the hallway to his bedroom. There was only a single bed in there but no way would he ever be able to sleep in his father’s bed.
They stripped in the darkness with only the light from the hall to guide their movements, then lay down on the flannel sheets, holding each other not quite tentatively, but gently.
“I don’t have anything with me.” Mitch was thinking aloud. “I wasn’t planning on anything like this.”
“I’ve got it taken care of.”
Mitch raised his head. “You do?”
He felt rather than saw Web nod.
“You thought this was going to happen?”
“I didn’t know,” Web replied. “I sure wasn’t goin’ to take a chance on not being prepared if it did.”
Mitch squinted into the darkness, trying to see the small bottle Web held. “What the hell’s that? Hoppes Number Nine?”
Web chuckled. There was a whisper of plastic breath and the shine of liquid on his fingers.
“You always carry that?”
“Nuh-uh. No, sir. I picked up this here bottle in your honor.”
“I don’t know if my honor is—” Mitch caught his breath as Web leaned back so he could use the light from the hall to see what he was doing. His fingers slipped into the delicate crevice between Mitch’s flesh. His fingers worked, smoothing the silky liquid into the tensed muscles. He took his time.
“How’s that? That still your sweet spot?”
Mitch tried to swallow the revealing sounds threatening to spill out.
“Warmer?” Web teased with voice and hands.
Mitch nodded.
“Hmm?”
Mitch panted, “Y’all are gettin’ boiling hot. Hotter.”
“ Y’all are too.” Web nuzzled him. “You’re starting to sound like a regular Texan again. Did you hear what you said at supper?”
“When?” What were they talking about? Why were they talking?
Web mimicked softly, “ Are the drug cartels fixin’ to target Texas Rangers? ”
Now there was a way to kill the mood. “Don’t talk about that.”
Web responded to the sharpness in his tone. “Sorry. Shhh. I’m just foolin’ with you.” He went back to stroking Mitch with oiled
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