Winter Oranges (36 page)

Looking at lights turned out to be a fantastic idea. Ben was thrilled, even more so when they stumbled across the Holiday Cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene, a forty-minute trip to a faux North Pole, complete with fireworks, Santa, and carols. Jason held the brochure, so Ben could read it. It promised the perfect view of over two hundred Christmas displays, totaling more than 1.5 million lights.

“What do you think?” Jason asked. “Should we do it?”

Stupid question. Ben was giddy with excitement.

The ship was packed full of families and wide-eyed kids. Jason felt foolish at first, being the only person there alone—or so it would seem to anybody who saw him—carrying his gift bag over his wrist, but his embarrassment quickly faded next to Ben’s absolute wonder. Most of the passengers chose to stay on the first level, which was enclosed and climate-controlled, but Ben wanted none of that. They stood on the open top deck of the ship instead, Ben bouncing on his toes like a kid, clapping his hands in delight at the passing light displays. It was damn cold out, but Jason wasn’t about to ruin Ben’s fun.

They reached the cruise’s destination, a North Pole village filled with lights. Santa appeared, calling on each of the kids present by name. Then they lit an enormous living Christmas tree, and the singing started. Jason didn’t sing along, but Ben did. He had a good voice. It was too bad nobody but Jason could hear him.

Finally, they boarded the ship for the return trip.

“That was perfect,” Ben said when they were back in Jason’s car. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It was amazing!” He gushed until the music box ran out, and then he kept going, even though Jason couldn’t hear him or try to read his lips while driving. By the end, he was pretty sure Ben was singing Christmas carols again. His happiness was infectious, and by the time Jason pulled into his drive, his melancholy was gone. His house no longer felt empty or unwelcome.

It felt like home.

“Thank you,” Ben said quietly once they were settled on the couch, Ben cuddled against Jason’s side. “That was the most wonderful gift anybody’s ever given me.”

“I’m glad.”

“Speaking of gifts, you need to open yours!”

Jason eyed the two flat, heavy boxes under the tree. “Shouldn’t I wait until tomorrow?”

“At my house, we always opened them on Christmas Eve.”

“Anything for you.”

It seemed Natalie and Sydney thought alike. Both gifts were boxes of fruit, nuts, and candy.

“Wow,” Ben said, fighting not to smile. “Two boxes of winter oranges. They’re so rare, too. They must have cost a fortune.”

“Brat.”

“They look delicious. I wish I could help you eat them.”

Me too.
But Jason didn’t say it out loud. Instead, he held up one of the candies from the box. “Peppermint. I think I was supposed to bring you some for Christmas.”

Ben sobered as he realized Jason’s intent. He shook his head emphatically. “It’s too dangerous.”

“I won’t stay long, I promise. I’ll set the alarm. We’ll be careful. But it’s Christmas, and the only thing I want is to be able to kiss you.”

Ben chewed his lip, clearly torn. “Fifteen minutes?” he offered.

“Not enough. I want ninety.”

“Thirty?”

“An hour,” Jason insisted. “That’s my final offer.”

“Fifty minutes,” Ben relented. “Somehow that feels safer than sixty.”

“Deal.”

A slow grin spread across Ben’s face. “I think you’ll be able to do more than kiss me in that time.”

“I’m counting on it!”

Jason swallowed two of the sleeping pills Dylan had given him, then sucked on a peppermint as he ran upstairs to change into something more comfortable. Once that was done, he opened the drawer of his bedside table and stood staring at its contents, wondering.

He had a plan, but would it work?

He figured he was more likely to oversleep in the comfort of his bed, so five minutes later, he popped another peppermint into his mouth, set the alarm on his phone, and settled on his couch with the globe in his hands.

Eagerness made him anxious, and it took longer to fall asleep than he would have liked, but finally, he drifted into darkness and surfaced in the barren silence of the cabin. Ben stood waiting for him. He wore only his shirt, although it hung down far enough to hide his groin. A faint blush was evident on his cheeks.

“Wow,” Jason said, reaching out to take his hands. “Undressed already?”

Ben let Jason pull him close. “We only have fifty minutes. I thought I’d save us some time.”

“I love the way you think.”

Ben smiled and kissed Jason sweetly, playing his tongue over Jason’s lips. “You brought me peppermint.”

“As promised.”

Ben kissed him again, sighing happily at the taste on Jason’s tongue before pulling back to meet his eyes. “I wish I had a present for you.”

“You let me visit. That’s all I wanted anyway.”

Ben shook his head. “No. I mean, I wish I had something you could unwrap.”

Jason laughed, pushing Ben gently back onto the bed. “Trust me,” he said as he undid the bottom button on Ben’s shirt and slid his hand inside, “unwrapping you is the only present I need. You’re way better than those damn oranges.”

He took his time with each button, touching Ben and kissing him, his caresses bordering on reverence. Ben wasn’t as patient. He tugged at Jason’s clothing, kissing him hungrily, groaning with both pleasure and frustration. Finally they were skin to skin, and Jason reached back surreptitiously, checking to see if the lube he’d applied before falling asleep had made it into the globe. Maybe not all of it—he’d been quite liberal in his application—but there was enough.

He was already on top of Ben, but with Ben’s legs wrapped around his waist. Ben moaned in aggravation as Jason disentangled himself.

“No,” he growled. “Why are you trying to get away from me now? We don’t have much time.”

“I’ll make it up to you,” Jason said, fighting not to laugh as he straddled Ben’s hips instead. “Trust me.”

The best part wasn’t the way Ben’s eyes grew huge as Jason pushed down onto him. It wasn’t feeling Ben inside of him, or knowing he’d beaten the globe. It wasn’t even the joy of sharing themselves in the most intimate way he knew. No, the best part was watching Ben, seeing the sheer awe and wonder on his face as Jason began to move. Seeing the way he shivered and strained, every muscle in his slim body taut and tense. He seemed overwhelmed by how good it felt, and yet almost afraid at the same time.

“Relax.” Jason bent to kiss Ben’s neck as he rocked. “This is supposed to be fun.”

Ben shook his head emphatically. “This can’t be right,” he whispered. “Oh God, Jason, this can’t be right.”

“Why not?”

“It feels too good.” His whimper was almost a sob, his fingers digging painfully into Jason’s shoulders. “Oh God, I don’t think anything should feel this good.”

“Do you want me to stop?” Jason asked, hoping against hope Ben didn’t say yes.

“No.” Ben pulled him close, kissing him. “I don’t ever want this to end.”

Jason sighed with relief, sinking down again onto Ben’s length. He would have willingly done anything Ben asked of him, but he was glad he didn’t have to stop now. It was too perfect, the way Ben fit inside of him, the way he held Jason, the way he looked at him as they made love. He watched Ben’s eyes, reveling in the pleasure he saw there, overjoyed at the way he could read Ben, even now, when he was lost in pleasure. He loved that he could tell when Ben’s orgasm was about to hit.

“Jason,” Ben gasped, his tone bordering on panic.

“Shh,” Jason soothed. “Don’t fight it. This is exactly how it’s supposed to be.”

Ben strained, finally grabbing Jason and thrusting deep, crying out as his orgasm shook him. Jason held him, kissing him, caressing him until it had passed and Ben fell back on the covers, breathing hard, finally at ease, a giant smile on his face.

“I’m glad I didn’t know about that for the last hundred and fifty years. It’s better that I didn’t know what I was missing.”

“Better than the peppermint I brought?”

Ben laughed breathlessly. “Better than anything.” His expression turned playful, and he pulled Jason into a kiss. “I’d planned to give you something too, you know.”

“I thought you already did.”

Ben licked his lips, reaching down to slide his fingers up Jason’s length as he did. “I want to taste you.”

“Oh Jesus,” Jason moaned, suddenly fighting not to come at the mere thought of it. “I’m afraid I’ll wake up.”

“You can stop me,” Ben said, wiggling downward on the bed as he urged Jason up toward the headboard. “Eventually.”

Jason didn’t have the willpower to argue. He groaned as Ben wrapped his gorgeous lips around the tip of his cock. He kept one white-knuckled fist on the headboard and tangled the fingers of his other hand into Ben’s thick, black hair, being careful not to push. It may have been Ben’s first time, but he made up for his lack of experience with sheer enthusiasm. It seemed like only a few glorious moments before Jason was gasping, fighting with himself, desperate to stop before his orgasm woke him up, but unable to pull away from something so perfect.

“Wait,” he started to say. But Ben shook his head, holding him tight as he continued to suck him, his hands and his eyes urging Jason on, begging him to take this chance, to let Ben give him this one thing, and as usual, Jason was powerless to deny Ben anything. He cried out as his orgasm hit, gripping the headboard, fighting hard not to thrust his hips or push too deep into Ben’s throat. His vision blurred, but steadied again, and when he opened his eyes, still trying to catch his breath, the soundless fire still danced in the hearth. The featureless sky loomed outside. And Ben still lay beneath him on the bed, his dark hair in wild disarray, his lips swollen and red, his blue eyes triumphant. He was so fucking beautiful it took Jason’s breath away.

“See?” Ben said. “Practice is good.”

“God, I love you.”

Ben laughed, but even his lighthearted joy couldn’t distract Jason from the sheer reverence and overpowering devotion that welled up in his heart, just seeing Ben’s smile. He adored Ben. He worshiped him. He felt like a meager little planet circling the brilliance of Ben’s star. It was the most overwhelming thing he’d ever experienced. It was both terrifying and thrilling. Everything he’d ever known paled in comparison to this young man, set adrift through time to land in Jason’s hands.

He moved off of Ben and pulled him into his arms. “This,” he said, kissing Ben’s temple. “This is my new best day.”

“Not mine, but only because I’ve stopped keeping track. I have too many good days with you now to count. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world.”

“Thank you for letting me visit.”

Ben sobered, nestling against Jason. Jason sensed Ben’s mood shifting, but it took Ben several moments to reply. “It was worth it. I’m still amazed at how good it felt. But I also worry it was a terrible idea.”

“Why?” Jason asked, stunned. “What makes you say that?”

“Because now it will be harder to tell you no next time you ask to visit.”

“And that’s a problem?”

Ben sighed, placing his hand on Jason’s bare chest. “I want this time together too, Jason. You have to know that. I want it as much as you do, but . . .” His voice faltered, and he took a deep, shaking breath before finishing. “I’m so afraid.”

“That traveling into the globe is hurting me, you mean?”

Ben nodded.

“I think it’s worth the risk.”

Ben shook his head. “I don’t.”

Jason pondered that. There had to be a way to give them both what they wanted without Ben worrying so much. “Let’s make a deal,” he said, pulling back enough to meet Ben’s eyes. “No more quick trips in and out just to test the globe. I think we’ve learned everything we can doing that anyway. But in return, you grant me one visit per month.”

Ben chewed his lip. “For how long?”

“We’ll start with shorter visits, thirty or forty minutes each. Maybe we’ll be able to make the visits longer eventually. If not?” He shrugged and leaned in to tease his lips over Ben’s. “At least we’ll have time for this, right?”