My Christmas Spirit

by K. C. Wells

  “And you can stop right there.” I glared.

  “But I did stop,” he remonstrated, still grinning.

  “Oh, thank you for that,” I replied, not bothering to tone down my sarcasm.

  Mike dropped the duster to the floor and joined me on the couch. “What’s really on your mind?” he asked, his voice soft.

  “I should have let him know how much he means to me before we… you know.” I sighed. “Only, I don’t think I can tell him how I feel.”

  He frowned. “Why not?” He cocked his head in that familiar way. “You love him, don’t you?”

  I stilled. “I… how can I be in love with him after only two weeks?”

  Mike rolled his eyes. “Honey, I knew I loved you after Tina. Love doesn’t work to a schedule.” He leaned in, his gaze locked on mine. “Do something for me. Close your eyes.” When I gave him a sceptical glance, he sighed. “Just do it, okay?” I did as instructed, my heartbeat quickening. “Now…look deep into your heart. Be honest about how you feel. Then tell me about Ollie.”

  I took a deep breath. I didn’t need to look that deeply. “I care about him. He makes me feel good. He makes me laugh. I love talking to him.” I bit my lip. “He’s a good kisser too.”

  Mike snickered. “I wondered when you’d get to the sex.”

  I opened my eyes. “Hey, it wasn’t exactly sex last night.” When he merely stared at me in silence, his lips twitching, I huffed and lowered my gaze. “Okay, okay. We both got off, so technically, it was sex.” And yet I hesitated to tell Mike I loved Ollie. It felt too much like… betrayal.

  Cool hands covered mine. “Sweetheart, it’s okay. Say the words.”

  I swallowed hard, then met his gaze. “Okay, you’re right. I love him.”

  It was as if a sudden warm wave washed over me, only, I could feel it inside too, spreading through my body, filling every crevice.

  Mike’s eyes shone. “Thank you for that.” He squeezed my hands. “Remember how bad I was at buying you presents for Christmas? It’s okay. You can admit it, if I can.”

  I frowned at the change of subject. “Yes.”

  He nodded slowly. “Well, this is why I came back. To finally give you what you want—what you need—for Christmas.” He smiled. “Ollie.”

  I stared at him, my mind trying to take in what he’d said. “You’re giving me…. Ollie?”

  Mike’s smile eclipsed the lights on the tree. “Yes, sweetheart. Well, maybe not giving him exactly. I see it more as facilitating. But the point is, you need him. He completes you. And all I’ve been waiting for is for you to admit it.”

  It finally sank in. “You came back… so I could fall in love with someone else?”

  He gave another slow nod. “And now that you have, I can go.”

  Tears welled up in my eyes. “For good? I won’t see you anymore?”

  Mike got to his feet. “Nope. You won’t hear me either. Except for those times when you recall things I’ve said. You won’t ever forget me, just as I’ll never forget you. But now it’s time to make a new life… with Ollie.”

  I got up. “Doesn’t this rather assume he’s in love with me?”

  Mike laughed. “If he doesn’t love you now, he soon will. I know what you’re like what you set your heart on something. But I’m pretty sure you already know how he feels about you.” He laid his hand on my shoulder. “You’ll have a lot to talk about when he comes here later. Be honest with him.” Then he grinned. “Just do me a favour, okay? Whatever you do, don’t sing to him. You’ve got a lot of good qualities, but sweetheart, you couldn’t carry a tune if I gave you a bucket.” He straightened, as if readying himself for his fade out.

  “Wait!”

  Mike relaxed. “What is it?”

  I gave him a watery smile. “Don’t I at least get a hug goodbye?”

  He smiled. “Time to let me go, Andy. Goodbye, love. Be happy.” He faded from sight. And buy condoms. You’re going to need them. At first, at any rate.

  He had to have the last word, didn’t he? Then heat rushed through me when I realized he’d made a valid point. “So no hug, but sex tips?” I called out, grinning.

  Suddenly, I was enveloped in warmth from head to toe, and a feeling of peace filled me. I was overwhelmed by the certain knowledge that I was loved, and it took my breath away.

  Mike’s final hug.

  When the warmth receded, I glanced around the room. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew deep down that he’d really gone.

  “Thank you,” I whispered. I looked at my phone. I had a few hours before Ollie would arrive.

  And I had some shopping to do.

  Ollie sniffed the air as he entered the living room. “I love the smell of pine. It always reminds me of Christmas.”

  “Mike once said we didn’t need a tree for that, not when they sell pine scent in a can.” I shook my head. “Sometimes I swear he’d say things just to bug me.”

  Ollie laughed. “Jay was the same. He always referred to Miski as my cat, even though it was him she plainly adored. He said it anyway, knowing he’d get a rise out of me.” He smiled. “He loved her to bits.”

  I sat on the couch and he joined me. “No more reminiscing. We need to talk.”

  He joined me, putting a little space between us. “Yeah, we do.”

  When both of us said in perfect harmony, “About last night…” we laughed.

  Ollie sighed. “I shouldn’t have rushed out the way I did. That was wrong. Heaven knows what you thought of me.”

  “I was too busy thinking what I’d done wrong.”

  He stared. “You? I was the one who acted like I was a cat on heat.”

  I smirked. “Well, that made both of us then.” I’d had time to think about it since. “Not really surprising, when you consider how long it’s been since I got any.” When he gave me a quizzical glance, I smiled. “Try six years.” Ollie widened his eyes and I nodded. “There’s been no one since Mike.”

  Ollie expelled a long breath. “And I thought I’d become a monk.”

  I chuckled. “So there we were, two guys who’d been starved of physical contact… Makes it easier to understand why we both went off like rockets.”

  “That’s only part of what I need to say.” Ollie gazed at his hands in his lap. “I didn’t want you to think that I got my rocks off, then left because that was all I’d wanted. There’s more to it than that.”

  “Like feelings.”

  He raised his head slowly. “Yeah. Like feelings.”

  I breathed a little easier. “Like wanting to tell someone how you feel about them, but being afraid they might think it’s too soon. Like not being sure they’re ready to hear those words.”

  His lips parted and his breath quickened. “Which words?”

  “The ones where you put your heart on the line when you utter them.” I looked him in the eye. “Words like, I think I love you.”

  Ollie said nothing for a moment, his blue eyes so huge, his mouth open. At last he took a breath. “Funny. I was thinking of the exact same words.”

  I smiled. “I hoped you were.” Then I leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. Ollie shifted closer, until he was in my arms, his hands cupping my face, and he was returning my kiss. We paused, our heads together as they had been the night before.

  “I thought I was going crazy. I’ve never fallen for anyone this fast,” he murmured.

  “Me too. That’s why I couldn’t tell you. I thought you’d look at me like I was nuts.”

  Ollie laughed softly. “Jay said he knew the night we met that he loved me. It took me a little longer, like a month. I always thought he was exaggerating.” He pulled back and looked at me, smiling, his eyes glistening. “Now I know he was telling the truth.”

  I stroked his cheek gently. “Love you.” The pleasure that swept through as I uttered the words was exquisite, and I knew this was right.

  Ollie kissed my palm tenderly. “Love you too.” He let out a happy sigh.

&n
bsp; “Got any plans for the rest of today?”

  He smiled. “Apart from spending it with you?”

  I’d taken that as read. “Well, I do have an idea where we could spend it.”

  He laughed. “Not another visit to Winter Wonderland.”

  I got to my feet, pulling him with me. “I was thinking more of my bedroom.”

  Ollie’s breathing hitched. “That would have been my second suggestion.”

  “Why not the first?”

  “I didn’t want you to think that all I wanted was rip your clothes off.” His eyes sparkled. “Which of course is exactly what I want to do.”

  I took his hand and brought it down to my crotch when my dick had thickened at the thought of us making love.

  Ollie’s pupils dilated. “Please tell me you have supplies.” I chuckled, and he let out his breath in a rush. “Thank God. Because I would’ve been out of this flat so fast to find the nearest—”

  I covered his lips with my fingers. “Less talking, more clothes ripping.”

  He laughed, then glanced around the flat with a cautious air. “We’re not going to have any… observers, are we?”

  “Absolutely not.” I’d tell him later that Mike was gone for good. Not that I intended telling Ollie everything.

  That was between me and Mike.

  “Thank God,” he breathed. Then his hands were on the back of my head and he was pulling me into a kiss that made my toes curls. I gave as good as I got, sliding my hands down his back to cup and squeeze his arse. Ollie moaned into the kiss. “Now that’s more what I had in mind,” he murmured, before launching into a kiss that sent heat barrelling through me. He reached down to stroke my hard dick. “And I know just where I want this.”

  When I moulded my hand around his jeans-encased erection, Ollie let out a gasp. I smiled. “Great minds think alike.”

  Ollie gave a huge grin. “Oh, I’m all for equality.”

  I cut off his words with a slow, lingering kiss, before leading him out of the living room and into my bedroom. Right then, there were more important things to do than talk.

  Epilogue

  Christmas morning

  Ollie sat on the rug, tearing the paper from his present with all the eagerness of a five-year-old boy. He grinned when he saw the DVD. “How did you know?”

  I laughed. “You kept talking about that film all day Sunday. I do listen.”

  He leaned over and placed a loud kiss on my lips. “Yes, you do.”

  I had to admit, as Christmas mornings went, this one was pretty much perfect. We’d awoken early, but it had taken us a good two hours to make a move out of the bed.

  Christmas Day sex was fast becoming my new favourite festive activity.

  I’d snuck out of the bed to check that his ‘present’ was doing okay in the guest bedroom. I’d popped in and out of there so many times on Christmas Eve that he’d begun to grow suspicious. It had taken all my sneaky skills to keep him out.

  I couldn’t wait any longer.

  “Are you ready for your main present?” I asked him.

  Ollie blinked. “What main present?” I could understand that. We’d both gone overboard with present buying. Granted, there were a lot of chocolates, socks, CDs and DVDs, but we’d only had a couple of days, and it would take time to buy more meaningful gifts.

  There’s always next year. That thought filled me with warmth. A year with Ollie. Because I had no doubts that a year from now, we’d still be together.

  I got up and went into the guest bedroom. Not that it was set up as a bedroom: there were yet more boxes. One large open box stood in the centre of the floor, and its occupant was trying to climb out of it.

  “Oh no, you don’t,” I said quietly, before hoisting the box into my arms. I carried it carefully into the living room, where Ollie stared at it as I approached him.

  “What on earth have you got in—”

  A meow cut off his words, and he gaped. “You haven’t.” He lurched to his feet and peered into the box, where the cat was trying to do its escape act again. “Oh, you did.”

  “She’s a rescue,” I told him. “Eight months old. I was going to get you a kitten, but then I saw her. The guy in charge said everyone goes for the kittens. But as I was walking around the place, she followed me with her eyes.”

  Ollie carefully lifted the white cat into his arms. “Oh, she’s lovely.” The cat rubbed against him, her eyes closed, and he beamed. “Thank you.” Then he glanced at the tree. “Oh. Do you think this is such a good idea? Cats and Christmas trees are not a good mix, remember?”

  “We’ll take our chances.” He looked adorable, holding the cat to him, stroking her. “You’ll have to come up with a name.”

  Ollie smiled. “Miski 2.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, I thought you might.” I reached over and stroked her head. “Will there be room for her at your place?” She pushed up into my hand.

  Ollie bit his lip. “Shit. I didn’t think of that. There’s a No pets rule.”

  “But you had a cat.”

  He sighed. “That was Jay’s place. When he died, I had to find somewhere else to live. I’m in a little studio flat.” His gaze met mine. “There’s a reason I haven’t invited you there.” He smirked. “I don’t think it’s big enough for the two of us.”

  He didn’t know it, but Ollie had given me the perfect opening. “But I’ve got room enough for both of you.” My heartbeat sped up.

  Ollie stared at me. “Seriously? You want me to move in with you?”

  “Why not? You love the place, you said so yourself. And there’s definitely enough room. And…” I cupped his face in my hands. “I want you here, with me.” I smiled. “No, it’s not too fast. It’s just right. Besides, the last three days, you’ve spent more time here than at your place.” And I was definitely not complaining.

  Ollie put the cat down, then flung his arms around me. “Have I told you yet this morning that I love you?”

  I gazed at his sweet face. “They were the first words you uttered.” Talk about a wonderful way to wake up.

  Miski 2 wound in and out of my ankles, and I looked down. “I’m sorry. Were we ignoring you?” I reached down and scratched behind her ears.

  “Wait till she smells the turkey roasting in the oven. She’ll be all over us.”

  “Which reminds me.” I straightened. “Time we started getting lunch ready. I hope you’re handy with a peeler, because we’ve got carrots, potatoes, parsnips… I thought we could prepare the veg together.”

  “That sounds great.” Ollie kissed me on the lips. “Although… do we have to start right away?” He slid his hand under my robe, his fingertips brushing over my nipple.

  I shivered. “When you put it like that…”

  I always preferred a late Christmas Day lunch anyway.

  “What about Miski 2?” Ollie asked.

  “She stays in here,” I said firmly. No way was I going to have a little furry spectator.

  Ollie snickered. “At least she won’t make comments on our performance.” Then he shrugged off his robe and scampered naked toward the door, shivering. “Last one in bed has to bottom!”

  I laughed. “Like either of us would mind that.” I paused at the doorway.

  Mike? I don’t know if you can hear me, but… thank you. He’s perfect. As perfect as you were.

  When no reply came, I knew Mike was well and truly gone, but wherever he was, I hoped my words filled him with joy.

  Mike stood at the foot of the bed, gazing at the sleeping couple, Andy curled around Ollie’s back, his arm draped over Ollie’s waist. Miski 2 was curled up at their feet.

  He turned to his companion. “Well?”

  “I still think you’re a spoilsport, waiting until they were asleep. We missed all the fun.” Jay grinned. “Only kidding.”

  Mike shook his head. “You can be so juvenile sometimes.” He hadn’t needed to see them making love‒he knew down to the depths of his soul that they were perfect for each ot
her.

  “Well, I’ve got a lot of time to mature, right?” Jay snickered. “Besides, you can talk about being juvenile. Who’s the one who chose to come back with his dick hanging out?”

  Mike ignored him, pointing to the bed. “I repeat… well?”

  “You were right,” Jay admitted. “They make a lovely couple.” Miski was in his arms, regarding Miski 2 with interest. Jay stroked Miski’s back. “See, Miski? Doesn’t Daddy look happy?” He sighed. “I’m only sorry Ollie couldn’t see me.”

  “You know the rules. A few more years, and you get to show yourself. Besides, you managed great with what you had, getting him to the coffee shop.”

  “I’m glad I had to leave it up to you,” Jay admitted. “I’d have been a lot pushier.”

  Mike smiled. “Hey, I couldn’t have gotten him to the flat that night without you giving him a good old shove.” He shook his head. “Stubborn mules, both of them.” He went back to staring at the sleeping pair. Andy stirred in his sleep, as though he’d heard Mike’s voice, then snuggled closer to Ollie.

  Mike knew there was no chance of either of them hearing him and Jay. He’d made certain of that.

  “This couldn’t have gone any better,” he mused. “These two are going to have a long, happy life together, filled with a lot of love.” He knew it with every part of him. Seeing Andy so happy brought him joy, and he couldn’t wait for the two of them to start talking about a family. After all, the kitty was going to need a little human too.

  Jay touched his arm. “Hey. What’s on your mind?”

  “I was just thinking… I always thought Andy and I would be together forever. Now I know we will be, just not the way I envisioned.” Knowing that had made it a little easier for him to hand the reins over to Ollie.

  “So, what are we doing for them next year?”

  Mike smiled. “I was thinking about that too. I think they’ll make great dads, don’t you?”

  Jay beamed. “Aw, that’s a wonderful idea. Can we make it happen?”