Gay Romance Holiday Collection

by Keira Andrews

  After what seemed like an eternity, they were home. Lucas wanted nothing more than to escape to Nate’s room and spend the whole night there, but he had to make more small talk and sit through another dinner.

  First they gathered in the living room and lit the candles on the menorah, adding another to the right-hand side, but lighting them in order from the middle. Mr. Kramer recited the blessings beforehand, and Lucas tried to listen and not think about how he wanted to lick Nate’s Adam’s apple. Trying to be sociable, he asked, “What’s the story behind Hanukkah? Something about oil, right?”

  Mr. Kramer grinned. “Well, there’s an old joke that every Jewish holiday boils down to: They tried to kill us; they didn’t—let’s eat.”

  Mrs. Kramer jumped in. “After the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem from their enemies, there was only enough oil to light the eternal flame for one day. However, the oil lasted for eight nights.”

  “A miracle.” Mr. Kramer clapped his hands together. “Okay, let’s eat.”

  At the dinner table, Lucas pushed Thai takeout around on his plate, and afterwards he tried to concentrate on the game of Rummikub Mr. Kramer suggested, but ended up with the most tiles every time. Although Nate had retreated to his room, Lucas couldn’t think of a good reason to go to bed at eight o’clock.

  When he finally escaped an hour later, he thought he might explode with pent-up desire and frustration. He practically ran up the stairs and burst into Nate’s room without knocking. Nate, lying on his bed, looked up from the book he was reading, the lamplight glinting off his glasses.

  “Good game?”

  “Not really; I kept getting stuck with high numbers I couldn’t get rid of.”

  “Too bad.” Nate yawned widely. “I was just about to go to sleep. So if you want to read or anything, can you use that little lamp on your side?”

  Lucas was speechless for a moment. “Yeah. Sure.” That was it? Nate was going to sleep? Shame and embarrassment flooded Lucas like a hot, prickly tide. He wished he could be anywhere else. Apparently Nate wasn’t interested in him at all anymore.

  Standing, Nate pulled his sweater over his head, stretching his arms up high and yawning again. He unzipped his khakis and stepped out of them before carefully folding his clothes and placing them on his desk chair, clad only in his boxers. Lucas, still standing dumbly, watched.

  Nate strolled back to his bed and stretched out. He glanced over at Lucas and burst out laughing. “Oh man, I should take a picture of your face right now.”

  Son of a… “This is your idea of a joke?”

  As Nate patted the mattress beside him, Lucas didn’t know whether to kiss him or kill him, but when he had Nate’s warm skin under his palms, he knew it would be the former. He covered Nate’s body with his own as their mouths met.

  They kissed for minutes or maybe hours, until Nate propped himself up on his elbows and took a breather. “You took forever to get up here. It was torture today not being able to touch you. That’s why I insisted I sit in the front. Man, I thought you were going to jump me at the dinner table. Good thing my family’s so clueless.”

  “So they don’t know you’re gay?”

  “Nope. Like I said—clueless.”

  Lucas wondered why Nate didn’t tell them, but as he rubbed against Nate, his dick hard in his jeans, he figured he’d ask another time. “So you were playing hard to get just now?”

  “Of course.” Nate grinned, displaying his dimple and sending another rush of blood right to Lucas’s cock.

  “I thought maybe… I thought you weren’t interested anymore.” Lucas glanced away. Why did he say that out loud?

  “Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t play games with a virgin.”

  He cringed. I’m so lame. “A girl blew me after prom. Does that count?”

  “If you want it to.” Nate ran his hands over Lucas’s back down to his ass.

  “Not really. It was super awkward. It just felt…wrong, you know? Not like with you.” Clearly Nate was experienced, considering the things he could do with his tongue. “How many people have you been with?”

  “No people. Just guys.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “I don’t know. My fair share. I went to a gay bar during frosh week, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

  Wow. Nate had been with men. Multiple men.

  “Don’t worry. I get tested regularly, and I’m careful.”

  Lucas had been wondering how to bring that up. “So you’ve dated a lot of guys?”

  Nate laughed. “Dated? Not really. I guess I’ve kind of dated a few. Well, I had sex with them more than once.” He peered closely at Lucas, his brown eyes intense behind his square-ish glasses. “Just so you know, I’m not looking for a boyfriend.”

  “Oh. Why not?” Lucas hoped he didn’t sound as needy as he felt. He was lying on top of the guy and it seemed so intimate.

  It’s just fooling around. Go with it. Don’t be a loser for once.

  “I can’t exactly bring home a nice boy to Mom and Dad. It’s easier this way. Besides, I’m not good at that stuff.” He smiled. “I like sex. I’m good at sex. Why complicate it?”

  “But—”

  Nate leaned up and caught Lucas’s bottom lip between his teeth. “Let’s stop talking,” he whispered.

  They kissed again, and Lucas explored Nate’s body. He’d never been able to handle another man so freely, and he reveled in touching and tasting. He sucked one of Nate’s nipples into his mouth, delighting in the soft moan that escaped Nate’s lips. As he moved lower, his heart pounded in excitement.

  He was really going to do it.

  He’d thought about it a million times and wondered what it would be like to suck a dick: how it would taste, how it would feel, what it would smell like. He nuzzled the trail of hair that led down from Nate’s belly button, and Nate lifted his hips as Luke pulled off his boxers.

  Lucas was still in his jeans and green Henley, and Nate’s nudity fired his blood. Especially when he spread his legs wide, unashamed, his cock flushed, standing up from the trimmed patch of hair. He watched Lucas patiently, keeping his hands at his sides.

  Taking Nate’s cock tentatively, Lucas rubbed it on his cheek, his chin, his lips. He wrapped his hand around Nate’s shaft, exploring and working up his nerve. His pulse raced, stomach clenching. It must have shown on his face, because Nate stroked his hair gently and said, “You don’t have to.”

  Screw that. He wanted to. More than that—he’d explode if he didn’t. With a deep breath, he swallowed the head of Nate’s cock, wrapping his lips around him as far as he could. The shaft was heavy and hot in his mouth, and saliva dripped down his chin. Lucas moved his head up and down, sucking and licking like he was enjoying a popsicle on a hot summer’s day.

  A dick popsicle. A dicksicle, even.

  Slurping, loving the musky, slightly bitter tang, he remembered what Nate had done, and fisted the base of Nate’s shaft as he sucked what he could into his mouth. He traced his tongue up the ridge on the back, and Nate moaned, making Lucas even harder in his jeans. He humped the mattress between Nate’s spread legs to get some friction on his straining dick.

  Nate’s fingers tangled in Lucas’s hair, and he muttered under his breath. “That’s it. Like that. You’re doing so good.”

  Lucas experienced a rush of power and pride unlike any he’d ever felt and sucked even harder. Ducking lower, he explored Nate’s balls, boldly licking them as he continued stroking Nate’s cock with quick, firm movements. Remembering a porno he’d watched a dozen or possibly a hundred times, he sucked one of Nate’s balls totally into his mouth.

  Nate exhaled sharply and shuddered as he came, spurting up onto his chest. Lucas raised his head to watch, and he drank in the sight of Nate with his head thrown back, his smooth chest and hard stomach splattered with semen.

  Going up on his hands and knees, Lucas dipped his head and impulsively licked Nate’s stomach, savoring the salty taste. Nate chuckled softly and pulled Luca
s up for a kiss as he reached down and rubbed Lucas through his jeans.

  “You’re wearing too many clothes.”

  There was a knock on the door, and they froze, eyes wide. After a beat, Lucas scrambled off Nate and dived onto the other bed and under the covers as Nate pulled up his duvet. Nate cleared his throat. “Yeah?”

  “I’m going out shopping tomorrow with Aunt Linda, so I’ve left you and Lucas some money on the counter. Have fun in the city. Be home in time to light the menorah, please.”

  “Okay, Mom.”

  They listened to her footsteps recede down the hall, both breathing heavily. Then they looked at each other and burst out laughing.

  “You need a hand over there?” Nate whispered.

  “That would be nice.”

  Nate flicked off the light and crept over, and they giggled quietly as he jerked Lucas off, which didn’t take long at all.

  Chapter Five

  “There you go. Statue of Liberty approaches to starboard, or possibly port. I can never keep them straight.”

  Lucas nodded. “That’s her all right. Looks pretty much like she does on TV.”

  “You mean you’re not filled with a burst of American patriotism at the sight of Lady Liberty?”

  “Oh, wait… There it is.” Lucas thrust his arms in the air. “USA! USA!”

  Laughing, they ignored the stares of people nearby and found an empty bench. The wind was icy out on the water, and most passengers sat inside. Lucas pulled his scarf closer around his throat and wished he’d remembered his hat.

  “Wait, stand by the railing,” Nate directed Lucas as he pulled a large camera from his messenger bag.

  Lucas did as he was told and posed. It felt good to be the focus of Nate’s attention, and despite the cold air, a warm glow filled him. He asked, “Your glasses don’t bug you when you shoot?”

  “Nah. I’m used to it. My eyes hate contacts, and I’m too blind to go without anything. Some people adjust the diopter to compensate for bad vision, but my Nikon has a high eye-point and it works great with my glasses.” He huffed out a nervous laugh. “I know I’d probably look better without them, but…”

  “What? No way.” Lucas glanced around to find they were still alone. “Your glasses are super hot.” Nate had seemed so confident about sex that Lucas was surprised to hear any insecurity from him. It was strangely reassuring.

  “Yeah?” Nate smiled, clearly pleased.

  “Hell yeah.”

  When Lucas rejoined Nate on the bench after a few more pictures, he leaned back and watched the city skyline get closer. The sun peeked out through the clouds, and Lucas couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so content.

  The only thing that could make the moment better would be holding Nate’s hand, but he was too afraid to try.

  “What’s your major?” Nate was watching him with the intent gaze that seemed to be his default expression.

  “Chemistry. Premed.”

  “You want to be a doctor?”

  The $64,000 question, as his dad used to say, although Lucas was never sure why. Something about a game show. “Well, I’m really good at science.”

  “Not exactly a resounding ‘yes.’”

  “My dad always wanted me to go to med school. I don’t want to disappoint him.”

  Nate was quiet for a moment. “Mom said he died a few months ago. I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah. Thanks.” Lucas tugged off one of his gloves, suddenly preoccupied with an itch on his palm. “You’re prelaw, right?”

  “Yep.” Nate didn’t sound thrilled about it.

  “Following in your father’s footsteps. Well, it’s not like Sam’s going to.”

  Nate barked out a laugh that sounded too loud coming from him. “The golden child? Not likely. He’ll be too busy basking in the warm memories of his b-ball glory days and probably making a fortune as a salesman at my uncle’s company.”

  “It occurs to me that I don’t even know what his major is.”

  “Technically it’s business, but mainly hoops and chicks.”

  “Okay, I don’t understand why he’s so special. I mean, he’s not a bad guy, but Sam’s just such a…”

  “Stereotypical jock asshole?”

  Laughing, Lucas nodded. “That about sums it up. You’re smart and studying to be a lawyer. And you’re such an amazing photographer.”

  Nate shifted on the bench, a little smile tugging at his lips. He took off his glasses and ran his finger over a scratch on the top right of the frame that Lucas assumed was from his camera. “You think so?”

  “Of course. Your folks should be putting you on the front cover of their yearly newsletter. They seem like the type to do one.”

  Gaze still on his glasses in his hands, Nate said, “My parents think Sam walks on water. The thing is, he’s always been this…miracle. Mom had a bunch of miscarriages, and they never thought they’d have a baby. When they had Sam, it was the best thing that ever happened to them. Then he turned out to be this amazing athlete, unlike anyone else in my family, and he’s been the star of the show ever since.”

  “But you—”

  “Have never been anything to write home about. It’s not like my parents don’t love me. Sam just became the center of their universe when he was born, and that didn’t change when I came along. And if they knew I was queer…” He grimaced and slipped his glasses back on.

  “Have you tried talking to them about it? I was terrified of what my dad would say, but he was awesome. Maybe if—”

  “No. Everything is fine the way it is. I don’t need to tell them.”

  He wanted to argue, but if Nate wasn’t ready to come out, that was his choice. It wasn’t as though Lucas had been brave and honest himself at school. “I’m sorry.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  “Don’t be.” Nate stood and slung his bag over his chest. “Come on, we’re almost there.”

  Lucas knew the conversation was over, and he didn’t push it. He felt the urge to grasp Nate’s hand again, but instead simply followed him into the surge of passengers downstairs.

  An hour later, they stood at the top of the Empire State Building in crisp sunlight, and Lucas marveled at the view of the city. Central Park was an enormous green rectangle holding the surrounding skyscrapers and buildings at bay.

  With his camera, Nate seemed to have tunnel vision as he snapped shots of the city below. Lucas divided his time between watching him and peering out at the view, and eventually Nate garnered the majority of his attention.

  Nate noticed Lucas’s stare after taking about twenty shots of the Flatiron Building. “What?” Lucas swore he saw a blush tint Nate’s cheeks.

  “You look so happy.”

  “Yeah. I love photography. I wish…” He shook his head and nodded over his shoulder. “We should check out the other side.”

  Lucas reached for Nate’s arm. “You wish what?”

  Nate looked out over the city. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “I wish I could do this all the time.”

  “Why can’t you?”

  “Oh, sure. Drop out of prelaw and transfer to Tisch for photography? The ’rents would love that.”

  “Tisch. Is that in New York?”

  “Yeah, it’s part of NYU.”

  Suddenly it made sense to Lucas why Nate hadn’t gone away to college. “That’s exactly what you want to do isn’t it? That’s why you went to NYU in the first place.”

  Nate looked at him sharply and yanked his arm away. “You don’t know anything about it.”

  “You’re in third year, right? What are you waiting for?”

  “Look, I just can’t.” Nate jammed the cap back on his camera and zipped it into its case. “It’s freezing up here. Let’s get some lunch.”

  “Nate, I don’t understand—”

  “What was that you were saying about medicine? I think your exact words were that your father wanted you to be a doctor.”

  “That’s different.” Was it thou
gh? Crossing his arms, Lucas shivered. “You’re right, let’s go inside. It’s too cold.”

  They descended in the elevator, Nate’s glasses fogging in the sudden heat, the chatter of a group of German tourists filling the silence. The black cloud hanging over them didn’t dissipate as they headed up West Thirty-Fourth Street. Lucas wanted to say the right thing, but with every minute that ticked by, it became more and more awkward.

  Despite what they’d shared, it hit home that he and Nate didn’t really know each other. Lucas had been feeling so comfortable with him, and now there was only weird, strained silence he didn’t have the right words to break.

  Nate had told him he wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, and perhaps all he wanted was sex and not even friendship. Which was totally fine! Or should have been, but it left Lucas feeling hollow.

  Instead of suffering through an awkward lunch, Lucas faked a headache. They spoke to each other in clipped sentences when necessary, and Nate felt like a stranger on the ferry back to Staten Island.

  Lucas impulsively accepted an invitation from Sam for pizza and poker with him and his friends that night, even though Sam had clearly only asked because Mrs. Kramer made him. Hopefully poker would involve less small talk than hanging with Mr. and Mrs. Kramer.

  Before Lucas and Sam left, they dutifully participated in lighting the menorah. It was the fourth night, and after lighting the middle candle, Mrs. Kramer lit the four candles to the right. Nate disappeared as soon as they were done, and Lucas tried to brush it aside. Much to his surprise, he actually had a good time with Sam’s friends, and almost forgot about the tension with Nate.

  Almost.

  He and Sam came home late, smelling of pot and the can of beer that had been shaken and sprayed on everyone in attendance in celebration after a guy named Mutt won a particularly big prize. They were only playing with dollar bills, but apparently twenty bucks was a lot to Mutt.

  Lucas pushed open the door to Nate’s darkened room as quietly as he could, tiptoeing inside. Nate slept, curled toward the windows. After weighing his options—go to bed reeking or risk waking Nate by having a shower—Lucas crept into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Stripping his clothes off, he stepped into the tub, enjoying the hot water flowing down.