“Plenty of people,” said James firmly.
“Like who?” Josh, overcome with a sudden burst of boldness fixed his boss with a challenging look. “You? Could you ever love me?”
“Josh, please, that’s enough.”
But it wasn’t enough. Josh stared at James thoughtfully. They might not have had sex, but they had just shared a moment of intense intimacy, more intense than anything he’d ever had with Phil. The spanking had hurt, it had been embarrassing, but it told Josh something. James cared about him, really cared about him. He took the bull by the horns, blurting. “I did everything to make you notice me and to let you know how I felt about you, but you never once responded. Why? Is it because I’m not good looking enough?”
“Looks have nothing to do with it, and besides there’s nothing wrong with your looks. You’ve got a sweet face.”
“Then what it is? Dog breath? My shitty personality?”
James couldn’t help but laugh. “Your breath is fine and you have a delightful personality. I enjoy your company.”
“Then what, my greasy hair? I can soon wash it.”
James was suddenly conscious of Josh’s close proximity to him. He could feel the heat from his body. When had they moved so close together? He swallowed, and said gently. “I’m too old for you, Josh.”
“Says who?”
“Me.”
“I don’t give a toss about age. It’s only a number.”
“A big one in my case. I hit the big four oh while you were on your illicit holiday.”
“So, like I said, it’s just a number. It doesn’t matter to me.”
James cupped his hand to Josh’s face. “You need to be with someone your own age, someone you can grow up and grow old with at the same pace.”
“Phil was older than me.”
“Not much I bet.”
“Almost two years.”
“Hardly a wide gap.”
“What are you saying, that I should call him and ask him to come back?”
“Go ahead and call him, if you want to spend the rest of your life avoiding sitting down.”
Josh closed his eyes, relishing the feel of James’s hand, which still rested against his face. “I don’t want to grow up and grow old with someone my own age,” he said fiercely. “I want you. I’ve wanted you practically from the day we met. You make me feel better about life. You make me feel safe. Just thinking about you makes me happy.”
James’s stomach performed an odd little symphony as he watched tears welling from beneath Josh’s closed lids. He wanted to kiss them away. Instead he used his thumbs to smudge them away. “I have a big nose. It will cast a shadow over your life.”
Josh gave a teary laugh and opened his eyes. “I love your nose. It’s majestic.”
“Majestic, huh? I like that.” James swallowed again. He stared into the kid’s face, adoring the sprinkle of freckles across his nose and cheeks, battling a desire to kiss them one by one. Maybe Bea was right. Maybe you had to take chances in life, maybe there were times when it was better to go with your heart instead of your head. Moistening his lips, he took a deep breath and said. “How do you feel about a Christmas kiss?”
“Would that be with a candy cane and a snowflake marshmallow?”
“Not on this occasion.”
Josh’s eyes shone. “In that case, bring it on.”
The move into each other’s arms felt deliciously warm and natural, as did the touch of their lips.
A sudden cold draught interrupted what was becoming an impassioned clinch. Bea burst into the kitchen, banging the door shut behind her. “It’s starting to snow out…” there was a pause. “Ho, ho!” she did a decent impression of Santa Claus as she took in the scene before her. “What’s all this then? Snogging, and with not so much as a sprig of mistletoe in sight. What have I missed? I want details. Lots of lovely juicy details! Tell mama Bea all about it.”
Dumping the bag she was carrying, she advanced on them, arms outstretched, a look of pure joy on her face.
James made no attempt to release Josh from his arms. Drawing him closer, he whispered, “put your ribs on standby, kid. Here comes Bea.”
The end.
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