He staggered, his strength gone, and Nico’s arms went around his waist, holding him against his sweating body. “Okay, mio caro?”
“God, yes,” Jamie assured him. He panted, listening to Nico’s pounding heart slow under his ear. Again, he thanked whatever gods had sent him the beautiful man. If given the chance, he’d keep him forever.
Nico tugged his hair. “About that shower…,” he murmured and laced their fingers together, leading him toward the bathroom door. Happiness flooded Jamie at his eagerness and he giggled, then clapped a hand over his mouth. He hated when he did that. He wasn’t some simpering girl, for God’s sake.
Nico stopped and looked at him, leaning to plant kisses all over his face. “I love that little laugh,” he said against Jamie’s lips. “It tells me you’re happy and excited to be with me. You’re adorable. Sweet and lovely. Don’t you know I work for that laugh? I hope to always make you happy.”
Jamie couldn’t answer, his throat tight with emotion. God, he loved him. Whoever Nico was, he had Jamie’s heart. The thought sobered him. What was the mystery surrounding him and Piter? No, he wouldn’t ask that, not now. Shoving his doubts away, he followed Nico into the bathroom. He was going to savor this time with his lover, whatever the future held.
Once inside the small room, Nico turned on the shower, adjusting the faucets for temperature. Jamie admired his sculpted ass as he bent over the tub. Men rarely asked Jamie to fuck them, preferring him on the bottom. Which was fine. He loved a hard cock inside him. But something about Nico…. He wanted to be buried deep inside his lover the next time he came. He needed that closeness with him.
He went to him, sliding a hand over the curve of Nico’s back; he trailed a finger along the tempting crack and nudged against his tight hole. Nico made a low growling sound in his throat, then quickly stepped under the shower, pulling Jamie in with him. Closing the clear door, he turned Jamie to face him, Jamie’s back to the warm spray.
Jamie moaned with pleasure as the hot water struck his shoulders. So good! He’d missed his shower yesterday. Nico chuckled and reached for the soap, and Jamie closed his eyes, enjoying Nico’s hands on him, the slide of the soap over his skin, then Nico’s fingers kneading his muscles. Nico’s slippery hands felt amazing on his cock and balls, and Jamie smiled when he spent some time on his hole, nudging a finger inside. He could guess what Nico had in mind.
Nico caught him by surprise with a soft kiss. “Get your hair wet, angelo,” he murmured. Jamie tilted his head back, lifting the heavy strands to dampen them thoroughly. Nico squirted shampoo in his hands, then his fingers were in Jamie’s hair, massaging his scalp, threading through the long tresses. God, that felt good. He loved when someone washed his hair, one of his guilty pleasures. There was one beautician especially at the shop where he had his hair trimmed whose fingers were a sensual pleasure in themselves, often making Jamie grateful for the bulky apron covering his lap. The young man took his time, complimenting Jamie on his lovely hair as he bent over him at the sink, and Jamie had to fight to swallow his moans as his fingers worked their magic.
There was no need to do that here. Nico chuckled at his soft pants and groans as he rinsed out the soap and rubbed in conditioner. The deliciously warm water cascaded down Jamie’s back and his dick hardened while Nico massaged the nape of his neck.
“Mio Dio,” Nico said, sounding strangled, and Jamie gasped when he suddenly slid down his body and swallowed his cock. Fuck! Jamie’s strength fled and he fell back against the tiled wall, helpless with bliss while Nico’s throat constricted around the head of his dick. He almost drowned as water rushed over him. His balls were cradled, kneaded gently, driving him wild, and he shoved up into the moist heat surrounding him, his shout echoing off the walls as he came hard.
His eyes flew open at a grunt from Nico, and he watched through a curtain of water as Nico sat back on his heels and pumped his own cock. Jamie’s head whirled at the highly erotic sight, his moan mirroring Nico’s as his cum burst out, striking Jamie’s shins and feet.
Chest heaving as he caught his breath, Nico glanced up at him and started laughing. “Didn’t take us long, amore mio.” He grinned.
“No, it didn’t.” Jamie helped him to his feet, sated and happy. “I love you.”
“And I adore you,” Nico countered. They finished their shower, Nico soaping up and rinsing while Jamie stepped out the back of the tub and retrieved towels from the cupboard.
“You think we can make it home before the weather changes again?” he asked, handing one to Nico.
“The radio said the next storm’s not due until late tonight.” Nico smiled at him. “We can even have breakfast before we start back.”
Jamie’s stomach rumbled in agreement. “Excellent.”
Nico chuckled. “I’m hungry too. Do we need any supplies for the cabin?”
“I don’t think so. We’re pretty well stocked until after Christmas.”
Jamie winced as he followed Nico out the door, hoping he wasn’t presuming too much. They’d both spent too many holidays alone. Despite his efforts not to think about it, worry sent a cold tendril through Jamie as they dressed and he gave Nico a troubled look. “What of Piter?”
Nico glanced up from the chair where he sat lacing his boots. “Piter will come to us this time, when he chooses. I am looking out for him, cuore mio. Do not worry.”
Jamie drew an unsteady breath, frightened for both of them.
Susan Walker met them in the main room with a smile and hot coffee. A fire crackled on the hearth, and Nico’s sigh sounded contented as he pulled out a stool and sat by the brightly lit Christmas tree.
“You have a beautiful inn,” he told Susan when she handed them both a menu. Jamie hid his amusement when she blushed and glanced aside.
“It’s not much to look at from the outside, but we like to make our customers feel at home,” she said, wiping an invisible spill off the countertop.
“It’s very nice,” Jamie assured her, glancing at the breakfast items. He and Nico both ordered the granola and fruit, and Nico kept his gaze on the glittering ornaments on the tree while they waited. Jamie touched his arm. “Will you spend Christmas with me, honey?” He chewed his lips when Nico didn’t reply right away.
Finally, Nico looked at him, and the sadness in his eyes was quickly replaced with resolve. “I will try, my little angel,” he said as if swearing an oath, his accent thicker than usual.
Jamie opened his mouth, then closed it again, thinking better than to bring Piter up in a place beginning to fill with other guests. He nodded when the McKorkles came in, though his heart hurt for the young family that would be missing from the group this morning.
Nico gave him a concerned look. “What is wrong?”
Jamie lifted a shoulder. “It will be nice to be home again, that’s all.” He picked up his coffee mug, surprised he thought of the rental cabin as home. He’d had a home once, with Patrick, but he’d never felt this sense of peace in sharing an apartment with him. They’d had some good times, in the beginning. Friends over for dinner, lunch in the park across the street. But it was the fact that he’d be going back to the place where he’d fallen in love with his enigmatic Italian that made the cabin feel like home. He couldn’t wait to get back there and have Nico to himself again.
The granola was delicious and Jamie had a second bowl before they returned to their room and changed into their cold-weather gear. Jamie took a moment in the bathroom before they went back downstairs. He’d left his hair loose and now brushed the long red strands until they glowed. They’d stopped at the gift shop after breakfast and Jamie took out the mascara he’d bought when Nico wasn’t looking. He added a touch to his already thick lashes and cocked his head, admiring the bright eyes in the mirror, the blue enhanced by the dark color and also the sheen in his hair. Pretty.
Joining Nico in the bedroom, he grabbed his coat and sparse belongings. Nico put a hand on the small of his back as they went to the door. “Ready, angelo m
io?” He glanced at Jamie and Jamie saw his eyes widen while his breath seemed to stutter. Nico took Jamie’s hand and kissed his palm. “Enchanting, amore.” He bent to Jamie’s ear. “Can’t wait to have you to myself.”
Jamie’s face warmed and he nodded in agreement.
“Be sure to come back and see us again,” Susan told them when they handed over the keys to the room.
“We will,” Nico said, though Jamie shuddered when the front door closed behind them and they stepped onto the outside steps into sunshine. Last night’s nightmare still lingered in his mind, and he warily eyed the street, morning traffic already marring the blanket of fresh snow. Without snowshoes, they struggled to cross the parking lot, and Jamie let out a relieved breath when they reached the snowmobile.
It took some effort to loosen the vehicle from the snow piled against it, but soon enough he was straddling the driver’s seat. He’d driven snowmobiles every winter for years and felt confident. Nico climbed on while he pulled on his helmet, and the man’s warmth seeped into his back as they maneuvered onto the street.
It didn’t take long to cross town, and Jamie whooped as they sped onto the wide fields leading into the hills. He gunned the engine, sending the snow flying out behind them. Nico slipped his arms around his waist, making it even better. He loved the feeling of freedom the racing snowmobile gave him and wished he could remove his helmet and let the brisk wind play with his hair, the sun kiss his face.
Instead, he hunched down and flew over the pristine snow, enjoying the way Nico leaned on him, making them almost one. The miles were eaten away, and at one point, Nico turned his head to shout in his ear. “We’re passing the doctor’s turnoff. Do you want to check on them?”
Jamie flashed him a surprised look, then grinned at the mischief on his face. “I’m sure we’re the last people he wants to see right now,” he yelled back. They rode for a while in silence, and Jamie grunted in relief when they crested a hill and his solitary cabin at last came into view through the trees. They were home. He slowed as they reached the yard, pulling to a stop under the awning on the side of the house. Nico climbed off and removed his helmet, his dark curls tumbling around his glowing face when his cap came off as well. Jamie sucked in an appreciative breath, standing and pulling off his own helmet.
“Let’s get inside,” he said, shivering in a sudden gust of wind. Nico slid an arm across his shoulders, and Jamie fished the keys to the front door out of his pocket as they rounded the cabin and stomped up the porch steps.
The interior was warmer than he was expecting, and he grimaced, knowing he’d forgotten to turn down the thermostat on the heater when he’d left. Damn. He’d need to get the painting he was working on done and another commissioned to pay the bill this month.
They removed their outdoor gear in the foyer, then Nico headed for the cold hearth. “I’ll get a fire going if there are things you need to check on.”
“Thank you.”
Jamie made a quick tour of the cabin, looking for broken water pipes or cracks in the windows. Everything seemed in order, and he crossed to the large picture window overlooking the lake. The landscape was gorgeous in the sunlight and he turned to his painting, itching to add the bright lighting to the scene on his canvas. He wondered if Nico would mind….
He glanced at Nico, but the man seemed content in nursing the small flames he’d started in the fireplace. Not wanting to wait for his palette from the freezer to thaw, he started a new one, squeezing the colors he needed onto the flat surface. The smell of the oils was intoxicating. He hadn’t painted in days and never realized how much he missed it. Just a touch of gold on the tips of the tree limbs. And that ray of sunlight needs to shine more….
Chapter Twenty-One
IT WAS some time before Jamie lifted his head from his world of color and turpentine. The sunlight appeared brighter in the room, and a glance at the clock on the mantle showed the afternoon speeding away. He’d been at it for hours when it had seemed like minutes. Looking critically at his painting, he was pleased with what he’d accomplished. It would soon be finished and sent on its way. Excellent.
He cleaned his brushes and put the paints away, his eyes straying to Nico’s long form stretched out on the couch, relaxed in sleep, a closed book on his chest. The delicious aromas of something heating in the kitchen lured him in that direction. A thick lentil soup simmered in the Crock-Pot, obviously for dinner. Jamie opened the refrigerator and found a small plate of sliced fruit and cheeses waiting for him. He smiled, happiness washing through him. It had been a long time since someone had pampered him.
Adding a few crackers to his plate, he returned to the living room and looked fondly at Nico as he slept on his couch. Jamie sat on the rug in front of the hearth, enjoying the heat from the fire as he nibbled his snack. Doubts began to creep into his thoughts as he watched the flames, and with a sigh he put the plate aside and rested his head on the edge of the couch, studying Nico’s face. Lines of sorrow and years of loneliness could be traced in this unguarded moment, squeezing Jamie’s heart.
“What is your story, Nico?” he whispered, knowing the time for answers had come. Lifting Nico’s hand, he rested his cheek against the warm skin and kissed each knuckle. Tears formed in his eyes. What would he find out about this man who had his heart? He thought of Piter’s wild beauty and the sharp mind behind it, Nico’s equal. He turned Nico’s hand over and pressed his lips to his palm, willing Nico to wake up and reassure him.
A deep breath and sigh escaped his lover, and Jamie raised his head, watched Nico’s lids flutter and open. Nico blinked at him several times, and then a smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “So you’ve come back to me,” he murmured, and chuckled when Jamie gave him a baffled look. “From your painting. I asked earlier if you’d care for some lunch, but I don’t think you even heard me.”
He set the book on the floor and tugged Jamie’s hand, pulling him up beside him. “I love watching you paint,” Nico confessed against the top of his head. “Your face is enraptured, as if you’re transported to a world I can’t see until it’s revealed on canvas.”
Jamie spent a minute in his arms, breathing in his scent, listening to Nico’s strong heartbeat. Panic swept him as he wondered if he’d ever be skin on skin with him again, taste his delicious cock. What if Nico didn’t like him prying? He pushed up into a sitting position before he begged Nico to take him to bed, fuck him into forgetfulness.
Nico lifted a brow, then sat up, his expression growing serious. Jamie moved so Nico could put his feet on the floor, keeping some space between them. Nico noticed and Jamie hated the sadness that darkened his eyes.
“You have questions.” Nico glanced at the fire. “What do you want to know first?”
Jamie took his hand, needing that connection. “Just tell me who you are. Who Piter is. I’ve tried to be patient, but now I must have the answers.” He stumbled over the last words. “Do we have a future, Nico?”
Nico’s hand jerked in his and his lover laced their fingers together, bringing Jamie’s hand to his lips. Warm tears splashed on Jamie’s fingers, tearing his heart.
“Il mio piccolo angelo,” Nico whispered, voice ragged. “Sei la mia vita. Ti amo.”
Jamie’s throat tightened with emotion. “I don’t understand you,” he confessed, though Nico’s agony was easy to see.
Nico drew a deep breath, brushed his free hand across his eyes. “My little angel. You are my life and I love you,” he translated. “I’m frightened, Jamie. You won’t like what I have to say. You’ll think I have lost my mind. But every word I say is true.”
“I’m not going to judge you. I love you. You can tell me anything, and—”
Nico pressed a finger to Jamie’s lips. “Please, say no more. This is difficult enough for me. No questions until I have told you everything.” He sighed. “Though, when I have finished, you may not wish to speak to me at all.”
Jamie bit his tongue on his quick denial. “I’ll listen, Nico, but y
ou have to promise me something in return.”
“Anything, amore mio.”
Jamie winced, hurting for him. Nico’s accent had thickened, the Italian slipping into his speech betraying his distress. He wished he could spare his lover this confession, but Jamie had to know who Nico was before he became any more entangled in his life. Jamie’s heart thumped. It might already be too late. He could never leave Nico, no matter what he confessed today.
Swallowing several times, he finally loosened the lump of pain in his throat. “Your words might shock me, Nico, but you have to promise not to leave, even if I seem angry. Please, Nico! It seems like you have something terrible to tell me. You’ll have to give me time to take it in. Promise me you won’t walk away, disappear. Give me the time to understand.”
Nico darted him a glance, love and anguish naked on his face. “I promise,” he whispered, returning his gaze to the fire. He sat up straighter, placing Jamie’s hand on his thigh as if afraid to let him go.
“Have you never wondered how old I am, my love?” Nico began, sounding weary, close to despair.
Jamie’s heart lurched. This was something he’d tried not to examine too closely. “Thirty-five?” he said, and shivered a little at Nico’s painful laugh, both aware Jamie knew the truth was far stranger.
“I was born sometime early in the fourth century, amore mio, so long ago I can’t remember the exact date. They say my bones are buried, turning to dust in a basilica in Venice. But if so… then how am I here?” Nico withdrew his hand from Jamie’s, covered his face. “I should have died, Jamie, and been at rest all these long years. Why have I been made to suffer like this? I hadn’t meant to kill….”
A hard sob broke from him, and Jamie threw his arms around him, pulling Nico against his shoulder, aching for his lover’s pain. Horror crawled at the edge of his thoughts but he shoved it away in fury. This was the man he loved. If Nico’s mind had wandered into madness, he would need Jamie’s support. If what he said could possibly be true….
Nicolas Page 16