Turning Wood
Page 5
A slow smile grew on his lips and Mason did nothing to hide it. “I’ll tell you what, Joel. I’ll go grab my things. I’m moving in with Otho here—” He raised their hands, “—so you can take the room. Perhaps you can cancel the stay and get a refund.”
“Moving in?” Joel glanced at Otho again and Mason almost burst out laughing when Otho raised an eyebrow at him.
“Never thought you’d go for the lumberjacks, Mase.” Joel straightened his jacket while glaring at Otho. Mason looked at Otho too—the beard, worn jeans, and plaid shirt did make him look like a lumberjack. It also made Mason want to tear his clothes off and run his hands all over his body.
“You didn’t?” Mason made a shocked sound. “All that…wood, it’s so hot, and the way he bends me over…” He moaned but didn’t dare look at Otho as he said it. “Oh, and Joel, we’re going to Mom’s New Year party, so don’t bother coming there to harass my family. They never liked you anyway.”
Joel glared at him. “What about us?”
“What about us? There is no ‘us.’ You ruined everything.”
“But, baby—”
Otho pulled a little at his hand, not to get away, but to move Mason away from Joel. “Let’s grab your things and get out of here.”
Mason nodded and asked the woman behind the counter for a new keycard. Joel tried talking to him again, but Mason ignored him, his hand never letting go of Otho’s.
* * * *
Otho closed the door behind them with a sigh. The scent of pine and gingerbread had his muscles unclenching. He had not been prepared to see Mason’s ex. Slimy bastard.
He rubbed his chest; not sure he could name the emotions swirling around in there. Was Mason using him to get back at his ex? Were they going to a New Year party together? Otho would love to, but perhaps Mason had thrown it in Joel’s face as punishment.
“I’m so sorry. That was so immature.” Mason dropped his bag on the floor and slouched his shoulders. “I shouldn’t have said those things.”
“You couldn’t have known he’d be there.” Or had he known? Otho rubbed his forehead.
“No, but still. I shouldn’t have said what I did. You work there and I said—oh, God. I’m so sorry. I’d hoped I’d never have to see him again.” Mason tilted his head to the side, his eyes narrowing a little. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, sure. I just…Do you want to get back together with him?”
Mason widened his eyes. “Hell no! I don’t know why I stayed with him for as long as I did. I guess…” He shrugged. “It was nice having someone, you know? I liked the idea of having someone to share my life with more than I liked Joel.”
“So New Year?”
A flush spread on Mason’s face. “Otho?” His gaze was so intense Otho shifted his weight on his feet.
“Yeah?” Why was he whispering?
“Will you freak out if I want to introduce you to my family?”
It took a moment before Otho sorted out the words. Mason wanted him to meet his family?
“You don’t have to! Joel only wanted to go to the New Year parties, because there are a lot of people he can brag to, but he never wanted to be with my family, and you don’t have—” Mason’s hands were moving around in rapid motions. Otho wrapped his fingers around his wrist and pulled him closer.
“I’d love to.”
“Yeah?”
Otho didn’t know why Mason looked surprised, but there was nothing he could do about it at the moment. “Yes. I’d love to meet your family.”
Mason wound his arms around Otho’s neck and kissed him at the same time as there was a knock followed by Joslyn opening the door. “You proposed.” She threw her hands in the air. “Otho, we’ve talked about this—”
“He didn’t propose,” Mason snapped, not realizing Joslyn was joking…mostly joking, at least.
“Despite how she makes it sound, I’ve never proposed to anyone.” Otho wanted him to know that.
“Perhaps not, but he begs people to move in after one date. Run, Mason, run!” Joslyn winked, her blue hair tied up in a messy bun and her cheeks flushed from the cold.
“I don’t want to run.”
Otho tightened his hold around him. “Then you’re trapped.” He grinned and shrugged. “I’ll never let you go now.”
Mason searched his face. “I could live with that.” His voice was nothing more than a whisper, but it had warmth spreading in Otho’s chest anyway.
“Oh God, stop!” She made a gagging sound. “I’m starving and I’m not smelling food.”
“Christmas dinner got delayed by Mason’s ex.” Otho dropped a kiss on Mason’s lips and broke the embrace before grabbing Mason’s hand and pulling him toward the kitchen.
“I always miss the drama.” Joslyn sighed and sat on the chair she’d been on the night before, the chair she sat on almost every night.
“Seems like you are the drama,” Mason muttered and Otho laughed.
“Yeah, well, get used to it. If you think I’ll stop coming around simply because you’re moving in, you’re wrong. I would starve to death.” She grinned and Otho held his breath. Damn, why did she have to talk so much?
“Moving in? We haven’t talked—”
“Oh, stop kidding yourself and don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“You don’t have to move in.” Otho placed a glass of wine in front of Mason, hoping Joslyn hadn’t ruined things. “You move back in with your mom and we’ll see where this goes.” Otho wouldn’t push for anything.
“So, Mason?” Poor Mason, Joslyn didn’t give him a chance to reply. “Where do you live now?”
“I…erm…” Otho didn’t interrupt despite Mason sending him a pleading look. He didn’t know where Mason lived, and he probably should have asked that two days ago. “Nowhere. I have an apartment in Greenville I have to move out of after New Year’s because I couldn’t pay the rent.”
Joslyn tsked. “And you think you aren’t moving in. It’s almost cute.”
Mason looked at Otho, a question in his eyes.
“You don’t have to move in, but you’re welcome to stay for as long as you need.”
“Are you sure?”
Otho went over to him, ignoring Joslyn as he bent and kissed him. It was a soft kiss, an unhurried kiss he wished could last forever. “I’m sure.” He touched Mason’s cheek before turning to the refrigerator.
“So…erm…” Mason cleared his throat. “Joslyn, would you like to join Otho and me on a trip to Greenville for a New Year’s party?”
Otho hummed as he reached for the pots while planning in what order to cook everything he needed for the Christmas dinner. He was warm inside; tingles filled his bloodstream as he grinned at Mason and Joslyn. It was nice and calm. Mason was smiling, and he could see the lights sparkling in the Christmas tree every time he looked out through the doorway. He loved his tiny little cabin, loved it even more with Mason and Joslyn in it.
Snow fell outside the window and Christmas carols sounded from the radio on the counter.
“Sure, I’ll go. Can’t let you steal Otho from right under my nose.” Joslyn put a gingerbread cookie in her mouth and washed it down with wine.
“I already did.”
Otho grinned at him before turning on the stove. Christmas was here and so was Mason. What would happen in the future he didn’t know, but he’d do what he could to make today magical.
THE END
ABOUT OFELIA GRÄND
Ofelia Gränd is Swedish, which often shines through in her stories. She likes to write about everyday people ending up in not-so-everyday situations, and hopefully also getting out of them. She writes about men falling in love with other men, but when it comes to subgenres, she likes to mix and match.
Her books are written for readers who want to take a break from their everyday life for an hour or two.
When Ofelia manages to tear herself from the screen and sneak away from husband and children, she likes to take walks in the woods…if she’s lucky,
she finds her way back home again.
For more information, visit ofeliagrand.com.
ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC
JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!