Christmas Tales - Brandon Witt Page 0,24

“I don’t know what to say to that. I’m sorry you didn’t want to feel those things. I guess I kinda had my hopes up. I know we didn’t really know each other, but there was something about you, and the more I learned, the more I wanted you.”

I scoffed. “Wanted me. Right. That’s why you disappeared. Acted like we didn’t live a fucking foot from each other. See, you’re still doing it. Still playing games. You say you wanted me. Bullshit.”

“I do want you.” He reached out to touch my face, but I stepped back out of his reach.

“Yeah, you’ve proved that all right. How long has it been since you showed any interest? You did just enough to make me want things and then jerked it all away.”

He cocked his head. It kinda reminded me of a chicken. “I, ah, think maybe I misjudged you. I wasn’t trying to play, Samuel. I did want in your pants. But after our meal together, I wanted more than just to get in your pants. And, if we had done it that night, I thought you’d probably freak out and shut me out. You seem a little set in your ways.”

It was hard to know if what I was hearing was true or not. My hopes kept colliding with reality. “It’s been weeks, Raymond. Weeks. You just disappeared.”

He let out a laugh, and I thought I heard a touch of anger when he spoke. “I didn’t disappear. Like you said, I’m right beside you. I was giving you time. Didn’t want to rush or pressure you. I could tell you’d freak out a bit.” He gestured down my body. “Kinda like you are right now, honestly. I’ve been right there. Waiting for you to let me know if you’re interested. Like you said, I made my intentions and desires very clear.”

Suddenly, I could see it from his perspective. Maybe. Had he really been waiting on me? “But you didn’t come back.”

He rolled his eyes, but the gesture seemed more out of impatience than anything. “I was waiting for you, like I said, to let me know when you were ready. I couldn’t have been clearer about how I wanted you. I’d decided that you didn’t want me that way. And if you did, and if you’ve been over here for weeks stewing over it… well, you just needed to man up.”

Again anger and shame bit at me. I took a second to replay the weeks through his point of view, letting his words filter over how it all had seemed to me. He was right. At least mostly. I had been waiting on him to make all of the moves. But still. “Okay, maybe you’re right. And maybe I should’ve come over and said I wanted you. But you came on so strong and then nothing. I’m not sure how you expected me to be able to read your mind like that.”

He opened his mouth, then paused, his expression altering. After a bit, he closed his mouth and shook his head. Finally he gave a little laugh. “You’re right. We’re both right. And both wrong. And both a little stupid, and maybe a bit off our rockers. Can we chalk it up to being two old men who are rusty at this?”

“Speak for yourself. I’m not old.”

Raymond’s smile returned. “I’m gonna have you prove that later.”

A touch of the bitter sound came back. “Oh good, more promises. When would you like me to prove that, at the turn of the next century? Not sure if my pants will still be around to be gotten into by that point.”

He shook his head again. “You really are a bit crazy, and maybe in a good way, maybe not. Luckily, I’m not your run-of-the-mill guy either, so it might just be a very good thing.” He stepped closer. “And no, not the next century. Tonight. You’re going to prove just how young and nubile you are tonight. And then again tomorrow night. Hell, maybe tomorrow morning too.”

I froze at his words. Hope, lust, and terror sweeping through me. Tonight.

Tonight.

What if he walked away again?

“Why tonight? Let’s prove it. Right now. You say you want me, prove it.” What the hell had gotten into me?

He kissed me. Hard, heated, wet. His stubble raking against mine. He pulled me close, smashing my body to his, letting me feel that he wasn’t all talk. He pressed his erection on mine, and pulled away from the kiss. He