me if I asked you. But I needed to see if I could be strong.”
“And now?”
Robin stroked his beard. “I need to be loved.”
“You are,” Dean assured him. “Now let me love you some more.”
There was something magical about making love in the middle of the night, the lamp switched off, and the air filled with soft sighs and low moans. They clung to each other, rolling beneath the comforter, Robin’s sharp intakes of breath and murmurs of “Oh yeah, there” Dean’s only indication that his fingers and tongue were in the right spots. Gloving up was a little tricky in the dark, but he got there with a little help from Robin. And when Dean hooked his arms under Robin’s knees and slowly sank into his warm, inviting body, he couldn’t hold back his heartfelt sigh of sheer joy.
“Love you,” he whispered as he slid into Robin’s ass, until his shaft was sheathed in tight heat.
“Love you too.” Robin’s lips claimed his an instant later, and that set the pattern. They shared lingering kisses as Dean moved in and out of him, in no hurry to reach a destination, but simply enjoying the journey. Robin’s hands were on his shoulders, his back, his neck, on his face, a constant connection. When Dean came, he buried his face in Robin’s neck, breathing in his smell, his heart light at the sounds that fell from Robin’s lips. Then he cradled Robin while he slid slick fingers into him, a sensual internal massage that brought Robin to orgasm, shaking and breathless in Dean’s arms.
“I’ve got you,” Dean murmured against Robin’s lips, their bodies slick with sweat.
He had no intention of letting Robin go.
Dean brought the hot chocolate into the living room, where Robin sat on the rug, teasing Loki with a piece of tinsel. Loki was having a great time, leaping into the air to try and grasp the shiny silver in his paws. Dean glanced at Robin’s face, and his chest tightened.
Robin looked tired.
Dean knew he’d awoken a few times during the night, and each time Dean had held him close, waiting for him to fall asleep again. But as the day wore on, Dean recognized the pain in those beautiful eyes. And there was nothing he could do to rid Robin of it.
He placed the mugs on the coffee table, then switched on the tree lights. Robin gazed at the tree, a sigh falling from his lips.
“Want me to switch them off?”
Robin jerked his head to stare at him. “What? No. It’s Christmas Eve. They should be on.”
“Not if they make you unhappy.” Dean sat beside him on the rug. “Have you thought about calling your dad? Isn’t it your special family meal this evening? Maybe you should go there.”
“If I thought it would do any good, I’d be there as fast as my bike would take me.”
“If I thought it would do any good, I’d drive you there.” Dean ran his fingers through Robin’s tousled hair. “You need to sleep, baby.”
Robin huffed. “I look that good, huh? Don’t bother lying. I’ve got eyes. And dark circles under them too.”
“Then go upstairs and take a nap. When you’ve had a sleep, I’ll cook us something. Whatever you want.”
Robin kissed him, a fleeting brush of his lips against Dean’s. “You’re trying to make my Christmas Eve special, aren’t you? Sweet man.” Then he nodded. “But you’re right. Maybe a nap is what I need.” He handed Dean the tinsel. “Here. You can take over as Loki’s entertainment.”
“And speaking of Loki… Do you think it’s a good idea to taunt him with tinsel? Seeing as he is definitely the ‘cat most likely to climb the tempting Christmas tree’?”
Robin bit his lip. “Oops?”
Dean laughed. “Loki can curl up in my lap while I watch some TV. Come down when you feel like it.”
Robin kissed the top of Dean’s head, then picked up his mug. “Not gonna waste hot chocolate.” He walked out of the living room.
Dean got up off the rug and sat on the couch, joined by both kitties. He pointed the remote at the TV and switched it on. After spending ten minutes or so channel hopping aimlessly, he hadn’t found anything that grabbed his attention. Lady lay on the cushion beside him, and he stroked her back. Loki lay on the other side.
“How can we fix this, guys?” he murmured. Dean knew it was arrogant to think he could go over to Robin’s house and solve everything. Besides, he respected