Right Move (Clean Slate Ranch #6) - A.M. Arthur Page 0,98

stairs, as if unsure of what was happening.

“Your cats are voyeurs.”

“They’re clingy.” He pulled his cell out of his pocket. “It’s getting late and too chilly to lock them out, especially if I get distracted and forget to unlock the cat door later.”

George shrugged as he stretched out on the bed. “I don’t mind. I love Ginger, and the trio keeps things interesting.”

Levi’s eyebrows twitched. “They really do. May I join you down there?”

“You better.” He rolled to his right side as Levi slid on the bed facing him. Each of them had a different pillow, and it felt like too far away. But also just right for now. Levi inched closer, and George did the same, hoping Levi made the first move. Except Levi seemed content to wait for George’s signals. Giving George all the power when he was used to having none.

“I’ve never had a Christmas like this,” George whispered.

Levi brushed a knuckle down George’s cheek. “Like what, sweetheart?”

Sweetheart.

“Full of joy and love. Between this morning with Orry and our grandparents, and then dinner at the cabin. Being here with you.” George didn’t want to delve too deeply into the past, but... “Growing up, Christmas was stiff. We had a tree. Stockings. One present each because, as our parents said, they were spending so much money between my skating and Orry’s musical interests. There was just no real joy. Not like today.”

“I’m glad I could help give you a portion of today’s joy. This is the best Christmas I’ve had in a long time, too. For different reasons, but the emotions are similar, I think.” Levi’s eyes went soft lidded. “You were very unexpected, George.”

“You were too. Very unexpected, but in the best way.” George rested a hand on Levi’s shoulder, enjoying the warm contact. “I wanted to get a life so badly but had no idea how to go about it. How to tell my brother who I really am. How to even attempt to take what I want.”

Desire burned in Levi’s eyes. “What do you want?”

“You.” George waited for embarrassment over his bluntness that never came, so he grabbed on to his confidence with both hands. “I want you, Levi.”

“I’m all yours.”

George lunged, rolling Levi to his back and covering the bigger man with his slimmer body. Knees on either side of Levi’s hips, he rubbed their groins together as he came in for a long, exploratory kiss. Deeper than their first kisses and far more meaningful now. Tonight was about more than spending a holiday together. It was a new step toward something bigger between them.

Levi ground up into him, hands loose on George’s hips, giving George all the control. It endeared the older man to him even more and gave George the confidence to be aggressive. To lick and stroke into Levi’s mouth, plundering and seeking, their erections riding each other through two layers of denim. He kissed his way around Levi’s neck, tasting hot skin and the slight tang of sweat, and he wanted more. More skin to taste, more of Levi’s body to admire and enjoy.

Curbing his natural instinct to ask, George instead demanded, “Clothes off. Under the covers.”

Levi released a gentle, growly sound that sent wiggles of arousal through George’s belly. He rolled off Levi and tugged at his own belt. The mattress bounced as they both got naked as quickly as possible without bumping their heads on the low roof of the loft. Levi pulled back the covers and, after they both climbed into the middle, tugged just the top sheet up around their waists. George didn’t know how the home’s heat system worked but it was warm up there.

And it was about to get warmer.

They both lay on their sides, heads propped up on one hand, facing each other. Levi’s eyes gleamed, and he seemed to vibrate with the need to act first, but restrained himself. Waited for George to move. George studied the tan swaths of Levi’s bare chest. The work-hardened muscles of his abs and arms, and the smattering of dark hair on his chest. He never stopped marveling at how beautiful Levi was, and that he’d chosen someone as plain as George.

With a single finger, George traced a line from the base of Levi’s throat, slowly down between his pecs to his navel. He swirled into that navel, and Levi huffed, not quite laughing. Down farther into the thin happy trail that led to his destination. He ran his finger up the length of Levi’s dick