Touch Me in the Morning

Jared Douglas glanced out the window grimacing at the sight of the snow falling thick and fast. He didn’t look at the clock. Alex was late arriving from the airport, only twenty minutes but long enough for Jared to begin worrying. He stirred the chili and made sure the control was set to simmer. He peeked under the cloth of the basket set on the back burner to assure himself the fresh baked cornbread was staying warm in the heated air drifting up from the oven left on for just that reason. He gazed out the window once more, a small frown creasing the space between his brows.

The snow concerned him, Alex wasn’t used to driving in it, but he wanted to bring his car home from the airport so they didn’t have to waste time and gas going back to get it. Jared turned away from the storm and tried to suppress his worry. Alex was a young man in college, no longer a kid though sometimes Jared’s mind refused to let him grow up past the gangly fifteen year old Alex had been when they met.  Unlike a torrential rain storm that pounded everything sounding loud and destructive, the snow fall was different. Silent and surreal piling up in heaps that muffled the world. Everything seemed quieter and cleaner when it snowed, and yet the roads were far more dangerous than when it rained.

Sighing Jared took a couple bowls and small plates out of the cabinet to set the table. He added the butter dish and a small jar of honey. Everything was done, ready for Alex. With nothing to do but wait, Jared’s stomach tied in a knot. Twenty-five minutes. He was never letting Alex drive himself home from the airport again.  Jared decided to check the Christmas lights to make sure everything was lit. He could see the golden glow of the lights on the tree in the back yard even through the snow.

Lost in thought about how much Alex loved Christmas and how they’d celebrated in the past, Jared startled when the front door banged open.

“Jared, I’m home!” Alex blew in on a gust of wind and snow. He dropped his suitcase and forced the door shut against the weather before turning to grin at Jared. Alex’s smile lit Jared’s world and did things to him inside that left him speechless. He hurried forward with a welcoming grin of his own as Alex tugged off his gloves and stuffed them into the pocket of his coat. Snow drifted to the floor when he shrugged out of the long wool coat to hang it on the peg by the front door.

Alex’s hair was cold and damp under Jared’s touch as he brushed away the snowflakes caught in the dark curls. He cupped Alex’s chilled face in his hands and their eyes met. Alex’s smile softened becoming something warm and personal between them. His hands, the skin cool despite the gloves, covered Jared’s.

Jared welcomed the frosty touch. “Welcome home.”

“I’m sorry I’m late.” Alex’s words tripped over Jared’s welcome but neither noticed as their lips touched. The brief close mouthed kiss rocked Jared to the core. They had spent Thanksgiving together but that seemed longer ago than a mere four weeks. An important project had kept Alex away at college until Christmas Eve, but now he’d be home for three weeks. Having Alex there made Jared feel whole, easing tightness in his chest that he'd had grown so accustomed to he hardly noticed until it was gone.

Their eyes met again, Alex’s hands moved down to Jared's waist fisting in the soft knit of his bright red sweater. Their eyes met again, and Jared’s thumbs stroked Alex’s cheeks.

“You worried me a little, was the plane late?”

Alex kissed Jared and their lips clung a moment longer hinting at deeper intimacy before Alex pulled away shaking his head. “No. They lost half my luggage, the car didn’t want to start, the heater wouldn’t work, and I’m no good driving in the snow. Next time you can come and get me.” Sounding tired and exasperated Alex picked up his suitcase. “I smell chili, and I need a shower.” He hesitated. "I'm sorry." 

Despite how much he wanted Alex close, Jared understood Alex's need to be alone a few minutes to recover from his exasperating day. Still he couldn't resist teasing him. “Your next break is in the spring, there won’t be any snow.” 

Pausing on his way to their bedroom Alex turned to glower in Jared’s direction. “Driving myself also meant I had to wait an extra two and a half hours before I got to see you. I didn’t like it.” 

Jared's heart constricted in reaction to Alex's confession, and he took a couple steps to close the distance between them and relieved Alex of his bag. “I’ve got this. Go and get a shower. Dinner will be ready when you’re done.”

Alex smiled tired relief shining in his eyes. “I’ll be better for it,” he promised. 

Jared gestured for him to get on with it. The shower was already running when Jared deposited the suitcase in front of Alex’s dresser. Jared smiled in anticipation of the smell of Alex’s soap filling the air. Jared preferred using regular deodorant soap, but Alex had bought into the body wash trend. His ball of dark blue net hung from a hook in the shower. Jared used the spicy Axe body wash in Alex’s absence once in a while but the smell was never the same without the hint of Alex’s skin under the scent.

Alex emerged wearing a pair of soft flannel pajama pants and a baggy gray thermal top. His dark hair gleamed in damp curls, and his eyes shone bright. The fatigue and frustration of his day seemingly washed away with the grime. Jared watched Alex cross the kitchen to reach him, bare feet padding on the tile. Affection and need threatened to overwhelm him. Jared and Alex spent more time apart than together and Jared longed for a future when he’d wake every morning with Alex beside him. Sometimes he abhorred the empty pillow beside his, the fresh pillowcase smelling of laundry detergent and softener rather than Alex.

Moments like this one, with Alex relaxed in his own skin and in their home free to be himself, were ones Jared lived for.

“Hey, Kid.” Jared tousled Alex’s hair with a teasing grin. Alex wrinkled his nose and his feigned annoyance belied by the quirk of his lips. He didn’t protest when Jared wrapped a strong hand around his wrist and drew him close.

“Missed you,” Jared whispered. His mouth covered Alex’s hungry for a more thorough kiss than the ones they’d shared at the door. Alex surged into Jared’s arms, mouth opening under the press of his tongue. Jared savored the taste of Alex, the feel of him solid in Jared’s arms. 

“I missed you too,” Alex gasped when Jared’s lips moved on to trace the line of Alex’s jaw. Alex clutched at him, and Jared’s heartbeat thundered in his ears. Need for Alex consumed him.  With a ragged moan of submission, Alex’s hand slid into Jared’s hair. 

One hand cupped Alex’s ass and they rutted together gasping as their mouths met again so hard their teeth clashed. Jared's mind, foggy with lust contemplated postponing dinner when Alex’s stomach growled. Jared froze, but Alex still tried to climb him. Holding Alex off despite his protests, Jared met his eyes. 

“When did you eat?” Jared gazed at Alex from beneath an arched brow.

Shaking his head Alex tried to pull Jared into another kiss. “It doesn’t matter.” The loud rumbling from his stomach gave lie to his words.

Jared laughed. “I think it matters, that’s not very sexy.”

Alex glowered, poking his bottom lip out in a pout. Jared gave it a gentle tug with his teeth, before setting Alex away from him with firm hands on his hips.

“Now, that’s a little sexy,” Jared admitted. “But you have to eat. I don’t want you wilting.”

Alex’s glower darkened. “I don’t wilt.” But Jared turned away, tugging Alex toward the table set with their dinner, steaming bowls of spicy smelling chili and a heap of fresh cornbread. 

Alex’s grumbling belly grew loud enough to turn his cheeks red. “Maybe I could eat,” He admitted.

Jared pulled out Alex’s chair and pressed a kiss to his ear when he sat without further protest. “We have plenty of time,” Jared assured him, though the words felt like a lie, every second with Alex felt like a precious moment to be treasured. Jared felt gratified by his restrant at the look of sheer delight on Alex's face as he spooned the first bite into his mouth. 

"Oh my God, this is so good," Alex moaned. His eyes gleamed with mischief well aware of how sexual he sounded. Laughing Jared dug into his bowl and they fell into the rythym of being together as if they'd never been apart.

Hours later Alex and Jared cuddled together in their oversized chair in front of the fire slowly burning to nothing more than embers in the fireplace. The room was lit only by the dying fire and the soft glow of multicolored Christmas lights, gentle jazz Christmas music played in the background. Jared watched as the clock ticked to a minute past midnight. He tucked the edges of his old blanket around them a little tighter, determined to keep the slightest draft from disturbing Alex's sleep.

 Despite Jared's care, Alex shifted, snuggling closer, burying his face deeper in the curve of Jared’s shoulder.  

Alex’s eyelashes fluttered against Jared’s neck. He pressed a kiss against the underside of Jared jaw as he woke from his brief nap. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” he apologized, his voice was thick with sleep and he didn’t move except for the tightening of his arm around Jared’s waist.

“I don’t mind.” Jared pressed his lips into the riotous mass of curls tickling his ear and neck. “Happy Birthday.”

Lifting enough to see him, Alex smiled his eyes heavy with exhaustion but filled with tenderness. “Merry Christmas.”

One hand buried in Alex’s hair, the other resting on the small of his back Jared shifted their positions until Alex lay on Jared’s chest, hips between his spread thighs.

His eyes sliding closed, Alex’s lips parted in a soft sigh of pleasure. Jared couldn't argue, the weight of Alex’s body pressing him into the soft cushions sent heat curling through his body. Jared’s fingers tightened against Alex’s back as he studied the face hovering over his in silence.

Alex braced with forearms on Jared’s broad chest, his eyes looked dark and mysterious in the dim lighting. 

“Your Christmas present was in the half of my bags that they lost.” Disappointment colored Alex's voice. "I don't have anything to give you."

“You just gave me an awesome present.” Jared shifted under Alex, letting him feel the swell of his cock and telling him without words he was open to continued giving.

Alex rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Jared, I spent a long time figuring out what to get for you and now it’s just gone.” 

“You worry too much. They’ll find your stuff and you can give me my present then.” Jared assured him. “It’ll be fine.”

“But Christmas is today. What am I supposed to give you?” Alex cocked his head in his effort to study Jared in the dim light. Seeing how serious Alex looked, Jared considered the question instead of making light of it. He touched Alex’s face tenderly. He missed Alex so much when they had to be apart. During the day he managed to keep busy working hard, and being tired at night helped him sleep instead of dwelling on how empty life seemed without Alex. It was waking alone, Alex's side of the bed cold and empty, that was the worst part of him being gone. 

An idea occured to Jared turning his lips up on one side in a lopsided smile. He’d never done emotion well, but his eyes held Alex’s gaze intently. “There is something you can give me.”

Alex brightened. “What’s that, do you want me to cook breakfast?”

Jared winced. “God, no.” His heart gave a twinge at Alex’s crestfallen look but not enough to relent and let him loose on innocent eggs. 

Jared bracketed Alex’s face with his hands. “I want you to touch me.” 

Alex looked puzzled. "I touch you all the time." He protested.

Jared struggled to finish what he'd begun, despite the slight panic he felt revealing the depth of his feelings leaving himself vulnerable. His voice dropped to a gruff whisper.  “Alex, I miss you so much when I wake up you aren’t there. I'll be happy if you’ll just touch me in the morning.”

“Oh my God, Jared,” Alex rained kisses on Jared's eyes, cheeks and mouth. “I love you. I love you so much.” 

When morning dawned Jared woke to the soft brush of Alex’s fingers against his skin and the perfect Christmas day.

Not the end, of course, but that's all for now.

Merry Christmas