“Yeah, with all the positive things came a lot of hate and I chose to avoid all of it. And well, I didn’t want you to see me tagged in the sculpture before I told you myself. Now, my muse returned thanks to all the sightseeing and just being together. But there’s one downside.”
“What is it?”
“My sketchbook is full of doodles of you.” He shoved my chest, straddling my hips.
I snorted. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m going to look at your obsessive art of me to make me feel better.” He stuck his tongue out. “Weirdo.”
“Asshole.” I grabbed his butt with both hands and squeezed.
“Still full of your cum, thanks for asking.” He sat up and wiggled above my dicks. “How many jobs do you have left before Christmas? I’m calculating our time together.”
I pursed my lips, browsing my mental calendar. “Not work, but I promised I’d go to a place upstate near the Adirondacks for a little meet and greet a day before Christmas. And no, it’s not a gallery this time.”
Kert narrowed his eyes. “Are we going skiing?”
I flicked his nipple with a tentacle. “You saw me ice skating. Skiing is a hard pass.”
He hissed, but flicked the other one. “Boo. So what is it?”
“Not very glamorous, but the project gave me a lot of joy. You have to see it to believe it.”
“Okay. No skiing, but I’m excited anyway.” He jumped off the bed and looked at me over his shoulder as he left the room.
I snagged a blanket off the stack at the armchair and followed him as if we were connected by an invisible thread.
He stood in the doorway to the storage room, his back to me, looking at the paintings I’ve amassed over the years.
I wrapped the blanket over his shoulders and hugged him from behind.
“I love them and at the same time, I can’t believe you painted them. Can we hang a few at least while I’m here?” He leaned into me and took my tentacle in his hand.
I kissed the back of his head. “Not narcissistic of you at all.”
“My ass is better in your art than in real life.”
“Not true.” I laughed and nuzzled his neck.
“I love the way you see me. These three will look great in the living room. For now, we can lean them against the wall and properly hang them tomorrow.” He picked one up gently and walked to the room, leaving the blanket behind him.
I grabbed the other two and set them against the bare wall next to the Christmas tree.
Kert put his hands on his hips and nodded in triumph. “I said I’d help you decorate. I consider this a roaring success.”
I admired his square shoulders, his slim waist, and glorious bum with its tail waving in the air. “Yeah. Your ass belongs in my living room.”
“The paintings—” Kert yelped when I squeezed his butt cheeks.
“I meant this one.”
He leaned into me and we stood in an embrace, surrounded by my art and Christmas decorations. That simple moment was so perfect, it would be forever etched in my memory.
“The tree is missing a topper.” Kert wriggled out from my hold and dashed to the bedroom. He returned with a small box full of stuffing paper and pulled out a clay figurine. “I brought it with me in case, hoping you’d let me take charge of your decorations.”
He handed me the lilac-colored star with each arm in the shape of a tentacle with tiny, detailed suckers. “It’s gorgeous.”
While I was admiring the artistry of it, Kert climbed the ladder the kids had used to decorate the tree and extended his hand. “Gimme.”
