8
Russell
Nick and Sadiecame over for our traditional Christmas Eve, and of course, Ryan. I made sure that I had oatmeal raisin cookies for my boy. Ryan arrived before Nick and Sadie, and as soon as I closed the door, I pressed him against it. His hair was still slightly damp when I took hold of it and leaned in to kisshim.
Ryan was an intoxicating mix of a fresh, clean scent and peppermint. He smelled as though he had just showered before he came over. My groin pressed against his as we kissed. Since Nick and Sadie were on their way, I had to keep myself in check. I didn’t want Ryan to be embarrassed by his erection. And Ryan, though thirty-five, had the erection control of ateenager.
“Merry Christmas, Ryan,” I said in between what I thought were our lastkisses.
For the first time since we’d started the make-out sessions by the door, Ryan took hold of my shirt by my waist and leaned forward for another kiss.My starved boy.I allowed him to decide when he wanted the physical connection broken. It made my day to see him engaging likethis.
“Merry Christmas,” he said with a bright smile and his dimple showing. It made me think of the twin dimples above hisass.
His red, swollen eyes hadn’t escaped mynotice.
“What had you upset, myboy?”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Ryan tried to play off whatever hadhappened.
I dragged my thumbs under his eyes and pressed lightly. When I connected with his eyes, he quickly looked down at my chest.Good, Ryan; seekcomfort.
“Ryan.”
“I called my mom to tell her Merry Christmas,” heblurted.
He proceeded to tell me about their conversation, and it saddened me that he felt guilty over this act of kindness. Pure kindness, because his mother deserved no kindness or consideration fromRyan.
Though his sigh was heavy, he kept looking over my shoulder at the Christmas tree. He was excited, despite his family disrupting his soul. On Christmas, none theless.
“Anyhow, can we not talk about it tonight?” he asked and looked out the front window to see if Nick and Sadie had arrivedyet.
“Of course, Ryan. Thank you for sharing it with me, my boy.”There’s mysmile.
I gestured to the package he held in his hand to show that I would move onto a differenttopic.
“I thought I told you that you didn’t have to buy meanything.”
A broad smile spread across his face, and cheekily he said, “I didn’t buy youanything.”
He proudly held the package out to me. Whatever it was, he was sure proud of it. It was about the size of a journal and wrapped in brown parchment. On the front of it was a hand-drawn green bow. I smiled at him to ease his mind then I gestured to the living room. Ryan carried his gift and slowed down as he approached the Christmas tree. He carefully set it down, and when he stood, his hand nervously went to the back of hisneck.
“Um, I forgot to get a bow,” he said and looked back down at the contents under the tree. He felt bad about his gift and how it had been wrapped. As he spoke, I slowly crossed the room to him. “I…um…don’t have bows at home…or ribbon…orpaper.”
“Ryan, your gift is what’s inside, not theoutside.”
I hoped he had heard and understood the double meaning to what I had said. Our evening with Nick and Sadie had been wonderful. We ate and chatted the night away. Close to midnight, I collected the tag that would eventually be for his collar. I sat in the chair that was next to the end of the couch where Ryan sat, and I handed him the gift and the card. His eyes widened, much like a child’s onChristmas.
“Which do I open first, the card or the box?” he eagerlyasked.
“Either one. It’s your choice,Ryan.”
He tore at the paper anxiously revealing a teal box. I heard Sadie intake a gulp of air as she reached for Nick’s hand. Ryan put the box to his ear and shook itgently.
“What is it?” heasked.
We all laughed and encouraged him to open it. As he opened the box, the reflection of the platinum metal caught the light and reflected on hisface.
“Oh, cool!” he exclaimed. He tipped the box over, emptying the content into his hand. “I could use akeychain.”
