“Well, thank you. Come on. I’ll help you get to the sofa.”
“Walking boot,” Kyle reminded him but took his arm anyway and smiled. “I’m not helpless, but the help still makes me feel special.”
“I just hate knowing you’re hurting.” And he loved touching, loved having Kyle close. The last few weeks had been so soul sore.
“It’s not that bad. Actually, in the boot it feels pretty good. I just overdid it at the show last night. I think I was pushing because I don’t know when I’ll dance again and….” Kyle sighed and coughed gently. “Hey, I forgot to bring my coffee, would you grab it for me?”
“I will, and you’ll dance again soon. ’Til then, you’ll choreograph. Hell, we’ll go do things that ain’t music or sex.” He winked at Kyle, both of them cracking up.
When he got back, Kyle was on the couch with plenty of room beside him, the tree was all lit up, and Nat King Cole was on the stereo.
Merry Christmas to him. He grinned and went to snuggle, Kyle folding him right in. They sat there for a bit, just being close, Kyle all excited and smiling and telling him all about the people who had come to deliver the tree.
He opened a couple of large, brightly wrapped boxes that were under the tree for him, finding a warm coat, a hat, and a pair of thick-soled winter boots to keep his Cajun toes warm. Kyle really had been hoping he’d be back. Those were good city-walking boots.
“It gets so cold, cher?”
“Mm-hm. The wind is evil. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you warm.” Kyle pointed. “That flat box is from Timmy. He was so cute when he gave me the box last night. He said you told him you needed what’s in it.”
“Must be gloves.” He’d found Timmy a great glass pipe. It was a beauty. “My hands get freezy.”
He handed Kyle the mask. “For you.”
Kyle held it up and admired it, ran a finger over the little dancer with a smile. “This is so sweet. I love it. I’m going to put it in my studio. Is there a story? Did you get it somewhere amazing?”
“There’s a shop in the Quarter. They sell all these masks, and I stopped in and this guy from Italy was there, painting them, just right there.” He’d been missing Kyle like breathing, so he’d sat to watch, telling the guy all about his dancer, how fine he was. At the end, he had a mask. “He did this for you, because you’re….” He didn’t have words, so he shrugged, hands held open. “You’re worth painting.”
“Oh, Colt. That’s so…. You’re wonderful. This is so thoughtful, it will inspire me. Thank you.” Kyle waved him back to the couch and pulled him down on it, dropping a kiss on his lips. “I love you.”
“Good. Would be weird if you didn’t.” He petted Kyle’s belly. “Loving you is a good thing, hmm?”
Kyle kissed him again. “Really good. Hey, speaking of love, I have one last little present for you.” A wee box appeared, wrapped in sheet music, and Kyle had drawn little ballet feet and a guitar on it. “I hope you like it.”
He opened the box, making sure to save the paper. He liked it; it could go in his wallet. There was a key in the box, a guitar pick on the keychain.
“I promise this isn’t just so I don’t have to get up and answer the door when you bring pizza home.” Kyle looked at him, leaning in, one arm behind his back. “Home, you know? To our place.”
“Yeah? Like… home.” Colt’s hands shook, because no one had ever offered him that, not in his memory. No one let him come home.
Kyle caught his shaking hands up and kissed his temple. “Home, Colt. I want this to be our home. I want you to stay. Will you?”
“Yessir.” He could. He wrapped their fingers together, held on tight. “You make me want to play.”
“You make me feel like dancing. The joy is going to blow the roof off this house.”
“Well, you got a Cajun in it now. We do laissez le bon temps rouler, cher.” Lord knew, he could do joy, especially where his dancer was concerned.
Kyle laughed and kissed him, eyes shining. “Bring it on.”
“With all I am, swear to God. With every bit I got.”
23
“Hey, Kyle.”Timmy stood up and gave him a hug, then leaned over and touched a lever on the soundboard.
“Sorry, I’m interrupting.”
“Nah, you’re good. Just keep it low-key. They’re finishing up. It’s good to see you, dude. Colt didn’t tell me you were stopping by.”