“My so-formal man.” Ryder beamed at him. “Don’t forget your socks. Your feet get cold.”
He snorted because that made him feel a thousand years old. “I think they’ll be warm enough with you in my arms.”
“I hope so. I hope you’re always warm enough with me.” Sweet cowboy poet.
“Let’s put it to the test.” He pulled Ryder to the bed and climbed on, reaching for the cozy blanket at the foot and pulling that up.
Ryder snuggled in, almost clinging to him. “I’m sorry. It’s been a shit day.”
“If all we had were good days, we wouldn’t appreciate them. And I can’t think of a single thing you’ve done for which you owe me, or anyone, an apology.” He rubbed Ryder’s back and took slow, deep breaths, hoping to encourage his cowboy to do the same.
Ryder kissed his jaw. “I want to be nothing but good, even though that’s not reasonable.”
“It’s not reasonable; you’re correct. You can’t hold yourself to an impossible standard, or you’ll be disappointed. Often. I certainly don’t expect perfection, though I understand the desire.” He smiled at Ryder’s kisses and let himself just enjoy them.
“Yeah, I like being one of the good things in your life.”
“You are. Even when you’re having a bad day. Maybe especially then, because I get to remind you how wonderful you are.” Charles ducked as Ryder lifted his head to kiss his chin. He caught Ryder’s lips instead, taking a kiss of his own.
Ryder opened to him, loving him and letting him in.
“Mm. See? Wonderful.”
“It is. You are.” Ryder snuggled in closer, wrapping around him.
“How would you feel if I kept your phone for a little while?” Maybe that wasn’t reasonable, but Ryder needed to break the habit of letting his family interrupt whenever they pleased. For his own sanity.
“How would you call me? How would I access your calendar? You need me to have access, lover.”
“Well, I could buy you a laptop…” He tilted his head. “Or a private phone. Just one for you and me. Something that’s only ours.” He could feel Ryder tense up a little. “Certainly notforever. Just now and again when you need a break so they learn to function without you once in a while.”
Ryder sighed softly. “I could… I could really think about it. I just need some breathing room.”
“Let’s try it. I’ll add another line to my plan tomorrow. Uh—to our plan.”
“Our plan.” Ryder sighed and stroked his back. “What do you do for Thanksgiving and Christmas? Do you celebrate?”
He’d known they would be having this conversation soon. It was fall, the holidays were coming, and Ryder had family. “Tad hated Christmas. And most holidays. So…” They’d gone to parties in the city, but they’d never celebrated at home.
“Oh. What…what about you, though?” Ryder’s hands stroked his belly, slow and sweet.
He shrugged, answering that question with a question because if wasn’t sure what the answer was. “You’re the one with family. What do you do?”
“We’re big on holidays. I’ve spent a few not at home—riding in Hawaii, injured, what-have-you, but Roper’s always been there.”
“Where will Roper be for Thanksgiving? We can go there.” That was a simple answer.
“Home with the folks, probably.” Ryder rolled his eyes. “Honestly, I don’t know. Let me ask. Later. That’s all complicated, always. I want to introduce you to the family, but do you really want to meet them all at once?”
“I want you to have the holidays you want. If that’s with them, then that’s what I want to do. I don’t have any family, but you do.”
“Okay.” Ryder seemed to tense. “I’ll work it out.”
Perhaps that wasn’t the right idea. “Or we could go away.”
“Where? Do people…go away for Thanksgiving? Is that even possible?”
“Sure. An all-inclusive resort somewhere snowy or a beach in Mexico. Anywhere we want.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “We’re adults.”