Perhaps it was selfish of him, but he didn’t regret taking Ryder away from his family for the holidays. This feeling, and the relaxed look on Ryder’s face, was enough to convince him it had been the right move. They were basking in each other, and that was how it should be.
Ryder appeared behind him, arms wrapping around his waist. “Mmm…you smell good, Sir.”
“How is the fire? I was going to see for myself, but the tree called to me.”
“It’s so pretty, isn’t it? I love the colors.” Ryder held him until someone came into the big lobby.
“Where’d you go?” He reached back and put an arm around Ryder’s shoulders. Friendly meant they were allowed to be a couple near the Christmas tree and anywhere else they pleased. “Got you.”
Ryder blinked a second, then eased right in, relaxing into him.
“Better, right? We’re okay here.”
As far as he was concerned, they were okay everywhere.
21
Ryder floated in their Jacuzzi tub, a glass of wine in hand, just about as happy as a pig in shit.
They’d Thanksgiving’d until they were both fixin’ to explode. Then they’d gone to a football party and laughed their asses off.
Now it was Friday night, and he was feeling lazy and a touch tipsy.
“Thank you for thinking about us, gentlemen; we are having a lovely time. Yes, we’ll be in town for Christmas. Same to you. Mhm. Bye bye.” Charles had been wandering the room in a robe that was tied so loosely it was basically useless and a glass of wine in one hand. He set the phone down on the nightstand. “River and Kayce and Vincent all say hello. They wanted to say we were missed at the club’s Thanksgiving dinner and invited us to Christmas. I didn’t make any promises.”
The robe dropped to the floor, and Charles stepped into the tub with him. “Oh. Nice.”
“Right? Hot bubbles. Roper’s going to come for Christmas. You know he is.” Ryder wasn’t going to bother to even doubt.
No way was Roper braving Momma without him.
“I’m sure he’ll be welcome to join us at the club, if that’s what we decide we want to do. And you know he’s welcome with us in any case.” Charles refilled their glasses, then eased into the water with a sigh.
“Mmhmm.” He floated right over, settling in Charles’s lap.
“Much easier to drink in the tub than the pool.” Charles curled an arm around him so he didn’t float away.
“Uh-huh. Hey, beautiful.” He lifted his face for a kiss. “Having the best time.”
He’d never had such a low-stress turkey day.
He got his kiss. Charles tasted like white wine and fresh fruit. “You make me want to drop everything and just travel with you forever. Make love in every tourist destination and back road B and B everywhere.”
“Mmm…that is an amazing goal. We’d miss home, eventually. You would miss my pot pie.” He winked to show he was teasing and stole another kiss.
Charles chuckled against his lips. “And your cookies. My God, would I miss those oatmeal whatevertheyare’s.”
“Mmm…oatmeal scotchies for the win, right?” He needed to make a batch when they got home, along with some shortbread.
“Scotchies! Yes, those would be very much missed. And I am somewhat attached to the lake house.” Charles winked. Ryder had made no secret that it was his favorite place too.
Charles set his glass aside. “We have to go home tomorrow, but we don’t have to be in the city for a week or so, correct? So we can try to hold on to some of this marvelous vacation energy for a little longer.”
“Vacation energy… I like that. Low key. Less phone. More one on one.” Ryder was in. He had stopped thinking about his phone, about stress. It was amazing.
His head had stopped hurting.
“More one on one.” Charles kissed him again, fingers sliding up his thigh.