by Shea Balik
Not only for that night but also for taking three days to make any effort to talk to Tim again. His only excuse… Shit, there was no excuse. Nick seriously needed his head examined to have let that sexy man go when he’d willing been in Nick’s arms.
“Nick?” Tim’s startled voice brought Nick back to what he was there to do.
The grief and uncertainty in those blue-grey eyes had Nick wanting to kick his own ass. How could he put that doubt in this amazing man? He was an ass. That was all he could say about it.
“I’m sorry,” he said even as he went to stand inches from Tim. But when he reached out to touch him, Tim jerked back, nearly tripping in his haste to get away from Nick.
He was so fucked.
“Tim, I was an idiot,” Nick told him bluntly. “The fact was, I was drowning in lust and screwed everything up because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop if you weren’t ready. I should have talked to you about the possibility of sex before, but when you didn’t bring any extra clothes to spend the night, I assumed that meant you weren’t ready to have sex with me, so I panicked.”
He was fucking this up even more. He could tell. None of what he wanted to say was coming out right. If he didn’t get control of himself and make this right he was going to lose Tim for good. But Nick honestly had no idea what to do or say to make it better.
Tim stared at him for a solid minute before he took Nick’s hand and said, “We can talk on the way to the toy store.”
The fear that had been building within Nick dissipated when Tim’s hand fit into his so perfectly. “Does this mean you might be able to forgive me?”
Tim gave him a sideways glance. His lips twitched upward slightly. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
That was a total lie. “Yes, there is,” Nick insisted. “I was an ass the other night.”
Tim’s mouth quirked. “Good thing I know one or two things about being an ass, so all is forgiven.” Nick wasn’t sure if he could believe that and it must have shown on his face because Tim added, “It’s actually refreshing to know you aren’t as perfect as you seem. I have to admit, it was a little daunting at times when you always seemed to know exactly what to do or say.”
Laughter burst from Nick at the thought that anyone thought he might have any clue what he was doing, like ever. “Seriously?” he asked completely dumbfounded. “And here I thought I was a bumbling idiot whenever I’m around you. I sometimes wonder how you haven’t kicked me to the curb already.”
When Tim reached up to cup Nick’s face, he couldn’t help but lean into the touch. The electricity that flowed between them went straight down to his balls as it always seemed to do whenever Tim was around.
How had he managed to stay away from Tim for so long? And why would he have stopped them the other night? If he hadn’t been so damn stupid, he would have had the ultimate thrill of holding this sweet, amazing man in his arms all night long.
If Nick was lucky enough to get another chance, there was no way he would let Tim leave. Hell, it they both didn’t have a job to get to, Nick would take Tim home right now and love on him all day and night.
“You are the kindest man I’ve ever met, Nick Snow. Don’t you ever forget that.” Tim leaned up and gave him a chaste kiss that Nick wished they could deepen. He desperately needed to reestablish their connection, but he didn’t think a busy sidewalk in downtown Charlottesville was the place to do it.
“Are you free sometime this weekend?” Nick asked hopefully.
The regret shining from Tim’s eyes was all the answer he needed. There would be no sleepover anytime soon.
“I have to cover for Melinda, who went into labor a month early. We’re trying to hire someone to take her shifts, but until then, I’m afraid I’ll be working every night at Rockin’ Robins.”
Nick frowned. “Every night? You mean they aren’t even going to give you a day off? Isn’t that illegal?”
Tim shrugged. “Technically no, because I’m not working full-time, although I will be for the next couple of weeks. Plus, I can’t exactly refuse. I can’t lose this job.”
It took all of Nick’s control not to scowl. He hated that Tim had to work so much to make ends meet. “Have you given any more thought to working at Klassic Toys full-time instead? It sounded like the pay would be good and you’d finally get health insurance.”
Nick hadn’t even finished when he saw Tim shutting down. It was one of the few topics his boyfriend refused to discuss. Today was no exception. “I’m considering it, but I need to run or I’ll be late. I’ll text you later.”
Then Tim turned on his heel and practically ran away from Nick. Great. He’d managed to fuck that conversation up, too. The only thing Nick had going for him at that point was that Tim still wanted to see him. Hopefully, Rockin’ Robins would find a replacement for Melinda soon so they could have another date.
CHAPTER 15
As nice as Armando, the owner of Rockin’ Robins, was, Tim wished he would be a little more hard-hearted. Okay, not really, but the man was seriously cutting into any free time Tim might find by refusing to hire someone to fill in for Melinda.
According to Armando, he wanted to be sure the new mom would have a full shift to come back to when she came off of maternity leave. Any other time, Tim would have been onboard with the plan, happily taking any and all shifts his boss needed.
He felt horrible for resenting both Melinda and Armando for putting him in the position of feeling like he had to take the shifts the other waitstaff refused, but he really, really wanted to see Nick. Selfish? Yep. Tim wasn’t even going to try and deny it. Hell, it was getting to the point where he wanted to throw a temper tantrum every time he saw his schedule.
He wasn’t any more hopeful this week either. It was the weekend before Halloween and Nick’s office was having a Halloween party that Tim had been invited to as Nick’s date. He’d asked Armando for that night off. Even though Melinda was due to come back that week, there was no way Armando would find enough of his staff willing to work the crazy weekend when they could be out partying.
Well?
Tim glanced at the text that came in just as he was entering the diner for his Sunday shift. The schedule would have been posted that day and as much as Tim knew he needed to look at it, he was dreading having to disappoint Nick again.
In the past five weeks they’d only been able to go out on either Saturday or Sunday afternoon dates. They were never more than two hours long, but it had been the best Tim could manage with his chaotic schedule. It was getting so bad, he had to admit to being tempted to take the full-time job Mr. Sullivan continued to offer him.
If only he felt confident discussing or even recommending toys to parents. But the facts were the facts. Tim didn’t have experience playing most of the games, no matter how many of the dates Nick planned that always involved some sort of childhood experience.
Just that afternoon, they went on a scavenger hunt. There had been a list Nick had found online that required taking pictures of wildlife in the Charlotte area. It had been so much fun, but if Nick hadn’t of recommended it, Tim never would have even known it was something kids could do.
How was he supposed to recommend fun, yet educational, games if he didn’t know any?
Tim glanced at the message on his phone once more and took a deep breath. No point in putting it off. Tim walked into the back and checked the board where the schedule was tacked up. Sure enough, his name was on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Tim’s brows drew together as he stared at the days again. Positive he’d missed something, Tim put his finger onto his name and looked at each day with the time his shift was written. When he got to Saturday, there was nothing.
Could it be?
Was he reading it correctly?
“Tim, my boy,” Armando came up and clapped a hand on Tim’s shoulder. “I see you noticed I was able to get you Saturday night off.” His boss was beaming as if he’d known just how much it would mean to Tim.
<
br /> He didn’t even think, Tim just hugged his boss, not even caring there was a tear in his eye as he did so. “Thank you,” he whispered fervently.
Armando patted Tim’s back a couple of times before pulling back. “After all the shifts you covered while Melinda was out? It was the least I could do.”
Tim wasn’t about to disagree. He had covered more shifts than anyone else, but he still hadn’t expected his boss would come through with the day off.
Too excited to keep it in, his cheeks hurt from how big he was grinning. “I get to dress up for Halloween.” Another childhood tradition he’d finally be able to experience.
****
“Are you sure we look okay?” Tim asked for probably the tenth time. Nick was probably getting sick of the question but he didn’t show it.
“Are you kidding? I get to be Batman. That’s better than just ‘okay.’” Nick leaned in a kissed Tim, just like he had each time Tim had questioned his choice in costume.
Maybe he should have been Batman, then Tim wouldn’t feel like an idiot in these tights. When he’d come up with Batman and Robin, Tim hadn’t taken into account just how uncomfortable he’d feel with all his ‘assets’, or lack thereof, in tights that hid abso-fucking-lutely nothing.
“But this is your office party and let’s face it, I’m about to go in there with…” he waved a hand at his lower half, “everything on display.”
Tim had zero doubt he was about to die of embarrassment when everyone stared and then broke out laughing at him. What had he been thinking?
Nick leaned down and kissed along Tim’s jaw until he reached his ear. “If you’d rather, we could just go home. I would love to see what you’d look like bent over my bed with those tights showcasing that amazing ass…”
Tim’s hand shot out and covered Nick’s mouth before he could go any further. He didn’t want to go into the party with tights that showcased everything he had. He sure as hell wasn’t going to walk in with a boner pushing the material to its limits.
“You keep that up,” he warned Nick, “and I’m going to switch costumes with you.”
The twinkle in Nick’s gaze told Tim he would have just as much fun if that were to happen. “Perv,” Tim mumbled. “Now, let’s get this over with.”
All the breath in Tim’s body rushed out in a whoosh the moment they went through the doors to the ballroom Nick’s company had rented out for the event. He was dumbstruck. “Are these…?” He tried to finish but couldn’t find the voice to do so.
“Your window displays all come to life?” Nick finished for him. “Yes they are,” Nick said rather pleased with himself. “I hope you don’t mind I used your designs, but they were perfect for a night of fun.”
Mr. Sullivan had asked Tim to make each window a different Halloween theme, but to keep them fun instead of anything too scary. That had been fine with Tim. Scary had never been his thing. To this day, he’d never watched a horror film of any kind and preferred it that way, thank you very much.
It had taken some research, but in the end, Tim went with the four themes of candy, a pumpkin patch, cute monsters, and witches brews. Somehow Nick had created each of Tim’s windows in the four corners of the room, with a dance floor/bar in the middle where all the themes met.
It was… “Amazing,” he whispered as he took in the life-sized version of his miniature creations. Everything from a candy bar, to ring toss games with witches’ hats, were set up. Along the far corner were illuminated carved pumpkins on hay bales and cardboard monster cut-outs with wide open mouths for a ball toss game.
It was hilarious to watch a bunch of adults get excited when they won one of the games. More importantly, it was as if Tim’s dream had come to life right before his eyes.
All because of Nick.
He turned to his boyfriend and threw his arms around him, not caring who was watching them as he planted a heated kiss against his lips. He may have to find a towel to wrap around his hips for the rest of the night, but it was worth it to show Nick how much Tim appreciated all he’d done.
“If there is an award for best boyfriend, you win it, hands down,” Tim said as he was panting for air after their kiss. “I don’t know how you do it, but you always seem to know exactly how to give me the best gifts, ever. And this one…”
Tim glanced around with wonder once more. “Well, let’s just say you’ve outdone yourself.”
Nick was smiling as he leaned in for another kiss. “You make it easy to give you things, my love.”
Tim shivered at the endearment Nick had started using a few weeks ago. For him, it was the best gift of all. Never in his life had Tim been anyone’s love.
He couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“What is it?” Nick asked with that sappy grin still on his face.
“For the first time in my life, I finally understand the saying, like a kid in a candy store.”
CHAPTER 16
Nick didn’t give a damn if he was in front of all his coworkers and many of his bosses as he stole another kiss from the man he’d completely and totally fallen head over heels in love. He didn’t need another day to know this was the man he was going to spend the rest of his life with.
If only he could convince Tim that easily. Oh, he knew Tim loved him. No. For Tim it wasn’t about loving Nick, it was about believing that Nick could ever feel the same way about him. Or, that any of this could be real.
Happily ever after had never been a part of Tim’s world. So, if Nick had any hope of convincing Tim to live with him, and one day marry him, he first had to somehow make Tim believe that all those dreams he tried to pretend he never had for his life, not only could come true, but with Nick, they were true.
“Come on,” he urged with a hand on Tim’s lower back. “Let’s go have some fun. I made them put a pumpkin to the side for you and I to carve.”
Tim’s eyes lit up like blue crystals as they headed to the pumpkin carving area. Sure enough, as they approached a pumpkin was out with a tag telling everyone this one was for Tim and Nick.
“I’ve never done this,” Tim exclaimed with the excitement of a little kid. Tim lugged the fairly large pumpkin over to one of the carving stations and studied it for a full minute. “I want him to be happy, like I am. Do you think that’s possible?”
As thrilled as Nick was to be able to do this for Tim, anger also burned in his stomach that Tim had to wait until he was twenty-five to have the opportunity to experience something so simple. He just didn’t understand how any parent could deny their child the chance to be a kid out of a selfish need to put their lives first.
“We can carve him anyway you want.” Nick handed Tim a black marker. “Draw how you want him to look, then we can carve him.”
Tim’s lips scrunched to the side as he glanced from the marker to the pumpkin, to the little tool they would use to carve. “What if I screw up the face? Then there will be black marker on it?”
Nick pointed to the writing on the marker. “It’s washable. It won’t stay on there perfectly while we’re carving, but at least we can try different faces until you get the one you like.”
There it was again. That smile that told Nick he’d just handed Tim the whole damn world on a silver platter. He swore, if they lived to be a hundred, he would do whatever it took to keep putting that look on Tim’s face every chance he got.
Six faces later, they were able to carve what Tim had deemed the perfect face. It wasn’t scary, or wicked like many of the other pumpkins. But Tim hadn’t wanted any of those things. No. Nick’s boyfriend wanted sweet and lovable, with rounded eyes and a happy grin.
“You know? I think our pumpkin was the best.” Tim was practically bouncing in his seat as they drove to Nick’s house after the party.
Nick wished he knew if it was nerves as they were finally going to spend the night together, or if it was all the sugar Tim had coursing through his system after trying every type of candy, cupcake, pie, and sugary drink. Nick had limited himself to on
ly three pieces of candy, one piece of pie, and a pumpkin spiced drink and his whole body was buzzing from the infusion of too much sugar, so he could only imagine how Tim felt.
Then again, Nick tended to keep his meals nutritional, for the most part, whereas Tim ate whatever he could at either the diner or the café. His body was probably used to eating more crap than Nick. Even so, Nick was sure that was the most sugar Tim had ever had in one sitting.
Uncertain how Tim was feeling about the prospect of having sex, Nick hadn’t been sure what to expect, so he was pleasantly surprised when Tim all but jumped him the moment the door to the house closed behind them.
Lips, tongue, and teeth dominated a kiss that had them both panting with need. Their hands roamed over each other’s bodies, touching and kneading everywhere they could reach.
In their haste to make contact with skin, fabric ripped, but neither of them cared. They were still in their Halloween costumes. As far as Nick was concerned, he was prepared to leave them on the floor in tatters if it meant getting to Tim’s naked body sooner.
Then he felt it, the heat of flesh on Tim’s chest as it brushed up against his own. “Ungh,” he groaned in pure delight. This was so much better than he’d ever imagined.
He’d had boyfriends in the past, but never anyone who made him want to the point of fearing he’d come before he’d even managed to get his pants off. Then again, he shouldn’t be surprised, Tim was different from anyone Nick had ever known.
Strong hands kneaded the muscles of his ass, pulling Nick in closer to Tim’s body until their groins aligned. Another moan, this time from both of them, was heard as they started to rut against one another.
Nick needed more. He pushed Tim against the nearest wall as he grabbed the tights Tim had been wearing in both of his hands and pulled.
Nothing happened.
He’d really thought the thin material would rip easily. Apparently not.
He tried again. When nothing happened again, Tim started to giggle. It wasn’t funny, not when it meant Tim’s dick was still trapped behind the ridiculously strong material.
