“It’s not so bad,” Scott ventured.
Anson snorted. “That’s because you didn’t have to listen to all the details of Nora’s skin ailments. Like for instance, did you know how painful it is to get poison ivy on the ass? I do, thanks to her telling me all about her camping mishap.”
Madison’s mouth dropped open. “She did not tell you about that?”
“Yeah, and I don’t know if I’ll ever recover.” Anson gave an exaggerated shudder.
They all stood there in shared horror for a couple moments before Scott laughed. It proved contagious and soon all three of them were cracking up. Once they got going it took a while for them to stop, too. After they’d calmed down enough to talk, Madison went over and gave Anson a hug.
“Sorry for all the stuff I said to you earlier,” she told him.
Anson allowed himself to sink into the warm comfort of his sister’s embrace. He’d always been so close to her that whenever they fought it hit him hard. “It’s okay,” he assured her.
She only squeezed him harder. “No, it’s not. I know how hard you’re trying in school and everything and I just dismissed it.”
“You have every right to doubt me. My history hasn’t exactly been flattering.”
All through the exchange, Anson was aware of Scott’s presence. He glanced over Madison’s shoulder and made eye contact with the other man. Scott’s face didn’t give away whatever he may be feeling and for some reason that unsettled Anson. He cleared his throat as he pulled away from Madison.
“We should probably get downstairs before Mom sends in a search party,” Anson said gruffly.
He started to walk out, when a wicked idea came to him. Grabbing Scott by the front of the shirt, Anson brought him in for a kiss. At first Scott tensed, no doubt because he hadn’t been expecting it. Soon enough he moaned and put his arms around Anson’s waist. A thrill went though Anson as he parted his lips. Scott immediately plunged his tongue inside.
“Well, seeing you two going at it like this is going to take some getting used to,” Madison’s voice cut in.
Anson took his time breaking off the kiss before turning to look at her. This time there was no anger on her face, only a slight blush. She smiled. “I do have to admit, though, you are adorable together.”
Before Scott could deny that they were actually a couple, Anson opened the door. “Last one down has to sit by Nora.”
He barreled down the stairs just in time to catch Nora drinking directly from the bottle of Peppermint Schnapps. Making a mental note to pass up any offer for that particular liquor, Anson slid into the seat next to his grandfather.
“Hey, Gramps.” Anson leaned over to give the elderly man a kiss on the cheek.
His grandfather blinked at him a few times before a smile graced his wrinkled face. While he stood shorter than Anson’s father, he was just as rounded and had the same love for plaid, although he wore blue shades for this particular event. “How’s my favorite grandson?”
Anson decided not to point out that he was the only grandson. He shrugged as he reached for a pitcher of milk. “I’m freezing my balls off. How are you?”
Grandpa laughed, the sound alarmingly wheezy. It served as a painful reminder that the man had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure that previous summer. “You always did have a smart mouth on you.”
“Just like his father. The two of them never did know when to shut the hell up,” Nora said as she teetered over to the table and collapsed into a chair.
“Maybe it’s because certain people give them plenty to talk about,” Grandpa countered, shooting Nora a jaded look. Since Nora was Anson’s mother’s sister, he’d never made any effort to hide his disdain for her. Grandpa only looked over one’s faults if they were actual blood relations.
“So, when did you get in from Pontiac?” Anson asked his grandfather, anxious to divert his attention away from Nora. The last thing he wanted was a repeat of the Christmas two years ago, when Nora had taken a swing at the elderly man.
Grandpa scowled. “Didn’t your father tell you? I moved in with them a couple months ago.”
“No, I haven’t talked to them much lately,” Anson replied, pretending he was straightening up his silverware so he didn’t have to meet anyone’s gaze.
“Your father took me in because he was afraid for me to live by myself after Grandma died.”
“He probably worried you’d get lonely.”
“Or else he just wanted to control my life like he does with everyone else.” Grandpa snorted.
Anson found himself nodding in agreement before caught himself and pointed at the empty seat next to Nora. “Hey, look. There’s Madison and Scott. Madi, Nora was saving a spot by her just for you.”
His sister mouthed, You are so going to pay for this. He just smiled sweetly in return. “Say, Aunt Nora, did Madison tell you how much she loves Peppermint Schnapps?”
“Oh no! Everyone hide their turtles because the Bundy of hardshells is here,” Grandpa exclaimed as he waved at Scott.
“You’re right, Gramps, I better keep a good eye on him.” Anson patted the empty seat on the other side of him.
Nora clumsily tilted her head up with a grimace. “My God, Madison. You’re so fucking orange. Nobody wears that much of that color unless they’re handing out paper flowers and pamphlets at the airport.”
Madison glowered at Anson before she jerked the chair out and sat in it. “I’m trying to be cheerful.”
“Fuck, sweetie, not even Santa and his elves are that chipper.” Nora poured Madison a sizable glass of the Schnapps.
“That must be why they wear all that red and green. So they don’t get mistaken for a religion. You know what atheists those little buggers are,” Anson quipped.
His sister had just taken a drink when his comment made her laugh. Both he and Scott got sprayed with Peppermint Schnapps as a result. Nora gave him a look that could only be described as horror mixed with oh no, you did not just diss Santa’s elves.
Anson gave a smile he knew came off as overly sweet. “Besides, I happen to think Madison looks great.”
No way in hell he’d give his bitch aunt the satisfaction of knowing that he’d made fun of Madison’s color scheme earlier that day. Nora glared at him and, for the first time ever, Anson met it and gave it back to her. Grandpa started up with his wheezing laugh again, but this time Anson knew without even asking that it was directed at her this time.
Nora’s lips pinched into a thin line and Anson realized he was in for it. “You’ve always been the brat of the family, even as a child. I can’t count how many times I’ve told your mother that she should have spanked you more.”
He curled his fingers into fists as anger shot through his body. He didn’t know why Nora had decided that Madison and his mother should be targeted this year, but he’d be damned if he’d sit there and let her continue to degrade them. “Oh, I get spanked plenty. Although it’s usually by some guy in ass-less leather chaps and a lot of chains.”
Nora sputtered. Grandpa pounded the table and laughed. Madison quickly downed the rest of her drink. Scott coughed into his hand and eyed the front door, like he was calculating how quickly it would take him to reach it so he could make his escape. Through it all, Anson grinned.
Mother came in carrying a huge pan of lasagna and wearing an even bigger smile on her face. “I hope everyone is hungry.”
All the happiness fled her face as her gaze darted around the table. Scott recovered first. He jumped to his feet and relieved her of the food. “It looks great, Mrs. Mace.”
“Mom…even if you do slaughter turtles, I still love you,” she corrected, her tone distracted as her gaze drifted, then locked in to Anson.
What did you do? she mouthed.
He smiled back, trying to give his best innocent expression. She started it.
Mom gave him one last warning look before she said, “I made a meatless one for you, Madison.”
Anson leaned over and whispered
in Scott’s ear, “Good, because you know how much I love meat.”
Scott gave a soft sound of outrage and he elbowed Anson. “That one was lame, even for you.”
“I only meant because you knew how to order the pizza for me last night,” Anson replied with false innocence.
Now it was Scott who leaned in to whisper, “You better start being good or else I’ll be the one who spanks you.”
Anson gasped. Never had he imagined something so wicked and brazen would come from his uptight accountant. “You really do have a thing for discipline don’t you?”
“Just with you and that’s because your behavior practically begs for it.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Dad asked as he came in and took his usual seat at the head of the table.
After a brief moment of panic, Anson replied, “What I bought you for Christmas.”
He waited for his father’s usual smartass comment, but nothing came. Anson tried not to let it hurt him, but the disappointment still came. When Dad just gave a slight shake of his head, the disappointment got so bad that he couldn’t take it anymore.
“I’ll be right back. I wanted to put a load of clothes in the wash before I started eating.”
Not waiting to be excused, he pushed his chair back and practically ran from the room. He rushed out to the car, going out into the cold without a coat, grabbed his suitcase, then went back inside. Once there, he immediately went down to the basement.
He’d just started a load when the sounds of the wood steps creaking let him know somebody was coming down. Figuring it was Madison, a jolt of shock went through him when he saw Scott approaching.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Scott asked gently.
“Yes. No.” Anson let out a growl of frustration as he ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t know.”
“Madison told me you were reluctant to come home. Does this have anything to do with it?” Scott reached out and cupped Anson’s cheek.
To his horror, Anson could feel tears building up in his eyes. He furiously tried to blink them away, determined not to cry like some nancy just because he didn’t have his daddy’s approval. Especially in front of Scott who really had family issues. Anson’s problems didn’t even begin to compare.
“It’s nothing,” he denied.
Scott moved in closer. “Don’t lie to me. I can tell you’re really upset.”
“Was I that obvious?”
“Even Nora noticed.”
Anson let out a watery laugh before he shook his head. “It’s not fair for me to unload to you. I’m sure you have enough problems of your own to deal with.”
“Seeing as how my own family basically cut me off six years ago when I came out to them, I don’t have any issues presently.”
God, Anson couldn’t imagine having to go through that. He wrapped his arms around Scott’s waist and laid his cheek on the man’s chest. “That’s their loss, because you’re great.”
“Thanks, but you still haven’t told me why you’re so upset.” Scott placed a kiss on the top of Anson’s head.
“It’s stupid.”
“Not if it has you this upset.”
Anson snuggled deeper into Scott’s chest. “Last summer when I came home, my dad and I kind of had it out.”
“About what?”
“He made some off-the-wall comment on how being gay was just another one of my fads and I’d give it up soon enough.” Even after all this time the pain still felt fresh.
“He said that right to your face?” Scott demanded, his tone sharp with anger.
“No, I overheard him saying it to Gramps. I still confronted Dad about it later, though.”
“What did he say?” Scott began to rub slow, easy circles on Anson’s back.
“He said that while I may choose to be gay, that like everything else, I’d soon change my mind and go back to being a proper son.” Against his will a sob erupted from Anson and the tears started to fall.
“I don’t get. Your father has always seemed so accepting of others before.”
“You want to know something terrible? When I had that fight with my dad it was you who I was the angriest with at first,” Anson confessed.
Scott pulled back and looked down at Anson. “Why?”
“Because he didn’t care with you. While you got to be who you were around him, with me it was different.”
“How did you react to his comments?”
“I told him that it wasn’t a choice, that I can’t help who I am and that would never change. Then I packed my shit and left. That was the last time we talked before today. But every day in between I kept asking myself, why. Why he can accept who you are and still love you, but he can’t stand me for being the same way.”
CHAPTER 6
Scott gazed down into Anson’s tear-streaked face as he struggled to come up with an answer. Finally he admitted, “I honestly don’t know, babe. Maybe it’s because you’re his son and it’s harder to accept it when it hits so close to home.”
“It’s not fair.” A fresh tear coursed down Anson’s cheek.
“No, it’s not,” Scott agreed before he tilted his head down and kissed away the small drop of moisture.
“I miss him so much. I know it’s stupid because I’m an adult now, but I can’t help it.”
“I understand.” Scott did, too. While he’d never been close to his own father, he’d witnessed the bond between Anson and his dad enough times to know how strong it had been.
“Sometimes I feel so alone.”
“You’re not —at least not anymore.” Scott dipped his head down again, this time his lips brushing against Anson’s jaw.
Even as he made that offhand promise, a voice of reason inside his head shouted out a great big WTF? He and Anson had never discussed a future together, so where did he come off telling Anson he’d be there for him. For all Scott knew, Anson would be giving him the boot once he got tired of… Oh boy, I’m no better than his family.
“I’m so sorry,” Scott whispered, shame flooding him.
Anson wrinkled his nose in confusion. “For what?”
“I’m no better than your father or Madison. I just assumed that what happened between us was nothing more than a fling for you.”
“I already told you I’ve been in love with you for years,” Anson snapped as he tried to pull back.
Scott put a hand on his waist to stop him from leaving. “I know you did and I realize now I was a jerk for not taking you more seriously.”
“Damn straight you’re a jerk.”
“Cut me some slack. Up until yesterday, all I saw you as was Madison’s annoying brat of a brother.”
Anson stopped fighting to get away as his eyes narrowed. “And how do you see me now?”
“I still think you’re annoying and a brat,” Scott admitted as he rained small kisses down Anson’s neck. “I also happen to think that you’re sexy as hell, funny, and caring.”
“Really?” Anson snorted with heavy sarcasm, but he made no attempt to push Scott away. If anything, he tilted his head to the side in silent encouragement.
“It’s true. I’ve seen the way you are with your family. Even when Nora pissed you off, you didn’t really get nasty back. Then there’s the way you take care of Madison.” Scott grabbed Anson by the waistband of the jeans and nudged him to the side of the washer.
“What are you doing?” Anson demanded, the last vestiges of sadness leaving his eyes as desire took over.
“When Madi and I were kids this is the spot we always hid out to drink. Here, we could hear someone coming down the stairs and hide our stash before they saw us.”
Anson gave him a crooked smile. “News flash, we’re over twenty-one, so it’s not exactly as if we have to hide our boozing ways anymore.”
“No,” Scott conceded as he slowly undid the button of Anson’s fly, “but there are plenty of more wicked, forbidden things we could be doing.”
A sly expression slowly crept over A
nson’s face. “Wow, what happened to my uptight accountant? First that downright nasty performance last night and now a quickie in the laundry room. I think I’m a bad influence on you.”
Scott chuckled because Anson did have a point. Before their encounter together, Scott would have never have had the courage to even attempt getting frisky in a basement that had a full house above it. “It’s not too risky. We’ll hear anyone if they come down.”
“What if I get carried away and yell so loud in ecstasy they hear us.” Anson gave a greedy lick of his own lips as he thrust his hips forward.
“You’ll just have to control yourself. I know how hard that is for you, but try. Besides, I’m not going to fuck you. I just want to play a bit.”
Scott slowly lowered Anson’s zipper, the rasping sound ratcheting up his desire. He smiled when he noted that Anson had gone commando. “Did you run out of clean underwear?”
“Maybe, or it could be that I wanted to make things easier in case some sexy stud decided to take advantage of me in the laundry room.”
“Somehow, I don’t see you ever allowing anyone to take advantage of you.” Scott reached in and took out Anson’s cock.
He wrapped his fingers around the shaft and started to stroke only to pause when Anson shook his head. “Not yet. Get your dick out, too. I want you to rub us off together.”
The thought of their erections pressed tight, smooth flesh rubbing together, had Scott moaning in anticipation. He fumbled with his own jeans, all the while cursing himself for not having the foresight to ditch his underwear. The entire time, he could feel Anson’s heated gaze tracking his movements, which only served to make Scott tremble in arousal.
“Hurry, I need it now,” Anson all but panted.
“I’m trying, but when you look at me that way, it’s not easy.”
“Looking at you how?”
“Like you want me to bend you over the washer and fuck you senseless.”
Anson made a sound in the back of his throat that could only be described as purring. “That would be one of my wet dreams come true.”
Scott hesitated mid-unzip. “One of them?”
“You have no idea how many scenarios I came up with. I plan on acting each of them out, too.” Anson reached out and finished undoing Scott’s pants. He lowered them and the underwear just enough for Scott’s cock to spring free.
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