by Aly Hayden
The receptionist looked up at him, clearly unimpressed. “Yeah, he did. Can you tell him to use the postal service next time, like everybody else? This is a hospital.”
Callan winced. “Sorry. He wanted to do something special for Christmas.”
“Darlene said as much. She was working when he dropped off the letter. Here.”
She thrust an envelope up at him and Callan took it, quickly retreating to his car. He didn’t want to read it with her watching him.
Callan,
Okay, so maybe they didn’t get that much harder. I’m not as good at riddles as you are. Never have been. When I saw you in the hospital bed that night, I felt like my heart was breaking. You looked so vulnerable and I didn’t know how badly you were injured. But I knew one thing. I loved you with everything in me. Two years later, I still do.
Your final clue is this: Come to the place where we’ve made our life together.
I’ll see you soon,
Levi
Callan stared at the letter in disbelief. Seriously? After all that running around town, the final clue was for him to go home again? That couldn’t be right. It had to be somewhere else. But the life they’d made together was at their house. It was a little craftsman cottage with a backyard for the dog they planned to get one day. If Levi had gotten a dog without him…
But he couldn’t see Levi doing something like that. Nor could he see Levi sending him on a wild goose chase just to get dinner. No, there was something bigger than this at work. And he wanted to see what it was.
~~~
When he pulled up to the house this time, the front porch lights were on. Levi was home. He grabbed the bag of food and headed up the steps. The door was unlocked, so he walked inside. Just as before, the lights from the Christmas tree dimly lit the living room. But where before, the room had been empty, this time, Levi sat on the chair in front of the fireplace.
“If you wanted dinner, you could have just sent me a text,” he teased.
Levi stood, smiling, and walked over. He wrapped his arms around Callan and pulled him in for a tender kiss. All the frustration melted away, and he found himself pressing back against Levi.
“It wasn’t just for dinner,” Levi said, when they broke apart. “I had to make sure everything was perfect.”
Callan frowned. “Perfect for what?”
“This.” Slowly, Levi dropped to one knee, and Callan gasped. He pulled a box from his back pocket. “Callan Andrew Sutton, will you marry me?”
The room before him blurred, and Callan pressed his hand to his mouth. This was what it had all been about. The perfect setup for a proposal.
“Yes,” he whispered. “God, yes.”
Levi stood and Callan held out his hand. He slid the ring on Callan’s finger and pulled him close. Callan went eagerly. This time, the kiss wasn’t soft. It wasn’t slow. It was deep and possessive and demanding.
“I think this calls for a celebration, don’t you?” Levi said lowly.
“The food…”
“Will wait. Come to bed with me.”
Callan was hardly going to refuse. “Lead the way.”
Grabbing his hand, Levi did just that. Callan followed him through the hall, back toward their bedroom, shedding as much of his clothing as he could with one hand. The hat fell first, then the scarf, then his shoes along the way.
As soon as they reached the bedroom, they were on each other again. Levi pushed his coat off his shoulders, then pulled his sweater over his head. Callan reciprocated, tugging at the festive red sweater Levi wore. Socks, jeans, and underwear hit the floor, leaving them both completely bare. Callan didn’t hesitate. He climbed onto the bed, settling back against the pillows.
“Come on, then,” he said teasingly. “Have your way with me.”
Levi joined him almost immediately, pausing only to grab lube from the drawer of the nightstand. His sturdy weight on top of Callan made him groan, and he wrapped his arms around Levi’s shoulders.
“Want to feel you inside of me,” he growled.
He was silenced with another fierce kiss, Levi’s teeth nipping along his bottom lip. Callan let out a low hum as Levi skated his hands up and down his sides, then gripped his hips. Levi moved, their cocks sliding together in delicious friction, and the hum turned into a whimper.
Two and a half years they had been together, and in that time, they had learned everything about what the other enjoyed. Levi seemed to be making good use of that knowledge. He kissed down Callan’s neck, peppering stinging bites that were soothed instantly with his tongue. Callan would have marks tomorrow, but he didn’t care.
Callan bucked as Levi’s lips closed over one nipple, teasing it. Heat shot down to his balls, and he rolled his hips up, seeking more. But Levi ignored him, instead focusing on the other nipple, before continuing lower.
“If you suck me, I won’t last,” he warned.
Most nights, he would be fine with that. But tonight, he wanted more.
Levi regarded him carefully, as though trying to decide on his next course of action. “Well we can’t have that, now can we?” he said finally.
Callan let out a slow breath of relief, only to gasp as Levi pushed a pillow under his hips. He spread his legs wider, and Levi settled between them, uncapping the lube. He drizzled the liquid into his hand, then slowly stroked himself. Levi’s eyes closed and he bit his lip. It was clearly a show, but Callan took it in all the same, his cock hard against his abdomen.
When Levi opened his eyes, they were darkened with lust, the green iris a thin sliver around his pupils. He lined himself up, bracing himself with his free hand, and Callan wrapped a leg around the back of his thigh.
Levi entered him with a groan, his thighs trembling against Callan’s. Callan knew he was trying to go slow for his sake, but he wanted to feel it. Wanted to remember this night.
“Move, please.” His voice shook.
Levi still seemed hesitant, so Callan wrapped his legs tighter around his thighs, drawing them closer together. His breath left in a rush as Levi rolled his hips, pushing in entirely. This was what he wanted. His back arched off the bed as Levi set a steady rhythm, hips pumping. Reaching between them, he wrapped his hand around his cock, stroking in time with the thrusts.
He stared up at Levi, his heart full. A light sheen of sweat had formed on Levi’s skin, and his lips were parted. God, he looked beautiful. How the hell had Callan gotten so lucky? He cried out as Levi hit that sweet spot of pleasure inside of him, his chest rising and falling quickly.
They wouldn’t last. Neither of them. But that was okay. They had their entire lives now. Together. Reaching up, he clasped Levi’s hand in his, threading their fingers together. The light reflected off the brushed silver of his engagement ring, bringing fresh tears to his eyes. He’d never loved anymore more than he loved Levi.
He felt his orgasm building, and he didn’t try to stop it. His muscles tensed, and he tightened around Levi’s cock. So close. So… Levi thrust once more, brushing across his prostate, and that was all it took. He came with Levi’s name on his lips, hot spurts landing on his abdomen. Levi continued to move, his thrusts shallower now. Callan knew he was close.
Levi grit his teeth together, a crease between his brow. He rolled his hips, hard, then stilled, and Callan gasped as he was filled. Panting, Levi slowed as the aftershocks worked through him, before finally collapsing on top of Callan.
Callan draped his arm across Levi’s back, holding him close as they regained their breath. They were both sweaty and boneless, but absolutely sated. Callan didn’t know how long they lay there together, relishing in the afterglow, but finally, Levi rolled onto his side. He took Callan’s left hand in his, looking down at the ring.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“God, yes. I had no idea.”
Levi grinned. “I wanted to surprise you.”
He had done a damn good job of it. “I love it. And I love you.”<
br />
Leaning over, he pressed a gentle kiss to Levi’s lips.
“Merry Christmas, Callan.”
Closing his eyes, Callan settled against Levi’s chest. “Merry Christmas, Levi.”
