Magic & Mistletoe (12 page)

They finished with ten minutes to spare. Andrew had manhandled Harry onto the sofa and had his trousers around his thighs in record time. He’d sucked Harry off with one hand around the base of Harry’s cock and the other shoved down his own pants. Harry sat back and let Andrew do all the work, content to watch him slide his mouth up and down his length. Harry came with a few muttered curse words as Andrew pulled off and used his hand to work Harry through his orgasm.

 Harry offered to return the favour, but Andrew shook his head, sitting back on his heels and giving Harry a great view as he wanked himself off. Thirty seconds later Andrew had jizz on his hands and the bottom of his shirt, and he looked up at Harry with a blissed-out grin on his face. “Can I borrow a T-shirt?”

With each of them wearing a pair of Harry’s pyjama pants and one of his T-shirts, they sprawled on the sofa again and waited for the food to arrive.

Andrew sighed, long and heavy, and turned his head to face Harry. “God, I needed that.”

Harry reached out and patted his knee. “Bad day?”

“The worst.” Andrew groaned and covered his face with his hands for a second, then dropped them back to his lap. “I cannot wait until the twenty-third.”

“Is that when you finish?”

“Yep. I get Christmas Eve off this year because I worked it last year. I have to work Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, though, which sucks.”

“Yeah, it does.” Harry squeezed Andrew’s leg in sympathy. Yet another reason he was glad he worked where he did—no requirement to work bank holidays.

Andrew nudged him with his leg. “What about you? When do you finish?”

“They usually close the office and send us home at lunchtime on Christmas Eve, and then I’m off until the fourth of January.”

Andrew whistled. “Wow, it’s all right for some.”

Harry felt a pang of guilt, which was ridiculous. He couldn’t help working somewhere that let its employees have Christmas off. He wished Andrew had that week off too, then they could do stuff together. That made him think of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. He had planned to go over to his mum and dad’s for lunch as he always did, but would Andrew want to see him at all? Did he want to see Andrew? They’d only been hanging out with each other for a week or two—he wasn’t sure what to count as their first date. Should he buy Andrew a present? Fuck, he was so bad at this.

The silence was verging on uncomfortable. Harry racked his brains to think of something to say that wasn’t “are we spending any time over Christmas together?” He didn’t want to pose that question until he had a better idea of what the answer might be. Who knew what awkward conversations it might spark? Where was Melia and her magic when he needed her?

The door buzzed, saving him from impending embarrassment and hopefully signalling the arrival of their food. Whether that was Melia’s doing or not, Harry sent a silent thank-you to her as he got up and tried not to look like he was fleeing the scene. As he walked to the door, his phone vibrated in his pocket. As he pulled it out, he knew who the text would be from.
You’re welcome
flashed up on the screen, making Harry grin. He could get used to having her around—like his very own guardian angel.

Another text appeared as soon as he thought that, and Harry swore he heard a peal of laughter. He shook his head and glanced down at his phone.

Trust me, I’m no angel
.

He had no idea how to take that and decided to just be thankful she appeared to be on his side.

 Harry buzzed the delivery man inside and gratefully took the food from him when he finally arrived at Harry’s door. It smelled amazing, and Harry’s mouth watered as he set it on the coffee table. “I thought you were starving?” he said when Andrew didn’t make a move to sit up, still sprawling out on the sofa with his eyes half-closed.

“I am. I just can’t be bothered to move.”

Harry fetched two plates out of the cupboard and grabbed a couple of forks. He paused with the fridge door open and glanced back over his shoulder. “Beer or Coke?”

“Coke, or I’ll fall asleep in my food.”

Harry grabbed two cans and put them on the table next to the cartons of Chinese. Andrew yawned, stretched, and then finally sat up as Harry plonked down next to him. He waited until Harry had a mouthful of chicken and rice before voicing the very thing Harry had been trying to avoid.

“So.” Andrew paused and dished some rice onto his plate. “I know this is early days yet”—he motioned with his fork between the two of them, dropping bits of rice onto the table in the process—“but since Christmas is next week, I sort of have to ask now.”

Harry struggled to swallow down his mouthful of food. Excitement and apprehension warred inside him. “Okay?”

“My mum and dad are away for Christmas this year, and my brother, Aiden, is going to his girlfriend’s parents’. So I won’t be going over for Christmas Day like I normally do. I was wondering what your plans were?”

Harry put his fork down and met Andrew’s gaze. “I usually go round my parents’ house for lunch. My youngest sister still lives at home, but I get round there about twelve, along with my other two sisters. I’ll probably stay the night if I’ve not got other plans. But—”

“No, that’s fine. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty or anything, I knew it was a long shot. People always have plans for Christmas.”

Suddenly the idea of spending time with Andrew over the holidays was very appealing. Harry had never been in a relationship at this time of year, never had someone to spend Christmas Eve with—cuddled up on the sofa or out on the piss, he wasn’t picky. He’d never woken up next to someone on Christmas Day and exchanged lazy morning kisses and then presents while they sat next to the tree and ate bacon sandwiches. But he may have pictured it a time or two.

“It’s not set in stone or anything. I mean, Christmas lunch is, I can’t miss that, but my mum and dad won’t mind if I don’t stay for the evening. They have my sisters and plenty of grandchildren to keep them entertained.” Harry smiled encouragingly at Andrew’s hopeful expression. “Or we could do something on Christmas Eve if you wanted?”

“What about your friends? Won’t they want to go out?” Andrew put his fork down too, and bit his lip.

Harry hadn’t seen him unsure of himself before, but he was now.

Harry reached over the table to hold his hand. He took a deep breath, wanting the words to come out right. This felt like one of those moments that you had to get completely right first time, and he didn’t want to mess it up or have Melia swoop in with some unfortunate event to save him. “Jason always stops at Karen’s. Alex and Lewis have other friends too. They won’t mind if I don’t go out with them.” He paused, considering. “Or if I bring someone else along.” Andrew smiled, and Harry felt a surge of relief. “So, I would love to spend Christmas Eve with you, if you’re free.”

Andrew’s smile spread so wide it made his eyes crinkle at the corners. He turned his hand over under Harry’s and twined their fingers. “I’d like that. And if you want, you can stay at mine and I’ll make you Christmas breakfast in the morning.”

The heated look he sent Harry made Harry’s toes curl under the table. “Yeah.” He was surprised and a little embarrassed at how rough his voice came out. “I’d like that a lot.”

They spent the rest of the evening chatting about family and friends, and Harry laughed at the many stories Andrew had from his university days. They drank tea while they sat on the sofa and talked, and it was comfortable in a way Harry had never imagined, as if they’d known each other a lot longer than they had.

Maybe the build-up to Christmas amplified everything. Harry glanced around the living room with its strings of lights in the windows, cheesy decorations on the walls, and the Christmas tree twinkling away in the corner. The atmosphere was definitely different from a normal Thursday night, and maybe they were rushing things a little, but did he care?
No
. He loved this time of year, and the thought of being in a relationship, no matter how new it might be, made it all so much better.

 Harry dragged Andrew to bed when Andrew’s eyes started to droop, and he cuddled up behind him, draping an arm over his waist. Andrew fell asleep within minutes, completely at home in Harry’s bed or too knackered to care. Either way Harry liked that it was all so easy.

He woke up the next morning to the horrifying thought that he’d now need to brave the shops less than a week before Christmas because there was no way he could wake up on Christmas morning with Andrew and not give him a present. One thing Harry knew for sure was that he would drag Jason with him. This was all his fault, anyway.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Andrew made it to work on Friday, more rested than he had been all week. Clearly fatty foods and orgasms were the way to go.

Last night had been unexpected and was probably all the better for it. Andrew had considered declining Harry’s invitation at first. Work had made him tired and grumpy, and he’d spent the half hour before Harry’s text picturing his bed just to get him through his shift.

As it turned out, the evening was just what he needed. Harry was funny yet vulnerable and earnest in a way Andrew had never expected the first few times he’d met him. He liked it a lot. He also liked the way Harry seemed to know when Andrew needed to take charge and do his thing, and he was more than happy to go along with it. Andrew didn’t always want to be in control during sex, and he got the feeling from Sunday night that Harry would be okay with that too. He grinned into his coffee as he imagined Harry bossing him around in bed.

He received a swift kick to his shin for it.

“Hey.” Abi kicked him again for good measure until Andrew looked up and glared at her. “I’m not wasting my lunch hour watching you dream about your boyfriend.”

“He’s not my—” He stopped midsentence at Abi’s raised eyebrows. And what was he even saying? They’d made plans to spend Christmas together—of course Harry was his boyfriend. He couldn’t deny he was thinking about him either, so he shrugged. “Sorry.”

She flicked some foam at him from the top of her cup. “I’ll let you off, since it’s all new and you’re in that swoony stage.”

Andrew scoffed. “I am not in a
swoony
stage.”
Christ
. He was twenty-six years old, not sixteen. He did not swoon.

“Mm-hmm.” She took a drink of her coffee, watching him the whole time. “So how did last night go?” Andrew automatically smiled as he thought about waking up with Harry wrapped around him like an octopus. “A-ha!” she crowed. “See.” She pointed at his mouth. “That right there is a dreamy, swoony smile.”

Andrew rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Do you want to know about last night or not?”

She nodded. “In explicit detail, please. My sex life is severely lacking at the minute, so I need to live vicariously through you.”

“I’m sure Alex would be happy to fix that for you.” He laughed when she immediately blushed.

“We’re not talking about me.”

But they’d definitely be coming back to it later; she wasn’t getting off the hook that easily. “Fine. After I blew him on the couch and jacked myself off.” He waited while she choked on her coffee and had to grab one of the napkins from the table to wipe her mouth, fixing him with a glare as she did so. He grinned at her. “You wanted details.”

“I was expecting a little build-up first. Don’t drop that on me when I’ve just taken a sip of my drink, for God’s sake.”

“Anyway, after that, we ate and talked.”

She waited for him to elaborate, waving him on with an impatient hand gesture. “And?”

“We’re spending Christmas Eve together, and he’s going to stop at mine after. I said I’d make him breakfast.”

She squealed in delight, making the two men seated behind her jump. Andrew had long since stopped being embarrassed by her exuberance—he loved the way she got so excited for other people. “Oh my God, I’m so pleased for you!” She reached over and squeezed his arm.

“It’s just one night. I didn’t propose marriage or anything.”

She tsked at him. “It’s not just one night, it’s Christmas Eve. That is not the same thing at all.” She moved to hold his hand, her smile big and wide as she looked at him. “That means something, and you know it.”

“Yeah, maybe.” He sighed and reached for his coffee. It should bother him how fast they were moving, but it didn’t. He hadn’t been this excited for Christmas Eve in a long time. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“When are you seeing him again?”

Andrew checked his watch to make sure they weren’t running over. “Tomorrow night. I offered to work until closing tonight so that I can finish at five tomorrow.”

Abi grimaced. “Ouch. Long day for you, then.”

“Yep.” He’d had enough already and still had seven hours to go. “Worth it, though.”

“I’m sure.” She waggled her eyebrows and smirked at him, making him smile. “It’s a shame, though. I was going to suggest we meet and do a bit of shopping.”

“What for? I’ve got everything.” Working where he did meant it was easy enough to nip out at lunch or after work and pick everything up when the crowds had thinned. He’d finished his Christmas shopping a couple of weeks ago.

She eyed him curiously as she finished the last of her coffee and set her mug on the table. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I already gave my mum and dad theirs to take with them, and I’ll give Aiden his and Carmel’s when I see him the day after Boxing Day. And you don’t deserve one.” She huffed at that but continued to look at him expectantly. “What?”

“Aren’t you forgetting someone?”

Andrew frowned and was just about to shake his head when it dawned on him. “Oh.”

Abi threw her hands in the air. “Yes,
oh!
You can’t invite Harry round for Christmas and not get him a bloody present. Sometimes I despair with you.”

To be fair, the invitation had been a spur-of-the-moment thing, and they’d gone to bed not long after. Today had been so busy he’d not had chance to think about it until now. “What, though?”