“We’ll be there in about ten minutes,” he whispered into his phone. “No, everything is fine, Mom. Kris and Karen are sleeping. I just don’t want to wake them. Be there in a few. Love you.”
He slid his phone into his pocket and turned off the highway, into the small suburb where he’d grown up. Everywhere he looked, small white lights dotted the barren trees, creating an enchanting scene. The city always went all out for Christmas, and he loved it.
Joe took a left on Park, then a right on Madison. When his subdivision came in sight, he grinned, glad to be home. So what if he’d missed the party? And Danny be damned. Joe was home for the holidays and he had someone who he planned on getting to know very well.
He pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. The old oak he used to climb bowed over, its branches not quite touching the Acura. He pressed his lips together, knowing his mom would be asking him to trim the branches within twenty-four hours, if not sooner.
His gaze traveled to the house and he smiled again. It wasn’t anything special. Not too big or too small. Probably forty years old, at least. The two-story colonial wasn’t anything unique in his neighborhood. Still, it was his home. How many times had he helped fix something for his mom? He had spent a few summers painting the house, too, white with black shutters. His mother had taught him to take pride in his home.
Kris stirred at the same time the porch light flipped on. His mom stepped out in her robe, waving. As Michael walked outside and made his way to the car, Joe tried to squelch the disappointment that flooded him. Michael was obviously here to stay and Joe needed to get used to it. Reminding himself he needed to be happy for his mom, he tried to shake the negative feelings.
“Hey, we’re here, huh?”
Joe bit back a smile at how adorable the guy looked when just waking up. “Yep. Looks like your uncle wants to help.” He reached for the trunk latch. It popped, and Michael opened it fully.
“Karen,” Kris whispered. “We’re here. Wake up.”
She grumbled, but sat up, bleary-eyed and still half-asleep.
Joe chuckled. “Okay, both of you Sleeping Beauties, it’s time to get out.”
A moment later, Michael took Kris into his arms and clapped his back. “I’m so glad you and your sister are going to spend the holidays with us. You’re going to love Melody,” he announced in a booming voice.
Joe smiled. It felt foreign to hear someone calling his mom by her first name, but he supposed he would also have to get used to that.
“Karen,” Michael called, leaning into the car. “Wake up.”
Kris chuckled. “She always falls back to sleep.” He helped Joe pull most of the bags from the trunk. They left one for Michael, and Joe led Kris toward the porch.
“Hey, don’t let her forget our pillows,” Kris called.
“Got them,” Michael answered, pillows already clutched in his hands.
“Uncle Michael,” Karen whined, finally climbing out of the car.
“Did I tell you she’s a bear when woken up?” Kris whispered conspiratorially.
Joe laughed. “I don’t think it’s much of a secret.”
On the porch, his mom wrapped her arms around Joe and pulled him close. “Joey! I’m so glad you’re home, baby.”
Kris raised his eyebrows. “Joey?” he mouthed.
Joe shrugged. His mom would probably always call him that.
To Joe’s delight, and Kris’s obvious horror, she pulled him into a huge hug also. “It’s so nice to meet you, Kris. I hope you had a good drive out.” She eyed Joe. “He didn’t speed, did he?”
Kris cleared his throat, his eyes wide, clearly not used to being manhandled by a mother. “No, ma’am, not at all. Joey—” he flashed a smile at Joe “—drove perfect. Very safe driver.”
She let him go. “Well, I’m just so glad you guys are all here. I know it’s late and you probably want to get to bed. We can get to know each other tomorrow, but I want to make sure you feel at home here. Okay?”
Kris nodded as she ushered them inside. Michael, with Karen in tow, followed close behind.
“We set up the guest room for Karen,” Michael said.
Joe’s mom helped with the pink suitcases and she and Michael headed upstairs to show Karen where she’d be staying for the next few weeks. Kris and Joe followed.
“We moved a rollaway bed into your room, Joe. I hope you guys don’t mind sharing for now. If it’s not comfortable, you can take the sofa, Kris.”
Kris smiled as he turned to look at Joe behind him. “No, that’s fine, ma’am. I can bunk with Joey.”
Joe’s eyes widened. There went his private moment tonight. Shit. He hadn’t really thought the sleeping arrangements through, but it had never occurred to him that Kris would be sharing his space.
“Want to show me your room?” Kris asked, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Joe shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “Come on.” He gestured with his head to the room at the end of the hall.
He allowed Kris to enter first. As Kris walked by, his hand brushed against Joe, sending microbursts of pleasure through his body.
Joe studied his room. It wasn’t that big to begin with. Add in the bookcases at one end, a queen-sized bed, desk, and dresser, and it was pretty crowded. The additional rollaway bed swallowed up the rest of the space. He shimmied sideways to flop onto the mattress with his bag. He couldn’t help smiling at the glowing stars on his ceiling, which he’d put up in his early teenage years.
Kris took a seat on the rollaway.
“Is it lumpy?” Joe asked. “Mom’s had it out many times over the years, but I’ve never used it.”
Kris bounced a little. “Nah, feels okay. Anything’s better than my shitty bed in the dorm.”
Joe grinned. “Shitty” was probably the best way to describe the damn things. He pointed his thumb to the door. “Bathroom is down the hall. Towels are in the cabinet right inside.”
“Thanks. I think I’m just gonna turn in. Take a shower in the morning.”
“Me, too.” The long drive had worn on Joe and his confused feelings weren’t helping matters. All he wanted was sleep.
“You guys settled?” his mom asked as she peeked in her head.
“Yeah, Mom. We’re going to unpack in the morning.”
She bid them “goodnight” and pulled the door closed. They looked at each other, both seeming to realize at the same time they were alone. In a closed room.
“Um, I think I’ll get ready for bed,” Kris said, his voice low.
“Okay, I’ll get ready here and brush my teeth when you’re done. There’s always a supply of new toothbrushes in the left drawer if you need one.”
“Thanks. Not sure where I packed mine.” Kris dug around in his bag, pulling out a pair of boxers and a white tee.
Joe tried not to watch as he left, but he failed miserably, his gaze glued to Kris’s back. Kissing him earlier had been…well, spectacular, to be honest. The long drive had dulled his desires somewhat, but now that they’d be alone all night, his cock thickened. He tossed his jacket onto his desk chair, toed off his shoes, and stripped out of his jeans and shirt, sending them flying to his hamper across the room. He moved to his dresser and grabbed clean boxers just as Kris returned.
Joe gasped and tried—again—to look away. Failed. Again. His gaze traced Kris’s muscular, lean legs covered in a fine dusting of light hair. His band T-shirt’s picture had faded through years of wearing and washing, yet its tightness showed his toned torso.
“Um, I guess I’ll hit the hay,” he said as he watched Joe. “Thanks for the toothbrush.” He smiled. “I picked a purple one.”
Joe grinned. “My mom loves to buy things in large quantities. I’ll bet there are like forty more in the garage. She goes to wholesale clubs and stocks up.” He chuckled. “When I was in elementary school, she actually bought so many packages of pencils, I didn’t need any for years.”
Kris laughed. “I guess she was a scout, huh?”
Joe raised an eyebrow.
“You know, always be prepared?”
“That’s definitely my mom.” He sidled his way to the door. “Be back in a minute.”
Kris pulled back the blanket on his bed. “I’ll be here.”
Joe made his way into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. God, he had to get it together. His dick throbbed again at the thought of sliding his hands under Kris’s tight shirt.
He grabbed a new toothbrush—blue—and brushed his teeth, staring at his reflection in the mirror. This day had been a rollercoaster for him. His last final, finding out Danny was getting married, missing out on the party, and having to come home for a Christmas he hadn’t looked forward to. Meeting Kris had certainly changed his bad mood, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it.
He had several issues to deal with. Was he attracted to Kris because of the renewed rejection from Danny? Plus, Kris was his new stepfather’s nephew, so did that make them cousins by marriage?
He spit and rinsed as he thought back to that kiss in the parking lot. His face flushed at the memory. Without a doubt, the hottest and sweetest kiss of his life. He wanted the man. And he knew Kris felt the same. He groaned inwardly. How the hell was he going to sleep in the same room as Kris?
By the time he returned to his room, the lights were off and Kris was under the covers, his head barely visible. The glowing ceiling stars lent a little light, and he climbed onto his bed, sliding under the covers. The heavy blanket warmed him in the chilly room. He lay on his back, staring at the faux stars, listening to Kris’s rhythmic breathing was quiet. It dawned on him that he should have offered to take the rollaway so Kris could have the bed.
“Kris?” he whispered.
Silence. Probably just as well. They could talk tomorrow. They needed to talk tomorrow. To figure out what was going on. He’d feel like an idiot if he made a move and Kris wasn’t really interested—not to mention the awkwardness if they still had to share a room for weeks.
Yet Kris had made his desire pretty clear. But was it just lust? A situation created due to being confined in a car for so many hours?
He rolled onto his side, wanting his mind to shut down so he could get some sleep and think about things later. When tired, he tended to overanalyze everything. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the way his body kept reminding him about the sexy man sleeping a few feet away.
He was pretty sure that sleep for him would be a long way off.