Chapter 6

The drive to the ski resort in Pennsylvania wasn't exactly turning out to be a magnificent way to start their weekend. Mason was seriously regretting agreeing to let Cam do the driving. Despite the fact they'd traveled together under a number of different work related circumstances, this was the first time they'd been together in a car for more than an hour. Obviously Cam thought he was behind the stick of his jet.

"Will you please just pick a fucking lane and stick with it?" Mason blurted out.

"What? Why? They're going too slow."

"Do you realize you have changed lanes something like twenty times in the past five miles?"

"So?" Cam pulled around a boat that was being towed by a pickup.

Mason winced at the sharp maneuver. "What's so God damn important about being in front of the boat on the trailer?"

"I don't want to be behind him."

Mason managed to keep his mouth shut for the next half an hour, trying not to grimace at his partner's fast aggressive driving. "Did it ever occur to you that 95 is a route number and not a speed suggestion?"

Cam stuck his tongue out at Mason.

***

The cabin did actually look pretty much like the picture on the website. Getting out of the car, Mason pulled a folded sheet of paper from the pocket of his ski jacket and looked at the instructions for accessing the lock box for the cabin. His breath was a cloud of steam in the cold air. Cam came around the car.

"So how do we get in?" Cam asked.

"It's kind of like one of those realtor box things. I have a number to put into the key pad and then the box opens and there's supposed to be keys inside." Mason walked to the door. It took him two tries because he missed putting in a number the first go round.

The door opened into a cozy den/kitchen combination and there were a couple of doors at the back of the area that Mason assumed led to a bedroom and bathroom. Although it was warmer inside the cabin than outside, it definitely didn't feel like it was apt to be comfortable with his coat off.

"I'm really hoping this place has a heating system besides the fireplace," Mason said.

Cam had come in behind him and was starting to look around the room. "There's a laminated sheet here on the counter with instructions for the thermostat and the oven and a couple other things." Cam picked up the sheet and walked toward the controller on the wall. "It says that they leave it set at fifty degrees between rentals and that it will take a couple of hours to warm up."

"I noticed that there's a whopping big stack of wood on the porch. I'm hoping that's for ambiance and not a commentary on the efficiency of said heating system, especially since I was planning on spending at least a little part of Christmas Eve unwrapping you."

"Mmm, I guess that could be a little nippy if it stays fifty degrees in here."

They hauled luggage and Mason's ski gear in from the car. The cabin's temperature only crept up about two degrees. Mason decided to make a run for provisions back to the small grocery store they'd passed about six or seven miles away. Cam volunteered to build a fire in the fireplace, hoping to speed up the warming process in the cabin.

***

I am such a techno-dependent junkie, thought Cam as he fired up his laptop while he sat cross-legged on the floor. The fire was blazing fairly well at this point and finally beginning to take the edge off the chill of the cabin. Yeehah for wireless internet access via his cell phone hot spot. He hit a favorite news website and the letters DADT caught his eye.

Scrolling down through the article, Cam felt like his blood was bubbling. The President had signed the repeal. DADT was dead. As a Naval officer, he could no longer be forcibly discharged for being sexually involved with another man. He swallowed hard. It was real. It had actually gone though. Granted there were undoubtedly going to be months of weirdness and bureaucratic bullshit yet to wade through but suddenly the ability to spend his life openly loving Mason was one step closer.

Behind him he heard the door open, and Mason came into the cabin carrying a pair of grocery bags.

"Steak and beer acquired, and some other stuff too," Mason said.

Getting up off the floor, Cam managed to wait until Mason had set the bags on the counter of the kitchenette before he grabbed Mason and pulled him into a hard passionate kiss.

"Are you really that excited about dinner?" Mason asked as they parted for air.

"You should have bought champagne."

"Why? Because it's the holidays?"

"No, 'cause it passed!"

"What passed?"

"The DADT repeal. Obama signed it. It's over. Realistically it'll take a while for the powers that be to change the paperwork and all, but it's done. DADT is dead."

Mason's eyes widened and he grinned at Cam. "I had hoped. But the government is so famous for screwing things up. Wow. I'm floored. Just… wow…" He yanked Cam into a nearly rib crushing hug that turned into a long passionate kiss.

***

The following morning started with renting boots and a snowboard for Cam.

"One foot goes in the binding. Leave the other one free for now so you can push off," said Mason. Cam dubiously locked his foot into one of the slots on the snowboard. It felt weirdly constricting.

"How do I steer? 'Cause I'd really like to avoid hitting anything," asked Cam.

"It's lots of knee bending and either pushing down with your toes or your heels. I never really liked the whole both feet on one board thing."

Cam started to lift the second foot and place it on the board, but the board shot forward. He flailed as his legs were yanked into a straddle split and he landed on his ass.

Mason chuckled.

"This is not exactly an auspicious start," groused Cam, floundering his way back to his feet.

It was a long cold afternoon with an uncountable number of wipeouts.

***

"Damn! I'm about frozen!" said Cam, clomping into the main building with Mason behind him. The place was partially filled with people in sweaters and other cold weather gear. Several eating places lined the edges of the huge room in the manner of a food court.

"Get me a cup of coffee. I have to hit the bathroom," replied Mason.

Cam ordered two cups from a kiosk in the corner and went to sit at one of the long tables in the middle of the space. Moments later a petite, dark haired woman plopped down into the seat next to him.

"The wind is really starting to pick up," she said.

"Mmm yeah, I figured I better thaw out before I even consider another attack on the slopes."

She unzipped her sweater and he noted the very nice view of her cleavage.

Cam gave her a little smile. "Are you from Pennsylvania?" he asked.

"Maryland. I came up with some old college friends. You?"

"Virginia Beach, at least currently." It was his standard response given the hopping around that he'd done with the Navy.

"Are you here by yourself?"

"No, I have a buddy with me," Cam said, and then wanted to bite his tongue, because he realized that she might think he was available. She was hot, he had to admit, but an admiring look and a little conversation was all she was ever going to get from him.

Mason pulled out the chair on the opposite side of him and sat down. "Which one's mine?" he asked, pointing at the pair of cups.

Cam noticed he had a tight expression on his face, and wondered how much of the conversation Mason had observed. "That one," Cam replied. He could sense a kind of hurt sadness coming from Mason.

***

It wasn't that Cam was talking to a woman that bothered Mason, it was the appreciative track of Cam's gaze over the ample set of breasts being shown off. Mason knew damn well Cam was bisexual and had been involved with a number of women during his life. Still… it stung a little to see the attraction.

"Is this your friend?" the woman asked, smiling at Mason.

"My partner," said Cam.

"Oh? What kind of work do you do? Police?"

"Not that kind of partner," said Cam. He took hold of Mason's hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing Mason's fingers. Mason was surprised; there were dozens of people in the large room.

"Oh… well, have a nice time skiing," the woman said somewhat abruptly as she got up and walked away.

"Mason…" Cam let go of Mason's hand and cupped Mason's face in both his hands. "I'm yours. A look at a nice set of boobs is just that, nothing more."

"Sorry, I just…" Mason's eyes fell.

Cam leaned in and kissed him. Mason's breath hitched. Cam had never kissed him in a public place before.

"No more hiding," said Cam. "I'm sorry. Would it have been better or worse if I had checked out some guy's ass?"

Mason looked down at the table top, not sure he wanted to look in Cam's eyes. "I don't know. Better… maybe, but … Tits and soft curves aren't something I can give you. That sounds lame doesn't it?"

"You give me what I want. The girl… she's just pretty scenery. Look at me, please."

Mason raised his gaze back to Cam's face, feeling stupidly insecure.

"I love you, Mason. I love everything about you. I can't turn off the bisexual part of my brain that likes to look at women, but I have complete control over ever doing anything about it."

Mason could feel Cam flinging open his psychic shielding, leaving himself open and vulnerable to the large number of people in the building. He leaned in and placed another kiss on Mason's lips. This one was slow and carried a deep serious emotion with it.

"Are we okay?" Cam murmured.

"I'll…Yeah, we're okay." If Cam was willing to kiss him in public, Mason could find it in himself to believe the sincerity of his lover's commitment.

***

Going back to the car at the end of the afternoon involved a tromp down the hill past three acres of parked cars. Some had snow piled on roofs and bumpers. Cam was walking about a half dozen steps ahead of Mason and the temptation was too great. Mason scooped a big handful of snow off the next car he passed and flung it at Cam. It hit Cam in the back of the head with a fluffy explosion of white.

Cam whirled around. "I can't believe you just did that! You are so going to pay!" He jammed his hand in the nearest snow bank and hurled a snowball back at Mason. In the next five seconds it was war. They ran around between cars in the lot, throwing snowballs and acting like a couple of ten year olds.

A flying tackle by Mason sent both of them rolling into a tall drift along one side of the lot and Cam stuffed a handful of snow down the back of Mason's jacket. Mason yelped at the icy coldness and retaliated with a glob down the front of Cam's pants. Cam let out a squeal worthy of a teenage girl.

"Fuck! You are so doomed!" Cam yelled. And they were up and running again.

Finally winded, wet and cold, they gathered up the ski gear that Mason had dropped during the snowball fight and got in the car.

"I feel like a popsicle," Cam lamented with a grin.

"I think a long, hot shower sounds like a plan."

It was only a short drive back to the cabin. In the bedroom they peeled out of layers of damp, icy clothing and left it heaped on the floor for the moment.

"Ab-b-out that sh-shower …" said Cam, teeth chattering.

"I'll go turn on the water. Grab the electric blanket controller and flick it over to something medium. I think some serious undercover snuggling should be in order after we thaw out."

Mason grabbed towels from the shelves in the bathroom and set them on the edge of the sink while the shower began to fog the air a bit. Cam came into the bathroom and shut the door.

"It might get pretty steamy in here," said Mason.

"Right now, steam is sounding like a very good idea."

Mason stepped under the hot spray. His skin was cold enough that the heat was painful for a few moments. Cam joined him and Mason stepped sideways, leaning against the tiled wall so Cam could share the water.

"So what's the verdict on snowboarding?" Mason asked.

"I suck. Big time."

"I've been told it has a pretty steep learning curve. Regular skiing is a little more intuitive. I think it's because your feet are going in the normal direction."

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," Cam quoted.

Mason smiled. He ran a hand down Cam's arm and pulled him close. "It's Christmas eve."

"And there's no tree."

"It doesn't matter. I've got exactly what I want tonight." Mason kissed Cam softly.

They spent a leisurely number of minutes under the hot water, thawing out. A quick dry was followed by a dive under the already warm blankets.

***

"Mmm, cozy little cabin in the middle of nowhere, hot lover in my bed, this definitely beats last Christmas eve," murmured Cam as he snuggled tightly against Mason's warm body. The electric blanket had imparted a soft heat to the bed.

"Last Christmas you were deployed…"

"Yeah, me and five thousand of my closest friends in the middle of the Med'."

Mason's hand stroked down Cam's side, stopping on his hip, thumb caressing the skin. "Does it seem like a lifetime ago?"

"Sometimes. I don't think I ever thought I'd fall in love… or that it would be with a man."

"Regrets?"

"None." Cam pulled Mason into a heated kiss. I love you so much, he whispered inside Mason's head. They were pressed together from hip to shoulder, all skin on skin, legs tangled. The presence of Mason in Cam's mind was fiery glow and that little electric tingle from Mason's healing Talent crawled through his body.

I would be lost without you. Mason's mouth sucked gently at the pulse point under Cam's jaw.

The longer they were together the more intense the connection between them. In the early days the things they shared psychically tended toward emotions, but lately, thoughts clear enough to be words were becoming more common.

"You're turned on," Cam murmured, feeling the buzz of Mason's healing talent concentrate more in his legs.

"Uh-huh… otherwise you're going to be hellishly sore in the morning." Mason replied, brushing his lips across Cam's collarbone. "Not exactly a good way to spend Christmas morning." He scooted a little further down the bed, making it easier for his hands to rub Cam's thighs.

Cam chuckled. "I seem to remember a promise to kiss any part of my anatomy that needed it if I wiped out too many times."

"Mmm… working on it." Mason's mouth skimmed across one of Cam's nipples and the warm swipe of a tongue sent threads of arousal straight to Cam's already half hard cock.

Cam moaned a little and cupped a hand against the back of Mason's head, weaving his fingers through his lover's short, thick hair. He could feel the scrape of Mason's teeth and the rasp of stubble on his chest. Mason's fingers curled around Cam's cock, stroking him, thumb dragging across the tip. The damp warmth of kisses was descending down the center on Cam's chest as Mason vanished the rest of the way beneath the blankets. A lick and a kiss across his right hip bone were a magnificent prelude to soft lips kissing the tip of his prick. The next action was even better. Mason began sucking. Oh Jesus. The wet heat, the swirl of Mason's tongue and the fingers fondling his balls made him buck up into Mason's mouth. He sensed a quick spike of discomfort and realized he'd caught Mason off guard.

"Sorry," he said. He hadn't meant to gag his lover.

There was a snicker of laughter under the covers. "I'll make you pay." Mason's voice was muffled. Cam flinched slightly as teeth closed lightly across the length of his cock. Mason shook his head a little and for a moment Cam had the disconcerting impression that one of his favorite body parts was being used as a chew toy. Holy fuck, he wasn't sure if that was scary or ungodly hot. Mason's teeth eased away, then the slight pressure resurged, this time around the head of his prick as Mason's tongue probed the slit delicately.

Aw hell, Cam blew his load, pumping into Mason's mouth as hot pleasure tightened his fingers and curled his toes.

Mason crawled back up toward Cam's head, wiped his mouth on the sheet and kissed Cam with fervor. "Mmm, I think you like the hint of danger, Mr. Adrenaline Junkie."

"I think I like anything that involves your mouth and my prick." He could feel Mason's own erection rubbing on the front of his leg. "You want me to suck you off?"

"I think I want your hands, in me, on me, however it works." Mason voice was a low husky murmur.

"I can do that," Cam whispered, and groped for the lube.

Mason rolled over, presenting his back to Cam, one leg pulled up. Cam kissed the nape of Mason's neck, down his spine to between his shoulder blades as he rubbed a couple of well slicked fingers across the tight wrinkle of Mason's opening. Mason squirmed, rocking his hips and pressing harder against Cam's touch. Cam pushed his fingers inside. Mason groaned faintly and canted his hips back further to deepen the penetration. Cam could sense his lover's arousal jump another notch. He pulled his hand back a couple of inches and pushed in again, sliding the other hand under Mason's body for a better grip. Mason made another low sound of pleasure and rocked back again, internal muscles tensing momentarily then relaxing wide open.

Cam picked up the pace a little, plunging his two fingers in and out of Mason's body as Mason writhed and rocked, fucking himself on Cam's hand every bit as much as Cam was doing him.

"Unh… more… close…" Mason begged, breathing hard.

Cam added a third finger, and worried for a moment when Mason made a small whine. Then Mason arched his back, pushing Cam's fingers deep, and his whole body shuddered and spasmed with an orgasm that splattered come up his belly and left him gasping.

"Oh Cam…" Mason mumbled, still breathing hard. "I think my brain cells are fused."

***

The cabin had a full kitchen. Mason sat at the table, drinking coffee and watching Cam cook breakfast. They hadn't managed to spend very many slow leisurely mornings together, so the few mornings they had while on this mini-vacation were to be savored. The way the sweatpants clung to Cam's hips, hinting at the very delectable ass under the fabric, was definitely holding Mason's attention. He also knew damn well Cam had nothing on underneath. When Cam had crawled out of the warm bed this morning, he'd immediately grabbed for the sweats and a hoodie, proclaiming that the cabin was awfully chilly.

Mason stood up and crossed the kitchen, slipping an arm around Cam's waist. He nibbled at the back of Cam's neck.

"If you distract me too much, you might get burnt eggs," said Cam.

"Mmm, then I'll confine my actions to feeling you up." Mason skimmed a hand down Cam's stomach, and continued southward for a light grope of Cam's crotch.

"Not helping."

Mason laughed and settled his arm back around Cam's waist, simply snuggling up to the warmth of Cam's body.

Cam served up breakfast and the two of them sat down to eat.

"I'm beginning to think that this little holiday jaunt was the best idea you've had in a quite a while. I don't think that I've ever seen you this relaxed," said Cam.

"Are you implying I'm uptight?"

"Maybe I should say… very focused most of the time, which is probably good when you're in the OR but maybe not so much when we're kicking it back at home.

"I like hearing you say that."

"What, that you're focused?"

Mason kicked him under the table. "No you fool, the part about home."

Cam gave him a thoughtful more sober look. "Living with you is what makes it home."

Mason thought he was going to melt.

***

The wrapping wouldn't win any awards. Cam had never quite gotten the hang of the deal about folding the corners. He handed a pair of boxes to Mason, one large and flat and one small.

"So, open 'em," prompted Cam.

Mason gently tore the paper off the larger one, and lifted the box open. Inside was a pale blue V-neck cashmere sweater. Mason looked surprised.

"You said you couldn't envision me buying you clothes, so I took it as a challenge," confessed Cam. He wasn't going to admit he'd wandered around the mall for three hours agonizing about what to pick out.

"This is gorgeous!" said Mason, a smile lighting his face.

"Do the other one." Cam was kind of holding his breath on this one since he knew nothing about wood working.

Mason opened that one to reveal a pair of mortise chisels.

"I bought you a big one and a little one, and if they're the wrong size, I was really punting."

Mason just grinned. "They're great. That's really cool. I've been kind of faking it with ones I have that aren't really designed for mortise and tennon work." He leaned forward and curled a hand around Cam's neck, pulling him into a kiss. "Your turn."

The box Mason handed to Cam was a really big cube, and made Cam wonder if it contained a basketball, although he didn't know why. Shredding the paper, the picture on the box said it contained a Shoei Syncrotec motorcycle helmet.

"Oh man, I've been eyeballing modular ones for months. This looks amazing!" Cam said.

"I will confess that I picked that one because it had one of the best safety ratings."

"I love you."

"You may or may not love the other gift," Mason said.

Cam could sense of hint of cautious amusement from his partner as Cam opened the flat little box. Under a layer of tissue paper, there was a somewhat narrow bunched piece of black fabric. Cam raised an eyebrow as he lifted it out. It was a silky black thong.

"You …uh… bought me butt floss?" Cam asked, not entirely sure if he was supposed to laugh.

Mason smiled. "Anything to get you out of those boxer briefs. I expect you to model that for me at least once before you decide to burn it."

"You get me out of my boxer briefs on a pretty regular basis."