Free Our December by Diane Adams Page B

fisting in Jared's shirt, he braved pressing a kiss to the corner of Jared's mouth.
    Jared chuckled. "Okay,"
    "Promise?"
    "Cross my heart."

Shadowed in Love

    The night of his thirtieth birthday found Alex leaning against the trunk of the oak tree watching the house. The lights he'd hung earlier in the month twinkled along the branches and snow fell in huge soft flakes. He wasn't there long before a curtain was pushed aside and the glass door slid open, letting light and the sounds of the party spill out into the night. Darkness fell once more and the sounds of merriment muffled when Jared closed the door. Alex watched his partner walking through the snow towards him; little more than a shadowy silhouette until he was close enough for the small twinkling lights to illuminate his face. Alex drank in the sight of him. Jared's expression was serious, this meeting under the tree in the snow as much a part of their Christmas tradition as the party inside. Alex didn't move, even when Jared stopped in front of him just out of reach.
    "Happy Birthday, Alex," he said, a small smile quirking his lips.
    Alex's lips curled into an answering smile. "Merry Christmas, Jared," he chuckled.
    They met under this tree every year as the party was winding down. Clark would herd the guests out the front door and make sure the food was put away. That was part of the tradition as well, thankfully his wife didn't mind. Jared moved closer until their bodies almost touched. Alex watched him with large dark eyes.
    "You've got snow in your hair," Jared said, moving raising his hand to brush the white flakes from the dark curls. Cupping Alex's cheek, he ran a thumb over Alex's full bottom lip.
    "Your hands are cold," Alex whispered and turned his face into Jared's touch, savoring the rough feel of his fingers.
    "You don't care," Jared's breath whispered against his cheek, a much softer caress than that of his fingers.
    Alex's eyes fluttered closed, Jared was right, he didn't care. Jared's lips, when they brushed his, were also cold. Shuddering, Alex pressed against him and Jared backed him up against the tree. He clasped the trunk over Alex's head holding him pinned to the rough bark with his body. Jared's lips pressed Alex's more firmly and Alex sighed, parting his in a silent invitation. Jared obliged without hesitation, licking his way inside. There was nothing cold about the way their tongues tangled in the moist heat of Alex's mouth or the way Alex arched under Jared, eager for the feel of his lover's body against his.
    "Jared," he panted into the kiss, his hands fisted in Jared's coat. He'd been thinking about this moment for days. The tree, the lights, the snow, and Jared. He was on edge and hungry for everything Jared's hard body promised. It was always like this for him. It was supposed to be a tender moment, a special time for them to remember how far they'd come from that night so long ago under a tree so much like this one. For Alex it just reminded him of everything he had, and how he never got tired of Jared's mouth on his, Jared's hands on his body. Fourteen years and Jared could still make him tremble with a glance.
    "Please."
    * * * *
    Jared's fingers pressed hard against the tree, if he had the strength they would have sunk deep into its bark. He promised himself that this year Alex would get the tender words and soft kisses he liked so well, but as usual, Alex pushed him to the brink of his control and beyond. Jared pulled back looking down on him. The lights illuminated Alex's upturned face. The boy he had been could be seen in the lines of his face, but Jared didn't miss the boy. He adored the man Alex had grown into far too much for nonsense like that. A small smile tilted his lips.
    "Thirty," he whispered, laughing when Alex grimaced.
    "Death for a gay man," he muttered, burying his face in Jared's neck, licking and biting in an attempt to distract him from the teasing.
    "I need a new twink. Mine's all worn out."
    Jared's teasing