Free Reindeer Games by Jet Mykles Page B

going to the bonfire?”
    Lon blinked up at Rom’s face. So close. So pale and perfect. Long and narrow,
    with a squared-off jaw. Bedazzling blue eyes to complement the frame of shining
    blue hair. Yesterday he would have killed to have Rom this focused on him. Tonight
    it just confused him. “I-I…”
    “You must.” Rom’s arm squeezed Lon. He had changed out of his robe, but the
    poet’s sleeves of his white shirt were nearly as voluminous of the robe’s, and they
    draped Lon’s back. His hip pressed into Lon as he held him close. “At least for a
    little while.”

    Reindeer Games

    61

    Without giving Lon a chance to protest, Rom walked him toward the exit. Lon
    glanced over his shoulder, but the two men Rom had been talking with had started
    up a conversation with the other handlers and were paying no attention. Alone with
    Rom, Lon walked into the cool night air. They circled to the side of the barn and the
    road that led up this side of the hill. Up ahead, at the crest, the sky was lit from the
    bonfire, signaling a party already begun.
    Rom walked with his arm about Lon’s shoulders, keeping the smaller man
    securely at his side. Lon’s mind worked furiously. On one hand, he was finally
    pressed against Rom, and it was wonderful. Rom’s body was just as taut and lean as
    Lon could have dreamed. But Lon was at a crossroads. As wonderful as it felt, it
    wasn’t really what he wanted. It shocked him to admit it to himself, but he had to.
    Now that his brain had made the turning point, his body actually followed. Or was
    it his body that decided it loved the feel of Wod more than another? Regardless,
    despite a year of pining, after one eye-opening night, Rom simply wasn’t what Lon
    wanted anymore. Terribly unfair of fate to finally deliver Lon to Rom’s side.
    “So, little Lon,” Rom began, jostling Lon once they started up the hill. “I
    wanted to talk to you. Alone.”
    Lon glanced about. Ahead there were a few people passing through the trees,
    but otherwise he and Rom were alone with the snow, the fragrant foliage, and the
    moonlight as they left the barn behind.
    “Me?” Delayed reaction. Confusion kept Lon off balance as he clung to Rom to
    keep his walking steady.
    “Yes, you. What do you think of Wod?”
    Only Rom’s arm kept Lon moving forward. As it was, he did stumble. “Wod?”
    “Yes. Because I think he likes you.”
    He gaped up at Rom’s profile. “What?”
    Rom kept his attention ahead of them, his blue hair floating loose on the soft
    breeze. “Do you know him well?”

    62
    Jet Mykles

    “N-no.”
    “I didn’t think so. He keeps to himself a lot. Only has a few lovers that visit
    him now and again.” Rom’s arm slipped so that just his hand remained on Lon’s far
    shoulder. Still, he kept his attention on the path before them. “But I had an odd talk
    with him this afternoon.”
    “Oh?” What was going on?
    “Yes. He came over to my place, and he was talking about you. Incessantly. He
    asked me if I noticed you or ever thought about having sex with you.”
    Startled, Lon pulled away. Rom let his hand slide off Lon’s shoulder as they
    turned to face each other, the crunch of their footsteps coming to a halt in the
    trodden snow.
    “What?”
    Rom nodded, reaching up to tuck a wayward lock of hair behind his ear. A
    slight frown brought the elegant arches of his blue brows closer together. “It was
    weird. He never talks about anyone the way he talked about you. And he kept
    asking my opinion about you.” Rom grinned, a look that would have stopped Lon’s
    heart a day ago. “Don’t get me wrong.” He reached out to stroke Lon’s chin. “I think
    you’re adorable, but I knew I couldn’t be your type.”
    Lon shut his eyes and shook his head, then opened his eyes again. No, Rom
    was still there. “Wait. What?”
    Rom chuckled. “I’ve seen your type before, Lon. You deserve better than just a
    one-night stand, and that’s all I could offer