Merry and Bright by Joanna Chambers

Author:Joanna Chambers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: lgbt romance, mm romance, gay romance, gay romance anthology, gay holiday anthology, mm holiday romance, lgbt holiday romance, mm holiday romance anthology, gay contemporary romance, mm contemporary romance, lgbt contemporary romance
Publisher: Joanna Chambers
Published: 2018-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

THEY SLIPPED OUT OF The Cellar, unnoticed by the remaining M&H party crew who were all on the floor for Rocking Around the Christmas Tree. Penny and Monica were performing an incongruous jive for the others who circled them, whooping and clapping.

Sam zipped up his jacket as they exited the club, his breath pluming out on the freezing air. His beanie hat fell out of his pocket onto the ground. Before he could bend to retrieve it, Nick was picking it up and handing it to him.

“Don’t lose your hat. You’ll need it in this weather.”

Sam took it half reluctantly, thinking of his hair and how it would be ruined by the beanie, how ridiculous it would look when he took the hat off. But then, given the state of Nick’s hair, he’d be in good company. Steeling himself, he pulled the hat snugly on his head, a little thrill of pleasure rushing through him at Nick’s look of approval.

“So, where’s your place?” Nick asked.

“This way,” Sam said. He buried his hands in his pockets and started walking, and Nick fell into step beside him. “It’s not too far, just a mile up the road.”

They chatted easily on the way, not touching, laughing amiably over the evening’s events, but the whole time there was an underlying, barely suppressed excitement sparking between them. It made every joke seem funnier and every shared opinion seem more amazing. It made Sam’s smile impossible to shift.

By the time they arrived at the modern block where Sam lived, his heart was tripping at double speed, fingers shaking as he unlocked the main door and led the way up the two flights to his front door.

“Come on in,” he invited Nick, swinging the door open.

The flat was cold; Sam took a second to shuck his jacket and boost the central heating, then walked through to the living room, Nick following.

“Nice place,” Nick said, removing his own coat, turning around as he did so to take it all in: big sofa, wall-mounted speakers, family photos, game console, bookshelves. Dropping his coat on the sofa, he lifted the graphic novel Sam had left splayed open, cracked spine upwards, on the coffee table. He flicked through it, eyebrows hitching up before glancing at Sam. “Tank Girl?”

Sam shrugged. “I like comics. Do you want a drink?”

“I can think of something I want more,” Nick replied, slinging the book back onto the sofa as he prowled towards Sam.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

Nick didn’t answer, just stepped right into his space, lifting one hand to slowly draw off the beanie Sam had forgotten.

Sam’s hand flew up. “My hair probably looks stupid,” he said self-consciously.

“Yeah, it does a bit.” Nick knocked Sam’s hand aside and smoothing his hair down himself, his hand warm and sure. “But I like it. Even though it makes you look less perfect than usual.”

“Perfect?” Sam parroted, astonished at the very idea. He was about as far from perfect as he could imagine.

Nick stepped in closer and touched Sam’s face, his thumb smoothing across Sam’s cheekbone.

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