Snowed in at Christmas Cottage by Ali Ryecart

Author:Ali Ryecart [Ryecart, Ali]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Gay / Lesbian / LGBT
Amazon: B0CNHJCHRL
Goodreads: 202262365
Published: 2023-11-14T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

“I think we’ve got too much.”

William stared down at the heaped, wet greenery on the floor, studying every red berry, every glossy green, prickly leaf, every trailing piece of ivy. It was better than meeting Kyle’s knowing eyes, and seeing the truth reflected in their smokey grey depths.

I wanted to kiss him, I wanted him to kiss me, I wanted…

“We can use most of it.”

Next to him, Kyle sank to his knees and sorted through the heap, dabbing them dry with a spare tea towel. William fought the urge to shuffle away; Kyle was too close, his body too warm, his scent too… too Kyle.

“The longer pieces we can drape over the mantelpiece and on the ends of the curtain poles so they hang down, the smaller pieces can go on the tree. You can do that job, as you’re taller.”

William nodded his agreement, his focus on the spread out greenery, and Kyle’s large, strong looking hands, his long fingers deftly sifting through and separating the cuttings into piles. William gulped… How would those hands have felt on him? Cupping his face, trailing down his chest, over his stomach, on his—No.

William staggered back a step or two. What the hell was he thinking? He couldn’t have those thoughts, for anybody. It was wrong, it was betrayal, it was—

Oh, Wills… The voice was steeped in sadness, and full of pain. William pushed his fingers through his hair and fought to control his runaway heartbeat.

“Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Heard one, not seen.” William blurted. His breath hitched. What in god’s name had he said? Kyle would think he was crazy.

Kyle looked up at him, concern rather than wariness reflected in his eyes.

“Doc… William.” Kyle held his gaze, but his voice was hesitant, as though he were feeling his way. “If there’s something — anything — you want to say, you know, about why you came here, to the middle of nowhere, to be on your own…”

“I… No…” I can’t, not yet. “Honestly, I’m fine. Really,” he said, his voice rough and gritty.

Kyle nodded, but the frown pulling his brows down into a V told William he’d not convinced him.

They said nothing else as they concentrated on setting out the greenery, each of them lost in his own task.

Why don’t I just tell him? Why don’t I tell Kyle why my world fell apart, and why I’m here, in this tiny cottage, marooned in a sea of snow? He knew why. Because it still hurt so damn much.

But…

Breaking free, letting go, just having some fun and feeling alive, after holding every thought and emotion locked down tight for so long. Hadn’t it felt good? Yes… Until the guilt had gripped hard.

Darling, you never used to be so closed off. You know I wouldn’t want that for you…

“This looks all right. What d’ya reckon?”

Jolting when Kyle spoke, and blinking to clear his watery eyes, William turned around.

Kyle had worked wonders. Holly and ivy intertwined around each other, and around the fairy lights, the ends tumbling down from the mantelshelf.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.