Christmas Night

[lights_midnight]

It's nearly midnight by the time the party breaks up. The girls are long asleep, Jeroen dozing between them. Angie and Jack ahve staggered off together, Winter is hiding in his room and Shen has gone for a fly

Comments

[clericpreston]

John had abandoned the wine earlier into the night. He knew better than to get trashed on this occasion. Playfully drunk any other time would have been alright, but he suspected it wouldn't have amused Apollo on Christmas. Besides, his daughter had been there. Children were fantastic sobriety meters.

He shot Apollo a curious, amused look and sat down at the foot of their bed. "Tricky. Hidden presents?"

[lights_midnight]

"Something like that. Now, I got one of them about a month ago, so sorry if there's any doubling up." He pulls out a red wrapped box and holds it out. "That one second though. Hang on."

The glass is put side and Apollo floats up to the ceiling and slides aside a panel and takes out a long, thin, flat present wrapped in gold. This one is handed to John and Apollo sits next to him. "Open that first."

[clericpreston]

The red package is set aside and John watches him with an increasingly wider grin. His lover was sneaky.

"That's just mean. My presents have been above my head this whole time?" He grinned and scooted closer to Apollo's side. The gold package shines under the lights in the room and Apollo's sunshine glow. He smiles and strokes the edge of it with a fingertip.

But, it's Christmas and he's been watching the girls tear into packages all day, so the shiny wrap doesn't last long and he slowly opens the box.

[lights_midnight]

The box is a black, hardcase jewellery box. Inside is four gold rings, each slightly opened to show the nearly invisible hinge and lock.

One arm goes around John's waist. "They lock on perfectly smooth, can't see the joints. I've got the key in my pocket. It's up to you how many you want to wear, if any, but I'd like if you'd wear one all the time. These two are for wrists, those go on ankles."

He kisses his lover's cheek. "I won't be offended if you don't want to wear them at all, let alone any of them permanently. But I wanted to give you the choice."

[clericpreston]

John misses most of the chatter, except for the sex part. Apollo's attention to his chest has him squirming and breathing heavily. The warm, soft touch of a tongue across his nipple has John's back arching to press his body up against his lover.

Probably, he should say something. Words, so difficult.

//You lost me at... glory. But, please feel free to continue with what you're doing.//

[lights_midnight]

//That's okay. I talk. A lot. You know I was doing this in my head even before we connected you. I'm just used to talking.//

He continues down and leaves and a heavy hickey over John's heart, then on his lower ribs. Teases lightly with his lips to make him squirm.

//I plan on continuing. Don't worry about that.//

[clericpreston]

John moans and then laughs breathlessly when the touch at his ribs tickles. He runs a hand restlessly through Apollo's hair as he squirms underneath the teasing sungod.

//I like hearing you talk. I always have.//

[lights_midnight]

//Especially after that night with the chocoate, I bet. What was it, maybe an hour on the phone? Just talking.//

One on either hip and pants are getting in the way.

//I could be cruel and make you talk back, but I won't, because you don't like it. You don't mind me chatitng away though, do you?//

[clericpreston]

John's in no hurry for him to move. He continues to hold on and pet Apollo softly. Every inch of him was relaxed and tingling pleasantly.

He holds his left wrist up a bit and rubs the locked wrist cuff lightly. A slow, happy smile spreads across his face.

[lights_midnight]

Apollo's going to stay here for now. In and on John. It's comfortable and comforting.

[clericpreston]

He buries his face against Apollo's neck and nuzzles his way up. Kisses along the soft skin to his ear and nibbles the earlobe. "Thank you," he murmurs softly.

[lights_midnight]

//For what?//

He uncurls enough to kiss John lightly.

[clericpreston]

"Hush. S'my first back rub. When I have more to make a comparison, I will reevaluate my opinion." His words are mumbled and muffled against Apollo's skin because his head is back down, resting against his lover's chest and nuzzling the skin idly as he enjoys the scratching. "Half an hour?"

[lights_midnight]

"Half an hour. Minimum. Nothing less is good enough." He starts a slow massage with his thumbs down each vertebra. "Give you lots to compare to, we will."

[clericpreston]

John sinks bonelessly down against Apollo and heaves a long, content sigh as he enjoys the thumbs working down his spine. "I'll be delighted to be educated in the fine art of massage."

"You have amazing hands."

[lights_midnight]

"Thank you."

Working by touch, Apollo sets about making John melt into a puddle of relaxed muscle.