M.K. Lee's Blog: Telling Tales, page 42

A Christmas Surprise – 18

“Want an early Christmas present?” Jack asks, squeezing Alex’s fingers as a sign gets his attention, pointing it out when Alex turns to look.

“What?” Alex asks, obviously not getting what Jack’s intending.

“C’mon,” Jack says, tugging on his fingers. They leave the store less than twenty minutes later with massage bars, and a look of intent in Jack’s eyes.

“How’d I luck out to get you?” Alex slurs a little later as Jack sweeps his hands over his back, working out all the knots in his mus...

Winter Tales – Shivering

Max is shivering when he comes back in from putting the bin out for collection in the morning, diving under the throw they have on the couch and shuddering for the cold.

“How bad?” Matthias asks, but the question is answered for him when he reaches out to take Max’s hand and ends up warming it between his own.

“There’s already ice on everything,” Max says, sitting cross-legged and sticking his toes beneath Matthias’ thigh to warm up.

“I’m glad you’re not working tonight. They said it w...

A Christmas Surprise – 17

Jack’s cell vibrates against his desk, dragging his eyes away from a computer screen full of spreadsheets that were already blurring, making his mouth curl up in a smile to see it’s a message from Alex.

He thumbs the message open, his heart giving a violent jolt and other… things reacting, leaving him wriggling in anticipation for this evening, when Alex’s picture of himself wearing only a strategically placed Santa hat fills his screen.

“Hope I’m not distracting you,” the message reads, “...

Winter Tales – Howling

The wind is howling enough for Matthias to believe the weather forecast threatening a gale. He grimaces as he peeks out the window waiting for the work van to show up, telling himself it’s not too many days left before he’ll have a whole two weeks of break.

“What time will you be home?” Max asks as steps up behind him, hooking his chin over his shoulder and offering Matthias his coffee mug.

“Should be five today, but that depends how the last one goes, and if we don’t get any emergencies....

A Christmas Surprise – 16

“Don’t wear that one,” Alex groans as they plan, probably too early, what they’re going to wear on Christmas Day.

Jack looks down at the shirt he’s just put on, then back up for an explanation.

“Jack,” Alex pleads, crowding up against him, “no; that’s my favorite. How am I supposed to concentrate on anything, if all I’m thinking is how I’m gonna get you alone, to get you back out of it?”

“I can help you with that,” Jack tells him, slowly unbuttoning the shirt that’s apparently such a pr...

Winter Tales – Garland

“That is one hell of a garland,” Matthias mutters half-under his breath as Max’s mum ushers them into her home.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she gushes, gesturing for both of them to duck a little so she can kiss their cheeks. “All of it is real, handmade by that garden centre over in the village. You know, Max; the one with that girl who used to be in your class.”

“Sarah?” Matthias hisses as they watch her disappear into the kitchen still talking. “The one she had designs on for you?”

“...

A Christmas Surprise – 15

There’s a disagreement over how much food shopping they’ll need to do over the festive period. With Christmas at Jack’s parents, and New Year spent at a house party with friends, there will only be a few days in between for them to truly have together. Jack wants to have everything in for that, so they don’t have to go out if they don’t want.

“Jack,” Alex whispers, arms around him to prevent him stomping off in a huff in the supermarket, “babe; time with you is all I care about. Not how much ...

Winter Tales – Bare

“It’s a bit bare.”

Max pauses from hanging up the last of his decorations on the Christmas tree at the sound of Matthias’ voice, turning to look at him in reproach.

“Yeah, well, I wanted to make a start with what I had,” he says in defence. He turns back to the tree and Matthias smiles as he watches Max try to flare out the tinsel he’s wrapping around it to make it look more full, failing completely.

“I know,” Matthias agrees, walking up behind him and kissing the back of his neck.

“...

A Christmas Surprise – 14

Jack makes an exception about Christmas cards for Alex, spending more than an hour sorting through the racks and racks of offerings to find one he thinks Alex might like. His eyes can’t help lingering over the words on the cards. Boyfriend for this Christmas, but next year, fiancé? Already husband? Jack can’t wait, is excited for all of it, so long as he gets to have that someday.

And the verses inside make him think of the vows he’s half been planning, knowing it’s far too soon, but also tha...

Winter Tales – Unending

Whatve you got so far? Max asks as he sits down on the couch beside him, squeezing Matthias foot since hes sat cross-legged.

The sky was dark and the snow unending.

Unending?

yeah.

How about relentless? Max suggests, draping an arm around Matthias shoulders and leaning in to look at the screen.

Matthias screws up his facing knowing hes right, but liking the way the sentence sounds. His family have been writing drabbles to add to the homemade Christmas crackers his mum makes every year, and...