A Christmas Coincidence - 1. Chapter 1

One of the many townhouses in downtown Boston was all a glow with bright and festive multi-colored lights lining the edge of the roof, windows, and railings. Inside was warm and cozy, with a fire blazing in the brick fireplace. Two, three, or four-inch mouse statues dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus decorated the corners of the brick hearth, lighted garland outlined the doorways, ran across the fireplace mantle, and wrapped around the wooden banister and rails and a Christmas village set up on the glass rectangle table that faced the front door. A decorated six-foot-tall White pine Christmas Tree was the home's crowning centerpiece, placed in the center of the enclave and easily visible through the square pane bay window.

It was two days till Christmas, and the gently falling snow created a picture-perfect New England winter day. Thirty-year-old Brett Morgan eagerly waited for Vincent Wakefield, his boyfriend of one month, to come over to exchange gifts and spend the last evening together before they each left to spend Christmas with their families. Dressed in a pair of black jeans, a lightweight white long-sleeved shirt with a rainbow snowflake in the center, and a red and green apron with "Save a candy cane. Lick Santa," written on the front, the red-haired, fair-skinned homeowner waited for the small pot roast, perfectly portioned for two people, to finish cooking, and sipped from his wine glass which was less than half-filled with a fruity White Zinfandel. His five-foot-eleven, hundred-and-sixty pound body swayed in rhythm to Dolly Parton's nineteen-eighty-two holiday classic hit, "Hard Candy Christmas," as his size ten-and-a-half light blue snowman decorated sock-clad foot tapped on the faux hardwood laminate flooring that ran throughout the main floor of his three-story townhouse, and the vibrant tones of his tenor voice filled the open-concept living, dining, and kitchen area when he sang the chorus.

"Holy shit, it smells amazing in here, and the cook is the sexiest guy I've ever seen."

Brett jumped and screamed like a girl when he heard the voice behind him but didn't hear anyone enter the house.

Vincent's twenty-nine-year-old, five-foot-nine, hundred-and-fifty-pound frame was doubled over as his boisterous laughter flowed like a river from his lips. His dark hair was neck-length, curly, and all askew from being released from the black and gray knit hat.

"Vinny, you scared the shit outta me," Brett exclaimed as his breathing and heart rate slowed down to its normal rhythm.

"Do you know how adorable you were just now?"

The boyishly grinning raven-haired male, dressed in light blue jeans, a red shirt with white sleeves that had a picture of Santa's sleigh pulled by reindeer on the front, licked his lips as his size ten feet, covered by white ankle socks with gray toe and heel patches, closed the distance between him and his boyfriend. His hazel-colored eyes sparkled as he gazed at the slightly taller man, pulling the redhead into a warm and loving embrace.

Brett lowered and slightly tilted his head so he could kiss the Adonis holding him, his silvery-blue eyes closed, and his quivering lips gently pressed into Vincent's full and pouty lips. His moist tongue was friendly and hospitable by licking and caressing the tongue visiting its mouth.

"I love you," the couple said when they separated, causing them both to giggle like schoolboys.

Brett started to walk into the kitchen, but before he could get there, an arm appeared in the middle of his back, followed by another arm gently running into the back of his knees, making them bend. He wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's neck and softly giggled as he was swept off his feet. "I love it when you carry me," he said while blushing and slowly kicking his legs back and forth in the air.

Vincent smiled, then nuzzled the left side of Brett's neck and chuckled when he heard the squeals and airy giggles from his squirming, ticklish boyfriend. "I love that you're so adorable when getting tickled, Babe," he said.

"You're such a cheater," Brett whined, pressing his face into the muscular chest. "It's not fair that you've only got two tickle spots."

"Hey, you get your revenge all the time when my feet are reachable, and you know how turned on and giggly I get when you exploit that spot that only you get to tickle and lick."

Once released, the redhead continued to his destination. He pulled a wine glass from the cabinet, filled it half-full with Merlot, and handed it to his lover. After sharing another kiss, he pulled the pan from the oven and turned it off.

"Hope you're hungry, Vinny. Since we're both leaving in the morning, I'd rather not have leftovers."

"Have I ever not been hungry when you're cooking," Vincent responded with a crooked smile.

Brett licked his lips as he mindlessly rubbed the outline of his jeans-clad manhood.

"Damn, babe, you know that expression turns me on and makes me crazy for you."

Vincent wagged his eyebrows and mirrored his lover's action by rubbing the outline of his lengthy appendage as he responded, "Yep, I do know that, and it turns me on that we're both attracted to each other's bodies this much." He jumped and yelped when Brett smacked his plump ass as he walked by to set the table. "I'm sooo making you pay for that, babe," he playfully threatened.

"Please, like that's scary. We both know that you're no match for me once my fingers caress and stroke that velvety skin of yours," Brett\ whispered into the dark-haired man's ear.

Vincent gasped as shivers ran up and down his spine when the devious redhead lightly blew across the tip of his left ear, and his knees almost buckled. "Fuck... Me... You're evil, Brett," he exclaimed after swallowing the whimper that was close to escaping his mouth.

"All in due time, Stud, just be patient."

Vincent growled as he reached out, and his hands latched onto the waist of the giggling man walking past him.

"I'll give you something to giggle about."

Seconds after ten fingers kneaded the fleshy spot just above his hips, boisterous laughter exploded from Brett. His eyes squeezed shut, his body writhed and twisted before falling to his knees as he tried and failed to escape the ticklish assault.

"Not my sides, Vinny."

"You asked for it, sexy."

The tickling lasted close to another minute before it stopped. Vincent helped his lover to his feet, turned him around so they faced each other, and pulled the other man into a bone-crushing bear hug that lifted the giggling redhead off the floor.

"You're the most fun and sweetest guy I've ever met."

Brett blushed at the compliment and kissed Vincent's cheek. "C'mon, babe, let's eat."

"This roast is so tender," Vincent exclaimed after moaning the same way he does when he's sexually stimulated.

"Thanks, Vin. I marinated it overnight in a bourbon garlic and herb sauce, then kept it moist with the same sauce while slowly cooking it.

"You should give up doing taxes and open a restaurant with your recipes."

Brett chuckled after swallowing a bite of potatoes and carrots.

"No way, they're too damn risky for my liking. I'd rather not lose my shirt because of an endeavor like that."

Vincent displayed his infamous crooked smile and said, "There's a lot of men and women, myself included, who'd love to see you shirtless." He giggled when his comment made his boyfriend do a spit take, spewing red wine over the dark red tablecloth. "Well, at least you can't see the stains," he joked.

"Funny," Brett moaned as he wiped his mouth.

"I can't believe you actually did a spit take. That's fuckin' awesome," Vincent howled with laughter and continued. "I love you, Brett."

"Love you more, Vinny." Brett coughed and gazed into his lover's eyes. "What do you think of meeting each other's family here, say, in the next month or two," he asked.

"Sounds great. Incidentally, are you excited to meet your brother's girlfriend?"

"I am. She must be special since the family's also meeting her family on Christmas Eve. How about you? Are you excited to meet your sister's boyfriend?"

"Yeah, and I get to be the protective older brother," Vincent giggled and added, "I just hope he's not more muscular and scarier than me, or my threat of facing a flaming death won't be as effective."

"If anyone knows about flaming..." Brett laughed and ducked the dinner roll that was hurled at him.

"Babe, no offense, but you throw like a girl."

"Just wait, you'll regret that when you're sporting blue balls tonight."

Brett gasped.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me, my red-haired sex God."

"By the way, you never did say where you're spending Christmas."

Vincent arched his eyebrows. "Really? Come to think of it, neither did you."

The couple chuckled and leaned across the table to share a soft kiss.

"I'll be with Trev and his thirteen-year-old son, Corbin, at their house in Rhode Island. I wish Mom and Dad would come to their senses and accept us."

Vincent reached out, dried his boyfriend's tears, and lightly rubbed the top of his hands with his thumbs before lifting them to his lips and kissing them.

"It's their loss, Babe. I think your brother's a pretty special man. Not everyone would adopt an eleven-year-old boy he met through the orphanage's Big Brother program. I can't wait to meet Trev and Corbin, and neither can my sister and parents." He chuckled and said, "Everyone's dying to meet you also. When I told them about your parents rejecting you and Trev, Mom and Dad said they hoped you two let them become surrogate parental figures and that Corbin would consider them his grandparents after getting to know them." He paused a second, then, in excitement, exclaimed, "Holy Fuck! I'm going to Rhode Island, too. Mom and Dad's place is in Middletown, and my sister lives in Newport."

"Will you be in Newport between tomorrow and Christmas?"

"Yeah, I'll be rooming with Jules. She's hosting a party with her boyfriend at her house on Christmas Eve. Then we're going to my parents Christmas Day."

"If there's a chance, maybe you and I can sneak away for a lunch or dinner date?"

"I love the way you think, my beautiful boy."

After dinner, the guys worked together, cleaning up and getting the dishes into the dishwasher. Then, they sat cross-legged on the floor beside each other in front of the Christmas tree. Vincent reached into the pile of gifts under the tree and retrieved a slender rectangle box wrapped in shiny sapphire blue paper. He passed it to his lover and said, "Hope you like this, Baby."

"I hope the same for you, Vin," Brett said as he handed the grinning man a box wrapped in green paper decorated with candy canes.

With childlike excitement, the couple tore off the festive wrapping and held their breaths when they saw the actual gifts.

He ran his fingers along the long rectangle velvet box before opening it. "Oh, my..." Brett commented before gasping when he saw the white gold necklace made out of teddy bears with heart-shaped ruby noses and sapphire eyes. "Vince, this is an exquisite work of art," he exclaimed as tears dripped down his cheeks.

"I couldn't find anything that I felt was the perfect gift, so I went to a jeweler, explained what I wanted, and he was able to create the necklace." Vince wrapped his arms around his emotional boyfriend and lightly licked the wet streaks from the warm cheeks.
Brett sniffed and kissed his mate, then said, "I can't wait any longer. Open your gift, baby."

Vincent opened the nondescript brown box, and when he saw the object inside, his hands flew to his gaping mouth as tears filled his eyes. He carefully lifted the majestic item from the cardboard box and gazed at its beauty. He'd been given a six-inch tall, sparkly unicorn made of clear crystal with gold hooves, an emerald horn, and onyx eyes. "His beauty is indescribable," he said.

Brett returned his boyfriend's loving gesture by doing the same thing.

"I know you collect unicorns, and I contacted a friend of mine who's a sculptor and commissioned him to create this statue. He loved the challenge it provided him."