“Yeah.” Oliver didn’t know about that, but he hoped so. Hoped he’d be included in Ed’s group of friends. If nothing else happened between them, he still wanted that.
“Back in a minute.” Ed paused at the kitchen door, letting Aiden and Cam go through to the hall. “You’re staying for a bit, right?”
Oliver’s heart stuttered, then set off at a gallop. Pretty sure he hadn’t imagined the heated look Ed sent him. “Yep.” He swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. “I’ll be here.”
As Ed disappeared out into the hall, Oliver stood, unable to sit still. Walking into the lounge, he came to a stop, the bare Christmas tree taking him by surprise. He hadn’t noticed it before now.
“I know it’s a bit sad looking at the minute.” Ed came to stand beside him, close enough Oliver swore he felt the heat from his body. “My decorations were all in storage.”
“Were?” Oliver asked, hyperaware of Ed’s every breath in and out.
Ed pointed to the two boxes stacked in the corner. “Sarah fetched them for me.” He laughed, shaking his head a little. “To be more precise, she fetchedsomeout of storage and supplied the rest herself.”
Oliver grinned. “Your decorations not up to scratch then?”
“Apparently not.”
“Hmm.” A bare tree didn’t look right at all. He glanced over his shoulder, breath catching as he found Ed looking at him. “We could do it now if you wanted?”
Ed choked on the mouthful of wine he’d just taken, eyes wide until he noticed Oliver nodding at the tree. “Oh.” A slight flush covered his cheeks, and it took Oliver far too long to realise what Ed had thought he meant.
“The tree,” he added, redundantly. “I meant we could decorate the tree.” When Ed didn’t say anything, Oliver hastily backtracked. “Unless you want to go straight to bed.”
Ed stared at him.
Oliver stared back until finally it dawned on him what he’d just said. “To sleep.” Christ, he should’ve left with Aiden. “Not to um...fuck,” he muttered, then immediately clapped a hand over his mouth.
Two seconds of loaded silence were more than Oliver could take, and a laugh bubbled out of him. “Jesus, I’m sorry.” He shook his head, relieved when Ed grinned at him. “That’s not what I meant.”
Ed turned, facing Oliver now, and took a step closer until they were almost touching. “Good,” he whispered, warm breath ghosting over Oliver’s lips. “I’d hate to think that was off the table.”
Did I hear that right?
Oliver searched Ed’s face, looking for proof that he wasn’t imagining what was happening between them. He licked his lips, heart racing when Ed’s gaze dropped to his mouth and stayed there. “Definitely not off the table,” he murmured, setting his hands on Eds hips and drawing him closer still by the belt loops.
Ed came willingly, backing Oliver up against the wall until they were pressed together from chest to thigh, his hands resting lightly on Oliver’s shoulders. “This okay?”
“Yeah,” Oliver breathed. So much more than okay. He had questions, lots of questions. But with Ed flush against him like this, a growing hardness pushing against his belly... every one of them could wait.
“What about this?” Ed murmured, sliding his hands up to cup Oliver’s jaw, palms surprisingly cool against his skin and thumbs brushing over soft stubble.
“’S good.” Oliver struggled to find words, fingers tightening reflexively on Ed’s waist as all his focus narrowed to the places where they touched.
And almost touched.
Warm breath teased what was about to happen, and Oliver ached with the need to kiss him.
“And this?” Ed’s lips curved into a smile as he leaned in, so very close, and yet still not connecting, and Oliver was done waiting.
“Kiss me.” He worked his fingers under the hem of Ed’s shirt until he found bare skin, eyes dropping shut as Ed’s mouth finally covered his. A moan escaped him, body melting into Ed’s as he lost himself to the sensation of warm lips, tinged with red wine, and the gentle stroke of Ed’s tongue against his.
As first kisses went, Oliver was pretty sure this ranked up in his top three. They fit together like the last pieces of a puzzle, Ed’s thigh slotted between Oliver’s, rubbing against his groin in a slow dirty grind that had him straining in his jeans.
“Bedroom,” Ed murmured between kisses, guiding Oliver back out into the hall.
Oliver laughed as he stumbled, catching himself on Ed’s arms. “This would be easier if I turned around.”
“It would,” Ed murmured, leaning in close. “But then I couldn’t do this.” The kiss was soft to begin with, deepening as Oliver moaned into it, and it took him all his willpower to disentangle himself.
