“Okay, that’s it. Oh, be careful, Pac-Man!”

Vince chuckled against Koby’s side as he helped him walk into the apartment that afternoon. It was the first Saturday Koby had taken off from the market in forever. But Harrison’s friend Tammy had volunteered to run the stall for him for the day. Whenever Tammy had waitressed for them at Rocket, Koby’s friends had teased him that the teen had a crush on him. As it turned out, she was actually a huge fan of his art and had jumped at the chance to help him.

“Did you have to give such an adorable puppy such a terrible name?” Vince asked as they closed the door on Koby’s apartment. Koby stood Vince’s suitcase up on its wheels and waited for Vince’s reaction as he looked around.

“Oh my god,” Vince said.

He’d spent two and a half days at the hospital until the doctors were happy there was no more swelling in his brain and given him the all clear to go home. Except Vince’s home was a tornado of people all the time, and until Vince could get his own place, Koby had a nice quiet apartment all to himself, just sitting here.

Well, almost all to himself.

“To be fair, I didn’t know Mom was giving me Pac-Man when I named him,” Koby said. “But now it’s kind of stuck. And he’s almost yellow, and he bites things all the time, so it does kind make sense-”

“Koby.” Vince looked at him in exasperation. “Hush. This is amazing.” He laughed, shaking his head and looking around the apartment again.

“Oh, that, yeah,” Koby said. Like he’d forgotten he’d spent hours doing this yesterday. Like it was no big deal. “Merry Christmas.”

“Is there anything left in Winters’ Wonderland?” Vince turned on the spot to take everything in.

It was true. Koby had gone back to the store and spoken to the guy, Micah, about taking any odd stock off their hands for a discounted price. Koby had given a home to any wayward bauble, faulty light, dented Santa, or discontinued tinsel the Winters family wanted to get off their hands before the holiday season ended.

Koby had been prepared to throw a reasonable amount of money at this, having never bothered to decorate his apartment even once before in the years he’d been living there. He saw it as back pay. But when Mary Ann Winters had learned who Koby was, he had a sneaking suspicion she knew what had happened with the sculpture and the attack because she halved the price again.

There were garlands and wreaths everywhere. Koby had hung crooked white stars below the breakfast bar counter and mismatched stockings under the TV – the closest he got to a mantlepiece. Seeing as his landlord had told him he could do what he wanted years ago, Koby had drilled holes into the ceiling to hang wicker baskets he’d wrapped tiny fairy lights around and filled with fake, shiny red apples that were only slightly scratched. Mistletoe hung above every doorway – he didn’t want to take any chances he and Vince might miss it. The mirrors were draped with holly, a slightly misshapen wreath on the back of the door, and he had several incorrectly labeled cinnamon-scented candles he’d been burning for the last day to make the apartment exude festive charm.

The way he saw it was that just because something was slightly damaged, it didn’t make it anything less beautiful, A bit like him and Vince right now.

But his pride and joy was the real pine tree standing in the corner of the room. Kris’s boyfriend, Remi, had very kindly helped Koby pick it up from the market yesterday on his day off.

Koby had wanted to see him anyway. Being a firefighter meant Remi worked with the EMTs that had come to his and Vince’s rescue in the art room. So Koby had used part of Thursday while Vince was still as the hospital to quickly make a piece for the crew. It was of a Dalmatian, the universal mascot of firehouses. Koby had been lucky to have the right kind of parts he needed at hand. Koby hoped it would live at the firehouse in thanks for everything they had done for him and Vince.

Remi had used his impressive strength to secure the biggest goddamned tree the two of them could find. What was the use of having these crazy high ceilings if you didn’t put up the tallest tree possible? Then he’d helped Koby get it not only to his truck but up the stairs to his apartment as well.

Koby had been forced to fetch a stepladder to dress the beast, but it had been so worth it. He’d also painted a few baubles that didn’t match his color scheme, but he’d enjoyed that almost as much as seeing the look on Vince’s face right now.

Koby had blended a rainbow using ornaments, bows, tinsel, wreaths and strings of beads. It wasn’t a traditional pride rainbow. It had more of a pastel, subtle feel to it. The top started off gold, complementing the big star at the top. Then the decorations faded into jade, sky blue, purple, red, then finally pink, all wrapped up with white fairy lights (most of which worked). There weren’t any presents underneath the branches just yet, but Koby intended to work on that very soon.

Vince pressed his fingers to his mouth, then turned suddenly and picked Koby up by wrapping his arms around his thighs and spinning him around.

Koby squealed and laughed, but also batted Vince somewhat urgently. “Ribs, ribs!”

While Drew hadn’t cracked any bones, thank fuck, Koby was still pretty bruised in various places. He’d become a pro at rotating ice packs. As much as he wanted to enjoy the moment with Vince, he didn’t want to undo any healing either.

“Oh, sorry.” Vince quickly put Koby down. But then he captured Koby’s face with his hands and kissed him softly. “You did all this for me?”

Koby smiled and caressed the sides of Vince’s face, running his fingers through his hair. “I did it for us. And this little terror here. Notice how all decorations are at least a foot off the floor?”

Pac-Man looked up and wagged his tail, no clue that Koby was throwing shade at him.

“Seriously, though.” Koby looked into Vince’s beautiful dark eyes. “I never felt like there was much point making this place festive. It was a workspace where I happened to sleep. But when I asked you to stay for a while…I saw it through your eyes. I wanted to make it a home.”

Vince hugged him close, but only as tightly as Koby’s bruised ribs would allow. He kissed Koby’s hair and rocked them slightly as he took in the apartment once again. “You did a great job, baby.”

Normally, Koby found a pet name like that uncomfortable. Forced. But it came so naturally from Vince it just made Koby’s heart pound whenever he heard it. Like he’d arrived home.

That was exactly how he’d wanted Vince to feel when he stepped inside his place. Like this was where he belonged. Koby knew Vince would soon be in the process of selling his apartment in Tulsa and probably looking for somewhere in Hidden Creek of his own. But Koby was tired of knocking around this drafty, gray space by himself. He’d always told himself it was what he wanted: functional.

Now he wanted it filled with love.

“How’s your head?” Koby changed the subject slightly.

“I’ve had no complaints.”

Koby blinked, taking a second to appreciate he’d actually heard what Vince had just said.

Vince cracked up with a snort, bending over and covering his mouth with his hand. “Kris said you’d ask that, and he dared me to reply like that and see how your face went.” Vince bit his lip, his eyes shining playfully. “I wish I’d had a camera.”

“Making friends with my friends, I see?” Koby asked wryly.

He may have rolled his eyes and batted Vince’s arm, but inside him, it was like a choir of angels. Kris had mentioned he and Harrison might swing by to see Vince in the hospital yesterday, but to know they’d done it, that they’d all got to know each other a little, was deeply touching.

“Yes. They were cool guys.” He rubbed Koby’s side tenderly, leaning down for a sweet kiss to the cheek. “They made me feel very welcome,” he murmured against Koby’s skin. “They also threatened to take a baseball bat to my knees if I ever broke your heart.”

“What!” Koby snapped back and looking at Vince in horror. “That’s awful, I’m so sorry!”

Vince looked perplexed at him. “Bat to the knees. Not head. I thought it was kind of sweet. Considerate even.”

“Don’t joke.” Koby tugged at Vince’s hoodie. Koby was mortified by the way his voice caught. Apparently, Vince didn’t miss it either.

“Hey, I’m okay,” he said gently, hugging Koby to him. “The doctors gave me the all clear. My head’s so good I could even go play ball again in the new year, they reckon.” He stroked Koby’s back. “But I’m not going to. I don’t want to. I am beyond happy. It’s like…while I wasn’t looking, my life went and fell into place just perfectly. I have everything I ever wanted. I don’t need to go thrill seeking. I’m not going to put myself in harm’s way.”

“Sorry,” Koby mumbled, not happy that his emotions had crept up on him so stealthily. “It’s just…you didn’t go thrill seeking before. But Drew still almost smashed your head in.”

For a long while, Vince didn’t say anything. He just hugged Koby and swayed them on the spot. It hadn’t taken the authorities long to find Drew at his mom’s house, bawling his eyes out because he thought he’d killed the man he still considered to be his best friend. Koby actually felt sorry for him. He evidently had a lot of issues.

But he was far more grateful for Vince’s recovery, which was apparently going to be a full one and sooner rather than later. He was happy and healthy and here in Koby’s arms.

He couldn’t think of a better Christmas present.

Pac-Man had obviously decided that the prolonged hugging naturally meant one of them was in grave danger, because he started barking and dancing around Koby and Vince’s feet. They leaned slightly away from each other to look down at the pup and laugh at him, wagging his tail and grinning. Right on cue for getting some attention, he pounced on Vince’s sneakers, tugging at the laces with ferocious little growls.

Vince nuzzled their noses together and kissed Koby’s lips. “We can’t worry about life happening,” Vince said in response to Koby’s fretting. “Sometimes, bad stuff goes on and there’s nothing we can do about it. If we try and control that shit, we’ll go nuts. We’ll also wake up in forty years’ time full of regrets.”

“Seize the day.” Koby let Vince’s words and scent and warm body relax him. “You’re right. I’m just…I guess I’m still kind of shaken after seeing you go down like that. People watching that game live must have felt the same way this summer.”

Vince shook his head. “I was in a game. Yeah, it was a shock, but I know there was an entertainment value to it as well. They might have flinched seeing me go down for the count, but they knew I was going to be okay, like watching a movie.” He frowned and rubbed Koby’s arms, biting his lip. “We were being attacked. You thought one of us might die, I know that. I think that might have messed with your head.”

Koby closed his eyes and leaned against Vince’s big, hard chest. Koby stroked his hoodie, playing with the toggles. “I might need a bit of time to deal with it,” he admitted. Then he sighed. “Perhaps I’ll go see someone. It’s been a while since I had some therapy.”

“You’ve had therapy?” Vince asked, dubious.

Koby looked up and him, a genuine grin on his lips. “Oh, baby. Everyone gets therapy these days. It’s amazing. You say the word and I’ll recommend a couple of great shrinks around here.” He kissed Vince’s chest above his heart and rubbed his hand against his ribs. “It’s like a sports massage for the mind.”

Vince chuckled like he wasn’t sure if Koby was kidding. But he still said, “Sure, okay.”

That was one of the things Koby liked about Vince. He didn’t have so many hang-ups. He just opened himself to new ideas all the time.

There were so many things Koby liked about Vince.

That he loved.

“Seriously, though.” Koby ran his fingers lightly over Vince’s chest. “How is your head feeling?” He deliberately emphasized the word to avoid the innuendo.

“It’s fine, hon.” Vince rubbed Koby’s back, sending shivers down his spine. “I have to be careful and go back for another scan next week. But it’s not sore. My bruises are worse, but even they’re fading.”

Koby bit his lip, his heartbeat increasing. “The thing is, I realized the last time you were here, I neglected to give you the proper tour. If I promise to be very gentle, would you like to see the bedroom?”

Vince’s smile was slow and sinful. “You don’t have to be that gentle,” he said, his voice a low rumble. He bent down and kissed Koby’s neck, making him shiver. “Lead the way, beautiful.”

It was those kinds of little things that Koby loved as well. How Vince called him gorgeous and handsome as much as he called him pretty and beautiful. He found ways all the time to show Koby that he loved him for exactly who he was, just the way he was.

Koby took Vince by the hand and led him to his bedroom. Koby had shared this space with plenty of people, but this time felt different. It felt like the start of something big.

“Sorry, buddy,” he said with a chuckle, closing the door on Pac-Man. “It’s grown-up time.”

“Darn right it is,” Vince growled happily, kissing along Koby’s jaw and dragging him toward the bed.

Vince wasn’t to know how long Koby had spent tidying his room and the rest of the apartment on Thursday so he could put up all the Christmas decorations. He’d always meant to hang up this picture or that canvas. He’d always meant to unbox the ornaments that Ginger had bought him as a housewarming gift. Just like he’d meant to make his shelves and display his books and knick-knacks. (He’d actually bribed Gabe into making the shelves while Koby and Remi were Christmas tree shopping. But the damn things were still made.)

He wanted to shut the bedroom door and feel like he was in a sanctuary. He hoped Vince would feel the same too.

Even if it was just for a few weeks until Vince got his own place, this was their bedroom now. They carefully toppled onto the freshly washed sheets, knocking away the throw pillows Kris had gotten Koby for his birthday.

This apartment wasn’t just full of life now. If was full of Koby’s friends, his community.

He’d never felt less alone.

“I was thinking,” Vince said as he tenderly unbuttoned Koby’s shirt. Koby had gotten dressed up to greet Vince and welcome him into the apartment, wearing the kilt Koby knew drove Vince crazy.

“What were you thinking?” Koby encouraged, peeling off Vince’s hoodie. Koby already had plans on stealing that thing. It was big enough he’d get lost for days inside it. It looked so snuggly and smelled of Vince, though. He couldn’t resist.

“Do you want to try fucking?” Vince asked.

Koby snorted, loving how shy Vince got using a ‘dirty’ word. “We’ve done quite a bit of fucking, baby.” Koby reached for Vince’s belt.

But Vince gently grabbed his hands and looked into Koby’s eyes. “No,” he said quietly. “I mean fucking.”

“Oh.” Excitement bubbled through Koby. “Do you want to top me?” He’d been fantasizing about Vince’s cock inside him since they’d first made out.

Vince bit his lip, looking adorably shy again. “I’d love to. If that’s what you’d want? I…well, I’ve been fingering myself, getting used to it. But I think I’d like to try topping first. Then maybe I could bottom another day.”

Koby couldn’t stop the thrilled laugh that escaped his throat. “You want to try both? You’d be vers?” he asked gleefully. “Oh dear lord, I really have hit the jackpot.”

Vince raised his eyebrows. “Are you vers, too? I looked it up – that means switching between topping and bottoming.” He nodded, like it was important Koby knew he’d taken his sex research seriously.

Koby kissed him. Then he kissed him again, unable to get enough. “Yes,” Koby said firmly. “But I kind of assumed – probably wrongly – that a big guy like you would just want to top. That was unfair.”

Vince bit his lip. “I might not like it,” he said bashfully.

Koby shook his head. “Then we won’t do it. We’ll never do anything we don’t like. But the fact you’re willing to try means a lot to me, Vince.”

Vince smiled, the good, happy kind of bashful this time. “I’ll try anything with you,” he whispered.

Koby believed it.

For a while, they just lay together, kissing and hugging with their tops off. But it wasn’t long before their hands began to wander and Koby’s cock thickened, coming to life with a healthy lust.

Vince crawled over him, making him feel safe and protected in between his arms. They fumbled with the rest of their clothes until there wasn’t a stitch between them. Vince looked glorious in the late afternoon sunshine, grinding down on Koby and sucking a love bite on his collarbone.

“Mine.” Vince kissed the mark once he was done.

Happiness tingled through Koby. He hadn’t had a love bite since he was a teenager. He’d forgotten what it felt like to be claimed. It was also kind of magnificent to have a mark he wanted, like a ‘fuck you’ to all the bruises Drew had inflicted on him.

Vince waited patiently as Koby leaned up, sucking his own blemish above Vince’s heart on his taut pec. “Mine,” Koby agreed once he’d finished.

Vince grinned at him, caressing his cheek and the side of his neck as he dipped down for more kisses. There was no ignoring the way their hard cocks were rubbing together, though, begging for attention and driving Koby wild.

“Do you want to use a condom?”

“Well, yeah-” Vince began, then he blinked. “Wait. You’re not going to get pregnant, are you?” He chuckled and rolled his eyes.

Koby shook his head. “We can still suit up to be safe, if you want. I got checked out recently, but I understand.”

Vince took a moment to think. “I was fine at my last physical and I haven’t had sex since then. Do you want to try without? Is that okay?”

Koby nodded in relief. “I’m all for safety. But it feels much nicer without,” he admitted. He wriggled under Vince to grab some lube from his dresser, offering it to Vince. “Do you want to finger me a bit?” He waggled his eyebrows. “Stretch me out for that lovely cock of yours.”

Vince went an adorable shade of crimson. But he was also damp and panting slightly with want. Koby knew even though he was kind of nervous, he was also turned on and having fun.

“Okay, baby.” Vince took the tube and squeezed some out with gusto. “Tell me if I need to do anything different. Oh-!”

Koby had lifted his legs to wrap them around Vince’s waist, exposing himself with a grin.

“Have fun,” he told Vince with a wink.

Vince chuckled, only a little apprehensive, then reached around to push a finger inside Koby’s waiting ass. Koby moaned and writhed, kissing Vince’s lips as he worked him, stretching out his hole. When he found Koby’s prostate, Koby jerked and yelped.

“There, baby, there,” he gasped, nodding and encouraging Vince to locate the sensitive spot again.

Vince frowned. “That little bumpy bit feels good?” He stroked it and made Koby want to cry.

“Fuck yes,” he cried with a laugh. “Oh, baby. Haven’t you discovered that yet? Fuck me now and later I’ll show you how good it is. You’ll love it.”

The smile on Vince’s face made Koby’s heart swell, whether it was from pleasuring Koby or his promise to show Vince the same joy later or both. But he beamed down at Koby as he teased him, playing with his prostate and making him rock hard.

“Yes, yes,” Koby rasped. “I want it, Vince. I’m ready, please, now.”

Vince nodded. “Okay.” He removed his fingers. “Do I just…”

Koby leaned up and kissed him. “Lots of lube, then just go for it,” he instructed, his desire making him high and giddy. “Take it slow, but I’m ready for you, I want you inside me so badly.”

Vince’s eyes were blown with lust and he swallowed, making his Adam’s apple bob. “Okay,” he said again. He squirted more gel onto his fingers, then rubbed it all over his cock and against Koby’s hole.

“So hot,” Koby whimpered. “Vince, baby. Yes, that’s it.”

Vince lined himself up and began to push. Koby closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, trying to relax and allow the intrusion. It helped as Vince got the tip through the initial ring, then leaned down to kiss Koby’s neck. Koby groaned and stroked Vince’s back.

“That’s good, darling,” Koby whispered.

The burn was there, but he knew it would fade once his body grew used to Vince’s girth. As was becoming usual for them, Koby trusted Vince completely. He would never intentionally hurt Koby. He would always care for him.

Vince gently rocked back and forth, pushing in deeper as he and Koby found their rhythm.

“Holy fuck, baby,” Vince panted. “You feel so good. It’s amazing. Are you okay?”

Koby nodded. Vince was trembling and his skin was deliciously prickled with sweat. His musk filled Koby’s lungs and his kisses left a hot tang on his lips. Koby felt like Vince was everywhere.

“I love it, don’t stop,” Koby said. He wailed as Vince’s cock found his prostate, sending sparks flying over his body. He caught his breath as Vince filled him up even further, pushing as far as he could go.

He let Koby catch his breath a second, but Koby was so desperate for Vince to fuck him hard. Koby began rocking, sliding Vince’s big cock a little in and out, encouraging Vince to start pounding him. There was nothing else except the way their slippery bodies were joined, how their breaths mingled between kisses, the way they looked into each other’s eyes. The whole world faded away.

“So beautiful,” Vince murmured as he thrust into Koby again and again. With their bruises, they couldn’t really get as wild as Koby would have liked. But this meant their first time was tender, filled with such love and passion.

Koby caught Vince’s lips for a kiss as his climax built. “I love you,” he gasped, taking his hard, weeping cock in hand, jerking himself off.

“Love you, too,” Vince said with a grunt, going as fast as he could. “Fuck, Koby. Gonna come.”

“Come inside me, baby,” Koby begged. “Fill me up, oh my god.”

Vince went rigid, shooting his load deep inside Koby, staying there as Koby jerked himself to completion. He cried out as he came all over himself, riding the high until he flopped back against the mattress, utterly spent.

Vince was still panting and quivering, so Koby reached up and cupped his face. “Did you like that, gorgeous?”

Vince chuckled and kissed Koby’s palm. “I loved it,” he said, catching his breath. Carefully, he eased out from between Koby’s ass and they both used a few tissues to mop up most of the mess. Then Koby pulled Vince against him, wrapping his limbs around Vince like an octopus under the comforter.

Vince laughed and cuddled him back. “You okay, baby?”

Koby nodded against his neck. “You’re mine, remember? I’m just reminding you how much I love that.” He felt his throat clamp up a bit and he smiled. “I’m so glad we found our way back to each other, Vince.” He meant since leaving school as well as after their fight. The universe worked in strange ways at times.

“I am, too.” Vince stroked Koby’s hair and placed sweet, sleepy kisses along his jaw. “You’ve changed my whole life. Thank you.”

Koby dozed in his perfect lover’s arms, knowing nothing in the world could touch him here.

He’d devoted his whole life to art, but as he and Vince drifted off, starting their first night together as a proper couple, he thought maybe he was beginning to understand something.

There was no masterpiece in this world quite like two people who were meant for each other falling in love.