Monday, December 16, 2013

Christmas Coda 19


 Mitch and Web from LONE STAR.


 
“How’s that?” Web asked.

Mitch moaned his pleasure.

“Yeah?” There was a smile in Web’s voice. “How about there?”

“Good…”

“How about right here?”

“Yeaaa — Ouch!”

“Sorry.”

“No, don’t stop! It’s all good.” Mitch pleaded, “Harder, Web…”

Web said with amused exasperation, “I prod any harder and I’m goin’ to puncture your calf muscle.”

Mitch opened his eyes and grinned at Web, and Web’s lean, tanned cheek creased in response. Even in the soft, multi-colored light from the very tall — Texas-sized — Christmas tree, his gaze was very blue, very bright, very tender.

They were lying on the wide, comfortable couch in the front room of the ranch house where Mitch had grown up. Not that it bore a lot of resemblance to that house, not after Web had got done with it. This was their home now, though it was still hard for Mitch to believe it. Seven months since he’d left the American Ballet Theater. Two years since he and Web had first made this plan. There had been times he’d believed they would never make it. And, to be honest, a few times he’d thought they were crazy for trying. But he was here now. Lock, stock, and barrel. For better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health and in leg cramps.

“How’s that?” Web asked. “Any better?”

Mitch nodded seriously. “Thank you.” He was generally in pain, one way or the other — that was the reality of life as a premier ballet dancer — so he sincerely appreciated physical relief, let alone pleasure.

Web smiled again, as though nothing gave him more satisfaction than to take away Mitch’s aches and pains. He went back to rubbing Mitch’s battered and bruised feet. Mitch sighed his enjoyment. “This is heaven.”

“It’ll do for starters.”

“Someday I’m going to get a pedicure,” Mitch murmured, closing his eyes again.

“You’re off for a week. Get one.”

“Can’t. Maybe when I retire some day. Not while I’m still performing. I need my calluses.” Though not this week. His mouth curved, thinking about the luxury of having a week — an entire week — off. This was one of the advantages of working with a smaller dance company. This afternoon’s Christmas Eve performance had been his final one of the season. He was actually going to have a vacation. A week with Web. Heaven. They hadn’t had a chance to spend this kind of time together since he’d come back to sell the ranch two years ago. It was going to be like a honeymoon.

“You look mighty pleased with yourself,” Web commented.

Mitch laughed. He opened his eyes and sat up, swinging his legs off the couch. “You sure it’s okay about tonight? Nobody’s going to be disappointed if we don’t show up at your parents’? You’re not going to be disappointed to spend Christmas Eve here, just the two of us?”

Web reached over and smoothed the crease between Mitch’s brows with the edge of his thumb. “I wouldn’t have suggested it if it was a problem for anybody.”

“Yes, you would have,” Mitch said. “You think I’m tired and stressed-out and need a break from people. Or people need a break from me.”

Web nodded. “Well, sure. That’s all true, Mitchell. But the fact is, I want this time with you. I want your undivided attention for a few hours.”

Mitch leaned in for a kiss. “Oh you do, do you?”

Web kissed him back with unexpected hunger, and Mitch’s heart did a happy little flip. Sometimes he still had trouble believing things were going to work out, but so far, so good. Because of Web. Because Web made it possible. Made it — almost — easy.

“We’re goin’ to have our own little party tonight. I’ve got a bottle of champagne chilling, supper in the fridge, a dessert that will make you fat just lookin’ at it, and silk sheets on the bed,” Web told him.

“Silk sheets?” Mitch started to laugh.

“Cross my heart.”

“I’ve never had silk sheets. What color are they?”

Web looked reflective. “Not sure. They might be pale green or they might be gray. Maybe you should come and check them out?”

“I’m pretty tired,” Mitch said regretfully. “I think you’d have to car —” His breath whooshed out as Web stood, grabbed his arm, and hoisted him over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry.

Mitch began to laugh. “You crazy cowpoke…”

Web was laughing too. He swatted Mitch’s ass. “What do you call this lift again? A press lift?”

“It might be a lifestyle lift…”

“It might at that, Mitchell. It might at that.”

As Web bore him away down the hall, Mitch had a final upside down view of the Christmas tree with its gold and glittering star.

55 comments:

  1. Now that was a misleading beginning, haha, and I fully enjoyed it. I was wondering if they would stay at Mitch's ranch after all and how they would modify it to fit them when I was reading the story. They can't still sleep in Mitch's single bed, after all, right? Though no details of the renovation have been disclosed here, I'm sure it's a tasteful one.

    Thank you, Josh, for the coda. It's good to know that they survived the long-distance thing and have a new life together finally!

    Savanna

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    1. I've noticed as I've been adding to the coda collection that I have a habit of going back and adding little details here and there. So who knows. You may eventually get info on the actual knocking out of windows and purchase of furnishings. :-)

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  2. This was another lovely coda.

    It's nice to know where they are and it is just realistic to see that to road they took was a bit bumpy.

    Thank you, dear Josh!

    Ciao

    Antonella

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    1. I suspect Mitch had many moments of doubt and even panic along the way to peace and happiness. :-)

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  3. Lone Star was my first Josh story. I purchased it for myself on Christmas day, two years ago. Love, love, love it! It is wonderful to visit them again. Thank you!

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  4. Love the Coda Josh! These Codas always put me in the mood for rereads :) I think I'll have to do a Lone Star reread soon!

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  5. Lovely coda, Josh, thank you! Lone Star is one of the stories that really stayed with me for two reasons - one, it made me appreciate dancers all the more, and second, i love the characters and i'm so happy Mitch and Web have their own place, have found each other again. I'm listening now to the audio and it's so good too! Surround experience :-)

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  6. Oh,,now that just made me sigh. How sweet!! I love these two, it's nice to catch up with them and see how life is going. Thank you, Josh!

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  7. Wonderful to see Mitch getting that massage and Web enjoying giving it. Such a simple, loving, caring gesture. Thank you for this glimpse! And I loved how you started it — you big TEASE! ;-)

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  8. Oh, Josh! Loved the opening bit! But honestly, I think I know you well enough to recognize one of your teasing misdirections. :)

    Your Christmas codas put me in the holiday mood AND the reread mood so Lone Star may be at my bedside tonight. Thanks for this lovely passing look at Web & Mitch. They deserve their HEA.

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    1. Yes, I'd be pretty shy about putting full blown porn on the front page of my blog, let's face it. :-)

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  9. Beautiful and perfect update Josh! Merry Christmas to Mitch & Web :-)

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  10. I liked that you may have been inspired by the answer from the contest you had run for the anthology's *what happen afterward*. I remembered the gift idea you picked was foot massage from Web and CD from Mitch.

    I really like Lone Star and I am glad to see Web and Mitch still going strong together :D.

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  11. Loved the teaser opening! At that moment, Mitch probably enjoyed the foot and leg massage as much as...the "other possibility." :-D I love the Christmas Codas...I'm sitting here at my desk with a big smile on a Monday morning. Thanks, Josh.

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  12. Yay for making Mondays -- especially holiday season Mondays -- brighter and sweeter!

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  13. Lovely and sweet, perfect for Christmas. Thank you for this.
    Anne

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  14. Sigh and smile. I love it, so peaceful and loving, just what I need right now :-)
    Thank you Josh.

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  15. I just finished listening to Lone Star on Friday, so this coda is a particularly wonderful surprise. I'm glad it all worked out for Mitch and Web.

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  16. Loved the lifestyle lift and my morning smile. Thank you Josh. This was a wonderful start to the codas.

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  17. That was lovely. Thank you!

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  18. Aren't they sweet together? I love how they enjoy each others company. :-)

    One question still remains: What happened to the reindeer? ;-)

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  19. These codas are such a sweet Christmas gift. Thanks, Josh.

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  20. I love their Christmas tree star! Thank you, Josh - this is a lovely story, with them getting their HEA even after a wait, so it's nice to see how it's working out.

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  21. This was such a sweet start to the codas :) Thank you for the cute glimpse of Mitch and Web. Mitch is a character that really stuck with me, so I'm especially happy to see Mitch and Web are doing well (^O^)

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    1. Something about a ballet dancer and a cowboy just spells romance. ;-)

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  22. Aw, this was lovely, Josh. Thank you. Mitch and Web are a great start for the codas - I always the loved the idea of a cowboy and ballet danseur falling in love.

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  23. I love these Christmas codas, it's great to see these guys are doing well. I will be looking forward to the rest of them.

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    1. They're my little gift to you guys. Thank you for reading along!

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  24. Happy sigh! That was so relaxing, I'm happy everything worked out so well <3

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  25. Thank you for letting us visit with them again. Lonestar was the first e-book I bought, nice to hear from them again

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  26. I'm so glad that Mitch and Web are happy together. Thanks for the coda, Josh :)

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  27. Thank you so much for the Codas, especially this one. It was the first M/M romance I had ever, read/heard. I work from home and listen to a lot of audio books and this was the first one I chose from the men under the mistletoe anthology to listen to and I was hooked.

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  28. I knew they would make it :-)-these are so fun because it's like reading the next chapter or the 1st chapter of the next book. Thank you Josh.

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    1. It's fun writing them for the same reason. Just a little kiss goodnight.

      Or sometimes hello. ;-)

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  29. I love that this is a two year's later Christmas coda to a Christmas story. Definitely re-read/re-listen material for my upcoming break. Thank you!

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  30. Aww... :} <3
    I have JUST finished reading Lone Star...and found THIS. And it made me smile right from the beginning to the end, seeing those two lovely main characters whom...I will have to say goodbye to for a while until I revisit them next time. :')

    Thank you for the lovely additional story, Josh-san.

    Chie

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