Christmas Tree Wishes

Chapter 9

Sam tried not to think of the warmth that seeped from Jackson, who lay not a foot away from him in the king size bed. He wanted to slide his hand across the distance and hold the hand of the beautiful man beside him. Sam's thoughts wandered back to the afternoon and to the kiss they almost shared. He wished they could reach that moment again.

He wanted to know what kissing Jackson felt like. He wanted to know just how soft his lips were and if he enjoyed kissing. Sam loved kissing. He loved the feel of soft, moist lips pressed to his and the delicate dance that their tongues embarked on. Everything about kissing could be wonderful if the person you were practicing with loved to kiss as well.

Sam smiled to himself as he wondered what Jackson was thinking beside him. He shifted slightly, moving his hand just a few inches. They had held hands before while shopping for the tree, but this was different. Sam had grabbed Jackson's hand to guide him and Jackson had let him, but if he were to reach out for Jackson's hand now it would signal a change in their friendship and if Jackson didn't want that change then Sam would have ruined everything.

Just as he was trying to decide if he should close the distance between their fingers, Sam felt a pinky finger graze against his. Jackson had made the first move. Sam reached out his pinky to wrap around Jackson's.

They lay there in the dark silence, neither speaking, with just the light squeeze of their linked fingers to say the other was there. Sam smiled softly in the dark, there was something innocent and a bit naive in the moment they were sharing. Sam couldn't ask for better than this.

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The next day, Sam woke to find the other side of the bed empty already. He tried not to let it get to him, but he had hoped to wake and find Jackson still lying near him. He had enjoyed a rather juicy dream about Jackson last night and had hoped to wake next to him. Oh well. Time to get moving again. It was a quarter past eight already.

Sam took a shower and had just finished dressing when Jackson returned to the room.

"Good morning, I brought coffee and bagels for breakfast. I wasn't sure about your bagel preference, so I went simple with cream cheese. I hope that is okay?" Jackson set down the coffee and bag of bagels as Sam stepped out of the bathroom.

"That's perfect. Thanks!" Sam smiled, helping himself to a bagel and a coffee. "You're up early?"

"Yeah, I wanted to be at the service garage first thing, to make sure the car was ready to go." Jackson munched on his bagel, standing by the window.

Sam took in the sight of Jackson in his well fitted jeans and blue flannel shirt, and wanted to run his hands over the outfit and bury them in Jackson's curly hair. "Oh, thoughtful. When will it be ready?"

"Should be good to go as soon as you are ready to leave. We still have two hours until your parents', I believe?" Jackson commented, finishing his bagel in a few bites.

Sam tried not to stare as Jackson wiped the corners of his mouth and finished his coffee. "Great, I will just finish getting ready then."

"Okay."

Sam could feel Jackson's eyes following him around the room as he packed everything up and made sure he hadn't forgotten anything.

"All set?" Jackson asked, moving his suitcase to sit by the door.

"All set," Sam replied. He took a quick turn around the room as he passed the bed, his mind wandered to last night and the feel of Jackson's finger wrapped with his. He hoped it was only the beginning for them. Just the start of something much more...