There was no other word for it. Vin was pouting. Chris swore vehemently at the snow piling up outside and the travel advisory warning on the TV.
He'd never experienced a pouting Vin Tanner. Vin took everything in stride. Vin dealt with life on life's terms. Vin accepted things and often told Chris how much better off he'd be if he did the same. But now he was responsible for causing his go-with-the-flow sharpshooter to end a phone conversation with a goodbye that sounded like Jody saying a forever "so long" to Buffy, Cissy and Uncle Bill! Geez he felt like a heel. But it wasn't his fault the snow was up to the bottom of the window casing, was it??
Larabee swore again and paced the living room, alternately watching the traffic news and eyeing the storm. If he put the chains on the truck ...
Shit! What was he thinking? Go out in this shit when he was warm and safe and dry, and so was Vin?!
But his lover had sounded so down. So unlike himself. So ... disappointed. If there was anything in the world he tried not to do it was disappoint Vin.
He sighed again. And went to get his boots.
Setting the timers on the horse's grain feeders and hay drops, he made sure they had full troughs of fresh water and carefully latched the stall doors on his way out. Grabbing his tire chains from the equipment closet inside the tack room, he grumbled his way into the snow and set about making the truck storm-worthy.
The Dodge bit into the white fluff with a force that matched the blond's temper. He'd made Vin sad, damn it, and he had to make it right. Shit! He cursed himself again. Damn it my Vin doesn't pout! But today, he had. And it was Chris' fault.
The black-clad agent glanced at the colorful pile of presents on the seat next to him. He forced his muscles to relax as he fought the black ice and rough road that led to the freeway. How could he have been so stupid not to know that missing this birthday would matter? It was Vin's first since they'd been together, and the first since
his ma had died that Vin planned to do anything more than work.
"Larabee you're such an idiot," he chastised himself again.
Tired of his own thoughts and ill-tempered mutterings, he flipped on the radio ...
|
My love,
I'll never find the words my love,
to tell you how I feel my love.
Mere words, could not explain.
Precious love,
You held my life within your hands,
Created everything I am,
Taught me how to live again.
Only you,
Came when I needed a friend,
Believed in me through thick and thin,
This song is for you, filled with graditude and love...
God bless you, you make me feel brand new,
For God blessed me with you,
You make me feel brand new,
I sing this song 'cause you
Make me feel brand new.
My love,
When ever I was insecure,
You built me up and made me sure,
You gave, my pride, back to me.
Precious friend,
With you I'll always have a friend,
Your someone who I can depend,
To walk a path that sometimes bends.
Without you,
Life has no meaning or rhyme,
Like notes to a song out of time,
How can I repay, you'll find heaven,faith and me...
|
Chris stared out the window, images of Vin flashing though his mind as the song that perfectly mirrored their relationship filled the warm, dry cab of the truck. Vin had made his life brand new ... And now, instead of being angry with Larabee for almost blowing off his birthday, Vin had given him the gift of his disappointment. A gift because it said so much about how he longed for the stubborn blond with the bad temper.
Chris stopped at the Walmart a neighborhood to the east of Vin's Pergatorio apartment. He doubted he could find what he was looking for in the little market across from the rundown building to which he was headed. Thankful the store was still open despite the foul weather, he picked up supplies and set out once again to surprise the man who had become his life.
The knock did surprise Vin, and he found his heart beating a little faster. It couldn't be, could it? Nah ... probably Mrs. Martinelli with a plate of spaghetti. He could smell it cooking all day as he went back and forth from shoveling the walk to the building entry to get warm.
Forcing his raised hopes down to a dull wish, he went to the door, socks padding quietly on the hard wood.
He opened the door to ... no one. A bit of color caught his eye, though, and he looked down at the floor. It was a horse. A big, stuffed, blue horse. A horse the exact color of his eyes. And around his neck wound a bright, purple ribbon.
His heart began pounding this time. He reached for the horse and, as he leaned out his door, he saw another big, stuffed horse. But this one was green. It sat in the arms of his lover, perched against the railing of the down staircase just to the left of his doorway.
His eyes smiled first. They glistened in the dim light of the hallway, and the toothy grin that followed was just icing on the cake of those big, sparkling baby-blues.
Throwing all hints of adulthood and propriety to the wind, Vin launched himself at the handsome blond, burying himself in his arms and laughing with joyful abandon.
Chris tried to smile, but the lump in his throat made it difficult to do much but close his eyes with gratitude for the man he held. He clutched the tousle-haired cowboy to him and held on for dear life.
Finally breaking away, Vin smiled his for-Chris-only smile and led the way back into the apartment. It damn near broke Chris' heart yet again when he saw that Vin had done his best to celebrate without him. Candles were lit and Vin's favorite -- well second favorite, he'd discovered -- video was playing. There was a bottle of beer sweating on the coffee table, and a Twinkie close by.
"V ... " he paused to clear his throat. "Vin ... I need ya to go into your room for a few minutes."
"Why's that, cowboy?" Vin asked as he padded to the 'fridge for another beer.
"Just do it! This is not the time to be asking questions. And don't come out till I tell ya!" Chris fought a grin, finally getting into the spirit of the game.
Vin gave him a puzzled frown and handed him the cold beer. Walking toward the bedroom he threw a look back over his shoulder, unable to hide the excitement sparking just below the surface.
Chris chuckled again and began his assault on the drab room. In twenty minutes it looked like a brand new apartment.
Streamers hung from the ceiling in bright blues and greens. Balloons were tied or hung everywhere. With the aid of the disposable party tank he'd purchased, he even had balloons with bright colored ribbons floating on the ceiling.
A huge birthday cake sat in the middle of the coffe table, complete with candles ready to light, and little figures of horses and cowboys on top. The thick, gooey icing was even tempting to Chris, and he knew his sharpshooter would love it.
Next to the cake sat bags of Vin's favorite junk food. A cold, fresh, beer had replaced the one Vin had been working on when Chris arrived.
On top of the pile of presents on the couch, stood a gift sack that contained a previously-viewed video. A video Vin would never admit was his favorite, and would never tell another living soul he wanted. Chris had just happened to get lucky and overhear him calling around trying to find it and had moved hell and high water to lay his hands on a copy.
On the wall across from the door was taped a Pin-The-Tail-On-The-Donkey game, with a twist. Each part of the donkey was labeled with a delectable Vin body part. Each tail pinned would lead Chris to nibble whereever the tail landed.
Turning the lights back off and making sure the candles in the room shed the proper glow, he was finally satisfied. He went to retrieve the birthday boy.
Chris slipped into the bedroom, barely opening the door. Vin sat impatiently waiting on the bed, and the blond grinned at him.
"Come're," he said softly with a smile.
Vin smiled back and rose, his usual panther-like grace sparking the never-dying ember of desire that lived in Larabee. Taking Tanner into his arms, he brushed the full, sexy lips with his own.
"Hi cowboy," Chris whispered.
"Hi, yourself."
"I'm gonna kiss ya now."
Vin sighed. "God I hope so..."
The blond's mouth closed over the sharpshooter's, gently coaxing moist lips apart. A teasing tongue stroked the inside of Vin's bottom lip, then the same flesh was tugged gently with playful teeth, until it was stroked and soothed again with a lick.
Strong fingers tangled in the tousled curls of the younger man, tilting his head as Chris increased his assault on Vin's sweet mouth, opening him further to his sensual attack. A soft moan purred in the Texan's throat, and Chris growled with satisfaction, turning wild as the kiss burst out of both men's control.
The sound of harsh, ragged breathing filled the room, and desperate moans of hunger emanated from the men who tried so diligently to become the other. Beyond thought, they kissed with feral passion, nothing held back, nothing offered left unclaimed.
Chris' arm went to the small of Vin's back and pulled, bringing their hips in line. Their bodies danced in time with their tongues, and their cocks gave up their precious, liquid life as untamed cries of terrible ecstacy rang within the tiny apartment.
Chris stumbled back against the doorframe, bracing himself before pulling Vin more securely against him. The trembling in his legs was echoed in the shuddering body in his arms. Both fought for air for long minutes, finally sighing with long, exhausted breaths.
Recovered, Vin pulled himself from his Cowboy's arms and glanced around into the main room. Once again his eyes lit up like a child's and tears gathered in the corners.
"Aw Cowboy," he said on a choked breath. "It's ... it's perfect."
Chris took Vin's hand in his and settled him on the couch in front of his cake. Lighting the plethora of tiny torches he'd placed there, he grinned.
"Make a wish."
Vin looked up into the blond's hazel eyes, his heart in his own blue gaze.
"Don't need to ... got ever'thing I need. Ever'thing I ever wanted."
Chris met his eyes steadily and answered him quietly.
"I love you, too, Vin. Happy birthday."
A huff and a puff and all the candles went out. And then, big bad sharpshooter-ATF-agent Vincent Michael Tanner, somewhere in his twenties, yelped like a five year old with delight as he pulled his first present from its bag and ran to put it in the VCR.
Chris sat back watching and smiled. Yup. He'd even sit through "Cinderella" for this man.
The End
