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Alec stepped into a small half bath, rustic and as masculine as the rest of the home's decor. He

sat on the cold toilet seat and relief surged from his aching bladder. He squinted his eyes from the three bright bulbs above the mirror and sink.

Once finished, he washed up and tiptoed back down the hall, returning to the den. Tyler was

there on the floor, arm extended up and inviting, baring the quilt like a cape—a superhero gone

horizontal. Alec slipped into the tunnel he'd made and let the large man envelop him like before…

only now there was a little more of him down below.

"Better?" he asked.

"Much better."

"You discovered my secret storage room. It's where I hide the bodies."

"Of what… elves?"

He chuckled. "Brett was a little over-the-top with holidays. The attic is full too."

"It is that time of year, you know."

"Yeah… I don't celebrate much anymore."

Alec said nothing, remembering that this man had lost someone vital. He tried to put himself in

the same position, imagining what that would be like.

He couldn't.

"We could get some out though. Decorate a little…" Tyler said. "If you'd like."

"No," Alec said, perhaps a little too quick. He wasn't prepared to step into that role. "I don't really celebrate either."

They lay there for a while, their bodies calm, still… only Alec's brain, now waking and sober

had booted, the neurons going rapid-fire with thought and speculation. Here he was in a relaxing,

safe, sublime environment, Tyler's warm body holding his, offering splendid comfort… yet his mind

was having none of it.

"What's wrong?" Tyler asked.

"Nothing. Why?"

"You're fidgeting. I can feel your eyes moving."

"I—" Alec began.

Tyler squeezed him tighter, sensing his apprehension.

Alec pivoted in Tyler's grip so they were facing. "Are we moving too fast?" he said.

Tyler's expression was relaxed but quizzical. "I'm not," he said. "But if you feel that way, we can slow down." He offered Alec a sleepy smile. He was so god-damned sexy… so self-assured…

so stable.