Marshmallows and the Snow [Sweet Snacks: 1] (8 page)

He huffed. At least he had enough wood for the next winter. Never before had the stack been bigger. Aleks always chopped wood when he was in a bad mood. Given that Ruben wasn’t with him, he went out to chop wood plenty. It was a good way to lose the calories he consumed when eating his bad-mood-ice-cream.

Olga flapped and shu-huued again. She was antsy today. Usually, she sat on a branch and merely stared at him till he gave in and fetched her a treat from the kitchen. Spoiled bird. But she was Ruben’s, so he didn’t have the heart to deny her anything. Today though, she acted restless. The reason was her secret. Maybe she’d eaten an old mouse.

Eighty fucking days! The first two weeks had been pure hell, but he’d hoped it’d be better after some time. Bad mistake. Every week pushed him closer to the edge of losing his shit. Without Ruben, everything seemed dull. Lifeless. Aleks knew he had to get a grip soon or he’d end up a lonely, fat, wood-chopping creep talking to an owl the whole time. Hooray!

The sound of an approaching car pulled him out of his gloomy thoughts. Who could that be? Aleks checked his watch and frowned. It was too early for Maike to come around. She was still busy at the hotel. But who else would come to visit him? A hunter maybe? Tourists? God, he hoped not!

It was an SUV, which wasn’t odd. In the woods, you needed a big car with four-wheel drive. The sun hitting the windshield made it impossible for Aleks to see who sat behind the wheel. Just to be on the safe side, he grabbed the shotgun leaning beside him, and laid it across his legs.

Then the car stopped, the door swung open and... Aleks gasped. No, that couldn’t be true! Was he dreaming? Would he wake up, lonely lying in his bed and clutching a pillow to his chest like so many nights before? He stood on wobbly legs, still clutching the shotgun, and stared.

“So... will you greet me with your shotgun every time I come home? Or is it an honor you reserve for special occasions?” the apparition asked with a sexy little smirk.

Aleks shook his head in wonder. “No. Not for special occasions. It’s for special people,” he choked out and securely sat the gun aside. In the next second he found himself with two arms full of quirky, squealing little Brit.

“Right answer!” Ruben peppered kiss after hungry kiss on Aleks’ lips. “I’d hate to be one of many.”

“Engel, you’ll never be one of many. You’re the one and only. Always.” With that, he scooped Ruben up, placed his hands under the tight bum he adored so much, and carried the man into their cabin. Ruben giggled and wriggled, pushing his hardening erection against Aleks’ stomach.

“Sounds wonderful, love. God, I missed you so damn much!” Ruben murmured against his neck while licking him. “Every day away from you was pure hell! I’m so sorry it took so long to sort everything out, Aleks.”

Aleks kicked the bedroom door shut behind them and lowered his precious cargo onto the soft sheets. “It’s okay,
engel.
I missed you, too. Like crazy! But you’re here now and we’re together.” He brushed some wayward curls off his lover’s face and couldn’t take his eyes off those adorable features. God, Ruben was pretty. Prettier than eighty days ago. His hair was a tad longer after their weeks of separation and made his eyes appear huge. “I’m surprised though. I thought you’d arrive in two weeks!”

Ruben giggled and worked the buttons on Aleks’ flannel shirt. “Oh, I can go and stay at the hotel for fourteen days if you don’t want me with you,” he teased while easing one of his slender hands under the fabric. Curious fingers carded through the curls on his chest and pinched a nipple. Aleks grunted and placed his heavier body on top of Ruben’s, pinning him to the mattress so he couldn’t escape.

“You’ll never leave this cabin again, Ruben.” He growled against the man’s neck and nibbled at silky skin. Ruben squirmed and panted beneath him. Just where he belonged. “Now I have you home...”

Ruben rained sloppy kisses on his cheek and neck. “I don’t want to go. And I’m here because there was no way I could manage another night without you. So I talked to my boss, Eric, and changed my flight,” he said breathless. No wonder. Aleks had unfastened his lover’s pants and his hand was busy stroking Ruben’s rock hard shaft. Ruben arched his back and whispered, “My
Mjölnir
missed you.”

“What part of me, precisely?” He let his hand travel lower to gently cup Ruben’s balls and play with his piercing as he asked for clarification.

“Hand, mouth, everything. Oh God! Aleks, more! I waited so damn long.”

Yeah. They had both waited damn long. During those eighty days of separation, Aleks had managed to visit Ruben in London once for three days. Way too short. Ruben had pressed him for sex while he’d visited. Aleks had refused to take this step though. Which proved that sometimes he was such a stupid bastard. But he’d wanted Ruben’s first time to be special. And at home. In their bed.

He nipped the lobe of Ruben’s ear and rasped, “Your dick will become acquainted with some new parts of my body, soon, believe me.”

Ruben’s body tensing caused Aleks to stop the exploration of this tender spot behind Ruben’s ear. When he looked up, he met his man’s wide-eyed stare.

“Ruben? What’s wrong,
engel?
”

“Ah... uh... what? What new parts?” Ruben seemed confused. Then the penny obviously dropped and it looked like Ruben’s eyes wanted to pop out of his head. “Fucking hell, Aleks! You want me to... to...”

“Make love to me? Well, of course. I’m very picky when it comes to bottoming, so I haven’t done it often. But I love you and I want to share that with you. That is, if you’re interested in topping me.” He grinned wickedly.

Ruben let out a kind of garbled sound and his eyes rolled back in his head. “Aleks! Fuck. Less talking, more action, or I’m going to come before we get started.”

Aleks snickered and soon both their clothes lay in a pile on the floor, while their bodies rolled around the bed. Suddenly, Ruben placed his small hands on Aleks’ chest.

“Wait! Wait! I need to ask something before we do this.”

Aleks groaned and pressed his face into the crook of Ruben’s neck. “Now? What, Ruben?”

“Did you take care of my owl?” Ruben asked in a grave voice.

What? Seriously?
Aleks squeezed not only his eyes shut, but the base of his prick, too.

“Ruben,
engel,
you’re going to be the death of me! Yes, Olga is fine. Can we... please...”

“I’m teasing, love.” Ruben giggled, and with more strength than Aleks thought the little guy possessed, rolled Aleks onto his back and climbed on top. “The look on your face! Priceless,” he said with a cheeky grin and rocked his hips. Aleks groaned and arched his back to receive more friction. Ruben’s position had put Aleks’ prick between the cheeks of his pert little ass and the sensation was driving him nuts. His hands grabbed Ruben’s slim hips, helping with the slow, delicious back and forth.

“Oh fuck, Ruben!”

“Yeah,” his lover gasped and rocked again. “Fucking Ruben sounds good. Let’s do it. Show me, Aleks. Make love to me.”

And he did. That night, amidst soft cushions and warm blankets, Ruben experienced what it felt like to be loved, both emotionally and carnally. It was soft and it was hard, slow and fast, languid and hurried. It was a tiny bit of pain and a whole lot of bliss. It was all that and so much more he didn’t have the words to describe as Aleks held him in his arms, kissed, caressed and moved their bodies in a sensual rhythm. And it was love. Deep, strong love that would tie them together for many happy years to come.

Olga, sat on a branch, blinked her eyes and let out a satisfied shu-huuu.

Liza grew up in a tiny village in Germany, the kind where you know everybody and everybody knows you. She migrated to a bigger town to attend college, although her parents often wonder if she really moved out. Now, with a degree in her pocket, she’s perfectly capable of working as a librarian. Never one to do what’s expected of her, Liza currently browses different branches of employment.

She started writing in college when she found herself unable to ignore the guys living in her head any longer. And to distract herself from the stifling, non-fiction stuff taught in class. Liza is really fond of the dudes whispering in her mind—no matter if handsome or flawed, big or small, sulky or easy-going. They all deserve love and their HEAs.

When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up with a good book and a cup of tea, a cat in her lap, or a camera at the ready.

You can contact her at [email protected]

Or visit her blog at https://onelizakay.wordpress.com/