2: Sleigh Bells Ring
Pelaam (c) October 2008.
I got several requests for a sequel for these guys. So here it is.
Gavin was in Hell. Of that he was certain. Hell, Hades, Dante's Inferno, whatever name it was given, the pain, the torment, the misery stayed the same. And it was his own stupid, insecure, childish fault. He sighed disconsolately, inordinately glad that no one sat in the plane seat next to him. He rubbed at the tear that had burrowed free of his closed eyes. It should have been a joyous time. It was almost the twelve-month anniversary of Piotr and he becoming lovers and he had made and discarded many plans on how they would celebrate.
Instead, Piotr's company had thrown a spanner, no a towering, telephone pylon, into his plans. They decided to launch a new product. They wanted two four-day events, mixing seminars and networking with wining and dining their prospective clientele. One was to be in Copenhagen, the other Stockholm, with just three days between them. Piotr was in charge of all the arrangements: accommodation, transport, dining and entertainment as well as ensuring everything necessary was in place for the seminar such as samples, laptops and projection screens, even the contents of the 'goodie-bag' freebies. Gavin's mind had been overwhelmed just at the thought of it all.
But worse than all of that was the fact that Piotr would then head-up each seminar. He would be away from home for almost two weeks when the couple had not spent a night apart for nearly twelve months. Hell suddenly did not seem adequate to describe Gavin's anguish.
A part of him was so very proud of Piotr and he felt guilt and shame wash over him. He had not once said as much. Instead he had moaned when Piotr was late, whined when he had worked weekends and sulked when Piotr was too tired to make love, accusing the blond of loving his work more than Gavin himself. They had their disagreements over their time together, but they had also worked to resolve them amicably and swiftly and the make-up loving sessions had always banished away the darkness. But not this time. Gavin had griped his way through the precious time they had before Piotr left and the brunette was sure his lover was glad to have gone.
He slipped his hand into his pocket to clutch at the gaily decorated box he had not let leave his side for almost a month. They had spoken briefly by telephone during Piotr's absence, but Gavin had found it impossible to let Piotr know how truly miserable he really was or how much he loved his absent mate. Part of his insecure mind was sure Piotr would be hoping he would not be on his way. His heart and soul prayed the younger man would welcome him with open arms. Plane tickets and a four-day stay in Lapland was the company's 'thank you' to Piotr and Gavin. He fervently hoped he would be given a chance to apologise and that Piotr still loved him as much as he knew he loved his beautiful blond.
****
Gavin did not think it was possible for his heart to ache more than it already did, but as he cleared the airport check-in and scanned the small crowd of people, there was no sign of the athletic body of his lover. As he moved further inside the terminal he fought back tears as an unknown man, clearly a driver, held up a placard with his name on it. He swallowed hard; if Piotr really wanted him there surely he would have come to pick him up.
The ride in the taxi was a sad and silent one. Gain barely noticed the lights of the small town thinning out to become the odd glinting diamond in inky blackness. Nor did he see the equally bejewelled sky. His sole focus was getting to his lover. He *knew* Piotr would never be so purposely hurtful as to let him travel all the way out there only to tell him their relationship was over. However, a part of him could not help but dwell on the irony that he was heading to a similar environment to where he had found his greatest happiness, only to potentially have it snatched away. Once more his fingers found the box in his pocket. It was almost like a talisman to him now. Please, Piotr, please, please. The words were a mantra in Gavin's mind.
As the taxi drove away, Gavin looked at the key he had been given. He used it to open the door and stepped inside. A couple of dim lamps were the only light and the fire was little more than embers. Gavin's body slumped in abject misery. Piotr was not here. Almost blinded by tears he stumbled his way from the living room to find the bedroom. He stretched, fully dressed, on the large bed and let his sorrow have free reign.
****
Gavin batted futilely at hands that shook him and tried to make sense of the buzzing sound. The shaking became more insistent and the noise became recognisable words.
"Gavin, please wake up. Are you ill?"
Gavin's eyes forced themselves open at the beloved voice and the anxiety in its tone. He saw normally brilliant-blue eyes dulled with tiredness and concern. There were tiny lines around them that Gavin knew signalled his lover suffering from lack of sleep or headaches and the beautiful visage seemed thinner. He reached up a shaky hand to confirm that Piotr was not just a figment of his imagination and then wrapped his arms around the blond.
"Don't leave me, please don't leave me. I love you, I love you," he sobbed.
"Leave you, oh love, never," Piotr rasped.
For a few moments the two men simply held each other, Gavin settling at the feel of the strong arms around his body and the kisses dropped into his hair. Finally he pulled back enough to gaze up at the younger man.
"You look tired and you've lost weight," he said, searching his lover's face.
"Not enough sleep and not eating properly without you to take care of me, baby," Piotr replied, nuzzling at Gavin's temple. "Let's go into the living room and have a drink. I want to clear things between us before we come back to bed."
Soon Gavin was busy making brandy-laced hot chocolate as Piotr tended the fire. Now that the main light was on, he could see there were a couple of oil heaters to supplement the real fire his talented lover was insistently coaxing into roaring flames. Alongside the fire was a small, real Christmas tree. It was adorned with lights and a star. He gave a soft smile. His lover was always a romantic at heart and Gavin felt a swell of love for the blond. He brought the drinks to the large settee and settled with Piotr at his side.
"I'm sorry."
Two voices spoke in unison and brunette and blond laughed softly. Gavin smiled, feeling at ease for the first time in almost a month and let Piotr place his half-finished drink on the small wooden table at the side of their sofa. He did not resist when the blond urged him to sit straddling his powerful thighs so they could look eye-to-eye.
"I really am sorry, Piotr," Gavin said. "I behaved like a spoilt brat. I was sure I'd driven you away."
"And I behaved like a pig-headed idiot," Piotr countered. "I was really pleased I'd been asked. I wanted to show them what I was capable of. Then Marion said, in front of my boss and more importantly in front of his, that I was a poor choice because my 'home commitments' meant I wouldn't put in the time necessary to get the job done."
