Egg the Halls

Chapter 2-2

Dom had pulled out most of the salad ingredients by the time Kiko’s truck pulled into the driveway. He felt on edge, irritated. He knew at some point he’d have to confront everything, probably confess some family-related s**t to Kiko, and he hated it. Why it always had to be around the holidays when his family bothered him, he didn’t know.

“There,” said Kiko when he set Mother on the floor. “Can’t tell whether you’re getting heavier or I’m just tired.” He turned to lock the door behind him, a habit he’d gotten into months ago even though most people in Mount Angus didn’t bother.

“Got out everything,” said Dom. “Want me to wash the spinach?”

“Thanks,” said Kiko as he went through the process of changing Mother’s diaper.

Dom hated the tension. He gritted his teeth. “I’ll deal with it,” he said after Kiko had released the goose to wander off.

“I hope by that you don’t mean you’re going to ignore it,” said Kiko. He got out a pan for the bacon as Dom washed the spinach. “Your brother probably won’t like not getting a reply from you.”

“You don’t have to worry about it,” said Dom, and Kiko sighed, turned to him.

“Yes, I do, Dom. I care about you, so something like this concerns me.”

Dom couldn’t meet the emotion in Kiko’s eyes.

“Look,” said Dom, moving the spinach to two separate plates. “My family’s not nice. I don’t want to see them. I don’t want to talk to them. And they don’t want to have anything to do with me, either.”

“Then be the better person,” said Kiko. When Dom glanced over at him Kiko shot him a little devilish grin. “You can be smug about it. Call your brother back. Thank him for his concern but tell him you’re very happy with where you’ll be spending Christmas.”

“He’d hate that,” said Dom, liking the idea of it. Devin had always been better off than him. Older, better job, longer relationship—with a woman, of course. Much like the rest of the family. Telling him Dom was happy without them did sound good, especially since there was almost no Christmas he could ever do that.

“If you’d like, invite him to spend it with us,” said Kiko, taking the bacon out of the pan and draining it. He began cutting the chicken breast into strips he could fry up in the bacon grease. “My sister’s coming. It’s really only fair.”

“Spend Christmas with his evil gay brother and boyfriend?” asked Dom, almost laughing now. He was beginning to like this idea more and more. After all the times his family had been cruel to him, why not give them his own happiness to chew on? “Devin would really hate that.”

“Don’t sound so pleased,” said Kiko, but Dom laughed.

“No, serves them right. They should hear I can be happy. I’ll do it tomorrow, on lunch break.” He paused. “Thanks, Kiko.”

“Good,” said Kiko, cutting open the avocado as the chicken cooked. “Now, about that interrupted flirting…”

“Aren’t you hungry?” asked Dom, feigning disinterest. He moved to the refrigerator and opened the door. “Death and Taxidermy or Amber Submarine?”

“Death and Taxidermy,” said Kiko. “Don’t change the subject.”

“Or you’ll do what?” asked Dom, snagging two bottles of Mount Angus Brewing Company beer from the fridge. Buddy Miller, the owner and brewmeister, had a way of naming his creations that often caused Dom to roll his eyes. But the beer was good, and local, and that was enough. He opened them and set them down in the breakfast nook where he and Kiko normally ate.

“Make you shut up,” said Kiko as he assembled the salads and drizzled balsamic over them. “I can think of a much better way to keep your mouth occupied.”

“Right,” said Dom as Kiko brought the salads over and sat across from him. “Wouldn’t want your salad to go to waste.”

Kiko kicked him under the table and took a drink from his beer. He poked at his food.

“You up for it?” he asked, and Dom knew he wanted to know if the call from his brother had completely ruined his drive for the night. Dom grinned and leaned across the table.

“Want to feel for yourself?”

Kiko c****d a curious brow as he ate, meeting Dom’s hungry gaze with one of his own. No, Devin hadn’t completely ruined Dom’s desires. At least, not considering Kiko’s great plan to shove it all back on him. That itself was enough of a turn on. Dom figured the least he could do to thank him was start the week out right. s*x on a Sunday night would leave them satisfied enough to tackle Monday morning.

They ate fast, neither of them wanting to put off getting naked together any longer than was necessary. They rushed through tidying up the kitchen, too, Dom pawing at Kiko’s clothes, trying to undress him as he rinsed the plates and put them in the dishwasher. By the time they were on their way over to the couch Kiko had yanked off his tie and was kissing Dom long and deep. Dom worked on the buttons on Kiko’s shirt as he was pushed down to the couch cushions.

Kiko had Dom’s pants open and c**k halfway to his lips when his phone rang.

“Leave it,” said Dom, but Kiko moved to check who it was anyway.

“It’s Chad,” he said. “Could be something’s wrong.”

“Kiko,” said Dom, thrusting upward, but Kiko was already answering.