FIC - Just a peek? - Shelter pt.2
Title: Just a peek?
Author: Lemon_drop151
Word Count: 6,260
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Zach/Shaun, Cody, Gabe, OMC, OFC
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with HERE!. I receive no monetary gain from this story. I make no claim to any of the characters and mean no offence by any actions they take.
Prompt: Zach tries to sneak a peak at what Shaun bought him for Christmas; Shaun 'punishes' him for it.
Feedback: Rocks my world!
Author's Note: This fic was meant to be short and sweet, but it took on a life of it’s own. *lol* Written for shelter_diner's 2008 holiday fest. Hope you enjoy!
Shaun was licking his hole most firmly. A broad swipe here, and a nibble there, it was maddening. Zach could feel the wetness of saliva and the 2 day’s worth of stubble scruff against the sensitive skin of his cheeks. The heat that was being generated between their bodies, could have kept them warm all winter long. That is, if they ever actually had any snow.
Suddenly, that warm, wet tongue Zach so loved, was gone. The cool night air hitting the moist area’s of his bottom, making him shiver.
“You have to get up, Zach.” Shaun’s voice said.
“Wha..” Zach turned his head to look at Shaun, but he wasn’t there. Zach sat up in bed and looked around the room. He didn’t hear the door open, and the bathroom light was off.
“Shaun?”
“You have to get up, Zach.” Shaun’s disembodied voice said again. Before he could respond he heard it again.
“You have to get up, Zach.” This time the voice sounded more impatient and higher? Was Shaun regressing in age?
“You have to get up. Zach!” Again! Only that time it sounded like…Cody!
“You have to get up, Zach! Santa came!” Clearly Cody’s voice said.
The boy was bouncing on the bed holding an empty plate and half a glass of milk sloshing up and over the side when Cody moved. The milk soaked through the sheets and was spilling down his backside every time Cody jumped.
“Look Daddy Zach! Santa came and he ate the cookies and drinked the milk we left for him. And he gaved me presents! Lots and lots of presents! Come on." Cody wined.
Zach popped one eye open to see that Shaun was no longer in bed with him, enduring what surely was considered torture, alone. He rolled over, groaned and stretched his arms above his head, feeling the stickiness between his ass cheeks.
“Ok, ok. Give me a sec. Gimme that glass before you dump it.”
“K.” Cody handed over the glass and plate. Zach set the items on his night stand.
“Is Shaun in the living room?” Zach asked yawning. Cody nodded vigorously, looking about 2 seconds away from jumping up and down.
“He’s makin’ breakfast. He said I should come wake you up.” Cody said.
‘That rat bastard’ was his first thought. Shaun knew exactly how Cody would wake him up. The second thought was tamer. ‘I hope he’s making bacon, god, I want bacon.’
“Ok, I’ll be out in a second, go start eating breakfast and then we can open presents." Zach told Cody.
“Yay! Presents!” Cody yelled. He gave Zach a big, smacking kiss on the cheek before jumping off the queen sized mattress and running full tilt out the door, slipping in his socks on the hardwood, crashing into the door. Before Zach could do anything, Cody popped back up and said, “Whoa, wipe out.” and took off down the hall.
Zach laughed so hard, he almost peed the bed. Of course, the fact that he hadn’t gone since last night was the main contributing factor.
He hurried off the bed, glancing at the wet spot on the sheets from the milk. It wasn’t too bad.
After using the toilet, he made quick work of a shower, getting into a clean pair of pants that may or may not have been his originally. He’d never tell. A clean, but paint splattered t-shirt was next.
As soon as he stepped into the hall way, he could smell it. And hear it.
Bacon. He loved that man.
“Well hello there.” Shaun said when Zach finally made an appearance. The older man took the bacon off the burner and started forking it out onto the paper towel lined plate.
“Hi,” He said, giving the cook a kiss. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
Zach nodded toward the giant pile of presents that littered the base of the Christmas Tree. Shaun must have put them out this morning, after the snooping debacle, and before Cody woke up.
“When did you do this?” Zach asked quietly. Cody was by the tree, completely enamored by all the presents with his name on them, he doubted Cody noticed he was there.
“This morning, when my alarm went off. I couldn’t risk someone sneaking out of bed to see if Santa came,” Giving Zach a teasing look. The younger man felt his face and chest get hot. “so I waited until this morning.” Shaun laughed and hugged him. Zach didn’t let go and wrapped his arms around Shaun.
Zach cleared his throat and looked down. “That was some timing.” Zach mumbled against the blue robe Shaun always wore.
“Yeah, it was, wasn’t it?” Shaun said sounding very self-satisfied. Zach could only nod.
“Cody, come on, it’s time to eat!” Shaun called over to the boy practically dancing in the pile of presents.
“Do I hafta?” Cody grumbled. Shaun chuckled. Zach disentangled himself from Shaun to grab the ketchup out of the fridge.
“Yes, you hafta. Look, the faster you eat, the sooner we can open presents.” Shaun said, taking the plate of bacon in one hand and a stack of chocolate chip waffles in the other. Cody had eventually warmed up to other spongy breakfast foods mixed with chocolate chips.
“Mmmk.” Cody mumbled, and made his way over to the table, taking his usual spot. Zach set the ketchup on the table and poured some orange juice for himself and Shaun, apple for Cody.
When breakfast was over and dishes were in the sink, it was finally time to open presents.
Once all of the presents had been sorted into separate piles, the boys took turns opening gifts. Cody was first. Wrapping paper seemed to accumulate faster than Zach could clean it up.
They were all left with large piles of gifts stacked under the tree. Cody with his own sketch pad, markers, crayons, pencils of all colors, games, cars, clothes, a game boy, etc. Zach with his own brand new art set. A $300.00 art set, mind you. A brand new wet suit and a gift certificate to pick out a new board at Coco Joe’s. A watch, some new paints, clothes, and some of other personal gifts from Shaun. Shaun with a new wet suit, the newest writing package from Microsoft Office, other miscellaneous gifts, a new bath robe, cuz honestly, Zach was going to puke if he ever saw that tacky blue one again.
When everything was back in order, Zach took a second to relax on the couch. Cody was enthusiastically playing with his new game boy. Shaun was messing around in the bedroom, probably taking a shower and getting dressed. After probably 20 minutes, Zach had his eyes closed, but could sense that someone was standing in front of him. He opened the green orbs and looked at Shaun standing there looking down at him, a quizzical look on his face.
“What?” Zach said, getting uncomfortable under the stare, shifting in his seat. Shaun shook his head and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. He gave it to Zach, and stuck his hands back into his pockets, still oddly silent.
Zach took the box from Shaun, and turned it over in his hands. He glanced at Cody. He was still very interested in his game boy, and probably forgot they were even in the same room. Zach ripped the brightly colored paper back and lifted the top of the white box off, looking at Shaun under his lashes.
“Wha…Shaun? These are your car keys. Why are you giving me your car keys?” Zach was honestly confused. He really didn’t know what to think. His mind was blank with possibilities. Shaun just nodded and called to Cody.
“Ok Cody, it’s time.” Cody seeming to know exactly what Shaun was talking about, nodded and raced over to the door to the spacious apartment waiting for Shaun. Shaun pushed Zach back down when the younger man tried to get up off the sofa. “No, just, stay here.” Shaun said softly with earnest conviction. Zach was compelled to sit back down at Shaun’s tone, still looking at the man warily, glancing back and forth between Cody and the man he loved. He nervously played with Shaun’s keys that still rested in his hands.
“Trust me, ok?” Shaun asked, looking directly into Zach eyes. Staring back, almost in a trance Zach nodded and said, “Always.” Shaun smiled and caressed the younger mans cheek with his thumb. Zach involuntarily leaned into the soft touch.
“Ok, Cody. Let’s go.” Shaun walked over to Cody, and they walked out of the apartment. Not even two minutes later, Shaun was back, sans Cody.
“You ready?” Shaun said.
“Uh, yeah, yeah.” Zach said, standing up from the sofa. “Where are we going at 10:00 a.m.? Where did you take Cody? Why did you give me your keys? I don’t…” Shaun cut him off with a kiss to the younger man’s mouth. Zach leaned his body into Shaun’s and wrapped his arms around Shaun’s neck, deepening the kiss. The older man broke away from the luscious lips of his boyfriend to get his bearings back. Zach looked to be in the same boat.
“Come one, we can’t be late.” Shaun said, grabbing Zach’s hand.
“Where are we going, Shaun?”
“You’ll find out.” Shaun said secretively. The older man took his keys from Zach’s hands and guided them out of the apartment, down to the parking garage, and on their way. There was minimal traffic on this Christmas morning, which made for quick travel.
To the middle of fucking no where, was Zach’s first thought. And where was Cody, damnit!
“Cody’s down the hall with Ms. Jackson, playing with Joey.” Oh. Shaun smirked. Zach relaxed slightly in his seat, knowing where Cody was, made him feel better.
“Where are we going?” Zach tried one more time. Shaun just smiled and kept driving. They were about 20 minutes outside of Valencia and if Zach read the road signs correctly, they were driving east. In the distance Zach could see a car dealership on the left side of this barren stretch of road. Zach watched the lot get closer and closer. They were only about 500 ft. away from the lot, yet they weren’t speeding up, but slowing down…and turning? What?
“Shaun? Why are we going to a car lot, on Christmas day?” Zach was really confused. Shaun parked in an empty space, and then got out. Zach sat in his seat, bewildered, not realizing Shaun had gotten out. The older man walked over to Zach’s door and looked at his boyfriend through the glass, smile on his face. He opened the door and held out his hand for Zach. The younger man looked up at Shaun and took the proffered hand with a blush rising on his cheeks at the chivalry.
Shaun shut the passenger side door of his Volvo and tugged Zach’s hand. “Come on. He’s waiting.” Shaun said guiding Zach toward the single building in the center of the lot. Zach could see the cars rotating through the glass. “Who’s waiting?”
“David.” Shaun said, nodding toward the man standing to the left, by the entrance, inside the building. They walked up the steps and pulled the glass door open with his left hand, his right still locked with Zach’s.
“Hi Shaun, nice to see you again.” David Mancuso said, extending his right hand toward the older man of the pair. Shaun disentangled his hand from Zach’s and shook the hand reaching toward him.
“You too. David, this is my boyfriend Zach. Zach this is David, he’s been kind enough to offer his services today.” Shaun said. The younger man always got a funny feeling inside when Shaun told people he was the older mans boyfriend, like, a whole body shiver. It was a nice sensation. Zach still got nervous introducing Shaun as his boyfriend, never really knowing how some people would react. But David didn’t seem to care in the slightest, extending his hand once again, toward Zach.
“It’s really great meeting you, Zach. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Zach shook David’s hand and shared his own nervous thoughts. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“I’m going to go get the last of the paperwork Shaun, and then I’ll be back.” David said, a small sneaky smile on his face, similar to the one Shaun was sporting. Zach watched the man who obviously worked for the dealership, walk across the showroom. He turned to Shaun, determined to get some answers.
“Ok, what? What are we doing here? And don’t just stay silent, I want some answers.” Zach said, crossing his arms over his chest. Shaun gave a big sigh and smiled a genuine smile.
“All right baby, no need to freak out on me.” The older man said, running his hands up and down over Zach’s biceps. “We’re getting your last Christmas present.”
Zach was stunned, his body tense, eye’s wide as dinner plates. Everything clicked into place. He started to cry. The younger man bit his lip, and lunged at Shaun, hugging the man as tight as he possibly could, standing his tip toes.
Shaun laughed seeing the tears, and wrapped his arms around the younger man’s waist, holding his boyfriend against his body. Shaun bent his head down to kiss Zach’s neck and whisper sweet reassurances into the younger man’s ear.
“How? When? When did you do this?” Zach asked Shaun once he had some of his composure back. Shaun wiped the tears lingering underneath Zach’s eyes. “Remember that day trip Cody and I supposedly took, about 6 weeks ago?”
Zach just laughed and hugged the older man again. David came out the back office, paper work in hand; he cleared his throat a little. Zach pulled away from Shaun slightly to look at David.
“Ok, guys. The only thing left to do is pick out which car you want.” David said smiling, directing the couple outside to look at the dozens and dozens of models, makes, colors, etc.
After about an hour of test driving cars and looking at different models they were narrowing it down to a select few. Zach had no clue how much any of them cost, but he knew expensive when he saw it. He’d seen it his whole life. With Gabe at his side, it was never far away, just about 20 minutes away from San Pedro, in the Palos Verdes Estates.
“What about this one?” Shaun said pointed to a green 2009 Land Rover. Zach really liked it. Really, really liked it. It was big enough to transport his paintings back and forth to Cal Arts, lots of trunk space to hold all his surfing gear and plenty of back seat room, if you know what I’m sayin’.
The color was really nice too. The perfect hunter green with gold tones mixed in that made it almost sparkle in the sun. What? He was an artist. Who cares about shocks and horsepower, as long as it looks nice?
“Yeah.”
Zach walked over to the information sheet against the driver’s side window. His eyes bulged. He shook his head sadly and walked back over to Shaun.
“What? I thought this was the one?” Shaun asked. He’d seen the way Zach’s eyes lit up at the prospect of the green Land Rover. Shaun really didn’t care which car Zach picked, but he really liked the Land Rover too.
“Shaun. That’s a 100,000 dollar car. Are you insane?” Zach said incredulously. The younger man looked directly into Shaun’s eyes.
“What? I don’t care about the price tag. If this is the one you want, this is the one you’re going to get.” Shaun said with conviction.
Zach sighed and looked at the Land Rover sitting prettily in the afternoon sun. The younger man bit his lip. He didn’t know what to do.
“Is this the one you want?” Shaun asked softly, coming over to rub Zach’s shoulders. He reached his hand up and pulled the bottom lip out of Zach’s mouth with his thumb.
“This one?” Shaun asked once more, framing Zach’s face with his hands, running his thumbs over the high cheeks bones covered with bronze skin. Zach turned his head and looked into Shaun’s eyes, vibrant green to stunning hazel. Zach nodded once hesitantly. Then again with much more force, a laugh bubbling up from somewhere inside him.
“Ok then.” Shaun whispered, with a bright smile to rival the morning sun.
“I love you. I love you. I love you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Zach said repeatedly, standing on his tip toes, peppering kisses all over Shaun’s face. The older man laughed and pulled Zach’s lips away from his forehead and brought them to his mouth. They kissed deeply for what seemed like hours, Zach trying to tell Shaun how much he loved him, cared for him, how thankful he was to have the older man in his and Cody’s lives, all with that one kiss. But Zach knew he’d be much more thankful in a different way once Cody was in bed.
They pulled apart when passing out became a possibility. “Come on, we gotta go tell David which one you picked.” Zach nodded and brushed Shaun’s longer hair out of his eyes. They held hands the whole walk back to the office where David was waiting for them.
The first thing Zach saw when the walked into the showroom was Gabe.
“Gabe!” Zach broke away from Shaun and swept his best friend into a fierce hug. “What are you doing here!? I thought you went to Cabo for Christmas break?”
“I came down for Hanukkah, dude.” Zach pulled away and gave Gabe a confused look.
“What?” Zach asked laughing.
“No, dude. I’m here to drive the Volvo back to your apartment, man. So you guys can canoodle in the new digs.” Gabe said, slapping Zach on the back. He walked over to Shaun and gave him a big hug.
“What’s up man? Everything go ok? He didn’t give you a hard time did he?” Gabe asked Shaun, shoving his hands into the pockets of his faded, torn denims. “Nah, he went along with it ok.” Shaun said, laughing at Zach expression.
“You knew about this!?” Zach exclaimed, hands on his hips, eyes flicking back and forth between Shaun and Gabe.
“Well yeah, dude.”
“Pulling my best friend and my sweet nephew into . . .” Zach said to Shaun with fake hurt.
“Sweet? He liked the idea more than I did.” Shaun said laughing.
Zach punched Shaun playfully on the shoulder. Shaun grabbed the younger man around the waist and kissed him sweetly on the lips. Gabe just laughed.
“How did you get out here? And how long have you been here?” Zach asked Gabe.
“Jake dropped me off. I’ve only been here, like, 10 minutes. I saw you guys looking at the cars.”
Zach nodded.
David came out from the office, paperwork in hand.
“Did you pick one out?” David asked.
Zach nodded. “Yup. The 2009 Land Rover.”
“Ok,” David said, and wrote the information down on the paperwork. “What color?”
“Hunter green.” David nodded and wrote down some more necessary information. “Did you want that fully loaded?” David looked up from the papers and addressed Shaun and Zach.
Shaun looked and Zach, and then looked back at David and said, “Yes.” nodding to emphasize.
Shaun took out his check book and grabbed a pen off the counter and wrote out a check to the dealership.
“And, what’s your full name Zach?” David asked.
“Zachary Aaron Tabaro.”
“Ok and Shaun? What’s your full name?”
“Shaun Ryan Andrews.” David nodded and continued with his paper work.
Shaun and Gabe stood off to the side, chatting and pushing each other playfully. David went outside to check the tags. And Zach called the insurance company to add the Land Rover to his insurance and let the policy for his old car lapse at the end of the month. It would be going to the junk yard for sure.
About 20 minutes later David gave Shaun the final price and the older man finished the check, Gabe looking over his shoulder.
“$122,000! Jesus, Zach. Dude, where do I find one like him? All I need to do is suck a little dick, right?” Gabe teased. Zach glared, Shaun laughed and luckily, David was in the back office verifying Shaun’s check with the headquarters of his bank. All transactions over $10,000 dollars had to be checked at the headquarters in Sacramento.
David came out of the back office with a smile on his face. “Ok, Zach and Shaun, I just need you to sign the paper work.” Zach took the offered pen and read over the information one more time. He signed on the designated spots for registration, warranty and ownership. Shaun signed the papers for proper payment. “Let me just make some copies for you.” The men nodded and David went back to the office.
“All right gentlemen. I have your copies of the paperwork, the keys here and if you’ll follow me, we can get you on your way.” David said, holding out the keys to Zach.
Zach took the keys, looking as if he was going to just bounce out off the showroom.
Shaun gave his keys to Gabe. The blond man waved and yelled, “See you later dudes.” They’d agreed to meet up back at the apartment for dinner after Gabe dropped the Volvo off.
“Bye man! See you later!” The couple yelled, walking in the opposite direction.
They took the stickers, papers and other test drive materials out of the vehicle. David shook each of their hands and thanked them for doing business. They thanked David in return for coming out on Christmas day. He said it was no problem, as he wasn’t flying out to Arizona until 2:00 p.m.
Zach unlocked the car and slid into the drivers’ seat, Shaun in the passenger seat. The younger man closed his eyes, breathed in the new car smell and grinned so hard his cheeks hurt.
“See, this is why you couldn’t find your present in the closet.” Shaun said with a triumphant smile. Zach just laughed. He was so thankful for Shaun coming back into his life when he did. Almost like fate. Because Zach hadn’t been laughing for months, and he was so beautiful when he laughed.
The younger man leaned over the console and kissed Shaun long and deep. Only when Shaun’s hand began to wander down his backside did Zach pull away with a sneaky smile. The younger man ran his finger tips up and down Shaun’s arm suggestively; not meeting the older mans eyes.
“Did Karen say she’d watch Cody until we got back? No specific pick up time?” Zach asked. Shaun nodded, catching on to Zach's train of thought.
Zach turned over the engine and looked over at Shaun, seeing his heated gaze. “Excellent. I think we’d better go home so I can thank you properly. What do you think?” Shaun nodded. “Sounds like a plan.” Shaun said his voice husky with desire.
“Well hold on big man, you’re in for a bumpy ride.” Zach said as he backed out of the space and took off down the road.
-fini
Author: Lemon_drop151
Word Count: 6,260
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Zach/Shaun, Cody, Gabe, OMC, OFC
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with HERE!. I receive no monetary gain from this story. I make no claim to any of the characters and mean no offence by any actions they take.
Prompt: Zach tries to sneak a peak at what Shaun bought him for Christmas; Shaun 'punishes' him for it.
Feedback: Rocks my world!
Author's Note: This fic was meant to be short and sweet, but it took on a life of it’s own. *lol* Written for shelter_diner's 2008 holiday fest. Hope you enjoy!
Shaun was licking his hole most firmly. A broad swipe here, and a nibble there, it was maddening. Zach could feel the wetness of saliva and the 2 day’s worth of stubble scruff against the sensitive skin of his cheeks. The heat that was being generated between their bodies, could have kept them warm all winter long. That is, if they ever actually had any snow.
Suddenly, that warm, wet tongue Zach so loved, was gone. The cool night air hitting the moist area’s of his bottom, making him shiver.
“You have to get up, Zach.” Shaun’s voice said.
“Wha..” Zach turned his head to look at Shaun, but he wasn’t there. Zach sat up in bed and looked around the room. He didn’t hear the door open, and the bathroom light was off.
“Shaun?”
“You have to get up, Zach.” Shaun’s disembodied voice said again. Before he could respond he heard it again.
“You have to get up, Zach.” This time the voice sounded more impatient and higher? Was Shaun regressing in age?
“You have to get up. Zach!” Again! Only that time it sounded like…Cody!
“You have to get up, Zach! Santa came!” Clearly Cody’s voice said.
The boy was bouncing on the bed holding an empty plate and half a glass of milk sloshing up and over the side when Cody moved. The milk soaked through the sheets and was spilling down his backside every time Cody jumped.
“Look Daddy Zach! Santa came and he ate the cookies and drinked the milk we left for him. And he gaved me presents! Lots and lots of presents! Come on." Cody wined.
Zach popped one eye open to see that Shaun was no longer in bed with him, enduring what surely was considered torture, alone. He rolled over, groaned and stretched his arms above his head, feeling the stickiness between his ass cheeks.
“Ok, ok. Give me a sec. Gimme that glass before you dump it.”
“K.” Cody handed over the glass and plate. Zach set the items on his night stand.
“Is Shaun in the living room?” Zach asked yawning. Cody nodded vigorously, looking about 2 seconds away from jumping up and down.
“He’s makin’ breakfast. He said I should come wake you up.” Cody said.
‘That rat bastard’ was his first thought. Shaun knew exactly how Cody would wake him up. The second thought was tamer. ‘I hope he’s making bacon, god, I want bacon.’
“Ok, I’ll be out in a second, go start eating breakfast and then we can open presents." Zach told Cody.
“Yay! Presents!” Cody yelled. He gave Zach a big, smacking kiss on the cheek before jumping off the queen sized mattress and running full tilt out the door, slipping in his socks on the hardwood, crashing into the door. Before Zach could do anything, Cody popped back up and said, “Whoa, wipe out.” and took off down the hall.
Zach laughed so hard, he almost peed the bed. Of course, the fact that he hadn’t gone since last night was the main contributing factor.
He hurried off the bed, glancing at the wet spot on the sheets from the milk. It wasn’t too bad.
After using the toilet, he made quick work of a shower, getting into a clean pair of pants that may or may not have been his originally. He’d never tell. A clean, but paint splattered t-shirt was next.
As soon as he stepped into the hall way, he could smell it. And hear it.
Bacon. He loved that man.
“Well hello there.” Shaun said when Zach finally made an appearance. The older man took the bacon off the burner and started forking it out onto the paper towel lined plate.
“Hi,” He said, giving the cook a kiss. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
Zach nodded toward the giant pile of presents that littered the base of the Christmas Tree. Shaun must have put them out this morning, after the snooping debacle, and before Cody woke up.
“When did you do this?” Zach asked quietly. Cody was by the tree, completely enamored by all the presents with his name on them, he doubted Cody noticed he was there.
“This morning, when my alarm went off. I couldn’t risk someone sneaking out of bed to see if Santa came,” Giving Zach a teasing look. The younger man felt his face and chest get hot. “so I waited until this morning.” Shaun laughed and hugged him. Zach didn’t let go and wrapped his arms around Shaun.
Zach cleared his throat and looked down. “That was some timing.” Zach mumbled against the blue robe Shaun always wore.
“Yeah, it was, wasn’t it?” Shaun said sounding very self-satisfied. Zach could only nod.
“Cody, come on, it’s time to eat!” Shaun called over to the boy practically dancing in the pile of presents.
“Do I hafta?” Cody grumbled. Shaun chuckled. Zach disentangled himself from Shaun to grab the ketchup out of the fridge.
“Yes, you hafta. Look, the faster you eat, the sooner we can open presents.” Shaun said, taking the plate of bacon in one hand and a stack of chocolate chip waffles in the other. Cody had eventually warmed up to other spongy breakfast foods mixed with chocolate chips.
“Mmmk.” Cody mumbled, and made his way over to the table, taking his usual spot. Zach set the ketchup on the table and poured some orange juice for himself and Shaun, apple for Cody.
When breakfast was over and dishes were in the sink, it was finally time to open presents.
Once all of the presents had been sorted into separate piles, the boys took turns opening gifts. Cody was first. Wrapping paper seemed to accumulate faster than Zach could clean it up.
They were all left with large piles of gifts stacked under the tree. Cody with his own sketch pad, markers, crayons, pencils of all colors, games, cars, clothes, a game boy, etc. Zach with his own brand new art set. A $300.00 art set, mind you. A brand new wet suit and a gift certificate to pick out a new board at Coco Joe’s. A watch, some new paints, clothes, and some of other personal gifts from Shaun. Shaun with a new wet suit, the newest writing package from Microsoft Office, other miscellaneous gifts, a new bath robe, cuz honestly, Zach was going to puke if he ever saw that tacky blue one again.
When everything was back in order, Zach took a second to relax on the couch. Cody was enthusiastically playing with his new game boy. Shaun was messing around in the bedroom, probably taking a shower and getting dressed. After probably 20 minutes, Zach had his eyes closed, but could sense that someone was standing in front of him. He opened the green orbs and looked at Shaun standing there looking down at him, a quizzical look on his face.
“What?” Zach said, getting uncomfortable under the stare, shifting in his seat. Shaun shook his head and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. He gave it to Zach, and stuck his hands back into his pockets, still oddly silent.
Zach took the box from Shaun, and turned it over in his hands. He glanced at Cody. He was still very interested in his game boy, and probably forgot they were even in the same room. Zach ripped the brightly colored paper back and lifted the top of the white box off, looking at Shaun under his lashes.
“Wha…Shaun? These are your car keys. Why are you giving me your car keys?” Zach was honestly confused. He really didn’t know what to think. His mind was blank with possibilities. Shaun just nodded and called to Cody.
“Ok Cody, it’s time.” Cody seeming to know exactly what Shaun was talking about, nodded and raced over to the door to the spacious apartment waiting for Shaun. Shaun pushed Zach back down when the younger man tried to get up off the sofa. “No, just, stay here.” Shaun said softly with earnest conviction. Zach was compelled to sit back down at Shaun’s tone, still looking at the man warily, glancing back and forth between Cody and the man he loved. He nervously played with Shaun’s keys that still rested in his hands.
“Trust me, ok?” Shaun asked, looking directly into Zach eyes. Staring back, almost in a trance Zach nodded and said, “Always.” Shaun smiled and caressed the younger mans cheek with his thumb. Zach involuntarily leaned into the soft touch.
“Ok, Cody. Let’s go.” Shaun walked over to Cody, and they walked out of the apartment. Not even two minutes later, Shaun was back, sans Cody.
“You ready?” Shaun said.
“Uh, yeah, yeah.” Zach said, standing up from the sofa. “Where are we going at 10:00 a.m.? Where did you take Cody? Why did you give me your keys? I don’t…” Shaun cut him off with a kiss to the younger man’s mouth. Zach leaned his body into Shaun’s and wrapped his arms around Shaun’s neck, deepening the kiss. The older man broke away from the luscious lips of his boyfriend to get his bearings back. Zach looked to be in the same boat.
“Come one, we can’t be late.” Shaun said, grabbing Zach’s hand.
“Where are we going, Shaun?”
“You’ll find out.” Shaun said secretively. The older man took his keys from Zach’s hands and guided them out of the apartment, down to the parking garage, and on their way. There was minimal traffic on this Christmas morning, which made for quick travel.
To the middle of fucking no where, was Zach’s first thought. And where was Cody, damnit!
“Cody’s down the hall with Ms. Jackson, playing with Joey.” Oh. Shaun smirked. Zach relaxed slightly in his seat, knowing where Cody was, made him feel better.
“Where are we going?” Zach tried one more time. Shaun just smiled and kept driving. They were about 20 minutes outside of Valencia and if Zach read the road signs correctly, they were driving east. In the distance Zach could see a car dealership on the left side of this barren stretch of road. Zach watched the lot get closer and closer. They were only about 500 ft. away from the lot, yet they weren’t speeding up, but slowing down…and turning? What?
“Shaun? Why are we going to a car lot, on Christmas day?” Zach was really confused. Shaun parked in an empty space, and then got out. Zach sat in his seat, bewildered, not realizing Shaun had gotten out. The older man walked over to Zach’s door and looked at his boyfriend through the glass, smile on his face. He opened the door and held out his hand for Zach. The younger man looked up at Shaun and took the proffered hand with a blush rising on his cheeks at the chivalry.
Shaun shut the passenger side door of his Volvo and tugged Zach’s hand. “Come on. He’s waiting.” Shaun said guiding Zach toward the single building in the center of the lot. Zach could see the cars rotating through the glass. “Who’s waiting?”
“David.” Shaun said, nodding toward the man standing to the left, by the entrance, inside the building. They walked up the steps and pulled the glass door open with his left hand, his right still locked with Zach’s.
“Hi Shaun, nice to see you again.” David Mancuso said, extending his right hand toward the older man of the pair. Shaun disentangled his hand from Zach’s and shook the hand reaching toward him.
“You too. David, this is my boyfriend Zach. Zach this is David, he’s been kind enough to offer his services today.” Shaun said. The younger man always got a funny feeling inside when Shaun told people he was the older mans boyfriend, like, a whole body shiver. It was a nice sensation. Zach still got nervous introducing Shaun as his boyfriend, never really knowing how some people would react. But David didn’t seem to care in the slightest, extending his hand once again, toward Zach.
“It’s really great meeting you, Zach. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Zach shook David’s hand and shared his own nervous thoughts. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“I’m going to go get the last of the paperwork Shaun, and then I’ll be back.” David said, a small sneaky smile on his face, similar to the one Shaun was sporting. Zach watched the man who obviously worked for the dealership, walk across the showroom. He turned to Shaun, determined to get some answers.
“Ok, what? What are we doing here? And don’t just stay silent, I want some answers.” Zach said, crossing his arms over his chest. Shaun gave a big sigh and smiled a genuine smile.
“All right baby, no need to freak out on me.” The older man said, running his hands up and down over Zach’s biceps. “We’re getting your last Christmas present.”
Zach was stunned, his body tense, eye’s wide as dinner plates. Everything clicked into place. He started to cry. The younger man bit his lip, and lunged at Shaun, hugging the man as tight as he possibly could, standing his tip toes.
Shaun laughed seeing the tears, and wrapped his arms around the younger man’s waist, holding his boyfriend against his body. Shaun bent his head down to kiss Zach’s neck and whisper sweet reassurances into the younger man’s ear.
“How? When? When did you do this?” Zach asked Shaun once he had some of his composure back. Shaun wiped the tears lingering underneath Zach’s eyes. “Remember that day trip Cody and I supposedly took, about 6 weeks ago?”
Zach just laughed and hugged the older man again. David came out the back office, paper work in hand; he cleared his throat a little. Zach pulled away from Shaun slightly to look at David.
“Ok, guys. The only thing left to do is pick out which car you want.” David said smiling, directing the couple outside to look at the dozens and dozens of models, makes, colors, etc.
After about an hour of test driving cars and looking at different models they were narrowing it down to a select few. Zach had no clue how much any of them cost, but he knew expensive when he saw it. He’d seen it his whole life. With Gabe at his side, it was never far away, just about 20 minutes away from San Pedro, in the Palos Verdes Estates.
“What about this one?” Shaun said pointed to a green 2009 Land Rover. Zach really liked it. Really, really liked it. It was big enough to transport his paintings back and forth to Cal Arts, lots of trunk space to hold all his surfing gear and plenty of back seat room, if you know what I’m sayin’.
The color was really nice too. The perfect hunter green with gold tones mixed in that made it almost sparkle in the sun. What? He was an artist. Who cares about shocks and horsepower, as long as it looks nice?
“Yeah.”
Zach walked over to the information sheet against the driver’s side window. His eyes bulged. He shook his head sadly and walked back over to Shaun.
“What? I thought this was the one?” Shaun asked. He’d seen the way Zach’s eyes lit up at the prospect of the green Land Rover. Shaun really didn’t care which car Zach picked, but he really liked the Land Rover too.
“Shaun. That’s a 100,000 dollar car. Are you insane?” Zach said incredulously. The younger man looked directly into Shaun’s eyes.
“What? I don’t care about the price tag. If this is the one you want, this is the one you’re going to get.” Shaun said with conviction.
Zach sighed and looked at the Land Rover sitting prettily in the afternoon sun. The younger man bit his lip. He didn’t know what to do.
“Is this the one you want?” Shaun asked softly, coming over to rub Zach’s shoulders. He reached his hand up and pulled the bottom lip out of Zach’s mouth with his thumb.
“This one?” Shaun asked once more, framing Zach’s face with his hands, running his thumbs over the high cheeks bones covered with bronze skin. Zach turned his head and looked into Shaun’s eyes, vibrant green to stunning hazel. Zach nodded once hesitantly. Then again with much more force, a laugh bubbling up from somewhere inside him.
“Ok then.” Shaun whispered, with a bright smile to rival the morning sun.
“I love you. I love you. I love you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Zach said repeatedly, standing on his tip toes, peppering kisses all over Shaun’s face. The older man laughed and pulled Zach’s lips away from his forehead and brought them to his mouth. They kissed deeply for what seemed like hours, Zach trying to tell Shaun how much he loved him, cared for him, how thankful he was to have the older man in his and Cody’s lives, all with that one kiss. But Zach knew he’d be much more thankful in a different way once Cody was in bed.
They pulled apart when passing out became a possibility. “Come on, we gotta go tell David which one you picked.” Zach nodded and brushed Shaun’s longer hair out of his eyes. They held hands the whole walk back to the office where David was waiting for them.
The first thing Zach saw when the walked into the showroom was Gabe.
“Gabe!” Zach broke away from Shaun and swept his best friend into a fierce hug. “What are you doing here!? I thought you went to Cabo for Christmas break?”
“I came down for Hanukkah, dude.” Zach pulled away and gave Gabe a confused look.
“What?” Zach asked laughing.
“No, dude. I’m here to drive the Volvo back to your apartment, man. So you guys can canoodle in the new digs.” Gabe said, slapping Zach on the back. He walked over to Shaun and gave him a big hug.
“What’s up man? Everything go ok? He didn’t give you a hard time did he?” Gabe asked Shaun, shoving his hands into the pockets of his faded, torn denims. “Nah, he went along with it ok.” Shaun said, laughing at Zach expression.
“You knew about this!?” Zach exclaimed, hands on his hips, eyes flicking back and forth between Shaun and Gabe.
“Well yeah, dude.”
“Pulling my best friend and my sweet nephew into . . .” Zach said to Shaun with fake hurt.
“Sweet? He liked the idea more than I did.” Shaun said laughing.
Zach punched Shaun playfully on the shoulder. Shaun grabbed the younger man around the waist and kissed him sweetly on the lips. Gabe just laughed.
“How did you get out here? And how long have you been here?” Zach asked Gabe.
“Jake dropped me off. I’ve only been here, like, 10 minutes. I saw you guys looking at the cars.”
Zach nodded.
David came out from the office, paperwork in hand.
“Did you pick one out?” David asked.
Zach nodded. “Yup. The 2009 Land Rover.”
“Ok,” David said, and wrote the information down on the paperwork. “What color?”
“Hunter green.” David nodded and wrote down some more necessary information. “Did you want that fully loaded?” David looked up from the papers and addressed Shaun and Zach.
Shaun looked and Zach, and then looked back at David and said, “Yes.” nodding to emphasize.
Shaun took out his check book and grabbed a pen off the counter and wrote out a check to the dealership.
“And, what’s your full name Zach?” David asked.
“Zachary Aaron Tabaro.”
“Ok and Shaun? What’s your full name?”
“Shaun Ryan Andrews.” David nodded and continued with his paper work.
Shaun and Gabe stood off to the side, chatting and pushing each other playfully. David went outside to check the tags. And Zach called the insurance company to add the Land Rover to his insurance and let the policy for his old car lapse at the end of the month. It would be going to the junk yard for sure.
About 20 minutes later David gave Shaun the final price and the older man finished the check, Gabe looking over his shoulder.
“$122,000! Jesus, Zach. Dude, where do I find one like him? All I need to do is suck a little dick, right?” Gabe teased. Zach glared, Shaun laughed and luckily, David was in the back office verifying Shaun’s check with the headquarters of his bank. All transactions over $10,000 dollars had to be checked at the headquarters in Sacramento.
David came out of the back office with a smile on his face. “Ok, Zach and Shaun, I just need you to sign the paper work.” Zach took the offered pen and read over the information one more time. He signed on the designated spots for registration, warranty and ownership. Shaun signed the papers for proper payment. “Let me just make some copies for you.” The men nodded and David went back to the office.
“All right gentlemen. I have your copies of the paperwork, the keys here and if you’ll follow me, we can get you on your way.” David said, holding out the keys to Zach.
Zach took the keys, looking as if he was going to just bounce out off the showroom.
Shaun gave his keys to Gabe. The blond man waved and yelled, “See you later dudes.” They’d agreed to meet up back at the apartment for dinner after Gabe dropped the Volvo off.
“Bye man! See you later!” The couple yelled, walking in the opposite direction.
They took the stickers, papers and other test drive materials out of the vehicle. David shook each of their hands and thanked them for doing business. They thanked David in return for coming out on Christmas day. He said it was no problem, as he wasn’t flying out to Arizona until 2:00 p.m.
Zach unlocked the car and slid into the drivers’ seat, Shaun in the passenger seat. The younger man closed his eyes, breathed in the new car smell and grinned so hard his cheeks hurt.
“See, this is why you couldn’t find your present in the closet.” Shaun said with a triumphant smile. Zach just laughed. He was so thankful for Shaun coming back into his life when he did. Almost like fate. Because Zach hadn’t been laughing for months, and he was so beautiful when he laughed.
The younger man leaned over the console and kissed Shaun long and deep. Only when Shaun’s hand began to wander down his backside did Zach pull away with a sneaky smile. The younger man ran his finger tips up and down Shaun’s arm suggestively; not meeting the older mans eyes.
“Did Karen say she’d watch Cody until we got back? No specific pick up time?” Zach asked. Shaun nodded, catching on to Zach's train of thought.
Zach turned over the engine and looked over at Shaun, seeing his heated gaze. “Excellent. I think we’d better go home so I can thank you properly. What do you think?” Shaun nodded. “Sounds like a plan.” Shaun said his voice husky with desire.
“Well hold on big man, you’re in for a bumpy ride.” Zach said as he backed out of the space and took off down the road.
-fini