It was quiet, wonderfully and peacefully quiet, and given the hour of morning it was, the two adults who spent their entire evening wrapping gifts and tiptoeing them downstairs to put under the Christmas tree till almost four in the morning were more than relieved for the three hours of sleep given to them.
The temperature outside had dropped again, though so far it wasn't looking to be a white Christmas, but that didn't stop the excitement in wide amber eyes as they snapped open at eight on the dot and had rushed down the stairs on tiny legs and nearly blasted him back up the stairs after seeing all the presents laid out under the tree him and his uncles had gotten three nights ago and decorated together.
Santa had come! Santa had come!
Thomas's feet thundered up the stairs as if he'd taken five shots of espresso, barreling into Kai's bedroom where the door smacked into the wall behind it and his feet finally lifted off the floor as he catapulted his tiny body onto the two larger forms still passed out from their long night of present wrapping.
With a hard grunt as a knee and elbow got him in the ribs and groin, Kai jolted from his deep sleep, hands blindly pushing and shoving the wiggling and jumping five-year-old off of him and consequently onto Ray who also got a knee into his back and elbow in his ribs.
"SANTA CAME! SANTA CAME! GET UP, GET UP!" Thomas shouted as he bounced on the tiny cramped spaced between his uncles bodies, the entire bed bouncing with how hard he was jumping on them.
Ray just groaned in pain in response, curling in on himself as his side and back throbbed from being smacked into.
"C'monnnnn we gotta go open presents!" Thomas pleaded, going to grabbing at Kai's face and smooshing his cheeks together as his crimson eyes had tried to flutter close again.
"Just one more hour Thomas, please..." Kai's croaky voice groaned, eyes now shut though struggling to keep them that way with the small assault going on to his face.
"Go back to sleep."
"But I can'tttt! SANTA CAMEEEEEE!" Thomas squealed in his face, putting their noses together as he climbed onto Kai's chest and bounced.
Kai's face scrunched as the young voice went right through him and his eyes slowly peeled open to only see big amber ones staring back. Ohhhh the joys of children...
"Alright, alright..." He muttered in defeat, Thomas squealing again and bouncing on the bed in his excitement as Kai tried to stretch and come round a little more.
"Don't forget uncle Ray." He reminded.
Like he'd been smacked to the side, Thomas's body flung over onto Ray's. Grabbing his arm and shaking him roughly to wake up, knees on his hair in the process.
"Come on uncle Ray! PRESENTS!" He nearly screamed in Ray's ear.
"Okay... Okay I'm up, now get off my hair." Ray whined back at him.
Thomas shot off of him quickly, wiggling between the two and off the end of the bed where he stood and waited patiently for them to get up.
Ray shot Kai a scowl like a toddler himself as he eased himself up in bed, stretching out his arms and rubbing his eyes.
"Hey if I gotta deal with this you do too..." Kai commented noticing the look being thrown his way.
"Noted..." Ray grumbled, throwing the heavy sheets off himself and taking Kai's from him too and shoving them to the end of the bed as far away as he could.
"C'mon then, let's go." He shot back childishly with a smirk curling up his lips, quickly swinging his legs off the bed and heading to the bathroom.
Kai tensed some at the loss of warmth. The plan of him curling up again for another ten minutes once they both left out of the equation now. Asshole...
With another sigh through his nose Kai too eased himself up, groggily stepping over the youngster bouncing on the spot.
"Go on then..." He sent down to him. "But first, coffee..."
"Okay!" Thomas giggled and dashed out of the room like he was still on his espresso high.
"HURRY UP!" He called from inside the hall, his small feet thundering back down the stairs.
Coming back out of the bathroom, running a brush through his hair, Ray leaned against the door frame as Kai was rummaging in his dresser for a change of clothes.
"Guess a morning showers out of the question, huh?" He asked with a light chuckle.
Kai huffed a laugh himself, pulling out some jeans and a sweater. "Mm... Hopefully, he'll crash again in a few hours... Merry Christmas anyway." He said, turning to him and placing a soft kiss on Ray's lips.
Ray smiled into it, kissing back. "Merry Christmas to you too."
Setting his clothes on the bed Kai obliged to the young boy's request and was as quick as he could getting himself dressed.
"What time did Tal say he was coming over with Julia?" He asked, pushing his head through the sweater and pulling it on.
"Noon? I think. I can message him and make sure though. When you get down there can you get the oven set to 400 for me?" Ray asked as he kept dragging the brush through his hair, though kept his eyes on everything Kai was doing.
"Mhm, sure thing." Kai answered giving him another peck before heading to the door. "Coffee?"
"Please." Ray bat his lashes as he left, sending him an air kiss before heading back into the bathroom as Kai left.
As soon as he couldn't hear him in the bedroom anymore he emerged once more and went to the closet where he'd kept his duffel bag.
He'd only packed the few essentials right now, clothes, tooth brush, hair brush, soaps and shampoos. The works. And although he'd been officially moved in with Kai for five days, he wasn't in much of a hurry to go back to Lee's place and get the remainder of his things seeing as how their last run in hadn't gone all that well.
Since then, it'd been exactly five days since he and Lee had spoken to each other, and not that Ray didn't try, especially with the holiday coming up, but Lee being as stubborn as always wasn't returning his calls or messages.
Deciding to leave it, Ray had stopped trying and kept his focus on Kai and Thomas and helping giving the two of them a Christmas they both deserved after everything that had happened the past two months.
For Thomas they may have over done it on the toys and gifts, but it was his first Christmas without his mom. Wanted it to be special. For Kai, he'd gotten him a few things but there was a more special little gift he had planned for him that sat at the bottom of his duffel bag that Kai could unwrap at the end of the day when Thomas was asleep.
"Hey Uncle Kai." Thomas called from his seat at the kitchen table, spoon dipped in his cereal bowl as he was turned around in his chair to watch Kai in the kitchen behind him.
"Thomas." Kai greeted, looking a little more put together now he was dressed and flicked on the coffee machine before going to grab two mugs from the cupboard and set them on the counter.
"You excited to see what Santa's brought you?" He asked reaching for the oven and setting it to... 300? He paused, hand on the dial. Fuck, what did Ray say?
"YES!" Thomas bounced a little in his chair before his face went serious again, "Do they have Christmas up in heaven?"
Kai turned the dial to 400 just to be on the safe side, Ray could always turn it down if need be...
"Uh yeah, of course they do." He answered thinking fast for someone who'd yet to have their morning caffeine.
"They have presents and a big dinner just like we do."
"Oh, that's good. I was worried momma would be sad if they didn't." Thomas said with his own sad tone.
Kai waved him off bringing his coffee over, sitting down beside him at the table and setting a hand on his little blue head of hair.
"Well you don't have to worry about a thing because believe me when I say your momma will be taking charge up there. Kickin' all the other angel's butts to make sure the dinner is ready on time."
Thomas giggled and nodded back, "Yeah. You're right. Thanks uncle Kai." He smiled, going back to his cereal.
Kai returned the smile and took a sip of his coffee; thankful the young boy had quickly grown to accept the little stories he told him in comfort as it wasn't all that easy at first. Thomas went through a small stage of questioning the tales further, his young mind displaying skepticism already with ever explanation being followed with a further 'why?' or 'how?'
Ray had helped a lot. Cementing in the ideology that his mother will always be looking down on him, and if he ever needed to see her he could look up to the night sky and she'd be there. Providing Kai too with his own much needed reassurance at times when he was fretting about something to do with Thomas's future and how all of this was sure to affect him.
He'd grown used to their little household though, and Kai had too. Never did he ever imagine he'd be shacked up and a father and then overnight had gained both a lover and a son.
Things were good right now... Really good...
With the table falling quiet aside from Thomas's chewing and Kai's sipping, Ray finally came padding down the stairs dressed, and hair brushed the rest of the way with it down his back.
"Messaged Tal, but he hasn't messaged back so I'm going to hazard a guess he's still asleep." He announced as he wandered into the kitchen to grab his mug of coffee and join the other two at the table.
"Give it another hour and I'll call him though." He said as he eased himself down in his usual chair around the other two.
"Uncle Talaaaaa!" Thomas sung, doing a little dance in his chair. "I like uncle Tala, he's funny." He announced slurping the milk from his bowl.
Ray chuckled a little, "Well I'll make sure to get him over here for you. Did you sleep good and all?" He asked.
"Mhm!" Thomas hummed setting his bowl on the table and slapping his hands together in prayer. "Now can we please do presents now?! Please please please please!"
"In a minute, Uncle Kai and I haven't even had anything to eat. Go make your bed and get some clothes on, you know the routine by now." Ray shooed at him, "And put your bowl by the sink, not in it this time." He instructed as Thomas hopped off his chair.
Making a face Thomas took his bowl and shuffled to the sink, going on to his tip toes to set it on the counter before bouncing over to the door.
"Okay but hurrrrrryyy!" He drawled before running off upstairs to quickly carry out the tasks given to him.
Kai chuckled some into his mug. "That kid... Don't think I've ever seen him so pumped."
"Me either, but least it's good. I'm happy to see him smile like this, it's nice." Ray mused as he watched Thomas head off before turning to Kai still sat with him.
"And what about you, you sleep good?"
"What the whole three hours I got? Yeah, best night's sleep ever..." He sarcastically sent back, rolling his eyes and taking another sip of his coffee.
"Next year we'll be more prepared."
Ray laughed a little, "Yeah, might have overdone it..." He eyed the tree in the living room and the presents they'd stacked around it during the night.
"For a good cause though, right?"
"Mhm... I hope you like what I got you too." Kai redirected, lowering his cup and setting his hand on top of Ray's.
"Oh? What'd you get me?" Ray grinned as he leaned over the table some, gripping Kai's hand in his.
"Have to wait and see." Kai teased, nudging into him with a small smile on his lips. "Got all of Thomas's to go through first."
Ray rolled his eyes playfully, letting Kai's hand go. "Fine then." He pouted, "Go have your morning cancer stick then and hurry up so we can get this done with, and I can get dinner going too."
Kai picked up his cup and stood up from his chair, grabbing at his cigarettes and lighter off the side and heading for the side door.
"Seven more days and that's it, I told you. New Year's Resolution. I'm quitting." He reminded, popping one between his lips and single handedly lighting it.
"Mhmm, believe it when I see it." Ray sent back as he got up from the table himself with his coffee and going in the opposite direction for the kitchen again.
"And don't light it in the house, now it's going to stink. Get out." He shooed at him to hurry up as the stench was already filtering in the air.
With a groan and eye roll Kai unlocked the door and stepped out into the bitter Christmas morning air, a shiver running through him as a gush of wind came from nowhere.
Brrrrrrr... D-definitely quitting... He can't take these cold mornings anymore. F-fuuck.
Coming up to the back door, Ray poked his head out. "Have you talked to Nicole at all?"
Kai shook his head, arms wrapped around himself as he exhaled a plume of smoke. "Not since she declined coming for dinner the other day. I'm gonna call her after we've done presents. See if she's changed her mind."
"Okay, sounds good." Ray nodded back, a sly grin stretching out along his face as he looked Kai up and down.
"Cold?"
Kai shook his head again, though the arms around him tightened as he shivered, the cigarette shaking between his fingers as he took another drag.
"N-nope."
"Liar." Ray teased with an eye roll, heading back into the house as Thomas came running down the stairs again dressed for the day.
"I'M READY!"
"Well tell Uncle Kai to hurry up." Ray said as he walked past him to get dinner started before they got to the presents.
"UNCLE KAIIII!" Thomas whined, getting more than frustrated with being kept waiting now and stamped his little feet. "Get rid of that, NOW!"
Kai looked over his shoulder at the small scolding, Ray too raised his brows and pressed his lips together at the scene that resembled the boy's mother all over.
"Ooooh you done did it now..." Ray muttered, taking the turkey out of the fridge and setting it on the counter.
Kai continued to stare back at the young one who's fists were clenched at his sides now, little face screwed in tiny rage and he used all of his might to not just burst out laughing at him.
Ohhhh this kid...
"Alright, alright!" He sighed, taking one final drag before flicking it out into the yard. Was freezing his nuts off anyways...
"YAY!" Thomas cheered as he grabbed Kai's hand the second only half of him was in the doorway, dragging Kai in the rest of the way into the house and over to the tree he helped pick out.
"UNCLE RAYYYYY!" He called at him next.
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Ray huffed at him, thankfully he thought ahead and prepared the turkey the night before and was able to just pop it in the oven and set the timer.
Joining the other two in the living room he was promptly grabbed like Kai had been and shoved to sit on the floor with Kai, Thomas going around the tree and pile of presents and reading the name tags before passing one off to Kai and then one to Ray before grabbing his own and sitting in their little three-man circle.
"On the count of three then?" Ray asked.
"One, two, three!" Thomas spewed out in an instant, small hands going to rip off the paper a whole lot faster than it took to wrap the damn thing.
Kai looked to Ray. He told him they shouldn't have bothered...
"Ohhhh wooooww! THE LATEST SPIDER-MAN ACTION FIGURE! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!" Thomas continued to blurt out, quickly standing to throw his arms around Kai's neck before doing the same to Ray.
Ray laughed and pat the boy on the back best he could as he jack rabbited and nearly crushed his chin with his skull.
"You're welcome, Thomas. It's Uncle Kai's turn now, sit down."
Thomas threw himself back onto the floor, wide and excited eyes shooting over to Kai waiting for him to rip into his present.
Kai of course didn't possess the same excitement. He wasn't sure if he was even capable of reaching such levels and even as a child Christmas was just an excuse to get more things on top of all the things he already had.
He ripped off the wrapping just enough to reveal the name of his favourite whiskey before looking across to Ray.
"This is so expensive Ray you shouldn't have got me this." He lightly scolded revealing the rest of the boxed up bottle and admiring it.
Ray scoffed and waved the comment off, "Pretty sure that's not how you say thank you."
Kai looked up from the box and smirked to him. "Thank you..." He sent, removing the rest of the paper and placing it in the trash bag they'd brought over.
"It's your turn uncle Ray!" Thomas pressed, already clutching at his next one ready to open.
"Okay, okay." Ray chuckled and began to tear into his own present like Thomas had just so they weren't keeping him waiting on them.
He almost gasped at the box of designer hair care products that lay in his lap, head whipping from it to Kai and back again a few times.
"And you complained about the whiskey?! This is like... Almost 500 dollars worth of products here!"
"Pretty sure that's not how you say thank you..." Kai teased. "Is it alright though? The assistant said it was the best on the market right now." He said with a shrug. Like hell did he know.
Ray stuttered back something before he shrugged to him, hell did he know either. Wasn't like he ever used designer anything in his life before.
"Find out I guess. Thank you."
"My turn!" Thomas cheered, breaking up the little moment that was building up and diving back under the tree for more presents to hand out.
With more paper getting tossed around and promptly shoved into the trash bag, and toys and books and clothes piling up around Thomas's corner of the living room, Kai and Ray had their own little piles of things that they'd either gotten each other or that Thomas had picked out with them during the weekend.
With every new tear of the wrapping paper the pile under the tree got smaller and smaller, leaving one left under it that Thomas had to belly crawl to grab for.
"Oh... This is yours Uncle Ray..." He said a bit sadly as he read the name tag, passing over the small box that fit into the palm of Ray's hand.
"Mine? But I thought we were only doing four each?" Ray asked as he turned to look at Kai.
Kai smirked on the rim of his mug of the second coffee he'd gone and poured himself whilst Thomas was unwrapping his immense pile of presents.
"Ah this was just a little something extra I thought of last minute. Nothing big..."
"Well yeah.. But still." Ray sighed, feeling bad now as he started to unwrap the tiny little box.
Popping the lid he nearly threw it at him after what he saw was nestled inside the box, jaw hitting the ground as he turned to Kai again.
"You didn't..."
"Come on Thomas! Up ya get! We're going outside!" Kai then announced, slapping his knee and standing.
Thomas shot up from the floor, "Where are we going?!"
"Ohh you'll see." Kai grinned, "Go unlock the door."
"K-Kai!" Ray called as his own feet shoved him off the floor automatically, the box still in his hold.
"Tell me you didn't, seriously." He nearly begged as they gathered round the door as Thomas unlocked it and was already running outside.
Another smirk appeared on Kai's lips as they stepped into the crisp air. Taking another nonchalant sip of his coffee he watched as the young boy ran straight for his extra gift too whilst Ray stood in shock beside him.
"Oh... Well would ya look at that... Someone parking on our drive like that... I wonder who it belongs to? Try the keys Ray..."
"Kaiiii." Ray whined at him as tears budded in his eyes, standing shell shocked not at just the big red bow around the pretty cherry red Jeep but all because of the big dummy standing beside him.
Doing what Kai said he took the key out of the box he'd been carrying around, hitting the unlock and although he knew it'd unlock it the second the SUV beeped at him he let out a squeal.
"OH MY GOD I COULD HIT YOU AND KISS YOU AT THE SAME TIME!" He gushed at him, running over to the SUV and throwing the front door open to look inside it.
"FUCKING LEATHER SEATS?!"
Kai cleared his throat into his mug, tilting his head down at Thomas though the youngster was way too occupied with his own mini electric monster truck parked up beside.
"Is this mine uncle Kai?!"
"It is, you like it?"
"I LOVE IT!" Thomas nearly cried at him, jumping out of the plastic seat and running up to where Kai stood and threw his arms around his legs.
"Thank you, thank you for everything Uncle Kai." His tiny voice came out muffled from burying his face in Kai's jeans.
Kai ruffled the blue hair, letting out a small chuckle. "You're welcome kid... D'you like yours?" He then called over to Ray.
Like Thomas had done, Ray flung himself from inside his leather seats, rushing up to Kai and throwing his arms around his neck without squishing or stepping on Thomas between them.
"I love it! Oh my god, I have car! You idiot! I love you!" He cried as he jumped, smooshing Kai's face in his hands and planting a kiss to his lips quickly.
Kai laughed into it, returning the kiss and sending his own love you too and then another down to Thomas who copied Ray straight after.
Things were good... Really good...
"Godddaaaammmnn what's a guy gotta do around here to get a set of wheels like that! -actually, never mind. Don't answer that."
"Uncle Talaaaaa!" Thomas yelled, bounding up once he saw the redhead appear through the front door.
"Here he iiisss! Merry Christmas champ." He greeted, kneeling down with his bag of presents and opening his arms for the young boy to run into.
Their bodies collided; Thomas having gone from 60 to 150 all morning with no signs of stopping just yet.
"No, you really don't want to know." Ray's voice came from inside the kitchen where the smells of their Christmas dinner was beginning to overflow the house.
"Think you can take these through to the living room for me?" Tala directed to Thomas, handing him the bag.
"Yesss are they all for me?!"
"Not quite, had to get Uncle Kai and Ray a little something too." Tala chuckled.
With Thomas dragging the bag along into the living room, Tala stood back up and wrapped his arm around the lower waist of another redheaded female who had remained quiet beside him.
"Oh Ray, I'd like to introduce you to Julia." He said as he led the two of them into the kitchen where Ray was stood at the counters with his back to them.
"Hey, it's so nice to meet you finally." Ray greeted as he spun around from the counter, quickly wiping off his hands on the dish towel before holding his hand out in offering.
"Other half is outside with his cancer sticks again, but please, make yourself at home. Drinks are in the fridge; bathroom is just up the stairs and to the right."
Julia took his hand and shook it. "Thank you so much for inviting me!" She sweetly said, "Tal has told me so much about you I feel like I know you already!"
Ray chuckled awkwardly, mind going over a thousand different things Tala have could possibly told her or if he just went and told her everything.
"Awww, you talk about me? I'm flattered." He bat his lashes at the redhead, turning back to Julia.
"And please, no need to thank us. Always welcome."
Julia sent him a smile. "All good things, don't worry."
"Yeah, Ray." Tala added sticking his tongue out to him.
At that Kai slid open the side door and stepped back into the kitchen, letting out a shiver as the warmth of the room hit him.
"Aaaand this is boss man, Kai." Tala introduced, Julia giving a little nod of her head. "Kai, Julia."
"Oh, nice to meet you." He said before turning to Tala, "Didn't realise you'd arrived, surprised I didn't hear your loud voice out there."
"Surprised you didn't either, going deaf?" Tala quipped back with a grin.
"Did you get a hold of Nicole yet?" Ray jumped between as Kai went to throw something back at Tala.
"Oh shiiiii." Kai gasped though drawled out the curse at a lady being present. "Doing it now. Make yourself at home guys." He directed towards the couple before taking himself upstairs to make the phone call he'd kept forgetting about all morning.
Setting himself down on the edge of the bed he clicked onto Nicole's ID and held the phone up to his ear, listening to the dial tone ring out before it was answered.
"Merry Christmas!" Nicole's voice chirped into the phone.
"And you, how's it going?" Kai replied, a faint smile sitting on his face at how happy she seemed to sound this morning.
"Oh it's going great, and oh my God I wished you were there yesterday at the appointment. I know you were too busy, so it's okay, I'll send you pictures, but the baby has gotten SO big and was sucking it's thumb on the ultrasound. It was just, the best thing ever." Nicole rambled into his ear.
"Aw I'm glad everything's going well though, and sorry I couldn't be there, had a whole load of presents to wrap and get Ray's car sorted to get dropped off. You should have seen his face. Priceless." He chuckled.
"Thomas liked his little car too. Thanks for the idea of having them parked up side by side on the drive. Whole thing was just a picture, was a shame you missed it."
"Ohhh, that sounds great. I'm sure they were both over the moon. And what about you? Get anything special?" She asked in a more sly tone.
"Well y'know the whiskey I drink on special occasions, Ray got me a bottle of that which is just ridiculous considering how much it is. Some new clothes, a book I'd had my eye on... Just usual stuff really." He listed off, not really getting the tone she'd used there.
"Still got your gifts here too. Need to give them to you, y'know, when you allow me to come up there.." He hinted, considering every time he offered to go and visit now she gave him some reason not to.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come and get you? I don't really like the thought of you spending Christmas by yourself when you don't have to."
"Nooo, it's fine. It's a four hour drive and then you'd have to drive me all the way back up here. Spend time with your family, I'm fine here on my own. I promise. But I appreciate the offer." She waved off.
Kai sighed some though she had a point. "Alright, I'll definitely come up some time before new year though. Give you a change of scenery. Go do lunch or something." He suggested, standing up from the bed and wandering to the dressing table where Ray had set the box load of products he'd got him.
"Oh, sorry to bring this up now too but just remembered, I got an email the other day from the lawyers, saying they haven't received the divorce papers yet, you've sent them off by now surely right?" He asked picking up a random bottle and looking it over.
"IIII haven't even gotten them yet." Nicole answered with a slight pause in her tone.
"I mean we did have that snow in, so postal is probably backed up and with the holidays I probably won't see them for another week or two. But as soon as I get them I'll let you know, promise."
"Oh. Yeah. You're probably right." Kai accepted though held clear skepticism in his tone. Even with the snow it seemed to be taking a long time. He shrugged it off. Just take her word for it he figured.
"Once I have them I'll let you know." Nicole reaffirmed, "But anyways, been meaning to ask. How long are you going to be keeping Thomas for? Last you told me she was just on vacation but seems kind of odd for her to not be with her little boy on Christmas."
Kai's heart almost stopped. Shit, he never told her...
"Uh... Well." He stuttered, racking his brain before giving up and exhaled, "About that..." Wasn't the sort of news he wanted to give out any day never mind on Christmas...
"She was actually found dead in a park once the snow cleared... So, I'll be keeping him for good now. Well, 'til he turns eighteen at least..."
Nicole went silent on the other end to the point Kai thought they'd lost connection, having to pull the phone from his ear and check to make sure they still were.
"Nicole?"
"My god Kai... I... I'm so sorry... Wh-why didn't you tell me sooner? Who did it?!" She asked, her voice going from a whisper and then gaining in volume.
It was Kai's turn to go silent, not even really sure how to deliver the next bit of information other than to just give it.
"We... Don't know exactly who... But that husband of yours is at the top of their list of suspects..."
"No..." Was all Kai got back in response, the line going silent again.
Kai took in a breath and sighed deeply. "Yeah... So, little prick's naturally on the run right now with his other low life cronies so until the police find them isn't really anything more that can be done."
"And they're sure he was behind it?" Nicole stressed.
"Positive Nicole." He flatly sent back. "I was there myself looking up from the floor after he beat my ass, watching her get dragged away by one of his friends. There's no denying he was involved. Sorry to say."
"I... I see... Okay... Um... I'll let you know when I get those papers in." She stuttered back, clearly at a loss for words on what else to say to him.
Another 'Merry Christmas' just didn't seem to cut it. Not after all she'd gone and done behind his back after every good thing he'd done for her. And now to find out she was harboring a possible murderer under the roof, in the same bed as her? It made her blood run cold just thinking about it.
That sweet little boy lost his mother... And all for what exactly? She didn't have all the answers, nor was she going to pry Kai for more right now, Christmas or not, she just couldn't bear to hear it right now.
"I'll also let you know about that date, next time you're free. Okay?"
Kai nodded even though it would be unseen, sensing the whole mood had lowered now and felt like it was all his fault.
"Yeah please do... I'll call you alright? Enjoy the rest of your Christmas..."
"You too. Tell Ray and Thomas Merry Christmas for me." Nicole sent back in her less than chirpy tone that she had answered the call with.
Hanging up the phone she didn't notice that raging violet eyes were locked on her back and had been for several minutes now.
"A date with who?"
Nicole jumped, almost dropping the phone in her hand as she spun around to look at Johnny and unintentionally took a step back from him.
Her heart was racing not just from being scared but from what Kai had just told her. It'd been weeks now that he'd been living with her, under Kai's nose no less, and all this time not much had changed between them.
He still had his temper, empty promises given left and right, while she was left feeding and tidying up after him even several months pregnant with his child that he couldn't even be bothered to go and see at the appointment with her.
"Is it true?" She asked around the lump in her throat, fighting down the shaking in her arms.
"Is what true?" He spat, face contorting some, "Who were you talking to just now?" Whilst Johnny's face looked to be more vexed, inside his own heart was pounding.
Why was he in the conversation? Had this bitch told someone he was here?
Nicole fought the tears, but her body was now shaking despite her best efforts in trying to keep it from doing so.
"MING-MING! Did you kill her?!" She spat back.
"What?! N-no!" Johnny blurted out. "Who the fuck were you talking to Nicole?! Was that Kai just now? Does he know I'm here?"
"Of course he doesn't! But while you were beating the shit out of him it gave your friend enough time to haul Ming out and slaughter her and leave her for dead in a park!"
Johnny's throat had gone painfully dry at that. His heart now thumping in his ears and a wave of nausea running through him. D-dead? The little bitch was dead?
"T-that wasn't anything to do with me! I swear!" And for the first time in a long while Johnny wasn't lying.
Sure he knew Robert wanted her, sure he knew something was going on in the bedroom when he was at the house... Had seen the restraints and the blood. But he didn't know he was going to fucking murder her!
"You have to believe me Nicky. This is the first I'm even hearing of this myself!"
"I can't Johnny! I just... You have to leave.. I can't..." Nicole shook her head at him, the tears rolling down her face now as she backed away from him again.
"No-babe! Come on!" As exasperated as Johnny's voice came out of him the tone of desperation was there all the same.
Was Kai pinning the whole thing on him? Is that what he'd said to her just now? And she was believing him?
"Why do you always side with HIM over me?!" He snarled closing the distance in a flash and grabbing at her arms.
"I'm not going nowhere!"
Nicole's body seized up on her, the fear etched in her face as it paled from the last time he came at her like this.
"It's not always about you versus him Johnny! A little boy has no mother now because of what you did!" She screamed back at him.
"I DIDN'T DO IT!" He violently shook her, voice booming off the walls and going red in the face.
"I-It was Robert! He was behind it all! I-I had nothing to do with the stupid bitch! I didn't know! I-I didn't know he was going to do this! I thought he just wanted her back working for him! That's all!"
"IT'S NOT ENOUGH! SHE'S DEAD!" Nicole screamed at the top of her lungs, shoving him off of her and backed into the wall behind her.
"You need to go, NOW! Because whatever it is you did or didn't do, her blood is on your hands too. If you weren't hurting Kai... If you didn't hurt me none of this would be happening Johnny!"
Where all her strength had come from he didn't know but Johnny stared back at her like a deer in headlights at being shoved back. It now hitting him like a ton of bricks at what mess he was actually in right now.
He knew the police were on his ass but thought mere assault would be his max charge not... Not murder...
"Nicky... Please..." For the first time in years violet eyes started to water. "I... I don't know what to do..."
"You need to leave." She bit out more sternly, the tears in her own eyes having dried and arms wrapping protectively around her stomach.
"Or I will call Kai and tell him, so leave... Now."
"And then the next thing I see he's staggering towards the stage, clambering up with this cheeky glint in his eye thinking he's the man of the hour!" Tala laughed out, knife and fork in hand as he filled Julia in on more tales of his best friend whilst of course embarrassing the hell out of him.
"All the other girls had parted like the Red Sea, and you can see on their faces a mix of both curiosity and fear that this guy is gonna bust his ass the second he got his leg round the pole."
Julia was hooked into the story, cheeks puffed trying to contain her laughter between looking at Tala and glancing at Ray across the table beside Kai who looked like he was trying to hide under the table the second Tala had started talking.
"And did he?" She asked in excitement, once more looking between the story teller and Ray.
"Oh no it wasn't until after he got off the thing did he decide to fall. Walked back over to this guy with hearts in his eyes and, what even happened? You just slipped off the stage?" Tala asked Ray before continuing anyway.
"Just fell off right into his arms, n'aawwwh... Been pining for each other ever since."
"Oh that's so sweet." Julia sent to the two, Ray's face about as red as the ketchup Thomas had insisted he needed to dip his turkey into while Kai was fighting back a smile around the rim of his whiskey glass.
"Shook everything up so really felt it and the stage was slippery, had taken my shoes off before going onto the pole and ended up slipping on it." Ray managed in a mutter to Tala, his own awkward laugh coming out of him and wondering why Kai wasn't saving either of them from this.
"Bleeessssss." Tala sent his way, scooping some potatoes onto his fork.
"Seriously though, total mission getting these two together. Think I deserve a car for my efforts." He hinted looking to Kai now with a grin as he placed the fork in his mouth.
"What, the bed wasn't good enough?" Kai asked, finally bringing his glass back down to the table.
"That you defiled in the first place?!" He clapped back.
"What does deriled mean?" Came a small voice between them.
"And I think that's enough of that." Ray said in a warning tone with a hard look at Tala across from him.
"I'll tell you when you're older." Kai sent to Thomas on his other side, "Hurry up and eat so you can go back and play."
Thomas seemed to pout though dipped more of his turkey in the ketchup and shoved it in his mouth.
Julia let out a small chuckle cutting into more of her food. "It is a lovely bed." She added looking to Kai. "Did him a favour honestly."
Tala turned to her. "Is that why you're staying over at mine all of a sudden now?"
She glanced at him with a cheeky grin, "Mayyybe." She drawled out, popping her fork into her mouth.
A scoff came from him. "Rude... My bed was perfectly fine before."
"I have monsters under my bed." The little voice nonchalantly chirped in again.
Ray nearly choked on the food he'd just put in his mouth, while Kai's whiskey glass was promptly brought back to his lips.
"Monsters?" Julia asked in a concerned tone as she looked to the cute and such well-behaved little boy.
Thomas gave her a nod back, "Yeah, they make a lot of sounds and wake me up almost every night. Uncle Ray says it's just the wind, but it's monsters I swear." His little voice pitched out in a distressed tone, quickly turning to Kai.
"Can I have a new bed like Uncle Tala?"
Tala frowned some before daring to hazard a guess at what his little champ was talking about, interrupting before Kai could answer.
"Hey Tommy, what do these monsters sound like?" He slyly pried.
Thomas seemed to think for a second before trying to give his best impression on the sounds he hears.
"It's sorta like, Ohhhhh!"
Instantly Kai choked on his drink, the dark liquid going all over him as he coughed up a lung and reached for his napkin.
"You are going to get grounded." Ray warned as he pointed his knife at Tala, the other hand on Kai's back as he pat him while he coughed and choked on his whiskey.
Tala raised his hands up in defense. "I just wanted to double check about these 'monsters...' Cos see Tommy that was my problem, only my monsters were in my bed!"
Thomas's eyes went wide and fearful almost, "Is that why you got a new one?!"
"Tala, seriously. Stop." Ray tried again, though by now knew it wasn't going to matter since the redhead was on a roll.
"Can I have a new bed, pleaseeeee?" Thomas begged to his still choking Uncle beside him, not seeming to care that Kai could be dying right there next to him.
Between hacking a lung, Kai shook his head at him, it slowing down as he took in a few deep breaths.
[You, can fuck yourself. Think you're so funny.] He sent at Tala with a slight watery glare.
[I am hilaaaaaaarious.] Tala chuckled switching to Russian also, [Best keep the noise down lads you've a kid now. Or maybe you're the kid spilling things down ya self like that.] He pointed out, waving his fork at him.
Kai looked down, torn between stabbing Tala in the eye with his fork or just simply strangling him over the top of the table.
[Your fucking fault.] He grumbled as he pushed himself away from the table, [And you're right, there's a kid. So watch your mouth.]
Leaving it at that, he headed for the stairs to go and change out of his whiskey drenched sweater. Dying on the inside with every step he took up the stairs.
"I have no clue what you two said, but I'm going to go check on him." Ray said next as he excused himself from the table, ruffling Thomas's hair as he passed by him and headed up the stairs after Kai.
Tala snorted as they both left, getting an absolute kick out of embarrassing his 'business partner.' Ah he loved the guy and he knew it...
When Ray walked in Kai was already topless, damp sweater in the laundry basket and was rooting through his top drawer to find another shirt.
"Why did we invite him again?" Kai muttered, pulling one out and shoving his arms through.
"Because we both think he's hot?" Ray asked as he leaned against the door after shutting it behind him.
Kai scoffed though his lips curled up as he started to button up his shirt. "Still think he's an asshole."
"Mmm." Ray hummed as he finally peeled himself away from the door and stepped up to him, putting his hands over Kai's to do his shirt up for him instead.
"Thought you were an asshole too, but here we are." He mused; eyes focused on what he was doing.
The smirk transitioned to a genuine smile as he watched him with a soft gaze. "And here I just thought you were beautiful..."
Ray chuckled a little, a faint blush coming over his face as he got up to Kai's last button but decided to leave it undone. Flattening his hands over the shirt and Kai's chest he gave another hum from his throat and tilted his head up to look at him finally.
"And I thought you were out of my league, too. Still think that too, honestly."
Kai just lightly shook his head at him, hands going to Ray's hips as he continued to lovingly stare at him.
"If anyone's out of anyone's league it's definitely you out of mine."
"You keep saying that, but I'm not the one passing out cars like they're candy." Ray reminded, though a smile finally settled over his face.
Although he loved it, loved Kai even more for it. He didn't love Kai for his money or what he could give him, nor would he ever ask for such a thing from him and not so soon into their relationship even if it had been going on fast forward since they pressed play.
"I didn't do anything to deserve that, and I'm thankful for it, I really am. But you didn't have to."
"You didn't have to do anything, I did it because I wanted to." Kai explained, caressing at his sides. "What did I do? Why did you spend over a hundred on a bottle of whiskey? I'm guessing cos you wanted to."
"Cus I couldn't think of anything else to get you." Ray answered honestly with a little laugh, "And seriously, what did you do? Before the car? Um let's see, or should I not list everything since we still have guests downstairs?"
Kai huffed a laugh. "Mm well you've done plenty too... Anyways we'd best get back to those guests of ours downstairs, who knows what else that deviant is teaching Thomas."
"I do not want to know." Ray sighed, and yet still shook his head at him as he cupped Kai's cheek in his hand.
"And I haven't done anything, at least nothing I haven't wanted to do. But thank you, for everything you've done and not just for me but for Thomas too." He told him sincerely before leaning up the rest of the way and placing a soft kiss to Kai's lips.
Kai returned it before taking his hand and stepping them towards the door. "You don't need to thank me, ever. You want something else to drink?" He asked before Ray paused, stopping the two in their tracks.
"No, I'm good right now. I'll be down there in a minute though." He said and slipped his hand out of Kai's, "Won't be long."
Kai sent him a nod, accepting it without question and stealing another quick peck of his lips before heading back downstairs in his fresh attire.
The second Kai was gone, Ray took in a breath and went back to his duffel bag in the closet.
Maybe he could give Kai two presents to unwrap after Thomas went to bed. Kai deserved it after all, especially after everything he'd gotten him.
At first he had almost left it behind, though was now really glad he hadn't, yet that still brought up him having to fit it in...
Said he wouldn't be long...
Popping the side table's drawer open he grabbed the lube and slipped into the closet, closing the door behind him.
"Well there ya are, was afraid you got lost or something." Tala grinned as Kai came sauntering back down the stairs finally.
"Wish you would." Kai flatly retorted going back to his seat and lifting his drink. "Ray'll just be a second." He sent more for Julia's sake.
Tala stuck his tongue out at him before he seemed to perk up, "Oh, got that replacement ya asked for. Did his interview yesterday, so he's all set up for when we open."
"Great. Everything's looking good for New Year's then. Had decorators in the past few days, sprucing it up some too, so good to go." Kai said to him finishing off his plate. "Think we'll just keep it staff New Year's Eve. Have a little get together or whatever. You're more than welcome to come too Julia."
"Oh, I'd love to." Julia chirped, "But whose going to be watching Thomas? If you don't have a sitter I'd love to do it." She offered.
"Uh." Kai had honestly forgotten about that.
Would be the first time Thomas was going to be left with a somewhat stranger. Was that wise? Did he need to interview her for this kind of thing? Ask for ID?
"I'll, let you know. I'm not sure what we have planned to be honest."
"Didn't she normally just have him stay with Tyson? But that's kind of out of the way for you two..." Tala mused with a little frown, he hadn't given it much thought either and eyed Thomas over in the living room too engrossed with his new toys to be paying attention to what they were talking about.
"It's not like he can stay here by himself when you and Ray are working, and since you both work the same hours you'll need somebody to watch him. I really don't mind; I babysat my brother's kids all the time." Julia said.
Kai seemed to mull it over a moment more, looking to Tala who'd sent a very slight shrug back giving his silence opinion on it.
He didn't see the problem at all. Guess if his right hand man trusted her there was no reason why he shouldn't.
"Alright then, sounds good. Thanks Julia."
"Of course. Just let me know when you'd like me over." She smiled back.
"What're we doing now?" Ray asked as he came back down the stairs, joining them at the table again and held in the slight look of discomfort on his face as he did so.
Kai turned to him, sending a small smile not noticing it. "Not a lot really. Can get the dessert if you want. You guys want dessert?" He asked across the table and got two nods back.
"Julia just offered too to watch Thomas for us while we're working so that'll help us out. Wasn't even something I'd thought of." He admitted, though wasn't a surprise with the amount of time they'd both had off now.
"Oh! Oh my God I didn't even think of it either. Thank you so much." Ray sent to Julia across the table before turning to Kai, "Did you discuss price?"
Kai just stared back at him, showing that was yet something else that had completely slipped his mind.
"Ohh you don't have to worry about that!" Julia waved off reaching for her wine glass.
"No we do. But we'll discuss it next week, closer to the time." Kai stated going for his own drink.
"You know why that is don't you?" Tala leaned in to Julia beside him, hand covering his mouth, speaking quieter though intentionally loud enough to be heard by all at the table.
"Cos if you notice this guy's two drinks in now and he doesn't talk money not sober. We'll push for it though. Prolly end up agreeing to pay you a grand a night." He nudged her arm with his elbow, sending her wink and getting in character.
"Me and my associate here actually think it's a perfect time to discuss terms of this job opportunity." He started, clasping his hands together on the table and looking to Kai with a straight face.
Kai just stared at him while Ray chuckled a little and got himself up to get that dessert that was mentioned earlier.
"One hundred a night sound fair enough?" He asked as he went to the fridge, "That's what, six hundred a week. 2k a month?"
Kai nearly sputtered on his own spit while Julia's eyes bugged out of her head.
"Isn't that way too much?! He'll be sleeping anyways, right?"
"E-exactly!" Kai agreed quickly.
"Not all the time, he's still adjusting. He wakes up, sometimes he's crying. And when we go back to work, who knows how he's going to be." Ray tried to argue.
Tala pressed his lips together, loving Ray even more if that was at all possible for playing along with his little stunt here and the look on Kai's face opposite was priceless.
His expression was deadpan but not through annoyance or boredom, but genuine questioning and disbelief.
Was he actually buying this?
Kai shifted where he sat. Two grand a month seemed a little steep, but he figured Ray was right... Thomas right now was a little unpredictable at times and they were anti-social hours too...
"Well... I guess that makes sense. Is that okay for you?" He then asked turning back to Julia.
The woman just stared; she was fine with taking nothing. Would be sleeping herself half the time, but with the bit of info Ray just shared she wasn't so sure now.
The poor baby...
"I'm fine with fifty a night, how's that sound? That seems more fair. It's only a few hours, and it is night where he should be sleeping. Even if he's not, I'm sure we'll make it work." She sent back.
Kai instantly perked up. That was half off! SOLD.
"Perfect. Sounds great." He confirmed with a nod of his head and took a sip of his drink.
Tala smirked on the rim of his own, side eyeing Julia and giving her another wink.
With the terms of their new agreement being settled over some pies and eggnog, more presents were ripped into and opened shortly before seven o'clock.
Bellies and arms full, Tala and Julia picked themselves up from the couch in the living room where they'd been snuggled up beside each other watching Thomas enjoying his massive amount of new toys, the kid loving the laser gun Tala had got him as he shot down his row of new Marvel action figures on the floor.
"Thank you again for having us, was lovely meeting all of you finally." Julia said as Tala ushered them to the front door.
"Thank you for coming, was wonderful meeting you as well." Ray said back to her before turning to the red head who gave him a one sided arm hug.
"See you at work, yeah?"
"Yup, bright and early." Ray chuckled as he hugged him back and stepped back beside Kai and slipped his arm around his.
"Be careful, see you at work. And thank you for coming." Kai sent back to the both of them just before they slipped out the front door.
"Alright Thomas, bath time." Kai ushered the second the front door was closed, and Tala and Julia were gone.
Thomas threw his head back with a groan, "Awwww, but I wanted to playyyyy."
"And you can tomorrow. Now it's time for bed." Kai lightly scolded, putting his hand on the boys back and leading him towards the stairs and urging him to go up before him as he paused at the bottom to glance at Ray heading into the kitchen.
"I'll help if you just hold off."
Ray shooed at him without even looking his way, already picking up plates and cups from their Christmas dinner to clean up.
"I got it, get him in bed and I'll meet you up there."
Kai fought the smile wanting to crack along his face, giving a little nod even if Ray wasn't looking and headed up after Thomas to get him in a bath.
The moment Ray could hear the heavy footsteps fade up the stairs and the water kick on in the bathroom upstairs, he went around the kitchen as fast as he could to put the leftover food away and in the fridge. The dishes could be washed tomorrow, they weren't going anywhere after all.
Making sure everything was put away and whatever spills were on the counters or floors were cleaned up he dashed up the stairs to his and Kai's bedroom while it sounded like Kai had just started drying Thomas off after his bath which meant he had a few more minutes to prepare due to story time.
Closing the bedroom door behind him, he looked around the room and spotted the armchair stuck in the corner near the closet across the room.
Perfect...
"See you in the morning Thomas." Kai smiled at the boy who was fighting his eyes from closing and all snuggled up under his heavy blankets.
"Okay... Love you..." Thomas yawned back at him, turning over on his side.
"Love you too." Kai chuckled softly, running his fingers through the boys blue hair gently before pushing himself off the bed and flicking the light off and cracking the door open as he left and crossed the hall for his own room.
"So that was easier tha-" He paused like a deer caught in the headlights as he walked the short distance into his own room, being greeted with Ray sat up on his bed with a cheeky smirk on his face and a pair of silver handcuffs dangling off his index finger.
The armchair he had was now moved closer to the end of the bed and pushed up against the wall across from it, right under the window, and there was an upbeat song playing softly from Ray's phone sitting on the bedside table.
Ray's cheeky smirk only got wider as he smoothly stepped off the bed and sauntered over to him, loving the surprised look on Kai's face.
"Do you trust me?" He asked in a low whisper, holding up the handcuffs with the wrist clamps hooked around each thumb.
The cogs started turning again just enough for him to gently push the door to a close behind him though the dumb look was still on Kai's face when he nodded back to him.
Handcuffs only meant one thing in the bedroom and his mind was running wild right now.
"Mhmm... I thought we'd already exchanged all our gifts though?" He sent coyly, looking to the chair again and then back to the male opposite him.
"I have one more for you." Ray continued to cheekily grin at him, flipping the cuffs open and stalking around behind him.
"Gimmie your arms and let me know if they're too tight." He ordered, Kai already having put his arms behind his back for him where he clasped the cuffs over his wrists and cinched them down.
"That okay?" He asked, keeping his voice low.
"I mean would've been better them being on you, but..." Kai answered looking over his shoulder and following Ray as he walked back to the front of him.
"They're fine I guess..."
Ray chuckled at him, shaking his head a little as he grabbed the front of Kai's shirt and pulled him forward and towards the chair while locking eyes with him.
"Where's the fun in that?" He purred.
Kai just smirked at him, the idea of not being in control really not sitting well with him though would humour the other considering it was Christmas...
He was eased down in the chair, Ray's hands massaging his shoulders some and stroking down his arms.
Ah this wasn't so bad. At least he could still see what was going on.
"Comfy?" Ray asked as his hands continued to run up and down Kai's arms and shoulders before moving down and over his chest, undoing the first two buttons on Kai's shirt.
"Mhmm.." He hummed back, eyes looking down to watch the skilled tanned fingers start to undress him before looking up into golden eyes.
He could the smell the cologne he'd bought Ray for Christmas radiating off him and it smelt delicious...
Whyyyy did he have to be cuffed right now?
"New cologne?" He asked with a slight smirk and tilt of his head after taking an exaggerated inhale.
"Mhmmm." Ray hummed back, leaning in just a bit more and tilting his neck so Kai could get a good whiff of it off his skin while his fingers brushed the pale skin he left exposed on him.
Where he was, he knocked Kai's knees apart with his own legs and wiggled himself down to his knees in front of him on the floor between the chair and the bed.
Running his hands down Kai's chest to his thighs, locking eyes with him again as he felt the muscles flinch under his jeans and held back the smirk that was fighting it's way along his lips again.
Unhooking Kai's belt and slowly dragging the zipper down, he pulled away and gathered up all his hair and threw it up in a ponytail as he sat on his knees between Kai's legs.
All Kai could do was watch. His gaze remaining locked on the male's movements below as he waited in anticipation, his heart rate increasing some in excitement.
Kai could feel himself twitch within his jeans as the zipper had come down and seeing Ray's hair up like that was only turning him on more.
Ugghhh he wanted to touch it!
"You should wear your hair like that more often..." He softly suggested.
"Maybe I will." Ray winked at him as he lifted to his feet, spinning on his heels and swayed his hips over to the bedside table for his phone.
"Mmmm." He hummed to himself as he scrolled through his playlist, leaving Kai sitting and watching as he not so subtly shifted his weight and popped a hip out every few seconds.
Kai's head had rolled in his direction. His eyes bouncing up and down Ray's figure and fixing on his ass each time he stuck it out.
Ray was doing this on purpose now he just knew it. Like the song choice mattered... He wasn't even listening to the music right now anyway... He just wanted Ray to get back here and touch him!
He shifted some in his seat. The way his jeans had been left popped open the fabric hadn't provided him with much pressure against his twitching muscle and he was starting to get riled up.
"C'mon what're you doing?" He whined some and the needy tone only caused Ray to go even slower.
Ray rolled his head along his shoulders, the cheeky smirk coming back. "Making sure you're good and starved." Was all he said to him, finally settling on a song and turned the volume up just a tad bit more.
Couldn't perform without a song, what kind of stripper did Kai think he was here? And even though he didn't have a pole, the bed made a pretty decent stage.
"Why, we getting impatient baby?" He cooed as he turned back around, tanned fingers going to the front of his shirt and working down his own buttons as he sashayed his way back towards him but stopped near the side of the bed with his shirt now undone and exposing the red leather chest harness he had underneath.
Kai cleared his throat and swallowed as his own head tilted, taking in the new reveal. He hadn't seen that before...
"Just a little..." He admitted in a mutter, line of vision solely on Ray's chest now.
"Poor thing." Ray cooed, dropping his shirt around his arms and turning to the side to show off his little last minute 'gift' to him but it wasn't even the best part.
With a full turn, having shimmied the shirt off completely in time with the beat of the song he selected, hips swaying and going like it was second nature. He made it back between Kai's knees and put his foot up on the small space left on the cushion where he sat.
Holding Kai's eyes with his own again, his hands running down his chest and over the leather straps he settled on his own pants and undid them just as slowly as he'd done Kai's. Hips still working in their hypnotic dance and drinking up the sight of Kai watching every move.
He was mesmerized. His lips had parted as his lust filled eyes continued to dart up and down the other male not really knowing where to fix on as another sultry move caught his attention shortly after.
Not that Kai was trying to hide his reactions, but he subconsciously licked over his lips in his trance like state and his teeth lightly bit into his lower lip. His racing thoughts obvious by his expression and him shifting again in his seat again confirmed them further.
Seeing Kai completely transfixed, Ray hooked his thumbs in the hem of his jeans and wiggled them down. Showing off his hip bones and the bits of red leather slowly peeking out as he wiggled them down and stepped back before turning to put his ass towards Kai.
With his hips still swaying in their slow dance, the jeans inched further and further down till the little red bow popped out over the back of them. His jeans bunching up around his thighs now as he did a little shake to make sure Kai's attention was drawn to it.
"Was supposed to wish you a Merry Christmas, too." He sent over his shoulder with a wink and air kiss.
The teeth released his lower lip as Kai's jaw nearly hit the floor.
Merry Christmas indeed, fuuuuuck!
"H-how long have you had that?" He stuttered, eyes not moving from the bow sitting above his ass now.
"One of my old costumes from when I worked the poles. Packed it especially for you, and maybe a few others." Ray answered as he shimmied out of his jeans the rest of the way, crawling up onto the bed where the leather hugged and tightened in alll the right places as he moved.
"But, only if you're a good boy." He continued as he turned around on his knees to face him again, lifting up some on them to get the show on the road.
Kai's breath hitched in his throat, not even hearing anything Ray had said in response to his question once the jeans hit the floor.
"Get me out of these handcuffs." He ordered in a growl. "Now." His tone was sharp though his glazed over eyes and slightly heaving chest assured Ray this was just his horny talking right now.
Ray just shook his head at him, hands running over every inch of himself and down to his own crotch as his hips bucked into his hands, fondling himself through his leather shorts as he bit into his own bottom lip.
Like he said, he wanted Kai starving.
Placing a hand behind him, lifting his hips some more, he spread his legs apart and threw his head back as he continued to thrust into his own hand and pawed at the front of himself with a low moan rolling from his throat.
Kai pressed his lips together to suppress the pathetic whimper that sat in his own throat. His wrists pulling against their metal restraints where the needy noise was replaced with a frustrated growl. He couldn't even touch himself right now either!
His cock painfully throbbed again in his boxers causing another shift from him and Kai knew full well he'd be leaking by now. The sight of Ray writhing alone on the sheets was perhaps the most hottest thing he'd ever seen in his life and he just didn't know what to do with himself.
He felt warm, flustered almost. He swallowed again, needing to just do something with his mouth. He knew the usual rules but to hell with those. He wanted to kiss him at the very least!
"C'mere..." Kai then blurted out in a breath, "Please..."
Ray pat himself on the back mentally. Got him to say please. And oh that tone just did things to him, but he wasn't done yet. Nor did he think Kai was nearly as starved as he wanted him to be.
Shifting back up, he put a finger to his lips to signal Kai to be quiet. He was working after all.
With a graceful roll, he was on his hands and knees, ass facing Kai again and gave it a little shake before he grinded down into the bed with his hips in a rhythmic dance.
Kai could've cried. He tried to remember a time when he'd been this sexually frustrated though didn't believe a moment actually existed.
This was it. This was the time.
He tensed his thighs, Kai's own hips then gaining a mind of their own and mirroring the taunting movements in front of him, imagining he was above and behind him and ploughing into him like no tomorrow.
Ray was going to regret not taking these damn things off him sooner. God, he was gonna fuck him into the new year once he was released!
Throwing his head back and over his shoulder, Ray licked his lips slowly at the sight and desperate attempts Kai was making to get some kind of relief.
Feeling like he'd gone and riled him up good enough, he spun back around on the bed and slid off the end towards the chair and where Kai sat.
"Aw, poor baby." He cooed, tracing his index finger down the side of Kai's face and along his jawline in a feather light touch towards his neck where he could feel Kai's body heat coming off of him like he'd been thrown into the sun.
"You want me to let you go now?" He asked in that same cooing tone, leaning in and replacing the finger with his lips in the same manner as he teased Kai's knees with his own by brushing against them.
"Yes." He seemed to pant out.
He could feel his heart thumping in his chest and it only increased once Ray had stepped over and touched him; his skin only alighting further at the soft sensual kisses being placed on him.
He practically melted and leaned into them, lids feeling heavy with desire as Kai stared up at him and pleaded once more.
"Please..."
"Such a good boy." Ray purred into his ear with another smirk curling up his lips, finding the front of Kai's shirt and pulling him forward some so he could reach behind him where he sat.
Fishing the keys out from inside his shorts, he leaned over Kai's shoulder, making sure their bodies touched as he went to unlocking the cuffs as his own heart began to race and hit harder the second the first cuff was released.
By now, he knew Kai had a hunger in him on a regular day. And now it was like he was fixing to unleash a wild animal and he was the prey, yet that only excited him more as the second cuff was released.
The metal dropped with a soft clunk and the next few moments seemed to pass in slow motion. Ray's scent assaulted Kai's nostrils again and like he really was the predator ready for a meal he deeply inhaled again increasing his appetite further.
Finally... He was back in control... Nice game, Ray... Though, he was done playing.
He lifted himself up from his previous prison, towering over the other male now and Ray took a slight step back, legs hitting the edge of the bed. He wasn't scared but the demonic look in Kai's eyes had him somewhat intimidated now of his next actions. Why wasn't he straight attacking?
Beside himself, Kai slowly reached and caressed the leather straps that sat snug against tanned skin, examining it, running a single finger underneath before letting it go. Oh he liked this... Liked it a lot...
"Turn around." He commanded as his fingers went to undo the rest of the buttons on his shirt.
Ray cocked a brow though did as he was ordered to do, turning around and facing the bed while his heart sped up and slowed down in a painful rhythm now that he wasn't completely sure what Kai was fixing to do to him.
"Like what you see?" He asked in a knowing tone.
Kai hummed his answer as he peeled off his shirt, dropped it to the floor and took a step forward, eyes remaining on the body in front and hands gently holding Ray's hips as his own pressed against the tight red shorts and finally getting some kind of relief of the built up pressure in his pants.
"I do..." He groaned out as he ground against him.
A fair hand then snaked up Ray's back when it roughly grabbed the back of his neck and pushed him forward, bending him over.
"Though I'd much prefer you naked..."
Grabbing at the back of the booty shorts he roughly pulled them down to reveal the crystal topped butt plug already in Ray's in preparation and Kai almost came right there and then.
"Where the fuck have you been all my life?"
Immediately sinking to his knees, Kai spread Ray's cheeks and with his teeth pulled out the plug before shoving his tongue inside him and starting his first course.
Ray would have laughed at the outburst if it wasn't for the sudden moan rolling out of his chest and throat the second Kai's tongue got to work. Bracing himself more on the bed where Kai had put him, letting his head roll a little where his chin touched his chest.
If Kai liked it so much then he should just put a ring on it. Already bought him a damn car, so that was next on the list right?
Getting his fill on his starter and lapping up the noises that were erupting from above, Kai rose back to his feet and stuck two fingers right in Ray's gaping hole, his own low sounds sitting in his throat as he worked him more.
"Ready for your extra gift?" He purred, his free hand working to get himself free.
"Yes." Ray panted back in a moan, gripping the sheets a bit tighter as his body became flushed with heat and leaned back into the fingers screwing him.
"Fuck me raw, baby." He purred out in a desperate tone.
Retracting his fingers, Kai spit into his palm and quickly jerked himself before positioning at Ray's entrance and pushing himself in. A grunt came from him at the tightness finally surrounding his throbbing cock and it took a lot of his strength to not go wild and pound ferociously into him. He was horny as hell, but Kai didn't want to hurt him, especially as they didn't have the most lubrication right now.
"Fuck you're so hot..." He growled, gripping at Ray's hips.
Ray's mouth parted in a silent moan as he was filled and stretched out to the brim, his arms starting to shake from having to keep his weight propped up on them for so long now.
He wiggled his hips a little, clenching and unclenching his muscles around Kai inside him.
"C'mon baby, fuck me." He pleaded in that same desperate tone as before.
At the request, the slow movements from behind picked up momentum and thrusted deeper, Kai's grip on Ray's hips tightening as his head fell back. Fuuuuck he was riled. The fact they were both half-dressed still too only made it feel even more raunchy.
Ray's head went back with Kai's, an approving groan rolling through as his body started to get battered back and forth in just the right way he wanted it.
Unable to keep his top half supported anymore, he laid across the top of the bed, gripping the sheets tighter as he buried his face in them since Thomas was asleep down the hall and the noises that were coming out of him were louder than he could control.
"Yesssss, h-harder baby!" His muffled voice cried.
Trying to bite back his own noises of pleasure Kai sunk his teeth into his lower lip and continued to drive into him, hands pulling and pushing the other male back and forth lapping up the sound of skin slapping on skin filling the room.
"Fuck Ray..." He groaned through grit teeth.
A heat wave rushed up and down Ray's body, no matter how many times he heard Kai's voice say his name like that it still drove him crazy.
Finding what little strength he had in him, he reached behind and tapped Kai on the hand that was gripping his hip twice to get him to stop. Needing the cool down before he came, and to actually get some decent lubrication before he was really hurting.
Kai's hips slowed and eased out of him before reaching for Ray's pony tail and forcing him upright, his back now pressed against the fair chest with his head being pulled to a tilt.
"Where do you want me?" Kai purred into his ear before licking up his neck.
"On your back." Ray answered in a slight hiss at the tug, body shivering as his skin rose with goosebumps after the assault on his neck while his legs threatened to buckle on him.
Setting a final sensual kiss upon his flushed skin, Kai released the grip on Ray's hair and squeezed at his ass cheek before easing his jeans and boxers down to the floor.
Stepping out of them he gave Ray's ass a quick smack before crawling onto the bed and getting into the requested position on his back. Drinking up the sight a final time before the red hot shorts came off.
A sloppy and almost stupid smile plastered itself over Ray's face, fanning at himself dramatically as he wandered around the bed to the side table for the lube and tossed it over to Kai.
Hooking his fingers through the straps on his chest he paused, "Want me to keep this on?"
"Uh. Yes." Kai instantly answered. Duh. Was he mad?
Popping open the cap he squirted a decent amount on himself and spread it up and down him with a slow firm grip, keeping his eyes on the other as he did so.
Ray watched like his eyes had become glued to the sight, his tongue slowly licking over the front of his teeth as he crawled his way towards him onto the bed and threw his leg over Kai's waist with a hand on either side of his head.
"I have a black one too, with chains on it." He informed as he hovered over him, faces only inches apart.
"Really?" Kai asked in awe, hand still working himself for a little longer before setting on Ray's thigh.
"I think a little fashion show is in order... Need to show me this dirty wardrobe of yours."
"Mmm, maybe. Will have to check my schedule and all, see when I can pencil you in." Ray smirked down at him, shifting himself a little and reaching back to stroke at Kai's cock with him.
"Only if you say please though." He said as he squeezed around Kai's head while he worked him.
Kai mirrored the expression staring down at him before reaching to the back of Ray's head and pulling him down into a much needed kiss. Whilst some of his hunger had subsided, it was those lips he'd been desperate to taste since he first walked back in here.
Instantly Ray melted into it, pressing in hard and nudging Kai's mouth open with his tongue as he shifted himself over the top of him. Working blindly wasn't a problem, but with his wrist bent back like it was it was starting to cramp a little and the moment he felt the tip of Kai's cock enter he sunk his hips down quickly just to crack his wrist out.
With his body being filled again, and even with knowing what was coming, he still gasped into the kiss and moaned into Kai's mouth as their tongues twisted around the other and his hips started to move.
Kai's breath too was caught in his throat as he slid down him, the feeling of being engulfed seeming so much better now with the added lubrication.
At the slow and steady movement his grip on Ray's thigh and the back of his neck tightened as the pleasurable waves started to rise again, and the kiss quickly became more hungry as their tongues continued to fight each other.
Picking up speed, Ray's hips came up higher only to slam back down as hard as he could onto him. More muffled sounds escaping between their mouths as he began to pant and build up a sweat this time.
Although he loved wrestling with Kai's tongue, he pulled away to sit back while keeping his momentum going seeing as how Kai seemed to love his little get-up and didn't want to deprive him of not being able to look at it.
Going as far back as he felt was safe for the both of them, Kai's cock rubbing against his prostate now with every thrust of his hips, Ray's mouth parted, and his hands roamed up and down his chest and over the leather straps and towards his hair.
Kai of course once again drank up the sight above him that would never get old, forcing his heavy lids to remain open and ingrain the memory of this entire scene in his mind.
Both his hands gripped on Ray's hips to keep him steady when his own started to meet his in time for when he sunk back down, getting Ray's sweet spot even deeper.
A moaned expletive escaped him as Kai could feel the muscles clench around him. His eyes accepting defeat and rolling back to a close as the other male continued to bounce on him.
Lost in the motions, the euphoria that had entrapped them both and the sounds that were now bouncing around the room just as rigorous as Ray was, neither of them noticed the bedroom door crack open.
"Say hello to my little friend!" Thomas's little voice shouted in an off-key mimic of Al Pacino, followed by the sounds of his toy laser gun going off in rapid fire.
Like a switch had been flicked, all movement and noise on the bed stopped, Ray's embarrassment never once before reaching a level it was at now as his head whipped towards the door where Thomas was 'shooting' at them from.
In a bid to not have the boy asking questions, and possibly save himself from whatever weird circle of hell he'd just fallen into, his hands slapped over his chest as he cried out dramatically.
"Oh, you got me!"
Only there was no saving the male below as he had died completely at the sight of the minor by the door and like a deer in headlights was frozen in place on his back. With his eyes wide he looked up to Ray who seemed to be playing along but now was no time for games!
"Why are you up?!" Kai scolded, snapping his heated gaze back to the boy. "Get back to bed!"
Thomas didn't seem to care about the scolding, raising his laser gun again and hitting the button that made the cool sounds and lights go off.
"Hahahaha, take that!"
"Alright Thomas, you got us. Now go, back to bed with you or I'm taking that away." Ray scolded next, there wasn't a way for him to really get up and make good on his threat right this very moment.. But he hoped the boy would listen to reason.
Thomas seemed to pout, lowering his toy down by his side before tilting his head in an attempt to stall.
"Whatcha doing?"
Ray about choked on his spit at the question. Looking down to Kai for help but given how ghostly pale he'd just turned under him he was sure Kai wasn't going to be much help at all.
"We're um... Playing... See, remember at dinner Uncle Kai took the last brownie and I wanted it? So... I was tickling him for it." He scrambled for an excuse, thanking whatever higher power that was still looking down at them for at least bunching the sheets and saving most of their bare asses from view.
"Now go, bed! I won't tell you again." He snapped, pointing at the door.
Thomas pouted again though seemed to accept the answer as he shuffled away back to the door, toy gun being dragged along with him.
"Night Uncle Ray and Uncle Kai." He sent in a sad tone at being shooed. Wasn't his fault, the loud monsters under his bed woke him up again.
Ray rolled his eyes as the door finally clicked shut, letting out a breath as he glanced down at Kai who hadn't moved an inch. He snapped his fingers in his face, just to make sure he hadn't actually had a heart attack just now.
Kai's eyes blinked back into focus, hands still where they were left on Ray's hips and looked up at him.
"I-I don't even think I'm hard anymore..." He admitted in a slight stutter, the cogs in his brain slowly starting to work again now the young boy was out the room.
"You're not, slipped out actually when he asked what we were doing." Ray informed, trying hard to suppress the laugh he felt rising in his throat now that the horror had passed.
"I thought you locked the door." He said as he went ahead and rolled himself off of Kai and laid down beside him. Truth was, he wasn't hard anymore either…
"Well obviously not." Kai bit in both his embarrassment and annoyance at himself and grabbed at the covers in a huff to cover himself.
Ray couldn't help it anymore, and not that Kai's slight childish tantrum helped any either, that his laughter finally escaped him.
"Whoops." Was all he had to really offer him between his laughing.
"It's not funny!" Kai snapped at him before his tone turned to a whine. "I was so close..."
Ray just laughed harder, shaking his head as he pushed himself off the bed.
"Well, I'm going to go take a shower." He informed as he stood off the end of the bed, letting his hair out from its tie and picked up his phone from the table that had still been running through his playlist.
He nearly snorted at the next song that was going to come on, skipping to it and letting it play as he got out of the leather straps on his chest.
"Come here rude boy, boy. Can you get it up? Come here rude boy, boy. Is you big enough? Take it, take it. Baby, baby." He sang along as he shimmied out of the chest harness, bopping to the music a little as a hidden smirk curled up his lips.
"You think you're funny, huh?" Kai challenged, whipping the covers off him and scooting himself out of bed to follow Ray to the en-suite.
This wasn't over. Halloween had long passed but he wasn't going to sleep on tricks. He was getting his treat goddammit!
"Think you're funny!?"
Ray turned around, stepping backwards the rest of the way into the bathroom. Biting into his bottom lip and nodded, holding up a hand and moving his index finger for Kai to keep on following him.