Chapter 13
I looked around the foyer, family room, dining room, and kitchen one last time to make sure I hadn't missed any of the decorations. Collin had kept Dean late for a holiday luncheon before the auto shop closed until the new year, and he'd just texted that my husband was on his way home.
Castiel stepped forward and patted my shoulder. "Everything looks fine, Sam. Dean will be very pleased at what you have done. But I should get going now."
"What? You aren't staying?"
"This should be between just the two of you. I will return the day after tomorrow for the party." He disappeared with a flutter.
I lit the pumpkin pie-scented candles on the kitchen counter and went over to the stereo to tune the radio to a station playing holiday music. Not finding anything else that needed fiddling with, I sat on the couch to await Dean's arrival.
We moved in a little over a week ago, after the floors had cured and the wallpaper had been installed. We initially started with only a bed and the contents of our duffle and garment bags. The master bathroom and kitchen were still a work in progress, as were numerous little projects like replacing door hardware, switch plates, and outlet covers. Over the course of the following week, we finished the work on the main floor with Castiel's assistance, and the furniture, rugs, and other décor we'd ordered were delivered and set up.
As the renovations neared completion, Dean started talking about trees, checking out decorations, and looking up recipes. We hadn't celebrated Christmas since before his crossroads deal came due, and I remembered with shame how my bah-humbug attitude had almost ruined what might've been his last holiday. This time he was going to get the Christmas he deserved, but I decided to make it a surprise. So I feigned disinterest whenever the subject came up and pretended to grudgingly agree to put up a few ornaments the day before. Meanwhile, I spent part of my mornings the past couple of days buying the sort of decorations he'd been eyeing and hid them in the back of one of the upstairs crawlspaces. The moment my brother left for work this morning, Cas and I began decorating the main living space.
It wasn't long before I heard the side door open and footsteps come through the butler's pantry, then Dean called out, "Hey, sorry I'm late! Collin decided to take us all out for . . ."
His voice trailed off as he entered the kitchen and stopped to stare. Evergreen garland wrapped with white lights was looped around the edges of the island facing the family room. Holiday-themed towels hung off the oven door, and similarly themed magnets decorated the fridge doors. More lighted garlands were draped on the fireplace mantel and the shelves to either side in the family room, the doorways to the dining room and foyer, and the sideboard in the dining room. A nine-foot-tall live Douglas fir tree decorated in white lights, brass Victorian tinsel, and a medley of ornaments filled the corner of the family room between the stairs and back door. A holly leaf-patterned tablecloth covered the dining table, and matching placemats were set on the breakfast bar in the kitchen. Large poinsettias served as centerpieces for the dining table and coffee table, glass snowflakes and icicles hung from the light fixtures, and holiday-themed figurines sat on the end tables, mantel, sideboard, and various shelves.
I smiled at Dean's stupefied expression as I took his hand and led him into the family room. "So, do you like my surprise?"
His green eyes were as wide as possible as he looked around the room before turning his gaze to me. "Dude, I dunno what to . . . I thought you weren't into all this Christmas shit?"
I smiled even wider. "That was all part of the con. Do you know how hard it is to lie to you around this soulbond thing? I wanted to surprise you with a properly decorated house, especially after how I acted the last time you wanted to celebrate the holiday. Go on, take a closer look at everything!"
He slowly wandered through the family room and dining room, and an ecstatic grin took over his face as he realized that mixed in among the more traditional decorations were plenty of geeky ornaments and figurines, from miniatures of his favorite starships hanging on the tree to a Darth Vader nutcracker to a Tardis snow globe and more. He shouted with laughter when he noticed the angel on top of the tree resembled a certain seraph we knew, down to a little trench coat and blue tie.
He turned back to me and pulled me into a hug. "Sammy, this is so awesome! I can't believe you pulled this off without me knowing!"
"Well, I spent some of my time shopping instead of working on translations the past few mornings, and Cas helped me pick up the tree and put everything up today." I took his hand once more and steered him towards the study. As we passed through the foyer, I said, "There are wreaths and doormats for the front and side entrances and outdoor lights and garland too, but I didn't put them out yet so they wouldn't ruin the surprise when you got home."
I stopped in the doorway to the study and pointed upward, to where a sprig of mistletoe was hanging from the lintel. My husband grinned again, put his hands on either side of my face, and kissed me deeply. We were both gasping a bit when we pulled apart.
"You're amazing, baby boy! You really thought of everything," he declared. "How the hell did you find a tree topper that looks like Cas?"
I coughed a little sheepishly. "Um, well . . . it was left in a box next to the driveway yesterday. I wouldn't be surprised if a particular party-crasher appears again on Sunday."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Of course, 'cause ain't that how our life goes? He better bring a good housewarming gift and not eat all my damn cookies if he does show up!"
"So, are there any other decorations you want to get?"
"Nah, this is plenty for our first time here. We can always get more next year. Now I gotta start working on the pies and cookies and shit for the party." He started to head back to the kitchen.
"Alright, then I'll take care of the wreaths and stuff outside while you're doing that," I said.
I went up to the second floor and retrieved the outdoor decorations from the crawlspace. I then spent the next couple of hours hanging the wreaths, wrapping lights around some of the bushes and trees, and looping garland around the posts of the front porch and front face of the fence. I hooked the lights up to a timer, stepped back to the sidewalk to judge the effect, and declared myself satisfied with the results.
When I went back inside, the aromas wafting from the kitchen were heavenly. Dean had a couple of pumpkin and apple pies cooling on the counter and several trays of cookies baking in the oven. The kitchen was primarily his domain, and as such he'd decided what went in it, from the quarter-sawn oak Craftsman cabinets to the soapstone countertop to the professional-grade stainless steel appliances. My contribution had been finding cabinet hardware and backsplash tiles to match the tulip wallpaper border he'd selected.
I sat down at the breakfast bar and sniffed appreciatively. "It smells incredible in here. Please tell me this isn't only for the party!"
He laughed. "Don't worry, kiddo! The big pies are for Sunday, but I also made some mini ones just for us. And I'm gonna put a plate of the cookies aside when they're done. Wanna lick the mixing bowls before I wash 'em?"
"Hell yes!" I happily proceeded to lick sugar cookie batter out of the bowl he handed me. "Mmm . . . If you ever get tired of being a mechanic, you'd make a fabulous chef, man! How much more do you have to make?"
He slurped up a scraping of chocolate chip cookie batter before answering. "Gonna make some brownies after this, then I'll start on dinner. After we eat, I'll marinate the lamb chops for tomorrow's dinner and prep some of the stuff for Sunday."
"Anything I can help with? I know you think I'll burn water, but I can use a knife."
"Sure, you can help chop up shit. And don't forget, you're on dish duty, bitch!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Jerk!"
After a dinner of homemade pizza, we worked in the kitchen for a few more hours before retiring. While Dean was taking his nightly shower, I snuck off to place his gifts, wrapped earlier in the week and hidden in one of the basement crawl spaces, under the tree. I then hurried back to the bedroom to undress and wash up before he noticed my absence.
By the time my brother emerged from the bathroom, I was safely ensconced in our bed. We'd splurged on a California king with a pillowtop mattress, which felt almost sinfully comfortable after years of crappy motel beds. The furniture in here, as in the rest of the house, was a mix of Mission and Shaker styles and so far consisted of the bed, two nightstands, a dresser, standing mirror, and small TV stand. The walls were covered in a light green willow-patterned wallpaper, and the bedcoverings, pillows, and rug were in coordinating shades of darker green.
"Man, that shower is worth everything we put into it! I could spend all fucking day in there," he announced as he climbed into bed.
The shower in question was the glass-door enclosure we'd installed in place of the generic shower-tub combo there when we bought the house. Our shower wasn't quite as luxurious as the one at Chavah Island, but it was big enough for both of us to fit inside easily and had a powerful rainfall showerhead, several body jets, a handheld sprayer, and its own on-demand water heater, which also fed the double vessel sinks set in a Mission vanity cabinet. The bathroom was too small to allow for both the shower and a soaker tub, but the guest bathroom had a clawfoot tub if either of us had the urge to take a bath (Dean had a weakness for bubble baths that he thought I didn't know about).
"It is what you said you wanted, a shower almost as nice as at the resort," I said as he settled in beside me. "We still haven't tried it out together though."
"Well, I'm off work for the next week, and what still needs to be done for the second floor and the basement ain't gonna take all our time. Enough talking now!" Suiting actions to words, he fitted his mouth to mine.
As we kissed, I rolled over on top of my lover and slotted one of my legs in between his. He immediately shifted so that our cocks were lying together and began rolling his hips to slide his against mine. I groaned in appreciation and rocked my pelvis to match his rhythm, the pre-cum from both our members slicking the friction between them. I moved my mouth to the spot behind his left ear and started to suck a love mark there, while he caressed my pectorals and toyed with my nipples.
We were panting and moaning heavily as we rubbed our shafts together vigorously, feeding off each other's passion and adoration. As I approached my peak, I strove to hold back, wanting to make sure my husband reached his climax before I tipped over. Soon enough, he stiffened and gasped out my name as his semen shot between us. I then let go and ejaculated with a shout.
I fell back on the bed with a contented sigh and used my telekinesis to bring a washcloth over from the bathroom. After wiping us both clean and tossing the cloth back towards the bathroom, I gently tugged Dean over to rest against my side.
He stretched up to brush a soft kiss against my lips. Merry Christmas, little brother.
Merry Christmas to you too, big brother.
I awoke the next morning to my brother giving me a wet, sloppy blowjob while humming Ramble On. I ran my hands through his short blond hair and enjoyed the sight of his full lips wrapped around my cock and his green eyes gleaming against the colors in the room, as well as the feeling of his tongue swirling and throat vibrating around my shaft. One of his hands was propping himself up against my thigh, and the other was swiftly stroking his own member. I managed to last a couple of minutes before groaning and shooting my load into that sinful mouth. A couple more jerks and he too was cumming all over his hand.
Dean licked first his lips and then his hand clean, after which he moved up on the bed and leaned over to kiss me. He moved back, however, when I tried to pull him down for round two.
"Uh uh, not now, kiddo! Food and presents first, then we can fool around," he said with a laugh. "Bobby and Jody ain't getting here until later in the afternoon, so we'll have plenty of time."
"Really? C'mon, Dee!" I whined.
"Hey, you don't wanna end up on Santa's naughty list already! Besides, I promise the wait will be worth it!" With that, he got out of bed and put on his robe.
I grumbled but got up, put on my own robe, and followed him into the kitchen. I started up the coffee maker and then watched him throw together omelets and hash browns for breakfast. After we ate, he made hot chocolate, and we carried the mugs over to the Christmas tree.
I noticed there was now another heap of wrapped gifts on the other side of the tree and presumed than my husband had slipped them there after I'd fallen asleep last night. He sat down on the floor by that pile, and I took a seat by the ones I'd gotten for him. We each took a present and handed it to the other to open.
My first gift was a leather satchel with a compartment for my laptop and another large enough to hold notebooks and even a textbook or two, as well as smaller pockets for my cellphone, calculator, pens, and more. His was a vintage-styled turntable with a wooden cabinet. The next gift I opened was a set of hardcover editions of the Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid, and Oresteia, while he received vinyl LPs of several of his favorite Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and AC/DC albums to go with the turntable. We both got each other a bunch of DVDs and Blu-Rays, including the Cosmos and Planet Earth series for me and the original Star Wars trilogy (without Lucas' awful later edits) and all the Akira Kurosawa samurai movies for him. He gave me a Kindle, and I gave him several cookbooks, including one devoted only to pies.
The last present I handed to him was small, no bigger than my palm. He tore off the wrapping, opened the box, and stared at the contents for the moment. He then carefully lifted the platinum bracelet, the flat links etched with the same protective charms as the bracelet Mom had worn when she was younger, out of the box.
"Sammy, this is too much!" he breathed. "I didn't get you anything like this. I—I don't—"
I leaned over and pressed a finger to his soft lips. "Don't you dare say that you don't deserve this, Dee. I wouldn't have anything if it wasn't for you! I'm not just talking about our house, which you worked so hard for, or my car, which you spend so much time on. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for all the times you protected me and saved me over the years. I wouldn't be sane if you didn't convince me to forgive myself for all the mistakes I've made. And I wouldn't be happy if you hadn't accepted me and loved me. So giving you this is nothing compared to all that!"
Dean flushed and cast his eyes down. "I'm your big brother. That's just what you do for family."
"No, love. What you've done for me, given up for me, is far above and beyond what anyone else would do for their dumbass kid brother," I told him. "There's no way I can make up for what I owe you, but it doesn't mean that I'm not going to try. Giving you as much as I can and making you as happy as I can is simply a start."
His eyes looked suspiciously damp. "Dammit, dude, why d'ya hafta turn everything into a giant chick-flick?"
"Uh huh, you're so full of it. Now c'mere." I tugged him closer and tenderly kissed each of his eyelids and then his lips.
He returned my kiss, then pulled back and cleared his throat. "Uh, anyways, you need to clear out all this wrapping paper and clean the dishes. I gotta take care of something in the bedroom."
"You want me to tidy shit up now?"
"Well, I gotcha one more present, but I gotta get it ready. You know, in the bedroom."
"Oh. Oh! Um, okay, I—I'll take care of everything out here then."
He disappeared into the master bedroom. I gathered up all the gift detritus and stuffed it into the trash can before attacking the dishes. I figured it would take Dean a while to prepare, so I took my time cleaning up the kitchen. I then made myself another cup of coffee and started to check out my new Kindle.
Eventually I heard my name being called. I left the Kindle with the other presents and put my cup in the sink, then made my way to our bedroom. I took a few steps into the room and stopped to take in the sight in front of me.
My husband was lying in the middle of the bed, watching me with a small smile on his lips. He was wearing a bright red teddy trimmed in white fur along the top and bottom. The sheer skirt was split from just below the bust line, revealing matching fur-trimmed red panties. His legs were covered in red fishnet thigh-highs topped with white lace. And on his head was a pair of adorable stuffed antlers with small bells on the ends of each tine. As I approached the bed, I could see that his green eyes were highlighted by silvery shadow, his long lashes were darkened with black mascara, his lush mouth was stained with red gloss, and his fair skin was dusted with shimmering powder.
Ready to unwrap your gift, darling? he drawled.
God, Dee! You look stunning!
I know, he said smugly. Now whatcha still doing the fuck over there?
I quickly dropped my robe, hurried over to the bed, and sat beside him. I placed a hand on his chest, right where the bust of the teddy covered his pectoral muscles, and leaned down to kiss those ruddy lips. He reached up and threaded one hand through my hair and ran the other down my side. When it reached my lap, his fingers began to caress my stiffening shaft.
Hurry, baby boy, he whispered, biting at my lower lip. Don't wanna wait to feel that great big cock inside me!
I choked a bit as the rest of my blood rushed southward and swiftly shifted to my knees on the bed. He grasped his thighs and lifted them up and out, and I pushed the crotch of the panties aside to get a clear view of the pink furl of his entrance. I slipped a finger inside first to make sure he was slick enough, then pulled it out and sank to the hilt in his tight passage. He hummed as he stretched around me and gave a purring sound of satisfaction when I grazed his pleasure spot. He then wrapped his legs around my waist while I slid in and out of his silky channel with long, firm strokes and listened to the bells on his antlers jingle with each thrust.
Mmm, Sammy . . . yeah. You feel so good! Dean sighed as he undulated his inner walls against my member each time I hit his prostate.
I picked up my pace and ran my hands up his ribs and under the satin fabric of the teddy's bust. As I pinched at his nipples, I pushed his legs until they nearly touched his chest and drove into his heated passage firmly. He cried out with each thrust as his climax approached, and I growled and pounded into him even harder. He screamed as his seed spurted onto his belly and his hole clenched around my cock. I surged into him a few more times before following him into a loud orgasm.
After I fell back on the pillows beside him and we both caught our breath, my lover chuckled. "Man, it's real good we got some space between us and the neighbors. 'Cause the noises coming outta here ain't exactly family-friendly!"
I groaned and gave him a half-hearted shove. "Shut up, you ass!"
"Hey, you love my ass, and you know it! And since we got lots of time before I need to start cooking today . . ." Dean rolled up onto his hand and knees and threw a sultry look over his shoulder in my direction.