Christmas at Bennett’s (Breakfast at Bennett’s #4.5)

6. Milo

CHAPTER 6

MILO

It was the day that was never going to end. Milo woke early to see Colby off to work, and then he’d gotten busy and hadn’t stopped. He dropped by the women’s shelter and ate some of Patricia’s famous cookies. He also brought gifts for the people currently taking refuge there. It was a lousy time of year to leave an abusive relationship, but the holidays often brought out the worst in people.

After that, Milo went by Gino’s and helped him pick a tree from the lot at the mall. There were only a couple weeks until Christmas and it felt like Milo’s list never got shorter, no matter how much he did.

After Gino’s, Milo stopped by and paid a visit to some of his old friends down at the drag bar. He’d ended up doing emergency repairs on a pair of shoes and a dress. He’d picked up a package on the way home and now he’d gotten a text from Colby asking him to dinner in half an hour.

Milo sent a text back, promising to be there. He told Colby he was at home and would take care of a couple things and be right over. The place they were going to meet was just down the street from their building and it wasn’t unheard of for Colby to ask Milo to have dinner there.

With thirty minutes before Milo had to leave, he sat on the couch. His whole body ached and his mind wouldn’t stop running through the checklist of things he needed to do. He had to shop for Colby’s family. And Gino. And he had a gig doing makeup for people who wanted holiday portraits. And… and… and. The list was seemingly endless. All Milo really wanted to do was sleep.

He closed his eyes. Just to rest them. He only needed a minute and then he’d go meet Colby. But why was he being shaken? Why did he suddenly hear Colby’s voice?

Milo opened his eyes and Colby’s face came into view. Milo scrambled to look at his phone, but it was stone cold dead. His heart thrashed in his chest as he realized he’d fallen asleep. Colby looked worried sick. Stricken. His face was pale and Milo saw the heartbreak in his eyes. He’d let his boyfriend down.

“I’m sorry. I fell asleep. I—” Milo cleared his throat, suddenly emotional. What was wrong with him? He should have gone to the restaurant right away. He could have had a coffee while he waited for Colby.

Colby dropped down onto the couch next to him and pulled Milo into his arms. “I was worried about you. You didn’t show up and then you weren’t answering your phone. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay,” Milo answered, looping his arms around Colby. God, he’d missed him. How could he miss him when they lived together? They woke up next to each other and went to sleep next to each other. They texted each other fifty times a day. But Milo was clinging to him like he hadn’t seen him in a week.

“Good. Because I’m going to kill you. Milo, you’re running yourself into the ground. And I’ve tried to be a good boyfriend and let you do your thing and have your space and run your own life, but you need to let me help you, or do less, or something. You can’t go on like this.”

The concern in Colby’s voice made Milo’s gut clench.

“What’s going on?” Colby pressed.

Milo let out a breath. He tried to put some distance between him and Colby, but when Colby didn’t let him have any give, Milo melted into his arms again. Comforted by the fact that Colby wasn’t letting go so easily. It was silly, but it made Milo feel better.

“I just have a lot of things to do this year. And whenever I think I’ve caught up, something else happens and I fall behind.”

Colby did pull back then, but it was so he could look Milo in the eyes. Colby always did have the ability to flay Milo open with a single look from his soulful eyes. He was kind and genuine, and one of the best people Milo knew. He was protective of those he loved, to a fault sometimes, but it was part of what made him so endearing. Milo could feel the depth of his love, bottomless and broad, all encompassing. And sad.

Colby was sad and Milo had done that to him.

“I’m sorry.” Milo meant it.

Colby reached for him, cradling Milo’s cheek in the palm of his hand. “Let me help you. That’s what I want. I don’t want apologies. I want you. I want to help you and be with you. I know you’re used to doing things on your own, and for a while you needed that. But please, Milo, I’ll never ask you not to do things you love to do, and I know helping people and making people happy means a lot to you. But please let me help. You’re running yourself ragged.”

“You’re not asking me to stop?” Milo’s surprise at this shocked himself. He should have known Colby wouldn’t ask him to give anything up. It wasn’t who Colby was. But he still found his chin quivering and he hid his face in Colby’s chest.

Colby wrapped Milo up in his arms and kissed his hair. One of Colby’s big hands stroked Milo’s back in soothing motions, up and down. Slow, like the inhale and exhale of a deep breath.

“I’d never ask you to give up any part of you that makes you happy. But you’re hurting yourself, Milo. You’re getting up early with me every day, and then you’re going non-stop all day. Then work. It’s too much. No one will be happy if you make yourself sick.”

Milo let out a shuddering breath. He hadn’t thought of that.

“I’m sorry,” he managed to say, though he was choked with emotion.

“You don’t have to be sorry, but you do have to let me help you. Tell me what I can do to make things easier on you. I know you have a list. Let me take some of the load from you.”

“You could do the shopping for your family’s gifts.”

“Consider it done. I don’t know why you thought I wouldn’t do that anyway. I’m also forbidding you from getting up with me in the morning. I know you like to, but I’d really prefer you to catch up on your sleep.” Colby kissed Milo’s cheek. “Okay?”

“Okay.” Giving in to Colby’s demands was easy. Even if he’d wanted to argue, he was too tired.

“I’m going to throw something in the oven for dinner. Don’t move.” Colby kissed Milo’s cheek and pried himself out of Milo’s grasp. Taking Milo’s phone, he plugged it in for him so it could charge, but he threw Milo a stern look. “Unless someone is dead or dying, and you’re the only person who can save them, you’re not going anywhere tonight. You’re dead on your feet.”

Milo let out a weak laugh. “Trust me, I have no plans on moving farther than the bedroom.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.” Colby shot him a look that meant business before disappearing into the kitchen. They had plenty of meals and leftovers they could heat up because one of Ethan Bennett’s love languages was food. Milo heard the oven open and close and then it was quiet for a minute.

Milo blinked and Colby was standing in front of him. Fuck. He’d fallen asleep again.

“Come here,” Colby took Milo’s hand and tugged him to his feet. “Just make it through dinner, and I’ll tuck you in and you can sleep all night long.”

Milo didn’t argue. Nor did he question why Colby led him down the hall. Once he got him into the bathroom, it was pretty obvious what Colby had been doing. The bath was full and waiting for Milo to sink down into.

Colby undressed Milo, starting with his shirt. Milo lifted his arms and let Colby do this for him. The pants came next, Colby kneeling on the floor to help Milo step out of his pants, one leg at a time. He had to put his hands on Colby’s shoulders for balance.

He helped Milo into the tub, then stripped out of his own clothes and joined him, squeezing in behind Milo. The bath wasn’t the biggest, and cramming two adult men into it left little room, but the closeness was nice. Colby wrapped his arms around Milo and pressed kisses to the top of his shoulder.

The proximity to Colby’s naked body woke up Milo’s dick and, of course, Colby noticed that right away. His hand trailed down Milo’s chest. Warm breath ghosted over Milo’s ear.

“You’re so beautiful, Milo.”

He didn’t feel beautiful. He felt tired. Worn down to the bone and stretched as thin and brittle as rice paper. But Colby thought he was beautiful, so it must be true. Colby was many things, but never a liar.

Colby reached down and curled his fingers around Milo’s cock. The angle wasn’t ideal. The grip was all wrong. But it was still perfect and hot and the best thing Milo had felt all day. Colby’s mouth caressed the shell of Milo’s ear and he stroked his cock root to tip and back down again.

Despite all the ways the hand job was imperfect, it wasn’t imperfect at all. It was love. It was care. It was Colby looking after Milo in every way he knew how. It was human connection. It was everything.

Milo trembled, and his breath sawed in and out of him as Colby dragged him closer to release. All Milo could do was… nothing. All he could do was breathe and exist and accept this gift that Colby was offering.

“God, you’re so fucking pretty,” Colby whispered. “I never knew how pretty a guy could be until I met you. You were sparkly, like the sun hitting the water. It was almost hard to look at you, but I couldn’t look away.” Colby jerked him faster and water sloshed over the edge of the bath.

Milo moaned and Colby’s other hand slid up his chest, brushing against his nipple before traveling up. He cradled Milo’s throat in his hand until Milo groaned again, and then Colby turned Milo’s head and pressed their mouths together.

The kiss was awkward because of the angle, but perfect because it was Colby, and Colby was familiar and safe and soft. He was always so careful with Milo. Protective. Milo whimpered when Colby stroked him faster. Positioned like they were, there was no way for Milo to try and return the pleasure. All he could do was take and take until he came apart.

It happened suddenly, in the space of one breath and the next. Milo’s release built to a crescendo and then exploded out of him. Bucking into Colby’s grasp, he came. He panted as Colby kissed his cheek. The corner of his mouth. His cheek again. Anywhere he could easily reach.

Milo leaned against Colby and closed his eyes. He drifted as Colby soaped him up and washed him. It made him feel like a pampered prince. When he said as much, it earned him a soft chuckle and an agreement of Milo’s assessment.

The pampering didn’t stop there. Colby drained the tub and dried Milo and tucked him into bed. He brought dinner to Milo and they ate together, propped up against the headboard, balancing their plates on their laps.

“I really am sorry I stood you up tonight.” Milo poked at the last couple bites of his food. He couldn’t possibly eat any more, but the leftover lasagna wasn’t something Milo wanted to waste.

“I’m sorry I worried you,” Milo apologized for the real reason Colby had been upset. It wasn’t about missing dinner. It was because Milo had exhausted himself trying to be everything for everyone with no help from anyone.

“You’re the best person I know, Milo. But you’re no good to anyone if you run yourself into the ground. No more one man army, okay. If you need help, ask.”

“I may not always notice when I should ask for help.” Milo glanced over at Colby. “Will you help me with that? I didn’t notice I was doing too much until it was too much.”

“You have to know that I’ll do anything for you, Milo.” Colby leaned over and stole a kiss. “Let me get rid of these.”

Colby took the plate from Milo and climbed out of bed. When he came back, Milo curled up in his arms and let Colby be the big spoon. He closed his eyes and fell asleep almost instantly, surrounded by the knowledge that he was loved and protected.