Gift Wrap
June 24, 1998
***

"Vincent, I am going to be late," Choate called down from the second floor landing for the fourth time that evening.

The elderly butler looked up at the big Marine from the bottom of the stairs. "I'm sorry, Mr. Patrick. I've searched everywhere down here. I'm sure I hung it on your valet with the rest of your evening clothes."

"It's not there, Vincent."

With a completely puzzled look, the man said, "I'm certain that is where I left it."

Choate frowned, thankful that he'd sent the Councilor on to the presentation. Standing there in his dress pants, sock, shoes and undershirt, the aide was late and his favorite dress shirt seemed AWOL.

"I don't know where it could've gotten off to," Vincent was saying.

Then, something occurred to him, "Where's Justin?" he asked, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

The older man slowly shook his head. "I don't know, sir. I haven't seen him in over an hour."

Just about the time his shirt went missing. Choate turned and bounded up the steps.

He knew the little brat wasn't in his suite, since that's where he'd started getting dressed. Stopping in front of Justin's bedroom, the Marine knocked once before throwing the door open.

"Little boy, if you're hiding my shirt to keep me here, I'm going to--"

There was no one there.

Frowning in confusion, Choate slowly walked back to his suite of room. He would've bet his young lover to be behind the disappearance of his shirt in a ploy to keep him home. Not wanting to go to the presentation with them, Justin had asked Choate if he could play 'hooky' from this one. Just this once, he'd cajoled. A sultry Justin was difficult to reckon with.

Opening the door to his rooms, he stepped inside. The aide had reluctantly turned down the offer, admitting only to himself that an evening alone with his horny little lover was a more tempting offer than hours with a rubber chicken dinner and a room full of stuffed shirts.

To his surprise, the room was lit with the light of several score of slender, white candles. "What the--" And there, in the center of his bed sat the keeper of his heart. Lush lips trembling with a delectable pout, the small figure wore nothing put a large, white silk dress shirt -- his shirt. Thick black hair twisted in a loose braid, a few wisps of hair had escaped to curl around his face. He held a small vial tightly in his hands. The flickering flames added highlights to the obelisk of his eyes, intensifying the hungry look in them.

He was beautiful.

"What are you up to, imp?" He growled as he walked over to stand, towering over the culprit.

"I know how much you love presents," Justin whispered as he rose up on his knees and toyed with the neckline of his lover's undershirt with his free hand.

"And--"

"And, I thought, it would be nice to give you one."

"Because--"

"Because I love you," he said softly.

The Marine caught the taunting hand. "So what did you get me?" he asked, earlier annoyance quickly morphing into. . .anticipation.

"Mmmm," Justin leaned in to nuzzled at the fragrant neck, tasting it with the tip of his tongue. "I think you'll like it." He snagged the hand that held his prisoner, and brought it to rest on his own hips. "You have to unwrap it first."

"Little boy," the aide said, warningly. "I have a dinner to go to."

The small man leaned forward until his lips were nearly touching Choate's chest. "My father's speech isn't scheduled until three hours from now."

"There are preparations--"

Justin nipped at the muscle there. "Lindell's handling them."

"Dulce--"

Justin surged upward and stopped the protest with a hot, wet kiss heavily laced with passion.

When he finally released his lover, Choate's eyes were slightly glazed, his lips swollen, his breaths coming in shallow pants.

The big Marine fingered the delicate fabric of the shirt. "I do like unwrapping --" He slid the garment from one of the slender shoulders and placed a tiny kiss there. "But what I really like is sampling the merchandise."

"Mmmm," Justin purred as the silk whispered along the heated length of his body to pool on the bed. He pressed the vial in the large hands. "An accessory." He smiled as he pulled the stunned man with him as he fell back on the bed.