Rosemary for the Holidays (Consulting Magic) (2 page)

James and Jacques came in bearing a big box of supplies, and Julian waved from where he was repotting the last of the rosemary. "Are you here to help us get ready?" he called out.

"Alys and I have something planned," said Jacques. He took his box off into the kitchen, while James joined them in the work room.

"I'm here to help with the rest," said James with a grin. "Oh, these are delightful!" He picked up one of the finished pot with its green-glowing charm, red bow, and fragrant herbs. "Your idea?" he asked Julian.

"Maybe," said Julian. "Alex did the charms, though. Took him two whole days."

"There were too many to do in one batch," said Alex with a laugh. "Anyway, once we finish these up, we'll be showering and then turning the bedroom into the coat room, and I'll alter all the wards to temporarily allow people in, except for the work room."

"Just in case," said Julian, passing the last pot over to Nat.

"Just in case," agreed Alex. "But also because it'd be a pain in my arse to change them."

They all laughed. "Well, that, too," said Julian. He started cleaning up – just because people wouldn't be allowed in didn't mean they wanted to leave a mess.

"Oh, now, I can do that," scolded Nat, shooing him off to the sink to wash his hands.

Julian laughed and obeyed, amused to see Nat's magic clearing his mess away while Nat himself was busy with the last few bows. They finished everything up in a few minutes and gave James into Nat's care to do any last-minute decorating or other tasks while Julian and Alex got cleaned up.

"So," said Alex, as they closed the bedroom door firmly behind them, "share a shower?"

"Oh, definitely share a shower," said Julian, already stripping out of his clothes. "Maybe more than a shower, if we're quick."

"Quick with the washing, anyway," teased Alex, though he was making short work of his own clothing. They tossed everything to the floor and made their way, kissing and laughing, back into the bathroom.

"We'll have to be quiet or James and Jacques will never forgive us," said Julian. He bent over to start the shower, showing off with a little wiggle of his hips.

Alex laughed and cupped Julian's arse, hands warm against Julian's skin. "Perhaps I should fill the other end of you instead, then; you're never quiet."

Julian giggled and straightened, getting a nice long kiss in while they waited for the water to heat up. "That sounds like a good idea, and then I can fill your pretty mouth up, too," he purred, rubbing against Alex's naked body.

Alex groaned softly and backed Julian under the spray, which had thankfully warmed up. Julian arched back and let it run over him, and then pulled Alex under with him for a kiss that left Alex's hair sparkling with beads of water. Alex pulled the shower curtain shut and pressed Julian against the wall, getting a yelp of protest as Julian's back hit the cold tile.

"I'll warm you up, love," teased Alex, and then he made good on his word, sliding to his knees.

Alex's mouth played over Julian's skin, licking water off his ribs and chest, nipples and finally cock, taking Julian into his wide mouth while Julian's knees went weak. Alex's mouth was wonderfully hot, the cool wall grounding Julian enough to keep from falling too fast. Julian tangled his fingers carefully in Alex's wet curls, watching the water droplets gather on his long eyelashes as he started to slowly suck Julian's cock.

It didn't take long for Julian's pleasure to build, and instead of trying to hold back he let himself follow the bright thread to its conclusion, hurtling from want to need to orgasm in a few short minutes. He just barely managed to hold back his cries as he spilled into Alex's mouth, everything heat and wetness and absolutely, "Perfect."

Alex pulled away, licking his lips and grinning. "I can only agree," he said, coming up to kiss Julian. "Let me wash you?"

"Please," said Julian with a chuckle. "I'm not sure I have the brains to do anything else yet."

"I sucked them right out," said Alex smugly. He got his hands soapy and washed Julian from neck to toes, and then very carefully washed his face as well, fingers smoothing the suds over Julian's cheeks and forehead, then guiding him into the spray to rinse before giving him another kiss. "Hair, too?"

"Mm, please," said Julian, keeping his eyes closed while Alex switched to shampoo. Alex's long fingers gave excellent scalp massages, working the suds into Julian's hair. Julian laughed when the scent of rosemary reached his nose. "Alys changed our scent."

Alex chuckled. "She must've wanted to make sure we'd stay in the festive spirit." It took a few more minutes but soon enough Julian's hair was full of conditioner and it was his turn to shove Alex against the shower wall.

"And now for my next trick," said Julian, sinking to his knees, "I'm going to make your cock disappear."

Alex's choked laugh turned into a moan as Julian did just that, sucking his erection to the root in one slow glide. Alex's skin tasted mostly of water with the faintest tinge of salt, but he was hot and solid and he fit perfectly into Julian's mouth and throat. Julian pulled back enough to hum happily to himself, bringing a hand up to hold the base so he could concentrate on the head. Like Julian, Alex didn't bother to try to delay his orgasm, and it wasn't long before he was biting his fist and rocking his hips, and finally coming in Julian's eager mouth.

"I really, really love you," said Alex roughly, as Julian pulled off his cock with the same slow glide.

"I love you, too, my mage," said Julian, standing up to kiss him back, sharing the bitter-salt taste of them both. "Now, you just rest; I've got some spoiling to do."

Alex was pleasantly noodly for his washing, and it wasn't too long before they were both rinsed, dried, and getting into their holiday finery. Julian had convinced Alex to get a nice suit in a deep red that went beautifully with his complexion and pair it with an icy blue shirt and his glowing cufflinks and cravat pin, which they both agreed went best in his lapel. Julian got dandied up in deep forest green with a warm golden shirt and his amber pin. Alex had presented Julian a pair of cufflinks that matched the pin perfectly as an early Solstice gift last week, to Julian's fervent appreciation, and those completed the outfit.

"We look like the holidays, anyway," said Alex, pulling Julian close for kisses. "I still feel a bit silly in this suit."

"You look elegant," said Julian. "Now come on, let's open the door and get your flute so you can fix up the wards."

They parted ways so that Alex could take care of the warding, and Julian helped Nat to tidy up the bedroom and lock everything away. They wanted people to use the bed for a cloak room and still feel they could pass through it to the bathroom, so they'd found a cheap festive bedspread and Nat was adding a few decorations here and there that helped to downplay the decor and disguise things for their privacy. When they emerged they were met with floating plates for both of them, containing the first of the hot hors d'oeuvres out of the oven.

"Ooh, samples!" said Julian happily, plucking the plate out of the air with practiced ease and blowing on the first little niblet. Everything they were serving was bite-sized, and Alys had taken great joy in turning their expectations of such things on their ear. She'd grown more creative over the last few months, which Julian privately thought was in part due to her friendship with Jacques and their gentle rivalry. Julian bit into the first bite carefully, moaning to find the puff pastry contained a sweet lemon curd spiced up with a bit of rosemary to elevate it to pure heaven. "Oh, wow, we have got to have parties more often."

Nat laughed and popped a different treat into his mouth and 'mmed' appreciatively. "Oh, aye, the missus's outdone herself today."

"I made one of those," called Jacques from the kitchen.

"We'll see if you can guess which," added Alys.

Julian laughed and tried another, which proved to be a miniature beef pie, a perfect bite of pastry filled with beef, gravy, and a bit of veg. "Oh, this one is amazing but it's Alys all over," said Julian, licking a bit of gravy off his fingers. He walked into the kitchen with his third item still uneaten. "You always to bake the best meat pies."

Alys smirked, but refused to comment until he'd tried the last treat. This proved to be a miniature scone, laced with orange and cranberry and filled with rich cream. "Oh, this is good, too, mm," said Julian, pondering. "I think the lemon was Jacques, though, you always did do scones better."

Jacques laughed. "I told you he'd guess," he said, completely unperturbed. "I also have some petit gateau, and Alys let me try out some potato puffs that are just baking now."

"Very petit this time, I guess," said Julian, seeing the trays of tiny bite-sized cakes on the counter. "I'd ask if you're sure we'll eat it all, but if it's all this good we may finish it and come looking for more."

"Oh, we've got some other things, this is just the first go," said Alys, sounding very smug indeed. "I'll keep things going until you're out of guests."

"Are you two staying?" asked Julian curiously.

Alys chuckled. "I might," she said, and a cup of tea floated over to Julian. They'd borrowed the holiday china from Emmy after promising to return it in time for her celebrations, and it gleamed in the warm light of the kitchen, patterned with a design of evergreen swags and red ribbons that matched their living room, and decorated with gilt. "Depends on if your guests behave."

"We'll see," said Julian with a chuckle. "I never know with the family lot, not to mention I haven't seen Chilcott and Barnes since before their engagement."

"Whitby will be happy to see you using the St. Albans china," said Alex, coming up behind Julian and slinging an arm around his waist. "What are we tasting?"

They laughed and Alex was presented with his own plate of samples and cup of tea, and they all discussed the food until the doorbell rang with the first of their guests. It was Murielle Lapointe and her colleague and hopeful almost-suitor Thomas MacLean. Julian's hopes that MacLean had actually asked her out were dashed when she said, "Look who I found moping around your lobby."

"I didn't want to be too early," said Thomas rather sheepishly. "Oh, and I brought chocolates!" he added, brightening and proffering the small box.

It wasn't from Saveur, but it was a lovely gesture, and Julian stepped forward and took them and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Thomas," he said. "Are they for today, or for later?"

"Oh, um, either, I guess?" stammered Thomas.

Alex laughed, though not unkindly. "I'm sure Alys can find somewhere to put them out among her other treats."

"That I can," said Alys, and the box floated out of Julian's hands and back into the kitchen, which made everyone laugh.

"I'm not empty-handed, either," said Lapointe, producing a box of assorted macarons, which also began to float away, much to their amusement.

Two plates of goodies floated in to replace the guesting gifts, and just like that the party was started.

Julian showed off his rosemary gifts and made everyone promise to take one when they left, and at some point Alex put on some music with the fancy new speakers he'd bought for his computer. Alys and Nat were complimented on the decor and food, and then they all got down to chatting about nothing while Horace flitted from person to person, getting pampered like a beloved pet. More people arrived, first Emmeline and Phineas, then Tiny and his girlfriend Gemma next, and after that Jones brought Victor for a quick stop, but promised to return on his own later. Flora and Fauna came together without their husbands, also busy doing the social rounds, and in the slightly stunned silence that they left in their wake Father Stephen made a very welcome entrance.

Father Stephen greeted everyone with a blessing-kiss, going around the room to make sure he got anyone who wanted it, and his guesting-gift was to bless the flat as a whole, after getting permission from all five of the residents, even Horace.

Dr. Tamlinson and Dr. Chesterfield both showed up about the same time as Henry, but by then Phin and Emmy had to go so the party stayed at a manageable size. Everyone brought some small gift, generally of food or drink, and Alys and Jacques kept the treats coming. The sweet mulled wine was making Julian feel very mellow and affable, so he didn't even mind the crowd too much. Dr. Chesterfield and Father Stephen both had to leave soon after their arrival, and Henry went with them, but they were replaced by the cheerful Chudleigh.

"Have you found a proper dashing young man to sweep you off your feet yet, Lucas?" asked Julian, leading Chudleigh to the bedroom to drop off his coat.

"Not yet," said Chudleigh, pulling a box out of one pocket. "I brought a gift, it's just a little something for the household."

"That's very thoughtful of you, thank you," said Julian, kissing his cheek. He opened the box to find a beautiful home-safe talisman with a huge tourmaline as the central crystal, designed to go over the door and keep unfriendly energies away from their home. "Oh, this is lovely, Lucas, you shouldn't have."

Chudleigh smiled, eyes shining with affection for Julian. "Nonsense, you might not be mine, but that doesn't mean you're not my friend. I want you to be safe, and Alex, too."

"Oh, speaking of which," said Julian, "want to meet that handsome doctor I was telling you about?"