The Solstice Mistletoe Effect (14 page)

was my fault. I didn’t think I would miss working with the

university until I came back here and was presented with the

opportunity of leading their polar expedition. Sigrid made it

sound so tempting and logical that I had a hard time arguing

against it. But what I should have realized is that arguments

weren’t the real reason I needed to turn that opportunity

down.”

“They weren’t?” Lance liked where this was going.

Everything already looked better just because he was leaning

into Magnus’s warmth, his lover’s strong arm around his

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shoulders protecting him and making him feel safe. It looked

like he hadn’t been the only one to fall back into old

behaviors with his running away when it got tough.

“No, they were not.” Magnus smiled. “The real reason

was my love for you and Jakob, the need to put my family

first and do whatever was right for all of us, not just me. I’m

sorry it took me so long to understand that.”

“Looks like we both needed to learn our lessons from

Christmas all over again.” Lance was so relieved he felt

lightheaded. “But I don’t want you to turn down a great

opportunity because of Jakob and me. If you really want to

go back to Stockholm University or lead that polar

expedition, I’m sure we can find a way of making it work.”

“You would do that for me?” Magnus’s eyes lit up.

“Of course I would! I love you and I want you to be

happy. I know that your career is important to you, and I

don’t want us to stand in the way of you doing what you

want to do.” Lance held his breath. Even though he’d said

the words, the thought of Magnus being away for six months

or longer horrified him.

“I really appreciate that, but I don’t think I could stay

away from you and Jakob for such a long time. So, the polar

expedition is definitely out.” Magnus frowned. “But there are

things I could be doing at the university. They need people to

raise funds, people to liaise with the scientists and to

translate their findings into language understandable for the

public. Then there’s the evaluation and analysis of all the

data that’s going to be collected. It should be fascinating.”

“You wouldn’t need to leave Stockholm for that, would

you?” Lance was beginning to see how this might work.

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“No, I wouldn’t. But it would mean us moving here, to a

foreign country. How would the two of you feel about that?”

Magnus tilted his head and looked down at Jakob.

“I think that would be cool!” Jakob’s answer came more

quickly than Lance could muster his own response.

“I agree, I like it here.” Lance smiled, expressing what

he’d been thinking since Magnus first put his arm around

his shoulder. Nobody’d even so much as blinked, except for a

few children who had given them some curious glances in

the beginning before returning to their garland making.

“People certainly seem to have fewer issues with two men

embracing in public than they would in Mistletoe, Wyoming.”

“There is that.” Magnus grinned. “Well, we don’t have to

make a decision right now, but it sounds like we have

something to think about.”

Lance was impressed that Magnus used “we” when he

talked about making decisions and their future. It sounded

like his lover had already made some significant changes, at

least in his head. And honestly? The thought of moving to

Sweden wasn’t that unattractive at all. True, it wouldn’t be

much warmer than Mistletoe, and the darker winters weren’t

going to be easy. But the fact that they could live as a couple

relatively unencumbered made up for a lot. It would make

Jakob’s life easier as well, if he didn’t have to put up with

bullies at school.

“I’m hungry.” Jakob looked hopeful. “Can we please get

something to eat?”

“I think that’s a great idea. I didn’t exactly have a large

breakfast.” Magnus smiled and lifted Jakob off his lap,

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making sure he stood securely before withdrawing his

support.

“We’ve certainly done our bit as far as the garland

making is concerned. Well, at least Jakob has.” Lance

grinned when Jakob blushed. “Let’s go and find some food so

that we can be back in time for the decoration of the maypole

and its erection at two p.m.”

“Yes, please. I don’t want to miss that.” Jakob led the

way out of the gradually shrinking throng of people. It

seemed like a few more guests had begun to look for lunch.

The boy followed his nose and found a cluster of stands

selling different hot and cold snacks. Lance let Magnus make

a selection while he looked for a space on one of the wooden

benches. At least there were more of them than spaces on

the lawn, where many families had settled down with

blankets to have a picnic.

They settled on baked potatoes with sour cream and

dill. Magnus got a portion of pickled herring to share with

Jakob and to let Lance try. The first taste was slightly

strange; the combination of onion and vinegar was definitely

one he’d have to get used to. But it wasn’t as bad as it

sounded, and Lance took several more bites. It was a taste

that he just knew would grow on him.

When they were done, they make their way over to the

maypole at Tingsvallen and helped decorate it. It was mostly

Jakob who did the work, and he enjoyed himself a lot. All the

sadness from last night and this morning was gone,

Magnus’s return having fixed all the boy’s problems.

“Are you okay, älskling?” Magnus’s husky voice close to

his ear made Lance shiver in anticipation. His lover only

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used that tone when he was planning to excite Lance. It

worked every single time.

“More than okay, baby.” Lance looked into silver-blue

eyes blazing with lust.

“I want to celebrate our reunion as soon as we get

home.” Magnus leaned even closer and squeezed Lance’s

fingers for emphasis. “I can’t wait to get you naked so I can

show you how much I love you.”

“I’d like that.” Lance pressed his cheek against

Magnus’s slightly stubbled jaw, loving the soft rasp on his

skin. “And then I’ll show you how much I love you back.”

Magnus groaned as his eyes flared with lust. It made

Lance’s cock harden in response, and he pulled away before

he embarrassed himself by sporting an erection in public.

Once the maypole was deemed sufficiently decorated,

the six strongest men from the Skansen Folk Dance Team,

already in their colorful traditional costumes, led the effort of

erecting the pole. Everybody cheered them on, and as soon

as the pole had been fastened securely, the music started

up.

The dance team led at first. The children and later the

adults joined in a dance around the maypole that soon had

everybody dizzy and laughing. Games were organized for the

children, and Lance had never seen Jakob so happy and

carefree. Yes, Sweden would be a good location for the boy to

grow up.

When the more serious drinking started during the late

afternoon, Lance felt less comfortable. Nobody else seemed to

mind though, so he decided to go with the flow.

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“Would you like to try some brännvin?” Magnus looked

hopeful, obviously intending to indulge. His lover didn’t

usually drink alcohol, but this was clearly an exception.

“Sure, I’ll give it a try.” Lance definitely wasn’t one to

drink, but this was a local custom that he wanted to

experience.

Magnus got them each a shot glass of the clear liquor, a

Swedish type of brandy that was consumed at the

Midsummer Eve celebrations. It usually came in large

quantities and with a generous helping from the buffet or

smörgåsbord to help soak up the alcohol. Magnus had

brought both the brännvin and a piece of bread with some

more pickled herring on it.

“Here, eat some of this first, it’ll help lessen the impact

of the alcohol.” Magnus held out the well-laden bread, and

Lance took a bite.

He licked his lips just to see how Magnus would react.

With a devilish grin, Magnus took his own bite and returned

the favor. It made Lance’s pants feel too tight, so he

surrendered by lifting both hands. Magnus laughed, knowing

exactly what that meant.

“Okay, time for the brännvin now.” Magnus handed over

one of the shot glasses and grinned. “Skål!”

Lance courageously poured its entire contents down his

throat.

“Ugh.” He coughed and spluttered some more while the

ball of fire slid down his throat and heated up his belly.

“Wow.”

“Yeah, they like it strong here.” Magnus grinned and

downed his own shot, coughing a little himself.

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“You can say that again.” Lance finished the piece of

bread, relieved he wouldn’t have to drive. He felt decidedly

woozy. He had no idea how all the men around them could

stand drinking as much as they were without passing out. It

probably came down to years of practice. Or maybe it was in

their genes?

“Would you like to go home for dinner or would you

prefer to stay here?” Magnus put their glasses on the tray of

one of the waiters walking around to collect them. “I’m fine

with either one, but I know that my mother would like us to

be there for the evening meal.”

“Are you sure it would be a good idea to go back?” Lance

wasn’t certain that he’d be welcomed back into the Carstens’

house. Not after the way they had treated him yesterday.

“Yes, I’m sure. I made my point about you and Jakob

being my life abundantly clear last night. I’m sorry you

missed that, but my parents no longer doubt that you and I

belong together. My mother even said so this morning.”

Magnus shrugged. “It may take my father a little longer to

say so, but he’s perfectly clear about my priorities now.”

“Okay.” Lance was pretty sure that Magnus wanted to

spend the evening at home with his parents, or he wouldn’t

have asked. And he wasn’t going to stand in the way of that.

Magnus didn’t see enough of his parents as it was.

“Look, I don’t want to make you do something you don’t

want to do.” Magnus took Lance’s hand in his bigger one. “So

you’ve got to be honest with me here. You’ve only got to say

the word and we’ll stay here to enjoy the rest of the program

they’ve got planned. I don’t mind either way, I just want to be

with you and Jakob.”

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“It’s fine. Thank you for giving me the choice, though.”

Lance squeezed Magnus’s fingers. “We’ve got to try and make

an effort, see if we can become a real family. If your parents

are happy to give it a go, I’m more than willing to give them

another chance.”

Magnus’s smile was so relieved that Lance knew he’d

made the right decision. There was a small spark of

uncertainty left, but he stomped it out, determined to make

this work.

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Chapter Twelve

MAGNUS had seen the flicker of uncertainty in Lance’s eyes

when he’d suggested going back home to his parents’ for

dinner. Damn, but his älskling had been hurt more deeply

than he was willing to admit. Magnus was going to have to

find a way to reassure him that nothing and no one would

ever come between them again.

He couldn’t stand that hurt and confused look in

Lance’s eyes, the one his lover was trying so hard to hide as

they made their way home in a taxi. Lance was much too

honorable to take back his promise of having dinner at

home, but he was clearly having second thoughts. Not that

Magnus could blame him. His parents had treated Lance so

badly that Magnus had been surprised that his lover was

willing to forgive them. He had the biggest heart of anyone

that Magnus knew.

“I love you,” Magnus whispered into Lance’s ear,

needing to express his feelings so that Lance knew he wasn’t