6. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

The scent of pine filled the air, competing with the aroma from the coffee cup resting on the table at Owen's elbow, but the coffee went largely ignored as Owen focused on Sebastian's antics. It's like watching a child. He pushed aside the instant reminder of their age difference that thought brought. Instead, he focused on the sheer joy on Sebastian's face and allowed himself to enjoy the happiness.

"Please, please, please can I open one?" Sebastian was sitting cross-legged on the wool rug in front of the Christmas tree that was tucked in the corner of the living room, with a red and silver package in his hands. He was shaking the shoe-box sized gift, holding it to his ear and listening closely as he jiggled it. He waggled his eyebrows and winked.

Owen chuckled, knowing Sebastian would never guess what was inside. He'd found the last few days amusing, watching as Sebastian explored his gifts. Sebastian couldn't walk past the decorated tree without picking up a present, feeling the weight, sniffing the package, and shaking it to listen for sounds, determined to figure out the contents.

"Next year, I won't put them under the tree until Christmas morning; that way you won't be so tempted." Owen made the same threat every year but had never followed through—part of the fun of the lead-up to Christmas was seeing Sebastian's excitement, and his trying to guess his gifts had almost become a tradition.

Sebastian tilted his head and deliberately raised his brows, his eyes sparking with mischief. "As if that would work. You are looking at the master," he scoffed.

"The master of what?" Owen teased.

"The master of ferreting out hidden gifts. I've had years to perfect the skill."

"Oh jeez, your poor parents. I bet you even found the ‘Santa' gifts, didn't you?"

Sebastian's grin was proud. He replaced the largish box and picked up another sizable box, this time a flat package wrapped in pale green paper with silver ribbons coiling over the top and cascading down the sides. "I know what this one is."

Owen quirked a brow. "You do, do you?"

"Uh-huh."

"What is it then?" Owen took the last sip of his coffee and put the empty mug aside, leaning his elbows on his knees and returning Sebastian's grin.

"A jumper. You know, one of those red and green knitted woollen jumpers with a reindeer on the front."

"Uh, mmm… So what's in that one then." Owen pointed to a bright red cylinder that was propped up against the base of the tree.

"Oh, that one's easy. It's a treasure map."

"And that one?" This time Owen indicated the large box Sebastian had been playing with previously.

"Socks," he said without hesitation. "Oh, and jocks."

"So you think I got you socks and jocks, a woolly sweater, and a treasure map for Christmas?"

Laughter filled the room. Each year Sebastian came up with ridiculous, teasing guesses for his gifts. It was another of their traditions. "Seriously, though, can I please open one?" Sebastian implored once he'd regained his breath.

"You can open all of them."

"Actually, I've changed my mind," Sebastian said, surprising Owen. "I want you to open one first." Sebastian placed the parcel he'd been holding back in the pile and got up on his haunches to reach for a small gift that was tucked near the base of the tree. He finally sat back with a "ta-da" and passed the present to Owen with a flourish.

Owen took the small box. It had obviously been hand-wrapped by Sebastian. None of that fancy store wrapping with coordinated paper and matching ribbons, unlike Owen's own purchases. This present had natural brown paper wrapping and simple raffia string tied in an inelegant bow. There wasn't a card. Sebastian was always too unorganised, or busy, or forgetful. Regardless of the reason, he always argued a card was unnecessary and the act of giving should speak for itself.

Owen took his time, first attempting to undo the ribbon that was tied into a tight knot, until Sebastian growled at him to get a move on. He grinned up at Sebastian's eager expression and gave in, pulling at the raffia to stretch it and tugging it over the corner of the flat parcel. He tore off the paper until a plain navy box was exposed. When he lifted the lid, it was to stare in awe at the content that was nestled on a bed of silver satin.

The bracelet was made of rich, braided black leather. Each end of the leather strand had been adored with sterling silver to form a clasp. But the highlight was the magnificent round black Tahitian pearls affixed to the silver. The silver and pearl combination finished each end of the cuff bracelet. He was speechless.

He eventually managed to get some words out. "Oh my God," he breathed. "These are the pearls we bought in the Cook Islands, aren't they?"

Sebastian's smile was bright as he nodded. "I wanted to do something special with them, so I had the bracelet designed."

Tears pricked behind Owen's eyes. "It's gorgeous." And even if it hadn't been a beautiful piece of masculine jewellery, he would have worn it anyway because of the thought Sebastian had put into it.

Sebastian jumped to his feet and crossed the room to the bureau. He retrieved a card from the top drawer and returned to sit beside Owen on the couch. "It's written down because I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything." He looked at Owen with a warm smile. "Did you know the pearl is the symbol of wisdom acquired through experience?"

Owen shook his head.

Sebastian looked down and read from the card. "They offer protection and help balance one's karma. They symbolise the integrity and loyalty of the person who wears them." Sebastian stopped reading and put the card down. He met Owen's gaze. "And they're also said to strengthen relationships."

Owen's chest tightened as the tears threatened again. "That's really beautiful. Such a special gift," he breathed.

"For a special man." Owen lifted the bracelet from its satiny nest, but Sebastian took it from him. "Let me." He pulled the clasp apart, allowing the leather to be wrapped around Owen's wrist before tightening the clasp again. Owen held out his arm and admired the bracelet.

"It's perfect."

He looked up to a beaming Sebastian. "Yes, it is," Sebastian agreed, but he was looking at Owen's face, not his wrist. Owen wasn't sure if he was referring to the gift but liked to think that Sebastian was referring to them, to their being perfect together.

He pulled Sebastian into his arms and whispered against his ear. "Thank you." They held tight for a moment before separating. Owen gave a subtle sniff, blinking to clear his eyes, and sitting up straighter. God, he was getting sentimental lately. He smiled at Sebastian. "Your turn."

Owen sat back and laughed then leaned forward and perched on the edge of the couch, eager to see Sebastian's expression when he opened each gift. Sebastian was like a kid in a candy store, tearing through the wrapping paper and exclaiming over each present with enthusiasm.

Most of the gifts had either been practical—new gear for running and a thermal jacket —or fun to buy. Sebastian had loved the Cards Against Humanity game, and they'd been in hysterics as he'd flipped through a few of the cards and read their contents out aloud. The game was guaranteed to keep them and their friends amused for hours. Owen had also given him a gift voucher for a scenic flight over the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, which resulted in him having a lapful of happy Sebastian raining down kisses on his cheeks.

Eventually Sebastian clambered off. "I guess we'd better get ready. Your mum will be itching for us to get there."

It had been a Christmas tradition for the last couple of years, that they'd alternate spending Christmas Day between their families. Last year they'd travelled to Melbourne and spent a couple of days with Sebastian's family. Owen got along well with Sebastian's parents and thought his sister Emily was lovely too. She was married with two young children, so it made for a hectic Christmas Day. The years they spent in Hobart were quieter. Owen was an only child so the day with his parents was missing the multiple conversations, screaming kids, and general hustle and bustle. It was a much more sedate affair where they'd head over to his mum and dad's around eleven, then help out in the kitchen before enjoying a lunch with too much food and too much wine. But the best thing about their Hobart Christmases was being able to enjoy the quiet time, just the two of them in the morning, and again in the evening when they came home. Maybe one day they'd have a family of their own, but for now, Owen loved the one-on-one private celebration.

As they picked up the remnants of gift wrapping and shoved it into bags for recycling, Owen couldn't keep the smile from his face. Sebastian was humming quietly under his breath, returning Owen's grin whenever their gazes met, and it filled Owen's heart with warmth.

It was just the start of a fabulous day.