I Always Win
Leaving the house was a game in this household. A dance, if you will. There were tactics and steps and tricks you needed to know to get yourself from the kitchen to the door. Howard’s aim was to prevent Jason ever getting that far on time. But Jason was competitive – and a very good dancer – and today he seemed to be firing on all cylinders. Howard caught an arm around his waist, pressing a kiss into the crook of his neck. Jason smiled at him, eyes a-glow, before swatting him away and continuing the search for the scrap of paper on which he’d written the address. Howard stood a moment, a little dumbfounded that his advances had been spurned. The smirk of satisfaction that Jason let out as a result was enough to shake him, however, and he spun around, following Jason into the lounge and catching him by the hand. Jason rolled his eyes playfully as Howard’s fingers lacing through his own forced him to come to an abrupt stop, turning around to face his husband, his head tipped to one side in enquiry. Howard was in no mood for words it seemed though, and he tugged Jason’s arm a little, pulling him in a little closer and bringing their lips together for a kiss that lingered long. Jason couldn’t stop his smile spreading and for the briefest of moments he let Howard think he’d won, letting the kiss go on longer than it should have done. Howard let himself fall into the trap far too easily, Jason mused for a moment, and with a soft push on Howard’s chest he stepped away, turning and continuing the hunt, grabbing his bag from the sofa and starting to put in various things he needed. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Howard’s slight pout and he hid the affection he felt at the sight, drifting back towards the kitchen and picking up his keys from the breakfast bar. Howard was with him as quick as a flash. Jason whimpered softly as Howard pinned him in the corner between the counter and the breakfast bar, his strong arms either side of him and his gentle breath brushing the back of his neck. A kiss was placed at the nape of his neck and Jason almost admitted defeat. Almost. But then Grace came running down the corridor.
“Ew, I’m so not looking...but you still have to help me anyway!” she announced, looking at Howard and Jason with pleading eyes. Howard frowned.
“Have you changed...again...?” he questioned his daughter in bemusement.
“Yes. And I’m going to change again in a minute when you tell me which of these tops I should wear!” Grace replied plaintively, thrusting two laden coat hangers out in front of her.
“We’re supposed to be leaving in ten minutes so...does it really matter? Anyway, it’s Chris’ party so why does it matter at all? After Izzy he’s your best friend, he really won’t care what you turn up in as long as you’re on time,” Howard dismissed and Jason sighed, rolling his eyes and swatting at his husband.
“Seriously, what did you do before me? Do you have eyes Donald or are those pretty things on your face just for show?” he teased, turning around to give Howard a peck on the cheek.
“What?” Howard asked him, even more confused than before. Jason chuckled.
“Oh nothing, just wondering how you failed to notice that Chris has managed to become your daughter’s beau...” he commented breezily, casting a sidelong glance at Grace who pulled an outraged expression.
“He’s not my beau!” she protested, flapping her coat hangers for emphasis.
“Oh I’m sorry, potential beau?” Jason offered gently and Grace paused a moment.
“ No,” she pouted and Jason grinned at her.
“Fine then, would you prefer the term ‘crush’ your majesty?” he beamed and Grace almost cracked.
“Stop it! You’re supposed to be the cool one!” she whined but a smile was visible in her eyes.
“Then I’ll redeem myself; wear the red because it brings out your eyes and your hair. Oh, and do it quickly!” Jason shot back, nodding in satisfaction as Grace darted off down the corridor, yelling back her thank you. Howard simply blinked and Jason took his chance. He gave Howard another quick kiss, before ducking quickly out of his arms and dashing towards the door. Howard refused to be so easily outsmarted and he turned swiftly, spinning around and taking a leaping step across the gap between them. Jason’s slight frame was easy to pin against the door and Howard cast a sly glance at the clock before beginning to press kisses along Jason’s neck. He felt Jason give up his resistance quickly, letting himself sink against the door in defeat as Howard wound his arms around his middle, bringing him into a kiss that stole his breath. As the kiss finally ended, Jason looked at the clock for himself and smiled ruefully.
“You win,” he whispered and Howard grinned.
“I always win,” he replied before pulling Jason back for another kiss.
“Ew, I’m so not looking...but you still have to help me anyway!” she announced, looking at Howard and Jason with pleading eyes. Howard frowned.
“Have you changed...again...?” he questioned his daughter in bemusement.
“Yes. And I’m going to change again in a minute when you tell me which of these tops I should wear!” Grace replied plaintively, thrusting two laden coat hangers out in front of her.
“We’re supposed to be leaving in ten minutes so...does it really matter? Anyway, it’s Chris’ party so why does it matter at all? After Izzy he’s your best friend, he really won’t care what you turn up in as long as you’re on time,” Howard dismissed and Jason sighed, rolling his eyes and swatting at his husband.
“Seriously, what did you do before me? Do you have eyes Donald or are those pretty things on your face just for show?” he teased, turning around to give Howard a peck on the cheek.
“What?” Howard asked him, even more confused than before. Jason chuckled.
“Oh nothing, just wondering how you failed to notice that Chris has managed to become your daughter’s beau...” he commented breezily, casting a sidelong glance at Grace who pulled an outraged expression.
“He’s not my beau!” she protested, flapping her coat hangers for emphasis.
“Oh I’m sorry, potential beau?” Jason offered gently and Grace paused a moment.
“ No,” she pouted and Jason grinned at her.
“Fine then, would you prefer the term ‘crush’ your majesty?” he beamed and Grace almost cracked.
“Stop it! You’re supposed to be the cool one!” she whined but a smile was visible in her eyes.
“Then I’ll redeem myself; wear the red because it brings out your eyes and your hair. Oh, and do it quickly!” Jason shot back, nodding in satisfaction as Grace darted off down the corridor, yelling back her thank you. Howard simply blinked and Jason took his chance. He gave Howard another quick kiss, before ducking quickly out of his arms and dashing towards the door. Howard refused to be so easily outsmarted and he turned swiftly, spinning around and taking a leaping step across the gap between them. Jason’s slight frame was easy to pin against the door and Howard cast a sly glance at the clock before beginning to press kisses along Jason’s neck. He felt Jason give up his resistance quickly, letting himself sink against the door in defeat as Howard wound his arms around his middle, bringing him into a kiss that stole his breath. As the kiss finally ended, Jason looked at the clock for himself and smiled ruefully.
“You win,” he whispered and Howard grinned.
“I always win,” he replied before pulling Jason back for another kiss.