Lucien walked down the stairs, holding a jar of moisturizer. "The air is dry here and it's freezing outside. You need to put something on your face."

Leon glanced at him for a few seconds before looking away. "No."

"Just a little," Lucien insisted, stepping into his space. "You need to maintain your looks. It'll effectively lower the probability of me looking at other handsome guys."

Leon's eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"

Lucien didn't give him a chance to argue. He scooped out a dollop of cream with his finger and smeared it onto Leon's face.

Leon hesitated but didn't dodge. He wrinkled his nose and closed his eyes, letting the boy's fingers move across his skin.

Lucien patted the cream in to help it absorb. "Done!"

Leon opened his eyes and sniffed the air. His expression softened. "It smells like you."

"Impossible," Lucien frowned, checking the label. "It's unscented."

Leon looped an arm around Lucien's waist, pulling him close until their cheeks pressed together. He squeezed Lucien's face into a pout.

"It's the same scent," Leon murmured.

Lucien shoved him away. "Fine, whatever you say. Let's go. Aren't we going out?"

"So much energy," Leon noted, ruffling the boy's hair. "Don't you want to rest?"

Lucien shook his head frantically. Resting alone with Leon in a cabin never ended well. He knew exactly what was on the man's mind.

Leon suppressed a smirk. "Fine. Let's go."

Before they left, Leon wound a thick red scarf around Lucien's neck. He claimed it was for the cold, but mostly he wanted to hide the low neckline of Lucien's sweater.

Lucien pouted. "This is ugly."

"It's not. My lamb is beautiful."

They left the cabin on foot. The town was small enough that a car wasn't necessary.

They stopped at a gift shop. Lucien spent ten minutes picking out refrigerator magnets before holding up four options. "Which one, Seth?"

Leon looked at the identical-looking trinkets. "They're all good."

Lucien's face went flat. "You're being perfunctory."

"No, no," Leon corrected quickly. "Let me look again. That one. The colors are brighter."

Lucien huffed and handed him the magnets. "Pay for these."

Leon reached for his wallet. "Baby, we can just buy all of them if you like them."

"No. Why buy so many? I manage the money now. You listen to me."

Leon nodded, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Right. I listen to you."

As Leon stood at the register, a local man leaned against the counter. "Your boyfriend is fierce," the man teased.

Leon didn't look annoyed. He tilted his head, a flash of possessive pride in his gray-blue eyes.

They found a small square and sat on a bench with two steaming hot drinks, watching the snow-capped peaks.

Lucien leaned his head on Leon's shoulder. "If we come back here when we're old, do you think we'll remember today?"

Leon adjusted the boy's scarf. "Yes. I'll remember you by the window. I'll remember the way you looked when I kissed you."

Lucien looked up suddenly. "When we're old, do we stop... doing it? I'm worried your back will snap if you try to thrust."

The sentimental moment died instantly.

Leon's jaw tightened. "If my back goes, I'll find a toy to do the job for me."

Lucien's eyes went wide. "Pervert."

Leon gripped the boy's chin and pulled him into a deep, lingering kiss.

Lucien's head spun. He wondered if Leon's perversion was infectious, passed through saliva.

They picked a random restaurant for dinner. The place was packed with tourists. As Lucien was picking carrots out of his salad, a roar of applause broke out nearby.

A proposal was happening. Two men. The taller one was on one knee, his voice shaking. The blond one was red-eyed, fighting back tears.

Lucien stood up and clapped until his palms were red. Leon frowned, taking Lucien's hands into his own to check the skin.

"Stupid boy," Leon muttered, though his touch was gentle. He stopped. "Baby, why are your eyes red?"

Lucien sniffled. "It's moving. I have a low threshold for tears."

"Don't cry for them. You're happy too."

Lucien nodded. "I know. With you, I'm the luckiest lamb. Husband, can you eat these carrots for me?"

Leon stared at the bowl of carrots, then at Lucien.

Outside, the snow was falling heavy. Lucien refused to walk, insisting Leon carry him.

He unwound his scarf, wrapping half around his own head and half around Leon's.

"Now we won't get sick," Lucien announced proudly.

"We don't look sick," Leon grunted. "We look insane."

Lucien tightened his grip around Leon's neck. "Watch your tone or I'm cutting your allowance next month."

Leon chuckled low in his throat. "My mistake, baby."

Back at the cabin, Leon pushed Lucien toward the shower. "Get warmed up."

"Cut the fruit," Lucien commanded. "I'm making mulled wine."

"I'll make it. Go wash."

By the time Lucien emerged from the bathroom, the cabin smelled of cinnamon and oranges.

He was wearing a fuzzy onesie Leon had bought him—a lamb costume complete with soft ears on the hood.

Lucien sniffed the air by the stove. "Smells good."

Leon turned and froze. He scanned Lucien from head to toe. "You look adorable, baby."

Lucien flushed, looking down at his feet. "Pervert. Why did you buy this?"

"It's just clothes," Leon said, his face a mask of feigned innocence. "I didn't have an agenda."

Lucien didn't believe him for a second.

They sat in recliners by the fire. Lucien took a sip of the hot wine and sighed in contentment.

"Don't drink too much," Leon warned, clinking his glass against Lucien's. "We're skiing tomorrow."

"My tolerance is better now," Lucien boasted.

Leon just smiled.

Lucien began to ramble about his childhood. He talked about a stray dog he used to feed with half his bread until it vanished. He talked about a glass marble he found and loved until a classmate accused him of stealing it.

He spoke about these things without bitterness. He was an optimist; he believed if he ran fast enough, the darkness would stay behind him.

Every word hit Leon like a physical weight. He stood up, scooped Lucien into his lap, and kissed his forehead. "Baby. My baby."

The scent of wine and woodsmoke filled the room. Lucien felt like a piece of orange candy, melting.

His boast had been a lie. He was already dizzy.

Leon flipped him over, pressing him into the cushions. He leaned down, his lips brushing Lucien's ear.

"Baby, do you know the best part of this outfit?"

Leon's hand slid down the small of Lucien's back. "Onesies are hard to take off for the bathroom. So there's a zipper... right here."

Lucien's brain cleared for a split second. His ears burned a deep red. It was a flap.

The snow piled up outside, burying the town. Inside, the fire roared. The recliner creaked rhythmically.

Lucien didn't even have to take the clothes off to be consumed.

Leon was unusually gentle, keeping his hand over Lucien's eyes the entire time.

"I can't... I can't see," Lucien gasped, his voice trembling.

"I don't want you to cry tonight," Leon whispered. "If you shed a single tear, I'll stop. Understood?"

Lucien's small face was flushed, his mouth open as he struggled for air. He didn't want to cry. And he definitely didn't want Leon to stop.