Marshmallows and the Snow [Sweet Snacks: 1] by Liza Kay Page B

“Fine!” he yelled over his shoulder. “I guess no answer is answer enough!” Aleks sat, dumbfounded, and watched as his lover stormed upstairs to the bedroom. But a knock at the door haltered his steps. He shot Aleks a questioning look. Before Aleks managed to rise and had a chance to reach the door, Ruben raced back down the stairs and yanked it open himself.
    Aleks hoped it wasn’t a friend coming to visit. Not that he had that much, but given Ruben’s pissed mood, every friend of his would be an ex-friend as soon as Ruben rekindled his bitching. Well, Aleks was sure he deserved the bitching. And more.
    “What are you doing here?” Ruben’s loud, agitated voice echoed through the house. Uh-oh. He better hurry and take a look.
    When Aleks rounded the corner, a guy he’d never seen before stood in the doorway. He was maybe six feet high, with cropped, red hair, freckles, and a broad nose. His build was stocky and he wore the typical clothes of someone on a ski-trip. Was he another guy who lost his way in the woods? Whatever, the guy seemed furious and his face was red. If from the cold or because he was upset, Aleks couldn’t say.
    “No. The important question is, what are you doing here? I come back into the room and all your shit is gone! And the chick at the reception refuses to tell me where you are! What the fuck, Ruben?” he yelled and flung his arms.
    Ruben made a little growling sound. It wasn’t threatening, not one tiny bit. It sounded cute. But the squinting look and stabbing finger were signs of the little guy’s bad mood.
    “You have the guts to ask me that? You cheated, Toby! You fucked the room service guy on our bed! How dare you barge in and act haughty and self-righteous!”
    Ah. Toby. So, he was the lying sack of shit who had hurt his Ruben and who had a date with the next crevasse if Aleks had anything to say. For the moment, he remained silent. This was Ruben’s battle. Aleks thought it better to let him handle the situation. He stepped closer though, in case Toby tried to harm Ruben in any way.
    Toby puffed out his chest and laughed. “What? You thought I’d be okay with holding hands and cuddling, while you’re constantly waving your virgin ass in front of me? Welcome to the real world, Ruben. Everybody wants to get laid some time. Why do you care I fucked the guy at the hotel? It was just sex, nothing more.”
    Ruben gasped. “Just sex? There is no such thing as just sex. Not for me. Either you like me and are faithful, or you don’t. Did you do this before? Screw other guys behind my back?”
    The ex-boyfriend shrugged nonchalantly and grinned. “You make it easy, Ruben. All the time you’re sitting around in your flat and I can go to the clubs. As far as I’m concerned, it works out just fine. We both gain what we want, right? You have a boyfriend to hold hands with and who leaves you alone when you’re busy, and I can have some fun and hunt for asses.”
    A slap echoed through the cabin and a red spot bloomed on Toby’s cheek. Damn, Ruben was quick. When Toby took a step forward and reached for Ruben, Aleks rushed over and dragged his lover away from his ex.
    “I wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” he warned with a growl. Ruben always liked it when he growled.
    “Who the fuck are you?” Toby inquired with an ugly sneer. “A lumberjack? The local hermit with a taste for cute virgins? Really, Ruben. The entire time we’ve been together you protect your ass like Fort Knox and then you go and let the first guy you meet fuck you?”
    Ruben placed his elbow between Aleks’ ribs and made him grunt. Crap. He’d hoped his growl would soothe Ruben a tiny bit.
    “What I do and with whom is none of your business, Toby. Not anymore. I told you it was over when I left the hotel room. But maybe you were too occupied to listen, what with your dick being inside another guy! How did you find me in the first place?” Ruben waved his arms. He was clearly agitated and mad as