When Jude comes home, he finds a small, grey box on the kitchen counter with a silver ribbon around it. There is no note, nothing to reveal who or where itâs from. He turns it around a few times, weighs it his hand⊠not very heavy but certainly not empty. For some reason he feels his heart starting to beat a bit harder, as he contemplates for a few seconds - is it wrong of him to open it? Itâs late, he doesnât want to wake Zero up in case itâs nothing⊠but surely he can do it without ruining the ribbon?
After studying exactly how itâs tied in order to be able to re-tie it afterwards, he pulls one of the edges of the band and easily removes it. Then he opens the lid, and there is wrapping paper on the surface. Lifting it, there is another box, a white one, with gold writing on it. He recognises the symbol, the small golden crown before reading the text. Rolex. He swallows. Suddenly feeling a bit overwhelmed, he starts putting the box back together. Why is there a watch worth thousands of dollars in his kitchen? Although he suspects the reason, he doesnât want toâŠ
âDo you like it?â
Zero comes out from the bedroom, obviously straight from bed judging by what heâs wearing.
âHey.â Jude says. âUhâŠI havenât really opened it. Is itâŠ?â
âFor you? Yes.â Zero raises his eyebrows, smiling.
âOh.â Jude breathes out.
He grabs the white box again, and holds it in his hand.
âAre you⊠are you mad?â He says, yet struggling not to smile as he says it.
Zero smiles, shrugs, and comes to sit down on one of the barstools next to Jude.
âOpen it.â He says.
Judeâs smiles grows even bigger - he tries to contain himself but itâs difficult. Not because he has really wished for a watch, or even cares that much about it, but because of the surprise. Because of Zeroâs eyes as he watches him, that endearing look studying his every move, carefully noting his every reaction.
He lifts the lid of the smaller box and the silver watch sparkles towards him inside it, details in blue and gold on the round case. Itâs clearly not just any watchâŠ
âI saw it and thought of you.â Zero says, shrugging again, like heâs talking about some insignificant thing he picked up at the supermarket.
âWow.â Jude says. âI mean⊠itâs not even my birthday or anything.â
Zero laughs, then bites his lips, looking him in the face.
âI donât give a damnâŠâ He says, rising from the chair and approaching Jude until theyâre close together. âIf itâs your birthday.â
He takes the box from Jude, and puts his hands on Judeâs waist, then kisses him, pressing his body close to his own.
âI want to make you happy every day.â
Then he takes the watch from the box, takes a hold of Judes wrist, and puts it on, slowly, adjusting it so that it sits correctly. Jude can feel the weight, heavy on the arm, not like anything heâs worn before.
âHow muchâŠâ He begins, but Zero puts a finger over his lips, narrowing his eyes, silencing him.
âIt doesnât matter.â He says. âI love you, thatâs all.â
Jude lifts his arm up, studying it closer under the ceiling light. It really does sparkle, like a diamond, as the light reflects in it.
âI donât know what to say.â He says.
âDonât say anything.â Zero says, pulls his arm down again and puts it over his own shoulder.
Jude looks him in the eyes, no longer distracted by the watch as itâs out of his view, and kisses him again, until Zero pulls back a little, lets go of him, studying him from the short distance.
âNow you look like a proper business man.â He says approvingly. âI knew there was something missing.â
Then he comes closer again, kissing him harder, as if seeing Judeâs full figure turns him on even more than being close, but at the same creating the longing for closeness. Jude kisses him back, and they walk into the bedroom, where he sits down on the edge and Zero stands between his legs. Gently, Zero pushes him down so that he lays on his back, and leans over him, opening up the suit, loosening the tie at the same time as they kiss, non-stop, and Jude can sense the scent of his cologne as Zero starts unbuttoning his shirt.
âI love you.â Jude breaks their kiss only long enough to say the words, as he suddenly remembers he didnât say it back before.
He can sense Zero smiling, as their lips are pressed together, and Zero lays down on top of him, one hand in his hair, first stroking it backwards, the next second letting his fingers run through it to mess up the hairdo. Â
discoholicmusic
dailybridgerton
romaincrisis
gummygunk
stormborns