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They're some of the last people to arrive at the party. Their lateness is due to Alex and his indecision on what suit jacket to wear. He finally stepped in after the fifth jacket change and picked an all black one that had Alex muttering something about hating color. He chose to ignore that little friendly jab so they weren't even more late.
"Hey!" Nora rushes over to them, Percy hot on her heels. "Took you two long enough." She gives each of them a hug.
"Blame Alex," Henry is quick to reply, and defend himself, a small smirk on his lips.
"Way to throw me under the bus," Alex playfully gripes. "I need a drink."
While Alex goes for his usual whiskey, Henry opts for his usual martini.
They're three drinks in and dancing with everyone else. He's dancing with Nora and Alex with Percy. Alex finally grabs him again after several songs of them apart. They dance and enjoy themselves.
"I'll be back!" Alex shouts a little too loudly and with a short laugh.
Alex slips away. Henry catches sight of him a few seconds later talking to the DJ. The familiar notes of the song that played a year before pulls the corner of his mouth up into an amused smile. Alex returns wearing his own grin, this one a bit humorous and joyous.
Alex yanks him close by the front of his shirt.
Henry drapes one arm over his shoulder. "All in the hips, right?" he jokingly asks, referring to Alex's attempt at dancing advice from the year before.
A soft chortle escapes Alex. "That's right, baby. All in the hips."
He doesn't mind Alex's hands that go to his hips. Doesn't mind the way his fingers slightly curl into the flesh. Doesn't mind the way Alex guides him in the best way to dance to a song about getting low. And he especially doesn't mind how there are dozens of other people around to see this little moment.
A year ago, he barely let Alex touch him. Barely allowed himself to think that this charismatic, wonderful guy could in any way return the feelings he felt. But here he is now in the middle of a crowded dance floor pressed close to him moving his hips in a way the press would have had a field day with last year. Actually, he's sure the press would still have a field day if they were to see how he's dancing. How he's pressed as close as possible to Alex without any worry or fear. How he's letting go in a way he wasn't able to a year ago.
It's freeing.
He dances with Alex without care in the world. Dances until the song fades out and a new one begins. Loses himself in the movements and the sensual way Alex is moving against him. Finally understands what it feels like to dance without restraint. To dance with the person he wants to and not a person he's forced to.
Turned around so his back is pressed to Alex's front, a soft moan falls from his lips as he drops his head back on Alex's shoulder.
This. This right here is everything he didn't know he was missing out on. This being held impossibly close by the man he loves. Being able to do what he wants with constraints or fear. This is what he almost lost but Alex fought for. And he loves him even more for it. For giving him these small things, these small moments, he didn't know he needed.
"You've definitely loosened up in the past year," Alex murmurs into his ear. He rests a hand at the waistband of his trousers. Thumb slipping under his shirt and stroking the soft skin below his navel.
Henry shudders. Wonders for the millionth time if he'll always react this way to every one of Alex's touches, big and small.
He lifts his head and looks at Alex. Takes in his skin flushed from alcohol and dancing. The shimmer of happiness in his eyes. The smile on his face that seems to have been there since election night. It's all so breathtaking he wants to thank the high heavens for giving him something so spectacular.
"Some American helped with that."
"He sounds wise. And sexy," Alex jokes.
"Insufferable, more like it," Henry jests in return, a smile on his face.
Alex playfully pinches his waist while murmuring, "You love me."
And he does. For some strange, unfathomable reason, out of all the people in the world, he loves this man. And he wouldn't change that.
As they continue to dance, move together in a way that would cause a scandal if anyone with the press saw, Henry takes notice of the people here watching them. Is momentarily caught off guard by the fact that he's openly dancing with another man and his world isn't ending. A year ago, that wouldn't have been the case. Pictures would have been taken and splashed on the front pages of newspapers like fodder. Not this year. Because Alex got it right when he instructed everyone that phones were not allowed tonight. So there won't be any picture of the two of them for people to analyze and judge.
Alex grabs his hand and spins him around. "One day, you should teach me how you dance."
"You waltzing, dear." Henry lets out a small chuckle at the idea. "I think I would have better luck teaching David."
Alex opens his mouth to reply but someone announcing it's ten seconds to midnight stops whatever he was about to say.
People around them countdown. Alex stands right in front of him. And it's eerily familiar to the year before. To when the happiness he felt in those seconds he counted down being shattered when he watched Alex be pulled into a kiss with a couple of women. Not this time, though. Alex pulls him close and grabs his neck. Says, "I'm getting it right this year." before pressing their mouths together in a kiss that rights everything that was wrong last year.
There's no escaping or hiding under trees. No confessed desires or secrets. This is them standing out in the open for everyone to see. This is their love out in the open.
Alex's soft lips move against his. There's a taste of whiskey he's been drinking on his tongue when he slips it into his mouth. It's intoxicating and hot.
This is unlike any other New Year's kiss he's had. Granted, almost all the past New Year's he celebrated were with family, and those kisses were quick, innocent pecks on the cheek. Nothing great or memorable. Not like this one. This one that he feels everywhere. That somehow stops his heart and makes it race at the same time. That induces a full body tremble.
This kiss is everything and more. And Henry knows it's the first of many New Year’s kisses to come.
Alex is the first to pull away. Grin on his slightly kiss-swollen lips. "Happy New Year, baby."
Henry feels the flush on his cheeks, both from the kiss and term of endearment. He returns the sentiment to Alex. Smiles into the quick kiss he gives him.
The hand he slips into Alex's stays there as others come over to wish them a happy New Year. It's only twenty minutes later that they finally manage to escape the crowd of people. He says nothing as Alex walks them away from the party tent. It doesn't take him long to figure out where he's taking him.
"Why are we here?" he questions when they're under the tree again.
Alex shoves him up against the tree. The bark is rough against his back. But that's quickly forgotten when Alex takes his mouth in a rough, bruising kiss that ignites a hunger in him.
He's so caught up in the kiss it takes a moment for him to realize that Alex is undoing his trousers.
"Wha-"
"Let's make an even better memory here."
"Alex," he softly sighs, saying his name like a prayer he needs answered.
Alex smirks and drops to his knees.
As Alex takes him into his warm, silky mouth, Henry thinks maybe New Year's isn't so bad after all.