"Need some help?" Malcolm forced himself to ask.

"Yeah, why not start opening the ornament packages?" Dustin didn't turn around.

Malcolm bit his lip. He hated the awkwardness between them. And damn it, he wasn't the only one who'd gotten hard when they hugged. "Dustin, can I talk to you?"

Dusty stiffened. "Um, okay, but can it wait until after the tree is decorated?"

"No. I -- look, I'm sorry I freaked you out earlier."

"I didn't freak out."

"Dusty, will you stop that for a minute and look at me?"

Dusty finally let go of the string of lights and turned to face him. His cheeks were stained red and his baby blue eyes were suspiciously watery. Malcolm's stomach dropped.

"Dusty, what is it?" He took the several steps to his friend and couldn't stop himself from resting his hand on Dustin's chest. Dusty shook.

"Malcolm, please." Dusty sounded pained, tortured.

"What's wrong?"

"I-I just want you, okay, I want you and --"

He stopped Dusty's words with his lips, standing on tiptoe to crush his lips to the other man's.

Dusty tore his lips away and stared down at him, his jaw slack. "Malcolm?"

"I want you, too, Dusty. Kiss me." He fisted Dusty's shirt urging his friend to dip his head down to kissing distance.

Dusty moaned low and cupped Malcolm's ass, lifting him up so their lips crashed together. Malcolm's feet came up off the floor.

"The bed," he gasped out, even as Dusty devoured his mouth.

Dusty didn't tear his lips away in the few seconds it took him to get them into his bedroom. He slammed the two of them onto his double bed, their teeth clacking together.