Sean relaxed in Nate's arms letting the rest of the world just fall away. It was easy right now to picture them as the only people in the world. The mall was practically empty and the employees or customers that were around were mostly out of sight. Nate's arms slowly slid off his shoulders as the end of the escalator came up, allowing him to step off. The second Nate stepped off; his arm slipped back around his waist to lead him toward the food court around the massive carousel. They ordered their ice cream cones, then had a playful fight over who was paying that ended when Nate beat him at rock paper scissors. Taking his cone, Sean playfully bit the curl off the top and savored the cold creamy taste as it melted over his tongue. Nate tapped his shoulder and he turned his head right into Nate's kiss. A blush burned over Sean's face. When Nate pulled away, he licked his lips and started to walk toward the carousel. Sean shook his head at him but couldn't hide his smile.

Nate licked around the rim of his ice cream, leaning his hip on the fence surrounding the carousel. Sean loved the view. The way the gold from the ride framed Nate's body like he was a shinnying star. Walking up next to him, he smeared his pinkie in just a bit of ice cream. Then tapping Nate with his foot, he waited. Nate glanced down at his feet and Sean booped his nose with his pinkie. Nate's eyes darted up to look him in the eyes with a startled look. Sean tried to hold it together, but even biting his lips... he couldn't keep himself from looking guilty. Nate whipped his nose with the back of his hand and Sean let out a chuckle. Nate smirked, chuckling out himself. "Oh, you think you're so funny, do ya?" Sean tilted his head, giving him his best puppy eyes as he retorted with a grin. "I think I'm adorable." Nate nodded, inching discreetly closer. Sean shifted away a step, mumbling out nervously. "What are you doing?" Nate shrugged casually, saying innocently. "I can't hug you?"

Sean tensed up but let him wrap an arm around his shoulders. Nate played it cool, coaxing him into a simple hug. Then his grip suddenly tightened and Sean squealed. Trying to squirm out from Nate's grip. Nate buried his head in Sean's neck; grazing his teeth so lightly over his skin that it tickled him. Sean cringed away, chuckling out through whines. "AH! Don't! Get away!" Nate let him slip away easily, chuckling as he watched Sean bounce away rubbing his neck. After a few seconds, Sean walked back up to him and this time Nate hugged him genuinely. Sean licked his ice cream normally, until he saw Nate watching him out of the corner of his eye. Only then did he take it slower and added little satisfied moans. Nate groaned beside him, smacking his ass suddenly as he muttered out over his shoulder. "You tease." Sean chuckled, stating out playfully. "You are the one watching me so closely." Nate kissed his temple, whispering in a softer voice by his ear. "I wasn't watching you eat. I was admiring your smile."

Sean finished his ice cream with a warm smile. Nate pointed to the animals on the carousel, telling him what he wanted to ride first. Sean's eyes lit up, when Nate pointed to a set of stairs on the ride that led up to a second floor on it. Up at the top were the sleighs and a few animals. He had never seen a carousel like this and wanted to see every part of it. Nate tugged on his hand, leading him around to the entrance. The young ticket man took Nate's money and buzzed the gate open for them. Together they dashed up on the carousel and wondered through the rows of beautifully decorated animals. Nate stopped to lean his arms on the red saddle of a black horse, beckoning him over with a finger. Sean strolled up, grabbing the gold bar through the horse's shoulders before leaning in to kiss him. The carousel music started, and Sean took a step back to hop up onto a buck. Sitting on it sideways, he wrapped his arm around the gold bar, watching Nate swing his leg over the black horse.

The animals began to move, and Nate let out a loud cheer. Sean chuckled at first, then joined him. Sean rested his head on the bar, taking in how Nate leaned back as far as he could while still holding the bar. As the carousel picked up speed, Nate sat up and caught him off guard.  Snapping a quick picture of him. Sean tried to hide his face behind the bar, mumbling out. "Don't do that..." Nate lowered his phone, telling him honestly. "Anything I take today isn't going on the internet. It's staying with me. I want to remember this moment." Sean's cheeks burned so bad that he pressed his cheek to the cold bar, asking him sweetly. "Why...?" Nate turned his phone to show him, answering with a warm smile. "Because you're smiling." Sean rolled his eyes, realizing that he still was. Glancing away to feel the air rush past his face, Nate playfully added. "And I thought it was cute to see an elf ride a deer." Sean narrowed his eyes and kicked Nate's leg. Nate winced, but laughed so loud that Sean found himself joining in.

Their laughter attracted attention from the few people in the mall. Including a few young children. Sean waved to a few that waved at him as he went around. As the ride slowed down, Nate told him casually. "Did you know that I actually know how to ride a horse?" Sean raised an eyebrow and shook his head. Nate grinned, sliding off the horse as the ride stopped to tell him. "Ya. I took lessons years ago. Part of my cowboy faze. You ever done it?" Sean cleared his throat, nervously saying. "Once. When I little. I had a bad experience and haven't gotten on a horse since." Nate winced, sweetly saying. "That's a shame. I loved riding. It's peaceful. Any chance that I can convince you to try getting back on a horse?" Sean shrugged, sliding off the buck. He didn't believe there was... but it had been a long time since he'd tried. Sean started to head for the exit, when Nate pulled him toward the stairs. Nate hopped down to pay again as a few kids hopped on. When he returned, he prodded him up the stairs with a few pinches to his ass.

At the top, Nate wrapped his arms around Sean's waist and pulled him down into one of the sleighs. Over the speakers, the ticket man began to announce the usual ride instructions for the younger kids. While they waited, Sean playfully struggled to get off Nate's lap. Nate eventually let him go and Sean adjusted to lay his head back over Nate's lap, letting his legs hang out of the sleigh. Nate rested a hand on Sean's chest, loving how Sean traced circles over the back of it. The ride started and Nate told him in a serene voice. "You should see this ride at night. The whole thing lights up in this golden light. The animals are do glossed that they reflect the light like they're surrounded in golden halos and you just get filled with this intense inner peace." Sean shifted slightly to look up at him, asking playfully. "Why didn't you take me later to show me?" Nate ran his free hand through Sean's hair, answering grimly. "I thought about it... but the mall gets so packed around then... We'd be lucky to get on the ride before it closed."

Sean shrugged, honestly telling him. "We wouldn't have to ride it. Just to see it would be pretty romantic to me. I have a thing for bright colors and gorgeous scenery." Sean relaxed his body with a soft exhale, closing his eyes and listening to the music of the carousel. In his mind he could picture the carousel at night, and he loved it. Stroking Nate's hand lovingly, he told him happily. "I can imagine how beautiful it is... Thank you, Nate." He kept his eyes closed, enjoying the way he imagined Nate chasing him between the animals and even how it would be simply magical to end the night in the brightly lit up sleigh with Nate in his arms. Their naked bodies snuggled together under a fluffy white fur blanket. He grinned wickedly, then braced himself as he felt Nate shift. Keeping his eyes closed, he let Nate's lips mold against his in a tender kiss. Sean even raised a hand up to cup his neck, holding him in the kiss for a bit longer. He could taste the ice cream still lingering on his tongue, making him taste so sweet.

The mood was perfect. It was like a movie or a dream. He didn't want to come out of it. Finally letting Nate go so that he could catch his breath, Nate pried his lips away. His lips lingered just over his though as he whispered down to him in a slightly shaky voice. "Sean... Can I say something without scaring you?" Sean opened his eyes, giving him a confidant nod. He couldn't imagine Nate telling him anything too bad. He was pretty hard to scare away... unless he was secretly a serial killer. Nate closed his eyes tightly, swallowing hard before he breathlessly stated out in a wispy voice. "I... love you." Sean smirked, stroking Nate's cheek as he told him lovingly. "I love you too." Nate took a deep breath before forcing out in a broken voice. "Could you see yourself marrying me?" Sean's heart stopped beating and he froze. Nate couldn't meet his eyes and his hand was shaking slightly on Sean's chest. Sean gave him a small nervous smile, trying to be gentle as he asked him. "It's a bit early to be asking me that... Don't you think?"

Nate took a calming deep breath, then answered in a soft voice. "Probably... I'm not saying we should get married now. I just want to know if... If you could even picture a life with me? I'm not as wealthy as the guys you've dated... I don't have a fancy car... My house isn't anything special... but I love you. I've always loved you... and I want to fight for you." Sean was speechless. He didn't know what he wanted to say. He didn't want to give Nate false hope, but he didn't want him to think that he was that shallow either. Stroking Nate's cheek, he told him in a whole-hearted tone. "That's exactly what sets you apart. You don't need things to keep me. You're simply there whenever I need you. Don't sell yourself so short." A small smile formed on Nate's face. So, Sean turned Nate's head with his fingers to look him in the eyes as he told him seriously. "I'm not ready to marry... but the more you stay strong for me... The more I can imagine you at my side. Just like this." Sliding his hand around the back of Nate's neck, he pulled him down into another long kiss. Their date wasn't over, and he was determined to make the most of it. To Be Continued...