Chapter 8
The community center was already buzzing when I pulled into the parking lot.
Strings of fairy lights twinkled across the windows, and the faint sound of laughter and Christmas music spilled out into the chilly evening air.
I sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel, watching happy, laughing people move toward the inviting, open doors.
In the meantime my stomach was a tight knot of nerves all wrapped up in a neat little Christmas bow.
"It's fine," I told myself. "Normal people go to Christmas fundraisers all the time. With their vet. Who they accidentally called Daddy. No big deal."
The second I stepped inside, warmth hit me. Next was the scent of cinnamon and mixed spice mingling with the smell of freshly baked gingerbread.
My breath caught as I took in the big space. The decorations were gorgeous. Garlands twined along banisters, a massive Christmas tree sparkled in the corner, and small tables displayed silent auction prizes. Whoever had done the decoration had gone above and beyond.
My mind was soon distracted from thoughts of tinsel and trees when I caught sight of Colter.
Gone were the scrubs and soft t-shirt.
And oh my... what an improvement (not that there was any improvement needed, mind).
Doctor Daddy was dressed in dark slacks, a deep green button-down that brought out the flecks of hazel in his eyes and a dark grey vest that did criminal things for his shoulders.
The top buttons of the shirt was undone, no tie, and his sleeves were rolled up just enough to show strong forearms dusted with a sprinkling of hair.
Fuck my life.
My poor neglected cock perked up at the sight of the delicious Doctor Daddy. I was in so much trouble.
"Jericho," he said, voice soft and filled with warmth. "You clean up nice."
"Thanks," I managed, though my voice came out a little too high.
I wished fervently that my face wasn't as red as it felt.
"You look..." My brain short-circuited for a second, taking in his sexy smile, the laugh lines around his eyes, and that confident swagger. "Like you belong on a Christmas card."
He chuckled, the sound enough to make my knees wobble and the butterflies in my tummy go insane. "Careful, boy. You keep saying things like that and I'll start hoping this is a real date, and not just a pity plus one situation."
"It's not a real date?" I shot back before I could stop myself.
Colter's eyes sparkled. "With you looking as good as you do, it has to be, or I might lose my mind if anyone else flirts with you."
Heat flooded my cheeks as he offered his arm with old-school charm.
"Come on, let me introduce you around before I get in trouble for not mingling like I'm supposed to."
He guided me through the crowd, hand resting low on my back. His presence was steadying instead of the cloying possessiveness of Oscar that I was used to. With the soft touch of his fingers, he had my pulse racing and my breath catching, and it caused more than a slight stirring in my pants.
It didn't help that every few feet, someone stopped him to say hello, and he'd introduce me as his date. To donors, and volunteers and even some of the staff that I recognised from the clinic!
I worked really hard at trying to keep my best professional face on, even though I wanted to puff out my chest and beat it like a Neanderthal for being claimed by Colter like that. I also did my best to charm the donors, though small talk has never been my strong suit.
At least when a kind woman from the animal rescue committee complimented my hat, I managed a joke about it being my emotional support fedora, which got a quiet, yet genuine laugh.
Eventually, we drifted toward the silent auction tables. I trailed my fingers along the edges of a few bid sheets before stopping at one.
A commissioned pet portrait.
"Oh!" I exclaimed, placing my hand on Colter's chest in excitement. "This one is perfect. Do you think they'd be willing to do all four of my babies?"
Colter leaned close enough that his breath ghosted my cheek. "I think you can talk anyone into anything if you just flash them that sexy grin of yours."
My breath caught again, but this time I managed a wink before responding. "At least you're starting to recognise my charms, Doctor Daddy. Soon I'll be getting you to give me everything I want, too."
Even though my words were brave and sassy, my hand still shook slightly as I picked up the pen and wrote down my bid. I might have gone a bit overboard, but if I won it would make a perfect Christmas gift to myself.
It was a pretty great first date, all in all. We mingled, wandered, sipped on cider and I personally basked in all the light touches being shared. There was something addictive about the small intimacies and I was so there for it. If only we could just get a smidge more intimate.
That's when we stopped near the big tree, admiring the stunning ornaments and the oversized bow on top. Someone brushed past me, laughing, and I looked up.
"Oh," I muttered, my voice doing that breathless thing again.
Colter followed my gaze, then smiled slow and wicked. "Oh, yes."
Mistletoe.
Dangling right above our heads.
Were my hands clammy?
Did my heart skip a beat?
Why on earth was it so hot in here?
"It's tradition," he said softly. His hand came up to tilt my chin, his touch warm and gentle. "But if you really don't want to, we don't have to."
I swallowed hard. My voice cracked embarrassingly. "Oh, I want."
His grin turned even sweeter. "Good."
Then he leaned in, and everything went silent.
No joke.
Like a Christmas movie.
The sounds of the room blurred into soft background noise. I knew everyone carried on with their evening, but all I could focus on was Colter and the feel of his lips against mine.
The kiss was soft, innocent and beyond sweet.
And then I opened my lips on an audible moan, and his tongue delved in, immediately tangling with mine as he pulled me tight against him.
Doctor Daddy was plundering my mouth in the middle of a Christmas fundraiser for needy animals and I couldn't care less.
When he finally pulled back, I let out a strangled moan of protest that had him chuckling as his finger traced the corner of my mouth. "That's one naughty mouth you have there, boy."
I just stared at him in response as I tried to get my brain back online.
"Wanna get out of here?"
My head bobbed up and down like a bobblehead toy.
"Let's sneak out before my mom finds us and tries to steal you away from me."
He grabbed my hand and pulled me out the front door, taking me directly to a big truck, quickly installing me in the front passenger seat, and buckling me in.
The entire way there, I still hadn't managed a single word, and that didn't change, not even when he planted another heavy, wet kiss on me before he climbed into the truck with me.