Deck the Halls (Oakley’s Crew)

Chapter 1

TRAVIS

“Okay, put this down.” I’m already rolling my eyes before I even feel Oakley’s big hands removing my laptop from my lap.

“I can’t. I have to get this done.” And I do.

I have a lot of work to do this morning.

Mostly just setting up a couple of jobs.

It’s winter, so it’s slow but not totally dead at work.

“Mrs. Sawyer is having a large New Year’s party this year.

She needs us to make sure her driveway will be totally clear for the party and wants us to clean the dead flowers from the bed in front of her house.

Can’t have dead flowers, son. That just won’t do.

What would my guests think?” I say in my best Mrs. Sawyer impression.

I’m gripping my laptop hard between my fingers, not letting it go.

Listen, I love the hell out of my husband.

Didn’t see that coming when we were just two guys growing up in Kensley together, but I do love him.

And he’s a hardworking man, that’s for sure.

But the business side of landscaping—not really his thing.

“Guess I’m on call for New Years Eve.” He’s not complaining though. He has a big smile on his face right now. Oakley likes to be hands-on, but it takes a lot more to run our company than that. And that part, I’m in charge of.

“What are the odds it actually snows,” I wonder, and he chuckles and then tries to pull the laptop again, but I hold on for dear life.

“It’s Christmas,” he pouts—and goddammit, I hate how adorable he looks when he pouts. My big, muscle-y, gorgeous husband is way too adorable with his bottom lip pushed out like that and his big eyes begging me.

“It’s Christmas Eve.” He huffs and tugs at the laptop, this time successfully removing it from between my fingers when I hear how ridiculous I’m being. “The party is tonight.”

“It is. And I have a lot to do for that too.” He places the laptop onto the table next to me, and then his body blankets mine.

I’m still in my pajama pants, my hair all mussed up, and I haven’t even had a chance to brush my teeth yet.

But Oakley is fully dressed, his hair brushed but still sticking up in places because I’m guessing he had his stocking cap on at one point this morning, and his breath is minty fresh.

“You were outside already, weren’t you?” I ask with a smile as his lips brush my jaw. When he nods his head, I feel the curve of his lips as he smiles.

“I was getting the firepit ready for tonight.”

I shake my head at him, but I can’t remove the goofy smile he always puts on my face. Truthfully, I don’t really try all that hard not to smile. Oakley makes me happy. It’s just a fact. I’m ridiculously in love with my husband.

I smooth my hands down his back over the soft T-shirt he’s wearing and feel the coolness of it. “It’s cold outside today, isn’t it? Are you sure we should make everyone go outside?”

He pushes up on his arms and looks down at me, his face reflecting the horror he so obviously feels that I’d even question it, which makes me chuckle. “We have to go outside. Cider and cocoa around the firepit.”

“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” I shake my head fondly. He loves Christmas, and he loves throwing a big party for all our employees. I do too. Without them, we wouldn’t make it. They are what keeps our business thriving, and we owe it to them to do special things when we can.

“I do. Come on.” He jumps up and then reaches for my hand. “Grab your coat.”

I let him pull me up from the bed, but I grumble a little because I was cozy, and now I have to go outside in the winter hell. Not my favorite. “Don’t tell me there’s a meteor shower,” I mumble when he hands me my coat.

“I wish,” he declares emphatically as I tug my coat on over my bare skin and zip it up. Oakley isn’t satisfied though. He reaches into my pockets and pulls my gloves out, handing them to me while he grabs two stocking caps from his pocket, pulling one on over my head and another over his.

I tug my gloves on, and he grabs his coat before pulling me through the house and then out to the backyard.

I smile when I see he’s decorated a few of our trees with lights and has all the chairs perfectly situated around the firepit.

There’s no snow on the ground, but it’s cold as hell, and I tug my hat down a little more as I follow him out to the picnic table near the firepit.

He’s draped a tablecloth with Santa on it on the table and has already set out several cups and cocoa packets, along with lots of toppings and peppermint spoons.

He’s thought of everything. “Hot cocoa bar. I saw it on Pinterest,” he says, and I wrap my arms around his neck.

“You’re a good boss.”

“Yeah?” He looks proud of himself. “So are you.” He kisses my cold nose. “Did you get the cash out, by the way?”

I chuckle, my arms still wrapped around his neck.

“Yes. And the holiday-themed cash envelopes.” He’s adamant that we give the bonuses in cash every year.

“Though it would have been a hell of a lot easier to just direct deposit the money into their accounts.” I have to tease him, but of course his head is already shaking like crazy.

“No. No. No. My guys are cash guys. It feels good to hold it in your hand and know how much you earned.”

I grin, fucking with him some more because I can. “They told me they like it in their bank accounts. They’re card swipers.”

He grasps his heart with his hand in mock shock. “You lie.”

I laugh. “I do.”

“So everything’s ready for the party then?” He nuzzles my neck and then wraps his big arms around my waist, pulling me into him, and I know exactly what he’s thinking.

I shake my head in argument. “Not even close. I have to clean the house and call the barbecue place to make sure our order is correct.” He slowly moves his lips over my neck, kissing softly and making me whimper ever so slightly.

He hits that spot that drives me totally insane, the asshole.

My head tips back against my will, giving him better access.

“And I need to make sure to wrap Amber’s presents.

I can’t leave the wrapping to you. Sorry.

I love you, but your wrapping skills need some work . . .”

I feel the curve of his smile against my neck. “Uh-huh.” He kisses my neck some more and then moves his lips up to mine, and I’m a goner. His kiss never ceases to shut my thoughts down.

We make our way into the house and back to our room where we strip down and climb under the hot spray of our large shower, his big body blanketing mine as the water pours over us.

My skin is cold and prickles under the warm water, and I can feel his hard cock poking against my back, sliding down between my cheeks.

“Not wasting any time, huh?” I tease, but I’m already arching my back and pushing against him, seeking him out.

Always wanting his touch.

“You said we have a lot to do today.”

“We do,” I say, reaching up to grab the lube we keep in here and dropping it in his hand before placing both of my palms flat against the shower wall.

It’s something we’ve done often, but it still somehow feels familiar yet so new, all at the same time.

My heart pounds in anticipation as he slides a slick finger down my crease, then teases my hole.

A whimper falls from my lips as he presses inside with amazing accuracy.

He knows my body. He plays me expertly, one finger and then two before slicking up his hard cock and pushing inside me.

I groan and push back against him, letting him fill me and relishing in the feeling of being stretched and filled by my husband. I want it to last, but my body is already worked up and ready. It’s always ready for him.

I wrap a soapy hand around my stiff shaft and stroke as I reach behind me and grab his neck with my other hand, pulling him in for a sloppy kiss as he owns me. Thrusting in and out of me, over and over. Stroking my prostate and making my balls pull tight against my body, full and ready to explode.

“Just like that,” I direct though he needs no direction.

My entire body goes rigid as he nails my prostate, and I cry out, hot cum spraying from my cock against the shower.

I stroke myself through it and clench tightly around his hard cock, my head falling forward and resting against the cool marble of the shower wall when I feel his release coat my insides.

Even when we’re both spent and his cock softens and slips from my body, he wraps his big arms around me and holds me tight.

He kisses my neck and tells me how goddamn beautiful I am.

But soon enough, we wash each other and rinse off, climbing out of the shower to dry off and get dressed for the day.

“The party is going to be great. Don’t worry.”

I pull on my shoes, sitting on the bed and then gasp. “I forgot the cider. Oh shit. Do you think they’re still open?” I can’t believe I forgot the cider. He made an elaborate hot cocoa bar, and I forgot to pick up a simple jug of cider.

“Stop,” he says softly, his hands reaching for mine as he slowly guides me up to my feet. “We’ll go check.”

“Oakley, I’m sorry.”

He laughs because not much bothers him, but I’m really upset. He has traditions. Traditions I may tease him about but secretly love. This party is important to him. I knew that, and I forgot the damn cider.

He cups my face in his hands, gently tilting it up for me to look into his sparkling eyes. “It’s cider. We’ll be okay, but I’m sure the store is still open at least until noon. So let’s go.”

I huff reluctantly, hating that I messed it up, but Oakley is unbothered as he grabs his keys and pulls me with him out the front door. I lock up but then stop when I hear him open up the rusty old truck door that squeaks and let out a startled laugh. “What did you do?”

He looks happy as hell, all bright and shiny and definitely proud of himself. “It’s Christmas.”

“Eve,” I have to say, and I look at his truck—the first love of his life—and my shoulders shake with the laugh that falls from my lips.

He has a wreath on the front of his rusty old beater.

But that’s not all. He also has a fully decorated Christmas tree in the truck bed.

“Oakley, are we really driving this to the store?”

I ask it, but I’m already climbing into his truck as he starts the engine. “Of course.”

He’s ridiculous. Beyond ridiculous.

But I wouldn’t change a thing about the man.

Not. One. Thing.

Bring it on.