Chapter Six
Nicky
‘Santa Claus is coming to town! Santa Claus is coming to town!’
“Make it stop! Make it stop!” Liam screeched.
Nicky moved back in front of the four-foot Santa in the corner, reactivating the motion sensor and making it sing out again.
Liam ran over to the couch and buried his face in the cushion. “Creepy!” he cried.
Cackling, Nicky turned and danced his way to the other side of the couch where Law was sipping a glass of eggnog.
Law lifted a brow. “Why are you torturing your best friend?”
“He’s being a baby!” Nicky complained. Since it didn’t appear that his Daddy was going to take his side, Nicky spun to Josh where he sat in a chair close to the fireplace, beaming. “Awesome prezzie!”
Josh had gifted Nicky the dancing, singing Santa. It was the first time that Nicky had met the youngest member of Law’s old unit, but Nicky already liked him.
“I’m glad you like it,” Josh replied. He glanced over to where Liam was still whining about creepy Santas. “I just didn’t realize that Liam hated Santa.”
That got Liam’s attention. He lifted his head, his face red and drenched in sweat, to scowl at Josh. “I don’t hate Santa!” Liam practically yelled.
“Boy!” Jude entered the living room while wiping his hands on a towel. “I can hear your screaming in the kitchen.”
“Daddy!” Liam said with a dramatic flair. “Nicky is being mean.”
Nicky widened his eyes as he shook his head innocently. “I would never!”
Jude smirked at him.
“I wouldn’t!” Nicky stomped his foot. “I good baby!”
“Brat,” Liam muttered.
Oh! Nicky couldn’t let his best friend get away with that. He turned slowly with evil intent on his face.
“No!” Liam pointed at him.
Nicky took a step forward.
“No!” Liam said again as he scrambled back a few more feet.
Perfect. His bestie was going right where Nicky wanted him. Instead of darting directly at Liam like his bestie probably expected, Nicky moved to the side. Liam moved in the opposite direction.
For every step forward Nicky made, Liam took one back.
Just about perfect.
Nicky grinned, making sure that Liam caught the absolute menacing look on his face before hopping forward.
Liam scrambled back, right into the path of the motion detector attached to the Santa.
Santa belted out the song.
Liam screamed.
And Nicky nearly pissed himself laughing so hard. He staggered over to Law’s side of the couch and was pulled close until he was sitting on Law’s knee.
“That wasn’t nice at all,” Law admonished, but there was laughter in his voice.
Jude had run over and picked Liam up while soothing him.
Turning, Nicky turned his face into Law’s neck to hide a yawn.
Christmas Eve had gone off without a hitch.
Actually, everything had gone better than Nicky could have ever done on his own.
The real celebration would be the next day, when the rest of their group arrived.
This smaller get-together was just him, Law, Jude, Liam, and Josh.
Dinner had been delicious, they’d gotten to open one present, and played games for hours.
Nicky might have cheated just a little when they’d allowed him to be the banker, against Liam’s warning, and he had totally won Monopoly.
If this was what the holidays would be like, then Nicky looked forward to many more in the future. With Law with him, of course. It had only been a couple weeks since they’d started dating but Nicky was falling fast for the man that treated him like he was something precious.
Law rubbed up and down his back. “It’s almost midnight. Are you about ready for bed?”
Nicky lifted his head. “But we still have to put out milk and cookies for Santa.” Law had made the sugar cookies earlier that day and once they cooled, Nicky and Liam had decorated them.
It was the most fun that Nicky had ever had in the kitchen.
Of course, that wouldn’t be true if Law would let Nicky eat food off his naked chest like Nicky had tried to talk him into.
“Let’s get Santa’s snacks set out then.” Law groaned. “I’m getting too old to stay up this late.”
Nicky giggled. “But it’s ’bout to be Christmas, Daddy!”
“Not if you don’t get to sleep,” Law warned.
“That’s right,” Josh said as he also rose and stretched his arms over his head. “Santa doesn’t come until everyone is asleep in the house.”
Nicky rolled his eyes. That was a ridiculous rule.
“What about the reindeer?” Liam asked quietly. “They’re the ones working hard. Do they get cookies?”
That was a good question. Nicky bounced. “Carrots! We can leave them carrots.” That was a wonderful idea.
But Liam shook his head. “What if Santa doesn’t take them the carrots.”
“I am not putting carrots on the roof,” Jude said firmly. “I’d probably break my neck.”
Liam sniffled. “But, Daddy—”
“How about on the front walk where the reindeer can see them as they fly over,” Josh suggested.
Liam clapped.
Nicky nodded his agreement. “Good idea, Unc Josh.”
Josh’s eyes shone as he looked over at Nicky. He seemed so pleased with the pet name that Nicky thought he might start crying. He walked over and kissed Nicky’s forehead before turning and holding his arms out for Liam.
Liam jumped from his Daddy’s arms to Josh’s.
Josh easily caught Liam then held his hand out for Nicky. “Let’s find some reindeer food.”
Nicky threaded his fingers with Josh’s and tugged him from the room.
Josh might not have a boy of his own, but Nicky and Liam could make sure that they gave him the best uncle treatment. And if Nicky came across a little that was looking for a Daddy, then maybe they could add another friend to their group.
It didn’t take long to leave a long line of carrots out the front door and across the sidewalk. Okay, maybe it didn’t take long since it was freezing. They weren’t exactly dressed for the cold in the matching pajamas Nicky had bought for him and Liam.
Inside, Nicky bounced, trying to warm up.
Law wrapped a blanket around his shoulders before hugging him tight. “Cookies and milk then bed.”
Nicky wasn’t able to hide his next yawn.
They decided to leave the gas fireplace in the living room on low for some ambiance or so Santa could see, as Liam demanded. Nicky and Liam stood in front of the small table now holding the special treats as the fireplace crackled.
Christmas Eve had been perfect.
It would have been enough to have his best friend by his side. Even just having Liam and Jude would have been amazing. But Law was there. The Daddy that Nicky had spent decades asking Santa for. And Josh. A new but important friend.
Family.
Nicky wasn’t big on claiming people as his family.
Not when his birth mother and father, the people who should have loved him more than anything, had disappointed Nicky time and again.
But these people. Yeah, they were his family. His people. Nicky was no longer alone.
“I love you,” Nicky whispered.
“We love you too,” Liam replied just as quietly.
He sniffed. Not that Nicky wanted to cry. No, he was just so happy. He turned and kissed Liam’s cheek. “Night, bestie.”
Liam tucked himself against Nicky. “Good night. Merry Christmas Eve.”
“Merry Christmas Eve,” Nicky repeated. “The best Christmas Eve ever!”
“Cuz your Daddy spoils you,” Liam claimed.
“Like yours doesn’t,” Nicky replied, unimpressed. Liam hadn’t stopped teasing since Nicky had told him that he and Law were dating now. His bestie tried to take credit for them getting together, but Nicky wouldn’t allow that.
No. It had been him and Law. They had put everything on the line, taken one more chance on finding what they wanted, and were rewarded with something special. Nearly magical in the holiday season.
Nicky walked Liam over to where Jude, Law, and Josh stood at the threshold of the room. He passed his best friend to Jude before holding his arms up.
“Up?” Law asked with amusement.
“Uppies, Daddy!”
He received a soft kiss before being lifted. Law carried him up the stairs as Josh announced that he’d make sure the house was locked up. Nicky didn’t bother telling Josh that he was dating a security specialist. The house couldn’t get any more secure.
It was a Daddy thing after all. Always wanting to make sure that his boy was safe. Seemed it was an Uncle thing too.
“Night, Unc Josh,” Nicky called over Law’s shoulder.
“Night, Uncle Josh,” Liam parroted.
“Good night, sweet boys. Sleep tight,’ Josh returned.
Oh, Nicky would sleep tight. It turned out his Daddy was a cuddler. When they shared a bed, Nicky was held all night long. It was almost like Law was afraid Nicky would disappear during the night. Like it was possible that Nicky would go anywhere without his Daddy.
They made it to the second floor. Law continued to the primary bedroom as Jude turned to carry Liam into the first guest bedroom.
And yes, Nicky had put his bestie as far from his room since Nicky totally planned to get some of his Daddy’s delicious cock before going to sleep. He did not want that to be something that Liam could overhear. The teasing would never end.
Inside the master bedroom, Law shut and locked the door.
Nicky cocked his head to the side as he stared at the lock.
Law snorted. “Do you want to see if Liam runs in here as soon as he wakes up?”
That was something his bestie would totally do. Nicky kissed Law’s cheek. “Good idea, Daddy.”
“I thought so,” Law declared. He strolled to the bed and pulled the blanket down. Of course, Nicky had also made sure that their bedding was perfect for the holiday. Although he’d gone with colorful Christmas lights on the sheets since they were the funnest.
He attempted to pull Law down with him, but Daddy managed to slip out of his arms. “Daddy!”
Law grinned. “Did you think we were done for the night?” His eyes twinkled.
Oh! Daddy had plans. Hopefully naughty plans, although Nicky would have been fine seducing his man. This was better though. “No?” Nicky replied, making it sound like a question when he really wanted to show his excitement.