Chapter Four #2
With all the bags inside, Saint focused on Clover. “Why don’t you go ahead and do what you need to do to get ready to be in for the night. I’ll put all this up.”
Clover huffed. “First you paid and now you also want to do all the work?”
Saint kept his expression blank. “Do you know where any of this goes?”
Clover chewed his bottom lip for a second. Then he brightened. “I could unpack all the decorations.”
“Absolutely not. We’re supposed to do that together.”
At his reminder, Clover’s hands rose and fell. “All right, then. I’ll try to take a quicker shower than usual.”
Saint shook his head. “Don’t rush. I have to get my pajamas on too, so we can do this right. So take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
Clover looked resigned, but he nodded and headed down the hall.
Saint nearly sighed in relief. He had a lot of secret stuff to do and very little time to do it.
Saint put up groceries at the speed of light before he rushed to the bedroom to change.
The shower still ran in Clover’s room, so he threw a batch of marshmallow-topped hot chocolate together.
While that heated, he hid the gift he had bought on the sly.
He slipped it into his halfway packed suitcase so he wouldn’t forget it.
Saint was back in time to stir the cocoa and pour two mugs.
With precision timing, Clover padded into the kitchen, wearing some sort of one-piece Christmas pajamas.
It had little footies and zipped in the front.
There was barely any skin showing and Saint was still more aroused than he could recall ever being.
He was glad he wore a long shirt. No way were his thin pajama pants hiding his erection.
The shirt probably wasn’t doing much either.
“You’re adorable.”
Clover didn’t blush like he had a tendency to do. He boldly held Saint’s stare. His expression gave nothing away. “I could say the same of you, but I’m afraid you wouldn’t appreciate it.”
The claim surprised a laugh from Saint. “Why wouldn’t I appreciate it?”
Clover’s smile made an appearance. “Your manly image might be hurt by getting called adorable.”
Saint shook his head and passed Clover his cup of hot chocolate. “I guess we should get this tree set up.”
Clover didn’t look bothered by Saint skimming over his compliment.
Saint still wasn’t certain this was the best idea.
He grew closer to Clover every minute they were together.
Saint felt like he had a new best friend.
A best friend he wanted to fuck… who also worked for him.
An aggravated growl ran through Saint’s head.
He couldn’t help how he felt. There was no stopping the march of his heart toward Clover.
Clover followed on his heels to the living room. “The tree we picked is pretty big. Where should we put it?”
Saint eyed the room. He motioned toward the window. “I can move that chest from underneath the window to the corner. Then that would give us the perfect spot. You know, like it looks on Christmas cards. Lights peeking through a fogged-up window as snow falls outside. That kind of thing.”
Clover stared at him in a way he couldn’t decipher. “You’re really getting to this, huh?”
He was because Clover was there. Clover’s joy for the holiday was catching. Plus, for the first time, he felt like he had someone to share Christmas with. He wasn’t alone.
“I promised I’d give this a real shot.”
Clover took a drink. “Holy shit. That’s delicious.” He set the cup aside. “You move the chest. I’ll open the box.”
“Sounds good.” Saint passed him the pocketknife he had held on to for just this purpose after changing.
Together, they got to work. They worked so seamlessly together, it was like they had done this every year for years.
He didn’t remember half of what they talked about.
It was mostly chatting about their lives and laughing.
So much laughing. That was the one thing Saint couldn’t get past. He wanted this to be his life.
He was too old to join the dating world.
The last thing Saint wanted to do was try to keep up with some club hopper who would want an open relationship.
Saint just wanted this. A comfortable life with someone who made everything brighter. Something real and built on friendship.
“Well. There’s nothing left but the mistletoe.” Clover turned in a circle. “Where should we hang it?”
There was already a small hook where he used to have a hanging plant. Instead of answering, Saint lifted Clover over his head.
A loud laugh burst from Clover. It died when he obviously spotted the hook. “Oh. That’s perfect.”
Saint couldn’t think. He hadn’t really considered his actions until he realized how close Clover’s dick was to his face. It got a little harder to breathe.
“There.”
Saint slowly lowered Clover, letting his body slide down Saint’s body. The air in the room changed. When Clover was on his feet, his arms were still around Saint’s neck. They didn’t look away from each other.
Saint broke first. “Someone needs to break it in.” He didn’t think.
Saint touched his lips to Clover’s. He honestly thought if he ever threw away all good sense and did this, he would probably end up ripping off Clover’s clothes.
Instead, the kiss was slow and sexy. Saint held Clover like he was every bit as precious as he was.
They equally kept their hands respectful.
Saint still lost his entire soul. By the time Saint pulled away, he couldn’t catch his breath, and his dick was beyond hard.
It was begging. Clover didn’t open his eyes right away, nor did he step out of Saint’s hold.
When his eyes opened, he looked sultry and kind of like he was lost in the passion.
“I think the mistletoe works.”
Saint smiled so hard, his face hurt at Clover’s claim. “It seems so.”
Clover visibly swallowed. “I guess I should get to bed.”
Saint nodded. “That’s probably for the best.”
Even though it killed him, Saint let his arms drop. They shared another longing glance before Clover walked away.