Chapter 1 Early December #3
“Noah’s made such a go of the business. We couldn’t have done that anywhere else.”
She patted my cheek. “I’m certain you could have. But you didn’t have to, and that’s all that matters.”
Malcolm appeared in his winter coat. “Thanks for inviting me.” He extended an arm to Miss Esmeralda. “I believe Soren will be here momentarily. Why don’t we meet him?”
“Yes, that will do.” She turned her cheek to me.
I kissed it. And blinked several times. She was the parental figure I might’ve always wished for.
My parents weren’t bad people. But, as expected, when I admitted I was gay, things had gone off the rails.
Not badly per se…but enough they didn’t come to my wedding or to visit.
And I’d yet to make the cross-country trek.
Nope. Noah and I had truly started over.
Miss Esmeralda and Malcolm left.
Duncan and Haggis were the last of the stragglers. He gave me an unexpected hug. “Thanks for this. Got us out of the house.”
My curiosity was piqued—but I wasn’t going to pry. “You’re welcome anytime. Sable and River adore Haggis. Stormy still likes to put her in her place, though.”
Duncan chuckled. “Sometime she needs to be reminded of the pecking order. Speaking of…”
“Our three are tucked away in the cat room. None would make a run for it. Well, we’d hope. Better safe than sorry. I’ll run them out after everyone’s gone.”
“Thanks, Christian. You’re a good man.” With that, Duncan left.
Noah came in from outside, dusting snow off his sweatshirt.
“What were you doing?”
He shut the door. “Ensuring Flora got safely to her minivan. Saying goodnight to Esmeralda. Nice of Malcolm to drive her home. Oh, did you see Sam leave? Was he uncomfortable with so many people? I figured with him working retail that the group here wouldn’t send him running for the hills.”
I cleared my throat. “No clue. He was talking to Soren in the front hall and then…just gone. Never even said goodbye.”
“Okay.” He headed toward the living room. “Not as chaotic as I thought.”
I laughed. “No. Not hardly. Hopefully no nuggets for us to find when we’re cleaning tomorrow.”
“I thought we’d clean tonight.”
“Oh.” I attempted to summon energy and enthusiasm.
He pulled me close and kissed my cheek. “You take care of our menagerie, and I’ll do as much as I can. Less to tackle in the morning.”
I yawned. “I’m off again tomorrow.”
“That’s good. Thank Dillon for me.”
“He sent the fruit and veggie platters.”
“Your boss is a good man.”
“The best.” I leaned in. “Although not as good as you.”
He grinned. “Be quick. I have plans for you.”
My cock stirred—even as I yawned again. “Empathetic yawner. I blame Flora for this.”
“Well, I have to say Sleepy has truly lived up to her name.”
“I know, right? That dog barely roused for a treat.”
“Malcolm says she’s perfectly healthy—just happier asleep all the time.”
“What did you think about Flora being pregnant again?”
He met my gaze. “That it’s something we might consider talking about.”
I held up my hand. “I’m not the one who’s getting pregnant. That’s a step too far.”
He burst out laughing. “Yes, even if men could get pregnant, I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”
“But you would?” I narrowed my gaze.
“Never say never. I know I can’t—but I’d still like us to consider kids. But hey, we’re twenty-six. We have time to decide if that’s the right option for us. Now, I’m having some human desserts while I clean up.”
“You must be starving. Let me make—”
He put his index finger to my lips. “Finger food is fine. You take care of the pooches and kitties and I’ll clean, then I’ll meet you in the bedroom in half an hour.” Then he pressed a kiss to my lips and pivoted to start collecting the empty glasses and plates.
With more energy than I thought I possessed, I headed upstairs.
Running the dogs out took little time. They’d all done everything earlier and none was interested in playing in the snow.
Well, Stormy would have—likely—but she probably sensed my desire to get inside and naked as soon as possible.
I provided them with bones Noah had brought in from his SUV. They all grinned and headed toward their beds. We’d lined the three beds up against the wall, figuring each would want their space.
Nope.
Stormy slept in the middle—often with Sable curled against her on one side and River on the other.
Jasmine and Snowy attacked their food with gusto as I changed the litter.
They had free rein in the house, but often preferred their perches in the pet room.
Sometimes Sable and River had a little too much enthusiasm and energy for them, what with them being middle-aged cats.
Healthy, Malcolm assured me. But definitely middle age.
“Okay, so everyone’s going to behave tonight, right?” I eyed each creature in what we lovingly termed our menagerie—all five rescues.
I could’ve sworn Stormy rolled her eyes and River snickered.
Well, good enough.
I headed toward the bathroom. I stripped, pissed, washed my hands, and brushed my teeth. Feeling vaguely human—although still a little on the tired side—I headed to our bedroom.
To find Noah on the bed—buck naked—and stroking himself.
I arched an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
He shrugged. “I think Soren or Malcolm had put away most of the food already. I ate, put the dishes in the dishwasher, turned it on, and headed up here. We have two bathrooms and—” He ran his hand from his cock, up his magnificent chest, all the way to his cheek.
“You didn’t shave.”
“No way. You’re tired. I want to take care of you.” He patted the bed next to me.
I eased myself in next to him.
He pulled up the covers. “Chilly night.”
“If it’s cold enough to snow, then I’m going to venture that it is, in fact, a cold night.” I grinned. “Kiss me?”
“With pleasure.” He lay on his side, and he moved in for a kiss.
Where I expected carnal and deep, he chose light and passion-filled. Tender and gentle. Our lips touched over and over again. I pulled back. “You’re teasing me.”
“You said you were tired.”
“Not that tired. I’d say I’m never too tired.”
“Well…we say that at this age. As we get older—”
“Let’s deal with older when we get there. For now—” I grasped the back of his head and yanked him in for a kiss. I was accustomed to his tightly curled hair as I grasped for purchase in it.
He rumbled his approval as I stuck my tongue into his mouth. Our tongues twined as we fought for dominance. He might always be the top—but I gave as good as I got.
After a moment, he shifted so he lay over me. His rock-hard cock brushed mine. “Need you.” He ground out the words.
“You’ll always have me. Uh…lube…?”
He chuckled as he rolled off me and reached for the nightstand.
I shifted to the center of the bed, put a pillow behind my head, and spread my legs. Gently, I moved my very erect cock and soft balls out of his way. He loved prepping me, so doing this felt as natural as breathing.
He crawled between my thighs. “Oh, baby. I’ll never get tired of this view.”
“Well, good thing you’ll never have to.” I held his gaze, even as he slathered lube onto his fingers.
He cocked his head.
I nodded eagerly.
He circled my rim and then slowly sank one finger inside me.
We’d done this well over a hundred times since we’d become lovers.
The transition from friends to lovers hadn’t been an easy one.
Nope, a bit of a rocky road. But thanks to well-intentioned friends—Soren and Malcolm in particular—and nosy parental figures, yes, Miss Esmeralda, we’d found or way to each other.
Marriage had been a natural next stage in the evolution of our love for each other.
He added a second finger.
I grinned.
Then he angled his wrist in just that right way and, yep, stroked my prostate.
A drop of precum appeared on my tip.
He licked it.
I moaned.
He withdrew his fingers, slathered his cock, and positioned himself over me.
In response, I pressed my palm against his cheek.
As our gazes clashed, he eased himself inside me.
A bit of a burn, a flash of discomfort, and then he was inside me. Where he’s meant to be. Always. After I’d adjusted, I nodded.
Understanding what that meant, he began to work himself in deeper. When he was seated, he grinned.
“Oh yeah, sweetheart. Give it all you’ve got.”
He rolled his eyes. “I thought you were tired.”
“Well, you’re doing all the work. I’m just going to lie back and enjoy myself.” Something he’d say to me on days when I came home exhausted from the grocery store. Something I’d said to him once or twice when his training sessions had run long.
He chuckled. “I really love you.”
“I feel the same. Truly. Now, fuck me already.” My body, already acclimated to him, was begging for more.
He withdrew, then thrust back in.
The smile that came to my face was the same one I used all the time. I’m in love with my best friend. He loves me back. Life is perfect.
Over and over, he thrust into me. He drove me higher and higher, even as he pressed me against the headboard. “Jerk yourself, okay?”
“Happy to.” Said through gritted teeth. I grasped my cock and jerked to the demanding rhythm he set. He snapped his hips as he drove into me. He forced me to chase my orgasm—just as he chased his.
As he nailed my prostate again and again, my balls drew up. As I stiffened, I managed to warn, “I’m coming.”
“Thank fuck.” He continued his assault on my senses, even as I spurted cum all over my hand, his chest, my belly, and a few other spots. My vision grayed as the pleasure overtook me. He knew how to play me and, as I soared high above the earth, my heart swelled with both love and joy.
He thrust three more times before holding himself still. His dark-brown eyes pierced my soul as he came.
I’d never felt more connected.
Yeah. I did good today.
He collapsed on me. I wrapped my arms around him, even as he squished my deflated cock. His slid from me with a little pop. “God, that was…”
“Uh-huh.”
“And you…”
I grinned against his shoulder. “Yes, I’d say so.” Amusement laced my tone.
“I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of this.”
“Duh. If you did, Miss Esmeralda will kick your ass.”
“I’m so glad you invited her. She…I…well, I owe her everything. Not just the house.” He sighed. “But that she talked you into taking your head out of your ass.”
This time, I chuckled. “If you weren’t so blind to my feelings toward you—”
“You hid them well.”
“If you say so.” Even though he couldn’t see, I rolled my eyes.
“I’m glad Malcolm and Soren have become good friends.”
“Yes. Absolutely true. I mean, they even stood up for us at our wedding.”
“Am I crushing you?”
He was slighter than I was, but had definite muscles these days with all the physical exercise in his dog-training business.
Although I was no slouch—what with hauling boxes around all day.
My job was mostly stocking shelves. That said, I covered the cash register whenever needed.
Every once in a while, I’d eye something Dillon was doing with the finances and, because of my business background, consider stepping in.
Then I’d remind myself that wasn’t why he’d hired me.
Plus, I handled all the finances and marketing for Noah’s business. That kept me plenty busy.
Slowly, he eased off of me
The drying cum pulled at my skin.
He laughed. “Let me get a cloth.”
I wasn’t going to argue.
By the time he had me wiped down, had coaxed me into rolling onto my side, and slid in behind me, I’d yawned another three times.
He pressed a kiss to my shoulder. “Best present ever.”
“A special night.”
“We should do this every year.”
I yelped.
He laughed. “I promise to help you organize it. I loved that almost everyone came.”
“Those who couldn’t sent their respects. My God, can you imagine if Bruiser, Smudge, and Pepsi had been here?”
“Chaos?” His stomach shook against my back as he laughed. “Sleep now, my love. Lots to do before Christmas.”
“Yes. That.” One more yawn, and I was gone.