Chapter 2

2

ELLERY

M y cock had been rock hard from the moment Boaz parked his luscious ass on my lap. He was five foot ten or so of trouble with an on-point flirting game, a sensuality that had me engaged in detailed erotic daydreams about what I wanted to do to him, and a filthy mouth that would make a sailor blush. In other words, he was exactly my type.

I loved his quick-witted banter, his quirky mind, and the way he made crystal clear what he wanted. Me. And while I needed to make sure he knew who was in charge here—hint: it wasn’t him—I had no intention of rejecting him. Sexual partners weren’t easy to find in this town, to begin with, but he also pushed all my hell, yes buttons.

“What brought you to this party?” I asked him. He was the youngest guest by far, so I couldn’t quite figure out the connection.

“One of the grooms is my dad.” He pointed at the man who’d introduced himself as Barrett Robson.

“Gotcha. You okay with this?”

“If ‘this’ refers to him getting married to Hawk, then hell, yes. Hawk’s amazing, and he makes my dad happier than ever. If ‘this’ refers to this party, however, I’m gonna need a lot of alcohol to get me through this. Well, I would’ve until you walked in and brought some much-needed distraction.”

“Glad I could provide you with some necessary entertainment.”

“Are you local?”

“Yes, though new to town. Moved here six months ago.”

“So, what do you do for fun around here besides playing Santa? It’s not exactly a bustling place, is it?”

“Oh, you’d be surprised by the mischief a guy can get into in a small town like this.” I winked at him. “There’s hiking, fishing, and, if you’re desperate, Bingo night at the church. Although I’m told that one should proceed with caution, the stakes can get pretty high.”

“Jesse’s Uncle Desmond is addicted to Bingo. That’s him right there.” Boaz pointed at an older guy chatting with one of the grooms. I’d seen him in town before. “He says it’s the perfect spot to find women.”

I snorted. “I’m sure he’s right.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been into girls. Not even a little bit. Even as a six-year-old, I knew I liked boys. How about you? Are you gay, bi, pan, or something else? I try to keep up with all the terms, but there are so many new ones that I get lost sometimes. A few weeks ago, a friend came out as sapiosexual, which I’d never heard about, but it turns out that’s the name for when you’re attracted to intelligence. Personally, I don’t get it, but power to her. I mean, I like older guys, so I looked up the term for that. It was gerontosexual, but that sounds awful and like I want to fuck an eighty-year-old, so I’m not using that. But other than age, all I care about is whether they know how to use the tool god gave ’em. If you can give me a good dicking, I couldn’t care less if you can hold a riveting conversation. And?—”

“Breathe,” I told him, growing a tad concerned by how long he was talking without taking in oxygen.

He sucked in a breath, then another one. “Sorry.” He ducked his head. “I have ADHD. Makes it hard to shut up sometimes.”

Something soft bloomed in my chest. “Don’t apologize. I like listening to you talk. Your mind fascinates me. I was merely concerned about you passing out from a lack of oxygen.”

A tentative smile tugged at his lips. “Most people find it annoying.”

“Most people are idiots,” I replied matter-of-factly. I grabbed his hips and forced him to sit still. “But you need to stop wriggling that plump little ass of yours against my cock, or we’re gonna have a mess on our hands.”

He grinned. “You mean a mess in your pants.”

“You’d better believe I’d let you clean it up.”

His eyes darkened. “That’s not exactly a deterrent.”

The little minx. “You’re determined to get on that naughty list, aren’t you?”

He bit his lips, his brown eyes all doe-like in pretended innocence. “Maybe I do need a spanking, Santa…”

“Be careful, boy. This Santa does bite…”

He swallowed. “Is that a promise?”

Jesus, I wanted my mouth on him. I also craved his lips around my cock, but that was hardly something I was willing to do in public. People here knew me, and I was already drawing attention by having him sit on my lap for so long.

I leaned close to Boaz’s ear, my breath hot against his skin. “What do you say we find somewhere a little more…private?”

His eyes lit up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Oh, you wanna see how naughty I can be, don’t you? I’m down with that.”

Rising from my lap, Boaz’s lithe form moved with a fluid grace that had my pulse quickening. Thank god for the wide red pants I was wearing that now mercifully hid my sizable erection. I ripped off my gloves, stuffing them in my pockets. I placed my hand on the small of his back, guiding him toward the hallway near the restrooms. The simple touch sent sparks through my fingertips.

As we wove between tables, the din of the bar faded into background noise. All I could focus on was the heat of Boaz’s body beneath my palm and the electric anticipation building between us. My fingers brushed lower, tracing the curve of his spine.

“Trying to cop a feel already?” Boaz teased, glancing over his shoulder with a coy smile.

“Kinda hard not to when it’s right there.”

The moment we rounded the corner into the dimly lit hallway, I spun Boaz around and pressed him against the wall. His gasp of surprise quickly melted into a moan as I captured his lips in a searing kiss.

God, he tasted amazing, like sugar and sweets and desire. My hands roamed over his slender frame, feeling the heat of his skin through his clothes. Boaz’s fingers curled around my neck, tugging me closer as he deepened the kiss.

I nipped at his full bottom lip, reveling in the whimper it drew from him. My beard scraped against his smooth skin as I trailed kisses along his jaw to that sensitive spot below his ear.

“Fuck,” Boaz panted, arching into me.

The urgency and raw need pulsing between us was intoxicating. I pressed my thigh between his legs, feeling his hardness against me. A primal part of me wanted to take him right here. Consequences be damned. But the rest of me knew he deserved better than a quick fuck in a dingy restroom stall.

I pulled back, drinking in the sight of him—flushed cheeks, swollen lips, dark eyes hazy with lust. Christ, he was beautiful.

A sudden shuffling noise behind me snapped me out of my Boaz-induced haze. I whirled around, instinctively shielding Boaz with my body, only to find myself face-to-face with Barrett.

Oh shit.

Barrett’s eyes widened in surprise, darting between Boaz and me. For a moment, tension crackled in the air, and I braced myself for an angry outburst. But then, to my utter amazement, Barrett’s expression softened into an amused grin.

“Well, well,” he drawled, a hint of Texas in his voice. “Looks like you two are havin’ a good time.”

Boaz peeked out from behind me. “Dad! I, uh… We were…”

Barrett chuckled, holding up a hand. “No need to explain. Just remember what I always tell you: have fun, but be safe, all right?”

The knot in my chest loosened. I couldn’t help but admire Barrett’s easy acceptance. It was clear where Boaz got his open-minded nature from.

Barrett’s eyes met mine, assessing, and I gave him a nod as a silent promise that I’d be good to Boaz. After a moment, he nodded, seemingly satisfied with what he saw.

“C’mere, you,” he said, pulling Boaz into a quick hug. As they embraced, I heard him whisper, “I’m happy for you, kiddo. Just use protection, okay?”

“Dad!” Boaz groaned, his face flushing an adorable shade of red. “I’m twenty-nine, not fourteen.”

I couldn’t help but smile, touched by the obvious love between them. It reminded me of how accepting my parents had been when I’d come out.

As Barrett walked away, Boaz and I locked eyes. A spark of mischief danced in those deep brown orbs, mirroring the excitement coursing through my veins.

“Well, that was…interesting,” I chuckled, running a hand through my beard.

Boaz laughed, the sound light and carefree. “Oh my god, I can’t believe my dad caught us making out like teenagers!”

I pulled him closer, my hand resting on the small of his back. The heat of his body against mine sent a thrill through me. I wanted more than a quick hookup. I wanted to take my time with him. “You know, we could continue this somewhere more private. My place isn’t far from here.”

Boaz’s eyes widened, a mix of surprise and eagerness flickering across his face. “Really? I mean, yes! Absolutely yes. Let’s go. Now. Right now.”

His enthusiasm was infectious, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Slow down there, tiger. You don’t even know my name.”

He cocked his head. “You’re saying you’re not the real Santa? Damn.”

I snorted. “My name’s Ellery.”

“Ellery.” He said it as if tasting my name on his tongue. “I like that. Can we go now?”

“What’s the hurry, boy? We’ve got all night.”

“But I don’t want to wait.” Boaz pouted, his full lips tempting me to kiss him again. “Come on, Ellery. Take me home.”

The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine. I glanced around the bar, taking in the bachelor party, which was surprisingly tame and even wholesome. Then I looked back at Boaz, with his tousled curls and eager smile, and made my decision.

“Alright, let’s get out of here,” I said, grabbing his hand. “My truck’s outside.”

The drive to my place was a study in contrasts. Outside, the world was hushed and still, blanketed in fresh snow glittering under the moonlight. Inside the truck, the air crackled with unspoken tension and simmering desire.

I kept my eyes on the winding mountain road but was acutely aware of Boaz beside me. His presence filled the cab, warm and vibrant. Every so often, his knee would brush against mine, sending a jolt through my body.

“So, Ellery.” Boaz broke the silence, a teasing lilt to his voice. “Do you often whisk strangers away to your secret mountain lair?”

I chuckled, stealing a glance at him. His eyes sparkled with mischief in the dim light of the dashboard. “Only the ones who fall into my lap at bars.”

“Lucky me,” he purred, placing a hand on my thigh.

The touch sent heat coursing through me, and I had to force myself to focus on the road. “Careful there,” I warned, my voice husky. “I’d hate to end our night by driving off the mountain.”

Boaz laughed but mercifully removed his hand. “Fair enough. I’ll behave…for now.”

As we climbed higher, the trees grew denser, their snow-laden branches creating a tunnel of white. “It’s beautiful,” Boaz said dreamily. “Like a winter wonderland.”

“It is.”

My home—a humble log cabin halfway up a mountain overlooking Forestville—wasn’t luxurious, but it had everything I needed, including a massive shed where I stored my equipment and could do my projects during the winter.

“That’s your house?” Boaz asked as I pulled into the driveway.

“Yup, that’s home.”

“It’s like a fairytale, which makes you my Prince Charming.”

I rumbled out a laugh. “Not sure charm is my best attribute, boy, but let’s find out.”

As soon as the door closed behind us, I pulled Boaz into my arms, claiming his mouth. His lips parted eagerly, and he kissed me back passionately. My hands roamed over his lean body, feeling the heat of his skin through his clothes.

Boaz moaned into my mouth, his fingers tangling in my hair. My Santa hat had landed on the floor somewhere. “God, Ellery,” he gasped when we broke for air. “You’re driving me crazy.”

I grinned, nipping at his lower lip. “Just getting started, sweetheart.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this level of instant connection, this burning need to explore every inch of someone.

“Fuck,” Boaz breathed, his brown eyes wide and dark with lust. “Where’s your bedroom? I need you. Like yesterday.”

Chuckling at his eagerness, I took his hand. “Follow me.” I led Boaz down the hallway, my thumb tracing circles on his wrist. His pulse raced beneath my touch.

As we entered my bedroom, I turned to face Boaz. His curls were tousled, lips swollen from our kisses. He looked young and vulnerable, yet a fire in his eyes made my breath catch.

“You’re gorgeous,” I murmured, reaching out to cup his face.

Boaz leaned into my touch, a soft smile playing on his lips. “You’re not so bad yourself…even in that ridiculous red suit you’re still wearing.”

I ran my thumb over his full lower lip, feeling a surge of possessiveness. “Take off your clothes for me,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. “Now.”

Boaz’s eyes widened, and I saw a shiver run through him. “Yes, Sir,” he whispered, moving to comply.

I had expected him to rush through it, but he took his time, teasing me with every button of his shirt he opened, every shimmy of his hips as he dragged down his pants. “Turn around,” I said hoarsely once he was naked.

Goddamn, he was beautiful. Creamy skin, a peachy ass, the prettiest cock I’d ever seen, and not a hair on his body.

“Oops,” Boaz said. “I think I dropped something.”

He bent over, and I groaned as he offered me a prime view of his ass…and that pink hole between his cheeks. When he came up, he did a little snap, and I snorted out a laugh. “The bend-and-snap? Really?”

He shrugged. “It has a ninety-eight percent success rate of getting a man’s attention…and when used appropriately, an eighty-three percent rate of return on a dinner invitation. Elle Woods knew what she was talking about.”

“Well, you certainly have my attention, boy.”

Calling him boy came naturally, but I’d watched him closely, and he liked it when I did that. It seemed Boaz appreciated a bit of domination. Just when I thought he couldn’t possibly become more appealing…

“How about you undress me now?” I asked him, and he stepped up eagerly.

He took a lot less time with me than he’d done for himself, peeling me out of the red suit in no time. When he dragged down my boxer briefs, my cock slapped against my stomach, and he gasped.

“You’re big.”

Grinning, I tugged my cock. “And even better, I know how to use it.”

He licked his lips. “It seems Santa is making all my wishes come true this year, so maybe I’ve been a good boy after all.”

I felt a primal urge rising within me. I wanted to claim him, to mark him as mine. But more than that, I wanted to take care of him, show him pleasure like he’d never known before.

“You are a good boy,” I praised, caressing his cheek. “Now, get on the bed, boy, and let’s find out what sounds I can get you to make.”