Dec the Halls

by Gianni Holmes

  Declan’s neighborhood was too posh and elegant for things such as caroling. The homes had all been professionally decorated in a minimalist way that made my heart bleed. Whatever happened to multicolored lights and a big sleigh perched on top of the roof?

  “You could just ring the bell or hit the triangle,” I said with a grin.

  “Not gonna happen. Why do you go to the school play anyway? Is there another little Owen running around I don’t know about?”

  I chuckled and huddled into him despite the heater of the car being on. Everything just felt so much better when I was stuck to him like glue.

  “No, no more little Owens.” I laughed. “Unless this has turned into an omegaverse, and you’re going to knock me up.”

  Declan shook his head at me. “I still don’t get Mpreg and your obsession with it.”

  “It’s the fantasy. One of these days I’m going to have you listen to one. How about that?”

  “Nope, I’ll take your word for it that butt babies are fun. Just sounds a helluva lot painful to me.”

  He gave a mock shudder that made me laugh, and for the rest of the drive to the tree farm, we enjoyed bantering about my reading taste and his nonexistent one. By the time we got to our destination, I was already having fun with him.

  “Here, let me.”

  Before I could put on my gloves, Declan took them from me and kissed my bare knuckles before slipping the gloves on. When he was done, he tugged me forward for a kiss that left me breathless. I was still gasping for air when he got out of the car, held a hand out, and helped me out.

  Picking out a tree was a lot of fun, even if Declan couldn’t get why not just any tree would do. We walked around, checking out the potentials.

  “It’s big enough and would fit in the living room.” He pointed at another perfectly nice tree, but it just didn’t feel right.

  I shook my head. “When we find it, we’ll know,” I told him, grateful he had insisted I put my coat on. The temperature had dropped, and the wind nipped at my cheeks.

  “Come on, Owen, what kind of answer is that?” he asked, trailing behind me as I moved on to the next lot. “Give me a little bit more of a hint so I’ll know what to look for.”

  “I don’t know how to explain it.” I swung the ax in my hand. “Every Christmas, Auggie, Oscar, Summer, and I would all pile into my truck, and we would head over here. Sometimes it took us more than an hour to find the perfect tree, but we always did. I want us to find our tree, Dec.”

  “Hmm, maybe I have one for you right here.”

  Declan pulled me forward, and I dropped the ax as I collided with him. His hand gripped mine, and he placed it over his crotch. I glanced up at him with wide eyes. He was hard.

  “Do you know how incredibly sexy those jeans make your ass look?” He pressed my hand a little tighter on his erection. “I’ve been tempted so many times to fuck you right here against one of those pine trees.”

  “Umm, that doesn’t sound comfortable,” I said and swallowed hard.

  “Yeah, that’s the only thing that stopped me.”

  An idea formed in my mind. “You know, they don’t only have pine trees here.”

  “They don’t?”

  Instead of answering, I released his dick and set off running. “Come on!”

  “Owen, where are you going?” he called after me.

  I kept on running, laughing and winding my way through the thicket of pine trees until they began to fade, and other trees loomed ahead of us. Trees that wouldn’t get me prickly all over. Trees that could support my weight.

  I was breathing hard by the time I stopped running. I was still trying to catch my breath when Declan caught up to me. Without a word, his cold lips came down on mine. I moaned, placing my hands on his hips.

  Sex out in the cold had definitely not been on my agenda today, but I was used to sex jumping on just about any agenda while Declan was with me. I leaned against the rough bark of the tree at my back and kissed him with urgency. We didn’t have much time, and although the other folks at the tree farm seemed only interested in pine trees, any of them could head out in our direction and catch us red-handed. Buck naked. Whatever. Kissing him felt too good to stop.

  “Fuck, boy, I can never get tired of you, can I?” He grabbed handfuls of my ass. Always grabbing my ass. But who was I to complain when he treated it so well?

  “I hope to hell not,” I mumbled against his lips. Our breathing was harsh, our hands busy trying to feel each other up beneath all the bulky layers of clothing.

  “Turn around and unbuckle your pants, but not all the way,” Declan commanded. “Don’t want your ass getting cold.”

  I laughed softly, doing just as he suggested. The cool air rushed across my naked ass, and I gasped. Declan’s hand landed hard on my cheeks, making me jump.

  “Just warming you up,” he teased. He cupped my ass, rubbing and caressing the flesh. “God, Owen, you’re so fucking sexy, you know that?”

  Yes, I did, because that was exactly how he made me feel.

  “I have lube in my wallet.”

  After encounters upon encounters of attempted sex that ended prematurely with no lube at hand, I’d made it my duty to slip a onetime-use packet into my wallet. It was our condom substitute. Other people carried around condoms, and we brought lube.

  “So do I, baby,” he murmured.

  “You planned for this to happen?” I asked as he pressed the front of his jeans against my ass while he rummaged into his pockets.

  “No, but given how often I usually want you, I try to be prepared at all times.”

  “Good. Now stick your dick into me, Daddy.”

  The laughter in his chest rumbled into my back. “Always so eager, aren’t you?”

  After much fumbling on his part, his slick cock pressed between my butt cheeks. I gave a sharp thrust backward with my hip, and Declan slid right home.

  “Fuck,” he grunted, gripping my hips. “You okay?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, you might want to get this over with quickly, though. I don’t intend to spend Christmas with a frost-bitten ass.”

  He buried his face into my neck, chuckling. “That’s about the least sexy thing you’ve ever said while we fucked, and you’ve said plenty.”

  I squirmed against him. “What can I say? My dick’s freezing.”

  “Want me to stop?” He planted kisses on my neck.

  “No, I may not come, but it still feels so good when you’re inside me.”

  He pulled back and filled me up again with one swift move. I moaned and clung to the tree in front of me, thankful he’d insisted I put on gloves. “See, feels so good already.”

  His pacing picked up. The slap slap of his pelvis into my ass got my dick hard despite my prediction that I wouldn’t be able to get off in the cold. What fucking cold? The fullness of my ass, the way he hit my prostate with each deep thrust spread warmth throughout my body.

  “Shh.”

  I had no idea how loud I was being, moaning and telling him to fuck me harder until he shushed me and placed a gloved hand over my mouth. My groans turned into whimpers as my now erect dick smacked my belly.

  “You don’t want us to be discovered, do you?” His breathing was heavy and hot against my ear. “Or does the idea of being caught turn you on even more?”

  I closed my eyes and grunted at the mental image he had succeeded in putting into my mind. My heart skipped a beat, then thudded harder and faster as a sort of panic laced with excitement rushed through me.

  To be caught out in the cold with my husband, fucking in the trees like some animal.

  A startled cry erupted from my lips, muffled by his hand as an expected wave of warmth and intensity filled my gut, captivated my groin, and I spilled my seed onto my clothes.

  “Oh fuck, Owen.”

  I was too well acquainted with his body to know he also was close to the brink. Still disoriented from the tingling remains of my climax, I clenched my hole, smiling against his hand wh
en slammed his cock inside me again and came, groaning. His hand left my mouth, gripped my chin, and turned my face toward him.

  Our lips collided in the final throes of his climax, his pelvis grinding against my ass. I reached back and grasped his hair, moaning into his mouth as we wound down. The kisses lingered but lost its intensity, the press of his lips against mine sweet until we were smiling into the kiss.

  “You said you wouldn’t come,” he murmured.

  “How could I not with you inside me?” I mumbled with my mouth millimeters from his. “I think my dick was confused that it was somewhere sunny and cozy warm.”

  Declan’s laugh bubbled up against my lips, where he bestowed another generous kiss. “You just can’t help yourself.”

  He magically produced a single pack of wet wipes from his wallet, which I gratefully used to get cleaned up. “When did you get so resourceful?” I teased, fastening my jeans.

  “So resourceful I think I just spotted our tree.”

  “You did? Where?”

  “I spotted it the minute I thrust inside you.”

  He pointed at a tree a few yards ahead of us. I’d thought he was just joking so we could go home already, but he was right. The tree was perfect.

  “Why didn’t you say something, then?”

  “Yeah, not likely.” He snorted. “You were so obsessed about finding the right tree I wasn’t taking a chance on the tree exciting you more and have you run off, leaving me with a boner.”

  I walked around the tree, examining the trunk and branches. The tree’s posture was great, and though it might not be the most shapely, that could be worked on to achieve the desired look.

  “You’re right. It’s perfect. Now to backtrack and find the ax.”

  Six

  Declan

  “Well, Mr. Moore, do you approve?”

  I dragged my gaze away from the tree and stared at the overtly friendly interior decorator, Lazlo, who had followed my curt order of simple but elegant to a T.

  By the tilt of his head and his posture, he knew damn well he’d done a stellar job on the house too. Even seeing what he had created in Charles’s house hadn’t prepared me for what he could do to mine.

  “Everything looks great,” I replied, checking out the living room once more. The mantle was draped in green boughs interwoven with the gold theme he had chosen. The same gold decorations were used to dress the Christmas tree Owen and I had bought two days ago.

  “Don’t be modest.” The designer approached me, standing way too close for my comfort. “It’s exquisite.”

  “It is,” I agreed. Saying anything else would have been a lie. He knew his shit, which was the reason I’d asked Charles for his contact.

  Not only was the interior of the house revamped to reflect the holiday cheer Owen had been trying to infect me with, but the exterior was just as prettily decorated. Knowing Owen would be out of the house for only a few hours, I’d commissioned as many hands as possible to work alongside Lazlo to ensure everything was finished by the time Owen arrived home.

  “You’re welcome,” he said, placing a hand on my arm. I stiffened, and he released my shoulder quickly.

  “Let’s just hope my husband likes it.” I stressed the word in case he didn’t get the picture I was a happily married man.

  Lazlo knew I wanted to have this done quickly to surprise Owen when he came back home from his day out with Auggie. It was the only thing I could have thought of to get Owen out of the house. He wouldn’t give up the opportunity to spend some time with his son before his kids would be off on their cruise.

  “I’m certain he will,” Lazlo said, gesturing around with open arms. “Anyone who doesn’t like what I have done to the place has no taste at all.”

  “My husband—Owen is a bit peculiar,” I told him, stuffing my hands into my pockets.

  “But I captured your essence in the design. I showcased the elegance, the beauty, the quiet confidence, and the wealth. What’s not to love?”

  I hoped like hell he was right. Owen had talked a lot about going out together and getting new ornaments for the tree, but I’d kept putting him off until the weekend. It had cost me a small fortune to get Lazlo to take on the project on such short notice, but it was completely worth it if it meant Owen could cross off one more item on his to-do list. Most of the time I would be at work, and I hated the thought of him taking on everything on his own.

  “If you could step into my office for a brief moment, I’ll just write your check,” I said. “Follow me this way, please.”

  Something about the interior designer unnerved me. Maybe the way he “accidentally” allowed parts of himself to brush against me every so often or the way his eyes turned inquiring when they landed on me. I was on the brink of telling him that “no, I’m not interested. My husband keeps me more than satisfied.”

  Once we were inside the office, I moved around to my desk to keep the space between us. Lucky raised his head and growled at the other man who paused, staring at the dog in unease.

  Good boy.

  “Down boy,” I said instead, snapping my finger, and with a whine, he spun and trotted toward me. I scratched behind his ear while I grabbed my checkbook with the other.

  “Uh, that’s your dog?” Lazlo asked, his voice lilting as if in disbelief. “Hmm, not quite what I expected. He looks like a rejected greyhound. I’d have thought someone like you would have a dog with better pedigree.”

  I gritted my teeth as I quickly wrote his check, and despite his less than desirable attitude, I cut him a hefty bonus. He’d done his job quite well and in such little time. I tore the page from the checkbook and handed it to him.

  “You’ve been in my home for less than a day, Lazlo. Don’t presume to know anything about me.”

  He took the check and glanced at the figures, smiling brightly. “Am I also not to presume this extra cash is for umm…further services?”

  I frowned at him. “Further services? I’m afraid you misunderstand.”

  He carefully tucked the check into the folder he carried. He hadn’t actually done any of the work himself. He pointed, and he demanded, but he didn’t dare to get his pedicured hands on anything.

  “I’m not judging, Mr. Moore,” he replied, stepping so close to the desk that his thighs bumped into it. “I’m just saying I’m looking at you, and I have seen the pictures of your husband on the mantel. I wouldn’t blame you if you were to find other interests.”

  Rage filled me. How could he believe that the little time we had spent together today meant he could be so familiar with me? I’d brought him into our home in good faith to help make this holiday special for Owen and me, but he turned it into something more. Something dirty and unfaithful.

  “You have rendered your services that I required,” I said, barely holding on to my anger. “Your presence is no longer needed, so do me the favor of getting out. Now!”

  He jumped, his face paling, then turning bright red. I could only imagine that it finally sank in that I wasn’t interested in any extra service he was selling.

  “I, um, thanks again for thinking of me,” he said and bolted for the door.

  As soon as he’d left, I picked up the phone on my desk. I punched in Charles’s number, impatiently waiting for him to answer.

  “Hey, Declan, I—”

  “Couldn’t you have warned me?” I snapped in the phone.

  “Hmm, the interior designer flirted with you?”

  “Yes. Did you know this was going to happen?”

  “Not definitely, but since he also flirted with me, I thought it might.”

  I closed my eyes, rubbing at my forehead. Charles, of late, had been curious about his attraction to other men, and I didn’t even want to know if he’d taken up the young man’s offer.

  “You could have at least said something,” I told him.

  “I figured you’d be able to handle it,” he replied. “Come on, Declan. I know you’re a devoted guy. You would never look twice at someone
else other than your husband—unless…is this call to tell me that you were tempted?”

  “God, no! I wasn’t tempted in the least.”

  “So, what exactly is the problem? He did his job well, didn’t he?”

  “Yeah, he did,” I agreed. “But I could have done without the extra bits.”

  “Well, you handled it.”

  “Did you…? Sorry, don’t answer that question. Look, thanks for the contact. I need to check that everything is in order for Owen.”

  “All right.”

  I hung up the phone and took a few minutes to relax before I let Lucky out into the yard to let off a little steam. Outside was cold, but he still took delight in running around before he bolted back inside. I checked out the exterior of the house, the stairs, the living room, the entrance—everywhere really to ensure that everything was in place.

  A shower later, I had poured Lucky fresh water and food when the garage door opened. Owen was home. I waited at the front door, already imagining what he would do. Even though there was a door from the garage leading into the house, he’d return outside and stare at the lights and ribbons that had been pinned on the outside.

  It took him fifteen minutes to get inside the house, Auggie tagging along with him. He left the front door open and ripped at his gloves. He hadn’t worn a coat out again, and his cheeks were red, his lips chapped from the cold air.

  “Declan, what’s going on?” he asked, taking in the entrance lined with gold lights as well. The full effect wouldn’t be displayed until it was dark and the lights were on, but it still looked magnificent. Lazlo’s flirting aside, he really had done a splendid job.

  “What do you guys think?” I asked instead of answering his question. I tugged him into my arms, then led him toward the living room, a silent Auggie trailing us. “Don’t answer that yet. Wait until you see it all.”

  On the left, the stairs loomed before us. Green boughs laced with gold ribbons were draped from the bottom to the top. His jaw dropped open, and I smiled, pleased that he was stunned into silence.