“Nick?” Hunter called.
Closing the box firmly on memories of Eric, Nick cracked the bathroom door, steam flowing around him. “Do you need something?”
“Can you come in?”
Heart leaping and cock definitely on board, Nick entered the bathroom, the air thick and humid, the mirror fogged over. Hunter had opened the glass door to the long shower stall. Christ, he truly was beautiful—his pale skin flushed, nipples starkly pink, slim muscles slick and dripping, his uncut cock half hard and oh-so tempting.
He held out a bar of soap, his lip caught between his teeth. “Can you wash my back?” He lowered his head, water-darkened hair hanging over his forehead. A little shudder rippled through him, and he looked up, squaring his shoulders. “Please, Daddy?”
It was music to Nick’s ears, and he was already unbuttoning his plaid shirt as he asked, “You’re sure?”
“Oh, yeah.” Hunter nodded. “I’m sure.”
“I don’t want you to feel obligated because you’re staying over.”
True confusion creased Hunter’s face. “I don’t think that word means what you think it means.”
Nick’s laugh warmed his chest, lust firing through his veins. “Well, you’re the English major, so you’d know.” He stripped off his clothes and joined Hunter in the shower, taking the soap and putting it back in its tray for the moment.
Because right now, he needed both hands to haul Hunter against him, Hunter going up on tiptoes and grabbing Nick’s face, pushing his tongue into Nick’s mouth. That little spark of independence and confidence was exactly what Nick had been yearning to see, and he let him take control of their kiss.
When they were gasping for air, Nick took the washcloth and dragged it down Hunter’s back to his ass. He murmured, “Spread your legs.”
Hunter eagerly did, and Nick gently probed with the cloth. “Does it hurt very much?”
“A little. About what I’d expect after having something that big up there.”
Chuckling, Nick skimmed his fingers up and down Hunter’s crack, the need to touch drumming through him steadily. “Did you like being fucked?”
He nodded eagerly. “I loved it.”
Nick kissed him. “Such a hungry little slut, hmm?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
A curl of lust simmered through him to hear those words. Nick hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed that dynamic, and Hunter had taken to it like he was born for it. Beautifully submissive but spirited and vibrant. He made Nick’s blood sing—which was dangerous, since Hunter was surely going back to Toronto after the holidays, and Nick was content in his solitary life, and—
With a burst of irritation at himself, he cut off that line of thinking, giving Hunter another slow kiss. They’d just met. He should simply enjoy being together for the time being. Santa and his elf having a holiday fling, and that was all.
“I never realized—” Hunter broke off. He swallowed hard, meeting Nick’s gaze. Water dripped from his nose, the hot shower spraying from above and around them. “I’ve always been attracted to older guys, but the whole daddy thing?” His chest rose with a sharp breath. “It turns me on so much.”
“Mmm.” Nick slid a hand between them, stroking Hunter’s cock. “Does it make you hard to call me Daddy and be my good boy?” He could feel it did, the flesh in his grip throbbing.
“Fuck, yes.” Hunter laughed before smirking. “I guess Freud would have a field day with me wanting a daddy since I grew up with a single mom.”
“Probably. But I didn’t have a father either, so Freud can fuck off.” He ran his hands over Hunter’s ass, rubbing their cocks together. “Can you feel how hard you make me when you call me Daddy?”
“Yes,” Hunter breathed. “Yes, Daddy.” He rubbed his cheek against Nick’s before leaning back and asking, “What do you want me to do, Daddy?”
“Hmm.” Nick pondered it.
“I’ll do anything.” His brows drew together, and Nick could practically see his mind spinning with what “anything” might entail.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll take care of you. You don’t need to worry about anything.”
“Right.” He exhaled, his face smoothing out. “Thank you.”
Nick swept his tongue into Hunter’s mouth with command. Hunter moaned, reaching up to clutch Nick’s shoulders, rutting against him eagerly.
Nick wasn’t sure how long they stood under the hot water, locked in an embrace as they kissed until their lips were swollen and Hunter’s face had to be raw. Nick kissed his red cheek tenderly and whispered, “Let’s go to bed.”
Their skin was still damp, towels abandoned on the floor in the bedroom when Nick pulled back the duvet and urged Hunter onto the mattress. He left one of the orange glass lamps on low, and it was almost like firelight on Hunter’s pale skin.
As much as Nick wanted to bury himself in Hunter’s tight heat, he didn’t want to hurt him. Instead, he said, “I’m going to eat your ass. You’ve been such a good boy, and you’re going to come so hard with my tongue inside you.”
Hunter shivered, nodding. “Yes, Daddy.” He glanced around at the mattress he was kneeling on. “How should I…?”
“On your hands and knees for me. That’s it. Now on your elbows. Good. Rest your cheek on the pillow.” Nick crawled onto the bed behind him, barely resisting reaching out to grab the round globes of Hunter’s gorgeous ass. “Now bring your arms back. That’s right. Hold yourself open for me.”
Hunter’s fingers trembled, but he obeyed beautifully, reaching back for his ass cheeks and spreading them. “Like this, Daddy?” His cheek and shoulders rested on the bed.
“Yes. That’s perfect, baby.” Nick leaned in, blowing a cool stream of air, watching Hunter’s hole twitch. Then he huffed warm air over it, and Hunter moaned.
With Hunter holding himself open, on display, Nick teased with a fingertip and his breath, giving him the occasional hint of his tongue—just brief, wet touches. Hunter’s cock strained, and Nick eased it back toward him between Hunter’s legs until he could suck the head.
Hunter cried out. “Yes! Please, Daddy. Please.”
Nick swirled with his tongue, swallowing the musky, pearly drops of precum. Hunter’s hands shook where he still held himself open, and when Nick let go of his cock with a wet smack, he said, “You’re being such a good boy.”
“I thought you were going to rim me,” Hunter blurted. “Please, I need…”
Nick swallowed a chuckle and put on a stern voice. “Now you’re being a bad boy. I promised I would, but you have to be patient. Or I won’t let you come at all.”
Hunter gasped. “No! Please. I’m sorry, Daddy. I’ll be good.”
“I know you will.” He stroked Hunter’s quivering legs, drawing soothing circles with his thumbs over the tender skin of his inner thighs. “I’ll take care of you.”
Hunter exhaled loudly. “Thank you.”
Nick’s own cock was like steel, but he had to take care of Hunter before he tended to himself. Taking pity on him—and himself—he covered Hunter’s hands with his own and spread him as wide as possible before licking from his balls to the top of his ass.
Crying out, Hunter jerked. “Oh God.”
He was deliciously responsive, and knowing Nick was the first man to ever taste him was like drinking fine Scotch, a smooth burn that fed Nick’s hunger. He circled his tongue around Hunter’s hole before finally licking into him.
As Hunter’s cries of pleasure echoed off the wooden rafters, Nick ate him out, licking and kissing and nipping, burying his face in that sweet ass. He knew his beard was rough against the tender flesh, and he used it as a counterpoint to the wetness of his tongue and softness of his lips.
When he reached down and fondled Hunter’s balls, hair bristling his palms, Hunter seized up and came without his cock being touched. Nick licked him through it, pride swelling in his chest. Hunter was almost crying with the pleasure, and he probably would have toppled ove
r when he was finished spurting onto the sheets if not for Nick holding him up.
Nick eased him onto his side and then his back, and Hunter looked up at him in a daze, panting through his mouth, his face red. “Oh my God,” he murmured. His gaze dropped to Nick’s rock-hard cock. “Can I taste you, Daddy?”
Nick groaned, surging forward to straddle him and feed him his cock. He fucked Hunter’s mouth, careful not to go too deep, knowing it wouldn’t take much.
Sure enough, he came before long, gripping the headboard with one hand, petting Hunter’s damp hair with the other as he spent himself, milky semen dripping out of that pretty mouth. Hunter struggled to swallow, and Nick pulled out, milking himself and letting the final drops paint Hunter’s flushed cheeks.
He and Hunter were wet and messy, but Nick gathered him close and kissed him, tasting himself and whispering, “Daddy’s so proud of you.”
Eventually, he cleaned them up and turned out the light, Hunter smiling at him with shy, dazed pleasure. Nick curled himself around Hunter’s smaller body and tried not to think about how right it felt having him in his bed.
Chapter Eight
“Is that you, sweetie?”
“Hey, Mom!” Hunter called back as he untangled his scarf from his mom’s massive wreath and closed the front door, dropping his keys on the little table in the foyer. His heart thumped as she appeared in the hallway from the kitchen. “I just need to pick up my elf costume.”
Be normal, he reminded himself.
Wearing purple scrubs and slippers, she came to hug him. Her hair was knotted up, which meant she was going to work soon. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks!” She gave him a squeeze, smelling faintly of sweet lemons.
He laughed and hugged her back. “It’s only been a few days.”
“Nick Spini’s been working you hard, huh?” She stepped away, grinning.
Hunter knew she didn’t mean anything else by it, but despite his best efforts, his face went hot, the blush spreading to the tips of his ears. He tried to sound normal. “Yeah, it’s been great. Muscles I didn’t even know I had are sore.”
Oh yeah, terrific work on not making this sound sexual.
It was true, though—along with his wonderfully sore ass, Hunter’s body ached pleasantly from the three days of manual labor. He quickly added, “I know how to use a baler now, and chop down a tree with an axe. It’s really cool.”
Tilting her head, a little furrow between her brows, his mom smiled. “That’s great, honey.”
He bent to pull off his boots. “Yeah, I never thought of myself as outdoorsy or, like, good at doing that kind of physical stuff, but it’s been really satisfying.”
Not making this sound less sexual, you dumbass!
His face was burning as he straightened up. “Anyway, it’s been cool. How are you? How’s work?”
“I’m good. Work’s busy, as always.” She was still watching him quizzically. “I’m glad you’re enjoying spending time with Nick.”
“Yeah, like I said, the work’s been good. There’s so much to do.”
“Mmm. There must be, since you’ve stayed out there four nights in a row now.”
Nick had driven him home Wednesday to pack clothes and toiletries, and Hunter had told his mom it would just be easier to stay at the farm since he didn’t have a car. Which was true! Sure, it also meant he could spend the nights in Nick’s bed and be fucked until he was blissfully exhausted.
Hunter brushed past his mom. “Yeah, like I said, there’s been a ton of work. Now I’d better hurry and get over to the mall. Nick’s waiting in his truck. John convinced him to be Santa again.” He laughed—too high-pitched—and escaped down the hall to his room.
He grabbed the cursed elf costume, closing his eyes for a moment and breathing deeply. The past four days had been beyond his wildest dreams. He truly did enjoy the work. They’d put in long days, and Nick was all business when they were out among the trees.
Well, almost all business. Butterflies flapped through Hunter’s belly as he remembered how Nick had kissed him fiercely at the end of the work days when they’d climbed into the pickup truck. As soon as they were in that cab, the leather seats freezing, Nick always hauled Hunter close as if he’d been dying to touch him again. Then they fogged up the windows, Ella barking outside, demanding to be let in.
And once they’d returned to the house each day…
In the doorway of his room, Hunter closed his eyes, shivering in delight. It was like he’d been on rations before, and now he was glutting himself at an all-you-can-eat sex buffet. He grinned with a giddy thrill as he thought about Nick and how gentle and patient he was while also being dominant and perfectly demanding.
Daddy kink was so Hunter’s thing. Lust spiked at the thought of how he’d been able to give up control and relax and be taken care of in a way that soothed…well, his soul.
Laughing aloud at how corny he was being, Hunter hurried back to find his mom hadn’t budged, and now her hands were on her hips. Her eyebrows lifted. “You and Nick Spini?”
His heart dropped. “Huh?”
She just watched him, eyebrows still about to disappear into her hairline. There was a stray piece of tinsel caught in her hair, probably from one of the red-and-gold garlands wrapped around the bannister heading downstairs. He reached out and plucked it free, letting it drift down to the floor.
“Tinsel,” he said. “Anyway, I’ve gotta run.”
She didn’t move a muscle, her gaze unwavering.
Sighing, Hunter shrugged, willing himself not to blush again and failing, heat burning his cheeks. “I guess?”
“Well. You and Nick Spini. He’s a lot older than you.” She watched him evenly, her voice calm as she crossed her arms. She didn’t seem mad, which was good. Although sometimes she would go horribly quiet when she was really furious.
“Yeah. It’s cool, though. I…” He shrugged again. “I really like him.”
“Mmm.” She still stared like she could see right into his mind in that way moms had. “He’s been good to you?”
“Yes,” he answered without hesitation. “He’s great. I thought he was a jerk at first, but he’s not at all.” Hunter tried to find the right words. “He’s so…”
His mom laughed softly, shaking her head. “Dreamy? You should see the expression on your face. You look like he hung the moon, the stars, and all the planets to boot.”
Relief that she wasn’t too mad flowed, and Hunter laughed too. “Do I?”
“You do.” She sighed. “I can already tell that it’s not going to matter what I think.”
His smile faded. “Of course it does. I can understand why you wouldn’t be thrilled.”
“You’ve never really had a boyfriend before. At least not that you ever let on.”
“He’s not my boyfriend. We just met.” Although the idea of Nick being his boyfriend made Hunter want to grin, his heart dancing. “And no, I’ve never really dated anyone before. I was too…in my own way.”
She laughed ruefully. “I can understand that.” Taking a big breath, she blew it out. “Okay. I don’t love that he’s so much older than you, but you’re a grown man yourself now. Even though you’ll always be my little boy.” She glanced toward the closed front door. “He’s waiting outside? Maybe I should go say hello.”
Hunter groaned. “Mom. Not right now, okay? We have to get to the mall.”
She sighed noisily. “All right. You’re off the hook for now. Are you coming home tonight?”
“Yeah.” Although he ached to think of spending the night away from Nick, he did want to catch up with his mom. “I’ll get takeout, and we can have a late dinner when you’re home from work.”
“That sounds lovely.”
He smiled tentatively. “I know this is unexpected. For all of us! It’s just been…” A little bubble of joy escaped him with a laugh. “It’s been amazing.”
She smiled back. “I distantly remember that feeling. Infatuation can be a glorious t
hing. And you’re an intelligent young man. I trust your judgment, and that you’ll always stay safe.”
“Yes,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.
Laughing, she kissed his cheek. “I’m still your mother. Always going to nag.”
“I know.” He kissed her back, then pulled her into a hug. “Thanks for being so cool, Mom. I’m really, really lucky.”
She squeezed him tight. “I love you, sweetie. If Nick Spini hurts you, I know how to make it look like an accident.”
He laughed and pulled back. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Oh! You’re working the night on Christmas Eve, right? And Heather and Rick are coming Boxing Day?”
“Yep. They’re spending Christmas with Rick’s parents.”
“John and Desmond invited us for dinner on Christmas Day. I figure since you’ll be sleeping until the afternoon, it’s kind of perfect.” John had apparently guessed there was something going on between Hunter and Nick, and he was delighted by it, much to Hunter’s relief.
“Well, that would be lovely.” She gave him a knowing look. “And will Nick also be in attendance?”
“Yeah.” Hunter tried not to smile, but that giddy joy bubbled through him again.
“I look forward to it. And not only so I can grill him.” She winked.
“Thanks, Mom. You really are being awesome about this.”
“Well, you’re an adult.” She inhaled deeply and blew it out. “I’d ideally like to lock you in your room and chase away Nick Spini with a shotgun, but since that’s not an option, I’m going to be chill. Ish. Now you’d better get going. The kids are waiting for Santa and his elf.”
By Sunday night, Hunter was so ready to never, ever wear the damn candy-cane tights again. It seemed like everyone in Pinevale had come to the mall to see the sexy Santa, but the last stragglers had finally gone.
And now he and Nick could…what?
Hopefully pick up where they’d left off, but was Hunter getting ahead of himself? After spending the night alone, he’d missed Nick more than he’d thought possible, but the day had been so busy. John had been in the storeroom when Hunter had arrived that morning, so there had been no privacy. Hunter and Nick hadn’t so much as brushed hands all day, let alone kissed or anything.
Gay Romance Holiday Collection Page 27