Having him in my arms was like nothin’ I ever wanted.
And I had been a damn dummy for it.
If I’d known it could have been like that, I would have been doing things differently for the last twenty years.
“So is this a thing we do now?” he asked, eyes bright and voice husky.
“Got a problem with it, elf?” I shot back gruffly.
“No,” he said, clearing his throat. “Not at all.”
Then his lips were back on mine.
I could have kissed him all night, and I sure as hell wanted to, but what was the sense of buying a tree just days before Christmas and not decorating it?
“Alright,” I said, using all of my will to pull myself back, going as far as to move my feet so we’d have some distance between us. I reached down and adjusted my cock. Wasn’t no sense in trying to pretend like it wasn’t hard and he hadn’t noticed.
“I could help you with—”
“No.” I cut him off a little too forcefully. I let out a small laugh, which sounded rusty. I hadn’t meant to sound like I was about to bite his head off. I tried again, calmer this time. “No. It’s… I’m good. Maybe another time.”
He snorted, but didn’t press.
I wanted him. Oh fuckin’ hell, did I want him. I wanted him so much it was damn near about the only thing I could think about, but lucky for me, a little tiny part of my good sense pushed through.
I never wanted to do something so right in my life.
While I didn’t know his story, I knew there was one. And somethin’ deep in my gut told me it wasn’t all good. I didn’tdoubt people took advantage of him. He had that sweet puppy thing going for him, and I knew it wasn’t an act. But that made him vulnerable to cruel people. I didn’t think I wanted to fix him. After all, I wasn’t really the type that believed in that shit. So, yeah, it wasn’t that. I did, however, have this deep urge to protect who he was, protect him.
For me to realize that, it was fuckin’ weird.
Which was why I pushed it to the back of my mind.
“So, what do you plan to do to this tree now that you have it?” I asked, trying my hardest not to scowl.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Danny
I stood there with my lips puffy and wet from being thoroughly kissed by Killjoy—only now realizing that I didn’t know his real name. Then again, did it matter? After my little problem was sorted out, I’d be moving on, and he’d be right back to his anti-social holiday celebrations.
As I stood there—thinking of how I was going to walk away from this man, who was gruff and gentle at the same time—I couldn’t help but see something in his scowl I didn’t think I’d seen before. It almost felt forced. Like, for once, he had to focus to keep that brow in the furrowed position and pin the down-turned lips in place.
Which dug at me a tiny bit. If anyone had the right to be scowling and grumpy, it was me.
I’d just been turned down. Hello! What the hell?! I mean, yeah, the man had the right to say no. I wished he would open up a little as to why he did when he clearly wants it so badly. And yes, I was totally staring at his package while he adjustedit a minute ago. I wouldn’t have said I was drooling over what I already knew was a lovely-sized cock, but it was close.
This kind of rejection wasn’t something I was used to. I was okay with it, maybe somewhat relieved by it, but I was also confused and a little hurt. If I could just understand what it was about me that made him think twice, maybe it would help settle the anxiety swirling in my gut.
“Danny,” he said, causing me to snap back into reality. I blinked, finally focusing on him after a few seconds.
“Yeah?” I wouldn’t have said I plastered a smile on my face, but part of it was definitely strained.
“Let’s take a break and drink our hot chocolate, yeah?”
“Yes! I like that idea,” I said. I pushed back the shaky feeling that was threatening to send me into a spiral as I walked to the couch.
I was utterly surprised when he sat right beside me, then reached over to grab both the mugs.
