“Would it make you feel good?” he asked. “Knowing that children were sad and feeling bad about themselves? Would watching them open their presents and seeing the look on their faces when they see that it’s coal make you happy?”
Nick frowned. “No. It wouldn’t make mehappy. It’s not like I get off on the idea of upsetting children.”
Billy tilted his head. “So you only wanted to be Krampus because you liked the outfit and you wanted to discipline kinky elves?”
Nick had a startled look on his face, and then he blushed and looked away. “I guess I did,” he said, smiling and shaking his head. “No wonder the council didn’t give me the job.”
Billy felt relieved. Nick wasn’t a bad person, just maybe not avery bright one. That was a flaw Billy could forgive.
The rest of the evening was shockingly pleasant. They talked about Billy’s machine, which mostly consisted of Billy venting about how it just wouldn’t work, and about Nick’s new duties as Santa.
From the sound of it, the only part of the handbook Nick had read thoroughly was the one about the uniform.
“No, you have to help to deliver the presents, just not all of them,” Billy said loudly, leaning over the table and waving his fork, unable to help from laughing at the idea that Nick thought he’d getChristmasoff. “It’s tradition. The delivery team will pick up the slack, but it’s mainly your responsibility. You should start practicing steering the sleigh and dealing with the reindeer. They were nice to the old Santa, but they tend to hate everyone else.”
Nick had a slightly panicked look on his face, and Billy laughed harder.
How in the world could Nick have thought that Santa stayed on the North Pole for Christmas?
Billy knew that he could never tell Tulip this. She’d die from laughing so hard, and then her ghost would make sure that everyone in the world knew that Nick had thought that Santa stayed at home for Christmas while the elves delivered the presents.
“It’s not that funny,” Nick said, huffing while fighting to keep himself from grinning.
“It really is,” Billy countered. “You need to read the handbook. If Pat finds out that you haven’t … I don’t even want to think about it.”
Nick nodded. “Fine, I’ll read the book. Happy?”
“Very,” Billy said, his cheeks hurting from smiling so hard.
“Good. Moving on, I was thinking we could have drinks in the living room. I got you another bottle of that awful wine you like, as long as you promise to at least try the brandy.”
Billy sat up straight at the idea of being served dandelion wine. It was just so delicious.
Nick rose from his seat first, walking around the table as Billy pushed himself to his feet. The meal sat heavy in Billy’s stomach, making him feel sleepy and full.
Once they were in the living room, Billy headed straight for the couch and dropped down with a sigh.
“Tired?” Nick asked, making his way to the bar where he poured two glasses of brandy and one glass of dandelion wine. He carried all three glasses over to the couch and sat down next to Billy, putting the dandelion wine on the table and handing Billy the brandy.
“Just a little,” Billy said, loving the way Nick’s bicep was pillowing his neck. The alpha took a sip of his drink and grinned, carding his fingers through Billy’s hair and massaging his scalp.
Shuddering at Nick’s expert touch, Billy stared down at his brandy with some trepidation. He took a cautious sip and made a face at the overwhelming taste of alcohol.
He didn’t like it.
Thinking that he maybe wasn’t giving the drink a fair try, he tipped the glass and downed all of it, choking and coughing as the amber liquid flowed down his throat.
“Whoa, there!” Nick said, taking the glass away from him and putting a hand on his shoulder. Billy felt the alcohol hit hissystem, making him feel weightless and loose. The spots where Nick was touching him made him feel like his skin was electric.
Why was Nick so hot?
“Your cock is pretty,” Billy said, eyes drawn to Nick’s crotch. He could see the outline of the alpha’s huge member through his ridiculous suit, perfectly shaped and perfectly lickable, and before he knew that he was going to do it he was leaning down so that he could get his mouth on the beautiful mound of flesh.
“Thank you,” Nick said with a laugh, grabbing the back of his shirt and pulling him up before his face made contact. “I like your cock too.”
“You do?” Billy asked, looking up. He could already feel his body burning through the alcohol, but he still wasn’t sober enough to feel embarrassed—or to stop himself from reaching out and groping Nick’s bouncy pecs.
“You like those?” Nick asked, making the muscle dance under Billy’s fingers. Billy grinned when he realized that Nick wasn’t pushing him away. He nodded, groping and feeling Nick’s chest, squeezing down on his nipples with relish.
