“Don’t be a fucking brat.”
Now Cooper was speaking Nico’s love language. He was a fucking brat. He loved that about himself. He grabbed Cooper by the back of the head and kissed him, melting into him right there beside the window.
And for the first time in his life, he didn’t care if someone could see through the window.
There was just one last thing Nico needed to do, but that would have to wait. In such a tender moment, he hated being crass, but he needed what he needed. He moaned into Cooper’s mouth, “Please fuck me.”
Cooper scooped Nico up into his arms and carried him forward into room 2403. He threw Nico onto the bed, tore off his own shirt, and climbed on top of him. The ring and football pendant hanging from Cooper’s necklace brushed over Nico’s chest.
For the first time since the last time, Nico felt at peace.
Chapter Thirty-One
december 2026 - orlando
An unusual frostfell over Florida the night before Christmas. Nico stood on the porch of his father’s house, wearing a thick hoodie. A sprinkling of snow could be seen on the grass, but the ground was too warm for any accumulation. It was the closest thing Nico reckoned he’d ever get to a white Christmas. He headed back inside just as the sun broke over the horizon.
Nico snuck quietly back into the guest room and climbed back into bed, wrapping his arms around Cooper, who was still fast asleep. It was the first time in Nico’s adult life he slept with another person under his father’s roof, which was a nerve-wracking experience.
On Christmas mornings, Nico wasn’t too different from a child. He always found it difficult to sleep the night before, but this Christmas was different. He had, at most, three hours of sleep.
Nico slipped a hand into Cooper’s boxers, taking holdof his morning wood. Cooper groaned and shifted his body backward, pressing against Nico’s.
Cooper’s eyes flashed open as he cocked his head over his shoulder. “Not in your father’s house.”
“Relax,” Nico whispered. “As long as you’re quiet, everything will be fine.”
Nico stroked Cooper slowly, forcing a stifled moan from the back of Cooper’s throat. Nico hushed him with a kiss.
The door flew open.
“Time to open presents, boys!” Nico’s father said with a clap.
If Nico’s father saw anything, he hadn’t suggested that he did. Still, Nico tiptoed around his father on the way to the kitchen to assist Natalie with making mimosas for everyone. Nico’s definition of assisting was standing with his back against the counter, watching Natalie do all the work.
“Did Dad say anything to you?” Nico leaned over to Natalie.
“He told me to get the hell up.” She laughed as she carefully poured champagne into three flutes, and sparkling white grape juice into a fourth.
“Nothing else?”
Natalie turned to him. “Your cheeks are flushed.”
“He walked in this morning?—”
Natalie held her hand up. “Please stop talking.”
Cooper walked into the kitchen, shaking his head. “Your father has a lot of love to give and a lot of threats.”
Nico rolled his eyes. “He’s still pissed about the night after the Super Bowl.”
“He knows about that?” Cooper arched a brow. “Does he know everything about that?”
Natalie chuckled under her breath as she finished off the mimosas with a splash of cranberry juice on top.
“He’s aware of the important details,” Nico said, passing a flute to Cooper. “I’ve been slow-dripping information to him because he’s a little bit older and has some health problems. Don’t want to give the man a heart attack again.”
“I’d prefer if we kept some of the more salacious details to ourselves, because the last thing I need is your father hating me. Especially considering the current state of my relationship with my mother.”
