It was so wet and hot and good, and Daniel groaned and shoved his hips up, only needing a few thrusts before his balls drew up and he came. The pleasure seared white hot, shuddering through him as he emptied into Cole’s mouth.
Cole swallowed as much as he could, and some of Daniel’s spunk dripped from the corners of his lips. “Oh fuck,” Daniel groaned. He reached up and caught a few drops with his fingers, and Cole licked and sucked them clean too.
Chests heaving, they looked at each other and laughed. Careful of his cast, Cole snuggled close, draping his left arm over Daniel’s belly. “Merry Christmas to us.”
“God bless us everyone,” Daniel agreed.
“It’s even better than I imagined.” Cole sighed contentedly, kissing Daniel’s nipple. “And I imagined it a lot over the years. In so many ways.”
In the colorful glow of the Christmas tree, snow fell beyond the huge windows. The fire crackled beside them, and they were quiet. Peaceful. Daniel traced the bumps of Cole’s spine. “It shouldn’t be this easy.”
“Hmm?” His warm breath teased Daniel’s chest hair.
“This, I mean. You and me. We just met—well, again. But it’s only been days. How can it feel so right? Have I just been alone for too long?”
“Hey!” Cole poked him in the side with his finger.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” Daniel laughed. “Obviously you’re amazing.” He kissed the top of Cole’s head.
“It’s true. If you were just desperate for anyone, you’d still be with that douchecanoe.”
Daniel shuddered. “I’m so glad you’re a klutz.”
“It has never come in more handy.” Cole snorted. “Get it?”
They laughed, shaking in each other’s arms. Daniel sighed. “It just feels right with you. I can’t explain it.”
“Maybe it’s a Christmas miracle. But, you know, my aunt and uncle got together super quick. They had lunch with some mutual friends. I can’t remember why. But at one point, Aunt Judy left to use the bathroom, and Uncle Steve said, ‘That’s the woman I’m going to marry.’ And he did. Been together decades and have three kids. They just knew it was right.”
Daniel swallowed over the sudden lump in his throat. Even with the warmth of the fire on his skin, a shiver ran over him. “Do you think this is right? Us?”
Cole nuzzled his stubbly face against Daniel’s pec. “I think it really could be. I guess we’ll find out.”
“I guess we will.” He stared up at the distant beams of the cathedral ceiling, grinning. A log sparked, and he glanced at the fireplace. Then he jolted, realizing the stockings were now full. “Wait, you bought stocking stuffers too? I didn’t get you anything!”
Cole shrugged. “It’s all stuff from around the house. Spoiler alert: I know you were eyeing those Tums.”
Laughing, Daniel took Cole’s face in his hands and drew him up for a kiss. Or two. Or five. Ten, perhaps. Catching his breath, Daniel murmured, “Next year, I’m going to get you everything you could possibly want for Christmas.”
Eyes bright, Cole grinned. “Next year, huh?”
When Daniel thought of his future now, yep—there was Cole. “Definitely.”
“I’ll drink to that. Hey, the doc said I should be good by now to ‘indulge,’ as she put it. Let me pour eggnog Mom-style while you stoke the fire.” Cole carefully sat and pulled up his pajama bottoms.
Smiling to himself and gazing up at Yoda every so often, Daniel pulled on his own PJs and hurried out for more logs, which were stacked under a tarp beyond the hot tub on the porch. The flames leapt again by the time Cole joined him with two small glasses full of thick, off-white nog.
“So, her secret recipe was mixing eggnog with Amaretto. Maybe calling it a ‘recipe’ was a stretch.” He handed over a glass, and they clinked.
Daniel took a sip. “Mmm. I love it!” Actually, it was cloyingly sweet and he didn’t really like the texture of cream, which was one of the reasons eggnog had never been his favorite.
Cole’s gaze narrowed. “You’re so full of shit. But thank you for trying it.” He leaned in for a soft kiss.
“Anything for you,” Daniel told him, and he knew it was true.
Epilogue
A year later
“Cole, you’ve been such a wonderful influence. There’s actual color in this house!” Claudia exclaimed. “A real Christmas tree!” She fingered the fresh pine needles.
Cole couldn’t resist saying, “There’s debate about whether real or artificial has more environmental impact, but we decided to support a local business instead of buying something plastic shipped from China.”
“And you can’t beat that smell.” She inhaled deeply. “Your Yoda angel is a hoot.”
“Thanks. We like it.” The other ornaments were a mix of Star Wars and traditional sparkly balls and snowflakes. The colored lights glowed and silver icicles shimmered. Brightly wrapped gifts spilled out under the tree, too many to be contained.
“Oh, and I love the purple rug,” Claudia added.
From the office down the hall, Daniel shouted, “I’ll have you know I bought that rug before I met Cole! Well, before I met him again.”
Cole laughed. “But I’m responsible for the burgundy tea towels in the kitchen.” He’d moved in with Daniel that summer, and it felt like they’d been together forever. Life was super weird sometimes, but in the best way.
He asked Claudia, “Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat?”
“No, no. The dinner on the train was surprisingly good. I’m so glad I splurged on first class.” She winked and ran a hand over her perfectly coiffed brown curls. “I’m worth it.”
“You definitely are. You look amazing, by the way.”
She practically glowed. “Thank you, sweetheart. I tell you, I owe it all to Pilates. And Pierre.”
Claudia’s newish boyfriend had already gone up to bed, but Cole lowered his voice anyway. “He’s very handsome.”
“Isn’t he?” She beamed. “I think he might be the one.”
“I hope so.” He really, really did.
“Are your aunt and uncle settled?”
“Yeah. It was a long day flying from Winnipeg with the delay connecting through Toronto.” Shrieks of laughter echoed up from the basement, and Cole grinned. “I’m sure the kids will be awake way too late playing video games, but they’re all set with their sleeping bags.”
Cole hadn’t expected Aunt Judy and Uncle Steve to take him up on his invite to spend the holidays in Ottawa, but it was awesome to have family around. With Daniel’s friend Pam and her girlfriend coming for dinner the next day, they’d have a full house.
“Christmas Eve is meant for staying up late,” Claudia said. “The little bastards have so much sugar in them they won’t need sleep.”
Laughing, Cole took his buzzing phone from his pocket and read the screen. “My dad says hi, and merry Christmas.”
She smiled. “Well, tell Bill the same right back. You know, your father’s a real piece of work, but if I hadn’t made the mistake of marrying him, we wouldn’t have you in our lives.” She took Cole’s chin and kissed his cheek. “I love you. Sleep tight and dream of lots of sugarplums.”
“You too.”
Once she was upstairs, Cole flicked off the kitchen light and went to drag Daniel away from his desk. As soon as he walked into the little office, Daniel said, “I know, I know. I’m coming.”
Not yet, but you will be. Cole stood behind Daniel’s chair, teasing his curls and peeking over his shoulder at the paperwork on the desk. “What can’t wait until the new year? The office closed today at noon, didn’t it?”
“Uh-huh.” Daniel’s pen scratched over the paper. “I implemented a new staff information form and said they had to be filled out before Christmas. Just living up to my end of the bargain. I’m almost done.”
“Hey, have you heard if Justin has found a new job yet?”
Daniel glanced up, trying not to smile. “Not yet. Turns out when you
lie about your qualifications and are crappy at your job, it’s hard to find a new position.”
“Couldn’t have happened to a better asshole.”
As Daniel chuckled and went back to the form, Cole rubbed Daniel’s neck and said, “You’re not supposed to work on our anniversary week.”
“It’s a whole week now, hmm?”
“Yep. It’s a new thing.”
Daniel grinned. “You know what? You’re right—this can wait.” He straightened the papers and left them in a neat pile on the side of the desk. “Let’s go celebrate. Quietly.”
“And unlike last year, I have full use of both my hands. And I know how to use them.”
“I am well aware.” Daniel pushed back his chair and stood, kissing Cole soundly and holding him close. “I love you.”
“Love you too. Maybe next year we can go back to Tremblant. You, me, a hot tub.”
“It’s a date. We’ll alternate. One Christmas with the fam, one Christmas at our private chalet.” He tugged Cole around the desk and into the hall. “Oh, wait. I need my charging cable. Want to make sure I can take pictures tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll grab it. Go on up.”
Cole ducked back into the office, flipping on the light. Behind the desk, he unplugged the cable from the laptop port. Then he glanced at the form Daniel had been filling out.
A line caught his eye before he went back upstairs, grinning the whole way, his heart full.
In case of emergency, contact: Cole Smith; domestic partner; 343-555-555
THE END
Santa Daddy
KEIRA ANDREWS
About Santa Daddy
Mall Santas aren’t supposed to be hot
Hunter Adams is hopelessly adrift after college. He’s still a virgin, can’t find a real job, and has no clue what to do with his life. In desperation, he returns to his humiliating old job as an elf at the Santa’s Village in his hometown’s dying mall. The Santa on the job is an unexpectedly sexy lumberjack, twice Hunter’s size and age. He makes Hunter feel very naughty—too bad he’s grumpy and intimidating.
Years after the tragic death of his partner, Nick Spini has his beagle and long, hard days on his Christmas tree farm. That’s plenty. But he can’t refuse a loyal friend’s plea for help and finds himself filling in as Santa at the local mall. Despite Nick’s attempt to stay aloof, the beautiful, anxious young man playing elf brings out his long-dormant daddy instincts.
When a surprise blizzard traps them alone in Nick’s isolated forest home, their attraction burns even brighter. Will they surrender to the sizzling connection between them and find the release and comfort they crave?
Santa Daddy is a holiday gay romance from Keira Andrews featuring an age gap, steamy m/m first times, daddy role-playing and light spanking, Christmas romance feels, and of course a happy ending.
Acknowledgments and Dedication
Thanks to Anara, Mary, DJ Jamison, and Leta Blake. This one’s for everyone who loves the holidays as much as I do. Fa la la la la! <3
Chapter One
Mall Santas weren’t supposed to be hot.
Heart thudding from his run through town, Hunter stopped short inside the storage room, the back door to the parking lot slamming shut behind him with a gust of frigid air. He blinked at the vision standing in front of him like a mirage amid the stacks of dusty boxes and crates.
Was he still asleep? Was this a fever dream? Because mall Santas were supposed to be old and kind of short and schlubby. It was the law of the universe or something.
Yet this Santa—probably mid-forties and wearing shiny black boots, red velvet pants with fuzzy white cuffs, and a matching red velvet coat hanging open—was something out of a Details lumberjack photo shoot or one of those fireman calendars Hunter’s mom got every year that he used to secretly jerk off to as a teenager.
A white tank top stretched over Santa’s broad, muscular chest, dark hair peeking out the top of the cotton, his nipples hard and skin a warm olive. His short hair and full, trimmed beard were way more pepper than salt, but the scattered silver highlights were crazy sexy. He had to be at least six-two and towered over Hunter, arching a dark eyebrow.
Please ask if I’ve been naughty or nice.
“About time.”
Hunter blinked at him, his porno fantasy evaporating as he tried to catch his breath. “Huh?”
“You’re late,” Santa accused gruffly.
“Oh. Right.” A burst of anxiety froze out the sizzle of lust that had warmed Hunter’s veins. “I know, sorry.” He panted softly, pulling off his wool hat. His hair fell over his forehead, and he pushed a strand out of his eye. “I overslept.”
Santa stared at him as if he was profoundly stupid and/or pathetic. “It’s almost noon.”
What are you, my father? Hunter squirmed with embarrassment. He despised being late, but he couldn’t turn back time now and erase the last twenty minutes. He hadn’t intended to stay up until almost four playing God of War, and then he’d set his alarm for ten p.m. instead of a.m. because he was a tool.
He knew this—he didn’t need inappropriately hot Santa to remind him. Mall Santas were also supposed to be jolly and kind, not judgy assholes. He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. You’re not my boss. And where’s Mr. Tremblay?”
“Broke his hip.”
“Oh. Shit, that sucks.” Old Mr. Tremblay had been Pinevale’s mall Santa for as long as Hunter could remember. “Um, I’m Hunter. Hunter Adams.” A couple hours north of Toronto, Pinevale wasn’t so small that he knew everyone in town, but Hunter definitely would have remembered seeing this guy around. Where on earth had John found him?
“I’m Mr. Spini.”
A first name was apparently unforthcoming. Who did this guy think he was? Hunter was twenty-three, not some kid. Before Hunter could say as much, John Singh bustled in through the mall entrance beyond the boxes, pushing wire-rimmed glasses up his nose and wearing an incredibly ugly reindeer sweater with fuzzy antlers. In his fifties, he and his husband, Desmond, lived a few blocks from Hunter’s mom. He was short, stout, and always in a hurry, but was usually smiling. Not now, though.
“Hunter! Finally.”
“I know, I know. Sorry.” Hunter’s face went hot as he shrugged off his backpack and pulled out the ridiculous candy-cane tights. Keeping his head down, he unlaced his boots and stripped off his jeans, goosebumps spreading over his skin in the chill of the storage room, the floor freezing. As he tugged the tights over his boxer briefs, he looked up and met Santa’s gaze, which swept down Hunter’s body.
“What?” Hunter shoved his socked feet into the too-tight black slippers with toes curved inward and golden bell on the ends. He muttered, “I look lame, I know.”
Not all of us can look unfairly hot in these costumes.
Santa said nothing as John handed him the padded belly, long white beard, and red velvet hat with white trim. “Final touches.”
Hunter buttoned the green velvet jacket that barely covered his ass and junk, the fluffy white cuffs landing two inches above his wrists. The seams were snug around his shoulders, and he couldn’t really lift his arms. Last time he played elf was his senior year of high school, and he hadn’t realized how much he’d grown in five years. He’d been a late bloomer, although usually he still felt like that pimply, bony kid.
“Good thing this is the last year for Santa’s Village.” Not that he’d be desperate enough to be an elf again next year. He was getting a real job in January if it killed him. A job that didn’t require a humiliating costume.
Then he felt like a dick and quickly added, “I just mean because the costume’s too small on me now. It sucks that the mall’s closing.” Even though it was the Mall That Time Forgot and was super depressing.
John had been the mall manager for ages, and he’d been a good boss. When Hunter had emailed him on the off chance he had seasonal work, he hadn’t been thinking of playing elf again, but beggars couldn’t be choosers and all that. He’d been lucky John
had given him the job at all.
John waved his hand. “No offense taken. Gotta move with the times. Did you hear they’re putting in a Marshall’s and an Outback Steakhouse? And the old grocery store on Lake Street is shutting down and a big one’s going here. It’ll be box stores: Treeview Plaza instead of Treeview Mall. The new owners are keeping me on to manage, so I’m good. Security, snow removal—there’s still a lot to coordinate.” Sweat beaded on his brown skin, and he swiped a hand over his forehead. “It’s a sauna out there—the heater’s stuck on high.”
Hunter shivered. “Yet it’s freezing back here.”
John grimaced. “Same in my office and the bathrooms, but obviously there’s no sense in paying to fix it. The last day is December thirty-first, and then they’re tearing this old dog down and rebuilding come spring. But first we need to give this mall one last Christmas to remember. Right, team?”
Santa buckled the wide black belt around his fake belly, his long white beard obscuring the lower part of his face. He muttered, “Why did I agree to this?”
“Because you’re a good friend who’s doing me a favor at the last minute. I’ll find someone else for next weekend, I promise. Plus all the money’s going to buy toys for kids and turkey dinners. With the factory closing down this summer, it’ll be a lean Christmas for a lot of folks. So that’s why you agreed to this, for the record.”
Santa only grumbled under his breath in response, jamming the hat on his head.
“Wait. All the money?” Hunter’s stomach dropped. “Are we not getting paid?” After three unpaid internships in Toronto since he’d graduated university and still no actual jobs, he’d come home early to Pinevale for the holidays to live in his old bedroom and play mall elf one more time. At least he’d be getting minimum wage—or so he’d assumed.
“No, no!” John clapped Hunter on the shoulder. “You’ll be paid. But Mr. Tremblay had offered to give up his salary this year and donate it to Toys and Turkeys—that’s what we’re calling the fund. Nick followed suit.”
Gay Romance Holiday Collection Page 19
