Because Naughty Holidays Can Be Oh So Nice 2015

by Nicole Edwards

  Chapter Nine

  AFTER THEY’D HAD dessert and spent a couple of hours chatting with everyone, Ryan corralled Buddy and Z so they could get Buddy back to the nursing home before they sent out a search party.

  The drive back was full of conversation and laughter, Buddy rehashing how much he’d enjoyed the evening. Ryan had remained relatively quiet, enjoying listening to Z talk in that animated way that Ryan loved.

  It had been a good day.

  And Ryan still had another surprise in store for Z tomorrow, one that he was looking forward to. Unbeknownst to Z, Ryan had managed to get Z’s mother, brother, and sister to come to town for the holiday, agreeing to have lunch at their house to surprise Z. It hadn’t been easy, due to everyone’s schedule, but they’d managed to work it out.

  Ryan was looking forward to surprising Z. He was also looking forward to round two tonight once they finally got home.

  “Thanks for inviting me,” Buddy told Ryan when they finally arrived back at the nursing home a few minutes later. “That was the best Christmas I’ve had in a long time.”

  “We’re glad you could make it,” Ryan told him. “And like my father said, you have a standing invite from here on out.”

  Buddy smiled, then patted Ryan on the back. “That means everything to me. Almost as much as giving you away”—Buddy looked at Z—“on your wedding day.”

  Z grinned, then placed a hand on Buddy’s back, following him as he moved toward the doors that led to his wing of the home.

  “Now, go tell your ol’ man good night, then you boys go on home,” Buddy told them when the electronic doors opened. “I’ll be fine. I’m gonna go have a chat with Thomas, let him know all that happened tonight.”

  Ryan watched Z, noticed the way his eyes turned glassy for a brief moment, the emotion welling up there as it usually did. Ryan took Z’s hand in his. “Let’s go say good night to your father,” Ryan told Z. “Then we’ll go home.”

  Z nodded and allowed Buddy and Ryan to lead him to his father’s room.

  AN HOUR LATER, Ryan stepped inside their house, but before the door closed behind him, he found himself plastered against the wall, trapped by Z’s big body.

  “Do you know how much I want you right now?” Z asked.

  “You already had me once today,” Ryan reminded him, sliding his hands beneath Z’s jacket and pulling him close.

  “Not enough,” Z mumbled, pressing his lips to Ryan’s. “Never enough.”

  Ryan moaned against him, allowing his tongue to slowly slide into Z’s mouth, keeping the kiss gentle. It would be too easy to let things get out of control quickly. And since they always did, Ryan enjoyed these moments when he could leisurely explore Z, loving the deep moans and groans that rumbled in his chest.

  “I love you,” Ryan whispered against Z’s mouth. “So much.”

  “Love you, too,” Z whispered back, his hand sliding between their bodies and reaching for the button on Ryan’s jeans.

  Ryan grabbed Z’s wrist. “Hold that thought,” he mumbled against Z’s lips.

  Z pulled back, peering down at him.

  Ryan took Z’s hand and sidestepped him, then pulled him toward the kitchen. “I’ve got one last surprise for you.”

  “Ryan, you already got me the—”

  Ryan silenced him with a hand over his mouth, then pulled him into the kitchen and took a step back, watching Z’s reaction.

  “What the hell is all this?”

  Ryan laughed at Z’s bewildered expression, watching as Z looked around the kitchen, taking note of all of the wrapped gifts sitting on the counter.

  “You didn’t think I picked up on your hints, did you?” Ryan asked, leaning against the wall.

  Z glanced over at him, then turned away again, walking over to the counter.

  Ryan, with Shelby’s help, had wrapped all of the items and placed them where they belonged in the kitchen.

  Z touched one of the wrapped items. “Let me guess, a Keurig coffee maker.”

  Ryan nodded.

  “And a set of measuring cups,” Z said, turning to the other items on the island.

  Z looked over at Ryan. Ryan nodded again.

  “Oven mitts?”

  Ryan smiled.

  “Why did you do this?” Z asked, still clearly confused.

  Ryan moved closer and wrapped his arm around Z, pulling him in. “I was too worried that I wouldn’t find the perfect gift, so I ordered all that stuff you circled in that ad. I thought maybe you could help me make lunch tomorrow.”

  Z’s eyebrows lowered. “Lunch?”

  Ryan nodded. “Just a small get-together. Trace, Marissa. Nothing big.”

  Truth was, Trace and Marissa weren’t coming, but Z didn’t need to know that. It provided Ryan with a good cover, so he went with it.

  “Lunch. Tomorrow.” Z looked around the kitchen again. “But I didn’t get you anything else.”

  Ryan smiled up at Z. “And that’s not the point. You’re the only gift I need. The best one I could ever ask for.”

  A smile formed on Z’s mouth and Ryan knew what was coming. Something dirty and salacious, and yes, that was another reason he loved Z so damn much.

  “Well, I’ve got an idea,” Z whispered, jerking Ryan to him. “And it involves you naked.”

  “I like where this is going,” Ryan told him. Definitely liked where this was going. “Mind if I shower first?”

  “As long as I can shower with you.”

  “Thought you’d never ask.”

  Z DIDN’T LINGER in the shower with RT. He teased him briefly, washed them both, and then got out, tossing a towel to RT before slipping into the bedroom.

  “Don’t come out until I tell you,” Z instructed, smiling when RT huffed.

  Moving with purpose, Z snatched the box he kept hidden in the closet, retrieved the few items he needed, then set up the bedroom, lighting a few candles along the way. When he was finished, he took a step back and surveyed the room before telling RT he could come out.

  RT walked out, naked as the day he was born, and Z took a minute to look at him. Smooth skin over sleek muscle. Damn, the man made him hard.

  “Sit,” Z ordered, pointing toward the chair in the corner.

  RT looked at the bed, then over to the chair.

  “No bed tonight,” he told RT. “Gotta mix it up a little.”

  RT smiled, though Z could tell he was trying to keep from doing so. He moved slowly across the room, then lowered himself into the extra-wide, oversized upholstered chair RT sometimes used to read.

  Once RT was settled, Z moved around behind him.

  “What’re you doin’?” RT asked when Z took one of his hands and pulled it over the arm of the chair, securing it to the Velcro tie that he’d looped under the chair.

  Z didn’t answer him, simply moved to his other side and secured that hand, too, ensuring RT couldn’t move his arms.

  “Blindfold or no blindfold?” Z asked, holding one in his hand just in case.

  RT shook his head. “Wanna watch what you do to me.”

  Z was okay with that. He loved when RT watched him, loved seeing the expressions flitter across his face.

  “Spread your legs,” Z instructed, then knelt in front of the chair when RT pushed his knees apart.

  Z started by kissing the inside of RT’s thigh, slowly working his way up, keeping his eyes trained on RT’s face as he licked and kissed him. When Z made it to RT’s cock, RT relaxed in the chair, his focus between his legs.

  Swirling his tongue around the head of RT’s dick, he closed his eyes and hummed his pleasure.

  RT grunted, his hips bucking slightly, but Z pressed down on his thighs, holding him in place while he laved him, keeping a slow, steady pace. He didn’t want to rush. He wanted to savor every second.

  “You taste good,” Z told RT, sucking on the engorged head, teasing the hole with his tongue. Instead of taking RT in his mouth, Z placed kisses along the underside, moving downward. He briefly lick
ed RT’s balls, long enough to have RT’s body going rigid.

  “Z,” RT hissed.

  Z smiled, then resumed his feast, licking, sucking, tasting.

  While he continued to play, Z retrieved the lube he’d stashed under the chair, then squirted a generous amount in his palm before lubing RT, stroking him slowly, leisurely while he sat at RT’s feet and watched.

  “Good?” Z asked, teasing RT more.

  “So good,” RT said through clenched teeth, his eyes darting from between his legs where Z was jacking him, up to Z’s face, and then back down again.

  Releasing RT from his grasp, Z got to his feet and took his own cock in his fist, stroking slowly and watching as RT’s eyes glazed over. Z reached for RT’s head, sliding his fingers through the wet, blond strands and pulling RT forward. He grazed the sensitive head of his dick across RT’s lips.

  “Open for me,” he ordered.

  When RT did, Z shifted his hips forward, pulling RT’s head toward him and sliding past those smooth, warm lips.

  “Suck me, Ryan.”

  Since RT couldn’t use his hands, Z had complete control, and he used it to his advantage, driving his dick into RT’s mouth slow and easy, forcing himself deep while he watched RT’s face.

  “I could watch you do this all day,” Z told him. It was true.

  For several more minutes, Z enjoyed the pleasure of RT’s mouth, but when it became too much, he pulled back, not ready to come just yet. He released RT’s head, then applied more lube to his hand, this time working his dick until he was slippery.

  He had to get creative with his next plan, because the chair was low, and Z’s legs were long, but he managed to work a couple of pillows beneath RT before he planted one knee on the chair, then grabbed RT’s legs and worked his dick inside him, watching RT’s face flush as Z fucked him slow and easy.

  “Never tire of this, either,” Z groaned. “So fucking tight.”

  RT growled, and it was obvious he was trying to control things, but being restrained, he was at Z’s mercy. Just the way Z wanted him.

  “Don’t you dare come,” Z warned RT.

  RT narrowed his eyes at Z, a clear warning of his own, which made Z’s balls draw up against his body. He was going to come and he was going to come soon.

  But not yet.

  Z pulled out of RT after long minutes, then crawled into the chair, straddling RT’s legs. Thank God the chair was big or there was no way the two of them would ever fit on it, but that had been one of the reasons Z had picked this particular one. So he could do this.

  As he sat astride RT, he reached behind him, gripped RT’s thick cock, and guided it to his entrance.

  “Fuck,” RT growled when Z lowered himself onto him, taking RT inside him with ease.

  “Ah, yeah.” Z continued to watch RT. “You like when I ride your dick, don’t you?”

  RT groaned, his body tense, his hands pulling at the restraints.

  “Need more?” Z asked, smiling at RT.

  “You know I do,” he ground out.

  Z gave RT just what he needed, impaling himself on RT’s cock, riding him hard and fast until they were both breathing hard. Z fisted his cock, stroking in time with the movement of his hips as he lifted and lowered himself on RT.

  “You ready to come for me?” Z asked.

  RT’s ice-blue gaze lifted to meet Z’s and he nodded.

  “Come for me, baby. Come deep in my ass.”

  Z didn’t slow, his thighs screaming from exertion as he continued to ride RT until Z saw the moment RT lost that hard-won control he was so often keeping a firm grip on. It was in these moments that Z felt like the king of the world, capable of robbing RT of that control, sending him over even if RT was the one fucking him into oblivion.

  “Fuck… Z… Ah … damn.” RT’s hips bucked and then stilled, his dick pulsing in Z’s ass.

  That triggered Z’s release, and he gripped his cock tightly, shooting across RT’s chest, which earned him another thrust from RT as he groaned again.

  “Merry Christmas,” Z whispered, leaning forward and kissing RT softly.

  “Merry Christmas,” RT said with a sigh, relaxing into the cushion and closing his eyes.

  Best damn Christmas ever.

  Chapter Ten

  THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Ryan woke in an empty bed. He could smell food, which meant Z was already up, likely playing with his new toys in the kitchen.

  The thought made Ryan smile.

  Last night, after Z had rocked his fucking world, tying him to the chair, then fucking him like that… The thought made Ryan’s dick hard instantly. It had been incredible. But curling up with Z, holding him while they drifted off, that had been beyond description.

  Every minute he spent with Z reminded him of all the time he’d lost with the man. All the hell he’d put them both through, and he was forever grateful that Z had forgiven him for all he’d done. As far as he was concerned, he really was the luckiest man on the planet.

  Turning his head to the side, Ryan looked at the clock, then bolted upright in the bed.

  It was already eleven o’clock. How in the hell had he slept that late?

  Jumping out of bed, he rushed to the shower, quickly soaped up and rinsed off, then brushed his teeth and got dressed. He did all of that before he checked his phone.

  He’d purposely put it on silent last night, not wanting to ruin the surprise for Z if Reese or Jensyn texted him. And now, as he peered at the screen, he saw that they had.

  They were leaving Cindy’s house and heading their way. Based on the time he’d received the text, they should be there any minute.

  “Shit.”

  Doing his best to appear calm, Ryan came out of the bedroom, forcing himself to move slowly. He’d been right, Z was in the kitchen, cooking something. All of the gifts that had still been wrapped last night had been unwrapped and placed in the spots Z wanted them.

  “Mornin’,” Z greeted, moving toward him and pulling Ryan in for a kiss.

  Ryan was breathing hard by the time Z released him. “What was that for?”

  “Can’t a man simply kiss his husband because he wants to?”

  “He could,” Ryan said slowly. “But he usually doesn’t.”

  Z grinned, placing his hands on his hips. “Ryan Jacob Trexler, I know what you’re up to.”

  “You do?” Ryan was tempted to look around to see if he’d missed something. Or someone. But he didn’t. Somehow, he managed to face off with Z.

  “You forget who you’re dealin’ with,” Z said. “I’m an elite security advisor. I can figure shit out.”

  “You can?” Ryan was a little lost. How the hell had Z figured it out? Granted, Z wasn’t wrong. He was one of the best that Sniper 1 Security employed, but Ryan had thought he’d managed to keep it a secret.

  “Yep.”

  Ryan waited for Z to elaborate, but he didn’t.

  Then the doorbell rang and Z’s eyes widened. Ryan watched as he walked across the living room, saying, “I’m gonna be an uncle, I’m gonna be an— Mom! What are you doing here?”

  Okay, that was not the sound of a man who’d figured anything out. Ryan released his breath and sagged against the wall as he watched Z pick up his mother, hugging her as he spun her around.

  Z set Cindy on her feet and smiled down at her. “I thought—”

  “You thought what, big brother?” Jensyn asked, stepping into the doorway before Z could close the door.

  This was one of those moments, one of those memories. Ryan quickly grabbed his phone from his pocket and snapped several pictures of Z and his sister. Then more when Reese stepped inside. For a second, it looked as though Z was going to lose his shit.

  Smiling, Ryan made his way to the living room, greeting Cindy, Jensyn, and Reese while keeping his eye on Z.

  And Ryan knew then that the best gift to get Z was family. It was all the man needed.

  OKAY, SO THIS explained the confused look on RT’s face when Z had told him he’d
figured him out. However, Z wouldn’t have guessed that RT had been able to pull this off. He’d been thinking more along the lines of RT buying him the stuff for the kitchen so he could get more creative with meals.

  RT had just given him the greatest gift in the world. His family.

  Then again, RT had given him everything he needed already. His love, his support, his devotion.

  “So, did it work? Were you surprised?” Jensyn asked as Z helped her out of her coat.

  “I’d say,” Z muttered.

  “That man of yours … he’s rather persuasive, you know that?” Reese said, handing his coat to Z. “I’m pretty sure he could sell ice to an Eskimo.”

  About that, Z had no doubt.

  While RT led Z’s mother into the kitchen, Reese and Jensyn not far behind, Z stood where he was, admiring the man he’d married. A year ago, Z never would’ve thought he’d be here. Not at this point in his life, happier than he’d ever been, and certainly not with the man of his dreams.

  Yet here he was.

  And to think, RT had been worried about what to get Z for Christmas. Only somehow, during all that worry, RT had gone above and beyond anything anyone had ever given him.

  Ryan Trexler had given him memories to last a lifetime.

  And in return, Z would give RT the one thing he would never give anyone else.

  His heart.

  Red’s Jack Daniel’s Pecan Pie Recipe

  1 cup sugar

  ¼ cup butter (soft)

  3 eggs slightly beaten

  ¾ cup corn syrup (light or dark Karo – we use light)

  ¼ tsp salt

  2 to 3 tablespoons Jack Daniel’s whiskey

  1 tsp vanilla

  3/4 cup chopped pecans

  ½ cup chocolate chips

  1 9-inch pie shell- put tin foil around edge of crust so it doesn’t get brown before pie is done.

  Cream sugar and butter, add eggs, syrup, salt, Jack Daniel’s, and vanilla. Mix until blended. Spread pecans and chocolate chips in bottom of pie shell. Pecans will rise to top. Pour filling on top of mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for at least 40 to 50 minutes.

  Note from Nicole:

  This recipe was one that Colt’s neighbor made every year for Christmas and brought one to his family when he was growing up. When Colt and I were married in 2002, Red brought one for the judge who performed our ceremony as well as one for us. Every year since, I’ve been making them for our family and friends and it has become one of the favorite holiday treats in our house.