Page 64 of Christmas for Keeps

“You leave on Tuesday, right? To go back and finish the school year?”

“Yes, but do we have to think about that now? I’ll miss you so much.”

“Last night at Liz’s, you said you want to move here.”

He walked two fingers down my chest. “IfI can get a job. I won’t be your kept man.”

Snickering, I decided to dish his early-morning snark about “screams of ecstasy” right back at him. “Kept man? Who says that?”

“Someone who wants to be an equal partner. I want to pay my way, Zach.”

“I know, but Liz is the chair of the school board. Do you really think you won’t get a job?”

“Never count your chickens—”

“Before they’re hatched. I know.” I scrubbed a hand across his flat belly. “But let’s assume you get a job here.”

“Sweetheart.” He leaned forward and looked me in the eye. “If I don’t get a teaching job, I’ll work at Liz’s shop. I’m moving here to be with you one way or another.”

I spread my arms, and he straddled me. After a kiss, I said, “I hope you know how happy that makes me. I have an idea for the time being.”

He leaned his head back. “What’s that?”

“Can I come to Boston and live with you until the school year is over? Then we’ll move you here.”

“That sounds amazing, but how can you do it? Your work is here.”

“You know better than that. I can take my paints and set up an easel anywhere.”

His grin started small and quickly spread across his face. “That is an astounding proposition. I thought you loved it here, though.”

“I do.” I grunted as he sneaked a hand under my sweatshirt and traced circles around my navel. “Are you trying to distract me?”

“No, but I want to keep us focused on moving back to the bedroom.”

“Connor.” I reached for the hand under my shirt and moved it to my thigh. “Stop deflecting, please. I want to live with you. We’ve been apart more than enough for an entire lifetime. I can paint in Boston while you’re at work, and we’ll be together when you come home. We’ll come back to Stowe for some weekends, and in June, we’ll move here to stay.”

His eyes welled with emotion, but he couldn’t hide a trace of worry. “You’d do that for me?”

“I’ll do it for us.”

“Who’ll take care of your place? And what about Jackie? Can you finish the painting you’re working on? Wouldn’t you miss—”

“I’ll missyouif we aren’t together.Thatwould keep me from working. Living in Boston will not.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve missed you all I ever intend to. Please don’t fight me on this.”

He stared into my eyes for so long I was afraid he wouldn’t listen, but then he smiled, and I was able to take a breath. “I don’t want to be apart either,” he said. “If you’re willing to come to Boston for a few months, I’ll be the happiest second grade teacher in the Commonwealth.”

“Consider it done,” I said. “We have a week to get things in order, so we’d better start today.”

“Tomorrow, Mr. Harris.” A finger found its way to my navel—how did he get it under my shirt again?—and my dick twitched. “You promised me today in bed. Tomorrow, we’ll solve problems.”

His mouth closed over mine, and I moaned as he licked his way inside. A day in bed wouldn’t be nearly long enough, but it would be a good start on the rest of our lives.

January 6

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