Page 33 of A Gift of Time
Dragging the seven and a half foot tall Frasier Fir tree through the doorway was a challenge, but we accomplished it with only using the bare minimal amount of curse words. The workers at the tree farm had helped us wrap the tree, so we worked on taking the wrapping off once it was through the door and sitting in the living room.
I glanced at the new, red accent wall after we’d set the tree down and nodded, pleased with how it turned out.
“It really does liven up the place,” I said, trying to catch my breath.
“I’m glad you approve.” Caden walked into the kitchen, grabbed two glasses from the cabinet, and filled them with water before handing me one. “Let’s take a breather for a few and then we can set up the tree.”
Once we rested for a bit, we managed to move the tree to the other side of the fireplace, where it sat with the large window behind it. Caden had picked out the tree skirt, red and gold color scheme for the ornaments and garland, and he’d chosen colored lights.
“We need Christmas music while we do this,” Caden suggested, peeking at me over one of the dark-green branches. Strands of his blond hair stuck out from the beanie he wore, and his cheeks were still rosy from the cold air nipping them. And the smile lighting his face was fucking magnificent. “Can I put some on?”
“Whatever you want,” I answered as my heart skipped a beat.
He pulled up a music app on my Blu-ray player and selected a Christmas station. AsJingle Bellssounded through the speakers, he returned to his spot beside me and put his hands on his hips.
“Okay, let’s string the lights,” he said before bending over to pull them from the shopping bag.
I couldn’t help but look at his ass as he did.
Dammit, I was so fucking horny. Yeah, I could get sex from any number of people, but Caden was the only one for me—the only one I wanted—and I wouldn’t ever stop loving him. Not until the breath left my lungs… and possibly not even then.
Before he caught me checking him out, I moved my attention back to the tree.
“We should wrap the lights a little around each branch,” I suggested, remembering the trick he had taught me during our first Christmas together. “That way, it spreads out the lights more, and prevents those dark holes.”
“No way. I always do that.” He looked at me in awe. “Most people just lay it on the branch and move on.”
“Well a friend taught me the trick, so I can’t take all the credit,” I said, trying to fight the urge to move closer to him.
He smelled like a combination of the earthy scent of the tree and the cologne he’d put on early that morning, and I had the impulse to lean forward and bury my face in his neck. I didn’t, but fuck it all, the desire was strong.
“This friend sounds great,” he said with a smile.
“Only the best,” I answered as an ache touched my heart. Knowing I’d breakdown if I kept looking at him, I dropped my gaze to the lights in his hands. “Ready to put those babies on the tree?”
“Not to boast, but I’m kind of an amazing Christmas decorator,” Caden said, giving me a playfully snooty expression. “Move aside and watch how it’s done, Mr. Taylor.”
I motioned for him to continue, grinning at his self-assured behavior. All a show, of course. He was the least arrogant person I knew.
After the lights, it was time for the garland.
“Are you gonna let me help with this one?” I asked, shoulder bumping him.
He chuckled. “I guess so.”
We moved around each other as we strung the gold garland, making sure it was all evenly spaced among the branches, otherwise Caden would freak out. As he walked around the tree, placing the garland as he went, I worked on doing the same with the other gold strand.
That’s when we bumped into each other.
More laughs were shared, and for a moment, I wondered if he was fighting the same urges I was.
Against my chest, he glanced up at me, and the look in his eyes made my pulse quicken. His gaze darted to my lips before lifting again, and his chest rose and fell faster than before.
The attraction between us was intense, as was the sexual tension.
Just as I thought he was going to kiss me, he stepped back. “I think it’s time for the ornaments now.” He grabbed the box of them and opened it, and perhaps it was just my paranoid mind, but it seemed like he was intentionally avoiding looking at me. “I like to place some of them inside the tree, too, to fill the holes and make it shinier.”
I’d like to fillyourhole.
