Page 32 of Daddy's Christmas Elf
Trevor padded into the room, yapping to announce his presence. Eli bundled the dog into his arms, and buried his face in his fur, looking up at Grey through his long dark lashes.
“I, erm, think we deserve a treat after all our hard work, don’t you?”
“A treat?” Grey had no idea what Eli was talking about, because all he could feel was the tingling heat in his hands from that illicit touch.
“Hmm, some eggnog and more mince pies. And maybe stollen. Followed by some more chocolates.”
Grey barked out a laugh. Sugar laden treats, none anywhere near as sweet and delicious as Eli, but way, way safer.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
An early dinner replaced Eli’s suggested sugar fest. Grey had cooked the meal, batting away Eli’s offer of help as he ordered him to rest. A simple chicken stew served up with buttery mashed potatoes. Maybe not the festive treats Eli had been hankering for, but the satisfied look on Eli’s face when he finished his last mouthful made Grey’s heart glad. The two of them together, in the warm kitchen, was perfect domesticity.
“That was lovely, thank you. I thought you said you weren’t much of a cook?” Eli stretched and yawned with feline grace.
Grey shrugged. “The few things I do, I do well.”
It wasn’t a boast or a brag, but the simple truth. Peter had been the cook out of the two of them.
Peter…Just days before the smallest thought of his ex would have pulled him down like a brick in water, but in the warmth of the kitchen, with Eli, the man who’d been his world for so many years felt far away, out of focus and indistinct
“Well, I’m sure there are lots and lots of things you do well.” Eli’s lips lifted in a dark smile, but his eyes held a glint of mischief.
“Eli,” Grey growled.
Eli laughed. “I know, I know. I’m being a bad boy.”
A bad boy… A pulse of heat shot through Grey and his cock stiffened, tightening the front of his jeans. He was more than sure Eli was capable of being a bad boy. A very bad boy. Grey shifted in his seat, trying and failing to push away images of Eli being bad for him.
“Grey? You’re miles away. What are you thinking about?”
Eli was standing over him, holding their plates as he smiled down at Grey. His spellbinding eyes appeared darker than normal. Darker, and watchful, as though watching all of those thoughts Grey couldn’t get out of his head. Thoughts he was determined they werenotgoing to act upon, yet, as he met Eli’s gaze, Grey’s determination no longer felt quite so resolute.
“I can make some coffee, if you like, and then we can have all the Christmas food you wouldn’t let me have earlier, for pudding.” Eli laughed, the sound bright and clear, sweeping away the dark heat of moments before.
Maybe he’d imagined whatever it was he thought he’d seen… Maybe.
“Or, I’ve got some brandy if you’d rather?” Grey blurted out.
Eli nodded with enthusiasm. “Just for medicinal purposes, of course. After my near death experience from earlier.”
They took a plate, piled high with Christmas sweetness, into the living room. The fire danced in the grate, the flames licking the logs like long red tongues. Grey pulled out a bottle and a couple of glasses, and poured the deep golden spirit.
“Hmmm, perfect.” Eli closed his eyes as he sipped, the tip of his tongue sweeping across his lips, lapping up the drink and leaving a damp sheen on his plump red lips.
Grey swallowed, unable to look away. Full, red lips aching to be kissed. He could kiss them, he yearned to kiss them, kiss them and more. His grip on his glass tightened and he bit hard against the inside of his cheek, so much that he winced and tasted the metallic tang of blood.
No. He had offered Eli a home for Christmas, and there was no way he was going to insist on rent Eli might feel obligated to pay.
Grey gulped at his brandy. The alcohol stung the bite on the inside of his cheek, and burnt his throat, making his eyes water.
“I never used to like spirits, or not until I found Benny’s secret stash.”
Grey jumped at Eli’s sudden words. Curled up on the sofa, Eli smiled, his startling two-tone gaze resting on Grey.
“I think it might be one of the reasons he wants me gone.” Eli’s face fell, and his shoulders slumped, before he forced the smile back on to his lips which didn’t reach his eyes. “But that’s for the New Year, not now, because now is the time for that last mince pie, which is looking very lonely on its own.”
Eli groaned as he took a bite, his eyes fluttering to a close. Golden crumbs clung to his lips and he lapped them away. But he missed a piece, and it took everything Grey had to not lean forward and kiss the evidence away.
