Page 38 of Daddy's Christmas Elf
“This is nice,” Eli murmured.
It was, a thousand times and more. Grey slipped his arm around Eli, who edged closer as though seeking warmth and shelter from a world that was cold and hostile.
“We should have a shower ‘cause we’re a mess.” Eli chuckled, his breath soft against Grey’s skin and sending waves of warmth through his blood.
“No rush. Here, just like this is good.”
“Hmm, nice here, so nice…” Eli’s words dissolved into a fuzzy, incoherent mumble before his breathing settled into an even in-out, in-out, as he fell asleep in Grey’s arms.
Grey drifted his hands through Eli’s dark, silky hair, a warm smile sweeping through his body when he was rewarded with a sigh. Even in his sleep, Eli craved to be cared for, all the bright and breezy front he put on to face the world stripped and thrown away.
As Eli slept soundly in his arms, Grey had never been more alert and awake. And alive, as a light had been switched back on in his life, melting away the gloomy shadows cast by the failure of his marriage. And it had all been because of his little elf, asleep in his arms. In a matter of days, just scant days, his world had changed and if he knew one thing, it was that he could never go back to that cold, sterile place that had been his existence before events had thrust this stunning man into his path.
In his arms, Eli shifted, and Grey gazed down. His heart melted at the sight of the younger man nestled hard against him, his arm thrown across Grey’s chest as though afraid Grey might try and escape. Grey inclined his head, the impulse too great to resist even if he’d wanted to, to plant a soft and tender kiss on the top of Eli’s head, his heart soaring as Eli sighed in response.
Grey closed his eyes and let himself sink into the moment, letting the warmth of the room and the warmth of the man in his arms ease him into sleep. He should sweep Eli up in his arms and carry him off to bed, but he didn’t want to move or think any more, as he began to fall deeper and deeper…
Grey’s eyes shot open, wide awake and brain on high alert, as he jerked up to sitting. Eli had fallen out of his arms and was curled up in a ball, one hand low behind his back, his face crunched up in pain.
“Eli? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, or not now your cock’s only a lick away from my mouth. Ouch!” Eli’s face scrunched some more.
Grey looked down at his dick. Like Grey, it was waking up after his nap.
“My lower back’s a bit stiff, I think it’s where I took the brunt of the fall earlier. It’s nothing.” Eli offered up a watery smile.
“Let me have a look.”
“No, it’s okay. But perhaps I should be in bed, somewhere a bit softer than the floor.”
“I said, let me look.” Grey’s voice was calm, steady and steely, the voice he used for difficult clients. And as for going to bed, Eli would be slipping between the sheets ofhisbed tonight.
Eli turned onto his stomach, all argument shelved.
Grey winced. Just above the cleft of Eli’s arse cheeks, a large bruise had formed, spreading out like a flooded lake. Anger began to fight its way out of Grey, and he clenched his teeth together hard.
Anger at himself.
How could he have not noticed? But he knew. He’d been too wrapped up in his own need for Eli when all that should have mattered was what Eli had needed.
He should have insisted on taking Eli to A&E earlier. He’d fallen hard, he’d been shocked and shaking, and had needed to be checked over by a doctor, despite his protestations. Grey sucked in a deep breath and threw a glance up at the ceiling. He should have listened harder to his instincts, and damn well taken matters into his own hands.
“It’s just bruised, and it’s stiffened up a bit.” Eli mumbled. On his front, his face was buried into his crossed over arms. He lifted his head and looked up. “I’ve not damaged it, which I think we’ve proved, so no I don’t need to go to A&E because I know what you’re thinking.”
“I still—”
“No. If I’d hurt myself beyond a few bruises I’d have known. Grey, stop scowling at me. I’m a wuss, okay? If I stub my toe, I run howling for the doctor. Like I said before, I’d just be told to take ibuprofen.”
The tension holding Grey’s shoulders relaxed. Eli was right, he knew he was, but it still didn’t stop him from wanting to bundle Eli up in his arms and carry him off to hospital.
“Okay, you win,” he huffed, “but let me take a closer look.”
Gently, so, so, gently, Grey felt the bruise, checking for any signs of swelling or broken skin. Without thought, and on instinct alone, Grey placed a soft kiss on the dark patch. Under his lips, Eli shivered and sighed.
“That’s nice, better than all the pain killers in the world, but talking of which…”
“Come on.” Grey leapt to his feet and helped Eli to his, holding him tight when Eli winced. “I can carry you upstairs.” He’d do it easily and willingly, but Eli shook his head.
