Page 53 of Daddy's Christmas Elf
“Second best? No, never. But you’re right about one thing. I was thinking. Not about Peter but about what he said to me. I had to think it through and admit it first to myself before I could admit it to you. The problem was, I took too long over it and before I could say everything I needed to I—I fell asleep. When I woke up, you were gone.”
“What do you mean?” Eli’s voice was the barest of whispers as he gazed up at Grey.
“Can’t you guess?” Grey leaned down, his lips no more than a breath away from Eli’s. “Can’t you guess, my little elf?”
Lips melted against lips, as soft and sweet as marshmallow laced chocolate. In the grate, the replenished logs glowed a deep, rich red and gold, and the soft lamplight cast its honey glow over them. Grey pulled back from the kiss he wanted to last forever, but there were more words to be said, words which burned deep in Grey’s heart. Leaning his forehead against Eli’s, Grey said the words that would change his and Eli’s life forever.
“I love you, Eli. I think I did from the moment I saw you staring up at me as you hid in the car. My head told me to leave you at your front door and go, and never look back. But my heart whispered no. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t leave you out in the cold then, and I can’t do it now. I want and need to keep you warm, safe and protected, but I can only do that if it’s what you want, too. Is it, Eli? Is it what you want?”
Grey’s heart thundered in his chest, as out of control as Eli himself had been as he’d hurtled down the snow-covered Heath. If Eli said no, if he couldn’t bring himself to believe, if he shook his head and pulled away…
“You know it’s what I want. I… I think you know it more than I do.”
Grey eased back and gazed at Eli, at the faint blush colouring Eli’s cheeks. Eli dipped his head for a second before he looked up, his gaze sure and steady.
“It is what I want. With you. Only you. For always.” Eli smiled and his eyes, his incredible, stunning eyes sparkled with life, and Grey’s heart danced.
Only you… For always…
Grey stood and gathered Eli up into his arms, his heart thrilling to Eli’s deep, contented sigh as he melted into Grey’s strong, sure hold.
“Love you, too.”
Grey smiled and his heart sang at the muffled words, whispered against his chest. Holding Eli tight, and never wanting to let him go, Grey carried his best Christmas gift, past, present and future, his very own little elf, upstairs to bed.
EPILOGUE
SIX MONTHS LATER
“Oh, god.”
Eli just managed to stop himself from gagging. Turning aside, and as discreetly as he could, he slipped the canapé from his mouth to the napkin and glanced around the crowded terrace, relieved not to encounter outraged glares from his fellow wedding guests. He took a swig from his flute of chilled champagne to wash away the taste of vinegary mustard, chorizo and — peanut? Young waiters and waitresses buzzed around, holding aloft dainty morsels for which, Eli noticed, there were few takers.
“Should have offered pizza bites, or mini jacket potatoes,” he muttered to himself.
“I saw that.”
A pair of strong arms wound their way around Eli’s waist and pulled him in tight against a firm and muscular body, a body Eli had had a lot of fun getting reacquainted with earlier that morning. He had, after all, been away overnight, which had felt like a lifetime supporting, as a favour to his mum and dad, a vegan food festival run by one of their friends. It was the longest time he’d spent away from Grey, and there was no way he was going to be repeating it any time soon.
“Canapé, gentlemen?” A smiley young waiter, gliding up to them, asked.
“No, thank you,” Eli and Grey said in unison, looking at each other and laughing. The waiter’s curious glance shifted from one to the other before he went on his way.
Eli stepped out of Grey’s embrace and looked up at his man.
His man…It was exactly who Grey was, and always would be.
Two little words, they had the power to make his heart beat faster and his mouth water. His man, in his dark blue suit, an exact match to his eyes, was stunning, gorgeous, breathtaking — and all his.
Eli shuffled closer and linking his hands around Grey’s neck pulled him in for a long, languorous kiss, his heart skipping and his stomach fluttering as Grey sighed and tightened his hold; Eli’s breath hitched as Grey’s arousal pressed against him.
“Do you think anybody will miss us if we just slip away?” Eli murmured against Grey’s lips.
“Don’t tempt me.” Grey’s voice was rough and raspy, and Eli shivered. “But I suspect David would and—”
A loud, exaggerated cough was a reminder they were not alone.
“David would what?” The chunky guy with bright red hair and a close cropped beard gave them both a big, beaming smile. “Send out a search party? Cut your balls off for abandoning your oldest and best friend on the day of his nuptials? Make you talk to his new father-in-law about mortgages, insurance, and home improvement loans?”
