Page 10 of Daddy's Christmas Elf
Eli’s attention wasn’t on Grey, but on the large square entrance hall, every inch lit with warm light from the huge modern, minimalist chandelier.
“I think the whole of Benny’s house would fit into here, but yes please, to a change of clothes.” Eli switched his focus to Grey. “This stupid costume was uncomfortable before, but now it’s wet it’s chaffing. Whoops, that was probably TMI.” Eli smiled, but patches of red stained his cheeks.
Too much information? Probably, but the costume really did seem to have shrunk. The leggings were moulded around Eli’s long legs, and the jacket hugged every inch of his willowy torso. Grey’s stomach muscles tightened. Jesus, since when had sexy little elves been a thing—
Eli’s exaggerated cough snagged Grey’s attention. The younger man was staring at him, his heterochromatic eyes dazzling. Had Eli read his thoughts? His very inappropriate thoughts?
“The first thing I need to do, though, is cancel my debit card. With the bank. Not that there’s much in the account, but…” Eli shrugged. “If I could, erm, use your phone?”
“Yes, of course. And your mobile, you’ll need to get in touch with your network provider. And what about your keys?”
Eli shook his head. “The phone was a piece of crap pay-as-you-go that was on its last legs with less than £10.00 credit left on it. Whoever was mad enough to steal it has probably chucked it away in disgust. As for the keys, there was nothing with them that identifies the house. It’s just my bank card I need to sort out.”
“Who do you bank with?”
Eli told him and Grey pulled up the website before handing the phone over, earning himself a smile before Eli turned aside.
“All done,” Eli said a couple of minutes later. “They’ve frozen the card, and are sending me a replacement.” Eli handed back the phone, his fingers brushing against Grey’s.
“Good. Follow me.” Grey led the way upstairs, his fingers tingling and his voice gruffer than he’d intended. Behind him, Eli jingled with every step. “There’s an en-suite if you want a shower, with plenty of toiletries and a spare toothbrush. I’ll find you something to put on. It’ll be too big but—”
“Anything will do. Seriously, it doesn’t matter. Well, not another nylon elf costume, perhaps, but then I don’t imagine you’ve got too many of those hanging in your wardrobe? Or…?”
Grey laughed, and Eli joined in.
“No elf costumes, I promise. I’ll see what I can find, and I’ll leave it on the end of the bed. Come downstairs when you’re ready, to the kitchen.”
* * *
“Cute doggie. Part dachshund?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Grey swung around. His mouth dried and his pulse spiked, because it wasn’t only the tiny mutt playing around his feet that was cute.
Eli smiled at him as he folded the arms back on the sweatshirt Grey had left for him. The navy top and the matching tracksuit bottoms swamped Eli, but anything Grey owned would do so because although Eli was probably around five foot ten, Grey was a good six inches or so taller, and broader to match.
With his face washed clean of the make-up he’d been forced to wear, Grey could see how pale Eli was, emphasised by the first faint shadow of dark scruff. Eli was stunning, no two ways, and for one shocking and blinding moment, Grey understood why Murray had dragged Eli onto his lap.
What the—?
No. There was nothing to understand about it, nothing at all, yet Grey couldn’t control or deny the frisson that skittered down his spine. Forcing the exciting, disturbing thought away, Grey managed, just, to switch to his cool and logical head, the one that had made him wealthy and had cemented his place in the hard, unforgiving world of finance.
He looks so tired and worn out.
The muscles in Grey’s stomach twisted and tightened as he studied the faint shadows staining the skin beneath Eli’s eyes; he looked as though he’d not slept properly in days, or weeks. Grey swallowed. He understood not sleeping, staring up at the ceiling and watching the sunrise creep its way across.
What keeps you staring at the ceiling, Eli? What keeps you awake at night?
Eli had stopped folding back the overlong sleeves, and was looking at the pan on the hob and the bowl set out next to it, along with the bread.
“I thought you might like some soup. Other than the basics, I’m out of almost everything until my grocery delivery arrives.”
Eli’s face lit up in a bright smile, disguising for a moment how exhausted he looked.
“Soup’s great. I’ve not had anything to eat since breakfast. I was expecting to eat after the party, but we know how that turned out.” The brightness in his face dimmed as he settled himself at the table. “Who’s your girlfriend? Is it a she? Can’t see from here.” Eli peered at the dog, who retreated around the central island, its long snout peeking out from around the corner.
“She’s a he. No girlfriend for me.” Grey glanced at Eli, holding his gaze for a beat as he put the soup in front of Eli. “He’s called Trevor.”
Eli’s hand, clutching the soup spoon, stopped part way between the bowl and his mouth.
