Page 12 of Meeting Mr. Christmas
“And you’re constantly angling for treats. I will not give in.”
Peter’s whimpers grew louder, his balance more wobbly, his big melted chocolate eyes more beseeching. Noel would not give in.
He gave in.
As Peter crunched down on his treat, Noel gazed out on the quiet street, his thoughts turning back to Jed.
No, whatever Kent thought he saw, he was wrong. “Just wanted an easy way to get out of seeing me again,” he murmured, his warm breath misting the window. Jed might be his secret — and hopeless — fantasy, but he sure wasn’t Jed’s. If he were, he’d know, because that was all part of being best friends — they knew everything about each other, about how they thought, about what they wanted in life.
Noel sighed. Okay, Jed might not know what his secret was, what he thought, or what he wanted, but what he knew for sure was that Jed didn’t harbor a secret desire to find out about the joys of cock. His or anybody else’s.
“We’re friends, Peter. That’s all. It doesn’t matter what I want, that’s how it is and that’s the way it’s going to stay.”
Peter stared at him as he carried on crunching down on his treat.
“And you know what best friends do? They have lunch.”
Peter snorted again. Noel was sure he did, but it turned to a yelp of excitement as Noel grinned, picking up Peter’s leash and his new Christmas themed doggie coat.
“Hello, Noel. And Peter, too.” Lucian rushed around the counter and sat on his haunches, making a fuss over the little dog. “You are so unbelievably cute.” Peter wagged his tail hard. If dogs could preen, Peter was preening for all he was worth. “Are you here for Jed?” Lucian got to his feet. “He’s just making a few deliveries, but he should be back shortly. I’m just about to have a nice cup of Earl Grey. Would you like one, too? We always have some doggie treats as well, out the back.”
Very posh, very quirky, and very English, Lucian Blaxston, soon to be Lucian Blaxston-McDonald when he married his fiancé Arlo, who was an old family friend of the Masons. Noel liked Lucian. The guy was always friendly, but Lucian always made him feel like he should drop into a curtsey and address him asm’lord.
“I am, and no thanks. To the tea, I mean. And Peter’s had his treats for today.” Peter whined and tried to look pathetic. Lucian laughed.
“Make sure he knows who’s boss. It’s the only way to be with dogs.”
Noel looked down at Peter. They both knew who was the boss, that was for sure.
“Are you certain about the tea?”
“I am. But thanks.” He’d made the mistake of accepting a cup once before when he’d stopped by to see Jed, and he’d vowed never to go near the noxious, weirdly perfumed brew ever again. “Erm, will he be free for his lunch break?”
“Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
Noel swung around just as the door jangled open. Jed paused in the doorway. A light flush colored his cheeks as a tentative smile lifted his lips.
“Hi.” Jed closed the door, blocking out the steadily falling snow. He pushed his hands into his coat pockets and sucked on his lower lip.
“Noel’s come to take you to lunch, although it’s looking rather ghastly out there. Honestly, we never, ever, get this amount of snow in the Home Counties. I’m really not sure if I’ll ever get used to it.”
Lucian’s cut glass accent sliced through the silence that had fallen as deep as the snow. Noel had no idea what or where the Home Counties were?—
“You’re welcome to make yourself some lunch here. There’s soup, and plenty of bread. Cheese. And Marmite?—”
“No!” Noel and Jed barked together. Noel might not know what the Home Counties were, but he knew Marmite and was in no hurry to renew the acquaintance. How could anybody spread the tar-like, salty so-strong-it-blew-your-head-apart goo over bread? Jed said it was a British thing. A very weird British thing.
Lucian tried to look affronted before he grinned. “I’ll make a convert of you yet. Both of you. Off you go, then.” Lucian ushered them out of the door.
CC’s was nearest, and as they ducked through the door, Noel breathed deep and hummed his appreciation. Santa’s Special Hot Chocolate was a sweet and delicious seasonal favorite, and his mouth was already watering in anticipation. Taking off hiscoat, he shook off the snowflakes, looking up as Jed started laughing.
“That is one hell of an ugly Christmas sweater. What is that?” Jed leaned forward. “Oh my god. Are you really wearing a bondage Santa? It’s so ugly it’s beautiful, but it’s nowhere near as ugly as this one.” Jed smirked as he slowly unbuttoned his coat, his gaze never leaving Noel, who gulped. It was like the start of one of the movies he had stashed on his porn only laptop. Heat rippled through him, making straight for his cock which, thank the lord, was hidden beneath his baggy sweatpants and the sweater which reached halfway down his thighs.
Just best friends? Are you sure about that?
Kent’s words, just a couple or so days old, laughed in his ear. A shiver ran down Noel’s spine. Yes, he was sure. Of course he was…
“Well?”
