Page 25 of A Daddy for Christmas 3: August
“I didn’t say anything!” He knew he had a bad habit of just spitting out every thought that came into his head, especially for some reason with Thor, but he really hadn’t done that this time.
“I’ve told you before that I can read your face, and what I said made you feel some sort of way. And I don’t think it was very complimentary to yourself.”
“You don’t have to drop everything just to make me happy,” he answered, very quietly.
“I don’thaveto do anything. But I want to. I want you to know that you’re the number one person in my life. You’re my boy and my priority, and that means if I have to tell Collin—my agent, by the way—that I’m not going to be able to make it to a holiday soiree, then so be it. And if I’d had more than an hour’s notice, I would have invited you to come along.”
The car pulled up in front of Thor’s big house and Auggie stared out, wanting nothing more than to go inside and have Thor take him in those wonderful, strong, safe arms.
“I want you to spend Christmas with me, Auggie. Come on in, please?”
“You’re sure?”
“I am. If you’re not, I’ll have the driver drop you back at your place, but I really hope you’ll come in and stay.”
“It isn’t Christmas Eve until the day after tomorrow.”
“Which gives us tomorrow to plan and to order everything we’ll need to make a feast together.”
Auggie was so tempted. He bit his lower lip. He was already in deep, and he could have this thing that he so wanted. He just needed to take it.
That little voice tried to tell him that it wasn’t real. Thor just didn’t want to be on his own over the holidays.
“I already have your present and everything,” Thor told him.
Auggie told the little voice to shut up. Even if this was just for the holidays, imagine the memories he could have to hold onto when it was over. He found himself nodding.
“Is there a problem?” the driver asked.
“No problem,” Thor told him.
Auggie nodded. “We’re good.” He followed Thor out of the car and let the man take his hand as they went up the front walk.
They went in, and as the door closed, Auggie took a deep breath. He loved the way the house made him feel, and he was pretty sure it was more because it smelled like Thor than anything else, but he wasn’t going to examine it too closely because he didn’t want to analyze the feeling away.
Thor took his bag of books. “Reading material?”
“For next semester’s class. I like getting a jump on the reading.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll try not to monopolize all your time.”
Frankly, Auggie hoped Thor would. That sounded way more fun than reading.
Thor set the bag on the bench seat in the hall, and Auggie realized all he had with him were those books and the clothes on his back.
“What?” Thor asked, that uncanny ability to read Auggie’s mind rearing its head again.
“I don’t have any clothes or anything with me.”
“Well, I have a washing machine and dryer, not to mention a very cozy extra robe, and we don’t have anywhere to actually go. Plus it’s only four o’clock. We can totally DoorDash anything you’ll need, like a toothbrush. Sound good? Or am I being too presumptuous?”
“I don’t know if you are or not, but it sounds great.” Auggie shut his mouth with a snap. He hadn’t even given himself a moment to see if that was what he wanted to come out of his mouth, but it was definitely what had been in his brain.
“Cool.” Thor tugged Auggie’s jacket off, then turned him so they were facing each other before cupping his face and bringing their mouths together.
Thor’s kiss was even better than Auggie remembered, and he melted against Thor, all the wonderful things about being with this man rushing to the forefront and proving to him that it hadn’t been his imagination.
He reached up, to cling to Thor’s shoulders, and Thor grabbed his ass and tugged him closer while deepening the kiss. Auggie opened wide, letting Thor in, to his mouth, to his heart, into him. They did nothing but hold each other and kiss in Thor’s front hall for the longest time, and Thor finally broke the kiss to rest their foreheads together. Auggie couldn’t help the little noise of disappointment that left him.
