Page 40 of Home For Christmas

I couldn’t help but agree the two were adorable, and I gave the briefest of thoughts to kids of our own. Then I heard Carter screaming about something Jack had done, and Jack screaming about something Carter had done. The noise of the two fighting was only shouted down by Mason screaming because he’d lost his balance and fell face-first into the snow. Guncle was good… I’d stick with being the coolest gay uncle from here on out.

Greg was a natural with the kids. Every time we saw them, he told us it was even better being an uncle because he could have all the best parts but give them back to their dads at the end of the day. Jasper was still more awkward with the kids, but he’d come a long way since we’d started dating. While our normal jokes and banter were tempered by little ears, we all had fun.

Jasper might not have been able to interact with the kids with ease, but he’d relaxed enough that they were all comfortable with him. It was never more obvious than when Lydia tugged his shoulder down to whisper into his ear. Whatever she’d said caused Jasper to laugh so hard he lost his footing and landed on his ass.

The kids tired of the snow and cold before we did, even though Marla kept calling us in for snacks and hot drinks. Of course, calling us in wasn’t quite the right phrase because she wouldn’t let us farther than the sunroom, but at least she had the heaters running and the room was warm and welcoming. And for the adults, the spiked hot chocolate and cider went a long way to warming our bodies up and keeping us going.

We played in the snow until Derek let out a jaw-popping yawn. “I think it’s time to go back to the house for a nap.” I knew Derek was exhausted when he didn’t even try to argue, seeming more frustrated that his thumb was trapped in a mitten.

Colt popped into the house and borrowed keys for one of the various vehicles and was back a few seconds later to take Derek to our house. They hadn’t been gone fifteen minutes when Ty started to shiver. “Maybe naps all around before dinner?” Declan suggested as he pulled Ty into a hug.

To my surprise, my workaholic nodded. “That sounds like a great idea,” Jasper agreed readily. “I’m exhausted. I think I was in high school the last time I played in the snow.”

“And you slept like a damned baby that afternoon too,” Marla called from the back porch. She was standing there holding a bag that I knew would be filled with enough food to feed an army… or at least to keep the seven of us full until dinnertime.

Jasper smiled, taking the steps two at a time to reach her. “Thanks so much, Mom.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek and I saw Marla shiver.

“Jesus, you’re frozen. You need out of this cold. Go home and warm up.”

Jasper’s cheeks turned redder than they’d been and he nodded. “Doing that now.”

Marla gave us all a big smile and a wave. “And boys, actually nap!”

Jasper sighed, shaking his head, but didn’t even complain that his mom was teasing us about our sex life. When he made it back down the steps, I could see the smile on his face despite his scarf being pulled back up. He linked his fingers with mine, then reached his other hand out for Greg, and we walked to the truck with Declan and Ty behind us.

“I’ll sit in the back,” Jasper mentioned as we got closer to the truck. It had seemed reasonable to take one truck on the way over, but now it seemed needlessly cold.

Greg growled in displeasure. I loved to hear that sexy growl come out of him. It screamed overprotective bear, and dammit, it was hot. I spread my legs just a little to allow my dick enough room to grow in my jeans. “You are frozen to the bone. There is no way in hell you’re going to sit in the back.”

Jasper huffed. “There’s nowhere for all of us to fit in the cab.”

Greg looked between the five of us, his eyes clouded over as he worked on figuring something out. “Keys,” he finally said, holding his hand out to Jasper.

I was trying to hold back a snort of laughter as Jasper looked at him like he’d grown a second head. “They’re in the truck. They’re always in the truck.”

Greg growled again. “How many times do I have to tell you that’s asking for trouble?”

These two really did fight like a married couple already. And I just enjoyed sitting back and watching because it usually ended in the hottest sex ever.

Jasper’s crystal blue eyes rolled dramatically. “We’re literally ten feet from the truck and have been all day. This isn’t San Diego, babe.”

Greg looked over at me. “You need to talk sense into him, beautiful.”

I lifted a shoulder. “He’s right. This isn’t California. I can’t remember the last time I took my keys out of the car.”

Greg huffed and looked over to Ty and Declan, who had been pointedly looking the other way. “Help me out here, guys.”

Ty looked back, his lip swollen from where he’d been biting it while trying not to laugh. “That’s going to be some hot sex later.”

“Oh my god,” Greg snarled in exasperation, but he was barely hiding his own laughter. “In!” he demanded, pointing to the truck. “And no one is sitting in the back.”

That time, we all looked at him like he was insane.

“Declan, in the center,” Greg directed, quickly channeling his inner take-charge SEAL. “Harrison, passenger’s side. Ty, on Dec’s lap. Jas, you’re on Harrison’s.”

I looked at the truck, trying to calculate if that would even work, but Greg’s dark eyes left no room to argue and even Declan was moving to obey. Jasper, on the other hand, rolled his eyes and tugged me toward the truck. “Come on, he’s in one of his bossy moods. We’re just going to need to suck it up and do what he says or there’s no chance of sex when we get home.”

Ty tripped over nothing and landed on his face in a bank of snow. As he stood up, brushing it off of his face, he spluttered it out of his mouth and rounded on Jasper. “Are you trying to kill me?” He was laughing, though I detected some annoyance in his eyes. I suspected that was more due to the fact that he now had snow on his face and likely down his shirt as well.

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