12 Dates of Christmas (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

CHAPTER TEN

“What the fuck?” Nick muttered under his breath as he watched Remy pull Jett away from Leo’s embrace.

But when Leo smirked, looking pleased with himself, Nick began to doubt Leo and Jett had hit it off the way Nick had originally thought.

The thought of Leo having a successful date should have made Nick happy but watching Leo pin Jett against a wall had sent an uncomfortably sharp jolt of irritation through him.

He’d hated the sight. He’d been relieved to see Remy break up the near kiss.

As Remy and Jett disappeared and Nick tried to figure out what in the hell had happened, Leo sauntered up, smiling, clearly not at all annoyed his date had disappeared with another man.

“Hey. What are you doing here?” Leo asked, his eyes twinkling.

“Uh, hey,” Nick managed. “A couple of friends dragged me along. I wasn’t spying on you, I promise.”

Leo’s grin slipped away, his expression turning assessing. “No?”

“No,” Nick said firmly. He hadn’t gone along with it because some part of him wanted to be closer to Leo. Because he wanted to be there in case the date went badly and …

Fuck, he definitely had.

“Right.” Leo looked him up and down. “So, having a good time?”

“Uhh. Yeah, trivia’s fun.” Nick cleared his throat. “What about you? I’d ask how your date with Jett was going but he left with another man, so …”

Leo snorted. “Yeah, you missed the mark there, Mr. Matchmaker. Jett’s totally into Remy. And, apparently, vice versa.”

Nick winced. Jett had appeared reluctant to date lately, but how in the hell had he missed the mark so badly there? He was friends with Remy, for fuck’s sake. He should have noticed something between them. Everything had been off since Leo arrived. Not that he blamed Leo. He was the one who was distracted.

“I am starting to think I’m atrocious at my job,” Nick admitted with a sigh.

Leo’s face softened. “Nah, you’re not atrocious. Literally everyone in town raves about you.”

“Except you and Jett.”

“No, I think Jett is very happy with the way tonight’s date went,” Leo said with a laugh. “He got a shot at Remy.”

Nick narrowed his eyes. “You did that on purpose.”

“Fuck yeah I did,” Leo said with a grin. “Look, no one likes a guy who gets creepy possessive. But a little bit of jealousy can be good. Pretending to make a move on Jett was an easy way to test if Remy had more than friendly feelings for him.”

“And you don’t care that you and Jett never got a shot at anything?”

“Nah.” Leo shrugged. “He’s hot and all and I’m sure we’ll wind up friends but he’s not my guy.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re not upset by it,” Nick said slowly. “Hopefully the next date will go better though.”

Leo looked away. “Yeah, I don’t know, Nick. I’m starting to think I should take a break. Tonight didn’t bother me but?—”

“Excuse me,” one of the servers said. “Are you using this table? Your friend paid a bit ago but we have other people waiting.”

Nick glanced over to see that not only Remy was gone, but Kaysen had left too, probably called it a night too after both Remy and Nick had abandoned him and left him with the bill.

“Shit. Sorry,” Nick said. He reached for his coat, snagging it off the chair where he’d draped it earlier. “I’m done here.”

He glanced at Leo who had disappeared, weaving through the crowded tables to the table he’d been sitting at earlier. Leo spoke to the women sitting there, saying something to them that made them laugh and stand to give him a hug.

Nick smiled faintly. He liked how friendly Leo was. How easily he seemed to fit in this weird little town.

Leo appeared a few moments later, looking surprised. “Oh, you waited.”

“We were in the middle of a conversation,” Nick pointed out. “Maybe we can continue it on the way home? I can walk that way with you.”

Although that would take about three minutes, since Ginger’s Breads and The White Elephant were right next door. If they went out the back, they’d literally be at Leo’s door. Still, Nick didn’t mind the short walk.

Leo looked at him for a long moment before he nodded. “Sure. Sounds good.”

It wasn’t until they were on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant that either of them spoke.

“So you were saying you want a break from dating?” Nick asked as they turned right onto Prancer Street.

Leo zipped up his jacket, then stuffed his hands in his pockets. The air was cold and every breath made big gusts of steam flow from Leo’s mouth.

“Yeah,” he said softly. “I’m—I’m starting to feel like I’m in a weird place about it.”

“What do you mean?” Nick asked.

“Like I’m trying too hard or something. I don’t know. Hayden and I talked about it last week and I’ve had two totally boring dates since and I … I can’t seem to get my head in the right spot about it.”

“Okay …” Nick said slowly because he wasn’t sure he understood what was wrong.

“It’s starting to make me feel like there’s something about me that is horribly unlikeable.”

“Leo,” Nick said, his heart aching as he finally understood what Leo was getting at. Because yeah, he knew Leo was bummed it wasn’t working out but he hadn’t realized he was starting to doubt himself.

“Well, I’m the common denominator,” Leo said, his tone a little bitter. “Literally every fucking guy around me is pairing off, finding the love of their life. And I’m not. And, you know, I try to have a healthy ego. I know I have a lot to offer someone. So why does no one see it? Clearly, I’m doing something wrong.”

“You’re not doing anything wrong,” Nick protested. They turned right onto Candy Cane Lane and he glanced over at Leo, his face silhouetted against the glow of the window on the side of The White Elephant.

“No? Then why doesn’t anyone ever want to be with me?” Leo whispered.

I want you , Nick thought, but he bit his tongue and tried to think of another reason. A better reason. Something that wouldn’t make Leo feel worse .

“I think so much of relationships comes down to timing and being in the right place at the right time,” Nick said slowly. “And when it doesn’t go well, it’s about the wrong timing.”

They reached the parking lot behind the restaurant and turned to face each other.

“It just sucks ,” Leo said, his eyes wide and filled with hurt. “What am I doing wrong? What is so wrong with me that no one—no one wants me?”

“Leo,” Nick said, his heart aching. “It’s not that no one wants you. Of course you’re wanted.”

“Yeah? And who is this mysterious guy who wants me so fucking badly?” Leo asked, his voice rising.

“I do,” Nick whispered.

“Don’t.” Leo closed his eyes. “Don’t mess with me, Nick. I can’t take it. Not right now.”

“I wouldn’t ,” he protested. “I do want you. I …”

“Yeah.” Leo glanced away. “Or you’re trying to be nice .”

He spat the last part like it was a dirty word this time.

“I’m not being nice , Leo” Nick argued. “God. If you only knew what I thought about after you hung up after every phone call lately.”

Leo looked him in the eye again, lips parted. “Really?” he whispered.

“Really,” Nick said roughly.

“Fuck.” Leo shivered. “God. Me too.”

Nick blinked. “You … you’ve been thinking about me too?”

Leo laughed softly. “I haven’t thought about anyone else since we met.”

Against his better judgment, Nick stepped forward. “Tell me what you think about, Leo,” he said roughly. “Tell me what you imagine.”

“I … I think about you kissing me. About your hands on my body. I picture how you look without your clothes on and how you’d feel if we were?—”

Unable to stay away a second longer, Nick leaned in and covered Leo’s mouth with his own. Leo moaned softly and the sound went straight to Nick’s head.

Nick wrapped his arms around Leo, pulling him closer. He immediately responded, clutching Nick’s coat and pressing his tongue between Nick’s lips. Nick barely had a moment to register how Leo felt in his arms before he was swept away in the kiss, heat blazing through him like a match to dry tinder.

He backed Leo against the rough wall of the restaurant, kissing him desperately, drinking in every frantic gasp falling from Leo’s mouth and the urgency in his touch.

When they were both breathless, panting, Nick drew back. His heart thudded against his breastbone as he stared at Leo’s swollen lips and the half-lidded contentment of his eyes.

Leo reached up, tracing his thumb across Nick’s lower lip, and Nick kissed it.

“My place or yours?” Leo rasped.

Nick frowned.

“Don’t tell me you don’t want me, Nick,” Leo whispered, settling a hand on his chest. “If you aren’t ready, that’s fine. But don’t tell me you don’t want it.”

“I do, but uh.” Nick licked his suddenly dry lips, anxiety making his heart beat faster. “I’ve never been with a guy.”

Leo shrugged like it was unimportant. “Do you want to be?”

“I want you ,” Nick admitted.

“Then I’ll show you what I like,” Leo said and he made it seem so simple. So uncomplicated. “And I vote my place since it’s like … twenty feet from here.”

Nick swallowed and nodded, letting Leo take his hand and tow him across the parking lot and toward the bakery. Nick felt dazed as he followed Leo up the stairs and into his apartment, wondering if this was a dream.

But the apartment seemed very real. It was small and cozy looking. Warm.

Boots off, Nick’s hands shook a little as he handed over his coat, watching Leo strip out of his outerwear too.

Leo certainly wasn’t shy as he took Nick’s hand again, pulling him into the bedroom. It was small too, the bed taking up most of the space, but Nick couldn’t tear his gaze from Leo as he stripped off his sweater and T-shirt. Nick breathed shallowly as Leo stepped forward and removed his shirt too, carefully undoing each button, before he flung it away and pressed their bodies together.

Nick gasped at the feel of warm skin against his own, closing his eyes and blindly seeking Leo’s mouth. It was almost too much. Too intense. It had been so long since he’d touched someone this way. So long since he’d kissed someone other than the woman he’d loved and lost.

He splayed his hands across Leo’s back and pulled him closer. There was just heat and need as he pressed Leo down onto the bed. He got a handful of Leo’s ass in his hand and squeezed, loving the way Leo moaned at the touch and bucked against him.

“Nick …”

The sound of his name on Leo’s lips made him groan and bury his face against Leo’s neck. He smelled good, like the pine-y winter cologne he wore and something else warm and unique to Leo.

“What do you want?” Leo asked softly, rolling them onto their sides. He skimmed a hand down Nick’s body, cupping his dick where it pushed at the fly of his jeans.

“I don’t know,” Nick admitted, overwhelmed by the touch. After such a long drought, it verged on the edge of too much.

“I could suck your dick,” Leo said, pressing a kiss to his jaw. “Or you could fuck me.”

“I … both sound incredible,” Nick admitted, finally looking him in the eye.

“I’m guessing you haven’t had sex in a while,” Leo asked with a little smile. “Anything I should be worried about?”

It took Nick a minute to work out what he meant but when he did, he shook his head. “No. Nothing.” He’d only ever had sex with one person.

“Good. Me either. I got tested before I moved here.” Leo grinned and shimmied down the bed.

Nick stared at Leo, lips parted, as he undid Nick’s belt, button, and zipper. He lifted his hips when Leo coaxed him to and moments later, he was bare except for his underwear.

Leo reached down, rubbing his cock through the fabric. Nick let out a low groan, biting his lip.

“Leo …” He felt wound tight, too sensitive, head whirling at the onslaught of sensations.

Leo’s grin widened. “I’ve got you.”

He tugged the boxer briefs down and Nick’s cock slapped against his stomach, hard and aching already.

“Oh, look at you,” Leo said breathily. “ Fuck .”

“Yeah?” Nick asked, voice strained because Leo had taken him in hand, his palm warm as he smoothed it up and down Nick’s shaft.

“Yeah, want to taste you,” Leo said, dipping his head to slide his mouth down over Nick’s cock.

Nick closed his eyes and let his head fall back, overwhelmed. Leo’s mouth was warm and hot, sliding down his length before his tongue dragged against the head. Nick shivered.

He reached out, wanting to touch Leo, to anchor himself, and Leo let out a happy little noise when Nick slipped a hand into his hair.

“You like that?” Nick whispered, combing through it.

Leo hummed the affirmative and Nick’s stomach tightened, the vibrations making the intensity ramp up even higher.

Fuck, he wasn’t going to last at all.

He gripped the duvet in his fist, panting as Leo sped up, the wet sounds of his mouth filling the air. All Nick could do was hold on and hope he didn’t come embarrassingly quickly.

Nick whimpered when Leo pulled off, the air cool against his spit-slicked cock. Leo rubbed his thigh soothingly. “You’re close, yeah?”

Nick nodded.

“Good. Where do you want to come?”

“Uhh, what are you good with?” Nick rasped, combing his hand through Leo’s soft, silky hair, making it stand on end.

Leo thumbed over the slit in the head of Nick’s cock, making his eyes briefly roll back in his head. “I’d love if you came in my mouth but I’m fine with anywhere else on my body.”

“Mouth,” Nick choked out. “Mouth is good.”

“Then stop holding out on me. I want your cum.” Leo gave him a big grin before he lowered his mouth over Nick’s cock.

The encouragement was nice but Nick doubted he could hold back for much of anything. Not when he was so close to the edge already. Not when it had been so damn long. Not when he was drunk on Leo’s touch and the way he was gently leading Nick toward his release.

“Leo,” Nick choked out, thighs shaking as his balls drew up and his stomach tightened.

“Mmm,” Leo hummed around him and Nick fell apart, swirling colors going off in his head like fireworks as he came and came.

He was shaking after, panting and sheened with sweat. Leo took a drink of water from a bottle on the nightstand, then slid up the bed a moment later, burrowing against him. His skin was cool and Nick reached out, pulling him close.

“Fuck. Thank you.”

Chuckling, Leo pressed a kiss to Nick’s shoulder. “You liked that?”

Nick gave him a disbelieving look. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Leo shrugged and Nick realized he’d barely touched Leo. Maybe he thought Nick viewed this as a favor or something.

He rolled over, pressing Leo down against the sheets. “It was amazing,” he said huskily.

Nick bent his head and kissed Leo. He responded immediately, winding his arms around Nick’s shoulders and opening his mouth. He liked the soft sounds Leo made and the way his body felt when Nick shifted, coaxing Leo to wrap his legs around him.

“Nick,” he gasped, arching his hips, his cock hard against Nick’s stomach.

The sensation was unfamiliar but good .

Still kissing Leo, Nick smoothed a hand across Leo’s torso, feeling the soft bumps of his ribcage and the flat planes of his pecs. He rubbed his thumb across Leo’s nipple and smiled at the answering shudder.

“Yeah, you like that?” he whispered.

Leo whimpered. “Do it again.”

So Nick did it again. He trailed his lips lower, skating over Leo’s jaw, the sensation of stubble scraping against his lips sending a tingle through his body.

Despite the orgasm he’d just had, his body responded and he smiled to himself. He licked his thumb and dragged it across Leo’s nipple as he kissed his way down his throat, gently biting at the skin.

“Fuck! Nick. God, it’s so much.”

“Too much?” Nick asked, pulling back to look Leo in the eye.

“Fuck no. Get back here,” Leo demanded and Nick chuckled, pressing a kiss to Leo’s collarbone before licking a stripe across it.

“Better?” he asked, tweaking his nipple.

“So much fucking better.”

Smiling, Nick stretched up to kiss his mouth again.

He allowed his palm to wander across Leo’s skin, mapping where he was more or less sensitive, spurred on by Leo’s sounds and the way he twisted away from or into the touch.

He found a ticklish spot, making Leo squirm, and laughing, they tried to kiss again, suddenly clumsy.

Nick liked the brush of hair against his palm as he dragged his hand below Leo’s navel, the soft texture turning a little coarser farther down.

They both grew serious when Nick took Leo’s cock in his hand, liking the slender length and the softness of his skin. He stroked gently, watching the flutter of Leo’s eyelashes as he experimented with different strokes.

Leo let out a gasp. “Nick!”

Nick licked his palm, tasting Leo’s precum as he got it wet. Leo moaned, a low, long sound that made heat break out on Nick’s skin.

“Nick.” Leo lifted his hips, urging Nick to stroke faster and harder. “ Fuck .”

“Do you want me to?” Nick murmured.

“What?” Leo asked hoarsely.

“Do you want me to fuck you?” He pressed his hips to Leo’s thigh, letting him feel the rising interest in Nick’s cock.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten hard again so quickly but the feel and taste of Leo were powerful incentives on top of a self-induced drought.

“God. Yes.” Leo shifted, dislodging Nick’s grip. “I’ve got lube and condoms here somewhere.”

Nick watched him roll over and rummage around in the drawer. He liked the width of Leo’s shoulders, the narrowness of his hips, and the lush roundness of his ass.

Leo tossed lube on the bed and Nick reached out, brushing his hand across one of Leo’s cheeks.

He let out a little noise. “God, I better have some condoms in here,” he muttered, rummaging a little harder.

Nick smiled. “We can always go out and get some.”

Leo shot a glance over his shoulder, his expression skeptical. “You’d do that?”

“If you wanted. Or I can get you off another way.” Nick shrugged.

He wasn’t terribly excited about the thought of the entire town talking about them hooking up, which was exactly what would happen if they went to the drugstore or gas station together. Hell, even if he went alone, there would be talk he was on the market again but he’d do it.

Even though his parents and sister would inevitably find out. Even though Ford would hear the gossip. Nick grimaced at that thought but thankfully Leo had turned away, digging through the drawer again.

“Found it!” He held the packet up and waved it around.

Nick grinned. “Yes, but is it expired?”

Leo squinted at the package, then shook his head. “Nope. Good until the middle of next year.”

“Perfect.”

Leo handed it over and Nick sat up, intending to grab the lube but Leo beat him to it.

“Want to watch while I open myself up?” he asked.

Dumbly, Nick nodded. He would have been happy to do it for Leo but he wasn’t going to turn down an opportunity to learn what Leo liked.

Leo shifted until he was on his hands and knees, facing away from Nick. He reached slick fingers behind himself, teasing them between his cheeks.

Nick’s mouth went dry at the sight.

“Fuck.” Nick had been stroking his cock, idle little touches along the hard shaft.

“Good?” Leo asked and there was a hint of something in his voice, some vulnerability, and Nick scooted closer.

“Yeah,” he whispered, getting up on his hands and knees and pressing his lips to Leo’s shoulderblade. “That’s so hot.”

Nick shifted back to get a better view again, but he kept his hand on Leo’s body, stroking his skin as he watched Leo tease himself. He smoothed a hand over his side, then down, using his thumb to tug Leo’s cheeks apart.

Leo let out a little gasp.

“That okay?” Nick asked.

“Yeah. I—I like you watching me.”

“Good,” he said huskily. “I like watching you.”

He wet his lips, watching Leo slide two fingers inside himself, his body resisting for a split second before it yielded to the intrusion.

For the longest time, Nick watched, transfixed, loving the little shivers and gasps Leo let out when he worked in another finger.

“Put the condom on,” Leo rasped, looking over his shoulder at him.

Nick fumbled to find it in the covers, feeling a little clumsy as he tore the packet open and rolled the rubber on. But the way Leo stared at him made him feel like he was doing something right. He stared right back, watching Leo shallowly fuck himself and Nick could feel the pulse of his own need in his cock. Less urgent than it had been before, but equally intense.

“Let me … can I help?” he asked.

Leo dropped his head, shuddering. “Yeah. Fuck.”

Nick’s hands were shaking when he slicked his fingers. Leo pulled his free and Nick pushed his own in carefully. Leo cried out, making Nick freeze.

“No, no it’s good,” Leo said with a little gasp. “So good. Yeah. Keep going.”

So Nick did. He thrust shallowly at first, worried about hurting Leo, but he seemed to love it, especially when Nick followed his instructions to crook his fingers a little.

When he finally got it right, Leo tightened around him, body trembling, his skin beginning to sheen with sweat. “Fuck, I can’t—” Leo said. “I need your dick in me. Please.”

Nick carefully pulled his fingers away, going up onto his knees to line up his cock.

“Yeah, do it,” Leo said and Nick gripped his hip tightly, fingers sliding a little on his damp skin as he pressed inside slowly.

“Fuck,” he whispered when he was all the way in, head swimming at the heat and pressure. The feel of Leo wrapped so tightly around him. “You okay?”

“Yeah, so good. C’mon. Move. I can take it.”

“I know,” Nick said, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. “But I need to go slow or I’ll combust.”

Over his shoulder, Leo grinned.

Nick stretched out over Leo’s back, bracing a hand on the sheets and pressing his lips to Leo’s smiling mouth. “You feel too good,” he whispered and Leo sighed, kissing him again.

But the need for more soon won out and Nick began to rock his hips.

Leo went down onto his elbows and everything went hazy after that, the world shrinking to the feel of Leo around and beneath him, the heady tightness of his body and scent of his skin. Nick scattered kisses haphazardly across Leo’s shoulder, tasting his sweat, making him gasp and buck and clench around him.

“Stop teasing me,” Leo growled eventually and Nick laughed, nipping at his skin. But he straightened, sliding his hands to Leo’s narrow hips and driving in harder. Their skin slapped together, loud in the otherwise quiet apartment, and Leo moaned, shivering around him.

“I’m close. Fuck, I’m close.” He shifted, getting a hand under himself.

Belatedly, Nick realized he should help out so he reached for Leo’s cock. Together, they stroked and a few moments later, Leo went still, letting out a short, sharp cry before he shivered and gasped through his release, coating both their fists.

“Leo,” Nick whispered, petting his side, desperate to continue but not sure if it would feel good to him or not.

“Yeah, fuck me through it,” Leo rasped.

So Nick did. It only took a few more thrusts before he was coming too, overwhelmed by the clench of Leo’s body and the taste of his skin on his lips. He came until his blood was boiling, heat streaking across his skin so fast he’d burst into flames.

He came until he was panting and shaking, fingers pressing so hard into Leo’s skin they would leave marks—at least temporarily—and he had to close his eyes when everything went white.