Here Comes Santa Paws (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

18. Roman

Chapter 18

Roman

I eyed Elias’s dogs warily as they sat at my feet, staring up at me where I sat in Elias’s kitchen.

“If they’re bothering you, you can tell them to leave,” Elias said from the stove while stirring something that smelled delicious.

“Would they listen?”

Elias flashed a teasing smile. “They might.”

“I bet they listen as much as you do.”

Elias sauntered over, holding a napkin under a spoonful of red sauce. “I can listen quite well when I’m motivated.”

He’d been making flirty comments since I showed up for dinner half an hour ago. It felt more like a date than a thank-you dinner, which should bother me more than it did.

Elias had gotten under my skin. He was too cheerful, too nosy, too pushy, too thoughtful, and was immune to my attitude. I’d never met someone more willing to put in the time to see the real me. It was easier and easier to let him in.

He blew on the spoon as he stood in front of me. I held eye contact as I opened my mouth, flattening my tongue. He wasn’t the only one with moves.

His legs brushed mine as he moved the spoon to my mouth. I closed my lips around it and let out a happy hum at the flavor explosion from a simple red sauce. It was rich, savory, and full of herbaceous flavors.

Elias’s eyebrows bounced knowingly.

I licked my lips to make him wait for the compliment he expected. “Smugness is beneath you.”

He tilted his head playfully. “At this angle, I think you are.” He winked before turning back to the stove. “Glad you like it.”

“I didn’t say I did.”

“You didn’t need to. I’ll get the pasta going.”

I stood and joined him. His dogs followed me. “Anything I can help with?”

“Want to pour some wine? There’s a few bottles of red on the rack over there.” He gestured to the corner of his dining area.

I selected a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and grabbed glasses from the cabinet Elias indicated.

Steam rose from a pot of bubbling water as he dumped narrow folds of dough into it.

“Is that fresh pasta?”

“Yeah. I made it last night,” he said casually.

Of course he had.

“By the way, we’ve gotten some emails about the photos you took last weekend. A few people have asked for your contact information because they want to hire you. What should I tell them?”

I stilled. “Hire me? To take pictures?”

“No, to boss them around.” He rolled his eyes playfully. “Yes, to take pictures. You’re very talented. If you ever wanted to do some freelance photography, I’m sure Christmas Falls could keep you busy.”

Did I imagine the hopeful lilt in his words?

I leaned against the kitchen counter as that idea worked through my mind. I’d never considered monetizing my photography. It had been an easy way to capture the places I’d lived with only the threat of digital clutter. My career paid me well enough that I hadn’t sought a second job. I wasn’t sure I’d want to do it for pay, but knowing people would pay me to take photos for them was quite a compliment.

Getting outside by myself and taking pictures was my favorite way to unwind and take my stress levels down a few notches. It’d been a while since I’d done it, but I should get out and take some more pictures. Lord knew I could clear my head with everything going on. Maybe Carol would enjoy going on an easy hike.

Even as I told myself it would just be me and Carol, my brain inserted Elias into the image, and the prospect appealed to me more than I liked.

“I’ll keep it at hobby level for now, but thanks. I appreciate the reminder of how much I enjoy it.”

The timer went off. He turned to tend the pasta, then looked at me over his shoulder. “I mixed up a salad. Can you pull that bowl from the fridge?”

I opened the fridge and smiled at the stack of labeled food containers for different animals. Elias probably worked hard to ensure he met the customized nutrition needs of each of his pets.

I grabbed the mixing bowl covered with plastic wrap and set it on the counter.

Elias used a fork to pull a strand of pasta out, then tore off a piece. “Perfect.” He turned off the burner, then hauled the pot to the sink.

“Can I grab the plates?”

“That would be great. They’re in the cupboard next to the fridge. I’d love a bowl for my salad. I don’t want the Bolognese to get on the lettuce.”

I chuckled and grabbed bowls and plates, two each. “I take it you feed them before you feed yourself?”

Elias glanced over after dumping the sauce into the pasta pot and smiled sheepishly. “I do. Help yourself while I get them squared away.”

“I’ll wait for you and watch the chaos.”

Elias stuck up his nose like the noblest of royalty. “My animals are very calm and well-trained, thank you very much.” He turned to them and grinned. “Nom-nom time!”

As though he’d said the magic word—nom-nom? Lord—the animals rushed forward and bounced around Elias’s feet. They moved in sync with him as he pulled the food from the fridge and removed bowls from the dishwasher. The bouncing continued as Elias clicked lids open on the containers.

Elias turned away from the counter, holding two bowls. “Troops, assemble!”

Nails clacked against the linoleum floor as the animals scrambled to line up in front of the window next to the kitchen overlooking the street.

My mouth fell open as the animals sat patiently while Elias walked the bowls over to them and set them in front of each squirming creature. Tails thwapped against the floor as each fought to remain patient. How were these the same untamed dogs I watched rolling around in the backyard mud on a rainy day?

After bending over to place the last bowl, Elias straightened. “Chow time!”

The animals dug in, and Elias watched them for a few moments. When he turned back to me, his cheeks were pink.

“What?”

“That was…something else. They’re trained.”

Elias dropped his hands to his hips. “Just because they’re enthusiastic and energetic doesn’t mean they’re not well-behaved.”

Much like the man himself.

“You’re right.”

Elias immediately perked up. “Let’s eat.”

“Don’t you mean, nom-nom, it’s chow time?”

He swatted my arm, but his wide smile grew.

Within a few minutes, we were seated on his couch with TV trays in front of us. He turned on the television and a paused movie with the Hallmark logo in the corner filled the screen.

I felt my lips curl up in a grin as I turned toward Elias. “Hallmark movies, huh? Can’t get enough Christmas in real life so you watch it on TV too?”

“What? They’re romantic and sweet. I like it. It’s how I like to unwind. Plus, I get decoration ideas.” He smirked.

Hallmark movies were his version of hiking and taking pictures. I could respect that.

“Whatever floats your boat.”

He moved to YouTube, and soon footage of birds eating an array of seeds in a snowy wooden landscape played on the screen, with occasional chirps and calls coming through the speakers. One-by-one the animals joined us in the living room. The dogs dropped onto the floor in front of the television while Krampus returned to her perch.

I felt like a voyeur of his cozy routine, but I couldn’t help but picture Elias’s small dogs curled around Carol’s large body and us cooking dinner together in the kitchen. I pushed away the ridiculous thought.

“Is the bird viewing for you or them?” I asked as I twisted my fork in the tender pasta and rich sauce.

He pierced his fork through tomato and lettuce. “Initially for them, but I’ve grown quite fond of it. I’ve been thinking of getting bird feeders for the front yard, but I’m worried Krampus’s RBF will scare them away.”

“Or the barking.”

Elias chuckled. “That too.” After chewing a bite of salad, he turned toward me. “How are you doing with the whole pregnancy thing? Freaked out?”

“Very.” I paused to consider how I was feeling. I’d thought about it nearly constantly since yesterday’s appointment. Elias waited patiently. The odds were she’d still be living with me when she gave birth. I wasn’t ready to hear about the details, but I knew Elias would be there to help. “But also relieved that it’s nothing serious.”

“Pretty sure giving birth to living creatures is serious.” I wanted to kiss his teasing smile. So I did. A quick one.

I was starting to appreciate the appeal of peck kisses. It was satisfying in a different way from the deeper ones. I felt it more in my heart than my dick.

Elias blinked away a dazed, dreamy expression.

“Your sarcasm is noted. I can’t believe she’s going to give birth to five puppies.” I shook my head.

“It’ll be quite the Christmas gift.” He sounded far more eager than nervous, which, I supposed, was to be expected.

He’d probably had plenty of dogs give birth in the shelter. I needed to lean into his confidence. The last thing I wanted to do was make Carol uncomfortable over the next three-to-four weeks until she was due.

We fell into a comfortable silence as we ate and watched the birds. He was right. There was something relaxing about watching them bounce between containers of seed, chirping happily. It made me want to take my camera into the woods and try my hand at bird photography. Elias would probably enjoy that.

Why was it so damn easy to imagine doing things with him? Going on a weekend hike, carpooling to the grocery store, snuggled up on the couch while watching our animals watch birds on a television.

Our animals .

I needed to rein in these thoughts because it wasn’t happening. I wasn’t meant to stay in Christmas Falls, and Elias was Christmas Falls. As Elias shifted closer to me on the couch and knocked his shoulder against mine to point out a vibrant red bird, I wondered why I’d never had more with someone. Something deeper than a few dates and a bit of fun. But that required getting close to someone. Just like I’m doing with Elias.

The man was worming his way into the cold, dead cockles of my heart—bringing them to life from within. I supposed I might have to admit my cheerful neighbor wasn’t as annoying as I’d long thought.

I looked at him and studied his profile as he pointed out the birds to his pets, carrying on a one-sided conversation like he did this every evening. He probably did.

He turned to me and simply smiled. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said.

I squeezed his thigh. “Me too. The dinner’s great, and the company is decent.”

He pinched my leg lightly. “Brat.”

“No one’s ever accused me of being a brat before.” I let a little growl enter my voice.

Elias’s pupils darkened as he licked his lips. “Can’t say the same.”

“You’re the epitome of one.”

Elias batted his lashes as he popped a grape tomato into his mouth. Chewing shouldn’t be so damn seductive.

“I don’t know what you mean.” He licked the tomato juice from his lip.

“Tease.”

Delight sparked in his dark eyes. “Me? What a ridiculous suggestion. I would never do such a thing.”

As soon as he lowered the fork, I cupped the back of his head and pulled his mouth to mine. His tongue tasted like oregano and basil.

Elias pressed his body into mine as much as he could with our TV trays blocking us into seated positions. Without pulling away, I felt Elias reaching for something. I opened my eyes to see him pushing at his TV tray and nearly knocking his wine glass over. I pulled back, lifted my own tray, and moved it as far away as I could reach, then did the same with his. I barely had time to rest back against the couch before Elias was climbing up my body, pushing me against the cushions.

It’d been too damn long since I’d had the weight of another man on me, and those times had been for mutual release, need. With Elias? Desire consumed me like an inferno. I wanted to spread him on my bed and leisurely explore his body to discover everything that earned a gasp or moan from him. I wanted to make him mindless with desire until all he could do was dig his nails in my flesh and say my name.

I also wanted to get the fuck out of there before I got even more hung up on him and had to pretend I didn’t know the feel of his body in this way. Pretend I wouldn’t be thinking about it every time my eyes closed for the foreseeable future.

As the part of my brain riddled with doubt began to shout, the rest of my brain drowned out the fear of complicating things when I had one foot out the door. It was in favor of having some goddamn fun.

Elias’s hands were as hungry as his lips. He touched every part of me he could reach. The only sounds were our heavy breaths whenever one of us pulled back far enough to kiss along a jaw or down a neck and occasional chirps from the TV.

I grew stiff as steel in my jeans. Elias shifted to straddle me, and his hard dick rubbed against my own.

“Oh fuck,” he groaned against my neck as he ground against me in a slow circle.

I gripped his hips to move him where I wanted him. We found a rhythm, frotting while fully clothed like horny teenagers trying to get off before getting busted by our parents. It was the most fun I’d had with a guy in a long fucking time.

Elias gave me another lingering kiss, then pulled back. His hair was askew from me running my fingers through it.

“If you don’t stop, I’m gonna come in my pants.” He circled his hips again.

“If I don’t stop.” I gripped his ass and pulled him close as I ground my own pelvis into his.

He grinned down at me. “Yes, you. ” He moved again, sending me even closer to hurtling over the edge.

“If you don’t want to come in your pants, stop moving.”

He shifted his hips again.

“See? Brat.”

Elias did it once more, then grunted against my lips, and I felt the weight of a small creature jump on his back.

“Jesus.” He giggled and gently pushed the tripod dog to the side.

Tinsel barked right in my ear.

Elias groaned. “That’s her gotta-go-potty bark. Don’t move.” I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or the dog in that commanding tone, but I didn’t plan on going anywhere.

The cockblocking dog grinned at me as Elias climbed off my lap and walked toward the kitchen. As soon as he moved, Nutcracker raced up the ramp next to the couch.

“Watch out for Nutcracker, he has a tendency to?—"

He pounced right on my lap like a furry bowling ball, and I curled forward.

“Fuck! You’ve got good aim, you furry little shit.”

Elias bit his lips but a laugh burst through. “Jump on laps. Now you know how he got his name. Nutcracker, let’s go outside.”

I rubbed my aching dick as Elias led his dogs to the back door. No damage. I wasn’t about to let it get in the way of getting off.