Here Comes Santa Paws (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

19. Elias

Chapter 19

Elias

“You’ve had dinner, potty, and I’ll give you treats. In exchange, I need you to give Roman and me some space, okay?” Tinsel and Nutcracker wagged their tails and stared at me as I closed the back door.

On my way back to the couch to finish the fun we’d started, I saw the gift bag sitting on the counter that I’d forgotten to give to Roman. I hooked my finger through the handles and sauntered into the living room. “I have something for you.”

Roman adjusted himself and smirked at me. “So do I.” His expression shifted into a frown when he clocked the bag.

I dropped onto the couch and tucked my legs under me as I handed it to him, biting back a laugh at his dubious expression.

He grasped the straps with his fingertips and held it in front of him with the same enthusiasm one might give a ticking bomb. “You got me something?”

“Just a gag gift.”

“A gag gift.” His eyebrows lifted as he peered into the bag.

“Yes. It’s a human custom that occurs when people share an inside joke, and you buy something in reference to that inside joke.”

He looked at me with wide, startled eyes. “We have an inside joke?”

I tried to stop myself from fidgeting. “I’m sure it’ll make sense when you open it.”

I mimed removing the tissue paper and tried to ignore my stomach plummeting. Maybe I shouldn’t have done this. I’d thought we’d crested a hill in our relationship—friendship—and he might think it was funny.

I would’ve yanked the tissue paper and let it fall to the floor, but Roman carefully moved it to the side.

Roman removed the nutcracker in scrubs and studied it. His silence made my skin itch.

“I know you decided not to buy it at the fair, but it’s perfect for you. You know, to add to your enormous collection of decorations.” I flashed an angelic smile. “But seriously, you can donate it. I know your stance on Christmas decor, and you don’t like clutter. Mmph.”

I fell back against the couch as Roman’s body slammed against mine, lips muffling my words. His strong arms wrapped around my waist. I looped my arms around his neck and gave as good as I got. I needed to see the stoic Roman fall apart from my touch. Even though I knew this wasn’t going to end well for my heart, I didn’t care. How could I with Roman’s lips on mine?

My dogs jumped on the couch and tried to climb Roman. He dropped his forehead against mine.

“Bedroom?”

“We can close the door, but they’ll whine. Your place?”

“Fuck yes. Let’s go.” He stood and tugged me to my feet.

My heart galloped as Roman paused to gently place the nutcracker back in the bag. The hurried pace resumed as we shoved our feet in our shoes. I skipped the jacket and raced over to his place.

Once we got inside, I laughed at the sight of Carol sprawled across his couch. The fact that she didn’t immediately hop off after getting busted told me he hadn’t been as rigid as he claimed about his furniture policy.

He gave me a “don’t say a word” look before telling Carol to stay, then dragged me to his bedroom. He closed the door behind us and stalked toward me with fire in his eyes. “What do you want?” He held my hips in a vise-like grip.

I swallowed. “To get my hands on your cinnamon stick.”

Roman groaned. “Festive innuendo is not as hot as you think it is.”

I stepped closer until we were connected from chest to thighs. “Don’t worry, I’ll get your bells jingling.”

Roman shook his head, but a smile played at his lips. That smile made my heart beat faster. He walked me to the side of his bed and reached down to turn on a low lamp next to his bed before wrapping his arms around my waist as he stared into my eyes.

“What is it about you that I can’t get out of my head?”

“My charm? My wit? My dashing good looks?”

“Your eager persistence is like an annoying golden retriever.” His voice was rough, but a thread of humor laced his words.

I kissed his Adam’s apple. “If I knew that’s all it would take to get you to warm up to me, I would’ve come knocking on your door two years ago.” I could’ve sworn regret passed through his eyes, but it was gone so quickly I couldn’t be sure.

I gripped the neck of my shirt and pulled it over my head. Roman traced my bare chest with his hungry gaze. He didn’t reach out to touch me as I removed my jeans, but each pass of his attention scorched like hot fingers on my skin.

My dick was already half-hard from Roman visually devouring me. I adjusted myself over my black boxer briefs and watched him remove his clothes down to his boxer briefs. His body was toned and thick with a thin patch of hair across his pecs.

I pushed my underwear off and stroked myself, waiting for him to remove his. A heartbeat passed. Two, three. Veins pulsed in Roman’s neck. Another heartbeat, and then he was on me. Lips crashing into mine, hands cradling my face with gentle firmness, the hardness of his body pushing me onto the bed.

His body was more comforting than a weighted blanket. I wrapped my legs around Roman’s waist, trying to adjust him to where I wanted him, and moaned at the satisfying moment of friction before he lifted his hips from mine.

I huffed, preparing to pout, when I saw Roman grinning down at me. Teeth on full display—even a dimple on one side. The sight stole my breath.

My heart’s in so much trouble.

ROMAN

This is a terrible idea.

I’d kept my hands off Elias for as long as I could. As he stripped, showing me the body I’d been dreaming about since the first time I saw him washing his car topless, my resolve crumbled. I was merely human, after all.

Getting involved with Elias wouldn’t end well. At best, we’d have a little fun and then fade back into neighbors who barely acknowledged each other, but I doubted it would be that easy. I had a feeling things would get messy. The kind of messy with feelings and expectations involved.

Lamplight reflected in Elias’s eyes as his pupils widened.

Stop denying yourself. You can have some damn fun for once.

I dropped my full weight onto him, which elicited a delicious groan as his legs wrapped around my waist. I cupped the curve of his bare ass with one hand and tightened the fingers on my other in his hair.

“I want to feel your skin.”

I moved one of Elias’s hands to my bare shoulder. “Skin.”

“Ass. You know what I mean.” He nipped at my jaw and shoved a hand between us, gripping my bulge. “I want to feel this against me.”

“Who am I to deny a man what he wants?”

Elias eyed my hard dick hungrily as I ditched my underwear. His hand dragged slowly up and down his cock.

Am I really doing this? Am I going to fuck my neighbor? I took in Elias’s lithe body and the way he licked his lips. Hell yes, I am.

Wherever I lived, I made it a personal policy to not mess around with people I lived near or worked with. Things could get too complicated. It wasn’t the time to ponder why I was breaking that rule for Elias.

I climbed back on the bed and kissed my way along Elias’s leg as I went and let the scruff of my beard brush the shaft of his cock before continuing my exploration of his body.

Elias watched me with his lips parted. Surprise registered in his eyes when I passed by his dick. Did he think I only cared about getting off without any foreplay? Foreplay made the orgasms better. Especially with someone as responsive as Elias. It was fun . He was fun.

Elias gripped my ass as soon as it was within grabbing distance. I took my time licking his neck, nibbling his ear, and kissing a path along his jaw. He was squirming under me when I reached his lips.

He wrapped his legs around my waist and ground against me. I liked a guy who went after what he wanted.

“My turn.” He pushed at my shoulders but couldn’t budge me until I voluntarily rolled to my back.

Elias was on me in an instant, kissing me deeply, tangling our tongues, as he stroked my cock between us. Before I could grab his body, he was climbing down mine, nosing around the base of my dick.

I tucked my arm behind my head and stared down at him, a grin playing on my lips. “You’re not even going to romance me a little first?”

Elias glanced up at me. His ass jutted in the air behind him. An ass I wanted to get my hands on.

“You did enough of that for the both of us. Now that I’ve seen it, I need to taste it.”

“Then taste it.” My voice was rough.

Elias knew he had me. With a wicked grin, he kissed along the base of my stomach, forcing my abs to constrict. His trimmed beard teased my cockhead as he moved, kissing everywhere but where I wanted his mouth.

I might need to visit a dentist to check my teeth from grinding them so much as I waited him out.

His tongue darted out and licked a bead of precum. “You’re stubborn.”

“Pot meet kettle.”

His chuckle was muffled by my cock sliding into his throat. I moaned at the wet heat enveloping me.

Elias sucked and stroked me in a dizzying combination that had me gripping my comforter. My knuckles were probably as white as the bedding.

My eyes rolled back in my head as Elias gave attention to my balls and the sensitive patch of skin behind them. I let my legs fall open to give him room to play.

“Mm. Your jingle bells taste good.”

That pulled a startled laugh from me. “You just had to go there.” The little imp.

He gripped my cock in his fist and licked a long stripe from base to tip. “I did. Maybe we can train you to enjoy Christmas through the intentional use of oral sex. Pavlovian style. I’d be happy to offer my services.”

I licked my lips. “If anything has a chance of getting me in the festive spirit, I suppose it’s that.” And I had a feeling, I’d be coming back for more whether it was good for me or not.

“I’m quite fond of your yule log. It wouldn’t be a hardship.” Mirth sparkled in his eyes.

I forgot how much fun sex could be when it was more than a quick fuck in a bathroom at a club in the nearest big city.

Elias expertly tugged on my balls and stroked my cock as he continued sucking the Grinch out of me. His eager attention ratcheted my desire until it pulsed throughout my body. There was no way I could hold off.

I slid my fingers into Elias’s messy hair and tugged gently. Elias’s eyes rolled back in his head as he popped off.

“Wha?” He blinked.

“Getting close.”

He teased his tongue around my cockhead and swallowed me down again until I bumped against the back of his throat.

I let the pleasure overtake me. My nerve endings buzzed as my muscles tightened. Elias’s well-placed, firm stroke of my cock sent me spinning, coming into his welcoming mouth.

My body tensed as my orgasm rolled through me. Elias sucked me through it as he dragged his fingertips down my hip. The gentle touch forced another spurt into his mouth, leaving me wincing with sensitivity.

I dropped my head onto the pillow, spent, as my shoulders relaxed. Hell, my whole body relaxed. I hadn’t come so hard in a while. A long while.

Elias wiped the corner of his mouth before shifting to lie next to me. His stiff dick pressed into the hip he’d gently touched moments before.

I reached over and hooked my hand around his thigh, then pulled him closer until he draped his leg over me. My brain was still stitching itself back together, but my hand worked well enough, so I gripped his dick and stroked as I kissed across his shoulder.

“My turn to taste.” I thought about pushing him onto his back and letting myself play with him like he had me, but I wanted to feel his weight on me. I wanted him to use me to get himself off. I wanted to watch him fall apart.

I fluffed my pillow and settled my head in. “Climb up. Fuck my mouth.”

“I can’t turn down an offer that good.” He swung his leg the rest of the way across my body and sat up, then scooted closer.

I slid my hands along his thighs and opened my mouth, staring up at him. Elias hooked his teeth over his bottom lip as he teased my mouth with his cockhead.

The heady taste of his precum forced a growl from my chest. I opened wider and relaxed my throat as he teased his cock in and out of my mouth. I wasn’t sure if the teasing was more for his pleasure or mine, but I liked it a hell of a lot.

Within minutes, Elias found a steady rhythm as he gripped the headboard and fucked my face.

“Jesus, Roman. Look at you.” A bead of sweat trickled down Elias’s neck. I wanted to lick it, but my mouth was busy.

“You feel so good. God, so good.” Elias tilted his head back and pinched his nipples as he sat back on the full length of my finger. His dark eyes gleamed when he angled his head back to face me. “Want me to pull off?”

I managed a small shake without dropping him from my mouth. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he unabashedly chased his pleasure.

Elias grinned. “Want a taste of that too, huh? It’s better than Santa’s milk and cookies.”

I groaned at the terrible joke and teased a finger around the sensitive skin of his hole, which caused him to shoot. His knees squeezed my chest as his dick spurted into my mouth. Elias rode out his orgasm, beautiful in the throes of pleasure. I knew that vision would haunt my dreams for weeks to come. He twitched and pulled himself out of my mouth before ungracefully dropping next to me on the bed. He damn near starfished on his back, draping part of an arm and leg on me.

“I expected it to taste like peppermint.” I smacked my lips.

“It doesn’t?”

“More like gingerbread.”

He turned his head toward me. “That was fun.” His tone was light, but I heard the undercurrent of nervousness.

I wasn’t about to kick him out or make things weird. We were consensual adults who had a good time together. It didn’t need to be more than that. Yeah right , I thought, as I dragged my fingers along the soft skin of his hip.

“It was. I wish I could dive into a round two like I could ten years ago.”

Elias’s lips turned up into a wide smile. “Me too.”

“How about reheating that pasta instead? You worked up an appetite.”

Before Elias could reply, Carol trotted into the room, her head bouncing above the horizon of the bed. She jumped onto it at our feet and settled in.

Elias’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. “Thought you don’t let her on your bed.”

I narrowed my eyes and glared at her. “I don’t.”

“Sure.” He patted my stomach.