Once Upon a Second Chance (Once Upon a Holiday Story #1)

Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Aaron

My life had been a series of disappointments. With so many years of them, I’d learned to roll with things, accept them. No one was coming to my rescue, and I was the only person I could depend on. Tears had dried up a long time ago. I expected to fail. Survival was muscle memory, and good luck wasn’t something I knew.

When Daniel told me about my car, my brain went into “This sounds right” mode, and I began to think about all the things I had to do. I had to sell; I had to survive. I was in this alone.

Then I wasn’t. No one had ever said to me, “I’m going to help you. You’re not going to have to face this by yourself.” And after he said that to me, I broke. The dam cracked, and all the pressure pushed its way through.

I was so lost in…well, I didn’t know what I’d call it…grief, relief, purging…that I didn’t realize Daniel had lifted me from my seat and carried me into the living room. He held me, his warmth, scent, and kindness wrapping me up, and I absorbed the safeness he unknowingly gave me.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d lain there in Daniel’s arms, but my eyes were swollen, my throat ached, and I’d definitely soaked his shirt.

“I’m sorry,” I croaked.

“Don’t apologize, Aaron. Stop apologizing for once in your life.” He sighed, and I pulled away to look at him. His expression was full of worry as he regarded me. “You’re safe here, and I’m not going to kick you out. We can work something out, but do not feel like you have to give back anything to me when all I want from you is to take.”

“Take?”

“You’ve been moving nonstop your whole life. It’s time to sit for a bit and let someone help you. Take what I offer. Not because I pity you, Aaron, but because I admire you.”

“Admire me? I’m dirt poor, have nothing to show for it, and didn’t even graduate high school.”

“Do you think all those things define a person?”

“In our society, yes.”

“Well, not in my home, and not in my eyes.”

Daniel gently rubbed his thumb over my cheek, and a delightful shiver crept up my spine. “You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met.”

“I’m a stranger.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think you were ever a stranger to me, Aaron.”

Why did that jump-start my barely beating heart? His words made sense, though. From the moment I’d laid eyes on Daniel, something had seemed to click, like he was safe, he was good, and I’d followed him into his home…Okay, in all fairness, I had thought he might kill me and wear my skin, but after that, totally clicked.

“Daniel, I?—”

“If you say sorry, I might smack you.”

I laughed and sat up, but I didn’t go far. Daniel was holding on to my hand so tightly, and the feel of his skin grounded me.

“I was going to say thank you. You’re like my own personal Christmas miracle, my second chance.”

The corner of his mouth curled up. “We all deserve a second chance, Aaron.”

“Can I do something and if you hate it you can kick me out, shun me, whatever?”

Daniel pursed his lips. “I’m equal parts curious and scared.”

“I…I’d like to kiss you.”

His eyes widened, and he swallowed. “Kiss me?”

“Shit, that’s forward, right? You might not be into me and oh wow, I really know how to kill a good thing, don’t I? I’m sorry, ugh , I said sorry…sorry!”

My rambling was out of control, and I was about to get up and run up to the bedroom and lock myself in there until infinity when Daniel gently cupped my cheeks and pressed his lips to mine.

He was kissing me. Warm skin, delicious scent. His tongue skimmed along the seam of my lips and I opened, moaning as soon as he slid in and I tasted him for the first time. He was radiant. A weird word, probably, to describe the way someone tasted, but it was what had sprung into my mind.

His fingers found their way to the back of my head, and the delicious scrape of his nails and the possessive grip he had on me almost made me come in my pants…and all he was doing was kissing me.

He pulled away, and I admittedly chased his mouth a beat before realizing he was laughing.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a while,” he said, and that sobered me out of my lusty haze.

“You have?”

He nodded. “I wasn’t sure of your sexual preferences and to be honest, Aaron, I’m a lot older than you.”

“The first one is a fair reason; the second is ridiculous.”

“Maybe to you, but you’re a lot younger, Aaron. It matters.”

“To who?”

“Me. Also to anyone else out of this house.”

I let out a pfft . “No, I don’t think so, and were you planning on going out there and telling everyone our private business?”

“Well, no, but?—”

“Not sure there are any buts about it. However, I wouldn’t be upset if there were some butts involved.”

“Aaron.” He laughed.

“What? I’m attracted to you, Daniel. I get it if you want nothing to do with someone like me and if you told me that, I’d accept it.”

“You should never accept that!” Daniel growled. “You’re outstanding. I’m honored that I get to spend time with you, and if you really must know, it’s taken everything in me not to throw you over my shoulder at least a hundred times and carry you off to my bedroom.”

Well, Merry Christmas to me. “Oh, Daniel. I’d like to formally make a statement that any time you want to carry me to a sturdy surface and fuck my brains out, I give you full permission to do so.”

Daniel blinked and then, oddly, took out his cell phone and began texting. He stopped, got a ding , typed again, and placed his phone on the table.

“What was that about?”

“I texted Hank and told him that due to the strenuous activity of yesterday, we were running behind and may not make it until tomorrow. He’s fine with it. He said they’re all focusing on the menorah today, anyway.”

“It wasn’t too strenuous yesterday.”

Daniel grinned, and his eyes glittered with mischief. “Well, I suppose we should not make a liar out of me and get strenuous.”

“We should… oh !”

Daniel stood abruptly, then bent, scooped me up, and threw me over his shoulder. He rushed up the stairs, and I had the briefest thought before he tossed me onto his bed.

He wasn’t too old, he was just right, he was perfect, and for however long he wanted me, I’d give myself to Daniel Laverton.