Page 17 of Just for the Holidays

Nichol grips the baker's shoulder, to steady himself rising off the stool, and sweeps his palm across Teddy’s thick back muscles, that tense under his traveling touch.

“Maybe you should stay.” Teddy slowly turns his head, peering up through ginger lashes with large pupils—lit by desire—overtaking ocean-blue irises. He pulls his lower lip in, chewing the pillowy flesh, timidly awaiting a response.

Nichol answers by leaning in and pressing his mouth to Teddy’s—testing the water—before pulling inches away to stare into the baker’s face, silently gathering consent to keep going.

Teddy’s chest heaves, expressing a long rush of hot breath, and his eyes plead to continue. His arm wraps Nichol’s waist, and his hands slip under Nichol’s t-shirt, tracking warm fingertips up his bare back, and wrenching their bodies tight together.

Nichol cups Teddy’s bearded jaw in both hands, moving back in, pressing their faces together, and slipping his whisky-bitter tongue past parted lips to meet Teddy’s.

Lips tingle with static and flavors sweeten in their mouths as alcohol burns off from the boiling heat generated between their bodies.

Teddy lifts off his stool, taking Nichol’s hand in his, and leading him around the counter, toward the back office. He unlatches a low aluminum gate, stepping into the dark windowless room, inviting Nichol to join him, and closes the gate behind them.

He taps a small lamp on the desk, igniting a warm glow, and folds over a futon sofa, set against the wall, converting it flat into a bed.

Nichol peels his shirt off, over his head, and steps closer to Teddy.

The baker’s eyes slowly scroll down Nichol’s torso and his hand reaches for Nichol’s belly. Fingertips gently trace his skin, tangling in sparse blonde hairs along the journey toward his chest.

Breath catches in Nichol’s lungs and goosebumps rush his body.

Teddy’s face moves in until they’re kissing again.

Nichol wraps himself around the bearded baker. Coarse hairs tickle his nose and chin.

The baker’s arousal meets Nichol’s through flimsy shorts and taut denim.

Nichol reaches under the hem of Teddy’s pullover, gliding his hands up the furry-mounded terrain, pushing the hoodie up to expose his freckled chest.

Teddy raises both arms, helping Nichol remove the shirt.

Nichol leans down to kiss Teddy’s nipple.

The baker’s gentle hand holds the back of Nichol’s head and his heartbeat pulses wildly against Nichol’s cheek.

Nichol’s lips climb past Teddy’s collarbone, nibbling his neck and jaw, before meeting his mouth again.

“Lie down,” Nichol whispers against Teddy’s cheek.

The baker does as he’s told, perching on the edge of the futon and leaning back on both elbows. His flimsy shorts tent and pulse with anticipation.

Nichol stares into his eyes, unbuttoning his jeans and pushing them down off his long legs. He kicks the denim puddle away with his untied boots and drops to his knees, between Teddy’s thick furry thighs.

Teddy’s chest heaves again and he chews his bottom lip. Sleepy eyes, glazed with lust, fix on Nichol’s hand climbing his knees and moving along his thighs.

The tent in Teddy’s navy running shorts is darkened by a wet spot at the tip.

Nichol kisses it and slips his tongue across his lips, placing a hand on Teddy’s belly and pushing him back down on the futon mattress. His fingers tickle the hem of the shorts and reach inside, pushing away the taut cotton jock underneath and wrapping around Teddy’s stiffness.

The baker’s body convulses and his belly hitches, expressing air from his chest with a soft groan.

Nichol nuzzles his nose into the crease of Teddy’s thigh, inhaling his musk, while gently teasing his cock with his rolling palm.

Nichol is paused by the raucous snore that rumbles from his bearded baker.

“Teddy?” he whispers, sitting back on feet folded underneath himself and stretching his neck to see the brawny man completely passed out.

Chapter 10

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