Page 26 of Santa & His Elf

Once we’re done and both sufficiently turned on, we wrap towels around our waists, and I follow Pepper into the adjoining closet. Every inch of it is built with rich wood. A plush green bench sits in the center. This looks nothing like my father’s Santa closet.

“It’s beautiful in here,” I praise as I select a pair of dark denim jeans and a red henley shirt from my side of the closet.

“Thanks.” Pepper slides on a pair of black joggers sans underwear and a red, long-sleeved t-shirt that looks amazing against his pale skin and dark hair.

“What’s wrong?” I ask when he doesn’t come and hug me after he dresses. It’s unlike him.

“You forget I can feel you, Nick. Your emotions.” He gestures to me with a flick of his wrist.

“I’m worried,” I admit.

“I know.”

“It’s going to be okay.”

Sitting down on the bench and sliding on a pair of reindeer socks, Pepper eyes me skeptically. “Promise?”

“Yes. I promise.” There’s nothing I won’t do to make surewe’re okay.

Pepper grins. “Then can I come to the workshop today? Since I’ve done all I plan to do on our house right now, I’d like to see how I can help there. I am head elf.”

“You’re also a distraction,” I remind him.

Crossing the closet to hug me around the middle, Pepper rests his chin on my sternum. Looking up at me so damn cutely, he flutters his long lashes, trying to butter me up. “What if I promise to stay out of your way?”

I cuff the back of his neck. “You know I don’t want that.”

“Maybe I can work in your office with you. We can see how that works.”

It won’t.

“Pepper.” I sigh, wanting him with me always but knowing it will be a disaster.

“I know. I know. I can’t help it either.” He kisses a spot between my pecs. “But I hate being away from you.”

Fuck.

I can’t say no to him.

Adorable, naughty, perfect elf.

“We can try,” I concede and squeeze the nape of his neck. “For today. Just this once. If it works, then we can try again.”

“Thank you!” Squeezing me tightly around the middle to the point I can barely breathe, Pepper sprinkles kisses all over my chest.

“Just today.” I chuckle at his enthusiasm.

“We’ll make it work,” he vows, nuzzling his nose between my pecs.

“We’ll try.”

What could go wrong… right?

Oh.

Just everything.

nine

---