Page 19 of Wrong Number, Right Santa

I half-shrugged, unsure. So much had changed in such a short period of time, and I hadn’t fully processed it all. I led him to the couch, where we both sat down, Max settling onto my feet.

“I don’t know what’s next.” My life had been all laid out, and having a mate, especially one from the south, hadn’t been part of that. “I always thought I’d be alone. My job is pretty much all-encompassing, and I live... not here.”

Only it was so much more than that. It sounded so cliche to say I wasn’t like other guys, but I really wasn’t. Not even close.

“My job is my identity. You have your work and your reindeer and your personal life, and those are separate but intermingled. For me, it’s all one and the same. IamSanta. Sure, Chris works, but the essence of who I am is in my position, and I...”

I trailed off, a lump forming in my throat at what I needed to say next.

“I don’t think I’m good for you.” My voice cracked. I despised the words coming from my mouth. But if he was mine, the one meant for me, then wasn’t it my job to give him the best? He deserved better than the life I could give him. He deserved everything.

“I think I should be the one to make that decision, don’t you?” His shoulder leaned into mine.

I didn’t like that we weren’t facing each other, but if we sat in any other position, we might lose our contact, and right now, his palm pressed against mine with our fingers laced together was my lifeline. Letting go of his hand—I wasn’t ready for that.

“How about this?” He shifted his body, and I flinched. He must’ve sensed why because he held on a little tighter as he turned to face me, our arms outstretched but still connected. I managed to twist a bit as well. As much as I hated the awkward reach that made our touch possible, I had to admit this was better. I could watch his face as we spoke. Max was less impressed getting up and moving to his bed.

“Fate doesn’t make mistakes.” Dario was dead serious. He closed his eyes. “I refuse to believe that fate makes mistakes.”

I wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince me or himself. He inhaled deeply, and this time, when he let out his breath, he locked his eyes with mine.

“How about we just see where it goes? No mating marks until we both decide. No claiming, no promising each other forever. Just...”

“I guess we try this like the humans do,” I filled in for him, forcing a chuckle.

“Yeah, let’s do this the human way.” His words were hopeful, but there was no denying the underlying defeat in them.

“That makes this is a first date, right?”

He nodded.

I used some of my Christmas magic and had mistletoe appear, hanging above us. When I glanced up, his eyes followed.

“Humans kiss on first dates, right?” Because I wanted nothing more than to taste him, to prove to myself that this wasn’t all a dream.

“Yeah, I suppose they do.” A small smile spread across his face, and he stood up, pulling me with him, and leaned in, brushing his lips against mine in a sweet but far-too-brief kiss. But instead of pulling back, he pressed his forehead against mine and sighed happily.

I wasn’t sure what to say or do next and so I opted to savor the moment, sighing happily.

That must’ve been the sign he was looking for. He brought his lips to mine one more time in a passionate kiss—one that said all the things our words hadn’t. It was a kiss that said we might not be promising each other tomorrow, but there would be one and another and another and another. We just needed to figure out how to make that happen.

Chapter 15

Dario

“You know mistletoe’s a parasite, right?” I pulled away and stared at his swollen lips that probably mirrored my own.

Chris put his mouth to my ear. “I do, and you’re the second person other than myself who knows that.”

Grinding my crotch against his, I whispered, “That makes me special.”

“Definitely.” He was purring rather than speaking, and if I hadn’t been so turned on, I would have curled up on his lap. “I like where this is going.”

He gripped my butt and squeezed, and I winced though I enjoyed the sliver of pain that came paired with exquisite pleasure.

“I’d prefer coming.” Pleased that Max was asleep on his bed, I extended my hand and walked backward into the bedroom until I hit the bed and toppled back.

“Let’s toast to coming, more coming, and coming again.” His eyes blazed with unmistakable lust as he fell onto the mattressbeside me. He nibbled the delicate skin on my throat while his nimble fingers wrestled with the button and zipper on my pants.

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