“Except you have. I miss you, Mikey, and I’m sorry things can’t be different between us, but I’m in love with Patrick.”

  My eyes grow wide. Love. He’s in love with him now. “That’s great and I’m happy for you two. I’ll, um, see you later, Gilbert. Thanks for coming over for dinner.”

  “Yeah, sure. Don’t be a stranger, okay? I want my best friend back.”

  I nod, realizing I want that too. “Yeah, okay. I promise I’ll try and do better.”

  “Good, it’s all I ask. Maybe we can have lunch next week if you aren’t too busy being a fancy architect.”

  I laugh, running my hand through my hair. “Yeah, I think I can work that in.” I want to ask if Patrick would be joining him but decide to let it go. They were a package deal now. If I wanted my best friend back in my life, I would have to get in good graces with the man he loves even if the man wouldn’t so much as glance my way.

  “Great, I’ll message you then. Merry Christmas, Mikey.”

  “Merry Christmas, Gilbert, and I really am glad that you’re happy even if it’s with someone else.” And I meant it. There is only one man on my mind and I shouldn’t want him.

  “Thanks, man, it feels good hearing you say that. You’ll find your happiness, too, someday. Well, see ya.”

  I wave him goodbye one last time, suddenly no longer needing to use the restroom. My phone goes off in my pocket and the text message leaves me flushed from head to toe.

  Gray: Be sure to wear your gift when you come to the office tomorrow.

  Chapter Ten

  Gray

  I smile wide thinking about the last message I sent Michael. And I smile even wider when I enter the office and catch him leaning against the coffee counter, legs stretched straight out with his ankles crossed over, and the Christmas socks showing. “You wore them.”

  Jumping where he stands, he spins around. “How long have you been standing there? I almost dumped my coffee down my shirt.”

  My stomach rumbles with laughter. “Maybe then you will ruin that horrible tie.” Standing up straight, he flattens his tie that resembles a Santa suit against his chest. “Not all of us are holiday Scrooges. I happen to like this tie, thank you very much.”

  “I guess someone would have to, huh?”

  He rolls his eyes, taking a sip of his coffee in his Let It Snow mug. “Besides, it matches my socks.” He lifts up his pant leg, shaking his ankle around.

  “So it does. I guess we should get to work. One of our clients suggested some adjustments on one of your last designs and I need you to look over it with me. Meet me in my office in ten minutes.”

  He nods. “Yes, Sir. I’m going to turn on the Christmas lights really quick.”

  “Christmas lights?” He points at the once dull tree standing in one of the corners of the office. It’s covered in an array of ornaments, wrapped in sparkling garland.

  “Also, one more thing.” He pulls out a small Bluetooth speaker from his pocket and connects it to his phone. With one touch of his finger, Rudolph starts playing. I have died and gone to Christmas hell. The light and glee in his eyes are enough to light up any tree.

  “I’m going to go now, and I better not be able to hear that from my office or see those Christmas lights shining through my blinds.”

  His laughter falls behind me as I rush off to my office, ready to escape the Christmas nightmare that’s taking place around me. He is enjoying this way too much. I pull up the original plans, comparing them with my clients notes and making notes of my own and then the door opens with Michael’s head peeking through. He never did knock, and there was no point in griping at him about it now. “Can I come in?”

  “Looks like you already have. Oh and be sure to leave your Christmas spirit behind you.”

  He laughs. “Oh come on, don’t be such a grinch. It’s bad enough I have to be here to begin with. At least let me have something.”

  “Fine, close the door behind you, you’re letting all the Christmas in here. It’s going to be hard enough to focus sitting next to you with that ridiculous tie as it is.”

  He closes the door, walking closer with something hidden behind his back. “If you hate Christmas so much, then why are you eating a candy cane?”

  I huff, shuffling the candy to the corner of my mouth. “It’s a peppermint stick.”

  The smell of sugar cookies and pine saturates the air when he takes a seat next to me. “Whatever you say, Santa,” he says, placing something on my head. I run my hand over it, causing the white pom-pom of the Santa hat to fall in my face. “What did you just put on my head?”

  “Relax, it’s just a hat, not barbed wire and it makes you more approachable.” His arm rubs against mine as he moves in closer, reading my notes. “The correction on this shouldn’t take long and I like all your suggestions. May I add a few of my own?”

  Spreading my hands out in front of me with my palms facing outward, I push back in my chair. “By all means, have a go at it.”

  With his tongue sticking out from the corner of his mouth, he makes a few marks and scribbles on the drawn-up plans. “What do you think?”

  It’s hard to focus on anything when his alluring scent takes over my nose, and the way his tongue sticks out has me wanting to capture it with my mouth. Clearing my throat, I focus my eyes on our work. “I think they will definitely be happy when they see the new drawn up plans. Let me run these ideas through them really quick and I’ll call you back here when I know more.”

  Him twisting his fingers around the tip of my hat, reminds me I still have the stupid thing on. “Or I can just wait right here. I have nothing else to do right now anyway.”

  Struggling to speak, I swallow hard and reach for the phone, not looking. “Okay, if that’s what you want.

  “It is.” He leans back in his chair, releasing his hand from the hat, letting it land in my eyes.

  Shaking the hat off my head, I ignore his laughter as it falls to the ground. The phone call doesn’t last long and I send the picture while being on the line, not wanting to waste precious time waiting on approval to carry on with the new plans. “Great, I’m glad you’re happy with-it, Mr. Swanson. Making our clients happy is a top priority for us. Sure, we will get those new plans drawn up and have them in time for the next meeting. Great, talk to you soon.”

  I hang up the phone and I smile in Michael’s direction. “It’s a go!”

  “Great, I can get started on it now.” He leans back in the chair, crossing his ankle over his knee and I trail the edge of his socks with my fingers. “You can or we can take a short break.”

  He wraps his tongue around the red and green striped candy cane, licking slowly around it while leaning forward. “What kind of break?”

  Smiling cheekily, I can’t help myself anymore. I can no longer sit here watching him twirl the candy in his mouth when I much rather have his lips wrapped around me instead. With my lips begging to taste his, I swipe my tongue across the candy still wrapped tightly in his mouth, before slightly pulling away. “I was thinking a candy break.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Michael

  I can never get used to Gray looking at me that way. With heated eyes and a sinful smile that I wanted so badly to kiss away. No, you can’t want the man sitting in front of you, he is the devil in disguise. What a beautiful disguise it was, with that deep blue suit hugging tightly against his muscular form, and that baby blue tie that I badly want to use to pull him closer to me. It was Christmas Eve, and there is only one thing I can think about unwrapping right now.

  Then he closes the distance between us, licking across my mouth and all resistance is gone. My body is vibrating against the chair and my lips are tingling from the wet swipe of his tongue. All I can manage are a few ridiculous words I wish I can take back the minute they exit my mouth. “Candy breaks are always good.”

  What did I even mean by that? After that, there is no way he will want to kiss me the way he did the other day in the parking garage. Ready to be thrown out of his office, and told my break was over, I press my hands against the chair to stand up. But surprisingly, his hand comes down on my leg, making my ass meet the chair again. He yanks the candy cane from my mouth, tossing it to the floor and claims my mouth with his. His warm tongue interlocks with mine and my knees are shaking. If I wasn’t sitting down, my body would be buckling to the floor.

  Deepening the kiss, his hand slides up my thigh, teasing around my groin, but never once coming in contact with my growing erection. Sparks of electricity dance along my skin when he moves his kisses down my jaw, licking down my neck. “Mmm I do love the taste of peppermint, but I think I much prefer it coming from your mouth.”

  Needing to have his mouth on mine again, I tug against his suit jacket, trying to pull his mouth back on mine, but he stops me, shaking his head. “Who is the one in charge here?”

  Licking my lips, I swallow the lump in my throat. “You are.”

  “That’s right. Which means what exactly?”

  “I don’t do anything unless you tell me to.”

  “That’s right, and did I tell you to grab me and kiss me?”

  Shaking my head, my hands tighten on the chair’s handles. “No, Sir.”

  “Don’t break the rules again or our little break will be over. Do you want that?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “Good, neither do I. Now let’s see those socks of yours.”

  I reach to lift my pant leg to reveal my socks, and he stops me. “No, I can’t see them enough that way. Pants off.”

  Without overthinking it, I stand up and drop my pants to the ground. I can tell myself that I don’t want this, or that I don’t want him, but my body always suggests otherwise, betraying me in more ways than one. I can search for the word no all I want, but it doesn’t exist anywhere in my mind right now. Doing what he asks feels good. It lights a fire within me, making me feel more alive than ever before. I kick my pants off my feet and stand up straight in nothing but my dress shirt, boxers, and ridiculous Christmas socks.

  His gaze drops to my boxers and he is now wearing a look of disapproval. “Just when I didn’t think it could get any worse, it does.”

  “I like Rudolph,” I say, suddenly feeling naked and vulnerable in my Christmas themed boxers with Rudolph’s red nose over my dick.

  A light chuckle escapes his lips. “I can see that.”

  I jolt backwards at the touch of his cold fingers sliding up my inner thigh, causing my skin to be cover in gooseflesh. Who knew being touched by another person could feel so good? My boxers lift above his roaming hands and they tease around my cock, rubbing along my pubic hair. “Please, Sir.”

  His hand stops, and even I’m surprised by my own words. I wasn’t even sure what I was begging for. All I knew was my body needed more, the kind of more only he can give me.

  “Please what, Mikey?”

  My next words come out a jumbled mess when he starts moving his hand again. He chuckles deeply and the sexy confident sounds travel from my ears down to my dick. “Please, don’t stop.”

  “Stop what?”

  He folds down the waistband of my boxers, licking a long stripe across the skin above it, and I am nearly coming apart from the sensation of his tongue. Before I can answer, he folds them down again making me swallow down my words when he licks me again. He rubs his nose along my happy trail, all the way down to the top of my crotch. My moans come out loud and broken.

  “You have to tell me what you want, little elf. Use your words or I’ll stop. Is this what you want?” He licks me again. “Or this?” His fingers slide over my hard cock, lightly grazing it.

  My pleading eyes and desperate nods aren’t enough. “I need words.”

  He pulls his hand out from my underwear and starts unfolding my boxers, covering me up again. The words claw their way up my throat, needing to break free. “I want it all, Sir. Everything you are willing to give me.”

  I’m supposed to come in here today and put my foot down. Tell him my patience is running thin and if he doesn’t make me partner after Christmas, I’m leaving and taking my clients with me. Instead, I’m here half naked in my boss’s office, giving him complete control over my body. I should feel disgusted with myself and full of shame, but all I feel is free. I never knew giving complete control to someone could be so liberating.

  He stares up at me smiling, and those blue eyes of his darken with the spread of his lips. “That’s exactly what I needed to hear. Keep your hands to your side and show me how still you can be for me, my little elf.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  He grabs the hat from the floor, pulling it over his head. “Today you can call me Santa. And I would feel better if we had a safe word in case you want this all to stop. What do you think it should be?”

  “Yes, Santa. How about Christmas lights?”

  “Are you sure? It can be anything, you know.”

  I nod, fluttering my eyelashes against my glasses. “I’m sure.”

  Releasing a soft sigh, he leans in closer. “So, what do you say if things become too much?”

  “Christmas lights.”

  “That’s my good little elf. Santa loves giving his hard-working elf little breaks when he earns them, and you certainly have.”

  As much as I hate to admit it, I love being Santa’s little elf, as long as Santa is the gorgeous man sitting in front of me running his magical hands all over my body.

  I’d even put on the pointy ass shoes with the bells attached to them and wiggle my nose . . . Oh wait, wrong fictional creature. Before I can continue getting caught up in my head, Gray pulls me out of it by licking along the outline of my cock. Now I’m wishing there wasn’t a piece of fabric standing in the way of his tongue coming in contact with my skin.

  Chapter Twelve

  Gray

  He continues to moan and shake at my touch, trying to keep his body as still as possible. I always saw Michael as a people pleaser, and I was curious to know how far it would go. How far will he go to make me happy? All those late hours he stayed for me, all those holidays he missed with his family in order to make a strong impression. I never realized how much I wanted to see him pleasing me in places outside of work, until now.

  He was beautiful this way, desperate and pleading for more and I badly wanted to give it to him. I slowly pull down his boxers, taking my time exposing more of his glorious tan skin and dark hair. I couldn’t help but rub my nose against it. He smells like soap and fabric softener and I badly want to be covered in it. “Such a sexy little elf,” I say, pulling his boxers down enough to let his beautiful long, uncut cock spring free.

  Pulling back the foreskin, I swipe my tongue across the precum leaking from his slit. “So fucking sexy and patient. I always do enjoy rewarding patient little elves.”

  His eyes are closed, and his head is tilted back. Silent moans escape his open mouth as I take the tip of him between my lips, working my fingers up and down his velvety skin. I run my tongue down the underside of his shaft, lapping at his balls while continuing to stroke his cock. “You’re so patient, little elf. How much more patient can you be for me?”

  He moans, shaking against me. Drawn out groans come from his mouth and he mutters in frustration, “Mhm.”

  “What was that?”

  I take his tip back in my mouth, licking and sucking. He lifts his head, with his eyes half lidded. “Very patient, Santa.”

  I pick up the speed of my hand and his moans grow louder as he releases more incoherent sounds. With his body trembling and his muscles tightening, I can tell he’s right on the edge. I release my mouth and hand and stand up from the chair. Let’s see just how patient he can be. “Good, because break time is over.”

  His half-lidded eyes open wide, and they’re burning with fury. “What do you mean break’s over?”

  “I call the shots, Mikey, and when I say break’s over, then break’s over. So, get to it. Those plans won’t draw themselves.” I shove the Santa hat against him, waiting for his hands to wrap around it.

  His jaw clenches and he bends down to pull up his boxers. Grabbing his pants from the floor, he stomps out of my office, not bothering to give me another glance. After the door slams behind him, the Christmas music grows louder, causing me to let out another loud laugh.

  I grab my phone and send him a text message.

  Me: Remember, patient elves get rewards.

  I don’t get a response back from him and I don’t really expect one. Smiling at the candy on the floor, I pick it up and toss it in the trash. That sure was one great candy break and I’m almost ready for the next one. I pull up my emails, sending out responses, and confirming future appointments. A few hours go by of me working my way through my workload and my stomach starts rumbling.

  I reach for the phone, hoping one of the nearby restaurants is open for take out on a holiday. Luckily, the second one I call picks up and I order my usual teriyaki bowl and orange chicken and white rice for Michael. We’ve been stuck together at the office, after hours, enough for me to memorize all his favorite dishes from different restaurants. I hang up the phone after completing my order and walk toward the loud noise blaring from the other side of the door. Michael is moving his head to the beat while moving his hand over the sketch pad.

  “I got us some food. Grabbed your favorite from across the way,” I say, making him jump in his chair.

  He glances up at me with arched brows. “I guess that means it’s almost time for another break.”

  I don’t know how we will ever go back to our regular breaks after this, and I’m not sure I want to. “Yes, another break. Although, the food will be here in forty-five minutes.”

  “I guess we better be quick then. I’m kind of over sucking on candy canes today. I think I much rather have something else in my mouth instead.”