Mistletoe at Midnight

A Story Orgy Single

Hank Edwards

Startled Monkeys Media

Contents

Summary

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

About the Author

Also by Hank Edwards

Summary

Dustin isn’t looking forward to the city’s Christmas Ball since his ex broke up with him just before last year’s Ball. But when he meets a handsome piano player, a glimmer of hope sparks within Dustin. Maybe this Christmas Eve will turn out much better than the last.

Mistletoe At Midnight by Hank Edwards

Copyright © 2013 by Hank Edwards

Cover art by Startled Monkeys Media

All Rights Reserved. No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Published in the United States of America.

Mistletoe At Midnight is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are fictionalized. Any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

For Jessica P. - whose spirit is unique as a snowflake and warmer than cocoa on Christmas Eve. Thanks for your continued support of The Story Orgy and your wonderful prompt items. This story is for you – listen for piano notes in the moonlight and follow them to your dream.

Prompt Items:

Mistletoe

A piano player

A mountaintop lodge

1

Dustin tried not to flinch when he lifted the page of the wall calendar and exposed the month of December. Was it really December already? Where the hell had the year run off to?

"Uh, Dusty? A little help here?"

Stacey's slightly frazzled voice brought Dustin back from his wallow in misery and he turned to see a line of travel weary people stretching across the lobby.

"Yeah, sorry." He moved to his computer, smiling at the next person in line. "Can I help you?"

The man stepped up and glared at Dustin as he dropped his bags. "Break time over?"

Dustin managed to keep his smile fixed in place as he envisioned the asshole in front of him skiing off the side of the mountain. "Sorry about the wait. Snow's been falling so much this year it seems like everyone wants to come up and ski."

"Everyone and their goddamn neighbor is more like it," the man grumbled.

Dustin chuckled to show the man he appreciated the humor, even though it wasn't intended for his amusement. He checked the man in, slid his key card across the desk, and wished him a good day. As the grouchy guest gathered his belongings from the floor at his feet, Dustin smiled at the next angry face in line and said, "Next!"

Hours later, Dustin bumped the break room door open with his hip and slumped into an uncomfortable plastic chair beside Stacey. They stared at each other in exhausted silence a moment, and then each grinned and broke into tired giggles.

"I think you won this round," Stacey assured him.

Dustin nodded as he unzipped his lunch box. "I know I won this round."

Stacey shook her head and dipped a carrot into a tiny pool of watery looking dressing. "I don't know how you managed to get so many angry, cranky people."

"I'm a magnet for them," Dustin said before directing a frown toward the dressing. "What the hell is that?"

Stacey snorted a laugh. "Don't judge me. It's fat-free, low-calorie, no flavor ranch dressing."

"Sounds like the perfect treat after a long morning."

"Shut up." She pointed a baby carrot at him. "I am determined to be able to fit into that dress."

Dustin furrowed his brow at her. "'That dress?'"

"The one in the window of Elysium."

Dustin curled his lip into a sneer. "The peach one?"

Stacey mirrored his sneer. "No!"

"The black one?"

She held her arms out and looked down at herself. "Do I look like Morticia Addams?"

"Well…"

She threw a carrot at him. Dustin caught it and took a bite out of it. "Well which dress?"

"The green one."

"Oh, that one!" He looked her over with a critical eye as he chewed the carrot. "I can see it."

"Yeah?" She tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. "I love that dress. I've been saving up all year for the perfect dress to wear to the Christmas Ball and they put that dress in the window last week and it just…called to me."

"The Christmas Ball?" Dustin rolled his eyes. "Have fun."

Stacey punched him in the arm and Dustin blinked at her in surprise. "Um, ouch."

"Stop being a Grinch."

"I'm not a Grinch."

"Yes, you are. Every year around this time you get all moody and emo and start acting like a thirteen year old girl, and I will not have it this year, do you understand me? This year we're going to dress up—"

Dustin rolled his eyes.

"—And we're going to that Christmas Ball and we're going to drink champagne punch and dance and have a goddamn good time if it fucking kills us. Got it?"

Dustin widened his eyes and stared at her. A heavy silence fell on the otherwise empty break room. Finally, Dustin nodded. "Got it."

Stacey let out the breath she had been holding and, from the slump of her shoulders, Dustin could assume the aggression she had been harboring as well. She dipped another carrot into the watery dressing and took a bite, crunching for a moment until she finally said, "I'm sorry, Dusty. I know that you barely tolerate Christmas as it is, and then last year that asshole Lucas went and broke your heart on Christmas Eve, but you can't let him ruin it for you. You know?"

Dustin nodded and dropped his gaze to his sandwich, trying to hide the pain that still felt so fresh from a year ago. It had been the perfect setting: gentle snow, carolers singing in the background—though one had been drunkenly off-key, and Lucas Walden standing there before Dustin, smiling his 10,000 watt smile. Dustin had felt invincible in that breathless moment. His life up to that one moment had been drab and incomplete, but now that Lucas stood smiling at him in the soft Christmas snow, everything was about to change. Lucas, he had been sure, so very sure, had been about to tell Dustin he loved him, and all his fantasies through middle school, high school, and beyond about the man were about to come true.

But, Dustin had been wrong, so very wrong. Instead, Dustin had come to realize during the last twelve months he had obsessed over that moment, that Lucas had given him an embarrassed smile. Lucas had told Dustin that he liked him, really, truly liked him, but he was escaping from this snowbound mountain town in a week and he wanted to see other people.

Stacey touched his arm, bringing Dustin back to the break room, and he flashed her a smile he hoped looked more convincing than it felt.

"You're right. It's time to move on." He shrugged and looked away. "I guess December just caught me by surprise is all."

"It's what usually happens pretty quick after we sit down and eat all that turkey," Stacey said.

Dustin chuckled. "Yeah. And, by the way, you did a great job with the cheesy potatoes this year."

"Yeah?" She sighed and dipped another carrot into the dressing. "I miss cheesy potatoes."

"And potato chips, and fresh bread, and stuffing, and Christmas cookies, and egg nog—"

Stacey glared at him. "Not helping!"

"Oh?"

They grinned at each other. Stacey patted Dustin's hand and he went back to his sandwich and tried not to think about Lucas and how the snow had caught in the waves of his dark hair and the streetlights had sparkled in his brown eyes.

* * *

When Dustin finally punched out two hours later than his shift should have ended, his feet ached and his brain was numb. Stacey had fled an hour earlier for a spin class at the gym, leaving him to help the new desk attendants with the long line of skiers waiting to check in. Now, he zipped up his coat, pulled his hat snug over his ears and walked on through the crowded streets of Snowfall, Colorado.

Counting just 8,000 residents in the summer, Snowfall expanded exponentially in the winter months for ski season, and especially around the Christmas holiday. Dustin had been born and raised in Snowfall, except for the four years he had spent at Colorado University, and the place had a tight hold on him. Once he had returned from college and gotten his job at Snowfall Mountaintop Lodge, his parents had confessed they'd had enough of long winter months buried under multiple feet of snow, and the service industry overall, and packed up a U-Haul to move to Florida.

But Dustin stayed behind. There was something about the mountain air, the blanket of soft snow in the winter, and the green pines and grass in summer that held him. Even when the town was filled with drunken tourists, he still loved its charm. Stacey liked to tell him he was a romantic trapped in the body of a true cynic, and, Dustin had to admit, she was mostly right.

Dustin threaded his way through the happy families bundled up in matching puffy coats, drunken frat boys and sorority girls, older men with younger wives or mistresses, and older women with younger husbands or boy toys. He dodged a horse drawn carriage to duck down a narrow side street, snow piled high along the curbs. Here the houses stood close, as if huddled together for warmth, a mix of Victorian style homes of all types.

He passed by a Gothic Revival, with a steeply pitched roof and wickedly pointed windows, an Italianate with its rectangular, blocky body, and finally turned up the walk of a brightly painted Queen Anne. A long porch wrapped around the right side, and a rounded turret stood tall in the left front corner. He paused at the front door to fish in the small mailbox with his name and flat number on it, pulling out a few bills and a card from his parents. Using his teeth to pull off a glove, he searched through his keys until he found the one he needed and opened the front door.

With the finger of his glove still clamped in his teeth, Dustin paused in the entryway to stomp the snow from his boots. He crossed the tile foyer and kicked his boots off onto a large rubber mat in the corner, next to three other sets. The residents of 817 Blue Spruce Lane all trusted one another enough to leave their most valuable possessions in the main hallway: their snow boots. It helped keep the snow and slush out of their flats.

Dustin climbed the stairs to the third floor and unlocked the door to his flat. As he stepped inside, a wave of heat rolled over him and he let out a gasp, hurrying to peel off his heavy down coat followed by his sweater, long sleeved T-shirt underneath, and white T-shirt beneath that. Bare chested, he crossed to the three windows in the turret behind his single bed and yanked them each open an inch. Cool air rushed in and he let out a relieved breath. The good and bad part of living on the top floor of the house: the heat gathered in his room. Saved on energy bills, but it could quickly get overwhelming.

Leaving the sheer white curtains to blow in the frigid breeze, Dustin slid out of his khaki pants and sat on a chair to pull off his thick socks and long underwear. Naked and sweating, he made his way into the bathroom and started up the shower, turning to look at his reflection. Dark blond hair, flat and dull, eyes the hard blue of a stagnant mountain lake, a dimple in his chin that only emphasized its pointiness, and a veritable veldt of dark blond hair across his chest and on down his torso.

"No wonder Lucas broke up with you," he grumbled to his reflection. "Plain as the snow is deep."

With a sigh, Dustin stepped into the shower and lathered up. He kept the water cool, but, despite the chill, he still became aroused beneath the touch of his lingering fingers. He closed his eyes and thought about Lucas, conjured up how it had felt to kiss the man, touch his skin, taste his sweat, and hear him grunt low in his throat just before he came.

Dustin's muscles tensed and he gasped as he came. He shivered when he had finished and turned to face the spray of water, washing away the residue before twisting off the faucets. Grabbing a towel off the rack, he pressed his face into it.

And that's when he heard the music.

It was a piano, the tune unfamiliar but soft and whimsical, slightly melancholy. The notes seemed to float in his window on the December breeze and settle all around him, soothing his tired nerves and easing his troubled mind.

Dustin slid nude into bed and reached out to switch off the Tiffany lamp beside him. The curtains fluttered in the cold breeze, bringing the music in to circle his head and ease him into sleep.

2

The next morning, Dustin got caught up in a crowd of skiers trying to stuff themselves into lodge shuttles and ended up punching in three minutes late. Stacey crowded in beside Dustin to punch in herself.

"You're late," he grumbled.

"I got caught in a riptide of skiers and ended up on a shuttle for two blocks before the driver heard me screaming to stop."

Dustin blinked. "Seriously?"

Stacey nodded, wide-eyed, and shrugged out of her coat. "Seriously."

"Which driver was it?"

Stacey turned away, but not before Dustin saw the light blush darken her cheeks. "Wendell."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She brushed a strand of hair back into place behind her ear and smiled at him. "Shall we assume our positions?"

"Did you assume one with Wendell?"

"Come along," Stacey said in a sing-song voice, totally ignoring his question. "We need to relieve the night staff."

The day passed quickly, and before he realized it, Dustin found himself on the cold and crowded street outside the lodge. The crisp, sharp air nipped the skin of his face and helped him wake up a little bit. He walked slowly along the crowded sidewalk, stopping to look in store windows and even paused outside the Elysium dress shop to stare at the green dress Stacey coveted. The style and color really did suit her, and he could almost visualize her wearing it amid the white twinkling lights and soft music of the Christmas Ball, Snowfall's largest party, held every Christmas Eve.

The same night Lucas Walden had broken up with him.

Music drifted to him, pulling him out of his gloomy thoughts, and Dustin followed the audible trail to a brightly painted building front on what he had assumed was a toy store based on the sputtering neon sign above the door that read Calliope. He noticed a tiny speaker nestled just beneath the sign, obviously used to pull people in from the street. The music reminded him of the piano player he had heard before going to bed the other night, and he decided to check the place out.

Inside, smoke and dim lighting surrounded him, leaving Dustin blinking and squinting. This wasn't a shop at all; it was a bar. A few men sat at small tables, faces in shadow from flickering candles on the tabletops. They stared at him as they smoked cigarettes or sipped drinks, but Dustin glanced over them to the slightly raised stage at the back where a man sat at an old upright piano.

He was handsome in a lanky, tossed off sort of way, with wavy, shoulder length hair, long sideburns that could almost be called muttonchops, a slightly pinched nose and long neck with a pronounced Adam's apple. Piece by piece he bordered on odd looking, but as Dustin assessed the man's entire presence, he felt a rumble of attraction roll through him.

"Come on in," an older man behind the bar said and waved Dustin to a barstool. "What can I get you?"

Dustin sat and blinked at the bartender, unable to decide because of the day he'd had and the soothing music. "Uh…"

The man nodded once. "I know just the thing." He got busy mixing ingredients. "What's your name?"

"Dustin."

"Nice to meet you, Dustin, I'm Bosco."

"Bosco? Like the chocolate drink?"

Bosco squinted at him. "You're too young to know about that stuff."

Dustin blushed and tipped up a shoulder in a shrug. "I hear things."

The bartender chuckled then placed a drink before him. "I like you. Try that out."

Dustin took a cautious sip and the flavorful bite of apple filled his mouth. "I like it. What is that?"

"Called a Washington Red Apple. Not as frou frou as a cosmo, but still fruity." Bosco tipped his head toward the piano player. "Did his music pull you in here tonight?"

Dustin nodded and turned to look up at the handsome piano player. "It did. The music sounds familiar, I think I heard him practicing last night when I was home."

"He just got to town this week," Bosco said. "His name's Roman Rawlings."

"Roman Rawlings," Dustin said, rolling the name across his tongue.

"Sounds like a porn name, doesn't it?" Bosco asked.

Dustin nodded. "A little bit."

"Supposed to be his real name. But, who am I to judge."

They talked a little longer until Roman finished "Jingle Bell Rock" with a flourish. The man leaned in close to the microphone atop the piano and said, "Time for a short break, all. But keep drinking, I want to look pretty."

The four other men in the bar chuckled and two of them clapped, Dustin joining them. He smiled as Bosco placed another Washington Red Apple in front of him, and then blinked in surprise when the bartender set a chilled martini at the barstool next to him.

"Expecting someone?" Dustin asked.

Bosco turned away with a smile and said, "Great set, Roman. Have a drink on the house."

As Roman Rawlings sat on the barstool beside Dustin, a shiver that was equal parts interest and nerves zipped through him.

"Thanks, Bosco, you're a peach." Roman sipped the martini and smacked his lips before smiling at the bartender. "Nice and dry, just like I like my men."

Dustin couldn't help snorting a laugh and, embarrassed, quickly dropped his gaze to his own drink.

"Was that a snort?"

A quick glance at Roman assured Dustin that, yes, the man had heard him snort and, yes, he was, indeed, talking to him.

"Sorry?" Dustin feigned ignorance.

Roman grinned. "Uh huh." He stuck out his hand. "Roman Rawlings."

Dustin took note of his long, graceful fingers before shaking with him, the warmth of Roman's grip reaching straight down to his groin. "Dustin Collins."

"Nice to meet you, Dustin Collins." Roman sipped his martini. "You come to Calliope often?"

Dustin shook his head. "No. First time, actually." He leaned closer to Roman. "I always thought it was a strange little toy store or something because of the name."

"It's named after the Greek goddess who was Homer's muse," Bosco said as he walked past with drinks for two men down the bar. "Philistines."

Dustin and Roman exchanged looks and Dustin tipped up a shoulder in a shrug. "Who knew?"

Roman laughed. "I like you."

They talked about Snowfall and Roman smiled wide when he learned that Dustin had lived in the city nearly all his life.

"I love it here," Roman said with a grand sweep of his long arms. "The fresh mountain air, the sky so blue it almost hurts to look at it, the blinding white snow. All of it."

"Wow, you should write our travel brochure," Dustin said with a helpless smile.

"Come on," Roman said and nudged him in the arm. "You can't tell me you don't love this place. You chose to move back here after college!"

Dustin nodded and shrugged. "I do love it. But, it can wear on you. A lot of tourists this time of year, and a lot of snow."

"Well, all the better." Roman waggled his eyebrows. "I'm sure you meet your share of hot men, and then you get to introduce them to your favorite indoor sport."

Dustin feigned puzzlement. "Bowling?"

Roman let out a big, whooping, joyful laugh. That coaxed a laugh out of Dustin as well. They laughed together for a moment, and then smiled at each other.

"I haven't laughed like that in a long time," Dustin said. "Thanks."

Roman leaned in to say in a quiet, deep voice, "Don't thank me. You're the comedian." He straightened, slugged down the last of his martini, and stood up. "Show time!"

"Break a toe," Dustin said.

Roman narrowed his eyes. "I think you mean leg."

Dustin shrugged. "It's a small stage, I figure a toe is the worst you could do."

Shaking his head and smiling, Roman stepped up onto the stage and sat at the piano. He stared at the keys for a moment, seeming lost in thought, and then turned to look right at Dustin. With a smile, Roman leaned into the microphone and said, "This one's for my new friend, Dustin Collins."

A shiver of excitement rippled through him and he exchanged an excited look with Bosco who waggled his furry eyebrows. Roman started playing and Dustin smiled and nodded, a blush warming his cheeks as he recognized "I'll Be Home For Christmas."

A sudden blast of frigid air announced the opening of the door to the street. Dustin shivered and turned to look over his shoulder to where the new arrival stood blinking in the gloom. At the sight of the man, Dustin's body went cold, as if someone had peeled open his skull and poured ice water inside, allowing it to trickle down into his body. The sound of Roman's music, the fact that it had been dedicated to him, fled Dustin's mind as he stared.

Lucas Walden stood just inside the door of the bar.

"Oh, fuck me running," Dustin mumbled. He turned his face away from the door and downed his drink in two swallows, the whiskey searing his throat and gathering in a warm pool in his belly. "Well, nice to meet you, Bosco."

Bosco blinked at him. "You're leaving?" He waved toward the stage. "He's playing a song for you."

Dustin threw some money on the bar and flashed a tight smile. "I just remembered something I have to do. Thanks for the drinks and conversation. Tell Roman I really liked the song and I'm sorry."

Bosco shook his head. "Okay, I'll tell him. Come back again, now that you know we're a bar."

"Sure will." Dustin glanced toward the stage where Roman played with his eyes closed, lost inside the melody. He wanted to stay and listen to Roman play all night, but he just couldn't deal with being in the same bar as Lucas.

Dustin risked a glance over his shoulder and saw that Lucas had moved toward the bathroom; the front door was clear. Keeping his face averted, Dustin hurried to the door and escaped into the frigid winter night, the notes of Roman's playing following after him.

Dustin got little sleep that night. Instead, he tossed and turned, and when he did manage to drift off, he dreamed that Roman Rawlings sat a little ways off, providing a soundtrack as Lucas Walden rehearsed his break up with Dustin to his face before Lucas actually broke up with him.

When morning came, the sun was blindingly bright against the snow and it hurt Dustin's sleep-deprived eyes. He showered, dressed, and dragged himself into work, lurking by the coffeemaker as it brewed a fresh pot.

"Oh my God, what happened to you?"

Dustin peered over his shoulder at Stacey's concerned expression. "Lucas Walden."

Her eyes went wide. "He called you?"

"He walked into the bar where I was having a drink last night."

"Oh my God." She put her hands out palms down as if she were steadying herself on the air. "What did he say?"

"I didn't talk to him." Dustin turned away to pour a cup of coffee. "I escaped."

"Wow." Stacey poured herself some coffee and followed him to the front desk. "How did he look?"

Dustin narrowed his eyes by way of reply.

"That good?"

"Lucas will always look that good. Even if he got bitten during a zombie apocalypse and came back from the dead stumbling around with his flesh rotting away and his arm half chewed off, Lucas would still look good."

Stacey turned up the corner of her lip in a sneer. "Zombie apocalypse?"

Dustin said through a yawn, "I watched an old horror movie last night after I got home."

"Why do you think he's back in town?" Stacey asked. "I mean, he broke up with you last year because he was leaving town, right?"

"Well, that and he just wasn't feeling an attraction any longer."

Stacey pouted and reached out to rub his arm, and Dustin realized why he liked her so much—she knew when to stop trying to make things better by talking. Not many people had that gift.

The day passed in a blur, and before he knew it, Dustin found himself punching out at the time clock once again. Stacey came up behind him and reached around to grab her time card. She punched out as well, and then she looped her arm through his.

"How about dinner?"

He eyed her suspiciously. "What do you mean?"

"Let's go to dinner. My treat."

"Everything around here is booked for weeks, you know that."

"Not everything." Stacey leaned in close and whispered, "There's always Bloody Mary's."

Dustin's eyebrows went up. "There's nothing on that menu below 1,000 calories, and you're on a diet."

Stacey shrugged. "I'll get a bowl of soup."

"I don't know. I'd hate to be the reason you fell off the wagon."

"Come on. We both could use an evening out."

Dustin sighed, thought about his bed waiting at home, but then realized he did, indeed, need to eat, and he was out of groceries. And Bloody Mary's had the best slow cooked pot roast sandwich he had ever tasted. He relented with a nod and they headed across the lobby.

"Dustin?"

He turned, so tired from his lack of sleep he was oblivious to the tingle of apprehension at the base of his neck. Something about the timber of the man's voice seemed to register a warning, and it wasn't until Dustin had turned around that he understood what his instincts were trying to tell him.

A cold shock ran through him, freezing his tongue inside his mouth. Stacey, however, picked up his slack and, as she clutched his arm tighter, said in an overly happy voice, "Lucas Walden! Well, as I live and breathe."

Lucas stood before them, hair perfect and glossy beneath the lobby chandelier, skin smooth and flawless, full, soft lips curled up in a smile that didn't quite touch his cerulean blue eyes. He shifted his gaze to Stacey and said, "Hi Stacey. You're looking good."

"Oh, thanks, thanks." Stacey nodded. "You are, too."

"I try to keep fit." Lucas patted his flat belly and a memory stabbed into the front of Dustin's mind of licking his way down the sweat-tinged skin of that belly to the hardened prize waiting just below. "But I've let myself go this past year."

"Well, I would not be able to tell," Stacey said. "Not at all. Nope, not one little bit."

Dustin stared at Lucas, his brain stunned and unable to find anything appropriate to say. The only words spinning through his mind were inappropriate, at best, for the lodge lobby.

Lucas turned his cool blue gaze on Dustin and smiled. "Hi Dustin."

Dustin nodded and cleared his throat. "Hi Lucas."

"You look good."

"Yeah?" Dustin glanced down at his puffy parka, khaki pants, and slush stained shoes. "Thanks."

"I thought I saw you last night at a bar," Lucas said.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Calliope, the piano bar near Mogul Street."

"Sounds like a toy store."

Lucas squinted. "Yeah, I guess so."

And there it was—judgment from Lucas, just like all those years in high school and last year when they had been dating. Lucas judged everything and everyone quickly. If it didn't fit into the small box of what Lucas thought something, or someone, should be, he dismissed it. And despite his attraction for Lucas that still simmered beneath the hurt of the breakup, Dustin could think of nothing more to say to him.

"Well, it was good to see you, Lucas." Satisfaction rippled through Dustin at the slightly injured expression that crossed Lucas's face.

"Oh, you have to go?"

"Yep." Dustin nodded. "Stacey and I are headed out after a long day behind the desk." He lifted his hand in a wave. "Take care."

"Well, maybe we can catch up another time. I'm here until after New Year's."

Dustin shrugged. "Yeah? Maybe. Good night."

And with that, Dustin turned for the door, swinging Stacey around with him as she clung to his arm. When they had moved far enough from Lucas to be out of earshot, Stacey squeezed his arm and said from the corner of her mouth, "You were brilliant."

3

Dustin returned to Calliope the following week, but Roman was no longer playing there, and when he asked Bosco about the man, the bartender threw his hands in the air.

"You shoulda stayed and listened!" Bosco shouted. "He was playing for you! That song was dedicated to you!"

"I know!" Dustin shouted back. "But… I had to go."

"Well, he got to talking with that magazine model guy who showed up just as you left," Bosco told him. "They really seemed to hit it off, too."

Dustin sighed and hung his head. Lucas. "Of course they did."

"You shoulda stayed," Bosco said more gently.

Dustin nodded and turned for the door. "You're right, Bosco. I shoulda stayed."

The week before Christmas, the lodge filled up with overfed and over privileged families. He and Stacey, along with the rest of the desk staff, worked long hours to check the guests in and keep them happy, a goal that seemed unattainable some days. Dustin thought about Roman a lot, but had not been able to track the man down. And he had been getting home so late at night due to the busy season that he missed hearing the melancholy and romantic piano playing through his windows. He would usually fall into bed minutes after arriving home and be asleep before he knew it.

And every day, wandering among the guests of the hotel like some kind of Ghost of Christmas Heartbreak Past, was Lucas Walden. Dustin had learned that Mayor Manfred Hallister had invited Lucas back to Snowfall to manage and oversee the Christmas Ball, because apparently Satan was sure Dustin hadn't suffered enough. And each time he caught sight of Lucas, the place where Dustin's heart had broken seemed to ache a bit more, like how his grandmother always complained she knew a storm was approaching by the ache in an ankle she had broken years ago.

A few times, Lucas stopped by the desk to talk to Dustin. The man leaned in close and dropped his voice into the low, sultry range he knew used to turn Dustin on, and the sad part about it all was that Dustin was still affected by the man. But Stacey usually interrupted with a menial chore she needed Dustin to complete or barged in on their conversation, and Lucas would soon sigh in frustration and stomp off.

One evening, during an unusual lull in guests who required help, Stacey hurried off for a bathroom break and Lucas appeared moments later with a satisfied smirk.

"Alone at last," Lucas purred.

Dustin looked down at his monitor. "It would appear that way."

"You wouldn't leave an old friend hanging here, would you?"

Dustin frowned and looked up, the expletive he had ready dying on his lips as he saw Lucas leaning close over the counter with a sprig of mistletoe held over his head. The smile on his face was sexy and inviting and Dustin could not seem to pull his gaze from Lucas's face.

"Come on, Dustin," Lucas said. "Just one kiss. For old time's sake?"

Dustin felt himself leaning closer without realizing he was doing it. He could stop himself from moving toward Lucas no more than he could stop the Earth from revolving around the sun, no matter how many tiny voices in his head screamed for him not to do it.

And then a woman let out a shout that echoed around the empty lobby, followed by the thump of someone falling.

Dustin blinked and pulled back from Lucas, staring at the man in front of him who still had his eyes closed and his lips slightly parted as if nothing had happened.

"Hello?" Dustin called and hurried out from around the desk to see Stacey lying in a heap on the floor near the ladies' room door. "Holy shit, are you okay?"

He helped Stacey to her feet and she clutched his wrist tight, pulling him close to whisper in his ear, "Don't you fucking dare kiss him!"

Dustin blushed and sighed as he looked into her eyes. "I love you."

She smiled. "I know."

At night, Dustin walked through the decorated streets toward home. Sometimes he took a different route, passing the gym where he might catch a glimpse through the windows drenched with condensation of Stacey on a treadmill or an exercise bike, face flushed and determined as she worked toward her goal of that green dress at Elysium. On other nights he strolled past the carolers and street corner Santas and, when he continued to restrain himself from responding to their cheery "Merry Christmas" greetings with a hearty "Fuck you!" he would reward himself with a stop at Calliope.

Roman Rawlings had been replaced by what looked to be a woman but could have been a man in drag who played the harp. She was moderately talented, but Dustin missed the soothing sound of Roman's piano, as well as the man himself.

"He stops in now and then," Bosco said as he placed a second Washington Red Apple before him.

Dustin frowned. "He who?"

"Roman, the piano player."

"You think that's the only reason I come in here?" Dustin asked, embarrassed and a little unnerved at having his motivations seen through so easily. "Maybe you're scintillating company?"

"Honey," Bosco said and leaned forward on the bar, "I have never seen you in here before until you met Roman, and now I've seen you three more times." He straightened up and raised his furry eyebrows. "It's not me, it's him. It doesn't take high school math to figure it out."

"Well, maybe I like the crowd?" Dustin suggested.

Bosco ran his gaze over the four other men in the bar, most of them in their 60s and with a partner of 25 years or more. "Uh huh. Right. You come here for the ambiance."

Dustin sighed and sipped his drink as the harp player plinked out "Away In a Manager."

He hated Christmas.

4

On Christmas Eve, the night of the Christmas Ball, Stacey and Dustin were able to get the early shift at the desk due to seniority. When it came time for them to leave, they hurried to punch out and then ran giggling out into the street, hand in hand.

Big, wet snowflakes fell on the frantic crush of shoppers and skiers, and they stopped in the midst of the crowd to turn their faces up to the evening sky.

"Isn't it beautiful, Dustin?" Stacey said. "Can't you just feel the magic in the air?"

Dustin smiled and squeezed her hand. "I can. Thanks to you."

Stacey squeezed back. "Come on. Let's go get ready."

Since her apartment was closer to the lodge where the Ball was being held, Dustin had dropped off his suit earlier that day in anticipation of getting ready there after they'd gotten off work. They wound their way through the crowds, everyone excited and laughing, happy about the snowfall and Christmas and being together. It seemed to be contagious because Dustin found himself smiling along with everyone else. As he followed Stacey through the people, Dustin thought he finally understood a little bit about what made Christmas such a big deal to people. It wasn't what you were given or how you looked, it was who was with you.

Inside Stacey's apartment, Dustin hung his coat on the rack and rubbed his hands together. "Okay, so what's first?"

"First, we eat a sensible meal," Stacey said. "Then we do the prep."

"And… You got the dress?" Dustin asked.

The smile she flashed warmed his heart even more. "I did. Oh my God, Dusty, it's amazing. It fits perfectly and it looks so good. I'm so excited."

"I knew you could do it."

She squeezed his arm as she walked past him into the kitchen. "How about you? Have you seen your mysterious piano player at all?"

Dustin sighed. "No. He's vanished."

"Aww, I'm sorry. What about that mysterious piano music you heard at night?"

Dustin shook his head. "Nope. I haven't been home early enough these last two weeks to hear it and track down where the person lives. You know how sound is up here at night—that could be someone playing down in Denver for all I can tell."

"I'm sorry, Dusty. It's been a tough month for you, I know." Stacey got down plates and wine glasses and Dustin set the table.

"We need music!" Stacey announced and started up a CD of Christmas favorites.

"As if we haven't heard these songs enough over the last month," Dustin grumbled.

"Oh, one more night won't kill you."

They talked about the hotel guests as they ate a light meal of salads and biscuits.

"Sorry," Stacey apologized, "it was all I had left in the apartment."

Dustin shrugged and bit into a biscuit. "Am I complaining?"

After dinner, they stacked the few dishes in the dishwasher, and then they each took a bedroom to get dressed.

With less to do for and to himself, Dustin was ready first and sat in the living room reading an entertainment magazine, humming with the music as he waited for Stacey. He wore a black suit, white shirt, and a black tie with a sprig of mistletoe dusted with snow inked on it. He had found the tie on a sale rack in July and bought it specifically for the Christmas Ball.

"Ta-da."

Dustin looked up and caught his breath. The green dress was a perfect fit. It hugged her hips and fell to the floor in a velvet flow of forest green. Long sleeves and an open bodice with fine white beadwork set off her creamy skin, and the green material lent a spark to her jade eyes.

"Stacey, you look gorgeous."

"Yeah?"

"Absolutely. That dress was meant for you."

"Thanks." She swayed in place, too excited to stand still. "I can't believe I did it, Dusty."

"I never had any doubt," Dustin said and got up to kiss her cheek.

They grabbed their coats and headed out the door. When they stepped out onto the street, they both came to a surprised stop. The snow had fallen harder while they had eaten and gotten ready, and the street was ankle deep in slush.

Stacey turned to him, her eyes wide. "I can't walk through this!"

As if to prove her point, a Hummer rumbled past, heavily treaded tires throwing icy slush toward them. They both cried out and dodged away from the assault.

"How did this happen?" Stacey cried. "If I try to walk through this I'll ruin my dress and shoes!"

"Well, let's just take your car," Dustin suggested.

"It's in the shop!" Stacey cried.

A horn sounded behind Dustin and he jumped but didn't turn, muttering instead, "Assholes."

Stacey shook her head and her eyes widened once again as she pointed over his shoulder. "Wendell!"

Dustin turned to see the Snowfall Mountaintop Lodge's guest shuttle parked at the curb. The doors hissed open and the driver, Wendell Hutchings, peered out at them.

"Hey there, pretty ladies." Wendell smiled, showing off bright white teeth in his handsome face.

"Hi Wendell!" Stacey waved and blushed.

"Funny, Wendell," Dustin muttered.

"You look like you're heading to the Christmas Ball," Wendell said.

"We are," Stacey replied and gestured to the ice-sloppy road, "but it's snowing hard and the road's a mess."

"Well, I just happen to be heading there myself. Just dropped a group of folks off at the ski lift area and heading back for more." Wendell bounded out of the shuttle and stood before them, tall and handsome. Snowflakes landed on the dark ski hat he wore over his shaved head and made a nice contrast on the dark skin of his cheeks before melting away.

"Look at you," Wendell said to Stacey, his eyes alight with the attraction Dustin had always known was there. "You look like you should be sitting atop a Christmas tree."

Stacey blushed and narrowed her eyes as she pointed playfully at him. "Did you just call me a pine cone?"

Wendell let out a booming laugh that attracted attention up and down the street. Then, in a move that surprised Dustin as much as it must have surprised Stacey, he swooped down and lifted her in his arms. Turning, he carried her over the slush and snow to set her gently on the top step of the shuttle.

"Your carriage awaits, my princess," Wendell said.

"Oh, my," was all Stacey managed to say in response. Her blush had deepened to sunburn level and, as Wendell turned away, Dustin saw her fan herself as she moved to sit in a seat.

Wendell turned to Dustin. "You're next, Dusty."

"Oh, you know, I think I can make it—" Dustin let out a surprised shout as Wendell lifted him into his arms. "Oh, okay then. Or, you can lift me up and completely emasculate me."

"I like you, Dusty," Wendell said as he set Dustin on the step of the shuttle. "You're a good guy."

"Well, thanks, Wendell." Dustin lightly punched the driver's muscular arm. "You're a good guy, too."

Dustin took the seat across the aisle from Stacey and directly behind Wendell and they exchanged wide-eyed looks. Stacey mouthed Oh my God as Wendell dropped into the driver's seat, closed the doors, and shifted into Drive.

"Next stop, the Christmas Ball," Wendell said. "Hold onto your ornaments."

They all laughed as Wendell eased the shuttle into the flow of traffic.

* * *

Dustin selected an hors d'oeuvres from a passing waiter and took a bite. He was still full from dinner at Stacey's apartment, but the stuffed mushrooms and small lamb chops were just too good to let pass.

After being dropped off at the door to the lodge by Wendell, the driver told Stacey he'd be in and out of the ball all evening between transporting guests, tipped her a wink, and then closed the doors and moved the bus up to the passenger loading area.

Now, Stacey stood beside Dustin, a dreamy smile stuck on her face, and the white lights dangling from the ceiling twinkling in her eyes.

"You look stoned," Dustin said.

"I feel stoned!" Stacey let out a bright, infectious laugh that brought smiles to the faces of a group of people standing nearby. "I'm just kind of numb right now, and loving this party."

"And the ride here in your carriage, Cinderella?" Dustin asked.

Stacey's smile widened even more and she rolled her eyes before looping an arm in his and leaning in close to say, "Wasn't that amazing the way he just picked us up and carried us over that slush?"

Dustin shook his head, but had to smile. "Yeah, I wasn't really expecting that. He's pretty strong."

"Wow. Just…wow."

They each grabbed a glass of champagne and stopped to talk to some people they knew. Stacey released his arm to do a spin and show off her dress for some of the other hotel employees. As he talked with coworkers and people he had known all his life, Dustin kept an eye out for Lucas. He didn't want the man surprising him like he had the past few weeks when he had snuck up to the desk and, once, even followed him into the break room. Dustin was finally feeling as if he had moved beyond Lucas, their relationship, and the break up, but he was still nervous about any interactions with the man.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Dustin felt a touch on his arm and turned, expecting to see Stacey leaning in to tell him something, but instead found Lucas standing there. The warmth of Lucas's touch seemed to sear into Dustin, as if Lucas were trying to brand him.

"Lucas, hi," Dustin managed through his surprise.

"What do you think?" Lucas removed his hand from Dustin's arm and swept it around the room. "Did I do okay?"

Dustin nodded. "You did great. It looks amazing. The food is terrific and so is the entertainment."

"Yeah? Good." Lucas smiled at him and took a step closer. "I'm glad you like it."

"Well, it's not my opinion that matters," Dustin stammered and eased a step away. "You should be mingling with the movers and shakers of the city."

Lucas shrugged. "They can move and shake without me for a while."

Dustin cleared his throat and looked around for Stacey. Just as he was about to panic that she had left him alone to deal with Lucas, someone grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dance floor. He turned to see Stacey smiling and waving back at Lucas as he followed along.

"Thank you," Dustin said as they danced to the swing music played by a four-piece band.

"No problem," Stacey replied. "I won't abandon you."

They danced through three songs and then the band announced their set was complete and the music was going to slow down a bit for the rest of the evening. Dustin led Stacey to the bar, keeping watch for Lucas along the way, and was surprised to find Bosco, the bartender from Calliope, smiling at him.

"Bosco!" Dustin said and shook the man's hand. "How are you?"

"Merry Christmas, Dustin," Bosco said and smiled at Stacey. "And who's this lovely sprig of holly?"

Dustin made introductions and then Bosco whipped them each up a Washington Red Apple. Stacey sipped hers and widened her eyes at the bartender.

"This is amazing!"

Bosco's chest swelled with pride and he beamed at her. "Thanks, lovely. And I have to say, you two certainly cut a rug out there."

"Yeah, we know how to mark up a floor," Stacey said, looking up at Dustin and winking.

Someone grabbed Dustin's hand and pulled him toward the dance floor, drink still in hand. He turned and was surprised, and more than a little annoyed, to discover Lucas holding his hand.

"Lucas! Stop!"

"Come on, one dance," Lucas said and turned to face him as a piano player started to play "We Three Kings." "Just one dance, that's all."

Dustin rolled his eyes, leaned over to set his empty glass on a passing waiter's tray, and then looked into Lucas's handsome face. "One dance."

Lucas wrapped a strong arm around Dustin's waist and held his hand up. Dustin felt the heat of Lucas's body flow into him, lighting fires he had hoped had been extinguished long before. But those embers had obviously been smoldering because Dustin's cock started to harden when he felt the firm length of Lucas's erection press against his thigh.

"I've missed you," Lucas whispered in Dustin's ear.

"Yeah, well, you decided to leave last year," Dustin replied and looked around the crowded dance floor, noticing the curiosity and some vague disapproval on some faces. Well, if anyone in town had any doubt about his sexuality, they wouldn't anymore. Maybe he'd get more dates once word got around the community.

"I made a mistake," Lucas said. "People make mistakes all the time and are forgiven for them. Think you can do that for me?"

"I don't know, Lucas," Dustin replied with a shake of his head. "You broke up with me on Christmas Eve a year ago, at the Christmas Ball, and now you're back on Christmas Eve again, at the Christmas Ball, and asking me to get back together? Why did you decide to leave in the first place?"

Lucas sighed and looked away. "I needed to see what life outside this city was like."

"Well, wasn't that what college was for? You went to California, wasn't that time enough to see?"

Lucas shrugged. "I guess I felt I needed a change. But once I got out there, I realized I was a small fish in a pretty big pond."

And there it was. Lucas hadn't been important out in the real world. Here in Snowfall, he was the handsome high school jock with skiing, football, and golf trophies crowding his bookshelves. He was popular and well known and out in the world he found out he was just another pretty boy.

"Well, I'm glad you can admit that now," Dustin said. "But I don't think us getting back together is a good idea."

"Hey, look where we've ended up," Lucas said and came to a stop in the middle of the dance floor. He looked up and Dustin followed his gaze to see a large bunch of mistletoe bound together with red ribbon suspended from the spinning mirror ball. Lucas pulled Dustin more tightly against him and Dustin dropped his gaze from the mistletoe to see Lucas staring at him with sultry, hooded eyes. "We're under the mistletoe."

Lucas leaned in for a kiss and Dustin's mind went blank. What was he going to do?

5

As Lucas moved closer, eyes closing, lips parting, Dustin blinked and came back to himself. He leaned away from Lucas, struggling to get free of Lucas's arms, but the man held tight. He pushed against Lucas's chest in an effort to break free and, in his struggles, his feet went out from under him and Dustin fell hard on the floor, pulling Lucas down on top of him. Lucas's elbow hit his gut, knocking the wind out of him, and Dustin rolled gasping away from the man as a ring of people gathered around to help them up. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Dustin noticed that the music had stopped playing as well.

He got to his feet and, not looking at Lucas, assured the concerned crowd of people he was fine and turned to walk slowly back to the bar.

"You all right?" Stacey asked. "What happened?"

"You just can't go somewhere and not act up, can you?" Bosco asked, setting another Washington Red Apple in front of him.

Dustin narrowed his eyes at the bartender, but accepted the drink. He explained to Stacey about Lucas and the mistletoe and the man's attempt to kiss him and had to smile when Stacey covered her mouth and giggled.

"You pushed away from Lucas Walden's kiss?" she whispered.

Dustin shrugged and nodded. "I did."

"I'm so proud of you!" Stacey looked over to where Lucas was snapping instructions at a hapless waiter. "I don't know if I could have resisted that."

"If you'd been under that spell before, you could have," Dustin assured her.

"Good evening, everyone."

Dustin and Stacey looked up at the stage and Dustin's breath, just back to normal after getting hit with Lucas's elbow, caught in his throat. Roman Rawlings was on the stage beneath a shower of lights, sitting at a white grand piano. He looked handsome in a black tuxedo with a velvet jacket.

"Oh my God," Dustin whispered.

"What?" Stacey looked between him and Roman, and then understanding dawned and she turned to him with wide eyes and an even wider smile. "Is that him? Is that the piano player you met?"

"It is," Dustin said, nodding but unable to take his eyes off Roman. The man looked incredibly handsome up on stage, his shoulder length hair shining in the spotlight, his long sideburns neatly trimmed, his fingers graceful and confident as they stroked the piano keys. Roman looked around the crowded dance floor, his gaze touching on each face and moving away.

"He's looking for someone," Stacey said.

"He's looking for Dustin," Bosco told them.

Dustin wrenched his gaze from Roman to look at Bosco. "Me?"

"Of course!" Bosco waved his arms overhead, snagging Roman's attention, and the bartender gestured down at Dustin.

"Oh my God," Stacey said through her laughter, "it's gay semaphore!"

Dustin looked between Bosco, who pointed down at him with one hand and waved with the other, and Roman, who met his gaze and flashed a broad smile. Roman leaned into the microphone on top of his piano and said, "I'm going to take a break from the traditional Christmas songs now, but don't fret, I'll get back to them. Right now I'm going to play an original song I've been working on these last few weeks since arriving here in your lovely city." The crowd applauded and Roman smiled and nodded. "Your hospitality and spirit have warmed my cold heart, but there's a special someone here tonight that I specifically want to dedicate this song to, Mr. Dustin Collins."

Dustin caught his breath and he blushed as everyone in the room turned to look at him. Stacey took his hand and gave it a squeeze as Roman played those familiar notes Dustin had heard through his window the beginning of the month. It had been Roman all along, of course it had, but he never knew the man had been writing his own music, or that he would dedicate it to him.

Roman sang the first verse, dealing with traveling the road during the Christmas season and how lonely he felt, and then he got to the chorus and Dustin's pulse jumped as he listened to the words.

"So meet me there, no time to spare, Underneath the mistletoe at midnight. Your lips entice me to kiss you twice, Beneath the mistletoe at midnight."

Roman sang the rest perfectly, ending with a happy, hopeful flourish of notes, so different from the melancholy beginnings of the song. The crowd applauded, Dustin, Stacey and Bosco whistling and cheering as well. Roman nodded his thanks to the crowd, smiled and winked at Dustin, and then went back to playing traditional Christmas carols.

"Oh, Dustin," Stacey swooned. "He dedicated his song to you!"

"I know!" Dustin said, shaking his head and staring at the floor. His head was spinning and he couldn't seem to catch his breath. "Wow."

They danced and laughed and listened to Roman's music until just before midnight. At that time, Dustin looked at Stacey and asked, "Well? Should I meet him in the middle of the dance floor under the mistletoe for our first kiss in front of the entire city?"

"If you don't, I will!" Stacey said and pushed him out toward the dance floor.

Dustin slid between couples until he stood beneath the slowly spinning mistletoe hanging beneath the mirror ball. Looking toward the stage, he met Roman's gaze and smiled at the man's sexy grin. Couples spun and twirled around him, but Dustin felt as if he and Roman were the only two people in the large ballroom.

Roman finished "Silent Night," thanked the crowd, and told them he was taking a short break. He got up and walked to the edge of the stage to jump off as soothing, pre-recorded carols began to play over the sound system. Dustin shifted nervously as he watched Roman sidle through the dancing couples, the man's gaze never leaving Dustin's face, a small smile fixed on his full lips. When at last Roman stood before him, Dustin swallowed past the dry lump in his throat and looked up at the man.

"That was a great song," Dustin managed to say.

Roman grinned. "Just the one?"

Dustin laughed and dropped his gaze, trying to catch his breath. "No, smart ass. All of them. But your song, the one you wrote—"

"Mistletoe at Midnight," Roman said.

Dustin nodded. "That one was amazing."

"I'm glad you liked it." Roman put a finger beneath Dustin's chin and raised his head to look him in the eye. "I've been trying to find you."

Dustin swallowed. "I think we live near each other."

Roman frowned. "Blue Spruce Lane?"

Dustin nodded. "I've heard you practice at night. I live on the third floor and it gets really hot up there—"

Roman's eyes lit up and he interrupted him. "And you have to open the windows to be able to sleep?"

"Yeah!"

"Me too!"

They laughed together and Roman shook his head. "I've been going to every gay bar in the city trying to find you, and you live right next door to me."

"Seriously? Every gay bar?"

"All five of them," Roman said.

Dustin narrowed his eyes. "There are five now? Damn, I need to get out more."

"Not anymore," Roman whispered. "We're under the mistletoe, and you know what that means."

Dustin smiled nervously. "Six more weeks of winter?"

Roman grinned. "Close."

He leaned down and brushed a soft kiss across Dustin's lips. The spark of attraction for Roman that had been simmering within Dustin's chest blossomed into flame. Roman moved back, smiled at him, and then lowered his mouth for a longer, deeper kiss.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "It's midnight! Merry Christmas!"

Roman pulled back and Dustin could see the heat of his own attraction mirrored in the man's eyes.

"Merry Christmas, Dustin Collins."

"Merry Christmas, Roman Rawlings."

* * *

After Roman's set was finished, Wendell gave them all a ride home in his empty shuttle, dropping Dustin and Roman off first in front of Dustin's apartment house. Before he got up from the seat he shared with Stacey, Dustin gave her a tight hug and whispered in her ear, "Merry Christmas, Stacey."

"Merry Christmas, Dusty. I'll talk with you later, okay?" She kissed his cheek and, as the shuttle pulled away, waved to him out the window.

"She's a great person," Roman said.

Dustin nodded and turned to smile at him. "She's the best. So, which house do you live in?"

Roman pointed to the blocky Italianate next door to Dustin's Queen Anne. "I'm in the third floor room at the back."

"That explains why I could never see you," Dustin said. "I'm in the third floor room in the front. I could hear you practice, but never see you."

"If I'd only known!" Roman shook his fists at the sky. "Could have spared myself talking to that asshole, Lucas Walden."

Dustin tipped his head. "You went out with Lucas?"

Roman snorted and shook his head. "Not a chance. Guy was dipped in smarm. He hit on me at a few places, but I turned him down. Then he asked me to play at the Christmas Ball. I needed the money, so I agreed, but I made sure he knew I wasn't part of the package."

Dustin let out his breath. "Yeah, Lucas is a real winner." He grimaced and said, "I dated him for a while last year."

"Really?" Roman frowned at him. "You're way better than that."

"I know." Dustin nodded and shrugged inside his parka. "He can be quite charming when he wants to be. Anyway, enough about Lucas, he's old news."

"Exactly." Roman took Dustin's hand and tipped his head toward the house. "Want to come up and see my etchings?"

Dustin smiled and followed Roman up the shoveled walk to the front door. The foyer didn't have a community boot mat, but there was a mat outside Roman's apartment door where they left their shoes. Inside, they talked about the heavy heat that fell over them as they each began taking off layers. Dustin's cock throbbed with each piece of clothing that came off, and before he knew it Roman had him pressed against the wall, kissing him, both of them wearing T-shirts, pants, and socks.

Roman ran his tongue along the line of Dustin's mouth and he parted his lips to allow the man inside. He tasted wine and the peppermint gum Roman had been chewing on the shuttle ride home and it felt so natural, like there had been years of kisses preceding this one. They kissed for several minutes, hands roaming, learning the curves of each other, touching soft and hard places.

Dustin pulled Roman's T-shirt up and over the man's head and ran his hands through the thick coat of dark hair that covered his chest and belly. Dustin dropped his face into the furry space between the man's pecs to breathe in the smell of body wash and sweat, then shifted to the side to take the hardened nub of a nipple between his lips.

"Oh yeah," Roman said through a sigh. "Just like that."

The hard length of Roman's erection pressed against his own, and Dustin shifted his hips to grind their cocks together through the thin material of their pants and briefs.

"You're beautiful," Roman whispered in his ear.

"So are you," Dustin replied, his chest warming at the compliment. No one before had ever told him he was beautiful.

Roman walked him across the room, still kissing, and they fell across his bed. Dustin lifted his hips and pushed his pants and briefs down while Roman copied his movements. They came back together, completely nude, the heat of the room bringing a sheen of sweat to their skin. Dustin ducked his head to lick up the salt from Roman's arms, chest, and neck, then moved lower, trailing his tongue over the hard, hairy plane of Roman's belly. The man's cock bounced against Dustin's chest, impatient for attention of its own.

Sliding lower, Dustin ran his tongue along the fevered length of Roman's cock. He circled the wide, rounded head before opening wide and taking him deep into his throat.

"Oh, fuck, yeah," Roman groaned. Dustin opened his eyes as he sucked the man and watched Roman's long, graceful fingers clutch the sheet beneath them.

"I need to taste you," Roman said. "Swing your hips up here."

Dustin followed Roman's orders and moved so he straddled the man's face. Roman sucked Dustin's dick and freed an arm to reach around and tug on Dustin's balls. That touch, something Dustin did to himself when masturbating and no one else he had dated seemed to think about, pushed him close to the edge. He returned the favor for Roman, taking hold of his balls and tugging on them, earning a groan that sounded garbled around his cock.

In another minute, Dustin felt the tightening of muscles that preceded his climax. He released Roman's cock from between his lips and sat up, pulling his own cock from Roman's mouth and settling his balls in its place. As Roman sucked and licked his balls, Dustin stroked himself to a gushing orgasm that splashed across the hairy expanse of Roman's torso. Roman's stroke quickened on his own cock as he continued to suckle Dustin's balls, and, with a grunt, his cock bucked in his hand and shot ribbons of cum up along his torso to mix with Dustin's.

Dustin lay down alongside Roman and kissed him tenderly, trailing his fingers through the slick-sticky mess they had left on Roman's body.

"That was amazing," Dustin said.

"I'll say." Roman kissed him again. "Shower?"

They stepped into the shower together and, beneath the warm spray their roaming, lathered hands soon had them both hard again. After rinsing and drying off together, they kissed their way back to bed, passing Roman's electric keyboard and piles of sheet music.

Roman laid on top of Dustin, kissing him deep before sliding down the length of his body to take his cock in his mouth. He sucked him for a while, but then moved lower, licking and sucking his balls before lifting Dustin's legs and moving lower still. At the tight circle of Dustin's anus, Roman painted his tongue across the furrowed surface and Dustin moaned. It had been a hell of a long time since anyone had rimmed him.

The tip of Roman's tongue pushed into the dark, damp center of Dustin's hole and a finger followed. Dustin relaxed his muscles around the invading digit and soon it was joined by a second, then a third, until Dustin finally looked up at Roman and gasped, "Condom?"

Roman raised his eyebrows at him. "You sure?"

"Definitely."

Wasting no time, Roman stood up to grab a condom and lube from his nightstand and was soon sheathed and slicked up. He used fingers to push the lube deep inside Dustin, spinning them to distribute the lube evenly. Soon after, he stepped up between Dustin's legs, aimed himself at the slippery opening, and looked down into his eyes.

"Ready?" Roman asked.

"Oh yeah."

Dustin moaned and closed his eyes as Roman pushed into him. The burn of stretching muscles gave way to a feeling of fullness that turned into the sensation of finally, at last, being complete. When Roman had eased himself all the way into Dustin, he leaned down to kiss him, tongue pushing into Dustin's mouth as Roman stroked his leaking cock.

"God, you're tight," Roman whispered against Dustin's lips.

"Because you're so fucking big." Dustin kissed him again, then met his gaze and said, "Fuck me."

Roman straightened up, pulled his hips back and pushed forward, driving his cock in slow and deep. He picked up speed and soon was all out fucking Dustin's ass, pounding into him so their skin slapped together.

Dustin knew it wouldn't take long for him to come, even for the second time that night, not with Roman's cock spanking against his prostate so fast. In another moment he was at the edge and a second later had tumbled over it into orgasm. He stroked himself through a geyser of a cum shot, feeling the hot, sticky drops land on his cheeks and chin as Roman watched and pumped into him harder and faster.

"I'm coming," Roman gasped. He pushed in deep, deeper, it felt, than all his previous thrusts, and fell over him to catch Dustin's tongue in his mouth as he grunted through his orgasm.

When he had finished, Roman kissed Dustin gently and eased out of him, using a small towel to wipe him clean. They showered a second time, both drowsy now, and walked hand in hand back to bed. Roman opened the window an inch to allow the cool air in before he lay down alongside Dustin and pulled him close.

"Merry Christmas, Dustin," Roman whispered through a yawn.

"Best Christmas ever," Dustin replied and kissed the man's lips before snuggling in close and slipping off to sleep.

THE END

About the Author

Hank Edwards is a curious mix of practical realist and feral dreamer. He is a fan of absurd comedy, cases in point, the sizzling and hilarious Charlie Heggensford Fluffers, Inc. Series, and Plus Ones, his rom-com, as well as mystery and suspense such as his Up to Trouble series. His love of chills and thrills prompted him to create the Venom Valley series as well as his humorous and spooky Critter Catchers series. No matter what genre he is dabbling in, however, Hank tries to keep things steamy and heartfelt. He was born and still lives in a northwest suburb of the Motor City, Detroit, Michigan, where he shares a home with his partner of over 20 years and their two cats, who hope you buy lots of his books so they can upgrade their kitty condo.

Stay in touch with Hank:

Twitter: @hanksbooks

Facebook: hankedwardsbooks

www.hankedwardsbooks.com

hankedwardsbooks@gmail.com

Also by Hank Edwards

Gay Romantic Paranormal:

Cowboys & Vampires - Venom Valley Book One

Stakes & Spurs - Venom Valley Book Two

Blood & Stone - Venom Valley Book Three

Terror by Moonlight – Critter Catchers Book One

Chasing the Chupacabra – Critter Catchers Book Two

Swamped by Fear - Critter Catchers Book Three

Wicked Reflection

Gay Romantic Comedies:

Fluffers, Inc. (Charlie Heggensford Stories Book One)

A Carnal Cruise (Charlie Heggensford Stories Book Two)

Vancouver Nights (Charlie Heggensford Stories Book Three)

Plus Ones

Gay Romantic Suspense/Mystery:

Holed Up: Up to Trouble Book One

Shacked Up: Up to Trouble Book Two

Roughed Up: Up to Trouble Book Three

Choked Up: Up to Trouble Book Four

Destiny's Bastard

Hired Muscle

Buried Secrets

Repossession is 9/10ths of the Law

Story Orgy Singles Gay Romance:

A Gift for Greg (A Story Orgy Single)

By the Book (A Story Orgy Single)

Cross Country Foreplay (A Story Orgy Single)

Mistletoe at Midnight (A Story Orgy Single)

The Cheapskate: Bad Boyfriends (A Story Orgy Single)

With This Ring (A Story Orgy Single)

Gay Erotic Short Story Collections:

A Very Dirty Dozen

Another Very Dirty Dozen

Salacious Singles Gay Erotic Short Stories:

Bear Market (A Salacious Single)

Convoy (A Salacious Single)

Double Down (A Salacious Single)

Exchange Rate (A Salacious Single)

Finding North (A Salacious Single)

Hotel Dick (A Salacious Single)

Kindred Spirits (A Salacious Single)

Sacked (A Salacious Single)

Stroking Midnight (A Salacious Single)

Vanity Loves Company (A Salacious Single)

Wet Lands (A Salacious Single)

Hank’s stories also appear in the following anthologies:

50's Mixed Tape Anthology - Totally Bound

Bear Lust: Hot and Hairy Fiction – Bear Bones Books

Bears of Winter - Bear Bones Books

Bears: Gay Erotic Stories – Cleis Press

Cowboys: Gay Erotic Stories – Cleis Press

Dirty Diner: Gay Erotica on the Menu – Bold Strokes Books

Hard Working Men: Gay Erotic Stories – Cleis Press

Hot Cops: Gay Erotic Stories – Cleis Press

On the Run: Tales of Gay Pursuit and Passion - Wilde City Press

Riding the Rails: Locomotive Lust and Carnal Cabooses – Bold Strokes Books

Straight Guys: Gay Erotic Fantasies – Cleis Press

Tales from the Den: Wild and Weird Stories for Bears – Bear Bones Books

Tented: Gay Erotic Tales from Under the Big Top – Lethe Press

Hank writes Young Adult Fantasy Gay Romance under the name R. G. Thomas:

Available from Harmony Ink Press:

The Midnight Gardener – The Town of Superstition Series Book One

The Well of Tears – The Town of Superstition Series Book Two

The Battle of Iron Gulch — The Town of Superstition Series Book Three