Hockey Holidays Read online

"Where should we put it?" Vince held the new ornament up to the tree. "There are plenty of spots to pick from."

  Joseph wrapped an arm around his waist, smelling of the coffee shop. He tapped his finger against his chin as he considered the open branches. "Up high enough so we can easily see it. How about here?" He pointed to a branch a little lower than chest level.

  "Front and center works for me." Vince slipped the thin loop over the prickly needles and stepped back. It looked good.

  Joseph stepped away, and a moment later, the tree lights clicked on, and the other lights in the room dimmed low. The soft white lights cast a warm glow around the space.

  Vince reached out one hand to Joseph and gestured toward the couch with the other. "Sit with me?"

  "I'm making us some hot chocolate. Get comfortable. I'll be right back."

  He slipped off his shoes and rolled his shoulders. The earlier pain had faded to a dull, easier to ignore ache. Closing his eyes, he tilted his head back. What a day.

  The clinking of spoons against mugs and footsteps padding on the hardwood roused him from his thoughts. Joseph settled beside him and handed him a warm mug. "You're not falling asleep, are you?"

  "And miss enjoying this with you? Not a chance." Smiling, he sipped the chocolate and lifted his arm so he could wrap it around Joseph's shoulders. "Are we all set for tomorrow?"

  Celek, Noah, and Slater were coming to dinner. His teammates were his family, and in the absence of his actual family—his parents were spending the holiday on the west coast, and Joseph's grandmother and her husband were on a Christmas cruise—he was thrilled to have them there.

  "We have all the ingredients for dinner. But one of us needs to pick up the desserts I ordered from the bakery in the morning." With a sigh, Joseph leaned against him. "This is nice."

  It was nice. And romantic. And peaceful. Vince set his mug on the side table. He wanted to talk about the job offer from Ben and offer reassurances. But he didn't. He wanted to talk about the shore house because Joseph had been keeping quiet on that when he'd usually be stressing about the incoming renter. But he didn't.

  Instead, he brushed his fingers through Joseph's dark hair, letting the strands fall through his fingers. The first time he'd met Joseph, he'd been awestruck. He still felt that way.

  Joseph turned his head, rubbing against Vince's fingers. He shifted his position, set his mug on the coffee table, and then was back, meeting Vince torso to torso. He rested his hands on Vince's shoulders. "Kiss me."

  Vince complied, crushing their mouths together. He could get drunk off Joseph's taste.

  Joseph pulled back and tugged his sweater off, exposed smooth olive skin and a body toned from regular running and time spent in the gym. Vince's hands skimmed the ridges and planes, and Joseph groaned and leaned into his hands. He pulled Vince's T-shirt up, and Vince stopped in mid-caress to yank the garment off and toss it across the room. He narrowly missed the tree.

  They met each other's gazes and laughed. Vince maneuvered until he lay down with Joseph at his side. "One tree mishap today was enough."

  "If we're low on ornaments, we could always try clothes. You might be on to something."

  Grinning, Vince traced his fingers along Joseph's face. "I love seeing you smile."

  Joseph slid an arm around Vince's shoulders and pulled him close. The light from the tree reminded Vince of candlelight and daydreams. Joseph's tongue traced the seam of his lips. With a groan, Vince opened, meeting Joseph as his tongue licked inside. The kisses grew longer and deeper. Hotter.

  Vince pulled out every trick he knew to give Joseph as much pleasure as possible. He knew the man's body almost as well as he knew his own. A brush of fingers here. A nip of skin there. And Joseph was straining and hard and begging for more.

  But he knew all of Vince's secrets too. With a wicked smile, he kissed a trail down Vince's torso. His tongue darted out to taste and tempt and tease. Vince slid his fingers in Joseph's hair and held on for the ride.

  The tug of a button, the slow slide of a zipper, and Joseph's hand closed around him. Vince thrust his hips through the tight grip. Joseph resumed his kissing, laving Vince's length before taking the head into his mouth.

  Vince's eyes closed. He bucked up, wanting more. Joseph moaned, sending the vibration through him, and Vince gasped as Joseph swallowed him down. He tightened his fingers in Joseph's hair, close to losing control. Joseph took him to the edge, held him there, and then backed off. His eyes glittered as he released Vince and sat back.

  "My turn." Vince worked quickly to shed his pants off the rest of the way and teasingly removed Joseph's as slowly and sensually as he could. Kissing and sucking each newly exposed inch, he reveled in Joseph's every moan and gasp of his name.

  Lying stretched out on the cushions, fully skin to skin, he dove back into kissing Joseph's lips. They wound their arms around each other and their legs tangled together, and they rocked together as passion steadily built.

  Vince wrapped his hand around both their cocks and started to stroke them off together. Joseph's hand covered his, tightening his grip. They watched each other in the muted light. Vince loved the way Joseph's breath hitched when he was close, and the tell-tale groan, but his favorite thing was the way Joseph's gaze latched onto him and how his eyes widened and then turned soft and hazy.

  "Love you," he gasped as Joseph's thumb flicked just right.

  "Love you back." Joseph panted and leaned in for a kiss, and together, they pushed each other over the edge.

  Gasping, he rolled onto his back, pulling Joseph with him. They lay clinging together, kissing everywhere they could reach. When his breathing returned to normal, Vince reached for his T-shirt and used it to clean them up.

  Joseph's body grew heavy as he drifted to sleep. Vince pulled the throw off the back of the couch and draped it over them. He curled around Joseph, holding him close.

  Tomorrow night, after their guests had gone home, he would attempt the proposal again. No stress, and no messing with the tree. He would bring Joseph right back to where they now lay. And he'd give him the ring, and his heart, and the promise of forever. It would be perfect.

  After the drama of the day, he was confident that the rest of the Christmas holiday would be smooth sailing.

  Chapter Five

  The scent of lasagna wafted through the house, mixing with the pine from the tree and cinnamon from the candles in the living room and kitchen.

  Joseph finished hanging the last of the new "unbreakable" Christmas balls on the tree. Vince had picked up the box of silver ornaments that morning during his trip to the Italian bakery to get pizzelles and other cookies and treats for that evening's dessert.

  He crouched down and rearranged the pile of presents, slipping one last gift under the tree. The tiny box held two simple bands and his hope for the future. He'd spied them in a store window during one of his runs through downtown Buffalo weeks ago. Hopefully, Vince would like them. Hopefully, Vince would say yes.

  He stood, brushing his hands on his jeans.

  "Looks great," Vince spoke from behind him.

  Joseph jumped and whirled around, heart thundering. "Thanks. I didn't hear you come in."

  "No kidding. What were you doing under the tree?"

  He smiled even though his nerves were still fluttering wildly. "Shaking the presents, trying to figure out what they were." The fib rolled shakily off his tongue.

  The doorbell chimed, saving him from further scrutiny. He took a few deep, steadying breaths, and walked to meet the company loudly making their way into the house.

  Slater, wearing a sweater the same blazing red as his hair, carried a stack of presents. Noah brought a case of beer. And Celek toted a large unwrapped box.

  "Merry Christmas, guys." He exchanged handshakes and hugs and directed people into the kitchen and living room.

  Slater placed his presents on the floor. "Nice tree. We got one for our apartment but forgot to water it. Noah thinks it's a fire hazard now."