The Christmas Deal

Seth grinned. “Such a sweet talker.”

“Don’t pretend you don’t like my talk.” Lips at Seth’s ear, he added, “Later, I’m going to tell you all about how much I want to fuck your tight hole and—”

They both seemed to register the soft thuds on the stairs at the same time, springing apart. They burst out laughing, and Seth felt like a teenager in the best possible way. Connor appeared at the top of the few steps down into the great room.

“What?” he asked warily.

Seth tugged Logan closer on the couch, sliding an arm around him again. “Nothing. Come join us.”

“You guys are weird. But yeah, okay.” He came and flopped down on the other end of the couch, Logan in the middle. “Hey, can we watch the new season of Stranger Things? It just dropped on Netflix. They didn’t give any warning.”

“Absolutely.” Seth nodded at the remote. “It’s the button on the top. You’ll need to know how to work it since Logan and I have decided you’re both staying. Of course, you’ll be going back to school in the new year, but we’d love it if you came here on weekends.”

“Yeah?” Connor picked up the remote, toying with it. “That’s pretty fast. But that’s cool.” He turned on Netflix and settled back. “Can we order dinner? I’m hungry.”

“Are you ever not hungry?” Logan asked, clearly going for teasing.

Connor visibly bristled. “So what?”

“Nothing.” Logan lifted his hands calmly. “Sorry. Just trying to joke.”

“Okay,” Connor mumbled, his pale cheeks going beet red. He fidgeted with the remote, shoulders up around his ears. He blurted, “Mom said I was hungry like it’s my job and I’m trying for a raise.”

Seth and Logan laughed, and Seth said, “She had your number, huh? Well, don’t worry. We’ll keep the pantry stocked.” Maybe Connor could feel comfortable enough to talk about his mother more.

Connor gave him a little smile. “Cool. Thanks.”

Seth knew it would be a long road, but maybe Connor was ready to start healing.

Chapter Nineteen

Since it was Christmas Eve and he was at Jenna’s kitchen table, Logan should have been concentrating on cutting up the broccoli and cauliflower for the veggie platter.

Not thinking about waking up with Seth that morning. Waking up with Seth naked. Waking up with Seth and making him blush real hard by thinking up new dirty things to say. Morning blow jobs and kissing, and then more kissing.

All the kissing.

“Are you even listening to me?” A big yellow squash in one hand, Jenna turned down the volume on a crappy version of “Jingle Bells” playing through her tablet. Her blond hair was knotted up in a fancy twist, and she wore a Mrs. Claus apron over her velvet blue dress that she complained was too tight but Logan thought was pretty.

He jerked guiltily. “Sorry. What?”

“What’s up with you?”

“Nothing,” he automatically replied.

She pressed her lips together. “Why did you volunteer to help me instead of going outside to play? What’s up? Is it about the job? It was great news that Angela set up that interview for you. Don’t tell me your pride is getting in the way.”

“No!” Logan sliced into a big hunk of cauliflower. “Trust me, I have zero pride left. I’m grateful for anything I can get.” Now Jenna looked sad, and he felt like an asshole. “I don’t mean… What I mean is that I’m grateful to Angela. She’s really gone out of her way. I’m not looking that gift horse in the mouth, I promise.”

“Okay. You deserve good things, you know.” There was a burst of distant laughter outside, and she went to the window. “This snowball fight looks pretty epic. You should get out there with Seth and Connor. Although Jun and Ian probably need the help more.”

Pop was in his usual spot in the den watching the game show channel with Noah asleep in his playpen. Logan and Jenna were alone, so now was the time to tell her.

Any minute now.

Turning from the window, she fixed Logan in her sights and said way too casually, “That was quite the kiss during musical chairs. Very convincing. I honestly had no idea you were such a good actor. Seth either, since he’s the worst liar in the world.”

The pressure built in Logan’s chest. He’d borrowed a tie from Seth, and he tugged at it, but then he had to laugh. “How do you always know everything?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Jun said I was being silly. Wait, are you serious?” She glanced at the door that led to the hall down to the den. Pulling out a chair, she leaned forward, voice low. “You and Seth? For real?”

His heart was booming, but he shrugged. “Yeah.”

Her jaw dropped. “But you’ve never…with a guy. Have you?”

“Just sex. In Iraq, and sometimes at the bunkhouse.”

She got up and took a bottle of white out of the fridge, pouring them both big glasses. Logan didn’t really like the sweet wine, but he drank it nervously as she sat back across from him, gaze distant.