Page 34 of Moody's Grumpy Holiday

“Oh, so you were using me to fulfill some weird fantasy?” I teased, tweaking his nipples.

“Yes.” He smacked my hand again and wiggled his ass on my spent dick. “Two for one—a cowboy and his hat. This is a most excellent way to recuperate after a daunting illness.”

“Most excellent,” I agreed.

“Thank you.”

I snickered. “Thankyou. I can feel my cum dripping from your hole, by the way. That’s fucking incredible.”

Moody blushed, just as I thought he might. He shifted off me, mumbling something about a cleanup on aisle Hudson. Silly and goofy, but I was still grinning like a fool when he returned with a wet cloth.

“Here you go,” he said, wiping the mess we’d made. “I am grateful, you know. I’m not thanking you for sex—that would be weird. But…thank you for coming by every day this week. It was above and beyond, and I appreciate it.”

I captured his wrist and waited for him to meet my gaze. “It was my pleasure.”

He nodded and yes, blushed again. “Nonetheless, if I can do anything to repay your kindness, let me know.”

I reclaimed my hat as I sat up. “Help me buy a Christmas tree.”

Moody frowned. “You were serious.”

“Yep. It’s just a tree, Moody.”

“Think of something else…or better yet, get back to me in January.” He fixed his glasses and put his hands on his hips.

I rescued my boxer briefs and jeans. “Nope, that’s the favor I’m collecting for soup duty. I’m open pretty much every day next week. Check your schedule and?—”

“I’m busy! It’s that dreaded mistletoe and holly and ho-ho-ho time of year. People buy books and gifts and…stuff.”

“Make time for me, Moody.” I planted a rough kiss on his mouth and squeezed his bare ass. “I promise to make it worth your while.”

I plucked my shirt from the chair, grabbed my socks and boots, and redressed on my way to the front door. I heard muffled grumbling and groaning, and then?—

“Fine, but I’m not going to like it. Not one bit.”

I froze, my hand on the doorknob and a big ol’ grin on my face. “Don’t be so sure about that,” I called out.

He probably had a snarky reply, but I got the hell out of there, pulling my socks on and stuffing my feet into my boots in the foyer on the way to my truck. Hey, I was playing with fire and possibly asking more of the grumpiest elf in town than I should have dared. That was a chance I was willing to take.

Don’t get me wrong—I wouldn’t force him to go anywhere with me.

All I wanted was a reason to be with Moody. If a damn tree was my ticket, I’d happily buy two.

10

HUDSON

Tanner Spade was one of those naturally engaging people who seemed to have a genuine lust for life. He couldn’t just say a simple good morning. He had to smack you on the back and ask how you were doing, usually while in the middle of grooming a horse or examining a cow, or today, cradling a two-month-old goat kid.

“Is this a bright and beautiful day, or what?” Tanner grinned, crooking his chin to the furry white burden in his arms. “Say hi to Nelly. She’s a feisty little thing. I caught her nibbling on her brother’s ear and terrorizing the cats.”

“Hiya, Nelly. We’ve already met. She followed me home yesterday…or as far as the fence, anyway.”

Tanner chuckled softly. “She’s a friendly one, aren’t ya, girl?”

I scratched under Nelly’s chin. “I was on my way to check the equipment list at the stable and?—”

“You don’t have to do that. It’s one of my chores for later…after Mills takes our urban cowboys out for their ride,” he said, gesturing to the group of vacationing clients huddled around a stall, listening to a spiel about how to properly mount a horse.