A Grumpy Christmas

had before. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be as happy as I’d been before that day, but Grant was right. They weren’t here anymore. I couldn’t betray the love I’d shared with them by turning away from the possibility of a happy future with someone like Max.

Chapter Twelve
Max
Before I knew it, the big day had arrived. I’d kept busy each day, baking, packing boxes of cookies, and sending them all off until the only thing left was waking up Christmas morning alone. I’d tried not to think about it while I ran around doing the things I traditionally did each year. Reminding myself I’d wanted to spend my first Christmas in my new home, I shrugged off the lonely feeling welling up inside me. It had been my decision. If I felt a little out of sorts, that was all on me.
Feeling a little feverish and grumpy, I moved almost by rote as I pulled the cinnamon rolls out of the fridge. They’d slow proofed and puffed up nicely overnight. Preheating the oven to the proper temperature, I slid the pan into the oven once it beeped. Christmas morning and ooey, gooey cinnamon rolls always seemed to go together and I couldn’t wait for the smell of the baking treat to fill the house.
While I hoped Pierce would take me up on my invitation to spend the day together, it dawned on me I never gave him a time. Thinking the smells which would soon be emanating from my oven might entice the man over sooner rather than later, I went around opening windows. It was a nice brisk morning for Southern Florida and the cool air felt good. It had been cold enough the past few nights to trigger the heat, but the day was already warming up enough the cool air circulating through the house felt good against my skin.
The cinnamon rolls were cooling on the counter, waiting to be iced, when the doorbell rang. The sound filled me with hope as I raced to see who was waiting on the other side of the door. The open door revealed the face of the man I wanted to see most.
It took me a moment to understand why I had to look up. Pierce was standing on two legs, looking nervous. When I looked down, I guessed he was wearing the prosthesis he mentioned, but I couldn’t tell anything was amiss with his leg. His muscular thighs were hugged with soft, well-worn looking denim, emphasizing the fact the man worked out. If I didn’t know he was missing a leg, I’d never be able to tell as he stood there waiting for me to say something.
Shaking myself, I opened the door wide, waving him in. “I’m so glad you took me up on my invitation. I was beginning to think I might be spending the day alone.”
“I almost didn’t come over. It was the distinctive smell of cinnamon rolls which convinced me,” the alpha said as he stepped into the room. “I brought you something.” He handed me an expertly wrapped gift I hadn’t noticed. It was small and rectangular in shape, but had some weight to it, making me curious about what it contained.
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” I said, smiling at Pierce. “But, I’ll take it because I love presents. Go on into the kitchen. I’ll just stick this under the tree for later.”
Pierce walked with more of an even gait than I expected for him to have. He’d obviously had a lot of practice and I wondered how long it had been since he’d lost his leg. Shaking it off as none of my business, I gave the present a small shake before tucking it under the tree to sit next to the presents I’d gotten the alpha. Shaking it had given me no clue as to what was inside which got my curiosity piqued, but I was a good boy and left it alone despite wanting to give it another shake.
The alpha stood in the middle of the kitchen, looking uncertain, and that just would not do. “Sit, sit!” I moved around him to the counter where the rolls sat, taking plates down from the cabinet above. Dishing up a large cinnamon roll for each plate, I set one plate in front of Pierce while the other went to the seat next to him at the small table.
“I have eggnog and hot chocolate. What’s your pleasure?” I asked the alpha.
“Either. Surprise me,” Pierce said, a finger swiping through the thick coating of icing from his roll. Watching his tongue dip out to lick the sugary treat was almost my undoing. A moan escaped me as I imagined what else that tongue could be licking in that moment.
I turned back to the counter to hide the sudden bulge in my pants, but not before seeing the twinkle in Pierce’s eyes as he winked at me, a smile playing on his lips as he took his first bite of the cinnamon roll. The moans emanating from him made me smile as I poured two large glasses of the eggnog I’d made the night before.
As I set the glasses at the table, I noticed Pierce had finished his food and was eying the roll still on my plate. With a laugh, I grabbed the pan from the counter, giving the alpha another serving.
“I did promise to feed you more than you could eat today. Please, eat all you want. There’s plenty,” I told him with a happy little chuckle. It was good to see the man relax as he ate his food.


Chapter Thirteen
Pierce
Helping Max clean the kitchen seemed like a good thing to do. Despite his protestations, I think he enjoyed the company as much as I did. Afterward, I trailed after Max to the living room. It was cozy, with Christmas decorations sprinkled throughout the room, tastefully reserved. A small table had a small