Reindeer Games by Jet Mykles Read Free Book Online Page B

cottage.
    “ If you’d let me, I’d love to fuck you right now .” The memory of Wod’s offer was
    crystal clear, resuming the desire in his blood.
    Right. He couldn’t let that happen.
    Why not?
    Never you mind why.
    He left the bathroom, then sat on a chair to don his shoes. After pulling on his
    jacket and firmly buttoning it to his chin—well, okay, the base of his neck—he crept
    to the door and opened it a crack. The main room of the cottage looked very
    different in the daylight. Sunlight streamed in through the east-facing windows,
    bouncing off the light pine walls to give a gentle golden glow to the somber tones in
    the furniture. He saw no one as he opened the door fully and stepped out, careful
    not to let the hard rubber soles of his shoes make a sound on the hardwood floor.
    The front door was directly to his left. He could just slip out and pretend that none
    of last night had happened.
    Except that it had. Wod had been nothing but nice. More than nice. He had, in
    fact, offered to help Lon…along with other things.

    40
    Jet Mykles

    He deserved better. At least a thank-you.
    “Wo—” Lon’s voice broke on a squeak. He cleared his throat and tried again.
    “Wod?”
    “In here.”
    Following the heavenly scents of coffee, sugar, and cinnamon, Lon crept
    around the corner into the main room. Beyond the sitting area with the couch and
    fireplace were a small table and chairs. Wod sat, bare-chested, with his back to the
    wall, watching the sun on the snowy escarpment that dropped to the river far
    below. Lon stopped, amazed at the way the morning light made Wod’s rich, loose
    hair the same deep red of the mulled wine that had jumbled his thoughts last night.
    A shadow from one of the trees that flanked the picture window mixed with Wod’s
    shadow on the wall behind him and gave it antlers. It was almost as though his
    other form hovered over his shoulder.
    Wod turned to face him, and the shadows parted. “Good morning. How do you
    feel?”
    “Much better.” Lon shuffled closer, unsure what to do. “Good morning. Thank
    you for…” He gestured toward the bedroom. “Thank you for letting me sleep it off.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    Lon put a hand to his head. “I don’t usually drink.”
    “Good to know.” Wod leaned forward and crossed his arms on the table. Sleek
    muscles bunched in his arms, a minor distraction to add to that of a stack of a dozen
    fresh, hot cinnamon rolls set before him. “Even if it does pack a punch, the wine
    usually wears off by morning.”
    “I’m sorry for putting you out of your bed.” He forced himself not to make it a
    question. For all he knew, Wod had slept beside him and had gotten up early. That
    sent an odd thrill through him.
    “It’s all right. I’ve slept on that couch many times.”

    Reindeer Games

    41

    So they hadn’t been in bed together. Good. Right ? Lon grabbed the back of one
    of the chairs as he stood behind it. “Still, you didn’t have to.”
    “I did. I gave you the wine.” Wod waved at the rolls on the table. “Please, sit. I
    got us breakfast.”
    Deliberately not licking his lips, Lon shook his head and released the chair.
    “No, I should leave. I’ve troubled you enough.”
    “Lon, sit. I can’t send you home on an empty stomach.”
    Although touched by Wod’s concern, Lon still protested, taking a step back. “I
    can’t.”
    Wod stood. “Lon. They’re already here. No sense in wasting them. I won’t eat
    them all.” He picked up his empty mug. “There’s mocha coffee too.”
    Lon’s mouth watered. He loved mocha coffee. Together with cinnamon rolls,
    that was his ideal breakfast. Of course, among the elves, he was not alone in this
    preference.
    While he was hesitating, Wod crossed behind him. He pulled out the chair,
    then propelled Lon into it with a firm shove. “Eat. I’ll get you a cup.”
    Lon bit his lip, staring at the cinnamon rolls. A half dozen of them were
    stacked in a neat pyramid on a