Holiday Party - Kindle Alexander

This next author is actually a duo power-writing team who I met at RainbowCon earlier this year. I am pleased to introduce the wonder-couple, Kindle Alexander!

First, we’d like to thank Emily for inviting us to participate. And now, for your enjoyment, a deleted bonus scene from Always by Kindle Alexander. Also, don't forget to enter the grand prize giveaway as well (see who's paying attention...).

The Christmas lights twinkled as Kane stepped inside Avery’s apartment. He worked at loosening the knot of his tie before sliding out of his suit jacket. Avery was already inside. He’d turned on the Christmas music and was moving much faster than the exhausted man he’d claimed to be on their ride home from midnight mass. In less than a minute, Avery had left a trail of clothes leading down the hall and he could hear him in the bedroom singing Silver Bells at the top of his lungs.  He shook his head and made his way to through the apartment. Kane dropped down in a plush living room chair and just stared at the sparkling Christmas tree. The lights were beautiful and he couldn’t look away.  It was the first tree he’d help put up in fifteen years. And this was the first Christmas in just about that long that he’d been to church on Christmas Eve.  Actually this was the first time in a long time that he even wanted to celebrate Christmas. Sure he had done a small something in the past years at the restaurant with Paulie and the guys, but this was different. Being here with Avery felt so right. The comforting notion of being truly at home embraced him and he just knew this was where he belonged. Kane dropped his head back on the chair, his eyes stayed focus on the twinkling lights adoring the large fragrant Douglas Fir. He toed off his shoes, making himself comfortable, his gaze still lingering on the bright blinking lights.

“What are you doing?” Avery asked rounding the corner, effectively pulling him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Avery had wasted no time in making himself comfortable. He was dressed in a bath robe tied loosely at his waist. He looked sexy and put together even in his robe. Avery had a huge smile on his face and was waving Kane’s favorite robe in front of him and that simple little action made Kane smile. Avery was always thinking about him. He continued to watch Avery as he drew closer. That one stray piece of hair fell across Avery’s forehead, proving he had hurried to get back out here to him. That knowledge touched his heart. God he loved Avery.   

“What are you doing?” Kane countered, not moving a muscle as Avery moved closer.

“It’s Christmas morning. We have presents to unwrap,” Avery said, now straddling Kane’s legs as he dropped the robe he was holding on the arm of the chair and pulled the loosened tie from his collar. Avery tossed the tie to the side and started unbuttoning his clothes. “You’ll be more comfortable if we get you out of your dress clothes,” Avery murmured, his amber eyes twinkling with mischief.   

“It’s one o’clock in the morning. I don’t think this counts as actual morning,”

“I’m pretty sure it does.  And besides it’s our first Christmas together. Now help me get you undressed,” Avery said, pushing his shirt off his shoulders. Avery’s weight shifted on his lap. He felt his belt being tugged free and heard the hiss of his zipper being slid open.  Avery stood and he lifted his hips so Avery could help him out of his slacks. Avery dropped to his knees in front of him and slid his socks off his feet before standing and straddling his thighs again.

“Now doesn’t that feel better?”  Avery asked trailing a finger along his exposed collar bone.  

“Yeah, but you being on my lap feels even better.” He rested his hands on Avery’s waist and arched his hips forward, grinding them against Avery. He lifted his face hoping for a kiss and it didn’t take long for Avery to figure out exactly what he wanted. Avery’s lips were firm and demanding as they pressed against his. He slid his tongue along the seam of Avery’s lips, tasting him before pushing inside. Avery deepened the kiss, their tongues collided in a heated passion. He held tightly to Avery as they kissed, losing himself in the man he loved.

Avery slowly ended the kiss and pulled back.     

“I’ve got something for you,” Avery said, excitement rang in his voice as he got to his feet. Kane watched him make his way across the room and pull a brightly wrapped box from under the Christmas tree. He’d bought something for Avery too. He stood, finding his jacket. He removed the small gold covered box from the pocket. The wind howled outside the window, big flakes of snow were just beginning to fall. They were going to have a white Christmas after all.

Their first Christmas together was already perfect, just being here with Avery made it that way. He reached for the robe Avery had left on the chair.  His heart beat rapidly against his chest. He’d never celebrated Christmas with someone he felt such a connection with, ever. What he and Avery shared was special. Yeah, he and Brian had been together for a few years but they hadn’t done Christmas, not like this.  Brian was usually away with his job and his ex blamed the time difference when hours passed and he didn’t call.

“Babe, what’re you thinking about? You look like you’re a million miles away.” Avery’s soft voice drew his attention back. He glanced up. Avery stood in front of him holding a beautifully wrapped gift.

“I was just thinking about how blessed I am to have you in my life.” He answered truthfully and opened his arms, wanting Avery back in his lap.

“That’s exactly how I feel about you, too,” Avery said moving to straddle him. He tilted his head and quickly pressed a kiss to Avery’s lips as he settled in place.

“Merry Christmas, Avery.” His voice was almost a whisper. The pressure built in his chest as he offered his lover the slender box. “I hope you like it. I thought about you when I saw it.” He was a little nervous about his gift. Avery had everything, so it was hard to know exactly what to get him, but lately he had been complaining about his watch losing time. Avery’s fingers worked the ribbon and the paper, tossing it to the floor as he ripped into the present, just like a kid on Christmas morning. Avery’s face lit up as he flipped open the lid and removed the beautiful watch.   

“I love it, Kane! I looked at this very one the other day. How…” He stopped suddenly as he flipped the watch over in his hands. Kane knew exactly when he read the inscription and his heart skipped a beat. “Always.” Avery said softly and looked up at him. He saw the emotion fill Avery’s eyes as he leaned in and captured his mouth in a tender kiss. “Thank you, babe. It’s perfect.”

          

          “Always… won’t be long enough.” He didn’t know why he was explaining, he wasn’t good at the gift buying or giving thing, but he wanted Avery to know he meant what he had engraved on the back of that watch. “You wrote that in your first note to me. It stuck with me. I wanted something to remind you how much I love you every time you look at it.”

“Kane, no one has ever given me anything that means as much to me as this.” Avery lifted his arm and handed him the watch. “Will you?”    

“It looks good on you.” He smiled up at Avery after fastening the watch around his wrist.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Avery agreed and picked up his gift and handed it to him. “Merry Christmas, Kane.”  

Kane carefully unwrapped the gift, laying the paper on table next to them. When he opened the box his heart skipped a beat. Emotion filled him as he saw Avery’s present, his heart filled with love. This man knew him so well. “Oh, Avery, it’s perfect.” He couldn’t believe Avery had given him a Bible. This gift meant so much more to him than he could explain, so he wouldn’t even try. He’d never bought himself one in all those years after leaving his parents’ home. How could Avery know? He took the Bible out of the box and ran his finger across the leather binding, smiling as he noticed his name embossed into the front cover. “Thank you, Avery.” After running his finger across his name for a third time he sat the Bible on the table next to them and slid his fingers through Avery’s hair. He stared into his lover’s eyes. His breath caught in his throat and he was completely overwhelmed with all the love he saw reflected in their depths. He wanted Avery, needed to show him how much he loved him. Kane firmly cupped the back of Avery’s head and pulled him down for a kiss.

  

Blurb:

Born to a prestigious political family, Avery Adams plays as hard as he works. The gorgeous, charismatic attorney is used to getting what he wants, even the frequent one-night stands that earn him his well-deserved playboy reputation. When some of the most prominent men in politics suggest he run for senate, Avery decides the time has come to follow in his grandfather's footsteps. With a strategy in place and the campaign wheels rolling, Avery is ready to jump on the legislative fast track, full steam ahead. But no amount of planning prepares him for the handsome, uptight restaurateur who might derail his political future.

Easy isn't even in the top thousand words to describe Kane Dalton's life after his father, a devout Southern Baptist minister, kicks him out of the family home for questioning his sexual orientation. Despite all the rotten tomatoes life throws his way, Kane makes something of himself. Between owning a thriving upscale Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Minneapolis and managing his long-term boyfriend, his plate is full. He struggles to get past the teachings of his childhood to fully accept his sexuality and rid himself of the doubts brought on by his religious upbringing. The last thing he needs is the yummy, sophisticated, blond-haired distraction sitting at table thirty-four.

Buy Links: 

Amazon     |     Barnes and Noble     |     Kobo

Author Bio:  

Best Selling, and newly award winning Author Kindle Alexander is an innovative writer, and a genre-crosser who writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and erotica. It’s always a surprise to see what’s coming next! Happily married with too many children, and dogs, living in the suburbs of Dallas.

Usually, I try for funny. Humor is a major part of my life – I love to laugh, and it seems to be the thing I do in most situations – regardless of the situation, but jokes are a tricky deal… I don’t want to offend anyone and jokes tend to offend. So instead I’m going to tell you about Kindle.

I tragically lost my sixteen year old daughter to a drunk driver. She had just been at home, it was early in the night and I heard the accident happen. I’ll never forget that moment. The sirens were immediate and something inside me just knew. I left my house, drove straight to the accident on nothing more than instinct. I got to be there when my little girl died – weirdly, I consider that a true gift from above. She didn’t have to be alone.

That time in my life was terrible. It’s everything you think, times about a billion. I love that kid. I loved being her mother and I loved watching her grow into this incredibly beautiful person, both inside and out. She was such a gift to me. To have it all ripped away so suddenly broke me.

Her name was Kindle. Honest to goodness – it was her name and she died a few weeks before Amazon released their brand new Kindle ereader. She had no idea it was coming out and she would have finally gotten her name on something! Try finding a ruler with the name Kindle on it.. it never happened.

Through the course of that crippling event I was lucky enough to meet my writing partner. I would have never gotten through those dark days without her unwavering support and guidance. There wasn’t a time she wasn’t there for me. For the first time I used the hand offered. I know without question I wouldn’t be here today without her. It takes a special person to come stand beside someone at a time like that. I will love her forever. I could go on and on about both of them, but I won’t and now you know a little more About Me.

Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Google Plus