Holiday Party - Megan Derr

And now for one of the first M/M authors I ever read (and still one of my favorites), the lovely Megan Derr!

These characters are from The Missing Butterfly, a story I wrote forever ago but which remains one of my most popular. I am well known for fluff and nonsense, and these boys are not an exception to that rule. Merry Christmas! ~Meg

Malcolm sat at the dining room table of his winter lodge, typing away on his laptop to knock out little bits and pieces of work, try to keep his to do list to under a thousand so he could enjoy his vacation with only minimal stress.

He pointedly did not look at the bottom corner where the time was taunting him, or the clock above the mantel in the living room that was ticking incessantly. It wouldn't even be close to the first time that Cassidy had shown up late. He was just extra twitchy because between his businesses and Cassidy's tour schedule, they hadn't seen each other in almost a full month.

His eyes went helplessly to the clock. Over an hour. Was everything okay? He picked up his phone for the thousandth time but so far no reply to any of his texts. Damn it. Setting the phone back down, he went back to work, slowly whittling down the stack of emails in his inbox.

By the time another half hour had passed, Malcolm was ready to flip his shit. It wasn't like Cassidy not to contact him if something was wrong.

Malcolm made himself get through ten more emails, then finally closed his laptop and picked up his phone, pulled up his contacts and debated which one to contact first—

Right as he heard a vehicle coming up the long driveway. Setting his phone on the table he bolted to the front door, watched as Cassidy climbed out of one of the lodge's enormous Land Rover and chatted with the driver for a moment. As the man pulled away with a wave, Cassidy turned and hefted bag over his shoulders, dragging the other along as he made his way up the walk to the porch. "You're a sight for sore eyes, pretty boy."

"Where the hell have you been?" Malcolm bit out as Cassidy climbed the stairs and dropped his bags. "I was—" he oofed as Cassidy launched into his arms and kissed him hard, pushed him up against the wall.

Well, far be it for him to complain. Malcolm clung to Cassidy's hips, pulled him as close as their bulky clothes allowed, moaning as he relearned Cassidy's mouth after too many days apart. When they finally drew apart, he nuzzled against Cassidy's still-warm skin, their breaths puffing in the frigid air. "Hey, rock star. Long time no see. Where the fuck have you been?"

"Let's get inside, it's freezing out here," Cassidy said, and pulled away to drag his bags into the cabin. He kicked the door shut with his foot, shucked his winter gear, and reeled Malcolm back in for more long, hot kisses. Cassidy's fingers were cold against his neck, but Malcolm had no real complaints.

Well, the clothes, maybe.

He drew back reluctantly, his own warm hands pushing beneath the soft sweater Cassidy wore to find skin. "Where the fuck have you been? I was seriously worried."

"Sorry," Cassidy replied, resting his head against Malcom's chest. His perpetually messy mop of curls was longer than usual, tangled and messy from the toboggan he'd been wearing. "Flight was late, tried to text you but reception in that place was shit and I didn't notice none of my texts had gone through until too late. Then after we arrived and I was waiting for my cab to the lodge—I watched it happen and I still don't believe it. My phone slipped from my fingers, kind of bounced-slid across the ice right into traffic and got crunched. I managed to by a new one, but it's still in its box."

Malcolm lifted his eyes to the ceiling. "I really should have guessed it was something completely stupid."

Cassidy laughed, pulled back to smile at him. "I really am sorry I worried you. But maybe my Christmas present will make it to you."

"If it's not you getting naked and staying that way for the next two weeks, then the answer is no, I can tell you that right off," Malcolm replied.

Laughing again, Cassidy said, "I am not staying naked, it's like minus five hundred out there! I actually have two presents for you. One, remember that beach house you wanted that you couldn't have because the owner wouldn't budge?"

Malcolm's heart stopped. "How."

"Let's just say I have my ways and you should be the one playing naked sex slave for two weeks," Cassidy said with a bright, happy grin. He still looked frayed around the edges, but no longer as beat up and worn out as he had been the last time Malcolm had seen him before they'd parted ways in Germany. "Part two… me and the rest of the band decided it was time for a serious break. As of January the first we are on a year-long hiatus."

"Are—" Malcolm swallowed. "Are you serious?"

Cassidy grabbed a handful of Malcolm's sweater and dragged him in close. "Would I lie, pretty boy? I barely get to see you anymore, and as much as I love being the center of attention these days, I wouldn't mind an audience of one for a bit." He kissed Malcolm softly, the sort of sweet, slow burn kiss that always left Malcolm shivering, chest aching with how fucking much he loved this man. "So what did you get me?"

Grinning, Malcolm scooped him up, laughing as Cassidy flailed and swore before finally settling where he was slung over Malcolm's shoulder. "You'll find out tomorrow when you unwrap your presents. For now, I've got some vastly more important unwrapping to do."

"I suppose that's acceptable," Cassidy said, and pinched his ass, snickering when Malcolm yelped.

---

Want more holiday stories? Well than, here's what we have for you...

Less Than Three Press presents a collection of stories about people brought together by the magic of mistletoe...

Here for You by J.K. Pendragon
Warren's life has been shrinking ever since his wife passed away. Blind, and finding it difficult to adjust to life on his own, it's easier to hide away in his house. When his friend Missy invites him to a Christmas party, an unexpected kiss with a stranger under the mistletoe leaves him confused and wondering...

The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor
Christmas in Japan is no big deal for Ash Harmon, with his family half a world away and supernatural problems that have no respect for the holidays. When he picks up a bodyguard job for a rising star of figure skating who seems to be encountering trouble with a restless spirit, he stubbornly resists the unexpected attraction to his charge, wary of the risks that come with relationships. But the mistletoe has other ideas...

A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley
Sometimes, Fate gets tired of being ignored. And some nights, Fate decides something will just have to be done about it. Enter Drualus, Senior Correspondent for the Collective Assembly of Christmas Fae, working with the Night Before Reach Out Program. He's got a few short hours to change Scott Misener's outlook on life, love, and understanding. Lucky for Scott, Dru knows a tried and true trope that might just do the trick...

Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman
It's Christmas Eve and An-An and M.C. have plans to spend Christmas in Texas with An-An's family. But their plans are cut short when M.C. takes on a last minute case. Thankfully, though, it should be an easy exorcism.

Until they arrive at the snowbound lodge where trouble resides, and come face to face with a demon wolf unlike anything they've ever encountered.

Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr
Kingston has worked hard to get where he is: owner of his own shop, master potion maker, well-respected... and lonely, too busy with life to enjoy more than his regular visits to Acacia House. If he wishes his loneliness might be eased by Hux, the man he meets at Acacia twice a month, well, someday he'll work up the nerve to ask. Maybe.

Then Hux unexpectedly visits his shop, distressed and in desperate need of help to save his employer from a love potion...

Buy links: LT3 | Amazon | ARe | Kobo

Author Bio:

Megan is a long time resident of m/m fiction, and keeps herself busy reading, writing, and publishing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she's not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her cats, or watch movies (especially all things James Bond). She loves to hear from readers, and can be found all around the internet.

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Less Than Three Press     |     Email: meganaderr@gmail.com

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