Secret Santa

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy

CANNED

Christmas carols punctured Zach’s eardrum as he grumpily made his way through the crowds thronging every spare inch of the mall. He had begun his present-buying too late, and he berated himself for doing so—as he did every year. You could set your watch by it; come September, he started toying with the idea of shopping early, and then the next thing he knew it was the twenty-third of December and he was trying not to run over senior citizens or babies in a panic with his shopping cart whenever they happened to stray across his path. And Christmas was bound to be even more interesting this year. For the first time, Shane was coming with him to his parents’ house over the holidays. Four full days at casa Edwards. Shane was certainly being thrown into the deep end, and Zach wondered if he would sink like a stone or struggle and eventually learn how to swim. Zach had never before brought a partner back to his childhood home for Christmas. He had never felt that his previous relationships were serious enough to withstand the pressure of meeting the family, but Shane was different. They had been going out for three years now, and had been living together for the past two. Zach had

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy already met reciprocate.

Shane’s

family,

and

now

he

had

to

It wasn’t that he was ashamed of the Edwards clan, or that he was ashamed of Shane. It just came down to the simple fact that he hadn’t ever brought anyone home, so he had no practical experience with it. His siblings had brought home a dizzying array of partners over the years until they eventually settled down and started families; Zach kept turning up alone, talking any previous boyfriends out of attempting to accompany him. Maybe he just wanted to wait until he knew he had found the person he wanted to settle down with, thereby avoiding the harassment his siblings had experienced whenever they turned up with a new partner. And Shane was that partner. He loved Shane; he knew that Shane deserved to be welcomed properly into the folds of his family. Zach had believed in the past that he had been in love, but one morning he experienced a feeling that burned so strongly he knew that past feelings had never actually compared to what he was feeling now. It had been a morning just like any other; he had woken, and the other side of the bed was cold. Shane always stayed in bed longer than Zach did; he was notorious for being able to sleep the day away unless Zach persevered in getting him up. Not having Shane next to him made Zach panic, and it wasn’t just that he was expecting him to be there; it was more the fact that Zach felt a strange emptiness within himself at Shane’s absence, as if part of him was missing.

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy Shane was actually in the kitchen browsing the contents of the refrigerator, his stomach having roused him much earlier than he usually dragged himself out of bed, and he had been struck dumb when Zach came bounding in and kissed him passionately. “I love you,” Zach had said, a slightly panicked look on his face. It was the first time it had been uttered between them. It was also the first time that Zach had been the first one to say it in any relationship. And he was just as shocked as Shane appeared to be. But the important thing was that a smile appeared on Shane’s face that was so big it threatened to split his features in two, and he returned the sentiment. Zach’s delayed admission was true, and he honestly didn’t know why he had taken so long to say it. Shane was his other half, all that clichéd stuff that he had mocked his siblings for saying over the years as they met their own significant others. When they had heard he wouldn’t be coming for Christmas by himself, they had started on him early. “He’s coming for Christmas?” his sister Tanya had asked, even though she had already met Shane in person. “He has to be the one, then.” “Prince Charming finally snagged you?” his younger brother teased him over the phone. Living two states away, he hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting any of Zach’s partners. “This is going to be good,” Mike gloated. Even his parents had taken his announcement with reverence usually limited to their twice-yearly church 4

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy attendance on festive holidays. His mother actually became flustered, rethinking the traditional menu and asking if Shane had any special dietary requirements. Zach had laughed; Shane ate anything that was put in front of him. At least it meant he was easy to cook for, and easy to please. Zach yelped as a fellow shopper barrelled into him. “Watch it!” he growled in warning. The guy who bumped into him turned back, and gave him the finger. “Screw you!” Zach couldn’t help but smile. beginning to feel like Christmas.

Now it truly was

He entered into the fray at a toy store, battling with other customers as if they were gladiators of old, filling his shopping basket with the must-have products of the season for his nieces and nephews. At the checkout he winced when the total was revealed in all its glory, but handed over his credit card anyway. Really, what was the point? Those kids got so damn much on Christmas Day, they probably wouldn’t even know who gave them what and everything would be broken by New Year’s anyway. Outside the store again, he realized what he was thinking and berated himself. He was becoming such a Scrooge he was surprised that Jacob Marley’s face wasn’t superimposed over one of the mannequins in the store window behind him.

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy It’s just the shopping you hate, Zach told himself, and you do this to yourself every year. Just get through this, and you know you’ll enjoy Christmas. After all, Shane will be with you and your family, and that’s the most important thing, isn’t it? Cheered somewhat, Zach continued on, further into the bowels of the mall. His arms were getting tired, so he grabbed a shopping cart from outside one of the department stores and threw his purchases into it. Zach had tried to rope Shane into coming and helping him, but he had been vague and insisted that he had errands of his own to run. Zach had just assumed that Shane really wanted to avoid the Christmas rush, and he couldn’t blame him for that; it was just that they hadn’t seen that much of each other lately. But all he could do was assume it was all because of the lead-up to the holiday. It seemed they both had to work longer hours, and be at home less, just so they could have a few days off together further down the line. That was partly why Zach was so stressed about everything; he just wanted it all to go well. They deserved it, and quite frankly, he missed his partner. They needed the time to touch base again, and the sooner Christmas was over the better for both of them. Maybe life could then return to some sense of normalcy. Was that “The Little Drummer Boy” playing again? Surely, this must be the third time since he had entered the mall—

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy He was doing it again. Zach shook his head vigorously, as if that could cleanse his brain from all Grinchy, negative thoughts. Ahead of him a long line was forming to visit with the mall Santa. Well, one of the mall’s Santas. Through his long trek Zach had already seen two others. He wondered how parents explained that to their kids if they happened to put two and two together. But still, you had to marvel at the innocence of kids, as they could be easily placated with any imaginative answer a frazzled parent could come up with when questioned. Santa’s elfin helper was wearing a uniform that seemed to be designed more by Victoria’s Secret than anything that would have been approved by a North Pole workshop. Was she meant to rope in unsuspecting fathers, using her otherworldly charms and her natural assets, and convince them to part with the cash in their wallets to buy the more expensive sets of photographs? Or had Santa selected her especially to help him through the more difficult parts of the day, and join him for drinks afterward? After all, this Santa did seem particularly young, surely an example of miscasting if ever there was one. His belly sagged in certain spots, as if the padding had become loose and shifted all over the shop; the beard was far too white, and bright against the young and tanned skin. And those eyes— Those eyes! Zach knew those eyes. He knew them all too well. After all, he woke up to them every morning across their 7

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy bed as they went from sleep-ridden slits to mischievous light-green orbs. Those eyes were distinctive. There was no confusing them for anybody else’s. I’m hallucinating. There’s no other explanation. It’s all this last-minute shopping and… There was no way Shane could be that particular Santa…. Why the hell would Shane be playing Santa, anyway? This was crazy. But it was him. Santa/Shane was handing a crying child back to its mother, and the sexy female elf was undoubtedly haggling for photographic packages. Santa/Shane stood up, and hung a sign across his throne. Whatever it said, the people in line waiting to see him were not happy about it; it was left up to the sexy elf to deal with them. As Zach crept closer he made out that the sign stated “Back in 20 Minutes.” Santa obviously needed a break from his duties. The disproportionately rotund figure disappeared down a small service area hallway behind his cottage, and Zach knew he had to give chase. Wishing he didn’t have to maneuver the cart around through the crowd, Zach circled the waiting parents and shot past the sexy elf before she could stop him. She was still too distracted by disgruntled shoppers that resented having to wait even longer to get their child’s photo taken with a fake holiday figurehead. He hit the hall in time to see Santa disappear within the cottage, which was really

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy just a small office dressed up with wood paneling, crepe paper and faux, probably toxic snow. Zach peered through the windows to spy upon the man, to ensure that it was who he thought it was. The blinds were pulled down, however, and he couldn’t make out anything inside. But he knew it was Shane, so he decided to disregard all caution. He wrenched the door open, and burst through the office with the shopping cart leading the way like an icebreaker. Santa was standing with his back to the door, in front of two electric fans turned on full blast, with his pants around his ankles and his beard wafting in the breeze. His red jacket with the white trim was unbuttoned and hanging open just above his plaid boxers, and he was in the process of removing the stomach padding. Zach couldn’t help himself. “My Christmas fantasies come true,” he murmured. Then he had a momentary panic that it wasn’t Shane in front of him after all, and a strange mall Santa was about to apply a well-deserved smackdown to him. But the Santa didn’t turn around. “So it was you,” he said resignedly, and while his back was still turned he dropped the padding to the floor. “Shane…” Zach breathed. He nudged the door shut, and turned the lock so they wouldn’t be disturbed. “That’s what I was about to say!” 9

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy His partner shuffled awkwardly, hobbled by his pants sagging around his ankles, in order to face him. “I was hoping it wasn’t you.” He pulled the beard free from his face, and threw it on a chair. The hair on his chest had a slight sheen upon it from sweat, and he made to pull the jacket off. “Don’t,” Zach said. Shane glared at him. “What?” “Don’t take that off.” “Don’t start,” Shane growled. “Start what?” Shane threw his hands up in the air in defeat. “All right! Just get it out of your system, and get it over with!” “What?” Zach asked in confusion. “Making fun of me.” “I’m not going to make fun of you,” Zach replied. “And thanks for thinking the best of me.” “Oh,” Shane said, slightly embarrassed. “But what are you doing?” “What does it look like?” Shane turned grumpy again, and pulled a chair over to sit in front of the fans. “Well, it looks like you’re working as Santa Claus.” “Amazing. You didn’t even have to bring in Sherlock to solve it for you.” Shane propped his feet up on another 10

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy chair opposite him, a slightly difficult task as his pants were still pooled around his shoes. Zach leaned down, and pulled his feet up properly for him. “Thanks,” Shane said gruffly. “You’re welcome.” Zach pulled another chair out to sit next to him. “Okay, ’fess up. What’s going on?” Shane groaned, and covered his face with his hands. Zach leaned over him and gently pulled Shane’s hands away from his face. “Come on; start talking.” Shane just stared at him with the plaintive puppydog expression that he always used on Zach whenever he tried to get out of something, especially a touchy conversation. “Not going to work this time,” Zach said firmly. “How long have you been doing this for? I thought you were working overtime!” “I have been,” Shane sighed. “Just…overtime here, at a different job.” Zach smiled. “Definitely a different job.” “I told you not to harass me.” “I’m not,” Zach reassured him. Santa I’ve ever seen.”

“You’re the hottest

Shane gestured to the fans behind him, which made the pom-pom on his cap sway slightly in their electronic breeze. “Do you mean that figuratively or literally?” 11

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy Zach looked appreciatively at the furry chest and legs spread before him. “Both.” Shane suddenly felt as if he wanted to cover himself up. “Have you got a Santa fetish?” Zach couldn’t help but laugh. “I may have now. If you go back out there dressed like that, I’m going to be lining up to sit on your lap.” “That’s disgusting!” Shane said, horrified. “I’m dressed up as Santa. It’s a job you have to take very seriously! That’s what they kept telling us during training. You can’t turn it into something…sexy!” Zach laughed even harder, and it was only exacerbated by the more offended and red-faced Shane seemed to get. “It’s not me turning it into something sexy; you are.” He licked his lips, lasciviously and deliberately over the top, just wanting to see Shane’s reaction. He got what he expected. “Stop ogling me!” Shane cried, aware of how prissy he sounded. But he couldn’t help his indignant response. He fumbled with his jacket, trying to cover his chest. “I can’t help it,” Zach shrugged maddeningly. “Santa has a code of honor—” He was cut off as Zach leaned over and ran his hands through the light fur upon Shane’s chest. “Do you think you can bring this costume home?” 12

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “You’re a sick man, Zach. Do you know that?” Zach began to massage the chest under his fingers, brushing a thumb against the left nipple. As he anticipated it would, knowing his partner as well as he did, his touch made Shane shudder with a true jolt of erotic electricity. “Oh, crap—” Shane moaned. Zach knew he had him now. He bent his head down and flicked Shane’s left nipple with the tip of his tongue. Shane’s arms immediately came around him and drew him in closer. Zach rewarded him by taking the nipple fully into his mouth and sucking on it gently. Shane had the most perfectly suckable nipples, full and rounded, that hardened into delicious nubs when excited. Zach circled the one he’d captured with his tongue before delicately tugging the tip between his teeth and releasing it. “Zach…. You can’t mess up my uniform,” Shane murmured helplessly. Zach looked at him devilishly through half-lidded eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you clean.” The nipple was slick with spit, and Zach rolled it between his fingers. The front of Shane’s boxers were beginning to tent obviously. “You like that, don’t you?” Zach asked huskily. “You know I do,” Shane gasped as Zach’s elbow grazed his boxers. 13

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “So, can you bring the costume home?” Shane knew Zach’s tricks. This sexual interrogation would only serve for him to get the answers he wanted. But Shane was helpless now, and he admitted, “It’s mine. I had to buy it.” Still teasing the nipple with his fingers, Zach looked up at him. “Fucking cheapskates. But I’ll make sure you get your money’s worth.” “You’re one sick puppy, Zach Edwards.” “I’m your sick puppy.” Zach flicked the nipple with his finger, and then ran it down the chest and abdominal muscles, tracing the circumference of Shane’s navel and finally resting against the bulge in his boxers. Shane’s eyes fluttered at the touch. Zach traced the outline of his erection, and it sprang up even further within the confines of the material as if the head were desperate to hit the belly. “The door,” Shane managed to gulp out. “Already locked,” Zach reassured him. “Now that I’ve got you all helpless, Shane…why are you working here?” Shane was helpless, he already knew that. He squirmed uncomfortably but Zach used two fingers to rub his shaft through the material of his boxers, and he fell back against his chair. “I needed the money,” he managed to gasp.

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “What for? It’s not exactly like we’re poor.” Zach stopped his ministrations, and sat back against his own chair. “Come on; talk to me.” Even though his cock was now digging painfully into his stomach, Shane leaned in to his partner and kissed him tenderly. “I wanted this Christmas to be special.” “More special than any other?” Zach asked, puzzled. “You can really be dense sometimes,” Shane told him. “It is a fault of mine,” Zach agreed. Shane laughed. “Dolt.” “So tell me.” “I feel funny talking about it, especially when you’re practically molesting me in a Santa suit.” “Talk,” Zach commanded. “It’s my first Christmas with your family,” Shane told him. “Yeah, and?” “I want them to like me.” “They’re going to love you,” Zach said. “Or else I’ll kill them.” Shane cradled his partner’s cheek. “Okay, I want them to like me without death threats being involved.”

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “What’s a Christmas without a death threat or two?” Zach asked. “No Christmas at all.” Shane ignored him, being more than used to Zach’s nonsense. “Anyway, I wanted to make sure I had enough money to buy good gifts for them all. Your family’s huge, you know that, right?” “Hang on,” Zach said. “You’re opposed to threats of violence against my family, but you’re happy with the concept of buying their love?” Shane stared down at his tangled feet. “Okay, you’re making it sound stupid.” “Because it is.” “It’s how I feel.” Zach studied him closely, and saw the truth reflected in Shane’s eyes. “Damn, you do!” He wrapped his arms around Shane, who buried his head in Zach’s shoulder while laughing at himself. Zach kissed any piece of exposed skin he could find. “I love you.” “But I’m stupid?” “No, you’re fucking beautiful,” Zach told him in all honesty. “But we shouldn’t be worrying about expensive gifts. We should just be happy that we have each other, and a crazy family to spend the holidays with. In fact, that we have two crazy families that want to spend time with us.”

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “So,” Shane murmured, his words reverberating against Zach’s chest, “if this was a crappy Christmas telemovie, the moral would be that money doesn’t buy happiness or love?” “Maybe,” Zach grinned somewhat evilly. “But seeing we have all this extra money, maybe you can buy me a Wii.” He yelped as he was whacked on the back by Santa’s extremely strong arm. He pushed Shane back, and they both laughed. “Seriously,” Zach said. “All this time you’ve been doing this, and we could have been spending time together instead. I’ve been missing you lately.” “I know. I’ve missed you, too.” “So quit. Come home with me.” Shane glared at him. “Did you not hear me when I told you about the solemn responsibilities that come with the Santa suit?” Zach smirked. hanging out of?”

“The one that you’re currently

Shane looked down, and flushed, as he rearranged his boxers. “That’s your fault.” “Just think of me as your sexy elf assistant.” “Tonight’s the final night anyway,” Shane grumbled.

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “You should have told me. You’re just lucky I didn’t think you were cheating on me.” “I’m too fucking tired to cheat on you.” “That’s reassuring.” Shane laughed at him. “Didn’t you say something about wanting to sit on Santa’s knee?” He was pleasantly surprised as Zach swung his feet off from where they were perched on the chair, and then willingly clambered over to straddle him. Shane supported him by placing his hand against the small of his back. “Is that a lump of coal in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” Zach teased. Lowering his voice, Shane answered, “Have you been a bad little boy, or a good one?” “Depends what I get.” Shane thrust upward gently. “Maybe you should check your stocking.” “That’s not breathlessly.

my

stocking,”

Zach

said

a

little

“I know,” Shane leered. “You’re the best, you know that?” Zach murmured. “I can’t believe you were doing this.” “I just want to make Christmas go well.”

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “It will. It would have anyway. So, if tonight’s your last night, that means you’re free to do the last of the shopping with me tomorrow.” Shane groaned. “Kill me now.” “Hey, I haven’t had fun doing it by myself, you know. At least tomorrow we can finish it up together.” Zach shifted upon Shane’s lap, wriggling in order to wake him up again. Shane nipped at his ear, and Zach ground even further, at last gaining contact. “Do we have a deal?” Zach asked. Shane was once again at his mercy. “Yes…,” he said, more of an exhale than a word. Zach kissed him, then slid down his legs to land on his ass on the floor. He propped himself up on his knees, and smiled up at his partner as he moaned his name again. As he tugged at Shane’s boxers, his released cock jutted free. Zach let the boxers pool down on the floor along with the pants, and positioned himself into as comfortable a position as he could. He gently blew upon Shane’s cock, letting it rouse itself into its fully erect state; then pumped the shaft slowly with one hand until a small drop of pre-cum collected at the slit. Zach licked it clean, and Shane jerked slightly beneath the sudden warmth of his tongue. Zach began taking him into his mouth, letting the weight of his arousal rest upon his tongue.

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy Shane impatiently brought his hand down to start stroking himself, and Zach knocked his hand away. He began slowly bobbing upon the shaft, making sure his lips covered his teeth. He tried to take in as much as he could, but he had always had a poor gag reflex, so he grasped the base of Shane’s shaft and gave a slight twist as his tongue passed over the head. His hand slid smoothly against the base, slick with his own spit. He came up for air, a thread of saliva still connecting him to Shane, who was splayed before him, his face flushed with passion. Zach stuck his index finger in his mouth, slicking it up. Shane’s eyes flew fully open as he felt it passing over his balls and further down near his entrance, and he stared down at his partner. “Holy fuck, Zach—” Zach only grinned as he let the finger slide in. As Shane jerked upright, Zach used his other hand to settle him back down and leaned in to blow upon the still-erect cock. The cool air, caused by the slickness of his shaft, acted as even more of an enhancement; Shane rocked slightly, allowing Zach’s finger further entry until it hit that small nub of nerves that shot straight to his groin. Shane was now putty in Zach’s hands. Zach’s left hand was against his chest, his thumb grazing his nipple, his finger was up his ass, and suddenly his mouth was back upon his cock. His whole body was now electrified to his partner’s touch, and he was willing to march to his doom in any manner Zach was going to inflict upon him. The three-front assault left him writhing helplessly under Zach’s expert touch. Shane threw his head back, 20

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy all thoughts reconnected emotionally. head and fell Zach before swallowed it clean.

and stresses of the day forgotten as he with his partner both physically and His Santa hat slid down the back of his to the ground. He barely had time to warn he was spilling in his mouth, but Zach all, redeeming his promise to keep Shane

Shane wiped the sweat off his brow, and grabbed Zach by the shoulders to pull him back up. He could feel Zach’s own excitement against his leg, and when he recaptured his breath he asked, “Do you want me to take care of that for you?” Zach shook his head. “It’s okay.” Shane reached down and squeezed him through his jeans. “It’s only fair. Think of it as an early gift from Santa.” Zach couldn’t resist any further. He let Shane push him back onto his chair, and watched him fiddling with the belt of his jeans. He gave a small laugh, and Shane looked up at him. “What?” “Nothing.” “It’s the fetish, isn’t it?” Shane asked. “Do you want me to put the hat back on?” Zach reached down and stroked his chin. “I’m not that perverted.” Shane pulled the buckle free. “I doubt that.”

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “Give me some credit.” “I already give you too much.” Shane silenced him by pulling down his zipper. Despite the boxers still confining it, Zach’s cock tried to jump through anyway, seeking release. Shane slid his fingers into the flap, and Zach moaned as they passed over his already-slick head. Shane’s fingers traveled down the shaft, coaxing it out into the open air; Zach could feel the cool wind from the fans as his cock emerged fully from his pants. “Hello, there,” Shane greeted it gently, and Zach burst out laughing. Shane held him still by putting his hands upon Zach’s shoulders, and Zach’s head hit the back of his chair when Shane finally took him in his mouth. Having already stroked himself through his jeans while pleasuring Shane, Zach knew it probably wouldn’t take that long for him to cum. Which was just as well, as he thought Shane was probably pushing the time frame of his twenty-minute break already. The last thing they needed was some overzealous parent breaking the door down wondering where Santa was, only to find the symbol of Christmas cheer blowing his boyfriend. Zach ran his hands down over Shane’s shoulders, and beneath the itchy fabric of the Santa jacket—how the hell did he wear this all day?—the muscles contracted beneath his fingers as Shane moved under his touch. Teasing him, Shane dragged his teeth slightly over the shaft, and then came up for air, blowing softly upon him. Zach was so close, it seemed like torture. 22

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “If you don’t want me to make a mess—” Zach warned, a desperate edge to his tone. Shane grinned evilly, but bent his head again, and Zach felt his balls tighten as Shane’s tongue probed the slit at the tip. He cried out, but Shane already knew, his hand making sure to pump him until he was dry. Zach was embarrassed at the whimper that came out of him as Shane released him, wiped his mouth, and then claimed his lips for a hungry kiss that threatened to start everything up again if they weren’t careful. Grateful for the wind the fans provided to dry the sweat off their bodies, they held each other for a few moments until Shane looked at his watch. “I hate to do this to you, babe—” Zach nodded. “I know. damage to you for now.”

I think I’ve done enough

Shane grinned. “No damage. But if I had known this would happen, I would have let you know a while back.” “And made sure I kept meeting you for lunch?” Zach murmured happily. “There are reminded him.

innocent

children

outside,”

Shane

“Propriety was the last thing on your mind two minutes ago.”

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “That’s the effect you have on me.” Shane stood, and yanked his pants back up. That reminded Zach that he had better do the same, and they both dressed while sneaking sly smiles at each other. “Help me with this,” Shane huffed, gesturing to the stomach padding. “Do you normally need help with it?” Zach asked, trying unsuccessfully to raise one eyebrow. “It’s heavy,” Shane grumbled. “So that sexy elf has to help you?” “Are you jealous?” “No!” Zach said, too quickly. “If it was a sexy male elf, I could understand it, maybe—” “Stop talking about sexy elves!” Zach said, pushing the padding against Shane’s stomach and starting to wrap the elastic around his waist. “You’re the one who keeps bringing it up! You’re also the one who keeps calling her sexy. It sounds like I’m the one who should be worried, not you.” “You’re hilarious.” Zach tied off the elastic a little viciously. He looked up at Shane, but suddenly arms were wrapped around him and he was held captive against the giant belly. 24

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “I love you.” Zach kissed him. “Same here.” “And I’ll be home by seven.” “Okay.” “I’ll even bring the suit.” Zach smiled. “You can leave the stomach and the beard here, though.” “Done.” They both jumped when there was a banging upon the door, accompanied by a female voice Zach correctly guessed was the sexy elf. “Shane! You’ve been over twenty minutes! The parents are getting pissed!” “I’m coming!” Shane yelled, and covered Zach’s mouth when he began to laugh. He took his hand away when they heard her footsteps retreating. “Okay, I have to go. Give it a minute and then you can leave without it looking so obvious.” “You’re right. You have to protect Santa’s reputation,” Zach teased. “What would Mrs. Claus say if he came home doing the walk of shame?” “With the number of women now buying gay porn, she would probably want to watch next time.” As Shane crossed to the door, beard in hand, Zach called out, “You don’t have to go back, you know.” Shane nodded. “I know. But I want to.” 25

Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy “Okay.” “Besides, haven’t you been listening to me?” Shane said with a teasing glint in his eye. “There’s a lot of responsibility when you take on this role.” “Go out and make some Christmas dreams come true,” Zach told him. Shane pulled the beard back on, and the Santa disguise was complete. “I will! Ho, ho, ho!” Zach knew without doubt that he would. After all, Shane was doing his best to make their own Christmas wish become reality. Santa would be proud.

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy

SEAN KENNEDY lives in the second-most isolated city in the world, so it’s just as well he has his imagination for company when real-life friends are otherwise occupied. He has far too many ideas and wishes he had the power to feed them directly from his brain into the laptop so they won’t get lost in the ether.

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy

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Available from Dreamspinner Press www.dreamspinnerpress.com

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Secret Santa / Sean Kennedy

©Copyright Sean Kennedy, 2008 Published by Dreamspinner Press 4760 Preston Road Suite 244-149 Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover Design by Catt Ford This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ Released in the United States of America December, 2008

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