All He Wants for Christmas: Ash and Flames, #3

By Ana J. Phoenix

Asher and José are nearing their first Christmas together, but they can't agree on how the holiday should be celebrated--or whether it should be celebrated at all. Asher doesn't have the best memories of Christmas growing up and he doesn't look forward to spending the day with his boyfriend's family. Besides, he needs to put in more time at work to be able to afford the perfect gift for José, even if José doesn't seem to be happy about this turn of events at all.

With the two of them fighting, Christmas doesn't look like it's going to be a happy holiday. But if they realize what it is they really need from each other, they might still be able to turn things around.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ana J. Phoenix
• Release date: Nov 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519980151

Book preview

All He Wants For Christmas

By Ana J. Phoenix

([e-mail])

http://anajphoenix.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the author. You must not circulate this book in any format.

All trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Cover Art by Ana J. Phoenix

For everyone who doesn't have the kind of family José does this Christmas.

All He Wants For Christmas

An Ash and Flames companion story

Chapter One

Most of the red wine was gone by the time Asher started humming, lying with his full length on the couch, his torso draped over José's legs.

You in a good mood now? José asked, muting the TV. They'd both stopped paying attention to it a while ago anyway. Nothing interesting on, but that wasn't important. The important bit was how they were both home at the same time and neither of them had to leave anytime soon. That had become a rarity since Asher had started working night shifts at a nearby bar.

Yup, Asher said, wiggling his toes. "Good to be drunk instead of watching other people get drunk." He'd finished most of the bottle of wine by himself. José hadn't touched much of it. Mostly because alcohol made him horny, and while it made Asher horny too, it also tended to knock him out before the two of them could do anything about that. An exercise in frustration that José didn't need tonight.

Asher went back to humming, apparently without a care in the world.

What's that song?

Figure it out. Asher turned up the volume a little.

It did sound familiar.

You've played it on the piano before, Asher hinted. I like when you do that. Do you have any idea how sexy your hands look when you play?

No, he did not. Something to be self-conscious about next time. I don't think my fingers look special. And they were getting off topic, so José focused on the music. Could it be that Asher was humming... a Christmas song?

Is that Silent Night? he asked.

Yeah! A cheery note entered Asher's voice and José pictured him smiling. He'd seen him smile that one time they'd shared a dream after he'd pulled Asher back from the in-between world, and he'd etched it into his memory. Now he pulled the image up whenever he needed something to lift himself up. Asher was often grumpy, so every time he got him to smile felt like a small victory. Lately though, it had become easier. Especially when he was drunk. Most of the time, Asher was a happy drunk, something José was grateful for.

I didn't know you liked Christmas songs.

They're catchy. José heard Asher pick up his wine glass. I don't mind that part of Christmas.

José reached for his own glass, considering. Their first Christmas together was approaching fast, mere weeks away, but they hadn't discussed yet how they were going to spend it. With how well things had been going lately, José was almost afraid to bring the topic up. The little clues he'd gathered over time let him know that Asher wasn't a big fan of the holiday and might not want to do anything special at all. Just getting him to celebrate his birthday last month had required weeks of planning on José's part. If Asher didn't want to make a big deal out of Christmas, José would give it a rest. The only thing he wouldn't budge on was that he needed to spend some time with his family. His mother would never forgive José if he wasn't there on Christmas Eve.

He took a sip of his wine.

What do you want for Christmas? he asked then, trying to sound casual.

To get drunk out of my mind, Asher said immediately.

Seriously? He had to be joking, right? But knowing his boyfriend told José that he wasn't. His voice was much too deadpan for that.

Yeah.

Okay, aside from that?

Asher groaned. This again? I told you, I don't need anything.

José wanted to groan too. Asher was right. They'd had almost this exact conversation last month about his birthday. Pretend it's for me, okay? Because I enjoy giving you things. For Asher's birthday, that had eventually turned out to be a night in a hotel with a Jacuzzi.

Asher exhaled. I don't know. Do I have to get you something?

You don't have to do anything. But it'd be nice if you did.

That means yes.

Drink your wine.

Asher did. José heard him swallow. Then Asher leaned in to press a quick kiss on his lips. You should drink, too. You're too uptight, Blind Guy.

I'm fine. We should probably stop soon for the night, anyway.

Mhm. Asher lay back down. He didn't seem at all inclined to move from his position on the couch in the foreseeable future.