Christmas Grace

By C.L. Miles

Christmas has been a lonely time of year for Aaron since losing his family fifteen years ago. But now he’s seeing Craig, and though Aaron is sure they belong together, both have been hurt in the past, so they’re taking things slowly. So far, Craig has been supportive of Aaron’s struggles with anxiety—struggles that cost Aaron relationships in the past.

On Christmas Eve, Aaron is closing his bookshop when Craig surprises him with a specially planned evening. Will this be the night they take that final step and deepen their physical relationship? Aaron hopes so, but things aren’t that simple. Craig has been keeping a secret…. Can Aaron take his place as part of a family again and accept the love he’s missed for so long—or will he find that some deceptions are too big to be forgiven, even with the help of some Christmas grace?

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2017 Advent Calendar "Stocking Stuffers."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Dec 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781640803008

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By C.L. Miles

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Christmas Grace

By C.L. Miles

Christmas has been a lonely time of year for Aaron since losing his family fifteen years ago. But now he’s seeing Craig, and though Aaron is sure they belong together, both have been hurt in the past, so they’re taking things slowly. So far, Craig has been supportive of Aaron’s struggles with anxiety—struggles that cost Aaron relationships in the past.

On Christmas Eve, Aaron is closing his bookshop when Craig surprises him with a specially planned evening. Will this be the night they take that final step and deepen their physical relationship? Aaron hopes so, but things aren’t that simple. Craig has been keeping a secret…. Can Aaron take his place as part of a family again and accept the love he’s missed for so long—or will he find that some deceptions are too big to be forgiven, even with the help of some Christmas grace?

To Kat Weller and B.G. Ben Thomas. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I couldn’t do any of this without your guidance and great advice. And thank you for the amazing friendships. Love you both!

AARON LOOKED out his bookstore’s window as thick flakes of snow fell to the ground. They swirled and danced in the light of the streetlamps and made the Christmas lights in the shop’s window across the street appear to twinkle merrily.

Although it only started snowing an hour ago, already there was a good inch covering the ground. The local radio station kept announcing it was going to be the biggest storm of the winter season, warning people to stay home and not travel unless it was absolutely necessary.

Aaron grunted, thumbing at the edges of a book that had been left out and needed to go back on the shelf. Kind of hard to get to your loved ones for Christmas without having to travel somewhere. Not that he would know anything about that. The last time he spent Christmas with family was fifteen years ago.

Aaron turned to walk away, but the misplaced book itched at his fingers, the space on the empty shelf where it should be boring a little under his skin. He caved in, quickly picked it up, and slotted it into place. Seeing the book in its rightful spot immediately made him feel at ease, relieving his gnaw of anxiety.

As he glanced out the window again, the snow now falling heavier and the wind picking up, he was glad he’d sent his staff home in the afternoon, wanting to give them a head start before the major part of the storm hit. He probably should have heeded his own advice and left earlier as well. He wasn’t looking forward to the long drive through heavy city traffic and snow-covered streets to get to his apartment on the other side of Beau Port.

Tugging his cell phone out of his pocket, he checked for any messages from his boyfriend. He scrolled down to the name Craig Delaney, but Craig hadn’t sent any new texts. Aaron hoped Craig had been able to leave early from work to avoid the storm. He was a corporate lawyer and a partner with one of the major law firms in Beau Port called Latham, Baker, & Delaney, and sometimes his busy days ran long.

They first met when Craig came into the shop in search of a particular cookbook on French cuisine. Luck was on Craig’s side, as Aaron happened to have it in stock. They had chatted easily while he rang up the item, and Aaron was surprised, and a little flattered, when Craig started flirting with him.

He had felt an instant attraction, however, at that time, he wasn’t sure he was ready to feel anything toward another man again. But Craig was handsome and charming, and Aaron soon found himself feeling comfortable enough to flirt back.

During that entire week after Craig left the shop, Aaron unexpectedly found himself thinking about him often, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it. He had given up on ever seeing Craig again until he suddenly showed up a week and a half later to ask Aaron out for coffee, and Aaron surprised himself by agreeing immediately.

The honking of a car horn brought Aaron out of his musings.

He and Craig had been together for nine months now, and things were going great. They did everything together.

Well, almost everything.

The one thing they hadn’t done yet was have penetrative sex. Unfortunately they’d both been hurt in past relationships, so they agreed to take things slowly.

Although more and more, Aaron was thinking he wanted to take the next and final step to share that intimacy with Craig. It was time. For him, anyway. He was just waiting for Craig to reach that point as well.

And even though they hadn’t yet said the words I love you to each other, Aaron knew he was falling in love with Craig, which both excited and terrified him. On the one hand, Craig was the total opposite of his ex-boyfriend Tom, but on the other, Aaron was scared of risking his heart again.

With a sigh, he looked at his phone again to see it