Page 9 of His for Hanukkah

“Oh baby, who told you that?”

Adam shrugged miserably. “Everyone.” Tate gave him a questioning look to prompt him further. “My parents. Jacob. Everyone I’ve ever dated. I mean, it’s true.”

Tate bit back a growl. How could all those people have missed out on how perfect Adam was? Not only was he fun, intelligent, responsible, and generous with his friends, but he was beautifully needy and expressive as a sub.

Tate knew exactly what he wanted to do with him. Based on Adam’s explanation from before, he made it a command instead of a question. If Adam wanted to safeword, or even negotiate, he could. “Boy, you’re coming home with me.”

Adam’s eyes widened in shock. “Me? I mean, I’m not sure...”

Tate funneled all his rage at everyone Adam had ever met into a fierce feeling of protection. He could only guess what the end of that broken sentence might be: I’m not sure you really want me. I’m not sure I can trust you when everyone else has let me down.

“Here’s what’s going to happen, boy. I’m going to take you home and take care of you. I’m going to give you what you need. You deserve to be cherished and spoiled.”

Adam opened his mouth and then closed it. Then again. And a third time. Tate suppressed a chuckle, because he had thought that only happened in movies. He’d literally rendered Adam speechless.

Finally, Adam found his voice. “For how long?”

Tate let out a relieved breath he hadn’t even been holding. Adam was agreeing to be his, at least for now. But how should he answer the question?

Part of him wanted to say forever, but he was worried it would scare off his new boy. And some small, rational part of his brain reminded himself that there was still a lot they had to learn about each other, no matter how right Adam felt in his arms.

But he wouldn’t be satisfied with just a night or two. He needed time for the two of them to get to know each other, see if he could win him over. Then, he got a brilliant idea.

Making his voice seductive, he whispered his plan. “I hear that no one’s been giving my boy any Hanukkah presents. You’re going to be mine for Hanukkah.”

Adam beamed.

Chapter 3.

The First Night

Adam twisted his fingers, then noticed that he was doing it and shoved them under his legs. It didn’t actually help with his anxiety, but it made him look anxious.

Everything had felt so good when Tate was holding him before, but now that he had a moment to reflect, he was starting to freak out.

It didn’t help that he was sitting in his own car, but in the passenger side.

It was weird. He wasn’t used to the shape of the seat or having the hood of the car on his left. The perspective was throwing him off.

The whole night had been one huge change in perspective.

Usually he was pretty flexible about things, as long as he had a schedule. But this was much, much bigger. He’d had a lot of practice on managing most of his anxieties. He could plan around them, usually communicate them to others or take a break.

But right now it felt like his world had been turned upside down, and sitting on the wrong side of his car just made it visible. He couldn’t reach the little spot on the dashboard that he always rubbed with the weird bump on it, either.

After they left Escape, Tate had determined the location of his car with a few quick questions, demanded the keys, and then handed him into the passenger seat and buckled him in.

Not like he was a child, but like he was… protected? Precious? Owned?

It had been strange. And overwhelming. And perfect.

And then overwhelming some more because it was so perfect.

Did it mean something? Did Tate want something more? Well, clearly Tate wanted something more because he was driving Adam to his home, possibly for all of Hanukkah. But did he really mean all eight nights or just tonight? And what would he want to do with him?

Adam was hoping that it would mean at least sex, but Tate had suggested other tempting possibilities. Like cherishing him and spoiling him. Which meant… really good sex?

Or more snuggling and caresses with little kisses in his hair? Would they do another scene?