He was ready to go home.

Alone.

A few minutes ago, he’d managed to send Blake on his way without confrontation, although he originally thought there was going to be a problem. Considering Beau was still there, and Zane didn’t want him leaving, Blake had originally been gearing up for a tantrum. Ethan had quickly put a stop to that. He couldn’t stand that whiny bullshit, but he had to admit, he had handled it better than he thought he would have.

“We’re going back to the living room,” Kaleb informed him as he passed through the kitchen, coming back inside after taking Zoey’s father home a few minutes ago.

Ethan nodded his head in understanding as he turned to see where everyone was. He needed to ensure he stayed as far away from Beau as possible because as the night progressed, it was getting more and more difficult to resist the guy.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have anyone to blame but himself. For the entire night, Beau had been the perfect gentleman, never once taunting him. They might’ve shared a few passing glances, but it appeared Beau was trying hard to avoid him.

Ethan had to assume that was because Blake had been there. Now that Blake was gone, he was feeling entirely too vulnerable. As it would seem, having spent years in Beau’s company during the holidays, Ethan had never actually paid much attention to how respectful the man was. He was literally the epitome of what Ethan wanted. Strong, quiet, mature. Not to mention sexy as fucking hell.

Making his way to the fireplace once again, he took a seat, hoping Sawyer would take his original seat beside him. As he watched the others return to the living room, he was disappointed right off when Sawyer took a seat beside Zoey. When each of his brothers took an available seat on the couches, his anxiety level rose.

“You mind?” Beau asked, startling Ethan. He hadn’t seen or heard the man approach.

Yes. Yes, he did mind, thank you very much. Shaking his head no, he moved closer to the edge, trying to leave enough space between them so that he didn’t risk touching him.

“Mom. Dad,” Travis began, sitting on the arm of the sofa directly across from his father’s chair. “We all got together this year,” Travis continued, gesturing to those who were in the room, “and decided to get you something we hoped you would enjoy.”

“Are you saying they don’t usually enjoy what we get them?” Zane asked, making everyone laugh.

“Only what you get them,” Travis said seriously, causing Zane to scowl at him.

Ethan watched from across the room, doing his best to ignore the tantalizing scent of Beau’s cologne, and the heat of his body just a few inches beside him.

This sucked.

Truly sucked.

Ethan forced himself to focus on Travis and not on Beau. He knew he wasn’t successful, but he had to at least pretend. There was no way in hell he was letting Beau know just how affected he was by his nearness.

Travis handed his parents an envelope, then took his seat back on the arm of the couch and put his arm around Kylie.

“Go ahead,” Curtis told Lorrie as he looked up at her.

Their mother smiled, looking around the room, and before she even opened the envelope, Ethan could see a sheen of tears in her eyes. Crap. She was going to get emotional, and that was the last thing Ethan needed at the moment.

In fact, the only thing he needed was air. Lots of air.

Outside air.

Fuck. Was it getting hot in there? Did someone turn on the heater?

“Oh…” Lorrie squealed. “Oh my goodness!”

“What is it, woman?” Curtis asked gruffly, reaching for the envelope she had a death grip on.

“Holy sh –”

“Dad!” Kaleb yelled, laughing as he interrupted his father’s curse.

“Sorry,” he replied with a mischievous grin, still reading the card that had been inside the envelope. “Is this real?”

“It’s real,” Travis confirmed.

Ethan knew what his parents were looking at. Every single person in the room knew, including Beau. They’d all pitched in to buy their parents a cruise. An Alaskan cruise to be exact.

His parents weren’t world travelers, but it wasn’t a secret that his father had always intended to take his mother on an Alaskan cruise – the one and only trip she had ever dreamed about – for their honeymoon. Needless to say, that trip had never happened. Aside from never being able to afford to go when they were married, with seven boys to contend with over the years, his mother always said they never had the time to go.

Well, Ethan knew they had the time to go now.

He met his father’s stare, noticing the glassy way his eyes shimmered as he searched every one of their faces.

“Merry Christmas,” Kaleb said, causing a succession of several to follow.

“This is wonderful,” Lorrie said, her voice soft, her eyes moist. “I can’t believe you did this.”

“We figured you could both use some time away from us,” Zane offered with a huge grin.

“That is not why we got it for them,” Sawyer said as he smacked Zane on the back of the head.

“Whatever.”

Ethan glanced down at his hands, noticing his palms were beginning to sweat. Seriously, the room was getting hot. And Beau’s intoxicating scent wasn’t helping. He needed to…

Without saying a word, hoping his parents would understand, Ethan stood up and then made a beeline for the front door. He needed some air. Just a little.

As soon as he was outside, the dizziness subsided. He inhaled deeply, letting the chill in the night air soothe his overheated lungs. He followed the wraparound porch to the side of the house, not wanting to encourage company should one of his brothers come out to check on him. He wouldn’t be able to explain himself if they did. Hell, he didn’t even know what was wrong with him.

“You ok?”

Ethan groaned, unable to stop himself. The deep, rich baritone of Beau’s voice was the most erotic thing he’d ever heard, and right then, in the state he was in, he couldn’t stop himself from reacting to it.

“Fine,” he responded breathlessly, hoping like hell Beau didn’t come any closer.

Fuck.

He was moving closer.

Closer still.

“Stop,” Ethan pleaded, backing up against the wall. “Turn around and walk away.”

Beau didn’t move, but Ethan didn’t look at him. He didn’t want to see those intense brown eyes, or the beautiful, sculpted lines of his jaw. Didn’t want to notice the immense size of his body or wonder what it would feel like against his.

“Please, just go,” Ethan whispered.

To his horror, Beau moved closer. They were hidden in the shadows of the porch, but Ethan wasn’t worried about anyone seeing them. That’s not what had him barely breathing.

Beau’s nearness was making him crazy, and the fact that he’d fought this feeling for so long was finally causing him to crack. When he’d been sitting in the living room, Beau close to him, right at his side, Ethan hadn’t been able to avoid thinking about what it would be like if this were his life. If Beau was with him. If Beau was there because of him. His lover. His man.

For a fraction of a second, he’d wanted that. Wanted to have Beau with him, to know that when they left his parents on Christmas night, he’d be going home with him. Spending the night in his arms.

But it wasn’t real. It wouldn’t happen.

It couldn’t happen.

And now he was freaking out like a fucking pussy.

“Ethan.” Beau was close enough that Ethan could feel his breath, could practically feel the warmth of his skin against him. And the way he said his name…

“Breathe.”

Ethan made the mistake of looking at Beau. Meeting his gaze in the dim light cast by the holiday lights outlining the house, the concern he saw there nearly had him choking on his own fear. Fear that he could possibly get in over his head with this guy.

When Beau’s large, callused hand came up and touched him gently on the cheek, Ethan thought he might pass out. “Fuck,” he groaned, never taking his eyes off of Beau.

What would he do if Beau kissed him? Could he even push him away? He needed to. That was the smart thing to do because it didn’t matter how badly Ethan wanted him, he wasn’t the man Beau needed.

Ethan was notorious for casual sex, nothing more, nothing less. He wasn’t looking for a relationship and the gentleness in Beau’s gaze every time he looked at him told Ethan that’s what Beau was looking for.

“Awww, fuck,” Ethan whispered. He was going to lose his control. Beau’s hand eased down, his thick, warm fingers sliding behind his neck, his thumb scraping sensually across his throat as he stared at him.

When Beau’s lips came down to rest on his, Ethan swore he would come right then and there. Gentle, sweet, and so fucking tender, Ethan didn’t know what to do. He was confused, angry. He didn’t want this, didn’t want Beau.

But, God, he did want him. With a desperation he’d never known before.

Without realizing it, Ethan found his hands gripping the front of Beau’s shirt, pulling him closer until their tongues were entwined, the world and everyone in it diminishing with the taste of Beau’s kiss.

The squeak of the front door opening was like a bucket of ice water being tossed over him and Ethan pulled away at the same time he shoved Beau. Glaring at him, he let his rage take over.

“Get the fuck away from me,” he bit out, his voice low, threatening. “This ain’t happening.”

To his surprise, Beau didn’t look hurt, just shocked. With a simple nod of his head, he turned to go but paused, looking back over his shoulder as he said, “Just remember, when you’re tired of the games, I’ll still be here. Because no matter what you think, there is something here. And you won’t be able to stop thinking about it anymore than I will.”