The entire situation was the fault of the tequila.

Leo adjusted his hold on myriad bags and parcels and took the stairs up to their condo. The cold from the snow that still clung to his clothing had seeped into his legs. As he trudged upward, bits of slush were left in his wake. He would need each and every stair to burn up his nervous energy so he would be able to do things right tonight. A special treat for Max, one he never thought he’d be able to give, and his Christmas present.

Max and his stupid tequila.

His purchase along with the present were buried somewhere in the bag with the stocking stuffers. It wasn’t unusual in itself, but what it represented was more than Leo thought he’d ever be able to do with Max.

How their relationship had lasted after the year they’d had, Leo wasn’t sure, but he was eternally grateful. Max was his rock, holding him down through the ups and downs of his job, his dad’s illness and even his own foul moods.

“You know what I want for Christmas, Leo?”

“What?”

Lacing his hand in Leo’s, Max downed another shot of tequila and shuffled closer. “I don’t think you’ll want to give it to me.” His lids were heavy from the alcohol and his movements clumsy. “‘Cause you’re too…straight.”

Leo laughed. “I’m as straight as you are. Ass.”

“You like my ass.”

“I love your ass.”

“You know what I love?”

“What?”

“When you touch it. Push your fingers inside and open me up.”

If Leo wasn’t so complexly hammered, Max’s words would have had him hard enough to fuck through a wall. “Yeah, love that too.”

Max nodded, eyes wide. “But it’s not enough.”

“Whaddayah mean?”

Max shuffled closer, his voice dropping to a loud whisper. “You stop at three fingers.”

Leo huffed and shifted the packages to his other hip. His neck was now sweating beneath his scarf, the fabric pulled tight under the weight of his load. Only three more flights before his level and he could be free of his coat, boots and burden. Three more flights to get his head in the game so he could make his plan work. The next ten days would be filled with family visits, social calls and general merrymaking. Leo had tonight to give Max his special present—that was it.

Pausing outside their condo door, Leo shifted the bags once more, chancing a look inside the closest one. Max’s present was still hidden beneath the gifts for his nephews, safely out of sight. Before he chickened out, Leo pressed the doorbell with the back of his hand, listening as Max’s heavy footfalls came toward the door.

Max flung the door open, narrowed his gaze and stared at Leo. It didn’t take much for Leo to know Max was still pissy at him from earlier. God, I don’t even remember what it was about anymore. The fights were becoming more frequent and the sex less so. Leo knew it was mostly his fault, Max having been more than fair. But Leo pushed and Max was stubborn. If one of them didn’t give, then their four-year relationship might come to a rapid end.

He needed to make things right—his present certainly would put him on the right track.

He hoped.

It felt like they hadn’t seen each other in days. Leo soaked up the sight of his boyfriend. Max was wearing the tight, black t-shirt with Ho-Ho-Ho in red block letters across the chest and a pair of low-riding jeans. Leo had given the shirt to him last year as a joke, but Max wore it with pride. He looked good enough to eat.

Leo’s cock twitched.

“Are you going to tell me what you want for Christmas or not?” Leo sloppily poured two more shots, pressing one into Max’s hand. “Cause I really won’t be able to get it if I don’t know.”

Grabbing Leo’s hand, Max pulled the shot glass to his lips and swallowed down the contents. “Maybe you should try to get it out of me.”

“What they hell did you buy?” Max braced his arm across the doorframe. While he wasn’t as tall or broad as Leo, he was every bit as in shape. Leo could stand there and stare at him all day.

Rolling his eyes, Leo peeked—a bit too obviously—into the bag. “If I told you that, it would ruin the surprise.”

“We are on a budget, you know.”

“I was good.”

“I hope so. I need to make sure we’re not in the same boat we were in last year.”

Leo bit his tongue to keep the automatic defense response from coming out. “Can I come in so you can berate me there? These are heavy.”

With a snort, Max turned and marched away, leaving Leo standing in the door. He’s just frustrated and lonely. You can fix this. Taking a calming breath, Leo stepped in, kicking the door closed with his foot.

“Did you eat?” Max called from the kitchen. “You didn’t say in your text.”

His stomach did a nervous flip as he kicked off his boots. “I grabbed something at the mall.”

“Well, there’s a plate in the fridge if you want it.”

Leo was only half listening as he fought his rising nerves. “I’ll get it later. Just going to put these in the bedroom.”

“For God’s sake, don’t wrap anything, or your family will think you found it on the street. I’ll do them tomorrow.”

Chuckling, he dropped everything in the middle of the bed. “Yes, Mom.”

Keeping his gaze locked on the bad with Max’s present in it, Leo pulled his coat off and tossed it over the desk chair. He would need a few minutes to set up, make everything as perfect as he could so Max would relax.

He just needed a distraction.