About The Wishing Box

by Shea Meier
43 pages / 20500 words
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub and Sony Reader pdf

Spencer Eaves is a busy designer who spends more time thinking about his next shoot than his love life, and more time arguing with his assistant, Katy, than he spends looking for Mr. Right. He meets Alex while shopping for the perfect desk for his next magazine spread, and when he can't stop thinking about Alex days later, returns to ask him out. The sparks are instant, and the whole world seems to take on a golden glow until Christmas starts to loom closer, and Alex's cheerful openness is replaced by fear that sends him running.

Spencer isn't willing to give up on them, even when Alex reveals the secret that might keep them apart for good. They have until Christmas to unravel the spell holding power over Alex, but with time running out it may take the magic of a wish, and some help from Santa himself, to make it a Merry Christmas.
 

Sample

Apparently Alex’s idea of later involved just barely after his car door slammed and while everyone was still standing on the porch waving goodbye. Warm hands worked their way under both Spencer’s jacket and dress shirt, skating across his abdomen in a way that made him hiss. At least until they reached the waistband of his slacks, and then he was left breathless.

“Not going to be able to drive if you keep that up,” he finally managed to gasp.

Alex sat back with a smug grin, giving the rather noticeable bulge in Spencer’s pants a final pat. “I can wait. I just didn’t want you to feel left out because you missed the pumpkin pie. I did promise to make that up to you.”

“I guess I just wasn’t thinking you meant this soon.” He laughed, shoving the key in the ignition with a hand that was only slightly shaky. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you. And just so you know, I’d trade that for pie any day.”

“Certainly hope so. Especially since I was kind of hoping you’d fuck me up against the wall when we got to your place.” Alex’s voice was deliberately bland, but the wicked sparkle in his eyes gave him away.

The sudden lurch of the car stopping threw them both forward, and Spencer felt his seatbelt lock. Swallowing hard, he turned to meet Alex’s decidedly mischievous grin. “Jesus, you can’t say things like that while I’m driving!”

“Sorry?”

He snorted disbelievingly as he leaned forward enough to loosen the seatbelt. “I don’t think you are,” he muttered. “I suspect you enjoyed that.”

Alex laughed delightedly, leaning over to kiss Spencer. “Just a little. It’s hard to ruffle you, in case you hadn’t noticed. It’s kind of fun to know I can do it.”

“Good lord, you and Katy both. Am I really that bad?” The plaintive little sigh wasn’t fooling Alex, not if the eye-rolling was any clue. “She said I was a conceited bastard who couldn’t be captured. Well, until now…”

“Now?” Alex pulled back enough to see Spencer’s face.

That goofy grin was back; hell, it was becoming a standard anymore. “Yeah, now. I guess it’s pretty obvious how, um, hard I’ve fallen.”

Spencer wasn’t sure what he’d expected in reaction to what was essentially a declaration of love, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t a stricken look. Alex seemed to shrink in on himself, eyes closing, and Spencer found himself gripping the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip.

“Shit, can we just forget I said anything. I’m sorry, Alex. Conceited and I don’t know when to shut my mouth, huh?”

“No, no, don’t say that!” He drew a shaky breath and gave Spencer an equally unsteady smile. “You… you just caught me by surprise. Can you maybe stop the car again?” He barely waited until the car was in park before launching himself across the seat. “That wasn’t the reaction I meant, it’s just I’ve never… never had anyone feel that way about me,” he mumbled, face pressed tight against Spencer’s. A rain of kisses followed the words, almost frantic in its desperation.

“I hope I didn’t guilt you into that.” Spencer tried to force some lightness into his voice, but had a feeling he’d failed miserably when Alex’s grip tightened.

The grip gentled into a stroking motion across his back. “We’re going to start this conversation over.” He shifted until he was practically sitting in Spencer’s lap. “Mr. Eaves, I believe I have fallen quite completely in love with you,” he intoned solemnly, obviously struggling to tamp down a grin. “And I just want you to know I’ve never said that to anyone before, so you can add it to your conceited file. You earned this one.”

It was a good thing he’d stopped the car, since the relief dropping down to his stomach was actually making him dizzy. “I earned it, huh? So you're my just rewards?" He grinned at Alex, who was so close that he didn't have far to go to lean into another kiss, this one longer and more demanding. "Who's conceited now?"