Forbidden Seduction [ Forbidden Obsession]

Thankfully, I don’t think there’s any way we can get into trouble at the mall. Trevor is not allowed anywhere near me and a dressing room at the same time. The temptation might be too much. Out family gift exchange is in just a couple of days, and I’ve been terrible about actually buying the gifts. Anna and Richard are going t

o visit his parents on Christmas day, Bradley and his family have plans back in Virginia. Maria is Maria. I’m not even sure she knows where she’ll be on Christmas, so we’re exchanging gifts on Saturday.

I suppose I should get something for Trevor, though I’m not really sure what to get someone who’s your lover. But he’ll be with us on Christmas, so at least I have a little more time.

The mall is crowded, but we divide and conquer. Trevor excuses himself to buy some family gifts, and Brad helps me pick out some gifts for the twins. They’re both into music, so I get them some nice headphones and music gift cards. I pick up books for Bradley and Anna, having kept track of their wish lists.

Once Trevor returns, we split up again, the boys going off so Brad can buy his own gifts and I can finish and buy his. I buy Brad a bunch of little things, more hockey socks, some joke gifts at the dollar store. His main gift is going to be money. Hockey and engineering are expensive, and he’d rather I just give him money than try to get him into a hobby.

Once I finish with gifts for the rest, we all meet in the food court, tired and starving. I go straight for the pizza, Trevor goes for Chinese, and Brad for a burger. We manage to find a table that’s not taken, and collapse into the chairs, surrounded by bags.

“Success?” I ask, biting into my pizza.

“I think so,” Brad says, spreading extra sauce on his burger. Trevor has his mouth too full of rice and chicken to respond, but he nods.

“I should really learn to shop earlier.”

“You should,” Trevor says, “but Brad says it’s not your way.”

“Oh really?” I give Brad a look. “And what else did Brad say?”

Brad starts laughing. “Only good things, I promise.”

“You told him about the tree, didn’t you?” I narrow my eyes. “Don’t lie.”

It’s Trevor’s face that gives it away. He’s trying desperately to hold in laughter, but it’s not working. “Fine, he told me. But believe me, it doesn’t change the way I think about you. It’s a great mental picture, though.”

“Perfect,” I say.

When Brad was ten I got a tree that was way too big for the house. I thought it would fit-I insisted that it would fit. It didn’t fit. It ended up falling on me in a very comical, cartoon way. Wiley Coyote would be proud.

“Well,” I say, “two can play at that game.”

“Mom, no.”

I turn to Trevor. “Has Brad ever told you about the Christmas broken arm?”

“No.” His eyes light up and he leans in. “Please tell me.”

Brad groans and mumbles under his breath.

“Brad decided he wanted to decorate his tree house for Christmas. Only, he didn’t tell me he was going to try to decorate it, so he didn’t use a ladder, or any of the right tools. He ended up hanging from the tree house by a string of lights. I guess you can imagine the rest.”

“Man.” Trevor looks at Brad. “That sucks. Also, how did I not know you had a tree house?”

Brad makes a face at him. “My uncle built it for me.”

“Is it still there?”

“Sure is.” I say, “Though it has holes in the roof now.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Trevor takes another bite of his Chinese food. “I must see this deadly tree house when we get back.”

I laugh. “Fine.”

We finish our food and trek to the car. Once home and unloaded, there’s nothing I would like to do more than take a nap, but Trevor hasn’t forgotten about the tree house. Brad leads the way, and Trevor manages to sneak in a kiss on my cheek as we walk outside. That place inside my chest warms up, even though it’s freezing outside.

The tree house is in the back corner of our yard, and it’s pretty great as far as tree houses go. Bradley really out did himself. It’s huge and sturdy. Brad spent many a summer night holed up in there with friends. We climb the ladder into it, and even though we have to duck down a little, it’s still spacious. Like I said, there’s a couple holes in the ceiling and a little snow on the floor, but otherwise it’s in great shape.

“Here it is,” Brad says.

Trevor is pacing up and down the length of it. “This is fantastic. I can’t believe I never knew this was back here.”

“Yeah,” Brad says a little sheepishly, “I used it less in high school.”

“I would have totally used this in high school,” Trevor laughs. “It’s a built-in bachelor pad.”

I nod. “He tried that once.”

Brad ducks his head. “The grounding was epic.”

I sigh, thinking about everything I just bought. “Speaking of epic, the wrapping session I’m about to have will be epic.”

“Oh crap,” Brad says.

“What?”

“I forgot my white elephant gift.”

I frown. “For who?”

“The team. We’re having a funny gift exchange right when we get back,” he says.

“Well,” I say, checking the time, “you’ve got plenty of time to go back if you want to. But you don’t go back to school for a while if you want to wait.”

“I think I want to get it over with so I don’t forget. Can I have the keys?”

I nod. “They’re on the counter.”

“Great. I’ll be back,” Brad says. “Don’t fall out of the tree house while I’m gone.”

“We won’t,” I say, laughing and moving to climb down.

Trevor catches me by the waist. “Stay,” he says softly.