Brian studied his prey carefully, watching as he flit around the room like the little, social butterfly that he was; truth be told, Justin was the only reason that Brian was here in the first place. Brian had never been a fan of Christmas. His childhood had been a string of one too many Christmas mornings with nothing under the tree, not that there was a tree to begin with; and one too many nights of listening to his parents drunkenly blame the other for their predicament in life.

And those were the good days.

He never mentioned the bad if he could at all help it.

Which was why he would have much preferred to spend the evening curled up with Justin next to the fire at Britin, having a drink, and doing other much more pleasurable things than making nice at Lindsay and Mel’s Holiday party. And he would have insisted on it too if he hadn’t been ganged up on by his Sonny Boy and the brat that he calls his husband.

Resisting a set of blue puppy dog eyes was nearly impossible, but the added weight of a second pair of puppy dog eyes, this time in hazel - it was a deadly combination; and one that Brian had never been able to resist. And his brats knew it; using them with unfailing accuracy to get their way each and every time he balked.

As if knowing that Brian was thinking about him, Justin looked up at that exact moment, and smiled that bright sunshine smile that always got him what he wanted, and waved. Brian grimaced internally, but couldn’t help but smile back. He had never been able to resist that smile for long; even at the very beginning.

Justin blew him a kiss like the sap he was and then turned back to his conversation with Molly and Daphne; which, based on their excited expressions, must be about the announcement that he and Justin were planning to make on Christmas Day. Brian sighed; he wished that Justin had waited to tell them with the rest of the family, but he also knew that if he hadn’t confided in someone, he might have literally exploded.

Bursting at the seams would have taken on a whole new meaning.

Heaving another bored sigh, Brian rolled his eyes as Lindsay fluttered around the room like the wannabe Suzie Homemaker she pretended to be, but could never quite accomplish. He watched her antics with a frown, knowing that something was off, yet not caring enough to find out. But, of course, like most things in his life, that was not to be.

Brian groaned aloud when she scanned the crowd and then homed in when she spotted him, cutting through the crowd with determination as she headed his way. He so didn’t need this tonight. Deftly skirting the food and beverage table, Brian grabbed one of the red-colored cups filled with something he didn’t recognize, but had enough rum that he didn’t care, as he passed.

Easily losing himself in the crowd, he smirked when she huffed and all but stomped her foot when she realized she’d lost him. She had been trying to corner him all night to talk about something, (likely another bitch fest about Justin’s career and her lack of a place in it), and he just didn’t have the time, patience or energy to pander to her whims.

He downed the drink without really tasting it and leaned up against the wall, hoping to relax until Justin was ready to go, but Lindsay couldn’t leave well enough alone. She looked over at Justin with a gleam he didn’t like and started toward him. Rolling his eyes, Brian set his cup aside and swiftly strode over to Justin, knowing that if he didn’t intercept him before Lindsay did, there would be hell to be paid.

And he really did not want to deal with an irritated, vindictive Justin tonight.

Plus, they hadn’t done anything at someone else’s house in a long time; and if he played this right, he might just talk his husband into a little fun to pass the time.

“Excuse us, ladies,” Brian said with a charming smile as he wrapped an arm around Justin’s waist; he glanced over his shoulder and was relieved to see that Debbie had waylaid Lindsay long enough for him to get Justin away.  “I need a word with my husband.”

Daphne and Molly tittered, obviously quite aware that a discussion wasn’t what Brian had in mind. Justin flushed and squirmed and tried to pull away from him, but Brian just cinched his arm tighter around Justin’s waist, not about to relinquish his prey now that he had him.

“Well, don’t let us hinder you” Daphne laughed and linked arms with Molly, throwing over her shoulder as they practically skipped away. “I wouldn’t want to get in the way of a husbandly tête-à-tête. God knows the last one I interrupted was...inspiring.”

Brian grimaced and ignored the giggling that followed that comment; that was definitely an incident he didn’t want to remember. It wasn’t so much that Daphne had caught him and Justin fucking in Justin’s old room; he could have gotten endless weeks of teasing out of it. The bad part was that Mother Taylor had also come along to see what was taking them so long since dinner was on the table and everyone was waiting on them.

Reliving their heyday and being discovered playing naughty schoolboy and experienced older gentleman by his mother-in-law was definitely not something he ever wanted to experience again. Especially as she was all too aware of the reality of those roles when he and Justin first met, and really didn’t need the reminder no matter how much she loved him now.

Brian shuddered internally and dragged Justin away from the crowd, leading him into a quieter, less populated part of the house. Glancing over his shoulder as they slipped from the room, Brian heaved a sigh of relief to see that Debbie had been joined with Mother Taylor, who nodded to him as they left, and they were keeping Lindsay adequately occupied.

Maybe they could slip out with no one noticing…

But first, he had a promise to cash in.

“Brian...” Justin said, a hint of censure in his tone as they wound their way through the rooms; likely thinking that Brian was planning their escape. But once Justin realized they were heading away from the door, he frowned. “Wait...where are we going?”

“You’ll see in a moment,” Brian promised as he walked through and closed the door to the sunroom and then quickly made his way toward the opposite door connecting to the mudroom. “I have something I want to show you...”

“Brian, I’ve seen that countless times,” Justin said with a knowing smirk. “After eight years of dating and five years of marriage, it’s hardly a surprise anymore.”

Brian laughed, and yanked Justin against him. Walking him towards the mudroom doorway he smiled down into Justin’s grinning face and chided him. Not that he wasn’t correct, but still.

“Naughty boy,” Brian snickered as he pushed Justin against the door jamb, and leaned in, his body flush with Justin’s.  “It isn’t that; although, it could easily lead to that.”

Justin looked less than convinced as he tilted his head up and arched a brow.

“So, just what is it that you want to show me if it’s not that?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around Brian’s neck and snuggled into him.

“Look above us,” Brian said, jerking his head up towards the ceiling.

Justin crooked his head and then turned his face to look up at the top of the door jamb, and then grinned as he spied the not-so-innocuous plant hanging from it.

“Mistletoe?” Justin asked as he lowered his head. Brian’s lips tilted up into a small smile and he shrugged. Justin shook his head, his eyes dancing with mirth. “And you call me a sap.”

“I can be ridiculously romantic when I want to be,” Brian murmured, parroting the words he’d uttered the night of Justin’s prom; words Justin knew due to Daphne's stories but had yet to remember.

“Yes, you can,” Justin agreed, a soft smile on his lips. “So, Mr. Romantic, do you plan on actually utilizing your surprise or are you just going to…”

Brian crushed his lips against Justin’s, cutting off his impertinent husband’s words. Licking Justin’s bottom lip, Brian hummed with pleasure when Justin’s mouth opened beneath his, and deepened the kiss. Licking into Justin’s mouth, Brian stroked and teased Justin’s tongue, meaning only to be satisfied with a couple kisses. But, like it always was between them, the fire burned swift and hot and he could never get enough of this mouth.

Sinking a hand into Justin’s hair, he tugged and tilted his head back, enjoying the moan that rumbled in the back of Justin’s throat as he delved deeper, tangling his tongue with Justin’s. Fuck; kissing him was never enough. Holding him was never enough. If only he had known just how prophetic his flippant words to Mikey would be the morning after Justin and he met.

Sliding his hands over Justin’s hips, he cupped his ass and lifted him off the ground, groaning when Justin’s legs wrapped around his waist. Settling into the apex of Justin’s thighs, Brian squeezed his ass cheeks and ground his clothed dick against Justin’s, swallowing down his husband’s soft mewls.  Kneading that exquisite ass, Brian devoured his boy, nipping and sucking and licking until he was forced to come up for air.

Trailing hot, wet kisses down Justin’s neck, Brian licked, suck and nibbled at his husband’s neck until Justin was writhing and rocking and making needy noises against him, seeking that exquisite friction that would send him over the edge. Kissing his way up his jaw, Brian captured his mouth once more and dropped Justin’s legs to the ground and had just reached between them to pop the button on his pants when an ungodly shriek split the air.

Tearing his mouth from Justin’s, Brian glared balefully at the screeching banshee in question and thought of a hundred and one different ways he could murder Lindsay for killing the mood. He was pretty sure that Mel wouldn't miss her. Much.  He was also pretty sure he could find Leda and entice her to come back to Pittsburgh, instantly garnering her forgiveness.

If she even noticed that Lindsay was missing; paradise it was not in Muncherland.

Not that that was much of a surprise.

“For Christ’s sake, Brian,” Lindsay said as she marched over to him and Justin, who was looking like he might just beat Brian to ending Lindsay. “It’s kiss under the mistletoe, not fuck under it.”

“Don’t like it, don’t watch,” he grumbled, but reluctantly parted from Justin when it seemed that Lindsay had no intentions of leaving. Seriously, someone needed to focus on her own damned life for a change and leave them the hell alone.

Which was what he was about to say, when Justin decided to sacrifice his own sanity to keep Brian from exploding and saying something ugly to the annoying bitch that couldn’t resist interfering with his life. Had he mentioned that he still hasn’t forgiven her for New York?

Tugging on Lindsay’s arm, Justin walked them back to the party, babbling away about some art show that was coming up; one that Brian knew Justin couldn’t care less about, but also knew that Lindsay was foaming at the mouth for an invite. It seemed to do the trick, as Lindsay started chattering away about the brilliance of the artist, but frankly, using someone else’s trash to create sculptures had never been art in Brian’s eyes.

Stalking after the brat and the harpy, Brian entered the family room once more and made a beeline for the refreshments table to drown his sorrows, (and hopefully curb his absolute fucking horniness). Picking up another cup of the mystery drink, he slammed it down and then picked up another just as Emmett sashayed over with a small frown on his face. Their Queen was still a bit irritated that Lindsay hadn’t hired him to plan the party.

“Sweetie,” Emmett said, looking hesitantly at the cup in Brian’s hand. Brian frowned at the endearment, but said nothing as Emmett prattled on. “I thought you hated eggnog?”

“I do,” Brian said, not seeing his point in his drunkenness. And wow, this stuff really packed a punch; he should probably lay off after this one.

“Then why are you drinking it?” Emmett asked, his brow pinched in confusion.

“Is that what this is?” Brian asked, staring at the liquid with befuddlement. He thought eggnog was supposed to be a creamy color; and this definitely wasn’t cream. “But it’s pale green.”

“Yeah,” Emmett rolled his eyes. “They thought it would be festive to add green food coloring to it; although why, I couldn’t tell you. It should taste the same though.”

“Huh…” Brian hummed, looking at the drink in question with no little suspicion, a memory tugging at the back of his mind, but he couldn’t bring it forth. “Honestly, there’s so much rum in it I couldn’t tell.”

Emmett frowned and opened his mouth to say something, but was quickly cut off when Hunter came over with a shit-eating grin. That didn’t bode well.

“Yeah,” Hunter smirked, toasting them with his own glass. “I spiked it. How anyone could drink that shit without alcohol, I’ll never know. The rum or brandy is the best part!”

“Oh dear,” Emmett said, casting a concerned glance at Lindsay, who was still hounding a very irritated looking Justin.

Not that she’d recognize it for what it was; but Brian knew very well what that smile meant after being on the receiving end of it a time or two, or a hundred. That wasn’t his ‘I’m so happy to talk to you’ smile; it was his ‘I’m secretly fantasizing on all the different ways I can smite you’ smile. Which meant, unless he wanted to deal with bailing Justin out tonight, he needed to end that conversation as soon as he possibly could.

“Lindsay is going to freak,” Emmett muttered under his breath; not that he moved to actually do anything about it. Brian guessed that he felt Lindsay deserved it for not hiring him since Emmett would have made damned sure to have someone monitoring the drinks.

“Maybe it will get her to loosen the fuck up,” Brian snickered and took a long drink of eggnog. What the hell? It’s not like he could taste it anyways. “I swear, since she’s gotten back from their Canadian misadventure she’s been a right…”

“Children present…” Emmett warned, smiling as he saw Mother Taylor approaching.

Fucking kiss ass.

“Whatever,” Brian muttered, but said no more as he really didn’t want Mother Taylor on his ass. “And speaking of dried up…” Brian paused as Jen passed; he smiled innocently at her and she just arched a brow obviously not fooled in the least by his act.  “Anyway, speaking of Lindsay; I need to go rescue my husband before he murders her.”

“Have fun with that,” Emmett snorted as Brian loped off, calling to Brian as he did so. “Remind me to never piss Baby off. He holds a grudge.”