A Touch of Mistletoe Read Online Free PDF

Christmas decorations this year.
    "Will you put on your Christmas record again?" asked Kyung, and I hurried to do so, relieved that there was at least something I could do. I sat on the couch, and Kyung immediately curled up next to me. His closeness and warmth made my heart ache in a way that was very dissimilar to the lust he sometimes evoked.
    I wanted to ask him what his father had said, and what was going to happen now, but I didn't know if he would be comfortable telling me, so I just held him and we sipped our coffee in silence, listening to the orchestra play a rendition of Oh, Holy Night . I almost thought he'd fallen asleep until he stirred and leaned up to kiss my cheek. "I'm sorry," he said again. "I guess I am just… relieved. We had a big fight. I got everything out that I wanted to say."
    "Well, it's not healthy to keep things bottled up," I said, almost laughing at how I spoke as if I had some sort of authority on the subject.
    "No," he sighed and settled back into me. "I told him that I am gay, and that I am going to date men while I am here. I told him I will take care of him, but my life will not be all about him, because I need time for myself as well."
    "I don't—" my voice caught a little. "I don't want you to have to come here to get away from him, and end up taking care of me as well."
    "It's not the same with you," he said firmly. "You are kind, and you ask for help, and you always say thank you. I don't mind doing things for people. I just like to be appreciated."
    "I understand." I put my arm around him and squeezed, holding him close. "I do appreciate you."
    "I know." He paused, then reached up to kiss me again, turning his body for easier access until he was nearly lying atop me. I ran my hands down his back, pulling him closer, and moaned as his hips ground into mine. He whispered my name, his voice heated, and we kissed, long and hot, until we were both gasping for breath.
    "All right," I admitted with a laugh when we finally broke apart. "I am definitely bisexual."
    "I told you so," he said, laughing as well. "Do you think you'll tell your family? It's just, I am tired of hiding."
    "I will," I said, tracing my fingers down the small of his back. "When they get back. I think they'll be happy for me." At least, I hoped they would, but it didn't really matter that much anyway. I had Kyung, and good friends, and that was enough.
    Kyung rested his head on my chest and I wrapped my arms around him.
    "How do you think things will be with your father?" I asked.
    "I think they will be okay," he sighed. "He knows that I love him."
    "He'd better," I said, feeling a surge of protectiveness. "I'll be here for you, okay? If you ever need anything."
    "I know," he said, reaching up to kiss me once again. "And I will be here for you. Merry Christmas, Warren."
    "Merry Christmas."

The Christmas Spirit
    Talya Andor
    The dense smoke of incense hung on the air within the close confines of the shop. It was barely disturbed by a current of air sucked in when the front door opened. Ash Harmon—Ashley to only his momma—looked up from the counter where he'd been jotting inventory notes for his next order to the Louisiana purveyor who kept him supplied with trinkets to sell. The visitor was a woman of middle years, smartly dressed in a burgundy blazer over an oyster shell, minimal gold jewelry, and dark gray slacks. Her black hair was twisted back in a low chignon. Like ninety-nine percent of the people who stopped by Ash's Shinjuku storefront, she was Japanese—he rarely got international tourists.
    "You're my three o'clock," Ash said, exaggerating the drawl of his Southern accent only a touch. In Japanese, it came across as peculiarly American, he'd been told. There was no point disguising it.
    The woman nodded, brown eyes shuttered and face impassive.
    "Asami-san." Ash straightened from his sprawl over the counter and walked around it, stopping a measured few strides from Asami and giving her a bow at the same