TCO is so excited to bring you 12 Days of Kissmas. We have 12 of your favorite authors ahead over the coming days, bringing you beautiful pictures of men kissing that the authors have chosen themselves, along with exclusive posts, excerpts, and giveaways. The idea sprang from a conversation with an author that just turned into a “what if…”, and when I started asking a few authors, they immediately said they were in. Make sure you enter the giveaways, as there are lots of them! Thanks for stopping by, and a HUGE thank you to all the authors for their generosity, and loving spirit. Happy Holidays to everyone!

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A month or so ago, Denise asked if I wanted to host a spot in her 12 Days of Kissmas event and I agreed. Unbeknownst to both of us, Chris and Owen were tired of waiting to get married and determined that I write them a Christmas wedding. Now I know what you’re thinking! This seems like too important an event for a slice of life scene…and you’d be right! I didn’t write a wedding scene for this final post in the #13Months13Scenes tour, I wrote a book.

Still with me? So…that big epic tease in the group, the one where Christina called me a bad word…yeah, she not only knew, she had the book in her hands! Who didn’t know? Poor Denise. I tortured her endlessly about my big project and held off sending the material as long as possible. It’s a wonder she’s still talking to me L Help me earn my way back in her good graces by commenting on how wonderful she is below.

Without further ado, the first chapter of Deciding on Forever, available NOW on Amazon and all retail outlets.

Happy Holidays!

Jessie G

What is it about those two words?

“Oh, wow, would you look at that?” The awe in that statement had Owen looking up from his sketch pad.

When they made their plans to fly to Colorado for a pre-Christmas vacation, Owen happily offered to take the aisle seat. He’d visited many times, during all seasons, and knew that first view of the Rockies was something Chris wouldn’t soon forget. Even though he expected it, seeing the wonder on that strong, handsome face infused Owen with a huge sense of accomplishment.

Making Chris happy and helping him experience all the things he’d missed was a purpose he never could have imagined before. Where he once wallowed in his own misery, holding it close while keeping the rest of the world at bay, Owen no longer allowed those thoughts to surface. After more than a year together, there was too much love and pure enjoyment of life that there just wasn’t room for all that negativity.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Owen asked as he watched Chris carefully.

Prior to their trip to New York, Chris had never been further north than Orlando. As first trips go, dropping him in the heart of Manhattan might have been a little unfair. The crowds, the noise, and constant sensory input had Chris on edge most of their trip. Short of another family gathering, he couldn’t imagine either of them wanting to relive that experience. Colorado couldn’t be more different and Owen really wanted Chris to love it as much as he did.

“The pictures don’t do it justice,” Chris agreed as he turned to look at him, gaze shining bright. “Thank you.”

That heartfelt gratitude made him duck his head. Two simple words shouldn’t embarrass him, but they did. What had he done to deserve them? Nothing. Not really. They’d planned the trip together, paid for it out of their joint bank account, and were equally responsible for making it happen. All he’d done differently was give up the window seat and he already knew Chris would make sure he got it on the return flight, so it wasn’t all that special.

A finger beneath his chin reminded him that hiding wasn’t an option, especially when Chris asked, “What is it about those two words that bothers you so much?”

Back at the start of their relationship, when they were acknowledging their feelings for one another, they agreed to make all their decisions together. That required communication. Chris was usually the one asking the questions and he had this focused way of listening that made Owen say things he would have normally kept inside. Like now.

With those dark eyes assuring him that he was safe and loved, Owen admitted, “I was just thinking…why are you thanking me? We did this together.”

“Exactly, and that’s why I’m thanking you,” Chris agreed as if it were obvious. “Do you think I ever would have done this for myself?”

Owen knew the answer was a resounding no and that it went deeper than the years lost in his step-father’s abuse or the events that followed. Adult Chris, free of the past and working to support himself, didn’t think about such luxuries as traveling or taking in a ballet. He focused on survival and taking care of others, and there was no room for anything else.

“This was the furthest thing from my mind and I know you believe I was missing out, but I like to think I was just waiting to experience it with you.” Chris leaned in for a tender kiss and whispered, “So, thank you.”

The appropriate response wasn’t any easier to get out the second time, though Owen attributed that to the lump in his throat. “You always say the right things.”

“It’s a gift.” Chris grinned and leaned in for another kiss, this time taking a nibble of his lower lip until he groaned.

Owen pushed him away for his own sanity and attempted a glare. It was hard to look stern when your heart was fluttering and your dick was hard, but he tried. “Let’s not get too full of ourselves, big guy. This plane isn’t equipped to handle your massive ego.”

Chris’s full laugh had several heads turning and that attention made Owen frown. Only a year and a half ago they were celebrating the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality and now, with the new election, they were facing the possibility of another battle to keep the rights they’d only recently won. In the current climate, they’d all noticed a new hostility in the air whenever they expressed even the slightest bit of public affection.

Being conscious of it didn’t mean they were willing to be swept back under the rug. If he wanted to hold Chris’s hand, kiss him on an airplane, or make him laugh like a loon, he damn well had that right. Anyone who had a problem with it could look the other way. If they didn’t, well, he didn’t want to be a fighter, but he would defend his right to love Chris.

“Ah, baby.” Chris sighed, reading his shift in moods easily. “The only one who’s given us a second glance is the brunette across the aisle that’s been making googly eyes at you.”

“Googly eyes?” Owen snorted out a laugh and tried to look, but Chris held him firm. “What the heck are those?”

“You know, batting her lashes and sighing. Can’t you hear the sighing?” Chris cocked his head as if he were listening hard. “There, she just did it again.”

“I don’t hear anything.” Of course, Owen was too busy laughing at Chris to hear beyond their little huddle. “Is she cute?”

Chris made a show of looking past him and shrugged. “Sure, I guess, if I wasn’t gay and engaged to this really hot guy.”

“Oh my god, are you guys here to get married?” The stewardess nearly skidded to a halt beside their row and beamed. “I’ve heard Colorado has some of the most beautiful spots for destination weddings. My fiancé and I were just talking about eloping someplace amazing like the Rocky Mountains. We have a ton of family and every time we try to whittle the guest list down to something we can afford, someone gets insulted.”

Without waiting for a response, she leaned on the seat in front of them, nearly knocking the guy’s hat off in the process, and shared, “We’re paying for the wedding ourselves and when we crunch the numbers, it just makes me sick inside. If you think about it, the money you’d spend on a big wedding could be the down payment on a house. My fiancé is worried I’ll regret it if I don’t get the frilly dress and all the trimmings, but you guys understand, don’t you? It’d be nice, but setting ourselves up right from the start would be nicer.”

“Sounds like you know what you want,” Chris said with an indulgent smile. “If you tell it to him just like that, I bet he’ll understand.”

“You’re sweet.” Again, she beamed that megawatt smile and when she sighed, it was all Owen could do not to laugh aloud. “So are you staying in Denver? Personally, we’d want to drive out to one of the little mountain towns, if we were going to do it.  Something quaint and historic, with great views.”

“We’re driving up to Estes Park,” Owen said and could see she never heard of it. “It’s near Rocky Mountain National Park. There’s a quaint little town, an historic hotel, and unparalleled views—just like you wanted.” This produced another sigh and Owen almost felt bad for bursting her bubble. “But we’re not here to get marr…”

Chris took his hand and tugged, cutting off his denial and reminding him, “Someone once told me that Colorado was the perfect place to get married.”

Before Owen could respond, the tone to indicate the captain was about to speak sounded overhead and the stewardess pointed at them. “Get yourselves buckled in. We should be landing soon and I would hate for anything to happen to you before you said your vows.”

With that, she was gone, leaving Owen gaping at Chris. “Why did you let her think we were getting married here?”

“Because we are.” Chris made a point of checking his seat belt and nudged Owen to do the same before he said, “You told me that you always dreamt of getting married in Colorado.”

“Well, yes, but not like…I mean our whole family’s back in…Liam and Maddie would be furious…” Owen knew he was babbling like an idiot and every half-formed idea added another knot in his stomach. Even that wasn’t strong enough to quell the rush of excitement. “You don’t mean this trip, right? Just something to think about for the future. Right?”

Owen wasn’t sure if he wanted Chris to agree or not. Yeah, that was a lie. Now that the thought was in his head, he could absolutely see them eloping. They weren’t big on crowds, on being the center of attention, and neither of them needed the frilly dress or the trimmings. All they needed was each other, a Justice of the Peace, and maybe a snow-capped mountain in the background for it to be perfect.

“I know it’s not fall and we’re not going to your family’s house in Breckenridge, but—” Chris looked at him with so much love and longing that Owen felt his heart flutter all over again. “If the opportunity presented itself tomorrow, would that be far enough in the future?”

“Did you plan this?” Owen had to ask because he certainly wouldn’t put it past Chris to do something this amazingly romantic.

“I planned to convince you,” Chris admitted as he entwined their hands again. A little tug brought them together and Owen just knew whatever Chris said next was going to level him. “It’s been more than a year since we decided on forever, Owen, and I can’t think of a better Christmas gift than to make you my husband.”

The plane was just starting its descent when the first tear fell. As Chris reached up to gently brush them away, Owen grabbed his wrist and said, “Maddie and Liam will get over it.”

“Eventually,” Chris agreed with an unrepentant grin, and just like that, they were getting married.

© 2016 Jessie G Books, Inc. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jessie G and Jessie G Books, Inc. with the appropriate and specific direction to the original content here at Two Chicks Obsessed with Books.

Author’s Note
I hope you enjoyed the last installment of my #13months13scenes tour. I can’t believe it’s over. Or is it? Starting in January, I’ll be posting scenes based on reader prompts. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to know about my characters or see them do, email your prompt (with picture inspiration) to jessieg@jessiegbooks.com with the subject “Reader Prompt.”

Did you miss a previous installment in the 13Months13Scenes tour?

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