A knock on my bedroom door only gives me seconds to prepare before it opens. Craig is stunning in a dark suit and festive tie. He pulls up a pant leg to show me his bright red Converse.

“The kids will love it,” I say, struggling with my own tie. I’m in the only gray suit I have, the one I use for the rare client meetings, but Craig bought me a tie with the Space Invaders aliens aligned to form a Christmas tree. If I couldn’t wear a nerd t-shirt, at least I could have a nerd tie, he said.

“They’re not even going to know we’re there.” Craig cozies up behind me and fixes my tie. His breath tickles my ear and gives me a chill. “Which is perfect, because we can make our escape afterward, and no one will care.”

Craig told me to pack an overnight bag, because we are going straight to my Christmas present after the Poudre High School holiday concert. It’s supposed to be a surprise, but I know Craig well enough by now that I have a clue what’s going to happen. Craig’s idea of romance for a special occasion is fulfilling my fantasies, and knowing that I have some major kink coming my way makes it really hard, pun totally intended, to have to wait an hour while we listen to high school kids play Christmas songs.

“You have to behave,” I whine, because I can feel his cock through his pants as he presses close to me. “Ben will kill us if we miss this.”

Craig growls his frustration, and I couldn’t agree more.

By the time we get to the school auditorium, it’s already half-full. Kids all dressed in black wander around on stage, messing with their instruments and gossiping with each other.

“I had no idea it would be this popular.” I remember school holiday concerts with barely anyone in the audience except parents who felt the need to record every single moment.

Craig taps my shoulder and points to a door near the front of the auditorium. Ben’s head pokes through and motions us to him.

“I saved you seats near me. See those three programs and Santa hats? That’s us.”

“Parker couldn’t make it?” Craig asks Ben.

“No. They had their office party tonight and he couldn’t get out of it. I understand, but I warned him I’m going to make him watch the video.”

Parker and Ben got along so well after Parker was able to de-Shelby that they’ve decided Parker will take over my room when I leave. Craig and I want to live together, but his apartment is too small for me to live and work from.

We’ve been spending a lot of time in Boulder as I work on Jamilla’s new art school business plan. Victoria is on a full campaign to get us to move there since I can work from anywhere, but I know Craig is loyal to the store. And with good reason. Ted is paying for him to take one night class a semester so that he can get specific business knowledge. He decided it would be a perk of his new management program – one that seems to have been developed entirely to benefit Craig.

We’ve spent the past month searching for a place that fits all of our requirements – walking distance to the store, doesn’t have the Old Town premium price – but we still haven’t found anything. Until then, Ben’s stuck with me, and Parker’s living month-to-month in a tiny efficiency after tiring of our couch.

Minutes after Craig and I sit, the lights in the auditorium dim and the kids get situated in their spots. Violins on one side and cellos on the other are the closest to us. Our seats are too close, I can’t see what other instruments are there, but I saw some trumpets and other horn-like things walking around earlier. Ben ducks down as he dashes across the front to his seat.

“You aren’t going to be on stage?” I whisper to him.

“No, I don’t get to conduct anything yet. I just help them with tuning and getting set up before and after.”

“Sorry.”

He grins and waves it off. Ever since he got this job, I’ve never seen Ben happier. It’s really a cool thing to watch.

The conductor steps out on stage and the audience quiets. Ben shushes me and Craig even though we weren’t talking, and I’d smack him if he wasn’t being so adorable.

The kids are amazing, much better than I would have imagined for a high school orchestra, but the best part is watching Ben. I can’t really tell since I’m not at all musical, but there are obviously missed notes or beats or something, because every once in a while he winces. Other times he pumps a fist in celebration or cheers under his breath. He’s so proud of these kids, and I’m so proud of him.

Craig and I cheer loudly and stomp our appreciation until Ben tells us that we’re being rude. Whatever.

Before the final song, all the kids reach under their seats and pull out Santa hats. Ben motions for us to put on the ones he left on our seats and then takes off up the steps at the side of the stage. He jogs to the back near the percussion, and although I can barely see the kids back there, Ben’s smiling head pokes out above everyone else’s. The kids smile back at him, and you can tell he’s adored.

The director begins Sleigh Ride, and the orchestra version is fun, with jingle bells and horns making horse sounds. The final bit, a horse whip, is performed by Ben. We jump to our feet to applaud, and I don’t even think we’d get told off this time for being inappropriate.

We stay long enough to congratulate Ben, then I shove Craig out the door. I want my present, damn it.

Craig grabs my hand, my kinky compassionate lover, and leads me to the car. I don’t know what he has in store, but I know that whatever it is, I’ll happily jump right in with both feet. He’s given me everything I never thought I could have. Last time, he said we had the rest of our lives to try to top ourselves. The rest of our lives can’t get here fast enough.