One Room at the Inn Read online

  One Room at the Inn

  Colette Davison

  Contents

  One Room At The Inn

  1. Ellis

  2. Zev

  3. PK

  4. Ellis

  5. Zev

  6. PK

  7. Ellis

  8. Zev

  9. PK

  10. Ellis

  11. Zev

  12. PK

  About the Author

  Also by Colette

  One Room at the Inn

  Copyright © 2019 Colette Davison

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorised duplication is prohibited.

  One Room At The Inn

  Travel photographer, Ellis, is driving home for Christmas, but a freak snow storm forces him to seek refuge in the Holiday Inn. He doesn’t expect to meet his two best friends from high school there, or to end up having to share a room with them.

  Although eight years apart has changed them all, Ellis realises he still has strong feelings for fit footballer, Zev, and loveable geek, PK.

  A game of Never Have I Ever and a bottle of Applejack bourbon leads to revelations about their feelings for one another.

  Can anything be the same for these three men after an unexpected night of passion?

  One Room at the Inn is a friends to lovers, MMM Christmas romance, with steamy scenes and lots of snow.

  It was originally published as part of the Stocking Stuffers Anthology in December 2019, and has not been changed.

  Ellis

  The snow storm came out of nowhere, reducing the traffic on the motorway to little more than a crawl. With only twenty miles to go before he reached his destination, Ellis found himself tensing up from annoyance and fear. He hated long distance driving at the best of times, which was why he didn’t go to visit his parents as often as he knew he should, but the conditions had gone from fine to treacherous in hardly any time at all. Snow fell from the sky thick and heavy, quickly blanketing everything, including the car packed motorway. It was Christmas Eve and, although it was barely two o’clock, it had suddenly become very dark.

  His photographer brain marvelled at how beautiful it was. His camera was on the passenger seat beside him and the urge to unpack it and take a few snaps rose within him. The traffic was still moving, just, so he kept his hands on the steering wheel. He was gripping it so tightly he could see the whites of his knuckles. He’d put the windscreen wipers on and they were swishing back and forth at a rapid pace, smearing snowflakes over the screen. Even the bonnet of the car, which was warm from the engine beneath it, was starting to get covered in snow.

  It had been a while since Ellis had last travelled up this stretch of motorway, but he had a dim memory of there being a Holiday Inn just off the next junction. If nothing else, it would be somewhere to hole up for an hour or two, until the storm had passed. The weather forecast hadn’t mentioned anything about heavy snow—if it had, he wouldn’t have attempted the drive at all—so there was no way it could be set in for the rest of the day. He cranked up the heating and his music and kept edging forward, hoping his memory was right.

  It took almost an hour to reach the junction, but, sure enough, he could see the welcoming green hotel sign just before he reached the slip road. Relief eased some of the tension he’d been feeling as he drove carefully up the steep slip road, navigated the busy roundabout, and pulled into the packed carpark. Either a lot of people were spending Christmas in the hotel, or everyone had had the same idea of sheltering from the snow; the stretch of motorway he’d been on was notorious for having very few service stations.

  After finding what felt like the last parking space, he left everything but his camera equipment in the car and trudged through the snow to the hotel entrance. The crisp white snow crunched beneath his shoes and soaked into the bottoms of his jeans. He paused in the foyer, stamping his feet on the large mat to knock off the snow he’d brought inside with him. He also flicked it off his shoulders and hair. He’d only walked a few yards, but was already wet and cold.

  As he went through the second set of sliding doors, he was welcomed by a wall of heat. Although the lady at the reception desk smiled at him, he walked straight past it and headed to the bar area. He wasn’t staying, just waiting out the storm. Surely it had to pass soon? Except the sky was covered in a thick layer of clouds and snow was still falling incessantly in massive flakes. He sat at the bar, ordered a large black coffee, and sent a quick text to his mum to keep her updated. He hoped he wasn’t going to be stuck for too long.

  Two coffees later, the snow storm looked just as oppressive as it had when he’d arrived at the hotel.

  “Ellis Baxter?”

  Ellis glanced round to locate the owner of the deep, but surprised voice.

  “It is you, isn’t it?” A guy asked, as he strode up to him, excitement lighting up his dark face.

  Ellis blinked up at the tall man. He frowned, as the cogs of his memory whirred around. “Zev?” he asked tentatively.

  “The one and only! Wow, it’s been…” Zev shook his head. “Years!”

  Ellis nodded, at a loss for words. He’d had a crush on Zev in high school, but seeing him again now, almost eight years later, he realised he was close to salivating. Zev’s skin was a warm brown and his short hair was jet black, making his paler brown eyes look like honey under the hotel lights. Even under his casual clothing, it was obvious that he’d put a lot of muscle mass on over the years, not that he’d ever been a small boy. Zev had been one of the school football team’s star players. Ellis felt a little self conscious, as he’d also put a few pounds on, but in a much less flattering way. Full sleeve tattoos covered both Zev’s arms, thick swirling tribal patterns that were mesmerising to look at, a lot like Zev himself.

  “How have you been?” Zev asked, taking the bar stool next to Ellis. He grinned as he nodded to the camera bag. “Still taking photos?”

  “I am. I do. It’s what I do.” And he was babbling like an idiot. “I’m a photographer. Travel, mostly. I travel a lot.” He closed his eyes and swore under his breath, before looking at Zev again. “And I’m normally much more eloquent than this.”

  Zev waved his admission away. “You’re probably a little snow crazy. I know I am. I was stuck on the motorway for bloody ages. Then I remembered this place and decided to duck off and take shelter. Looks like you had the same idea.” He winked at Ellis.

  “Great minds,” Ellis mumbled, as his insides did a weird fluttering thing.

  “You’re heading home, then?” Zev asked.

  “For Christmas,” Ellis agreed, before cursing under his breath again, because that had been stupidly obvious. “It’s the first Christmas I’ve been in the country for the last few years, so Mum insisted I come home.”

  Zev glanced around. Was he bored of their conversation already?

  “Travelling alone?” Zev asked casually.

  “Yeah. I’m not seeing anyone.” Why had Ellis felt the need to add that piece of information? Wishful thinking perhaps?

  “Me too,” Zev said. He looked around the room again. “There’s a spare table over by the window. Why don’t we grab fresh drinks and head over there? It’ll be more comfortable than perching here and we can have a proper catch up. It doesn’t look like this snow’s stopping anytime soon.”

  “It wasn’t meant to snow at all,” Ellis mumbled.

  “I know! But hey, what’s more magical than a white Christmas? What are you drinking?”


  “Coffee.”

  Zev looked at the two large coffee cups beside Ellis. “I think you’ve probably had enough to keep you awake all night. Do you still drink lemonade?”

  Ellis nodded, even though he was pondering something stronger. Not that alcohol would be a good idea. As soon as the storm ended, he’d need to set off again.

  They’d ordered soft drinks and were on their way to the table, when Zev suddenly stopped and pointed towards the bar entrance with his free hand.

  “Bloody hell, it’s like a high school reunion or something.”

  Confused, Ellis looked in the direction Zev was pointing. He almost died of embarrassment when Zev started to wave and shout.

  “Phillip! PK! Over here!”

  A slim man with dark hair and thick black glasses turned his head to look at them. Ellis stared, dumbstruck, as the room seemed to spin around him. Either he’d had far too much coffee and was imagining the presence of both men, or the second of his high school crushes had just walked in. PK grinned, obviously recognising them both, and weaved his way through the tables and chairs to reach them.

  “Ellis! Zev! This is a surprise.”

  “And for us,” Zev said. “I haven’t seen either of you in eight years and suddenly here you both are. Grab a drink and join us?” Zev indicated the table they’d been heading towards, which was mercifully still free.

  “Sounds great,” PK said, as he gave them both a quick once over. “Wow, it’s good to see you both again.”

  They parted ways, PK going to the bar, whilst Ellis and Zev sat at the table. Ellis couldn’t help but glance over at PK whilst he stood at the bar, waiting to be served.

  “He still looks like Clark Kent, doesn’t he?” Zev chuckled. “Our very own loveable geek.”

  Ellis nodded. PK was wearing a long sleeved shirt, smart trousers and black shoes, making Ellis wonder if he’d been at work. His thick glasses and dark, mussed up hair definitely gave him an air of geek. Cute, sexy geek. Ellis looked away and grabbed his drink, wishing once again it was stronger.

  PK rejoined them a few minutes later. “That storm is crazy, isn’t it?” he asked, taking the final seat. “It came out of nowhere.”

  “I know,” Zev agreed. “Where you travelling home as well?”

  PK nodded. “I thought I’d be safe working this morning and then driving up, but I guess not.” He tilted his head as he stared out the window at the storm, his fine face thoughtful. “I’m not sure it’s going to let up any time soon.” He turned his attention to Zev and Ellis. “But tell me about you two. What have you been up to?” He smiled sheepishly. “I kind of feel like a dick for losing touch with you both.”

  Zev shrugged. “We’re all responsible for that. I don’t think I kept in touch with anyone from high school.”

  Ellis shook his head in agreement. They’d finished their A Levels and then gone their separate ways. Over the first year, they’d sent a few texts, and met up to go out a couple of times, but even that had tailed off, until the two guys before him had become memories he’d jacked off to, until he’d got older and it had started to feel inappropriate. But now, here they were, almost eight years older, absolutely gorgeous in wildly different ways, giving him fresh masturbation fodder for the future.

  “Ellis is a travel photographer,” Zev said.

  PK’s eyes lit up. “Really? That’s great! You were always into photography, I wondered if you’d end up doing something in the field.” He smiled. “I’m glad you did. Your photos were amazing. Do you remember the photo Ellis took of you playing football, Zev?”

  Zev grinned. “I’ve still got a copy of it.”

  Ellis blinked, surprised that either of them remembered that photo, let alone that Zev had a copy of it after all these years. He’d become the official photographer of the school football team, which gave him an excuse to take a lot of pictures of Zev in his football kit. Not that he’d let anyone know that, but the photo PK had mentioned had been too good not to share.

  “I was jealous,” PK admitted.

  “Jealous?” Zev asked.

  “That Ellis never offered to take my photo.”

  Zev snorted. “You should have joined the football team.”

  PK laughed. “Yeah, right. I wouldn’t have made that kit look half as good as you did.” His cheeks coloured and he looked down, clearing his throat. “I’m in IT.”

  “Geek!” Zev accused, seemingly ignoring PK’s comment.

  Ellis couldn’t ignore it though, or the way PK’s cheeks were glowing in a way that made him look adorably huggable. He hadn’t thought that either of his friends were into guys, but it had been a long time since he’d seen them, and he’d made a lot of discoveries about himself in the intervening years; maybe PK had too.

  “Guilty as charged,” PK said. “What about you? I kept thinking I’d see you playing pro football on the TV.”

  Zev laughed. “Nah, I wasn’t ever that good. I still play for a local team, but I’m a youth worker for my day job.”

  “Wow. Somehow that feels more impressive and worthwhile than staring at computer code all day.”

  “Do you enjoy your job?” Zev asked.

  PK nodded.

  “Then that’s what matters.” Zev grinned. “I always knew you’d do something geeky. I guess it was too much to hope that you’d become a reporter like Clark Kent.”

  “I still wear Clark Kent glasses,” PK pointed out, pushing them up his nose.

  “Good enough,” Zev said.

  Ellis found himself staring at PK’s glasses. At his eyes and his face. At the way he’d pushed the glasses up his thin nose. PK was just as magnetic as he had been eight years ago. So was Zev. Half of him hoped the snow would stop, so he could escape their impromptu reunion before he embarrassed himself by getting a hard-on. The other half of him hoped the snow would never stop, because he didn’t want to walk away from the two stunning men. As embarrassing as it was to admit it, even just to himself, his teenage crush on them both had definitely returned with a vengeance.

  Zev

  When Zev had set out that morning, he’d never expected to run into Ellis and PK. Even though it had been eight years since he’d last seen them, he’d recognised them instantly. It helped that he had a photo of the three of them, taken the morning they’d got their A Level results, on his notice board. It was pinned right next to the photo Ellis had taken of him playing football. He loved that photo, not because it was of him, but because of what it had told him about Ellis.

  Zev hadn’t been doing anything impressive in the photo. He hadn’t been scoring a goal, tackling another player, or even dribbling the ball. He’d been standing on the pitch, with his hands on his hips, during a quiet moment of the game, with the winter sunlight almost backlighting him. He’d known, when Ellis had sheepishly shown him the photo, that it meant the boy had liked him. Zev had always known that Ellis was into guys, but he hadn’t known what his own preferences were. As he’d matured and found out more about himself, he’d pulled the photo out of a draw and put it on his memory board. He liked people. He fell for personalities, irrespective of pronouns, and Ellis had been one of the first people to make an imprint on his heart. When he’d realised that PK had left a similar impression on him, he’d put the photo of the three of them on the board too.

  He put a fresh round of drinks on the table and took his seat back. “What did I miss?”

  “Nothing much,” Ellis said, running his fingers nervously along the strap of his camera bag. “We were wondering when the weather is going to improve.”

  “I don’t think it is,” PK said. “Not today, anyway. Even if it clears up, the roads are going to be covered until they can get snow ploughs and gritters out. The UK just isn’t prepared for weather like this.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?” Zev laughed. “If it snows, the country comes to a grinding halt. If it rains too much—grinding halt. If it gets too hot—grinding halt. We’re bloody useless at coping with the weather!”


  “But we love talking about it,” PK said.

  “And queuing,” Ellis added. “Don’t forget queuing.”

  “And being polite,” Zev agreed.

  They all burst out laughing, which felt good and natural. They’d laughed a lot as kids, when they’d hung out after school. Zev took the opportunity to really look at his two friends, whilst they were distracted with laughter.

  Ellis had rounded out a little, giving him a permanently cheerful appearance. His face was clean shaven. His blond hair, still thick, and wavy, had been cut so it was longer on top and shorter coming into the nape of his neck. His blue eyes sparkled as he laughed, making Zev’s heart flutter in his chest.

  Then there was PK, who looked every bit the geek he’d always been, with his Clark Kent glasses drawing attention straight to his slender face and his chocolate brown eyes. The shirt he was wearing, which was creased from sitting in a car, was slim fitting, hinting at the slender body beneath. Since the football strip comment that had made him blush, PK had avoided making eye contact with Zev, which was definitely a shame. Zev couldn’t help wondering what it would take to get PK to relax.

  He glanced out of the floor to ceiling window they were sitting next to. PK was right, the snow storm was definitely set in. They were overlooking a courtyard, which was completely buried in a thick layer of perfect snow. It was fully dark, but the swirling snow and thick clouds hid the moon and stars. It definitely wasn’t a night for driving. He checked his watch and discovered it was almost five. His stomach growled, as if it had only just realised the time, too. So much for getting to his parents’ house in time for dinner.