by Lynn Hagen
He prayed Nick caught on. Payton was sweating like crazy, and his arms wouldn’t stop jerking from shaking so much. If Nick didn’t see that Payton was in distress, the guy needed a lobotomy.
Nick returned the smile. “I just wanted to remind you that we’re having dinner tonight. Your grandma is expecting you.”
Payton had no clue why Nick stopped to knock on his window but was glad the guy caught on. “I wouldn’t miss her cooking for the world. Make sure Uncle Grayson is there, too.”
Sure Chris couldn’t see his eyes, Payton winked.
Nick nodded. “He’s already on his way.”
Huh? What was Nick talking about? Was he getting what Payton was saying, or was his senile? Crap. Payton prayed the guy wasn’t off his rocker and actually believed he was coming over for dinner.
Everything happened so fast that Payton was terrified when the passenger door jerked open and Chris was ripped from his seat. The gun went off, the bullet shattering the windshield.
Nick opened the driver’s door and yanked Payton out, throwing him to the ground and telling him, “Stay down!”
Fuck that. Payton wanted to see what was going on. He pushed upward and saw Miller and Chris struggling for the gun. It went off again, and Miller staggered backward.
“No!” Payton shoved Nick’s hand off of him and raced around the truck, but Miller had recovered. He had Chris lifted into the air, his hand firmly around Chris’s throat while his other hand gripped Chris’s wrist to stop him from shooting him again.
Payton saw red spanning across Miller’s shirt. He’d been shot in the chest!
Moments later the street was swarming with cops. Sheriff Copache had his weapon trained on the two. Miller slammed Chris into the side of the truck repeatedly. Payton had never seen anyone look so animalistic. Miller’s face was pure rage as he tried to choke the life out of Chris.
“We got it from here,” the sheriff said.
Miller leaned in, his nose almost touching Chris’s. “I’m going to rip your fucking spine out for trying to kill my mate.”
Payton looked around and spotted Sherman. He stood on the sidewalk, huddled in Miller’s oversized coat. Next to him stood Deputy Burrows and Deputy Benton.
“Miller, we got this.” The sheriff touched Miller’s arm. “As badly as you want to kill him, there’re too many witnesses around. Hand him over, and I swear he’ll pay for what he did.”
Miller took a stumbling step backward. He’d already paled, and the hand he had on Chris’s throat shook.
“He needs a doctor,” Payton said. He hurried over to Miller and yanked the gun out of Chris’s hand before giving it to the sheriff. He then turned to his mate. “Miller, let him go so you can get the medical attention you need. You were shot, and I’m not going to let you die. Chris isn’t worth it.”
Chris cursed up a storm as he tried to get free. He slammed his arms on Miller’s, trying to break the hold, but his attempts were futile. Even in his weakened state, Miller didn’t release the bastard.
“Miller.” Payton touched Miller’s arm, and his mate finally looked at him. “Give him to the sheriff.”
Fuck. Miller’s canines were showing, and the hand around Chris’s throat had claws. His animal was close to the surface, and Payton prayed his mate didn’t shift.
After a long moment, Miller set Chris on his feet and shoved him toward the sheriff. “If I ever see you again, I’ll make good on my promise.”
Chris cursed and spit at Miller. Payton gasped when Miller drew his arm back and punched Chris so hard the guy flew off his feet. The deputies grabbed Chris before Miller could actually kill him.
In the distant Payton heard the sirens. The ambulance was on its way. And not too soon, either. Miller staggered farther, the car behind him stopping him from falling on his ass.
“He’ll be okay,” Sheriff Copache whispered to Payton. “All he has to do is shift to heal. The paramedics will make sure of that.”
“Really?” Payton wished it had been that easy for him when he’d taken two bullets in the back.
“Really.” The sheriff squeezed Payton’s arm. “Go with him to the clinic. Take Sherman with you, though I’ll want to question him later. Have him checked out, too.”
“I will.” Payton closed the distance and pulled Sherman into his arms, hugging him tightly before the two joined Miller in the back of the ambulance.
“How?” Payton asked when they were seated and the ambulance took off. “How did you survive the explosion?”
“I got the ropes off.” Sherman gave Payton a weak smile. “Chris can’t tie ropes to save his life. But I think when I ran out the door I set off some kind of motion sensor. It had to be delayed because I made it far enough away before it exploded. But some debris knocked me out, and when I came too, Nick was there to take me home and heal my wounds.”
“Nick?” Why on earth would he have been at the building?
Sherman gave him a sly smile. “I told you Santa was real.”
Payton snorted, still not sure he believed that, but he was thankful the old man had saved his cousin, and him. He would forever be in Nick’s debt, if Payton didn’t find out that Nick was somehow a part of this.
“I know that look,” Sherman said. “Nick is a nice guy, and he had nothing to do with this.”
Payton looked away, staring down at Miller. One minute he was lying on the stretcher—the EMT doing absolutely nothing—and the next a large jaguar was lying there.
“Holy fuck!” Sherman jumped up as Payton went to his knees, running his hand through Miller’s soft fur.
“Your Apple Pie is right here, mate. I’m not going anywhere.” Miller had wanted Payton to call him that, and Payton had hesitated to say the word out loud, although he’d thought the word already. Now he would use it until Miller was sick of it. “I love you.”
But the jaguar was out cold.
“He’s resting,” the EMT said. “With a bullet wound, it’ll take a few hours for his body to heal.”
“What the fuck is going on?” Sherman demanded.
“We’ll talk once I know Miller is okay.” Payton patted Sherman’s knee. “I’m so glad you’re alive.”
“Me, too.” Sherman stared wide-eyed at the jaguar. “Is he going to eat us?”
Payton laughed. It was good to have his cousin back and a mate he loved with all his heart. Now Payton was looking forward to Christmas, and every day after that. If Bilbo hadn’t gotten stuck in this brick steps, he might not have met Miller, and just for that, Bilbo was getting a big bag of catnip for Christmas.
Of course Loki was getting a stocking full of doggie treats for going after Bilbo and rescuing him. Now Payton wanted to get Nick a gift, too.
But Payton had the best Christmas present ever, and he was lying there in his cat form. He finally felt as if his life was complete, and Payton wouldn’t have it any other way. Now all he had to do was avoid his parents for the holiday and Christmas would be perfect.
* * * *
Miller woke to the smell of apples. He smiled even before he opened his eyes. It was now a familiar smell to him and brought him a sense of peace. He associated the aroma with Payton, and Miller loved his mate more than life itself.
“You’re awake!” Payton jumped onto the bed, making Miller bounce.
Miller grabbed his mate around his waist and yanked him down, smiling at the exuberance on his face.
“Yes, I’m awake. Merry Christmas, Apple Pie.” He kissed Payton’s jaw while ghosting his hand down his mate’s back and stopping on the flare of his ass.
“Merry Christmas, kitty cat.” Payton gave him a sweet, thorough kiss that had Miller moaning.
“I could get used to being woken up like this.” Miller squeezed Payton’s ass.
“So could I, but we have company, so get your lazy butt out of bed.” Payton scooted back, taking his warm, lush body with him. “Come on, get dressed. We have presents to open! Sherman is here, and whether I agree with your insane dec
ision or not, my parents are here, too.”
They’d argued for two days straight about inviting Payton’s mom and dad. Obviously Miller had won. Miller knew his mate had given in because of the make-up sex. He could be very persuasive when he wanted to be, though he’d already figured out how stubborn Payton could be.
“I’m getting up.” Miller pointed to the tent in the cover.
Payton rolled his eyes. “Not that kind of getting up. You’re the one who wanted all these people here, so deal with being sexless this morning.” Payton wiggled his brows, gracing Miller with a gorgeous smile. “I even made apple pie.”
Miller tapped his nose. “I can smell. Tell Sherman he better not eat it all. I want at least one piece.”
Payton chuckled, the sound music to Miller’s heart. “I made Sherman his own pie, so you have nothing to worry about.” His mate frowned. “But my dad loves my pies, so you better get a move on.”
Miller’s brows furrowed when he heard raised voices from down the hallway.
“See, they’re already arguing. This was your brilliant idea, so get your ass out of bed and deal with them.”
“I have a much better idea.” Miller snatched Payton’s hand and yanked his mate down to him. “I’ll give you three guesses what we can do in fifteen minutes.”
“Hmm. Shower? Get dressed? Defuse my parents before they destroy your house?” Payton asked. “Or do you want to volunteer at the soup kitchen in order to avoid them altogether?”
“While the last thing is doable, we’re not avoiding them. We’re going to make this a great Christmas, even if I have to duct tape their mouths and put them in time-out.” He nuzzled Payton’s neck. “But first, my love, I’m going to ravish your body and make you think about this morning for the rest of the day.”
“Oh!” Payton wiggled out of Miller’s arms and bent down, grabbing something out of Miller’s sight. When his mate straightened, he had a shiny gift in his hands. “There were presents just inside the doggy door.” He handed Miller a card that was attached. “I guess I’m a believer, after all.”
The card was addressed to Miller. It was from Nick, wishing him a happy holiday.
“I got a present, too.” Payton grinned as he crawled back into bed and curled up next to Miller. “So did Sherman. Now Sherman won’t shut up about Santa being real.”
Miller couldn’t believe how happy he truly was. Who knew rescuing a cat could change his life so drastically? If Bilbo Baggins hadn’t snuck into the porch, Miller would have missed out on the best thing to ever happen to him. “Merry Christmas, Apple Pie.”
Payton gave him a slow, soul-stirring kiss. “Merry Christmas, kitty cat.”
THE END
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