Reindeer Games

by Kristen Strassel

  “No.” I grabbed a handful of his hair. “I want you to show me.”

  His grin was feral. “Anything you want.” And he didn’t take his eyes off me as he lowered his lips to my clit.

  My hips bucked, responded to every flick of his tongue. He trapped the sensitive nub between his lips and applied pressure. I writhed underneath him, not wanting to get away from the sensations he sent through my body on a tripwire, but to guide him. But the student could be the teacher, too. He took his time, exploring my body with his mouth and fingers, paying attention to the way I reacted to his touch. He slipped his finger inside me slowly, adding another and curling forward.

  I rolled off the mattress as he hit the spot that made me see stars. Gunnar didn’t miss a beat; it was like he was pulling strings, totally anticipating my next move. He caught my chin, and kissed me, the musky taste of my own arousal on his lips. I was in his lap again, just like I was when Tessa barged in with her horrible news.

  His body was slick with sweat, and his hair clung to his face, just like it did last night in the hot tub. “Show me, Delilah. How you want me to make love to you.”

  I nodded against his shoulder and let my hand trail down his arm. Yes, those were twelve pack abs. I gripped his cock, running my thumb over his ball sack. He bucked underneath me. I couldn’t play with him too much, not yet. Rising on shaky knees, I positioned myself over the tip, kissing him one more time before he claimed me.

  Chapter Fifteen

  GUNNAR

  I’d given up on my dream the day the last couple in my herd had their mating ceremony. They’d even asked me to administer the vows, which I did. My herd was my family, and I was happy for them, even if their happiness was a kick in the gut for me. I never thought I’d have that. The rest of the island was humans wrapped up in their own lives, and wolves that valued their lives too much to risk tangling with me.

  I was meant to do other things, I convinced myself, but throwing myself into the herd and my store didn’t make the emptiness go away. I wanted someone to share the little things with, like the way the crisp October breeze smelled when it blew into my bedroom, and this amazing sunset.

  “The sky’s pink.” Delilah scrambled off my chest, clutching the sheet against her incredible body. “It’s so beautiful.”

  I couldn’t believe she was mine. My mate. I had a mate, a contract with a professional football team, and Faraway Island under control for the first time in my life.

  Fuck, if that guy who’d given up on his dreams could meet me now.

  “Not as beautiful as you.” I sat up, kissing her shoulder and slipping my hands around her waist. “It’s like that almost every night.”

  She turned away from the sunset, her eyes heavy-lidded like she wasn’t ready to stop dreaming yet. “Is everything here magical?”

  I nodded. “Since you came along? Kinda.”

  “Mom!” Jeremy called from the living room. “Where are you?”

  Her body stiffened. “In the bedroom.”

  I was a ten-year-old boy once, and knocking had been a completely foreign concept. But it didn’t give us any time to prepare for his arrival.

  “Mom, are you guys naked?” he asked when he opened the door.

  “Little bit.” A flush spread over her exposed back. “Why don’t you go back in the other room and I’ll order you a pizza once we get dressed.”

  “Hamburger pizza?” Jeremy was an opportunist if I ever saw one.

  “Whatever you want. Get out of here.” Delilah picked up a pillow and playfully swatted at him.

  At least he had the decency to shut the door behind him.

  She turned to me, as pink as the sky behind her. “Talk about awkward.”

  “Not the most traumatizing thing that’s happened to him today.” I chuckled, but Delilah’s shoulders slumped forward. “Hey. I’m not making light of what happened this morning. What I meant was, your kid seeing you happy isn’t the worst thing in the world.”

  “I know.” She let the sheet fall away, and I couldn’t look anywhere but her body. I’d never get enough of it. “It’s been a long time since that’s happened. When his dad was alive, he didn’t know it could be any other way.”

  “He’ll appreciate it this time. Even if he doesn’t realize what he’s seeing right away.” I laid back and watched her get dressed. She turned to the mirror, finger combed her hair, and swiped the last of her mascara from under her eyes. She was gorgeous—battle-tested, shattered, and mine. “Once we’re done with pizza, how about if I bring him downstairs and teach him a thing or two?”

  Her face lit up. “He’d like that. A lot. But after we eat. Otherwise, you’ll learn pretty quick not to get between Jeremy and a hamburger pizza.”

  “ARE BUCKS NOCTURNAL?” Delilah asked as we settled into my workshop. She stifled a yawn behind her coffee mug.

  It’s mating season. Thanks for the memo, buck. Like I could think about anything else, especially now that I’d been with Delilah. I’d been nervous as hell, but she was an amazing teacher. Kind, patient, and she knew exactly how to reward her lover.

  “Yeah. Especially in fall. Mating season coincides with hunting season. The hunters know when our heads aren’t on straight.” My animal rumbled. “Although, hunting season was never a big concern for our herd. As part of our agreement with the humans on the island, hunting is banned. Stefan fought hard to get that reversed. It pissed him off that we had the law on our side.”

  Watching him flee the island with his tail between his legs was the sweet satisfaction I always wanted but never expected to get. My herd was finally free of his shit. Even though he couldn’t go as far as hunting us, he made our lives a living hell for the last seven years. There was only so long I could tell the bucks and does that came to me in utter frustration to rise above it. Finally, that bastard got what he deserved.

  “I thought human law didn’t apply to shifters?”

  “Usually it doesn’t. Our herd made a special agreement with the humans. They said yes to whatever we wanted because they couldn’t inhabit the island unless we built it up for them. Of course, no one bothered to get the blessing of the wolves who lived there long before we arrived. They really did get the shaft, but it was never a problem until the pack decided to hand the reins over to a bloodthirsty alpha.” I shook my head as I laid my tools on the table. Jeremy was beside me, watching my every move. “Finally, I don’t have to worry about that shit anymore.”

  Jeremy raised his eyebrows at the s-word. Having a kid around would take some getting used to. He’s your responsibility now, my buck said. Get your sh—stuff together.

  “Now I can focus on the future. Growing the herd, attracting new business to the island, and seeing what kind of wood working skills this guy’s got.” I nudged Jeremy.

  He gave me a big-toothed grin. “Show me what to do.”

  “Remember the picture you drew at the restaurant? I was thinking we could do something like that. A herd of bucks in the forest. But how are we going to make them move?”

  We could make figurines, but if I was going to wow Jeremy, we’d have to make the biggest, best toy in the entire shop. And it would belong to no one but him. He was at that age where he could walk away from kid stuff, but if I could get him to hold on just a little longer, that was where the magic could happen. This was so much more than toys. I’d give him the skills to build whatever he wanted. All he had to do was take my instruction and use his imagination. Easier said than done.

  He didn’t answer right away, his gaze fixed on the empty workspace. I picked up one of the pine stumps at my feet and put it on the table. It was a soft wood, perfect for him to practice his chops on. I liked to keep it handy so I could test out ideas when inspiration struck.

  His face lit up. “We can have them pulling a sleigh. With Santa in it.”

  Delilah’s lips parted, her face as bright as her son's. If only for that moment, he believed in Santa Claus. I could barely tear my gaze away from her.


  I love you, she mouthed.

  The sleigh wasn’t the only magic in the room. I tapped my fingers over my heart and nodded to her. Love you too, I mouthed back. But I couldn’t let myself get lost in her when Jeremy and I had a big fucking problem to solve. “That means this sleigh needs to fly.”

  “Can we do that?” He looked back at his mom, and she shrugged.

  “I’ve never made a toy fly before.” It wasn’t going to be easy. “Got any ideas on how we can pull it off?”

  He picked up the stump, considering it like he was testing its weight. Mashing his lips together, he looked around the shop. This kid was smart. “Maybe...if we give it a motor like the train and string it to a wire, it won’t really be flying, but it will look like it is.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me.” It was better than what I would’ve come up with. “The most important thing is that you believe. Then you can make anything happen.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  GUNNAR

  Alphas never showed fear. It meant they had to be experts at masking it. Anyone who said they never second guessed themselves or stayed up at night worrying about those who looked to them for safety was a liar. Or completely fucking delusional.

  I’d been herd alpha for seven years. I could never prove that Stefan was responsible for my father’s death, but my herd knew. As deer shifter, we relied on our instincts because we weren’t the strongest or the fastest animals in the forest. But we were the most compassionate, and the ones that brought peace.

  For seven years, I carried on my father’s traditions. Take the high road and keep the peace. I surrounded myself with good, prosperous people, but when I ignored Stefan, he festered and got worse.

  I was wrong, my animal said. Your human instincts always knew what Faraway Island needed.

  A huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Apology accepted, beast.

  Especially about Delilah. I thought a human would bring more pain to the pack. That she’d divide us instead of making us stronger.

  Yeah, he was especially wrong about Delilah. My animal made decisions based on fear, thinking it would be better if the pack kept to itself. We were isolated and put ourselves at risk of dying out. Humans brought us to this island, and gave us the opportunity for something better. To turn our backs on more opportunities like that stunted the growth of the herd.

  Coach called me into his office Sunday morning. I expected backlash when I announced to my herd I was doing this—especially right after Stefan was banished from the island. They were open to attack with no alpha. And after dragging the entire team into my turf war and blowing off practice the next day to claim my mate, I hadn’t exactly gotten off to the best start as a professional football player.

  “How’s things going on the island?” he asked. He did understand pack came first, because he had one of his very own in the Bloodhounds.

  “Anything could be happening over there right now.” I laughed. “The herd is all here. Delilah organized a group trip for them to come to the game.”

  She worked with the Werewife production team to bring them over on the ferry and get them all tickets to the game. The herd didn’t know they were going to be on the field yet.

  Football had been our thing on the island. We got together every Sunday and had a huge party, tons of food and pick-up games in the yard. We waged bets and talked so much trash. But the one player we could all get behind no matter what team we rooted for was Landon Fox. The guy absolutely shredded defenses every chance he got. Didn’t matter how the odds were stacked against him. I looked to that guy as an example of how to lead when the chips were down. He never lost his cool, even when down by twenty late in the second half. He always found a way to come back.

  “Nice. You’ve had a hell of a week and you need the chance to celebrate,” Coach said.

  “We’ll have plenty of time to celebrate after today’s win.” I wouldn’t let these guys down. I never thought I’d have a chance to share a field with the likes of Landon Fox, or be in Coach Phelan’s office, let alone fight with them in battle and have a chance to make a difference. This was what happened when I took chances. And I was proud to have my herd here to watch it unfold. It was time to show them anything was possible. Holding back got us nowhere. “I promise it won’t be the Gunnar show anymore. Only time you’ll hear from me is when we’re tied with ten seconds left to go in the fourth quarter.”

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t come down to that.” Coach got out of his chair and came around to the front of his desk. “We’re bringing a guy in. A kicker from San Francisco. It’s not a reflection of your work ethic or what you’ve done for his team, Gunnar. You got me out of a hell of a pinch, and I’ll be forever grateful for your contribution on the field today.”

  “That was the plan all along.” I was getting one shot at a dream. “Thanks for giving me a chance. I won’t let you down.”

  I turned to leave the office. After today, I’d no longer be a Bloodhound. It was bittersweet, like the bubble would burst when I went back to the island tomorrow and I’d have my old life back. The one from before I thought my dreams could come true, with Stefan still a giant pain in my ass and no Delilah.

  That nightmare is over, my animal said. Stefan is gone and Delilah isn’t going anywhere. She looks at you like you’re the whole fucking world. Same way you look at her.

  “Gunnar,” Coach called to me before I left. “If things were different, I’d keep you. Don’t think this means you don’t have what it takes to be a pro. I was prepared to make you an offer you can’t refuse, but playing at this level is a lifestyle a lot different than you’re used to. Your island depends on you, now more than ever. Later in the locker room, I’ll be reminding everyone what it means to work together as a team. That we can accomplish more together than we ever can on our own.”

  “None of this would’ve been possible without the team. They saved Jeremy’s life.”

  “It was a damn good lesson for them to see what was on the line and not be able to give up until they won. You taught them a lesson that I couldn’t. But your life isn’t football. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us to expect it to be, knowing what you’ve built on the island. I hope you can still be a part of the team in some capacity. This isn’t goodbye, Gunnar. It’s the beginning of the next chapter.” Coach put his hand on my arm as we walked out into the hallway. Showtime. The media had been camped out in front of his office waiting for news on the kicker situation. Knowing that I was a complete wildcard.

  They shouted questions at us, but Coach shook his head. “Always do your talking on the field.”

  Epilogue—Christmas Morning

  DELILAH

  I woke up alone. I kept having a reoccurring nightmare since Tessa came into the hot tub room that night and broke the news Stefan had taken Jeremy. A thick blanket of darkness strangled me, but I was cold. So cold.

  “Gunnar?” I called for him softly. A scream collected in my throat. “Gunnar?”

  I slipped out from under the covers, pulling one of Gunnar’s T-shirts over my head before venturing out of the bedroom. We just moved into a cabin right outside of downtown Faraway Island, and I was still learning my way around during broad daylight.

  Gunnar had built this house with his own hands. Everything he touched, he made beautiful. Especially me. It broke my heart to find out he let this place stand empty while he lived in the tiny apartment above the toy workshop. He built it for his mate, he’d said, and he didn’t want to move in until he found her.

  I put my hand on the doorknob, stifling my scream when it pulled open under someone else’s power. An imposing figure stood blacker than night and pulled me against his body.

  “Didn’t mean to wake you,” Gunnar whispered against my ear, his words barely audible over my pounding heart. “Had a couple things I wanted to take care of before Jeremy woke up.”

  “That could be any minute.” It was Christmas morning, after all.

  Gunnar chuckled. “Don’t know about t
hat.”

  Getting Jeremy to bed last night was impossible. He fell asleep on the last ferry back from Holiday Falls. The Werewives and Bloodhounds had a huge Christmas party. Not everyone had their loved ones with them this holiday—and the show made sure no one was alone. I was pretty sure a few new love connections blossomed under the mistletoe. Landon Fox was getting awfully cozy with a woman no one had ever seen before. The Christmas tree wasn’t the only green thing in the room—every unmated Werewife had her target set on the quarterback.

  Once we got home, Jeremy got his second wind. “We always open one present on Christmas Eve,” he reminded me.

  “Okay. But we have to do it quick. We’re closer to Santa’s house now.” I knelt in front of our Christmas tree, careful not to fall into it. I’d had one mug too many of the mulled wine and after a long ferry ride, the floor was still rocking.

  “Santa won’t come if he sees the lights on,” Gunnar said. “He makes sure everyone’s in bed first. It would be super rude if he walked in unexpected.”

  “See?” Jeremy was possibly as in love with Gunnar as I was. His word was gospel. “Did we leave cookies out for him? What about the reindeer? What do they like, Gunnar?”

  “Carrots and apples,” Gunnar said.

  “I’ll get some cookies.” I handed Jeremy a package and accepted Gunnar’s hand to help me get up off my knees. I bumped against him, using my other hand to steady myself against his chest. Our gazes locked, and I’d forgotten how much wine was a gateway to other indulgences. Like sexy time. “And I’ll take care of the reindeer later.”

  “They’re just as important as Santa, right, Gunnar?” Jeremy tore away the pretty paper. I always took all this time making his presents look good and he tore through them like a tornado. It made me as happy to build it up as it made him to knock it down. “They’re the real MVP.”