by R. E. Butler
“My parents are gone. Charli is the only family I have left.”
After donning his socks and shiny black shoes, he joined her at the door, tugging her arms apart and linking their fingers. “I’m your family now, okay? Whatever happens after this point, it’s you and me together. The important thing I need you to know is that I’m only able to be away from home for twenty-four hours. At dawn tomorrow morning, I’ll be trapped one place or the other. Either here or in NPC, until dawn next Christmas Eve. All of my people are in the same boat – no one except SC can come and go as they please, except for these twenty-four hours.”
She looked up at him, mulling over what he’d just said. “That’s why Charli can only get together with me on this day.”
He nodded.
“Tomorrow at dawn you’ll be gone?”
After a long pause, he said, “I’m yours, Kerri. I know that we’ve only just met and you may feel like I’m a stranger, but you’re it for me. If you don’t want to leave your world and come to NPC to live, then I’ll stay with you.”
“But your kind aren’t known in my world. Why would you want to do that?”
“For you? I’d do anything. I only want you to be happy.”
“If I want to come to NPC?”
“I can take you there before dawn tomorrow, but you’ll be stuck in NPC until next year. There isn’t anything I can do about that.”
When Charli had first met Arian, their relationship had seemed to happen very quickly to Kerri. Her sister had been single for a long time, and then suddenly she was pregnant and living with a man. But Kerri had known the moment she met Arian that he was the right guy for Charli, and they were so perfect together.
“Can I…think about this for a little while?”
“Yeah, candy cane, of course. If you don’t want to come with me to NPC, I’ll stay here. I understand how sudden this must feel for you.”
“I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but this is all I’ve known.”
He pressed his fingertip to her lips and said, “It’s okay, I promise. I can’t imagine how your mind must be spinning right now. Let’s go watch my friend get married and then we can talk. I’ll answer all your questions.”
She nipped his fingertip and he smiled, lowering his head to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him more fully, pulling away with a smile. She stepped away from the door, and he opened it, offering her his hand. She glanced down at her bare feet and said, “I think I left my shoes in the laundry room.”
He disappeared in a blur, and returned, holding her heels.
“That was really fast,” she said as she took them and put them on.
“Being quick on my feet is one of the benefits of being a shifter.”
Taking his hand, she walked with him down the hallway to where a large crowd was gathered. She didn’t see Merri and figured she was in the other bedroom finishing getting ready. Charli, holding her son, Arjan, who was a few months old, walked over with a smile.
“Meet your Aunt Kerri,” she said, handing him to Kerri.
Letting go of Sullivan’s hand, she held her nephew and hugged him, kissing his cheek. “You’re even more handsome in person than on Skype.”
Hope, her two-year-old niece, toddled over and wrapped her arms around Kerri’s leg. “Hi, princess,” she said, kneeling to hug the little girl who wore a pretty red velvet dress. “Don’t you look sweet?”
Charli said, “Merri’s parents aren’t here yet, so you can meet everyone. They don’t know about NPC or shifters or anything, so be sure to keep the secrets.”
“I will,” she said, handing Arjan back to his mom and looking at Sullivan.
He gestured to the watching crowd and said, “Ready, candy cane?”
“Are you going to call me that forever?”
“Pretty much.”
“I’ll call you hot chocolate.”
One of the men in the crowd snorted, and Sullivan shot an annoyed glance at whoever it was. “You can call me whatever you like, just so long as I’m yours and you’re mine.”
She’d already been introduced to Rhys, the groom-to-be, on Skype. He was holding their son, RJ, who wore a black suit identical to his dad’s, complete with a white bowtie with red sparkling snowflakes on it. Then she met Declan, Mire, Vaughn, Roi, and Jack. They greeted her warmly, shaking her hand quickly and then stepping away. She noticed that every time one of them touched her, Sullivan would growl.
“You’re a total caveman,” she whispered.
“They’re single, so my beasts are feeling possessive.”
“Arian doesn’t act that way with Charli.”
“It’s different.”
“How?”
“Because they’re mated officially.”
She opened her mouth to ask what that meant but shut it when she realized that she knew exactly what he meant by saying “mate.”
After meeting Rhys’s parents, Flora and Dare, she was introduced to Santa and Mrs. Claus. At first glance, she had thought they looked different – a middle-aged couple with dark hair – but after looking at them fully, she saw that strange persona drift away until she knew exactly who she was meeting. It was as if they were under some kind of glamour spell to change their appearance. Santa was tall and broad, with long white hair and a snow-white beard that reached the middle of his chest. He wore a tailored black suit with a red dress shirt. Mrs. Claus was wearing a dark red dress that reached her knees with short sleeves and a necklace with a snow flake charm. Her curly, white hair was short, and her eyes were the prettiest shade of pale blue.
“Holy…geez, you guys are real.”
Mrs. Claus smiled as Santa released a big, booming laugh. “Yes, we are, Kerri,” Santa said. “You can see through the disguises that we donned with our magic to keep us shielded from human eyes because you’re more in tune with the supernatural thanks to your fated mate.”
“So Merri’s parents won’t know what you really look like?”
Mrs. Claus shook her head. “It’s imperative that our secret is kept.”
“I understand. Sullivan explained it to me.”
“Good. I’m sure you have a lot of questions, and if either of us can answer any, please ask,” Santa said.
“Can I hug you, Santa?” she blurted and then clapped her hand over her mouth.
Sullivan kissed her temple. “It’s okay. Everyone asks that at one time or another.”
“It’s true. And my friends call me SC,” Santa said and opened his arms to her.
Kerri stepped into his embrace, and every Christmas she’d ever had flashed through her mind, from her earliest memories of running down the stairs at the crack of dawn to see the presents under the tree, to the first one after her parents died, when her aunt had tried to make everything the same for them but it had been horribly, terribly not the same. What stuck out the most to her through all of those memories was knowing for certain that Santa had truly come into her home every year and left her a gift – something small like an ornament or a stuffed animal.
“Oh,” she said, her eyes stinging with tears. Hugging Mrs. Claus, she felt the sadness slip away as quickly as it had come.
“Only good memories today, little one,” Mrs. Claus said, kissing her cheek. Her favorite Christmas memory flitted through her mind. She thought of making sugar cookies with her mom and Charli on Christmas Eve. They’d made a mess of the kitchen, covering themselves and the counters in sugar and frosting, but it had been one of the sweetest times she’d ever had.
“Thank you. I don’t know how you did that, but thank you.”
Kerri sniffled and turned from Mrs. Claus’s embrace and moved into Sullivan’s arms. He held her close, resting his cheek on the top of her head. She stood there in his arms, tunneling her hands under his jacket to feel closer to him.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
“Thank you.”
“Hey, that’s what mates are for.”
She heard a car door s
lam shut, and someone said, “That’s her parents.”
Straightening, Kerri rose onto her toes and kissed him gently. “Help me in the kitchen?”
“You bet.”
She mulled over all she’d learned in a short amount of time as she greeted Merri’s mom and dad. Then she worked with Sullivan at her side until it was almost time for the ceremony. After finishing up with the food preparation and placement, she took her seat in the back row next to Sullivan, and leaned against him slightly as he put his arm on the back of her chair. She sighed and decided she had a lot to think about and big decisions needed to be made. And soon.
Chapter 5
Sullivan half-listened as SC performed the ceremony for Rhys and Merri. He was happy for his friend and the leader of the sleigh team, and he thought that Merri was a wonderful mate for Rhys. In the front row, Merri’s mom was holding Merri and Rhys’s son, RJ, who was staring in rapt attention at SC. All kids, especially babies, were enamored with SC. It was part of his magic.
Kerri was a soft weight against him; her peppermint and chocolate scent was driving his beasts nuts. Her legs were crossed, the knee-length dress rising slightly and revealing a stretch of nylon-covered thigh. His mouth watered as he thought about what she would really taste like. Letting his fingertips graze her thigh, he slid them under the hem of the skirt. She grabbed his wrist before he could move his hand any farther under her skirt and shot him a glare that was half warning, half encouraging.
He mouthed sorry, and she rolled her eyes, which made a laugh bubble up in his chest. He managed to stifle it so he didn’t laugh at an inopportune moment, such as when SC was asking if Merri really wanted to spend the rest of her life with Rhys.
Leaning over, he whispered in Kerri’s ear. “Hi.”
She giggled softly and pursed his lips together.
He liked teasing her.
His beasts were so content at the moment, so happy to have found their fated mate. And even though she hadn’t agreed to come back to NPC with him, he actually wasn’t worried. One way or another, he and Kerri would be together and that was all that really mattered to him. He would go on the sleigh run tonight, and when he returned here, either she came with him or he stayed with her.
And then the sexy times could commence.
He hoped.
When the ceremony was over, he followed her into the kitchen to help with the brunch. The food looked and smelled amazing, and he couldn’t believe how talented his mate was. She’d just finished culinary school and hadn’t started her job search yet, which was good news for him. He knew she’d fit right in at the commissary, where residents of NPC who didn’t – or couldn’t – cook, ate their meals. As Rhys and Merri greeted everyone, the other quads brought in long wooden folding tables and set the chairs around them. Then Charli and Roseanne started to set the tables. Sullivan stayed right by Kerri’s side.
With everyone but the newlyweds helping, it took only twenty minutes for the dishes to be set on the table, drinks to be poured, and the newly married couple to take their places at the head of their table. Sullivan pulled out Kerri’s chair for her and sat in his own seat, slipping his arm over the back of her chair.
Declan, as the Best Man, made a toast to the couple. As everyone lifted their glasses in cheer, Sullivan touched the rim of his mimosa glass to Kerri’s.
“Everything looks wonderful,” he said.
“Thank you for your help. We work really well together.”
“I think so too.”
The dishes were passed, and he helped himself to everything, thrilled to be able to eat what his mate had made. Cinnamon rolls, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, an enormous bowl of fresh fruit, mini quiches, a potato casserole covered with melted cheese, and a basket of crispy bacon – his favorite – made the rounds.
They were sitting at the second large table with Charli and Arian, who each held a child. Roi, Jack, Vaughn, and Mire joined their table. Everyone else was at the head table.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t come for your graduation,” Charli said to Kerri.
“I understand why you couldn’t. I know you were there in spirit.”
“Still. I wanted to apologize, especially now that you know the reason.”
“I promise I don’t hold anything in the past against you. I get it. Really, I do.” She looked at Sullivan and smiled.
“You’re an amazing cook,” Jack said. “Everything’s delicious.”
Sullivan narrowed his eyes at his friend, who rolled his nearly hard enough to send the orbs bouncing out of his skull and across the shining hardwood floor.
“I’m being nice,” Jack said.
“I know. Just don’t be too nice.”
“Are you always such a caveman?” Kerri asked.
“Only since dawn,” he promised.
She beamed at him, and his heart thudded in his chest at how gorgeous she was. How…mine.
“Tell me about your job,” she said, nibbling on a piece of bacon in a far-too-sexy way that was making his brain misfire.
“Aside from the one delivery job,” he said with a low voice, the phrase making her chuckle, “I work security for our town. The eight of us are part of a security team. We patrol the town and handle any disputes.”
“What kind of disputes?” She smeared butter over half of a mixed berry muffin and took a bite.
“Typical stuff – too much drinking at the tavern, maybe someone wanders out into the snow and forgets where they live. Or fighting over a female or a job position.”
She hummed. “You never got into fights, did you?”
“We’ve all brawled at one time or another. Because of what we are, sometimes we have to let off steam.”
“I like to eat ice cream when I’m letting off steam.”
“I don’t think that would work for me.”
“Are you sure? Because butter pecan ice cream with extra candied pecans in a waffle bowl is pretty darn steam relieving.”
Chuckling, he kissed her. “I’ll be sure to keep those items stocked for those times when I tick you off.”
Her brow arched. “So sure you will?”
“I’m about one thousand percent positive.”
“It’s easier to stock treats than try to be a less ticking-me-off guy?”
“Definitely.” He kissed her again, loving the way warmth bubbled up in his chest every time they touched. “I’ll try not to cause you to need to release steam.”
“Just so you know, this is the dirtiest sounding conversation I’ve ever heard,” Vaughn said.
Kerri’s smile was so wide and bright that it made the breath hitch in Sullivan’s chest. He couldn’t believe how very right everything felt in that moment. He wanted to savor it for all eternity, to never forget how much he adored his mate. Hours after meeting her, his mind was turned toward their future. He couldn’t wait to get her alone so they could talk.
When the meal was over, he and the other quads helped clear the tables and clean up the family room, putting the folding chairs and tables in a small trailer that would be taken to a rental place in town. He helped put away the food in the kitchen, while the others brought in the furniture and restored the room.
SC and Mrs. Claus came into the kitchen. “It’s time for us to go,” Mrs. C said.
“It was so nice to meet you,” Kerri said, hugging her.
“You too. I hope we’ll see you soon.”
Kerri didn’t respond, but smiled, and Sullivan hoped that meant she was thinking it was a good idea to see Mrs. C, and hopefully him, soon.
“Mind the time, son,” SC said.
“Mire lent me his watch,” Sullivan said, lifting his wrist. The watch was special, tuned to NPC time.
The team left at six p.m. to begin their flight. Because there was no sunrise or sunset in the North Pole from October until March, they didn’t have need of timing the sleigh run to the darkness, because it was always dark. He glanced at the watch, knowing he needed a full hour to shift and get into his gea
r before the flight, which, according to his watch meant he had only about three hours.
Which didn’t seem long enough at all to properly seduce Kerri so she’d be willing to be his mate.
When SC and Mrs. C exited through the back door of the cabin, the quads, except for Arian and Rhys, came up to say goodbye.
“I’ll handle getting your equipment ready,” Declan said. “But don’t expect it to be gleaming.”
“Thanks, man,” he said, accepting a hug.
“I’m happy for ya,” Declan said. “And I fully expect you to return the favor to me ten times over once you’re home.”
“Sure,” he said, rolling his eyes.
Mire and Vaughn left with Declan. Jack and Roi were sticking around with Rhys and Arian so that Merri, Charli, and the kids could come back to NPC.
“How do you guys disappear like that?” Kerri whispered.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Magic.”
“I didn’t believe in it before, but I do now.”
“Good.”
He wanted to talk to her. To kiss her some more.
A lot more.
And tell her that he wanted her to be happy no matter where they lived on the planet. But then a little girl, with a head of dark hair that was mussed from tugging on her headband all morning, toddled up to them and lifted her arms in the air to Kerri.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Kerri said, picking up her niece and giving her a hug.
Sullivan rubbed his knuckles on Kerri’s bare arm and said, “You need time with your sister. I’m going to help clean.”
“What? No, you’re not.”
“But you only see your family once a year.”
She made an exasperated sound. “You’re not going to be this dense for the rest of our lives are you?”
He didn’t know what to say.
Kerri kissed Hope noisily on the cheek until the little girl squealed in delight, and then she set her down and said, “Go find Momma.”
Sullivan’s beasts sat up in interest as Kerri turned to face him, her face glowing with blush and her lovely eyes a darker shade of green. “Don’t you want to talk to me?”
He didn’t answer, simply took her hand and hurried her back to the bedroom he’d taken her to when she’d passed out. Shutting and locking the door, he couldn’t contain the happy rumble from his beasts as she faced him in the room.