by Cindy Heart
I cry out in pain which just makes Dylan laugh.
“Stupid girl. What are you thinking, trying to fight me? You think your little dogs are going to save the day? I’ll just kill them, too. I have enough bullets for all of you. How about I kill them first? That’ll probably make you cry, right? Why don’t we find out?”
Rather than a gunshot, the next sound I hear is a giant oof like when I throw all my bed linen down the stairs at once when I want to save energy getting it to the laundry room.
I cower and wait for the loud bang of the gun for several seconds until I realize the man laughing isn’t Dylan.
The laugh isn’t cruel and evil.
It’s friendly and…jolly?
I lower my hands and see a fat man with a long white beard. He’s wearing a red suit. His cheeks are pink and his smile warms my soul.
“Santa?”
I pinch myself, certain that all of the craziness of the long night has caught up with me at last.
Santa Claus doesn’t disappear.
“Dylan, you are being a very naughty boy.”
He pulls out a scroll and lets it unroll to the floor. He snaps his fingers. A pen appears in his hand. He licks the tip and crosses off something. “I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt this year, but this puts you over the top. You’re going straight to the naughty list.”
Dylan cowers away from us. His face goes pale.
“Don’t be such a baby,” Santa says. “There’s always next year. You’ll just have to work extra hard on being good.”
“Yes, sir,” Dylan says.
He sounds like he’s about five and got caught stealing cookies.
I cover my mouth to suppress a giggle.
Rain coughs, reminding me of the reality of the situation.
“Rain!” I hurry to his side and brush his hair from his face.
He opens his eyes and smiles at me. “I love you, Holly.”
And then he kisses me, making me realize that all I ever wanted for Christmas is a super hot man who’s great in bed and willing to take a bullet for me.
“Was that really too much to ask for?” I ask out loud.
“What?” Rain asks, a wide, confused smile on his face.
“Nothing. I was just thinking about how much I love you, too.”
The jolly laugh from across the room reminds me we aren’t alone.
Rein’ok
“Are you…” Holly grabs my arm. “Is that?”
I can’t help but smile at her surprise that’s as innocent and pure as any three-year-old who finds Santa in their living room during a midnight bathroom break.
“It’s a long story,” I say.
Saint Nick nods. The jovial smile has been replaced by one of deep concern. “We don’t have much time.”
When I nod back, I can see the confused expression on Holly’s face.
I don’t want any secrets between us.
She places her body between Saint Nick and me. “Time for what?”
“It’s a long story.”
“You keep saying that, but I’m not letting you take one step outside of this house without an explanation. I won’t let you expose yourself to any more danger just because some other stupid man—no offense, Santa—says he needs your help all mysterious-like.”
Holly’s defiant move to protect me makes Saint Nick laugh again. “Ho ho ho. You’ve found yourself a good one, Rein’ok. Let me assure you, Holly, the time for danger has passed for now. I’m down two reindeer, and the only creature I know who is strong enough to replace them both is Rein’ok.”
“Rein’ok?” Holly asks.
Another secret.
“That’s a short story,” I say, deciding to mix up my answers. To Saint Nick, I say, “I’d love to help.”
The realization that I really would like to pull the sleigh again overwhelms me. How did I let myself throw away that part of my life? I’d do whatever it takes to fly on this magic night once more.
“But I can’t help you,” I say, nodding at the blood pouring out of my chest.
“Oh my God!” Holly shouts.
“Relax, Holly. Nothing a little magic can’t fix.” Saint Nick touches the side of his nose and quick as a flash, I’m good as new.
Holly rushes into my arms. I don’t plan on ever letting her get away from me again.
“I’ll help,” I say. “But Holly comes with.”
“Where are we going?” she gently demands as she buries her face into my chest.
“Why, to deliver the presents, of course!” Saint Nick answers.
He touches his nose again, and we’re on top of the roof. Holly is decked out in the biggest, fluffiest, warmest-looking winter coat I’ve ever seen.
“What about my mom? We can’t just leave her with Dylan.”
Saint Nick laughs again opens his sack. Dylan is inside, sound asleep. “We’ll take him back to the shop and see if the elves can fix him up.”
Holly’s eyes go wide with shock. “They can do that?”
He laughs again as he helps Holly into the sleigh. “No. We’ll deliver him to the cops along the way.”
I take my spot just behind Rudolph where Dasher and Dancer would normally be.
“Good to see you again,” Rudolph says in his cheery voice as his red nose nearly blinds me.
“Good to be back,” I say, honestly for once. “Dasher and Dancer going to be okay?”
“They sure are. They just got ahold of some sour milk. I warned them not to drink it. I said it smelled off. You’d think they would have learned to trust my nose by now, but they—”
I ignore the rest as I shift and take my position. “Come on, Saint Nick. Let’s get moving before Rudolph finishes his thought and has to try and come up with another one.”
Rudolph gasps. “You’re going to get a lump of coal for that one, mister.”
I laugh as we launch into the air.
I pull extra hard, knowing Holly is watching.
When we settle on a rooftop in Poland for a break, Holly hops down from the sleigh and nuzzles her face against my cheek.
“You are the strongest reindeer in the universe, Rein’ok. But if you can pull even harder, we’ll get back to the cabin all that much faster.”
As she saunters back to the sleigh, I shout, “Breaks over. Let’s get your lazy asses moving. I’ve got my own present I need to deliver before the night is through.”
“Get a room, you two,” Donner says.
Saint Nick snaps the reins, sending us leaping into the sky.
I do manage to pull harder and we finish our deliveries in half the normal time.
When Saint Nick drops Holly and I off at my cabin…our cabin…and leads the sleigh back home, I smile as I hear him call out, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
“I love you,” I blurt out, overwhelmed by the weight of my words. I refuse to hide from committing to this wonderful woman. “I’m not ever going to let you go.”
“I love you, too, dear. I can’t imagine where else I could possibly want to be.” Holly whispers into my ear. “Santa gave us a special present tonight.”
“Oh yeah? He didn’t even wait to let me unwrap it with you. What was it? Monogrammed towels?”
She shakes her head and bites her lip as if too shy to admit what it was. “You might not be ready for it,” she teases.
“You’re killing me. I don’t give a damn about the present. I just want to unwrap you and make love tonight.”
“Me, too.” She’s nearly breathless. She trembles, but not from the cold. “But I think you should know what the present is first.”
Worried at this strange reaction, I pull her in for a hug. “What is it?”
“While you were pulling the sleigh tonight, Santa and I were talking. He really wanted to give you something special for Christmas to show how much he’s always appreciated all your hard work, and...well...he made it so we can have babies…if you want to. Would you like that, dear?”
&nbs
p; My heart swells at the thought. “That magnificent bastard. I’m going to fill you full of babies. We’ll have them pulling our own sleigh in just a few years.”
She giggles and playfully swats my chest. “Slow down, champ. How about we start with one and take it from there?”
I toss her onto my shoulder and carry her into our cabin. We don’t leave it again for two days. What can I say? I want to make sure we have a baby as soon as possible.
Epilogue - Holly
The twins pace back and forth near the fireplace of the cabin. It’s no longer the tiny place where Rein’ok and I started our relationship. He’s expanded it in the five years we’ve been together. With all the bedrooms he’s added, he’s definitely not planning on stopping with two kids.
I place my hand on my stomach.
Good.
There’s no bump yet, but our baby will be coming soon enough. I haven’t told Rein’ok yet. I’d just confirmed it with the doctor earlier this afternoon.
“He’s not coming,” Merry says, flopping onto the floor in a pout.
“He’ll be here,” Rudy says.
Ever since returning to his job, Rein’ok and Rudolph have been the closest of friends, but even I was shocked when he chose the name. It fits our boy, though; the eternal optimist.
“But I want to fly with the reindeer now,” Merry whines.
The gentle laughing behind her sends her scrambling into Santa’s arms.
“Come on, Daddy,” she shouts out the open door, hoping Rein’ok will hear her from wherever he is searching for berries to fuel him through the long night.
Santa takes off his stocking cap and sets it on Merry’s head. He flashes me a knowing smile. “I think Rein’ok is going to take the night off this year, my tiny deer.”
My pulse quickens.
Santa knows, and he thinks it’s time to tell my husband.
“Fine. Then let’s go,” Merry cries out.
Rudy rolls his eyes. “I really don’t understand why she doesn’t get lumps of coal each year, Santa.”
“Ho ho ho,” he laughs before tapping his nose and whisking the children off for their big yearly adventure.
Rein’ok comes in from outside. He’s been running as a reindeer. He says he’s eating berries to fuel up for the night, but I know he just needs to burn off energy each year because he gets even more excited than the twins.
He wrapped himself in the robe we keep on the porch for when he shifts back into human form. “Where are the kids? I heard the sleigh. It’s time to go.”
“Dear, they’ve already left.”
He runs back out onto the porch. “What? This doesn’t make sense. He needs me.”
I join him and wrap my arms around him, pressing my cheek against his muscular back. “I need you more tonight.”
He spins and looks down on me with concern. “What’s wrong?”
Rein’ok is always ready to abandon his own plans if he thinks I need help. Just one of the millions of things I love about my shifter.
“Nothing. Everything’s perfect. I just needed some time alone with you.”
Rein’ok’s laugh is music to my ears. “How much does Saint Nick charge for babysitting? He’s going to have those kids so hopped up on milk and cookies without me there to slow him down.”
“They’ll be fine.”
I’ve thought of a million fancy ways to tell my love my big news, but in the end, I choose to keep it simple.
Pressing his hand against my belly, against our baby, I say, “We’re pregnant.”
His eyes open wide, just as surprised as when I’d told him the first time. “I’ll get started on making a new crib right away.”
So practical. He’ll also search every square inch of the baby’s new room to make sure nothing’s out of place.
“Not tonight,” I say, untying his robe. “The baby is my present to you. What do you have for me?”
“There are dozens of presents under the tree.” He takes my hand and drags me inside. “Which one do you want to open first?”
I push him down onto the couch, pull off my panties from under my nightgown, and straddle his lap.
I feel his hardness press against my pussy. I feel my juices dripping down the inside of my legs.
“I don’t want any of those right now. What else do you have to offer?”
He bucks his hips and slams the full length of his thick cock inside me, stealing my breath.
Santa doesn’t bring the kids back until noon the next day.
Rein’ok and I haven’t slept a wink. Sure, he cleaned each room of the house as the night went on, but not until we were done making love in it.
The twins hop onto our laps on the couch.
“Can we open presents now?” Merry begs.
At the same time, Rudy shouts, “You wouldn’t believe the creatures we saw tonight.”
“I bet I would, son,” Rein’ok says, lifting both kids up under his arms and carrying them to the tree. “Your mother and I are exhausted, so you two can open everything and tell us what we got.”
I lie down on the couch. Rein’ok spoons his body behind mine, and together we watch the joy on our children’s faces as they start to open their Christmas presents.
I glance toward the fireplace to thank Santa for watching the kids, but he’s already disappeared, leaving our perfect little family to enjoy the day together.
“Can we go to Grammy’s when we’re done? I bet she bought me a new gaming system,” Merry says.
Rein’ok groans. Mom always makes him sing when we go over for Christmas. He pretends to not want to, but I know better.
“Give us a couple hours for a nap,” I say, my eyes already growing heavy.
“Alexa, set an alarm for two hours,” Rudy shouts at the speaker on the coffee table.
“Alarm set,” the device confirms.
I hear Rein’ok’s steady breathing and let it lull me off to sleep.
***
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