by Evelyn Vox
“How does what feel?”
I sipped the eggnog. Damn, it was good.
“Having a mate, a bear mate,” Bo answered, sitting at my other side.
I looked around at Willow, Dex, and Bo, all looking at me with expectant faces. Zander just smirked and reached for Addie’s hand as she came in with a glass of hot cocoa. I took my time sipping the eggnog, enjoying drawing out the suspense. I put the cup down on the table in front of me and wiped my mouth.
“It’s good.”
“That’s it?” Willow squealed, kicking me playfully. “You chump.”
“It’s like finding a part of you that you never knew was missing, right?” Addie chimed in, a chocolate mustache on her upper lip.
“Yeah, it’s like,” I struggled to find the words even as a big, stupid grin split my face, “like I’d been limping along with one leg all my life, and now I can suddenly run.”
Dex, Bo, and Willow sighed collectively, my three unmated siblings. I knew they were happy for me, but I also knew they wanted to find their mates. I couldn’t blame them.
“I wonder if I’ll meet mine at the New Year’s summit,” Willow breathed, looking wistfully at the Christmas tree, the red and white lights reflecting off her dark eyes.
“Shifters from all over the region will be there,” Dex mused, “maybe we’ll all find someone!”
Zander laughed.
“I’ve been going to that summit for years, and my mate was right here all along.”
“Duh, that’s why you never found anyone, Zandie,” Willow rolled her eyes. “It was Addie for you from the start.”
“Speaking of the summit,” Holly said, walking back in, and sending pang of annoyance that I hadn’t followed her down the bond, “we should call your parents in here and tell them about the hunters.”
She squeezed herself between me and Dex, and I felt a little rumble of possessiveness as the side of her ass brushed against Dex’s thigh. Dex jumped up in a flash and sat next to the fire. Smart man. I gave him a sheepish smile, which he returned, telling me all was well between us.
We called my parents into the room and told them what happened. How the hunters looked, smelled, and the clues they had unwittingly given Holly while she was their captive. Mom and Dad frowned.
“This is valuable information,” Dad said at last, when the silence that fell after we told our story loomed too big. “Your mother and I will share it with the other Alpha’s at the summit. We need to come up with a plan.”
“Agreed,” Holly said, sitting forward over her knees. “They’re bolder, stronger, and more organized than ever. We need to defend ourselves.”
“Maybe we can talk to them?” Willow asked. “Maybe they just don’t know that we aren’t monsters?”
Holly barked out a cynical laugh.
“They aren’t interested in talking.”
“How do you know?” Willow pushed, cheeks red. How much rum had she put in there? I felt Holly’s anger spike through our bond.
“Have you not heard a word we said? Don’t you know what happened to Zander? To me?”
To her credit, Holly kept her voice low and steady, even if it was laced with white hot anger. Willow opened her mouth, to say God only knows what, but Mom stepped in.
“It’s Christmas,” she said. “Let’s table this conversation for now and enjoy the holiday.”
“Agreed,” Addie said, quick to show her support.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Dad added. “Then we can do presents.”
We all grinned, my father giving me a knowing look. I had a little surprise up my sleeve. A family tradition that I was to take over this year. I glanced around the room, as if to tell my family: Don’t spoil it. Holly quirked an eyebrow, her suspicion bleeding through the bond, but said nothing.
“I can’t wait,” I said, giving her leg a squeeze.
Holly
After an expansive meal and more cookies, candy canes, chocolates, and Christmas cake than even I could eat, we all gathered around the tree to open presents. A fire crackled in the fireplace, carols played in the background, and everyone wore one of those insane sweaters. The air was full of festive scents: pine, cinnamon, mulled wine, gingerbread, and chestnuts actually roasting over an open fire.
Stockings hung fat and heavy over the fireplace, each of them bearing a family member’s name. To my surprise, there was a big green stocking with ‘HOLLY’ emblazoned over the white, fluffy rim.
“After we had you for Thanksgiving, we had a feeling you’d be back for Christmas,” Vincent said, clapping a hand on my shoulder as he took a sip of eggnog.
He offered me a glass before sitting next to Sadie by the fire. I glanced around, looking for my mate, but he’d been gone for a few minutes. I tugged on that connection between us, and felt an impish glimmer of excitement from him. Sensing he was close, I turned to the doorway before he burst through, a wide grin plastered on his face. One look at him, and I turned beet red.
“Ho, Ho, Ho,” Jace roared, swaggering into the room and clapping hands around his stomach.
He’d put on a Santa Claus costume, white beard, hat, buckled belt, and all. I thought of all the banter between us and had to fight the arousal that began to grow at the memories.
“Have you been naughty this year, Holly?” he asked, in front of everyone, giving me a dirty wink. He’d even made his voice different, bellowing and deep.
I sputtered around my eggnog and glared daggers at him even as the rest of the Barkley’s laughed in good cheer. There was no way they could know what he was really referencing, but I planned to make my mate pay for this later.
Oh, he’d definitely pay.
“Hand out our presents first,” Zander said, excited.
“Sure thing, young man,” Jace replied, completely in character. He made a show of sorting through the piles under the tree, finding the gifts from Addie and Zander, and handing them out to each of us.
Addie stood in front of the fireplace, a jubilant smile on her face.
“Everyone, open them at the same time,” she said, clapping her hands together under her chin.
Zander wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in close, the two of them radiating excitement. I didn’t have a present, not that I minded, so I just watched as Willow was the first to rip the paper. And the first to let loose a piercing shriek. Then Sadie screamed, and Jace whooped, and soon everyone had jumped up, crowding around the couple, not one of them with a dry eye.
Jace’s discarded present sat next to me. Nestled inside the gold wrapping paper, a t-shirt with the words WORLD’S GREATEST UNCLE, peeked out. I looked around and saw similar gifts, given to everyone in the room. Addie was…pregnant? Already?! They’d just had their mating at Thanksgiving. I gulped.
These wolves sure moved fast.
My mind played over all the couplings between Jace and me, and my heart skipped a beat. I supposed a heat was for the purposes of breeding, but…I glanced down at my stomach. Was I going to have a belly full of cubs soon? Or would they be pups? Mild panic began to claw up my neck. My breathing hitched. God, I was so not ready to be a mom.
Not yet.
Jace’s face snapped towards me, no doubt feeling my distress. I didn’t want to ruin Addie and Jace’s happy moment, though, especially after I made such a damn fool of myself when they were mated. So I pushed the feeling away, down deep. I’d think about it later. I forced myself to smile, stand up, and join in the massive group hug. Wolves were exceedingly affectionate, and the Barkley’s were no different.
“Congratulations,” I said to the soon-to-be parents.
“We have an extra shirt for you at home,” Zander said, waggling his eyebrows at me.
I wondered how obvious Jace and I had been before. It seemed like everyone in the family knew we’d be mated eventually. I laughed, giving Zander a playful shove. He was a good man, a good wolf. He’d make a fine father. And Addie…her face sparkled, those eyes so similar to Jace’s, her long hair the same
inky blue-black. The corners of my mouth tugged into a frown. I needed to speak with her.
I waited until the frenzy had died down and wrapping paper littered the floor from all the opened presents. When Addie got up to get more cookies from the kitchen, I didn’t hesitate when I offered to help. More than one pair of eyebrows raised in surprise. Everyone knew Addie and I didn’t necessarily play nice. I rolled my eyes and followed on her trail.
“We need more chocolate crinkles,” she said, piling some onto the cookie tray. “How about sugar cookies?”
Her eyes turned to me, assessing. She kept talking, like she was nervous. I took a deep breath.
“Addie, I owe you an apology.”
Her back went stiff before she turned to me, cookie platter in front of her.
“Oh,” she said, like it was all she could think to say.
“I understand it now,” I admitted, looking at the floor, to the side, anywhere but those deep blue eyes. “The heat, the mating. I get it. And I’m sorry I was such a bitch to you at Thanksgiving.”
“Thank you,” she said, and I hazarded a glance her way.
Addie was smiling, eyes sparkling with unshed tears. I groaned inwardly. I wasn’t trying to make this so emotional.
“I’m sorry,” she sniffled. “Hormones.”
“It’s okay.”
“Thank you,” she said, putting the cookies on the counter. “That means a lot. For what it’s worth, I’ve always liked you. If I hadn’t been in the thrall of heat, I never would have attacked you.”
“I know, I understand now. It’s…” I paused, a grin twitching my lips, “powerful when the heat takes over.”
Addie barked out a laugh.
“I don’t know how you two are managing to stay so sane right now.”
“I think it’s harder for Jace, but for me, I guess it’s different for bears. It comes and goes in waves instead of a constant rush.”
“Wow, that must be nice.”
“Yeah, it makes it easier. But when it hits…it can’t be denied.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” she giggled. “I’m so happy for you two. And I will always be mortified that I attacked you. I wish it hadn’t happened.”
“No harm done,” I said, holding up the arm she had nearly mangled. “See?”
“I’m glad you’re part of the family now. If you need anything at all, let us know, okay?”
My chest tightened at the offer, bristling at the unexpected warmth that radiated out from my heart. I smiled and nodded my thanks, my voice suddenly choked for words. I helped her load up the cookie tray before we walked back to the rest of the family. Jace tugged at our bond the second I walked into the room, his question evident.
Everything okay?
I smiled and nodded before curling up next to him on the sofa. The Santa costume was fuzzy and warm beneath my fingers as I pulled him to me in a hug.
Jace
The moment I closed the bedroom door, Holly was on me. She jumped into my arms, legs curling around my waist, mouth attacking mine with fervor. I returned the passion, cupping her round ass and grinding her into my hardness. I groaned.
Would she always feel this exquisite?
Holly pulled back, giving me a breathless look before something truly naughty crept across her features.
“I didn’t know you’d be dressing up as Santa.”
“Family tradition,” I grinned.
I omitted the fact that it as usually my dad who did it. He didn’t ask questions when I said I wanted to take on the mantle this year. He’d been delighted to see I wanted to carry on the tradition. What I really wanted was to mess with my mate. And it had worked spectacularly.
The look on her face had been priceless. Adorable. Sexy.
I growled and tossed her onto the bed, pinning her beneath me. But she heaved with her legs until she’d flipped on top of me, pinning me down with her impressive strength.
“You’ve been bad this year, Santa,” she purred, hands pulling away my beard and hat.
“And what are you going to do about it?”
Holly smirked, grinding herself against my cock.
“Time for bad girls to play,” she whispered as she began to trail lower and lower.
Her hands slipped beneath the red pants to grab my painfully thick flesh. I hissed as her thumb found a pearl of precum and rubbed it around my swollen head. I watched her hand bob in my pants, that wicked grin still on her face.
“Does Santa like it when his little helper rubs his big, fat cock?”
“Yes,” I moaned.
“Mmm, do you know how wet you make me Santa?”
I sniffed the air, scenting her heady arousal, and growled my answer. Holly’s hands kept moving, faster and faster, until I was sure I was going to burst.
“Oh, does Santa want to come?”
Her voice was innocent, sweet, but her eyes were nothing but mischievous.
I nodded, staring at her, ready to spurt all over those talented hands. My balls tightened, and I clenched my teeth, certain I was about to cum all in my pants, when she stopped. It was so abrupt and sudden, I couldn’t help the fierce, angry moan that leaked out of my mouth.
“Quiet, Santa,” she scolded. “You don’t want to let everyone know what a naughty girl I am. Do you?”
“No,” I said, my hands fisting the sheets.
My cock weeped with arousal, seconds from an orgasm. I wanted to snarl, roar, flip her over and fuck her until my cum was dripping down her legs. But Holly kept me down, moving to sit on my chest. I watched as she snuck a hand down her pants and another up her shirt.
I thought my cock would explode as I watched her pleasure herself on top of me. Her breasts peeked out of the bottom of her sweater, her hand squeezing them while the one between her legs rubbed faster and faster.
“You want to see how bad I can be, Santa?”
Her green eyes locked on mine, heavy with lust. That rosebud mouth parted, her cheeks rosy, as she writhed on top of me. She worked herself up and up, the scent of her essence strong, until she broke over me. Her hips bucked, her back arched, and she bit back the moan that threatened to spill from that mouth of hers.
Holly’s eyes gleamed as she sighed and pulled her hand from her leggings. She placed glistening fingers to my lips, and I sucked them hungrily. I closed my eyes, groaning as I savored her sweet, pure taste. My cock was so hard it hurt and throbbed in agony.
“Poor Santa, baby,” she cooed. “So hard, so ready to come for his naughty little helper.”
I snarled. She laughed, leaning back to trace one hot finger along the outline of my cock. The fabric of my pants rubbed against it, making my hips buck.
“You don’t get to come until I say so,” she said. “Santa was very bad. Now he needs to be punished.”
So this way payment for my little prank earlier. I hissed as she cupped my swollen balls.
“Stay right here,” she said, getting up to remove her clothes.
Despite myself, I obeyed. There was power in her eyes, a promise that she’d make this worse for me if I disobeyed her. Plus, I was getting a wild thrill from letting her take control. My eyes raked over her curves as she undressed. She smirked at me before she straddled me again.
Only this time, her pussy was on my face.
“Time for dessert, Santa,” she said, planting her glistening folds against my lips.
I growled, tongue snaking out to lick her, to taste her honey. Holly moaned, her clit a warm, hot little button, pressing against my eager tongue. I lapped at her, licking and licking until she mewed with pleasure. Her hands at my belt soon had my pants pushed down to my knees, and I groaned when my cock sprung free. I couldn’t see what she was doing. My view was filled entirely by her delectable pussy and juicy ass.
So it was a shock when her hot tongue licked along the sensitive underside of my cock. I moaned into her mouth, my cock searing, ready, seconds from pumping thick ropes of cum into the air. Holly chuckled, her tongu
e tracing a long, slow line down to the base. She kept going until she gently sucked on my balls, the sensation making me grip her ass, my knuckles white against her flesh.
Holly moaned as my tongue teased and caressed. Her nectar dripped down my face, the smell and taste of her only adding to the burning between my legs. And her damn taunting didn’t let up. She kept darting her tongue over all my sensitive areas, sucking and licking for just a second before she stopped.
The woman was working me up into a frenzy. I was certain if I didn’t come soon, I’d combust, and take her down with me. Holly’s thighs shuddered as her second orgasm barreled through her. She gushed into my mouth, grinding against my face, tasting divine. Fuck, her taste alone could send me over the edge—my hips bucked against the latest flick of her wicked, wicked tongue. She got up, spinning to straddle me.
Holly moaned and rubbed her silky folds along my raging cock. Teasing, gliding, not putting me inside of her. She took one look at my face and giggled.
“Does Santa want to be fucked?”
All I could do was snarl. I grabbed her hips and tried to push her over my throbbing cock.
“Ah, ah,” she said, pitching forward so her hands rested on my chest, her hips rising out of my reach. “Tell me how badly you want to fuck your little helper, Santa.”
“I want to bury my cock inside of you. I want to fuck that tight, sweet pussy until you’re coming again, all over me.”
Holly’s eyes bored into mine, her breath hitching in her chest. If she didn’t start riding me soon…I sent a wave of my anguish, my need for her, down the bond. She gasped, pitching forward like she’d been shot in the chest.
“I want you so badly, Holly,” I breathed, her face an inch away. “I need you.”
“Oh, Jace,” she said, planting a kiss on my lips as her hand reached between us to place my cock at her entrance. “Fuck me, baby.”
I growled, thrusting upward so hard we lifted off the mattress. Holly bit back her scream and my eyes rolled into the back of my head. Her wet heat enveloped me, and I speared into her sweet, tender flesh over and over. Fuck, she was so wet, so tight. Heaven. My Holly was a slice of heaven.