Chapter 12
“What is going on in that sexy head of yours?” Lyra asked, stepping out onto the back patio of the guest home that they were staying at in dragon territory. Conall had given them the very best, as was due Finn’s position as an equal Alpha. Their new baby was sleeping soundly upstairs and she was ready to relax with her mate for a couple hours on this quiet Christmas Eve.
Finn frowned and stood when he saw what she was doing. “Here, I’ll get that.”
“I think I can handle carrying two glasses.” Hers was a wine-blood drink and his was just plain wine.
Finn wasn’t quite as bad as the dragons, but sometimes he did act a little ridiculous, like now, acting as if she couldn’t even handle carrying something so small. When in reality she was a bloodborn vampire basically as strong as him. But she had a feeling she knew what was going on with him. Their oldest daughter had just left for parts unknown the night before Christmas because of her black ops job and he was trying to deal with it.
He took the glasses and waited until she’d stretched out on one of the lounge chairs overlooking an oversized S-shaped pool sparkling under the moonlight. There was a Christmas-tree-shaped float on the far end of it.
It was too cold for humans to swim in but not for them. Though she had no desire to get in the pool now. “So, what’s going on?”
He slid into the chair with her instead of sitting on the one next to her and she curled up against him.
“I guess I thought we’d get more time with Vega while she was visiting. But she was here, then gone. And she only extended her stay because of Victoria’s coma.”
Lyra trailed her fingers down his chest. “I know. But she has a job to do. And she had a lot of fun spoiling Xander.”
“Yeah, I know. Did you notice how vague she was about where they were going?”
Lyra thumped his chest once. “That’s because her job is clandestine. She can’t tell us everything. And even if she could, she wouldn’t. Because we’re both ridiculously overprotective and would probably try to give her backup that she doesn’t need. She’s capable and she’s got Gabriel to watch her back now. Our girl is fully grown.”
Laughing softly, he kissed the top of her head. “I know you’re right. It’s just that with Victoria flatlining like that, it reminded me how things can change in an instant. Thank God you didn’t go through that giving birth to Xander.”
“No kidding.”
“I don’t think I could handle it if something happened to you.” For some reason the words sounded like a confession.
“Hey, I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know. It’s just…I’ve got everything I ever wanted. I never expected a mate like you.”
“Like me?”
“Fucking perfection,” he growled, leaning closer and nipping her bottom lip with his teeth. “And now we’ve got two children who are both unique hybrids. Some days it feels too good to be true, is all. I can’t lose you guys.”
Moving quickly, she straddled Finn, letting her knees fall on either side of his hips. “If something happens to me, I give you permission to go into the afterlife and pull me back,” she said, even if that was ridiculous. Probably.
Growling low in his throat, he crushed her body to his, teasing her mouth open with his tongue, taking and demanding everything. Just as he always did.
Her entire body lit on fire. Just as it always did.
For the moment nothing existed but Finn—the two of them. And the wild heat they always created together.
* * *
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Bran muttered as they snuck in the back door of Keelin’s parents’ house. “Two grown dragons.”
“Well if you want any sexy times later, no more complaining.” His petite mate lifted up on her toes and tugged his face down to hers. Her long, blonde hair was in some complicated set of braids tonight that wrapped around into a tight knot at her nape. All he wanted to do was tug her hair free and run his fingers through the tresses as he possessed her mouth. Then her. Over and over.
Keelin’s kiss scorched him straight to his cock. Like always. So yeah, he felt ridiculous sneaking into her parents’ house and delivering presents, but the truth was he would do anything for her. The female had stolen his heart so many years ago and he didn’t want it back. She owned him, body and soul.
Which was why he was wearing an ugly Christmas sweater and they were delivering presents to most of Keelin’s former clanmates.
She’d given up her clan to become a part of his, so yeah, he could quit complaining. He hefted the big red and green bag of presents onto his back as they slipped inside the back door.
“I just don’t understand why we have to sneak in.” Because sneaking into Arya and Dragos’s house seemed like taking your life into your own hands. No one kept their doors locked in dragon territory. It was virtually impossible for humans to sneak into their compound because of their security, and pretty much no one would be stupid enough to steal from one of them.
Or break into a house. Even to deliver gifts.
“It’s more fun this way. And I’ll wear that naughty elf costume later if you’re good.”
He straightened. Okay, then. It was time to deliver these damn presents.
The house was huge, as most dragon homes were. But it didn’t take long to make their way to one of the front living rooms. The twelve-foot-high Christmas tree was decorated in silver and greens, the lights twinkling in tune to music playing from somewhere. And they’d used a real tree, if the rich scent was anything to go by.
He set the bag down and immediately opened it, pulling out a handful of silver-wrapped boxes.
“My mom is going to be so surprised—” She frowned as they both heard a soft thump from upstairs. “I thought they were visiting with Aunt Alma right now,” she murmured.
“Set all the gifts up, I’ll check.” Bran strode from the room and quietly jogged up a few steps. But he froze halfway up the stairs when he heard very distinctive noises. Oh, it was definitely time to get out of there.
Grinning to himself, he hurried back down the stairs and grabbed Keelin’s hand.
“What are you doing?”
He held a finger to her mouth, and picked up the half-full bag. “Did you leave everything?” he whispered.
She nodded, frowning, but didn’t say anything else as he took her hand in his.
Heading back the way they’d come, they moved quickly and quietly until they were on the back patio. But he held a finger to his lips, motioning next door. It was their next stop anyway and he knew for a fact that house was empty right now. The owners were celebrating Christmas Eve with their kids a couple blocks over.
“What’s going on?” Keelin asked as they reached the back door.
“I very distinctly heard two people having sex upstairs. And one guess who it was.”
She scrunched her nose. “Gah. Those two have been mated for thousands of years.”
He let his hands slide down Keelin’s hips as he pulled her close, letting her feel his reaction to her. “I hope when we’ve been mated that long, we’re the same way.”
Even under the moonlight he could see her cheeks flush pink with pleasure. “Me too,” she said, smiling. “Let’s finish this so we can get down to business too.”
Hell yeah, that sounded like a plan. And he was definitely going to let her wear that elf costume.