Avery wasn’t late for the third date. In fact, she closed up shop early to make sure she wouldn’t be late, which meant she had to sit awkwardly on the patio while waiting for Krampus to show up for their date. She had an eggnog latte in her hands to warm her hands and calm her nerves. The great thing about being a Christmas elf was that nobody suspected that eggnog worked on her the way that alcohol worked on humans so she could drink it whenever she damn well pleased.

Avery heard a splashing sound coming from the lake. She looked across the lake and saw that somebody was rowing a boat! There was only one person crazy enough to row a rowboat across The Wreath during the winter, without a light, and that person wasn’t just a person — they were a demon.

Krampus docked his rowboat and walked up the stairs to the back patio.

“You rowed over?” asked Avery, looking over Krampus, who was wearing a red flannel shirt with green work pants. “‘I thought you’d teleport over — or at least, take your motorboat.”

“Well, tonight’s date involves the rowboat,” said Krampus, offering Avery his hand. “Come on.”

Avery took Krampus’ hand and walked with Krampus down the steps to the patio. Krampus helped her into the rowboat.

“Here,” said Krampus, still standing on the dock, rummaging through his endless pockets. He pulled out a big, warm wool blanket and tucked it around Avery. He pulled another quilt out of his pocket, like some demonic magician, and wrapped the red and black buffalo check blanket around Avery’s arms. He reached into his pockets yet again — but this time, he pulled out a champagne glass.

“Hold this for me, will you?” asked Krampus.

Avery took the champagne flute from Krampus. Krampus reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle of champagne. He put the bottle on the dock and reached into his pocket, pushed aside some invite to a Christmas party, and pulled out a saber — a full-on saber, complete with sharp, curved side and gold handle.

“Okay, slow down,” ordered Avery. “Why the heck do you have a sword?”

“To open the champagne, of course,” said Krampus.

Krampus held the bottle in one hand and held the sword in the other. Krampus positioned the sword, pulled back, and pushed forward. The top of the champagne bottle came clean off! He took Avery’s glass and filled it with champagne.

“Okay, that was crazy,” said Avery, as Krampus magically gathered all the shards of glass and made them disappear into the void. “How the heck did you do that? Was that demoncraft?”

“Merely physics,” said Krampus, stuffing the trash into his magic pockets before getting into the rowboat. “After all — if I’m going to break the laws of physics, I need to know the laws of physics.”

Krampus undid the rope attaching the rowboat to the lake and started rowing the boat back toward Camp Kringle.

“You know…when I saw you rowing across the lake, in the dark, I thought you must be crazy,” said Avery. “But…even though it’s cold and dark out here, I like this. I like the way to the boat moves. You’re good at rowing — even if I can’t frikkin’ see you do it!”

“You can’t see me?” asked Krampus. “Avery! You just had to tell me that. Give me a second.”

“Oh, no, I wouldn’t want to be a — “ started Avery, but, before she could say the word ‘bother,’ Krampus had enchanted the oars to row themselves. Krampus reached into his pockets and, after pushing aside some Christmas letter from his cousin, found a lantern and a lighter. He pulled them out of his pocket. The ornate lantern had a goat’s head design on the sides. He lit the lantern and whipped his hands around it. The torch rose into the air and followed the boat as Krampus took hold of the oars and kept on rowing to Camp Kringle.

“If you can make the oars row themselves…why didn’t you —” started Avery.

“Use them to get across the lake, instead of making the werebear bad boys row their bad boy butts across the lake?” asked Krampus.

“No — I know why you did that. You were training them. Rowing’s a good workout,” said Avery. “I was going to ask, why didn’t you just let the oars row you across the lake? And why don’t you just let them row us across the lake right now?”

“Because you’ve got a thing for guys in rowboats,” said Krampus.

“I do not!” denied Avery.

“Uh-huh — so explain why you were always sitting out on the back patio, every December first, waiting to watch me row across the lake with that year’s bad boy,” teased Krampus. “Just admit it — there’s something attractive about a man rowing.”

Avery watched Krampus row. His thick muscles bulged against the fabric of the flannel shirt. As he rowed, he sweated a bit, and that natural, manly, musk scent was hotter than any cologne, more primal, the kind of aroma that couldn’t be bottled. Avery was used to smelling sugar all day — after all, she did run a bakery! She much preferred the scent of Krampus’ spice.

“Yeah,” mused Avery. “I guess there is.”

Krampus docked the boat at the dock at Camp Kringle. He got out of the boat first and then helped Avery get out of the boat. He walked her up to his cabin, which was only a short distance from the island shore.

“I can’t believe that I’ve known you for…well, a long time…and I’ve never been here before,” said Avery. “It smells like pine trees.”

“Maybe that’s because it’s a Christmas tree farm,” said Krampus, pulling Avery close to give her a kiss on the forehead.

“Wait — aren’t we supposed to go on a date?” asked Avery. “Why are we here?”

“We are going on a date — here,” explained Krampus. “Come on. You won’t be disappointed.”

Krampus led Avery into his cabin. Avery was surprised to find that the inside of the cabin was warm, with warm lighting from vintage light bulbs.

“Are you going to give me the grand tour?” asked Avery.

“Uh…there’s this big living room, dining room, kitchen space,” said Krampus, waving his hand toward the main room. “Up there’s my room, my office, and the room where the bad boys sleep. There’s a bathroom up there and one down here.

“Noted,” said Avery. “But…what are we doing for our date?”

“We’ve done dinner and a show twice now,” said Krampus. “I was thinking I’d make you dinner.”

“And the show?” asked Avery.

“We’ll get to that later,” said Krampus.

Krampus led Avery over to the dining nook and sat her down there.

“What do you want to drink? Juice? Eggnog? Rum? Wine? Water? Absinthe?” asked Krampus.

“Water’s fine,”‘ said Avery. “Actually, eggnog.”

Avery got up, but Krampus walked her back to her seat.

“You don’t want help cooking?” asked Avery.

“I can cook,” said Krampus. “Trust me.”

“If you can cook so well, why do you always come over to Bear Claw Bakery for pastries and coffee?” asked Avery.

“Maybe it’s for the same reason you always wait outside that same bakery, waiting for me to bring you that dang Christmas tree, year after frikkin’ year,” said Krampus, pouring Avery a cup of eggnog in a fancy crystal glass. He carried it over to her.

Krampus opened his fridge up and pulled out a bunch of ingredients…and then, he got to work so quickly that Avery couldn’t follow his movements. At one point, he seemed to be slicing up carrots, and at another point, he was tenderizing some type of meat. He had a bunch of apples and spices and all kinds of other things. Before long, there was something in one of the ovens, another item in the other, and something happening in a big metal pot over a fire in the fireplace.

“Okay — what are you doing over there?” asked Avery. “Are you brewing a frikkin’ love potion?”

“No — but by the time you finish a glass of this, you might just fall in love with me,” said Krampus, and Avery wasn’t quite sure if he was joking. “It’s my homemade apple cider.”

“You can make apple cider?” asked Avery.

“You can’t?” asked Krampus.

“I can — I’m just surprised you can,” said Avery.

“Well, you wanna see how a demon makes it?” asked Krampus. He motioned to the big table in the center of the room, where various ingredients and tools for making cider were laid out.

“Sure,” said Avery. “I know you’re trying to be Nice, letting me sit while you cook, but…”

“You saw me work in the kitchen,” said Krampus, quirking a brow. “I didn’t want you to get hurt in there!”

“Okay, fair point — but let’s get back to the cider,” said Avery. “What do we do first?”

“Well, I’ve got a bunch of cider apples here,” said Krampus. “Wanna try one?”

“What makes them cider apples?” asked Avery. “I always just use whatever apples I find on sale or at the farmer’s market.”

“Try one,” said Krampus. He waved his hand over an apple, and it suddenly split into perfect slices, leaving behind a core that Krampus tossed in a compost bowl that he’d throw into the lake later.

Avery took a slice of the apple and took a single bite that she forced herself to swallow.

“It’s sour and bitter and just all around…terrible,” said Avery. “You sure you wanna use this in the cider?”

“Abso-frikkin’-lutely,” said Krampus. “You’ll see — what we mix together in that cauldron, it’ll turn out great.”

“Okay, so you put nasty ass apples in it,” said Avery. “What else?”

“Mulling spices,” said Krampus, pointing to a set of spices he’d laid out, and some muslin spice bags. “You just fill the bags with spices, and toss them into the cauldron with the apples.”

“That’s it?” asked Avery.

“No — sweetener, you need one when you use these cider apples,”‘ said Krampus, tossing an apple in the air and making it levitate before catching it. “Do you prefer white sugar, brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup?”

“Ooh — is it good maple syrup?” asked Avery.

“You think I’d give you brown corn syrup?” asked Krampus. “I’m a demon — not a monster.”

Avery picked up the jar of maple syrup that was on the table and looked at it. It was the good stuff, straight out of Vermont!

“Wow,’’ said Avery. “I guess you don’t half-ass anything.”

“No — especially around a woman with two full asses,” said Krampus.

“Well, now I don’t wanna use maple,” said Avery. “Got any of that artificial sweetener?”

“Avery, your curves are beautiful,” said Krampus. “I’m a man who wants a whole lot of woman. I think…you might just be that woman.”

“Back up — we just went from you calling me fat to you saying…whatever this is,” said Avery, moving her hand in a circle as if she were washing a window. “What’re you trying to say?”

“Well, I’d say it — if you’d let me finish,” said Krampus. “I want a woman who’s sassy, who can dish it and take it, who isn’t afraid to call me on my bullshit. I want a woman with curves — a woman that’s got a soft body and an even softer spirit.”

“Someone weak,” said Avery.

“Strong in ways that are different than me,” said Krampus. “Being hard can make you brittle — fragile. If you toss a hard glass vase and a soft feather pillow off a building, which one is going to break?”

“Are you saying you’re gonna toss me off a building?” asked Avery.

“No,” said Krampus, crossing his arms, waiting for Avery to answer the question.

“Fine — I guess I see your point,” said Avery. “Is this an ‘opposites attract’ thing?”

“Exactly…but at the same time, it’s something more than that,” said Krampus. “I don’t want to date myself. Trust me — I know I’m hot as Hell. I just want someone sweet as Heaven. I don’t just want my opposite, though. I want you, Avery, so…do you wanna do all this, for real?”

“I thought this was already a real date,” said Avery, genuinely confused.

“It is — but…I don’t want this to be our only real date,” said Krampus. “Will you keep going out with me, as my girlfriend?”

“Yes — and I can’t believe you even had to ask,” said Avery, shaking her head and grinning at the same time.

“Call me a hopeless romantic,” said Krampus, pulling Avery to give her a kiss on her blushing cheek, its skin as red as that of one of the apples on the table. “Now…are we making this cider or what?”

Avery put together a mix of aromatic spices. She picked cinnamon sticks — a classic — as well as cloves, cardamom, and a single vanilla pod, just for kicks. She measured out maple syrup for Krampus, while he slowly cut the apples, using a knife — no demoncraft whatsoever, as he was careful around her. Once about ten apples were sliced, Krampus tossed all of them into the cauldron and added some water.

“Your turn,” said Krampus.

Avery poured in the maple syrup and tossed in her four bags full of the various spices.

“Now what?” asked Avery.

“Now…the question is, are you going to be Nice and patient, or Naughty and rush things?” asked Krampus.

“Honestly…it smells so good, I wanna rush it,” said Avery. “But, I know we can’t.”

“Who said we can’t?” asked Krampus.

“Well, you can’t make the pot boil any faster,” said Avery.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” said Krampus. He covered the cauldron with a lid.

“How can you make it boil faster?” asked Avery.

“By violating physical laws,” said Krampus. “A little form of magic known as —”

“Demoncraft,” finished Avery. “But…is that wise?”

“It’s perfectly safe,” insisted Krampus. “You saw me perform it multiple times tonight. Hell, reaching into my pockets to pull out those blankets was demoncraft, wasn’t it?”

“That’s my concern — Hell,” said Avery.

“You won’t go to Hell for doing demoncraft,” said Krampus. “I don’t even think Christmas elves can go to Hell.”

“Are you sure?” asked Avery. “Well, what about Christmas demons?”

“If I went to Hell every time I performed some demoncraft, I’d constantly be flicking back and forth between this plane and that one,” insisted Krampus. “Here. If you’re worried, you can look at the spell yourself. My cousin Lucy and I came up with it back in the day, when we made cider together in a cauldron just like this one.” Krampus passed Avery the paper with the spell on it.

“Bell of flower…web of spider…deck the halls…with mugs of cider?” asked Avery. “What kind of a frikkin’ spell is — what is that?” Avery shouted and pointed at the cauldron, which was bouncing up and down as red and green flames encircled the hefty metal pot.

“Your first demoncraft spell,” said Krampus.

“You made me cast a demoncraft spell?” asked Avery, pushing Krampus. “Krampus!”

“I genuinely did not think you would read it out loud,” said Krampus. “Who looks at a spell and reads it out loud?”

“All the Christmas elf spells are nice things! Like making Christmas cookies pop out of thin air!” squealed Avery, waving her hand and making a plate of Christmas cookies appear in her hand, in a cloud of red and green glitter.

“Cookies and cider — what’s the difference?” asked Krampus.

The pot made a jingle sound.

“That’s the cider,” said Krampus, walking over to the cauldron with two enamel mugs and a ladle. He took off the lid and filled the cups.

“Here,” said Krampus, passing Avery a mug. “Cheers.”

“To what?” asked Avery.

“To casting your first demoncraft spell,” said Krampus.

“Yeah, I’m not celebrating that — next,” ordered Avery.

“To…our first cute couple’s activity, as a couple?” suggested Krampus.

“Now that, I can drink to,” said Avery, clicking her cup against Krampus’ mug and taking a sip. “Hey…this is actually pretty good!” The mixture wasn’t bitter like the apples were before they’d been tossed into the pot. The concentrated apple flavors had mixed with the water and become diffused throughout the mixture. The liquid was nice and spicy. Avery could taste all the spices she’d added to the mix

“Told you I could make cider,” said Krampus. “And…I can make dinner.” Just at that moment, the oven dinged.

Krampus went over to the kitchen and worked quickly to bring the dinner to the table. Avery stayed out of his way while he worked, sipping her apple cider.

Krampus pulled a seat out for Avery and kept standing.

“Tonight…for your main course, we have shepherd’s pie, with lamb, peas, carrots, and of course, mashed potatoes, with a cheesy topping,” said Krampus, serving Avery a big ramekin of tasty goodness without having to wear oven mitts. “Careful — it’s hot.”

“But you just touched — oww!” said Avery, as she touched the side of the ramekin.

“Who would’ve thought a demon could handle a three-hundred-and-fifty-degree ceramic bowl, and a Christmas elf could not?” asked Krampus.

“Fair,” admitted Avery, sucking on her finger.

Krampus took Avery’s finger out of her mouth.

“What are you doing?” asked Avery.

“It’s rude to suck your own fingers at the table,” said Krampus, raising an eyebrow.

“I suppose it — wait, what are you doing?” asked Avery, after Krampus put that same finger into his mouth and wrapped his tongue around it

“I said — it’s rude to suck your own fingers at the table,” said Krampus.

“Okay, I’m stuffed,” admitted Avery, finishing the last of her baked Alaska. The windows shuddered as the nascent blizzard swelled. The pair had missed the worst of the night’s weather.

“I mean…not yet, you’re not,” said Krampus, who was drinking some of the hot apple cider mixed with buttered rum.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Avery.

“Never mind,” said Krampus, blushing.

“You know, Krampus, Christmas is coming up,” said Avery.

“And?” asked Krampus, quirking a brow.

“And…you better be careful about what you say, because saying dirty things might just get you on The Naughty List,” said Avery.

“You kidding, babe?” asked Krampus, unbuttoning the top of his shirt and opening it up for Avery to see. “You know I’m already on that list.”

Right across Krampus’ chest, there was one word, written in absinthe green — and that word was ‘Naughty.’

“I don’t get why you hide your mark,” said Avery, shaking her head.

“Same reason you hide your ears,” said Krampus.

“My ears are right here,” said Avery, poking at the rounded tops of her ears.

“Sure they are,” muttered Krampus. “Well, fine — I hide it for the same reason I usually hide these.” Krampus concentrated and soon, two dark curls appeared from the nest of raven feathers on his head…but they weren’t curls of hair. They were harder and ridged and ribbed and curled around in a full circle.

“Well — those would get in the way,” said Avery.

Krampus made his horns retract — most of the way. He left the tiny nubs of his horns poking out.

“Would your ears really get in the way?” asked Krampus.

“No — but, people would ask questions,” admitted Avery.

“I wouldn’t,” said Krampus. “I know what you are, Avery. And you know what I am. You shouldn’t feel as if you have to hide anything from me, but I understand if you —”

Krampus stopped talking as soon as he saw Avery move her hands to her head. She pushed her hair back, behind her ears, rather than letting her hair cover her ears like curtains. Then, Avery pinched the tips of her ears and pulled. Her normal Christmas elf ears came out, no longer hidden by glamour magic.

“Damn — right when I thought you couldn’t get any sexier,” said Krampus.

“Right — because eating baked Alaska is such a sexy activity,” said Avery.

Krampus crossed his arms. “You have any better ideas? Something that’ll keep us warm in this cold weather?”

“It’s plenty warm in here,” said Avery. “You’ve got that roaring fire and —”

Krampus snapped his finger, and the fire extinguished itself.

“Oh no,” said Krampus sarcastically. “Whatever will we do to stay warm? I guess I could restoke the fire…”

“You know, I think that maybe we should stay warm,” said Avery. “And, uh…you never did give me that grand tour. The weather outside’s real bad, Krampus…you’ll let me stay over, won’t you?”

Krampus smiled and stood to take Avery’s hand and lead her up the wooden stairs to his bedroom. He picked her up in his arms, opened the door with one hand, and didn’t bother to close the door. After all, nobody could bother them at Camp Kringle. There was nobody around that would hear them moan, not over the roaring winds of the raging blizzard outside.

Krampus snapped his fingers, and the candles in his room sparked and came to life, casting the room in a warm golden light. He placed Avery down on the bed and stripped off the rest of his flannel shirt.

“Well, well, well,” said Avery, reaching down and touching the wine-red silk sheets. “Somebody likes red. I guess you are a hopeless romantic.”

“Well, not so hopeless now,” teased Krampus. Krampus reached down and tilted Avery’s chin up.

He pressed his lips against hers and reached back to touch her hair. The back of his hand grazed past the pointed tips of her ears. He felt Avery shudder beneath him and he pulled back.

“Sorry,” said Krampus. “Didn’t mean to do that.”

“To what?” asked Avery.

“To, uh, touch your ears,” said Krampus.

“It’s not a big deal — they’re just ears,” said Avery. She poked her ears and then, she poked Krampus’ ears.

“Then why did you shake?” asked Krampus.

“Because maybe I’m a little ticklish and I’m not used to anyone else touching my ears,” admitted Avery in a hurry. “You can touch them. In fact, I’d like it if you touched them. Can I, uh…touch your horns?”

“Which ones?” asked Krampus.

“You only have the one set,” said Avery. “You do only have a single set, right?”

“Well, are you talking about these?” asked Krampus, taking Avery’s hands and putting them on his head gently, so he wouldn’t cut her with his horns. “Or…are you talking about this?

Krampus moved Avery’s hands down to his crotch where Avery felt Krampus’ ‘other horn.’ Krampus continued, “Because either way, the answer is yes. Absolutely. I don’t just want you to touch them — I need you to do it.”

“Well, I suppose if you absolutely need me to do it…” started Avery slyly. She moved her hand to Krampus’ pants, to unbutton them, but she couldn’t find a button. She looked down. Suddenly, Krampus was entirely frikkin’ naked!

“What happened to your clothes?” asked Avery. “Wait. I might know the answer to this one. Is it a — demoncraft, or b — demoncraft, or c — demoncraft?”

“D — all of the above,” answered Krampus.

Avery ran her hands over Krampus’ firm arms, up to his shoulders, and down to his pecs.

That’s when she realized that The Naughty Mark had a pair of its own.

“Krampus…what is this?” asked Avery, touching the strange yet familiar mark on Krampus’ chest. She knew the symbol well — but what she didn’t know was why it was on Krampus’ chest.

“Shit — the spell to take off my clothes also took off that glamour,” cursed Krampus.

“What is it? And why would you cover it up?” asked Avery.

“I’m a shifter, so…you do the math,” said Krampus.

“You have a mate mark?” asked Avery.

“Yeah — and let me guess, I forgot to tell you about that?” asked Krampus.

“Yeah, you did,” said Avery, crossing her arms. “I don’t care — that’s between you and Fate, but, I have a feeling that, even though you’re putting up this whole act about being annoyed by it, you really wanna talk about it.”

“To be fair, I did tell you I was trying to find my fated mate — and mate marks, well, they come with the territory,” said Krampus.

“But why do you have one?” asked Avery.

“I can turn into a goat. That makes me a goat shifter,” said Krampus. “Humans aren’t the only ones that can shift. So can some demons. It’s just another kind of magic — a kind of magic that comes with a price. You know not to make a deal with devils, well, devils aren’t smart enough to know not to make a deal with Fate. Fate has the same deal with every shifter, a deal they don’t agree to, but a deal they must abide by, nonetheless. All shifters must find their fated mates — and these marks, well, they’re meant to give us some sign as to how to find those mates. When we claim our mates, they react in some way. And…if we don’t find our mates, well…”‘

“You fall prey to mate madness,” said Avery.

“Precisely — but I haven’t,” said Krampus. “Instead, I, uh…”

“You what?” asked Avery.

“I’ve started shedding straw everywhere,” said Krampus, leaning back on his bed. “It’s so embarrassing, but…it seems as if, well, if I don’t claim my mate, and soon, then…I might turn back into a goat made of straw.”

“Wait, what?” asked Avery.

“You know Jack Frost? Boreas Winter’s boy?” asked Krampus.

“Of course,” said Avery.

“Ever wonder why Jack doesn’t have a mother?” asked Krampus.

“Well, I just assumed that…she passed or left, or something else I ought not ask about unsolicited,” admitted Avery.

“Boreas made Jack, all on his own — with magic,” explained Krampus. “He made a snowman — a snow baby boy — and brought it to life with ice magic. Me, well…I was once made of straw, and magically brought me to life, and here I am, for now.”

“So you’re saying that if you don’t find a mate…you’ll really turn back into a pile of straw?” asked Avery. “Krampus! Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” said Krampus. “I didn’t want you to feel obligated to ‘try and see’ if you were my mate, if you catch my drift.”

“You mean you were worried I’d feel like I had to sleep with you?” asked Avery, putting a hand on her hip. “You know that I’d never feel like I had to do dang near anything! Is that the same reason you hid the mark? Because you knew it meant that we’re meant to be together?”

“What are you talking about?” asked Krampus. “This is just a random mark.”

“Uh, what are you talking about?” asked Avery with a laugh. “That’s definitely not random. I could never forget that mark!”

“Wait, what?” asked Krampus.

“Yeah — it’s the burn mark you left in my brand-new wood floors all those years ago when you first came over to see me at Bear Claw Bakery. Well, when Santana dragged your ass over to introduce you to me,”‘ said Avery. “Your hellfire left a burn mark in my wood, in that exact shape!”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” asked Krampus. “No bullshit?”

“I wouldn’t bullshit you on this,” said Avery. “I can prove it.”

“How?” asked Krampus.

“Demoncraft,” said Avery. “Get changed. We have a field trip to make.”

Krampus ran his hands over his body, and his clothing appeared once more — including his magic teleportation chain. Krampus took the chain off of his neck and threw it on the ground, where the chain turned, twisted upward, so it was like a round door hanging in midair, expanded, and filled with green flames. Avery stepped through the portal and Krampus followed her, closing it behind them.

“Come on,” said Avery, leading Krampus by the hand to the main cafe area. “Move the Christmas tree for me, will you?”

Krampus waved his hand, and the tree started floating.

“Well, I guess that works too,” admitted Avery. “Look underneath the tree.”

Krampus walked over to where the tree was floating and crouched down. He undid his shirt again, looked at the symbol on his chest, and then, back down at the symbol on the ground. It was really a random burn mark that seemed a bit blobby — but it was the same mark that was on his chest.

“Are you kidding me?” hissed Krampus. “I’ve spent years trying to figure out what this means — whether it’s a magical sigil, or perhaps some type of exotic berry — and it was just here the whole time?”

“I would’ve told you if you’d asked me about it!” said Avery. “That’s why I started putting the Christmas tree in this corner. It annoyed me to see that mark. I called in all sorts of specialists to try and get the stain out, but it persisted and stayed.”

“I’m an idiot,” said Krampus tossing his head back and pulling at his hair. “I should’ve just — argh!”

“Oh, calm down,” said Avery, flapping her hand. “Let’s go back to your place. I’m your fated mate. You saw the mark you left on my bakery. Now…let’s leave a mark on your sheets.”

Krampus removed his chain from his neck again and tossed it on the ground. Before it had finished filling with flames, he picked up Avery, jumped through the magical hole that had appeared on the ground, and landed on a soft bed on the other side of the portal — right in his bedroom.

“You know…it’s traditional to do something special on the third date,” teased Avery, running her hands over Krampus’ chest.

Krampus made his clothing disappeared — and made Avery’s clothing disappear too, so they were touching, skin to skin, demon to elf.

“And…what exactly would that tradition be?” asked Krampus flipping Avery over so that she was the one with their back to the bed.

“Sex, of course,” said Avery, pulling Krampus close. She reached up and felt his thick, black curly hair beneath her touch. She ran her hands over his head, carefully, slowly, so as not to cut her hands on his horns. When she found them, she lazily ran her fingers over their edges.

“Fuck, that feels good,” said Krampus, biting his lower lip.

“If I touch you here…” started Avery, caressing the tip of Krampus’ horn. “Does it feel good down…here?” Avery touched the tip of Krampus’ cock with her other hand, feeling its wet precum pooling beneath her palm.

“Y-yes,” stammered Krampus. “You’re not doing that on purpose?”

“I mean, I wasn’t, but now I — ooh!” moaned Avery, as Krampus brushed by her ear with his hands.

“Just as I suspected,” said Krampus. “We’re practically built for each other.”

“I’m pretty sure claiming me involves more than just ear play and getting horny,” said Avery. “Get it? Horny? Because you have — oh!” Avery was shocked by Krampus’ sudden shift so that his hips were nearer to hers, his cock rubbing against her slot, but not inside of it quite yet.

Then, Krampus slipped in. He only meant to slide an inch of cock into her, but the whole thing slid all the way in, from tip to base, down Avery’s slick canal.

“Oh, Krampus,” moaned Avery, raking her nails over Krampus’ back. “Fuck!”

“That’s what I’m doing, woman,” teased Krampus, pulling out Avery and sliding back into her. Every motion out was agony because there was nothing he wanted to do more than just stay inside of her.

Avery arched her back and grabbed Krampus’ sheets in her hands as Krampus’ hard thrusts made her curves jiggle. One side of her bosom bounced and hit her in the chin! It didn’t happen again, because her big breasts were held by Krampus’ big, strong hands. He molded them in his hands, feeling their weight, their softness, and Avery felt the working man’s calluses that covered Krampus’ hands.

Avery had always had a thing for lumberjacks — not just men in flannel shirts with jeans. She was into the men that could do the hard work, swing an ax and split a log. She was into men that brought her Christmas trees, year after year, trees they’d chopped down themselves, that filled her bakery with the same herbal, almost spicy scent of pine she could still smell on Krampus’ hair, even though he’d showered before their date to try and shed the smell of a day’s work.

From the way Krampus was fucking her, it was clear that her lumberjack had a thing for bakers with curves that tasted as sweet as sugar.

Naughty and Nice, the pair went together like sugar and spice — and they came together too. It didn’t take long at all. After all, they’d both waited years for that moment, both denying their affections to themselves and to one another.

As Avery and Krampus came at the same time, the mark on Krampus’ chest started to glow — not the one reading ‘Naughty,’ but the mark that was identical to the mark left on Avery’s floor by Krampus when he’d first teleported, with Santana into her bakery. The mark of his chain and his shoe and the magic had made a mark he hadn’t been able to decipher without her.

The mark glowed bright gold underneath Avery’s touch. She swore she felt it heat up. Krampus’ eyes flashed emerald green, like a lantern across a salty inlet, signaling something to someone and no one at the same damn time. She looked into his eyes and swore she saw hellfire.

And it didn’t scare her.

In fact, she liked it.

It made her feel a little Naughty.

Avery pulled her hand away as the glow faded. The mark on Krampus’ chest had changed — turning brown, just like the mark on her floor. It was no longer one solid mark in black, but instead, it looked a lot like a coffee stain. Some parts were darker than others, and details that had been hidden before were visible now.

“Well…spike my eggnog and call me a wood elf, I think that…well…I might just be your fated mate,” admitted Avery.

“You think?” asked Krampus, sliding out of Avery. “Guess it must be true then.”

“It…it is true, isn’t it?” asked Avery, looking up at Krampus.

“No — you’re not my mate,”‘ said Krampus, lying back with a smile on his face, his hands behind his head.

“I’m…I’m not?” asked Avery.

“No,” said Krampus, pulling Avery close and giving her a smooch on the forehead. “You’re my fated mate. This…it’s more than just love. It’s meant to be.”

“You think that Fate could’ve brought us together sooner,” said Avery with a huff.

“Maybe we needed some time to grow on each other,” said Krampus, rubbing Avery’s shoulder, his arm wrapped around her soft body.

“What about the other mark?” asked Avery. “I’m surprised it didn’t change. I know the rules, but…”

“Then you know being Naughty or Nice has jackshit to do with mates,” said Krampus. “Well — not trying to find a mate can get someone on The Naughty List, and it probably contributed to my place on that list, but…there’s more to it than that. Think of it as a score. Even if this, what we did, was Nice…it wasn’t enough to get me off The Naughty List.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?” asked Avery.

“I’m a demon — I don’t think I’m allowed to let it bother me,” said Krampus.

“If it’s no big deal, why do you care so much about making sure the shifters you train get off of The Naughty List?” asked Avery.

“That’s Santana’s prerogative, not mine,” explained Krampus. “His whole belief is that those shifters, who are on The Naughty List for not taking the search for a mate seriously, need a wakeup call. That means taking away their shifts and their mate marks until they get on The Nice List — proving they are serious about finding a mate in the process. Once they do that, they can get their marks back, claim a mate, and they’ll no longer be in danger of falling into mate madness. I learn a lot from the bear shifts, and I’ll admit – I’ve taken their shifts for a ‘ride’ a few times. That’s why I’m better at turning into a bear now. I mean, I’m not great at it, but, it’s another tool in my arsenal. I’m waiting until the time’s right to try it out more…publicly.”

“I always assumed you could only turn into a goat. Guess we’re learning a lot about each other tonight. So why did you agree to help him with the bad boys?” asked Avery. “I know the legends — guess they’re really stories, given they’re true. You used to go all around the world, whipping people with birch sticks, stuffing them into sacks, and all kinds of mischief.”

“Santana and I were younger men back then,” said Krampus. “I like having a base of operations.”

“You do?” asked Avery.

“Sure I do,” said Krampus. “Would you rather bake cookies in the comfort of Bear Claw Bakery…or, run around the world, making biscuits on campfires in random places?”

“Okay, I see your point,” admitted Avery. “There is something to be said for peace and order. Suppose you could even call it…Nice.”

Avery snuggled up on Krampus, her head on his chest. They lay like that in Krampus’ bed, looking up at the ceiling, taking deep breaths, for a few minutes. They’d had a very long night. Avery looked at Krampus. He had a far-off look in his eyes, and he had a devilish smile on his lips.

“What are you thinking about?” asked Avery.

“Nothing,” insisted Krampus.

“I can tell when you’re lying,” said Avery.

“You can?” asked Krampus.

“Yes — because your hands turn blue,” said Avery.

Krampus looked at his hands. They were definitely not blue.

“Got you,” said Avery. “You wouldn’t have looked at your hands if you weren’t lying! Now…what’re you thinking about?”

“You really don’t wanna know,” said Krampus.

“I do,” insisted Avery.

“If your ears are so sensitive, would earplugs be buttplugs for Christmas elves?” asked Krampus.

“You really are going to get on The Naughty List,” said Avery, shaking her head. “Besides — my ears only feel like that when you touch them. Trust me, if they could make me feel that good from being touched normally, well, I’d just stay at home, playing with my ears all day.”

“Same with my horns,” admitted Krampus. “I didn’t know they could do…that.”

“Well, they can,” said Avery, running her hands through Krampus’ hair again to rub the nubs.

“Careful! They’re still sensitive,” chastised Krampus as his cock ached.

“Pretty delicate for a big, bad demon,” said Avery, moving her hand back down to Krampus’ chest.

“So…I take it I’ve earned a fourth date?” asked Krampus.

“Yes — but I think this time, it’s my turn to host you,” said Avery. “My place?”

“Why do I have a feeling you’re just inviting me to your place to do a bunch of chores for you that you need a big, bad, strong demon to do for you?” asked Krampus.

“Why whatever would give you that idea?” asked Avery.

“Because every time I go to your house, you make me hang something up somewhere real high — like mistletoe balls,” said Krampus.

Avery raised an eyebrow.

“Wait,” started Krampus. “Was that some sort of subtle hint that I was supposed to kiss you all those times?”

Avery nodded.

“Well, better late than never,” said Krampus, twirling his finger and making a mistletoe ball appear in midair. He kept it levitated as he gave Avery a kiss, but when Avery turned the peck into a French kiss, Krampus lost his concentration, and the mistletoe ball fell down on the two of them, scattering white berries all over the bed.