And then, in came Cy. Scowling and looking like he’d just lost a battle against some kind of dirt monster?
Every single male in the room burst into hysterics.
“What happened to you?”
Eadric’s eyes traced his hair from scalp to pointy end.
“Did someone punch you?” he asked, looking at the black around his eyes.
“Yeah. Laugh. Your mates happened. Would you please either find them another babysitter or get them pregnant soon so they can torture their own young?”
Eadric liked this last idea very much.
A flash of fear entered Lilly’s mind at this idea, though. Curious. He’d have to understand that fear next. Today was operation give Lilly Earth experiences.
He held Lilly in his arms, a growl rumbling in his chest. Yes, he wouldn’t mind taking her back to their quarters right now and trying, except for his surprise. That and he wasn’t entirely sure she was on board with having young.
Maddie’s voice kept him from wondering too much for now.
“What is all this? Christmas isn’t for like months,” said Maddie, as she turned and hugged Kal.
Eadric couldn’t hold in his excitement. He took Lilly’s hands in his own and started to guide her, stopping under a bit of green on the ceiling.
He bent down and kissed her.
“Why are we stopping? I want to see it all.”
He smiled.
“Look up.”
She did as asked.
“What is it?”
“Mistletoe. You apparently kiss under this odd little weed. Merry Christmas, my mate.”
Lilly looked around, a sense of pride running through him as her eyes sparkled and her smile reached her eyes. Her thoughts filled his own head as he tried to keep her next surprises a secret.
Joy, pure and right and everything his Lilly deserved.
“So this is what Christmas looks like?” she said.
Pulling her into him, wanting to feel her body against him. Feel her emotions running through him.
“You know of Christmas?” he asked.
She nodded. “Some of the magazines and books my sister would sneak me had references to Christmas. I always thought it was just to sell things.”
Sadness and awe and love filled her.
“Mate, why are you sad?”
She shrugged. “My sister, I guess. I’d love to have shown her this.”
He held her closer, feeling her heartbeat with his own.
“Well, as I said we will go find her soon. For now though, enjoy the moment.”
Laughter burst through the room as someone, rather Nyke, entered ringing a bell.
“Now this really is Christmas,” laughed Maddie.
Nyke rang the bell and carried in a sack that had little things Eadric found in small travel sizes. Something called stocking stuffers, but he didn’t have a fireplace so the decision was made, Santa could indeed deliver these stockings. It was highly confusing as to why socks were a tradition.
Eadric couldn’t help but laugh with the rest of his brothers and his mate. The suit wasn’t made for a dragon shifter. Or maybe, perhaps, it wasn’t made for a man at all. The pants came mid calf, and the jacket, well, Nyke had ripped off the sleeves to fit his arms.
Maddie came over to Lilly. “Lilly, that isn’t really Santa. It might be a stripper, but definitely not Santa.”
Maddie hooted.
“Why are you making those noises to Nyke?” asked Kal.
She rolled her eyes and then winked at Lilly.
“Because babe, Santa’s a hottie. Also, because your brother looks like he might die right now and this is the most emotion I’ve seen out of Nyke, well ever.”
Kal grabbed Maddie and kissed her. “That was the wrong thing to say, mate.”
Eadric turned away, Santa maybe was backfiring. He looked down at his own mate, and she was beaming, but not at Santa. Her eyes danced over the lights to the sparkling garlands, over to the singing and dancing snowmen. No, nothing was wrong. Nothing was too much. His mate was happy.
A joy burst through him. Seeing her smile was far more fulfilling than seeing her under him, writhing in pleasure. He shook his head, no maybe not that much.
Either way, though, he wasn’t going to be able to wait for dinner. He wanted to see the entire picture of this dream for Lilly.
“Wait here.”
Taking a few steps away, he glanced back to make sure she was staying and caught Kal’s eyes and motioned to the tree.
Let’s do the gifts now and then food.
He grabbed the gifts they got for each of their brother’s first. Then he handed one to Kal, who looked at Eadric perplexed.
“When did you get me a gift?”
“Just open it, it’s nothing that exciting.”
Kal did as told and laughed as he held up a chicken ornament. “I really want to punch you right now, but I suppose this does help me remember what not to do ever.”
Maddie came up alongside him. “Awe, look babe? It’s you when we met.”
Yeah, Eadric really liked Christmas.
Now for his own mate. He grabbed the two packages for her and took a deep breath. How could he be this nervous? He wasn’t nervous when he’d claimed her. He’d never been nervous a day in his life.
Right now though, holding the boxes, he was unsure of himself. What if she was disappointed? He hadn’t thought of that. Could he disappoint her? Eadric had assumed his entire life would be to protect his brothers, and they expected nothing more than what they all gave.
His mate, he wanted to give her so much more.
Perhaps they should do food first? Would he even be able to eat? Fuck. Is this what a normal man felt like? This would not do.
Eadric looked around. His brothers were all happy, all laughing at the gifts. Little trinkets to remember this somewhat disastrous trip. Maybe it was humorous too. They were bred to fight and had managed that challenge well, and mating had been much more complicated than expected. Fate had a sense of humor.
Fine. He would make sure his mate enjoyed this Christmas.
With gifts in hand he headed over to Lilly while she laughed with Cy who didn’t seem to mind his makeover anymore.
Mate?
She turned, meeting his eyes.
Yes, Eadric?
5
“Come
