Page 6 of Courting the Krampus
Jamie zips up his bag. His bright green eyes twinkle as he says, “Natalie looks like she’s keen on you, too. Unlike my situation with Iris. That woman looks like she’s about ready to eat my balls for breakfast.” He instinctively cups his balls in a protective motion.
I laugh. “Now that sounds like a great start to the day.”
Jamie shakes his head furiously. “Not the way I want it, though. I prefer my balls firmly attached to my body while they’re being eaten.”
“Fair enough.” I clap a hand on his shoulder and ask more seriously, “You going to be okay?”
Jamie presses his lips together and inhales deeply. “Yep. I’ll just have to charm her until she can’t help but love my sparkling personality.”
“Or you could just use all your magic and tricks. That might convince her,” I suggest.
Jamie’s shoulders deflate and the brightness in his eyes dims a little. “A woman like Iris needs more than fancy tricks to like me.”
Grabbing both shoulders, I shake him a little. “You’ve got lots going for you. Plus, you can fucking teleport.”
“Yeah, but no knot. You’ve got the advantage on me there.” Jamie points at my crotch like teleporting isn’t cooler than an inflated cock.
I cringe internally and turn back to my bag, adding the last items in. “It’s not always the blessing you’d think it would be. Most partners don’t quite feel up to taking something like a knot.”
Jamie and I are the jokesters of the group. We like to stir the pot and tease and play, but the two of us know what it’s like for people to not see beyond that cheerful exterior. After eighteen years of being friends, it’s easy to let our guard down around each other and read between the lines.
This time it’s Jamie placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Ah, lad. Sorry about that. Think Natalie might be up to it?”
“Guess time will tell. But I won’t be showing her what I’m packing anytime soon. If she wants to run, it might make things awkward with the distance bond and all.”
We grab our bags and head back to the living room to say our goodbyes to everyone leaving for different parts of the world.
Placing my bag at my feet, I lean against the mantle and survey the room. My gaze settles on Natalie where she stands with Diana, Sadie, and Florence—Rollo, Everett, and Bertie’s bonded respectively.
An air of excitement has replaced the women’s nerves from this morning as more groups huddle around the room, exchanging numbers and hugging each other like they’re old friends.
I twist my glamour ring around my finger, and angle my head, feeling the empty air above my head where my horns usually are. It’s like a missing limb when I have to hide them, but going out into society with large horns on an otherwise human-looking head is bound to scare people. I love my horns but I hate that aspect about them.
I never take on my full monstrous form, except for when I can’t avoid it. But I don’t have to worry about Natalie seeing me like that. It’s still a long time before the full Krampus Day curse sets in.
Until then, I enjoy my monstrous features only—my horns, knot, and tongue.
Natalie saunters over to me as the couples pair up, readying to leave the island. Being six foot three without my horns, the top of Natalie’s head reaches well below my chin. I have to resist the urge to place an arm around her shoulders and drag her against my front. Instead, I keep my hands clasped in front of my body and my focus on Bertie as he tells us about his plans to fix the bonds.
Next to me, Natalie bounces on the balls of her feet and my own excitement has my toes curling in my shoes. I can’t wait for her to meet Cole and to see the magic of Joulu.
“Thank you all for your patience and cooperation. Until we meet again,” Bertie finishes and gives us all a solemn nod in goodbye. He turns to leave and Florence, taking the no-touch rule very seriously, follows a step or two behind him. The other couples soon head off in their own directions and then Natalie and I are the only two left in the room.
“You ready?” I ask.
“Always,” Natalie replies with a wink.
I close my eyes for a second and tell my dick to chill the fuck out. Maybe her answer wasn’t meant in a sexual way.
“Back to your hotel to get your stuff?”
Natalie arches a single brow. “Are you asking me or telling me?”
I step in front of Natalie. “Do you like to be told what to do?”
Natalie purses her lips but there’s a smile playing around the corners.
“Sometimes,” she answers with a challenge in her eyes.
