Page 19 of Snowed in at Santa's Lodge
“Do you want me to play in the snow?”
I pushed his shoulder. “Why would I want to play in the snow alone?”
“I didn’t mean play alone. I didn’t know if you wanted me to play with or my reindeer.”
“Reindeer? Will he do that?” If that wasn’t the epitome of Christmas fun, I didn’t know what was.
“Of course.”
I got bundled up, Ragnar making sure I was wearing his snow pants and his boots with three pairs of socks. There was no danger of me being cold. None.
I loved seeing my mate in his reindeer form, but I did not like watching him shift, not in this weather. He took off all of his clothes, and even though he was only outside for a few seconds, buck-ass naked, that was a whole lot of time to be out in weather he thought I needed snow pants and three pairs of socks for.
His shifting was quick, and he came straight over to me and lowered his head so I could pet him.
I never thought I’d have a mate, much less a mate who I would pet. I mean, I supposed boyfriends could pet each other, but this was different.
Frosty was standing on the porch, not wanting any part of going all the way out in the snow. His little legs didn’t do so well with it being so deep, and that was fine. He just wanted to watch and be near us.
I loved that little furball.
We talked about building him a doggy door so he could go in and out, but then we remembered that the skunks and squirrels lived around here. Also raccoons. We decided it wasn’t the best idea to leave the lodge open to nature.
After petting my mate, I scooped up a ball of snow and said, “You better run.”
He ran, but not fast enough to get away from the snowball. He could if he chose to, but he didn’t. He was playing. Then heturned around and kicked up some snow, missing me by an inch—my guess, intentionally.
We played like that, running, tossing snow, and me making a snow angel and him making a snow…it definitely wasn’t an angel. Blotch? I guess so, but the intent was there.
And while the snow did invigorate me, I was still exhausted. “I need to go in. I think I need a nap.”
I padded up the steps, with Ragnar joining me, his clothes in his arms.
“I’m gonna go sleep, I think.” I gave him a kiss.Please don’t let me be getting sick.
I was chilled to the bone, and, for some reason, it felt like taking off my clothes before getting into bed was a good choice. I nearly darted into that bed, pulling the covers up over my head and trying to get warm.
Less than a minute later, my mate was joining me at my side, equally naked, and pulling me to him and holding me tight.
“Cold?” he asked.
“So very much so. Still exhausted, yes, but I can rally.” How could anybody not, with their sexy mate in bed with them, completely naked and already rising to the occasion?
“No. Sleep, mate.” He put his hand on my belly. “You and our little one need it.”
“Say what?” I rolled over so fast, I nearly fell off the bed. “Say that again.”
“You heard me. Why do you think you’re so tired?”
“I’m getting sick?” Even as I said it, it didn’t feel right.
“No, you’re having a baby. I thought so when you slept so late. My mother complained about that part of pregnancy, too, but when we were outside playing, my reindeer confirmed it. You’re having our calf.”
“Are you sure? Because I don’t want to get my hopes up if—if—”
He put his finger to my lips. “I am sure. But if you want a human test, I can go into town and get it for you to take after your nap.”
“No, I don’t need it. If your reindeer senses them and you sense them, I’m pregnant. This is good, right?”
