Page 36 of Gemini Christmas
My wolf sits up straight with anticipation.
Mordred grins at my wolfish look. “Don’t worry, bae. It’ll be sigma.”
“I don’t doubt it will,” I say gruffly.
But I forego further commentary in favor of tending my new lover’s mating bite, administering long slow licks that make Mordred squirm and giggle.
“Eee! Stop! I’m ticklish!” he squeals in a whisper piercing enough to raise the dead.
Admittedly, I’m rather tempted to explore exactly where else my Avalon Academy exchange student might be ticklish. Still licking the squirming demon’s mating bite to dispense the healing agent in my shifter saliva, I drift my hand over the broad planes of his chest to find his ribs.
The sex demon shrieks like a girl, then convulses in a fit of giggles.
Apparently, he trulyisticklish.
In truth, I’m rather charmed by this discovery. It certainly wasn’t in his academic transcript. I nuzzle deeper into his neck, breath in a lungful of his saltwater taffy scent, and let my hand roam to his hip. The tumescent rod of his primary dick brushes my wrist in blatant invitation.
Regrettably, an eruption of movement from the puppy pile behind him interrupts any further research on my part.
“Hey, are we back?” Happily Neo squirms out from under Maxim’s possessive alpha sprawl and scrambles to the window, bare buttocks flexing deliciously with every stride. “There’s the SUV, all right. And Zephyr. Wow, he’s got a lot to carry.”
That report brings Ash to full consciousness in a heartbeat.
Pushing up to sit, the big Seelie scrubs a hand through his spiky hair and rubs the sleep off his craggy face. “Morning, huh? Guess I better go down and give Sparrow a hand.”
“Just stay there a sec. It’s kinda chilly out here.” Like a helpful Christmas elf, Neo locates Ash’s discarded jeans and sweater, then crawls under the bed in search of Ash’s missing socks.
“If you’re going out,” Neo says hopefully, voice muffled through the mattress, “don’t forget to bring my cell phone from the car, okay, Ash? Think I left it on the dash. I gotta call my dad as soon as we get a signal.”
Maxim too sits up, blankets pooling around his narrow hips, and rakes his blond hair into a swift braid. “Do not worry, Neo. If there is still no signal, I will shift and fly to the chalet for your father.
“But first,” Max finishes firmly, in a voice that brooks no refusal, “we must all be fed.”
“Fed?” Zara stirs with a sleepy giggle. “Shit. We literallyjustate, Max. All that pumpkin pie…”
“That was hours ago. And we have been fucking since. Besides, flying is hungry work.” Maxim crawls over Mordredand me, pausing to give the demon’s pointed half-Fae ear an affectionate nuzzle.
Then Maxim rubs his bristly gold-stubbled cheek against mine to scent me.
I breathe in Max’s comforting scent of brimstone and dragon and burrow my face into his neck to claim him, drenching him with my own gamy wolf scent.
Zara purrs with approval over this display, then pulls Max into a sweet kiss. “You’re always hungry, big guy. But I’m sure there’s something left in the pantry.”
“Cracking good odds there is, actually.” Ronin surfaces from a good morning cuddle that has noticeably thawed the ice from Vasili, then yawns and arches in a lazy stretch. “I fancy this house isn’t done granting wishes just yet. Could swear I smell buckwheat pancakes and maple syrup down there.”
“Yeah, me too. And OJ.” Zara practically moans. Orange juice is one of the indulgences she seems particularly to crave in this pregnancy. “Oh God, is thereanyway…?”
“Yes, of course. Don’t get up, Zara. I’ll bring some for you straightaway.” I give Mordred’s mating bite a last soothing lick to tide him over, then lean in for my own sweet good morning kiss from Zara.
Our queen snuggles into me with a happy murmur, her soft lips opening under mine. She still tastes like cloves and cardamom, both of which she used with abandon to spice her late-night eggnog.
Now that she’s in my arms, Zara seems to be in no immediate rush to send me off in search of her Vitamin C. She twines her arms around my neck and snuggles her belly into the bulwark of my body.
Still, I’m keenly aware of everything her body needs. Everything our offspring need.
And I’m determined to provide it. To fulfill my family’s every need.
Just as a proper alpha should.
