Page 33 of Me and My Christmas Familiar
Kit melted into the kiss and Lachlan’s embrace. The stress, pain, and worry melted from his body as their lips moved together. After several moments, the kiss broke. They stared into each other’s eyes, neither speaking for minutes.
“You’re so handsome,” Lachlan whispered.
Kit laughed with joy as it bubbled up inside him. Lachlan laughed too.
Then Lachlan hesitated, gaze snagging on Kit’s ear. “Can I touch your ear?”
“You can touch me anywhere!” Kit leaned towards him.
“I mean, does it hurt?” Lachlan asked, staring at the ear that was half-missing.
“No.” Kit shook his head. “It’s been healed for a long time.”
With a gentle touch, Lachlan reached up and stroked his cat ear. Kit shivered.
“Oh, sorry.” Lachlan withdrew his hand.
Kit grabbed his hand. He kissed it. “It’s fine. It’s just sensitive. That’s all.” Kit lifted Lachlan’s hand, rubbing it against his cheek.
Lachlan smiled. Then he sighed, and Kit could see the exhaustion in his eyes.
Kit frowned. “You’re tired.” He could feel Lachlan’s tiredness through the bond. And Kit realised he was pretty tired too.
“I haven’t slept properly the last two nights.”
“Well, you should sleep now.” Kit jumped to his feet and pulled Lachlan up. Then he reached for the sheets of Lachlan’sbed and tugged them down. He then gestured for Lachlan to lie down.
With a wry smile, Lachlan took off his clothes except for his undershorts and climbed into the bed. “You’re tired too.”
“We are going slow.” Kit paused. “Does that mean we can sleep together or…?”
Lachlan propped himself up on his elbows. “We can sleep together. Maybe some kissing and cuddling. But mainly nothing more. Is that okay?”
“That is wonderful and perfect!” Kit began to strip. “You are tired. I am tired. We will cuddle, sleep, and kiss. But no sex.” Kit swallowed. “And will you still be here when I wake up?”
Lachlan sighed. “I’m so sorry about that, Kit. That was cruel.” Lachlan reached for Kit and pulled him down into his arms.
Kit snuggled against Lachlan, and Lachlan drew the blankets over them.
“I’ll be here when you wake.” Lachlan wrapped his arms around Kit. “I promise, Kit.” And he kissed Kit on the forehead, sealing the promise.
CHAPTER 18
Lachlan woke with a sleeping Kit curled around him. Lachlan stroked Kit’s soft hair, running his fingers along the edges of a cat ear. He smiled.
His stomach rumbled. He’d barely eaten the last two days as the worry and fretting had stolen his appetite. But Lachlan did not rise. He did not want Kit to wake alone. So he stayed put, holding his familiar, listening to the sound of snow falling against the window and Kit’s even breathing.
It surprised Lachlan how natural this felt. It shouldn’t.
He’d only slept next to Kit once before in his human form, and technically, he’d not slept. Before that, he’d never shared a bed with a man. But now it seemed that since he had accepted he was giving himself and Kit a chance, he couldn’t escape how perfect Kit as a human felt in his arms.
He stared at the window for a while. At some point, he fell back asleep. They both slept past midday. They must have needed the sleep.
When they woke, they just lay in bed, cuddling and kissing. Lachlan was beyond aroused. But he was determined to take it slow, at least for a little while longer. And Kit respected that.
Eventually, they exited the room in search of food.
“We’ve got bread, cheese, and sliced meat here if you’re hungry,” Grady said when they appeared.
