by Lola Kidd
"Understood." Crosby turned to look out his window. There wasn't anyone else on the road, but there was tons of snow. The roads weren't plowed at all. If he could have trusted his animal, now would be a great time to shift and walk to her place. But he didn't know what the crazy animal would do. It was just as likely to go to her house as it was to fly off with her on its back. He'd never had his animal act like this before, and he had no idea what it would do.
He'd heard of shifters going a little crazy once they'd found their mates, but he'd never seen it firsthand. This hadn't happened to anyone in his social circle, and he'd had no time to look for any information. He hoped that what his animal had done was normal.
"Here's the turn." Holly slowly turned into the snow.
"I hope there's a driveway under there." Crosby grimaced as the tires found no purchase in the snow. They almost slid off the road as she turned, but they managed to get into the driveway safely. They almost got stuck a few times, but she managed to get the car close to her garage.
"This is it. I think it's better if we walk from here. I have a snow blower that will take care of all of this in a jiffy." She left the car and led him to the front door. "I'm sorry about the mess. I wasn't expecting guests."
It was a small home, perfect for one person, with only one bedroom, a bathroom, living room, and kitchen. There wasn't even a separate dining room.
"I love it. Very cozy. I don't see any mess."
Or much furniture. The place was minimalist cozy. There was only a TV, a coffee table, and a couch in the living room. There was only one picture on the fireplace mantel and no pictures on the walls. Despite the lack of decoration, the place still looked and felt lived in. It was exactly his style.
"Thank you for being so kind. Would you like to help me shovel the walk?"
"I can do it. Please. As payment for all your generosity."
"It'll be much quicker if we both do it. But I'll let you take the shovel to the walkway. That's the harder job."
"Point me to the shovel, and I'll have at it."
He couldn't help but admire her shape as he followed her back to the garage. A whole night snowed in with his mate—he was going to have to use this time wisely. By the sun came up, he was going to have her won over.
Chapter Six
The snow blowing went surprisingly fast. With a partner like Crosby, it took a quarter of the time it would have taken Holly alone. He cleaned the walkway while she took care of most of the driveway. Once the walkway was done, he insisted on using the snow blower to finish the driveway himself.
While he did the driveway, she put on some dinner for them. It was only soup from a can and sandwiches, but she also had brownies for dessert. She figured the homemade brownies would make up for the simple, store-bought food.
"Would you like some hot chocolate?" she asked him when he was kicking the snow off his boots outside the front door.
"After dinner? That sounds great. What's that wonderful food I smell?" he asked, coming inside and sniffing the air.
She was momentarily lost for words. When he took off the coat she had lent him, his muscles were bulging from all the activity. She could faintly smell him, and it was fantastic. She had never liked the smell of a sweaty man before. Usually, she recoiled from a man's smell, but this was different. She wanted to run over and bury her face in his neck. She wanted to breathe him in and never stop.
This was entirely new for her. Then again, everything about Crosby was new. She didn't know it was possible to be this attracted to anyone. She literally felt weak in the knees from his smell.
"I made some sandwiches and some put canned soup on the stove. I'm sorry that it's nothing fancier, but this was the quickest and I was very hungry."
He ran his hand through his thick black hair. "No need to apologize. You've already gone out of your way for me."
"It's an old habit. So hard to break." She stopped talking before she could apologize for apologizing too much.
"You were going to apologize at the end, there, weren't you?" He grinned at her, his blue eyes twinkling.
She laughed. "Of course I was. Have a seat. I'll bring the bowls to the table."
Her small bistro table was perfect for moments like this. They could sit in front of the window with the snow falling, and it felt like they were the last two people on earth. She had never felt this way inside her house. Even though she had lived here alone for years, it had never felt this homey. It had to be Crosby.
"I hope you have a whole truckload of these sandwiches," he said, then quickly polishing off the first.
"I finished the whole loaf. I know shifters have a huge appetite."
She was very glad she'd bought two loaves of bread that week. She had bought them by accident, but it had turned out to be the right move. The universe had certainly worked in mysterious ways for her that week.
"Please sit. I can grab it myself," he said before she could jump up. He came back to the table with two more sandwiches. "How are you doing?"
She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"You just broke up with your boyfriend. I'm sure you must be very upset. I'm here if you want to talk."
"Oh." She hadn't thought much about Demarco. She sighed. "I don't think I liked him that much. We were only dating casually for the last few months. Honestly? I was more concerned about what people in town thought about our relationship than I was about what I actually felt about him."
It was nice to say that out loud. Crosby didn't know Damario, so he wouldn't be biased. Her ex was very popular in town, and everyone was going to talk about why she broken up with him. No one would believe it, actually. They would all believe he was the one who had left her. Obviously, because she was so ugly.
"If you don't feel bad, then it must be for the best."
"I think there's someone out there who's better for me," she said slowly. "I'm sure that I'll find that person when I'm ready."
Crosby nodded. "You know things happen when you're least expecting them. Who knows, maybe you've already met this mystery man."
He didn't need to waggle his eyebrows or give her a pointed look to let her know he was talking about himself. And with the way she was feeling, she didn't know if she disagreed. But would it be too much, too soon?
How would it look if she broke up with her boyfriend and started up with a new man all in the same day? She and Damario hadn't been dating for long, but as far as the town was concerned, they were a serious couple. She knew her parents wouldn't say much, but she didn't have many friends in town, if any at all. There was no one who would defend her. Damario could say she was a cheater, and everyone would believe him. They would shun her even more than they were already.
But maybe that was a good thing. It would allow her to see people's true colors. If they automatically took Damario's side, it would mean they had never been her friend to begin with. And even if those people judged her, why should she care? They weren't living her life. Should she give up the chance to be with a great man for a town full of people who had never made her feel welcome?
"I see you don't have a Christmas tree." Crosby looked around her bare living room. "Or is it in your bedroom?"
"I haven't had time to put it up yet." She pointed to some boxes under the coffee table. "Those are the decorations, and the tree is in the garage. I just need to get everything out and get it together."
"Why don't we do that tonight?" he asked. "Unless you had some other plans?"
She didn't. She didn't know how she was going to keep them entertained for the night. "Sure, why not? I guess this place could use a little Christmas cheer."
Crosby polished off his last sandwich. "I'll grab the tree. You get the decorations."
"Sounds like a plan."
She gathered their paper plates and put them in the trash, and put the soup bowls in the sink. Then she slid the boxes of decorations out from under the coffee table and opened them. There wasn't much, but she didn't like to put up many decoration
s, anyway. There was just enough to make the tree look nice and the room look more festive.
"This was easy to find." He took the tree out of the box and set it up to the side of the TV. Then he spent some time fluffing it and making sure it was as full as he could get it.
"Would you like to put the Christmas lights around the room while I start with the tree ornaments?" she asked him. "You're much taller than I am. I need a ladder to do this."
He laughed. "I'm glad you think I'm a giant of a man, but I think I'll still need a stepstool. I think I saw one in the garage."
While he went to the garage, she put on some Christmas music and started with the ornaments. They both sang along a little as they worked. After she'd put half the ornaments on the tree, she started some hot chocolate in her small crockpot. It was her favorite way to make a big batch and keep it warm all evening.
"I'd like to add some peppermint, if that's okay with you?" she asked with the bottle in hand.
"I love peppermint," he said, turning on the stepstool. "Such a festive smell."
Crosby sang along with the next Christmas song while he finished stringing the lights around the room.
It was a picture-perfect winter evening. By the time they were done, the room finally looked like Christmas. Nicer than it had looked the last three years, when she couldn't be bothered to put up the tree or any decorations other than a snowman snow globe on the fireplace mantel.
Finished, they kicked back on the couch, and she turned on the TV. "I think Home Alone is on, if you'd like to watch."
He laid his arm on the back of the sofa behind her. "That sounds fine. Do you have any marshmallows for the hot chocolate?"
"Can you even make hot chocolate without marshmallows?"
"That's my girl."
He laughed and kissed her on the cheek, and Holly froze. It took a moment for her brain to register what had just happened. Then, without missing a beat, she turned her head and brushed her lips against his.
It felt right. It wasn't too soon. This was what she was supposed to do.
He met her kiss eagerly and pulled her close.
This was happening. This was really happening.
Chapter Seven
Crosby didn't know if this was a rebound makeout session or if something else had sparked her to act, but he couldn't bear to stop to question his luck. This was his mate, and she was interested in him. She wanted him. He could smell it all over her.
Not that he needed his sense of smell to tell that she was into this. The moment he'd pulled her in to him, she'd practically climbed into his lap. She wanted this just as badly as he did. Even if it was an impulsive thing, it didn't mean she was any less interested. Somewhere deep inside, she had to know she was his mate, that she belonged with him.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.
His animal put up a fight the moment he broke the kiss. He was still running his hands all over her body, but he had to know. Had to be sure she wanted this. He had to hear her say it for his own peace of mind.
"I don't do anything I don't want to do." She bit his neck softly. "And I want you, Crosby Geller."
That was all he needed. He laid her flat on her back on the couch, then leaned over her and pulled her shirt up. Her body was even more perfect than he could have imagined, and he couldn't get his hands on her bare skin fast enough. His mouth soon followed. He kissed a trail from the top of her pants up to the valley between her breasts. Then he reached behind her and unhooked her bra while he looked into her eyes.
Her face and chest were red with heat as she leaned up to give him easier access to her bra clasp. He slid the straps down and pulled it off, setting her breasts free. Then he sucked a nipple into his mouth, and she rose up off the couch again.
She gripped his hair and moaned. That was a sound his animal wanted to hear.
Holly kept one hand in his hair as she ran the other across his shoulder. He massaged her breasts and nipped and sucked at her. The more she moaned and squirmed under him, the harder he got. He wanted to do this all night, but he didn't know how much longer he'd be able to wait.
She scooted up and away from him. "Give me a second. I'm on fire, here."
He laughed. "That's kind of the point."
"Really? 'Cause you don't look too bothered."
He arched an eyebrow, then reached over and took her hand. "I don't?"
Under her palm, he was hard as a rock. She had to be able to feel it through his flimsy sweats.
He put her hand on his chest. "You can feel my heart beating, right? I feel like I've just run a mile, and I can barely catch my breath. You're affecting me too. I want you, Holly. I want you bad."
"Good." She gripped him through his pants. "Take these off."
Crosby stood up and slid the pants down. His erection sprang free, already leaking, and she eyed him hungrily before moving down to her knees in front of the couch. She ran her hand down his length, spreading his precum around before she slid the head of his cock into her mouth. His knees almost gave out when she ran her tongue along the underside of his cock from base to tip.
As much as he was enjoying himself, he had to stop her. "I'm going to come in your mouth if you don't stop right now."
She looked up him and ran her tongue around the head of his cock, then sucked him hard.
It was a good thing she had no neighbors. The sound he made must have been heard for at least a mile.
"Are you trying to kill me?" he gasped.
"What?" She looked up at him with innocent eyes, but a pleased little grin danced on her lips. "I thought you said you wanted to come in my mouth."
He groaned again and grabbed her to throw her on the couch again. He was going to enter her, but then he got a better idea. He bent her over the arm of the couch, pushed her head down and nudged her legs apart with his knee. "You like this?"
"Yes," she moaned. "Don't stop."
He didn't plan to. Not anytime soon.
He pulled her pants and panties down to her ankles in one motion, but he didn't bother having her take them all the way off. There was no time for that. He needed to be inside her, right this moment.
He rubbed two fingers across her slit to make sure she was ready for him. She was slick with desire.
Finally, he lined up and rubbed his cock against her entrance from behind, and she pressed her hips back to meet him. He gripped her hips and slowly pressed inside of her with a groan. Her heat drew him in easily.
He wanted to go slowly so he wouldn't hurt her, but she pressed back again. "More. Please," she groaned.
She reached back and gripped his thigh. He growled and wrapped a hand in her hair and gripped her hip tighter with the other hand. Then he pressed her head closer to the couch, forcing her perfect ass higher in the air so he could get deeper inside of her.
Holly gasped, and her nails dug into his leg. "Oh, god."
Her legs were trembling as she spasmed around him. He moved faster as her moans increased and kept up until he felt a familiar pull deep in his belly. He pressed deep inside of her and emptied his seed with a groan.
He slumped over her back and kissed her neck. "Holy shit. That was great. You really know how to treat a guest."
She laughed. "Oh, gosh. That's not how I usually treat my guests."
"Too bad for them. But that must mean I'm a special guest, right?"
She didn't say anything, but she found his hand and squeezed it. "Are you thirsty?"
"I'm thirsty and hungry. More hot chocolate and brownies."
They untangled themselves and grabbed some snacks, then returned to the couch. He grabbed a throw blanket off the back of the couch and pulled it over them.
"More Christmas movies?" she asked once they were comfortable.
"Yup. I love these marathons."
"So, who's going to miss you at home?" she asked.
"I don't have a wife or anything, if that's what you're asking."
She eyed him. "We just slept together. No,
I don't think you have a wife. I mean, will someone call the cops if you don't turn up by morning?"
"Oh, yeah, I should probably call my brother in the morning. If I'm gone for more than twenty-four hours, he'll get worried."
"Where did you say you live now?"
"Celebration." He braced for the laugh that always followed.
"No way. I love that place!"
"Really?" He breathed a sigh of relief. "That's great. I thought you might laugh. Most people think the town is joke, but it's a nice place."
"Did you grow up there? You're so lucky."
"I didn't. I'm from Overland."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. It wasn't a welcoming town."
It pained him to think of his home town. They had expelled all the shifters when he was in grade school. The humans hadn't kicked them out, but the atmosphere in town had become toxic. There had only been a few shifter families to begin with, so it wasn't a major story when they all moved out. His parents had decided to settle in Celebration after visiting a few times.
It was a good choice. The town had a shifter majority, and the shifters wanted to keep it that way.
"It has to be better than here." Holly shuddered. "They don't even like me, and I'm a human."
"You could always come check out Celebration if you're interested." He looked at her. "I mean, I would love it if you came to town. I could sponsor you."
"You'd do that for me?"
This was it. "Holly, I need to be honest with you."
She sat up. "Okay."
He took her hands in his. "It's nothing bad. But I don't think my reindeer stopped here by accident. I think it knew you were here. Don't ask me how. But I think it knew, and it wanted me to meet you. I think you're my mate."
She sat back. "Your mate?"
"Yes."
"That's interesting." She was quiet for a moment. "I'm not sure what I think about that."
"That's okay," he assured her. "You have all the time in the world to think about what that means to you. I just wanted to be honest with you about how I feel. I know it's fast, but I'm a shifter. When we know, we know."
