Sugar, Spice, and Shifters: A Touch of Holiday Magic

by Élianne Adams

  Holly placed her hand on his arm to stop him. “Follow me.”

  Without a word, he carried Ryder down the hall. Her heart raced as they entered her room. The abandoned clothes she'd been rummaging through when she hastily packed were still lying across her bed. She scooped them up and hung them up quickly.

  Garryck set Ryder on the bed, then turned to her. “Why don't you go have a hot shower and warm up a bit? I'll go check on the propane.”

  “No, I'm okay,” she said. But even as she spoke a shudder snaked over her body again.

  He lifted his eyebrow.

  “Okay, I may be a little chilled, but…”

  “Go.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  She grabbed a clean set of clothes, then he escorted her toward the bathroom. He nudged her inside, then shut the door. He remained on the outside.

  Just as he should. They weren't those sorts of friends. But she could have sworn he'd been about to kiss her when they were in the furnace room.

  She had to get a grip or she'd be pouncing on Garryck whether he wanted her to or not. And what about when Ryder woke up? She was still recovering from his attention on the snowmobile too. A little break away from them would do her good and help her gain some perspective.

  Luckily, the shower wasn't connected to the propane. It was an electric heater that only warmed the water when you needed it. As soon as her fingers quit stinging under the hot water, she finished up.

  When she stepped out of the bathroom, she checked on Ryder. He was still sleeping. Then she went on the hunt for her other dragon. He had opened her curtains and was staring at the graffiti on the window. When she entered the room, he pulled the curtain and covered the message again.

  He frowned at her. His nostrils were flared as he ran his hand through his hair. “Who did this? Do you know?”

  — — —

  Anger boiled through Garryck. When he found out who was doing this to her…

  “Answer me.” He stared at his mate.

  Holly shrugged and glanced away from him. “Did you find out what's the matter with the propane?”

  He grunted and crossed the room to her. He needed her to take this seriously. When he captured her shoulders in his hands, she looked up at him with surprise. If this was about dragon haters, he and Ryder shouldn't come anywhere near her ever again. But would that protect her or leave her vulnerable? His dragon side surged through his blood. He wanted to shift and hunt down the bastards. “Talk to me.”

  “I don't know who it is. Their calls started a few months ago,” she said. She twisted her finger in the hem of her shirt. “It's nothing… a prank.”

  “Months?” His growl reverberated through him. Damn it. How had he and Ryder missed this?

  “Listen, it's okay—”

  “No, it isn't.” He eyed her carefully. “They've tampered with your propane, which means there is no heat. In a blizzard like this when the temperatures are plummeting, that could kill you.”

  Her jaw dropped open. “No, I—it—” she stammered. “Pranks. They are just having a bit of a lark. They wouldn't try to physically harm me…”

  Their Holly was always so strong—living with her fucked up father for so long, she'd had to be. Garryck had never seen her scared before. He didn't like it. She curled her fingers into his T-shirt, holding him like he was the only reason she was still standing. Damn it. He pulled her roughly against his chest when she started to tremble. He'd always thought Ryder would be the one their mate would turn to for comfort. As the beta side of their dragon pair, he was better at understanding emotions. But here Garryck was, with his upset woman in his arms, scrambling to figure out what to say.

  “Why didn't you tell us?” he asked. He pressed his lips to her hair. It was still damp and smelled flowery… Clean. It was distracting. Would the same scent linger at the inside of her elbow? What about along her inner thigh?

  She rested her head against his chest. “I was dealing with it.”

  He didn't say anything. Her approach obviously wasn't working, but he didn't think she'd appreciate his pointing that out.

  At least with her in his arms he knew she was safe. He wanted to keep her there forever. They swayed a little as they hugged. After a few minutes, she pulled back and peered into his eyes. Her tongue darted between her lips and traced her bottom lip before disappearing again.

  “I didn't want you and Ryder to quit coming to the store.” Her voice quavered. “I…I didn't know what I'd do if that happened.”

  Their mate needed them. Intuitively, she knew they belonged in her life. To hear those words from her… A new hope awakened in him.

  He was better with actions than words. He grabbed the back of her neck and crushed his mouth to hers. Mine. He'd kissed her once, all those years ago, but this was different. There was no flirtation in the way he took her mouth now, no tentative exploration. This was a man claiming the woman he wanted.

  When her nails dug into his chest, as if she never wanted to let him go, he pressed closer. He desired her. All of her. Tight against him. He wanted to rip her clothes from her body and drag his lips over her every curve. She arched and rubbed against him. She wanted him too. A low groan vibrated through him.

  His tongue swept over her lips and she opened to him, so he thrust inside. When she shivered at the invasion, heat rippled through him. His dragon half was pushing forward. If there was ever any doubt about her being their mate, the fiery passion between them abolished it. She writhed in his arms, her nipples jutted against his chest and her decadent arousal blanketed the air around them.

  This.

  This was what he'd wanted, what he'd dreamed of for so long.

  She scraped her nails along his back, trying to bring him closer. He wanted it too. He needed to feel her soft curves molded to his body. He walked her backwards as he plundered her mouth. When her back met the wall, he leaned against her. They were almost as close as they could be with their clothes still on. She moaned. That sweet sound urged him to do more and ignited a craving deep within him. He would hear it again.

  Oh, sugar, I'm just getting started.

  He pushed his leg against hers until she gave him access. When her feet opened a little wider, he wedged his thigh between hers. Her heat settled over him. Soon he'd have her spread more than this. He twisted his hips, rubbing against her. She cried out in pleasure and clung to him. He was going to enjoy listening to that sweet whimper over and over again.

  She was close. Already. He could have her quivering and spent with a few strokes. He drew his head back and looked into her eyes, which were dark with desire. He'd given her that. His eyes were probably full-on silver now. Glowing. But she didn't shy away.

  His one hand was still wrapped in her damp hair at the back of her neck, holding her where he wanted her. Her lips were wet from his kisses and he ached to sample them again, but his desire to see her accepting his touch was greater. He locked gazes with her as he raised his other hand slowly to her shoulder. He would take his time. Make her remember this. Make her want more. Beg for more.

  His fingers floated over her collarbone. The hot flush of her body seeped through the cotton of her T-shirt and wrapped over him. He wanted to entice more heat. More whimpers. More gasps. Then his hand drifted lower and her nipples tightened even more. Normally she would be wearing a bra, one of those ones with the wide straps and the thick foam in the cup—he knew, because he'd given a lot of thought to that bit of material over the years—but not tonight. She hadn't wasted time wiggling into it after her shower. So little separated his hand from her flesh.

  He followed the slope of her breast down. He was still watching her, gauging whether or not she wanted him to continue. She tightened her legs, holding his thigh in place. Her gaze never left his as she tilted her hips and glided herself ever so slightly against him. There was no doubt she wanted this. But how far would she let him go? He'd been waiting for this for years… a few extra minutes to make
this right weren't going to be a problem.

  When he neared her nipple, she arched into his hand. His palm brushed her tightened nub. The sweet friction of that little bud against his hand was pure heaven. She inhaled sharply and pressed against him harder. He was panting now as he rubbed her.

  She whispered his name, more of a plea than anything else. She wanted this. Wanted more. Ryder had said—

  Fuck. He'd forgotten about Ryder. How could he?

  He rested his forehead against hers. Her breast was still cupped in his palm and her sex was still tight against his leg. He didn't move. She waited, perhaps sensing that something had changed.

  “We can't do this,” he said.

  She stiffened in his hands and started to pull away.

  “Ryder needs to be here. With us.”

  She relaxed slightly. “Of course.” Her breathy words were as erotic as anything he'd just experienced. “You are a dragon pair.”

  Thank God she understood. He couldn't sleep with her while his partner was passed out and injured, in her bed, but that didn't stem the desire coursing through him. Her body quivered, as if she too was weak with want.

  “I guess that's one way to keep me warm,” she said with a sexy smile.

  He grinned back. His mind was full of ideas about how to keep a rosy flush on her skin, but only a handful could proceed without Ryder.

  He brushed his lips over hers lightly, then stepped away.

  “Yes, we need to keep you warm.” He cleared his throat. His gaze darted over the room. “Where is your fireplace?”

  She shook her head. “We—I mean, I don't have one. My mom disliked smoke, so that's why we have the big propane tank.”

  He marched back to the living room and peered out the window again. He was careful not to draw back the curtains too much, shielding her from the graffiti. He was a man of action. He hated being stuck here. Yet they couldn't leave. Not in the storm. Not when Ryder was still out.

  “What's the matter?”

  “You'll be too cold here,” he said.

  “We could wait in the store, I guess,” she said.

  He shook his head. “They messed with that tank too. I checked.”

  She cursed. “The food will be ruined. I'd limited my inventory of perishables over the last few weeks, and stocked up on frozen goods instead. They'll be garbage without a working freezer. There isn’t much we can do about it, is there? Damn it. Whoever is doing this is trying to ruin me. Run me off. I can't believe it.” She rubbed her forehead. “I'll have to call the police in the morning.”

  He squeezed her hand. “It'll be okay, as long as we keep you warm.”

  “I have a lot of blankets. It's not like this is the first night I will have been a little cold.”

  Did she really think a few quilts would do? Not for his mate. A dragon didn't let his woman suffer. Her comfort was his priority. “I cannot let you freeze—”

  She put her hand to his mouth to quiet him. Her fingers lingered on his lips like a caress. She yanked her hand back. “I'll be okay.”

  “Yes, you will. I'll make sure of it.”

  He swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. He could think of at least three dozen things they could do on that little double mattress, but all he did was set her down at the edge of the bed. He rolled Ryder over until his back was wedged against the wall. Then Garryck lifted the thick quilts and motioned for her to crawl inside.

  “Like this?” She was still fully clothed.

  “Yes, layers are important,” he said.

  “How would you know? You are a dragon. You produce enough heat to melt a block of ice by staring at it for more than a second.”

  “That's a bit of an exaggeration.” He smirked. “We generate a lot of natural heat, but dragons like being warm. My parents used their fireplace every day of the year, even in summer.”

  She sighed. She clearly thought he was overreacting. She might be right, but he had an injured partner and a vulnerable mate. All he wanted was to get through this damned night and get them both back to Montrose. Between the blinding storm and the missing gunman, he couldn't risk carrying them both back to Dragon Country. There were too many things that could go wrong. He clenched his teeth. They were trapped in this cabin until Ryder woke up.

  She crawled between the covers. At least she was willing to humor him. He tucked the blankets around her.

  “So I'm supposed to stay wrapped up like a human burrito all night?”

  “Layers and body heat,” he said. “That's what you need.”

  When she was settled, he nodded.

  “I'm going to turn off your water service so your pipes don't burst. I'll be right back.”

  “What do you need? I can get it.”

  “No, stay there where you are warm,” he said. “I don't need anything special to deal with the pipes. I won't be long.”

  “Can you bring back a bag of chips or something?”

  He should have known she was hungry. Obviously he needed more practice at anticipating her needs. Hopefully that opportunity was coming soon.

  He moved through her house as quickly as he could. He went to the furnace room to turn off the water valve first, then to the bathroom and the kitchen to open the taps. He searched through her depressingly understocked pantry and unearthed half a bag of stale potato chips. When he returned, he crawled onto the little bed beside her. Ryder shifted in his sleep. His partner's arm settled over her, and his face softened into a slight smile. Garryck snuggled closer to her on the other side.

  “Do you have enough room?” She tried to scoot over to give him more space.

  “Am I crowding you?”

  “No, not at all,” she said as she reached for the chips. She offered him some but he declined.

  He sat in silence while she ate. When they finally got back to Montrose, he was going to feed her a feast—a big, extravagant Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, like his mother used to make every year. A familiar ache rolled over his heart. He wished she were still alive to meet Holly.

  After she finished, he took the empty bag and set it on her nightstand. Then he moved closer until the full length of his body was against hers. Even if he couldn't touch her bare skin and explore her body with his tongue tonight, she felt so damned good. The layers of blankets couldn't obscure her tantalizing curves.

  “So, now what?”

  “Now we wait for Ryder to wake up.”

  FOUR

  Wait for Ryder to wake up and then what?

  Holly was too much of a chicken to ask, so she lay between the two men and stared at the ceiling. This was not what she'd envisioned when she thought about having these two men in bed with her.

  Still, that didn't mean that her heart wasn't racing and her body wasn't tingling with hope. Her lips still throbbed from Garryck’s kisses. Her nipples were tight and achy. Oh, and when he had pressed his thigh to apex of her legs…

  She quivered at the memory. That had nearly shot her over the edge. It still could if she thought about it too much. This wasn't helping settle her hormones. She dug her fingernails into her palms and cast about for something to talk about that wasn't connected to sex.

  “Do dragons celebrate Christmas?”

  Garryck shifted beside her, lifting himself up on one elbow to look down at her. He smiled. “My mom loved all the human holidays. I still have the ornaments she brought with her when she mated my fathers.”

  She nodded. “Is it weird? Having two fathers, I mean.”

  “I can't imagine having only one. They each played a big role in my life.”

  She let out a deep breath. “I know it's horrible, but I often wondered what my life would have been like without a father. I've never thought about having two.” Talking about her father was definitely one way to kill her libido.

  Garryck brushed his warm fingers over her cool cheek. “Where one man is weak, his dragon partner is strong and vice versa. Between us, we can make one good man.” He stared into h
er eyes. “A man worthy of a woman like you.”

  His voice had grown softer as he spoke, but she hadn't misheard him. Her heart started singing in her chest all over again. With his hearing, her quickening heartbeats probably sounded like a galloping horse. A soft white glow circled his irises again.

  “We want you, Holly.” Garryck's thumb traced her lips. “We always have.”

  Her mouth relaxed under his attention. Beside her, Ryder pressed closer.

  “But…” She shook her head. “Why me?”

  “You are our perfect mate.”

  She swallowed. “Are you sure?”

  “About you?” His face grew serious as he fixed his gaze on her eyes. “Absolutely.”

  She blinked. This was too good to be true. Maybe this wasn't so different from her midnight imaginings. “I don't know what to say.”

  “We'll wait as long as you need to be certain.” He narrowed his eyes. “And if you never are, that's okay. We'll always be here for you.”

  “But I rejected you. And I'm a plain Jane. And I have no life. How could you want me?”

  A low growl rolled through the quiet air between them. “Holly, I will say this as many times as you need to hear it, but believe me when I say that you are not plain. Not the tiniest bit. Even in that Christmas sweater… You looked like a present I wanted to unwrap. You are gorgeous, headstrong, kind, hard-working, loyal… even when the loyalty isn't deserved… as I said, you are our perfect mate.”

  She took a ragged breath. “Did you know that my mother died of a heart attack? My father told me that my interest in you and Ryder is what killed her.”

  Garryck's growl grew louder, then he cursed. “Is that why you refused to see us?”

  She nodded. Conflicting emotions battered against one another. Ever present guilt about both her mother and her dragons knotted in her stomach.

  “I don't know if you'll believe me, but that isn't true. We approached her when we suspected you were our mate. She gave us her blessing. She said she'd seen how happy we made you.”