Kiss of Christmas Magic: 20 Paranormal Holiday Tales of Werewolves, Shifters, Vampires, Elves, Witches, Dragons, Fey, Ghosts, and More
Page 102
She yelped and jumped back as a loud crack ripped through the morning air. The two bulls had charged one another, meeting headfirst and locking antlers. Dallas was straining and struggling as he attempted to turn his brother’s head. Bray didn’t even look like he was breaking a sweat as he steadily held his position. Dallas was twisting and pushing while Bray remained completely stationary.
To Celeste’s horror Bray began to push at Dallas, shoving him backwards. With one quick neck turn he began to flip Dallas onto his side. What was he doing? Had the excitement of the duel awoken his animal instinct? It was the only explanation that entered Celeste’s brain.
She stood there, her hands on her head as she tried not to call out to Bray and destroy his entire charade. The females were grabbing at one another and jumping up and down while pointing at the obvious dominance of Bray. At that moment he looked up and his eyes met Celeste’s . His large brown eyes centered on hers and he blinked. Immediately she was transported back to the first day in the forest, the first day she had met Bray and the first day their lips had touched. He had had the same look in his eyes then that he did now.
In a flash it was over. Bray let out a pained and terrible cry as he began to slide backwards, no longer fighting against Dallas’ push. Sensing his opportunity Dallas quickly flipped his neck, lifting Bray off the ground and slamming him onto his side with force. He unlocked his antlers and moved to his brother’s soft, exposed stomach and lay the points of his antlers against it.
Bray shrank back in submission, giving up his stomach to his brother’s killing blow. The blow never came; instead, Dallas walked backwards, allowing Bray to stand and realize his defeat. Celeste didn’t know what was going on in Bray’s mind, but she knew whatever it was, it couldn’t be easy for the powerful bull. He had allowed himself to be broken for love, to be human. He had given her something she could never repay. Neither would ever be alone again.
The females all rushed forward as Dallas shifted back to his human form. Their hands were grabbing and rubbing at Dallas, all volunteering to be the first to be ravished by their new, strong leader.
Slowly Bray rose and shifted, trying his best to remain demure and unseen by the herd. He slipped on a tight pair of jeans, a white t–shirt and a pair of cowboy boots before walking to Celeste and putting his arm around her.
Somehow he looked even better in human clothes, if that was possible. Her breath was taken away almost as much as the first time she had seen him a month ago. He was gorgeous.
“Thank you,” she whispered, rubbing her hand up and down his back.
“No, thank you,” he whispered back. “Thank you for being there for me.”
“I’ll always be there,” she whispered back.
“Me too.”
As they turned to leave an alarm bell went off in Celeste’s head. She opened her eyes wide and spun back around, facing Dallas and the herd.
“I didn’t come here to get Bray!”
“What?” Dallas and Bray both asked.
“I didn’t come here to bring Bray back,” she said, smiling sheepishly. “I mean it’s a nice consolation and I’ll definitely take it, but that wasn’t my main reason for coming here.”
“Speak your peace and be gone from my territory, human!” Dallas said, his voice booming through the clearing. All the females giggled and clapped as he puffed his chest out. He quickly shrunk back as Bray stepped forward, shooting him a warning look.
“I can do that,” she said, stepping between them to keep the peace. “There was a report on the news. They’re expecting a record number of hunters to enter the area to control the elk. The park rangers are offering huge bounties for elk carcasses, because they think you’re overrunning the place.”
“It’s not us that’s overrunning the place,” Dallas said. “It’s the real elk.”
“Yeah,” Bray responded. “Our females aren’t as fertile as a regular elk. Rutting season maybe only produces one child at a time if we’re lucky.”
“What?” Celeste said. “I asked you how many children you have.”
“And I told you I don’t know,” Bray said.
“But you said you mate to spread your genetic material.”
“We do,” Dallas answered. “But that doesn’t mean we’re successful. Has anyone here ever had a calf?”
Most of the females shook their heads, and most looked down afterwards in embarrassment.
“So you’re not worried about the hunters?”
“No,” Bray said. “That’s why we moved closer to the humans and decided to spend most of our time in human form. It would keep the hunters at bay.”
“It’s no walk in the park,” Dallas said. “I prefer to rut as a human, but it sucks to have to be human all day.”
Many of the females offered their support for Dallas’ position.
“Well, then, I guess I didn’t need to come out here,” Celeste said, suddenly feeling very sheepish. She had stuck her nose in where she didn’t belong.
“You didn’t come for no reason,” Bray said, putting his arm around her. “You’re leaving with exactly what you needed.”
“I guess I am,” Celeste said, looking up at him and smiling. Bray returned her smile with such warmth that he could’ve easily warmed up the harsh cold air that surrounded them.
“Goodbye, brother,” Bray said. “You bested me fair and square. Take care of the herd and don’t hesitate to visit when you make your trip into the human settlement during bachelor season.”
“Goodbye, brother,” Dallas said, winking as they turned to walk away.
“So what now?” Bray asked.
“We need to get you some new clothes and a job,” Celeste said, snickering.
“A job?” he asked. “Maybe I’ve made a huge mistake.”
He turned and mocked running back to the herd. Celeste giggled and slapped him on the chest. “You behave.”
“It’s going to take a lot to make me do that,” he whispered into her ear before his tongue darted out and ran its way from her ear down the base of her neck. Celeste shuddered and felt the wetness pooling in her groin. Life was going to be fun.
***
Celeste sat on the windowsill of her old bedroom, looking out at the snow that covered her hill in the distance. It had been six years since she had gone to the hill and found the love of her life, the man who would forever love and protect her.
It was times like these that she just had to get away from the rigors of life and reflect on what an amazing journey it had been. Her father would be so proud of what she had accomplished since he had tragically left her life.
She had won three state titles in a row and this year she was gearing up for a run at a fourth in five seasons. It was Christmas morning and she was married to a man like no other, that was a fact.
“Mommy?” a tiny voice called from her old bed. “Is it time to open presents yet?”
Celeste turned and smiled at the little face staring up from the bed. Breanna was only three years old, but she knew all about Christmas.
“I thought I heard Santa last night!” she exclaimed, sitting up in bed. “He was on the roof with his reindeer!”
“Are you sure it wasn’t your daddy and Uncle Dallas screwing around?” Celeste asked.
“Oh,” Breanna said, falling back into her pillow and scowling. “Not fair.”
“Actually,” Celeste said, smiling, “come to think of it, Daddy and Uncle Dallas stayed downstairs all night. Mommy saw them. It must have been Santa.”
“Yeah?” Breanna asked, sitting up in bed again and laughing. “Let’s go see if he left us presents!”
“Alright,” Celeste said, pulling her little wonder out of bed. “Let’s race Daddy and your brother down the stairs!”
“Okay!” Breanna said, running to throw the door open. “Daddy! Randall! Last one downstairs is a rotten egg!”
Breanna’s older brother flew by in a flash, his hooves clomping on the wood floor.
“No fair!” Breanna calle
d, running into the hallway. “You can’t shift! I can’t do that yet!”
As Celeste ran to join them she was stopped in the doorway by the granite wall that was her husband. She looked up at him, noticing the twinkle in his big brown eyes as he looked into hers.
“Merry Christmas, beautiful,” he said.
“Merry Christmas, handsome,” she said. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He leaned in and put his lips on hers, kissing just as hungrily as he had when he had come upon her on the hill six years ago. They had been through a lot over the last six years, more than most, but they had somehow managed to endure it all. And in that time the passion and fireworks that flew when their lips met had never diminished. He had been there for her when she was a child, and would always be there. He was her stag.
About the Author
Jessica Ryan is the author of the popular “Bucklin Wolves” series. The saga began with “Taken By The Wolf” as Bucklin sheriff Rowan saves the beautiful and curvy Eva from certain death at the hands of a deadly shifter biker gang.
You can visit Jessica’s website, for more information on her books, by clicking here.
Breaking the Stag © Copyright 2014 Jessica Ryan
Table of Contents
KISS OF CHRISTMAS MAGIC
Caribou's Gift
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Epilogue
Author's Note
Hunted Holiday: A Vampire Romance
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About the Author
Lost in Winter
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
About the Author
Kissed by Temptation
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
About the Author
Bear Witness: Pearson Security #1
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
About the Author
A Heart in Winter
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About the Author
Alpha’s First Christmas
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
About the Author
Witches Shall Rise
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
About the Author
A Christmas to Bear
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About the Author
Shadows Beneath the Falling Snow
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About the Author
Home for the Howlidays
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About the Author
Everlastingly
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About the Author
The Hunter’s Moon
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
About the Author
A Ghostly Gift
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About the Author
Love Singer
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Author's Note
Lord of Misrule
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
About the Author
Blood Deep: Vegas Vampires Book 1
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
About the Author
A Cold Winter’s Bite
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
About the Author
Dangerous Distraction
About the Author
Breaking the Stag
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
About the Author
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