“So you weren’t talking about me?” asked Holly.
“Not in the way you thought,” said Rowan. “I think he was genuinely surprised that someone like you would find Christmas sweaters to be cute.”
“So what was the answer to your question?” asked Holly warily.
“I told him that it’d have to be someone like Holly — someone who sees the beauty in everything, things other people can’t see the same way,” said Rowan. “And…”
“And what?” asked Holly.
“And…that maybe, if you could see some good in some sweaters that other people didn’t see any good in, then maybe, you could see some good in me,” said Rowan.
“I thought you were calling me ugly this whole time,” said Holly
“No, Holly — I was talking about how beautiful you are,” said Rowan.
“I just thought…that, well, you weren’t into me,” said Holly.
“What do you mean?” asked Rowan.
“I thought I was just another ugly duckling,” said Holly.
“Holly, the only thing that could possibly be considered ‘ugly’ about you is your taste in really ugly Christmas sweaters, but on you, I find them adorable,” said Rowan.
“What are you saying?” asked Holly.
“You’re beautiful, inside and out, and if I ever made you feel as if you weren’t, I apologize,” said Rowan. “Holly, I’m attracted to you. I won’t get gross, but, I’ve always been attracted to you, since the moment I met you. If you were struck by lightning and magically lost your beautiful curves, I’d still love you. If you were cursed by a witch to have a face that permanently scowls, I’d still kiss those lips. I want to grow old and wrinkly with you. You will always be the most gorgeous woman in the world to me because your inner beauty shines brighter than any Christmas lights.”
“Is this for real?” asked Holly. “You never thought I was ugly?”
“Holly, you were never an ugly duckling,” said Rowan. “You’re beautiful – inside and out, and all around your curves, every last inch of you. Any fool could see that. I’ve seen your beauty since we met.”
“But I thought you weren’t attracted to me, and that’s why…” started Holly. “The mark. You know. What we did. When you…you didn’t claim me.”
“No,” said Rowan. “That had nothing to do with anything. Being my fated mate has nothing to do with physical appearance. It’s just about Fate. That’s it.”
“But I’d never been claimed by another shifter before, when I’d, well…had sex with them,” said Holly.
“Because you weren’t fated to be with them,” said Rowan. “You’re fated to be with me, Holly, and I’m fated to be with you.”
“How do you know?” asked Holly. “How can you promise that things will be different this time? Even if you find me beautiful, there’s still the question of Fate.”
“Holly, look at me,” said Rowan. Rowan unzipped the top of the jumpsuit. On his chest, there was a mark. It looked like an ink blot. On top of it, there was one word — but it wasn’t red anymore, and it sure as heck didn’t say ‘Naughty.’
“What is it?” asked Holly.
“It’s your name,” said Rowan. “I didn’t realize it until today, but, that’s what it’s always been. I always thought it was some random shape, but, look. Here. There’s the leaves, the berries, the ‘Holly,’ above a crescent shape.”
“Above…a moon,” said Holly. “Holly Luna, my name…my full name, written on your chest, as plain as day. Rowan, you’re right.”
Rowan zipped up his tracksuit-style top and pulled a box out of his pocket. One of the benefits of being a reindeer shifter was getting to carry stuff in his pockets across distances, as his clothes just magically disappeared and reappeared when he shifted in and out of his reindeer form.
The box he pulled out was red.
It was velvet.
It was shaped like a heart.
He flipped it open.
Inside, there was a ring. There was a pair of red heart-shaped rubies. The golden band was shaped like an arrow — like Cupid’s arrow. The arrowhead tip and fletching back of the bolt were marked with geometric faceted emeralds.
“Holly Luna, I’m yours — just as this ring is tagged with your name, so is my literal body,” said Rowan. “We’re meant to be, fated, even, but all that means nothing if you can’t answer my next question honestly. Do you love me, Holly?”
“Rowan…I do love you,” admitted Holly.
“Then I’ve got just one more question for you,” said Rowan. “Holly Luna, will you do grant the greatest honor you possibly can, and accept this ring as a token of marriage…and soon, become my wife?”
“Yes, Rowan,” said Holly, tears streaming down her face. Rowan slipped the ring onto her finger. Then, they heard the clapping. Holly turned and Rowan peeked behind her curves.
“Well, it ain’t traditional, but I suppose this is how we’re meeting your man,” said Holly’s papa.
“And, this might not be traditional either, but, he obviously came a long way to see you, and if he’s gonna have dinner with us later, he’s gonna need to shower that stank off,” said Grandma Luna.
“We’ll be back in a few hours,” promised Holly’s mama. “And then…well, buster, you’ve got a lot to answer for, and I’m sure you’ve got one heck of a story to tell.”
The Luna family left the house, getting into their minivans to drive off into the city for a day of shopping, lunch, and of course, gossip.
“You’ve got the house to yourselves,” said Grandma Luna, winking at Rowan and Holly.
Rowan and Holly walked into the living room of Holly’s childhood home…where, on the couch, there were two familiar faces, both wearing ugly Christmas sweaters.
“Hand it over,” said Krampus, and Avery shot him a glare.
“Now, now, we rehearsed this,” said Avery. “Krampus has something to apologize for.”
Krampus mumbled something.
“What was that?” asked Holly sweetly. “Wait. No. Backtrack. How are the two of you here? Did you drive down with Rowan?”
“You think Rowan drove down here?” asked Krampus. “No. He flew.”
“Like on a plane?” asked Holly.
“You saw him fly,” said Avery. “During that fight, didn’t he fly?”
“My grandma told me I must’ve been seeing things,” said Holly. “Are you telling me…that you’re a real flying frikkin’ reindeer?”
“I am, but, that chapter of my life is coming to a close — today,” promised Rowan. “It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you and yours all about it. I promise.”
“It’s not that long of a story,” said Krampus. “Rowan’s a werebear — a bear shifter. He hadn’t found his fated mate and, well, he ain’t exactly a spring chicken. Shifters who don’t claim a mate are in danger of falling into mate madness — in which they permanently become their shift. So, to teach him some values, he was sent to The Wreath, to work for me. His behavior had also gotten him on Santana — err, I guess you would know him as ‘Santa’ — Claus’ Naughty List. I took Rowan’s shift and his true mate mark.”
“So that word…was never his mate mark?” asked Holly, arms crossed.
“No,” said Krampus. “It’s just a way for him to know if he’s off of The Naughty List and on The Nice List yet.”
“I’m on The Nice List now,” said Rowan.
“Not exactly,” said Krampus wickedly.
Rowan quickly unzipped his tactical top. The word had changed! It now said, ‘Extra Nice.’
“Wait — just a second ago, it just said ‘Nice,’“ said Holly.
“Well, he managed to make you believe in Christmas magic, so I suppose that makes him ‘Extra Nice,’“ said Avery with a laugh. Avery pushed her hair behind her ear. That’s when Holly realized that Avery had pointed ears.
“Avery…your ears,” said Holly.
Avery retracted the ear tips and then poked them back out again. “I swear, if I
do this right, I can pick up Canadian radio stations!”
“What are you?” asked Holly.
“I’m a Christmas elf, same way Krampus is a Christmas demon,” said Avery.
“He’s an actual demon?” asked Holly.
“Yes, and it does come in handy,” said Krampus. He snapped his fingers, and a green flame appeared between his finger and thumb. He waved his hand and put it out.
“So Christmas magic — literal magic — is real,” said Holly.
“Yes, but Rowan helped you believe in the type of Christmas magic that can be felt in every house that can be called a home, in any group of people that can be called a family,” said Avery. “He helped you believe in true love. The two of you learned an important lesson. Christmas is what you make of it – learning to see plain tables as ornament balls, being able to see the beauty in anything, and making your own Christmas wishes come true.”
“Which means now, we have to say goodbye,” said Krampus. “Rowan, your things are in a backpack over there. I’m going to need Cupid back. He has to help Santana with The Ride next year, after all.”
Krampus pulled the familiar snow globe out of his pocket and proffered it to Rowan.
This is it, kid, said Cupid. Just remember — take things slow. You can’t rush important stuff, stuff like true love.
Thanks, Cupid, said Rowan. I’ll never forget that lesson.
Rowan put his hand on the snow globes. Suddenly, he smelled fresh oranges, covered in cloves, and heard the sound of snow falling off of pine branches. Rivers of green and red magical light wove in and out of his fingers as if they were ribbons being haphazardly wrapped around a present.
“Well, stuff my socks and call me a stocking,” said Holly, arms crossed.
Rowan heard a familiar roar. His bear was back.
“There’s still one thing left to do,” said Krampus. “You need to seal in your shift — and fast.”
“You mean there’s still time?” asked Rowan.
“You had until Christmas, and last time I checked, it’s still Christmas,” said Avery.
“But, before you go, here,” said Krampus. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a large green velvet bag. He passed it to Rowan. Rowan opened the bag and pulled out a big green wooden pickle.
“What the heck is this?” asked Rowan with a laugh.
“It’s a pickle,” said Avery.
“One day, The North Pole may need your help again,” said Krampus. “Can I count on you to help us if we need your services again?”
“You got it,” said Rowan, shaking Krampus’ hand.
“The two of us must be going,” said Avery. “We have to let you two get down to business. Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Avery,” said Holly, hugging her boss one last time.
“Toodles!” said Avery, taking Krampus by the hand. Suddenly, they disappeared, in a cloud of gold and green and red glitter that covered the living room.
“Ah, heck, now I have to clean this up before my parents get home!” said Holly.
“Not yet,” said Rowan, putting the pickle bag down on the couch and lifting Holly up in his arms. “Where’s your room?”
“Oh!” said Holly, surprised to have been lifted up by Rowan, before she realized what he was implying. “Oh…”
“Do you want me?” asked Rowan.
“Yes,” admitted Holly. “Badly.”
“Then we have two options — we fuck on this couch, and we both get glitter all up in our privates, or I do you in your bedroom,” said Rowan. “Where the Hell have you been sleeping?”
“My room’s upstairs — you can’t miss it,” admitted Holly.
Rowan walked up the stairs with Holly in his arms. He found a room that said ‘Holly’ in bright pink cartoon letters. He opened it up. The inside of the room looked like it hadn’t changed much since high school. There were posters of boy bands on the wall.
“You liked boy bands?” asked Rowan.
“Still do,” said Holly.
“Aren’t all those bands the same?” asked Rowan. “There’s the funny one, the sexy one…which one was your favorite?”
“The bad boys, of course,” said Holly, pulling Rowan close. Luckily, her bed was a full-size bed, so it could just fit Holly and Rowan.
Rowan’s lips crashed into Holly’s. He took her lower lip into his mouth and nibbled at it. He heard her moan and it made his cock harden even more. He got up from the bed and tore his clothing off, ripping off the tactical tracksuit.
“Yeah, that’s right, strip for me,” said Holly, nodding her head. “What is it with you and these goofy suits?”
“What’s with you and those adorable sweaters?” asked Rowan. “Take that off before I rip it off.”
Holly took off her brand-new Christmas sweater. Ironically, her chest had said ‘Naughty’ when Rowan’s chest now said ‘Nice’ — or rather, ‘Extra Nice!’ Underneath, she was wearing a plain white shirt that hugged her curves, and no bra. Her nipples poked against the fabric.
“Is it cold in here, or are you just excited to see me?” asked Rowan, who was clad only in his boxers. He stripped those off.
“Okay, Rowan, no offense, but…you smell rank,” said Holly.
“I have been wearing the same clothes for like two days,” admitted Rowan.
“Good thing my parents built me a private bathroom,” said Holly. “Being an only child has its perks.”
Holly led Rowan through a door attached to her room. Inside, there was a small sink, a toilet, and a shower.
The only problem was, Holly didn’t get to enjoy the show! Her shower glass was frosted, so all she saw was the big silhouette of the werebear who had stolen her heart…but to Holly’s surprise, she also saw the outline of something big and hard.
Rowan stepped out of the shower after a few minutes. He was free of soap and shampoo, but the fresh scent proved he really had gone to work on his whole body. He hadn’t shaved in two days, so he had scruffy stubble running over his cheeks, his chin, the mustache area, and parts of his neck. He looked wild and untamed, altogether unlike the polished and professional man he played when he was playing Cupid as the top matchmaker of Seattle.
“Don’t see why I need to get clean,” said Rowan, following Holly back into her room. “After all…things are about to get real dirty.”
Rowan grabbed Holly from behind.
“Oh!” exclaimed Holly. She felt Rowan explore her curves with one hand, the other, focused on unbuttoning her pants.
“I also don’t see why you are still in these clothes,” whispered Rowan. “Didn’t you hear? We’re on a very tight schedule, doll face.”
Holly wasn’t sure Rowan would be able to find and remove her panties, because she was sure that she’d just gotten so wet that her white panties must’ve turned invisible against her skin.
Rowan pulled Holly’s pants down, roughly, and then, pulled down her panties. The hand on her waist move to her hips. Rowan pushed Holly into a modified doggy style position, Holly’s hands against her bed. Rowan took his cock out and rubbed it against the space between Holly’s legs.
“You want this candy cane?” asked Rowan.
“Yes, baby,” answered Holly.
“Then show me just how badly you want me to stuff your stocking,” said Rowan, pressing his cock to Holly’s entrance. Then, he put his hands on Holly’s hips and slowly started to screw into her.
“Fuck,” moaned Holly, arching her back.
“That’s right, girl, I want to see every trick you have stuffed in your stocking,” said Rowan. “Show me how you want me to come down your chimney.”
“I’ll show you my tricks if you show me yours,” said Holly. She moved her thighs by squeezing them, bouncing her butt at the same time. Her thick ass massaged Rowan’s lap.
Rowan flipped Holly over so that Holly was on her back. He kept thrusting into her while he ran his hands over her curves, massaging her body.
“Oh, fuck,” cursed Holly.
“Rowan, I didn’t know you knew how to do that.”
“You pick up a few things in my line of work,” said Rowan. “I’m a shifter with many skillsets — what can I say?”
“Well, I definitely want to experience this one some more,” said Holly.
Rowan felt Holly doing something with her pussy. She was rubbing his cock with her canal!
“Are you controlling that?” asked Rowan.
“No,” said Holly coyly, pulsing her pussy three times as she batted her eyelashes at Rowan.
“You little minx,” growled Rowan. “I had no idea that you could do that. I thought that stuff was, well, just a fairy tale.”
“Who are you calling little?” asked Holly.
“The woman who I can carry up the stairs like she’s just a tiny pillow,” said Rowan.
“But I’m big,” said Holly.
“I’m bigger,” insisted Rowan, flexing his cock in Holly’s pussy. “And trust me — I can make you bigger too when the time is right.” Rowan rubbed his hand on Holly’s ample stomach. Holly instinctively wanted to take his hand off her tummy, but then, she smiled to herself. Rowan found every part of her attractive, and he wanted to make a part of her body even bigger?
“If you want me to get bigger, you better cook me lots of good meals,” said Holly.
“I’ll have to,” said Rowan. “After all, what kind of husband would starve his pregnant wife and his children?”
“Oh,” said Holly. “Oh! That’s what you meant!”
“Well, honestly, you’re a little on the slim side, hon,” said Rowan. “Shifter litters take a lot to grow. You sure you’re up to the task?”
“Apparently, you need to fatten me up first,” said Holly. “Guess we’ll just have to wait a while to have kids. Your choice.”
“Well, when you say it like that, you make me want to rush these things,” growled Rowan. “You need to gain at least three more pants sizes before I trust that your hips can handle the childbearing — and your breasts can handle the child-rearing.”
“Good thing we’re having a big dinner tonight,” said Holly. “Even if you’re not knocking me up today…I guess we could use some practice.”
Cupid Claws: The Twelve Mates Of Christmas, Book 6 Page 13
