Page 18 of Naughty Elf: Merry

“We’ve overstayed our welcome.” They waved and bustled out. We were alone.

Hernan took my hand. “Shall we go home?”

Chapter 14

Hernan

I’ve been very good this year, and Merry was a gift from Santa himself. An early Christmas present.

As soon as the words fell from my lips, I knew them to be true. Merry hadn’t appeared in my studio by accident. No, he was here because he was my mate, and I was his. There wasn’t a speck of doubt. We were each other’s.

I held his hand as we drove home, not wanting to be even an inch away from him. My beast felt the same. He was ready—ready to mark our mate. I was too, but first, we needed to talk about all of this.

The snow had started to fall, and as I pulled into the driveway, the flakes grew even bigger, perfect for catching on your tongue. I got out of the car, tilted my head back, and stuck out my tongue.

Merry chuckled. “Oh, that’s my favorite!”

The two of us ran around the front yard like little kids in the snow, trying to catch every snowflake we could.

“How many did you get?” Merry asked, holding up his fingers to show how many he’d managed. Eight.

“I don’t know. I didn’t count.” Next time I would, though, because the competitive side of me wanted to have more than he did.

“Well, it needs to be a tie, then.” Merry shrugged, a smirk on his face. Then he grabbed my shirt, pulled me to him, and kissed me soundly. “There. Now we both have the same number.”

I loved this playful side of him. Well, all sides, really, but there was something so fun about being unserious like this. A car drove past—probably a neighbor going home—but it was a reminder that we weren’t alone out here. The two of us headed inside.

“What you said in there at the meeting... I mean...” Merry’s confidence seemed to falter.

“When I said you were the best Christmas present I could ever have?”

He nodded.

“Oh, I meant that. You’re mine, Merry. You’re mine completely. My beast feels it. I feel it. Don’t you?”

“Yeah...” There was a slight hesitation.

I wouldn’t mark him until he was sure-sure.

Holly came over and jumped between us, meowing.

“Are you hungry, little one?” I asked.

The vet had her on a regimen of dry food on demand but wet food twice a day in very small amounts. I got her dinner out, and she ran to it like she hadn’t eaten in forever.

“She likes her food,” Merry noted.

“Well, it’s a very fancy dish. Even says so on the can.” I tapped the can I was rinsing for the recycling bin.

“Not fancy enough for me.” He wrinkled his nose.

“Me neither. Do you want to have dinner? I could whip us up something pretty quick.” It would be boring. It wasn’t like I’d planned on anything. But at the very least I had some pasta and jarred sauce.

“Oh, I’m hungry,” Merry said. “But it’s not for food. Join me.”

He held his hand out for me, and I took it as he led me down the hall to my bedroom. As soon as we were inside, he turned and pulled me into a deep kiss, his lips soft and warm against mine. Talking was over, at least for now, and I was okay with that. Everything we needed to communicate could be said with our bodies. I wrapped my arms around his waist, loving the feel of his body pressing close.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” Merry murmured. I wasn’t sure if he was speaking to me or himself.