“Don’t make me get a cock ring.” Steven slid in another finger.
Dare pushed back. “I’m ready.”
“You’re ready when I say you’re ready.” Steven slid his fingers in and out.
Moaning, Dare moved with the motion. “Come on, mate, fuck me.”
“Always with the demands.” Steven sighed as if he was greatly put upon. “It’s a hard task being your mate.”
“Someone has to keep me in line.” Dare grinned when Steven glided his hands up along Dare’s spine before settling them with a hard hold on Dare’s hips.
“Not someone. Me.” Steven plunged his hard cock into Dare.
Sparks of sensation lit Dare up. He gasped and grabbed at the sheets to stop from sliding too far as Steven pounded into him. Gasps, grunts, and moans filled the air. Good thing Anthony sound-proofed all the apartments or no one would ever get any sleep from all the sex that went on in the pack tower.
Steven must’ve noticed Dare’s slight attention shift. He reached one callused hand around Dare’s erection and pulled him back to their lovemaking.
“Harder, love,” Dare gasped.
“Anything for you.” Steven snapped his hips, increasing his speed.
Dare’s eyes rolled back. His claws popped out of the tips of his fingers and scraped across the cotton surface. A tearing sound blended with the music of their moans as they reached completion. A scream ripped from Dare’s throat when Steven pegged the perfect spot to push him over the edge. Steven’s hard grunt and the seeping wetness of Dare’s hole wrapped up their bout of passion. They collapsed in a sweaty, sticky heap.
“I think we need another set of sheets,” Dare commented.
“I have three more in the hall closet. There was a sale.”
Dare burst into laughter. “You know me too well. Let’s nap, then go see Anthony about my idea.”
“Whatever you want.”
After a long nap, a second bout of sex, and a shower, they stood outside Silver’s office. Anthony worked out of Silver’s office on the weekends whenever he had small things to do that didn’t require staff, and Silver used the time to be available for pack business and club matters.
Dare smoothed out his T-shirt, then scraped a nail across his front teeth to check for loose breakfast cereal bits, despite having brushed his teeth after giving Steven a blow job.
“You look fine.” Steven wrapped Dare in his arms and gave him a quick squeeze before knocking on the door.
“Come in,” Silver called out.
Steven opened the door and motioned for Dare to go first.
“Coward,” he hissed at his mate as he passed.
Silver’s shifter scent combined with Anthony’s power had a unique aroma that never got old. The office smelled of Alpha protection, lightning, and home.
Steven joined him, standing before Silver’s desk. Anthony sat to one side going over paperwork while Silver tapped away on his laptop in the middle of the desk. They both stopped working to give Dare and Steven their full attention. Dare couldn’t help his instinctive urge to stand up straighter. He refused to slouch in front of the powerful couple. As pack and friends, Dare didn’t usually feel the need for formality, but Anthony could be oddly sensitive about holiday celebrations after his unconventional upbringing. You didn’t go to the mall and sit on Santa’s lap if you were the product of a fae and a forest witch and descended from gods.
“Good morning. We don’t usually see you two before noon on Saturday. What’s up?” Silver asked when neither of them spoke up.
Dare cleared his throat. “I was thinking about the holidays, and I thought of both a good promotion for your hotel and something for the kids. It could bring potential guests inside to see how nice it is.”
Anthony and Silver exchanged a look, a silent communication between mates.
“I appreciate you thinking of my business,” Anthony started. “What is your idea?”
Silver smirked at him. The tightness in Dare’s chest eased. Like most shifters, he yearned for his Alpha’s approval. He swallowed back his misgiving. “Trin is getting old enough to know about Santa, and I thought it would be nice if we had one for the rest of the holiday season.”
“Why does Trin need to believe in a story about an old man who invades your house while you’re sleeping.” A crease appeared between Anthony’s brow.
Silver gave a choked laugh. “Honey, I think you’re missing the entire point of Santa Claus.”
Anthony folded his arms. “What am I missing? Did I misunderstand the tale?”
Dare took a step back. He’d seen what happened when Anthony’s power flared. Being a spot of ashes wasn’t on his to-do list.
Silver propped his elbows on the desk and his chin on his hands while he examined Anthony. “I know you weren’t brought up to celebrate Christmas like the rest of us, but part of the tradition is to infuse a bit of magic into the holidays for the children. It’s not the same to tell them that their parents buy them gifts because why wouldn’t they just get them the rest of the year?”
Anthony sighed. “I just don’t get it.” He narrowed his eyes at Silver. “Wait, were you going to take Trin to see Santa?”
Silver straightened in his chair. “I thought he might enjoy it. I was going to discuss it with you of course.”
“Hmm.” Anthony narrowed his eyes at his mate. “And what stranger were you going to let hold our son while posing as a fictional deity?” Anthony’s voice became a bit colder with each word.
Did the shadows just grow?
Steven pulled Dare back a few more steps.
“How about we focus on Dare’s idea? Hire a Santa for the hotel. It will be good for business and we can vet the perfect Santa for Trin so he isn’t on someone’s lap you don’t trust,” Silver placated.
Anthony turned toward Dare who froze under the man’s sharp gaze. “Dare, I’m putting you in charge of hiring this person. I have no idea what would make a good Santa. If you want to keep up this ruse, don’t hire anyone that Trin might have met, so no pack members,” Anthony snarked.
“Great, will do. I’ll go get started.” He had never left a room so fast without being chased.
Chapter Two
“Daddy, where does Santa come from? Is he a godling like you?”
Anthony Carrow froze, his fork halfway up to his mouth. He set it back down, then turned to give all his attention to his young son. “Trin, who told you about Santa? Was it Dare?”
Weren’t they supposed to be keeping the whole Santa thing a surprise? This late in the season, Dare would have a hard time finding a proper Santa. Maybe they could put off this ridiculous idea to next year.
“Sammy told me all about him,” he answered without hesitation. “When I asked daddy if he was real, he said I should talk to you because you know all about magic.”
“Oh did he?” Anthony turned toward his mate who did an excellent goldfish impression while he tried to think of a way to get around admitting his culpability.
“Yep!” Trin grinned wildly as if intravenously infused with the Christmas joy.
It was going to be a long holiday. Maybe he could get lucky and be kidnapped until this whole thing was over.