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“I heated water and put coffee in the press when I heard you in the bathroom,” Dev told her. “Should be ready to press it down and pour.”

“Thank you. Wow, that will help. I feel hungover.”

“You slept a long time, but I assume you needed it. It’ll take about thirty minutes for the cook to get everything heated and ready for us. Our cats are working in the kitchen, washing dishes and helping with food prep. We’ll eat in the dining area upstairs, and do presents in the main living room. Is there anything else you need to add to the cart before I take it up?”

Their presents had been under one of the trees in here, and now they were on a cart, ready to be wheeled upstairs.

None of her gifts were things that could be wrapped — the boxes she’d wrapped were just an explanation of the gift with some pictures. She shook her head and hoped her gifts weren’t lame compared to what her men got her.

* * * *

Elijah had thought Genie wouldneverwake up, and his excitement level went off the charts when Dev finally called up to tell the cook to get their meal ready. Everything was already either cooked and only needed to be warmed, or was partly cooked and wouldn’t take long to finish off.

Ezra grabbed the casseroles and put them into the huge commercial-sized oven, and Elijah moved the foil-covered ham and some of the other dishes to the smaller oven, because those items were only being heated, and they needed a different temperature. Elijah looked over the table with the fancy Christmas dishes and platters, and then made his way downstairs with his brother to change into nicer clothes.

The idea was to dress nice for their meal, and then Dev had clothes for them to put on so it’d be like they’d awakened on Christmas morning and gone straight to open their gifts.

He pranced into the suite, grabbed Genie, and waltzed around the room with her. Both he and Genie said, “You know how to waltz?” at the same time, and they all laughed.

“My grandfather taught me, and he made my sister and me dance with our cousins while we all learned, which was mortally embarrassing,” Genie told him.

“Our cats were raised by ancient vampires. I’m not surprised they have the waltz in their repertoire,” Dev told Genie.

“I’m going to change,” Ezra told Elijah. “Stop dancing with the girl and come get ready for our meal.”

“Oh!” Genie said. “I forget we’re dressing up. I’m not completely awake. I need ten or fifteen minutes, depending on whether my hair cooperates or not, since I washed it and then didn’t do anything with it before I slept on it.”

Genie’s hair in fact did not want to cooperate, so shechangedto owl and back, and decided she’d have long hair for the day.

* * * *

Dev looked around the table as they were finishing their meal and shook his head with a happy smile. They’d wiped everything out — ham, sweet potato casserole, squash casserole, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, the super-cheesy potato casserole that was Genie’s recipe andwowwas he glad the cook had made it. There were also green beans, and mashed potatoes swimming in butter, and some kind of pineapple cheese dish he hadn’t been fond of but the twins loved. The plan was to open gifts next, and then have dessert later.

“For Christmas at the main house,” Dev told Genie, “Everyone is required to dress in a festive way, and then Santa hats are handed out if you don’t have your own. Everyone mustwear one. I’m going to add to that tradition and have us dress to open presents as if we’d all just awakened and gone upstairs to see what Santa brought. Our clothes are in the suite, so we’ll need to detour downstairs before we go to the main living area.”

Genie gave him a level stare and told him, “I’m not wearing a sexy Santa outfit that shows off my boobs.”

He couldn’t help his grin, because that was exactly what she was going to wear — a red negligee with a built-in bra that he was assured would hold her perfectly, and with white fluff around the bottom of it, which should come to the tops of her thighs. Also, a little red thong to go under it. He’d opted against the red heels because it was supposed to look like she’d just gotten out of bed, but he’d been tempted.

He’d be in red pajama pants, and the boys would have their choice of boxer briefs in festive colors, though he was going to require they each pick without consulting their brother, or seeing what their twin chose until they’d both picked.

And they’d all have red Santa robes to wear, if they wanted.

Though he really hoped Genie got into the spirit of it and was happy with her outfit.

* * * *

Genie wore the damned negligee because her men were also scantily clad, and because she loved the fantasy of waking up with these men on Christmas morning, or Christmas day, orhowevertheir schedule worked for it to happen.

Ezra chose to wear dark red boxer briefs, Elijah was in white nearly-sheer boxer briefs with a red robe on over it, and Dev was in red pajama bottoms with a robe over it that looked an awful lot like Santa’s coat.

And something about them all being barefoot made it seem even more intimate.

The stairwell was off limits to the boys because it went to the garage, but another set of stairs at the other end of the underground home had a formal staircase between the two main living levels, and Dev ran through the house and up those steps, meaning the rest of them had to follow or be left behind. Elijah brought Ferocious, so he was the last to arrive.

When they reached the living room, Ezra grabbed Genie and waltzed around the large space with her while Elijah picked up two of the presents and hummed a waltz tune, and he pranced and spun with some presents balanced in one of his hands.

And Dev stood and watched them like some Maharaja of his domain until he added a goofy fake beard, and Genie laughed so hard she had to stop dancing or risk falling on her face.