Page 49 of A Siren Song for Christmas

Trent had an urge to mention that he’d been sucking Malachi’s cock not too long ago and had one of his tentacles in his arse. There was nothing dull about that!

But he knew what Malachi meant. “No. I think what I missed is actually just being with people. I’m really enjoying this.”

“Me too.” Malachi gripped his knee.

Trent’s whole body lightened.

“It is nice to have a friend to spend the long winter nights with.” Malachi squeezed his knee, released his grip, and returned to making his wreath.

Trent’s glow dimmed.

Friends. Right. We’re just friends. I’ve got to remember that.

They finished their wreaths. They hung Malachi’s over the fireplace and placed Trent’s on the shelf beside Kelby’s terrarium. Kelby turned and gazed at the wreath for several seconds. She croaked.

“They look good.” Malachi studied them. Then he chuckled.

“What’s funny?” Trent asked.

“You said you weren’t much of a hearth and kitchen witch. You said you weren’t good at brightening spaces. But you’ve definitely brightened this drab space.” Malachi gestured to the wreaths. “And this is only your second visit.”

Trent grinned.

Over the next days, Trent kept returning. They either ate or had sex as soon as Trent came over.

They’d yet to properly fuck. Trent got the sense Malachi was taking his time and working out what Trent liked first. And Trent had discovered quite a few things about himself.

He knew now that he liked to be restrained by Malachi’s tentacles. And he liked it when Malachi took control of him. Healso loved it when Malachi praised him after sex when he was all sated and dirty. Then Malachi would wash him, dry him, feed him, and give him tea to drink.

Then they turned to Christmas crafts. Trent brought over salt dough that he’d made in the bakery along with some cookie cutters, and they made ornaments. They folded paper into stars. They made garlands. Their decorations filled and brightened Malachi’s room.

They talked about their days. Trent filled him in on the goings-on of the bakery. He talked about Jasper and his illness. He talked about the phoenix his brother had initially hated. But who had since been reborn, had lost his memory, and was now living in the apartment and working in the bakery.

And at the end of each night, Malachi welcomed Trent into his bed to sleep.

It was all perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Except for one thing. Malachi kept referring to the two of them as “friends.”

Which Trent had to remind himself was probably for the best. He needed to remember that the sex, conversation, companionship, and sleeping cuddled up together did not mean anything romantic.

Because Malachi had had a mate and he’d died. Trent could never replace him. It was that simple.

Trent thought about Malachi’s mate often. At work questions ran through his mind. Malachi had not mentioned his mate since that first time.

Would it be rude to ask?

Trent stared up at the garland of sliced dried oranges and pine cones. Kelby sat on his knee. Trent used his finger to scratch the top of her head. She ribbited softly.

Malachi placed more wood on the fire. Then filled their cups with tea.

“Can I ask you something?” Trent asked.

“Of course.” Malachi rose and handed Trent a cup before taking his seat.

“If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine.” Trent hesitated. “I was just wondering, what was your mate like?”

Chapter