Page 34 of Matthias’s Protective Embrace (Cardinal Falls #3)

Chapter Twenty-One

FRANK

It’s Christmas. Typically, that means sleeping in, spending the whole day in my pajamas, and maybe drinking a few beers.

Or more than a few beers. That part depends on how the rest of the day goes.

Nothing about that is bad. In fact, a morning of sleeping in sounds perfect. Especially when Matthias’s alarm goes off at the ass crack of dawn.

Fine, it’s seven. Basically the same thing.

I slept here last night to make today easier. Today… the day I meet his parents. So much for picking a low-key occasion with no pressure for me to finally meet them.

“Frank, you with me?” Matthias asks.

“Mostly.” It’s not worth lying.

“Tell me what you’re worried about.” Matthias puts his mug down on the coffee table and pulls me into his lap.

It feels so good being here, my head nuzzled into his chest. I breathe in his scent.

We haven’t showered yet, so the faintest hint of his cologne from yesterday lingers.

The rest of the intoxicating scent is all Matthias.

“A whole bunch of things.” I sigh.

“Give me the top ones on your list then.”

“Your parents are going to think that I’m in this relationship for your money, or that I’m too young for you, or too stupid for you, or not high enough society or…

” Matthias puts his finger up against my mouth.

Those are all valid concerns. Especially now that I agreed to let Matthias pay my spring tuition.

I didn’t want to say yes, but honestly, I didn’t have a lot of choices.

I did, however, make him let me draw up a contract where I’ll pay him back.

He won the part where payments don’t start until after graduation.

That’s a long time from now. It’s weird to think where we’ll be by then.

And that Matthias honestly believes we’ll still be together.

It’s not like my tuition is that expensive. To him, it’s probably nothing. To me, it’s the difference between eating or not.

“That’s a lot of things.” He hums as he holds me close to him. “I can’t tell you not to worry, but I can assure you that they won’t think any of those things. My parents are far from perfect, but they’re very reasonable people. They’re going to adore you.”

“But—”

“And even if they don’t, it doesn’t change anything here. I’m an adult, and my parents don’t get a say in who I do or don’t date.”

“That all sounds so… reasonable.” It’s tough to imagine what that looks like.

Matthias talks about his parents frequently, and I’ve heard him on the phone with them.

They always seem warm and supportive, but in my experience, th at doesn’t always mean anything.

How people behave in private can be very different.

“I’m going to be right next to you all day. If you get uncomfortable or worried about anything, all you have to do is let me know. You still have your safeword, and we can step away for a few minutes so we can regroup or talk.”

I know Matthias means it, but I don’t want to take him away from time with his family. Especially not on Christmas.

“Now, before we get ready, what about we open a few presents?”

I nod enthusiastically. I spent a long time coming up with something that would be good enough.

Given my limited funds, it was a real challenge to think of something that would adequately show him what he means to me.

Plus, I know he got me something, and I didn’t want the differences in our financial status to be on full display for the day—especially knowing his parents would ask about it.

“Grab them for me?”

I hop off Matthias’s lap and grab the two wrapped packages from under the tree.

The one I got for him is a small box wrapped in blue and silver paper covered in snowmen.

The one for me is in glittery red with a big gold bow on top.

It took me more time than I’m willing to admit to wrap his.

I’m more of a gift bag person, but I wanted this to look extra nice.

After he went to all the trouble of letting me help decorate the house, including me in all his customs, and bringing me home to his family.

“Open yours first.” I thrust the snowman-adorned box toward his chest and take up my spot next to him on the sofa.

“You really didn’t have to get me anything.”

“I did. ”

He nods at me. I can tell he doesn’t agree, but he’s conceding the point.

He opens the paper carefully, tearing the edges and undoing the careful folds in the paper.

Of course, all it reveals is a brown box.

I found it among my mother’s stuff to help put the package together since the gift didn’t come with any packaging.

When he pulls the top off the box, I hold my breath. It’s a bit of a gamble, but I hope it pays off.

“Frank, this is incredible.” He holds up the black and tan abacus I found at an antique market. I don’t know all the details about it, but the person told me their grandfather used it in his accounting practice.

“You mentioned that one of your colleagues had one on their desk a while ago.” I got lucky with that find. It put me a bit over budget for the holiday, but once I saw it, I knew it was the right choice.

“It’s perfect.” He moves the bead on one of the rows back and forth a few times.

I may have played with a few times before I got it wrapped, and they’re heavier than I expected.

It gives it that expensive feeling, even if I think a newer version might be lighter because it’s made from better materials.

When he seems content, he sets it carefully down on the coffee table.

“Thank you, really. This will go right on the bookshelf behind my desk the next time I’m in the office. ”

I can’t help beaming.

“Now it’s your turn.”

I turn the package over in my hands a few times, trying to guess what it might be. Nothing pops to mind, though. After watching Matthias gingerly open his, I do my best not to rip into it like a wild animal.

I’m not successful. By the time I have the paper off, it’s in a pile on the floor. I’d be more upset about it if I didn’t recognize the logo on the box. “I can’t accept this.” A tablet? Seriously?

“Why not? You need something to help with school, and this is a great way to give you a place where you can more easily take notes in math class, organize and do your reading, plus carry your schoolwork around more easily.” My laptop is old and heavy, making it a pain to cart around in my backpack.

That doesn’t mean I need something like this.

“It’s too much.” This isn’t the base model either. This thing has all the bells and whistles that no one ever needs. Yes, it would be a big help for studying. Especially in math class when I struggle with putting my handwritten notes together with the slides from the professor.

“It’s not. You work hard in school, and this will make it a little easier. Please accept the gift. I want you to have it.”

I stare at him, unsure of what to say. It’s a big gift, but I also know the cost is a drop in the bucket for Matthias, a fact I’m still getting used to.

“It’s not completely selfless either. If studying is easier, then you’ll have more time to spend with me.”

I snort. “Well, when you put it that way.”

“Good. It’s settled. You can get it set up when we get back this evening. Now, we probably need to get ready if we’re going to get to my parents’ house on time.”

“Oh, crap.” I jump up, careful to grab the box with my new tablet first.

“No need to panic. We have time. But I thought maybe we could use our time in the shower to help you relax a little.”

Well, my dick is certainly interested in that option, a fact I’m sure Matthias figures out real fast, considering how thin these pajama pants are. “That sounds nice. ”

Matthias chuckles. “I’m glad, Firecracker. Come on.”

As I hustle past him, he gives my ass a playful swat.

I can’t help the squeak that comes out of me.

It’s surprisingly erotic. In all the research that I did after Matthias told me he’s a Daddy, I read a lot about spanking.

Apparently, I’m ridiculously vanilla because the idea never crossed my mind before.

Since then, I’ve done a little bit of… investigating.

Mostly via porn. I know, it’s not a super reliable resource, but it’s not like you can look that kind of stuff up in the college library.

I’m curious, but I’m not sure how I ask for it. Oh, hey, can you pass the potatoes, and also how would you feel about spanking me later is not good dinner conversation.

“Whatever’s going through that head of yours must be good.” Matthias catches up to me in the bathroom and wraps his arms around me.

“No idea what you’re talking about.” This is not Christmas morning on the way to meet the parents talk.

“Oh, really?” He slides his hands down and runs his palm over my erection. “Nothing?”

“Nope.” I’m willing to stick to that story. At least for now. Plus, I’m pretty sure I can distract him in the shower.

MATTHIAS

“Mom. Dad. We’re here,” I announce as we walk into the house.

Frank keeps close behind me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear on him.

I’ve told him several times that I’ll stay by his side for as long as he wants, but I’m not sure he believes me.

I intend to prove it to him today; make sure he knows he’s my priority .

“We’re in the living room,” my mom calls back.

I grab Frank’s hand and lead him through the house until we find my family. As usual, there’s a few others in attendance. One of the partners at my dad’s firm and his wife, my uncle, Finn, and my parents’ next-door neighbor, Doris.

“Merry Christmas. I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Frank.

” I give his hand a squeeze and turn back to the group.

“Frank, this is my father, Leon, my uncle, Finn, and my mom, Edith. Over on the couch is our neighbor, Doris, my coworker, Stephen, and his wife, Alexis.” They each give him a little smile.

“Merry Christmas,” Frank says.