Page 34 of Me and My Christmas Familiar

Cas raised a mug, his aura glowing brightly around him. “And mulled wine and Christmas cookies. Lots of Christmas cookies!”

He’d expected his siblings to make jokes and tease him and Lachlan like they usually did with one another. But although they watched Lachlan and Kit with curious gazes, none commented. It was as if they didn’t want to disturb whatever delicate thing was taking place between Kit and Lachlan.

“Sounds good.” Lachlan took Kit’s hand, and they joined his family before the fire.

“And don’t worry, Leo and I took care of the bakery today,” Jasper said.

“We explained to the bakery that you hadn’t forgotten them.” Leo smiled.

“Thank you,” Lachlan said.

All the chairs had been taken, so they sat on the rug. Kit nestled against him, and when Lachlan wrapped his arm around Kit, Kit beamed. Neither spoke as they ate, both exhausted after the emotions of the past two days. Instead, they cuddled, ate, drank, and listened to the others talk as they sat by the fire.

They retired early and slept in each other’s arms. At times, they woke and shared long, slow kisses, which set Lachlan’s blood on fire and made him question this whole going-slow thing.

The next morning, they rose early. The bakery door swung open as Lachlan and Kit approached. Lachlan smiled as they entered, and the door shut gently behind them. Lachlan let out a breath as the lanterns flickered into life.

“Thank you.” Lachlan bowed his head. This was better. This was right. “Shall we prepare the bakery?”

“What do you need me to do? I have hands now.” Kit smiled. He lifted his hands, opening and shutting them. “I can do lots more with these compared to my paws.”

Lachlan laughed. “How about you start by putting wood in the oven.”

Kit piled wood inside it, and Lachlan brewed an elderflower and linden blossom tea. As Kit closed the oven door, Lachlan sent out a thought, and the fire sparked into life.

Without being asked, Kit rose and grabbed the broom. He swept and hummed, moving clockwise, at ease in the space as he swept three times around.

Lachlan lit the incense and said a blessing at the altar.

“Tea is ready.” Lachlan poured them each a large steaming mug and handed one to Kit.

“Thank you.” Kit took the cup.

They drank their tea against a counter. Kit leaned against Lachlan, his tail wrapping around him.

Everything ran smoothly. The simmer pot filled the space with positive energy and a divine smell that Lachlan felt he could dance on. The bread rose and baked better than any batch he’d ever made. And when they made cookies, Lachlan and Kit worked in perfect sync.

“Here you are.” Kit handed Lachlan the ingredients, anticipating his every need before Lachlan even voiced them.

“Thank you.” Lachlan smiled.

It was so strange. Now that he’d accepted Kit as a human, he realised how comfortable he felt around him, how he actually already felt like he knew Kit on some bone-deep level.

As Lachlan mixed the ingredients, Kit slid his hand along Lachlan’s waist as he walked to the simmer pot to fill it with more water. It sent a shiver of awareness through Lachlan’s body.

Then Kit collected the dirty equipment and took it to the sink to wash before wiping down the workspace. Everything Kit did just made everything easier.

But how could this all be so easy?

Lachlan barely knew Kit as a human. Yet Kit fit into his bakery and with him so easily. He was perfect. Perfect for Lachlan.

The perfect familiar, whether in his human or cat form.

Lachlan’s throat tightened. He stopped mixing ingredients and walked to Kit.

“Is everything okay?” Kit only just managed to ask before Lachlan was kissing him.

Kit stumbled but then righted himself, laughing as he returned the kiss and clutched at Lachlan’s shoulders.