Page 28 of Snowed in at Santa's Lodge

“Maybe… Oh, I don’t know. A Rolex?” That was the last thing I could see my mate wanting, but it was the first expensive gift I came up with in my mind.

“You think I’d want a Rolex?”

“No, I think the last thing you’d want is a watch that costs that much when you’d have to worry about breaking it.”

“I have an idea—if you’re taking requests.” His smile said I’d just walked into a trap. A good one, but a trap.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

He pulled a small box from behind his back and opened it. Inside was a ring. I was not expecting that. Not even close.

“A wedding ring,” he said softly. “I want to get married. I want to be connected to you in all ways. How about a Christmas wedding next year? What do you think?”

We were mated, and I knew from my mate that mating was considered far more meaningful that marriage. You couldn’t sign a paper and no longer be mated. It was for life. Maybe forever.

But, despite what he said, he wasn’t doing this for him; he was doing it for me. He knew that my human self grew up with marriage being the end game. Gods, I loved him so.

“Yes,” I whispered, smiling through happy tears. “I think yes.”

Another happy Christmas tale from Lorelei M. Hart (who might be a little obsessed with the holidays) One-click Beary Mated Christmas today.