Page 40 of The Krampus's First Christmas Gift

“I do not know.” Kraghol pressed his lips together. “I have not heard of something like that happening before. But notcompleting a mate bond is not common. So it could be because of that. Or because you are human.”

Jasper kept his face neutral. He took a bite of the cookie. “It’s probably nothing to worry about.” He tried not to sound too concerned.

Kraghol exhaled. “I am so sorry, Jasper. If I had known what the partial bond would?—”

“What?” Jasper laughed. “Would you have let me drown?”

“Well…no, of course not. But?—”

“But what?” Jasper placed a hand on Kraghol’s knee and squeezed. “You had a choice. Pour your life essence into me or let me drown. You saved me. And it created a bond.”

Jasper smiled into Kraghol’s worried grey eyes. “I’m glad you saved me, Kraghol. I’m glad to be alive. The sickness isn’t a big deal,” he said, playing it down.

He didn’t want Kraghol to fret over him constantly, like everyone else already did. Although, honestly, Jasper was a bit concerned that Kraghol had not heard of such a thing.

“I’m sure it will fade with the bond,” Jasper said, trying to convince himself as much as he was Kraghol. “Then everything will be back to normal.”

“Are you feeling all right now?” Kraghol asked.

Jasper grinned. “Right now I feel amazing,” he answered honestly.

And if Jasper had his way, when the bond faded and he got better, Kraghol would choose to remain with him.

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Kraghol had never experienced anything so beautiful as this picnic.

He stared at the pretty little cookies shaped like baubles and Christmas trees. They lay in a box by the flickering candle. He inhaled, taking in the sweet scent. The pretty garland of greenery and dried oranges lay on the red picnic blanket.

During Krampus Night, when he’d glance in the windows, he’d see the pretty decorations, like the garland lying before him. He’d see candles and sometimes even plates of food. He’d wonder what it’d be like to have those things for himself.

But he’d never believed he’d actually have any of that. Now Jasper had given them to him. He’d brought a glimpse of that world into Kraghol’s gloomy existence.

His throat tightened as he bit into a bauble-shaped cookie. He touched the greenery of the garland. He paused. “Is the greenery made from tree branches?”

“Did you think it was something else?”

“I…” Kraghol paused. “Maybe. They look so special hanging in windows. It surprises me that they are made from something so simple.”

Jasper picked up the end of the garland. He ran his fingers over the pine leaves. “A lot of decorations can be made with stuff you find in the forest. Often you just put it together, add ribbon and other bits and pieces to spruce it up a little.”

“I see.” He met Jasper’s gaze. “Thank you for all of this. You’ve made my dank little cave shine so brightly.”

Jasper’s rich brown eyes softened. “I’m glad you liked the picnic.” He took his hand. “And I plan to share many more things with you.”

But before Kraghol could ponder what those things could be, Jasper kissed him. Their mouths moved gently together. Then Jasper sucked on his lower lip. Kraghol slid a hand to the back of Jasper’s neck, holding tight, worried this beautiful man would slip away.

Jasper’s tongue pushed into his mouth. Their tongues entwined and danced. Although, obviously, Kraghol held back most of his extremely long tongue. He wrapped his hands around Jasper’s waist.

Jasper moved forward, straddling Kraghol’s lap as they continued kissing. Reaching between them, Jasper undid the buttons of his own coat. Kraghol pushed the clothing from Jasper’s shoulders, and it fell onto the picnic blanket.

Breaking the kiss, Jasper tugged off his shirt. Kraghol ran his hands over Jasper’s chest. Then Jasper took his mouth in another kiss. Kraghol rose, lifting Jasper in his arms. A startled noise escaped Jasper, but it was lost in the kiss as Kraghol carried him to the bed and laid him down.

Jasper stared up at him, chest rising and falling as he breathed heavily. His cock tented his trousers. Kraghol reached down and undid them. With a growl, he tugged them and Jasper’s undergarments down his legs, leaving the human naked on the pile of furs.

Kraghol drank in the sight of him, eyes hungrily roaming Jasper’s toned body. And for a second, he froze. He could only stare in amazement at this gorgeous man before him.