Page 61 of The Krampus's First Christmas Gift

The words swam around his brain, over and over.

Did he feel this way because of the partial mate bond? Or the sex? It didn’t matter to Jasper. He felt the truth of the words inside him.

He knew it was quick. He’d felt the words building inside him so rapidly over the past few days. But he didn’t care why he felt them. He just knew he had never felt like this before. And he would fight to keep this relationship with Kraghol.

I’m in love with Kraghol.

But he knew he couldn’t speak the words aloud. Not yet, at least. He doubted Kraghol would accept them. They might even scare him off. And wasn’t that something, the idea that this big, hulky krampus might be scared of him and his love?

Kraghol pulled back. He stroked Jasper’s cheek. “That was incredible.” Then he hesitated. “Still, I think you should go inside now. Even if I can and will protect you, it is still very cold out here. Please, Jasper, go inside. For me.”

“Okay.” Jasper smiled. “But only if you come in too.”

Kraghol shook his head. His eyes flicked in the direction they’d run, back where the bakery and Jasper’s home lay. “No. I could not come into your home. What if one of your family members saw me?”

Honestly, right this moment Jasper didn’t give a flying fuck if anyone saw Kraghol. Them seeing Kraghol might even make explaining everything easier. But he doubted he’d win that argument.

“How about you come into the bakery?” Jasper took his hand and tugged him onwards. “No one will come down for at least a few hours. Like most businesses, we open later the day afterKrampus Night to make sure all the krampuses are gone before we city folk venture out.”

“I’m not sure.” Kraghol frowned.

“I can make you hot chocolate,” Jasper tempted.

“Hot chocolate?”

Jasper laughed. “I can make you all the hot chocolate you want.”

He could see the want in Kraghol’s eyes. But also the nervousness. He smiled, stroking Kraghol’s furry hand. “It will be fine. We’ll leave before anyone will see you. I promise. You can trust me.”

They reached the bakery door. Kraghol stared at it, like it might attack him. Jasper didn’t push anymore. He wanted to let Kraghol come to a decision on his own.

After a second, Kraghol nodded. Jasper smiled and opened the door.

Chapter

Thirty-Two

Kraghol paused in the doorway, looking around the darkened bakery. “Shouldn’t the door be locked?” He didn’t know much about city dwellings, but he knew that much.

Krampuses never entered homes on Krampus Night. They roamed the streets and scared those outdoors but never attempted to go inside. It was like some sacred rule. Still, he’d been told that even if they tried to enter, the apartments were always locked.

“Well, it is locked. But not in a way you can obviously tell. Grady puts a spell on the doors that doesn’t allow just anyone to enter. It will keep out those who mean us harm.” Jasper lit several candles, which flickered into life. They cast a soft glow. “Are you coming in?”

Kraghol took a deep breath, nodded, and stepped forward. “I’ve never been inside a building before,” he confessed as he looked around the bakery.

Jasper’s smile softened. “Well, I’m honoured to be with you the first time you enter one.” He took Kraghol’s hand and led him inside. “Now let me give you a tour. This is the back area ofthe bakery. This is where we bake. Here is the pantry, where we keep lots of ingredients.”

Kraghol gazed at all the racks and bottles and jars, whose contents were unrecognisable to him. “You have so many ingredients. Do you really need all this?”

Jasper laughed. “We do. You’d be shocked at how much we need each day. And over there is the oven and the stove. You can see all the counters where we work.” He waved a hand over the space. “Right now it is quiet and empty. But when we are all here, there is a lot of chatter and laughter.” His smile dimmed ever so slightly.

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing.” Jasper sighed. “It’s just since the accident and the sickness that followed, I’ve been more exhausted at work. I don’t talk as much or joke around anymore.” He paused. “The illness has strained my relationship with Leo.”

“I hadn’t realised you were so unwell.” Kraghol looked Jasper over.

He’d known about the illness, of course, since Jasper had told him. He’d been concerned about it. But he’d not realised the extent of it. Whenever Kraghol asked, Jasper always said he was doing well.