Page 23

Chapter

Twenty-Two

K NOX

Tipping back the last of a glass of whiskey, I murmured, “Merry Christmas to me.”

The alcohol burned down my throat, and I closed my eyes and listened to Mariah Carey serenading me through the radio. Honestly, Christmas music drove me fucking crazy, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn it off.

When the sharp taste of whiskey began to fade from my mouth, I blinked my eyes open and gazed out the window of my little cabin. Snow was falling and a thin layer had already settled on the ground. Despite the cold outside here, it was warm in my temporary home. I’d lit the fire and since the space was so small, it was easy to keep it cozy.

What was less easy was fighting off the loneliness that had been knocking on the edge of my subconscious all day. I hadn’t seen anyone. I hadn’t gotten a tree or bothered to decorate. There was no point. Danny was busy with his family, and there was no one else who was likely to drop by.

Yuri and Li had invited me to join their family for Christmas dinner, but I didn’t know them well, and I didn’t want to intrude. I would have felt too awkward, like a cuckoo in their nest. Better to keep to myself. Perhaps I was miserable, but at least no one else was.

I clunked my empty glass onto the stool beside the armchair and inhaled deeply, drawing the scent of burning wood and cinnamon into my lungs.

Okay, so perhaps I hadn’t been entirely unsentimental. I’d heated a slice of the apple pie that Danny had given me and recalled his shy expression as he’d offered it to me. At least if I didn’t have him, I still had something he’d made me.

What would he be doing right now?

I knew he’d been having lunch with his family, but had that finished or was he still with them?

He was probably with them. I got the feeling his family were like those strangely happy ones featured in Hallmark movies. They probably spent every waking minute together and never got tired of each other.

I heard knuckles rap on the front door. I started and sat up quickly, caught off guard. I hadn’t heard anyone approach. Although I couldn’t say I’d been paying too much attention. I was too busy wallowing.

Not to mention the fact I’d had a couple of drinks. That in itself was enough to dull my senses. Still, no one should have been able to get the drop on me. I sniffed and almost groaned at the delicious combination of sugar and honey with a hint of bourbon.

Danny.

I got up, strode to the door, unlocked it and opened it. He smiled up at me, snowflakes melting on the tips of his hair, his cheeks flushed from the cold. My stomach flipped over. Damn, he was beautiful.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

He offered me a small square container, which I hadn’t noticed he was holding. I took it from him. “I’m here to spend the afternoon with you.”

I cocked my head. “I thought you were doing a family thing.”

He flashed me his teeth. “That’s finished now, and I want to spend time with my mate.”

Mate .

My wolf growled its approval. My heart skipped, and I tried to read the intention behind his words in his eyes.

“Your mate? Does that mean we’re acknowledging that we’re mates now?”

Danny rubbed his lips together and looked down at his hands. “No one ever denied it, but I was scared, and it took me a while to work past my fear. Can I come in?”

I hesitated.

“Unless…” His face crumpled. “You don’t want me here?”

“No,” I hurried to say. “It’s not that. It’s just… Well, my place isn’t going to be very impressive after spending Christmas morning and most of the day with your family in that nice big house your parents have.”

Danny rolled his eyes. “I’m not judging you based on where you live and how much you decorated. I promise.”

“Okay then.” I stepped aside. “Come in.”

I glanced down at the container he’d given me. “What’s in here?”

“Bourbon balls. I know you said you tend to like savory things more than sweet things and this gives you a little bit of both. It shouldn’t be too sweet for you, but my specialty is sweet things so I had to work with the skills I have.”

Warmth unfurled within me. “I’m sure I’ll love them. Thank you.”

He bounced on the balls of his feet. “If you don’t just let me know, and next time I’ll try something different.”

He was nervous. It eased something inside of me. I pressed myself against the wall as he entered, and then closed the door and locked it behind him. I probably didn’t need to be as vigilant with locks here as I’d been in other places but with my mate on the premises, I wasn’t taking any chances.

I popped open the lid of the container and plucked out one of the bourbon balls, Pinching it between my thumb and forefinger. I bit into it, and flavor exploded in my mouth. So good. A little sweet, very rich, but somehow without going over the edge into being too much.

“Amazing,” I told him. “Just like I knew they would be.”

He blushed, drawing attention to a spattering of freckles across his nose. Adorable.

I gestured toward the sofa. “Want to sit? I can get you a drink. Coffee?”

He hesitated. “Do you have hot chocolate?”

“I do. A special chili chocolate blend. Less sweet than usual, is that okay?” I knew his tastes ran sweeter than mine.

“Sounds perfect.” He smiled and reached into his pocket. “I have something for you.”

My pulse skipped. A gift? I couldn’t remember the last time anyone gave me a gift. My dad sure as hell had never bothered.

I supposed it would have been Mom. A gentle ache started in my chest. No matter how much time passed since I’d lost her, the grief never went away. It just faded into the background some days, only to emerge stronger on others.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said.

“I know.” He pulled out a small package wrapped in black tissue paper. “I wanted to. I want you to know how much your patience means to me, and that I do want to work toward having a future together.”

I placed the bourbon balls on the coffee table and took the tissue-wrapped item from him, being as gentle as I knew how to be. Hopefully whatever was inside wasn’t too delicate because I was better at breaking things than keeping them safe.

I glanced at Danny’s face to check that he wanted me to open it, and when he nodded, I peeled off a small black sticker holding two pieces of the paper together. I unwrapped the package to reveal a thin chain with a small metal bear charm hanging from it.

“I noticed that you wear a necklace.” He waved his hand toward the leather strap around my neck. “So I was hoping that meant you’re open to other jewelry, but don’t feel like you have to put it on. It’s just to remind you of me and it’s kind of a promise to work on building our relationship.”

“It’s perfect.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Danny. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

Now I wished I’d gotten him something more meaningful.

“Would you like me to do it up for you?” he asked, picking at the skin beside his thumbnail.

“Only if you stop hurting yourself,” I said, indicating his red thumb.

He laughed. “Nervous habit. Sorry.”

I didn’t like the fact he was nervous around me, but at least he was here. That’s more than I’d expected. I lowered my head and turned so he could loop the chain around my neck and fasten the clasp. The metal felt warm as it settled against my skin, not cold as I’d expected.

He finished fussing and moved back. “There.”

“I, uh, got you something too.”

“You did?” He looked pleased.

“Of course. I only have one mate.” There was no one else I’d even consider buying a gift for at the moment. Although I supposed that might explain why my offering left something to be desired compared to his. I didn’t have much experience with choosing gifts. “Hold on.”

I hurried into the bedroom, collected the gift-wrapped box, and took it out to him. His eyes widened, and his quick pulse betrayed his excitement. I passed him the box, and he sat on the sofa and tore the paper off carefully so as not to damage anything underneath.

He flashed his pearly teeth. “It’s a set of new pastry brushes.”

I inhaled silently, hoping to detect whether or not he was disappointed. I didn’t note anything to that effect. “I know it’s not very romantic, but Skye said you wanted some.”

His coworker was one of the few people who’d always been welcoming toward me, and she’d been happy to help me think of a gift for Danny.

“I have.” He studied the front of the box. “These are my favorite brand too.”

I touched the side of my nose. Thank you, Skye.

“I love them.” He placed the box on the sofa and stretched onto his toes to kiss my cheek. My heart skipped, and my wolf stirred beneath the surface. Danny smelled of everything that was good about the world, and I could bask in his scent all day.

“Will you play with me?” he asked.

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

He gestured out the window, where it was still snowing. “In the snow. In our other forms.”

Butterflies swooped inside me. “Absolutely. Now?”

He nodded.

Not needing any further encouragement, I stripped off my clothes and went back through the process of unlocking the door and opening it. Once outside, I looked over my shoulder just in time to see Danny toss his shirt aside.

Grinning, I took a few steps forward as my shift came over me. Fur rippled over my skin and I shrank lower to the ground, planting my paws on the soft snow.

There was a snuffling behind me and I spun around, tail wagging as Danny’s grizzly pawed at the snow. I circled around him, yipping excitedly. He scooped up snow—poorly—with one paw and sprayed me with it. The icy crystals sprinkled my muzzle and I tried to swipe them up with my tongue.

Danny straightened to his full height, and I lunged forward, ready to pounce on him, but remembered at the last minute that doing so might scare him, so I nipped at his ankles and rolled onto my back in front of him, showing him my belly.

It went against every alpha instinct I possessed, but he needed to see that I wasn’t a threat.

He nuzzled my belly, working his way up to my throat, and then, with playful eyes, he darted away. I took off after him, chasing him across the street, my paws wet and cold but my heart warmer than ever.

Together, we frolicked in the snow until the chill had soaked through our fur and to our bones, then we returned inside and huddled in front of the fire. I kept my arm around him, hardly able to believe the turn this day had taken.

Danny met my eyes. “You should come for supper at my parents’ house tonight.”

My pulse leaped. “Yeah?”

He pouted. “Please.”

Gods, he was irresistible like that.

“All right.” I cleared my throat. “I’ll come.”

I just hoped they wouldn’t be unhappy to see me there.