“I don’t know anymore.”
The edge of his lips lift. “What do you want? If you could have any life you could dream of?”
Closing my eyes to think, I have an idea in mind but don’t know if I’m ready to admit it. “What if I don’t know yet?”
“Lucky for you, you have hundreds of years to figure it out. Take all the time you need.”
Without another word, he pulls my head against his chest and we settle back in to watch the momentarily forgotten movie while my mind races.
39
Kodi
Anya managed to worry herself to sleep in my arms. When her breathing evened out, telling me she was asleep enough not to be startled awake, I carried her to bed and tucked her in while I set to work on the next step of my make-sure-Anya-has-the-best-Christmas-ever plan.
It’s even more important to make this the best Christmas ever, to keep her distracted from the offer now hanging over her head.
One of the most iconic parts of Christmas is decorating the tree and hanging the stockings. Living in a Christmas house, in a Christmas town, naturally all the trees have already been decorated, so I got scrappy.
First, it was easy to convince my parents to give us the house for a while to give us some privacy. They have Mr. and Mrs. Clause duties for the annual Christmas pageant.
Then, I made the executive decision that we’ll set up my bedroom for Christmas. With everything else decorated, it only makes sense. I’ve usually kept the Christmas overflow from my room, but for my girl, I’m willing to break my own rules.
Finally, I made my way outside and cut down a perfectly proportionate tree that will fit well in the corner of my room. I didn’t want to risk an ugly or asymmetrical tree that would silently irritate and taunt my sometimes a bit uptight mate.
Now that everything is complete, I just have to wait for her to wake up. But it’s hard. I’m excited and antsy. She’s been so tired though, so I behave and let her rest.
40
Anya
Kodi is taking my Christmas experience very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that there’s currently a freshly cut tree consuming the corner of his bedroom.
I can’t help but smile as I watch him tend to the tree, having placed it in the stand, and now trying to wedge his massive body beneath it to give it some water. A giggle escapes me as he grunts to remove himself from the underbelly of the tree he’s crammed himself into. “You could have asked me to help. I am much smaller than you in case you’ve forgotten.”
He tsks and shakes his head. “Nope. Mam makes everything pretty and my dad does the dirty work, and that’s the way it should be.”
Touched by his determination to continuously care for me the way his parents care for each other, I can’t keep myself from crossing the room and wrapping around him as he finally stands, burying my face in his chest.
He kisses the top of my head as he returns the embrace. “Ready to decorate for Christmas, Anirniq?”
I nod into him, soaking up his warmth and the tingle of our bond. He doesn’t move a muscle until I initiate the end of the hug and then he’s on the move. Pulling box after boxafter boxhe had ready in the hallway, into the room. I know most people have quite the stash of Christmas decorations, but I have a feeling we have even more to choose from here.
“Okay, so we have four stations.” He gestures with his arms out wide before turning his attention to the tree. “We have everything in these boxes to decorate your first Christmas tree,” he beams and turns his attention to his dresser. “We’re going to pretend this is a fireplace for you to decorate and hang stockings. This whole box is stockings for you to pic from. Mam changes the decor theme often enough that there’s a ton of backstock.” My heart warms at his intentional organization for me.
The third stack he motions towards, sits smack dab in the middle of the room. “These boxes are full of bedding and other random things you can put wherever you like, and the boxes by the door are stuff you can decorate the door with, like you would the front door of a home.”
I’m pleased to find I’m actually excited to do all this. “I do have one condition though,” I say as I reach for him withabsolute certainty he’ll always come to me. “Only if we do it together. We don’t have to do things alone anymore.”
He nods and waits for me to announce what I want to do first.
“The tree.” I decide, and he immediately moves to start opening boxes. The first is full of lights. The second crammed with garland and tinsel. The third containing both elaborate and simple tree toppers. And the final, filled to the brim with every Christmas ornament imaginable.
As he begins pulling my lighting options out of the box, he tells me all about my future Christmas tree options, and I love that he’s constantly thinking about our very long future together. I don’t think it’s ever really set in that I’ll get to spend centuries with him.
“If you decide you don’t like having a real tree, while some would frown upon it, I don’t mind. Some of the newer artificial trees look pretty real and come pre-lit, so it’s whatever you want to do. Oh, and if there’s any color styles or ornaments you want, we can always order more.” To stop his rambling mouth and mind, I kiss him.
It was meant to be a shut-him-up kiss but quickly turns into more, my core heating with the need rising within me. Our mouths work against each other, tongues dancing, tasting, massaging, dragging a moan from my throat.
