“Congratulations,T’mak!” he’d rumbled, and I’d found myself chuckling.
We werefarfrom thecongratulationsstage, but I couldn’t deny that I felt a hell of a lot better after last night. I hadn’t claimed Brooke, not fully, but sinking into her tight pussy had only reinforced how I felt about her. That sounded stupid, yeah, but…
It had beenright.
She made me feel complete.
And that, more than anything, made me think that maybe my adopted big brother was right. Brookewasmy Mate.
Lazily, I slid my tongue across my upper lip, capturing the last taste of the whisky as I gazed unseeing at the crackling fire, vaguely wondering if I should go make myself something more festive for the season. I still had that chocolate candy leftover, and I could melt some…
No. I wrinkled my nose. It wasn’t going to be as good as the diner’sMistletoe Mistake.
A log fell into the fire with a snap, making me snort at the illusion. It wasn’t arealfire, no. None of the Eastshore houses had been built with fireplaces, but I’d hung my large television on the wall where a hearth might be, and now it played a looped video of a fire.
It made me feel cozy, and the crackling in the background was pleasant.
There were some days I missed Colorado—hells, I even missed Alaska, although usually not in midwinter. I suspected I’d always be nostalgic for cozy evenings in front of the fire. But if Brooke was here, then my new life was here.
What if she’s not here? What if she takes that job in California? Would you be happy chasing her to the West Coast?
My lips curled downward, and I shifted forward, my feet hitting the floor as I lifted my glass for another sip. Move to Los Angeles? Could I do that? After I’d found such contentment here on Eastshore?
More importantly, would Iwantto do that if she was returning to her ex-partner? This was the guy who’d made her think her creativity was less valuable than his organizational skills, when clearly she’d been the heart of their company. I knew he was offering her a chance to regain her dream, but…
My fingers tightened on the glass. I couldn’t stand the thought of Brooke with him, and not just because she wasmine. He’d treated her like shit, hurt her, made her think she was somehowless.
If she returned to California to be with him and chase her dream again, I would…
I sighed and set the drink down.
I would trust her to know her own mind. Even if it wasn’t the future anyone who loves her would choose for her, I had to trust that she knew herself better than I knew her.
No matter how much it would hurt to see her leave.
Gods below, even thethoughtof such a thing made my stomach clench and myKteermoan in pain. My claws scratched at my chest until I realized I was trying to dig out the hurt, the same way I’d been trying for weeks.
I couldn’t.
Brooke was a part of me, a part of my heart.
Suddenly, my senses went on alert and myKteerbegan to rumble. I was standing and facing the front door when the knock came. I’m not sure how I knew, but…
She was here. Brooke washere.
I leapt for the door, wrenching it open, and when I saw her standing there on my doorstep with that ridiculous wool cap, my entire chest expanded. Mybeingexpanded.
My cock most certainly expanded, I’ll tell you that.
“Merry Christmas!” Her breath fogged the air in front of her face—maybe itwasa little chilly outside—and her smile made my heart sing. “I…” She lifted a few plastic containers. “I hated the thought of you sitting here alone…”
So she’d come to me?
In a daze, I pulled her into my home, shutting the door behind her, holding her hands—and the plastic containers—between us. “Thank you,” I managed, still staring into her beautiful green eyes, feeling as if everything wasrightonce more.
“No one should be alone on Christmas,” she whispered.
This wasn’t my tradition or holiday, but I’d come to appreciate the Christmas spirit over the last few decades. “I had lunch with Garrak.” But I didn’t want her to think I was dismissing her efforts, so I smiled slowly and squeezed her hands. “I’d much rather have spent the day with you.”
