“Yeah. I wanted us to be a couple, but I didn't know you thought the same right at that moment. I hoped. I wished. And look what Santa delivered.”
“Yep. You're stuck with me.”
We madeour exchange of rings on the courthouse lawn under the prickly shade of a maple tree just barely putting out new spring leaves. It was technically still winter, and the day was cold. We kissed quickly and then ran for the heat of the car.
The ring on my finger felt heavy, the new gold metal cool against my skin. I loved the feel of it immediately. As if I had Aspen wrapped around my finger. Which, technically, I did. Itwas a beautiful setting. The band was comprised of Celtic knots and in the middle was the faceted opal that caught all the colors of the light and reminded me of Christmas. We joked that the knots represented something very personal for us.
When we first picked them out, Aspen said to me, “I like knots as you well know.”
I had replied, “It's not a cock ring, dear.”
We had tried to keep our voices low, but I think the clerk overheard, because when she rang us up her cheeks were flushed, and she wouldn't look us in the eyes.
After lunch we went home and immediately consummated our marriage.
“Everything needs to be official, right?”
“It's the law,” Aspen said, his legs wrapped tightly around my waist, his naked ass rubbing back and forth across my hard cock.
“No one can say we both don't know the law backward and forward.”
That evening, we arrived at Aspen's parents’ house promptly at six p.m. Before I could blink, I was drawn in by loving arms. First, Ingrid, Aspen's mom, hugged me hard, followed by his dad, Karl, who's embrace nearly squeezed the air from my lungs.
We had only met once before, at a restaurant for dinner. I'd never met Aspen’s siblings. Tonight would be the first time.
One by one they came in the front door and every one of them rushed to us, excited to meet me. It was almost overwhelming, yet so wonderful since my own family had been such a reserved lot. A big part of me hungered for all the warmth and enthusiasm of these beautiful reindeer shifters. They even brought gifts. Wedding gifts wrapped in gilt white paper with golden bows.
Elliot, Aspen’s oldest brother, clapped me on the back. “I can't believe our little bro here ran off and got married before we ever got the chance to meet you. He didn't even give us time to do a background check.”
I coughed, not knowing what to say to that.
“Just kidding.” Elliott laughed. “He probably did it himself already. We trust him.”
Those who were nearby who overheard the conversation started laughing hard.
Aspen grasped my hand and squeezed it. “I never would,” he whispered in my ear. To his family, he said, “I never had the time. We bonded so quickly. If he’d been a serial killer I’d be stuck with him.”
Our wedding dinner consisted of spaghetti, garlic bread, tossed salad and a big white cake for dessert. Aspen had requested all of it. “You'll understand why when you eat. My mom makes the best homemade spaghetti in the entire universe.”
“I love spaghetti. Who has that at their wedding party? We do. It's so very much us.”
Aspen wasn't wrong. The food was magnificent. I had to have seconds.
Kids ran around our feet when they finished eating early and vacated the kids table without permission. I realized, looking at them, that I had nieces and nephews now. I was an uncle. I would finally—finally—get to shop the toy department at Christmas. My own brothers and sister had never had children so far. I didn't realize what I was missing until now. They were all so friendly. Tugging at my pantlegs and asking me a million questions with their big eyes full of wonder and awe.
Something inside me seemed to break apart and then fit itself back together in a different shape. A shape of belonging. Of wanting that wonder and awe in my own life with Aspen.
By the time we left, it was snowing outside. I looked up at the gray night sky and thought how lucky I was, how beautiful it all was, especially the clouds in winter and the snow. They all made me think about how I'd met Aspen and how if mistakes hadn'tbeen made and the lodge been overbooked none of this would ever have happened.
From now on, winter would be my favorite season.
As we drove home, I said, “Your family is wonderful. All those little ones, too. I want one of those.”
“What?” Aspen was driving. He frowned at the windshield.
Uh-oh. The classic fast-mover mistake. We’d never discussed kids and here we were married. My heart started to beat harder.
I took a deep breath and tried to gauge his emotions through our bond. I was too nervous to make sense of anything coming off him, though.
