“I would ask why you thought it was a good idea to creep around her rooms, but I don’t think the answer will make me feel better,” Magnus says.
“You wanted me in your nest even then, didn’t you, pet?” Cato says, dark eyes hypnotizing.
“Yes,” I say breathlessly.
There’s more arguing that I don’t catch because Cato’s tongue is in my mouth.
When he pulls back, Cato sets my chocolate treasure box aside and hands me my stocking. It’s ginormous, almost as long as me and stuffed full to overflowing.
We go through our stockings, admiring our new little trinkets. Nothing has gift tags, and it’s fun to guess which of my alphas gave me the miniatureUncovering Big Tex: Between Truth and Fibbook, the fuzzy socks, or the edible underwear. Although that last one seems like an easy guess.
I keep an eye on Cato as he goes through his stocking. I put some charms in there that he can slip onto his hoopearring, but I’m worried he might not like them. Maybe he’s a simple jewelry kind of guy.
He smiles as soon as he pulls them out though. I give up on pretending I’m not watching him as Cato opens the package and picks out a few. He hooks the charms on his earring and turns to the side so I can see.
I laugh at his selection, a knot, a heart, and a peach. Cato grins and kisses me.
My other alphas also like the things I put in their stockings, so I’m hopeful my good gifting streak continues for their big presents.
Once Magnus finishes going through his stocking, he picks up the smaller stocking next to his pile. I only look away for a second, but when I turn back, Pete is on the side table next to him, small form dominating the space.
No one questions his appearance. I don’t know if Magnus brought him in, or if, once again, Pete knew he was needed and joined us.
Magnus unpacks Pete’s stocking for him and sets the presents on the table for him to inspect. Most of his gifts are food, but there are also little baskets and boxes, and small squares of fabric in different patterns and materials. That would explain why so many of our rags disappear if Pete has a fondness for cloth.
I tense as Magnus pulls out my present and sets it in front of Pete, waiting for his reaction.
Pete considers it just like he did the other offerings and takes a small bite. I made him a gingerbread cookie with seeds and nuts so it would be tasty and nutritious. After chewing slowly, he brushes the treat into the growing pile of gifts he approves of.
I let out a relieved sigh.
Once Magnus finishes going through Pete’s stocking, he settles in to eat his treats while we open our gifts.
Rather than going one at a time, which would take forever, everyone opens their gifts together.
My alphas got me lots of cozy things, blankets, sweatpants, candles, and bath bombs. There are also dozens of books, tons of non-fiction ones that I can’t wait to dig into plus a stack of novels, romance, fantasy, and more Big Tex books,Big Tex and the Small Potatoes,Big Tex & Pete Moss: Caper at Cape Cod, andBig Tex, Bigger Saddle.
Magnus opens a large, round gift box and pulls out a cowboy hat. “What am I supposed to do with this?” he asks Cato.
“I thought you could use a prop like the one you got for Orion,” Cato says with a smirk.
“You want me to roleplay as a cowboy? Shouldn’t you have asked Hestia about that?” Magnus says.
“How do you know I didn’t ask her?”
“Because I know you. You didn’t ask.”
“Fine, you caught me,” Cato says, smile still in place. “Pet, do you want to see him in the hat?”
“Yes! That is, if you’re okay with it,” I say.
Magnus puts it on and tips the brim at me.
I giggle. “It looks great on you.”
He smiles and my heart races, the shadows it casts making him seem like a mysterious stranger.
Cato is right, this is a good roleplaying idea.
