Page 3 of Amber’s Christmas Surprise

"You're so cute when you're mad." Wes leans down and presses his lips against mine.

He threads his fingers through my hair, keeping my head in place, and I know which of my guys will be taking me upstairs first.

"Amber?" a woman calls out across the cafe. "Can I place a quick order?"

I tear myself away from Wes and turn to Peppermint, who works for the Silver Springs post office. "You're working on Christmas Eve?" I ask, taking in her uniform.

"Not by choice. And I really should get to it if I want to finish delivering the rest of this mail. Can I grab a sweet coffee to go?"

"I got it." Chase pops out from the back room and shoots Wes a pointed look. "You owe me one."

"What happened to the bag?" I frown. "If it's a kitten, someone needs to keep an eye on it."

"It's not a kitten, Ambear." Wes scoops me up, and I let out a yelp of surprise. "And it's not a puppy."

"Guinea pig? Ferret? That's it! It's a ferret, isn't it? I love ferrets."

"It's not a ferret. And before you ask, it's not a guinea pig." Wes chuckles, his chest vibrating against my side.

"Not fair." I pout. "You know how much I hate secrets."

"But this is the good kind of secret, Ambear. It's a Christmas secret." Wes stops halfway up the stairs. "No, scratch that, a Christmas surprise."

"I'm not sure I like surprises," I tell him.

He chuckles and sets me down a few steps above him, so we're almost at eye level. "You're going to like this one. And I almost forgot. Your sister got you one as well. Here. This is for you."

"What is it?" I ask, taking the envelope Wes pulls out of his pocket.

I peer inside, spot the necklace, and gasp. "Why would she give me her magic dampener? She can't have sex without it."

Because unlike my shifting—which happens when I'm nervous or actively trying not to shift—my sister shifts whenever she's aroused.

"She'll come by and pick it up tomorrow afternoon. But she knows how much you've wanted to try it, and she thought loaning it to you for a day would be the perfect Christmas surprise."

"Oh, believe me, it is." I slip the necklace around my neck. "You don't know what a relief it'll be not to shift."

Nothing ruins the mood more than suddenly growing a penis while you're having sex with your mates. Or large angel wings sprouting out of your belly. Or suddenly shifting into a mouse. All of which I've done, by the way.

"Santa Baby" plays softly downstairs, but I can only make out every other word. Then the espresso machine turns on, drowning the lyrics out.

"I'm not sure I like surprises." I tell Wes.

Wes chuckles and sets me down a few steps above him. We're almost at eye level when he raises one hand to brush my blonde hair off my neck. Then his large hand returns to my waist, and I tremble as he presses his lips against the pulse point on my neck. "You'll like this surprise, Ambear." His warm breath fans my neck. "But you have to wait until Christmas morning."

I whimper as he sucks on my neck, and try to remember what we were talking about. Oh, right. "What if I can't wait that long, Wes?"

"I guess I'll have to find some way to keep you occupied, little bear." He unclasps my jeans and slides the zipper down.

Even though we're on the stairwell, which is accessible to anyone who enters the cafe, I want Wes to touch me. I need his finger in my panties, rubbing my clit until I come. "Wes, please."

My bear drops down on his knees in front of me, and I almost come right then and there. "I can smell you. Even with your jeans and panties on, I can smell you."

His words make me clench as a wave of desire courses through me. I really hope I don't shift—and then I remember the necklace around my neck. Even if I wanted to, I can't—and I definitely do not want to.

I reach for Wes, but he grabs my hands and pins them behind my back with one hand. Oh Goddess, my bear shifter's hands are huge.

"You're mine," he growls.