I follow him, my heart screaming I would follow him anywhere he asks. “No it’s not. I hurt you and that wasn’t my intention.”

He looks uncomfortable but doesn’t move away as he undoes the helmet before throwing Rudolph a carrot, which he gladly accepts. Turning, he stares at me.

“What was your intention?” Those jade eyes pierce into me. Hard and unyielding.

“I didn’t mean to act so poorly. You took me by surprise. For one second, I faced the life I have always dreamed of having and I panicked. Fumbled. You mean so much to me, Kris, and I never meant to make you feel like we could be anything less than everything.”

His chest visibly heaves through his coat, his knuckles turn white on the tablet and I worry the screen may break under his vice like grip.

My breath catches as I wait, his eyes searching mine, and I hope he sees nothing but my sincerity.

I want this. I’m all in.

“Everything.” He rolls the word over his tongue, testing it out. “You think we can be everything?”

I don’t answer him, refusing to look around and double checking who may see us. I step towards him.

Taking his face in my hands, I brush a loose strand of his hair back, his eyes close and he shudders at my touch and I bring his lips to mine. It’s gentle, unhurried and filled with all the love that has been growing in me since I was fifteen.

The love of a friend, the love of family, and now into something bigger than us both.

“Okay.” His voice is shaky as I rest my forehead on his, and we stand together, holding each other.

“Okay.” I reply, knowing this is the beginning of the life I’ve been waiting for.

“Look at you,” Carol croons from the chair in front of my desk, hand pressed to her chest as she tries to hold back tears.

My father stands behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze as his eyes shine with pride. “It suits you.”

Inhaling deeply, I redirect my attention to the elaborate full-length mirror that was brought into my office and placed against the wall. Not recognizing the man that looks back at me.

After spending what little time I could with Kris in the field, I raced back to the barber and had a haircut and beard trim.

With my face framed by a neatly cropped beard, the grays become more prominent in the clipped back style. My hair seamlessly fades to a messy, textured style on the top.

I nearly had the Barber Elf give me my usual shorter haircut, but I enjoyed Kris’ firm grip on the longer strands. Easier for him to pull me closer to him. Though a hat made of velvet with a soft white fur trim was currently covering most of it.

I draw my eyes away from the red velvet suit perfectly tailored to fit my body. The Tailor Elves had done a fantastic job of not drawing attention to my stomach, which is a sensitive area for me.

Instead of a thick black belt like my father had, the elves had made me a double-breasted peacoat with big gold buttons sewn in pairs down the center. Lined in the most luxurious fur, it was sure to keep me warm as I traveled through the skies.

Warmth had been a major factor in the design of my outfit. Every piece, meticulously lined to maximize the warmth retention, right down to the white fur cuffing my black glossy boots.

It took my breath away. Although I knew that this moment was coming, my whole life I had spent following my father, learning his role, but still it didn’t feel real until this very moment.

In less than twenty-four hours, I would become Santa Claus.

A knock on the door drew my eyes away from the mirror, smiling when familiar jade eyes meet mine.

Kris stands in the doorway, still wearing the clothes he was in out in the field. His beanie is gripped tightly in his hand as he drinks me in, taking his time to savor me.

I can feel the burn of his gaze as it drifts from my eyes slowly down to my boots and back up again, and I silently curse the tailor elves for making this suit so damn warm.

It feels like time has stopped as we stare at each other, completely forgetting that we aren’t alone as my body responds to the promise in his eyes, until Carol’s knowing cough cuts through my thoughts.

“Doesn’t he look handsome, Kris?” Her voice reminds me I haven’t told Kris that she knows about us.

Kris expresses his agreement with a grunt, and I reluctantly turn to look at our parents. “We have prepared the sleigh for loading tomorrow morning.”

“Excellent.” My father’s voice booms through my office as he claps his hands together. Releasing Carol’s shoulder, he takes a step towards Kris, causing him to tense up in response. However, my father calmly extends his hand in offering. Kris, though guarded, meets my father in the middle, shaking his hand.

“Well done Kris. I know things have been tense between us, more so lately. But I am very proud of all the upgrades and hard work you have put into the sleigh over the last year.” Sincerity ringing through his voice, giving Kris’ hand one last squeeze before releasing him.

Seeming unsure, Kris shuffles on his feet before muttering a quick thanks. My father nods and turns back to the plans on my desk.

A quick glance at Carol, her wink, hardly subtle as she, too, turns and continues a conversation with my father.

I hadn’t noticed Kris moving closer to me, till his low voice sends goosebumps skittering across my body. “I get the suit thing now.”

“What?” I ask, meeting his intense gaze as his eyes slowly scan my body, his tongue quickly darts out to moisten his bottom lip.

“I get how Klaus landed my mom in one night.” His words are playful, but the smoldering glare in his eyes hints at his true intentions.

The fire in my core comes roaring back to life, and I want nothing more than to kick my parents out of my office and have Kris take me over my desk. Paperwork flying everywhere as he grinds into me, claiming me as his own.

I cough, adjusting myself as he smirks, knowing he has me hot and bothered. Brushing past me, our little fingers linking for a second before he continues forward to our parents.

“I’m gonna go clean up the workshop. After this week, it looks like a bomb went off in there,” he says, leaning in to give Carol a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Okay sweetie. Will you be joining us for dinner?” Her voice full of hope as she glances back and forth between her son and my father. I know her hope is for them to put this tension behind them.

A tight-lipped nod is his answer, and she gives him a beaming smile, patting his cheek.

Turning back to me, I swallow as he moves closer, speaking in a hushed tone so only I can hear.

“Workshop. Tonight. Bring the suit, hat and all.” My eyes widen as his smirk turns devilish.

My balls tighten as my pants, perfectly tailored, feel too tight. Knuckles grazing over me, he quickly glances back at our parents. My eyes flick up too, noting how they still discuss the loading plans for the morning.

His hot breath skates over my skin as his tongue draws a hot, wet line up my neck.

I shiver at his words, like a phantom hand, curl around my already straining length.

“Tomorrow you might be Santa, but tonight you’ll be sitting on my lap.”

Chapter nineNick