Chapter Fourteen
Aspen
It was Christmas Eve, and all I wanted to do was stay in bed. So exhausted and feeling guilty about it. It was supposed to be one of the happiest days of the year, and at this rate, I was going to sleep it all away.
My original plan was just to sleep for five more minutes when Ragnar got up. But then I was just going to drowse while he took a shower. Shower over, and I moved the goal post to snooze while he made breakfast. And now it was near noon, and I was barely getting out of bed.
I hadn’t even done anything the day before, not really. That was unless you considered taking my car to the shop, or, more accurately, following my mate as he drove my car to the shop. He adamantly refused to let me in it until the heater was fixed. He was adorably stubborn.
I was still trying to figure out the logistics of getting my things here and dealing with the job and all of that, but I wasn’t worried about it. This was where I belonged, and he was who I belonged with. Everything else was gonna fall into place.
After a quick trip to the bathroom and cleaning up, I went to find my mate.
He finishing up making turkey sandwiches. “I was just about to come and wake you up.”
“No need. I finally got my lazy self up.”
“I don’t think you’re lazy. I don’t think that’s what this is at all.” He walked around the counter and kissed my cheek. “You were sleeping so peacefully when I was up there earlier. Glad you got up on your own because not sure I would’ve been able to wake you. You were just too adorable.”
My ears were hot. “Now you’re embarrassing me.”
“Is that what this is called?” He ran his thumb along my cheekbone. “Come eat.”
I’d been craving turkey sandwiches something fierce, and he’d had to go get more deli turkey twice already. There was something about the mayonnaise-turkey combo. It didn’t even matter what bread it was on. Funny thing, I was usually a ham guy, but lately it was all about the turkey.
“What do we need to get done today?” I asked.
“It’s Christmas Eve. What do you think we need to get done?
“Cookies. Cookies. And then more cookies. It’s a Christmas Eve tradition.”
“I like cookies. And I really like no-bake. Are those Christmasy enough?”
“They are now. They can be our new tradition.”
I ate my sandwich, leaving the crust. I’d have felt like a picky little kid about it if we hadn’t taken to discarding our crusts outside for the birds to gather around and enjoy.
There was a particular one that seemed to be around a lot.
It was a kind of finch. I didn’t know the difference between all of them, but when I looked at him through my phone and zoomed in, he was beautiful.
And if my crust made him happy every day, I was there for it. If any was left over, there always seemed to be a squirrel ready to come get it.
I bit back a yawn.
“Still tired?”
“Yeah, maybe I just need some air.”
“Pretty sure that’s not what you need.” He rubbed his cheek against mine. “But we can go out. Do you want to play in the snow?”
I hadn’t considered that. “Yes, yes, I do.”
“Do you want me to play in the snow?”
I pushed his shoulder. “Why would I want to play in the snow alone?”
“I didn’t mean play alone. I didn’t know if you wanted me to play with or my reindeer.”
“Reindeer? Will he do that?” If that wasn’t the epitome of Christmas fun, I didn’t know what was.
“Of course.”
I got bundled up, Ragnar making sure I was wearing his snow pants and his boots with three pairs of socks. There was no danger of me being cold. None.
I loved seeing my mate in his reindeer form, but I did not like watching him shift, not in this weather.
He took off all of his clothes, and even though he was only outside for a few seconds, buck-ass naked, that was a whole lot of time to be out in weather he thought I needed snow pants and three pairs of socks for.
His shifting was quick, and he came straight over to me and lowered his head so I could pet him.
I never thought I’d have a mate, much less a mate who I would pet. I mean, I supposed boyfriends could pet each other, but this was different.
Frosty was standing on the porch, not wanting any part of going all the way out in the snow. His little legs didn’t do so well with it being so deep, and that was fine. He just wanted to watch and be near us.
I loved that little furball.
We talked about building him a doggy door so he could go in and out, but then we remembered that the skunks and squirrels lived around here. Also raccoons. We decided it wasn’t the best idea to leave the lodge open to nature.
After petting my mate, I scooped up a ball of snow and said, “You better run.”
He ran, but not fast enough to get away from the snowball. He could if he chose to, but he didn’t. He was playing. Then he turned around and kicked up some snow, missing me by an inch—my guess, intentionally.
We played like that, running, tossing snow, and me making a snow angel and him making a snow…it definitely wasn’t an angel. Blotch? I guess so, but the intent was there.
And while the snow did invigorate me, I was still exhausted. “I need to go in. I think I need a nap.”
I padded up the steps, with Ragnar joining me, his clothes in his arms.
“I’m gonna go sleep, I think.” I gave him a kiss. Please don’t let me be getting sick.
I was chilled to the bone, and, for some reason, it felt like taking off my clothes before getting into bed was a good choice. I nearly darted into that bed, pulling the covers up over my head and trying to get warm.
Less than a minute later, my mate was joining me at my side, equally naked, and pulling me to him and holding me tight.
“Cold?” he asked.
“So very much so. Still exhausted, yes, but I can rally.” How could anybody not, with their sexy mate in bed with them, completely naked and already rising to the occasion?
“No. Sleep, mate.” He put his hand on my belly. “You and our little one need it.”
“Say what?” I rolled over so fast, I nearly fell off the bed. “Say that again.”
“You heard me. Why do you think you’re so tired?”
“I’m getting sick?” Even as I said it, it didn’t feel right.
“No, you’re having a baby. I thought so when you slept so late. My mother complained about that part of pregnancy, too, but when we were outside playing, my reindeer confirmed it. You’re having our calf.”
“Are you sure? Because I don’t want to get my hopes up if—if—”
He put his finger to my lips. “I am sure. But if you want a human test, I can go into town and get it for you to take after your nap.”
“No, I don’t need it. If your reindeer senses them and you sense them, I’m pregnant. This is good, right?”
“It’s the best Christmas Eve present I’ve ever received.” He pulled me in for a kiss. “I love you, mate. I’m so happy that we’re going to be a family.”
I was too.