Chapter 20
Kenji’s eyes opened, exhaustion tugging at him to go back to sleep.
His bladder screamed too much for that. He rolled over in bed and stretched, his body incredibly sore, noting he was alone.
The house was silent, and when he peeked over the side of the bed, he noticed the snow had deepened considerably.
Flakes still fell, but it was gentler and the size tiny, wispy bits.
The sky had grown darker, looking closer to early evening. How long had he slept?
Climbing to the side of the bed, he stretched again.
He couldn’t recall what he’d done to be so sore other than playing in the snow earlier.
Maybe he’d overdone it in his childlike zest. He was too young for aches and pains, though.
He struggled to remember what had happened after he’d gone inside from the snowball fight.
He remembered Qylar carrying him upstairs, but after that, it seemed all a blank.
After relieving himself and pulling on a robe and slippers, he made his way downstairs, his stomach clenching in hunger.
Midway down the treads, he stopped, his jaw dropping.
Everywhere he looked, decorations filled the space.
From the pine garland filled with holly leaves and berries hanging above the fireplace and other spots around the space to the massive holiday arrangement sitting center stage on the dining table to the collection of huge ornaments sat in the entry near the door like they had fallen off a giant’s tree.
He took a few more steps down and found the Christmas tree still bare, though.
He smiled. He’d hoped to help decorate it and was glad he’d still get the chance.
“Qylar?”
Qylar soon appeared through the kitchen door, worry on his face. He paused as soon as their eyes met, his jaw dropping. Before Kenji could take more than a couple of steps, Qylar rushed over and dragged him into his arms.
“Thank the universe,” Qylar said as he took a shaky breath. He hugged Kenji so tightly he could barely breathe for a moment. “I was so terrified.”
Kenji pulled back and searched Qylar’s face, frowning. “Terrified? For what?”
“You’ve been asleep since yesterday morning. Over twenty-four hours. And after what happened in the shower, I was about to lose my mind.”
“A whole day?” Kenji asked, his frown deepening. “What happened in the shower?”
“You don’t remember?”
Kenji shook his head. “I remember playing in the snow and then you carrying me inside over your shoulder. I remember burning up and I think you undressed me…” He frowned. “But after that, it’s all blank.”
“I got you into the shower to warm up. Even though you claimed you were hot, your skin was like ice. You were desperate again, begging me to have sex with you. When we did, you shifted. I tried to pull out, but you wouldn’t let me.”
Kenji’s face grew warm. “I begged you for sex. Well… sorry for that, I suppose.”
Qylar scoffed. “Have you not noticed your recent, constant need for sex? It’s concerning. And growing more powerful.”
“I’m enjoying my new mate. Don’t you normally have a lot of sex in a new relationship?
” Kenji shook his head, remembering who he was talking to.
“That’s right. You haven’t had any relationships before now.
Take it from the inexperienced one who has at least had a couple of boyfriends.
This happens at first. Constant sex. It’s the fun of a new relationship. ”
Qylar sighed. “I’m worried it’s more than that. It’s like you’re a cat in heat and barely coherent the last few times.”
Kenji frowned.
“You don’t even remember having sex this last time,” Qylar said. “And did you not hear me say you shifted, mid-intercourse? I was terrified I’d hurt you, but you’d wrapped your tentacles around me, and I couldn’t get you off without fear of really injuring you.”
“I suppose that’s why I woke up so sore all over.”
Qylar cupped his cheek and forced his gaze up.
“Something is off. Sex isn’t the problem.
I love you and I want to be with you as often as you wish…
but not when it seems a symptom of an unknown problem.
I don’t like unknown problems, especially when they’re happening to my pregnant mate.
” He sighed. “I’ve already remote started the ship and called it here.
I was about to scoop you up and return to Nefyria at once. ”
Kenji saw the panic in Qylar’s eyes, but he didn’t want to leave their Christmas house. “Other than sore, I feel fine. Do we really have to go?”
Qylar searched his face, silent a few seconds. “I don’t want to lose you, Kenji.”
“If something happens again, I give you permission to take me back there. How’s that?”
Qylar didn’t look pleased. “What if something is seriously wrong? If it is, we’re wasting time not going now.”
“I feel fine.” Kenji took a deep breath. “Is there something on your ship where you could check my vitals and see that I’m okay?”
Qylar sighed. “We could run a diagnostic. Not that the system is trained on pregnant, human-Nefyrian hybrids.”
Kenji twisted his forefinger and thumb together in Qylar’s sweater, just between his pecs. “I like being here with you. I don’t want to leave my first Christmas behind if I don’t have to.”
Qylar gave a pinched look, shaking his head. “I don’t like this.”
“One more incident, and you can take me back. You have my permission.”
Qylar growled under his breath.
“I can’t wait to decorate the treeeeee,” Kenji said, grinning and cuddling closer.
“You care so little for your wellbeing that decorating the tree takes precedence over your health and welfare?”
“Being here, alone with you, in this little magical, holiday bubble takes precedence right now. I don’t want to go back to Nefyria. Not until after we’ve rung in the new year, at the earliest.”
Qylar’s nostrils flared as he breathed out a sigh.
“Maybe me sleeping for a day was the end of it,” Kenji whispered as he cuddled closer. “Maybe whatever that was in the shower needed to happen and now I’m all good.”
Qylar shook his head.
“You’ve already mentioned that the doctors are pretty much in the dark about people of mixed species. What could they possibly do right now, especially when I feel perfectly fine?”
“I’m never going to know a minute of peace for the rest of my life, am I?”
Kenji grinned.
“You will come onboard the ship and let me check you over, at minimum. Perhaps we’ll have some replies to the inquiries I sent out that might shed some light, too.”
“I’m ready to board whenever you are,” Kenji said. “As long as we’re not leaving Aspen.”
“Fine—with a caveat.”
Kenji sighed. “Yes?”
“If there’s anything wildly abnormal in your vitals or there’s a message waiting for us that gives cause for us to leave immediately, we will.”
“Fair enough,” Kenji said, nodding. He offered his hand to Qylar. “Deal?”
“You little pain in my ass,” Qylar muttered under his breath before taking his hand and dragging him into a bear hug. “I don’t ever want to feel that scared again, Kenji. If it happens again, we’re gone. I won’t have any argument.”
Kenji melted into Qylar, his mate’s care and concern so unfamiliar. No one had ever worried about him, not at that magnitude. All of a sudden, the realization of how much that mattered hit him square in the chest. He fought tears.
When Qylar leaned back and met his gaze, he immediately tensed. “What’s wrong?”
Kenji blinked the tears back. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“No. You don’t get to do that to me right now,” Qylar said, fear growing in his eyes. “Not after the last thirty hours or so.”
“No one’s ever worried about me. Not like this.”
“I won’t stop worrying, either. Not until you tell me what’s wrong,” Qylar said.
“No. You don’t understand me,” Kenji said. “Your concern made me emotional.”
Qylar watched him, silent a moment. After a few seconds, he released a breath and his shoulders loosened.
“The sudden realization of just how much you care about me…” Kenji had to stop. He couldn’t put what he felt into words. It was beyond words.
Qylar swooped in for a kiss. Kenji poured himself into it, wrapping his arms around Qylar’s neck. What he couldn’t say with words, hopefully he’d say in that kiss.
When they broke for air, Kenji rubbed the tip of his nose against Qylar’s. “I’m sorry if I seemed dismissive of your concerns.” He paused, chuckling. “I mean, I am a little.”
Qylar rubbed his back and stared down, affection glowing in his eyes.
“Just know that I’m not dismissive of the driving force behind those concerns. Your love is the greatest gift anyone has ever given me.”
“It will only grow deeper from here,” Qylar murmured.
“I can’t wrap my head around deeper than what it is now,” Kenji said. “I love you, Qylar, though I fear mine could never match yours, even though it thoroughly consumes me.”
Qylar leaned in and captured his lips, feasting on his mouth. When they finally came up for air, Kenji sighed.
“How do you feel?” Qylar asked, watching him closely.
“Fine,” Kenji said. “Loved.” He smiled up at his mate until his stomach loudly growled. “I’m also starving.”
Qylar snickered. “Perhaps it’s a good sign that our kiss didn’t set off another round of heat.”
“No heat. Just warmth.”
Qylar snuck another quick kiss. “Let’s get you a quick snack and head up. After I give you the once over, we can figure out what we’re having for supper.”
Kenji peeked outside, noting it was even darker. “Dinnertime? Last I remember, it was past breakfast.”
“Breakfast yesterday.” Qylar took his hand and led him into the kitchen. “Which you never got a chance to eat.”
Kenji eyed all the new decorations as they passed on the way to the kitchen. “You’ve been busy since I’ve been asleep.”
“I had to do something with myself instead of go mad with worry.”
“I thought Cryss and Alex wanted to keep it simple, though? This is a lot.”
“Simple wouldn’t do this year,” Qylar said. “We’re going to go all out and decorate inside and out.”
“Why?”