Chapter Six #2
“Maybe next year Gem will have someone to surprise with a stocking,” Nix teased.
“Brat!” Gem moved fast to grab Nix and put him in a headlock.
Nix screeched and tried to bat Gem away.
Gem rubbed his knuckles against the top of Nix’s head. Nix screamed louder.
“Boys!” Their mom clapped her hands. “I believe Aries wanted to show Vin something.”
“I’m assuming that everything is okay, with all the screaming?” Vin said.
Turning, Aries was so happy that Vin still had his eyes closed. He might have, okay, he’d totally forgotten that Vin couldn’t see what was happening.
Aries rushed over to Vin’s side to grab his hand. “One more minute. Keep them closed.”
Vin sighed.
“Now take six steps forward,” Aries ordered.
“My step or your step?” Vin teased.
And maybe that was a good question. Vin had big feet. He might end up in the fire. “Maybe three steps.”
“Three steps,” Vin agreed.
Aries walked with him. Luckily, Gem had released Nix, who was pouting in Evan’s lap.
Aries moved behind his Daddy and straightened Vin’s shoulder so he was standing directly in front of the special stocking. Wrapping his arms around Vin from behind, Aries whispered, “Open your eyes.”
Vin’s reaction was small but noticeable. His entire body stiffened as his breath caught.
Peeking around Vin’s bigger body, Aries could see exactly what Vin was looking at.
His mama always made stockings that looked like socks. It was a joke in the family since all three boys played hockey and went through a ton of socks. His mama had always griped about how much their hockey socks stank.
For Vin she had chosen a gray and maroon stocking and for Evan she picked maroon and white. Both new additions fit perfectly with the rest of them.
“What?” Vin’s voice was low as he reached out and ran his fingers over his name on the stocking.
“It’s tradition,” Aries said softly.
“Tradition?” Vin’s voice was quiet.
“You’re part of our family now,” Aries told him. “Forever and forever. I’m never letting you go.”
Vin turned and picked Aries right off his feet.
Aries could see a shine in Vin’s eyes before Vin kissed him. Like really kissed him. Tongues and everything! In the back of his mind, Aries knew that they weren’t alone in the room.
He couldn’t help but respond to Vin’s kiss though.
Aries squirmed against Vin’s chest as he sucked on Vin’s tongue. His cock was totally on board with what was happening.
Vin’s hands squeezed his ass and Aries moaned.
Someone cleared their throat. More than once.
“Okay!” Gem said loudly.
Vin pulled back to press several smaller kisses against Aries’s lips. “Thank you, little one.”
“I love you, Daddy,” Aries responded.
“I love you too,” Vin said.
“Oh!” Aries’s mama was rushing forward. “I’m so happy!”
Even though Aries was still in Vin’s arms, his mom threw herself against them. Both Vin and Aries wrapped her in a hug.
“Thank you,” Vin told her before placing a kiss on her cheek.
“Welcome to the family. I’m so glad Aries found you,” she said.
“Me too,” Vin agreed.
“He really found me,” Aries argued. “He came to my apartment all mad cuz I woke him up.”
His mama giggled. “He probably should have put you over his knee.”
Aries gasped. No, she didn’t!
His mama winked. “Did you think you were the only kinky ones in the family? Your father and I have been known to have some fun of our own.”
Aries groaned.
“No!” Nix shouted. “I don’t want to know that!”
Gem was chuckling even though his face was red.
Their mama turned. “If you don’t want me to know your secrets, then you might want to hide the rope marks around your wrists.”
Nix’s face turned red before he buried it in Evan’s chest, who was chuckling.
“And,” she turned back to Aries, “you have been calling Vin Daddy on occasion for a while now.
“You knew?” Aries demanded. He’d been so scared!
“I wasn’t going to say anything if you didn’t,” his mama said.
Vin kissed his forehead. “I told you it would be okay.”
“Of course it is,” his mom insisted. “I love my boys just the way you are.”
“Thanks, Mama,” Aries said sincerely. He loved his family. His mom was the best. And his brothers were awesome too. He was an incredibly lucky boy and he knew it.
She gave Aries one more hug before turning to Gem. “Anything you want to confess?”
“Not a thing.” Gem was standing in front of the Christmas tree. He tucked his hands into his front pockets, looking more than a little uncomfortable.
Their mom hummed.
Since Aries knew that Gem was way kinkier than the rest of them, Aries couldn’t wait until his oldest brother’s secrets came out. That was going to be fun to have a front row seat to.
Oh! But in the meantime, he knew what would make everyone happy.
Aries kicked his feet to be let down.
“We have another surprise!” Aries announced.
“We do?” Nix asked.
“Yes!” Aries grinned manically at Nix before looking over at Gem. “It’s time to shift!”
“Shift?” Gem repeated.
Aries kept smiling.
Dawning appeared on Gem’s face. “No.”
“Yes!” Aries said.
“Oh! Yes, yes, yes!” Nix jumped up and started to dance around.
“No,” Gem said again.
Their mom clapped her hands. “It’s tradition.”
“Tradition,” Aries insisted.
* * * * *
Gem
“I’m not doing it!” Gem said firmly. Every year he got dragged into this tradition and it was bullshit.
“You have to!” Aries said.
“We can’t do it without you,” Nix added.
They could. They could totally do it without him.
“I’ll get everything set up!” their mom said.
Gem groaned. This was so unfair. One time. He’d been talked into this silly little thing one time when they’d been about thirteen and now it would never stop.
Aries grabbed his hand and started to drag Gem away.
“Where are you going?” Vin asked.
“You’re going to want to sit for this,” Nix replied. “It’s going to be amazing.”
Vin shrugged before strolling over to the couch.
“But—” Gem tried.
Nix pushed Gem from behind as Aries continued to tug on his hand.
“I don’t want to!” Gem said again.
“Quit your bitching,” Nix told him. “You knew this would happen.”
“No.” Gem had hoped it wouldn’t. If anyone ever found out about this, Gem would die of embarrassment. “You can’t want your men to see you like this.”
“What are you talking about?” Aries asked. “Vin thinks I’m adorable shifted.”
“I shift all the time with Evan,” Nix said. “He loves giving me chin scratches. Especially when he’s reading and I’m taking a nap. It’s fun.”
“You know damn well that’s not what I meant.” Complaining wasn’t going to do him any good. Gem wasn’t getting out of this.
Their mom came running around the corner. “I have everything set out. Hurry, shift! Shift!”
“Mom,” Gem said with a groan.
She smacked his shoulder. “Hush now. You love doing this.”
He did not.
“I’ll be ready to announce you!” his mom said and bounced away.
This was utterly ridiculous.
Aries was already halfway undressed.
Nix had his shirt over his head.
With a resigned sigh, Gem kicked off his shoes. The shifting he didn’t mind. Gem loved to shift with his brothers, and they were adorable. It was the other thing that Gem didn’t want to do.
Gem dragged out undressing as much as possible. He even folded his clothes neatly before setting them on the table.
Aries was already shifted as Nix glared at him.
“We’re waiting!” their mom called from the living room.
“They’re waiting,” Nix repeated with a smirk.
“I hate you,” Gem replied.
“I’ll tell you what,” Nix said. “You have two choices. Either you do this happily and have fun with it.”
Aries squeaked, flying onto Nix’s shoulder.
“Or,” Nix drawled. “You confess who you’ve been messaging and calling.”
That was not going to happen. Wait! Gem narrowed his eyes. “How do you know I’m talking to anyone?”
“Unless you suddenly started talking to yourself, then the murmuring coming from your room is pretty noticeable,” Nix told him.
Nix’s bedroom wasn’t even on the same floor or close to Gem’s. Gem cut his gaze to Aries, who immediately ducked behind Nix’s head, hiding his little bat face.
“Really, Aries?” Gem asked.
“Don’t blame Aries,” Nix said. “Who are you talking to? Is it a guy? A teammate? Are you dating a teammate. That would be epic!”
“I’m not dating a teammate,” Gem responded. “And I’m not talking to one either.”
“But you are talking to someone?” Nix questioned.
Instead of answering, Gem initiated his shift. Once Nix fixated on something, it was hard to get him off it. Gem’s secret wasn’t his own. Both his brothers knew that Gem dabbled in the heavy side of BDSM. Gem didn’t want to admit to the anonymous relationship, not trusting Nix to stay out of it.
As much as Gem was finding his sub fascinating and hoped one day they would build enough trust to get rid of the masks, he also knew it wouldn’t happen until Ty was ready.
Pushing Ty would not benefit either of them.
There was no way that Nix would ever be that patient.
Gem needed to keep his nosy brother out of his business.
“Thought so,” Nix said. “Just remember that secrets are hard to keep in the league. Be careful.”
It was good advice. Gem flew up high where the top of his wings nearly brushed the ceiling before he dive-bombed Nix.
Aries flew off Nix’s shoulder as Nix dropped to his stomach.
This game was one that they’d played since they were kids. Before Nix had a chance to shift, Gem circled and flew at him again.
“Boys!” their mom yelled.
Gem landed on a table and sat there innocently as their mom reentered the hallway.
“Nix! You're holding everyone up! Shift!” their mom told him.
Nix scrambled up. He turned to glare at Gem. “Sorry, Mom. We’re ready.”
Their mom clapped. “Okay!” She hurried back to the living room.
“Jerk!” Nix mouthed then shifted.
Aries landed on the table next to Gem.
Gem wrapped a wing around his smallest brother. He nudged Aries’s head to the side before running his chin across Aries’s chest.
Nix flapped his wings as he hovered in front of them.
“Gentlemen! Please give your attention to my Jingle Bats!” their mom announced loudly.
Nix was the first to fly toward the room. Aries followed behind Nix, and Gem brought up the rear. They circled the room, having the attention of their stepfather, Vin, and Evan, who all sat on the couch facing the mantel.
Above their newly hung Christmas stockings, six shining gold bells were set out in sets of two.
Gem flew over, landing behind the third set.
Aries settled by the first with Nix between them.
“And now my Jingle Bats will perform a song for us,” their mom said. She sat on the arm on the couch next to their stepfather.
Vin’s eyes were wide as Evan openly grinned.
They’d only done this for their mom and stepfather. This was the first time that someone other than blood family had ever been a witness. It was true that Gem didn’t mind playing like this with his brothers, but he was having a tough time with the audience.
He was trying so hard to fit into the professional hockey league.
If this got out to his team, they would give him even more shit than they already did.
Not that anyone was outright rude or mean to Gem.
It was just the looks. The times when he entered the room and his teammates would stop talking.
In a room full of predators, being a fruit bat shifter made him prey.
Gem hated feeling like his teammates were always looking at him to mess up or that they thought they were better than him because they could shift into a big animal or were a powerful paranormal.
Nix ruffled his wings, nudging Gem.
They all picked up their bells. One in each foot with their claws wrapped around the handles of the bells.
Aries started.
Two rings.
Nix rang one of his.
Aries rang twice more.
Nix again.
Jin…gle bells. Jin…gle bells
The smile on their mom’s face was bright.
Jin…gle bells. Jin…gle bells
Aries. Aries. Nix. Nix. Gem.
Jin…gle…all…the…way
They did the song once. Then they did it a second time.
Vin rose and clapped. Evan was on his feet, whistling. Mom and Dad were clapping.
Gem turned to his brothers and nodded.
One more time.