Welcome to Hyde Park

Vampire’s Mate Xmas Short

VAMPIRE’S MATE XMAS SHORT

Jamie

Jamie could tell they were gaining in elevation; the trees were looking somehow both hardier and scragglier than before, and even better, little spots of snow were beginning to appear on the ground.

“I’ve never had a white Christmas before,” he mused, fogging his breath on the passenger side window so he could make a little Santa hat with his finger in the condensation.

“Hyde Park had a storm recently. There should be plenty of snow for you.”

Jamie turned to face Luc, a sly grin dancing on his lips, feeling suddenly gleeful at that little piece of info. “And how would you know that?” he asked.

Luc had been peacefully protesting this little holiday reunion by steadfastly ignoring its very existence—refusing to even pack a bag for it until minutes before they’d left—so the fact that he’d been secretly monitoring the weather was a juicy little revelation.

Luc’s fingers tapped at the steering wheel, the only indication of his agitation at Jamie’s calling him out. “I’ve been keeping an eye on a few things. You mentioned you were hoping for snow.”

Jamie’s grin widened. But of course. Everything Luc did, he did for Jamie. And okay, maybe Jamie should feel bad about that, but he couldn’t muster the necessary decency for it. “And what if there hadn’t been a storm?” he teased. “Were you going to threaten the heavens until they opened up for me?”

Luc said nothing, only lifted Jamie’s hand to press a kiss to the back of it—an annoyingly charming move—but Jamie wouldn’t have put it past him.

What wouldn’t his monster do for him?

Oh, that was right. Act civil with Roman.

A thought that brought up the rules it was probably necessary to go over right about now. “Remember, no hunting while we’re there.”

Luc stroked soft circles along the back of Jamie’s hand with his thumb, his eyes on the increasingly snowy road. “And if we find some undiscovered serial killer, do the town a favor?”

“No dice,” Jamie insisted. (Even if secretly that did sound pretty fun.) “We’re supposed to be on our best behavior.”

Luc released Jamie’s hand with a deep sigh, as if Jamie was denying him any and all future pleasure. “How incredibly dull.”

“Cheer up,” Jamie said brightly. “Maybe there’ll be some sort of gothic Christmas orgy. Seems fitting for an all-vampire holiday reunion.”

Luc’s answering growl was subtle but unmistakable. “No one sees you naked but me, flower.”

Jamie cocked his head, biting at his lower lip. “And what about our semipublic yacht sex that one time?”

“No one in Hyde Park sees you naked but me,” Luc amended.

Jamie could feel the little delightful swirls of Luc’s agitation through the bond now, apparently at the thought of his former bestie / nemesis catching a glimpse of Jamie’s ass or whatever.

Which had Jamie wondering if he could get Luc’s monster riled up enough to need another…taming.

What a delicious thought. It had been months since the last time, when one of their prey had managed to slice Jamie with a concealed knife.

It hadn’t come close to doing any significant damage, and Jamie had been healed within the hour, but Jamie bleeding by someone else’s hand had had Luc’s monster all worked up, the possessive beast.

It had been so very satisfying calming it back down again.

But now Jamie was the one getting worked up, his cock starting to fill in his tight jeans. “What time do we have to be there again?” he asked, his voice a tad huskier than before. Maybe they had time to check in to their hotel and have a little quickie.

Luc scoffed. “Never, if I have my say.”

Rude.

Before Jamie could say so, Luc shot a smirk in the direction of his burgeoning erection, his hand drifting again from the wheel to grip Jamie’s upper thigh. “Would you like me to take care of that for you, flower?” he asked, voice suddenly sultry.

Tempting. So very fucking tempting.

But Jamie brushed Luc’s hand off and crossed his legs over his offending member, settling back in his seat. “Just for that ‘never,’ I’m gonna say…no.”

He wasn’t exactly sure which one of them he was punishing with his refusal, but Jamie was afraid if he let Luc get his greedy paws on him, Jamie would end up giving in and allow for a detour, and derail all their plans.

He wasn’t going to let Luc wheedle his way out of this, not even with sex.

Luc scowled at the road. “It better not be the thought of a Christmas orgy that has you so worked up.”

“Just you, Monster Daddy.” Jamie turned to the window, hiding his smirk. You and that delectable, muscled ass.

It was Soren who answered Danny’s door, looking ridiculously elegant in a sleek red suit, his pale chest bare underneath. He grinned sharply as ever at Jamie in greeting, before turning to call back into the house, “Did somebody order an Arizonan gutter punk with a side of psychopath?”

“Hilarious,” Jamie deadpanned.

That shark’s grin only widened. “I thought so. Lovely to see you, Jamie.” Soren reached forward, fingering the fabric of Jamie’s black silk top. “This shirt. Luc choose it for you?” he asked, as if Luc wasn’t standing directly behind Jamie.

Jamie could feel how annoyed it was making Luc to be so blatantly ignored.

But it was also kind of funny, so he didn’t make any attempt to remedy the situation.

“He did. I tried to go for a bright-red number instead. You know, with the hair?” He pointed at his green locks.

“Festive as fuck. But he said it would be tacky.”

Soren released his hold on Jamie’s shirt, sighing dramatically.

“Ugh, I hate to agree with the bastard”—an answering growl from Luc—“but he’s right.

And the black suits you. You look almost as good as little old me.

” He stepped away from the doorway, making room for Jamie to enter.

“I suppose you can come in.” But then he paused, briefly blocking their way and raising a questioning brow at Jamie.

“You’re sure you don’t want to leave him at the door? ”

Jamie laughed—he couldn’t help it, Soren was just so naughty—moving forward. As Soren raised his cheek so Jamie could kiss it in passing, Jamie took the opportunity to whisper, “You’re pushing your luck, you know that?”

But Soren only giggled lightly, clearly delighted with himself for riling Luc up, even as Luc glowered at him, passing through the door.

Maybe Jamie would get to top Luc on this visit after all.

They followed Soren further into the house, and for a moment—just the briefest moment, really—Jamie felt unaccountably…

nervous. He’d been there before, several times now, but this was Christmas.

And all of them were like this little family, of sorts.

And Luc had kind of maybe ruined some of their lives a bit.

So who was Jamie to force his way into their celebration?

Before Jamie could truly panic over it, he felt the comforting warmth of Luc’s broad palm against the back of his neck, and the whisper of Luc’s warm breath against his ear. “Say the word and I whisk you away to a hotel.”

But then Danny appeared, bounding down the stairs, looking so undeniably pleased to see them, his cheeks flushed with happiness, and Jamie was wrapped immediately into an enthusiastic hug. “You made it!”

“Of course we did.” Jamie stepped back as Danny gave Luc a little nod of acknowledgment—not exactly an enthusiastic hug, but still a step up from Soren’s he-doesn’t-exist playacting. “The place looks amazing.”

It really did, in an over-the-top kind of way.

There was a massive tree in the corner of the living room, adorned so thoroughly it looked at risk of toppling over.

A cozy little fire was crackling away in the grate, and there was a strange mishmash of homemade decorations mixed in with what looked like family heirlooms. Antique nutcrackers draped in paper snowflakes.

“Danny and Jay have been decorating all week,” Soren declared, waltzing over to the couch, where he dropped into Gabe’s waiting lap. Jamie gave a cheery salute to Soren’s muscular mate, sighing a little at the predictable glare Gabe shot Luc’s way.

There was another moment of silence as they all took in the decorations, but before Jamie could feel awkward again, Jay appeared from around the corner, Ferdy at his heels. “Jamie! Lucien!”

He stopped in front of them both, waving enthusiastically and looking…hopeful?

Oh, right.

“I believe I have something for you, courtesy of Izzy.” Jamie dug into his messenger bag and pulled out the sacred gift he’d been entrusted with.

“Yes!” Jay jumped onto his toes in his excitement at the sight of the Vero Mango pops before lowering to his heels and looking chagrined. “She texted me and told me to act surprised, but I’m not very good at pretending.”

Jamie tossed the bag at him. “No worries, little guy. She said I should time you this go-around.”

Jay, who already had one of the pops unwrapped and stuffed into his mouth, cocked his head in question, but Jamie didn’t explain any further. He already knew the bag would be demolished within the hour. What was the point of timing?

“Are we ready for eggnog, then?” Roman’s deep voice sounded out from the kitchen, and then he was there, icy blue eyes engaged in a momentary standoff with Luc as they both stared at each other, Luc’s hand tightening briefly against Jamie’s neck.

Jamie prepared to make a joke, to smooth the transition (every damn time, with these two), but then felt the tug of Luc digging into his satchel with his free hand.

Luc displayed the bottle of wine he’d extracted, waving it at Roman. “Southern Arizona claims to have similar soil to Bordeaux. They’re very proud of their wines. It’s supposed to be more than palatable.”

Holy shit.

Jamie’s monster was actually trying. Jamie was so proud he could vomit rainbows.

Another long moment of intense eye contact—one where Jamie was half expecting Roman to throw a punch in reply (their reunions still went that way sometimes)—and then the two weirdos were both chuckling gruffly.