9. Xin
Xin
I grunt at Santa trying to keep whatever feelings I have in check.
I look at her. This woman, my mate, and every nerve in my body wants to be as close to her as possible.
If I could, I would wear her like a second skin, but she’s hurt, and that needs to be rectified before I try to bind her to me; mind, body and soul.
How can I feel this strongly about someone I never knew existed until the past hour or two? I don’t even know what time it is. Did time stand still when she entered my world? Is that a part of Santa’s magic?
All the questions in my mind fade away when Santa walks towards her.
My fists clench and I bar my teeth as a possession fills me.
He must sense it too, as he turns and gives a little smile.
Somehow, with just that one look he calms me.
My fists loosen, along with all the other muscles that were ready for action.
Earlier, I’d nearly lost my mind at the thought of my brothers touching her, but it’s not the case with Santa. I know he would never knowingly bring us pain, and that must extend to our mates too.
“You seem to have had quite a fall, dear. Can I check you over? make sure nothing is broken?”
Her hand flies up defensively and my heart picks up as I sense her panic. I shuffle closer, but keep my hand at my sides, stopping myself from pulling her against me.
My penis throbs at the thought and I look down at it. Do you have a mind of your own on this planet too? I shift slightly to move it down a pant leg when my mate speaks up.
“No, no. I’m fine. If you can just get me a taxi back to my hotel, I'm sure there will be a medic there who is qualified to look me over.”
“You are not leaving here. Not without me.” I state boldly, and her eyes snap to mine. My breath catching in my chest again at how truly stunning she looks. I’ve never seen someone with skin the colour of sepia before, and with an amber glow shining through. She is mesmerising.
Is that what all our mates look like? I can’t imagine anyone being as beautiful as she is- My thoughts are cut off when a napkin covers my eyes. I drag it down my face as my brothers try not to laugh, and fail.
My mate's angry voice gets my attention and her fury is directed at me.
“You don’t get to tell me shit! You took me against my will. But let me tell you something, Mr. Tall and handsome, if you think you’re keeping me here, I will not only claw your eyes out, but I’m coming for your balls too. I will not be a statistic, do you hear me?”
“A statistic?” confusion hits me and my eyebrows scrunch.
“Ugh. It doesn't matter,” she sighs; her voice quieter now, like she’s tired all of a sudden.
Giving her attention back to Santa she talks.
“It’s definitely painful. And it feels like it’s getting worse.
” She gently touches her ankle and whimpers.
“Can you help me so I can go home? Please?” she whispers the last part.
I want to remind her she isn’t leaving me, but when she wipes her eyes, I realise she’s crying. My stomach drops. Before thinking, I rush to her side and have her hand gripped tightly in mine.
“Let me go,” she whines, but there is no attitude this time, so I ignore her.
After what feels like forever she leans into me and rests her head on my arm. Joy fills me at the contact, and I stare at Santa who just winks before going back to talking to my mate.
“I’ll help you dear, but first, what is your name?”
Good question. I can’t keep calling her mate.
“Zara. My name is Zara.”
Zara… I like how that sounds.
“Nice to meet you, Zara. Before I can help you, I need you to take off your snow gear so I can take a better look. You must be burning up in all that stuff.”
“I am a little warm.”
She starts removing the puffy outfit and my heart begins to race.
The thick material made her look more bulbous than she actually is.
I don’t care what she looks like. She’s my mate after all.
She’s made for me as I'm made for her, but when the outfit gets to her waist, my eyes land on her chest area.
I find myself salivating at the impressive mounds that sit there. Restraint I didn’t know I possessed stops me from reaching out and grabbing them.. Yes, I want to do that, but something tells me that getting her leg looked at is more important. I mean we have forever for that. Right?
Zara shucks off the material, and I lick my lips at her curvy thick legs in long johns.
Wow. My mate - Zara is breathtaking.
Santa continues talking to her, when a weird feeling comes over me. I realise all my brothers have stopped talking. So I look at them to find them all staring at Zara. Dash, and Comet look away when I turn their way, but the others haven’t taken their eyes off her beauty.
Irritation starts to build and my breathing heavies at the fact that they won’t go away and let Santa do what needs to be done. He has his elves here afterall. There is no need for them to see this.
After another few seconds, they’re still staring and a possessive growl escapes me. Clenching my fists, I start walking towards them, ready to punch anyone daring to lay their filthy eyes on what's mine.
Just as I reach them, I turn to make sure Zara isn’t paying attention to me. As I don’t want my rage to scare her further, but I stop in my tracks. My mouth falls open when her trousers have a hatch at her ass, and it’s wide open!
These bastards have been staring at my mates buttocks. Well, her bright pink panties, technically. .
“Absolutely not!”
Without even thinking, I rush towards Zara.
Grab her up and sling her over my shoulder, making her scream.
At any other time I would have felt bad, but right now I am fucking annoyed.
Those bastards saw my mates ass and they saw it before me.
Her fists pound on my back, but I ignore her and storm out of the room.
I’m not stopping until I have her in my room and away from other peoples eyes.
“Put me down. Vixen!”
Mmm, I like how my new name sounds when she says it.
“Not until we are somewhere more private. Santa will come and attend to you there.”
“Can you stop being such an arsehole, and put me the-fuck down?”
“I said no.” I shout back at her and continue on my journey to my new room. Even though I am irritated, it still feels amazing to have her against my body. She never stops pounding on me, and I go on pretending like it isn’t affecting me.
It is, but not in the way that it should be. Where I should be bruising, my skin tingling, and I can feel the blood rushing through my body down below. It’s a strange sensation to get used to, but it only seems to happen when my mate is involved.
I see a door with my name on it, push it open and walk in. Not stopping until I reach the seating area. The minute I put her down, she is standing upright. Her hand flies towards my face and she slaps me. Hard.
“When I say put my down, you put me down.”
She crosses her arms and stares me down. She’s favoring her bad foot, but her eyes tell me to test her anyway. I find myself taking the same stance, feeling more impressed than intimidated. This girl is tough.
“You hear me, Vixen?” she adds.
My balls tingle and my legs turn weaker, but I manage to hold my ground.
“Say something you arsehole!” She shouts at me.
“Your backside is out. You’re wearing pink undergarments."
Her eyes widen and she grabs her ass. The moment she feels the opening, she screams and slams her bottom down on the seat as if there was reason to hide it now.
Too late. Everyone has already seen your perfect ass.
“Oh god. Did anyone see?” she asks, looking hopeful, and I feel like crap because I can’t lie to her. I never will.
“Yes. A few eyes saw. That’s why I picked you up and rushed you out. No one should see my mate like that, except me.”
“I am not your mate! Stop saying that!”
She jumps up, forgetting about her sore ankle and stumbles , but I rush and catch her before she falls and adds more damage.
I get her steady, standing so we are face to face. Our eyes meet for the first time, really meet. We study one another with no hate from her or possession from me. Just pure curiosity.
We stare for another moment as our hot breath mixes together.
She doesn’t pull away, and I’m in no hurry to let her go.
Instead, out of pure instinct, I lean forward and place my lips against hers.
She gasps as I push further into her, but she doesn’t fight.
Her tongue touches mine, I thrill. I pull her tighter against me loving every second of this.
If this is mating, I could do this forever.
I don’t know how long our lips danced like that, but when we pull apart her eyes seem glassy and all her anger is gone. I place my forehead against hers and I'm thankful when she doesn’t pull away.
“I know what I’m saying might sound crazy. It was insane when I learned of it too, but when you were hurt, I heard your cries and knew I had to get to you. I knew you were mine. You are my mate.”
She shakes her head, ready to tell me ‘no’ despite mating just now.
“Please. Just let Santa explain. He explained it all to me.”
As if I conjured him, Santa appears in the doorway.
“Can I check on Zara now, Vixen?” He says with his eyebrow raised and a slight smirk on his face.
“Yes, please help her. Can you also explain the mate's thing, the way you did for me?”
“Sure thing. Why don’t you go and get Zara something to eat while I take care of this?”
I look at her and she nods her approval, so I nod too.
I hope he gets through to her, because whether she believes it or not, she’s not leaving me.