Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

Callie

“ I f you don’t stop, I’ll never get all of this wrapped before we go to the zoo tonight,” I murmur as Kodiak nuzzles my neck.

“You still have another week before the party. Let’s have one of our own before we go see the lights with the kids,” he replies, his husky whisper sending tingles all over my body.

I think about what he’s saying and realize he’s right. Spike gave me two huge rooms that weren’t being used for anything as my very own Santa’s workshop as he called it. It took me, Sly, Fang, and Nix two days to sort and organize everything that I bought according to each child we have on the list. I’ve spent the past week wrapping, taking breaks to eat, of course.

At night, while we’re all hanging in the common room, I bring the stockings down and work on them. It’s coming together and I honestly cannot wait to see the joy in the children’s’ eyes when they walk into the party. We decided to use the suitcases donated as the boxes for the clothes, and those have been nicely folded and placed inside, along with some personal care items on the other side in a nice bag I found online for a great price. Granted I had to order in bulk, but Sly set up a spreadsheet for me that has each kid listed and I’m able to denote whether or not they got a suitcase this year so if they’re still in care next year, they won’t get another one.

I make a mental note to buy boxes for clothes for next year when the after Christmas sales hit, then stand up and practically leap into Kodiak’s arms. “I’m feeling kinda sleepy, wanna take a nap with me?” I ask, licking my bottom lip.

“Hell yeah, Sweetheart, let’s go get some rest,” he replies, winking at me before he cradles me in his arms and heads off to his suite. We’re still staying here versus his cabin since Sly’s still checking into the possible threat from Jeremy. Until we have all the answers we need, I’m trusting my bear and staying in the clubhouse.

“I can’t do it,” Kodiak growls as I stand back, taking in the giant bear of a man dressed in his Santa suit, looking surly and nothing like the jolly man he’s supposed to emulate.

I have to say, he looks like the sexiest Santa I’ve ever seen. Instead of a fake white beard, I found temporary hair dye that changed his dark brown to mostly white. The natural look is much more realistic, and I think the kids will be surprised.

“You can,” I giggle. “Besides, it’s for the kids.”

“Hmmpf.”

“Go ahead, give me your best ho-ho-ho,” I encourage.

All I get is a rotten version of ho, which has me bending over at the gut, laughing because it’s really not the right theme at all.

“Babe,” I try to chastise, “Come on. Try harder.”

“Oh, I’ve got harder,” he growls, “but that’s just for you.”

I bite my lip and shake my head. He’s incorrigible. “Do it for me?”

A heavy, exaggerated sigh escapes his pink lips. And yes, I dusted rose-colored powder on his nose and cheeks and mouth because Santa is supposed to be merry.

Kodiak? Not so much.

“Ho,” he finally says, “ho,” and another heavy sigh, “ho.”

“You’re about as jolly as a fucking turd in a toilet,” Spike observes as I notice him leaning against the doorjamb.

“You can do better than that,” Chomp jeers, joining us. “C’mon, brother, these are kids, remember?”

I tap my finger on my cheek trying to think of a way to turn my grumpy Santa into a festive one. “I’ve got it!” I exclaim.

“What?” Kodiak grumbles. He’s not quite glaring at me, but it’s close.

“What if you had an elf to help you and what if that elf was me?” I ask, leaning up to brush my lips against him.

“Maybe.”

“Hold that thought,” I tell him and run up to our suite to change. I suspected this might be difficult for him to do and I don’t want him to be totally uncomfortable, so I bought my own costume complete with a pair of tights and a sassy little skirt with white fuzz on the bottom to match him. Kind of like Mrs. Claus, I guess.

I quickly change and admire how I look in the mirror. “Yeah, that ought to make my bear a little less growly.” Giving myself a wink in the mirror to bolster my confidence, I head back to where everyone’s standing around staring at Kodiak, who’s now growling at his brothers.

Money exchanges hands and I see them bet on his success and failure. Plenty of teasing follows. My poor grumpy Santa bear.

“Damn, Santa didn’t have elves who looked like you when I was a kid going to the mall,” Sly states, whistling.

“Hubba hubba,” Chomp adds.

I don’t say anything, I just look at my bear whose eyes are so heated, I feel like I’m facing an inferno. “Kodiak?” I finally whisper.

I see him take in several deep breaths while his gaze never leaves mine. His lips curl upward in a semblance of a smile then he says, “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” in a booming voice that sounds almost… happy!

“Oh my God, I think you might just pull this off,” Spike announces, smirking at Kodiak.

“Let’s get this done and over with, please,” Kodiak retorts.

I blow him a kiss. “I’ll reward you later.”

“They’re having such a great time!” Cheryl exclaims as we watch the kids opening their gifts. “I’m stunned by the support we got for this project, Callie.”

I smile, my eyes glassy seeing the joy on the faces surrounding us. The cosmetology school that Cheryl reached out to not only helped us get the things we needed for the teenage girls’ little kits, but they also offered them free salon services for makeovers. They’ll have students working on them, but the instructors are all licensed so it should go well. But the best thing of all, to me, is how many of the foster parents look relieved. I know there’ll still be gifts for the children to open on Christmas Day, but this party helps the kids feel more normal. Some of the burden had been lifted though and I know these families will all have a merry Christmas now.

“Spike had an idea for next year, Cheryl,” I say.

“What is it?” she asks.

“Well, I have two rooms at the clubhouse and we’re going to get basic stuff all year long to stock up. We’ll also get gift cards for the older kids for the local fast-food places so they can be like a lot of the other teenagers,” I reply. “What do you think?”

“Like I said, the best thing that ever happened to this program was the day you walked in to volunteer. I think that with us working together, the foster kids in Mercy Falls are going to have the best possible lives given their circumstances,” she says.

It touches my heart to hear those words and I blink back tears. Across the room, laughing like a jolly old elf, Kodiak is still listening to the kids, and I can see his smile is genuine.

Spike joins us and hands a glass of bubbly to Cheryl. “The club has really enjoyed being involved with helping the kids. Count us in as a yearly donation.”

Cheryl sniffles as she fights the tears that pool in her eyes. “This wouldn’t have been possible without all your help. I’m so thankful for your generosity.”

“It’s for the kids.” Spike shrugs. “We’re happy to do it.”

Cheryl leaves us to greet a friend and I stand with Spike, taking in all the smiling faces.

“You know, I’ve never seen Kodiak happy like this. We’re all thrilled for him.”

“To be honest, I’ve never been happy like this before either. I haven’t told him yet, and it’s so quick that I don’t want to overwhelm him, but I love that big, grumpy, overprotective bear.”

Spike grins. “I know. We all see it. Wanna know something else?”

“Sure.”

“He’s one hundred percent, all in, crazy for you, in love. You know that, right?”

I did. “Yes. We just haven’t said it yet.”

Spike stroked his short beard. “Well, he might be waiting on you. His bear won’t want to push you into anything you’re not ready for. The first instinct for Kodiak is to protect you. He’ll do that every way that he can.”

“I see that.” I finish my drink and set the glass aside. “I think it’s time I got my Santa under the mistletoe.”

Spike laughs. “Go for it.”

Kodiak’s booming ho-ho-ho echoes across the room before I reach him and his gaze moves from the kids to me, locking in as I strut toward him. His eyes are quick to grow molten and I can almost feel the lust burning off him as I tug on his sleeve.

“There’s mistletoe out in the hall.”

His grin widens. “I think I should follow you out there to verify.”

“That’s my plan,” I reveal, reaching for his hand. He’s wearing black gloves and I pull them off as we walk out of the room and into the empty hall. I lead him around the corner where we can find some privacy and point to the mistletoe above our heads.

“How did that get here?” he wonders.

“I snuck out a few minutes ago.”

“Need me for something?” His tone is playful, oblivious to what I’m going to say.

Suddenly nervous, I bite my lip and release it. “There’s something I want to tell you.”

“Oh. What’s that, my gorgeous mate?”

“I love you, Kodiak,” I reveal, almost breathless.

His humor fades and it’s the overwhelming confirmation I see in return, blazing in his dark eyes that proves to me how he feels before he says the words. “I love you, Callie. So fucking much.”

When our lips meet, our kiss under the mistletoe is sweet, but also undeniably hungry. He claims my lips with unrelenting fervor until all I want is to feel him between my thighs and escape this party.

“Soon,” he promises as we part, already knowing what I need. “I’ll take care of you, my Callie. Always. That’s a promise.”