16. Jasper

Chapter sixteen

Jasper

“Are you comfortable being squished in the middle?” I ask Natalie, tucked between Cole and myself on the bench seat of the sleigh. We’re ready to set off for the first village and I’ve never been this excited for a trip. This has the potential to be life-changing, but despite the weight of that thought, I feel light as a feather doing it with Cole and Natalie.

“You know I love being the filling in this monster sandwich,” Natalie says and does a little shoulder shimmy.

Just to be sure everyone’s good and ready, I tuck the blankets in a little tighter across their laps. Nick had thought of everything, including a stack of the fluffiest of blankets stored in the compartment under the seat that now holds our luggage.

Cole indulges me as I fuss over him, arranging his scarf so it covers his neck, and pulling down his beanie so it covers his pointed ears.

“Don’t want these ears to catch frostbite. I want to nibble on them later,” I say with a wink. Cole’s only reply is a warm smile and a slight arch of his brows.

I follow the same procedure with Natalie, making sure she’s warm in her new coat, hat, scarf, and gloves, since humans are more susceptible to the cold than us.

“You know I love the cold, right?” Natalie asks.

I frown. “But you were complaining when you got here.”

“Well, I was dressed for a tropical summer, except for your sweater you lent me. I get where the misunderstanding comes in, but I’ve always liked winter more. Besides, I have a bit of an ice kink too,” Natalie states with a saucy grin, causing me to choke on my own spit.

I glance around the clearing in front of Cole’s house, trying to think how I can make this ride more interesting but coming up empty. “You can’t say things like that when we’re about to set off on a trip. I want to play now.”

Natalie shrugs. “Be a good boy and maybe I’ll let you play tonight.”

Cole leans forward and pushes me back into the seat. “Keep your cock in your pants. I have plans for you two. Don’t think I didn’t overhear what you told Natalie earlier about where she’s getting stuffed tonight. But behave until then. Think you can do that, Jasper? Natalie?”

I’m so glad Cole included Natalie in that sentence too, that I don’t mind being put in place. I fake a pout. “I think I can be good.” And just to push his buttons, I add, “Daddy.”

Natalie gasps and her eyes turn to saucers, but Cole only huffs a laugh. “Not my kink. But nice try.”

“Oh, before we go, um…” Natalie looks nervous and a faint color blooms across her cheeks. “I found this beanie in the clothes Cole got me, so I don’t know if this will fit, but I tried to cut holes in it for your horns. Obviously it’s not perfect, but…” She trails off and takes out a green-and-white patterned beanie with a giant pom-pom. “You don’t have to wear it, but I don’t want you to be cold.”

Completely unbidden, tears fill my eyes at the sweet gesture. I take the beanie from her and hug it to my chest. “I love it, thank you.” My voice comes out hoarse with emotion and I press my lips together to stop the quiver. “Can you help me put it on?”

Natalie nods and I lean down so she can thread my horns through the beanie, pulling it snug over my ears. There’s a similar emotion in her eyes too, one she doesn’t try to blink away for a change.

“You look dashing,” she says and flicks the pom-pom.

“Thank you, truly. It’s my first ever hat.” My statement lands in the space between us, ringing in the silence as it sinks in how significant this is for me.

“I’m glad I got to give it to you,” Natalie says softly.

Needing to restore to my normal factory settings, I counter with, “I know what else you like to give to me.” Natalie’s laugh is so sudden and loud that the reindeer turn to look back at us.

“That’s our sign. Let’s be off,” Cole says and grabs the reins. “On Merry, on Jolly.”

The sleigh jolts forward as the reindeer start pulling, and it quickly smooths into a glide across the packed snow. I reach for Natalie’s hand under the blanket and draw it into my lap, lean back, and just enjoy the ride.

We’re silent as we settle in, taking in the sights of the snow-covered trees lining the smooth, well-kept road that transports all the toys the villages make to the central warehouse in Joulu.

The whoosh of the sleigh across the tightly packed snow and the clopping of the reindeer's hooves accompany us, along with the faint ringing of jingle bells coming from the reindeer harnesses.

“By the way,” Natalie says, turning to me, “you never told us what Adelbert said over the phone. Anything significant?”

“Ah, yes. He was happy I told him what happened. Apparently, Cole isn’t the only one to get a matching tattoo after the island.”

“Really? Who?” Natalie asks, tilting her head to look up at me. Cole glances at me over Natalie’s head, keeping only a loose hold on the reins since the reindeer don’t need much guidance, seemingly well-acquainted with this road.

“He said he’s not going into detail on the phone, but from his clues, I’m guessing it’s Rollo’s brothers who also got bonded to Diana.” I can’t remember their names, but I do know his older brother is some kind of pack alpha up in Alaska.

“Brothers? How many?” Cole asks.

“Rollo has two brothers. So Diana has three bonded to her now.”

“Little minx,” Natalie says affectionately. “She’s been holding out on me.”

“Adelbert’s scheduled a video call for tonight, said he has finally figured it out, but wants to tell us as a group. Everyone from the island, plus the newly added tattoo partners will be in on the call,” I explain, knowing Bertie would hate to tell the same story multiple times. Poor male must’ve been under so much stress figuring this out while I’ve been having the time of my life.

Not like I will say it to his face, but I’m sorry that I’m not sorry. Having Natalie with us has been pretty magical.

“So it’s okay for me to sit in on the call too?” Cole asks, brows scrunched together in an oddly nervous manner.

“Of course. Bertie expects you to. You’re in this just as much as we are,” I say and reach over to squeeze his thigh.

I take out the bag of snacks I prepared, because what’s a road trip without snacks, and offer some to Natalie. “How about some sugar plums?”

Natalie throws her head back, her laughter ringing through the air, and Cole just shakes his head with an amused smile at my choice of snacks.

Plopping one into her mouth, Natalie says, “You know I’ll never turn down some sugar plums.” She nudges Cole with her shoulder and he leans down to give her a kiss on top of her head. I throw my arm around her shoulder and rest my hand on the back of Cole’s neck. This is cozy. I will never get enough of this.

“Hold up,” Natalie says and quirks her head at Cole. “Is that why you pretended you were out of gingerbread cream when I was making coffee for Nick.”

Cole winces slightly but doesn’t deny it. “I’m a little possessive when it comes to that particular flavor. Nick is nice, but not nice enough to share that with him.”

“But you shared it with me?”

“Because I share Jasper with you. You’re the exception.” Cole’s blunt honesty hits me like a delicious sucker punch to my solar plexus. The statement has me nearly breathless, sparking anticipation and, dare I say, hope for a real future for the three of us.

We fall into comfortable silence again, letting Cole’s words really sink in. The words warm me from the inside like the heat from a fire after a long day out in the cold.

As we draw closer to Puutyot, my nerves start scratching me. “Cole, do you maybe know if Nick called ahead so they’re expecting our arrival?” I hate how shaky my voice sounds, giving away just how much I dread the elves’ reactions.

The look Cole gives me is full of understanding, but Natalie’s confused gaze flits between us. “What am I missing?”

I take a deep breath before revealing my shame. “Remember how I told you a krampus is considered the bad part about Christmas?” Natalie nods and grips my hand a little tighter before I forge ahead. “Well, the Christmas elves are kind of uncomfortable around me. They’re the good guys and I’m the bad guy. When they’re not mentally prepared to see me, they literally scream and run away.” I gasp when I realize something else. “Fuck. I forgot my glamour ring at the house. Cole, can we go back?”

Cole shakes his head, his eyes full of empathy. “I left it there on purpose. I’m not ashamed of you. Neither is Natalie. If the other elves can’t see you for the good male you are, then that’s their loss.”

Natalie’s brows furrow as she considers my words. “So what you’re saying is you’re nervous about their reactions if you show up and they didn’t expect to see you?”

I nod and swallow around a sudden lump in my throat. “Yeah.”

Suddenly, Natalie perks up, her eyes sparkling with glee. “I have an idea.”