11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Shimmersnap

Our shift was only supposed to last two hours, but somehow, we managed to stay longer. Our hot chocolate bar was all the rage, if I did say so myself. Plenty of people came by, wanting to see the cute display. Given more time, I could have created a really crazy setup, maybe with a fountain that was five feet tall and had different flavors and varieties of hot chocolate. Peppermints, caramel, white chocolate drizzle so we could make snowflake designs or maybe sparkly sprinkles that gave the hot chocolate that extra shine.

But alas, I could not do such a thing—doing so would give away my magic.

I caught Walter smiling more than once. He even laughed and chit-chatted with the people who stopped at the booth, making small talk about the weather. Walter never made small talk. Once our other volunteers arrived to relieve us, I wasn’t sure what the plan was. Would we each go our separate ways, still pretending that nothing happened between us?

I knew I wasn’t going to forget last night. I just needed to convince Walter to give us a shot. A real one. One where we lasted forever. One where we started a family and spent all our Christmases together. Not just because if we didn’t, I’d end up as an elf figurine forever, but because I truly cared for him. Loved him, even.

Walter smiled at me once we were officially off duty. “Well, that was busy. Usually people pass right on by, even though we give out free stuff. This year I think everyone at the festival had a cup.”

“Yeah,” I said. I looked around at all the twinkling lights, the families and couples all smiling and laughing together, enjoying the holiday festival.

“Would you like to walk around?” Walter asked. “They have a lot of great booths. There’s even one that has specialty flavored candy canes. You can buy one as tall as you.”

I laughed. “No, you can’t.” If such a thing existed, I would already know about it. “I would really like to walk around, though. Will you come with me?”

Walter held out his hand, and I slipped mine into his, linking our fingers together. “I’d love to,” he said.

“What’s your favorite thing about Christmas?” I asked. We kept our pace slow so we could see the different booths. There were ice sculptures and other fun decorative items lining the walkway. I was fascinated by all the things humans did to decorate and celebrate the holiday, but having Walter close by like this had me distracted.

The snow continued to fall in large flakes, lazily making their way to the cold ground.

His brow furrowed. “I don’t know that I have a favorite thing.”

“Surely you have a favorite memory from your holidays.” I snugged in closer to him, bathing in his warmth. As an elf accustomed to the North Pole, I didn’t really feel cold, but if that was what it took to be close to my Walter, then I would pretend.

I could have used some of my magic to peek at his holiday memories, but I didn’t wish to intrude. I wanted my mate to tell me about these things himself.

“I, uh, honestly, we didn’t have great Christmases growing up. My dad was a bit of a drinker. He didn’t enjoy celebrating, and if he did, he wanted to celebrate at a bar, so we just didn’t do a whole ton.”

My heart ached for him. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”

Walter shook his head. “That’s all right. I’m surprised I even told you that. I don’t talk about it a lot.”

“It’s not too late to make new memories,” I said. “Like this Christmas. Look around, there are so many cool things here. You’ve already done the hot chocolate bar. I saw you sneaking in several cups.”

Walter chuckled. “I did indeed enjoy several way-too-sweet cups of hot chocolate.”

I wrinkled my nose. “There’s no such thing as too sweet. Now, what if we went to the little ornament-making station?”

“I don’t have a tree to put it on. I don’t really need an ornament.”

“Well, that doesn’t matter. Just set it on your desk. Set it on your mantle.” I winced as I said the words—little did he know he would be setting the ornament next to me if he did that. With any luck, I wouldn’t be on the mantle forever.

Walter’s lips curled into a grin. “I do have one Christmas decoration, a cute little elf that sits on my mantle. Only I keep him out all year. I got him at an estate sale last February. He’s the cutest thing.”

Aw. Walter thought I was cute as a figurine. Progress!

“See, festive!” I joked.

“I’ll show him to you when we get home.”

Alarm bells started ringing in my head. Abort, abort! He couldn’t show me the elf. I was the elf. I couldn’t be there on the mantle and right next to him at the same time.

Walter tugged me toward the ornament-making station. “You make one too. We’ll have matching ones.”

I couldn’t resist that smile. I lived for that smile.

“Of course,” I said.

The ornament we ended up making was a wooden wreath that was also a picture frame. The people running the booth snapped our picture and printed them right there so both Walter and I had a copy. He painted his wreath green with a red bow. No embellishments; meanwhile, I spent a painstakingly long amount of time to get the sparkles just right on the branches so that it looked like snow.

I held it up to him for inspection.

“It’s gorgeous,” he said.

“I like yours.”

“I’ll trade you,” he said and held out his to me.

“Really? I’d love that.” I loved that he wanted something that I created.

We stood there a long time looking at one another, both of us reluctant to leave.

“Shimmersnap.”

“Yes?”

“I… I…”

I grinned. My alpha was adorable when he was nervous. “Walter, would you take me home? To your home, I mean.”

He let out a relieved breath. “I’d like nothing more.”

I paid zero attention during the drive. I knew it was quick, and I knew when we arrived I had to keep him occupied so that he didn’t notice the missing elf.

Once we were inside the door, I kicked off my shoes and dragged him to his room. It wasn’t difficult since clearly that was where he wanted to go.

Inside his room, I dropped to my knees and unbuckled his belt, drawing his pants and boxers down his legs. His long, thick cock was hard for me. Not unlike how mine had been after spending the entire evening with him.

I licked at the underside of his cock, and he shuddered. One of his hands threaded through my hair. “Oh, Shimmersnap,” he moaned.

I loved hearing my name on his lips. If it was up to me, he’d spend the rest of his life with my name there.

I closed my mouth of his length, until the tip of his cock hit my throat. I risked looking up at him, and when I did, he cursed.

“Fuck, you can’t look at me with those sweet, innocent eyes when my cock is in your mouth, Shimmersnap.” He moved his hips slightly, and I stayed still, letting him thrust slowly in and out of my mouth. His velvety softness brushed against my lips and tongue.

“You’re exquisite, Shimmersnap. Pure fucking sunshine. Holy Christmas, I can’t believe how much I want you.”

“Take me,” I said.

His nostrils flared.

I opened my mouth, my tongue thrusting out to lick up his length again. Between my mouth and hands on him, he was shooting down my throat within a few minutes. I drank in every drop, letting some dribble down my chin.

I moaned at the taste of him on my tongue. I wanted more. I wanted him inside me.

Walter lifted me off the ground and carried me to the bed, laying me down gently. At some point he must’ve kicked off his pants and removed his shirt, meanwhile I was still fully clothed. My eyes were heavy, though.

“Give me a few minutes and I’ll take care of you,” he said.

I looped an arm around him and snuggled against his side. “Hold me,” I said. “That will be enough.”

I wasn’t sure, but I thought I heard him tell me he’d never let me go. But that could have just been in my dreams.