Me and My Christmas Familiar (An MM Monster Christmas)

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

G entle snores penetrated Lachlan’s sleep. He turned to gaze at the other bed.

Empty. Lachlan frowned. He leaned forward and looked at the floor by the side of his bed.

Kit lay curled on his side, arms wrapped around himself, knees tucked to his chest. He snored softly in his sleep. His cat ears twitched. His half tail curled around his naked hip.

A small sound escaped him, almost like a cat’s whimper.

Lachlan’s heart ached.

Kit had slept on the cold floor just to be near him. Lachlan squeezed his eyes shut and let out a breath. Then he rose, careful to avoid Kit’s prone form. He got the blankets from the other bed and laid them carefully over Kit before climbing back into bed.

He peered down at Kit, letting himself stare. He never got to properly look at Kit. Kit always watched him with such sad eyes full of yearning. Lachlan couldn’t bear to see the pain he caused. So he never looked at Kit.

But now he could look freely. He still couldn’t get over how beautiful Kit was, with his rich long dark hair caressing his brown skin. Long eyelashes rested against high cheek bones. Plump lips parted in sleep.

The blankets covered Kit’s form, but Kit had a lovely body, tall and toned, albeit a bit thin. Lachlan had noticed a few scars, lines of faded white that marked Kit’s skin, which must have been hidden beneath the fur. Although, the scars did nothing to detract from his stunning beauty.

A man like this would never look twice at me .

And now a man like this seemed to look nowhere else but at him.

Minutes ticked by. Lachlan stared. Slowly his body relaxed. The fear and anxiety that had coiled so tightly in his chest released. He still didn’t really know Kit, but with him like this, resting in sleep, Lachlan found it easier to be at ease near Kit. He seemed less scary. Less intimidating.

After a few more moments, Kit’s eyes fluttered open. Lachlan considered pulling away and pretending he hadn’t been staring. But he was tired. And he didn’t want to avoid Kit right now.

A smile stretched across Kit’s lips, and his green eyes sparkled with joy at the sight of Lachlan.

Then all of a sudden, as if remembering yesterday, his eyes dimmed. His smile fell. He bit his lip as uncertainty clouded his features.

“I just wanted to be closer,” Kit whispered. “I just wanted to be near you. I’m sorry, Lachlan.” He hunched his shoulders.

“It’s all right. I don’t mind,” Lachlan found himself saying, and it was true. He didn’t mind.

They stared at each other for several minutes.

“Are you scared of me?” Kit asked.

“No. I’m not scared. It’s just—” He sighed. “—it’s a lot to take in. I know you as a cat. I don’t really know you as a human.”

Kit lowered his gaze. “I’m sorry for being two-formed. I’m sorry for being a human.”

The words caused Lachlan’s chest to convulse. “Oh, Kit.” Without a second thought, he reached out and placed a hand on Kit’s shoulder that wasn’t covered by the blanket.

Kit’s breath stuttered. He freed his hand to clasp at Lachlan’s, like a lifeline. He gripped tightly, gaze fixed on their joined hands. Kit’s hand felt so warm and soft on Lachlan’s.

“Have your feelings towards me changed now that you’ve rediscovered your human form?” Lachlan asked.

“You’re my witch,” Kit said matter-of-factly. “I love you.”

Lachlan’s throat seized. Was it really so simple for Kit?

“Since the moment we met, you’ve been kind and caring. You saved me. You fed me. You keep me warm, and you look after me.” Kit leaned towards their joined hands. He pressed his forehead against the back of Lachlan’s hand. His whole body seemed to curl around the part where the two of them joined.

“And every day together, I adore you more and more,” Kit said. “I’ve been so happy with you. Happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I am so proud to be your familiar, to be yours. I love you.”

“And that hasn’t changed at all?”

Green eyes snapped to his. “No. Nothing has changed. Why would it?” Then he lowered his gaze. “Except it has. It’s changed for you. Because you don’t want me anymore. You don’t want a two-form familiar.” Kit gnawed at his bottom lip.

Lachlan wanted to deny it. He wanted to take the pain from Kit. But it would be a lie. Everything would be so much simpler if Kit were merely a cat. Everything would still be as it had been.

“Do you still care for me, even a little bit?” Kit asked, voice so small.

“I do. I do care for you. I just…” Lachlan just didn’t know how.

“And am I still your familiar?” Kit asked.

“I don’t know.”

Kit whimpered at that. His gaze searched Lachlan’s face. “And do you still love me?” His voice strained.

It was too much. Lachlan couldn’t say he still loved Kit. Not now. And he couldn’t say anything else. So he looked away.

“You said you were lonely.” Kit’s hand on Lachlan’s was like a vice. “I was lonely too. But together, we weren’t lonely. I was your familiar, and you were my witch. We were happy. Don’t you remember?”

Kit’s words knocked the air from Lachlan’s lungs. “Of course I remember. You made me so happy.”

“But not anymore.” Kit’s voice sounded defeated.

Lachlan squeezed his eyes shut.

From Kit’s words, it was clear his feelings for Lachlan had not changed at all. Could it really be so simple? Could they really just continue as if nothing had changed?

But something had changed! Everything had changed.

Still, perhaps Lachlan could try to be…something with Kit, in some form. He just didn’t know what.

“I’m not sure what is happening.” Lachlan looked into Kit’s green eyes. “But I care about you, and the time with you has been wonderful…and I don’t want to lose you. I just need to process.”

Kit’s expression turned hopeful. “I don’t want to lose you either.”

Lachlan smiled. “And maybe…” He hesitated. “Maybe it would be all right if you slept the rest of the night with me.”

Kit’s eyes widened. “Really? With you?” He practically jumped to his feet, the blankets sliding to the floor.

Lachlan froze, eyes widening at the sudden realisation that Kit still wore nothing. His gaze zeroed in on Kit’s soft cock nestled amongst dark curls, and his dangling balls.

Panic spiked. When he’d suggested sleep, it had been a spur-of-the-moment thought. In his mind, he’d imagined the both of them sleeping together, nothing more. Just comfortable, content sleep, nothing sexual. After all, neither had slept well recently.

Lachlan had never been this close to a naked man before. Except for when Kit had shifted on top of him.

Suddenly, a very naked Kit was crawling beneath the blankets and pressing that very naked body against Lachlan’s. At least Lachlan wore undershorts.

Soft, warm skin pressed against skin. Kit’s arms wrapped around Lachlan’s waist. Kit hooked a slender thigh over Lachlan’s, drawing the two of them intimately close. Muscles tensed and relaxed as Kit shuffled closer.

Kit let out a happy breath.

Lachlan’s heart raced, every nerve in his body tense. And his cock took notice of the very naked, very handsome man pressed tightly against him.

Lachlan inhaled, trying to calm himself, but Kit’s musky scent filled his nose, and Lachlan’s cock stood at complete attention. Thankfully no part of Kit’s body pressed against Lachlan’s erection.

Kit nuzzled against Lachlan’s throat and jaw, purring. “I’ve missed you so much,” Kit whispered. “I love you.”

Lachlan closed his eyes, counting slowly backwards. He placed a hand on Kit’s arm draped over his waist. “I care about you too. Now let’s sleep.”

Though Lachlan did not know how he’d manage to sleep with Kit’s naked form draped over him.