Me and My Christmas Familiar (An MM Monster Christmas)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

W ith deft movements, Cas intricately folded the red-coloured paper into a star. “And once it’s done, you can attach ribbon or string and hang them up.” Cas lifted the newly created decoration. “We can hang them up everywhere using all different coloured bits of paper.”

“It looks complicated.” Graal took the star from Cas and examined it.

“See how you go. I’ll show you how to make it, step by step.” Cas placed a hand on Graal’s thigh before handing out bits of paper to Briar, Wulfric, Leo, and Kit.

Kit took a gold piece of paper. He glanced around the apartment and held in a sigh.

He’d woken to an empty bed, no sign of Lachlan anywhere. After their night together, he’d thought things had changed.

But then he’d woken alone. He didn’t know what to think now.

When Kit had emerged from the room and asked where Lachlan was, Grady’s response had been, “He’s down in the bakery.” He’d taken one look at Kit’s face, sighed, and said, “I’ll go speak to him.”

Kit had wanted to go to Lachlan. But Grady had suggested he stay and let Grady talk to his brother first. Then Kit had sat in the main room by the fire, whilst others tried to get him to eat and drink tea. Now they made Christmas decorations.

Kit copied Cas, making stars one after another. The others talked and sang Christmas carols. Kit didn’t. He tried not to think about what Lachlan was saying to Grady downstairs. But it was no use. He could think of nothing but Lachlan.

The door opened. Grady and Lachlan appeared.

Kit perked up but stayed where he was. Lachlan removed his robes and turned. Their gazes held. Lachlan took a deep breath. Then he walked straight towards Kit.

Kit’s heart thumped against his ribcage. Desperately he tried to read Lachlan’s expression and sense his mood.

He’s nervous.

Kit’s throat tightened.

“Are you going to join us?” Cas asked. “We’re making Christmas stars.”

“Aren’t there enough decorations?” Lachlan glanced around the room, giving a weak smile.

Cas scoffed. “There is no such thing as too many Christmas decorations, brother dearest.”

Lachlan looked at Kit. “Actually, I wanted to talk to Kit. In private.”

Kit jumped to his feet. “Yes! We can talk.”

Lachlan led the way to his room, Kit on his heels, body vibrating with tension. Lachlan closed the door behind them. Kit stood fixed in the middle of the room, watching every minute movement Lachlan made.

“Let’s sit.” Lachlan gestured to his bed.

Kit dropped onto the bed as Lachlan sat beside him, brows furrowing.

He is unhappy. He is unhappy with me. He is unhappy we had sex.

Pangs of pain and panic rolled through his gut. He clasped his tail, squeezing it as if he could hold it tight enough that he wouldn’t fall apart.

“I spoke with Grady, and I’ve done some thinking.” Lachlan stared at his knees.

He is going to ask me to leave. He decided he’s had enough. Lachlan is going to stop being my witch. I’m going to stop being his familiar. I’ll lose Lachlan forever!

“I will stay a cat!” Kit cried out.

Lachlan turned towards him, eyes widening.

“Once I work out how to shift back into a cat, I will stay that way. Forever! I promise. Then I can be your cat familiar, and you won’t ever have to see me as a human ever again. You can forget I have two forms. We’ll pretend you never saw me as a human.” The words tumbled together.

“Then you could love me as your cat familiar. Then you will pat me, hold me, and love me.” Kit’s voice strained. “You’ll let me sleep with you. I won’t be lonely, and you won’t be lonely.” Tears slipped from his eyes. “We’ll both be happy together. And you will never have to look at me in my human form ever again. I promise!”

“Oh. Oh, Kit. No,” Lachlan whispered. He reached out and gripped Kit’s hands, squeezing tightly.

“Please.” Kit would beg if he had to. “Please.” He fell to his knees before Lachlan, clasping his legs.

Lachlan made a choked noise.

“I promise I can find a way to turn back into a cat,” Kit said. “Then we’ll be happy, and it will be just as it was. Please, Lachlan.” He rubbed his wet face against Lachlan’s legs.

“Kit, no.” Lachlan leaned down and stroked Kit’s hair and shoulders. He shook his head. “No. It isn’t right, and I don’t want that.”

Kit whimpered. He sobbed.

Lachlan doesn’t want me anymore. He doesn’t love me.

By turning into a human, he’d ruined everything between them. Kit closed his eyes as all the fight went out of him.

“Kit. That’s not what I meant. I don’t want you to stay a cat.” Lachlan crawled down onto the floor. He pulled Kit against him, stroking his back.

Kit leaned into the touch as he sobbed.

“I’m so sorry, Kit. I’m saying this all wrong,” Lachlan said. “Kit, just listen, please. I don’t want to lose you.”

Kit froze in Lachlan’s arms.

“But this is all so new to me. I’d never been with anyone before last night. I’d never even kissed anyone.” Lachlan’s hands moved up and down soothingly on Kit’s back. “I’d like to take things slow between us. I like you, Kit, not just as a cat, but as a human too. I want to see what we could be to each other.”

Kit pulled back, gazing into Lachlan’s eyes.

Lachlan gave a shaky smile. “But is it all right if we take things a little slow?”

Kit nodded. “I can do that. I… I don’t quite know what you mean. But we can be slow. We can be whatever you want.”

Lachlan laughed. “I just mean that we can spend time together and learn more about each other as humans.” He paused. “Although, I suppose you know everything about me. I’ve told you so much about myself.” He cupped Kit’s cheek. “But I’d like to do things with you and get to know you not just as a cat and see how we fit together.”

“And I can still be your familiar?”

Lachlan let out a breath. “I’d be happy if you stayed my familiar.” Then his gaze flittered over Kit’s face and landed on his lips. “I’d like to kiss you now. Can I kiss you?”

The air stuttered in Kit’s lungs. “Please.”

Then Lachlan leaned forward and gently pressed their lips together.

Kit melted into the kiss and Lachlan’s embrace. The stress, pain, and worry melted from his body as their lips moved together. After several moments, the kiss broke. They stared into each other’s eyes, neither speaking for minutes.

“You’re so handsome,” Lachlan whispered.

Kit laughed with joy as it bubbled up inside him. Lachlan laughed too.

Then Lachlan hesitated, gaze snagging on Kit’s ear. “Can I touch your ear?”

“You can touch me anywhere!” Kit leaned towards him.

“I mean, does it hurt?” Lachlan asked, staring at the ear that was half-missing.

“No.” Kit shook his head. “It’s been healed for a long time.”

With a gentle touch, Lachlan reached up and stroked his cat ear. Kit shivered.

“Oh, sorry.” Lachlan withdrew his hand.

Kit grabbed his hand. He kissed it. “It’s fine. It’s just sensitive. That’s all.” Kit lifted Lachlan’s hand, rubbing it against his cheek.

Lachlan smiled. Then he sighed, and Kit could see the exhaustion in his eyes.

Kit frowned. “You’re tired.” He could feel Lachlan’s tiredness through the bond. And Kit realised he was pretty tired too.

“I haven’t slept properly the last two nights.”

“Well, you should sleep now.” Kit jumped to his feet and pulled Lachlan up. Then he reached for the sheets of Lachlan’s bed and tugged them down. He then gestured for Lachlan to lie down.

With a wry smile, Lachlan took off his clothes except for his undershorts and climbed into the bed. “You’re tired too.”

“We are going slow.” Kit paused. “Does that mean we can sleep together or…?”

Lachlan propped himself up on his elbows. “We can sleep together. Maybe some kissing and cuddling. But mainly nothing more. Is that okay?”

“That is wonderful and perfect!” Kit began to strip. “You are tired. I am tired. We will cuddle, sleep, and kiss. But no sex.” Kit swallowed. “And will you still be here when I wake up?”

Lachlan sighed. “I’m so sorry about that, Kit. That was cruel.” Lachlan reached for Kit and pulled him down into his arms.

Kit snuggled against Lachlan, and Lachlan drew the blankets over them.

“I’ll be here when you wake.” Lachlan wrapped his arms around Kit. “I promise, Kit.” And he kissed Kit on the forehead, sealing the promise.