Me and My Christmas Familiar (An MM Monster Christmas)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

L achlan woke with a sleeping Kit curled around him. Lachlan stroked Kit’s soft hair, running his fingers along the edges of a cat ear. He smiled.

His stomach rumbled. He’d barely eaten the last two days as the worry and fretting had stolen his appetite. But Lachlan did not rise. He did not want Kit to wake alone. So he stayed put, holding his familiar, listening to the sound of snow falling against the window and Kit’s even breathing.

It surprised Lachlan how natural this felt. It shouldn’t.

He’d only slept next to Kit once before in his human form, and technically, he’d not slept. Before that, he’d never shared a bed with a man. But now it seemed that since he had accepted he was giving himself and Kit a chance, he couldn’t escape how perfect Kit as a human felt in his arms.

He stared at the window for a while. At some point, he fell back asleep. They both slept past midday. They must have needed the sleep.

When they woke, they just lay in bed, cuddling and kissing. Lachlan was beyond aroused. But he was determined to take it slow, at least for a little while longer. And Kit respected that.

Eventually, they exited the room in search of food.

“We’ve got bread, cheese, and sliced meat here if you’re hungry,” Grady said when they appeared.

Cas raised a mug, his aura glowing brightly around him. “And mulled wine and Christmas cookies. Lots of Christmas cookies!”

He’d expected his siblings to make jokes and tease him and Lachlan like they usually did with one another. But although they watched Lachlan and Kit with curious gazes, none commented. It was as if they didn’t want to disturb whatever delicate thing was taking place between Kit and Lachlan.

“Sounds good.” Lachlan took Kit’s hand, and they joined his family before the fire.

“And don’t worry, Leo and I took care of the bakery today,” Jasper said.

“We explained to the bakery that you hadn’t forgotten them.” Leo smiled.

“Thank you,” Lachlan said.

All the chairs had been taken, so they sat on the rug. Kit nestled against him, and when Lachlan wrapped his arm around Kit, Kit beamed. Neither spoke as they ate, both exhausted after the emotions of the past two days. Instead, they cuddled, ate, drank, and listened to the others talk as they sat by the fire.

They retired early and slept in each other’s arms. At times, they woke and shared long, slow kisses, which set Lachlan’s blood on fire and made him question this whole going-slow thing.

The next morning, they rose early. The bakery door swung open as Lachlan and Kit approached. Lachlan smiled as they entered, and the door shut gently behind them. Lachlan let out a breath as the lanterns flickered into life.

“Thank you.” Lachlan bowed his head. This was better. This was right. “Shall we prepare the bakery?”

“What do you need me to do? I have hands now.” Kit smiled. He lifted his hands, opening and shutting them. “I can do lots more with these compared to my paws.”

Lachlan laughed. “How about you start by putting wood in the oven.”

Kit piled wood inside it, and Lachlan brewed an elderflower and linden blossom tea. As Kit closed the oven door, Lachlan sent out a thought, and the fire sparked into life.

Without being asked, Kit rose and grabbed the broom. He swept and hummed, moving clockwise, at ease in the space as he swept three times around.

Lachlan lit the incense and said a blessing at the altar.

“Tea is ready.” Lachlan poured them each a large steaming mug and handed one to Kit.

“Thank you.” Kit took the cup.

They drank their tea against a counter. Kit leaned against Lachlan, his tail wrapping around him.

Everything ran smoothly. The simmer pot filled the space with positive energy and a divine smell that Lachlan felt he could dance on. The bread rose and baked better than any batch he’d ever made. And when they made cookies, Lachlan and Kit worked in perfect sync.

“Here you are.” Kit handed Lachlan the ingredients, anticipating his every need before Lachlan even voiced them.

“Thank you.” Lachlan smiled.

It was so strange. Now that he’d accepted Kit as a human, he realised how comfortable he felt around him, how he actually already felt like he knew Kit on some bone-deep level.

As Lachlan mixed the ingredients, Kit slid his hand along Lachlan’s waist as he walked to the simmer pot to fill it with more water. It sent a shiver of awareness through Lachlan’s body.

Then Kit collected the dirty equipment and took it to the sink to wash before wiping down the workspace. Everything Kit did just made everything easier.

But how could this all be so easy?

Lachlan barely knew Kit as a human. Yet Kit fit into his bakery and with him so easily. He was perfect. Perfect for Lachlan.

The perfect familiar, whether in his human or cat form.

Lachlan’s throat tightened. He stopped mixing ingredients and walked to Kit.

“Is everything okay?” Kit only just managed to ask before Lachlan was kissing him.

Kit stumbled but then righted himself, laughing as he returned the kiss and clutched at Lachlan’s shoulders.

When the kiss broke, Kit laughed. “What was that for?”

Lachlan let out a breath. “I’m just so glad I found you. I’m so glad I didn’t lose you. You’re wonderful. You’re perfect.” Then he kissed Kit again. And again.

At some point, they returned to work. And for the rest of the day, everything went smoothly in the bakery. When they finished, they went upstairs, laden with bread, cookies, tarts, and pies. They sat, ate, and drank hot chocolate with his family and their partners, everyone complimenting the food.

“This bread is amazing,” Briar said.

Wulfric bit into a meat pie. “This is the best pie I’ve ever eaten.”

Into the night, they sang carols, read ghost stories, and kept eating and drinking. When Kit began to fall asleep by the fire, Lachlan rose and tugged Kit to his feet. “Come on, let’s go to bed.” And they went to their room.

Lachlan closed the door, and he turned to see Kit pulling his shirt over his head. Lachlan let out a breath, gazing at Kit’s lean back. Lachlan removed his shirt. His body felt hot all over, and hunger pooled in his gut.

Kit’s tail poked out from the top of his trousers. They’d have to make adjustments to those. Lachlan couldn’t imagine Kit’s tail being constricted like that was comfortable. Kit’s tail swayed back and forth. Kit stretched his lean arms above his head.

Lachlan’s breath hitched. He wanted Kit. He ached for him.

Now that he’d opened his eyes, everything seemed to just come together so quickly. He stepped up behind Lachlan and wrapped his arms around Kit’s waist. Kit gripped Lachlan’s arms.

Lowering his head, Lachlan kissed Kit’s shoulder. Goosebumps broke out over Kit’s skin. Kit purred with pleasure.

“I know I said I wanted to take this slow.” Once again, Lachlan pressed his lips against Kit’s warm skin. “And it’s completely fine if you want to go slow. I’d completely understand that.”

Lachlan took a deep breath, inhaling Kit’s delicious scent. “But I want you, Kit.” He splayed his hand over Kit’s abdomen, feeling the muscles tense. “And I’m ready for more than just cuddling and kissing with you. Lots more.”

“Like sex?” Kit whispered.

“Yes. But you’ll have to guide me.” Lachlan let out a nervous laugh. “Everything I’ve ever done has been with you.”