Naughty Elf: Humbug (Santa’s Naughty Elf Mates)

Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

B ax figured there was no way he had plausible deniability on the whole elf thing now.

He’d flown to the North Pole. In a sleigh pulled by two not-at-all freaking tiny reindeer. These guys were brawny AF. And now he was where Gavin had grown up, and it was…disturbingly perfect.

The streets were cobblestone, and clean as a whistle. Decor lined each one, along with arctic willows and dwarf birch trees. The houses looked like something out of a fairy tale. Everything smelled like a Michael’s store at Christmas: pine, cinnamon, and peppermint.

Oh, and gingerbread. There were gingerbread stands. Roasted chestnuts. Hot chocolate.

Lord have mercy.

“Are you okay, babe?” Gavin asked, squeezing his hand. They’d gone into town for lunch with Gavin’s dads, who were even now walking a very excited Guffy down the avenue in front of them. The folks at the cafe had thought he was hysterical.

“I am. I mean, I think I am.” In fact, his meal sat in his belly like lead.

“What’s wrong?” Gavin squeezed his hand.

“I’m—” He hunted the words. “I think I was just still convinced you were making some stuff up. I mean, I know you’re pregnant, and I know you’re totally a guy. I guess I just assumed you were magical, but this?” Bax waved a hand.

“Was all made up? Yeah. I get that.” Gavin sounded sympathetic rather than angry.

“Do you?” He didn’t deserve that kindness. He really didn’t. “I’m sorry, love.”

“Why?” Gavin squeezed his hand. “You fell for me even when you thought I was nuts. How cool is that?”

Bax laughed. “True enough. You’re amazing, though. Nothing could hide that light, you know?”

Gavin leaned on him a little. “Thank you.”

“This place is wild, huh?” He looked around, seeing something new from every angle. It was like a horror movie. Everything was so perfect it was…wrong.

Wrinkling his nose, Gavin nodded. “You can see why an elf named Humbug doesn’t fit in.”

“Hmmm.”

A man strode out of one of the stores, the only person Bax had seen who was bigger than him. Huge, with a barrel chest and legs like tree trunks roped with muscle, the man had a close-clipped silver beard and piercing blue eyes.

He was smoking hot.

“Who is that?” Bax murmured, staring even though he knew it was rude as hell.

“That’s Santa Sixty-Nine. He’s a silver fox, huh?”

“ That’s a Santa?” Gavin had explained that there were lots of Santas in order to cover the world in one night.

“I know, right?” Gavin chuckled.

“Is he?—”

“Omnivorous.” Gavin winked. “All.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“So, do you miss it?” He needed to know. Why would Gavin want to live with a bad-tempered blacksmith and a drooly dog in Western Colorado when he could have this?

Gavin stayed silent for a moment, clearly giving it the import the question deserved. “I miss my dads. And some of my friends. But I don’t miss the village at all. And I love being with you and Guffy and having my cookie business and our own house and—I love you.” Gavin stopped them, tugging him around so they stood face-to-face, those green eyes all but glowing.

Bax could see his breath, his chest rising and falling fast. “I love you too.”

“Then that’s that. Okay? I can see you’re wigging out.”

“It’s just all so perfect.”

Gavin rose on tiptoes to kiss his cold lips. “Too perfect. I love our life.”

“Promise?” Bax asked, needing to hear it.

“I promise.” Gavin stroked his stubbly cheek. “Now, come on. I want to show you the reindeer exercise yard.”

“Do they play reindeer games?” Bax teased.

“Totally.”

Laughing, he let Gavin take his hand and tow him along. Guffy was barking up ahead, so they hurried, because the big dog could cause some real havoc if left to his own devices.

And he was fascinated with reindeer…

“Are you happy, son?” Pop asked him as they sat around the table that night, preparing to play cards. Pop had made hot cocoa, and Bax was out walking Guffy because, while his dads had a little fenced yard, and there was still full daylight out there thanks to the late summer hours, Guffy had proven unreliable with shifters of all kinds.

He wanted to chase them.

“I am.” He put a hand on his belly. “I really am.”

“Maybe you should stay up here until the baby comes,” Dad said. “It will suck peppermint sticks to have to hide while you’re pregnant from now on.”

“Oh, no. I have so many cookie orders leading into Halloween and Christmas already, and Bax needs his studio.” He was a homebody anyway.

“Are you sure?” Dad asked. “We worry about you.”

“Doc says I’m perfect. So don’t worry. Bax is all I need.” He grinned, sipping his cocoa. “Well, and Guffy. He’s going to be such a good nanny.”

“Mmm. One assumes there are no shifters where you are.” Dad’s wry grin made him laugh.

“Not that I know of, though he gives the deer some serious coal stockings. And there was a black bear once who did seem awfully friendly…”

“Your mate is a fine artist,” Pop said. Humbug had shown him Bax’s website.

“He really is. You’ll have to come down and see his studio.” His pop was an amazing painter and loved art in all its forms.

“I will. We’ll come down when the baby is born.”

“Oh, good.” He blinked hard, happiness making him tear up. “I love you both.”

“We love you too, son. I’m sorry Santa was so…stern.”

“I’m not.” Shrugging, he picked up the cards to shuffle them. “I wasn’t happy here, and Bax is everything.”

“I admit, I was worried when I showed up,” Dad murmured. “He seemed a little disbelieving.”

“Well, he’s cured of that now, isn’t he?” Pop said, his tone as dry as bad gingerbread.

“I think so, yes.” Bax’s face had been a study of awe, worry, and amusement in the village. But Humbug hoped his confidence grew after their conversation.

“I just want you happy,” Pop said.

“I am. I’m with my mate, and we’re having a baby. No worries that I will actually be turned into a doll permanently.”

“Is that what the old man threatened you with?”

Humbug grimaced. “Yes. But he did send me a laptop and a phone when I asked for them.”

“Which is why there won’t be a revolt,” Dad said.

“No elf uprising,” Humbug agreed.

“Is there anything you need, son? Anything we can do for you?”

“Can you find out if Stardust is okay? I have no idea where he was sent.”

“Of course. We’ll find out and send you his contact information.”

“Thanks.”

“Did you want to see the old man?”

He thought about that for a long moment. “No. He knows where I am. If he wants to talk to me, he can stop by.”

“Fair enough.”

“Whew. No reindeer.” Bax walked in, then closed the door and let Guffy off his leash. “Are we ready?”

“We are.” Gavin waggled the cards. “Come on, babe. Let’s kick the dads’ gift bags.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Bax gave him a searching look, relaxing at his tiny nod.

So he dealt the cards, glad to have his family altogether for now, at least.