“Easy for you to say, Pretty. Not all of us have Santa’s art studio filled with blown glass masterpieces and living color portraits in oil,” Leo grumbles.
Finn runs a hand over the top of Leo’s head with a grin. “You’ll think of something—you always do. You give the best gifts.” He lifts the box and gives it a dramatic shake. “Rule one: you have to make it. Rule two: do your best to keep it a secret. Mystery’s half the fun.”
Jamie leans in so he can breathe softly into Nix’s ear, “You okay with this, Nix?”
No, Nix is not okay.
Nixshouldbe basking in Rhodes Pack traditions, soaking in their rituals like sunshine, not forcing them into new ones that no one was ready for—or, judging by Leo’s face, didn’t even want. And then there’s the hot coil of embarrassment twisting low in his gut. Of course, they’ve figured it out—why they’re making gifts this year instead of buying them. They must realize why they’re making things and not spending money.
The whole thing had started some time after he was lying satisfied in the bath, Finn’s hands soothing and sending shivers all over Nix’s soapy skin, when he’d asked,What do you want for Christmas, baby?
Nix had frozen—not from distraction (though Finn’s mouthhadbeenreally closeto his dick), but because he couldn’t name a single thing. They all made sure he had what he needed—more than. Nix’s life is full to overflowing, and any ache he felt was from something that couldn’t be wrapped.
Besides, he couldn’t afford to buy anyone anything in return. Nix had felt the usual surge of shame, but Finn hadn’t swept it under the rug. Instead, he’d said they should all rethink the idea of giving extravagant gifts, andmade it sound easy.
But glancing at Leo’s bowed head told a different story. This wasn’t easy at all.
“If it’s okay with everyone else, it’s okay with me,” Nix hedges.
A lightning-fast frown crosses over Jamie’s face before he says, “I think it’s a good idea, too. Who picks first?”
“It’s the youngest first. Why do you persist in asking every time?” Rowan ponders, holding his hand out for the box. He lifts the lid and pulls out a small slip of white paper. His eyes go wide at his choice, but he smiles and offers the box to Nix. “You next.”
Jamie gives his butt a heave-up so Nix can grasp the small box.
There are still seven slips in the box. He gets a hold of one, and when he pulls it out, he’s not surprised to see whose name is on it. The name is one only he uses—as if Finn had known that this slip of paper would be the one Nix chose from the box.
“Ooh, did you choose me, baby?” Luca asks, reaching for the box and pulling his slip out. “Yes!” He giggles before slipping the paper into a tiny pocket on the front of the onesie.
Nix’s heart thaws at Luca’s unfiltered joy. “I can’t tell you!” Nix says even though he and Luca share everything. This needs to be a surprise.
Gideon goes next, and heblinks, blinks, blinksat the name, like staring at it will change the letters on the paper. But his ears go red and when he finally tucks it into his shirt pocket, there’s a small satisfied smile on his handsome face too.
Grayson chooses next and then looks like the cat who got the cream.
Finn blushes at his choice, while Jamie looks damp-eyed. Nix can’t tell if it’s happy tears oroh-fuck-me tears.
Finally, Leo takes the last slip from the box. He’s still being a grump about not being able to buy things, and after looking at his slip, he tosses it into the fire. Nix’s belly swoops at the thought that Leo might be mad at him.
“Finn, are there limits on what I can spend?” Rowan asks. “Can I have help?”
“As long as you make it yourself, there is no limit on spending. Youcan phone a friend—but only one.”
Good thing, too, because Nix knows exactly who he’s going to ask—and just like that, something inside him begins to thaw.
Finn
REWIND
Whatever thought had been on Finn’s mind vanished the second he glimpsed the silken skin on the inside of Nix’s pale thigh. Shiny with Nix’s sweet arousal, it shook loose any intelligent comments he’d been about to make.
He has a weakness for the skin on the insides of Nix’s thighs. And perhaps the skin on the back of his neck. Under his arms…in the small of his back. No doubt—Finn was addicted. He could admit that.
The scent of vanilla was like ambrosia. When he presses his nose into his favorite spot—where Nix’s groin meets his thigh—it hits him so hard he has to set his teeth into the soft flesh. Hard enough to quiet his wolf. Enough to make Nix gasp, his tiny cock jerking.
It’s never enough.
Nix moans as Finn licks across his bite; it helps to refocus Finn on his original plan: more of Nix’s slick on his tongue.
