A Lion for Christmas (5 page)

Crispin did his research on what the traditions for the
Human
Christmas
entailed,
as well as making sure the
Shifter Stratum’s
Traditional Holiday was
re
presented. Bria explained the
Wizard
Holiday’s, which represented the Spirits declaration of the Royal Line. All of the
Stratums
were the same; they all celebrated the Heavens for their place in the Universe.

So flags were raised, and the hall was decorated in each of the Traditions. It began to look festive. Crispin liked the
Human’s
Twelve Days of Christmas
s
ong. Ian and Trent helped him arrange for gift
s
to be delivered
each day for the
eleven days before the Ball. He
would
give the final present
after
the Ball.

Trent and Ian did the sneaking
around
in Chase’s apartment to make sure
Crispin
was getting things the man liked. Crispin shopped with Bria to pick out the correct things. By the end of it, Crispin was
ready to scream. He
had no clue why he had to actually court his mate, hell, he should just be able to claim him and tell him he was the King’s Consort.

Ryker told him to suck it up, and to do what he had to do. If Crispin did this wrong, he could lose his mate. So the first morning
,
he snuck down the hallway
,
left the first present, and note outside Chase’s door. Then he waited. Chase found the gift and then came to him with a frown.

“Why did you give me a new communicator?” Chase asked him.

“Did you read the note?” Crispin asked with a grin.

“Yeah,” Chase said
.
“
I
t doesn’t explain why.”

Crispin looked up and thought
a second before he replied,
“T
he note said, ‘On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me
…’
I know we are taking it slow,
but
please meet me for lunch and I will explain.”

“Lunch, today?”
Chase asked.

Crispin grinned and Chase rolled his eyes and agreed.

It
was a start, for the first time in a long time, Crispin felt hope that his mate would come around. Lunch had to be perfect. He went back to the suite of rooms his
Stratum
held
in the Palace
. His Beta, Zade
,
a
t
iger
shifter
, was keeping things under control. When he told his Beta he
’d
found his mate the other man had been glad.

Zade
knew his Alpha
had
waited for a long time, so he assured his leader he would make sure things ran smoothly until he claimed his mate.

They still had a purpose here. They were fighting to save their
Stratum
, the same as the
Wizards
. Crispin knew that his time was short; he needed to get his mate claimed so he could focus on the matter at hand
.
Even with t
he
Fae
King behaving strangely,
and
Sasha avoiding everyone, he
still received
permission to send Zade to the
Human
Stratum
to get his last gift.

“Is it here?” Crispin asked brusquely.

Zade grinned at him, “Yep, I got it. It
’s
in the office.
”

“Good, I am hoping that after the Ball, we will have our Consort, and we will be ready to announce it.” Crispin said.

“Nice, good luck with that!” Zade smirked.

“You don’t mind, do you?” Crispin asked. Even though he was King, Crispin had never asked anyone’s opinion about finding his mate. He knew it would be a man, he was proud of that, and his mate. He had not been kidding when he said the tales of his conquests had been exaggerated. Many women tried to seduce him, he would refuse, and they always spread rumors about what they wished would’ve happened.

“Why would I mind?” Zade asked curiously.

Crispin growled, “Because it is a man and not a women like some may traditionally think I would chose.”

“In case you didn’t notice, I am gay, as long as Chase is a good Consort, I am happy.” Zade shrugged.

Crispin was stunned, but continued to listen as his Beta brought him up-to-date on matters.

“Well, t
he Enforcers have been searching, and they found all the doorways closed after we attacked the first one. We are having a meeting in the morning
; L
ogan and the Security people from each of the King
s
’
staff
are going to be there
. W
e have split the
Stratum
for patrols
and
s
o far, no one has been able to find them
. T
here are still doorways that are being opened. The Transport Advisor will be meeting with us as well
,
” Zade reported.

“Okay, good. Keep me informed, Zade,” Crispin said as he turned to head for his office.

Crispin soon forgot about business as he began to focus on the date to come.

In the room,
he called an office
,
was the gif
t
s stacked in the corner, and on his desk was the last one. It was a ring, with the mark of the
Shifter Stratum
on the top with a diamond in the middle.

Crispin smiled and thought,
first lunch, and getting to know my mate.

Chapter Three

Bria smiled at her son’s best friend, he was like a son to her as well. Chase had grown up on the Palace grounds with Blake. A
s a
strong
Wizard
, Chase initially
was
slated to be in the Guards, his parents
’
died in a tragic accident
,
and he was left as a ward of the
Stratum
.

Bria was wandering the gardens one day and found the small boy hiding in the bushes, waiting for someone to play a practical joke on. He spelled the path with slippery goo, and when Bria approached
,
she slipped. Chase, realizing who he made fall, ran out to help. Bria was laughing on the ground, since her son had done the same thing a few weeks before in the hall of the Palace.

Chase was moved into the Palace, and he roomed with Blake and Logan. They grew up as brothers
.

And evidently still acted that way
, Bria thought. She was brought out of her musing when her son’s voice reached her.

“So what
do you think?” Blake asked fro
m the corner with his brother. They wanted to make sure Chase followed his mother
’
s directions. They both knew Chase would ignore Bria
. H
e was the worst patient in the world.

“He will be fine,” Bria assured and patted Chase
’
s leg. His wound
s
had healed, although some left scars. Chase had been angry the first few weeks he returned,
disgusted at
his physical weakness, and angry with himself for being captured. It took Ryker sitting him down and forcing him to open up to Blake and Logan.

Finally, he had begun to heal
,
both physically and mentally. However, his mate was driving him crazy. He knew they were mates, he just wasn’t sure this was what was right for him.

“Good, now, we have business to discuss
,
”
Logan said and clasped his hands together and rubbed. “Christmas, we need to find the perfect gift for our mates.”

Bria grinned,
“Ian’s mother is waiting in the suites for me,
and we are planning to have a nice meal and then a planning session about how we are going to decorate the Great Hall.”

They watched a
s
Bria hustled around the room and then waved and left. She finally had someone who would decorate with her. Sasha really sucked at that, and their sister really didn’t care too much about parties. She had been acting weird lately anyway. Blake and the others were beginning to wonder what was going on with her.

“So man, what are
you
going to do?” Blake said casually. He loved Chase like a brother, and if he were to leave, they would survive, but he would miss his friend’s advice.

Chase shrugged and jumped off the table, he finally was feeling normal. Now
,
his mate had decided he was going to try
to
court him. “Make him beg, then see what happens.”

Blake laughed and slapped his friend on the back
,
“This should be a fun party then.”

“Hell, he started leaving me things this morning. I woke up to find a gourmet breakfast waiting for me. The staff said he cooked all my favorites, and even made fresh OJ, cleaned up the kitchen and added a note with the present. Damn cat was sneaky, he had the food delivered to my suite the instant I woke,” Chase laughed and shook his head.

“He is trying,
” Logan pointed out.

“Yeah, to get laid. You both know his reputation. I have to make sure he is serious. Besides, you know I would have to go to the
Shifter Stratum
. Look what happened to you and Trent, weird ass power things going on. Right now my powers are fucked up, I don’t want to weaken a King
,
” Chase said and laughed.

“And the mating pull?” Blake asked.

“I can control it
,
” Chase said firmly, and then flipped off his friends when they laughed. “We are having lunch, let’s see if he is serious first.”

Chase went back to his room after that to take a shower
. He had
enough time to relax and chill before he had to meet Crispin. He was still able to take a nap on a dime. When he finished cleaning up, he just wanted to lie down. A nap would do him wonders and then he could get back to work. Right when he closed his eyes he saw the lion, Crispin his mate, given the chance, Chase knew that Crispin wanted to claim him. However, he was honest when he told his friends that he was worried.

He needed sleep and then maybe he could think about what the hell he was going to do; there was three hours before he was due to meet Crispin. Maybe something would come to him when he slept.

Chase
wondered what
the King
do,
if he
told him
was ready
as he drifted asleep.

“Whenever you’re ready, there’s no rush
,
”
Crispin said.

“And if I wanted to do it now?”
Chase replied seductively
.

“I’d tell you the lube is in the side pocket of the tan bag on the floor,”
Crispin answered with a smile. He had been nervous about having sex with him and even scared to bring up topic of sex with Chase. Now, watching his hot little mate jump off the bed with a smile on his face, all Crispin’s nervousness went away.

“What about a condom?”
Chase asked.

“I can’t catch anything from humans,”
Crispin answered
. “We don’t get sick.”

“Well that’s a nice perk
,
”
Chase laughed, finding the lube and coming back to bed. He slid next Crispin, reaching for his cock.

Crispin turned on his side and ground their cocks together.
“I love the way that looks, our cocks rubbing together.”

“I love the way you look when you smile,”
Chase told him.
“Your whole face lights up and your eyes glow.”
It was true; something Chase noticed in the last few weeks when he watched the Alpha when he thought no one was looking.

“You sweet talker, you,”
Crispin replied, moaning and moving around faster
.

He kept that up another minute before sliding down in between Crispin’s legs. Chase held onto his mates cock firmly and then licked the tip slowly, laughing when he heard Crispin moan. Chase loved the feeling o
f
being in control, but his mate was an Alpha, soon enough
Crispin
would need to top
him
.

Chase took his tip into his mouth finally,
using
his tongue to run around the tip, and
then
suck
ed
firmly. His mate moaned again. Slowly, Chase lowered his head over his mate
’
s cock.
He was fucking huge, Chase taking
only half of him in his mouth, using his hand
on the rest
to match
the
rhythm
of his mouth. He b
egan moving up and down, applying the right amount of pressure.

Crispin
threaded his fingers through his
ha
ir
and held on, guiding him faster over his cock, the feeling was amazing, Chase wondered if it would be like this forever. They could feel the bond growing between them. Chase loved the
Shifter
bond; they could talk to each other f
r
o
m
where ever they were. They could also feel each other’s mood.

“Stop, I don’t want to come in your mouth the firs
t
time
,
” Crispin growled
,
pulled Chase up
,
and kissed him deeply and masterfully. He felt owned, as if he belonged, finally. His mate pulled back and grinned.

He watched as Crispin squirted some lube on his fingers before reaching down to Chase’s puckered hole. Crispin slowly spread the lube around his entrance before carefully sliding one finger in. Chase let out a moan of pleasure, keeping his eyes on C
rispin
at the same time. After a few moments of his mate working his finger in and out, Crispin slid in a second finger, making sure to slide them across his prostate every time.

“Oh, fuck, that feels awesome, Crispin
,
”
h
e groaned.

His head fell back against the pillow as Crispin slid in a third finger, moving them back and forth, in and out of him. Just as Chase was getting closer to coming, Crispin removed his fingers.
Chase
watched as his mate rubbed lube into his cock. The sight had Chase growling it was so hot.

Crispin pulled a pillow from the bed and pushed it under his hips. Chase laughed and waited.

“Are you ready, Chase?” Crispin asked.

“Yes, put your cock in me, Alpha,” he answered. He stared at Crispin as he lined up his cock and slowly pushed into him. “Oh, fuck, yes, fuck that feels good.”

“You’re so tight, Chase
,
” Crispin moaned as he worked his cock all the way in. He paused when he was buried in, their balls meeting. “Thank you my mate.”

“Thank you for finding me,”
Chase
answered, letting his legs fall to the side. He opened his arms for his mate.
Chase
leaned up, and Crispin lowered his body on top of his as they wrapped their arms around each other.

Their lips met as Crispin began to move his hips. They moaned as their tongues met and caressed each other.
Crispin
knew he wouldn’t last long, every fantastic sensation shooting through his body.
Chase
started lifting his hips to meet Crispin’s thrust, letting Crispin deeper inside of him.

“Chase,” Crispin groaned as he thrust into
Chase
faster and faster. “I’m close, come with me.”

“I’m so glad you’re my mate,”
Chase
hissed out, not holding back anymore. Crispin thrust into him three more times before Chase cried out his own release. His mate stiffened and cried out his orgasm at the same time. Their hips met a few more times as wave after wave of their climax washed over them. Then Crispin collapsed on his chest. Chase loved this feeling; his arms wrapped around his mate, Crispin’s cock still inside him, connecting them.

His lion licked his neck and then waited for Chase to turn his head to the side, submitting to him, and he bit Chase. Both of them screamed another release and felt their bond snap into place. It was amazing. Chase began to mutter the
Wizard
mating. Crispin answered and the magic swirled around them.

Damn, this was fucking amazing
.

They stayed that way for several minutes, just enjoying the afterglow of making love, panting, and trying to calm down their racing hearts.

“That was better than anything I could ever have imagined,” Chase finally said, opening his eyes and looking at Crispin.

“Me too, I’m glad you liked it. I plan on us doing it often,” Crispin replied, chuckling.

“I’m all yours, Alpha,” Chase said, laughing as well.

“I like the sound of that,” Crispin said, pulling out of him with a groan.

“So what now?”
Chase asked.

“Now? Simple now
,
you wake up and realize this was not a dream. You projected to me in your sleep
,
so part of this is both of our imaginations. I think I am gonna like this mating thing
,
” Crispin laughed.

“What?” Chase yelled.

“It is part of the bond we already established, when a
Shifter
finds his mate, they have the initial bond that allows each of them to project feelings and emotions. I didn’t think we had started since you were kinda avoiding me. I guess
that
maybe I was wrong. Man
,
I can't believe you thought of this!” Crispin whispered.

“Shit, get out of my head
,
”
Chase groaned and then opened his eyes
.

“Fuckin
’
A,” Chase swore when he sat up. He grabbed his neck and there was no mark. Great, now he had to go sit across from the man he just had a wet dream about and act as if everything was normal.