Christmas morning

*Calliope*
I awake from an uneasy sleep. As much as I am glad to be visiting with Zac‘s family, appreciate how they welcomed me, I miss our own place. I have begun to think of it as my residence, my home.

Although my back is to Zac‘s chest, and my bottom is nestled in the curve of his hips, I know he is awake because he is feathering his fingers lightly over my arms though he thinks that faint action won’t disturb me. I love waking up to find myself cradled by his body.

“Mmm,” I murmur. “What time will they be expecting us?"

“Mother said something about opening gifts after breakfast, but I thought …" he slides an oblong package wrapped in white up my pillow in front of my nose “you should open before we eat."

Releasing a small squeal, I snatch it and sit up. Leaning down, I kiss him.

“You don‘t know what it is yet. It might not be worthy of a kiss."

“Doesn‘t matter. You’re worthy of a kiss." I give him another one, this time lingering, as his hand slides up my calf, up my thigh. Then he is pulling me beneath him. “No, wait!” I laugh. “I want to see what it is."

Scooting back, I lean against the pillow and slowly remove the paper, savoring the moment. Looking past the gift, I see Zac raise on an elbow, smiling as I have never seen him, a warmth in his eyes. Joyous. I don’t know if I have ever seen him look quite so relaxed and happy. At that moment, I don’t know if I have ever been happier.

The paper falls away to reveal a finely grained leather box. Cautiously I open it to reveal a strand of pearls. “Oh, my goodness. They‘re beautiful. You shouldn’t have. They must have cost a fortune.”

Chuckling low, he slips his hand beneath the pearls and removes them from the box. “Lean forward, so I can put them on you."

Twisting around, I lift my hair, wishing it was once again to my waist, for him. I will never cut it again. I hear the clasp mick into place and quickly scoot off the bed.

“Hold on there, where are you going?" he demands.

“I want to see." I rush around the bed to the vanity and peer into the mirror. Enough light is coming around the edges of the draperies that I can see. I touch the pearls gently. “They’re perfect."

“Not quite."

I jerk around. He is lying against the pillows, his hands tucked behind his head, satisfaction in every line of his lithe body. Even with the scars he is magnificent.

“What is lacking?” I ask.

“More skin.” He nods toward me. “Remove your nightdress."

“You‘re insatiable." We made love before we went to sleep last night.

“Where you‘re concerned, yes."

I ease the nightdress off my shoulders, feeling it slithering down my body as I begin walking toward the bed. I step out of it in a fluid motion as it hits the floor, seeing the heat immediately filling his eyes, and his body‘s swift reaction which only serves to warm me further.

“Come here," he orders, holding out his hand. “I want to make love to you wearing nothing but the pearls."

“You want to wear the pearls?”

“You vixen,” he snarls, grabbing me, and pulling me onto the bed.

******

Because it takes me longer to get ready for the day than it does Zac, he has left me and gone down to breakfast. When I am finally ready, in an emerald green gown for the holidays, I slip down the stairs quietly. It has taken me so long, I wonder if he is in the parlor. He told me that he would meet me there if he finished with breakfast before I join him.

Peering into the room, I see him partially bent over, examining something beneath the decorated tree. No doubt getting into mischief, searching for a gift for himself. As quietly as a mouse, I tiptoe in, and when I am near enough, reaching out and pinching his bum.

“What are you …” he spins around and I gasp, pressing my hand to my mouth "oh, my dear Lord!”

I find myself staring into the face of dragon Lord Lynn. I curtsy. “My lord, please forgive me. I mistook you…. oh.” For my husband. No, I can’t say that.

He laughs. “It’s quite alright, my dear. The dark locks, I‘m sure, confused you. Although from the front, I do have some gray showing up.”

The dark hair, the height, and the form. The way he stands, the way he moves. I shake my head. It makes sense that Zac would mimic the only man who has been in his life for any length of time. Because to consider anything else… that this man and the princess… it is not possible.

“Again, my apologies.”

He bows. “And again, no need to apologize. I’m glad to see that things are so… well between you and your husband."

He gives me a knowing look and I feel the heat swarming my cheeks.

“I‘m sorry we weren’t able to attend your wedding,” he says.

“No, that‘s quite all right. We all understood. And it came about rather quickly and unexpectedly.”

“But you‘re happy.”

“Extremely so. Yes.”

“And you knew Zac in the war.” He rubs his jaw. “I heard Zac was a remarkable soldier.”

“He was very courageous, yes. I did not know him on the battlefield, of course, only in hospital, but he always put the other men first.”

“I sometimes doubted he would ever grow up.”

“It must be very difficult to raise another man‘s sons.”

He touches one of the presents, shifting it into another position. “Yes, it is.”

Yet I am raising another woman’s child. “But I could see where it would be easy to forget that they were not yours, and to love them as though they were.”

He smiles. “Indeed.”

“Ah, Lynnie, I see you got caught,” the princess says as she waltzes into the room. "He has a habit of shaking the gifts. Most impatient, this man.” She pats his arm with a familiarity that speaks of doing so a thousand times. "Don‘t you look lovely, my dear.”

I curtsy. “Thank you, Your Grace. I should probably find Zac.”

“He finished with his breakfast and went for a walk with Morton. You can probably catch sight of them from the terrace.”

“Thank you.” I nod toward Lynn. “My lord.”

“Callie, it’s a pleasure to have you in the family.”

“I‘m very happy to be here.”

Then I am bustling out before I say something else to get me in trouble. I make my way down the hallway to the door that opens onto the terrace and have just opened it when Zac rounds the corner with Morton. I don’t know if I have ever seen two brothers who look so different. The thought running through my head, that the brothers do not in fact have the same father, is preposterous

“Hello, sweetheart," Zac says, smiling at me. “It‘s too cold for you to be out here without a wrap."

“I just… I just wanted to see you."

Opening the door, he draws me back inside. “Missed me, did you?"

Morton steps in after us. I feel a little self-conscious saying, “Very much so."

He furrows his brow. “Is everything all right?"

“Yes, I just… had an embarrassing encounter. I mistook Lynn for you. I pinched him."

Both brothers laugh, which serves to only humiliate me further. I am grateful I have not revealed exactly where I pinched him.

Finally, after their laughter dies down, Zac smiles broadly at me and says, “No need to be embarrassed, sweetheart. I suspect he jolly well enjoyed the attention.” He squeezes my hand. “Don’t worry about it."

“If you‘ll excuse me, I need to find Djuna," Morton says. “Lynn is no doubt opening presents already."

I watch as Morton strides down the hallway.

“What were you and Morton doing?" I ask.

“Just looking over the grounds, reminiscing about childhood. Strange to find myself enjoying talking with him when we had so little in common growing up."

“You seem close."

“Not particularly, but we tolerate each other better." He skims his finger along my chin. “Something is bothering you. What is it?"

“No, I… Lynn and your mother seem to have quite an affection for each other."

“He’s always been there for her."

“Were they ever… lovers, do you think?”

“God, no, Lynn is devoted to his wife."

“Oh. That is unusual among the high dragons, isn‘t it?"

“The royal family is setting new expectations. They frown on promiscuity." He narrows his eyes. "Are you striving to determine if I will be devoted to you?"

“No, I… I want your devotion, but ours is a forced marriage. Still, I am hopeful that you will come to care for me."

He skims his fingers along my hair. “Well, then"

“Zac!” Emily cries. “Come along. Everyone is waiting to open presents."

“Ah, then, we must not keep the family waiting," Zac says with an elaborate bow. He wraps his arm around mine, and begins escorting me to the parlor. “And what did you get me, wife?"

“You shall just have to wait and see," I say teasingly.