A Shifter Christmas Read Online Free Page B

tell you that sex isn't all it is cracked up to be, but I'd be
lying."
    Fiona giggled and clasped her hand over her
mouth when Jace looked her way. The door opened in the distance.
"Can I get you anything else, Kate? I should seat those
customers."
    "No, sweetie, just the check." Kate gave her
a brief smile as Fiona rushed to help the new patrons.
    ~*~*~*~
    Stepping onto the first step of the house,
Kate found a long white box. She squatted down using her knees
since she could no longer touch her toes with the baby in the way.
She picked up the box and took it inside, perching it on the arm of
the couch as she pulled her coat, gloves, and boots off.
    She opened the flue and lit a fire, finally
turning her attention to the box. She untied the red bow, and
pulled the lid off. A dozen roses greeted her, their fragrance a
welcome change from the bland smells of winter. There was a single
red rose amongst all the white. She found a small card with a
pretty script of 'Kaitlyn' written across the front of the
envelope.
    She opened the envelope and slid out the
card. "Motherfucker!" she yelled at the empty house. She never
cursed, but it seemed appropriate given the name at the bottom of
the card. Jaxson. Bastard! She almost ripped the card up to throw
in the fire, but she was curious. After a deep breath, she read the
words, knowing that someone at the flower shop had written it
because it was legible.
    Dearest Kaitlyn, I am sorry. There were
complications. I promise I will be there as soon as I can. I am
yours, and you are mine. Forever, Jaxson.
    "This ain't Game of Thrones…I'm not your
Khaleesi and you are definitely no Khal Drogo," she hissed. A
flutter in her belly alarmed her. She'd never felt the baby move
before. Was that good or bad? "Okay, they really said something
about the moon and stars," she admitted, feeling calmer.
    "You think I should forgive and forget,
baby?" Kate rubbed at her belly a moment. "Fine, I may forgive him,
but there will be no forgetting. I have the memory of an
elephant."

Chapter Six

    Kate was busy stringing popcorn to make
garland for the tree. She had not celebrated Christmas, or any
other holiday since Charlie died. But with the baby on the way, she
wanted to at least do a little something.
    The tree was small but fresh, so she would
not have to deal with falling pine needles on the wooden floor.
Since she had no idea where the decorations had been stored, and
did not feel like climbing up to the second story of the shed, she
used the ribbon from the box of traitor's roses as a topper to the
tree, and the popcorn garland would be the only decoration. Better
than nothing, she mused.
    The sudden thought that her baby would be
crawling the next time this holiday rolled around was equally
exciting and terrifying.
    The door burst open to her left and the
traitor was suddenly standing there. "Get the fuck out of my
house!" she snapped.
    "Bloody hell, love, I have missed you!" He
began to stomp the snow off his boots, placing the spare key left
under the doormat on the small entrance table to the left of the
door.
    "Are you deaf? I said get out," she hissed in
annoyance.
    "I'm back for good! Tell me you missed
me."
    "Not on your life." She missed a kernel of
popcorn and jabbed the needle into her skin, causing a drop of
blood to bead up. She was on her way to sticking it in her mouth,
when he got to her hand first.
    Jaxson licked the blood off, moaning his
enjoyment of the taste of her. He got down on his knees in front of
her and peered up. "You are so beautiful, Kaitlyn."
    Kate rolled her eyes, doing her best to
ignore him. She did notice he'd cute his hair short, though he had
a few days' worth of stubble on his face.
    "I closed my bank accounts and credit cards.
I sold the houses. The property in Wales took the longest. The
economy isn't what it used to be." He rubbed his hands along her
legs, ignoring the giant bowl of popcorn in her lap, his eyes never
leaving her face.
    "Houses? Plural?" She