A Lion for Christmas Read online

  “How will this help me?” Crispin narrowed his eyes.

  “Well, you get to ask him formally on a date, and you get the perfect woman consultant on romance. My mother is a pro,” Ian laughed.

  “I will try anything,” Crispin said miserably.

  Ian’s parents were excited, they’ve wanted to come to the Wizard Stratum since Ian and Trent both left. Sasha was making the doorway ready for their transport.

  Bria already set about asking all the Kings what their traditions were. They were all going to be displayed at the Christmas Ball.

  Ian’s parents were waiting in their home for the doorway to open. Sasha made sure the only place they would have to guard would be this doorway. No one else was allowed to Transport at the same time. All of the Coins that had been active were now deactivated.

  Everyone gathered at the spot in Blake and Ian’s suite where they were going to open the doorway. Ian and Trent were both excited about the parents coming. So when Sasha and Logan opened the doorway Ian laughed when he saw the stunned looks on his parents’ face. It was one thing to be told this could happen, it was another to see and experience it. His father was a Senator of the United States of America; things were very black and white for him. Well, not anymore.

  Ian’s mother, Sabrina, clapped and then grabbed her huge bags of gifts she brought with her and pulled them through the doorway. Ian’s father moved a little slower, testing each step as he came.

  “Welcome,” Bria and Ryker said holding open their arms.

  “This is so amazing, I seriously think this has got to be the best vacation spot ever,” Sabrina laughed and looked around at her son’s new suite.

  They took them on a tour of the Palace and Crispin and Chase walked behind slower. Crispin leaned in and asked, “Do you miss this?”

  Chase looked at his mate, knowing what he was asking. “Yes, Bria and Ryker are wonderful parents, but I do miss mine. I think someday I would like to be a parent.”

  Crispin’s eyes widened. He was thinking along the same lines, and knew that in his Shifter Stratum things like this happened all the time. There were many of the lionesses’ that would be willing to carry his cub. It was a shock to know his mate felt the same way.

  When everyone else left to allow Ian’s parents to settle and take in everything they experienced since their arrival, Trent and Ian called Crispin to come to the suite. Sabrina was waiting for him in the living area.

  “So, my son tells me you need a little help in the art of wooing,” Sabrina laughed.

  Crispin looked at Trent and Ian and rolled his eyes. “They think I need to make a grand statement, I do too, I just can’t figure out what the man wants.”

  “Well, look at it this way. Ian explained the situation, so knowing you are mates is not the same as accepting you are mates. Just because your head tells you one thing, your heart may tell you another.” Sabrina reasoned.

  “So how do I make his heart tell him to mate with me?” Crispin asked.

  “Romance,” Sabrina laughed.

  “Well that is nice for you to say, but considering we are all on lockdown in the Palace, I am a little limited with what I can do,” Crispin said miserably.

  “Are you sure?” Sabrina said with a gleam in her eye. “Because where I come from, something as little as a walk in the garden is romantic.”

  “I did that already,” Crispin replied.

  “Well I see I have my work cut out for me. Hmmm…what is the date?” Sabrina asked.

  “Twelve days to Christmas,” Ian said and laughed when he realized what he said.

  “Perfect, this is what we are going to do…” Sabrina clapped and got excited.

  Crispin looked at the woman and shook his head, he had to listen to her, but he was not certain she was going to be right. Chase was a hard nut to crack. Crispin had to crack the nut though, or he would spend the rest of his life lonely and miserable. Shaking off the feeling of dread, Crispin listened to the Human, hoping she was right.

  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 represented. 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 song. Ian and Trent helped him arrange for gifts 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. “It doesn’t explain why.”

  Crispin looked up and thought a second before he replied, “The 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 tiger 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 the 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, the 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; Logan and the Security people from each of the Kings’ staff are going to be there. We have split the Stratum for patrols and so far, no one has been able to find them. There 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 gifts 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. As 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 from the corner with his brother. They wanted to make sure Chase followed his mother’s directions. They both knew Chase would ignore Bria. He was the worst patient in the world.

  “He will be fine,” Bria assured and patted Chase’s leg. His wounds 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 as 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 of 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 sucked 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 began moving up and down, applying the right amount of pressure.

  Crispin threaded his fingers through his hair 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 from where ever they were. They could also feel each other’s mood.

  “Stop, I don’t want to come in your mouth the first 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 Crispin 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,” he 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.