Page 21 of A Swan for Christmas

Chapter Eight

Kellan groaned as he plopped down on the big arm chair in Vic’s living room. A small smile formed on his lips. My living room now too. At the reminder of how amazing his life had become, his mood lifted. Kellan tugged off his boot, flakes of snow shaking off and landing on the rug. He’d worry about it later. Thanksgiving Day at the restaurant had been exhausting and all he wanted to do was spend the evening cuddling with Vic.

They did that a lot.

He slumped back in the chair and rubbed his belly. He felt so bloated from all the food he’d eaten. While he didn’t think he’d had all that much, he must have. His tummy was even the slightest bit rounded.

A rush of cold air blew in as Vic entered. He’d ushered Kellan inside before him, telling him he’d grab another bundle of wood to add to the one they already had on the hearth. They both had the next day off and planned on locking themselves in the cabin and not leaving it for anything. Kellan had already set the box of leftovers on the kitchen table, and as soon as he get some circulation going again in his poor, sad toes, he’d take care of that as well as soaking up the now-melted snow water on the rug.

Kellan hissed as he wiggled his sore toes. I should get the other boot off and take care of all this. The firewood clattered as Vic added it to the rest of the logs. He straightened, rubbing his lower back and groaning. Vic turned around and chuckled, his gaze traveling to Kellan massaging his own feet.

“We’re a mess.” His features lit up. “Hey, I have an idea. Remember that bath bomb I got you at Grayson’s shop? Did you ever use it?”

Kellan smiled. If things were moving in the direction he thought they were, then he highly approved. “No. I was saving it for something special.”

“Would us soaking in a nice hot bath together be considered special?” Vic grinned, his sexy smile and smoldering gaze making Kellan all gooey inside.

“Absolutely. I forgot to take my boots off at the door again, but I’ll clean it up and put the food away if you want to start the bath.”

Vic glanced down at his own boots that still held the remnants of fresh powder on them, the rest having already melted away. “Don’t worry about it. I tromp through here with them on all the time.” He shrugged. “I think you’ve figured out by now that I’m not that stuck on everything being just so. A little mess here and there is no big deal to me.”

Kellan lowered his head and chewed on his thumbnail. Things had been so busy at the restaurant and Skip had startled him while barking out some orders right next to his ear.

“Hey.” Vic petted Kellan’s hair. “Come on, I know what you’re thinking. We’ve all dropped things at the restaurant, it’s inevitable.”

Kellan’s shoulders slumped and he sighed. “Yeah, but I dropped a tray of plates piled with food. It went everywhere.”

Vic kept caressing him as he chuckled. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Skip needs to learn to dial it back on his thunderous bellowing.”

Kellan peered up at the man who had changed his world into one filled with acceptance and love. “I’m glad you’re my fated mate and not a swan. Every swan I’ve ever known, except for my mother, has been mean and selfish. I always thought there was something wrong with me because I wasn’t that way. That’s why Finn hated me so much. He equated caring with weakness.”

Vic kneeled down on the floor in front of him and held him close. Kellan melted against Vic’s frame, the wolf wrapping him in a comforting embrace. Even though his swan had feared the rugged man—had been certain Vic would tear him to pieces—Kellan had at last found the home in Vic’s arms that had forever eluded him in his herd.

“You’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more, sweetheart. Don’t ever doubt that.” Vic nuzzled his hair. “Does it bother you that I can’t fertilize your eggs? I don’t want you to regret staying with me when you could be with another swan and hatch young with them.”

Kellan pulled back, drawing his eyebrows together. “But, you don’t know that for sure. Why would we be fated mates if you can’t fertilize my eggs? I think there’s still a chance.”

Vic’s forehead wrinkled as he brushed Kellan’s hair away from his face. “I want you no matter what else happens.” He worried his lip. “Maybe I can ask Rosemary if she knows anyone who can help us.”

Kellan tilted his head. “How could anyone help us?”

“She’s been around a long time, has a lot of high-powered connections. Plus, Vale Valley has the top hospital in the country that specializes in male pregnancy. Surely, someone has to be knowledgeable in avian fertility issues.”

A rush of hope surged through Kellan. The idea of laying egg after egg, only to discover they weren’t fertile, would be agonizing to go through. And as an egg-layer who had just completed his first heat, there would be many years of eggs to come. Fortunately, as a shifter, his egg laying heat would only occur once a year, but he was young. The potential to have many children was there. Or to have many crushing disappointments. It would be awful for Vic to go through as well.

“Do you really think she might be able to help?”

Vic offered him a smile. “It can’t hurt to ask, right?”

Kellan smiled back, the worry that had threatened to derail their romantic evening together becoming diffused by Vic’s reassurances. “No, it sure can’t. I bet she’d want to help us, too.”

“I know she would. She’s the heart of this town.” Vic rose and offered Kellan his hand. “What do you say we enjoy that bath?”

Kellan allowed himself to be tugged to his feet. “I say yes. I’ll go put the food away.”

Vic wrapped his large hand around Kellan’s nape then took a slow, thorough kiss. “Mmm. Be quick.” As Kellan turned to make his way to the kitchen, Vic swatted his butt. “Don’t make me wait.”

With a much lighter heart, Kellan took care of the leftovers, ignoring how full he still felt. He and his mate would spend the night and the next day wrapped up in each other and that was all that mattered.