Page 215 of Blue Moon Mistress

But the time is important.

I just need to figure out why.

Turning over, I snuggle into the warmth of Johnny’s chest.

The bed is definitely big enough for all five of us, and it held up to the night’s activities.

It will be strange to sleep in it alone when it comes to that.

I have to slide my leg free of Joshua’s behind me and as much as I hate it, I slip free of the hands resting on my hip.

Bundled in the warmth of them, it’s hard to get out of bed, but I need to pee.

It’s a strange task, crawling out of the covers and over them. The bed never seems to end, but my feet finally find the edge, and then the cold floor beneath.

Stretching, I shiver as I leave them, grabbing my robe from the chair and pausing long enough to stoke the fire.

My mind doesn’t really catch up with me until I’m standing in front of the sink, splashing warm water on my face.

As drops fall from my chin, the time clicks into place…

The full moon is in four days.

December twenty-ninth.

At eight twenty-eight p.m.

Shivering again, I pull my robe tighter to me and dry my face.

Wearerunning out of time after all.

I need tea and to think…

But a dim glow distracts me before I can get to the kitchen.

The living room is not the way I left it last night.

Like some kind of magic, it’s been entirely transformed.

“Surprise.” Chase says sleepily from behind me before wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me back to him.

He inhales deeply against my neck before pressing a kiss to my skin.

“Did you steal the set from a Christmas movie?” I ask, a different kind of shiver sliding across my skin as his nose traces a line up and behind my ear.

“I didn’t ask where they sourced the decorations. I just hung the snowflakes where I was told.”

“Who is ready for pancakes?” Joshua asks before breezing by me with a kiss.

Ten minutes later there’s a reindeer pancake on my plate and Thomas points out that I’m eating male reindeer, while the ones Joshua’s finishing up are female.

“It’s the antlers,” He says, picking up the bacon Joshua made the antlers from. “Only female reindeer keep them in the winter.”

“Thanks, Teach.” Johnny says, rolling his eyes.

“You pick up weird holiday facts when you’re surrounded by high school kids.”

We finish breakfast relatively quietly. I think we’re all tired.

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