Page 8 of Santa's Knotty Workshop

“Oh no!” I forgot to keep my inside thoughts inside. I clapped my hand over my mouth.

Willy looked over at me. “Are you okay, Percy?”

“Fine,” I squeaked. “I think I might be...”

His brow raised. “Oh, you look positively flushed. Are you not feeling well?”

I leaned closer to him and whispered, “I think I might be going into heat.”

“Oh, jingle bells… Let’s get you back to your room then. Do you need any supplies?”

My mind immediately went to the large dildo and bottle of lube I had. I shook my head.

“I’ll have the kitchen send you up a care package. Do you need help walking there?”

How embarrassing.

“No, it’s not that far gone. I can work a little longer.” Even as I spoke the words, I heard how bad of an idea it was.

“No, the faster you get back to your room and get to rest, the faster you’ll recover. This isn’t the first time an elf has gotten their heat during the rush time. I think it’s the rush that brings it on. Just get to bed.”

No part of me believed it was the work rush that had done this to me. It was Nick. Why did he have to be so hot and kind?

“Thank you.” I gathered up all my things and headed toward my room, crossing my fingers I wasn’t garnering too much attention. Sure, they would all know after the fact, but having all eyes on me now as I fled during the busiest time of the year because I was basically horny, yeah, I wasn’t ready for that.

I hated my heats. They were particularly frustrating when you experienced them alone, and I had no desire to grab a random alpha just to spend my heat with. I wanted a partner… but that was one Christmas wish I wasn’t likely to have come true. I’d have to make do with my stolen dildo. At least it was better than only my hand.

Chapter 6

Nick

Six Days Until Christmas Eve

Something was off. Whether it was my Santa magic or because I was hyper-tuned into my new mate, but I knew the moment he walked off the floor. He wasn’t going out for a cocoa break or anything like that. He was… struggling… needy…

Bertram burst through my office door. “Percy’s heading back to his room. His friend requested a heat care package be sent to hisroom, and they’ve arranged for him to be out of work for the next three days.”

I stroked my beard. Heat. The need I was feeling from him finally made sense. Perhaps the timing could be better, but I wouldn’t complain. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the week before Christmas. Or any other time, for that matter.

My mate needed me, and sitting here wasn’t doing either of us any good. I tossed my pen onto the parchment I was reading over and stood. I gathered my coat and put it on. “Bertram, you’re in charge. If anything comes up you can’t handle, reach out to the other Santas and initiate emergency protocol. I’ll be with Percy. I better not be disturbed unless the workshop is literally burning to the ground.”

“Understood, sir. I believe we have things well in hand, and I am familiar with the protocol. Is there anything special you want sent to his room?”

I thought that over for a moment. I’d never shared a heat with anyone before. This would be as much a first for me as it was for Percy. “Extra sheets, comfortable blankets. Water. I don’t know.”

Bertram let out a laugh, then tried to cover it with a cough. “Of course, sir. I’ll ask around discreetly to see if there is anything special Percy might need.”

“Thank you.” As his alpha, I should know what to do, and I would, next time.

I made sure my desk was secure, and I had everything I needed, then made my way toward the elf dorms. It was not normal for me to be there on a regular day, let alone just six days before Christmas. However, most elves were working hard or resting, so I wasn’t seen. Not that I’d care if I was.

As I reached his door, I second-guessed coming over here unannounced. Sure, I was his mate, but this was heat, and if he wanted to be private, this wasn’t achieving that.

I knocked gently on Percy’s door. I found that despite being confident that he was my mate, my palms were sweaty. What if he wasn’t ready for me to claim him or wasn’t sure if now was the right time? What if he was already deep enough into his heat that he wasn’t able to make a rational decision? We’d only spent an evening together talking. I hadn’t even taken my mate on a proper date or courted him with gifts. I had so many plans for wooing him, and now? Now here I was, knocking on his door and offering him sex.

“Leave it at the door.” Percy’s voice barely sounded like his.

“It’s Nick. May I come in?”

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