Page 37 of Unholy Night

“Wha--” I’m cut off before I can finish my question as Lucifer, Gurch, and Mandy swirl into black smoke and I watch as my own hand, then arm disappear too.

I suck in air but am careful to not make a sound.

The next second we’re all standing in the living room of a very expensive apartment.

“What the hell was that?” I whisper yell up at the man next to me.

“Mommy, we have to be quiet.” Mandy raises a finger to her masked lips and I clamp my mouth shut.

“Were you scared?” Lucifer leans down and whispers in my ear. There’s a hint of teasing in his tone.

“Confused, not scared.” I turn to correct him and our noses bump. He doesn’t pull away. Instead he points up at the ceiling with one finger. I tilt my head up just enough to see the clump of sparkly mistletoe hanging in the archway above us.

I look back at him as my heart picks up pace and I lick my lips, getting the taste of medical-grade mask on my tongue.

“If we’re going to keep magic alive, we should keep up the traditions, don’t you agree?” He leans just a little closer. I look to the side and notice that Mandy is nowhere near us, instead she’s curiously inspecting the Christmas tree with Gurch. It’s a huge tree, nothing like the one at home. Gurch seems to be asking questions about the different ornaments.

“I think... you’re right.” My heart lurches in my chest and I feel a giddy dizziness as I lean forward a little more. That's all he needs for an answer.

I see the smile in his eyes before he pulls down his mask. He caresses my cheek, slipping my mask off with his finger as he does. He dips his head until our lips are a breath apart. I feel an electric current run between us, and when our lips finally meet that familiar zing rushes through my body. Whatever magic is left in my blood is definitely responding to his magic. His mouth is slow and tentative at first. Gentle presses and caresses of his lips on mine before the warm tip of his tongue traces the seam of my mouth. I open, letting him in, savoring his taste. With his free arm, he pulls me snug against him and I give in fully. My hands run through his hair, tangling in the curls, before gently tracing his horns with the tips of my fingers.

He gasps softly against my mouth, but he doesn’t stop. On the contrary. He leans into my touch and slides his hand to the small of my back so he can press closer. I can feel every line of his body through the ridiculous velvet bodysuit and it suddenly doesn’t feel so ridiculous. I’m glad I let Fuchsia bully me into the outfit. In fact, I have to fight to keep from rubbing myself against his hard, taught body. I love he is taller than me, love he doesn’t mind I’m not a size two, love how secure I feel with him and against him. I grip his horns, one in each hand and hold him so he can’t back away. He may have asked for this kiss, but I’m the one in control now. The hand on my lower back is slowly dipping further south and I am here for it. It’s been so long since I’ve been kissed, but I know it’s never been like this. As if our souls are communing on some deeper level. It feels as if I was made just for him. As if--

Only the sound of a giggle can break the special magic our kiss has entranced us with. My hands drop from his horns as if I’m burned by them and I try to step away, but Lucifer keeps his arm firmly around my waist. I bury my face against his chest in utter humiliation.

“I see Mommy kissing Satan Claus.” Mandy hums the tune with the words before her giggles overtake her. When the giggles grow louder, she slaps hands over her mouth.

“Why you sing?” Gurch stops his work.

“There’s a song about that,” she whispers to Gurch. “That makes this funny.”

“Mandy,” I hiss. How embarrassing to get carried away in a stranger’s house in front of my daughter.

“Hmm. You teach later?” The little green demon in his goth elf suit is scrambling up the mantle and stuffing all sorts of things into the stockings. “Demons like songs.”

“Sure! I know lots of songs,” Mandy says.

“Not so sure you’ll like their singing though,” Lucifer whispers, his voice wry. I look up into his eyes and take a moment to appreciate just how handsome he is. My gaze drifts back to his lips and they curve in a sexy smile, full of promises. “As much as I’d like to continue this bit of magic, time resumes the moment we’re off the sleigh. So we need to hurry.”

“Oh!” I step back as we both slip our masks back on, and I watch as he puts the large red sack on the floor. “When you open the bag, the toys meant for this family should be the only ones you find,” I say.

Lucifer scoffs. “I always figured him for a cheat. This is too easy. Where’s the challenge?” The King of Hell shakes his head as he reaches into the bag and pulls out a bright red package trimmed with green ribbon. He looks at it and sighs. “All these years and he’s never changed his color scheme.”

“Maybe that’s part of the magic! So no one forgets.” Mandy dashes forward and grabs the present. “I’ll put it under the tree!”

“It is good branding,” I say.

The sound of tearing fabric catches my attention and I run over to Gurch who is trying to stuff a piece of chocolate the size of a basketball into a stocking.

“Gurch, that doesn’t fit!” I grab the chocolate before the little demon can do any more damage.

“It is appropriate stocking material. Candy about a game the child likes.” Gurch frowns at me. “Should go in stocking.”

“Ah. Okay, yes, a Basketball made of chocolate is a great idea, but it’s too big for the stocking. So why don’t we just put this one with the presents?” I take a step back and watch the three little eyes glaring at me mulishly.

“I make fit.”

“No, you’re tearing the stocking. Put something else in it. The child will still be very happy.” I hold the chocolate behind my back so Lucifer can take it from me and hopefully hide it from the determined little demon.

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