Page 39 of The Grinch Who Stole Orcmas

Before I can respond, his lips are on mine. The kiss is gentle at first, then deepens as I wind my arms around his neck. Grum’s tusks graze my skin, sending little thrills through my body. I press closer, marveling at how perfectly we fit together despite our size difference.

When we finally part, both a little breathless, Grum rests his forehead against mine. “We should probably go inside before we give the neighbors more of a show.”

I don’t know why he said that. He doesn’t look the least bit embarrassed.

I laugh, feeling giddy and lightheaded. “Lead the way, Mr. Claus. I have a very private show in mind.”

Once inside Grum’s apartment, the air between us shifts. Though last night’s pleasure went on for hours, the way I’m feeling now it’s as though it never happened. Grum’s eyes are predatory, tracking my every move as I shrug off my jacket, hanging it next to his on the rack.

“So,” I say, suddenly feeling a bit shy despite everything we’ve been through. “What now?”

Grum takes a step closer, and I find myself backing up until I hit the wall. He braces his arms on either side of me, effectively caging me in. I’ve never felt safer or more cherished.

“Now,” he growls softly, “I think it’s time Santa gave his favorite elf a proper thank you.”

All my shyness disappears. My tone is all sass when I ask, “Oh? And how does he plan to do that?”

Instead of answering, Grum kisses me again. This time, there’s nothing gentle about it. It’s filled with heat and passion and promises of more. I melt into him, my hands roaming over his broad chest and strong arms.

When we come up for air, I’m panting. “Wow,” I breathe. “If that’s how Santa says thank you, I should have helped him save Christmas years ago.”

Grum chuckles, the sound sending pleasant vibrations through me where our bodies press together. “I think this Santa’s been waiting his whole life for the right elf to come along.”

The honesty in his voice makes something hot coil in my belly. “Grum,” I say, reaching up to trace his pointed ear with the pad of my thumb. “I love you. You know that, right?”

Crap, that wasn’t how I wanted to say that. It was the least romantic statement ever.

For a moment, he goes very still. Then a smile spreads across his face, softer and more genuine than any I’ve seen before. “I love you too, Joy. More than I ever thought possible.”

As we kiss again, slower this time but no less passionate, I’m filled with a sense of rightness. This is where I belong. With Grum, in this moment, in this miraculous life we’ve already started to build together.

We may have saved Christmas for the Zone, but in the process, we’ve found something even more magical. Each other.

And as Grum scoops me up, carrying me toward the bedroom with a look of adoration that makes my knees weak, I know our greatest adventure is just beginning.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to us.

Epilogue: A Joyful Future

Five Years Later in the Jingle All the Way Shop

Joy

Five years have passed since that fateful Christmas when Grum and I first met, clashed, and then fell in love. I stand in the doorway of Jingle All the Way, watching the bustling streets of the Integration Zone across Maple Street. The transformation is breathtaking.

Our little shop has expanded, now occupying two storefronts. The upstairs has been converted into a year-round community counseling center, where Vakra and Tyler, now in college studying social work, run programs for at-risk youth. They’re engaged, their love story a testament to the bridges we’ve built between humans and Others.

The barbed wire fence that surrounded the Zone is finally gone. In its place are colorful murals depicting the history and culture of both humans and Others. It’s become a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all over the city who come to mingle, learn, and appreciate our unique community.

The Others continue to fight for equal rights, but in the meantime, they keep their joy and maintain their traditions. The annual Winter Holiday festival has become a major event, drawing visitors from all over the city and beyond. I changed the name after that first year, happy to be even more inclusive to all members of the community on both sides of Maple Street.

As for Sykes and his criminal enterprise, justice was served, but not without a fight. The trial lasted months. He was rich enough to hire lawyers who dragged things out as long as they could. In the end, the evidence we collected, along with testimony from some of his former associates who turned state’s witness, proved overwhelming.

Now, Sykes is serving a lengthy prison sentence alongside several of his former parolees who have ended up back behind bars. From what I hear, he’s not living an easy life.

The funds he embezzled have been redirected back into the community where they’re sorely needed. We’ve seen new schools built, single-family homes popping up where tall tenements once stood, and job training programs established. The quality of life in the Zone has improved dramatically.

Mr. Frost, to everyone’s surprise and relief, was cleared of any wrongdoing. It turned out he had been investigating Sykesindependently, suspecting corruption but lacking hard evidence. Our actions inadvertently provided him with the proof he needed. Since then, he’s become one of our strongest allies, using his influence to promote integration and equality. His annual Frost King Ball is now solely dedicated to fundraising for the Integration Zone.

---