Page 22 of Mistletoe Wishes and Dragon Kisses

“Yep, but you gotta give your Auntie Eleanor credit for getting the GBA Global Mistletoe Tracking System out to all your people in a snap of her fingers. She is freakin’ amazing,” Noss marveled. “I was blown away.”

“Yeah, she is pretty damn awesome,” Glo nodded, leaning into her Mate when he stepped behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist. “But what does GBA mean?”

"Gloria Brown Archer!" Em and Noss proudly announced, smiling with all the love in the world. Then the Fey Dragon asked, "Too soon?"

“No way!” Glo answered in unison with her Mate. Looking over her shoulder, she tried to school her features as she deadpanned, “Did you forget something?”

“Nope, I didn’t forget,” Chris sing–songed with a wink. “Just waiting for the right time.”

"And that's our cue to go," Noss chuckled.

"Me too," Hillary K Hippo announced, appearing in a puff of pink smoke.

“Where are you going?”

“To Molly and Nate’s. Cleo invited me over to binge watch NCIS. She’s got the hots for Mark Harmon.”

“That sounds like fun,” Glo nodded.

“It will be. Lucy made a ton of blueberry scones for me and tuna rolls for Cleo. Besides…” She walked to the edge of the island just inches from Glo’s face. “I don’t want to be here when the bow-chica-wowow starts. I can only wear headphones for so long.”

“Works for me!” Glo high–fived her Mate over her shoulder.

"I do have one serious question." The pink Pygmy Hippo bent slightly at the waist and did the come–hither motion with the index finger of her right hand. When Glo had moved closer, she whispered, "Are you really okay? I mean, the first go-round with Twiggy was hard as hell on you. If you need me to…"

"Nope," Glo shook her head and smiled. "You got me through the first time, and you were right. She wasn't worth it then, and she damned sure isn't worth my time or attention now. She's the one who betrayed our friendship, used Black Magic, and then came for me and mine. I don't wish her any ill will. I just never want to see that crazy Twig Beetle Shifter again.”

"Here! Here!" Em, Noss, and Chris all cheered in unison as Hilly put her short stubby arms around Glo's neck, hugged her tight, and whispered, "You drive me crazy, and most days I wanna kick your ass, but I love you, Girl. I love you more than all the blueberry scones in the whole wide world. And if you tell anyone I said that, I will deny, deny, deny."

“Right back atcha.”

Letting go of her neck, the pink Pygmy Hippo took a step back, snapped the chubby fingers on her left hand, and disappeared with another puff of pink smoke while snickering, "Have fun, you two, and don't do anything I wouldn't do."

“Okay, that really is our cue to go,” Em laughed out loud. Reaching for Noss’s hand, she slid her fingers through his and asked, “You sure there’s nothing you need?”

“I’m sure,” Glo nodded.”

"Holler if you need anything," the Fey Dragon added as she and her Mate started to disappear. "We love you."

“And we love you so very much.”

Finally, alone with her Mate, Glo spun in his arms and looked right into his eyes. "Now, what are we gonna do?"

“Never fear, my love, Your Dragon has plans–big plans.”

Scooping her up before the last word was all the way out of his mouth, Chris raced across Glo’s house, up the steps, and into her room just like she'd always imagined. Kicking the door closed as he crossed the threshold, he blissfully sighed, "Gotta make sure we are not disturbed. I even made sure that Rí is all the way back in the farthest corner of our combined psyche researching ways he and I can help your Aunties with the Hoosegow."

"Oh, that's just awesome. And don't you worry about being bothered," Glo winked. "I've got the whole world on do not disturb. There is no way…"

Her words trailed off as his lips found hers with the beautifully sexy promise of things to come. Setting her feet on the floor, Chris scrunched the soft cotton of her T-shirt in his fists and stepped back just enough to slide the fabric over her head. Looking down at her half–naked body, Glo saw pure love and loads of lust, and suddenly, she felt girlie in all the right ways. Not only was she deliriously happy, but she felt totally empowered. She was more than ready to show her Dragon, the man made for her by the Universe, exactly how much he meant to her, and nothing or no one was going to stop her.

To know that the man she had fallen crazy in love with all those years ago had always loved her in exactly the same waymade her so happy that she thought she might just take off flying without her broom or his wings. For the first time in her life, she belonged to someone, and he belonged to her. They were meant to be together just like blueberry scones, her favorite coffee blend, and a sunny day with the Mistletoe in full bloom.

She and Christopher Alexander Archer were together come what may, good or bad, for better or for worse. Years had passed, loads of shit had happened–for both of them–but their love, the love of two crazy kids who didn’t even understand what Love, Fate, and Destiny really was, were finally together just like they were supposed to be.

As if they shared the same thought, the couple’s lips met again, and this time, there was no holding back. Their love exploded. Passion flew between them as it was always meant to do. Magic, the pure, beautiful kind that can only come from two people so much in love that they can't help but shout it to the world, filled the room.

Chris’s hands pushed down her yoga pants, then she stepped out of them and kicked them to the side. Before Glo's brain could catch up, his fingers were wrapped around the silk waistband of her panties, and in the blink of an eye, he ripped them from her body and threw them over his shoulder with a sigh. "Thank the Goddess and the Universe for you, Gloria Angelica Brown. No matter where I was or what I was doing, you, my sweet, sweet Mate, have always been my guiding light. I know we were so very young when I left with Uncle Dair, but I knew then just like I know now–I love you, and only you, forever."

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