Page 101 of The Dom with the Kink Monsters

“What’s the matter then, goofball?”

“You’re a goofball!”

“That’s Mama Goofball to you, young man.”

He snickered then got serious again. “I don’t think Santa is going to bring me any presents.”

Winter thought about the pile of them under the tree and tried not to smirk. “Now why would you think something silly like that?”

He grimaced, a bright sliver of light from the hall illuminating his expression. “I made a bad choice.”

“Oh dear.” She got down low and looked him in the eye. “Well you should probably tell me about it, and we’ll figure out what to do. You’ve been pretty good all year, I’m sure Santa will know that.”

Spider sighed, fidgeting with the edge of the super-soft blankie that Saya had insisted he had to have. He loved it and often rubbed his face against it to go to sleep.

“Remember when we put the milk and cookies out? And we all ate one of the extra ones?”

“Yes?”

“I didn’t brush my teeth again after. I didn’t forget, either, I just made the bad choice not to brush. Now all my teeth will fall out and Santa won’t bring me anything.”

“Hmm.” Winter nodded as though giving the issue some deep consideration. “Brushing your teeth is very important. I think this one time, though, it’ll be okay. Christmas Eve is magic, so maybe the cavities will give you the night off. And Santa? He and I are good friends. I’ll let him know this was a one-time thing.”

“You will?” He threw his arms around Winter’s neck and squeezed her so hard she started to wonder if she’d have to pry him loose.

To mean safety to him, for him to love her like he did, there was no way she could have kept him at arms’ length for long. Once Bronwyn signed the papers, Winter had been a goner. The four months on the road all together had really sealed the deal on them being a family unit. She still wasn’t sure about other people’s germy little freaks, but their own baby was perfect. He wasn’t irritating like other kids.

Eventually he let go and beamed at her. “You’re badass, Mama.”

“Spider Park, you watch your language.”

“But youarebadass. Law and Luther always say so.”

“That’s not a good word for a boy who’s five.”

“Yeah, I tell them that, but they just laugh. At least they hardly say the F-word anymore.”

“Not like Daddy?”

“Right! When Daddy and Pa say bad words, Mommy says they have dirty mouths. Maybe they should brush their teeth more.”

Winter barked a laugh, thinking of a few places where Ramsay and Mack’s mouths had been.

“Well, you’d better go to sleep, baby boy. Santa will be too nervous to come in if you’re still awake.”

He rolled his eyes. “I don’t know why kids being asleep is such a big deal. I met him at the mall.”

“Sleeping. Now.”

“Okay, okay, already.”

She walked into the hall and was surprised to see Ramsay on the landing, leaning against the wall. Her heart beat weird for a moment, like it did whenever she saw any of her people unexpectedly. She grinned at him, and he watched her with sexy, half-lidded eyes. Suddenly, she was reminded of the cold metal chain around her throat. Her hand went to it instinctively and he looked damn smug.

“What?”

“You act all tough, Winter, but you love him just as much as the rest of us do,” he whispered.

“Shut up,” she whispered back, melting into him when he pulled her into his arms. “You know I do.”

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