NERTHUS
“Danny,” Arawn says as we walk back into the living room, making the boy perk up. “My turn. Come with me.”
Danny jumps onto his feet, and I spread my arm towards him. He leans into me, and I caress his back as we follow Arawn into a sterile room, lined completely with white tiles. The LED light hurts my eyes as we reach Arawn, who is standing behind a showcase.
“It’s not really a gift as it belongs to you anyway, but…” Arawn turns around to take a metal box out of the armoured wall and proceeds to put it down carefully on the glass surface of the showcase. “Go ahead and open it.”
Danny takes the small key out of his hand hesitantly and opens the box with a feeble click. Opening the lid, we both peak into the box while Arawn grins proudly. “It belonged to your father. I had it cleaned up, and I also had them engrave a dedication.”
Lifting the gun out of the box, Danny seems to be totally overwhelmed by his feelings as he turns it slowly in his hands.
“Here,” Arawn points at the grip of the revolver, making Danny look for it with big eyes.
He sighs deeply, as he reads it off the steel. “To the most precious gift life gave me, to my first-born son, Dan,” he whispers, his eyes welling up with tears.
“He was very happy to be your father, Danny. And he would be very proud of you,” Arawn says, getting tears prickling in my eyes as well. “Just stop being afraid of what cool Marcus might be thinking, so you can stop getting into trouble, alright?”
Danny nods, sniffing, and I hug him. “But he will not get to keep this right away, does he?”
Both chuckle, and Arawn takes the gun out of Danny’s hands. “Of course not. But you can come by to look at it whenever you want. Also, you will accompany me to the shooting range with that thing.”
“Are you for real?” Danny asks elated
“Very,” Arawn answers with a grin before he puts the box with the gun back into the ironclad wall. “Now, let’s get us something good to drink and finish watching the movie.”
“Yes,” Danny shouts as he scurries out of the room, while I wait at the door for Arawn.
He puts his arms around me, kissing me softly. I smile up at him, putting my hand on his chest. “Aren’t you the cutest?”
Arawn laughs, leaning in to kiss me below my ear. “Maybe you want to wait until he is gone to make an overall average grade on this matter.”
“Oh, my God,” I gasp, making him grin at me. “I can’t wait to see you overthrowing your rating.”
***
This must really be the best Christmas that I ever had.
We did in fact finish watching the movie, and while I stuck to wine, Arawn and Danny shared some whiskey. Of course, the boy didn’t get to drink more than a few sips.
To the disappointment of Arawn, we got out our matching Christmas pjs and cozy blankets to fall asleep on the large couch and floor while continuing to watch movies.
Danny got Arawn one as well, and I tried hard but eventually failed at not laughing at how hilarious the bulky man looked in themed pjs that would nowhere in the world be manufactured in his size.
“I love this. I really do,” I said, holding my hand in front of my lips.
“Sure,” Arawn growled. “You will love it tomorrow morning too, when you will have to cut me out of these.”
I cracked up while Danny was concerned as he kept repeating that it was the largest size he could find.
“Don’t worry, baby. Next year we will get him custom-tailored ones,” I cheered him up, making him smile happily.
As we settled in, and I scooted closer to Arawn to have him spoon me, he groaned lowly. “That’s bad. If you continue to move like this, the pants are surely going to burst.”
Needless to say, after laughing my ass off, it was impossible for me to sleep as I got to feel what would eventually go to burst the clothing. Arawn kept kissing the back of my neck, holding me firmly against his body.
I would lie when I told anyone that I didn’t absolutely love it, and enjoyed him cuddling me all night, even though I knew exactly that I would have regretted it in the morning.
It felt like I had just closed my eyes as I felt Danny shaking me awake. “Amber! Amber! Let’s have breakfast.”
“Deiniol!” Arawn growls, making us both jump.
Danny looks at me shocked, before he whispers. “It’s bad when they use my full name.”
I laugh, but as Arawn stirs, Danny stands up and runs out of the room.
It looks kind of cute seeing him flee dressed in Christmas pjs.
Turning around, I slap Arawn lightly and try to get out of his grasp. “Come on, big boy. Let’s get breakfast.”
I have barely managed to stand up as he pulls me back, making me giggle. “Arawn!”
He pushes me down to lie beneath him, giving me the perfect opportunity to drool over his Adonis belt as his pjs top shifted up. I wrap my arms around him as he kisses me roughly, pushing me into the soft surface of the couch.
“Are you coming?” Danny shouts from another room, making me giggle like a twelve-year-old.
I wish.
Arawn groans as he props himself up on his hands. “I know that you love that boy, but he has to go.”
I laugh, pushing him lightly, getting him to stand up.
“Don’t worry, you will have me all to yourself soon enough.”
***
I can’t even remember the last time I felt so happy, and in a way, it scares me. When life taught me one thing, it is the fact that if everything is going too smoothly, something bad is waiting to happen just around the corner.
I clasp the cup of coffee in my hand, letting the warmth of the brew tickle my fingers while I watch Arawn and Danny bickering playfully.
My heart nearly disintegrates as I surprisingly get a gift from Danny too. I laugh my ass off as I unwrap a tumbler with a cat sticking up her middle finger saying “no!” depicted on it.
“Oh, Danny. I love it. Thank you so much,” I say happily, standing up to hug him.
He beams at me as he murmurs that it’s nothing. Arawn gets a crystal glass formed into a skull, and Danny’s eyes sparkle even more as he thanks him for it.
After all we have eaten, I’m impressed by the fact that sitting at the table with food piled on it doesn’t make me sick to my stomach.
Danny and Arwan seem to enjoy it as well as they dig in happily, and I’m glad everything turned out as I had planned.
Or even better.
“This was the best Christmas ever!” Danny gushes as he stands in the door, smiling brightly.
He looks so cute while holding his gym bag to his chest, where he has put his gifts in.
“Take care on your way home, Danny,” Arawn says as I reach out to caress his cheek.
“Text me when you get home safe,” I add, and he nods before scurrying to the elevator where a hulk in a black suit has already pushed the button for him to call the elevator.
With a last wave, he disappears behind the metal door as they slide shut, and I close the door with a deep sigh.
As predicted, I have barely closed the door as I practically get jumped. I laugh as Arawn wraps his arms around me from behind, lifting me up to carry me into his bedroom.
He lets me fall on the bed, and is on me in a blink, making it hard to breathe as I can’t stop giggling.
“Slow down, please,” I plead between laughter, making him grin as he rips his clothes off him.
“There is no time to waste, babe,” he says smugly, causing my heart to squeeze in my chest.