vampires of san francisco 08 - merry sucking christmas (2 page)

“Is that for me?”

“It is for the love of my life. If that’s you then you are in luck,” he says as he grins at me.

“I don’t know, am I?”

I reach for him, and brush my hands under one of the togas he’s been wearing, running my fingers across his nipple and eliciting a sigh from him.

“Maybe I need to remind you that you are my woman and my love. Can’t live without you.”

“Yes, I think I need reminding.”

He drops the present and sweeps me off my feet, carrying me the short distance to the bed. He throws me down on the bed, making me bounce up and I laugh. I love how playful we can still be. In a nanosecond he is on top of me. He rips through my dress. A four hundred dollar dress, mind you. He is kissing me in every sensitive spot I have. That is the beauty of having a lover for as long as we’ve been lovers. You know everything about each other – you know what the other likes so the sex is outstanding.

Julian comes up for air and moves a stray lock of hair off my neck, slowly kissing his way to my ear.

“I love you more than my own life,” he whispers. A shiver runs through me and I tighten my arms around his neck. Who cares about the dress? I can always buy another one.

An hour later we lay in a heap of blankets and sheets talking softly. I gasp when Julian leaps off the bed and retrieves his box. His eyes sparkle as he hands it to me. I gently unwrap the box. I can’t believe what is in it. A beautiful hooded cape in a deep purple velvet. It will be amazing to wear for rituals and for Solstice. It will keep me warm if I had to be sky clad and protect me from the elements when celebrating. It is one of the most thoughtful gifts. But that is Julian. He is always thinking of others, even when his head is buried in a book.

“It is perfect. Thank you, my love. How did you know I needed one?”

“Your goddess-child. She filled me in. Had to promise I would do some research for her but it was a good trade. She drives a hard bargain.” He lets out a short laugh and shakes his head.

“I hope she didn’t take too much advantage of you.”

“No, it only took about fifteen minutes of my time and was quite interesting. She was researching the original uses for one of the herbs she picked up in Africa. I was truly happy to oblige. In exchange for information, I got an idea of what you needed and a promise that I could have a cutting. It should do well in the solarium.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad.” 

“I would have done five hundred hours of research in order to see the look in your eyes when you opened your present. Your happiness is my happiness.”

“You crafty old vampire. You know what to say to me so I keep loving you for an eternity.”

“I want you for at least that long,” he says and winks at me.

3. Lilith

I am so excited. Everywhere you go in the city you’re reminded of Christmas. It’s a glorious time of year. Christmas lights, Santas on the corners, and windows dressed out with toys and other high-ticket items. I am in retail heaven. I haven’t shopped so much since Mathilda was born. This will be her first Christmas, the first for all the babies. I’ve taken this seriously and shopped accordingly. Sebastian thinks I’m crazy. He keeps saying this isn’t “the reason for the season.”

I get it. But the secular version is so much fun and I intend that our child know both traditions. I’ve enlisted Andrew and Annie. Between the three of us we have decked out both the manse and our humble abode in so much Christmas greenery you would be sure that the North Pole relocated. I’ve got pine boughs, holly and mistletoe hanging from every surface. A huge seven-foot pine dominates our living area and I bought an even bigger one for the manse. Helena begrudgingly allowed it. She told me that trees and pine boughs were part of the solstice decorations.

Along with all the green, I’ve added an eggplant color with bulbs and ribbons. White lights finish things off. I also put a small tree in Mattie’s room with multi-colored lights and non-breakable decorations. She adores it. She’ll put her hand over one of the lights so her whole hand shines. She also throws her decorations on the floor no matter how many times we explain that she shouldn’t do that. Aidan baby-proofed the big tree after his son, Samuel, tried to climb it. The tree would have landed on him if Aidan hadn’t been expecting him to do something like that. Sammy is giving Aidan and Manda quite a run for the money. They are constantly on alert when he is awake.

The twins are running everywhere and getting into anything they can. Poor Hannah and Diel. I don’t how they do it. Mattie is so calm and shy. When the other kids come over she opens up to them, especially baby Sammy. Those two have their own language that rivals the twins’. Aidan keeps hinting that they will someday get married. Goddess forbid. Sebastian got really pissed at that and Aidan just laughed. That led Bast to lay down the dating moratorium. No dating until she is sixty. We all laughed but he was serious and I think we hurt his feelings that no one took him seriously. 

I am getting a pedicure and having them paint my toes pale pink with a little Christmas tree on my big toes. They added a little bling as a star on the tree. I love my painted toes. I just have enough time to grab a smoothie before I need to be home. Annie is babysitting since she graduated just before Christmas break. But Sebastian will be home soon and we are going to the annual Christmas party at his night club, You Belong to Me. Annie and her friend Sacha are going to watch all the kids.

I pull up to the house and park in the garage. I carry in my bags, cute party clothes for children. I splurged and bought all the kids matching outfits. Bast is going to roll his eyes at me but he’ll deal. He knows that I do it because I love them all.

“Allo? Ou’est ma famille?” Sebastian had been making me practice my French so that Mattie will be bilingual. She is doing really well. She already speaks French better than I do.

“Ici, maman!” Mattie comes flying out of the kitchen with a dab of blood on her lip. She must have been eating. She’s still on bag blood. Dr. Green says until she’s at least fifteen. Sebastian would make her wait longer. He has no desire to teach her to hunt or drive or date or grow up period. I let out a sigh and catch my daughter as she jumps into my arms. She snuggles into my neck and kisses me there. She smells heavenly as only a child can smell and I inhale deeply.

“What have you done while I was gone?” I ask, switching back to English.

“I played with Annie and then I ate. We had a tea party.” She grins showing her dimples. Her midnight hair is in ringlets and her soft blue eyes are full of innocence. I snuggle her again and kiss her all over her face until she is squirming to get down.

Annie comes in from the kitchen and hands me a mug of coffee made just the way I like it.

“Thank you, Annie. I didn’t expect to be gone so long.”

 “No problem, Lily. As usual, Mattie was an angel.” Annie wipes the blood dribbling down my child’s chin before it has a chance to get on her clothes.

I have to admit that I feel safe leaving Mathilda with Annie. It took a while but Annie was patient with me and my hysteria. Sebastian had to drag me out of the house the first time and I sobbed all the way to the club and called Annie at least twelve times. She was a good sport and reassured me, even texting me pictures of a sleeping Mattie.

I now think of Annie as part of the family along with Liam and Manda. They all have their own places in my heart. That’s why I have been on a mission to get them all the perfect gifts. I think I’ve accomplished it too. Now if I can get out of Midnight Mass, but Bast is insistent that Mattie go. I know he loves the ceremonies of the Church, steeped in ritual and history. He wants Mattie to grow up with the Church a part of her life. I was raised Lutheran and wasn’t ever very committed to church. It was always a trial to be in the congregation with everyone talking about Momma and me because of Daddy’s affairs. Didn’t they know we could hear them gossip? I always had a headache by the time we got home and would close myself in my room. I’ve nothing but bad memories when it comes to religion. Sebastian has never made me go to mass before, though. We’ll have to see. Maybe that can be part of my present to Sebastian?

4. Sebastian

Mon Dieu. I’ve got a lot of shopping to do before Christmas Eve. I have Mathilda covered. I got her a little locket inscribed in French with “you are my heart.” It’s truly beautiful and I put a picture of Lily and me in it. I think she will like it. I’ve wanted to spoil her with jewelry but have held back. It’s so easy to give her everything but I don’t want her to grow up that way. I know Lily has plenty of gifts for her but I wanted at least one to be something I picked out.

Lily’s gift was harder. She is very capable of buying her own clothing, purses, and shoes so I wanted to get her something that meant more. I’ve spent months thinking of the perfect gift. I just bought her a hybrid SUV and that didn’t really have the message I wanted to send her. So I hired an artist to design a memory/photo book about Mathilda. I supplied all the pictures and she made sections for me to write underneath each one. I’ve been holed up in my office at the club a lot lately filling it in. I think she will love it. We’ve been meaning to make photo albums with pictures of Mattie but haven’t gotten around to it yet. If this is a hit, I may do it every year. For birthdays I could do memories of Lily. I really like the idea of being a part of the creation of her gifts. It’s finished and all I have to do is get it wrapped.

Aidan and I are going out for a drink tonight with Diel. Diel and I will drink and Aidan will soak up djinn energy, however he does that. The important thing is we get together every couple of weeks to talk and let loose. Lily says that I’m more relaxed now that I’m blowing off some steam once in a while. I’ve never had close male friends besides Julian before. We’ve invited him but he is usually too busy to join us. Tonight will be the exception. I think it has something to do with Saturnalia. He really embraces the whole feasting mood. Helena is ready for a break from him and all things Saturnalia, so this is perfect.

I grab the photo book and head out of the club, stopping by a boutique nearby to beg them to wrap the book for me. With a generous tip and a wink I soon have a wrapped gift for my Lily. I can’t help but smile. I whistle on the way to my car. I love this time of year.

Once home, I slip the gift along with Mattie’s under the tree near the back where she won’t notice them. We decided not to follow the whole Santa thing with Mattie to a point. We will tell her about him and even have taken her for a visit at Macy’s but we explained he is a spirit and it’s in Jesus’ memory that we give gifts. Christmas is a celebration of life. Mattie is fascinated with reindeer and elves and we’ve watched every Christmas special that has come on. Her favorite is Rudolph.

I look for my girls after my secret mission is complete. I don’t have to look far, I can hear them splashing in the pool. Annie is taking a much needed break, reading on a chaise lounge. Lily is in a black bikini with hot pink polka dots. Her luscious curves tantalizing over the strips of fabric. I have to shake myself and remember with my daughter here it has to stay PG. Mattie is wearing a hot pink bikini with black polka dots. They are too beautiful and I lean against the door watching them without them knowing. My heart expands and I realize that I love them more and more every day. Impossible but true.

Lily looks up and sees me. Her smile is radiant, it takes what little breath I have away.

“Bast, get your trunks on and join us.”

“I can’t, I’m meeting the guys in a half hour.” She gives me a pouty lip that I want to bite. 

Mattie takes the opportunity to splash her mother when she’s not looking. She douses Lily completely and I can’t help my laugh. Soon Lily is laughing too, after the shock wears off. She pushes a small wave towards Mattie. Mattie starts giggling and splashes her again.

“Daddy, daddy! Will you be home to read to me?”

“You can count on it, ma petite chou-chou. I think we will finish Le Petit Prince tonight. Is that acceptable, princess?”

“Yes! I love that book. Mommy’s been practicing French with me today. She’s getting good at it,” Mattie says sagely. I have to laugh when Lily narrows her eyes at our daughter. 

“I’m glad you and mommy are practicing. We are going to France in just two more months. Do you remember?”

“Mmm hmm and I will get to see real castles. Woohoo!” Mathilda squeals as she jumps up and down, splashing the hell out of Lily. Since all the children are supernatural for one reason or another, they’ve all aged at different rates. Being under a year old is very confusing for some since Mattie is as big as a five year old and much brighter. The twins are about the equivalent of four year olds and Sammy is about three. The twins are technically older than Mattie so it is confusing to outsiders. 

“Mommy, how much longer are you two going to be in there? I want to kiss my girls.”

“I think it’s time for us to get out, actually. I’m starting to prune up. Come on short cake. Let’s shower so daddy can give us our welcome home kisses.” 

She leads a protesting Mathilda out of the blue and white tiled pool and over to the shower we had installed in the cabana. It became a hassle to carry a wet and wiggling girl that was dripping salt water everywhere through the house.

After the girls rinse off and wrap themselves in warm robes, they come out. Mathilda runs to me with vamp speed and jumps into my arms. She wraps her arms around my neck and nuzzles my cheek. I do the same to her, taking in her clean scent and the smell of her grape body wash. She loves the stuff and now I associate it with her so it’s not so overwhelming. 

“Je t’adore.” I give her a big kiss on each cheek and then hug her tight to me. 

“Je t'aime trop papa.”

“Mmm… where’s my beautiful wife? I need to snuggle her too.”

Lily wraps her hands around both of us and I kiss her temple. It’s not the kiss I want to give her but that one can wait until we have more time. Just as I start to put Mattie down Aidan pops in and Mattie screams in excitement over seeing her Uncle Aidan. She flies out of my hands and runs to him. He points at her and she’s wearing a pink leotard with a rainbow tutu. She sparkles from head to foot with rhinestones. She squeals again and Aidan starts laughing.