A Holiday Adventure - 5. Coming Clean And Making Plans

While the inhabitants of the North Pole slept, Saiblene's ice prison shattered. The former most powerful and feared Ice Sorceress' pale, weakened body fell to her hands and knees on the ground. Her once shimmering, long blonde silk-like hair clung to her forehead in thin, straggly strands, and the veins showed in her neck. The woman's head hung down, slightly bobbing as puffs of labored breath left her lungs.

Despite her haggard-looking appearance, the fires of revenge and hatred burned in the blackened eyes of the Ice Mistress like never before. Slowly and with great effort, Saiblene raised her head to the sky, and using what little strength she had left, the Sorceress called upon the ice surrounding her to form a stairway leading up and out of the cavern. As the ice obeyed her command, the magic maker's body flopped face down in the dirt, limp and drained from the exertion. However, her mind was still lucid and cunning. A plan started to form, and she thought, Frost drained almost all of my magic and destroyed my power staff. What wasn't depleted in the battle, I just used. However, I still have my knowledge of potions. As long as I can reach my castle and the rejuvenation chamber, I can stay alive for a few days, which is all I'll need to destroy Claus.

*****

Reilly was up before Nicky because of the excitement of being at the North Pole and not wanting to miss a thing. After making sure he hadn't dreamed everything he'd experienced so far by pinching himself, the giddy Italian jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom. He showered, dressed in boxer briefs decorated with Bugs Bunny, Tweety, and Sylvester with Santa hats on their heads, long johns, light blue jeans, a red T-shirt, and a forest green turtle neck shirt, then fixed his hair, and kissed his boyfriend's forehead before going downstairs.

The kitchen was alive with activity as Mrs. Claus and a couple of maids worked to make breakfast for the staff and family.

Stella smiled when she saw the young man watching in awe from the doorway. Chuckling, she said, "Well, don't just stand there, young man, c'mon in, and give me a hug and kiss, and get a cup of ambition."

Reilly giggled, then shook his head and did as he was told.

"Good morning, Mama. You ladies have sure filled this kitchen with mouth-watering aromas."

"If you think it smells good, wait till you taste it, sweetie," Stella said with a smirk and a giggle. "Is my son up yet?"

Reilly greeted and thanked the maids in advance while fixing his coffee. After taking a sip and commenting on the deliciousness of the steaming, caffeinated liquid, he responded to the question. "He was still heavily sleeping when I came downstairs, Mama."

"Good, you and I can have a quick powwow. Come with me to my office."

Nervously, Reilly followed the matriarch to the dining room table. His anxiousness increased a bit when she slid the doors closed, sat at the head of the rectangle table, and stared into his eyes with her hands folded on the tabletop.

"I'm going to assume Nicky told you about his being next in line to become Santa unless someone else is chosen."

"That's correct, Mama."

"Has he told you that his heart isn't into traveling that path?"

Reilly sipped his coffee while Stella sipped her steaming apple cider.

"Reilly, anything we discuss stays here unless permission is granted to reveal our conversation."

The brunette swallowed the lump in his throat and took a deep breath.

"He has. In fact, he's very nervous about saying something to Papa because he doesn't want to disappoint him."

"Just as my husband and I suspected. We're waiting for him to make the first move unless Santa finds a suitable replacement. However, unless I'm wrong, of which I rarely am. I do believe that Nicky has actually chosen my husband's successor."

Not sure where this was going, Reilly chose to stay silent for the moment.

"If it's any consolation, I think he's made the perfect choice in you becoming the next Santa."

Stella threw her head back and cackled when Reilly's eyes opened wide, and his mouth gaped open. She reached out and gently closed the young man's mouth with her index and middle fingers under his chin.

"There were telltale signs. First, there's your family's unmatched reputation in the toy business. I've also gazed into the deepest regions of your heart and soul and found nothing but the purest love and a childlike, gentle nature. Finally, the ease and eagerness you've displayed in accepting our existence when the rest of the world regards us as nothing more than whimsical fairy tale characters."

They paused and looked up when the door slid open enough for Santa's head to slip through.

"It's ok, love, I've talked with our newest boy, and he's confirmed our belief."

Kris walked into the room and closed the sliding wooden barrier. His eyes were twinkling with happiness as he approached Reilly.

"Even though I haven't been officially told by Nicky, I agree with him and my wife. It'll be a pleasure teaching you everything you'll need to know about being Santa Claus, and then when I'm ready to, turning the responsibility over to you, my son."

Reilly was speechless, and tears streamed down his cheeks when he was engulfed in the warm, loving embrace that lifted him off the floor. Without realizing it, he'd wrapped his arms and legs around the older elf's neck and waist. "Thank you, Papa," he mumbled into Santa's neck.

"So, this is where everyone is," Nicky said as he entered the room. "Is this something private?"

"Not at all, dear. Why don't you come and sit with your soul mate while I get you and Dad some coffee and refresh mine and Reilly's before we sit down to eat."

Kris smiled as the boys latched onto each other like they were magnets.

"I love you," Nicky and Reilly said in unison before chuckling and sharing a short but love-filled kiss.

"Babe, full disclosure time. Mama and Papa know you don't want to be Santa, and they have figured out that you chose me to replace Papa when it's time."

Nicky looked at his dad's smiling, pride-filled facial expression and asked, "And?"

"Reilly's perfect both as the next Santa and your life mate."

The teary-eyed younger elf ran and jumped on his dad's lap, hugging and kissing him.

"How'd you know?"

"Do you really think your parents don't know what's in their only boy's heart? We've known since before you turned forty."

Kris chuckled and put his son in a headlock.

"Hey, let go,' Nicky squealed while trying to loosen the grip.

"Wait! Don't let go yet, Papa."

Nicky kicked his legs and glared at his boyfriend while struggling.

"Ry, don't you dare."

The squirming elf's shirt was lifted so fingers could tickle his bare ribs, and raspberries could be administered to his stomach. In a matter of seconds, his high-pitched, shrieking laughter bounced off the plaster walls of the dining room.

"You're both in trouble when I'm free."

Kris and Reilly laughed. The tickles ceased, and Nicky was the giggly and squirmy center for a double-sided bear hug.

"I love you, Ry and Pops."

"Love you more, Nicky," the human and patriarch responded.

"So, what's on the docket for today," Stella asked after sipping her coffee.

"I was thinking about taking young Reilly on a tour of the workshop," Kris responded before taking a bite of his strip of bacon.

"That sounds amazing, Papa. I can't wait."

The elves giggled at their human's excitement.

"That'll give me time to go to the theater with you, Mom. I want to take Reilly to town in the sports sleigh this evening. We'll see the Christmas lights, visit the various shops, and have dinner at Frosty's Fine Foods restaurant."

"That'll make for a lovely evening."

"Thanks, Mom."

"Well, it's not even six am yet, so you boys are free for the next three hours," Kris said.

Reilly picked up his plate but put it down after Stella grasped his wrist. She smiled and gestured to the staircase with her head, and he and Nicky giggled and hugged the parents before running out of the room.

"You already tickled me."

Nicky bounced on the mattress as much as possible because he was pinned under his boyfriend's body. His legs struggled to find freedom from the grip of the human's arm wrapped around his ankles. Five fingernails lightly and slowly dragged up and down the center of his upturned soles, which wrinkled every time his toes scrunched. Boisterous laughter filled the room, treating the brunette's ears to its glorious symphony-like tones.

Reilly's eyes sparkled as he gently nibbled his mate's bare heels, and he loved hearing the squeals the action caused. He was so involved with slipping his tongue between each plump, juicy toe that he didn't realize his feet were within the elf's reach. A sudden ticklish sensation traveled from his creased soles up to his brain, and shortly after, shrieking laughs flowed from him as he fell forward, releasing his captive's ankles. He was trapped in an inescapable abyss of hysterical laughter as his feet were ravaged by retaliatory tickles.

When the tickling ceased, the human and elf lovingly caressed each other's bodies and shared a long, passionate kiss. This time, Nicky wanted his lover inside of him, and Reilly was eager to fulfill the request. He lubed his partner's asshole, then his cock, and stretched the hole with his fingers until receiving the signal that his mate was ready for entry. Slowly, the rock-hard shaft entered the hot, slick hole, and finally, pubic hairs tickled the hole's rim. Moans and grunts of sheer pleasure floated from the men as their bodies rocked back and forth to love's rhythm. Nicky rolled on his back while Reilly was still inside of him, and his arms wrapped around the strong back of his lover. The two pairs of eyes shined with unfiltered love for one another as tongues licked and caressed each other and lips touched lips for a kiss that caused fireworks to explode in the male's minds.

"I'm about to cum, Lover."

Reilly pulled out, and quickly he and his mate got into position to suck each other. A minute or two later, Nicky's back arched, and a primal grunt exploded from him as cum erupted from his veiny shaft. It was another couple minutes before the brunette's seed coated the roof and tongue of his elven lover's mouth.

"We've got almost two hours."

"What ya wanna do, my sexy elf?"

Nicky's eyes sparkled with mischief as he sat up, held his boyfriend in place on the mattress, and said, "Race ya to the bathtub." He giggled, jumped off the bed, and ran into the bathroom.

"You're sooo goin' down, elf boy."

Nicky had just touched the bathtub when his boyfriend's arms wrapped around him, pulling him to the floor, and his mate's fingers tickled his stomach.

"You're so fun, my sweet baby."

Reilly licked his lips and giggled as he continued tickling his boyfriend's stomach and sides while his legs kicked the air, his fists pounded the floor, and his sexy body wriggled and writhed. His eyes sparkled when he dipped his pinkie finger into the elf's belly button crevice and lightly tickled the skin wall with his fingernail.

"No! Not my belly button."

Nicky's shrieks and laughter freely flowed as he tried and failed to escape.

The brunette stopped tickling and cuddled his giggly mate.

"You are the most perfect match for me, Nicholaus. I've never had a lover so fun, magical, and sexually satisfying. Your inner beauty is equal to and even surpasses your outer beauty."

Nicky blushed as he buried his face in the warm chest of his boyfriend and kissed the erect nipple.

*****

Three hours passed, and Saiblene had only crawled up three steps before succumbing to the overwhelming exhaustion. In desperation, she raised her head, and with a weak voice, the Sorceress called out, "Great Spirit Of Darkness, hear your humble servant's call, and come to my aid."

Thunder rumbled and boomed, then a lightning bolt sizzled as it cut through the air and struck the icy ground. Smoke rose from the blackened, scorched earth, and a figure in a black hooded cloak appeared.

Quite an interesting chapter, huh? 
 
Thanks for reading, reacting, and commenting
 
Love y'all