You've Been Knotty

By Kellan Larkin

"I wouldn't have left if not for your scroogely ways."

Six months ago, spirited wolf-shifter Jake Marley walked out on his business partner and lover, Eben, vowing he'd never return. But everything changes when his pack turns on him, and the only person who can protect him is his former mate. Jake can't afford to let his pride get the best of him, since it's not only his life that's in danger—the life of his unborn child is at stake too.

"Dragons guard their treasure with their life, and I've found mine."

Eben Meiser only drove Jake away to prevent him from learning the truth—that Eben is a dragon-shifter, feared and shunned by society. Now Eben is preparing to spend Christmas alone when Jake comes hurtling back into his life, along with the surprise that he's carrying Eben's baby. Eben fights to protect their future, but will he and Jake be able to rekindle their past?

This Christmas novella is a sexy knotting mpreg twist on the classic Christmas Carol. It contains a May/December romance with no cheating and a happily ever after.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kellan Larkin
• Release date: Dec 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386907848

Book preview

Chapter One

Eben

Eben grunted at the knock on his office door, waving in his employee without really looking away from his spreadsheets. The positive total at the bottom was a nice, healthy balance, and his dragon purred with satisfaction. When Robert Kane arrived at his desk, he didn’t glance up to ask, What do you need, Robert?

Robert cleared his throat. It’s Christmas Eve, Mr. Meiser.

Eben nodded, though he had temporarily forgotten the day. And?

I wanted to make sure it’s all right if I still leave early today? Of course, I’ll be back the day after Christmas. The Dubai markets don’t monitor themselves.

Eben glanced out his window, startled to see snow starting to fall. Every business on the street was spruced up with some sort of Christmas décor—at least every business but Meiser Brokerage. With a distracted wave of his hand, he nodded in Robert’s direction before returning his attention to a spreadsheet. Go on then.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Meiser. Robert ducked out, not waiting for a reply.

That was smart of him, because Eben wasn’t likely to give him one. Christmas was just like any other day of the year, without the distraction of work. It left far too much time for him to dwell on his thoughts, and to think about things better forgotten.

Like Jake.

He curled his lip as the name entered his mind. The last thing he wanted to think about was his former business partner, Jake Marley. He was an even less welcome topic of thought than the looming holiday. He should have never gotten into business with the hot-headed young wolf-shifter, let alone—he stopped that thought before his mind drudged up memories he really shouldn’t be revisiting.

He didn’t like how much effort of will it took to turn his thoughts from Jake, but he was soon immersed in columns of numbers and found them soothing as always. The wealth that they represented also pleased him and the dragon inside. Who needed Christmas or family, or even a warm and willing bedmate, when you had millions of dollars at your fingertips?

The outer door of the office closed, and he assumed Robert was leaving. It was unexpected when his door opened a moment later, without even a knock. He looked up, preparing to turn a censorious frown on Robert, but only managed a strangled sound of surprise when he identified his visitor.

The young man was as lovely as ever, with his creamy complexion contrasted by dark hair. His green eyes sparkled, but Eben was dismayed to see the dark rings underneath them. His face was a little rounder than Eben remembered, and there was some redness in his eyes that suggested he might’ve been crying. Eben knew wolf-shifters were emotional, but crying?

Hello, Eben. His lips trembled slightly as he shook the snow from his hat, offering a tentative smile.

Jake. Just saying his name out loud felt all too good to Eben. He steadied himself as he prepared for an turbulent reunion. Their relationship had ended six months prior, with Eben wanting to break things off before they got too attached, but by then it had been too late. He and Jake had both developed feelings for one another that they shouldn’t have and their parting ways had been an explosion that still shook Eben to his core.

Eben sighed. At least he’d managed to cut things off before Jake had found out what he truly was. As far as the young man knew, Eben was just a normal human with no ability to shift. He didn’t want to think of how Jake would react if he’d discovered the dragon within Eben—let alone how Jake’s pack would react.

No, it was much better that their relationship ended when it did. It would have been doomed eventually.

What are you doing here? Eben said gruffly.

You could at least pretend you’re happy to see me. Jake walked into Eben office without wiping his boots, leaving wet, muddy marks, that Eben couldn’t help feel were intentionally spiteful.

Jake had called several months after they’d broken up, but Eben had refused to indulge any desire to see the troublesome young man again. He’d assumed when he’d ignored Jake’s calls, that would be the end of things. Christmas must have brought out his sentimentality, forcing him to try to reignite a relationship that would never work. Eben shook his head as he leaned back in his chair, bracing himself to withstand the temptation of his former business partner. He wanted Jake as much as he ever had, but that didn’t mean that he was foolish.

Well? He laced his fingers. I’m busy, Jake, tell me what you want and leave me to my work.

You want me to get to the point? Jake’s jaw set. Fine! his fingers were unsteady as he unbuttoned his coat. What he revealed underneath shook Eben to the core.

His dragon roared in his ears, reverberating through his head at the instinctive protest that someone else had claimed their treasure. He stared at Jake's stomach, swollen and with only one obvious cause for being so, certain his horror showed. Jake sounded angry when he spoke, but Eben couldn’t tear his gaze away from his stomach long enough to confirm it by his expression.

You don’t have to be so horrified. I get that you want nothing to do with me or our baby, but we need your help.

Eben jerked in shock as Jake's