The Gift by Kim Dare Read Free Book Online Page B

it.
    Only then will you have permission to begin writing your cards."
    Nicky nodded, most of his attention caught by the bit about Charles adding names to the list. Charles hadn't told him to send a card to anyone before. Maybe he was getting more into the spirit of it than Nicky guessed. He offered Charles a small smile. Then he bit his lip.
    "You don't approve of the punishment, pet?"
    Nicky blushed. "If I like the idea it's not much of a punishment."
    Charles chuckled. "If you still think so when you have written out the list a dozen or so times we will discuss the matter further."
    Nicky leaned his head against his master's shoulder.
    "Thank you, master."
    Charles ran his fingers through his hair again.
    Nicky glanced up, Charles frowned. "You left your tree behind."
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    56
    The Gift
    by Kim Dare

Chapter Three
    "I gave you permission to bring it with you," Charles reminded him.
    Nicky shook his head. "It's not important." This was the important thing, his master holding him close and everything being well between them, everything else, Christmas and all, could disappear and everything important would still remain.
    Charles stopped stroking his hair.
    Nicky looked up at him.
    "Fetch it."
    Nicky knew the tone of voice. He went and fetched it.
    Taking the tree back to his master's side he put it on the floor and knelt next to it. Charles tapped his knee. "Back up here. Bring your tree with you."
    Nicky sat on his master's knee with the advent tree on his lap.
    "A portable version to take with you if you visit a house that isn't decorated to your satisfaction?" Charles guessed.
    Nicky smiled at the gentle teasing and shook his head. He adjusted one of the branches. "It's an advent tree."
    "Like an advent calendar?"
    Nicky nodded again.
    "And you open one of the little packages each day?"
    Another nod.
    "You should have told me you wanted one, pet. It sounds more like an appropriate present from your master than something you should have to buy for yourself."
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    The Gift
    by Kim Dare
    "I um..." he offered the tree to his master.
    Charles raised an eyebrow.
    "I made it for you," Nicky rushed out. "I know it is silly, master, you don't have to do it or anything, I just thought..."
    Charles seemed amused by the idea. He turned the tree around, examining it from each angle. Finding the little parcel with a tag reading 1st December, he unhooked it from the tree.
    Nicky bit his lip, wondering if his master would think it all stupid.
    Charles unwrapped the parcel. Nicky had decided it was best to start with a safe content and work his way up.
    Inside the bright red paper was one of Charles's favourite chocolates. Charles's lips twitched into a smile. He broke the chocolate cream in half. Offering one up to Nicky's lips, he slipped it into his mouth before eating the other half himself.
    Charles began to crumple the wrapper in his hand. Nicky put his hand on Charles's wrist. His mouth was full of the sticky cream and chocolate. He couldn't speak. Charles smiled at his predicament and looked at the content of his fist.
    Unfolding the paper he found what was written on the inside.
    Nicky finally managed to swallow down the chocolate. "It's all different things we haven't done but which I thought you might want to do at some point," he explained nervously.
    "A massage," Charles said, separating the main idea from the several lines flowing script.
    "I took a course a few years ago," Nicky explained.
    Charles didn't say anything.
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    The Gift
    by Kim Dare
    "I passed," Nicky added, just in case that would make a difference.
    "And is this voucher valid for just the first day of December?"
    Nicky shook his head. "It's just sort of a way of saying if you want to at some point I can, or I don't mind or..."
    Charles studied him carefully. "One a day?"
    Nicky nodded.
    "And if I were to open them all now?"
    Nicky glanced at him. "It is not my place to tell my master what he may or may not do."
    Charles tapped the