Marcello was awake.

He was pretending not to be awake, lying very still in bed, but he was very much awake, with his eyes open just a crack, watching Niabheara intently for signs of stirring.

Now and then, he would glance at the tiny tree-- a bush, really-- in the corner, decorated with berries and little folded-paper toys, and the small stack of gifts beneath it.

Niabheara, on the other hand, was curled up tight on her side, breathing quiet and easy. Eventually she shifted close enough to consciousness to stir in her sleep, and to turn over and grope, instinctively, for Marcello. Unerringly her hand landed on his cock and squeezed it gently before she burrowed against him.

Marcello, who had not quite been expecting that greeting, although he probably should have, let out a little sigh and kissed her temple, sliding both of his arms around her until they fit comfortably. "Good morning to you, too," he murmured, as his hands moved down to her waist.

Niabheara murmured something in Tuathailli and thrust her long thigh between his knees. Her eyelids fluttered open. "Still married?"

"Still married," Marcello agreed happily, and he grabbed a generous handful of her rump. He leaned over to kiss her on the mouth, wriggling the knee that was now between her thighs.

Niabheara giggled and clamped her knees down on his. "Hey!" Digging her fingers into his hair, she kissed him back deeply, then pulled away, laughing. "Ugh, we both have wine breath!"

He laughed, propping himself up on one elbow, and kissed her again. "So?" he asked. "When has that ever stopped you before?"

She kissed him back--close-mouthed, this time--then sat up, shivering a little when her bare shoulders breached the warm cocoon of the pelts. "Let me go chew some mint, at least . . . " Then she frowned, curious, at the little display of the brightly-decorated bush.

Marcello grinned, his eyes lighting up as he watched her reaction expectantly. "Merry Christmas!" he exclaimed, sitting up after her-- much more quickly than she did, and he shivered and put an arm around her shoulders. "Remember how I told you about Christmas?"

"Ah . . . yes!" She put on a cheerful face as she tried to remember exactly what he had told her about Christmas. "Right next to Midwinter's like this?" She turned back to him and burst out laughing. "Rat! How long have you been awake?"