We start with Draxen, scaly green alien man all ready for the mating ritual. Readers are prepped for him to chase down his chosen mate (who doesn't know it yet), the smol human red haired white woman (it's always either redhead or blonde, isn't it?) BUT primal kinksters have the rug pulled out under them when he basically just grabs her and hauls her back to his place, no chasing necessary lol. Bit of a letdown, especially after we're told that the FMC is not only a researcher, but a certified ass kicker who has felled many a Yarta man. (Personally this feels gratuitous and completely unnecessary for the FMC's backstory since she never used any martial arts in the story at all, so it feels like another clumsy attempt by an author to tell us that the FMC is "strong" but it's never genuinely shown on page).
He shows her his place and we're treated to a bland conversation about the mating ritual, and how he wants her but she has to leave in 4 days for another expedition. "You're my mate" "Omg you're so hawt but I can't".
He proceeds to woo her with the cottage core house he built (complete with indoor forest[???] and glowing flowers), wrap her in blankies and cook her food even when she tells him the dish was gross. There isn't a whole lot going for him beyond "I have to be big and stronk and pamper my itty bitty mate". Yes this is fantasy, but there is no riveting conflict here, just timing and an ex boyfriend not even worth mentioning.
The smut was okay. Points for Draxen literally lighting up like a plugged in dildo. Bad Dragon shaped candy cane was a nice detail.
The Santa bit was... A thing. Maybe I'm too Grinch to appreciate it.