Page 33 of Christmas Eve with Krampus

Ruprecht shudders out a breath. “I am Krampus. I reward those who are good, and punish those who are naughty. It is who I am… but I never wanted to punish you, my Josie. And last Christmas…”

Ah. I think I’m finally getting it.

We never had the chance to discuss the way he went from gentle lover to wicked and domineering in bed—or how much I liked seeing the beastly side of my demon. We just left the Toymaker’s workshop and walked together

The air was heavy with the promise of something new, something changing, and neither of us mentioned the way he roared as he came, or how his eyes were blood-red the entire time he pounded in me.

I was in awe. Ruprecht, I’m beginning to understand, was ashamed.

“Last Christmas was the best night of my life,” I tell him honestly—no tea required. Though, if my poor deprecating Christmas demon needs me to drink some to assure himself of how I feel… I told you. I’m a total tea girlie. “And I was hoping that, as an early Christmas gift, once

“Josie…” Almost seven feet tall, with features like a bull and a dick that makes him seem like he’s hung like a fucking horse, but as Ruprecht says me name, he purrs like a goddamn kitten. “Are you asking me to mate you?”

I now know that there are two meanings to the term. To ‘mate’ is to ‘fuck’—but it’s also to choose him as my lifelong partner. And since Krampus is immortal, and staying with him in Blackmoor as his bride—partner—mate once he claimed me meant I would be basically immortal, too…

Nicklaus broke his brides. Three days or three centuries, I know deep within my soul that Ruprecht will treasure me for the rest of or time together.

Even when he was rough, he was still protective and caring. I’ll be his forever.

And I’m looking forward to it.

“Yes, Ruprecht. You bet I am.”

From earnest earlier to hopeful and now confusion. My big demon honestly doesn’t believe that I’d choose to return to him, does he? Or stay. Even after he told me he’d wait… he’d gone centuries without a mate. This last year was torture for me; I can only imagine how painful it was for him. To have what he wanted, then give it up because his mortal wanted her wish…

I got it. And now it’s time to give him everything he desires.

Starting with the sack.

If that doesn’t show him how much I care, that I’m not just coming back because I miss sleeping with, I don’t know what will.

I try to slip my hand out of his so that I can go and grab it. I’ll need to get my suitcase, too, since I’d rather go naked than resign myself to an eternity in that heavy Christmas ballgown again, but for now, I need the fruit.

But Ruprecht refuses to release me. Almost as though he expects me to disappear if he does, he clings tightly without cutting me with his claws.

It’s charming, in a way. At the very least, I stop trying to break free of him. Instead, I give him a tug and point over toward where I left my stuff.

“I got something for you. Come. Let’s go get it.” As soon as we’re there, I heft up the sack with my free hand. “Here.”

His eyes light up. “Oranges. For me?”

“And you alone,” I tell him with a small laugh, offering him the sack.

I can tell just how much Ruprecht wants those oranges, though he hesitates to take them from me. After all, fruit is Krampus’s only weakness, but my Krampus? He has another one.

Me.

And when he can’t seem to let go of me, even to take the sack of oranges, I know that he’s already imagining me walking away from him again when Christmas is over.

So lower the sack back to the ground for him before turning into his chest, laying my palm against his heart. Despite the chill, he’s hot to the touch, his big body so still, I know he’s fighting the instinct to throw me to the snow and fuck me out in the open.

I’d rather make it back to the cottage myself, but since he came all this way to meet me when he should’ve been hibernating… well, I’m game.

But first?—

I clear my throat. “Ich werde bleiben.”

He sucks in a breath as the words reach him. Then, letting go of me only long enough to lay his hands on my hips, he hoists me up easily. He’s so strong that not even the extra fifty pounds on my back can slow him down as he urges me to wrap my legs around him. His hands move to my ass, the points of claws gently grazing me through my jeans as he nuzzles his bearded jaw against my cheek.

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