Page 77 of Their Christmas Miracle

“No, go on,” Erin said with mock enthusiasm. “Let’s see what else this jerk is expecting to do to me this weekend.”

“You can at any time use your safe words,” Lexi read, “but remember that speaking the word ‘absinthe’ will bring all the activities of the weekend to a stop.”

“All the activities?” Erin snorted. “Pity. I had a real craving for gimp suits and ball gags. You know? Like this itch, deep deep—”

Lexi cut in. “I want you to know that I love and respect you more than anything in the world. I asked you to become my wife because I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone but you. You are my everything, and I want to show you just how much you mean to me. I want to provide you with a level of pleasure and satisfaction that you’ve never known before.”

Erin’s mouth snapped closed. She pouted for a few seconds before flicking her fingers at Lexi.

“Would have been sweeter if they hadn’t photocopied the letter.”

“Erin…”

Erin inhaled deeply and flicked her fingers again at Lexi.

“Continue.”

Lexi was relieved to hear a note of encouragement in her sister’s voice. The soppy sentiment at the end of the letter was having an effect… that or the alcohol.

“Now, I will leave your first set of instructions. Follow each of these as accurately as possible. Do not skip a step.”

“Hear we go,” Erin mumbled.

“One,” Lexi read, raising her voice. “Make sure you’ve had at least two strong drinks, preferably cocktails.”

“Check,” Erin said, green eyes serious-as-sin as she glanced up at Lexi and drained the remainder of her cocktail. “Next.”

Lexi nodded and emptied her cocktail, grimacing as the alcohol stung her throat.

“Two: order two pantydropper shooters.”

Erin groaned. “Highly original.”

They both turned to the bartender as he passed and placed their order. Erin glared at Lexi as they waited for their shooters to arrive.

“What?” Lexi asked.

“I can’t believe I shaved for this.”

“Seriously?” Lexi slapped her palm on the bar. “Lighten up, would you?”

“Whatever,” Erin muttered, grabbing the shooter from the bartender before he had a chance to put it down. She tossed it back, grabbed up her letter from where she’d dropped it on the bar and read out the next instruction.

“Go into room seven.”

“Mine says eight—” Lexi began.

Erin’s withering stare made her teeth snap closed.

“It will be dark inside. You are not to turn on any lights. Darkness will be your only friend during this weekend.”

Erin snorted and lifted her luminous eyes to Lexi, but licked her lips and didn’t utter whatever derisive comment she’d been about to make. Instead, she carried on reading.

“At the door, you will strip naked.” Erin drew a deep breath, uttered an ‘ah geez’ under her breath, and continued. “There will be a table beside you. On it, the end of a rope under a paperweight. Follow the rope to the bed and wait there for me.”

Erin stared at Lexi. Her eyes could have burned holes in the wall like Superman.

“This is ridiculous.”

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