Page 20 of Dirty Little Christmas

"Yeah?" He bites my lip and then grins. "Come on, let's feed you."

"You're going to cook for me?"

"Already did," he grunts, carrying me into the kitchen. And whoa. I should have checked out the kitchen last night because it's incredible. Restaurants have less room to work with than he does. The appliances are built in, with doors that slide closed over them. Sunlight filters in from floor-to-ceiling windows in a breakfast nook off to the right. It lets out onto the backyard. I can see the valley below.

The island in the center of the room is as big as a conference table in a board room, with pots and pans hanging from hooks overhead. My stomach growls when I see the plate heaped high with bacon, eggs, and toast on top of the island.

He hears it and chuckles, carrying me toward it. I expect him to release me, but he doesn't. He sits down with me in his lap, holding me close.

"You're going to feed me," I whisper, warmth rushing through me.

"Fuck yeah, I am," he growls, his expression hot when he meets my gaze. "You know how many times I've wanted to sit you on my lap and feed you, baby girl? Too many to count."

It's so strange how something so small can make me so happy, and yet it does. For the first time in my life, I know exactly what it feels like to be bursting with love. It's perfection.

"Spend Christmas here with me," he says, running a hand down my back. "I'll decorate whatever you want me to decorate."

"I'm supposed to fly home." My flight leaves the day after tomorrow. I don't want to go though. For the first time in my life, I'm not looking forward to spending Christmas with my family. I want to be here, with Blaze.

"Then I'll go with you."

"You'd do that?" I ask, eyes wide.

"Yes."

He scoops a bite of scrambled egg up onto a fork, bringing it to my lips. I wrap them around it, pulling the fork into my mouth. The cheesy flavor bursts on my tongue, making my stomach growl again. I'm starving.

"I'd rather stay here," I say between bites. "I'm not ready to share you yet."

"You don't want them to know about me?"

"I do want them to know about you. I just don't want to share you with anyone yet. I want to be selfish and keep you all to myself for a little while. Is that okay?"

"Yeah," he says, grinning. "That's okay, baby girl."

"If we stay, are you going to cook for me?"

"I'll cook. Fair warning, Alaric will probably show up at some point. He always appears when there's food involved."

"I like Alaric."

He growls, which makes me laugh.

"I'm serious. He's nice to me."

"He better be nice to you. I will break his jaw if he's not nice to you, little one."

"You're such a good daddy," I whisper, smiling.

"Finish your breakfast then," he growls, heat in his eyes. "I'm ready to be a real good daddy and eat mine."

Oh. Yes, please.

Chapter Nine

Blaze

"Trouble is brewing," Alaric says, popping his head into my office.

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