Page 9 of Starstruck with the Krampus

“Good,” Dominic says. “Now go. Kiss your mother goodbye. You won’t be seeing her for a very long time.”

He finally releases Brandon, and the man scurries from the room as if the hellhounds were on his tail. The door remains open, and Dominic slowly walks to it, then looks at me, raising his eyebrows. At my nod, he closes it and presses in the lock.

“What did you tell him to do?”

He smirks, those insufferably handsome lips tipping up at the corners. “To empty his trust fund account and donate all his money to a women’s shelter.”

I cover my mouth with my hand to hide a grin. “And what was that about kissing his mother?”

“I also instructed him to move to Nebraska. I have a cousin living near Omaha who can check in on him after a while, see if he’s keeping his word.”

He says all this with a straight face, so Ithinkhe’s being serious.

Nebraska.

“Wow. And that’s it? He seemed too terrified for that to be the end of it.”

At this, my former client’s gaze turns sheepish. “I might have also told him that I’ll know if he ever tries to hurt a woman again. That I’ll come and rip his balls out, then feed them to him, sauteed and seasoned.”

“That’s horrible,” I squeak. Then I narrow my eyes at him. “Would you, though? Know if he tries something like that again?”

He shakes his head. “My powers don’t work at such a distance. I’d have to be pretty close to know what he’s thinking.” Then he shrugs. “But again, my cousin lives in Nebraska.”

I nod. “And he’s…the same kind of supernatural you are.”

I make it a statement, not a question. It’s time we stopped beating around the bush and talked plainly. If the violent threats he made toward Brandon weren’t enough to send me running, I think that’s ample proof that I’ve made my choice, even if I haven’t admitted that to myself yet. I need to know what he is.

He stills. “Yes.”

I take a step closer. “Will you tell me? Or better yet, show me?”

His throat bobs as he swallows. “Gianna…”

The way he says my name, it becomes a plea, but I sense his surrender.

“I don’t care,” I whisper. “I just want to know. I want to knowyou.”

Feeling bold, I put my hands on his chest, and he drags in a deep inhale, then groans as if my scent is tearing down his defenses.

He rips his gaze away from mine and glances at where my palms are resting against his burgundy suit jacket. It’s a darker shade than my dress, but we match nonetheless. On most other men, this would look ridiculous, but with his dark hair and eyes, it’s a deadly combination.

He only hesitates a moment. Then he lifts his hand between us, so I take a step back to give him space.

“The glamour is tied to the ring.” He indicates the thick gold band on his thumb. “If you really want to know, you may take it off.”

I gaze up at him. “Do youwantme to take it off?”

He raises his other hand and brushes the backs of his knuckles over my cheek. The skin on his fingers is rougher than human, a little leathery, even though his fingers still look the same.

“I’ve wanted this for a very long time,” he murmurs. “But I don’t want to scare you.”

I take his hand in mine and touch the gold ring. It’s warm—either from his body heat or the glamour spell. I kiss his knuckles, then repeat, “I’m not afraid.”

CHAPTER 5

DOMINIC

The ring slips off my finger, and Gianna puts it in my palm. It’s heavier than a gold band of that size should be and still warm from my body. I slip it into the pocket of my jacket and straighten my shoulders. The glamour tickles as it lifts from me, so I shake myself, my tail whipping out behind my back. My hooves sink into the carpet as I shuffle my feet. I roll back my shoulders, more comfortable now.

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