Page 16 of Starstruck with the Krampus

Gianna faces me, her eyes wide. “You livehere?”

I understand her confusion. The wall surrounding my land is seven feet high, and tall fir trees further obscure the view, imposing and covered with fresh snow. The orange light on top of the gate blinks at us as the iron panel slides to the side. Then I ease the car forward, the tires crunching on the driveway.

Gianna drops my hand and leans forward, her face alight with curiosity.

I could drive all the way up to the house in the dark, then carry Gianna straight inside, where it’s warm. But I’m a vainKrampus. I want her to see what I’ve created and I want her to experience the full effect.

It’s Christmas, after all.

So I reach for my phone and thumb the settings for the lights on my property. I switch them on, and Gianna immediately rewards me with a gasp.

I turn to her, grinning. “Welcome to my home.”

CHAPTER 8

GIANNA

Dominic’s garden is a winter wonderland. The scene unfolds in front of me, and I can’t do anything but sit and stare, trying to take everything in.

The lights he switched on are cleverly positioned, illuminating bushy fir trees decorated with dainty glass baubles that glitter like ice. White string lights are wrapped around their trunks and tucked between the branches, winking softly and creating a startling, ephemeral effect. On the snowy lawn, several hand-carved bird feeders wait for the birds to return in the morning. There aren’t any inflatable Santas to be seen, nor reindeer, just a whole forest of Christmas trees, all beautifully decorated to create a magical scene.

I knew his company created hand-crafted wooden toys and ornaments, as well as Christmas decorations, but this is beyond anything I’ve seen while creating the branding for him.

Dominic drives slowly toward the house, and I glance this way and that, discovering something different at each glance. There’s a blown-glass swallow on one of the trees, so delicate itlooks like a real bird turned to glass, and a whole tree decorated only with icicles, glittering like diamonds.

“This is amazing,” I breathe and finally focus on Dominic.

He’s been quiet ever since he welcomed me to his property, as if he wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this. Now he gives me a slow smile, his sharp white teeth flashing in the darkness.

“I like shiny things,” he confesses. “And forests. I wanted to live close to civilization, though, not in some godsforsaken forest.”

I grin at him. “So you brought the forest here.”

He stops the car in front of the darkened house, then presses another button on his phone. Soft lighting springs up, tastefully illuminating the front porch, welcoming us home.

My heart squeezes at the realization that this is exactly the kind of house I’d get if money was no obstacle. It’s a modern log cabin, with wide windows facing the snowy lawn and a chimney puffing out smoke from what must be a wood fire inside. Now that the iron gate has shut behind us, we’re completely secluded, and I understand why Dominic felt the need to build himself such a fortress of a property—here, he can be himself without the fear of being seen. The walls are tall enough to hide the garden, and the trees further obscure the view of the house.

My brain tells me I should probably be afraid of being here with him, so far away from the rest of the world, but all I feel is peace. A sense of serenity so deep, it permeates right into my bones. This is Dominic’s sanctuary, his safe haven from the world.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” I whisper, throat tight with emotion.

He nods, then exits the car and rounds the front to open my door. I take his offered hand, and he leads me to the door of his house, then ushers me inside. As much as I enjoyed the frosty garden, it’s amazing to be out of the cold. I let Dominic hang upmy coat and scarf, then step out of my heels and leave them at the front door, padding behind him down the short hallway.

The living space opens in front of us, the windows overlooking the illuminated garden. There’s a kitchen to the right, with gorgeous custom-made cabinets and a dining table big enough for a family. The only other light comes from the glass-enclosed fireplace where embers glow orange, the fire burnt low in the hours since Dominic was last here. He walks quickly to it and puts another log on, waiting for it to catch.

I think he’s giving me time to snoop around, yet I don’t want to explore anything but him right now. So I walk over to where he’s crouched in front of the fireplace and lean into his side. We’re standing on the edge of a plush rug that covers the rustic oakwood floor, and I wiggle my stocking-clad feet happily, glad to be out of those heels.

Dominic wraps a hand around my calf and strokes lightly up, until he reaches the hem of my dress, then down again. He stares into the flames, firelight flickering over his harsh, beautiful features.

“What are you thinking?” I whisper.

He lets out a shuddering exhale, and I notice for the first time how tightly coiled his muscles are, how tense his posture.

“You don’t know how good it feels to have you in my home,” he rasps. “I’ve never… It’s never been like this.” He shakes his head, his right horn brushing over my hip. “I don’t know if it’s some remnant of my ancestors, maybe, the need I’ve felt to drag you into my lair and lay claim to you.”

I stifle a giggle—this house is hardly alair—but he’s being so serious. I don’t want to trample on his emotions by laughing at him.

“What do you want to do now that you have me here?”

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