Page 13 of Cupid's Naughty Elf

Destroyed me. I can’t walk away.

“Liam, please.” My sassy sugar plum goes from sweet to slut, rolling her hips in a slow, sensual tease that makes my fingers dig into her skin. My eyes snap up to hers, and I’m trying to hang on to my last shred of decency, but then her tongue peeks out. She’s wetting her bottom lip. Her bound hand crooks a tinyfinger at me. “I want you to ruin me, Mr. Rutherford. I needyou.”

Her words make me feel like a motherfucking king. Her everything.

“I’ll ask for forgiveness now, darling. Because for you, I’ll always be a sinner.”

5

PIPER

REINDEER KISSES

Two Years Ago

“Don’t you look ravishing, sweetheart,” Cain Byrnes says in greeting, leaning forward to kiss my cheek while his older brother glares at Miriam. My cousin doesn’t address him, though, tossing her jacket at the older Byrnes brother before giving him her back and addressing Cain.

He didn’t like that. I’m almost positive he wants to strangle her.

Moreover, she’s dressed to kill this year.

Miriam turned herself into a naughty present with bright red panties and a matching bra set, both in a shimmering fabric that seemed to catch every light inside the room. Then, there’s the golden bow wrapped around her chest, and it’s doing its job of catching the attention of every man here. Her assets are on display, but what seems to hold Jonah captive—angers him—are the tiny bells delicately placed on either side of her hips.

They dangle from a golden chain and will snap off at the gentlest of tugs, something Jonah can tell. His hands clench. Hisnostrils flare. And I’m amused by the way he looks both pained and excited about the way her bottoms sit low on her hips.

They really need to bang already.

Turning my attention back to Cain, I take his offered hand. “Thank you.” I’m given a slow twirl; I can feel the heat of eyes on me, but I don’t take his flirting for anything more than that. It’s who he is. Cain’s fun, full of compliments, and protective of those he cares about.

He whistles after releasing my hand and stepping back—I blush. “Someone’s going to flip his shit when he sees you.”

“Stop it,” I giggled, slapping his arm playfully. “But who?”

“You’ll see.”

“That’s no fun.” When he shakes his head, doubling down on not spilling, I cock my hip to the side and tilt my head. Flutter my lashes at him. “Can you tell what I am?”

“Absolutely. You’re the sexiest…” he coughs, releasing my hand and taking a step back. “Sorry. I mean, you’re the cutest?—”

The other two can’t hold back their amusement and chuckle, while a strong hand warms the bare skin of my back. His scent hits me like a freight train, and I inhale deep, releasing a low, pleased hum as it sweeps across my senses like the touch of a long-lost lover.

Worn leather and citrus, with an undertone of whatever drink is in his glass.

It’s powerful and overwhelming yet comforting in a way that shouldn’t make sense, but it does. This man has become my safe place without knowing. My person.

Liam Rutherford is also the man my mother once described when trying to define love.

“All it takes is one moment, Piper. One look and the world around you brightens in ways that feel surreal, and yet grounds you.” Mom plays with my hair after removing the hair tie, my loose curls spread out over her lap. Like me, she’s anatural redhead, but where mine has some brown undertones, she has blonde. Our eyes, lips, and stature are nearly identical, though.

I’m her mini, while my father donated his stubbornness and sense of humor to my genetic makeup.

“All I know is the day I get married…” I trail off, closing my eyes for a second as I envision my future husband. Take note of everything future me wants him to be. “He needs to be tall, dark, and handsome, with eyes that soften every time he looks at me. Cocky grin, too. Maybe a tattoo or two.”

“That’s oddly specific. Doeshehave a name?”

“Not yet. Haven’t met him.”

“Uh-huh…” My response to that is a very mature rolling of the eyes, and Mom pinches me. “Answer me, brat. Do you have a crush or a boyfriend?”

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