Page 13 of Her Christmas Monsters

Ethan’s fingers thread through my hair, clutching me closer to him like he never wants this to end. Well that makes two of us. I never want to go back to how we were before.

“Clara,” he breathes and I almost chase after him as he pulls away.

He laughs softly, lifting his other hand to cup my cheek as he stares down at me tenderly. A flash of grey catches my attention though, and I pull away.

“Ethan, your arm,” I breathe, my brows knitting together with concern.

He curses under his breath, and abruptly pulls away from me as he tugs the sleeve of his sweater lower to cover the spot.

“It’s nothing, just a birthmark,” he huffs.

“Ethan,” I say again, not wanting to push him. I know what I saw. “We should—”

“It’s late,” he cuts me off. “We should get going.”

He stands and pushes his chair back over to his cubicle and hurriedly throws on his jacket.

“I’ll get you a cab.” He smiles, but it isn’t the same one I’m used to. There are secrets behind those eyes, and I intend to get to the bottom of them.

Chapter Eight

Icurlupundermy fluffy, warm duvet and snuggle in, barely able to keep my eyes open any longer. It’s been a long week at work, but the day is finally here. I look at my phone, checking for any messages before I set my alarm and place it down in the charger.

There are no new messages of course. I’ve gotten a few from Ethan, letting me know he’s sick and he’ll be working from home but that’s about it. He replies when I ask him how he’s doing, but it hasn’t gone any further than that. I’ve debated asking him about the grey spot I saw on his arm, but if he’s going through these lengths already to keep me from asking about it I’m sure he wouldn’t answer.

I refuse to give up though. I’ve known him for two years now and there’s nothing he can keep hidden from me for very long—which is exactly why he hasn’t been in the office.

I turn over to curl up on my side, wishing I had someone to cuddle up with on this chilly, late fall night. It’s for the best though, especially tonight since I have to be up a few hours earlier than I normally am to supervise the final touches of the displays. The crews have started setting them up, and they’re coming along well. I just hope the public’s response is positive.

I push those thoughts from my mind because I know they’ll just lead to thinking about my asshole boss. I’m supposed to be meeting him at the mall tomorrow morning, and I really can’t let my mind go there right now. Not when I’m already confused by the abrupt way the kiss with Ethan ended. Not to mention the shade, Soren, who gave me an earth-shattering orgasm I felt even after I woke up, even though I’m almost sure it had to have been a dream.

Is it possible to be falling for more than one person? Because there are three men right now who have captured my attention and refuse to let go.

“Clara,” a soft masculine voice breathes, waking me gently from my slumber. “Clara.”

“Soren?” I ask hesitantly and rub away the sleep as I open my bleary eyes.

“Yes,” he breathes, his silken fingers trailing over my cheek. “I’m here.”

“Am I dreaming?” I ask, attempting to take in my surroundings.

“No, I’m here with you,” he whispers, placing a tender kiss on my forehead.

“You’re real?” I ask, my brows knitting together. I sit up in bed and look around, expecting to see the same shadowed version of my apartment I’d seen before but it’s ... normal.

My heart jolts as realization crashes into me. Soren is here and he’s real.

“How?” My gaze snaps back to him, almost thinking the shadowed form I’d glimpsed before would be gone now. But he’s here, lying beside me ... completely naked.

“I found the rift and I crossed through,” he explains excitedly, like I’m supposed to know what a rift is. “Because we connected in the dream realm the other night, I was able to track you.”

“Track me?” I ask skeptically.What in the hell is going on right now?

“Yes, of course.” He grins like it’s supposed to be obvious. “You thought I wouldn’t do everything in my power to find my—”

A crash coming from the front door of my apartment followed by footsteps thundering towards the bedroom cut off his words.

Soren is up in a flash, disappearing in a cloud of thick black smoke only to reappear at the bedroom door just as it opens.

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