Page 28 of Sinning for Santa

“Engaged isn’t married, little mouse. So until then. You’re all mine.”

I’ve never said that to a woman before.You’re mine.I’ve never claimed a woman to be mine. Never wanted to. But for some reason, the idea of making her mine has my cock hardening, my balls tightening, and my heart racing.

Can this day get any fucking weirder?

“Seatbelt, little mouse. We are nearly at our destination,” I bark, and even though she looks like she wants to argue, she shifts back in the seat and starts tugging her seatbelt on.

“Don’t you mean hell?” she snaps, sending my lips wide as I laugh at her retort.

Such a feisty little Catholic girl.

Standing, I close the door and watch her as I round the front of the car.

Once back inside the sleek Corvette, I strap myself back in and the first thing I notice is all the mud my little mouse has brought in with her.

Connie’s not going to be happy about that.

The next thing I notice is that Jaxcen still has those damn heels in her hand. I’m surprised she hasn’t tried to stab me with them. Maybe she hasn’t considered that the stiletto could be used as a weapon. Since I’m not keen to get stabbed right now, I keep that to myself and plant my foot on the accelerator once again, speeding into the darkness ahead.

Woodall Ridge is a small mill town that sits on the cliffs overlooking Timber Valley. A couple of years ago, the little town became mine.

It was crumbling and old. The remaining occupants in the town were too elderly to work anymore to maintain it. There were no job prospects, no tourism. It was fast becoming a dying ghost town, which just so happens to be the perfect place for someone like me to call home.

So I acquired it. Made some upgrades to most of the main buildings and some of the homes, and turned it into a kind of gated community.

At the time, the ten or so elderly residents that remained were happy to stay. They were already willing to die in this place, and I knew they weren’t going to be any trouble, so I let them stay and upgraded their homes, and ever since, I’ve made sure there’s enough food and medicine for them to live out the rest of their days comfortably.

Why would the devil do that?

Well, like they say. Better the devil you know.

As we approach Woodall Ridge, my gaze shoots in the direction of each armed post I know is hiding in the forest. Normally they would shoot the tires out of an unknown car arriving in the dead of night. However, I already know Finn would have called ahead to let them know what car I would be arriving in and that I would have a guest with me.

Nearing the town’s edge, the gates of Woodall Ridge loom ahead, the men guarding it all armed to the nines, on alert as we approach.

“Are you sure we’re in the right place?” Jaxcen murmurs, and I flick my gaze to her to see those big blue eyes wide as she takes in the armed men up ahead.

“Of course, little mouse. This is hell.”

Her blue gaze darts to mine. “Woodall Ridge is hell?”

Smirking, I shrug. “Depends who you ask. But I prefer to call it home.”

Surprise flickers over her face, her gaze staring back out the window as I ease the car to a stop while the big gates slowly creak open.

Inod to my men standing guard as we wait, and as soon as the gates open wide enough, I drive through and up the dark steep road that leads to the main township.

Given the early hour of the morning, which some might say is late at night, no one is around but those on duty to protect the township. All the houses are dark. All the businesses are dark. All except for the large building up ahead.

The Palace.

The Palace Hotel has become my home. It’s also the main hub of activity in the township where people gather, drink, eat, and celebrate. But the top floors are all mine.

Jaxcen remains quiet as I pull the car to stop outside the pub. She seems to have shrunken in on herself. Whether it’s from fear or the unknown, I’m not sure, but since I’m dead tired and fucking starving, I don’t have it in me to pacify her.

Getting out of the car, I round it and notice she watches my every move right up to the moment I crack her door open and wait for her to climb out, but she remains seated, her seatbelt securely fastened.

“Time to get out, little mouse.”

---