Page 28 of Snowed In With the Krampus
She shakes her head and stands on her tiptoes. I screw my brows down, wondering if I said anything amiss, but I still lower my head so she may kiss my cheek.
“The Krampus Haven Star.”
I kiss her mouth, feeding upon her dreamy lips for a moment. “Perfect.” I give her a toothy grin. “And Twyla, min kona, min dronning, your questions will always be welcome. Your stories will always be beautiful—a joy to me and others. Your belief in the magic of this world was always real, even if it could only be felt in your heart. And now, you live it every day with the greatest monster in the world who loves you.”
“Krampus…” her voice cracks right before she falls against me, burying her head in my lower chest.
Wrapping my arms around her, I rumble a purr to calm her trembling, “You may always be the naughty girl breaking the rules, min Twyla. But you aremynaughty girl. And you are my golden one. My golden star. Whatever you do in this immortal life with me, your stories, your questions, your festive spirit,your love…they will always be enough. Becauseyouwill always be enough.”
“Thank you, Krampus,” she whispers and lifts her head, arching her neck to show me her lovely face, those flushed cheeks and eyes wet with her starry tears. “Thank you so much. Thank you for…being you. Thank you for kidnapping me and for loving me so much.”
“Whether or not you decide to try for a child, I will always be your Krampus. You have made me the happiest monster of all time, min Twyla. My happy ending and forever fairy tale beginning. Come…” I offer her my hand. “Let us go downstairs. You will sit near the tree, and I will enjoy your eyes lighting up and all your expressions as you open presents.”
Her shoulders lift, and she presses those lips into a familiar smile full of mischief. “Or we could go snowshoeing and get lost in the woods.”
I lower my brows, also recognizing the way she stands on her tiptoes and dances away from me. Laughing, she runs, fully expecting me to pursue. I shake my head with a grin, awed by my sweet stjerne.
As she scampers away, her soft laughter echoes in the penthouse like the ringing of little bells. Like the silver ones adorning the Krampus World tree.
Later, we will go for a walk in the snow together.
Long after my world has closed, and the public square has been roped off, I will escort her to that tree that rivals Times Square’s magnificent one. And with that childlike wonder in her eyes, I will lift up the ends of the new dress I bought for her, the one she will wear, and I’ll fuck her until she gives me those incandescent and delirious cries of joy.
And then…I’ll give her some eggnog.
The End
