Page 154 of Santa Daddies
The seamstress comes to me. “Could we check your dress in the bathroom?”
It really doesn't seem like the right time, and yet we have to get the fitting done.
Starla’s bravado fortifies my decision to do the Christmas Cherry Auction, not just because it’s kind of magical and every woman who does it ends up with a wild happily ever after with multiple men, but because I am in control of my own body.
Now if I could just find someone who’s as sexy and easy to be with as what I just witnessed. Someone who not only has a Daddy vibe, but also wants to be a father. Someone who might be my stepbrother?
Fairly certain that’s not an option, I just hope not to break the auction’s perfect track record, and send up a silent prayer that my desire to start a family will be solved come Friday.
Chapter Three
Bellamie
While I drop off the bracelets at the fundraising table and Starla submits her eggnog entry in the competition, Jolene stakes out the prime position for watching the parade and catching the eye of Krampus. Why she wants one of the Krampuses to tie her up and drag her through the parade is beyond me.
And yet, I’m glad to have a bold friend like her. She’s the reason I accepted the invitation to participate in the Christmas Cherry Auction.
Jolene drops a pin in the group text chat so we can find her. Scents of hot chocolate, pine boughs, and cinnamon spice wash over me in waves as I dodge between groups of festival attendees who are clamoring for their own positions along the parade route.
Excitement catches up with me even before I step into the street and see Jolene waving at me wildly. Her coat is unbuttoned, making herKrampus is my spirit animalsweatshirt clearly visible. This is contrary to Starla and me,whose coats are buttoned up tight and topped with scarves, gloves, and knit hats.
Rosy cheeks and visible breath highlight the chill in the air, while the nearly full moon lends a magical feel beyond the strings of decorative lights. Too bad the full moon isn’t next Friday for the Christmas Cherry Auction. A little extra boost of magic couldn’t hurt my chances to find the men of my dreams and embark on my future as Mrs. Whoever.
A chill races up my spine. It’s only a week away. So little time. I hoped to have several more casseroles in the freezer before meeting the men of my dreams.I pull my thoughts back to the festival and the money my bracelets will help raise, but just as quickly, lose the focus. When I marry a group of rich guys after the auction, I’ll be able to do even more for worthy causes.
“She has one of your bracelets!” Jolene points excitedly at a little girl walking down the street with her parents. My heart swells, but Jolene’s the one to take action.
She gets people to scoot a few steps away so the little girl can stand in front where she’ll be able to see the parade. The mom ties the Krampus bracelet on the girl's wrist and the little cutie wiggles her arm as much as possible to jingle the bells.
Tonight is perfect.
Pedestrians clear the street as the distant sound of a marching band playing Christmas carols becomes louder. The high school band makes its way down the street followed by the dance team then a fire-twirling act and carolers.
Fire trucks and local officials stream past, but the real hype starts when the sounds of sleigh bells fill the air. Not bright, happy sleigh bells like Santa’s, who is also my stepbrother–he'll be last in the parade on the sleigh pulled by actual reindeer. These bells sound old and rusted, clanking more than ringing, in addition to the inescapable sounds of chains dragging.
Kudos to Jolene’s brother’s best friend for providing them.
When the first Krampus comes into view, Jolene takes noise to a new level and almost breaks my eardrums.
What is her fascination with the hairy, horned beast? The only part that remotely excites me are the ropes… but no one needs to know that’s why I made the bracelets.
The Krampuses ham it up, getting in kids’ faces and asking if they've been naughty or nice, and offering spankings or bags of ‘coal’–probably black jelly beans or something. It’s so cute.
Jolene waves at a Krampus. “I’ve been naughty.” She turns, which puts her face to face with me, and lets Krampus swat her on the butt. “Too bad he’s not using his ropes.”
I really don’t need eye contact or details while she’s playing out her little fantasy. It’s all in good fun, though.
The little girl with the bracelet holds up her arm and tells her mom that she has ropes and bells like Krampus. My heart swells even more that she gets to take this memory home.
The next thing I know, Jolene is facing me again and being bent over by the biggest, thickest, horniest–as in biggest horns—Krampus we've seen so far.
She’s all in, hands on her knees and wiggling her butt, but nothing happens. She glances over her shoulder, and best I can tell, given that he’s wearing a mask, Krampus is staring at me.
Jolene pops up and steps to the side. “Oh my gosh, he wants to spank you, Bellamie.”
I shake my head and point at Jolene, but Krampus isn’t the type to give a fuck. I’m horrified in slow motion while he reaches forward, taking my hand and pulling me out of the crowd.
He grabs one of the ropes hanging from his thick leather belt. Sanity has left my body, taking all of my vocabulary with it.
