Page 46 of Never Kiss a Krampus
“Because you are barely touching me, which defeats the purpose.” His hands settled on my waist—huge and warm even through my layers of clothing. “Relax, little light.”
“I am relaxed.”
“You are rigid as a board.”
“That’s just my natural sitting posture.”
“Liar.” He pulled me fully against him, my back against his chest, his arms wrapping around me over the blanket. “Better.”
Better was an understatement.
He was furnace-hot, heat radiating through every point of contact. His chest was solid muscle beneath me, his heartbeat a steady drum against my spine. The cold that had been seeping into my bones began to retreat, chased away by his warmth.
Oh no.
This was a terrible idea. Because it felt too good, too right. Like I’d been cold my entire life and finally found the sun.
“You are still shivering,” he said, his breath stirring my hair.
“Give it a minute.”
His arms tightened fractionally. “Take your time.”
We sat in silence, the only sounds the howling wind outside and our breathing. The candles I’d lit cast flickering shadows but we were wrapped in darkness and warmth and each other. Slowly, my shivering subsided. My muscles began to unknot. My breathing evened out.
This is nice. This is actually really nice.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yeah.” The word came out drowsy. When had I gotten so tired? “Thank you.”
“You are welcome.”
I should move. Should put some distance between us before this became something it shouldn’t be. Instead, I let my head fall back against his shoulder. He made a low sound—approval, maybe—and shifted slightly, adjusting his position to support my weight more comfortably.
His tail, which had been draped over the armrest, moved. I felt it before I saw it, a gentle, careful touch around my waist. Not constricting. Just… there.
“Your tail,” I said.
“What about it?”
“It’s touching me.”
“Yes.”
“You said there were consequences for touching it without permission.”
“There are.” A pause. “I am granting permission.”
The implications were inescapable. Touching his tail was an intimate act. Allowing me to touch it required trust.He’s trusting me.The realization sent warmth through me that had nothing to do with his body heat.
“Why?” I asked.
His hand moved, smoothing the blanket more securely around my shoulders. “Because my tail provides additional warmth and stability.”
“So for practical reasons.”
“Precisely.”
