Page 11 of Dirty December

His hands join mine on the reins.

“You taste divine. Spices and fruit and sex.”

“I do?”

He nods. “I’m going to devour every speck of the pretty plum between your legs until you’re overflowing like a broken bottleof wine. And then I can give you the rest of what you want for Christmas, Eirwen.”

I’ve never landed a sleigh so fast in my life.

Chapter Three

The lodge has two rooms and a snug stable. I bed the team down and take the supply of reindeer feed from the back of the sleigh before following Klaus into the small lodge. By the time I go in, soft lights glow from the dark windows and make hazy blue shadows on the snow.

The wind howls and blows fresh snow from the roof as I step inside and get a look at our overnight accommodations.

The bedroom, kitchen, and living area are all jumbled together with a huge fireplace, a wood stove, and an old-fashioned pot-bellied stove. One wall is filled with wood. There’s a bathing area that’s like its own separate building attached to the main room with heavy wooden and stone walls.

The bed takes up fifty percent of the space.

There’s nowhere to hide from it. From this moment.

Klaus builds a fire in minutes then turns his attention to the stove. “I’ll get something heated up for you to eat.”

“I couldn’t eat after the feast,” I murmur, shaking my head.

We’re used to the cold, Klaus and I. The fire blazes, and it’s almost too much. Sweat starts to run down my back as I stand nervously in front of the hearth, rocking from foot to foot.

Klaus looks at me, worry on his face. “Oh, love. Are you afraid now that we’re here? You needn’t be.” The soft, gentle tones that have consoled and comforted many a scared child are flooding back. His eyes are sweet and warm.

I love that about him.

But that’s not the side of him I want tonight.

“For a hundred years, you have been that sweet and saintly man,” I manage to whisper. “I would like to spend tonight with the man who hasn’t had a moment’s selfishness in a very long time.”

“I won’t be selfish, Eirwen. You know that I’m only giving you what you want. What webothwant.”

I shiver.

“Cold?” Klaus looks surprised.

“Too hot.”

“I can fix that.”

IT HAPPENS SO FAST. One second Klaus is standing beside the stove, the next he stoops in front of me and seizes the hem of my dress, kissing me as he yanks it over my head. In the brief instant where we break to let the fabric pass between us, his hands are already ripping away what’s left of my tights and roughly pulling off the soft cupped bra over my head.

“Step out of your shoes, snow angel.”

I obey, chin wobbling in a rush of adrenaline.

Standing naked before the man of my fantasies.

Watching his eyes devour me.

What if he doesn’t like what he sees? What if I’m too flat, too narrow, and simply too unlike the voluptuous humans he could have instead?

But he doesn’t speak. Just kisses me, hands soft on my skin as he strokes my arms.

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