Page 7 of Dirty December

“I know you’ll miss Klaus. We all will. Let it out, dearie.” Claudine pats my shoulder.

I let out a short hysterical laugh into her warm, well-padded bosom as she pulls me into a hug.

“You’ve been working too hard, Eirwen. You’ve never missed a day. You won’t delegate a single chore for the team or in the stable. If I were Kris—I mean, Santa—I would order you to take at least one night off!”

“What an excellent idea. You know I always listen to Nana Claudine.”

I gasp as Kris’ amused voice booms above our heads.

The new Santa bends to hug the silver-haired elf who helped raise him. Everyone, elf or human, reveres Nana Claudine.

“I’m fine. I like to stay busy!” I quickly throw on a wide, perky smile.

“Good—but you’ll have to obey my first official order, or you’ll make me look bad.” Kris winks. “Dad wants to take a sleigh to Kullorsuaq to celebrate his retirement, and you know how he is. He’s never flown anything but Santa’s Sleigh. There’s a pretty lodge right on the water. Why don’t you take a night off after being Dad’s chauffeur?”

“How about it, Eirwen?”

My smile stiffens at the edges in an effort not to moan aloud. Klaus has managed to sneak up behind me. His hand is on my back.

So much of my back, all at once. His thumb lazily caresses a line up and down my spine and it turns my limbs into mush.

“Uh-huh. Sure. Sure. When?” I rasp, mouth wet but throat suddenly dry.

“No time like the present. And you know I need a distraction. The first Christmas Eve in a century without working? I won’t know what to do with myself. C’mon, Eirwen. You show me how to fly ‘er, and I’ll buy you a grog.”

I look up and see Klaus’ wide, gentle smile.

For a second, I wonder if I dreamed the conversation we had in the stable.

Then, I feel his hand lightly stroke my waist, fingers caressing my bottom before coming back to his sides. The smile on his face remains innocent, but his eyes are ravenous.

A white wolf, hunting.

Those gray hairs are no indicator of strength—and I can’t wait for him to bend me until I’m about to break, to use every drop of his power on me.

“Will we be back for Christmas dinner?” I ask, trying to sound calm and interested.

“We’ll beat Kris home by a minute!” Klaus laughs, and Kris laughs, too. Even Nana Claudine laughs. At last, I join in, giddy.

Klaus and I are leaving for a night of passion together, and no one will suspect a thing.

THE NEXT FEW HOURSare a mad dash as Kris gets ready for Take-Off. I’m busy with the team. Klaus is busy with Kris. Everyone is rushing with their own jobs to do. For a few hours, I concentrate fully on my work.

But then, Kris leaves. The Tracking Department gets to work while the Fulfillment and Distribution Teams go to their battle stations. The Crafters, Packers, and Mechanics go get drunk or fall asleep.

I head to a deserted spot where I coast the sleigh out and shiver in anticipation as I wait for Klaus.

He arrives, somber and unsmiling, preoccupied with Kris and missing his work.

But then he gets in the sleigh, and I’m pressed against him, his warmth soaking into my thick green velvet dress and white furs.

“On my lap, Eirwen,” he breathes, breath making frosty clouds.

“Yes, Klaus.” I scoot myself over, letting out a little chirp of surprise when Klaus lifts me over his meaty thighs, so broad under my little saplings of legs.

But he doesn’t just lift me. He lifts my skirts, spreading them around us so that my tight-covered bottom is nestled to his groin.

“Let’s go.”

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