Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Idon’t remember signing an extension clause?” I’m shocked by his words.
“It’s in the fine print,” he drawls.
“I didn’t see any fine print?” I return with wide eyes. What the actual Santa hot clause did I sign?
“Under my signature,” he says as he crosses his arms and looks down at me from his imposing height.
“Well, that’s convenient for you,” I manage to say.
He smiles widely. “How I like it. You’ll learn my ways soon enough.”
Heat whips through my body at the thought.
“And you’ll learn mine,” I return with a challenge.
I can’t believe I just said that.
“I plan on it.”
I almost fall to my knees. The way he says it, with such promise, Like it’s a sure thing. And gosh, imagine it being so.
“When do you plan on getting started?” My mouth and words strike again.
But, come on!
It’s like I’ve been waiting forever. Starving for a taste of something I’ve never even had, but somehow know I’ll be hooked on the moment I consume.
I watch the myriads of emotions cross his face.
Surprise. Appreciation. Desire.
And something else.
Something I can’t name.
Well, arctic cowboy, what’s it gonna be? I think to myself as I watch him look me up and down. Sizing me up. Figuring me out.
Maybe my boldness threw him a loop.
Maybe it even threw me a little… but hell, I signed a clause. I walked on his yacht with my toothbrush and panties in my bag, I knew exactly what I was signing up for so to speak.
Maybe not all the Santa Claus talk but the rest, yes.
“Tell me something.” His voice is different. It’s something more commanding—more alpha.
“What would you like to know?” I return before taking another healthy sip of the incredible hot chocolate.
“Are you always this bold?”
Out of all the questions. Out of all the things but, of course. He’s an alpha male looking to mark his territory.
“Not that it matters,” I raise my jaw proudly, “but no, I’m not usually so bold.”
I know he’s weighing my words.
“But then I’ve never signed a clause in order to have sex with a man I’m attracted to before either.” I can’t resist saying.
“I told you I’m complicated.”
“There’s complicated. And there’s complicated.”
He smiles, then frowns before looking all serious again.
“Do you want out of the clause?”
What in the?
“I basically just asked you when we’re going to have sex, and you think I want out of the clause?” Now I look at him like he’s crazy.
He shrugs his shoulders and doesn’t look embarrassed at all.
“It’s a fair question after everything you’ve heard.”
Is he kidding? If everything I heard is really one hundred percent true, which I believe it is, that’s kind of the best bonus there is.
“I appreciate the question, but I don’t want out of the clause. I just want you.”
My words impact him because he immediately takes a step forward and pulls me in his arms again for another earth-shattering kiss. My hot chocolate is lost to me, I could care less at this point because all I want is him. He’s the only thing I want to hold on to and taste. No one else.
Nothing else.
He pulls away again and grabs ahold of my hand and starts walking briskly down Candy Cane Lane. I almost must run to keep up with his pace, but I’m just as anxious as he is so I completely appreciate it.
“Where are we going?” I ask him as I savor in the surroundings.
Since it’s dark in December, the stars and auroras are always out casting an even more of a fairytale look on the village.
“My cottage,” he tells me as we walk off Candy Cane Lane onto a path weaving our way through a maze of inviting homes. The windows are lit up with the light from fires and the sweet smell that permeates the air almost gives you a kind of high.
He smiles and waves at a few people passing us by, all of them with those huge smiles, apparently living the life here in Santa’s Village.
He makes another turn and starts walking toward a lone home a good distance away from the rest of the small town.
The home is bigger than the ones we passed, but modest and as cozy looking as I can dream it to be.
There’s a sign when we reach the cobblestone path, cleared from snow that leads to the double front doors.
It says, Santa’s Cottage.
I guess I’m about to do it in Santa’s house with Santa’s heir apparent. This I’d never imagine in my wildest dreams.
He turns to smile at me when we reach the front door before squeezing my hand. He pauses before opening the door and leans over and picks me up in his arms. I throw them around his neck and kisses me softly.
He opens the door and steps inside and for some reason I feel like a new bride. I can’t help it—he shouldn’t have gotten all romantic like this! Our mouths are fused as he enters the home and slams the door shut with his booted foot behind him.
“What a pleasant surprise, son!” A booming male voice practically echoes throughout the house. “Ho Ho Ho!”