Yule Be Ours (Verona Falls Vipers)

Chapter 1

Vani

I stare at the envelope, puzzled.

“What do you mean, it’s a Christmas gift?” I run my fingers over the thick cream paper. “It’s not Christmas for another few days.”

We’re sitting in the living space at the house, which everyone at Verona Falls University calls the mansion.

I must admit, with Saint and I decorating, it does look rather grand, even if the more rundown exterior doesn’t match.

It’s set in the grounds of the university, some distance from the main building, and is the place we’ve claimed as our home.

I’m crossed-legged on the couch, with Lex next to me, and his twin, Saint opposite, with Zane beside him.

Saint grins, flashing straight white teeth in his handsome face. “Why don’t you just open it and see?”

So, I do. I pry open the sealed paper, and inside is a stiff card. I pull it out and frown. It’s a boarding pass. Except it’s not a real one; it’s a mockup of one. I read it, my heart skipping a beat, and turn to the three men watching me expectantly.

My three men.

“Is this for real?”

“Yes,” Lex says. “I mean, it’s not an actual boarding pass. It’s one we made because the real one is electronic and impossible to put in an envelope. But the trip is real.”

I stare down at the thick card in my hands.

New York to Paris

First Class

Ivani McGrath

The silhouette of an airplane is printed on the paper, and it’s pretty well done to say it’s not real, but it’s what it says that has my heart beating extra fast.

“Paris? You’re taking me to Paris?”

“Oui, ma cherie.” Saint grins at me. “We want to show you where we’re from. It’s the most beautiful city in the world. And we think Zane needs some European culture.”

Zane shifts his massive bulk in his seat, lazily gives Saint the finger, and doesn’t take the bait.

“The shops are amazing,” Saint goes on. “The galleries. Mon dieu, the art, you will love it.”

“Oh, wow.” I bet my eyes are like saucers as I take in all they’re saying. “And first class?”

“Yes, of course,” Lex confirms.

Zane signs slowly, so I can follow. Only the best for you, Vani.

My grasp of sign language has definitely improved. Meeting Zane, who has scarring across his throat stealing his voice, has been more than enough of a reason to learn.

Saint rolls up the sleeves of his shirt. I don’t know what designer it’s by, but I know it’s expensive. He cocks his head as he speaks.

“We thought about staying at the Four Seasons, because it’s amazing, but then we realized we wanted to do depraved things to you, and the hotel staff might mind if you scream the place down. Instead, we booked an incredible holiday home.”

I narrow my eyes. “Maybe I won’t want depraved sex in Paris. Perhaps it will be all about romance for me. Art, fine food, and gentle seduction.”

Saint scoffs. “Be serious, ma petite poupee.”

“Did you just call me your little poppet?”

“Yes. Your French is getting excellent.” Saint leaves his seat to slide next to me, on the opposite side to his twin.

He leans in and bites my ear gently, sending shivers down my neck.

“You will love Paris, but if you think we won’t be doing the most depraved things to you there, you’ve lost your pretty mind. ”

I sigh, as if I am so put upon, but really, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Will my clothes be okay?” I ask, suddenly aware that my biker style might not fly in Paris.

I picture Parisian women as tall and thin and elegant—the exact opposite of me.

While my three men have made it clear that they adore my curves and find me extremely sexy, I still get self-conscious at times.

I don’t really fit in with the other girls at college either, though a couple of them are now my best friends.

They’re all perfectly made up, while I’m sporting tattoos and crazy curls that won’t do what they’re told most of the time.

Of course, Zane signs.

I follow the fluid movements of his hands, taking in the words. I’ve been learning ASL, as well as French, and it’s easy to figure out what Zane is saying once you have the basics, even though his version is slightly bastardized.

He takes out his phone and writes fast, fingers flying across the small keyboard on the screen.

Saint leans over Zane’s shoulder to read the message.

“Merdi.” He rolls his eyes. “Surely, Zane, you will not travel in these things you call clothes. For the plane, at least, wear something a little more upmarket.”

Zane scoffs and signs too fast for me to follow.

“He says why the fuck would he wear something smart for the plane when he just wants to be comfortable,” Lex translates for me.

“Because it is first class.” Saint rolls his eyes again. They’re going to vanish in his head, if he’s not careful. “It doesn’t have to be smart, but it should be luxurious. Anyway, I’ve got us covered for the flight.”

Oh, Lord, what does he mean? I can imagine us all wearing matching smoking robes or something similar, but he pulls a photograph up on his phone.

“I ordered these for us all, in varying colors.”

I peer closer to see he’s ordered cashmere sets. Cashmere pants for the men—sweatpant style but really bougee, because to me one hundred percent cashmere is definitely bougee. The pants come with matching sweaters. For me, there’s a pair of flared pants, and a tighter sweater top.

Mine is a gorgeous berry shade, Zane’s is gray, Lex’s is navy blue, and Saint has a dark chocolate set.

Zane signs, and this time I follow.

We will look ridiculous.

Saint sighs. “No, we will not. I got different colors and styles. And cashmere is so comfortable and warm. They crank the air up in first class. It can get too chilly. Plus, this way, you can look casual, as is your style, but expensive.”

I don’t want to look expensive, Zane signs angrily. I don’t give a fuck.

“How much did you spend?” I ask, trying to defuse a brewing fight.

“In total?” Saint thinks for a minute. “Excluding the cost of the flights and the rental, because you don’t get to know that as it’s a gift, for the little extras? Only a few thousand.”

I stare at him in disbelief.

What the hell did you spend thousands on? Zane signs.

“The cashmere, obviously.” Saint shakes his head as if in disbelief. I know he’s being purposefully annoying now to irritate Zane. “Plus other things, like toiletries. I’ve got us a bag of nice little things for on the flight.”

“They already do that.” Lex frowns. “You get those bags from them on boarding.”

You do? I have no idea what to expect. I’ve never traveled internationally before, never mind first class. That’s kind of cool.

“Yes, but not as well as I have done it.” Saint shrugs. “I also bought you some jewelry to wear in Paris.” He turns to me with a relaxed smile, as if it’s nothing. “And I got Zane a decent tie, because his are unspeakable.”

Zane clenches his jaw, and I realize he’s about to punch Saint. I’m over the moon that they’ve done this for me, and I bring the conversation back around to that.

“I can’t thank you enough. It’s amazing that you’ve planned all this without me knowing.”

“Of course, we did. We love you.” Lex says it so easily, and it makes my heart jump for joy.

“When do we go?” I ask.

“For Christmas. We’ll fly tomorrow and return on the twenty-seventh.” Lex slings his arm around me. “Did we do good?”

“You did amazing! I can’t believe it.”

I fling my arms around Lex and give him a passionate kiss before breaking it off and leaning forward so I can do the same to Zane, and then move onto Saint, who kisses me like he wants to pin me to the couch.

I’m tempted to let him, but I’ve got so much to do before we travel, so I manage to extradite myself from his embrace.

“I’m so excited. I’m going to go look at all the places I want to go, and things I want to do.”

Giddy with it all, I grab my tablet and head out of the room. I turn back to the men watching me. “You coming? I thought we could all snuggle on the bed and look together.”

They grin and don’t need to be asked twice.