Chapter 5 #2
“Don’t move a muscle,” I growled, pushing off the doorframe, my bare feet silent on the polished floor as I closed the distance. The air between us pulsed, electric. She didn’t back away, didn’t flinch. She simply stood there, glowing like the star on the damn tree.
When I reached her, I curled my arms around her waist and hauled her against my chest, burying my face in her neck.
“Look up,” I whispered against her skin, lips grazing the shell of her ear.
She tilted her head, blinking at the ceiling. Then she gasped. “Mistletoe?”
I smirked. “It’s tradition, I hear. What do you think?”
She turned her head to look at me, eyes dancing with heat and something softer. “I love it.”
“I’m glad to hear. Now, if you don’t mind, you can look around all you want, but I have need of this.”
I nuzzled her neck, breathing her in. My lips traced a lazy line from her shoulder to her jaw, lingering behind her ear. She shivered in my arms, her knees threatening to buckle.
I bit her earlobe, then sucked it deep into my mouth, not letting up until she whimpered—low and needy. That sound. That sound would undo me every damn time. I pulled back enough to look into her eyes.
“Is it too late for the Reaper to worship you properly?”
Her voice came out on a hitch. “You want to worship—”
“Yes. Because I’ve been—we’ve been fucking idiots. My brothers helped. And each of them has something planned for you too.” I tightened my grip on her hips. “You’re everything to me. And it’s my goal to make it up to you. To remind you who you belong to.”
I grabbed her hair and tugged, getting better access to the neck that would forever be my personal playground. I kissed it delicately before sucking the flesh into my mouth and marking her. She cried out as I increased the pressure. My name slipped out.
“The kiss that became a hickey. I have a plan to give you tons of them before my night is over.”
“Alek,” she moaned once again as I went back for more.
When her hand shot out and wrapped around my cock, I had to tear myself away.
“Not yet, kitten. I’ve got the day planned out for us.”
I snaked her hand in mine and took her on a tour of the cottage. I didn’t let it go either as I led her through the space, taking my time. We didn’t get many moments like this. Where it was quiet and slow. So I was going to savor every damn second of it.
The place wasn’t massive. It was cozier. It had three bedrooms, recently redone with modern touches.
“Is that a massage table?” she asked with a crooked grin.
“Why yes, it is, but it’s for later. First things first. There is a plan here.”
“I’m not surprised, my King.” She rose up on her tiptoes and grabbed my shirt to bring my face down so she could kiss it.
“Come on, you.” I said, pulling away and tugging her down the hall. “This one’s ours,” I said, nudging open the bedroom door.
She stepped inside, her gasp soft but delighted.
The bed was king-size with a red and green tartan duvet cover. A fire crackled in the small hearth on the far wall. A gift waited on the nightstand, but what caught her attention—what stopped her—was the outfit laid across the bed.
A short velvet Christmas dress in emerald-green, trimmed in white fluff.
A pair of white-laced, thigh-high socks with green ribbons at the top lay next to it.
There was even a ridiculously frilly white apron with tiny candy canes all over it.
And nestled on top was the cutest elf hat with her nickname embroidered on it.
Her eyes snapped to me, lighting up with amusement. “Are you serious?”
I raised a brow. “Deadly.”
“You want me to dress up like a Christmas elf? A little role play, my King? Color me surprised and not at all disappointed. But, um…where is your Santa outfit? You’ll need one…” Her innocent eyes darted around the room.
I couldn’t hold my laughter in. It poured out of me. God, I loved this woman so much. “I had a little something else in mind, but duly noted for next year.”
“Next year?” She cocked her head to the side as a rush of surprise, and if I had to bet money on it, anticipation was already kicking in.
“Yes, kitten. Next year for sure. Take a closer look. There is a clue in the outfit.”
“Oh,” she said, and she drew her bottom lip into her mouth and reassessed the situation. “An apron?” Her hands flew to her hips, and her brow furrowed. “Is this about your monthly ‘need to have’ cookie habit?”
“Maybe?” I teased, enjoying the way her mind raced to conclusions and how well she knew me.
Sue me. The woman made the best damn cookies I’d ever had in my life. So yeah, that shit was on the monthly schedule.
“So let me make sure I’m on the same page. You brought me all the way here, decorated an entire house just so I can make you cookies? We’ve got to work on your sharing skills, my King.”
“Wrong,” I said, stepping behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist. “I want you to teach me how to bake them. That way, when we go home, I can challenge my brothers to a bake-off.”
She turned in my arms, blinking up at me.
“A bake-off? You against the Crow and the Blade?” she asked, a sweet grin tugging at her lips.
“Yup. Wanna know what the winner will get?” I teased.
She nodded eagerly.
“An extra night with a scene of your choosing—in the playroom. Whatever your little heart desires.” I traced the edges of the robe that lay against her upper thighs.
Her eyes fluttered closed, and she drew in a deep breath. “And who’s judging?”
“Why, you, of course. Who else?” I brushed her hair behind her ear and leaned in, kissing the corner of her mouth. “I want you to taste everything I make. Give me real-time feedback.”
Her cheeks flushed, but the sass never left her expression. “So you’re saying I get to be in charge today?”
I smirked. “In the kitchen, yes.”
“And in the playroom, right? I’ll get to be in charge in there too?”
“You’re funny, kitten. You get to be in charge of planning the scene.
You know the rules we have for the playroom.
Your Beloved,” I paused and kissed her left cheek.
“Your Daddy.” I kissed her on the right cheek.
“And your Master,” I growled, my lips hovering over hers. “Are always in charge in that room.”
I sealed the statement with a bite to her bottom lip.
Then, I slid my tongue into her mouth, tasting her.
Everything else faded as our lips closed over one another.
After kissing her breathless, she pulled away.
Gulping, she stepped back and reached for the tie holding her robe closed.
My cheek twitched as she twirled the satin around her fingers.
“Maybe you’d like to help me change?”
I growled under my breath. “If I do, we’re not leaving this room until morning.”
“So that’s a no?”
“That’s a fucking hell no, little baker. I’m trying to behave here. To show you I love more than this sexy, to-die-for body of yours. I’ve got plans. Loads of them.”
“Like what?” she asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
“I have an entire night planned. The Great British Bake-off show is cued up. We’re ordering dinner in. I have a special gift for you as well. A pre-Christmas gift, if you will.”
“Thank…thank you, Alek. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
“I think I do. And again, I’m sorry I didn’t acknowledge all you’ve done before. Say you forgive this old man and will let me make it up to you?”
“Yes. Absolutely. Make it all up.” She threw her arms around me and kissed me deeply.
Fuck, she was too good at being a distraction. I needed to get my ass back in control here for fuck’s sake. I swatted her ass, delighting in the hiss that left her mouth. My boy must have placed one strategic swat on her sit spots because that was where my hand landed.
“You’ve got five minutes. Meet me in the kitchen. And bring that sass with you.”