Chapter 10
Nikolai
She pouted the second I pulled into the main house driveway.
“Wait, what are we doing here? Aren’t we spending the night at the cottage?” she whined.
I reached across the console and lifted her chin with enough pressure to remind her who was in charge. “We are,” I said calmly. “But I need to grab something first.”
“Oh, okay,” she sighed in relief.
Inside, it took less than two minutes. I moved quickly, boxing the item and slipping it into the boot of the car while she waited in the passenger seat.
When I returned, I didn’t speak right away.
Just climbed in, started the engine, and slid my hand back over to her leg.
My thumb traced slow circles over the inside of her thigh as I drove.
That always settled her. “Close your eyes,” I said after a few miles.
She squinted at me. “Why?”
“Do you really want to test me right now, malyshka?”
The blush that rushed to her cheeks was immediate and satisfying. She obeyed without another word, fluttering her lashes closed with a dramatic sigh.
“I swear if you’re making me close my eyes just to—”
“Tone,” I warned.
I kept one hand on the wheel and tightened the other on her thigh, squeezing firmly to redirect her. Like the good girl she was, she murmured an apology. I returned to trailing lazy patterns along her skin, up and down from knee to mid-thigh.
She hummed under her breath. Relaxing and leaning into the moment more. It was my favorite version of her—when she gave over the reins completely and let herself be taken care of.
“You’re not going to tell me what it is, are you?” she finally asked, keeping her eyes closed.
“Nope.”
“Mean.”
“Necessary.”
I parked outside the cottage twenty-eight minutes later, proud of how well she held out. Not once did she peek. Not even when she knew we were slowing down. I got out and came around to open her door. Her hands immediately reached for me, blindly seeking guidance. I took both of them in mine.
“Still eyes closed?” she whispered.
“Still closed,” I confirmed, guiding her from the car. “Lift your foot…there you go. Good girl.”
She stumbled, and I caught her before she could make a sound, gripping her waist and pressing a soft kiss below her ear.
“You trust me?”
“With everything.”
My chest warmed. I’d never take that lightly.
She shivered as I took her hands, the wind nipping at her cheeks, and I immediately regretted not bringing a heavier coat for her.
I pulled my scarf off and wrapped around her.
Her lips quirked into a smile, and when she nuzzled her nose into the warm fabric and inhaled, it made my chest tighten.
“Are we going inside somewhere?” she asked, eyes still closed, brows raised beneath the knit band of her hat.
“No, baby girl. Not yet.”
I handed her the thermos first. Her gloved fingers brushed mine, and the contact sent a bolt of something warm through me—deeper than comfort, stronger than lust. Love. God help me, I was in so deep.
“This feels like a thermos.”
“Yes, it is.”
“You made hot chocolate?”
I grinned. “I had some help. But it’s not just any hot chocolate. It’s Mrs. P approved. Extra marshmallows. Peppermint syrup. And a little something special from me.”
“May I have a sip?”
“Of course.” I unscrewed the lid and helped guide it to her plump lips.
She took a sip, then moaned. “Ohh…I taste a splash of vanilla cream and cinnamon?”
I kissed her temple. “You really are the smartest little elf.”
Her laugh bubbled out, light and airy, as I stepped behind her and placed my hands on her shoulders, guiding her forward. “Keep your eyes closed for a little longer.”
The cottage’s backyard opened like a winter fairytale behind her. It wasn’t cold enough for snow, but the frost laced the grass in soft silver, and the bare branches above glistened faintly from an earlier shower.
While we were saving Christmas in the escape room, the crew had been busy stringing lights last minute.
The scent of pine clung to the air, crisp and clean.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the handmade map, its edges intentionally burned and curled, hand-drawn arrows winding through trails she didn’t even know I had memorized.
“You can open your eyes now.”
She did—and gasped.
A wide stretch of the woods was lit with soft golden lights, strung as best as four bachelors could do. In the center of the backyard, a cardboard sign stood with her name scrawled onto it, followed by four words: Let the hunt begin.
“You did this for me?” she whispered, holding the thermos to her chest like it was keeping her upright.
I didn’t answer right away, but stared at her in awe. This woman stormed into my life, threw me and my brothers for a loop, and somehow made our pact and dedication to one another stronger. Damn, we were lucky.
“I never thought I’d be the kind of man who did scavenger hunts in the woods, baby girl,” I murmured, sliding the map into her gloved hand. “But then again, I never thought I’d find someone who made me want to learn how. Truth is…before I met you, I didn’t even know I liked them.”
Her lashes fluttered. Her lip trembled. I reached out and traced it with my thumb.
“You’ve given so much to me. To all of us. The way you care, the way you light up a room—hell, the way you’ve managed to make me care about Christmas. Classic move, by the way. I have a feeling that you’ll make every holiday special.”
“I’ll try if you’ll let me.”
I kissed her knuckles. “You’ve taught me how to show up for someone, not only in the big ways, but the quiet ones, too.”
I cleared my throat. Emotions swelled at the back of it, unexpected and raw. “You’re the only woman who’s ever made me want to build a future. A real one. So tonight, I wanted to give you something fun. Something whimsical. Something you.”
She stepped forward, threw her arms around me, and buried her face in my chest. I wrapped both arms around her small frame and held her tight, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.
“I’m not as good at them as you are. But I had a little help.” I handed her the first card with a wink. “Ready to play?”
She cleared her throat and read aloud.
Malyshka,
It’s time for a game. One just for you and I.
It’ll be fun, I promise. Give it a try.
The reward at the end is all for you,
Flip this over to read your first clue.
“Go on. The anticipation is killing me, and it’s getting cold,” I teased.
You’re so damn delicious, sexy and so sweet.
I can’t wait to lick you like a frozen treat.
Your next clue is where the wind whispers and the pine trees sway.
A hidden treasure awaits in the cold light of day.
She was off before I could blink. A blur in red plaid and thigh-high socks, darting toward the trees like a sugarplum on a mission.
“Cheater,” I called after her, grinning as I broke into a jog.
She laughed but didn’t slow down, her curls bouncing, her breath forming little puffs in the crisp winter air.
God, she was beautiful. Radiant, even. She was built for this season, and it showed.
I caught up as she veered toward the back of the property, eyes scanning the woods with wild glee.
She paused near one of the old oak trees, her breath catching when she saw it.
The soft flicker of a flameless candle sat at the base of the trunk, its light dancing inside a frosted glass jar.
She slowed, enchanted. I held back a few paces, not wanting to disturb the moment. My eyes swept the trees, the shadows beyond the lights. I didn’t see him, but Marcus was once more lending a hand. Thank God he loved us as much as he did. He was stealthy, like Ivan.
She knelt by the candle, her fingers brushing a small package and another card placed neatly beside it. Her smile softened as she picked them up, reverent, like she could feel how much care had gone into even this small piece of the puzzle.
And it had. Every step of this day was designed to honor her. To make her feel cherished, adored, and to make up for the lack of attention. I stepped closer, and her eyes met mine. She turned the package over in her hands, delicate but eager. She was savoring each second and I loved it.
“Go on, open it,” I breathed.
She nodded and tore into the present and let out a hearty laugh. Her eyes lit up. “Okay, I see you, Crow.”
She held up the heart-shaped bottle. It was a dark, glossy glass. And the words edible chocolate body paint was scrawled in elegant script across the front. She blinked once, then looked up at me with mischief blooming behind those lashes.
“It’s made with real cocoa powder,” I offered casually, like I hadn’t spent twenty minutes debating flavors and packaging before settling on the one that would make her cheeks flush. And boy were they. I loved seeing the pink bloom then settle.
“Can I paint you later?” she asked, voice innocent, eyes anything but.
I smirked, unable to help myself. “Maybe. Let’s see what else Santa left you first,” I teased, waggling my brows and reaching for the canvas tote I’d carried with me to hold her little trinkets and treasures.
She gave me a narrow-eyed look but didn’t argue, placing the bottle into the bag as I held it open for her. I watched her fingers linger on the ribbon as she folded the wrapping carefully, always sentimental with things like this.
Her attention turned to the note, and I saw her expression shift. She once more read aloud.
Walk three trees over off to the right.
Don’t dally, we don’t have all night.
It’s tied to a branch, so you won’t have to search for long.
This gift will have you singing a song.
She darted ahead, following the path I’d mapped out with an excitement that made my chest tight. She even checked the map a few times. I stayed back a few steps, letting her lead and enjoying the way she bounced through the trees .
When she found the next candle, I saw the exact moment her breath caught. The package was tied to a low-hanging branch, a neat little bow Marcus must’ve secured with his usual overachieving precision. She reached up, untied it in front of the candlelight, tearing into it like a woman on a mission.
And then she saw it.
The delicate silk thong glimmered in the soft golden light—ivory, nearly sheer, with a string of perfectly placed pearls running along the front.
She gasped, full-on gasped, and I swear I saw her pupils blow wide.
Her fingers trembled as she held it up, and then in true Kinsley fashion, she closed her eyes and shuddered.
I took two steps forward and smacked her ass hard enough to make her squeal. Her eyes flew open.
“What were you thinking about, baby girl?” I asked, just shy of containing the laugh in my throat.
She spun toward me, flustered and pink, clutching the gift to her chest. “Nothing!”
“‘Nothing,’ she says,” I murmured, moving behind her and brushing my mouth against her ear. “That little shiver looked like something to me.”
She tried to elbow me, but she was smiling and glowing.
I reached over and plucked the thong from her hands. “This one’s going straight in my pocket. Can’t have you getting distracted. You’ve still got a few more clues to find.”
She watched as I pocketed it and sighed heavily before reaching for the card next to the candle.
Get a move on, the time is now,
I promise when you find the next gift you’ll say wow.
Further back, and off to the left, you’ll find a hollowed-out tree.
Reach inside. I can’t wait for you to see.
She knelt beside the next gift, brows furrowed as she unwrapped the sleek black box. I watched the moment realization clicked into place—four clear glass bottles, lined up like soldiers.
Her head tilted, confused.
I stepped up behind her, wrapping my arms around her middle and humming into her ear, “On the fourth day of Christmas…my three Kings gave to me…”
Her breath hitched, then she burst out laughing. “Four tubes of lube,” she sang, not missing a beat, and I laughed right along with her, tugging her closer until her back was flush against my chest.
Her joy was infectious. It lit me up from the inside out, and I grinned like a fool into the top of her head. We shared a sip of hot chocolate from the thermos. She tilted it toward me without asking, already knowing I’d take the next drink.
That was the kind of rhythm we had now, and one of the things I loved most about our relationship. It was like we’d always known each other in some form, even before we met.
From there, she tore through the rest of the clues with more sass than shame.
She placed them inside the tote one by one as she found them: the curved metal butt plug that made her blush deep crimson, the handcrafted flogger she ran her fingers over with curiosity and reverence, the cuffs—lined with velvet—and the soft cotton rope I’d picked out myself.
She shot me a look with that last one, an eyebrow arched.
I only smirked. “Pretty sure you know what that’s for,” I murmured.
“Uh huh,” she replied, dragging the word out, and the sparkle in her eyes said she was already imagining every possibility.
A light drizzle started to fall as we hit the edge of the woods. I spotted her arms cross over her chest, hands rubbing her upper arms to chase away the chill, but she didn’t complain. She looked determined to find the last gift.
Which, of course, she did.
Tucked beside a fallen log under a small overhang, the final wrapped box waited, looking like it had been placed there by forest fairies. She reached for it, fingers trembling from the cold, and tore it open with growing anticipation.
Inside were eight wax-pitcher candles in assorted colors. She blinked, then glanced up at me, waiting for an explanation.
I grinned. “Alek mentioned something about ‘eight candles dripping,’ and I figured…why not take him literally?”
Her laugh was soft this time, touched with affection and a hint of exhaustion.
“Come on, malyshka,” I said, brushing her damp hair from her face and tugging the scarf around her neck. “You’re shivering, and I want to warm you up under a blanket.”
I gathered the bag of gifts in one hand, kept her tucked beneath my arm with the other, and we walked through the light rain—her fingers laced with mine, her head resting briefly on my shoulder.