Chapter 7
Christmas Day is a rather dull affair if I’m honest, but my heart is too excited to care.
It’s fun, don’t get me wrong, to sing carols at the top of my lungs while scrambling eggs for everyone, but my mom got me a bunch of impractical gifts that I’ll never use.
Like a leather organizer and a matching handbag.
My older brother got me a video game. Enough said, right?
I did my best to smile and say thank you, but I hope Howler’s reaction to my gifts is better.
I can’t be sure. He has my number, but he hasn’t called or texted.
When everyone has retreated to beds or couches in the midafternoon to digest the main meal of the day, I go back to my very beige room and call him. He answers immediately.
“So did you like your gifts or not, big guy?”
His growl says it all. I laugh with relief.
I didn’t get him anything emotionally heavy.
Just a really big, bright flashlight for future cat rescues, a mug that says Best Cat Dad Ever and a set of flannel sheets with candy canes on them.
I figured they might warm him up for the last week of his challenge, and he could think of me when he went to bed.
“I guess your present will have to wait until the 27th, baby,” he drawls. I shiver with delight and try to guess. “Is it your cock? Are you going to put a ribbon on it?”
His shock is palpable even over the phone. “I’m twenty-two, Howler. I can talk dirty. Sometimes,” I amend. I’ve never felt comfortable enough with anyone to try.
“Who have you been talking to like that?” he finally growls.
“No one,” I admit. “Just you.”
“Better keep it that way, Candy Cane. And don’t touch yourself either. That pussy belongs to me now. Understood?”
My breath catches. “What are you going to do with it?” I ask half teasing, half in genuine curiosity.
Howler snorts. “You’ll find out on the 27th.”
He hangs up after reminding me he’ll be sending the marriage license through tomorrow for me to sign.
Of course, as soon as I set the phone down on the nightstand, the only thing I can think about is touching myself.
My imagination is running wild with what Howler plans to do with my body.
I lick my lips instinctively. But I know he’ll ask when he sees me, so with a sigh I head to my closet to look over my options for a secret wedding.
They aren’t great. I settle on a gray pencil skirt and a cream lace blouse that I’ve never worn.
At least it’s a little dressy, and the lace shows off a fair amount of skin in a very polite way.
I also pack a small suitcase. Howler and I haven’t talked about anything past next week, but I’m not letting him live the single life until I find us a mutually agreeable apartment.
The weekend drags by. I eat too much because there’s not much else to do besides read and play video games with my brothers.
When Tuesday dawns, I bounce out of bed with excitement.
I’ve already told both my parents I’m going to spend a week with a friend.
I don’t think my dad exactly believed me, but he let it slide.
And they’re both already out of the house with work and appointments.
I eat a leisurely breakfast and then shower and get dressed for my wedding.
I haul my small suitcase out to my brand new car.
Uncle Gary had it delivered yesterday. A month ago, this would have been the highlight of my year, but now I’m just grateful for a reliable ride.
And he picked it, so it’s a conservative cranberry sedan — nothing flashy about it except the new car smell.
I almost don’t recognize Howler waiting for me on the courthouse steps. He has a shirt on. And a tie. “Were you just after me for my body, Candy Cane?” he teases as his lips graze mine.
I nod, teasing him right back. “Yes. And because you’re sweet and like cats.”
His eyes crinkle at the corners. “Then let’s go do this so I can look your father in the eye later. Not to mention your uncle,” he mutters.
Twenty minutes later, we’re married! I stare down at the narrow gold band on my hand and the matching one on Howler’s. “I’m glad you got two rings,” I tell him happily.
His lips twitch. “Thought it might curb your possessive streak a titch.”
I consider that with my head tilted. “It can’t hurt. But I still plan to make sure nobody else gets close enough to make a move.”
He grins outright at that. “Should be fun. Now, Mrs. Beecham, you can follow me back to the bar. Stay tight behind me.”
I do as instructed, and we arrive in the empty bar parking lot together. I park off to the side next to Howler’s bike and then pull my suitcase out of the back. His eyebrows go up, but he just shrugs. “You first. I’ll come back for that.”
And without another word, he picks me up and flings me over his broad shoulder. “I don’t think this is how it’s supposed to be done,” I point out helpfully.
Howler just grunts. “I’m not bashing your head against the railing just so it can look like the movies, Candy Cane.
” He sets me back on my feet just inside the door, and I take a curious look all around.
It’s not fancy, that’s for sure. But it is clean.
Suspiciously clean, like maybe someone spent an entire recent weekend scrubbing everything within an inch of its life.
Ariel’s curious eyes sweep around the room, and I tense, waiting for her to sniff and walk out. But instead she bounces up to me and uses my one and only tie to pull my head down to where she can reach my ear. She holds in her hand lightly.
“I want to be very clear about something. This isn’t me taking a walk on the wild side, big guy. I love you. You’re fierce and sweet and sexy and kinda adorable.”
I blink at her in consternation. She nods grimly. “It’s worse than I thought. Repeat after me, you love me.”
Tilting my head to the side, I stare at her in confusion. “Huh?”
Ariel grimaces and twists my ear lightly. “Say it, Howler. You love me. Not you, Howler, love me, Ariel. The opposite. Until you can say it convincingly, we aren’t leaving this spot, and your ear is going to get mighty sore.”
God, she’s sexy when she’s feeling assertive. I linger for just a moment to watch her ire rise a little further. “Fine,” I concede with a sigh. “You love me?”
She growls. “Like you mean it, Howler.” And she twists my ear again.
“You’re awfully violent for such a little thing,” I remark absently.
“Better believe it.”
“You love me.” I make it a firm statement of fact.
She tilts her head to one side and considers. “It will have to do for now.”
With a growl, I pick her up and fling her over my shoulder. “Yes, it will. Remember what I said about being in charge in the bedroom? We are now there. I want you naked and between those candy cane sheets by the time I get back with your suitcase.”
I turn to leave before I say fuck it and let her suitcase get stolen by some enterprising punk.
No big surprise that when I return she’s still dressed and standing in the middle of the room. I raise an eyebrow in her direction. Ariel shrugs. “I need my toothbrush, and it’s in the suitcase.”
With a sigh, I hand it over. “Fine, then come back here because I’m going to unwrap my present.”
She giggles and blushes lightly before disappearing into the small bathroom down the equally short hall. I sit on the edge of the bed and wait for her. When she returns, I pull her between my spread legs. “Now then, Candy Cane. You ready to be licked?”
“Licked?” she repeats with a slight squeak. I grin at her and then swipe my tongue over her lace-covered shoulder. “Licked,” I confirm.
She shudders in my hands, and I take that as a sign to proceed.
I cataloged every inch of visible skin while we stood in front of the judge.
Candy canes were invented to be licked, after all.
But after a minute I’m too impatient, so I hurriedly find all the zippers and buttons until she’s standing in front of me the way God made her. Absolutely perfect.