Chapter Fourteen November Twenty-fourth
Pine Ridge, New York
“Are you sure you want me to go? I was out last night.” I luxuriate next to my boyfriend. Husband—unofficially. Soon to be officially. Lover. Person. Heartbeat.
He’s all the wonderful things that I caught glimpses of in books and fairytales, movies, and even commercials. If I’m clingy and addicted, I can’t help it.
I also don’t have to. Artie is the same way.
When I go to roll over, he grabs me back, warm body pressing into my naked one, lips nibbling their way down over my breasts, across my navel, even to the juncture of my thighs.
“Go out. Have fun. Will you be done by ten? I have to support a rollout that’s ten hours ahead. ”
“I’m going to the Night Market with Charlotte and Tessa—from book club.
I want to get Lesha a Christmas present.
” And you. Something special. I’ve already told Chloe at Chloe’s Curiosities to keep an eye out for wedding rings, making up a story about mine being lost during the move.
“Mainly just to look around, though. I’ve been here a month and never been.
Everybody goes, even the locals. It’s not just a tourist thing. ”
“We could go together. Another date night. I’ve been here longer than you, and I still haven’t gone, either.”
His mouth connects with the skin of my pussy, a word I’m still getting used to.
It sounds sexy and forbidden when I say it—and so is what he’s doing to me, lapping around my clit with little taps, butterfly licks, so delicate it drives me crazy.
When he suddenly sucks hard, his tongue delving deep, I scream softly and dig my hands into his hair, hips rocking desperately.
“I wanna come,” I mewl, greedy for more of him, greedy for the pleasure he dishes out so generously.
“I want to make you.” His chin dips down, and he grabs my legs to push them up, turning me into a bundle of pleasure, letting my eager hips ride his hungry mouth.
His hands clamp down on my cheeks, massage me, touching me everywhere.
“You taste so good. All salty sweet. Layers of sweet and sticky honey from my Imogene,” he teases me, talking dirty to make me blush and squirm, even while I’m begging for more.
And when I finally peak, fast and hard, I dive down to catch his throbbing cock in my mouth.
I love the way he tastes, and a little part of me wonders if I’m supposed to like it this much.
Did some ancient krampuses eat people? What about modern ones?
I shudder and close my eyes, remembering that perfectly normal people indulge in this naughtiness, too. Artie certainly loves “eating” me.
“Oh, my God. Immy. Immmmyyyy.” Artie’s helpless, writhing and reaching for me, massaging my head, my neck, whatever he can grab.
I grab his cock at the base and suck, slurping loudly, not caring if I’m making hedonistic sounds.
I wanted to come. Now I want him to come.
I want to swallow him down, adoring that unique flavor that is Artie—still that blend of velvety and sharp, mint and cocoa.
I know that maybe full humans wouldn’t think their partners taste so good. Not that I have anyone to ask...
I don’t care.
I roll on my back and motion Artie to come with me, looking up at his lean body with his cock deep in my mouth.
“Like this,” I urge, bobbing my head, wanting him to do more, to fuck my mouth, even if I’m not sure I should say it like that.
“Fast and hard. I like it when you come, and I can taste it.”
Artie’s face is gorgeous, a tight mix of pleasure, concentration, and then a groan that shakes his spine and causes him to burst like a delicious chocolatey truffle in my mouth, and down it goes.
“Holy matrimony, Immy. That’s... That’s fucking awesome. I’m not even sure it’s legal to make me want you this bad. Is this some magical power of yours?”
I lick my lips and giggle, loving how he collapses beside me, winded but bright-eyed, smiling at me. Our hands tangle, naked, shameless bodies rubbing together. “I’m just a little stronger than most people. No magic.”
“You’re magical to Laurel and me. You go back to sleep if you want. I’ll get up with her.”
“She’s not up yet.” I hold onto him a little longer. “Sure you don’t want me to stay in?”
“Sweet temptation. But every night this week has been like a little stay-at-home honeymoon. Every night for the last ten nights!”
“Am I complaining? No. I’m not.” Besides, I’ll probably get my period this week, and then I’ll lose access to my newest addiction. Unless... No, I’m not going to ask Artie that. I don’t think people have sex when that’s happening.
Artie hugs me tight. “You know you’re tempting me to be a bad, selfish guy. I’d be happy to stay home with you for the rest of my life. This is like... I don’t know. My happy spot. My little corner of the universe, and I finally feel safe.”
I nuzzle my nose to his. “I know that feeling is so hard to get, and so precious.”
“But part of what makes it awesome is the community. That we’re making friends. We don’t have to be the loners anymore.”
“I like being alone with you and Laurel.” I pout.
“Yes, and you’ll appreciate coming home if you go out somewhere first. I know you love the girls at your book club and from the kids’ classes at the library.
You need to get out of the house and be with your friends.
I know that, and I don’t mind.” He kisses my throat and rubs his cheek in my hair, which is silkier and fuller than ever, thanks to a few weeks with a nice brand of shampoo and conditioner.
I actually feel beautiful.
Weird, but wonderful.
“All right, but I’ll be back by nine-thirty—just enough time to make sure you go to your meeting with a smile on your face.”
THE NIGHT MARKET IS a little closer than the park, but it’s still a decent walk. Artie insists on dropping me off, and I tell him Tess or Charlotte will bring me home.
Once he drives off, with me blowing a dozen kisses to him and to Laurel as she kicks her feet in the backseat, I walk around under the strings of white twinkling lights, bundled up in my heavy coat and hood to stave off the November chill in the open-air market—which isn’t that bad to someone like me.
While I wait for my friends, I take a quick trip around the stalls, a kid in a wonderland of clothes, crafts, food, and gifts.
I have money to spend, and when I hesitated to take it, Artie frowned and scolded me.
He always builds me up, even if he disagrees with me. I never had that until him. He said, “Are you kidding me? I couldn’t work without you here, Imogene. Half my paycheck is yours—except that I only get to actually spend about ten percent of my paycheck on nonessentials.”
I don’t care if there’s not much money. There’s so much love and so much respect.
If I’m walking around with my head in the clouds and stars in my eyes, it’s Artie’s fault.
Which is not much of an excuse when I bump into a tall, gorgeous raven-haired beast.
Yes, beast. Not man. His face is long and narrow, with a pointed chin and glowing eyes, and round, curling horns as black as ink in flowing, wavy tresses that go all the way down his back.
It’s a krampus male model. Has to be. Hairy legs. Hooves. Long leather coat and a rich voice that rolls like thunder. “My apologies,” he says, even though I’m the one who smacked into him. “Forgive me, schwesterl.”
I don’t know what he called me, but I gulp and nod. “My fault,” I squeak. “Sorry.” I turn to run—but he comes with me.
“You are the first krampus I have seen in this town. I am only here for the holidays, of course. The annual assignments.”
I feel like he’s looking at me too intently, as if his polite little comment is something I should know.
Something that’s part of being a krampus.
“Oh, yes. Of course.” My palms start to sweat. There is something about this creature that makes me stay beside him, even though I’m also freaked out.
But I remind myself that most monsters in Pine Ridge are kind, and that I’m the last person who should be intimidated by appearances.
“This place... This place is not good picking, is it? And in our country, it is even less so. We are a caricature now, with silly dances and parades. Women flirt with us. Children mock.” His voice carries a rich, unfamiliar accent, and the tone is charming, even courtly.
The way he bends his tall, muscular body down to address me is.
.. I don’t know. An odd sort of attentive. Different from Artie’s attentiveness.
I step away, uncomfortable with how curious I am. I’m not attracted, but... But! There’s someone else in town like me. Like my father. Wow. Was this what he looked like? Would I have horns like that if I hadn’t been maimed? Will Laurel?
“Oh, please, I am in your way.” The stranger bows and smiles.
Devilishly handsome. I get the definition now.
Okay, I see why my mother could have been tempted in a moment of weakness. Hell, with Barton, she could have been tempted as a moment of strength!
“No, you’re fine. I’m just waiting for a couple of friends of mine. I’m a little early. I’ve never been here before, and I wanted to look around.”
“Ah! Yes, me, too. I had heard in New York City about this place. The mountains, the woods— that it would be more to my liking. The mountains—ha, they are nothing like my mountains, but...”
“The Alps.” I looked at a map of Bavaria, of course, when I learned about my mother.
It’s beautiful. Picturesque. The woods look like something out of storybooks, and it’s no wonder so many dark fairytales emerge from there.
If he’s not from around here and he’s from the mountains, I take a guess that he’s from the Alps, and it seems I’m right.
The krampus nods and looks around, a slight frown on his face. “You are... You are staying here?”
“Uh, yes.”