Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Bellamie
While I drop off the bracelets at the fundraising table and Starla submits her eggnog entry in the competition, Jolene stakes out the prime position for watching the parade and catching the eye of Krampus.
Why she wants one of the Krampuses to tie her up and drag her through the parade is beyond me.
And yet, I’m glad to have a bold friend like her. She’s the reason I accepted the invitation to participate in the Christmas Cherry Auction.
Jolene drops a pin in the group text chat so we can find her. Scents of hot chocolate, pine boughs, and cinnamon spice wash over me in waves as I dodge between groups of festival attendees who are clamoring for their own positions along the parade route.
Excitement catches up with me even before I step into the street and see Jolene waving at me wildly.
Her coat is unbuttoned, making her Krampus is my spirit animal sweatshirt clearly visible.
This is contrary to Starla and me, whose coats are buttoned up tight and topped with scarves, gloves, and knit hats.
Rosy cheeks and visible breath highlight the chill in the air, while the nearly full moon lends a magical feel beyond the strings of decorative lights.
Too bad the full moon isn’t next Friday for the Christmas Cherry Auction.
A little extra boost of magic couldn’t hurt my chances to find the men of my dreams and embark on my future as Mrs. Whoever.
A chill races up my spine. It’s only a week away.
So little time. I hoped to have several more casseroles in the freezer before meeting the men of my dreams.I pull my thoughts back to the festival and the money my bracelets will help raise, but just as quickly, lose the focus.
When I marry a group of rich guys after the auction, I’ll be able to do even more for worthy causes.
“She has one of your bracelets!” Jolene points excitedly at a little girl walking down the street with her parents. My heart swells, but Jolene’s the one to take action.
She gets people to scoot a few steps away so the little girl can stand in front where she’ll be able to see the parade. The mom ties the Krampus bracelet on the girl's wrist and the little cutie wiggles her arm as much as possible to jingle the bells.
Tonight is perfect.
Pedestrians clear the street as the distant sound of a marching band playing Christmas carols becomes louder. The high school band makes its way down the street followed by the dance team then a fire-twirling act and carolers.
Fire trucks and local officials stream past, but the real hype starts when the sounds of sleigh bells fill the air.
Not bright, happy sleigh bells like Santa’s, who is also my stepbrother–he'll be last in the parade on the sleigh pulled by actual reindeer.
These bells sound old and rusted, clanking more than ringing, in addition to the inescapable sounds of chains dragging.
Kudos to Jolene’s brother’s best friend for providing them.
When the first Krampus comes into view, Jolene takes noise to a new level and almost breaks my eardrums.
What is her fascination with the hairy, horned beast? The only part that remotely excites me are the ropes… but no one needs to know that’s why I made the bracelets.
The Krampuses ham it up, getting in kids’ faces and asking if they've been naughty or nice, and offering spankings or bags of ‘coal’–probably black jelly beans or something. It’s so cute.
Jolene waves at a Krampus. “I’ve been naughty.” She turns, which puts her face to face with me, and lets Krampus swat her on the butt. “Too bad he’s not using his ropes.”
I really don’t need eye contact or details while she’s playing out her little fantasy. It’s all in good fun, though.
The little girl with the bracelet holds up her arm and tells her mom that she has ropes and bells like Krampus. My heart swells even more that she gets to take this memory home.
The next thing I know, Jolene is facing me again and being bent over by the biggest, thickest, horniest–as in biggest horns—Krampus we've seen so far.
She’s all in, hands on her knees and wiggling her butt, but nothing happens. She glances over her shoulder, and best I can tell, given that he’s wearing a mask, Krampus is staring at me.
Jolene pops up and steps to the side. “Oh my gosh, he wants to spank you, Bellamie.”
I shake my head and point at Jolene, but Krampus isn’t the type to give a fuck. I’m horrified in slow motion while he reaches forward, taking my hand and pulling me out of the crowd.
He grabs one of the ropes hanging from his thick leather belt. Sanity has left my body, taking all of my vocabulary with it.
He grabs my wrists, pinning them together with one big hand, then wraps the rope around them in a loose loop. He pauses and asks, “How naughty have you been?”
This is my chance to back out.
My eyes drop to the potential binding, then up his furry arms, over his broad shoulders, across his monstrously attractive face, but it’s the horns that finally sink me.
“Go for it,” Starla says, reminding me of her behavior with her dad’s best friend.
It adds to the high of the festivities, encouraging me to be a willing participant. I open my mouth to answer, but it’s Jolene’s voice I hear calling, “She’s been very naughty… Take her away!”
Jolene wants this, not me. So why is my heart fluttering? Why do I nod when Krampus tightens his grip on my wrists? I can’t even think of one naughty thing I’ve done this year other than sneaking spinach into lasagna and lying to my parents about college.
A growly laugh comes from inside the costume. He steps closer, wraps the rope around my wrist several more times, then ties a very specific knot.
A boy scout? Not tonight.
His voice is much quieter, completely serious. “You’re mine now. I take that responsibility seriously.”
Um… yes? I nod.
A tug of the rope has me stumbling forward, becoming part of the parade. I glance back. Jolene waves then puts her focus on the next Krampus.
Thank god she's happy for me. I didn't want this, and yet, as with so often when I follow Jolene’s lead, I do.
The parade vehicle in front of us stops, causing us to do the same. I’m at the rope’s length–a few feet–behind my captor.
“Anyone know what happens to naughty girls?” my Krampus bellows to the crowd.
They do. And they demand that Krampus spank me.
Hand over hand, he draws the rope in, forcing my weak legs forward. New levels of weirdness unlock in my brain as my sexy bits tingle. What’s wrong with me? This is a family affair.
A sharp downward tug on my restraints forces me to bend over. My coat is long enough to cover my butt.
Then it’s not. Krampus gathers the fabric onto my back, leaving my leggings the only respectable barrier over my butt.
My rapid breaths are shamelessly visible. Any clarity between playing along and unlocking a spanking kink is as melted as Frosty on a hot summer day.
The impact of Krampus’ palm on my right butt cheek sends my body into a full shiver. My eyes clamp shut. And my foot flies forward, barely stopping my legs from giving out. I have to force a breath.
Krampus tugs the rope, nestling my face into his furry chest and wraps his other arm around my back.
The beast has chosen me, and I’m all in.
The rest of the parade is a blur. I try to watch what the other Krampuses do with their naughty victims, but I’m wound too tight to focus.
“Can you stay a little longer?” my Krampus asks.
It takes me a second to realize that we’ve reached the end of the parade.
“I want to take you on stage for the vote.”
I’m pretty sure I’ll go anywhere with this beast but only manage a nod. Waiting for the rest of the parade to finish, he stages me for photos, reminding the picture takers to post the photos to social media and tag the event.
That gives me plenty of time to wonder when I started enjoying being bent over and spanked in public… or anywhere?
Since when does Krampus punish naughty girls by having them kneel in front of him? Perhaps he got tired of doing the same pose?
Since when do I wish I wasn’t signed up for the Christmas Cherry Auction because I want to be… No! I don’t want to be fucked by a beast… not really. Or maybe. What does he look like without the costume?
I’m simply not myself tonight. Between Starla’s bravado and Jolene’s Krampus quest, I’m letting my guard down, not worrying about what anyone, particularly my parents, would think. I’m doing whatever I want.
And maybe it’s about time.
“Everyone’s going crazy for you two. I bet they send that decibel meter off the charts.” the festival staff member says as he lines the Krampuses up next to the stage while the emcee explains the points program for the Krampus tour.
All the towns that have festivals got together to do a points competition to maximize the number of Krampuses at each festival.
Jolene would be much better on stage. “Is there anything I need to do? I'm not really a spotlight kind of girl…” I tell my captor.
“Can I tie you up even more?” His voice is low and gravelly. Is that part of the show?
Holding my wrists up, I ask, “What else?”
“Let me bind your legs.” His fingers wrap around another rope hanging from his waist.
“How will I get on stage?” That’s not really my biggest question.
“I'll carry you.”
Yes! There’s no rational reason I’m letting a stranger bind me in public, but every part of my body wants me to go for it, including my nodding head which gives him the answer.
Krampus kneels in front of me, has me brace my tied hands on his shoulder, then quickly works the rope around my legs. Tight enough to hold, but gentle enough that I can still stand.
He takes my hands, makes sure I’m balanced, then sits back on his heels. “So fucking beautiful.”
Am I supposed to return the compliment or is he admiring his knots? I wouldn’t even know how to compliment Santa’s demon half. Nice horns?
Next thing I know, Krampus effortlessly tosses me over his shoulder and up the stairs we go. On Krampus’ command, a stagehand sets a chair in the middle of the stage.
Krampus spins around a few times, getting the crowd riled, then carefully sets me on my feet.
His big hands steady me. There is absolutely nothing I should love about this, but apparently all of the mental prep work I've done for being on stage at the Christmas Cherry Auction has worked because I love this.
I love being seen with Krampus. I even love that I'm at his mercy.
I might love it too much.
My thinking is that if a bunch of guys, or even two, buy me in the auction, there's going to be so much going on, I'm just going to have to exist in the moment like I'm doing right now. It's the perfect practice.
It’s disconcerting that my sex tingles in front of the crowd, but for the first time since I can remember, I have no shame. All of the voices that have told me I’m not enough fade away.
The emcee notes the crowd's enthusiasm.
Off to the side, little kids are lined up to sit in Santa’s lap. I pray Santa doesn’t look this way because I’m pretty sure it’s my older stepbrother’s turn in the chair. He would not be happy with me.
Krampus calls to the crowd, “Who's ready to see me punish this naughty girl?”
Krampus sits, leaving me even more visible to Santa. Too late, Santa, who is definitely my brother, turns my way.
I can’t see his expression from this distance and with the white facial hair, but I can practically feel his irritation.
Krampus takes a few seconds to look me up and down before guiding me onto his lap.
This could be a good thing. After my efforts to gain Loren’s interest over the last couple years have only created more distance between us, he has no right to stop me from having fun with another guy… even if that guy is a Christmas monster and his interest in me is all for show.
Then the first spanking lands. I was not at all prepared for the way it would make me feel.
The spankings break me, particularly while my hot possessive stepbrother is on my mind. All I can do is surrender. Well, I do one other thing… I hope this doesn’t have to end when he takes his costume off.
No! Ugh! I can’t have sex before the auction. That would ruin everything.
“Alright Krampus number four, you've taken this crowd through the roof and moved into first place, but there are a few Krampuses to go. Please exit that direction and let’s see if Krampus number five can top this.”
My Krampus grumbles, lifts me onto his shoulder, and carries me in the direction of Santa. No! This is not good.
My captor sets me on my feet, and I dare a glance at Santa. My stepbrother's staring at me, and the puffy white facial hair and glasses do nothing to hide how pissed he is.
He removes the kid from his lap and sets him to the side before rising from his chair.
Oh no, no, no, no. I don’t want a repeat of what happened at Starla's house. These men need to quit thinking they control us. If Loren wanted to be more than my stepbrother, he had his chance. Okay, I’d totally give him another chance, but it doesn’t look like he’s about to break down and tell me how wrong he was to push me away and that he wants me.
I muster all the thoughts I had when Starla’s dad, stepbrother, and dad's best friend objected to her being in the Christmas Cherry Auction. I think of how strong she was standing up to them, and I commit to doing the same.