Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
"Alaric, I…"
"You never told me what you want for Christmas," he says at the same time.
"You." It's the truth. All I want for Christmas is him. And maybe the spanking he promised me that first day. The thought of this man punishing me makes me ache to know what it feels like.
"Come home with me," he whispers in my ear. "I'll endorse your father if that's what it takes to get you in my bed. I'll give you whatever you want. Just come home with me, angel."
I freeze, barely even breathing as my heart clenches. Is that what he thinks of me? That I need to be bribed into his bed? That I'm only here because I want something from him?
"Let me go," I whisper.
"December, what…?"
"Let me go," I growl, jerking away from him. My heart pounds against my ribcage, tears welling in my eyes as I lift my gaze to his.
"December, angel." His eyes widen in distress as he takes a step toward me.
I throw up a hand, halting him. "I didn't do any of this for an endorsement, Alaric. I'm not with you tonight because I want something from you. I'm here because of you."
He reaches for me, but I take a step back. And then another and another. His eyes narrow, a soft growl rumbling from his lips. "Don't run from me, angel."
"I'm going home. Alone."
"I will spank you," he growls.
I'm pretty sure the couple walking a few feet away hears him because they both turn to look in our direction.
I don't heed his warning though. I turn and plunge headlong into the crowd. He curses and charges after me, but for once in my life, fate is smiling down on me.
A photographer materializes from the crowd, calling his name. I risk a glance over my shoulder to see the photographer stopping in front of him. He stands completely still, hellfire burning in his eyes as he stares after me.
I shiver, ripping my gaze from his. And for the second time since I started here, I flee.
Chapter Eight
Alaric
Irap my knuckles against December's apartment door hard enough to rattle the giant Christmas wreath wishing all and sundry a Merry Christmas. A family of happy snowmen wave from the living room window, with others peeking over the lip of the kitchen window.
Even the welcome mat is shaped like a snowman. My angel loves snow...the one thing we never get in Los Angeles. I file that information away for later. After I fix what I fucked up tonight.
Christ, I'm an idiot. Of course she thought I was trying to bribe her into my bed. That's exactly how it sounded...as if I thought I could get her there by agreeing to endorse her stepfather. As if that's why I thought she came to work for me.
It's not what I think. I don't know why she's pretending to be her sister, but I know it isn't at her stepfather's request. She can't be bought. She isn't for sale. And she hasn't asked for a damn thing except for a chance.
But I find myself desperate to spoil her. I want to give her everything her heart desires and make all of her dreams come true. That's why I said what I said. Because I'm goddamn crazy about her, and I'll do anything, give her anything, just to make her smile.
I don't ever want her looking at some other man like she looked at me tonight. I won't ever let some other fucker know how perfect she sounds when she's coming apart at the seams. She's my angel. I'll move heaven and earth to keep her. I want to know what she's running from so I can make her mine.
But that's not what I said. I fucked it all up. I made it sound like I was trying to bribe her.
Movement behind the door captures my attention. I spin to face it, waiting impatiently for her to open it so I can explain. Shit. She has to let me explain.
The door creaks open.
A curvy blonde pokes her head out. "Oh," she says, her face falling into a dark scowl when she sets eyes on me. "It's you."
"You must be Jillian."
She eyes me warily.
I sigh. "You must be her sister then."
"Yes." She crosses her arms, pulling her fuzzy pink robe tight around her shoulders. "And she doesn't want to see you right now."
"I need to talk to her."
Jillian snorts. "I think you've said enough for one night."
I shove a hand through my hair and curse. There's no way she's letting me in to see her sister tonight. I'm guessing December told her exactly what I said, and she's not thrilled with me either.
"For the record," I say quietly, "I didn't mean it the way it came out."
Jillian looks me over, chewing on her bottom lip just like December does. They may not be sisters by blood, but I think they've been close for so long that they've picked up the same nervous habits. "How did you mean it?"