Curse of Christmas: A Collection of Paranormal Holiday Stories

by Thea Atkinson

I’d be insane to.

  Right?

  He spun and re-trod the path back toward me. I followed his every sure-footed move, until his climb of the bottom step below me brought him almost to eye level.

  “Do you believe everyone we meet in life, we do so for a reason, Cole?” he asked.

  My gaze flitted away and back to him. “Do you?”

  He nodded, dipping his hands deep into his pockets. “Some people come into your life as blessings. Others as lessons.”

  My head tilted. “Which one are you to me, then?”

  “Can’t I be both?” he asked.

  “Why, Benjamin?” My lips twitched. “What do you think you can teach me?” Other than the world is a far freakier place than I ever imagined.

  “That wearing heels will likely get you killed.”

  “Moot lesson,” I said. “I pretty much figured that much out myself, when a crazy, naked man caught up with me.”

  His chuckle arrived quiet as he climbed the second step. Closer, a little higher, his expression sobered as he faced me.

  “And as for being a blessing? I’m …” My breath hitched a little. “… going to take a little more convincing on that.”

  Hands still in his pockets, he ducked forward.

  The closer he came, the more my eyes played irritating tricks on me, and that shock of honey blond of his seemed to suddenly surround more prominent cheekbones and a prouder forehead. His golden eyes, even half-obscured beneath lowered lashes, merged into those of the lion in the park.

  I almost swallowed my tongue, but managed to untwist it just enough to blurt out, “Benjamin, are you a—”

  He stilled. “What, Cole? What am I?”

  “Are you a—I mean, did you …” My brows pulled tight as his words hissed through my mind: What am I, Cole? I took a deep breath. “Can you turn into a lion?” I swallowed the second I’d asked the question, half dreading what trouble it’d just landed me in.

  “Do you believe I can?” was all he said in response.

  “That’s a non-answer.”

  “It’s an important question. Do you believe it?”

  Nooooo, I wanted to screech. I mean, how bloody ridiculous would that be?

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  I waited for him to affirm. He merely smiled, his gaze never wavering as he leaned in across the remaining inches and met my lips with his own.

  A moan bubbled in the back of my throat at the connection. With no imminent danger, no surrounding woods, and no frisky creatures rolling about, I allowed myself to taste him, my moan escaping when a subtle muskiness drifted from his pores. Heat from his hands landed on my hips, before sliding around to my back, and beneath his demand, my body arched into him as his tongue swept along mine with delicious finesse.

  Drawing back, he seemed to study me, and I couldn’t help but notice how his eyes had darkened and resembled a couple of orange opals. I also couldn’t help but notice how his hands lingered at my hips.

  “Let me see you again, Cole.” His whisper was a hoarse invitation that skated over my spine, and I very much wanted to throw myself at him and shout yes!.

  Instead, I raised an eyebrow and drew back a little farther. “Are you kidding me? You’re the most dangerous date I’ve ever had …”

  “Probably the most exciting, too.”

  I shook my head, breathing out a scoffed laugh. “Not to mention that, at twenty-five grand a shot, you’re the most expensive date I’ve ever had. Thirty, if you add in the agency fee.”

  “All the more reason.” He shrugged, taking a step back as if it was required with ‘business’ on the table. “I could pay you back one evening at a time.”

  He had offered to repay the evening’s added expenses during the ride home. Multiple times. And I’d declined equally as often, but something about his offer then held my knockback on pause.

  My eyebrows winged up. “You realise that’ll take a seriously long time?”

  He nodded, backing down the steps until his soles hit the path again, though he didn’t quite contain the smile I could see teasing at his lips. “It just means I’ll have to pick you up tomorrow at seven ...” Another backward step, the denim of his jeans hugging his movements. “And then I’ll need to pick you up the next day at seven ...” A dip of his chin and an upward glance of his golden eyes from beneath his eyelashes accompanied his next step. “Then at seven the day after that … and the day after that … and then …”

  I let my gaze skim along his body, over his open shirt and tatty jeans, down to where his bare feet pressed into the snow, and all the way back up again to that handsome face and hair gone wild since the beginning of the evening. Somewhere between south and north, I felt myself melt as deeply as the snow beneath Benjamin’s feet.

  “Okay,” I said, a smile creeping in. “You’re on. It’s a date.”

  THE END

  Enjoyed this story? Be sure to leave a review! You can also find more books by J.A. Belfield via the following links.

  About J.A. Belfield

  Best known for her Holloway Pack Stories and The Therapist, J.A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, a cat and two dogs. She writes paranormal romance, with a second love for urban fantasy.

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  Read More by J.A. Belfield

  Paranormal Romance

  The Holloway Pack

  BEGINNINGS

  CALLED

  LURED

  CAGED

  HEREDITARY

  UNNATURAL

  ENTICED

  CORNERED

  Erotic Romance

  THE THERAPIST

  Mistletoe And Demons

  The Edge of Forever

  D.C. Gambel

  About Mistletoe and Demons

  Christmas isn’t always merry and bright.

  Gaby is a simple day-walking vampire who just wants a nice Christmas. After years of dealing with the hubbub of a Manhattan holiday, she decides a trip out of town is just what her preternatural family needs. But a friend from her past appears with some not so jolly news. Santa isn’t the only one coming to town. A demon has set his sights on stealing one of her unique children.

  Will Gaby save her children, or lose them forever to the clutches of the Christmas demon?

  Chapter 1

  Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock.

  Christmas music hummed around me, mingling with the sounds of forced merriment from Grayson’s employees as I stood alone at the Alexander Holdings Incorporated annual holiday party. My husband, host of this little shindig, had vanished half an hour ago, sneaking off to do some last-minute business.

  I didn’t hold it against him. He was doing everything he could to clear his schedule for the next two weeks.

  While spending the holidays in Manhattan featured on most bucket lists, for us, staying home was a nightmare. Tourists bombarded this city leading up to New Year’s Eve when you can’t even make a phone call due to over activity.

  This year would be different. Grayson and I were taking our four children and heading to snowy Colorado. A few years back, Grayson had purchased a cabin out there. We’d visited a handful of times over the years, but this would be our first Christmas in the winter wonderland.

  The kids were excited, my parents even more so. Their official reason for joining us was to help with the kids, and to be honest, Grayson and I needed assistance with our four supernatural children. However, I suspected my parents were scheming, but to what end, I was unsure.

  Warm fingers traced down my spine, sending tingles I felt even through the fabric of my dress, as they sl
id across my hip. I smiled, knowing it was my husband without even turning. Thanks to our mating bond, I was connected to him in a metaphysical way. I didn’t always know exactly where he was or what he was feeling, especially at a distance, but in a building full of people I could find Grayson blindfolded. It was like playing Marco Polo, but the other person responded nonverbally. While the connection didn’t work as well as the blood tie I held with Sebastian, the children’s guardian angel, Grayson and I chose to be tied. My bond with Sebastian was entirely organic. We were both angelic and our blood called to the other, trying to lure us together.

  I no longer resented that particular tie, even though it had caused so much turmoil in my relationship once upon a time. It had also saved my life and that of my eldest son, Ian.

  “Come with me,” Grayson’s masculine voice vibrated through me causing a delicious quiver deep in my core. After almost a decade together, I still desired him.

  He led me around the corner. The sound of the party filtered in even with distance, thanks to my vampiric hearing, but the moment Grayson pinned me to the wall with his strong otherworldly body, the only sound I could hear was the blood pounding in my ears.

  I caught a quick glance of him before his lips sealed against mine. It was a gentle kiss, but with the promise of more to come. Tonight, he was dressed a bit more casually in a burgundy button up and black slacks rather than his typical office attire of business suits. He’d styled his dark hair with a carefree tussled appearance. His gray eyes peered at me hungrily before he leaned in, kissing me again.

  “Grayson,” I moaned against his lips, mirroring his desire. “The party?”

  “Fuck the party,” he growled deepening the kiss, allowing his tongue to dance against mine. Grayson’s hand slid up my dress skimming teasingly over the fabric of my panties. He groaned, finding me wet. My nipples instantly hardened, making me both regret and feel grateful I wasn’t wearing a bra, as I rubbed myself against his hard chest.

  The sound of a nearby woman’s laughter broke through my haze. While I wasn’t opposed to sex in his workplace, I wanted more time than what we would be allowed.

  “Maybe we should take this home?” I offered enticingly, smoothing the imaginary wrinkles out of his shirt discreetly putting some distance between us.

  “Give me ten minutes to make my rounds. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  I nodded. One final kiss and we parted. Struggling to hide a smile, I headed to Grayson’s office, where I had deposited my bag when we arrived.

  His secretary’s desk sat empty, which was an unusual sight for me. I was so used to seeing the elderly woman, Mrs. Giles, sitting there diligently, the unwavering sentry guarding my husband from those who would disturb his work tasks. As it was well past the end of the workday, I wasn’t surprised to see the woman had retired for the evening, although if she had been at her station, I wouldn’t have been shocked either. The work ethic of that woman was astounding. Grayson practically had to threaten to fire her to get her to leave some nights. He paid her well, but her dedication had nothing to do with money. Rather, it was due to the fact Grayson had rescued her son.

  While Mrs. Giles never admitted she’d noticed odd changes in her boss after I entered his life and turned him into a daywalking vampire, when her son became addicted to vampires feeding on him, Mrs. Giles went to Grayson for help. The true nature of her son’s problems was never spoken, but Grayson had influenced the boy’s mind and saved him from certain death.

  Grayson had tried to get the woman to retire two years ago, but she refused. “Until I’m unable to do this job in the capacity you’re accustomed to, I’m staying right here.”

  The sounds of the party faded as I drew closer to Grayson's office. My heels were muffled against the carpet of the long hallway. I was almost to the door when I stumbled, catching myself before any real embarrassment could be had.

  My hand moved instinctively to my heart, feeling it race. My breathing grew rapid. It took me a moment to realize what was causing these reactions. My blood hummed, signifying someone I was tied to was near. I glanced down the hall, but Grayson was out of sight. The pull was too strong for there to be much distance between me and whomever was causing this reaction. If it wasn’t my husband, it could only be one thing. An angel.

  The office door loomed before me. Whomever was causing my blood to dance was on the other side. Worse still, they had to know I was lingering, intentionally keeping the false safety of the door between us.

  I am no coward, I reminded myself. The daughter of the first vampire, a queen in my own right, and I would not tremble in fear from some unknown angel. My children were safely with their grandparents so if he was here for them, he’d be disappointed.

  Setting my shoulders back, I shoved the door open. The angel was facing the window, admiring the city before him as I’d seen Grayson do so many times.

  There was something familiar about the man in dark wash jeans and black leather jacket. My body hummed, begging me to cross the distance to him. The urge was stronger now with him was in sight. I’d only ever experienced the need as strongly with one person.

  “Sebastian?”

  He turned, as if just realizing I was there. However, like me, he was a supernatural being, which meant he possessed astounding senses. Even if he had control over the blood tie beckoning us together, and perhaps he did. I myself was out of practice. He would have heard even the quiet scuttle of a tiny mouse entering the room, much less a fearless daywalking vampire trampling in.

  The lights from the Christmas tree the kids set up in Grayson’s office danced across his features, highlighting him in a variety of colors. It was him. His blond hair was longer on the top of his head, while he chose to keep it short everywhere else. His emerald eyes studied me, watching me intently.

  Years had passed since I’d seen him in person. The last time was mere days after I gave birth to my youngest child, Lizzy. Sebastian, as their guardian angel, would come to me shortly before I gave birth to let me know he would be my child’s protector and again after the baby was a few days old to establish the bond. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him until that moment.

  Without thought, I rushed to him throwing my arms around his neck, clinging to him tightly. Burying my nose into his leather jacket, I breathed him in. It wasn’t until his arms encircled my waist my blood calmed, and I was at peace. Without the blood tie ruling me, clarity returned.

  I pulled back enough to see the flakes of gold in his green eyes and asked, “Why are you here?”

  After earning his place back in Heaven, Sebastian wasn’t allowed to roam earth as he once had. If he was here, there had to be a reason and I was sure I wasn’t going to like it.

  “Text your husband, Gaby. Tell him you’ll meet him at home. There's something you and I should discuss.”

  Chapter 2

  “Krampus?” I snorted unable to hide the mirth and hint of disbelief in my tone. I’d asked Sebastian twice already, but his answer had not changed. Part of me wondered if I was a bit disjointed after he’d dissipated us to the top of Angelo Tower, the building where my father housed his nest of vampires, and where my family and I currently resided. I’d texted Grayson before Sebastian took my hand and teleported us to the new location. Good thing I made the effort before the leap. It was a bit disorienting, after years of not traveling through the cosmic rift.

  “I don’t know why you're getting hung up on the name.” He rubbed his forehead, clearly irritated with me, but I couldn’t help myself. He’d just told me a Christmas boogieman was after my kids, which plenty of people heard during this time of year, and yet, all knew it wasn't a real threat.

  “Because you’re telling me the anti-Santa is after my kids. You might as well have said the Easter bunny.”

  “You’re a daywalking vampire, talking to a former fallen angel, who died in your arms, only to come back to life with his former angelic grace, yet you draw the line at a demon who inspired pagan folklore? He’s
a demon, Gaby, regardless of the name you recognize!”

  I sighed, rubbing the skepticism from my face. “We’ve faced demons before.”

  “Lilith spent a lot of time on earth.”

  I cringed hearing her name. Lilith attempted to kill my oldest when I was pregnant with him. If it hadn’t been for Sebastian…

  “Why does that matter? A demon is a demon. I fear her more than some Christmas anti-Claus.”

  “She was weakened because of her presence here. Krampus spends the year in Hell. He comes topside for three weeks. Whether it’s by choice, or because of some curse placed upon him, we don’t know. But what we do know is he’s been here for two weeks already. Heaven has tracked him and he’s in the city, Gaby. The kids are getting older. They’ll be coming into their powers soon.”

  I shook my head, tightening my grip on my jacket. “Ian’s barely six, Sebastian.”

  “Listen, Gaby, most parents don’t even know their children have guardian angels. After Micheal’s attack, Heaven placed the children under my protection. You were made aware of this because if the prophecy was ever elucidated and Micheal decided your kids were evil, he’d eliminate them without Heaven’s consent. I alone cannot take him. He’s an archangel and I’m…not. I would need help. I’ve done my best over the years. I’ve monitored potential hazards and eradicated them, on both sides.”

  Both sides? That meant even with Heaven placing Sebastian as the kids’ guardian, there were still those on his side who were convinced my children could grow up to be evil. The prophecy was unclear on their future. It simply stated they would change the world. No one knew if it meant for good or evil.