by C. D. Gorri
“Ew! Who are you? Scrooge’s long-lost brother or something? No, you can’t buy me off. The guests aren’t just people from town with money, some of them are the actual kids who go to the Macconwood-Nighthawk Teen Outreach Program. Not to mention their counselors and the philanthropists who are funding the program. Some of these kids have nowhere else to go! Their families either can’t afford to celebrate the holidays, or they don’t even have families,” she said, her voice growing angrier as she went on.
“And I care because?”
“Um, because you’re a human being?”
“That’s debatable. Now, please, leave,” he hated his curt manner, but he had no choice. Sander simply hated Christmas and he found being around her almost painful. She made him want. A feeling he hadn’t experienced in an age or more. It was most unwelcome.
“Well, I’m not leaving! You get Mr. Falk, the nice one, on the phone, please, and he’ll tell you I belong here.”
It was the way she said that last bit that made Sander narrow his eyes. It felt right somehow. She belongs here. With me. His Dragon perked up inside his mind’s eye, and Sander had to fight to not let him out. He growled, but the minx simply folded her arms and raised an eyebrow.
“Seriously, dude, I’ve delivered lunch to preschoolers who have more attitude than that. Now, look, if you could go put on some clothes maybe we can talk about this like adults?”
Sander stood there. He alternately wanted to toss her out on her bum and to scoop her up and carry her to his room, caveman-style. He’d never felt such a warring inside of him. She infuriated him, intrigued him, heck, she even woke his beast! The little minx!
“Well? Get some clothes on and then get on the phone. Shoo!” She said and waved her tiny hands towards the hallway.
He had never been shooed before in his life! Sander didn’t know whether to growl or laugh! One thing he did know for certain, was that she was losing the battle not to take-a-peek at his nudity.
The idea both aroused his curiosity and amused him. He turned his body a fraction of an inch so that he was standing directly in front of her own rather pleasing form and waited. Aha! Success. The small movement caused her gaze to drop, just for a second. So, she is not all business after all!
Sander grinned wickedly. He won that round. Her sparkling, blue eyes widened as she took in his size and girth. She gasped and closed her eyes just as he felt himself harden even more under her intense gaze.
Heat flashed through him for the second time since he’d laid eyes on her. What would it be like if she reached down with her soft feminine hands and wrapped them around his now fully erect cock? Sander hissed out a breath.
Shock made his own gaze widen. What started out as a bit of fun, left him practically crazed with desire for the dark-haired beauty. Her eyes wandered a little more boldly down his body, Sander felt them as if they were hands on his skin. He sucked in a breath, listening as her heart pounded inside her chest.
He frowned as his own heart sped up. He’d only been having a bit of sport, but he hadn’t expected to feel this way. Desire and longing welled up inside of him.
The minx’s cheeks turned a dusky shade of pink, and her blue eyes darted up to his. He was shocked by the heat he saw in them. She was bold and so incredibly beautiful.
Too much beauty and innocence for the likes of me. She deserved someone whole who could worship her. Someone capable of giving her his heart.
He turned away first, breaking contact. Not all things are fair game. His Dragon was a predator, and he recognized prey. This pert little human was off-limits.
That’s the only reason your loins are stirring. She is prey, for the taking, but you will not indulge, he told himself sternly.
His heart was too deeply encased in ice to ever be free to love.
CHAPTER 3
Noelle released the breath she was holding when he finally left the room. Alexsander Falk. She recalled Fred telling her about her three brothers-in-law. They were her husband’s younger siblings.
She’d even met two of them at the castle warming. Edric and Nikolai, if she remembered their names correctly. Both had been huge and handsome, much like Callius, but none had taken her breath away like him. Alexsander Falk.
He must be the youngest. Anyway, the family resemblance was uncanny. The man was every bit as delicious looking as the rest of them, maybe even more so.
He was long and lean with rippling muscles and an awesome six-pack. His dark hair was cut short, but that didn’t stop it from being lush and thick. His eyes stood out the most, they were gorgeous.
Their color was almost teal. My favorite. Every now and then they looked so light, she thought they were white. Hypnotic. They seemed to follow her every move with such intensity she trembled just thinking about it. It was as if he was recording her.
He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. His skin was pale as snow with thick ropes of muscle cording both his arms and legs. And his ass. Ooh, la la. She tried not to think about that, about him. She was there for work!
Still, Noelle had never seen a naked man before. Even in a flaccid state, he was something to behold. Not that he remained soft for long. She didn’t think she’d ever forget the way he grew under her stare.
She gave herself a mental slap and wandered into the kitchen. She didn’t exactly have a lot of time to prepare for the hundred or so guests that would be arriving later that night. She’d been in the castle before, but a quick recap would be just the thing to get her focused.
Her stomach rumbled, and she bit her lip. It was already late in the morning, and she hadn’t eaten anything all day. Hmm. An idea took shape.
After running to her car and bringing in a few boxes of supplies, she took off her jacket and rolled up her sleeves. Her mama always said the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Not that she was after his heart. Just his cooperation.
Anyway, maybe her host would be a little more amiable after some food. She hummed more Christmas carols as she dug through the cabinets of the pristine, restaurant quality kitchen. Imagine being able to cook in here all the time!
She’d love to have so much space and so many handy appliances for herself. Still, her mother also told her a good chef only needs a knife and some fire to whip up an incredible meal!
With that thought in her head she grabbed some food and got to work, murmuring the words to Let it Snow as she washed and chopped some veggies.
Noelle had always a had a knack for creating the perfect meal for people she’d just met. Her natural affinity for cooking somehow combined with her innate friendliness and before she knew it, she was introducing someone to their next favorite meal!
She thought of the handsome man who’d left her breathless after barely ten minutes in his company and bit her lower lip. Something about him was almost wild, untamed, but she had an idea how to soothe his savage beast.
This was going to be a meal her host wouldn’t soon forget!
Sander left the foyer as soon as he could without emasculating himself. What the fuck had just happened to him?
He frowned as he got into the shower. His reaction to the lusty little vixen was most inappropriate. He had already resigned himself to living out the rest of his life alone. As an unmated Dragon, he did not have much longer.
It had been centuries since the mere sight of a woman could reduce his mind to nothing but desire and need. In fact, he’d never felt anything quite like it. His entire body seemed to hum with energy at the thought of his little minx.
Easy, Sander. She was hired by his brother to do a job. That meant she was a guest to be protected and treated with respect. Fuck. Not that he would mistreat her. No, he was pretty sure she would like what he’d been thinking about doing to her delectable body. However, as a guest, he could not simply ravish her and then toss her out.
His mind totally comprehended this, but his randy body, not so much. The raging hard-on that plagued him the second he set eyes on her hadn’t diminished in the slightest. Not e
ven after he’d walked away from her. Sexy little minx.
Oh, crap. Sander had it bad. Well, he had only one recourse left. Since his cock wouldn’t abate, he needed to give it his immediate attention. It wasn’t that difficult to get in the right mindset. All he had to do was picture the blue-eyed vixen.
Her scent had wafted into his nostrils the second he opened the door. He inhaled and could practically taste it. It was as if her fragrance was imprinted in his mind. He wanted to rub himself all over her, mix their scents so all others would know she was his. Mine. Es Meus.
What the fuck was he thinking? Sander shook his head and turned the water on the hottest setting. He rolled his shoulders. His mind a mess. One thing that knew exactly what it wanted was that damn piece of meat between his legs. His cock stood out long and hard. He groaned as he pictured that perfect little mouth wrapped tight around him.
Fuck! Sander was in serious trouble. He moved under the water and gasped aloud. His skin highly sensitized because of his ferocious desire. He felt naughty as hell, but still his right hand moved down his body.
He hadn’t indulged in anything like this since he was a boy. How the hell was he going to get the woman out of his house when his body reacted this way? He closed his eyes and took himself firmly in hand.
Sander groaned as he began stroking himself. He pictured her soft, elegant hands holding him, working him, under the sweltering spray of the showerhead. Yes.
Would she be shy with him? Or would his little minx turn into a wild cat in the throes of passion? She was so fucking perfect. Her inky dark hair and milky white skin were the perfect setting for those gorgeous blue eyes and bow shaped mouth. He pictured her hair spread across his bed like silk as he moved over her, licking, sucking, tasting.
He groaned again, picturing her spread beneath him, pink lips calling his name as he took her to heights she never dreamed existed. Sander tightened his fist around his cock, he pumped harder, seeking oblivion no matter how brief. Finally, he groaned his completion.
Spent, but not satisfied, he exhaled. Fuck. He sagged against the wall. Why do this? Why not just take her? His eyes fell to his ruined hand.
Nay, he’d never know that female nor any other. Not under any circumstance. He was a broken thing. Damaged and unworthy.
Sander washed himself hurriedly and turned off the shower. His eyes fell to his reflection in the mirror as he towel-dried his otherwise unblemished body. Damn her for making him want.
He scowled and threw on a pair of jeans. He searched his drawers for a t-shirt. He’d brought nothing with him, but Callius had assured him he’d seen to his needs ahead of time.
Sure enough, his favorite brand of blue jeans, t-shirts, even his choice of boots lined the closets. He sniffed the black cotton shirt as he pulled it over his head. Pre-washed too.
A Dragon liked his comforts and who better to know that than his big brother? He stuck his feet into a pair of socks and was just pulling on his boots when the scent of food struck his nostrils. His stomach growled in response. When was the last time he ate?
Sander headed down the stairs to the kitchen two at a time. His stomach growled loudly when he found her with an apron tied around her trim waist. What a picture she made, bent over the oven, smiling softly to herself. She seemed genuinely pleased with whatever it was she’d made.
He could hardly contain himself. He wanted to rush to her side. Sniff the back of her neck, maybe give it a kiss or a lick too. Mmm. Shit. No. Her presence was proving something of a challenge to him.
His Dragon stirred beneath his skin. He looked down at his ruined hand, the one with two and a half fingers remaining, and he scowled. His eyes found her again. She was perfection and he, well, he was unworthy of her. He shook his head. She is not for you.
The Dragon inside of him roared, but Sander stilled the beast with a firm command. He had no hope of ever finding a mate. Ruined things did not mate in his world. No, and without a mate a Dragon’s fire withered and died. He knew this, and he’d accepted it.
Besides, he was only feeling lust for this stranger. He might have given up on a mate, but he’d had sex before. Sander was no monk.
Granted, his sexual appetites were something he had infrequently indulged in over the years as was necessary. Perhaps it was simply time to sate his beast again? One more bang before he left this world? But not with her, he told himself firmly.
Warning bells sounded in his head. His Dragon seemed to scoff at his command. Sander had never liked being told what to do. Even by himself.
Rules were made to be broken, weren’t they? And he’d always found it difficult to toe the line. He didn’t need to look at his hand to remember how it got that way.
“You’re cooking?” His question seemed inane as it was obvious, she was doing just that.
“Oh! You scared me,” she flushed prettily as she arranged pastries and cooked meats on a plate. A small smile played at the corner of her mouth as she handed the plate to him.
He expected her to be shy with her offerings. It wasn’t the first time a woman tried to soothe his beast. But his little vixen was not bashful. Not here at any rate.
No, here she exuded confidence in a way she hadn’t before. She stood tall and proud as she proceeded to hand him utensils and a napkin as well. Her inner joy at what she’d produced made her practically glow with pride. Sander took notice. If anything, it made her even more attractive to him.
“I thought I’d give you a preview of tonight. This round one is a mini ham and cheese quiche, this one is spinach and herb, these are hash brown bites filled with cheddar cheese, scallions, and bacon, here we have salmon croquettes, those are mini blueberry scones, and here we have savory turnovers stuffed with ground turkey sausage and sage leaves.”
“You brought your own ingredients?”
“Some of them, yes. I had them in my car in that little cooler there, when I heard the shower turn on, I figured you’d be awhile. The others, I admit, I took from the fridge. I hope that was okay?”
“Uh-” his stomach grumbled, and he knew it was more than okay. She smiled as if she understood his hunger and handed him a napkin.
If only he could tell her why his shower had taken so long. Would she blush prettily if he told her how he’d stroked himself to thoughts of making love with her?
Whoa! Back up. Where the hell did that word come from? Sander didn’t do love. He liked to fuck, but love was not in his vocabulary. She is not for you, he told himself firmly. And yet…
“I said, how do you like your coffee?”
Her smile was infectious as she held a mug in one hand and a pot of the steaming brew in the other. She seemed to glow, a warm and brilliant light that came right from the center of her being.
That sweet smile called to him. It made him want. He was used to taking what he wanted. Dragons rarely asked permission. They simply took. He could take her…
No, he stopped his wandering thoughts. Her joy is her own. Her smiles are not for me. She looks that way because she loves her craft.
That he could understand. As a master of his craft, Alexsander often got caught up in his art. But still, he wondered if he looked that way when he was weaving. As if all the moments that came before had culminated to create that perfect instant when everything turned out just right. Hmm. Probably not. He’d lost the brightness that came with being unburdened many, many years ago.
“Um, I take it black, thank you,” he answered.
He watched as she poured the strong, hot coffee into a thick mug and handed it to him. He sat awkwardly until she filled another plate and joined him. He approved. Sander liked a woman with a healthy appetite.
“I hope you don’t mind, I haven’t eaten today, and I thought it was better to chat on a full stomach,” she smiled as she took a bite out of one of the pastries.
“Of course, you should join me, you cooked,” he said a little more gruffly than he meant to.
“Well, dig in,” she said and took another bite.
Sander watched her chew and practically salivated at the small moan of pleasure she made when she swallowed. He noticed a small crumb right at the corner of her pretty pink mouth, and before he knew what he was doing, he reached out and brushed it away.
His hand lingered on her cheek. Smooth and soft to the touch. She was beautiful. Perfect.
Energy sizzled from the place where his skin traced hers. Neither of them moved for a moment. You will ignore that little zap of electricity, this one is not for you. Again, he heard his Dragon snort.
“You, uh, had a crumb,” he mumbled. Still, no matter how much force he put into telling his Dragon to back down, he could see the great white beast moving underneath his skin.
His fingers lingered long after he should have moved away. Heat scorched his veins and thunder pounded in his ears. Sander couldn’t turn his gaze from her as he heard the deep, rumbling roar in his mind’s eye. His entire body felt electrified in that moment. He felt his eyes flash as he growled.
Es meus.
CHAPTER 4
“I can do the dishes,” Noelle protested after they’d finished the rest of the food in silence. Sander ignored her and stood. He started loading the dishwasher with ease and confidence of a man who’d done it before.
“It’s a fair division of duties. The food was well-cooked,” he grumbled.
“You know, your speech is a little odd sometimes, like your brother’s. Where are you guys from?”
“Oh, we’re from the North. Far North.”
“That’s what he said, but I was wondering, like where-”
“Now, I know you can cook,” Sander cut her off before her questions became too personal. He wasn’t about to announce that he was a Dragon shifter banished from his first home, the place that had been his prison on the Isle of Pain these last five hundred years.
“Yes, and I promise this party is going to be great! Everything is prepped-”
“I applaud your culinary skills, they are all fine and good, but I simply can’t pretend to be host to 100 people I don’t know for a holiday I don’t believe in.”
