by penny watson
“Our factories are up north. Way up north. Beyond the arctic circle.” Gregor’s expression was deadly serious. “No one has even seen the factories, Hannah. The only people there are the Klaus family and our workers.”
The sparkling lights began to grow in the room. They coalesced in the dark corners and danced over the bed. They bounced from her hair to her arm to Gregor’s hand.
And they began to sing.
The lights were singing.
“Gregor . . .” Her voice cracked as the lights spun around the room. She cupped her hand, and it filled with sparkling gold.
“Sternschnuppen. Shooting Stars. Magik from the North Pole, where I live.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You live in the north pole. The North Pole.”
“Yes, sweetheart. The legends you’ve heard about Santa? Well, some of them are false. And some of them are true. My family lives with hundreds of elves in the North Pole.”
A tiny girl in the shadows. With giant eyes and pointed ears. And a green hat with jingle bells. She beckoned to Hannah and when she was almost close enough to touch her, the girl opened her hand and offered her a fat peppermint candy cane. Hannah hadn’t eaten anything all day. She reached for the treat, and sparkling lights danced around their hands, weaving the most beautiful design Hannah had ever seen. Singing the most beautiful music Hannah had ever heard. And right before the little girl—the elf girl—disappeared, she whispered, “Merry Christmas, Hannah.”
Hannah’s body began to tremble all over. “It was real. That elf girl I saw when I was five years old. It was real.”
Gregor wrapped his arms around her. “You remember that? Shirley wondered if you remembered . . .”
Her head snapped up. “Shirley? That elf’s name is Shirley? That doesn’t sound very elfy.”
Gregor chuckled. “Her full name is Shirley Fredericka Brinkerhoff. Does that sound elfy?”
Hannah laughed nervously. “Are you kidding me?”
He shook his head. “No. That’s her name. And she remembers you. In fact, she thinks the world of you. You have an elf fan.”
“I’ve never seen her again. Not since that one night.”
Gregor pushed a hair away from Hannah’s forehead. “I know. But she’s been watching you. Like your very own guardian angel-elf.”
“Oh my God. This is . . . I knew that night something special had happened. I never told anyone because I was sure they wouldn’t believe me. But it really happened!”
“Yes. Is that why you love Christmas so much?”
She nodded shyly and pressed her hand against Gregor’s chest. “That one moment changed my life. No matter how bad things got for us, I knew there was something more out there. Something magical.” She searched Gregor’s face for any sign of trickery. There was none.
“If . . . if your family lives in the North Pole. With elves. And you make toys . . .”
“Yes?” Gregor waited for her to finish.
“Your father is . . . your father is . . . ?”
“Yes, Hannah, my father is Santa.”
A trill of hysterical laughter burst out. She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, it’s just . . .”
“Hard to believe?”
She nodded. “How is it possible? That you’ve kept this secret? How can no one know about this?”
“Glasdorf, our village in the North Pole, is protected by elfin Magik. It’s invisible to Suddies.”
She watched the sparkling stars dance around the room. “I believe in your Magik, Gregor. I can see it with my own eyes. This is so amazing. Tell me everything. Who delivers the gifts? Who makes the toys? How do you get home to the North Pole?”
Gregor laughed at her exuberance. “You know that all of my brothers are involved in the family business. Sven makes the toys. He has a huge crew of elves who help him. Nicholas and Lucy bake the Christmas cookies and sweets. Oskar is Director of Elfin Resources.”
Hannah giggled. “Oh my God! He’s in charge of the elves!”
Gregor nodded. “Yep. And it’s a hideous job in my opinion. Although my brother seems perfectly suited for it.”
“What about Wolf and your parents?”
“Wolf is in charge of charitable donations. And my parents keep a lid on the whole operation. Dad delivers the gifts on Christmas Eve—in a Magik sleigh. That’s our mode of transportation.”
She slumped against Gregor. “It’s real. Santa Claus is real.” She shook her head. “I knew it!”
Gregor nuzzled the top of her head. “I had a feeling you would be excited about all of this. You are so charmed by the holiday. You already believed in Christmas magic.”
A bundle of sternschnuppen bounced on Hannah’s hand and danced away. “The shooting stars are incredible. The boys would love this.” She froze. “The twins! Gregor . . .”
“Don’t worry about Matteo and Anthony. I used a spell to make sure they’re safe tonight.”
“Tell me.”
“Shirley cast a spell for us. Zeit einfrieren . . . Time Freeze. We have all the time in the world together, but when you go back to your apartment, only one second will have passed in real time. The boys will still be snug in their beds, fast asleep. I wanted us to have tonight.” He stroked his finger down her cheek.
“Just one night?” she asked hesitantly.
“No. The beginning of many nights. But I’m feeling greedy and impatient. Do you forgive me for kidnapping you?”
“I’m not mad. I do want you. But . . .” She kissed his chest and tried to control her shaking. This is what she dreamed about. Making love with Gregor Klaus. Nothing about him felt ice cold right now. He was burning hot. “But I feel like I’m already in over my head.”
“Then it’s my job to convince you otherwise.”
Finally. She was here. Gregor pushed her onto the bed and tried to control his breathing. “I knew from the moment I first saw you. There was something special about you.”
Hannah reached up to stroke his face. “Even surrounded by all those beautiful and sophisticated women? You saw me?”
“What other women?” he growled. He leaned down to kiss her.
She arched against him, and it set him off. He intended to go slow—to seduce her like an expert. He wanted to drag this out, make it last all night. But as soon as she wrapped her slender arms around his neck, he lost control. He ripped off her T-shirt and slid the flannel pants from her legs.
He stared down at her and couldn’t believe his good fortune. How had he gotten so lucky? She was gorgeous, beyond sexy, and trembling with need. Her bronze, silky hair splayed out on his pillow. Her eyes, dark and vulnerable, gazed up at him with complete trust. Her skin, the color of honey, was soft and sweet and fragrant. He wanted to devour her all night.
Gregor could barely catch his breath. He hadn’t even touched her yet and he was shaking. He’d never felt this out of control.
He didn’t want to frighten her. He steadied himself and began to feast on silky legs that he kissed and nipped and explored with great interest. He nuzzled the hair at the junction of her thighs and licked the soft flesh until she cried out his name. He moved up to her breasts and cupped them. Creamy and lush, the greatest temptation. He ravaged them, sucking the sensitive peaks until she sobbed in pleasure. Finally, he settled on top of her, bracing himself on his arms. She was small and delicate. He was a massive brute. He had to be careful to harness his strength.
She looked up at him with slumberous, sexy eyes. “What are you doing to me?” She scored her nails across his chest. “Your skin is so hot.”
He shuddered at her touch. “It’s you, Hannah. You’re setting me on fire.” He kicked off his pants and lowered his body back onto hers. They both moaned as all of their naked skin came into contact, sizzling with heat.
He started again, a systematic seduction. He wouldn’t be satisfied until she was limp in his arms. He teased her breasts with his mouth, and her head thrashed on the pillow.
“Your beard feels so good
.”
Relentless. He smiled to himself, the smile of a wolf.
He dragged his beard across her sensitive skin. Again and again. His tongue and lips played with her sensitive peaks until she sobbed.
And he kept going. This was his last chance, and he was going to make it count. If he could use this passion to convince her they belonged together, by God he would do it.
He rubbed his erection between her legs, where she was wet and ready and needy. “Do we need protection?” His voice was hoarse.
“No, I’m protected. And healthy.”
“Thank God. I want to feel you. Inside and out. I’m healthy, too. I would never put you at risk. You know that, right?”
“Maybe my heart?” she whispered.
Gregor stilled. “No. Your heart is safe. All of you is safe with me, Hannah. Heart, body, soul. Know that.” He captured her gaze. Her eyes still shone with uncertainty.
He had to make her believe.
He grabbed hold of her hands and pinned them to the bed above her head. She blinked up at him, unsure of what he was doing.
“Trust me,” he whispered. Now she was trapped beneath him. Was that the only way he’d get to keep her?
“Are you ready?”
“Yes. Please.”
He thrust into her body, and they both froze. Deep inside, she pulsed around him. She was so sweet and tight. She locked her eyes onto his—looking slightly shell-shocked and full of wonder. He forced himself to remain still, to stoke the burgeoning fire. He rocked against her then, a small movement, and she responded by arching her back and crying out his name. All of his plans for a slow seduction disintegrated. She bucked against him again, spurring him on, and it worked effortlessly. His strokes were hard and fast, furious and intense.
“Hannah . . .” He couldn’t articulate a single thought. His goal was just within reach. To capture her forever.
“Don’t stop, Gregor.”
He smiled against her neck and inhaled the scent of sunshine and sweetness. He slammed into her one last time and felt her quake around him. She drew him deeper inside, and he knew this was the only place he would ever want to be. Deep in her, so deep he could never escape. She cried out, her sobs muffled against his chest.
They stayed like that, plastered to each other, for several moments. The sternschnuppen had grown quiet, but now they danced over his back, along his arms, and wrapped themselves around their hands, which were still locked together.
“I had no idea. What have you done?” Hannah’s voice was ragged.
“Pleasured you?” He struggled to catch his breath.
“That was . . . that was beyond pleasure. It’s like you wrung everything out of me. There’s nothing left.”
He rubbed his lips against her mouth. “You made me feel alive again. I thought I was numb forever, but I was wrong.”
She tried to pull her hands away from his grip, but he shook his head. “No. Not yet. Tell me, Hannah. I want to hear the words.” There was no way she could deny their attraction anymore.
“What do you want me to say?” Her voice trembled.
“The truth. You’re falling for me.” He was still inside of her. He moved slightly to remind her of their intimate connection. “This doesn’t lie.”
She bit her lip. “I am falling for you. But I’m still afraid. I’m not convinced the two of us really belong together.”
That was not the answer he wanted to hear. “How can you think we don’t belong together? After this?” He growled the words.
She gently kissed the corner of his mouth, clearly trying to appease his temper. “This is fantasy. A spell cast for a night of passion. Not reality. When we go home, I’ll be transported back to my crappy apartment and piles of papers to grade. You’ll go back to your glamorous life of travel and fund-raisers. And Magik.” Tears leaked down her cheeks. “It was just supposed to be one night.”
He frowned. “Like Cinderella at the ball?”
She nodded. “Yes, just like that.”
“Cinderella had a happy ever after. Do you remember that part of the story?”
“It’s just a fairy tale.”
“But this isn’t, Hannah. This thing between us is real.”
She blinked at him. “I don’t get it. Why do you want me so much? I’m just an ordinary woman. And your family is legendary. You could have anyone.”
He shook his head. “You’re wrong. You are beyond special to me. The most genuine, kind, and inspiring person I have ever met. You’ve made me feel alive again. Don’t you believe me?”
“I—I’m not sure what to believe anymore.”
He rested his forehead on hers and tried to hide his frustration. “Some day. Some day you’ll surrender to me and realize I’m right. For now . . . just sleep. I’ll get you home soon.” He finally released her hands.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his back. Her words said one thing, but her actions said another.
“We don’t have to decide everything tonight. But soon. We will. I’m not giving up.” His words were sharp. He couldn’t help it.
She sniffled but said nothing. He wanted to pound his chest in frustration. He held her in his arms until she fell asleep. She probably wasn’t even aware of it, but she was stroking his chest softly.
He was aware. Her hand was right over his heart.
Chapter 10
Shirley opened the door to Gregor’s penthouse and yawned. What a night! She’d spent the evening singing show tunes at a karaoke club, chugging shots at Rolf’s Bar in Gramercy Park, and finished up with a crazy mahjong party in Chinatown. No one seemed to notice she was an elf.
She did get quite a few compliments on her vintage hipster outfit. She’d paired low-rider jeans with an Eagles T-shirt and jingle bell jewelry. She looked hot. And if it hadn’t been for the whole “I’m-an-elf” thing, she would have gotten lucky last night. Oh, well.
She stopped and stared at Gregor, who was looking . . . rumpled. Gregor Klaus was rumpled. Huh. That was new and different. He had on unbuttoned jeans and a T-shirt, a day’s worth of stubble marring his perfect goatee, and his hair was messy.
Gregor Klaus’s hair was messy.
“Is the apocalypse coming, or did you run out of hair gel?”
He frowned and offered her a cup of steaming coffee. “You look like you need this. Rough night?”
“I need it? You’re the one who doesn’t look too put-together, Mr. Perfect.” She snagged the mug and took a big gulp of the rich brew.
“For God’s sake, make it last. That’s Molokai coffee from Hawaii. Savor it.”
Shirley rolled her eyes. “You are such a coffee snob, Klaus. For your information, I had a great night, thank you very much. I won thirty-three dollars playing mahjong at Mrs. Chen’s party.”
Gregor scowled at her.
“Why so glum? Didn’t the seduction plan work out as intended?”
“We made love, if that’s what you’re asking. But . . . she’s still on the fence about us.”
“Ewwwwww. I do not want to hear the sexy-time deets. Did she freak out about Santa? Did she admit she’s falling for you? Did you give her a candy cane?”
Gregor leaned against the sofa and took a sip of coffee. “She did not freak about Santa. She was thrilled to learn her elf visitation when she was five years old was real.” He shot her a pointed look.
Shirley ignored him. “Yeah, how about the rest of it?”
“She did admit she’s falling for me. But she’s still afraid. I have to work on convincing her that we belong together. She’s not quite there yet.” Gregor rubbed his forehead. “I’m frustrated as hell. I need to seal this deal. And she’s fighting me.”
“How are you going to do that, Klaus? I thought the seduction plan was your ace-in-the-hole.”
“Believe it or not, I’ve come to a realization. You original advice to me was sound. Your plan was the best.”
“Me? My plan? Do tell.” She beamed with pride. She’d had a good plan! Woo h
oo!
“You were right about family and Christmas being important to her. I’ll never win her over until she believes that our two lives—and our two families—are compatible. I’m not giving up until she caves.”
Shirley put her empty coffee cup on the table. “Wow. Did you just pay me a compliment? I think I might faint.” She raised a hand to her forehead in a swoon.
“Don’t get cocky, kid.”
“Look, Klaus. I get into a lot of trouble. It’s not very often that someone pays me a compliment. I’m enjoying this moment. Maybe you can put in a good word with Pops. Let him know how awesome I am.”
Gregor nodded. “You can tell him yourself. We need to go back to Glasdorf. Family meeting.”
Her face fell. “We have to go back to Glasdorf. Damn it!”
“What’s wrong? I thought you loved Glasdorf.”
“I do. But Mrs. Chen is having another mahjong party tonight, and I really wanted to go. I’m getting good at that game.” Her eyes lit up.
Gregor shook his head. “No more gambling, Elf Girl. Time to get back to the North Pole.”
Gregor sat brooding in the solitude of his Glasdorf home. He stared into the flames in the fireplace and contemplated the meeting he’d just had with his brothers. Sven had fallen hard for Andi De Luca, Hannah’s sister. Gregor was shocked to find his normally laid-back brother gunning for a chance with the woman he loved. The hippy brother had chucked his mellow vibe for a take-no-prisoners approach. That was typically Gregor’s show. And now Hannah was somewhere in the Sudenwelt, and he was here surrounded by icy winds and snow mounds taller than his house.
Something was definitely wrong with this picture.
The door to his cottage flew open, and Sven stomped into the foyer.
“I knew I’d find you here. Moping,” Sven said. He shook the snowflakes from his hair.
“Thanks for knocking.” Gregor sipped his Scotch.
Sven laughed and made himself comfortable on a leather chair. “We need to talk, brother-of-mine. I know you were reluctant to spill your guts with everyone, but I want to know what’s going on with you and Hannah. I have a right to know.”
