“Like needing to rearrange my internal organs or restructuring my bones to widen my hips, or that time you turned me into a spirit you could fuck?” Sweet and spicy demons, I love being married to a demigod!
Crooking one side of his mouth, Krampus leans in to kiss my brow before he reaches down to adjust his pouch.
“Poor sad monster,” I coo genuinely and reach up to cup one side of his face. “Your perfect holiday plans were all ruined because of me and some snow.”
He shakes his head and chuffs a laugh while pulling me higher until we’re eye to eye. Oh, my jingle devil bells!
“Look at me.”
I am.
Now, he cups one side of my face while thumbing my cheek. “How could my holiday be ruined when I spent it with you?” Aww, don’t melt, Twyla, don’t melt. “You, min Twyla, are the reason my holiday is perfect. You light up my Yule and bring warmth to my heart. You are my best present and the meaning of all my seasons. Because every day I spend with you is a holiday.”
I blink. I’m pretty certain my heart just started beating to the tune of “Krampus is Coming to Town”.
Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll always melt for Krampus.
“I love you. So much,” I gush and set my hands on his broad shoulders.
He closes the millimeters between us and crushes his mouth to mine in a searing kiss, one consumed by the masculine hunger of a dark predator. And I’m the prey he kidnapped while I captured his heart…forever.
Chapter 14
Krampus gave me a kitten!
TWYLA
“What will happen to…?” I gesture to our surroundings, from the sugary mess we left in the kitchen to the soot and cinders due to the fire.
“A cleaning crew will be assigned—after the new year,” he finishes with a kiss on my brow. “Now…since I intend to spend much of my Christmas stuffed in your sweet and sexy stocking, kjaere, I advise you to hold on.”
He rarely does this with me since it’s murder on my still-human senses. Instinct has me digging my fingers in his fur as thrills and chills sweep up my spine. After all, Krampus could take us anywhere in Krampus Palace.
When a rush of cool air hits my backside, and I hear the faint but familiar instrumental carol playing on the speaker above my head, I peek from beyond his fur…and gasp!
Krampus chuckles and lowers his hand to cover my naked backside while I huddle closer into him since he’s justtransported us to the Krampus Palace elevator—with all itsclearglass windows.
Tapping my reddened bottom with one hand, my husband cups my chin with the other to lift my face. “It’s Christmas, kjaere. Most will be celebrating and opening presents in their suites. Or they will be enjoying the Christmas World festivities and holiday parties.”
“Key word, Krampus: most,” I squeak and press against him as the mortification heats my cheeks.
At least the elevator opens directly to his private penthouse. Before I may step inside, he sweeps me into a honeymoon hold and kisses me something fierce. When he finally pauses and gestures me to the penthouse, I part my lips, awed by the festive wonderment all over the lobby and surrounding area. Since it’s not quite sunrise yet, the panoramic views of the high windows offer a cityscape of Krampus World with all its twinkling lights, from lanterns to trees flickering red and green. Thanks to the snowfall of ice crystals softly twirling down from the sky, it’s become a picture-perfect scene.
Especially with how Krampus has decked the halls!
Garlands and wreaths decorate the lobby walls, embellished by glowing candles, bright red ribbons, and shimmering ornaments. Fragrant evergreens and hints of vanilla perfume the air. Flames crackle in the grand marble fireplace while more garland and glimmering candles adorn its mantle as well as stockings.
“Oh, Krampus,” I gush as soft warm lights bathe us and the surroundings, giving the penthouse a dark but cozy theme. The white and red wool throws upon the black leather sofa and chairs arranged by the fireplace do the same.
He smiles down at me, then snaps. My hands fly to my mouth because the enormous snow globe in the center of the lobby has changed. Instead of the sugar plum fairy that was there before,two flawless renderings of Krampus and me on our wedding day stand in the middle of the globe.
Christmas Day.
Tears glisten in my eyes at the sight of the gazebo in the background of those figures, the rotunda trimmed in holly and twinkle lights where we stood when we professed our vows in a small ceremony with the Krampus Haven scryer officiating as high priestess. Mephisto was his best man. I think all of Krampus Haven showed up to celebrate us, followed by my coronation as Queen of Yuletide. The ancient oak tree and the ice sculpture garden were a beautiful backdrop to the gazebo.
The figures in the globe are a flawless rendering. There is Krampus, garbed in his royal black robes, embroidered with gold tinsel-like Old Norse patterns and runes, his fur combed to pure silk for the occasion. Next to him, I look like a tiny fairy—even with my wedding gown of sweeping gold and white, decorated with silver and gold snowflakes and red holly berry designs, and finished with my fur-lined white cape.
Still holding me, Krampus snaps his fingers, and the image begins to move, confirming it’s a hologram, a hyper-realistic one.
