3. Jasper

Chapter three

Jasper

Natalie saunters past me into the living room and I linger in the doorway to watch her plump ass as she heads toward the couch. I plop down next to her, taking care to avoid accidentally brushing against her skin as per the no-touch rule set out by Bertie.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me until Bertie can find a way to dissolve the bond,” I tell her, trying to keep my gaze on her eyes and not her cherry-red lips with their ever-present tilt that’s got trouble written all over it.

I want her brand of trouble.

“Oh no, whatever can we do,” Natalie says flatly but the humor in her tone has me perking up. I bite my lip and trail my eyes down her body, noticing how she squirms under my perusal and my cock twitches in response.

Natalie shifts in her seat and leans back, propping her elbows onto the armrest behind her. The move stretches the material of the fitted white T-shirt she’s wearing even tighter across her tits. Tits that are begging to be explored with my tongue and teeth.

“Like I said earlier, there are so many things I wish to do.” I’m only half joking. Natalie has fascinated me since the moment we met and I have not missed the way she’s been checking me out. I am oddly self-conscious about my horns and how scary they can seem, but the way Natalie looks at them makes me think she might find them attractive.

“What if I wish for things too?” My heart just about somersaults in my chest at Natalie’s words.

“Before you distract me with your wily ways, I need to swear an oath to you. Last night all the guys were in the estate library trying to find ways to dissolve the bonds. When we couldn’t find the information we were looking for, we agreed that our main mission is to keep our bonded partners comfortable and make them feel safe. The best way to do so is to swear oaths.”

Natalie’s brows draw together and she nods. “That’s kind of cool of you guys. We all love consent kings. But what about you males? Should we say some kind of oath to you too? You know, since consent goes both ways?”

I lean forward in my seat, getting serious for a minute. “I can’t speak for all the males, but I don’t need an oath from you. My oath is bound by magic and I’ll swear to your safety and comfort. Is there something specific you would like me to add to the wording? Any boundaries you’d prefer to keep?”

Natalie purses her lips and her light eyes flit over my face as she searches for something. She glances toward the dining room where most of the others still mingle in pairs, then drops her voice to a sultry tone just above a whisper. “I like my boundaries to be pushed.” Her grin turns sly. “Tell me, how serious are you about this no-physical touch policy?”

I run my tongue along my teeth as I take a second to consider Natalie’s question. Despite my very strong desire to play with her and to explore what kind of responses I can draw from her body, there are some bigger elements at play that I need to think about. Crossing the touching line could have consequences and tie us together even stronger than now.

However, not touching doesn’t seem like something I’d be able to do. And judging by the way she’s looking at me, that feeling is very much reciprocated.

“Adelbert is serious about it, only because we do not know the full consequences yet. By laying down that rule, he most likely feels like he’s protecting us. I think it’s also because elves don’t like touch, so it’s not exactly a hardship for him. I, on the other hand, love touching. All the touching. So much touching.”

Natalie’s intake of breath is audible and her pupils expand until only a thin ring of icy blue is visible. It’s like my words triggered a shift in the atmosphere as the air grows thick around us. My heart pounds, a throb echoing in my cock, as the rest of the world fades away and I can only see Natalie in front of me.

Natalie shifts again and her little red plaid skirt inches higher, exposing the matching tattoo on the center of her left thigh that matches my tattoo. The urge to trace it is almost visceral.

“So if I asked you to touch me right now?” Natalie’s eyes drop to my crotch and the bulge that’s impossible to hide. She crosses her legs and her skirt shifts, exposing more creamy skin on lush thighs I can imagine wrapped around my neck.

I clear my throat and pull on my pants to make some room for my lengthening cock. “And how would you like to be touched? I follow directions very well.”

I’m not sure when it happened, but it’s like we’re slowly drifting closer to each other with each tension-filled breath we take. Natalie sits up straighter and my arm stretches along the back of the couch. My fingertips tingle with the need to graze her creamy flesh.

“Well, first you can—”

“Don’t tell me. Yet.” Before I can drag her onto my lap right here, I lean back and lock my fingers behind my head as I slouch into the couch.

I don’t usually have a type—it’s more based on vibes. And Natalie, she is most definitely a vibe.

But I need to be practical right now. “Let’s talk logistics first. We have to decide where we are going to stay while we wait to undo the bond. Do you have any pressing matters to take care of, or any immediate plans you’re committed to?”

Not put off by my lack of suave moves, Natalie grins at me. “Nope. I’m free as a bird. Only need to grab my backpack at my hotel, and I don’t have a next destination booked yet.”

My mind races through the potential outcomes of spending an indefinite amount of time together. Each lascivious look we have shared fuels possible scenarios and I wonder if she’s getting as excited as I am.

I try to keep a clear head as I explain, “I kind of have something important to tend to, and it means I will have to take you with me. But of course, if you are uncomfortable, I’m sure he will understand and I can reschedule.”

Natalie waves the suggestion away. “Oh no, it’s cool. Where we going?”

I slouch deeper and widen my legs. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Natalie tilts her head and her silky black hair sways to the side. “Try me.”

Without missing a beat, I say, “The North Pole.”

Nodding her head, and with teeth sinking into her full bottom lip, Natalie gives that some thought. “Before meeting you, I would’ve been skeptical. But you’re a krampus. You’re the other half of Christmas. So I guess, sign me up. Take me to Santa,” Natalie adds, holding her arms wide in invitation.

A boisterous laugh booms from me. Natalie is amazing. She’s easygoing, funny, sharp, sexy, and I believe a little bit naughty. Perfection.

When I’ve got myself under control, I say, “We might bump into Nick, but my plans are actually with his brother, Cole.”

Natalie uncrosses her legs and sits up straighter. She twists in her seat to face me more directly, her ice-blue eyes bright with indignation.

Eyebrows raised, she asks incredulously, “Santa has a brother named Cole? Is that just a coincidence or was he named with malicious intent?”

Something warms in my heart at the thought of her already getting defensive on Cole’s behalf. Nick’s father was cruel to give him that name, but Cole has embraced it and owns it now.

“I’ll let him tell you the story,” I say and almost reach out to pat her hand in comfort. I catch myself in time, though, and sit back in my seat, mirroring her position.

Natalie’s shoulders relax. “Okay. Can’t wait to meet him. Just one concern.”

“What is it?”

Gesturing down her enticing body, Natalie says, “I don’t have anything warm to wear.”

My fingers still and I glance down at her outfit. “That cute little skirt of yours is definitely not going to keep you warm.” In a low voice filled with appreciation for the sight before me, I add quietly, “It’s keeping me very warm, though.”

Natalie moves her upper body in a little serpentine dance in her seat. “Oh, you tease. Tell me what else this skirt is doing to you,” she says.

“I might have to show you.”

“Don’t be shy,” Natalie purrs.

I clutch my heart dramatically. I think I’ve finally met my match.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun together,” I declare, feeling the truth of my words sink into me.

“I’m counting on it.”