Chapter Six

Alaric

"Jesus," I breathe, staring in awe as December steps out of the changing rooms with a sweet smile. I cross to her in three steps, my fucking heart in my throat. "You look ravishing, angel."

She looks like a Goddess. Her hair hangs in soft waves around her face. Her eye makeup is dark and smoky. The top of her black dress shimmers under the lights. It dips between her breasts, showing a hint of cleavage that's going to drive me crazy all night. The A-line bottom ends at mid-thigh, leaving her long legs on display.

Every motherfucker at the party will wish they were me. Too bad for all of them. This sweet angel is mine. I decided that four days ago. Spending the morning with her today only confirmed it. She's mine.

All I want for Christmas is her under my tree, wrapped in a bow and nothing else.

"Thank you." Her blush deepens, spreading down her chest. "Um, this is not the dress I asked my sister to bring. I think it's too short."

It's definitely too short to be worn anywhere except my bedroom, but I'll be damned if I tell her she looks anything less than perfect.

"It's perfect. You're perfect." I take her hand, helping her do a spin as my dick imprints itself against my zipper. Fuck me. It's going to be a long night. "Every man out there will envy me, sweet December."

"Alaric."

"I brought you something."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I know." I grin, reaching into my pocket to retrieve the small blue jewelry box I sent Ruby to pick up this afternoon. "Turn around."

December eyes me curiously before slowly obeying my command. The metal teeth of my zipper dig into my cock, leaving impressions. Goddamn. I want to bury my face between her cheeks and stay there permanently. Her round ass is a work of art.

Instead, I slip the silver angel pendant from the box and brush her hair to the side. Her scent wafts toward me, clouding my mind with lust. I grit my teeth, press a kiss to the side of her neck, and quickly place the necklace around her delicate throat before clasping it.

"Alaric," she gasps, lifting the tiny silver and diamond angel to look at it. "It's beautiful."

"Now you have a guardian angel, too, sweet girl," I murmur.

She turns those guileless eyes on me. Jesus, I've never wanted to drown as badly as I want to drown in her eyes. "Your mom?"

"You." I smile, reaching out to touch her cheek. I can't help it. I want to touch this girl every minute of the day. "For six years, you've been my light, December. Thinking about you comforted me."

"Alaric," she whispers, her expression softening.

"It's true. Maybe it shouldn't be, but it is."

A sweet smile lights her up until she glows brighter than the Christmas star. "I don't have a gift for you."

"You're going to the party with me. That's gift enough."

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip, her gaze darting over my shoulder as if to ensure we're alone. "Maybe I do have one thing," she whispers, her gaze coming back to me.

"Yeah?" I grin, amused by how fucking cute she is, like a little girl with her hand in the cookie jar. I guess she doesn't realize that I make the fucking rules around here. No one will say a word about the two of us. Perhaps they should. I'm the boss. She's an intern. There's a blatant power imbalance. I don't fucking know. That's a discussion for another day. But she's mine, and I'm claiming her.

She places one hand on my chest and the other on my shoulder, rising on her toes. I hook an arm around her waist, anchoring her to me. Her lips touch mine in a featherlight kiss.

It's not nearly enough for me. Not when I want every piece of this girl. So I take more like the greedy bastard I am.

My tongue flicks out, touching her bottom lip. She tastes like sugar.

I groan, pulling her closer.

She doesn't tell me no. Her small hand slides up my chest, wrapping around my shoulder. A soft moan whispers from her lips.

That sounds—so fucking sweet, so fucking innocent—breaks me. I spear my hand into her hair and drink from her lips like she's oxygen. Electricity surges between us, catching and consuming us both.

"Alaric," she gasps, clawing at my shoulders. "Please."

I lift her in my arms, spinning to pin her against the wall. She sobs in frustration, trying to pull her hands from mine when I clasp them over her head.

"Nu-uh," I mutter, bending my head to kiss along her cleavage. With her arms up, the tops of her breasts spill out, pale and perfect. I nip her skin, making her cry out. "You're right where I want you, sweet December."

"Oh, God."

I bite her nipple through her dress, skimming my free hand down her body. I need to know how wet she is for me right now. I may lose my goddamn mind if I don't know in two seconds.

"Has anyone ever touched my cunt before, December?"

"I...I..."

I bite her nipple again, harder this time. A tiny punishment for not answering. A tiny reward for making me crazy.

"No one!" she cries.

"Ah, fuck." I rock my hips into hers, letting her feel how hard she makes me as I bring my mouth to her ear. "No one has touched what belongs to you, either, angel."

I've been waiting. Half the time, I wasn't even sure what I was waiting for. But I waited anyway.

"Alaric," she moans.

I drag her dress up her hips, exposing her panties to the room. Of course they have little Christmas trees on them. Of course they do. Somehow, that's even sexier to me than any lingerie. The wet spot is obvious. My sweet angel is drenched.

I shove my hand into her panties, growling as I feel her bare cunt and her slick juices against my fingers.

She nearly catapults out of my arms.

"You're soaked for me."

"Yes," she sobs, her head moving restlessly against the wall. "Please, Alaric. Please make it better."

"Poor little December," I croon, parting her folds with my thumb. "Do you need to come?"

"Y-yes."

"Then come," I growl. "But you do it with your eyes on me and my name on your lips."

Her gaze flies to mine, her eyes so dilated with lust they're little more than a sea of blue-rimmed black.

I press my thumb to her hard clit, staring at her. Memorizing her. I want this moment burned into my brain.

"Alaric," she moans.

I grind my thumb against her clit, watching her unravel. She falls quickly, too needy to hold it off. Fuck. How long has she been dreaming about this? Longer than she should have been, I think.

A decadent moan rolls across the room, setting my blood on fire as her expression melts to pure bliss. She trembles in my arms, melting into a pool of liquid sex.

Fuck me. She's exactly what I would have asked for for Christmas had I thought to ask for anything. I'm asking now. I want this temptress in my bed and in my life, permanently.