Chapter Thirteen

December

"December? What in God's name is going on?"

I cringe as soon as Cory's deep voice booms down the line. It's barely six in the morning. Way too early for him to already know what happened last night.

"Hi, Cory." I pull the blanket tight around me as if that'll protect me from whatever he has to say. I'm sure it won't be good. He's deeply disappointed. Do I know what I've done? Do I have any idea how this looks? Blah, blah, blah. I've heard it all before.

Alaric sits up in the bed beside me with a rumbling growl, coming wide awake. He whips his head in my direction, cold fury in his eyes. "Phone," he growls, holding out his hand. "Now."

I reluctantly hand it over, not entirely sure I'm ready to hear whatever he has to say to my stepdad. But, frankly, a little tired of fighting this battle on my own.

He reaches out to touch my cheek in silent reassurance before placing my phone to his ear. Judging by the way his eyes narrow, Cory is ranting. Alaric listens for a second, the muscle in his jaw ticking.

It doesn't take long before he interjects, his knuckles white around my phone.

"If you want to keep your teeth, I suggest you stop fucking shouting at my future wife," he growls, his face a thundercloud.

Future wife?

I gape at him. Oh, my goodness.

"This is Alaric Parrish," he snaps, climbing from the bed to pace like a caged lion. Even though the situation is serious, I can’t help but ogle him. He's made of thick, corded muscle, golden skin, and clean lines. There isn't a single spot on him that isn't firm and unyielding. He's a man built for war, not boardrooms, yet no one wears a suit better. No one wears nothing better, either.

He doesn't try to cover himself as he paces. He doesn't seem vulnerable as he growls at my stepdad. He's calm and confident, as if he's perfectly at ease arguing with the freaking mayor while completely naked.

"The hell you will," he snaps. "She isn't going a goddamn place she doesn't want to go. Especially not with you!"

This is going well.

I sigh and climb from the bed.

"Maybe I should talk to him."

Alaric wraps one arm around my waist, pulling me up against his chest. "You don't have to talk to anyone you don't want to talk to, angel. You damn sure don't have to let them berate you when you've done nothing wrong."

"I know," I whisper.

Alaric sighs. "If you want to see her, be at my office at nine," he says into the phone. "But I'm warning you right now. You raise your voice to her; you'll be leaving with your fucking teeth in your pocket." He taps the disconnect button and tosses my phone toward the bed.

"You just threatened the mayor."

"I don't give a shit," he mutters, pulling me back into his arms. "He shouldn't have yelled at you."

I bite my lip, peeking up at him. "Are you going to threaten everyone who yells at me?"

"No." He brushes his thumb along my bottom lip. "He gets a warning because he's your stepfather. If anyone else is stupid enough to yell at you, they do it at their own peril, angel. I won't give a warning. No one yells at you or treats you with anything less than respect if they want to keep breathing."

"So, you're going to slay dragons for me, huh?" I ask, smiling softly.

"Point me at them, sweet December," he whispers, claiming my mouth. "I'll slay any dragon that comes at you."

I melt into his embrace, awed that this man is mine.

He kisses me sweetly and then pulls back, his eyes dark. "Come on, let's go shower."

By the time we shower, which is apparently a euphemism for having sex under the hot water, we barely have time to run across town to my apartment to get clean clothes for me.

I have to do my hair and makeup in the car on the way to the office to meet Cory. I settle on a simple braid and light makeup. Alaric growls that I don't need any of it, but he's a man. He'll never understand how powerful a good coat of mascara and a red lip can make a girl feel. Today, I need to feel powerful.

We arrive at the office with nine minutes to spare. Because it's Sunday, we're the only two in the building. Alaric has me text the access code to Cory, and then takes me up to his office. As soon as we step onto the elevator, he pounces.

"W-what are you doing?" I ask.

"What I wanted to do the last time we were in this elevator together," he growls, backing me up against the wall. He shoves his hand beneath my skirt, covering my mouth with his at the same time. "I want to hear your cries bouncing off the fucking walls, December."

His thumb presses against my clit as he thrusts two fingers inside me.

I shout his name, my hands flat against the wall.

"Yeah, just like that," he breathes, his eyes locked on my face. He plays with me like I'm his favorite toy, touching me as if he knows all of my secrets. My cries fill the elevator as he lifts me higher, driving me toward an orgasm with ruthless precision.

"Alaric," I groan. "Please." He's going to wreck me, minutes before we meet my stepdad.

"Come all over my fingers, December," he growls. "I want to feel it." His thumb grinds against my clit, his fingers curling up to stroke my g-spot. "Don't fight me, sweet girl. Give me what I want."

I do. God, I do. I shatter around his fingers, wailing his name as bright lights explode behind my eyelids in a whirling kaleidoscope of color. Reality spins away, leaving me floating in euphoria where it's safe and warm and he's the only thing that exists.

"Good girl," he whispers, crooning to me through the haze. "Fuck, you make that look so good." His lips run across my face, raining adoring kisses upon my skin as he holds me close.

"Alaric?" I mumble.

"Yeah, angel?"

"Can I spend Christmas with you?"

"You're spending all your Christmases with me from now on, sweet December," he says, pressing his lips to my temple.

"Okay."

He scoops me up, carrying me through Ruby's office into his. I rest my head on his shoulder, enjoying the last few minutes of peace while they last. They don't last long. We barely make it through his office door when the elevator is recalled.

Cory is here.

My eyes spring open, anxiety shooting through me.

"Hey." Alaric places his hands on my cheeks, forcing me to look at him. "You're mine to protect now, angel. It doesn't matter what he says or what he thinks. He doesn't get to treat you like shit anymore. I won't allow it."

"You're going to slay dragons for me." My smile wobbles.

"You're going to slay this one yourself, angel." He bumps his forehead against mine, giving me a reassuring smile. "You can do it. And when you're done, I'm taking you away for Christmas." His hand slips between our bodies, splaying across my stomach. "You still owe me a gift."