13. Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll always melt for Krampus

Chapter 13

Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll always melt for Krampus

TWYLA

I stir from my sleep.

Part of me wants to fall back into my dreams, considering how wonderful they were, until I register how warm I feel—wrapped in my big, monster Krampus’s arms. Oh…not a dream after all.

It’s a different setting since I dreamed we were back at the castle in my husband’s bed. I glance at the windows, scrunching my brows at the sight of the soft white abyss. Wow, it must be layers of thick snow out there.

Regardless, the soft amber light of the fire flickers shadows all over the room, leaving me wondering if he kept it burning all night.

At first, I bury my face in his fur, inhaling the scent of smoke from the fire and gingerbread.

“Mmm…” I rub my legs together and prop my chin on his chest to stare up at my husband.

He doesn’t smile, but his lips are relaxed, his eyes dark and smoldering as he stares down at me, casting the shadow of his horns along my face. He rubs circles along my lower back, those fingers occasionally straying along the sensitive flesh of my backside. It’s not as inflamed. But I wince because my skin feels sticky, every part of it.

I must be a sight with my crazy curls and naked, pink rump, covered in icing and saliva from Krampus’s tongue—not to mention traces of eggnog-cum splatter long since dried to a gluey-like crust. He looks the same as always.

Dark, masculine, and dominant with all his beastly muscles, silky, black-red fur, powerful thighs, strong hooves. The impressive thick horns he can grow at will. And, of course, his tail tickles the backs of my thighs, causing me to shiver.

“Did you get any sleep?” I wonder, yawning and noticing the aftertaste of eggnog and gingerbread on my tongue.

“Cherishing my beautiful kjaere as she sleeps is more than enough rest for me.” He kindles my blood and sends shivering tingles when he says things like that. “Tell me, min Twyla, if you are comfortable sharing, why you reacted the way you did in the kitchen with the apron?”

Sighing because I knew he would probably ask, and even though he probably suspects, I nuzzle my cheek along his chest and murmur, “It was what was expected of me. All my life, I was never allowed to be…me. Even the idea of college was always followed by the expectation of how I needed to get married and have babies like my sister. I was always compared to her.

“I was never good enough for anyone because she was the golden one who did everything right. And I was just the naughty girl breaking the rules and hiding all my diaries and notebooks so none of them could read my stories of magic and monsters and fairytale worlds. They weren’t welcome. Just like my questions weren’t welcome because you were supposed to accept what you were taught. Not question.” I get a little, soft smile when I consider those stories, but my smile falls when I think of how much was lost because they were thrown away without my knowing, considered worthless and useless. Tears slip down my cheeks.

“Twyla, kjaere…” Krampus, my Krampus, summons me in a deep, silken voice, one of authority but filled with tender love. And I lift my chin to meet his eyes. He cups my chin, stroking my cheek. “Do you wish to have a child?”

I shrug. “With you?”

“No, min Twyla, some other monster with eggnog in his cock,” he snorts and chuffs a laugh.

I giggle and smile. Because he always knows how to make me smile. Then, I chew on my lower lip and say, “I think…since we’re immortal, we have plenty of time to wait. I’m in no rush, Krampus. Right now, I just want you. My big, daddy monster who makes me so happy because you’re my kjaere, my happy ending and forever fairy tale beginning. Besides…” I sigh deeply and slide my palm up to his heart—“I think you helped me take it back. The second I saw the?—”

“Star.”

My smile spreads into a grin. “Mmmhmm. I reclaimed it. It was fun tossing the Santa Clause cookie cutter away and focusing on the star. It was fun smearing your cookies. And it was a lot of fun when you tore apart the apron.”

“Duly noted. And good girl.” I love how I turn to hot goo at those words. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed you writing more over the past year. Those stories you love so much…”

I perk up, my shoulders lifting. “Krampus World, Krampus Haven, the castle, the cabin…everything is my inspiration! Little blog posts. Little articles describing all the beautiful things. I just…haven’t shared yet.” I blush because I’ve wanted to share them, but I’ve also felt they might not live up to the magic they describe. I want to honor them. I want to honor the magic of the realm. I want to honor Krampus.

“You are welcome to share anything whenever you wish, min Twyla. With me or anyone else. I’m certain any of my race would truly love to hear the stories you have written, inspired by them. Hmm…that gives me an idea.”

I prop my hands on his chest and scoot up more. “What? What is it?”

“Well, that would spoil the surprise, min kjaere.”

I tip my head forward with a groan. “Oh, Krampus!”

“It will be worth the wait. You trust me…” he hints, tapping my cheek.

Mustering a nod, I roll my eyes and lean up to kiss his crooked monster nose. “Of course, I do. I love all your surprises.”

“And I love that goofy smile,” he adds while rubbing a thumb along my lips.

I lean in to shower kisses along his chest. “You put it there.”

“I’d like to put something else somewhere else…” he hints with a mischievous glint while bobbing his brows.

A thrill rushes through me. “Can you?”

“I have enough power to ‘Tween take us back to Krampus Palace. From there, we won’t have the same…limitations.”

“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.