Chapter Six

“ T he town I live in has ghosts. Vampires. Orcs. Minotaurs. That’s okay. It’s all okay. I’ve lived here for four years and nothing bad has happened.”

Louisa clutched the steering wheel, even though the roads weren’t slick and the little town she’d come to love looked like something out of a Christmas card—and she actually felt like celebrating.

She and Mortimer had talked a bit about Pine Ridge and its surprising secret. It was a haven for peaceful paranormal creatures. Three intersecting Ley Lines met under Pine Ridge—and Ley Lines attracted creatures that needed supernatural energy.

Then he made her see stars again—and finally, he made a call to Jakob Minegold and asked if the kindly gentleman (kindly gentleman vampire ?!) could give Louisa the spirit bottle.

And that’s why I’m driving out to meet a vampire after eleven o’clock on Christmas Eve.

So I can wake up with Mortimer by my side on Christmas morning.

Whatever fears she had suddenly fell away, lost in the warm surge that came when she pictured her ghostly lover curled up behind her on her couch, reading together in the glow of her little Christmas tree. He’d smile over her shoulder—and his hand would slip between her legs when she got to a steamy scene.

And God, would she give him one hell of a Merry Christmas—once she learned how her mouth was supposed to navigate ghost cock, anyway.

Jakob Minegold lived past the fancier housing development in town and out by the big White Pines estate, a historic mansion where lots of town functions were held—and if Mortimer was telling the truth, it had its own ghost.

And my brother thought I’d be bored to death when I took this job in a town with the same population as our block in the city...

Mr. Minegold was already waiting by the door, a beautifully wrapped box in his hands. “My favorite librarian!” he exclaimed. “Well. One of them.”

Louisa sidled up to him, trying not to squint and stare. Vampire? This guy? Nah.

But I just boinked a ghost, so... what do I know?

“Hi,” she finally settled on that simple greeting.

“Hello. Happy Christmas, my dear, to you and Mortimer. This bottle has already been prepared. All he has to do is hop in and then—voila! He’s portable.”

Louisa nodded and snatched the box with her fingertips while scolding herself. You sold brownies side by side last year. You sat next to him during the community garden fundraiser. What is wrong with you?

“I don’t bite, my dear,” Minegold winked and smiled. His teeth looked perfectly normal. His skin was deathly pale, but then it had always been that way since she’d known him.

“I know!” she retorted with more fire than she should have. She thought she knew. She’d thought she’d known everything about Pine Ridge until yesterday. “Sorry. I’m a little on edge.”

“Then hurry home to Mortimer. He’s a good man. A good friend. One couldn’t ask for a finer gentleman.”

A gentleman who eats pussy like a rockstar.

“You can’t read my mind, can you?” she blurted, stepping back, cheeks a flame.

“What? No! Did Mortimer tell you that I could?” Minegold looked stunned.

“Um. No. Just...uhhh. Vampire books! I’ve read them.” A lot of steamy ones where they bite you while they fuck you...

I cannot have thoughts like that about nice old Mr. Minegold! “I have to go. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas, Mr. Minegold!” she squeaked, darted back to her car, and then yelped.

Mr. Minegold was already at her car, the door held open for her. He gave her a courtly bow and a little wink. “Don’t believe everything you read—but we are fast. It can come in handy—like when I have to reshelve books.”

“I wondered why you could do three carts to my one,” Louisa gasped, feeling the tightness in her chest releasing as she slid behind the wheel.

“You know, I've tried to get Mortimer to use a spirit bottle for years so he could come over for a game of chess or go visit White Pines for the Halloween Ball, or any number of things. Now, perhaps you’ll both join me for my New Year’s Eve party?”

“I’ll ask him. I think he’d like that,” Louisa smiled. “Good night!”

She drove away, glancing at the dashboard clock. In thirty minutes, it would be midnight.

She put her foot down on the gas. I want to get my Ghost of Christmas Present home in time to be my actual Christmas present!

LOUISA SET THE BEAUTIFUL cut glass bottle down gently on the coffee table in her little two-bedroom apartment. In a whirl, she turned on the Christmas tree lights, put on her favorite Christmas playlist, and fluffed her hair. Breathlessly, she unstoppered the spirit bottle. “Mortimer?”

Gray mist swirled, pooled, and formed in her living room as midnight struck and Christmas officially began. The form became solid and definite, a gray-tinted sepia photo brought to life and smiling at her.

“Hello, my love. Merry Christmas.” Mortimer held out his hands to her.

My love. Why, yes. Why shouldn’t she let herself be loved and give love in return? What better present could there be?

“Merry Christmas... my dear Mortimer.” She licked her lips as she let him fold her into his arms. “My brother and his family were coming to stay—and I have the air mattress ready for the kids. They always sleep out here near the tree when they visit for Christmas.”

“Your home is beautiful, and the tree is charming.” Mortimer didn’t release her, but he turned his head to smile at the old-fashioned ornaments dotted among the lights. “I would gladly bed down right here.”

“Good!” Louisa sprang away from him and hauled the air mattress in its long cylindrical bag out of the corner. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Oh? Why?”

“Because it’s traditional in my family to open the gifts under the tree—and you’re all I want to unwrap right now.”

Mortimer slid up behind her, hands cupping her breasts as she began to unroll the mattress. She could feel his hardness pressing into her rear. “I can’t wait to do a little unwrapping myself.”

AN HOUR OR SO LATER , Mortimer felt himself drifting into a sleep state, every part of his body aching in a satisfied way —particularly his nether region, which had never had so much exercise or such hedonistic attention. Louisa was kissing her way south now, full lips preparing to wrap around his spent manhood again.

“Did you like your first present?” she purred.

“My first? There’s more?” he gasped.

“Oh, honey. We’re only just getting started. We usually don’t finish with the presents until around noon in my family. We like to take our time.” Her teeth nipped his inner thigh. “Savor every new toy.” Her tongue tip teased the head of his cock before the flat of her tongue swept over him. “And this? With us? It’s very new, and I don’t intend to stop playing just yet.”

He was wide awake now, letting out a strangled groan of pleasure as her mouth engulfed him, her breasts squishing against his thighs, and her deep brown eyes entrancing him more every second.

“Do you like your present, Louisa?” he rasped.

She lifted her mouth for just a moment to smile at him. “I love him.”

“Good,” Mortimer let his head fall back in pleasure and awe.

She loves me.

Christmas wishes do come true...

Keep reading for a sneak peek at another Pine Ridge romance!