17. Chapter 17 A Christmas Miracle

Chapter 17: A Christmas Miracle

J oy

The Suburban rumbles through the pre-dawn streets, the rhythmic motion nearly lulling me to sleep. Nearly. Because every time I close my eyes, I see Grum throwing himself in front of that gun. For me. My heart races at the memory, a mix of fear and something much, much warmer.

Terror races along my veins at the mere memory. Not for myself, but I almost got Grum killed.

I can’t ignore my feelings anymore. I care about this male. I’m not just attracted; it’s far deeper than that. He’s smart and fun and can even be sweet and thoughtful when he gets over himself and forgets that he’s trying to be grumpy.

I snuggle closer, tucking myself under his muscular arm as I glance at his gorgeous profile. I know that love takes time to develop and things between Grum and me have gone way too fast.

If Mom were here, she’d smile at me and tell me I’ll never go wrong if I follow my heart.

The memory of Mom’s wisdom brings a bittersweet smile to my face. She always had a way of making complicated things seem simple. And this thing with Grum? It’s complicated, moving so fast, crossing cultural boundaries… yet somehow, when I’m with him, everything feels right. Maybe that’s what Mom meant about following your heart—when it’s real, you just know.

I need to tell him how serious my feelings are… soon.

“So, Joy,” Kam’s voice breaks through my thoughts, a mischievous lilt to his tone. “Did you ask Thornn to drop you at your place?”

He’s teasing me, baiting me. I think everyone in this vehicle knows I’ll be sharing a bed with Grum tonight. I just don’t know how to answer. Kam put me on the spot.

“She’s still terrified and doesn’t want to be alone,” Grum says with a tone of authority that no one but Kam would be foolhardy enough to challenge.

Though he explained it with subtlety, the way he tucks me close, gazes at me like I hung the stars, and gently brushes a stray lock from my cheek leaves no doubt, even to those with half a brain, what we’ll be doing the moment we cross his threshold.

Heat rushes to my cheeks as I try to maintain my composure. “And… his place is closer.”

“Uh-huh,” Emma chimes in, not even trying to hide her grin. “Practical. That’s definitely the word I’d use to explain spending the night with a hunky orc firefighter.”

Grum growls beside me, but I catch the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Knock it off, you two. It’s been a long night.”

“I bet it’s about to get longer,” Sarah quips from the front seat.

I bury my face in my hands, torn between embarrassment and laughter. “You’re all terrible,” I mumble, but I’m not angry. In fact, their teasing feels… nice. Like I’m part of something. A family.

When we finally reach Grum’s apartment building, an old brick structure that’s seen better days, I’m nervous and excited, although I’m certain this is what I want. We say our goodbyes to our friends, enduring one last round of knowing looks, suggestive winks, and bawdy double entendres before heading inside.

Grum’s apartment is on the second floor, and each step feels like it’s bringing me closer to something monumental. He unlocks the door, ushering me inside with a gentleness that still surprises me sometimes because it’s so different from the angry orc I met less than a month ago.

The space is… surprisingly cozy. Worn but comfortable furniture, bookshelves lined with an exciting mix of titles, and a small kitchen that looks well-used. What’s noticeably absent is any sign of Christmas. No tree, no lights, not even a stray piece of tinsel. It’s so at odds with my own home that I can’t help but smile.

“What?” Grum asks, catching my expression.

“Nothing,” I say, turning to face him. “It’s just very… you.”

He quirks an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “Is that a compliment or an insult, Tinsel Queen?”

I step closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating off his body. “Definitely a compliment. It’s honest. Real.” My eyes flick to his lips. “Like you.”

Grum’s huge hand cups my face, gently turning me toward him. Our gazes collide for a heartbeat, and then his lips are on mine.

Although I’ve been fantasizing about this kiss since the lights came back on in that elevator, this is better than anything I’ve imagined. Grum’s lips are surprisingly soft, contrasting with the slight scrape of his tusks against my skin. He tastes faintly of coffee and smells of pine.

I melt into him, my hands gripping his shoulders, my hardened nipples dragging along his chest. A small sound escapes me, somewhere between a sigh and a moan.

Grum pulls back slightly, his forehead resting against mine. “Joy,” he rumbles, as though the very sound itself is precious to him.

“Yes?” I breathe, suddenly wondering if this amazing moment might be a dream.

“Nothing.” He has the softest look on his face. “I just wanted to hear the sound of your name on my lips.”

He leans down and this time, the kiss deepens quickly. Grum’s arms circle my waist, lifting me effortlessly. I wrap my legs around him, marveling at how perfectly we fit together despite our size difference.

A surge of heat pools in my belly as Grum’s lips brush against mine with a desperate urgency that beckons to something primal inside me. His strong arms wrap more tightly around me.

My palms clutch the broad span of his back, trailing along the taut muscles beneath his shirt. I thrill when I feel him harden against me and hear his low growl vibrating from deep within his throat.

I want more. With every second that passes, my body awakens, sparking to life as electric energy courses through me. My fingers tangle in his hair as I pull off his hair tie and urge him closer.

I want these kisses, but even more than that, I need to tell him things. Thoughts I’ve kept secret but that have been growing bigger and more urgent since the day we met.

Cupping his nape with my palms, I pull away so I can spear him with my most serious gaze.

“Grum. You scared me.”

He stiffens in my arms and I realize that was the wrong way to begin.

“That first day, you were so… gruff, so angry.”

Though I have more to say, I interrupt myself to kiss him. Not one of those desperate kisses like we just shared. This one is soft, barely there, telling him with my touch what my mouth is having such a hard time conveying—that I care for him, that he’s the most special thing in my world.

When he relaxes into my touch, I try to explain. “You didn’t like me—”

“That’s not true.”

I gently press one finger against his lips so I can finish. “You’d been ordered to help. Now that I know you, I realize that a strong male like you doesn’t like to be forced to do anything. I just want you to know that despite how scary you seemed, I was attracted from the start.”

“Ohhh.” The sound is a moan and a prayer and high praise all wrapped up in a gruff rumble from the depths of him. “You’re so much smarter than me, Joy. It took me an hour, maybe even two, before I started to fall for you. And,” he shakes his head, rueful, “it took me days to realize it.”

He strides to his living room wall and presses me against it. After hitching me higher, making sure that between his hands on my ass and my thighs around his waist he can hold me comfortably, he devours me.

Our teeth clack and his tusks gently scrape my cheeks as his tongue delves inside me. He doesn’t hold back. He wants me to know how deeply this kiss is affecting him. He groans with pleasure as he sucks my tongue, laps at the seam of my lips, and explores my depths.

My breath catches as he pulls away just enough to look into my eyes, his amber gaze piercing and searching.

“What do you want?” he asks, voice low and thick as honey, his breath hot against my skin.

I swallow hard, my heart pounding as a hot blush streaks across my cheeks. “You… I want you, Grum.” The words spill out with a dark urgency, igniting his passion as his gaze darkens with desire.

“You want me?”

He uses the point of his black tongue to lick with painstaking languor along my jawline from one ear to the other.

“ All of me?”

His hips thrust in a deliciously slow rhythm as he presses me harder against him. I feel his cock rubbing against my clit even through our layers of clothes. I gasp at how sensual this feels, how he’s making me desperate for him before we’ve even undressed.

“All of you. Yes.”