Chapter 21

21

Aurora

After Nonna handed out the lists of clues to each of the teams, Christian and I peeled off—or rather, he stalked off with the list, and I had no choice but to follow him. We found a quiet space in the study at the end of the corridor. Massimo, and later Seb, peeked in, only to be told off by Christian. The guys retreated, leaving us to examine the list of clues.

Now, Christian pulls his chair close to mine so our knees bump. I pull away, and of course, he shoots me a glance. "How long will you keep running, Flower?"

"As long as I am breathing."

"Not what you were saying earlier." He smirks.

"Can we focus on the task at hand—namely, this treasure hunt?"

"Technically, it's a Christmas-specific murder-mystery scavenger hunt," he reminds me.

"Whatever." I blow out a breath.

Can you share the list with me, please?"

He holds it up, and I lean in closer to read it.

Bring your gloves to this clue!

At least, that's what I'm told.

I hear it's very cool?—

Maybe even too cold to hold.

I am your winter.

I halt; I put time on ice.

Untended, I burn.

Under the skies,

Among the trees

In a place not too far away,

though you'll have to look for it

You'll find it...

And when the sun goes behind the clouds,

And the wind blows

And the blood runs cold

You'll need it…

I read it a second time. "Okay, what does that mean?" I frown.

"Something cold," Christian says slowly. "Maybe too cold to hold?"

"That's what it says." I scowl. "And it's somewhere outside, not too far away?"

"Maybe we should step out and go in search of it?" Christian offers.

"Maybe, that's the first really good suggestion you have come up with in a long time?"

"Getting sassy, are we?" Christian wraps his fingers about my neck and pulls me so close that I can make out the individual lines fanning out from the corners of his eyes. The heat of his body surrounds me; the force of his dominance presses down on my shoulders. I try to draw in a breath, and my lungs burn.

"Getting violent, are we?" I manage to force out the words.

He peers into my features.

I lick my lips, and his gaze drops to my mouth. The air between us thrums with electricity. The hair on the back of my neck rises and my toes curl.

"If you think this is violent, then you have no idea what I am capable of, Flower." His hot breath sears my cheeks. A bead of sweat trickles down my throat and into the valley between my breasts. He follows it with his gaze, and the tension between us skyrockets further.

"I think," I clear my throat, "I think we need to leave if we have any hope of winning this scavenger hunt."

"And is that important for you?" he murmurs. "Winning?"

"It's what most people aspire to."

"But you and I are not like the others, are we?" He releases his hold on me, and I draw in a breath. Another. What the hell was that all about? Why did he look at me like he wanted to … kiss me, hold me, ravish me? Why does every part of me want him to do that and more?

"Better dress warmly. It's going to be cold outside."

Ten minutes later, we walk across the garden at the back of the chalet. Or rather, Christian walks ahead, and I half-run to keep up with him. Of course, the asshole doesn't realize that my legs are much shorter than his, so I have to literally jog to keep up with him. Not that it would make a difference, even if he did comprehend it. He'd probably purposely walk fast so that I'd have to struggle to keep up. The wind blows again, and I shiver. I stab my hands into the pockets of my jacket and draw abreast with him. "Where are we going?"

"Searching for something that fits the description of the damn clue."

"But where would we look?"

"Where would we not look?" He gestures to the area around us, "Under the bushes? Behind tree trunks? No wait, maybe it's hidden somewhere up in the branches of one of these ancient fir trees?"

I follow his gaze to the tall trees that crowd the slope ahead of us.

"You really don't have a clue, do you?" I scowl.

"Do you?" he retorts.

"Nope," I heave out a sigh. "Surely, it can't be that difficult?"

He laughs. "Nonna came up with the clues; don't expect it to be a cakewalk."

"Not that I am underestimating her or anything, but this is a Christmas scavenger hunt. Surely, she would want us to solve the clues and find the objects that we are seeking and bring them back?"

"Doesn't mean that it's going to be easy." He begins to walk through the dense trees, and I follow.

A soft, powder-like substance drifts down in front of my eyes. "Oh…" I hold out my palm, then glance up to find snowflakes floating down. "Oh, wow, it's snowing." I pause, take in the sight, then because I can't stop myself, I open my mouth, pop out my tongue, and try to catch a flake.

A couple of them hit my lips, and I lick them off. I glance up to find him staring at me. The look in his eyes… It's hot and yearning, and yet also, strangely, shut off. Like he wants me, knows that I know that he wants me, and is not happy about it.

"Why do you dislike me?" I burst out.

He frowns. "Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm not being ridiculous." I march up to him and thrust a finger in his chest. "Since the first time you saw me, you… You've had this thing for me. It's like you can't stop noticing me, and you hate yourself for doing it. Like you want to throw me down and fuck me, but you're afraid that you'll enjoy it so much that you'll never walk away from me."

"Is that what you think?"

"It's what I know." I tip up my chin. "It's why you saved me from your brother's anger. Knowing that I'd be fully dependent on you. That you'd own me and be able to command me to do whatever you want, but you know what?"

"What?"

"I'm not the kind who gives in that easily." Turning, I race through the trees and up the slope.