Page 88 of Sweet Poison

I lean closer, my breath brushing against her cheek. “You’ve always been the most interesting person in any room to me and you always will be.” My voice is low, and I watch in fascination as a pretty blush spreads across her cheeks.

Her eyes widen for a moment, surprise mingling with delight, and before I can process it, she leans in and steals a quick kiss. It’s soft and fleeting, but it sends a shock of electricity through me.

So. Damn. Sweet.

I lick my lips, savoring the taste of her.

“You know,” Willow beams, “you’ve always been the most interesting creature to me, Madden. Always”

Her words make my heart race. I can’t help but smile. “Really?” I raise a brow teasing her. “Even when I act like a grinch?”

She chuckles softly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Especially when you act all grinchy. Besides, I think I have a thing for the grinch act.” She laughs as she holds my gaze and in this moment p, everything fades and it’s just us wrapped in the magic of the night.

In her eyes I see the truth of her words. She truly means it. She’s always accepted me for me.

“Then I guess I’ll have to keep being a grinch,” I reply, my tone playful but genuine. “Can’t let you down, Martha May.”

“Oh, no. You did not just say that.” She laughs at my stupid joke and I feel her laughter all the way down to my bones, grounding me.

“It made you laugh didn’t it?” And before she can respond, I grab her by her neck and kiss the fuck out of her all the while thinking that this moment right here with her in my arms under a thousand stars might just be the best of my life.

I slip my hand into my pocket, my fingers brush against something smooth and cool— something that took me over three fucking hours to make. I pull it out— careful not to break it.

A mistletoe—fuck, not the typical kind. I made this one from shells and leaves— a blend of her two favorite places. The land and the sea.

I raise it above her head, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth.

Willow pauses, looking up at the mistletoe, then at me. Her blue eyes widen, a soft and melodic laugh bubbling up from her chest. “W-what…?” she breaths, the surprise in her voice melting my heart.

“I thought you would appreciate something different,” I say, voice low. “You know, Christmas tradition with an earthy twist.”

She leans closer, her perfect smile stretching wide, a spark in her eyes that matches the mischief in mine. Then, without a warning, she grabs the collar of my shirt, pulling me toward her. From this close, I can smell her intoxicating scent that drives me crazy. Fuck, everything about her drives me insane.

Willow presses a quick, soft kiss to my lips. It’s fleeting but it still sets my body on fire with the need to claim this woman.

To make her mine.

Mine, body, and soul.

When she pulls away, her cheeks turn a soft pink, and her smile is a little crooked—just enough to show she knows the effect she has on me. The little tease. “Madden…” she breathes, suddenly shy.

“Yes, baby?” I ask, my voice low and husky, as I set the mistletoe down beside her glass of wine.

“Can I ask you for something?”

“What do you want, Wild One? Whatever it is, it's yours.”

She gives me a flirty smile. “You.”

I frown, momentarily lost. “Me?” I echo, confusion clouding my thoughts, until the realization hits me, making my pulse spike and blood rush to my cock.

Fuck.

I mean closer and closing the distance between us, and tucking a curl behind her ear. “You want to be mine, Willow?”

Her eyes flicker with something that looks a hell of a lot like need, and before she can mask it, she turns her face away. But I don’t let her hide from me. Gently, I lift her chin with my fingers, making her meet my gaze.

“I warn you though, beautiful,” I murmur, my voice a dark promise, “if you give yourself to me, I’m not letting you go.”

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