Page 27 of Christmas Wishes
Chapter Seven
Rand wrapped the fake popcorn strand around the top of the tree. Next year, he’d have a real popcorn strand. Of course, he’d have to learn how to make it, first. If Blix were around, maybe she could help him with that.
He’d been so surprised to find her on the porch. He’d heard Bernie’s truck and opened the door, and there had been his elf, looking uncertain and confused and more beautiful than he remembered.
Her sparkly red dress, bare feet… He didn’t understand how she came to be there. He didn’t know if she was going to be taken away from him either. He would make the most of the time they had.
And the kiss? Looking down at her as she hung ornaments on the lower half of the tree, he wanted to kiss her again. Over and over. He wanted to take her to bed, to keep her there. He wanted to wake up beside her on Christmas morning.
“Have you shifted since you’ve been here?”
“Yes. The very next day.”
“Are there others? Like you? Reindeer shifters?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t come across any other animals yet. But, it’s peaceful here. Even the small town. It’s quiet. It’s picturesque.”
“Tell me about it.”
“It’s calledSnow Falls.It’s not very big. A few little restaurants, a general store, a candy shop, a couple of places to stay. I would like to explore it more, I think. I’m curious. There are even some shop windows that are covered with paper. Maybe they’re renovating. It’s not bustling, but it’s a community of sorts.”
“Sounds it. Take me with you?”
Rand grinned. “I’d love to.” He took a couple of steps back and pulled her with him to survey their decorating job. “Even without lights, it looks great.” Cinnamon sticks tied together with ribbon. Pine cones hung with twine. Popcorn strands, cranberry garlands. “I have some oranges in a crate and Heidi threw in some cloves.”
She glanced up and over her shoulder at him. “Heidi?”
“She works in the general store. Jealous?”
“No. Look, Rand… I…” She stopped speaking, let her words trail off, and turned to face him. “I think I… I think you’re the… I don’t know how to say this.”
“Just say it.” He had a feeling he knew what she was going to say. If they could get beyond their tiptoeing with each other, they could find some truths and perhaps some very common ground.
“Okay. I think I’m in love with you.”
He was thrilled with the change in topic. He’d been trying to figure out how to approach the tension floating between them. It appeared she had, too. “Does it scare you?”
“A little.” She shook her head. “No, that’s not true. It scares me a lot. You’re different here in this cabin, away from home. I don’t know who I am or who I would be here full time and I don’t know what I’d do with the bakery. I just… Oh, Rand.”
He touched her face, the natural sparkle of her cheeks. She was brave in saying what she wanted. He hadn’t said what he’d wanted. When he’d been asked multiple times, he hadn’t said. The choice had been made for him and his little elf? She was so damn brave. “What are you saying, Blix?”
“I want one night with you. If you’ll have me.” The sparkle brightened as she blushed with her request. Rand couldn’t believe his ears and his reindeer didn’t want to be reined in any longer. He wanted to mate. “One night? Really? That’s all?” He lifted her off her feet as he had earlier and walked with her over to the bed. “You sure about this?”
Blix nodded. “I am.”
“Then, little elf, your wish will come true.”
He settled her into the mattress and slid down on top of her, his hands gripping the sides of her head gently, his lips trailing along her cheeks, her jaw, until he finally captured hers. The kiss in the kitchen hadn’t been enough to scratch the surface of his desire for her.
Tonight was a dream and one he didn’t want to wake up from.
He let go of her hair and ghosted his hands down her sides to the edges of her dress. The sparkles matched her eyes, as they always did and Blix lifted up, allowing him to ease the dress up over her thighs.
Her skin was warm where he touched and her muscles trembled beneath his palms.
The more he revealed of her lush body, the more he wanted her. It wasn’t going to be easy to take it slow, to savor her the way she deserved this first time.
He buried his face in her neck, inhaled her sweet scent of sugar and spice, then sat back on his haunches and pulled her up just enough that he could get her dress off over her head. Beneath it, she wore black and red lace. “Wow.”
