Page 117 of Of Magic and Reindeer
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “On a scale of one to ten? Or should I use Christmas-themed ratings? Like candy canes?”
Dane fiddled with his phone, and the music shifted to something with a deeper, more sensual beat. “Rate us however you want, sweetheart. But know that I’m aiming for nothing less than the naughty list.”
With everyone on board for a little show, Blitz stepped forward first, tearing open his button-up shirt with such force that buttons pinged off the walls.
“That was my favorite shirt!” Cole’s protest was drowned out by my spontaneous burst of applause.
Blitz flexed. “Worth it.”
I wrote down his score. “Eight. Excessive property damage, excellent execution.”
Don approached next, already shirtless. He executed a perfect body roll that ended with him on his knees in front of me, his hands sliding up my calves.
“Holy mistletoe,” I whispered, my magic stirring in response. Frost patterns bloomed across the paper as I wrote his score. “Nine out of ten. Out of bounds, but much appreciated.”
Pierce stepped forward next, unhooking his belt and removing it while maintaining eye contact. “Some of us prefer quality over theatrics.”
The belt made a satisfying snap as he pulled it free completely, one eyebrow arched in challenge.
I swallowed hard. “Whoever said Christmas comes once a year clearly never met you guys. I give you a nine for lack of theatrics.”
Kip nearly choked with laughter, while Vix was already unbuttoning his jeans, clearly impatient for his turn.
One by one, they paraded before me, each more ridiculous than the last. Cole performed a striptease, including throwing his clothes at me, which had me howling with laughter. Dash moonwalked. Kip did some kind of weird robot dance that somehow still managed to be sexy. Dane and Vix teamed up, spinning each other like they were auditioning forDancing with the Stars: North Pole Edition.
By the time Rudy took his turn, I was breathless from laughing. But when he locked eyes with me, slowly removing his Henley with no frills to reveal the sculpted planes of his chest, my laughter faded into something much hungrier.
He stepped toward me, holding out his hand. “Your turn.”
I looked down at my clipboard of scores that I’d stopped keeping. “I really need to catch up on my scoring.”
Kip plucked the clipboard and pen from my hands. “Let’s be honest here, you’re a perfect ten.”
I rolled my eyes but let Rudy pull me to my feet. They spread out around the room, sitting on couches and chairs or leaning against walls.
Why was I so nervous? They’d all seen me naked every which way.
I stood in the center of the room as their hungry eyes fixated on me with an intensity that made my magic spark beneath my skin.
“I don’t exactly have stripping experience.” I tugged at the hem of my sweater.
Don leaned forward in his seat. “Do whatever feels right.”
I closed my eyes for a second, letting the rhythm sink deep under my skin. My hands drifted over my hips and up my sides before I cupped my breasts. I moved my hands back down to the hem of my sweater.
My breaths quickened as I swayed my hips, pulling my sweater over my head with a flourish. The cool air kissed my skin as I stood before them in my bra and leggings.
A chorus of appreciative groans filled the room. Pierce’s eyes were locked on mine, dark and intense. Vix was practically vibrating with impatience.
I hooked my thumbs into the waistband of my leggings, sliding them slowly down my hips in a move that was half dance, half torture for everyone involved. My magic flared with my growing confidence, creating tiny glittering snowflakes that were suspended in the air around me.
“I think I should get extra points for the special effects.” I kicked my leggings aside with a grin.
The answering growls told me I’d won first place.
I smiled, feeling powerful. The awkwardness that had initially gripped me melted away. These men wanted me. All of me. And I wanted them to see.
An idea sparked in my mind, and I let my magic flow. Ice crystallized in front of me, forming and reshaping until a translucent chair sat in the center of the room.
