Page 4 of Courting the Krampus
Adelbert draws our attention again and holds up a finger. “Ah, before I forget, the most important element to guarantee your safety. It is imperative that you know that all the males have volunteered to swear an oath of safekeeping to you. Each oath will be tailored to the individual and his species and will be between you, him, and the fates. If you would like a witness, I will be present, or however many other witnesses you desire. At this point, I will ask you to make your way to your partner so you can start discussing your plans.”
Without waiting for any more objections, Adelbert beelines for sweet Florence, checking his watch on his way. Everett zooms over to Sadie’s seat and I quickly excuse myself to give them more space.
Jasper stands in the doorway leading to the living room and beckons me to follow him. It is like there is some kind of invisible string pulling me to him, because in the next moment I’m on my feet, all too willing to follow him just about anywhere.
Chapter three
Jasper
Natalie saunters past me into the living room and I linger in the doorway to watch her plump ass as she heads toward the couch. I plop down next to her, taking care to avoid accidentally brushing against her skin as per the no-touch rule set out by Bertie.
“Looks like you’re stuck with me until Bertie can find a way to dissolve the bond,” I tell her, trying to keep my gaze on her eyes and not her cherry-red lips with their ever-present tilt that’s got trouble written all over it.
I want her brand of trouble.
“Oh no, whatever can we do,” Natalie says flatly but the humor in her tone has me perking up. I bite my lip and trail my eyes down her body, noticing how she squirms under my perusal and my cock twitches in response.
Natalie shifts in her seat and leans back, propping her elbows onto the armrest behind her. The move stretches the material of the fitted white T-shirt she’s wearing even tighter across her tits. Tits that are begging to be explored with my tongue and teeth.
“Like I said earlier, there are so many things Iwishto do.” I’m only half joking. Natalie has fascinated me since the moment we met and I have not missed the way she’s been checking me out. I am oddly self-conscious about my horns and how scary they can seem, but the way Natalie looks at them makes me think she might find them attractive.
“What if I wish for things too?” My heart just about somersaults in my chest at Natalie’s words.
“Before you distract me with your wily ways, I need to swear an oath to you. Last night all the guys were in the estate library trying to find ways to dissolve the bonds. When we couldn’t find the information we were looking for, we agreed that our main mission is to keep our bonded partners comfortable and make them feel safe. The best way to do so is to swear oaths.”
Natalie’s brows draw together and she nods. “That’s kind of cool of you guys. We all love consent kings. But what about you males? Should we say some kind of oath to you too? You know, since consent goes both ways?”
I lean forward in my seat, getting serious for a minute. “I can’t speak for all the males, but I don’t need an oath from you. My oath is bound by magic and I’ll swear to your safety and comfort. Is there something specific you would like me to add to the wording? Any boundaries you’d prefer to keep?”
Natalie purses her lips and her light eyes flit over my face as she searches for something. She glances toward the dining room where most of the others still mingle in pairs, then drops her voice to a sultry tone just above a whisper. “I like my boundaries to be pushed.” Her grin turns sly. “Tell me, how serious are you about this no-physical touch policy?”
I run my tongue along my teeth as I take a second to consider Natalie’s question. Despite my very strong desire to play with her and to explore what kind of responses I can draw from her body, there are some bigger elements at play that I need to think about. Crossing the touching line could have consequences and tie us together even stronger than now.
However,nottouching doesn’t seem like something I’d be able to do. And judging by the way she’s looking at me, that feeling is very much reciprocated.
“Adelbert is serious about it, only because we do not know the full consequences yet. By laying down that rule, he most likely feels like he’s protecting us. I think it’s also because elves don’t like touch, so it’s not exactly a hardship for him. I, on the other hand, love touching. All the touching. So much touching.”
Natalie’s intake of breath is audible and her pupils expand until only a thin ring of icy blue is visible. It’s like my words triggered a shift in the atmosphere as the air grows thick around us. My heart pounds, a throb echoing in my cock, as the rest of the world fades away and I can only see Natalie in front of me.
Natalie shifts again and her little red plaid skirt inches higher, exposing the matching tattoo on the center of her left thigh that matches my tattoo. The urge to trace it is almost visceral.
“So if I asked you to touch me right now?” Natalie’s eyes drop to my crotch and the bulge that’s impossible to hide. She crosses her legs and her skirt shifts, exposing more creamy skin on lush thighs I can imagine wrapped around my neck.
I clear my throat and pull on my pants to make some room for my lengthening cock. “And how would you like to be touched? I follow directionsverywell.”
I’m not sure when it happened, but it’s like we’re slowly drifting closer to each other with each tension-filled breath we take. Natalie sits up straighter and my arm stretches along the back of the couch. My fingertips tingle with the need to graze her creamy flesh.
“Well, first you can—”
“Don’t tell me. Yet.” Before I can drag her onto my lap right here, I lean back and lock my fingers behind my head as I slouch into the couch.
I don’t usually have a type—it’s more based on vibes. And Natalie, she is most definitely a vibe.
But I need to be practical right now. “Let’s talk logistics first. We have to decide where we are going to stay while we wait to undo the bond. Do you have any pressing matters to take care of, or any immediate plans you’re committed to?”
Not put off by my lack of suave moves, Natalie grins at me. “Nope. I’m free as a bird. Only need to grab my backpack at my hotel, and I don’t have a next destination booked yet.”
My mind races through the potential outcomes of spending an indefinite amount of time together. Each lascivious look we have shared fuels possible scenarios and I wonder if she’s getting as excited as I am.
