Page 3 of I Saw Krampus Kissing Ms Claus

His hair is long and black, his dark sideburns take up half his face, cutting into his cheeks like a hairy contour.

His eyes blaze bright yellow, and four horns rise from his head. Two splay outward from his temples to curve down toward his chin, the second larger pair loop backwards over his head and then point straight up.

The horns weren’t nearly as big last time I saw him. None of him was quite this big.

I wonder how he brushes his hair with all that going on up there.

“I’m here on business, Krampus.” I hold my chin high.

The seven-foot tall demon smirks, leaning one arm against the archway of the cavern, the muscles in his bicep flexing. “All business and no pleasure. Same little Saint Nik as ever.”

I feel my cheeks get a little rosier.

Krampus was always a teasing flirt. I used to enjoy it.

But I’ll never forgive him for that night under the mistletoe.

“Did you need something, Saint Nik? Or did you come down here cuz you were feeling a little naughty?” His long tail flicks to punctuate his sentence.

ChapterTwo

HIS WORDS BREAK THROUGH MY revery and I realize I’ve been staring at his broad furry chest. The bastard is only wearing chains crossed over his naked torso.

“The workshop is low on Christmas Cheer.” I say.

“How is that possible?” His bushy brows scrunch together.

I shake my head in a non-answer. “Santa sent me to find out if you could spare any. We only need a couple of Yottagrammes.”

“How can you be low?” Krampus’s brows furrow.

“I don’t know.” I scowl. “It’s been plaguing me. We haven’t made my yearly projections.”

“But your projections are always perfect, Saint Nik. Santa raves about that.”

My stomach churns at the nickname. “Well, this year I was wrong, and now we are low. Santa won’t be able to make the full sleigh ride without it.”

“You think you can walk in here and borrow some from your neighbor? Like it’s a cup of sugar?” Krampus clops two steps toward me, but his hips manage to sway in the short distance.

“It’s a tiny portion of our yearly supply.” I mutter, trying to keep my eyes on the ground.

“Yes, but your collection methods and mine are very different.” The chains across his chest clink as he moves. “I hunt my Christmas Cheer down on foot. I squeeze every drop out with carefully chosen punishments. With reeds, and whips, and chains, and spankings. Until I’ve extracted every morsel possible from the target.” His hand strokes along the handle of a switch that hangs from his belt. He hasn’t moved since he started speaking, but he suddenly feels far too close to me.

“If you don’t want to lend it to me, it’s fine.” I turn on my toes.

Krampus snickers. It’s a sinister noise that makes my skin itch. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t lend it to you!”

“You implied as much.” I stomp toward the cave entrance without looking back at him.

“Saint Nik! Wait! Let me help you!” He’s in front of me in a flash, his hands held up to keep me from leaving. I recoil, not wanting those large hands to touch me.

“Stop calling me that!” I snap.

“Saint Nik?” His arms drop to his sides.

“You always thought I was some kind of goodie-goodie! Treated me like I was a perfect little doll that you didn’t want to corrupt.” I take two steps past him and this time he doesn’t try to stop me.

“Because you are perfect.” He calls to my back.

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