‘Tis the season of Wicked Deeds (A Holiday romance Book 1)

“What?” I all but shout.

“I recently inherited it from my father, who has decided to retire.” Glancing at the computer screen, he reads something and, with the keycard in hand, rounds the desk.

I’m stunned into silence and don’t stop him when he grabs the handle of my suitcase.

When he tugs it forward, I snap out of my shocked state.

Before I can protest, a staff member appears and says, “Let me, sir.”

I gape in awe at Kingston as he replies something fluently in German. I do not understand a single word but guess the gist that he’ll take me to my lodge himself when the guy walks away with a nod.

“Come on.” Kingston nudges me with a hand on my waist.

I move and curiously ask, “How many languages do you speak?”

“Four.”

“Overachiever much?”

“It was a necessity,” he answers, chuckling. “I moved around a lot growing up.”

I bite my tongue from wanting to ask about the places he lived.

It’s none of my business. We aren’t on a date.

We step out through the glass door I saw earlier and walk down the stone walkway with lamps illuminating the path on both sides. I ignore the way my heart races when he shuffles closer so his body heat keeps me warm.

At a distance, I see chalet lodges. They look cozy, inviting, and romantic with thick snow falling on the top. The pictures weren’t misleading. They’re more stunning in person.

So much curiosity is eating away at me, urging me to ask Kingston questions and learn more about him. His deepest, darkest secrets, for example. But I don’t voice any of them to keep my guard up.

My brain doesn’t get the message, and I blurt out, “Do you give special treatment to every guest or are you making an exception for me?”

Did that sound flirty? Of course, it did. Who am I kidding?

I swear I have only one setting around him—embarrassing myself.

“What do you think?” he rasps.

“What is your plan here, exactly?” I counter. “Wear me down to be with you?”

“Will it work?”

“Stop answering with a question.”

“I didn’t even know I was going to run into you here, Twinkle. Or that I’d be relieved that you purposely spoiled our date,” he says the last part teasingly. Coming to a halt, he stares at my flushed face and promises, “So you can bet on everything holy that I won’t let this second chance go to waste, no matter how stubborn you are. Whatever walls or reservations you have, I’m going to tear them down.”

I swallow nervously, my stomach flipping pleasingly. “I won’t make it easy.”

“As long as the prize is you, I’m up for any challenge.”

Such a smooth talker. And my name on his tongue, in that slight accent, is fast becoming my weakness.

“We’ll see,” is all I mutter, making him smile.

“You will be seeing a lot of me.”

His mysterious tone prickles my senses as we bypass two lodges before stopping in front of a one-story tall cottage. It’s the biggest out of the rest. I’m assuming it’s mine. What Hilda informed me makes sense. It’s more suited for a large family. I can’t see the balcony that she mentioned. It must be on the other side.

There’s also a fence around it with a few short steps leading to the front door. It’s giving more of a cabin vibe, which I adore.

I’m secretly wishing the other half isn’t booked by anyone so I can have this all to myself. Before I can truly appreciate it, Kingston’s earlier statement pops into my head.

I can’t help but cautiously ask, “What did you mean by I’d be seeing you a lot?”

“I’m staying in the second bedroom in your lodge,” he reveals, his tone smug.

“But…” I stammer. “But you’re not a guest. Don’t you have your own place to stay at?”

My reaction makes him amused and once again, he takes my wrist and propels me up the staircase. “Did Hilda not inform you about the recent changes to this cabin?”

“She did.”

My skin tingles when he lets go to insert the keycard. “Why are you surprised then?”

“Because I didn’t know it would come attached with you. And isn’t there an unwritten rule that an owner shouldn’t share a room with their guests? If not, it should be.”

“I’ll happily be at your service, darling.” He winks and opens the door.

I refuse to go in and cross my arms. “What about my right to privacy?”

“Of course you’ll have your privacy.” He chuckles low. “Do you think I’m going to be walking around you like a shadow, popping up from hidden corners? I mean, we can arrange it if you wish, though.”

“No, thank you.”

“Then get inside, stubborn girl.”

Why does it feel like a trap? The thought of being alone in a closed space with him is both tempting and dangerous. As we lock in a staring battle, the air charges with sizzling tension. If he touched me, I’d combust into flames of desire.

I’m that wound up from months of restless nights dreaming about him.

Stealing orgasms with memories of him but still left frustrated.

Leaning against the doorway in an effortlessly sexy move, he sighs. “We will only be sharing a balcony, Twinkle. You can keep the door locked at all times. Although, I hardly believe you’ll be spending the entire time holed up inside.”

“What if I don’t lock it?” What the hell is wrong with my tongue? Why do I keep blurting out insane and totally provocative things like this?

Stop playing with fire, Twinkle.

His eyes darken in the same warning. “Then all bets are off because I’ll take it as an invitation.”

Yep. I’ve gone certifiably crazy if the thought of him sneaking into my bedroom turns me on. In hindsight, I should’ve had a one-night stand before coming here. Which reminds me… I still have a kinky list burning a hole in my purse.

Imagine if it landed in his hands.

I won’t let it happen.

And just how am I supposed to check them off if the star of all those depraved fantasies is right here and completely off-limits? If only he were looking for a one-time dirty rendezvous rather than a picket fence.

“Are you coming inside or do I need to throw you over my shoulder?”

His threat jolts me out of my musings.

Out of reasons to stall, I stomp inside. I secretly hate the shiver that courses down my spine when my hand brushes his. If an accidental touch with him is this electric, I can only imagine what being pressed naked against him will feel like.

“You’re way too happy about this, Kingston,” I accuse, just as he crosses the threshold after me. “Aren’t you the least bit mad I fooled you? That perhaps I ruined your perfect chance at a family with Tina? The woman you’re most compatible with?”

Pushing my suitcase against the wall near the entrance, he stalks his way to where I’m standing in the middle of the foyer. Hauling me against his chest, his head dips and he fuses his luscious lips with mine.

One second, I’m counting all the reasons to push him away and in the next breath, he kicks them to the curb with a swipe of his tongue against the seam of my lips.

My brain turns into mush while he swallows my moan in his mouth. It feels like no time has passed as he steals a kiss for the second time. Slanting his head, his lips teasingly glide against mine, he coaxes them open.

The last of my common sense and resistance fly out the window, and I give in.

I part my lips, our hungry tongues colliding, and he groans—a rough and greedy sound that melts my body. His mouth turns voracious and filthy, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth and then nipping my top one.

His singular intention is to leave them swollen and aching long after he’s gone.

And damn him, it’s working.

The hand holding my nape travels upward to fist my hair and hold me still under the wicked and thorough kiss. I’m surprised by the whimpering and breathless noises I make.

I sound greedy and desperate all at once.

Unlike the last time, there’s nothing gentlemanly about this kiss.

Both of us take our several-months-long frustrations out on each other. His large palm boldly cups my ass and drags me even harder against his well-toned body. I clutch his big shoulder with one hand while my other latches onto his hair as he wedges one hard thigh right against my pussy.

A fire stokes instantly.

My hips move of their own accord, rubbing my clit against the hard muscle. I’m so horny and drowning in lust that if he doesn’t stop, I’ll come on his thigh like a wanton whore.

Fuck. This is escalating fast. The peak of ecstasy taunts me as I grind harder and rougher, needing more friction.

Never thought this is how my day would end.

With my crush kissing the hell out of me.

Making out with him in an open doorway, uncaring if anyone watches.

“Oh God!” I cry out against his lashing tongue licking the roof of my mouth. He controls the pace of our kiss, the speed in which I ride his leg, right down to the air I’m breathing. The intensity rises, almost turning violent.

I’ve run out of oxygen by the time he tears his lips from mine.

Opening my eyes, I silently beg him to not stop.

“Let me touch you,” he demands.

Even at the height of my lust, I taunt and shake my head with a smile.

“I want to watch you come undone.” Bringing his hand to the front of my throat, he grabs it but doesn’t squeeze. Trailing his fingers down the swell of my heaving breasts, both his hands lock around my waist, pushing me down roughly on his thigh once. Twice. He drives me closer to my peak, only to put me down on my feet in a flash with a harsh and authoritative taunt, “But not if you’re going to be a bad little girl.”

“Kingston!” I hiss angrily.

He isn’t the least bit sorry and softly grazes my flushed cheek with his lips, his beard tickling me in the most erotic way. “As for your irrelevant concerns about my compatibility with your friend, Tina could be standing here and I’d still pick you. Still see you. Ache only for you. My connection is with you, not with a girl I read about on a silly little piece of paper. A bunch of words don’t decide who I’m meant to be with.”

Fingers flexing on my hips, his mouth travels to my pounding pulse before he commands, “Stop pushing me toward your best friend, Twinkle. Even if she was my soulmate, I’d still give us a chance and see where it leads us,” he rasps in a deep and guttural voice. “Doubt me again and I’ll kiss you each time to prove you wrong.”

“Don’t you think you’re moving too fast? You haven’t even given yourself time to think about the whole messy truth.”

It’s a miracle I’m acting rational under the onslaught of his wicked touch.

“I’ve had six fucking months to think and I. Want. You.”