Page 79 of First Snow

Arttu’s stomach does a happy little flutter. They wave Sofia goodbye, and he allows Jareth to guide him back to his car.

“Didn’t expect you so early.” Arttu yawns. “How did you find me, anyway?”

Jareth crowds him against the passenger door of his car, taking his time to kiss Arttu again. Melting into the touch, Arttu moans softly. He hits his head as he slumps against the car. Arttu grunts in frustration.

“I took an earlier plane.” Jareth plants kisses along his jawline and nibbles at Arttu’s earlobe. “I missed you, so I decided to pick you up at the precinct.”

Arttu tries to focus on their conversation instead of the mesmerizing drag of Jareth’s tongue against his throat.

“You shouldn’t have gone there. Viljanen didn’t question our story because it suited her, but she can change her mind at any time. And we don’t want her to start snooping around.”

Jareth leans even closer, pressing his knee between Arttu’s legs. Arttu’s breath hitches.

“Hmm, I don’t know,” Jareth hums, applying tantalizing pressure against Arttu’s cock.

Damn, he can’t come in his pants in a cemetery’s parking lot. Also, what is Jareth talking about?

“Please tell me you haven’t spoken to Viljanen,” Arttu whines.

“We just traded a few pleasantries. She seems to like me.”

“Don’t talk to my boss!” Arttu tries, and fails to keep his breathing even. He pants against Jareth’s neck instead. “She’s going to figure out that there’s something weird about you.”

“Always so concerned about my well-being. I really appreciate that. But since you wouldn’t talk to her about your working hours, somebody had to.”

“You did what?”

“I had a friendly chat with your boss. Now you have the next week off. You’re welcome, darling.”

Arttu is fuming, although a part of him is immensely pleased that Jareth would go to such lengths to spend time with him. But he shouldn’t allow it. It’s too dangerous. And it isn’t right to allow Jareth to use his powers for Arttu’s gain. He tries to push Jareth away to clear his thoughts, but the bastard only tightens his grip on him, pinning him in place.

“If you really want me to stop, just say the word. But I don’t think that’s what you want,Detective Palosaari. You enjoy my attention way too much. Why don’t you make it easy for both of us and allow me to spoil you to my heart’s content?”

Arttu utters a low, frustrated growl. He should tell Jareth to lift his thrall. He really should. But after all these weeks, after all the danger and deception, hewantsto give in. He doesn’t have it in himself to decline Jareth’s offer. Arttu slumps, baring his throat.

Humming contentedly, Jareth bites down on Arttu’s neck, sucking bruises onto the tender skin of his throat.

Arttu chokes on a string of undignified noises.

“Is this an affirmative?”

“Fuck you,” Arttu grumbles without heat.

“That’d be my pleasure.”

Arttu rolls his eyes, earning a bite on the soft spot where his shoulder meets his throat. He yelps.

“Can we leave already?”

Jareth chuckles. “Impatient, are we?”

It’s indicative of what a rich snob Jareth is that even his enchanted castle possesses a luxurious sauna. Arttu sighs and leans back against the wooden bench. The sauna’s large windows look out over the frozen lake. Shortly after they left Helsinki, heavy snowfall set in, which hasn’t let up so far. Jareth illuminated the darkness and the swirling snowflakes with a swarm of floating lights dancing around like fireflies. The sight is enthralling, mystical.

Sweat trickles down Arttu’s back. He breathes in the scent of the sauna infusion that Jareth has just made. The smell of spruce, pine, and mint fills his nose, helping him to let go of the tension his hectic week left him with.

“Hmm, look at you. So pretty, all sweaty and relaxed,” Jareth says.

Arttu sends him a disgruntled glare, but he’s too tired and content to protest.