Page 57 of Ice Cold Christmas

“You don’t need to worry.”

Bullshit. “Her coming back is a major problem. It’s going to wreck us.”

Silence. Then, “If she knew who I was, wouldn’t I have been locked away long ago?”

Yes, yes. Okay. Breathe. “What are we supposed to do now?”

“Not we. Me. I started this. I’ll finish it.”

Don’t ask. Don’t ask. You don’t want the gory details. Don’t… “How are you going to finish it?”

“This time, I’ll personally make sure that Melody Mage is dead. Not comatose in some hospital. Dead. That good enough for you?”

“Yes. Yes, that’s good enough. Just…don’t tell me what you do. I don’t want to hear about knives or pain or blood or—just do it, would you? Fast. Victor took her back to town. She’s there. Get rid of her. You and whatever watcher-slash-goon you have who missed the damn shot before—just get rid of her. Permanently this time, okay? No loose ends.” Though that was not going to be easy. “Victor is going to stay close to her. He will be a problem.” He was always a problem.

Silence. “Maybe I’ll get rid of them both.”

A quick and eager nod. That plan had serious potential. “Do it.”

Chapter Fifteen

Fuck me.

Hell. Yes.

Victor’s hands were too rough as he lifted her up and took her to the bed. His mouth too wild and hard as he took her lips. Tasted her. Took and took and took.

But he couldn’t seem to pull back.

Melody’s hands stroked over him. She was moaning and rubbing against him, and she wanted him to fuck her.

Not a dream. Not some desperate fantasy. The real deal. She was back. His Melody.

And he was going to fuck her until she screamed his name.

He lowered her onto the bed. Heaved up long enough to wrench off her top. Her breath came in quick pants as she grabbed his shirt, too. She yanked, and buttons went flying.

Her eyes widened. “I am so?—”

He kissed her again. Drove his tongue past her lips and tasted the sweetness that he craved. He wanted to rip away her jeans and her panties and plunge as deep into her as he could possibly go. He wanted her nails raking down his body as she bucked against him.

Slow down. Slow. Down.

A refrain in the back of his mind. But he couldn’t slow down. His hands were practically shaking with need because this was Melody. Finally. Back.

His.

Her fingers slid over his sides. Across his back. “I want you inside me,” she whispered against his mouth.

Like there was any other place in the entire world he’d rather be.

But his lips claimed hers once more, and he kissed her just a little longer because he’d missed the softness of her mouth. Craved her so badly.

Missed her touch.

Her sighs and her moans.

Missed every single thing about her.