Page 26 of Never Kiss a Krampus

“I am a fearsome entity of punishment and judgment.”

“You’re a cat perch.”

His jaw tightened. For a moment, I thought I’d gone too far. Then, so quietly I almost missed it, he said, “Your creature has no sense of self-preservation.”

“He’s got plenty. He just knows you won’t hurt him.”

“How could he possibly know that?”

“Because you’re not actually the monster you claim to be.”

The words hung between us, fragile as the glass ornaments downstairs. He stared at me, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched on, broken only by Jingle’s absurdly loud purring.

“You know nothing of what I am,” he said finally.

“Maybe not. But I know what I see.”

“Then your sight is flawed.”

“Or yours is.”

His chains clinked softly as he shifted, and I realized I’d somehow moved closer to him during our conversation. Close enough to see the faint scars hidden in his dark fur. Close enough to notice the way his gaze dropped, just for a second, to my lips.

The air between us felt charged, like the moment before a storm breaks.

Then Jingle squirmed, breaking the spell, and Bastian thrust the cat towards me.

“Take your creature.”

I gathered Jingle into my arms, my fingers accidentally brushing against Bastian’s hand. His skin no longer felt cold. Instead, it radiated a heat that urged me to move closer. I pulled back quickly, cradling my cat like a shield.

“I need to get ready for work,” I said, hating how breathless I sounded. “Mrs. Carmichael is coming by to pick up her custom order, and then I have inventory to organize, and the holiday market committee meeting is at six?—”

“You are rambling.”

“I ramble when I’m nervous.”

“What do you have to be nervous about?”

You, I thought.The way you look at me. The way my body responds to your proximity. The way I’m somehow attracted to a seven-foot-tall supernatural being who’s here to “assist” me.

Fortunately, he didn’t press me for an answer. I finished my coffee and retreated to the bathroom, uneasily aware of his presence just beyond the walls. Could he hear the water running? Did he know I was standing naked on the other side of the door?

Stop it,I told myself firmly.He’s not interested. He’s here to judge you, not seduce you.

Though the way his eyes had tracked over me this morning suggested his attention wasn’t entirely professional.

I shook my head, dispelling the thought. I was projecting. I’d summoned an ancient being, disrupted his purpose, and bound him to me against his will. Of course he was watching me carefully. He was cataloging my sins, not checking me out.

Even if that intense gaze made my skin prickle with awareness.

I showered quickly, dressed in my favorite cranberry-red sweater with sparkling white snowflakes along the neckline, a black pleated skirt, black tights, and black ankle boots. I twisted my hair up with a festive ribbon, then took a deep breath and returned to the living room.

Bastian was standing next to the window again, staring out at the street, and Jingle was perched on the windowsill with the same focused look.

“What are the two of you looking at?” I asked as I went to join them.

“The street looks different.” His voice was thoughtful.