“I’m an only child and grew up very spoiled.” His white teeth flashed making her heart pound.
“Same here. Hey, we have something in common.” She grinned up at him. “So what brings you here besides the storm, I mean?”
His lips pressed together in a grim line. “I was on my way to take up the reins to the family business when I got way-laid.”
And not too happy about it from what I can tell. “What type of business?”
“My father is an artist plus he is in acquisitions. I am going to help with the acquisitions part of the business.”
Her gut told her there was more to it, he was hiding something and for some reason the thought of it hurt. She must have given away how she was feeling because in the next instant she felt herself enfolded in his strong arms, her cheek resting on his chest.
With his voice rumbling against her ear as he spoke. “Listen, Min skönhet, I don’t want to talk about my family, or anything about what is to happen later. We have now, you’re in my arms, naked, and I’m so ready for you I ache. Let’s be content with this for the moment.” Then he tilted her head and his lips found hers.
As his kiss deepened she stopped thinking completely.
It was hours and many orgasms later when Laura realized it was quiet outside. The storm was over; her heart sank, painfully aware she was on borrowed time. Soon Elric would leave and all she would have would be memories of a perfect Christmas Eve. Tears threatened but she pushed them back. Later she would have all the time in the world for crying, right now she still had him, wrapped around her like he was afraid she would leave him while he slept.
Turning her head she studied him in the lantern light. At rest he looked so…young, and vulnerable. White blond hair lay in curls around his shoulders, a wayward lock fell across his forehead over one eye. Pain sluiced through her like a toxic oil spill, clogging her veins and churning her stomach. God, was she strong enough to handle this again? Her loss of Ryan nearly killed her. She knew it would be even worse with Elric. For now, this moment in time she was content and happy, and she pushed everything else to a dark corner in her mind. She snuggled closer, resting her cheek on his broad chest. Listening to the steady beat of his heart until her eyes closed and she slept.
* * * *
Elric awoke with a start, his arms filled with warm woman and for the first time he felt peace. Staring down at Laura’s perfect face, her thick lashes fanned across her pale cheeks like two crescent moons, full pouty lips held a hint of a smile and he found himself wondering what she was dreaming about. He wanted so much more than just these few hours, even if there would be no forever for him, he still wanted whatever time he could have with her. That thought hit him like a ton of bricks. He wanted her not just for the sex, though he admitted it had been the best he’d ever had. No, he wanted her, needed her in his life because he loved her.
He was awed, humbled by the feelings welling up like a spring nurturing the roots of a sapling. There could be no secrets between them, and he would take the chance and tell her the truth about him, or everything he hoped to build between them would be a lie. He let his gaze drift over Laura’s sleeping form curled onto her side looking so innocent, his heart hurt just looking at her.
Gently, he nudged her awake, watching her brown eyes glazed with sleep blink up at him and fought the urge to kiss her; fill her with passion once again.
“We must talk Min skönhet. There are things you must know about me…about my family.” His voice was somber and he watched her eyes fill with worry.
Laura’s voice was husky with sleep as she came awake. “I know there is something you aren’t telling me. I—”
He placed a finger to her lips, stilling her words. “Listen only for now, then you may ask your questions.” He drew a deep breath before continuing. “First I want you to know I love you. I want no lies or subterfuge between us. It is true, I go to take up the reigns of my father’s business. Also true, he is in acquisitions and is a renowned artist. What you do not know is that he is Jokul Frosti. His creations are the ice decorating your windows in the mornings when you awake. He is an immortal, the son of the Nordic Wind God, Kari. He is more commonly known as Jack Frost and I am his son.”
Laura’s gasp was loud in the stillness of the room, but he pushed on. “I know you do not believe, yet I can prove this to you if you wish.”
At her nod he smiled and then concentrated, willing his body into mist.
He heard Laura’s surprised yelp and laughed, the sound like tinkling ice in a glass as he swirled around her, leaving Goosebumps on her naked skin. He watched her pull the sheet about her as she tracked him toward the window. Her eyes widened in incredulity as frost wove a delicate pattern on the inside of the glass forming a rose. Then he appeared before her once again, a man of flesh and bone.
“I think that proves my point.” His voice was a low murmur as he sat next to her on the bed and pushed a wayward curl off her forehead. “I’m Elric Frosti, only son to the Eleventh Lord, Jokul Frosti, and I claim you as my woman, my mate. I choose you, Laura Holt, to entwine your life with mine.”
Chapter Five
A sudden scraping noise came from beyond the door, causing Laura to jump up and go for her clothes, grateful for whoever was on the other side. She needed to get her bearings and absorb the shock of what Elric revealed. “Someone is here, and unless you want to be seen in all your glory by whoever is on the other side of this door, I think you may want to get dressed.”
They dressed quickly as the scrape and shush of snow being shoveled grew louder. Laura moved closer and placed her ear to the door. “Who’s there?” she questioned in a firm voice.
“Laura? You okay in there?” The familiar voice made her smile.
“I’m fine, Jay. What’s going on out there?”
“You’re buried in snow, that’s what. Quite a storm we had last night. I tried to ring you up but when there was no answer I figured I would come by and see if you were all right. Now stop yammering at me so I can clear this here door, girl.”
It took just a few more moments before she heard Jay lean the shovel against the wall, and the door swung open wide. Elric moved in front of her as if protecting her from some unseen threat, and Laura nearly laughed out loud. But the sound died in her throat before it ever made it past her mouth. Her eyes widened at the stranger who entered the room.
Expecting Jay with his familiar old weathered face, dark beady eyes and stooped body, the man who stood before her was…beautiful. An inch taller than Elric the man filled the small room with a commanding air. His silver gold hair fell in shiny waves down his back. She noted his features bore a remarkable resemblance to Elric’s, only his eyes were deep silver grey and he wore an old fashioned tunic of silver and white, trimmed in dark fur at the sleeves and hem. Dark blue breeches hugged his strong thighs and high black boots were gleaming as if freshly polished.
“Father, what is the meaning of this?” Elric’s growl made Laura jolt.
Father? No. This is too much! Stumbling back, Laura slumped onto the bed. Her world, everything she knew was being turned inside out and she was powerless to prevent any of it. A harsh bark of laughter tore its way out of her throat, the edge of hysteria clearly ringing out. She heard a muttered curse before strong arms enfolded her, and soothing words she couldn’t comprehend calmed her. Laura turned and buried her face into his muscular chest. Taking a deep breath, she breathed him in. Pine, snow and male musk. Elric’s scent.
“So, you have told her?” She could hear a trace of Jay’s voice in the smooth cultured tones. She pushed away from the comfort of Elric’s chest and glared at Jay…no, Jokul or Jack. Whoever!
“All this time and you knew, didn’t you? You watched me create his sculpture and you knew!” she accused, her voice growing sharp as anger and betrayal surged through her with biting intensity.
“Of course I knew, I have been watching you ever since you came here.” Amusement laced his words.
Laura’s sharp intake of breath was drowned out by Elric’s growl. “Father, what are you playing at?”
Jokul smiled, showing a flash of white teeth. “Since you seemed disinclined to settle down with any of the available women at your disposal, I decided it was time to intervene.”
“Your summons was a ruse to get me here?” Elric asked in disbelief. “And the storm, was that of your making too?”
“They don’t call me Father Winter for nothing. Quite a show it was, too, one of my best storms in quite some time.”
All the pieces snapped into place as Laura jumped up and met Jokul’s face, or rather, met his shoulder. Forced to tilt her head up to meet his eyes, sparkling like silver tinsel, she ground her teeth in exasperation. “My dreams, your friendship, all of it was you and for what? To make me a plaything for your son!”
Jokul frowned, his tone affronted. “You were never a plaything, girl, and my affection for you has always been genuine. I have always thought of you as a daughter and whatever the outcome between you two, this will never change.”
“But she is mortal. Do you consign me to the same fate you have suffered when you lost Mother?” Elric demanded.
Sadness and pain flashed through Jokul’s eyes. “Your mother made a choice to decline the elixir, which would have kept her at my side. Her decision not to abandon her family, watch them die and turn to dust rode her much more strongly than the idea of being with me.”
“I have no one to leave behind. So no one would miss my absence,” Laura replied thoughtfully, weighing his words carefully.
“Precisely. Now I think the two of you have a decision to make, so I’ll leave you to it. Oh, and Elric, I will see you in the Great Hall later. It is Christmas after all, and you will be expected.” Jokul gave them both a pointed look stating without saying, Laura too was to accompany him. Then he simply vanished!
Laura blinked, shaking her head wondering what rabbit hole she fell into. It was a lot to take in at once. The only thing she did know was her feelings for Elric were as strong as ever. Even with everything she now knew.
She felt his heat before his arms came around her, his warm breath tickling her ear as he spoke. “Well, it seems a decision has to be made, Min skönhet. My feelings for you have not been swayed by my father’s disclosure.”
Laura turned to face him, drinking in his beauty and the love shining brightly within his eyes. She could feel her heart swell, and her head spun with all the ramifications of this day’s discoveries. Yet she knew with this man, she would never have to face life alone again. She thought of Ryan and knew wherever he was, he would be happy for her.
Smiling up at him, she rose up on her toes, brushing her lips to his in a chaste kiss which held a world of promise. “I do love you, Elric, and want nothing more than to live my life with you.”
Doubt flashed through is eyes before he asked the one question she knew he feared the answer to. “And will you take the elixir?”
“Hum, let’s see…grow old and winkled while you remain young and absolutely gorgeous? Gee, that’s a tough one, GQ. I want forever with you by my side. You are my Christmas wish. Everything I could hope for you have given me.”
“I wished too as you lay sleeping. I wished for your love and you beside me for so long as I remain breathing. Which in my case, will be for a very long time…”
With that, he kissed her with all the love and hope of a future as bright as the sun.
The End
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'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas Page 30