Page 39 of Trapped in the Christmas Cabin
“Well, youwerea, er, massive shaft, as you put it.”Kellitried not to giggle at his phrasing—she sensed this was very important.“Soplease, do explain.”
“I…”Hetook a deep breath.“Ihad a wife, ten years ago.Mirandawas her name.Iloved herso much.”
Hesqueezed his eyes shut for a moment andKellifelt her heart throb in her chest.Ohno—she thought she knew what was coming but she didn’t want to interrupt him.
“Shecame up with the very firstBrideDraft,”Klauswent on.“WhentheKindredhad first come toEarthand all the humans were still scared of us.ButnotMiranda—she was fearless.Andbeautiful and kind and…”Heshook his head.“Anyway, she…she got sick about ten years into ourBonding.Itwas cancer—the reallyfastkind.Kindredmedicine can cure most cancers now but back then, human physiology was still new to us and it ate into her so fast…”
“Oh, no.Oh,Klaus,I’mso sorry.”Kellireached out tentatively to put a hand on his arm.Shecould feel how tense he was—his muscles were all bunched up.
“It’sokay.It’sbeen over ten years sinceIlost her.Butyou see, after she died,Imade a vow—aSacredVowbefore the statue of theGoddess.”Helooked up at her.“IvowedIwould never take another bride again—thatIwould neverBondanother woman to me.”
Suddenunderstanding floodedKelli.
“Nowonder you didn’t want to do…the things theChristmascabin made us do,” she said, nodding sympathetically.“Klaus, please forgive me—Inever meant to make you break your vow.”
“No,I’mthe one who needs to beg for forgiveness,” he said harshly.“Itreated you shamefully,Kelli.Ishould have explained about the vow, about whyIwas acting the wayIwas acting.Butit was just…”Hesqueezed his eyes shut again briefly.“Sohard to talk about.”
“Ofcourse it was,Iunderstand.”Kellinodded.“Thankyou for explaining it to me.Atleast nowIknow why we can’t…can’t ever be together,” she added, feeling a lump in her throat.
“No, baby—that’s not whatImeant at all.”Klauslooked at her earnestly.“See,Iwent to theSacredGrovetonight—it’s the first timeI’vebeen there sinceItook my vow.AndtheGoddess…”Hecleared his throat.“Shespoke to me.”
“Shedid?”Kellilooked at him with wide eyes.Whathe was saying was amazing but not crazy.Sincemoving to theMotherShip, she’d heard several stories of theGoddessall theKindredworshiped communing and communicating with her people.Sheappeared to be a very hands-on deity, which was nice because she seemed to really care about her people.
“Shedid.”Klausnodded gravely.“Shehelped me understand thatImade my vow out of hatred…not a real desire to serve her.Andshe released me of it and told me to replace it with love.”
Kellifelt her heart leap in her chest, but she tried to control it.
“So…you came to me to tell me this because…?”she let the sentence hang.
“BecauseIfucking love you,”Klausgrowled.Reachingout, he took her hands in his.“IthinkI’veloved you from the moment we were paired together at work,” he admitted.“ButI’vebeen trying to keep my distance, because of that damn vow.Iprobably never would have given in to my feelings for you, if it wasn’t for that fucking cabin.”
Kellismothered a smile.
“Yes, theChristmascabin with ulterior motives,” she said.
“Sowill you forgive me?”Klausasked earnestly.“Willyou give me a chance?IswearI’llbe more open from now on.I’msorryIwas such a massive shaft.”
ThistimeKellicouldn’t help laughing.
“Yes, of courseIforgive you!”she exclaimed.“BecauseIlove you,too.”
“Comehere, sunshine.”Klausreached for her and she found she was in his arms, laughing and crying at the same time because she was so happy.
“Oh,Klaus,” she sighed, snuggling against him as he cradled her in his lap.“I’mso glad you’re free of your vow.”
“Metoo, baby.Butwhat are these for?”Hecupped her cheek and swiped a thumb under her eye, collecting the moisture that had collected there.
“They’rehappy tears,Ipromise,”Kelliblinked and sniffed.“Ijust…Iwas thinking what a sadChristmasthis was going to be.Andthen you showed up and changedeverything.”
“Neitherone of us is ever going to have to spendChristmasalone again,” he promised.“Becausefrom now on, we have each other.”
Kellismiled and kissed him…and then the kiss deepened.Hismouth tasted like rum and eggnog and a special spice that was just him—justKlaus.
“Mmm, baby…” he growled, kissing her back.“Gods,Imissed you so much!”
“I…Imissed you too,”Kelliadmitted breathlessly.Shebegan pulling at the tight red t-shirt he was wearing.“Howfast can you get this off?”
Helaughed and helped her tug the shirt over his head, baring his chest.
