Page 9 of Trapped in the Christmas Cabin
“The‘floating golden sparkle voice?’”
“Well, what would you call it?”Kelliput a hand on her hip.
Heshrugged.
“Iguess that’s as good a description as anything else.Okay, are you ready to go back to the ship now?”
“What?Goback to the ship?Idon’t think so!”Kelliexclaimed.“We’resupposed to stay the night in one of the cabins—remember?”
Hefrowned.
“Youmean to tell me you still want to stay, even after everything you just went through?”
“Itwas one bad experience,”Kellipointed out.“Therest ofChristmasVillageis really nice.Wehaven’t even tried the ice skating pond orRudolf’sHotChocolateyet.”
“I’llmake you a deal,”Klausgrowled.“We’lllook at the pond becauseIdo not know how to ice skate andI’mnot in the mood to learn.Thenwe can get some hot chocolate and then go back to the ship.”
“Klaus, don’t be like that,”Kellipleaded.“Wedon’t have to ice skate, butI’vereally been looking forward to the cabin!”
Heraked a hand through his thick, black hair.
“Allright, sunshine.Youget your way.Butif there’s anything weird about the cabin—Imean anything at all—we’re leaving and going back to the ship.Deal?”
“Fine, but we both have to agree that it’s weird,”Kellisaid.“Itcan’t just be you pointing out that you don’t like their carpeting choices or whatever.”
“Allright, we both have to agree.”Hesighed.“Howdo you always get your way?”
“BecauseI’madorable.”Kelligave him a bright smile which he returned with an irritated grunt.
Shehad no idea that very soon she would be wishing she had agreed to go straight back to the ship.
8
KLAUS
Klausshook his head as he watched his charge gazing out onto the perfectly round, frozen pond as the two of them sipped hot chocolate.Hecouldn’t believe thatKellistill wanted to stay, even after the near-disaster at the massage parlor.Butthough he had barely gotten her free of the crazy massage robot and had seen the painful-looking red marks on her shoulders and thighs, shestillrefused to relinquish her enthusiasm for theChristmasVillage.
Hehad to admit, she looked adorable, staring out at the pond and sipping her chocolate.Therewas a tiny bit of whipped cream on the end of her nose, her cheeks were red, and her eyes were sparkling.Thesun had sunk beyond the horizon leaving the town’s lights to illuminate the night.Klaussupposed all the festive colorsdidhave a warming effect.
Well, maybe staying the night wouldn’t be so bad.Hecouldn’t help thinking of how it felt to hold her naked in his arms.Heshouldn’t think about it—shouldn’t remember how soft she was or how tight her nipples had looked—but somehow the images kept popping into his head.
Klaustook another sip of the sweet, frothy hot chocolate and tried to push the thoughts away.Theywould go and look at the cabin andmaybestay the night.Andif there was only one bed, he would sleep on the couch, he promised himself.Nothingelse was going to happen.
Hewas positive about that.
9
KELLI
“OhmyGod, look at this—it’s so cute!”Kellilooked delightedly down at the lighted footpath that led away from the town and toward their cabin.Thelights were red and green and gold and when she stepped on one lighted square it went dark and the one ahead of it lit up.
“Yeah, fucking perfect,”Klausgrowled but he didn’t complain whenKellislipped her hand into his and began leading him down the magical path.
Thepath led them through a few twists and turns with ice sculptures ofChristmascharacters on either side.Therewas a sculpture ofRudolfand another ofSantawith a big bag of toys over one shoulder.Kellialso sawSanta’sworkshop, an angel choir, and some happy elves building toys.
Justas they rounded a corner and passed a sculpture ofFrostytheSnowman, theChristmascabin at last appeared.
Itwas absolutely adorable—there was no other word for it,Kellithought.Itlooked like something out of a fairytale aboutChristmas.Alittle wooden cottage with a thatched roof met her eyes.Thefront door was shaped like aChristmastree and the golden knob looked like an ornament.Therewere also two real trees on either side of the door, fully decorated and lit.Awarm glow was coming through the front windows and the faint smell of cinnamon and apples floated towards them, coming from the crack under the front door.
