Page 37 of The Santas Who Stole Me

“Should have cared when she said no, then we could consider this request.”

“Someone will know you did this. You won’t get away with it.”

“Oh, the manager at the front? She took off for the night.”

My heart warms as hope fades from his face. Like I said, he’s really fucked, and he knows it.

“Will anyone care? You want to tell me she’s the first girl you touched without permission?”

Another tear falls and the fucker doesn’t even try to deny it.

“Lots of depression surrounding the holidays,” Keeper says, his voice mock sympathy as he pulls on the cord suspending him in the air, puts a bucket under him, and lightly kicks it over. The sizzle from the frayed wire starts to smoke and creep. The burns should cover the knife wounds, but if not who fucking cares?

I text Lee a photo of the guy’s face and his cause of death as suicide. She will monitor the coroner and whatever the fuck else her and Zee nerd out about over the computer. She replies with a middle finger emoji which is her loving way of saying she will take care of it. We wait a few minutes until his feet go slack.

“Look at us, brother, supporting world peace by removing awful fuckers from the planet all the while spreading cheer during the holiday season,” I tell Keep with a clap on the back on our way out laughing together.

Chapter Twenty-Two

GEORGIE

Keeper ordered Chinese food and we spent the night decorating the tree. It looks perfect, popcorn garland and all. Zeke was meticulous about the garland, ensuring the string was evenly placed. Keeper kept us on track and organized the decorations by type, and Calum stole every kiss he could, asking about memories with my dad and my favorite things we did together. He said love earlier in the car talking about me, and I’m trying to pretend like it doesn’t have me floating on a cloud. Calum is the picture-perfect bad boy, and he likes me. I should be like every other girl who wants the bad boy to be good for her, but who am I kidding? The way he pulled that asshole off me, I want that. Someone to go to war for me, and it’s too soon to know, but I feel like he might.

After midnight Zeke steps out to call Lee, something about a suicide at work. I didn’t even ask. I know what they do and it should bother me, but I’ve had my share of violence and seen some terrible things. Somehow, I know as violent as they are, none of them will turn that violence on me.

I place the final ornament on the tree and sink down on the couch next to Keeper. Calum quickly sits on my other side, and we stare at the most beautiful tree I’ve ever seen. Keeper is all hard muscle under his soft shirt, and yet lying on him is so comfy. He kisses the top of my head. No one has mentioned the asshole in the store, but I can feel the question brewing in the air.

“Thanks for helping at the store. And for tonight. It was the perfect first date.” I reach up and run my hand through his blond hair, and he smiles with a dirty sparkle in his eye. I don’t forget his brother is behind me, but Calum reminds me by snaking a hand around my waist.

“Don’t ever thank me for taking care of something that could hurt you. It’s what I was made for.”

Before he can put his lips to mine again Zeke walks in. “Keep, we have to deal with something.”

Please tell me they don’t already know about the agent. I stiffen and Keeper notices.

“Kitten, Calum will stay with you.” He glances over my head at his brother, who I feel nod at my back.

“You won’t be alone, and we can keep the light on. Let’s go to bed.”

Guilt hits my core. They thought I was worried about being alone because of what happened at the store, but I assumed they knew my plan. I blow out a breath and stand.

“Stay in my bed,” Keeper tells me, his voice low, but I know Calum heard.

I’m worried Calum will protest, but he surprises me by saying nothing.

“Good night, Georgie,” Zeke says, following Keeper to do whatever assassins do together.

Calum leads us to Keeper’s room, and I find myself standing in front of the shower again. This time it’s different. We’re different. Calum isn’t looking at me like I’m sad and pitiful. Chestnut eyes roam my body as he slowly peels my clothes off until I’m naked before him. He pauses on my hips and puts a sweet kiss on each bruise left from being shoved at the store.

Fingers run from my ankle to my hip and my breath shudders when he drops his hand to start on the other side. His eyes stay where his fingers meet my skin, like he’s learning every part of me. He circles my breasts and then my nipples, and the ache in my core deepens when he moves away from them. The featherlight touch stops at my neck. Both of his hands wrap around my throat, his thumbs touching the front. He grabs my neck pulling my naked body so close his minty breath warms my lips.

Gone is the tender touch, and Calum is his brutal self again. His hold tightens just enough for panic to creep up inside me. Instinct tells me he won’t hurt me. Still my eyes widen in surprise, and he lets off enough for me to take a breath.

Once I get a quick gulp, his fingers flex again. “I want all of you.” His hands release my throat, and he’s back to those soft touches and kisses. In between the kisses, he whispers against my chest, “Your heart.”

Fingers keep trailing me, and tiny sparks of heat meet my skin each time he stops.

One hand cups between my legs. “Your cum.” He keeps that hand there, and I know my pussy is leaking all over it. I’m already a mess for him. In a painfully slow movement, his free hand trails back up my body and wraps around my throat again.