Seducing Santa

fxwâv|Çz ftÇàt Copyright © December 2009, Dahlia Rose Cover art by Amira Press © December 2009 Amira Press Baltimore, MD 21216 www.amirapress.com ISBN: 978-1-935348-86-3 No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and e-mail, without prior written permission from Amira Press.

Chapter One Nicholas sat in front of the big stone fireplace that warmed his home in the North Pole. Instead of toys and Christmas delights lining his wall, contemporary art, books and CDs were there. Loud holiday music did not play all around him. No, the smooth tones of U2 mellowed his thoughts. He thought about throwing in a Three Doors Down or a Sean Paul CD later on to jam out to if the mood struck him. But for now, he was just content to sit in his leather recliner, drink a Jack Daniels over ice, and stare into the fire. Soon he would be too busy until after Christmas Eve, so he would enjoy the peace while he could. It was one week until he made his usual rounds across the world, and everyone at the North Pole was already in a flutter, his parents, his workers. All he felt was kind of blah about the whole thing. Usually, he was filled with excitement. The winter and the holiday cheer gave him a buzz He should be excited, but this season was different. This year, he just felt as if it was a job, and that was not good. Nicholas sighed and took a sip of his amber drink. He knew that if his mother and father walked at the moment, he would hear it. “Be cheerful, Nicholas. This is why you are charged with this task.” He was the fifth son of the Viking god Odin, who was married to his third wife and his mother Joko. To the supernatural realm of gods and goddesses, elves, fairies, and other magical folk, he was known by his real name Christkindl. To the entire world and the children who waited for him on Christmas Eve, he was Santa Claus. He smiled as he thought of his other persona. A jolly fat man who delivered gifts, and that is what the few children who saw him would see. His magic let him change form to suit the job he had had since the beginning of time. But when he looked in the mirror, that was not the man who looked back at him. Parents would not let their children take presents from a man who never aged past thirty-five. Nope they would probably try to tazer him and call the cops about an intruder. He chuckled at the thought, but that laughter was soon gone. He was bored. That was the only conclusion he could come to. He had spent the year reforming his Santa Claus operation. No more naughty-or-nice list. He hated that. Nicholas knew that children reacted to the situations they were in, and some were just not naughty. He wanted to go case by case to see who he would be visit in his jovial guise instead of just lumping them into one category. Of course, this idea was met by disdain by the VPs of Santa, Inc. They owned a majority of the big toy conglomerates that cleaned up at Christmas time, so they were looking at overhead costs of providing more gifts. His father had come up with the idea of banding with mortal companies. They would provide most of the toys and cut down on overworked elves. The elves were working twenty-four hour days every year to catch up with toy demands, and as mortals progressed, elves thought wooden toys and stuffed bears were the way to go. But as usual, the greed of men wanted a piece of the pie, so Santa, Inc. was formed. They would provide the toys, elves would wrap and label, and Santa would deliver. In return, big business would get one wish a year from the fairy realm. And what did they wish for? More money.

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Greedy bastards. Nicholas frowned. They wanted more, more, more, but were always willing to give less. After a long battle, his father had overruled them and given Nicholas leave to do as he pleased. No one argued with Odin, and no one sure as hell never argued with his son. “I need a vacation before this madness begins,” he muttered and stood. The idea seemed better and better as he thought about it. He snapped his fingers, and his head elf appeared in his living room. Obviously, he had awakened his oldest friend because he was dressed in a night shirt and barefoot. “Horace, I’m going out!” Nicholas announced. “And you wake me to tell me this for what reason?” The elf grumbled and waved him off. “Send me back to bed, and go out. I don’t care!” “You don’t understand, Horace. I am going on a small vacation before the Eve comes. I need you to hold down the fort.” Nicholas grinned and opened a closet. He pulled out a duffel bag and began using his magic to throw clothes inside it. “How long is a small vacation?” Horace asked with suspicion in his voice. “I’ll be back by Christmas Eve night.” Nicholas’s answer was casual to the point of indifference. ‘Have you taken leave of your senses?” Horace screeched. Nicholas grimaced at the noise. “Your father will have my head if he finds out I’m covering for you, and do you know how much we have to do?” Nicholas got down to his knees so he was eye level with his friend. “Listen, Horace. I’m going crazy here. It doesn’t feel the same this year. I need some pep in my step, so I am heading out for a few days. Come on, how can it hurt?” He stood up again and mused, “Someplace warm so I can tan and a beach. Horace, my man, I’m heading to the Caribbean!” Horace stood sputtering as Nicholas snapped his fingers to change his clothes. Instead of the velvet robe and satin pajama pants he wore before, he now wore jeans and a black Tshirt. “Don’t worry, my friend. I’ll be back in time ready for the worldwide trip of Christmas Eve.” Nicholas grinned as he pulled sunglasses down to cover his eyes. “Nicky, wait!” He heard as his friend called him by the nickname of long ago, and that made him leave all the faster. Nicholas knew he had to get away for his own sanity. He just had to. So he left Horace in the middle of his living room screeching his name and phased his way to warm sand and sunny skies. Trinidad, here I come! **** 2

A few hours later, Nicholas sat on the beach and sighed in contentment. He had used his powers and sent himself reeling through time and space to Castara beach on the Trinidadian coast. The trade winds blowing across the ocean brought the smell of the sea to his nose. The sunrays chased the cold and frost from him, and he felt like a new man. Instead of a Jack and Coke, now he had a coconut in his hand, and he took a sip of the sweet frothy drink. He didn’t know what it was, but hell it had rum in it, and that was all that mattered. The music spilling across the beach from various beach bars and hotels was Christmas tunes blended with Soca music. It gave the same old songs a beat that everyone could dance to. And they did. Nicholas watched up and down the beach as revelers enjoyed Christmas holiday in the sun, dancing, playing, and swimming. It just went to show that regardless of if they were—in the middle of snow or making castles in the sand, everyone had the holiday spirit flowing through them. Some more than others, Nicholas thought with a grin as one tourist came cavorting down the beach singing at the top of his voice. He’s filled with two kinds of spirit, and one was a hundred proof. Nicholas leaned back and sighed in contentment. This was living, and he decided then and there to take a vacation every year. “Hey, will you help me here for one second?” A woman’s voice met his ears, and Nicholas paid it no mind thinking the person meant someone else. “Hey, guy with the expensive sunglasses, a little help here please!” “Okay, she meant me,” Nicholas murmured. He pulled his sunglasses up to his forehead and looked out in front of him. There stood a Nubian goddess straight out of the many books he had read over the expanse of time. Her hair was wet and hung in dark curls down her back. Dark eyes stared out at him with a mix of irritation and frustration from an oval face. Her lips were soft, and the bottom lip pouted all on its own, causing him to want to kiss them to see what she tasted like. But nothing could compare to her skin. It seemed to glow as the sun’s rays kissed it a dark bronze color. This was a woman, and Nicholas felt the stirring of desire deep within him. Sand clung to her skin, and he found himself wishing he were every single grain that was stuck against her skin. “So are you going to stare all day or help me with this thing?” The soft lilt of her voice brought him back to the present. He noticed she had a rope wrapped around her hand keeping a Jet Ski in the shallow surf. “Of course. I’m sorry. I, um . . . got distracted.” Nicholas threw her a charming smile, and she in turn rolled her eyes. Together, they pulled the water machine into the soft sand. As soon as they did, the attractive beauty was on her knees. She lifted the seat and proceeded to mess with the its mechanics. “Should you be doing that?” Nicholas asked. Worry filled him as he watched her tinker with the machine.

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“Who else is going to do it?” Her voice held the sweetness of a lemon. Nicholas winced at the tone. “The idiot tourists who rented from me and proceeded to get water into the lines, and when it stalled, they bailed and left it in the ocean and went on board their cruise ship to drink some more?” “Okay, I guess you do know what you are doing,” Nicholas commented. “Can I do anything to help?’ “Stay outta my way,” she muttered. Nicholas stared down at her until she looked up at him. She sighed all of a sudden and stood up wiping her hands on her very short shorts. “I’m sorry for being rude. This time of year is not my favorite. Thanks for helping me.” ‘You’re welcome . . .” Nicholas left the sentence open hoping for a name to be added on. She obliged him. “Neeva Monroe. Nicholas held out his hand to take hers in a handshake. “Nicholas Kringle.” She smiled when she heard his name. “Well, that name is one for the books. Isn’t that Santa Claus’s real name?” “One of many. I should know. I am the one and only.” Nicholas bowed low. When he looked at her again, she was staring at him with her mouth open. “So you’re telling me you are the old fat guy who delivers presents on Christmas Eve?” Neeva asked with skepticism in every word. “That’s only one form I can take,” Nicholas explained with ease. “Uh-huh and you are here on a beach a few days before Christmas because . . .” “Because I was burned out a little bit, so I jetted away for a while. I have my best guys on the job.” He grinned as her mouth dropped open. “Okay, and here I was thinking you were at least one normal sober tourist on this island for Christmas. It’s obvious I was wrong, and you’re nuts to boot,” Neeva said. “Well, see ya, and I hope you sober up okay.” “You don’t believe me?” Nicholas ran to catch up to her as she moved up the beach. “You thought I’d believe that you’re Santa Claus looking like you just stepped out of a model magazine onto our beach?” Neeva asked. Skepticism laced her every word. “Do you want to sell me the Brooklyn Bridge too?” Nicholas scratched his head. “I don’t own the Brooklyn Bridge. That thing freaks Rudolph out every year when he flies by it, so why would I want to sell it to you?”

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“You are a whack-a-doodle. Why are you telling this spiel of nonsense?” Neeva said. He could hear the amazement in her voice. “I love how you say nonsense. That accent is so sexy,” Nicholas replied with a smile. “I am telling you because I think I love you already, and we should never start a relationship with secrets.” “Listen, um, Nicholas, is it? You stay on that side of the sand, and I’ll stay over here. Thanks for the help.” Starting up the beach again, she threw a cautious gaze over her shoulder. “Aren’t you going to tell me Merry Christmas?” he called to her. His Nubian goddess, she would make a good Mrs. Claus. “What’s so merry about it? Leave me alone, Nicholas Kringle, or whoever you are!” She called behind her and then disappeared into a stand of palm trees that lined the beach. He stood and watched the sexy curve of her tush disappear. He would have only a few days to convince her to come home with him. Up to the day before Christmas Eve, he estimated. He would make a very long distance call to his mother and explain the situation. She would hold down the fort the best she could. She always told him that when he found the right one, his heart would know. If the flip-flops his heart was doing was not enough to let him know this girl on the beach was the one, Nicholas did not know what was. Neeva Monroe. Her name was now etched in his soul, and he would make her his own. Who would’ve thought it? He had left his home looking for a vacation and found so much more. Santa Claus was going back to the North Pole with a wife. The thought made him happy as he walked back down to the surf. With a shout of delight, he dove into the water.

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Chapter Two Of all the crazy . . . Neeva shook her head as she walked past the stand of coconut trees to the main road that stood between her house and the beach. She made sure no traffic was coming in either direction before she crossed the street to her front door. Nicholas Kringle. She thought the man was cute, blond hair neatly cut to his nape. He had a smooth jawline that free of a beard, was kind of rugged and sexy, and a quick charming smile that lit his ice blue eyes as well. Oh, she noticed it all before he began to spew all his nonsense about being Santa Claus. It never occurred to her that the handsome, blue-eyed devil could be actually coo coo for Cocoa Puffs. Neeva walked straight through her small house to the backyard shed where she kept her tools. It was hard sometimes, running a small rental and souvenir shop. Half the time, the tourists thought they could haggle with her about her prices, and then the half, they left her equipment mangled or derelict on the beach. It always seemed to be worse around the holidays, but then everything seemed worse at this particular time of year. Neeva felt the familiar sadness creep into her chest and squeeze her heart. She tried to push it back with no success, and it caused tears to fall from her eyes. No, I won’t give in to it. Not today! She swiped at her eyes and dug through the familiar tools she would need to make her Jet Ski workable again. Her thoughts went back to the blond guy claiming to be Santa Claus. She half hoped he would still be there when she returned, but then playing with the mentally ill was dangerous. She loaded up the small workbag next to her and headed back the way she had come. Before stepping out of the stand of coconut trees, she looked around to see if he was still there. She breathed a sigh of relief when he wasn’t. After walking to the Jet Ski, she knelt beside it and lifted the seat again and began to work on the engine. The sound of the sea breaking gently against the sand calmed her. To Neeva, it was better than any music that played all day. She worked with speed, borne from the knowledge of how the machine worked, and soon she had her equipment up and running. “Ho, ho, ho!” With a screech, Neeva dropped her socket wrench and whirled to see a grinning Nicholas behind her. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Neeva stomped her foot in anger against the soft sand. “I would not damage a heart as sweet as yours,” Nicholas commented. “Oh shove it, Kringle. Why are you pestering me anyway?” She picked up the fallen tool from the sand. ‘You ask one guy for help pulling a Jet Ski on the sand, and he becomes a stalker.” “Can you blame me? You are just magnificent in your anger,” he replied. Neeva heard the charm oozing from his voice and snorted. “I brought you these.”

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Nicholas hand came from behind his back with a flourish. He held a red ceramic pot of the most beautiful orchids she had ever seen. Neeva could not help gasping with pure delight. She loved orchids. They were delicate and complex but had the simplest beauty anyone could imagine. She had never laid eyes on the colored flowers he held in his hands. Deep red petals burst from green stems. The edges were tinted with white, and she couldn’t help but to reach out her fingers to touch the delicate buds. “I take it you like them,” Nicholas asked, his voice gentle. She looked up at him, and those ice blue eyes were staring at her with such intensity, as if he was trying to look into the deepest recesses of her soul. Neeva pulled her hand away in a quick movement. ‘They’re okay.” “Oh no, no, no!” Nicholas laughed. “You like these. I am betting they are your favorite. Come on, admit it. Santa did good.” “You are not Santa!” Neeva stomped her foot again. “If you are Santa Claus, prove it.” Nicholas just kept smiling at her. “I could, but I’m not going to. You have to believe in the magic to see the magic.” He made a sad boyish face. “But here, these are for you even if you won’t admit that you like them. I guess I’ll just go throw these lovely orchids into the sea.” “No!” Neeva yelled, and then she sighed in the futility. “Fine, I like them okay? God, I’ve only known you for a couple of hours, and already you are the most infuriating man I have ever met.” Nicholas handed her the pot. “Here, I hope they make you happy every time you look at them.” “I thought you would have said you want me to think of you every time I look at them,” Neeva countered. This time, the boyish smile left his face, and the look in Nicholas’s eyes changed. Something more was there. It thrilled her and scared her all at once. “These are for your happiness. It would be selfish to say those words. When you think of me, it will be for something more than orchids.” His words left her speechless. What did she say to a man who thought he was Santa Claus, who brought her flowers, and who made her breathless all in one single day. “Okay, thanks I guess.” Neeva took the pot from him and looked around. “Um, I’ll have to take this to the house before I come back for my Jet Ski.” “I can fix that.” Nicholas pulled the small wheels braced on the back of the Jet Ski downward. He lifted the front of the ski and began to pull it forward with ease. “Which way am I going?”

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“I don’t know if I want you to know where I live, Kringle,” Neeva couldn’t help but have doubts. The man did claim he was Santa Claus after all. He gave her that same look, the one that made her knees feel like jelly. “I am no threat to you, Neeva. I would never hurt you, not in a million years.” She could only nod. “I guess I could offer you a meal for helping me and for giving me the flowers.” “I was hoping you would offer. I am starving. Plus, I want to sample the local cuisine.” Nicolas began to move, and Neeva fell into step beside him. “You’re immortal or something like that, remember. Do you need to eat, or can’t you just pull something from out of the air?” She sent him an owlish look. “What would be the fun in that? Geez, I might be immortal, but I do love to eat,” he responded with ease. “Of course you would have the answer to everything, wouldn’t you?” Neeva felt a smile curve at her lips. She would give Nicholas Kringle the benefit of the doubt for now. She didn’t believe in anything anymore. Magic could not exist, but even if it did, that did not matter because what she loved most was gone from this world. **** He was unsuccessful in trying to hide his joy at the invitation to her home for dinner. Now, as he sat at her kitchen table watching her cook and move with grace around the small room, he felt like one of the children he delivered presents to for Christmas morning. He was full of happiness at his unexpected windfall. The orchids were displayed in the middle of the kitchen table where the morning sunlight would find it with ease, but throughout the day, it would not get the effect of the full rays of the sun. Standing there with her on the beach, he had just formed the first flowers that came to mind in his hand. She never suspected, and he would not tell her. Not yet anyway. There was something so sad about her. He wanted to hold her and chase away those demons, but he knew that it would only be the right time when she let him in. They talked about anything while she prepared dinner. Delicious smells were coming from the various pots on the stove. He watched her rub her toes along the back of her leg every once in a while as she stood cutting vegetables at the counter. He already longed to feel if her skin was a smooth as it looked. “Daydreaming over there?” When he looked at her, there was a twinkle in her eyes and a soft smile. “No, not really. I’m distracted by the tempting smells that are in this room,” Nicholas responded. “What are you making?”

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“Here we have steamed red snapper with a tomato and onion sauté, breadfruit to go with the snapper, and steamed veggies.” Neeva pointed to each item with the flourish of a presenter. “Well, now my stomach is officially rumbling. Do you need any help?” Neeva brandished a spoon at him. “My kitchen is my territory, Mr. Kringle. No one enters my domain.” “Um, I am technically in your domain as we speak.” “But not to cook.” Neeva announced. “It’s done anyway, so let me make you a plate.” She worked to dish out the steaming food, and she set a plate in front of him at the table. She sat across from him and watched as he took the first bite. Flavor exploded in his mouth. The fish was moist and almost melted in his mouth. Along with the breadfruit and the veggies, he had tasted nothing like it but enjoyed each bite. “You are amazing, Neeva. This is amazing.” She inclined her head. “Why, thank you, sir. A simple island fare from a simple island girl.” “You are nothing of the sort,” He took another bite of food. “I think you are a goddess in disguise sent to tempt me.” “What would I get for tempting you?” “You would get my heart of course and my undying love.” He stared at her in hope that she could see his intentions in his eyes. “In fact, I think you might already have it.” “Oh, you are a nut job.” Neeva giggled and went back to eating her dinner. Nicholas grinned and let the comment slide. He had four days before he had to head back to the North Pole. That was plenty of time to win her heart and take her back with him. By the end of dinner, they were laughing and talking like old friends. No mention of him being Santa Claus, just them learning about each other. She liked to fish, and he did too. She read voraciously, and he invited her to see his vast library of books. She declined, but he left the offer open. The conversation went back and forth until they stepped outside to sit on her patio. The sunset left them both speechless, and the orange, golds, and reds of the sun reflected off the water as it dipped behind the sea. “It never ceases to take my breath away,” Neeva whispered as she sat on the wooden steps. “I can see why. It’s breathtaking.” His attention was not even on the picturesque scene before him but on the woman who sat on the wooden step so close that he could feel the warmth of her skin. The sunset’s colors

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danced on her skin and painted a pallet of beauty that could not be compared to, in his opinion. With her features, nothing could have taken his eyes away from her at that moment. She turned when his silence went on for a few moments and caught him gazing at her face. Their eyes locked, and he was lost. Nicholas leaned in, deliberate, giving her time to move away before he took her lips in a kiss. He touched her lips with his, expecting her to pull away. When she didn’t, he pressed another butterfly kiss against her lips. Neeva sighed in consent, and that was all he needed. He pulled her close and took what he longed for. She opened her mouth beneath his, inviting his tongue to explore and to dance with hers. She tasted as exotic as the island around him. She smelled of the sea and some unusual flower he could not name. Nothing compared to how her lips moved under his, how she pressed against him. She kissed him as fervently as he did her. She cupped the back of his neck, and her moan of pleasure rocked him. He wanted to pull her into his lap and feel the muscles of her legs as she wrapped them around him. He wanted to sink his cock so deep inside her that where he begun and she ended did not exist. He had never wanted anyone or anything as much as he wanted her at that moment. That was what made him break the kiss and pull away from her. He wanted her so much, but he knew it was too soon. “I should go, Neeva,” Nicholas said, his voice husky and low. He saw desire in her eyes, her lips swollen from their kiss, and he felt his resolve buckling. He stood and looked back at her with yearning. “I really should go.” “Okay.” She sounded confused in her soft reply, and he felt her gaze on him as he walked down the short path to the stand of trees. At the last wooden step, he stopped. “Why is there sadness in your eyes, Neeva?” “Do you want to be my Prince Charming now?” Neeva asked with a soft curve to her lips. “If you want me to slay your dragons, you will have to tell me what they are.” Her smile grew sad. “There are just some dragons that can’t be slain, Nicholas.” She got up off the step and went toward the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow, and that, my Neeva, is a promise.” “I bet you will, Santa.” He walked into the trees making sure she could not see him before he disappeared from sight. Nicholas was still watching as she cleaned up and made certain her home was secure for the night. She went into the bathroom and did her nighttime routine before going to bed with a book on her lap that she never opened. She turned off the light, and the small television in her bedroom cast a glow over her bed. She did not attempt to turn up the volume. Instead, she stared at the screen as if seeing right past it.

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Standing at her window invisible from her sight, Nicholas saw his Neeva shake as a sob tore from her. He heard the anguish in the sound as it came from her over and over again. She was wracked with tears. So much despair came from her that he doubled over from the agony of hearing her cry. Something tore at her. She was broken so much that he wondered what caused her to have this heartache. Seeing the woman he intended to have as his wife cry was too much to bear. Nicholas felt tears fall as he cried with her without her knowing. He stood there until her tears subsided and she fell into a troubled sleep. He only knew he stood there all night watching over her until the sun’s first rays broke through the twilight and spilled across the sand.

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Chapter Three Being a god made getting a room at the finest hotel easy. Money was no option, and with a charming smile, he had people bending over backward to make sure he was happy. In the shower of his hotel suite, Nicholas let the hot spray of water cascade down him. He shuddered as he remembered how Neeva cried. He had wanted to rush in and grab her to him. He would have comforted her until every tear was dry, but he knew it would have been too much for her. Too soon for her to see his true self and for her to reveal her secrets to him. He finally stepped from the shower and looped a thick towel around his waist. He walked over to the mirror and stared at his reflection. Three days until Christmas. Was there enough time to show Neeva his love and win her in return? Doubt began to surface, and Nicholas needed answers from the only one he knew would understand. He took his finger and, with whispered words of magic, drew an intricate pattern on the glass. With each word, the lines he drew glowed and shimmering then disappeared, and were replaced by mist. Out of this mist, his mother’s smiling face came into view. “Nicholas, my son, where are you that you are using the Old Language to call me?” Joko asked, affection lacing her words. “I am in Trinidad. I needed a slight break from the rush.” Joko frowned. “It is so close to the celebration. Your worldwide trip will take all night. Do you think it wise to be gone?” “Mother, I found her, the one you spoke of who would wrap herself around my heart and never let go.” “Oh, that is joyous news!” Joko clasped her hands to her chest. “But why this troubled look, Does she not return your feelings?” “There is something there but something has torn at her soul, and she has a sadness that surrounds her,” Nicholas replied. “How do I handle this? I feel her already in my heart, and if I do not tread with caution, all could be lost and in three days.” “You must handle her with tenderness. All will be revealed when she is ready. You cannot rush anything as delicate as this. Do what you must. I will help Horace with the preparations to give you as much time as I can.” “I cannot expect the goddess wife of Odin . . .” “Before I became your father’s wife, I was your mother first,” Joko said. “I can do this for my son. Besides, I have not been a part of the workshop in ages. It will do me good to be there again.” “Thank you,.” Nicholas kissed his fingers and pressed them against the glass.

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“You’re welcome, my Christkindl.” His mother smiled as she faded into the mist. “Now go and capture this woman’s heart.” The last thing he heard was her squeal of delight, “Grandchildren!” before the mirror lost the magic. Nicholas grinned as he dressed in haste to head out to the beach. With renewed hope, he walked out his room and onto the warm sand. He was going to win Neeva’s heart and slay her dragon. That was what a prince did for his maiden. **** Neeva woke in the morning as she usually did. She went about her usual routine, but this time, she found a soft smirk on her lips. Her dreams were troubled as they were every night until she slipped into darkness. Instead, this night the troublesome dreams did not come. In its place was Nicholas’s face that took up that space. The light in his eyes when he left for the night and the kiss they shared were center in her thoughts. He is crazy as a loon, but damn, he is a good kisser. She walked out onto her veranda with a cup of tea and watched the day begin on the island. The hotel workers were opening the beach umbrellas and cleaning off the lounge chairs for the day’s tourists. The day cruises and other boats were still on the dock, but already the smells of Caribbean gourmet breakfasts and coffee filled the air. Usually by now she would already have her rental shop open, but today she stood on her deck enjoying the new day. It had been a long time since she stood and just appreciated her island home. It was hard to believe that years ago, she had been ready to leave it all. Before her mind went to other thoughts that would blacken her mood, Neeva turned to put her cup in the kitchen and begin her day. “Do you have an extra cup of that?” he called out to her, and her lips formed in a smile. “Don’t you stay in a hotel that has that gourmet coffee and tea?” Neeva asked as he bounded up her steps. “Gourmet is overrated.” Nicholas grinned at her, and Neeva felt the butterflies in her tummy start. “Fine, you can go get a cup in my kitchen. I have to open the shop.” “I’ll help,” Nicholas offered. Before she could refuse his offer, he was through her kitchen door and out of earshot. Neeva shook her head in amusement at how Nicholas had already become a sight she was accustomed to. By the time he boarded a plane to go back to wherever he was from, she knew she would miss him. She walked out to the rental shop, a wooden addition to the side of her house. It was built with love. The roof was tin, but palm fronds were plaited to it. That, along with the tiki torches and hibiscus plants at the front entrance, gave Monroe Beach Rentals a beach hut kind of feel.

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A breeze picked up the scent of poinsettias and snow on the mountain bushes growing alongside her home. The vibrant reds and whites set the tone for many houses around the island. These plants only bloomed for the Christmas season, and their smell could get anyone in the holiday spirit. There would be no Christmas lights around her house or even any decorations. She would make sure that the season came and went without any fanfare. Nicholas’s soft voice came from behind her. “Hey, come back.” His arms went around her, and he pulled her against him. She could feel his warmth against her back. Neeva couldn’t resist the urge to snuggle close to him for just a moment and immerse herself in the comfort and security he gave off. It had been so long since she had been held. Being in Nicholas’s embrace felt so right, just like his kiss the night before. Neeva pulled away suddenly. She could feel her walls shake. He could possibly be the one to crumble them, and she didn’t know how to deal with that feeling. “So you want to help, hmm?” Neeva forced a smile. She felt him searching her eyes but ignored his stare. “Are you sure you don’t want to be out jet setting like a rich tourist should be doing?” “How can you assume I am a rich tourist?” Nicholas raised one eyebrow. “A trip to this island around this season is not cheap by anyone’s standard, but you are right. I am assuming. You must have saved all year for this, so why spend it in my stuffy rental shop?” “The shop gets some extra muscle, but I get to spend the day with you. I see it as a win-win situation.” “Maybe you won’t be saying that after helping customers out on the beach all day.” Neeva unlocked the door to the shop. “I have one boon to ask of you, though.” Nicholas passed by her and pushed open the big wide windows that faced the water. His muscles rippled as he opened the heavy shutters, and Neeva couldn’t help but stare in appreciation. The counter stood next to the window, and her chair was right there. Customers would be walking up to those windows soon to rent a Jet Ski or a banana tube to ride the waves. When it was slow, she could look out into the crystal blue water and enjoy the scene before her. “So what’s this boon, Nicholas?” Neeva asked when he turned back to her direction. “Go with me tonight to the Christmas festival in town.” Neeva felt panic rise in her throat. “I-I don’t know. I haven’t been there in a long time.”

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“All the more reason you should start going again.” Nicholas encouraged her with a smile and covered his heart with his hand. “Please give this lowly man a chance to enjoy a wonderful night with the most beautiful lady he has ever seen.” “Nicholas . . .” “Tell me, Neeva. Let me be there for you, please. I won’t let you fall.” He came closer, and his scent filled her nose. She could swear she could smell peppermint. Neeva made her voice light. “There’s nothing to tell.” She couldn’t let him in. He would only be here for a short time. “I’ll go with you since you are being such a good man to help me today.” Nicholas grinned. “You have made my day absolute perfection.” “Sure, sure, you know Santa Claus shouldn’t be doing hard work on his vacation.” “You wouldn’t believe how much work I have this time of year. This is the most relaxed I have been in a long time,” Nicholas responded. Neeva rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. “I thought you would have given up the notion, but you’re going stick with the Saint Nicholas thing, aren’t you?” “Yup.” “I’m going out with a maniac later.” “How about a kiss to seal the deal?” “No.” “Please, just a little one.” “Don’t make me regret this, Nicholas.” “Oh, all right.” This was how the rest of the day went for Neeva, with Nicholas teasing her, and she played right along. She felt herself smiling more often than not. She was apprehensive about the night. He could make her forget it all. Feeling anything filled her with fear, but she was also excited about spending more time with her pretend Santa Claus.

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Chapter Four It seemed as if the day flew by like a lightning strike. People came, and in only a few hours, everything that Neeva owned that could float on the water was rented out. All except one. Nicholas grinned as he skimmed across the water on a Jet Ski with her arms wrapped around his waist. After he had convinced her to take a ride with him, she closed the shop and ran inside to change. When she came out of those doors, Nicholas was speechless. She wore an aquamarine bikini that covered only the essentials. He wanted to kiss each patch of skin and see if it all tasted the same. Now as they rode the waves, her thighs were pressed against his an intimate gesture. It was all he could do to keep his mind on working the Jet Ski. She squealed in delight as the ski bounced on a high wave. It was so delightful to hear that Nicholas laughed as well. It was like he fed off her energy. What she felt, he felt, and he knew a connection like that could not be denied. They came to a stop alongside one of the old English replica cruise ships. The music filtered over the water, and people they didn’t even know called out holiday greetings. “Merry Christmas!” Nicholas yelled back, but he noticed that Neeva stayed silent and only waved. “Let’s take a swim.” She slid off the back of the Jet Ski and into the water. She looked up at him as she swam a lazy circle when she was away from the machine. “Are you coming in or what?” Needing no further encouragement, Nicholas dove into the water and, with strong strokes, followed her path through the sea. He dove under and saw her leg as she treaded water. With a tug, he pulled her under and, before she could protest, took her lips in a kiss. They surfaced the water with their lips still clinging to each other and Neeva’s legs wrapped around his waist. She pressed against his already hard arousal. Just a pair of swim shorts and a scrap of material barred him from sinking his cock deep into her while the waves carried them. He wanted her so much even through the water he could feel her heat. He nipped at her lips and tasted the salt of the sea. “You drive me beyond reason, Neeva.” “I don’t know why you make me feel this way,” Neeva whispered against his lips. “I shouldn’t be feeling like this.” “Why not? Why not just let yourself go?” Nicholas pulled away and stared into her eyes. He saw the emotion, the doubt, and the pain deep inside her, swirling there. “Let me in, Neeva. I promise I’ll fight those demons with you.” She gave a shaky, tear-filled laugh. “You say that like you plan to be here forever. You are just a tourist passing through for a few days of fun. You plan to cure me of all my fears in that time and then what?” “Why does it have to be only a short time, Neeva? What if I want it to be longer?” “Don’t say things like that, please don’t.” 16

“But it’s true. My heart was yours from the moment you stepped out of the water.” A tear fell down her cheek and blended with the salty sea water. “You can’t love me in one day. You are a crazy guy who thinks he is an imaginary Christmas entity.” “Yet, you are here in my arms, and it feels very, very right,” Nicholas murmured. “I must have gone crazy too.” Neeva met his eyes, and she searched his face for answers. “Tell me, Nicholas, what makes you so sure? How can you be so sure about everything?” “Magic,” he replied with a smile. He knew she wanted him to make promises to assure her everything was okay. He couldn’t do that. Life was filled with twists and turns, and no matter what happened in the past, she would have to learn to trust him. “I don’t believe in magic, remember?” Neeva pointed out. He kissed her on the tip of the nose. “There’s still time, my darling Neeva, more time than you could possibly imagine.” She opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but Nicholas cut her off with a quick kiss. “Come on. Let’s get your equipment back in the shop, and we can go out and enjoy the festival.” Neeva snorted. “Ha, we’ll be there late. There are always a few pieces I have to rescue from people who don’t care about returning other people’s stuff.” “Somehow I think today will be different.” He gave her a wink as he climbed onto the Jet Ski and helped her on behind him. Because of his magical influence, Nicholas was absolutely right. **** He left her on the steps to her patio with a kiss and headed down the beach with a promise to return and pick her up later. He went about the task of trying to woo his Neeva. He rented a car since to whisk her away by magic would not be wise until he could claim her love as his. More orchids, he thought and held out his hands. A blue pot appeared this time, and the flowers, a vibrant orange. He picked out a black shirt to wear for the night and gray slacks. For some reason, he felt nervous. This was not a teasing comment or flirting on the beach. This felt like a date. That one word made him chortle. Who would think that a demigod would be nervous dating a mortal woman? But it was all the same when it came to love. It tied you up in knots and made you jittery inside. Nicholas left his suite and walked out to where the sleek red convertible was waiting for him. He slid behind the wheel and started the car. It was only a short distance from his hotel to Neeva’s home. After only a few minutes on the main road, he parked in front of her house. This time, instead of coming through her kitchen that faced the beach, he knocked on her front door like a schoolboy on his first date. When she opened the door, Neeva left him 17

tongue-tied. She wore a lilac cotton dress with soft white hibiscus flowers printed around the plunging neckline and hem that came to her knees. Tiny silver straps held the dress in place at her shoulders, and she wore a thin sliver necklace that settled in the hollow of her throat. Nicholas took it all in, from the top of her head and her black hair held back by to fragile sliver barrettes, to her feet in laced sandals the same color of her dress. Simple beauty was the only way to describe her, and she took his breath away. ‘You’re staring, Nicholas,” Neeva said with a shy smile. “Um, yeah okay.” Nicholas was lost for words. “Is your silence a good thing or a bad thing? I don’t think I have ever heard you at a lost for words.” “It’s a good thing. You look amazing!” Nicholas couldn’t help gushing. “Well, thank you. I thought I had grown an extra head or something.” Neeva stepped out and closed the door. “An extra head would only make you more ravishing.” He took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her wrist. Neeva laughed. “There’s the Nicholas I know, charming and laying it on very thick.” “When it comes to you, Neeva, every word is true.” Nicholas helped her down the steps. He revisited the urge to swing her up in his arms and carry her to the car. “Well, well, Mr. Claus. This doesn’t look like any sleigh I have ever seen,” Neeva teased. “This is an entirely different kind of sleigh, baby,” Nicholas replied as he helped her into the passenger seat. “Hey, I may be Santa, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a piece of fine machinery.” He slid behind the wheel of the car, and when he inserted the key into the ignition the engine purred to life. As he put the top up so her hair wouldn’t be blown out of place, he asked with a grin, “Are you ready to enjoy a night on the town?” “As ready as I’ll ever be, Nicholas Kringle.” The night was dark as they drove through the island. But even as cruised along, the holiday cheer punctuated the darkness whenever they passed a house or neighborhood. Every house they passed was decorated. Multicolored lights formed elves and snowmen on the lawns. Glowing icicles hung from awnings and rooftops. And some had even covered driveways with white gravel to emulate snow. The scene was something that Nicholas had seen, but never up close. When Christmas Eve came around, he was moving so fast that he never had time to enjoy any of the holiday scenery or traditions in any country. So to him, it was all knew and beautiful.

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“Is there snow where you come from?” Neeva asked out of the blue. Nicholas grinned. “It’s the North Pole, sweetheart. There’s nothing but snow.” She frowned. “I’m serious, Nicholas, trying to know more about you so, if you’re going . . .” Nicholas sighed. “Fine. Yes, where I am from has a lot of snow in the winter.” “I was going to move once. I thought about New York or Canada. I wanted to be someplace where there would be snow and isolated.” Neeva gave a soft laugh, and he could hear the sadness in her voice. “Anywhere was better than here.” “Are you going to tell me why?” “Let’s enjoy the night. That would be story for another time.” They rode in silence for the rest of the trip. Nicholas reached over and held her hand as he drove. Neeva didn’t pull away as the car ate the miles of road to Port-au-Spain the capital of Trinidad. Nicholas knew when they found the festival even before he saw it. The music came through the windows on the breeze loud and filled with merriment. There was no place to park, so he had to park the car in the first free space he found after backtracking to one of the emptier streets they passed. He got out and helped Neeva from the car. Hand in hand, they followed the throngs of people and headed into the midst of the revelry. Everything was a sensory experience. Nicholas looked around in awe. Costumes to depict the holiday glittered in colorful glory. Bands of musicians who Neeva told him were called Tuck Bands walked between the crowd playing flutes and drums. The mouth-watering smells of meat roasting on outside fire pits, of fish frying in flavorful oils, and of sweet breads and cakes filled the air with their aromas. It was a chaotic atmosphere, but everything came together to form the most lively celebrations he had ever seen. Islanders and tourists played together in the merriment, and for this one day, everyone was family in the spirit of the holiday. This was what Christmas was all about. These people weren’t rich by any means, but they loved and cared about each other, and that is what some had forgotten. As they walked, Nicholas felt Neeva hold on tighter to him. He could feel her panic, and he made sure he had her secure to his side to let her know she was not alone. He felt Neeva begin to relax against him as they made their way at a snail’s pace through the crowd. The main street parade was going strong when they finally got to a place where they could watch. A float with a makeshift sleigh and Santa Claus passed by at that moment. The mock Santa boomed out, “Ho, ho, ho,” over a megaphone and threw candy canes at the crowd. “Hey, they should’ve asked me!” Nicholas exclaimed. “You are such a nut.” Neeva said with amusement. “Am I really.” Nicholas lifted his head and imitated the Santa in the float.

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“Ho, ho, ho!” resonated through the crowd. He didn’t need a speaker to make his voice heard. The crowd cheered in response, and Neeva stared up at him in amazement. “How did you do that?” “I guess I just have good lungs,” Nicholas said. “Come on. I’m hungry. Let’s find sustenance.” The things he ate shouldn’t have been called sustenance. It was pure culinary genius. Conkies, the oddest name he ever heard but the light bread was a mixture of pumpkin, raisins, coconut, and spices made into bread and cooked in banana leaves. The first bite made him close his eyes in pleasure. In his entire existence, he had never tasted anything that delicious, and sharing with Neeva made it all the better. He knew then that thousands of years had passed, but he had never really lived. The job was his passion. Seeing children smile filled his heart with joy. But somewhere along the line, he had forgotten that he needed to find personal joy and love. He needed love. Just at that point, above the revelry, he heard crying. It was a small cry that said distress and fear, unmistakable as if he or she was calling for help. He knew a child in distress. He saw too many of them alone, or abused with no one around the holidays, and it broke his heart. “Hey, where you going?” Neeva was breathless, and he pulled her along. He began moving so fast on instinct that he was pulling her along behind him. The music faded a bit, and in front of a building, he saw a little boy standing. He had red snow cone juice around his mouth and running down the front of his shirt. Tears fell from his eyes, and lost and alone, he stood looking around in fright. Nicholas squatted in front of him. “Hey, buddy, how are you?” “Momma, Momma!” He sobbed and rubbed his eyes. “We’ll find your momma. Let’s get you cleaned up just a little and see what’s under all the snow cone juice.” Neeva pulled a few wet-wipes from out of her purse and squatted down next to Nicholas. “Find his mother please. She has to be looking for him somewhere close by.” Nicholas heard something in her tone. He couldn’t place it, and when he looked at her curiously, she was already sitting on the pavement with the boy in her lap. She didn’t even care about the sticky syrup on his hands getting on her dress as she cleaned him up. He turned and hurried into the crowd. He was immortal. He could hear a pin drop in the middle of New York City. He soon picked up the mother’s terrified cry for her son. “Steven! Steven!” Her accent was even more pronounced than Neeva’s. Nicholas hurried to her when she, panicked and terrified looking for her lost child, turned around in the crowd, a wild look in her eyes.

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Nicholas laid his hand on her shoulder. She whirled around ready to fight anyone as any protective mother would. “Miss, I found your boy. He is sitting with my girlfriend right now.” “Take me to him, please. Oh, God, he must be so scared!” the young mother cried. They tried to move through the throngs of people, but it was like one step forward, two steps back. By the time they reached Neeva and the boy Nicholas now knew was Steven, he was curled up in her arms asleep sucking his thumb and Neeva was comforting him with a soothing voice. “I found his mom,” Nicholas said as Neeva looked up. The young woman rushed forward and plucked her son from Neeva’s arms. Nicholas noticed that she seemed reluctant to let go. “Thank you. Oh, thank you for finding him,” she gushed, kissing the boy over and over again. “You should’ve have been watching him better,” Neeva said, her tone sharp. Nicholas’s eyes widened. ‘Neeva, accidents happen.” “Not when it comes to a child,” Neeva snapped. “You need to be careful. Hold onto him at all times!” “I was! The crowd was thick, and he wanted a cone and . . . and . . .” The young mother’s tears began again. “You don’t need to explain. We understand.” Nicholas consoled her. He cast his gaze to Neeva whose face was like stone. “Don’t we? We’re just happy we found him.” “Thank you again!” The mother hugged her child close to her and walked into the crowd. Nicholas could look in her face and knew her night of fun was over. She would go home and hold her son all the tighter. “I want to go home.” Neeva was tense. He turned his attention to Neeva, who was rigid. “What was that about? Why did you tear into her like that? It wasn’t her fault.” “She’s lucky I didn’t call child welfare on her,” Neeva glared at him. “She gets to walk away. I’m ready to go.” Nicholas felt his patience snap. “You don’t order me, and I don’t follow like your puppy. What the hell is the matter with you, Neeva? This isn’t you?”

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She whirled to face him. “How would you know? You’ve known me for two days, so don’t blame your perceptions on me. You don’t know me!” Nicholas summed up for her. “Yes, I do. I know you’re warm and sweet, and when you let your guard down, your smile can outshine the sun. I also know you’ve been hurt and hurt bad. So why did that lost child and his mother set you off, Neeva? Tell me what hurt you!” “Because I lost my child!” Neeva choked, and tears began to run down her cheeks. “Instead of Santa bringing me gifts on the holiday, I got my baby, my son, taken from me!” Neeva thumped her chest. “Why does she get to lose hers and find him again! My baby, my Christopher, was five months old, and I woke up Christmas morning to give him his gifts, and he lay cold in his crib! So you’re Santa Claus, right? You tell me why. Why did I have to lose my heart like that? Why didn’t I die instead of him?” Her revelation shocked him and broke his heart all at once. He pulled her close, even though she struggled, and held her tight. “I don’t know, my darling Neeva. I can’t answer for life or death, but I do know this. I love you. I love you so much that in those two days, it has been like a life time, and if you let me, I’ll love you until I can heal your wounds and make you happy. Just say yes.” Neeva looked up at him with eyes that were filled with hurt and sadness. “Yes, Nicholas. Please make me forget. Just make me forget even if it’s only for a little while.” Her simple statement was all he needed. He picked her up in her arms and strode with a brisk pace to the car. She still believed he would leave, and Nicholas knew he would prove her wrong.

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Chapter Five His suite was amazing. Neeva stood and looked around when he placed her on the plush carpet. He had insisted on carrying her through the hotel, much to her embarrassment and the hotel clerk’s delight. Now she was nervous as he put on the light next to the bed and opened the window so the sea air could blow in and cool the stuffy room. He was so nice. Neeva didn’t want to let herself feel anything for him. He’d be gone soon, and she’d be alone again. This time, she would be fighting two broken hearts if she let him in. “I won’t leave you,” he said, his voice low and sensual as he crossed the room to stand in front of her. She could feel the heat from his body tempting her closer. Neeva tried to smile. “You plan to live on the island now?” “Maybe. You never know, but you can’t throw up a barrier when we can work something out.” Nicholas caressed her face. “I’m not expecting anything from you past tonight, Nicholas. Whatever time you have on the island, I will spend with you.” A frustrated sound came from him. “See past the now, Neeva. See that I love you and I’ll always be with you.” She put a stop to his words with a kiss. She didn’t want to hear the promises she knew would be broken. She just wanted to feel something tonight other than despair. She wanted him to chase away the nightmares and keep her out of the dark. His lips took over the kiss, and Neeva moaned her response. He tasted so good as their tongues danced from her mouth to his. His fingers were buried in the long dark tresses, and he massaged her scalp before grabbing fistfuls of her hair and holding her still as he devoured her mouth. Neeva couldn’t think. All she could do was feel his tongue taste and take from her. He tastes like Christmas- of peppermint candy canes, rum cake and hot spiced buttered rum. All these flavors came to mind when she kissed him. Her body felt like the wax of a candle melting under the flame. Nicholas’s hands moved to pull the thin straps of her dress down. He rained small kisses from her cheek down to her neck. He cupped her breasts and pulled them from the confines of her dress, burying his face in them before taking the hard nipple of one in his mouth and suckling deep as if he was starving for her taste. Neeva cried out as pleasure shot through her like a lightning bolt. She arched her neck and pulled him closer, offering him more of herself. “You taste so good, my darling Neeva. I can’t get enough of you,” Nicholas murmured while licking and nipping at her skin. He worked his way back up to her lips once again, and while his mouth plundered hers, she let the rest of her dress slip to the ground in a soft cotton pool. Nicholas lifted her from the material and placed her on the bed. Neeva stared at him as he discarded the rest of his clothing and stood in front of her. He was magnificent, his body sculpted, and when she caressed the smooth skin of his abdomen, his muscles rippled under her fingers. He knelt in 23

front of her and laid his head against her lap. Neeva combed her fingers through his hair and traced his features before trailing featherlight touches along his back. Nicholas sat up and kissed her again. She felt his hands at her waist, and she lifted herself just a little so he could take off her tiny pair of panties. He touched her pussy with a light touch that made her gasp. She was wet and hot. His fingers traveled down the slit, which made her moan. She could feel his eyes on her as he touched her. Her eyes closed at his ministration, and she slowly exhaled. “I’m going to taste you, Neeva,” he said “I wanted to taste you from the moment I kissed you, and I’m going to until you beg me to take you.” Neeva said nothing. She could only feel as Nicholas’s mouth went to her core. Her hips bucked at the first lick, and she writhed when she felt his tongue between the folds of her pussy. Nicholas held her hips tight as he explored her with his mouth. She wanted the sensations he was building inside her, yet she didn’t think she could take it. Neeva’s hands were in his hair, pushing him away but pulling him closer while he took her to the edge. She moaned and begged for release, and then with a final flick of his tongue, Nicholas reaped the rewards her body had to offer. Her orgasm left her quaking, and her pussy gushed its nectar. Neeva fell back against the bed deliciously limp, trying to catch her breath from the explosive orgasm. Nicholas wanted more. He slipped one finger inside her while she lay there, and Neeva couldn’t help but cry out. He added another digit and slipped inside. She spread her legs a little wider to accept what he was giving, and her back arched as he moved his fingers with deliberation. “Do you like this, Neeva?” “Yes,” she whispered. Oh God, yes, she liked it. She wanted to feel him fuck her, pound into her until she begged for mercy. “Say it’s only me who can make you feel this way,” he commanded. “Only you, Oh God, only you!” she panted as he pushed deeper inside her moist core. “Good, baby, now come for me. I want to see you come again,” Nicholas growled. At his command, her orgasm erupted again. Neeva could feel her body tense and release, for it seemed like eternity as sensation after sensation rolled through her. She begged him to take her on every breath that passed her lips. Nicholas got of his knees and slipped inside of her. His groan matched hers as she took him in. “I want to be on top,” she whispered in his ear and nibbled the lobe. He slipped from her wet body and lay on the bed. His eyes were filled with desire and burned into hers as he watched her straddle him. She held his hard length in her hand and took him inside her inch by slow torturous inch. She saw his hands clenching the sheets as she rode him deliberately slow. With her thighs against his as she moved, the pleasure of having him deep inside her made her bite her lip. Neeva arched her back, and Nicholas reached up to cup her breasts. Her pace increased. She took him deeper with every 24

downward thrust. He moaned her name over and over again, He cried out his love as passion spiraled them out of control. Neeva was past the point of reason. She was going by that primal instinct to mate and to give and take pleasure. “I need you, Nicholas. I need you!” she cried out. “Don’t let me go!” “Oh, I love you, Neeva,” Nicholas groaned out. “I’m here with you for always.” “I’m going to come.” Neeva felt tears fall from her eyes as her orgasm took hold. Her body tightened around his cock as she went over that edge. He moaned at his release. They both fell into that abyss that lovers find in each other. Neeva was sprawled on top of Nicholas’s body. The cool wind coming through the window off the sea dried their skin. He stroked the hair off her face, and kissed the tears drying on her cheek. She turned away quickly, but Nicholas wasn’t going to have that at all. He turned her to him, and Neeva couldn’t hide tears, this time not from the pleasure of their lovemaking but of sadness. “Sleep, my love. I’ll be here when you wake up. No nightmares tonight,” Nicholas whispered as he placed kisses on her damp cheeks Neeva relaxed, and she pressed closer to him, laying her head against his chest. How did he know about my nightmares? It was one of her last thoughts before sleep claimed her. **** “Nicholas!” He heard his name called while he slept. “Christkindl!” Nicholas sat up in bed. It was his mother’s voice, and she used the Old World name. Next to him, Neeva slept deeply, and she didn’t move when he got out of bed and went to the mirror. His mother’s face stared out from the portal she created to find him. “Mother?” “Is this the one, the woman who has taken hold of your heart?” Joko asked trying in vain to look around his frame to the bed, even though she was in the mirror. “Is that why you are here, to see into my bed?” Nicholas demanded. “You could have waited until I brought her home.” “No, my son, the shop is in chaos. One of the vice presidents has sabotaged production. He refuses to release the toys unless he has more payment. I fear that more have joined him!” Joko explained. “Those greedy bastards. They plan this just before our holiday run?” Nicholas snarled. When Neva murmured in her sleep, he lowered his voice. “I shall be there soon, Mother. I must handle this situation with Neeva delicately. She is heartbroken over the loss of her son.”

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“Oh, that feeling is one that can never be repaired,” Joko said. Sadness infused her words. “I too know of that loss. You will help heal her, Nicholas. Your heart is one of the purest I know.” “Thank you, Mother. Expect me soon. Convene a meeting for my return.” “I shall do that, my son,” Joko replied. “Oh, your father says hello.” “Uh, did you tell him where I was?” “I told him you had important business to deal with.” His mother gave him a wink. “Now go take care of business.” The mirror image of his mother faded, and Nicholas climbed back into bed with a frown. Last night they had spent the night loving and talking. She even smiled and laughed a few times while they played in the shower. He thought he would at least have a day or so left to spend with Neeva to gain her trust before he left. Now it was the sink or swim moment. Would she be able to have faith in him? He lay on his side facing her, looking into her beautiful face. Her eyes opened, and her gaze met his. She didn’t say a word. Neeva reached out and caressed his cheek before she pulled him to her and began kissing him with feverishly. Nicholas returned her kisses with just as much excitement. She was in his blood like the potent ale he drank at home. He tore his lips away from hers and began to kiss his way down her neck. He reached behind her and cupped her ass before he traveled his hands back up to her body and filled his palms with the smooth globes of her breasts. Nicholas took the erect nipples into his mouth and laved each with his tongue before sucking one into his mouth causing her to cry out in pleasure. “I can’t seem to get enough of your taste,” he whispered. “I need to taste all of you.” “Yes, oh yes, Nicholas!” “I love how you say my name,” he said as he kissed his way down her body. He trailed his lips down her smooth abdomen and across the curve of her thigh, and he pulled the covers away. She lifted away from the sheets before spreading her legs to allow him access to what he sought. He felt her tremble when his hot breath met the soft skin of her pussy. When his tongue flicked between the folds of sweet flesh, her hips jerked in response. Nicholas could not stand the teasing himself. With a rough jerk, he brought her hips to him and pressed his lips against her pussy. Neeva’s cry shattered the quiet around them while he licked and sucked at the sensitive bud and buried his tongue inside her. Her hips undulated against his face until she shook with her release. He was above her before she could even catch her breath. He wanted to be inside her, to feel her wrapped around his cock. He could never get enough of the sensation of her body pulling his in deeper. He took her legs and wrapped them around his waist while sinking his cock inside her wet pussy.

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His groan of pleasure was muffled against her neck. He whispered into her ear. “You feel so good, baby, so damn good. Take more of me, sweetheart. Ah, that’s it, just like that.” Neeva arched in pleasure. “Oh, please, Nicholas, deeper, harder!” “You have me, sweetheart, always!” He could feel his orgasm take hold as he pounded into her. He was on his knees on the bed with her legs wrapped around him, and he pulled her onto his cock. She held onto his shoulders. Each thrust sent them both higher and higher until their cries blended into one. He lay back on the bed with Neeva still in his arms while holding her tight against him and whispering to her. She in turn kissed every spot on his body she could reach and echoed his words. “I love you, Nicholas. I love you,” Neeva whispered. He didn’t even think she knew she had said it. If this was not heaven, Nicholas didn’t know what was. This was love. He was so certain of it now, more than he ever was about anything in his life.

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Chapter Six “I have to go,” Nicholas said as she stood outside her house later that afternoon. Her silence seemed to stretch for minutes before she spoke. “I thought you’d be here until after Christmas.” “Look at me, Neeva,” he commanded in a gentle voice. ‘Please, look at me.” She looked up at him. Her emotions were again hidden behind that wall she had built so strong. She tried to smile, but even he could see it was a poor attempt. “It’s okay. I knew you’d have to leave . It’s been fun. See ya!” Nicholas grabbed her shoulders and turned her back to him as she turned to leave. “Neeva, stop this.” “There’s nothing left to say. Your tourist jaunt is over. Go home.” Her laugh was short. “Oh, I forgot. You’re Santa Claus. You have your Christmas Eve trip coming up.” “Do you trust me?” “I don’t know if I can trust anyone or anything, Nicholas.” “Well, I tell you this, trust your instinct about me,” Nicholas implored. “I’ll be back, I promise. Last night, you said you loved me.” “That could have been the heat of the moment,” Neeva answered in all honesty. “Your heart got mixed up with other things?” Nicholas teased but got serious in an instant. “Do you love me?” “I . . . I think I do,” Neeva whispered. He framed her face with his hands and kissed her hard on the lips. “I love you too, my love, so much.” He kissed her again. “I’ll be back, my darling Neeva. On Christmas day, I’ll be back.” She nodded, and he could see tears begin to form in her eyes. “Say, ‘I love you, Nicholas,’ ” he coaxed. She obeyed. “I love you, Nicholas.” “Now go inside and rest because when I come back. I am coming back with a surprise.” “Okay,” Neeva replied and walked up her wooden steps.

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Nicholas wondered if she believed him for just a moment as he walked back through the stand of palm trees. As he faded from the island to go take care of business, he knew when he came back to Trinidad he would be taking her back with him. **** Neeva prattled around the house while people were getting ready for the holiday. She was restless with no family, no one to celebrate with. She was alone. All she had was a promise from a man who said he was Santa Claus and a claim that he loved her. By God, she had fallen in love with that man, and now she felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She cooked everything she could find, from steamed fish to pepperpot with three different kinds of meat. She made a batch of rum punch and took one or two sips, which turned into a whole glass. All the while, she wondered about where Nicholas was, about where he was from even, since she never really asked. Finally out of desperation, she took a walk down the beach and ended up in front of the hotel where Nicholas was staying. On impulse, she walked inside. She would wait for him up in his room and maybe take advantage of that big tub he had in the huge bathroom. She would light candles and make herself pretty for him. I’m just going to make sure it’s okay with the person at the desk. Then I’ll run home, get some stuff, and leave him a note. Spending Christmas in a luxury hotel couldn’t be all that bad. Feeling renewed and excited for the first time in a long time waiting for the man she loved, Neeva walked up to the front desk. It was the same woman from last night. The reservation clerk looked at her. “Can I help you, miss?” “Um, yes, you saw me pass last night with one of your guests. He said I could go up to his room and wait for him until he gets back.” Neeva smiled. I don’t remember you, ma’am,” the clerk said with an apologetic tone. “It was last night around eleven thirty or so,” Neeva explained. “Tall guy, blond, really nice blue eyes.” “Sorry, miss,” the clerk said. “Maybe you can give me his name, and I’ll look up his room.” “His name is Nicholas.” Neeva gave a small laugh. I can’t tell her he told me Kringle was his last name. “I really don’t know his last name, but he was staying in the last suite in the west wing facing the beach.” “That can’t be possible, ma’am. Those suites have been closed for renovations. There’s no furniture in them,” the clerk explained. Neeva felt like someone had doused her with ice cold water. “Are you sure?” When the clerk nodded, Neeva gave a small nod. “Thank you. I’ll leave you to your work.” “Merry Christmas!” the clerk called out as she walked away.

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Neeva raised her hand in response. She couldn’t wish anyone a merry anything at that point even if she tried. It seemed that all the while Nicholas had been lying to her, and she had fallen in love with a figment of her imagination. No one was that perfect, and she had made herself believe, and for that she looked like a fool. Nicholas was not coming back. She was waiting in her home for a love that was not real. This second heartbreak shattered what was left of her heart. Neeva’s tears fell as she walked across the sand to her home. **** The doors of the Santa Inc. boardroom were blown open by an invisible force. It was very rare for Nicholas to use his magic with such force, but he wanted to make a point as he strode down the long hallway. Santa Claus was his job, a form he took to bring happiness to children. But more than that, he was an immortal who was as old as time. He was the son of a Viking god and someone not to be trifled with. As he walked into the boardroom, he went from cut-off jeans and a T-shirt to a black pinstripped suit and black loafers. His hair that was tousled by the Caribbean winds was now combed with every blond strand in place. When he sat at the head of the long mahogany table, all eyes were on him. Nicholas said nothing. He let his gaze settle on each of the vice presidents. At his side, his mother stood with her hand on the back of his smooth leather chair. Nicholas couldn’t help but think that soon it would be Neeva standing at his side. “Gentlemen, what seems to be the problem with our production agreement?” Nicholas asked, his voice cool and calm. One man stood. To Nicholas, it was obvious that he would be the one who would speak for the entire group. From across the room, Nicholas could smell the greed rolling off him. “As we see it, Claus, you have given us a small piece of the pie, and we think a few slices should be added.” “How so?” Nicholas laced his fingers together and stared at the man. He never shifted his eyes or blinked. Nicholas saw that the intensity of his stare made the VP so uncomfortable he began to straighten his tie in a nervous gesture. The vice president cleared his throat. “You and your family are powerful, immortal to be precise. I think you could give us more than one wish a year to compensate us for our manufacturing costs and giving you our toys.” “Which would sit in your warehouses because of low sales every year?” Nicholas pointed out. Another man spoke up. “But if we reveal your secret . . .” Nicholas leveled a cold stare on him and then passed it along to every man who sat around that table. “Go ahead.” “Wh-What?” the spokesman stuttered.

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“Go ahead and tell the world. What do you think will happen?” Nicholas rose and spread his hands wide. “Every child will start writing letters to me again. Every parent will stop going to malls and toy stores, and production will cease for your companies. But the North Pole will be busy, and I might have to hire you to work for me. So go ahead. Reveal it all.” “All we’re asking is for—” Nicholas slammed his hands down on the table. His power set a long crack along the smooth shiny surface, and he cut off the man’s words. “Is for what? More money to amass on your already bulging bank accounts? The answer is no, and if you don’t have anything else other than a pathetic excuse to tell the world we’re immortal and Santa exists, then get out of my boardroom and follow the contract you signed with me or else.” The vice president bristled, and his face grew red. “Or else what.” “Or else you’ll answer to the one who rules us all, and trust me, he is not one you want to deal with.” At Thunder rolled and shook the room. The men looked around with fear written all over their faces. Nicholas’s smile was cold as the ice that covered the North Pole and blew in the artic winds. “Consider my good nature at this point the least of your worries.” Another white-haired gentleman spoke up. “Um, I think right now this meeting should be adjourned. It seems we made a mistake.” The others nodded in agreement. “Good idea!” Nicholas sat back in his chair. “Now you’ll be escorted back to your homes. Enjoy the holidays. Merry Christmas!” The men filed out, casting somewhat fearful glances over their shoulders at Nicholas. He chuckled with cheer and waved as they left. “Very good. my son, firm without having to rain boulders on their greedy heads.” Joko ruffled his hair, an affectionate gesture. “Ma, stop that!” he grumbled but stood anyway and pulled his mother into a bear hug. “I guess it’s time for me to get ready and start my trip.” “The sleigh is waiting. It has been charmed with the extra magic you will need to carry all those packages,” Joko replied. “Now change and do what you were born to do, bring people happiness.” Nicholas nodded and disappeared from the boardroom to the bedroom in his home. Outside he could hear the busy feet of his elves as they prepared for the holiday festivals. Neeva will be amazed when she sees all this, he thought with a joyous grin. He pulled his red suit from the closet and put it on in haste. Christmas Eve night began at different hours across the different time zones, so he would have to begin his trip as soon as he could to make sure every child had at least one gift under the tree. Those who didn’t believe in Christmas or who had a different culture would receive his blessing even if it was in the form of food or clothing donated to missions and homes. He left no country out, no child or family. 31

He stood before his full-length mirror and began his transformation, from young handsome immortal who would never age to the snow-white beard and rosy cheeks that were his trademark. His waist thickened, and soon he was the fat jolly man everyone knew and loved. Looking at himself, Nicholas could not help but laugh. It came out as his merry “Ho, ho, ho.” It was time to work, and then it would be back to his Neeva. He left his home and walked through the snow to his sleigh. Around him, elves and other magical folks cheered because this was the official start of their season of festivities. Nicholas settled into his seat. Around his hands he wrapped the black leather reins that held the harnesses adorned with golden bells which hung on the necks of his reindeer. The animals pranced with excitement.. He called out in his booming voice, “Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!” His people of the North Pole cheered as his sleigh rose to begin its worldwide journey. Nicolas’s mind was on his work, but Neeva’s smiling face was in the forefront this time. He wanted this night to fly by so he could return to her.

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Chapter Seven How could I be so stupid? Sucked into some tourist’s bed like some naïve island girl. Neeva sat in her bedroom watching the evening news on Christmas night. Even after finding out that Nicholas was not listed at the hotel and her doubts returned, she had expected and hoped he would be there on Christmas day like he said. She found herself wishing more than once that he would come and dispel some of her fears. But hours had flowed from one to the next until the sun set across the sand and night fell. She had come inside and shut her windows from the sound of holiday parties on the beach in hopes to close out the sound of happiness when her heart was breaking all over again. As she watched the television, her heart ached. For the child she had lost two years ago and now for Nicholas. A knock on her back door brought her up off her pillows, and she swiped the tears that had formed in her eyes. She jumped out of bed and walked though her home. Sadness had given away to fury, and she swore that if it was another drunken tourist on her doorstep, she would bean whoever it was on the head. Instead, she opened the door to Nicholas’s smiling face and slammed it closed again. “Neeva, my love, open the door!” “Why, for you to lie to me just a little more?” she called through the barrier that kept him out and her inside. “I didn’t lie. I told you I’d be back!” Nicholas called out to her. Neeva opened the door. “One, you said Christmas morning, not Christmas night! And two, I went to the hotel. They had no record of you, and your hotel room was being renovated. How in the hell did you get all that furniture in there anyway! Ugh, I don’t care. Just go away, liar!” She closed the door in his face again. “I went home, Neeva, did my job, and then my father cornered me at the feast, and I had to stay a few hours.” “Uh-huh, your Santa Claus job, right? And who is your father, the Easter bunny?” Neeva called out to him. “Actually my father is Odin, and my mother is Joko.” Nicholas’s voice came from behind her. “We can’t have a decent conversation through a closed door.” Neeva whirled around to face him in shock. “How in the hell did you get in here?” “Magic.” He smiled and cupped her cheek. “Did I leave the front door unlocked? All the while I was talking to you, you came through my front door?” She rushed to check only to find her lock secure. He was behind her in an instant. “Honey, I told you magic.”

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Neeva stared up at him in shock. “You want me to believe that you are Santa Claus and that you went home to the North Pole and you were late because of a family dinner?” “Basically, yes.” “Holy hell, I think I do believe you,” she whispered. How could she not, the way he had no trace at the hotel, how he found the child’s mother with such ease, and now how he got into her home with all the doors locked. How could he do it if it wasn’t magic? Without a word, Nicholas held out one of his hands for her to see. In the center formed a perfect snowflake made of ice. When she slowly reached out to touch it, the cold made her pull her hand back in shock. “H-how did you do that?” Neeva reached out and ran her finger along the ice as it turned centimeters above his palm. “I told you the truth from the very beginning. I would never lie to you.” Nicholas’s eyes burned into hers. “I have always told you who I am. The hotel was just another piece of magic. They saw me come in when I was there, and when I left the island the magic left with me.” “You’re Santa Claus,” Neeva said. She still couldn’t believe it, but here it was right before her eyes. “Just my job, Neeva. I’m Nicholas Kringle and the man who will love you for all eternity. I’m immortal, and soon you will be too, if you’ll have me. We will share this love forever.” “How? I mean do I have to drink a potion or get bitten or something?” Neeva whispered. She couldn’t help but wonder how one became immortal. Nicholas laughed. “No, my love, from the time you travel to my home, you will never grow old, and we can come to the island anytime you like.” He lifted her and strode to her bedroom. “You can think on it while we kiss, make up, and do other things.” Neeva felt joy fill her heart, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t believe I’ll be doing much thinking, but okay.” “I love you, Neeva,” Nicholas said, his voice husky with emotion. “Say you love me too and that you see I won’t ever leave you alone.” `“Yes,” Neva echoed her thoughts. It could be nothing else but yes for her as she took his lips in a kiss and he led the way to her bedroom. The soft light of her television cast a blue glow around them. Or was it is his magic? Neeva didn’t know nor did she care. She was loved and gave love in return. His eyes were on her again. She watched the heat smolder in them as her dress slipped to the floor and she stood in only a pair of yellow cotton panties. Nicholas slipped his hand around her neck, and Neeva closed her eyes in pleasure from the sensation of his touch. She twined her hands around his waist under his shirt. In an instant motion, he pulled it over his head and let it fall to the floor. She pressed her face against his 34

chest and felt the warmth of his skin on her cheek and his heartbeat speed up when she touched him. “I want you, Neeva” he whispered. “You have me.” She lifted her lips up to his for him to claim. He kissed her as he swept her off her feet and laid her down on her bed. His gaze never left her as he slipped her panties off her smooth legs and then took off the rest of his clothes. Neeva looked at his hard cock as he stood proud and naked in front of her. On her knees, she pulled him closer until his legs bumped the mattress. She kissed the tip of his cock and took his length in her mouth inch by slow inch. Nicholas groaned deep in his throat, which reminded Neeva of a sleek jungle cat. His breath hissed out between his teeth while she teased him with her lips and tongue. He combed his fingers through hair and buried them there. With every movement, she took his cock deeper into her mouth. With every sound that he made in pleasure, it fueled Neeva’s own need. He pulled her away from him in a sudden motion and kissed her with the hungry passion of a man starved for his woman. He pressed her back into the bed and covered her with his own. His lips traveled down to her breasts, and he took the hard nipple in his mouth. He moved from one to the other, tasting and sucking her nipples. Neeva cried out as ecstasy shot to her core. She bucked against him, wanting to feel him inside her, but Nicholas took his time pleasing her. His hand traveled down her smooth stomach to the apex of her thighs. When she felt his fingers slip between the moist fold of flesh and rub against her clit, Neeva pressed her hand against her mouth to smother her cries of passion. “No.” Nicholas pulled her hand away. “I want to hear you come for me. Don’t hide it from me ever.” His fingers slipped inside her. With his thumb against her bud, he stroked it in a slow circular motion. He watched her as he sent her over the edge with his fingers alone. Neeva felt her release flow over his fingers. He did not let her catch her breath before filling her with this thick cock. “Nicholas,” she said on a whisper. She wished she could explain to him how good it felt to have him buried inside of her. She could see no words were needed as she looked at him. His eyes had gone dark with desire as he moved inside her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted her hips to take more of him. She felt his hands under her bottom to pull her into his every thrust. Nicholas’s breath was harsh against her ear. He whispered his need in her ears, his words heightening her pleasure. “I’m going to come. . . . Please don’ t stop,” she pleaded. “No, baby, I’m not going to. God, you feel so good, Neeva my love. I can’t hold back,” Nicholas moaned. She felt him tense and shuddered as he pumped inside her. The sound of her slippery wet body meeting his filled the room. 35

Neeva opened her eyes as she spiraled into her orgasm. She watched Nicholas’s face. Pleasure passed over it, and he tensed. His neck arched, and a groan escaped his lips as he spilled himself inside her. All the while as their bodies cooled from their passion, she caressed him and luxuriated in the feel of him. She enjoyed it as he did the same to her. A sigh left his lips. “I can’t believe I am going to be doing this with you forever.” “Having sex?” She gave him a light punch in the arm. “You don’t do bad work in that department.” “I mean loving you and holding you like this every night.” He grinned before giving her a smacking kiss on the lips. “Me too.” Neeva never knew she could find happiness again, and now she had it in the arms of her own personal Santa Claus. “I love you, Nicholas Kringle.” “My love is yours, Neeva, soon to be Mrs. Claus.” That simple statement made her giggle. Much later, when the revelers were gone from the beach and the only sound was the water hitting the sand, they went out into the night. Her house would be closed for a while, and her business had a sign on the door letting customers know she’d be gone. Outside on the beach stood two rows of reindeer and a huge red sleigh. He bundled her up in the seat under furs and blankets before climbing in next to her. “What about you? Won’t you get cold?” Neeva asked. Nicholas explained. “Honey, I was born in a cavern of snow in the middle of the North Pole. We don’t feel the cold.” “Will your family like me, your mother and father?” Gods or not, parents were parents, and Neeva felt nervousness in the pit of her stomach. “My mother will love you, and my father as long as you show him how to make rum punch will adore you.” “Lucky for me, I brought the batch I made.” . Nicholas gave her a lingering kiss before he took the reins and called out a command in a language she did not understand. They rose into the sky without even a bump, and soon her island home was gone from sight. Magic had brought her a love to last the span of time. To Neeva, it was a Merry Christmas after all. The End

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To all my readers: Never stop believing in magic no matter how impossible it seems. Never close your heart off to love because it always finds its way into our life no matter what. From me and my family to yours, Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. We wish you peace, blessings, and wishes for a year full of joy and happiness. Dahlia Rose

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TuÉâà à{x Tâà{ÉÜ Dahlia Rose is the best-selling author of contemporary and paranormal romance with a hint of Caribbean spice. She was born and raised on a Caribbean island and now currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her four kids, who she affectionately nicknamed “The Children of the Corn,” and her biggest supporter and longtime love. She has a love of erotica, dark fantasy, sci-fi, and the things that go bump in the night. Books and writing are her biggest passions, and she hopes to open your imagination to the unknown between the pages of her books.