‘Tis the season of Wicked Deeds (A Holiday romance Book 1)
‘Tis the season of Wicked Deeds: Chapter 11

The hot shower feels divine on my tired limbs and lessens most of the achiness from all the traveling. For a moment, I’m tempted to lie on the perfectly made bed with its fluffy pillows and warm brown blanket instead of the usually boring white.

But if I do, jet lag will kick in and it will take God himself to get me out of it.

Plus, I’m not here to sleep. I can do that back at home. I’m here to have fun and explore all the wonderfulness of this town. To become a part of their cute little celebrations, take selfies, and eat all the yummy food and desserts. Especially their famous fondue.

All the while enjoying it on a date with a hot hunk of a man.

No! Fuck.

It’s not a date.

You’re meeting his grandparents.

I’ll be running into them. No big deal.

He knows all your darkly erotic fantasies.

Shit. It’s going to be a task pretending he didn’t see my list in all its shameless glory. I swear there should be an off button for these devil-tongued voices in our heads.

Standing in front of the dresser in the compact walk-in closet, I check my reflection in the mirror one final time. I don’t often get a chance to dress up back home since most of my time is spent cooking in the kitchen or delivering orders in a casual outfit.

In my free time, I would scroll Pinterest on my phone and gawk at the chic winter outfits, while wishing for a chance to wear them myself. Therefore, there was no way I was missing out on the perfect opportunity to fulfill yet another wish.

I did some online shopping and packed my suitcase with stylish clothes that would protect me against the cold weather.

Don’t want to catch a cold and ruin the whole trip.

For tonight, I picked a pair of tight black leather pants and a bright pink turtleneck sweater. I’ve left my hair open and let it fall down my back in curls. I’ve completed my outfit with black boots and a trench coat that Tina gifted me last year.

My makeup is light and simple. Just a brush of blush, some mascara, and pink lip gloss. Gazing at myself, I feel cute and low-key eager for Kingston to see me.

I wonder if he’s also changed into another outfit. He could be on the other side of the wall. The urge is so enticing to walk up there and knock on his door. It would be so deliciously easy to say yes like my starving body wants to and dive headfirst into all the filth with him.

He’s the kind of man who you know will deliver.

His confidence alone is enough to make my pussy drenched.

Man, I wish I could call Tina and talk to her right now. Only she can help me sort out these messy feelings. Yet she’s the one person I can’t tell.

I haven’t even thought about how I am going to confess about Kingston to her. We’re not ones to keep secrets from each other.

I guess I’ll cross that bridge when it comes.

Pushing all my turbulent dilemmas aside, I grab my clutch with my phone and cash inside it and a light brown bucket hat just in case it’s too chilly, and quickly rush downstairs. Locking the cabin door, I safely tuck away the keycard and walk to the lobby.

Hilda is behind the front desk and I immediately wonder if she thinks I’m a weirdo for the fiasco earlier. Or worse, knows I made out with her boss.

Since no one else is around, she immediately sees me. I’m relieved when she smiles. “Going out, Miss Twinkle?”

“Yes,” I reply, approaching her. “Will you not be going out to see the final window reveal?”

“I’ve already seen it so many times, I would rather settle in with a hot cup of coffee,” she answers with a laugh. “Plus, I have my own decorations to do at home for tomorrow. You’re going to love it, I’m sure. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Are those boots comfortable? Because you’ll be walking a lot.”

“Oh yes. I chose flats. Don’t want to kill my feet on the first night.” We both chuckle, understanding the experience. I startle when a throat clears behind me. Whirling around, my breath hitches and my stomach knots into a ball of explosive lust.

Kingston steals my breath away, looking so utterly rugged and handsome.

He probably even wakes up sexy, voice throaty with messy bedhead hair.

His black tee was exchanged for a black hoodie and he’s thrown his leather jacket over it. Dark brown strands in perfect disarray and pushed back over his forehead, the sharp angles of his face steal all my focus. His lips framed by stubble are a darker pink, probably from the cold.

My own tingle remembering how soft they felt and the passionate way they kissed mine. My thoughts drift to an even dirtier imagination.

Like the feel of his mouth between my thighs, kissing and devouring another part of me.

I blink when he strokes his knuckles against my cheek, leaving tingles in its wake.

“I think I told you to wait for me at the cabin,” he teases, stepping closer until he’s towering over me.

“Hmm, really?” My tone is raspy. “I don’t remember.”

Honestly, true. Because after he possessively called me his, the rest was a blur.

His eyes playfully narrow at my response. His hand caressing my face travels lower to lace our fingers together. The gesture is so boyfriend-like and yet I don’t protest or tug my hand free. Staring over my shoulder, he speaks to Hilda, who I completely forgot about.

Just perfect, now she knows I have a thing going on with her boss.

I hope she doesn’t think I’m trying to get a discount or something.

I don’t turn and meet her eyes while remaining clueless as they converse in German. I catch another name called Matteo, but that’s it.

“Ready to go, darling?”

“Yeah.”

The chilly burst of air, as soon as we step outside, still catches me by surprise. Kingston chuckles when I immediately stop him to put on my hat.

“Not used to this cold?”

“I love winters but I don’t think I’m made to survive here longer than a vacation.”

“You’ll be wishing for another day when it’s time to leave.”

“I doubt it.” It’ll be memories of him making me feel homesick, not this place.

I almost melt into a puddle when he stands in front of me, adjusts my hat until my ears are covered, and fluffs my hair that gets stuck.

“There,” he murmurs. “You look perfectly adorable now.”

My hair hides my furious blush at his compliment. Instead of holding my hand, he pulls me against his side with his arm wrapped around my shoulders. My eyes close from his intoxicating scent and the heat emanating from his muscular body.

It’s so unfair that he always smells so amazing. I want to bottle his scent up and take it home with me.

It’s also a mystery how his hard and toned muscles become the most comfortable cocoon I’ve been in. Lifting my right arm to lock my fingers with the hand dangling from my shoulder comes naturally.

My heart skips a beat when he squeezes my hand affectionately.

Realizing I only have a week with him is making me let go of all my inhibitions and doubts. I’m free-falling willingly into whatever this is.

Our chemistry is like that of two old souls understanding each other without words. Inexplicably drawn to one another. Why else would fate make our paths collide at every turn?

“So, you’re not a strict boss, are you?” I curiously ask.

Kingston glances down at me with a furrow in his brow. “What makes you say that?”

“You and Hilda have a friendly vibe. Are you the same with every member of your staff?”

“I’ve known these people for several years that they’ve become like a second family,” he answers fondly. “I grew up watching my dad treat them the same way. He even went to high school with Hilda’s father.”

“Oh wow. Small world.”

“More like a small town,” he jokes.

“Have you never had to scold any of them?” I probe. “Ever?”

“I’ve only been their boss this year, so no, a situation like that hasn’t come by. They also know what is expected of them. Besides, ’tis the season of jolly and fun. A verbal lashing would ruin the mood.”

Lashing sends my mind straight into the gutter, to thoughts of a good, old-fashioned spanking.

I can’t keep my face from heating.

Kingston notices and reads my mind in a flash.

“Hmm… I forgot someone came here to be all sorts of bad.”

I shiver at his seductive tone and try to pull away from his embrace. His arm bands around my waist and thwarts my escape attempt. “You’re having too much fun at this.”

“I’m not the one who wrote the naughty list, Twinkle.”

“Yet you want all the perks.”

“Does it mean you’re saying yes?”

“No,” I huff, rolling my eyes.

“But you are considering it?” he retorts with a grin. “I’m fine as long as there’s progress. Though I need to remind you that the list is long and we only have seven days.”

Like I need a reminder of how short period of a time that is.

Tilting my chin, he caresses my mouth and tugs at my bottom lip. “I want to make all of your fantasies come to life. Every single one of them.”

I swallow, falling under his spell and almost blurting out yes right there on the sidewalk.

Only to come back to my senses.

“You said we’d talk later about this.”

Usually, a man would be frustrated by now and not hide his annoyance at the girl playing hard to get. Most men would even move on to their next conquest.

Not Kingston, though.

He gives me a small smile, one full of adoration. Kissing me quickly, he nods and says, “Later then.”

“Thank you.”

Tucking me closer again, he asks, “We still have time before the festivity starts. Do you want to eat? You must be hungry.”

My stomach grumbles, reminding me I only ate a tiny sandwich on the train ride over here. “Yes, I’ll need energy if we’re going to be walking a lot tonight.”

“We will be. The final window won’t be revealed until midnight.”

“Good thing I’m a night owl.”

After walking on the cobblestoned path down the resort’s street, we reach the main village. It is bustling with people and every inch is decorated with Christmas-themed embellishments and thousands of twinkling lights. They are tied in a crisscross pattern and meet in an arch in the center over the circular garden. The most humongous Christmas tree I’ve ever seen stands in the middle.

So lively and beautiful.

Tourists pose and click pictures in front of it. I pull out my phone and snap a picture, excited to send it to Tina and Pooja Aunty—her mom—later. Before I lose courage, I shyly ask Kingston, “Will you please click my picture with the Christmas tree?”

“Like I’d ever say no to you,” he scoffs and grabs my phone. Flicking his chin, he nudges me forward.

“You better take really cute and good ones,” I warn, wagging my finger at him.

“Just go and pose, woman.”

I skip and take the spot emptied by another couple. I ruffle my hair so it’s bouncy, stand with my hip cocked to the side, and smile at the camera. I do some random poses, which Kingston perfectly captures. Walking back to him, I stare at the screen and squeal, “These are perfect. Are you also a part-time photographer or something?”

He has even captured a candid picture where I’m gazing up in awe at the tall Christmas tree.

“It’s all you, darling. You’re too stunning.”

“You better not see me when I wake up in the morning then,” I joke, still scrolling through the gallery.

“Too bad.” His tone is rough. “I’m planning the exact opposite.”

“Somebody’s cocky,” I retort, biting my lip.

He tugs it free with his thumb. “Somebody’s stubborn.”

I smirk and lightly push him toward the Christmas tree. “Your turn. Pose for me, King.”

We both freeze when I call him King. It just slipped. I slap a hand over my mouth, ready to take it back, because the intense way he’s staring down at me is spiking my heart rate. My nipples pebble inside my bra the longer he continues to silently watch me, making me squirm.

“You gave me a nickname, Twinkle?” he demands in a deep voice.

“You call me darling all the time.”

“I thought you hated nicknames.”

“Well, I’m starting to see their appeal.”

Circling my waist with both arms, he leans closer until our mouths are inches apart. “Say it again.”

“King.”

His grip tightens and he traces my ear with his mouth. “Now, don’t forget to scream it when I claim you the first time. I want your throat hoarse from how loud I make you shout it in ecstasy. Understood?”

“Yes,” I whimper, swaying closer.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, King.”

Squeezing my hips, he stands straight and flashes me his mischievous smirk. The way he switches between domineering and charming is mind-boggling. I could use lessons myself to go from being horny like a college girl to a sassy one.

“Where were we?”

I shake off the tingling sensations left by his filthy command and reply, “Returning the favor and snapping your picture. I can send them to you later.”

“Interesting way to get my number,” he teases. “You know you only have to ask.”

“Shut up, you flirt.”

His boisterous laugh floats to my ears and he does as I say. Standing in the same spot as I left, he smiles boyishly for the camera. He’s so photogenic and looks ravishing in every picture.

I must be insane for trying to resist this gorgeous man.

When I go to show him, he grabs my phone with one hand and tugs me beside him with the other. Without glancing at the screen, he instead requests a passerby to click our picture together under the glittering lights.

Making me stand before him, he cups my hips and touches the side of my face with his, then whispers, “Smile, darling.”

My cheeks pinken and I smile at the camera.

I’m shocked when there’s no awkwardness or shyness from my end as I laugh and pose several times with him. Then take more candid shots, which are my favorites.

The rush of happiness that spreads inside my chest is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I came here on this solo trip with the confidence I’ll celebrate and enjoy Christmas alone, but the surprising reality is so much more amazing.

Butterflies dancing in my stomach, I gaze up at Kingston.

Only to replace him staring down at me lovingly.

When he bends down to kiss me, I don’t stop him.

I give in.

To him.

To the possibility of us.