‘Tis the season of Wicked Deeds (A Holiday romance Book 1)
‘Tis the season of Wicked Deeds: Chapter 24

“This is so scary.” I swear, my heart is pounding in my throat. I shuffle closer to Kingston, who wraps his arm around my shoulders protectively. “But gosh, look at the view. I can’t stop staring.”

He chuckles, ruffling my hair with the gravelly sound.

With my nose pressed against the glass pane like a starstruck child, I stare in awe and wonder at the valley of unending snowy mountains as our cable car zooms past it. Not just any cable car, but one with glass coated in Swarovski crystals. The moment the ride began, the glass cleared and I was blown away by the majestic sight.

In a few more minutes, I’ll reach the top of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.

And a paradise—it for sure is.

I feel like I’m dancing among the clouds. I’m surrounded by nothing but the endless blue sky, intimidating mountain peaks, and lush scenery.

In moments like these, I’m reminded of how remarkable Earth truly is.

In the everyday bustle of our stressful lives, we forget the simplicity of living—to pause and appreciate how blessed we are with so many wonders around the world. We’re all so busy chasing fame and fortune, spending sleepless nights pouring our blood, sweat, and tears that we take the little things for granted.

Like the joy of a cold breeze on our limbs.

The tantalizing scent of flowers and trees that puts a smile on our lips.

The grass between our feet as we run in parks.

There are many more things that remind us how alive we are. As we grow up, we forget to enjoy them, too lost in our heads, worrying about things out of our control.

I never thought one day I’d be climbing to the top of a glacier. Yet, here I am.

It’s a dream come true.

As I stare below at the snow-covered ground, the feeling of flying so high in the air, I feel alive. My soul feels rejuvenated. This rush in my veins is what I want to take home. So that for as long as I live, I’ll carry these beautiful emotions forever in my heart.

In a way, I’ve accomplished what I wanted from this not-so-solo trip.

When I look to my right, into Kingston’s brown eyes, I realize I’ve achieved more than what I came here for.

“Wait until you see the view from the top,” he tells me, smirking. “It’ll become your favorite.”

“I’m already staring at my favorite view.”

His gaze softens with fondness and possessiveness. Leaning closer, he presses a tender and deep kiss against my lips, murmuring, “You’re my favorite view in the world too, darling.”

A warm gooey feeling spreads around my heart, sinking deeper as if making a home. Resting my head on his shoulder, I stare out the window as we climb higher and higher.

Kingston sighs in contentment, kissing our intertwined hands before placing them around my chest.

“Do you ski?” I ask him.

“Yeah, I do,” he replies. “What about you?”

“No. You’ll have to teach me.”

“It’ll be my pleasure.”

“But promise not to laugh when I make an utter fool of myself,” I demand, peering up at him, while he wears an amused expression. “I’m not good at sports of any kind.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

“I used to get picked last in high school,” I huff. “What does that tell you?”

He purses his lips, smothering a laugh.

“See?” I point at him accusingly. “You’re replaceing it funny. I bet it was the opposite experience for you in high school.”

“Oh no, darling, I’m replaceing it funny because I was picked last too.”

I sit up straight and raise one sardonic brow, muttering, “Really? Are you sure you aren’t confusing it with being first?”

“No, I’m not.”

“You’re a terrible liar, King.” I slap his chest with my gloved hand. He captures it and dips his head to steal a kiss, but I turn my head at the last second.

A playful growl emanates from him before he brings my face back to him. Squeezing my cheeks together, he forces a kiss on my pouting lips.

All too soon, while we’re lost in each other, the cable car comes to a halt. Someone clears their throat and we pull apart. My cheeks burn tomato red and I mumble out a quick sorry and let them pass.

Kingston, who steals my entire focus like it’s us two existing in the entire world, is composed and cocky.

We’re the last two to get out.

I’m covered in multiple layers of clothes, yet the wind up here knocks the breath out of my lungs. Smoke billows out from my lips as I shiver and tighten the muffler around my neck. I’m in constant awe by the fact the luxurious station is built inside a mountain.

A freaking mountain!

How fucking cool is that?

The staff greets us with a smile and I wave back. Since Kingston has been here many times, we don’t require a tour guide. Holding my hand protectively in his, I walk beside him as he leads us. There’s a healthy crowd of tourists from different parts of the world around us. Everyone oohing and aahing while admiring the place.

It’s a surreal feeling to be walking so high in the sky.

“Where are we going first?” I ask Kingston excitedly.

He wraps my arm around his elbow so I’m pressed against his warm body, and replies, “I thought I could show you the view of the Alps first, then we’ll grab a bite and visit the Ice Palace next.”

“Sounds great.” I grin. “I’m too eager to sit still and eat.”

The distance to the viewing platform is a short one. Adrenaline pumps into my bloodstream as we near it. There’s a small queue as people enthusiastically wait to move ahead. The glass windows on either side, along with informative facts hanging on the walls, allow an escape to pass the time. I love learning about new places. So, I read each of the written facts.

“Stay close,” Kingston murmurs in my ear once it’s finally our turn.

“Worried about me?” I tease.

His tone is serious as he replies, “Yes. I can’t bear the thought of you being hurt, no matter if it’s something small. In fact, it’ll ease my mind if you hold my hand while we’re up there.”

The deep protectiveness shining in his beautiful eyes for my safety has me fighting back tears. No one’s put me first the way he does. Sometimes, he sounds too good to be true. But I know it’s just my insecurities talking.

There’s no mask around Kingston.

What you see is what you get.

“Okay,” I whisper in a thick voice, controlling all the emotions volleying inside my heart. I squeeze his hand to assure him and smile. “I’ll stay close.”

His face relaxes and he caresses my cheek.

As much as I love a little possessiveness like any other girl, it’ll never match up to the protectiveness of a man. Anyone can be possessive, whether it’s over a materialistic thing or a person, but only a man, who feels something deeper than lust for a woman he’s with, will be protective of her.

After one final look, we turn to the man who will be accompanying us. I guess he’s been waiting for a while because we’re shuffled into a lift and a tiny pressure thrusts us upward. It stops and opens to the iron and steel staircase leading even higher to the observational deck.

My heart thumps wildly behind my ribs, while my stomach hollows out at nerves when I step onto it. Even though I’m not scared of heights, a trickle of fear makes me lightheaded. I hold on to Kingston tighter.

Since we’re in the thick of the winter season, the air is windy and cold. But not enough to hinder the beauty. The steps squeak under my shoes as we ascend.

“Wow,” I mutter as we reach the spacious platform.

Forget about the view I gushed about in the cable ride, this one beats it out of the park. It’s a thousand times more stunning and jaw-dropping.

“This is breathtaking, King.”

He hums in agreement as we stroll to the edge. I curl my fingers around the banister while Kingston stands behind my back, caging me in with his hands on each side.

“You came on the perfect day,” shares the man. “The weather is in your favor. If you look there.” He points to a spot and says, “That’s Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau in the north.”

He continues to indicate all the different Alps, which my nerdy side loves.

I gulp in all the names, excited to tell Tina all about them.

It’s like we’re in the wild. No civilization for miles. Nothing but valleys and peaks cocooning us. My lips hurt from smiling as I admire the beauty. Almost an hour later, after we’ve clicked several pictures at the booth, we go inside.

“Can we visit the Ice Palace first?” I ask Kingston, who is toying with my hair. I’ve caught him doing that often. Pretty sure he’s obsessed with it. I replace it cute.

“Whatever you want, darling.”

He stares at me so intensely, my mind flashes with the memory of us in his office earlier. When he asked me to call him Daddy in a domineering and silky voice, it took me by surprise.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he warns darkly against my lips. “You know I have no problem dragging you into a corner and fucking you with all these people around.”

I trail a finger up his chest, feeling his muscles flex, and retort, “Haven’t you learned that doesn’t scare me?”

Yanking my head back with a possessive grip of my hair and a teasing nip to the corner of my mouth, he mysteriously rasps, “Don’t tempt me like that, woman. You might just get your wish.”

With that, he pulls my stunned ass to our next spot.

It doesn’t take long for me to become enraptured with our surroundings. Every inch of the Palace is made of ice, including the ceiling. It’s like stepping into a medieval cave. Either I’m dreaming or I’ve transported into the movie Frozen.

Beautiful sculptures made by artists are brilliantly displayed, while a few are natural ice sculptures.

By the time we finish half an hour later, I’m starving and I tell Kingston as much. I’m gazing at our earlier pictures, smiling when I realize that in most of them, Kingston is peering at me instead of the camera.

I’m lost and swooning at this insane man who is all mine when I hear a grumbled whisper pass by, complaining about how annoying the restaurant is. For what, I’ve no idea.

Confused, I look up and I’m shocked when I indeed catch tourists turning around from the restaurant’s door.

“Do they usually close early?” I question Kingston.

“No clue.”

We reach the hostess and I listen cluelessly as Kingston asks her something in German. I’m ready to turn around, but instead the lovely girl opens the door and welcomes us in.

The fuck?

I can feel the crowd’s intrigued gaze digging into our backs.

Yanking Kingston’s arm, I whisper in his ear, “What’s happening?” I gasp and squint my eyes. “Did you bribe them?”

Wait. I’m being silly.

They obviously must not have a chef here. So why are they allowing us in?

“Did you see me pass her cash?” Kingston retorts smartly. Pulling me in front of him, he pats my ass while dropping his voice into a command, “Just follow her.”

He shouldn’t be allowed to use that tone in public.

Or I’ll have to carry around an extra set of panties everywhere I go with him.

However, all my musings turn to dust as we wander deeper. It has wide panoramic windows, giving a stunning view of the Alps we saw earlier. Yet, none of it compares to the romantic table set in the middle. It is decorated with a red tablecloth and fresh flowers in a vase.

My heart races, my hands flying to my mouth as I gasp behind my fingers. “Kingston.”

Nobody but us is standing here.

He did this?

“Surprise, darling.” He lowers my hands and guides me to our table like a gentleman. I stay speechless, still processing as he pulls out my chair and helps me sit. “A proper date for my woman like she deserves.” Instead of straightening, he whispers teasingly in my ear, “I won’t let you run away this time.”