Christmas Kisses Read online

  He tossed the thing onto the couch, followed by his shirt. Both slid onto the rug. “Is that better?”

  “It’s a start.” She drew her fingers over his collarbone and down his chest until her nails tugged at his belt buckle.

  “Not yet.” He grasped her hand. “As always, my mate comes first, and I aim to please.”

  Chapter 6

  Danae woke to Aramond’s soft snores, the sound rumbling in his chest almost like a purr. Curled next to him, back to front, she snuggled closer, and his arm tightened around her waist. A weightlessness swelled in her chest, and as she inhaled, his familiar scent of Earth and fresh rain filled her senses. She did a slow stretch, her muscles aching in all the right places, a reminder of their passionate lovemaking. Aramond held good to his promise of pleasure and had made her scream his name again and again.

  The embers in the fireplace twinkled, as if winking at all they had seen.

  “Good evening, my love,” the scruff on Aramond’s chin tickled the back of Danae’s ear, “or should I say, happy winter solstice.”

  The winter solstice…

  Danae slid from his embrace, stood, and sought out her clothes. Her shirt and bra lay across the couch while her underwear and jeans were in a pile under one of the claw-foot chairs. She grabbed her clothes and donned them as quickly as possible.

  Aramond rose to his feet, the lean contours of the muscles in his chest and abdomen rippling with the movement. “You’re tense. What’s wrong?”

  She padded over to him and ran her hand over his shoulder and down his arm, enjoying the firm muscles beneath his smooth skin. “I want to see if the snow melted, so we can run to the ravine and…” She bit her lip, unwilling to complete her thought for fear of jinxing them.

  He threw on his shirt, pulled on his pants, and gave her a wink. “Let’s see then.” With a quick tug, he drew her toward the curtain and the darkness beyond.

  A quiver built in her stomach, part anticipation, part dread. She really wanted to celebrate their first winter solstice at the ravine so they could honor Alora and Lemuria in the best possible way. If they were lucky, light from the planet would infuse into the sunstone in the necklace she’d made for Aramond, blessing them with a long and happy union.

  Standing next to the curtain, Aramond gripped the drapery’s fine, silken edge. “You ready?”

  She nodded and held her breath.

  His fingers tightened around the material before he flung the curtain back.

  Snow glittered in the moonlight, the drifts covering the front steps, the driveway, and the grass beyond.

  Danae’s heart sank, her chest tightening to the point of pain. “The snow didn’t melt. It’s too deep—”

  “Shh…” Aramond wrapped his arms around her waist, and drew her to him, her back pressing against his strong chest. “We can still go if you want.”

  She turned to face him, her hands landing on his broad shoulders. “What? How?”

  His smile lit up his handsome features as he gripped her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Come with me.”

  Confusion toyed with her mind, her thoughts reeling. “What?”

  Drawing away, he tugged her toward the kitchen. “Trust me, okay?”

  “All right.” When they headed toward the back entryway, her pulse spiked. She needed to stall long enough to grab the necklace from her box hidden under the sink.

  Aramond peered at her, his brows knitting together, and he held up his finger. “I left my coat in the other room. I’ll be right back.”

  As he darted into the living room, Danae raced to the kitchen cabinet, yanked open the drawer, and grabbed the necklace. Thank goodness she’d already taken the time to wrap it in a soft pouch. Shoving her gift into her jeans pocket, she strode to the back door, grabbed her coat and threw it on along with her socks and boots.

  Aramond returned a moment later, his warm leather jacket covering his lean muscles. She admired his dark hair and scruff of a beard. A flutter twisted her insides, and she purred. Damn, he looked good.

  His gaze rose to meet hers. Sparks of red flashed in his eyes, and a growl of pure masculine need eased from his throat. “When we get back, we’ll go for round two, that, I promise.”

  She smiled. “I’ll keep you to it.”

  “I’m counting on that.” He chuckled and opened the door for her.

  Tracks in the snow brought back memories of yesterday’s fight. Gossum were a constant threat. She prayed this war over Earth’s water would end soon.

  “I think it’s best if we shift. We can cover more ground, faster.” Aramond’s breath plumed in the bracing, icy air.

  She peered at his hands. “What about frostbi—”

  He shook his head. “We won’t be out that long.”

  She nodded and shifted into her panther, her clothes and her precious gift disappearing under her fur.

  In his cat form, Aramond dived through the snow, creating a path toward the edge of the property and the trees beyond.

  Danae followed. Once under the cover of the pines, the snow thinned but was still deep, cresting almost to her shoulder. Unease lifted the hair at her nape.

  Aramond growled. He stood in front of a small path in the snow. Mischief sparked in his eyes.

  Understanding dawned on her like a star gone nova. Last night, he’d cleared a path so they could go to the ravine and celebrate the winter solstice in their special place. That explained the frostbite. He’d sacrificed his comfort for her. Love for him expanded in her chest, bubbling over until she couldn’t stand still.

  She ran at him, tackling him in the snow, nipping at his shoulder, his chest, his chin, anywhere she could reach. A purr of pure happiness rumbled in her chest, the closest she could come to a laugh in her animal form.

  His matching growl burst from him, and he rolled with her in the snow, their play taking on a more sensual tone. He pinned her under a nearby tree and licked her face, kissing her in the Panthera way.

  After a few long moments, he released her and nudged her toward the path.

  At his request, she took the lead, her paws darting over the compacted snow with ease. They ran along the pathway for several minutes before reaching the top of the ravine. Her favorite tree, the one whose branches spanned beyond the cliff’s edge, had a soft bed of pine needles nestled near the trunk, clear of snow.

  Aramond strode past her and shifted into his human form, his dark pants, shirt, boots, and jacket reforming onto his body. He smiled, sat down, and patted the bare spot next to him. A few pine needles stuck to the bottom of his palm, and he brushed them off on his pants.

  She giggled, shifted to human form, and joined him in their favorite spot.

  The tree provided a break from the bitter cold, insulating them with its branches. Between the boughs and beyond, the moon and the stars lit up the night sky, casting a dim glow onto the cliff’s edge and the valley below. An owl hooted in a nearby tree as if welcoming them then burst from its hiding place, taking flight into the night.

  A lightness filled Danae’s chest with more happiness than she ever imagined, and for the briefest moment, she thought maybe she, too, could fly.

  “Danae…” Aramond cleared his throat.

  She peered at him. His features were strained, worry lines forming between his brows.

  “Would you accept my offering?” He drew a small package, wrapped in dark velvet, from his coat. His hand shook, and a tic started in his jaw.

  A thickness coated the back of her throat, and she trailed her fingers down his arm. “Of course, Aramond.”

  He let out a relieved breath, but his shoulders remained tense.

  She wrapped her fingers around his proffered gift, the smooth velvety material soft to the touch. With tender care, she unwound the plush cloth. Nestled in the middle was a beautiful set of gilded tarot cards.

  Hot pinpricks of tears moistened her eyes. “Aramond, these are gorgeous, absolutely beautiful. How did you know I needed a new set?”

&nb
sp; He smiled, revealing his broken canine, the one injured long ago. “I have my ways.”

  She laughed. The sound echoed off the far side of the ravine, reverberating into the night. “Does Amelia have anything to do with that?”

  “I never give away my sources.” A smirk formed on his lips.

  The whisper of a breeze rustled the pine boughs, and her gaze rose to the stars. The Orion constellation, with its three distinctive stars that formed the belt, caught her attention. She stood, placed Aramond’s precious gift in her coat pocket, and pointed to the cluster. “Lemuria is up there somewhere.”

  He strode behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist, drawing her against him. “Yes, and Taurus is right next to him, as always. I see his red eye watching us. Perhaps now would be a good time for tribute.”

  “I agree.” She ran her fingers along the smooth sleeves of his coat and focused on Orion. “Alora, our goddess, we honor you this night. Watch over us and all the warriors, past and present, who risk their lives to win this war for you.”

  Aramond cleared his throat. “Ditto.”

  Danae squeezed his arm. “Dearest goddess, we humbly ask that you bless us on this night, the winter solstice, the most sacred night of the year.”

  The second star in Orion’s belt seemed to twinkle much brighter than the others. Danae’s chest swelled with hope, and she turned to face Aramond. “Did you see that?”

  His brow furrowed. “See what?”

  “The star, it twinkled extra bright. Do you think that was a sign?”

  He trailed his finger down the side of her face, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Perhaps, but I think Alora blessed us long ago, bringing us together last May, right here.”

  Danae smiled. “Indeed, that was definitely a blessing. I think it’s time I gave you my gift.”

  He lowered his head in deference. “As you wish.”

  She thrust her hand into her pant pocket and withdrew the small satchel. After unfurling her fingers, she placed it in his palm.

  He blinked and met her gaze. “What is it?”

  A small giggle bubbled from within. “Why don’t you open it and find out?”

  With shaky fingers, he tugged at the small strings, opening the satchel. The sunstone necklace landed in his palm.

  He audibly inhaled. “This is beautiful. Did you make it?”

  Unable to speak past the lump in her throat, she nodded.

  Studying the stone, his gaze narrowed. “This is a sunstone. Where did you get it?”

  “Aramie. She gave me one from the Keep.” Danae clasped his hand. “May I put it on for you?”

  He placed the necklace in her palm and lowered himself to one knee. “I’d be honored.”

  She draped the chain around his neck and clasped the ends. The sunstone rested in the small hollow of his collarbone. Leaning in, Danae focused on the stone. Her heart skipped a beat. A brilliant copper streak infused the stone from end to end.

  “Oh, Aramond, the stone is a shiller! Alora blessed us!” Danae threw her arms around Aramond’s neck.

  He rose and, as he did, picked her up, swinging her around until her feet left the ground. She held on, her spirit soaring.

  After a long moment, he set her down and released her. A soft purr rumbled in his chest. “Indeed, we are truly blessed.”

  “Thank you, Aramond.”

  His brow furrowed. “For what?”

  She stroked her finger over the stubble on his chin, enjoying how the rough ends teased the sensitive pads on her fingertips. “For making this night possible, here, in our special place. You risked frostbite on your fingertips, to create the path for me, for us.”

  He cupped her head in his palm and rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. Her mouth tingled from the contact. “I would do so again, anytime, my love.”

  Happiness swelled in her chest, expanding her soul with overwhelming love for her mate. She licked her lips, teasing him. “Kiss me,” she whispered, and he did, his warm, tender caress chasing away the cold.

  The End.

  Want to read Aramond and Danae’s story?

  MARKED BY LOVE

  When you’re marked by love, you can’t outrun the past.

  Rogue Panthera shifter Aramond scouts for enemies on the outskirts of the Keep’s territory, home to his daughter and her mate. While on the prowl he encounters a female from his past, one who etched an unstoppable ache deep in his soul. As she opens old wounds and another rogue male enters her life, Aramond must overcome his fears and set aside both their pasts if he is to win her heart.

  Danae runs a safe house, offering sanctuary to Panthera warriors in need. She tends their wounds, offers up a good meal and a place to rest, but keeps them at arms-length to protect her battered spirit still healing after the death of her mate. When Aramond, the sexy loner who’d captured her heart long ago resurfaces in her life, it will take all her will-power not to give in to the burning desire he ignites in her soul.

  Check out Marked by Love…

  About the Author

  After finishing a rewarding career in finance and accounting, it was time for award-winning author Rosalie Redd to put away the spreadsheets and take out the word processor. She pens paranormal, science fiction, and fantasy romance in her office cave located in Oregon, where rain is just another excuse to keep writing.

  All I Want For Christmas

  By Bethany Shaw

  Book Description

  Working for Santiago Ferdinand was a dream come true for Cassidy Clark. He’s hot, nice, and doesn’t care if she’s late to work all the time. Everything was great until some disgruntled clients showed up and she discovered the perfect man she’d been working for wasn’t so perfect; he had some secrets--secrets that could get her killed.

  Santiago’s mission was to eradicate the lycanthrope hunting humans. Posing as a PI in Chicago, he assisted in hunting down a large cell in the area. When his assistant was brutally attacked by the cell, all bets were off. No one would harm the woman he was falling for. He just hoped when she found out he was an immortal phoenix shifter she would still look at him the same way.

  Chapter 1

  Cassidy hurried up the stairs as fast as she could; she was late again. Thirty minutes late to be exact. Today would be the day Santiago Ferdinand would fire her for sure. He didn’t bat an eye when she was a minute, or ten, late, but thirty? She was pushing it today and all because she tried to score a toy for her niece for Christmas. Tried was the operative word. The store had gotten some new units in last night, but she’d been about a minute too late to snatch one. She adopted a new motto: A day late and a dollar short. It summed up her life lately.

  Hopefully, the extra large black coffee she had for him would make up for it. She balanced the drink and papers in her hands while fumbling for the door knob. As the door swung open, three sets of eyes turned toward her.

  Her boss flashed her a smile and pushed off her desk, hurrying to come help her. He took the the drink and some papers out of her hands, his fingers grazing across the back of her hand sending heat radiating straight to her core.

  Santiago wasn’t just hot, he was quite possibly the sexiest man on the planet; not to mention he had the hot Spanish accent going on, too. His jet black hair was short and spiked and his honeyed skin looked good enough to lick. His physique was a testament to long hours spent at the gym to keep it up.

  “Good morning, Cassidy,” Santiago greeted.

  “Hi.” She waved awkwardly at the couple staring at her. Judging by their closeness they were definitely together. She briefly wondered if they were clients, but pushed that thought away. The pair looked just as capable of taking care of themselves as Santiago and didn’t seem the type to ask a private detective for help.

  “This is Ethney, my long time colleague, and her fiance, Noah,” Santiago introduced.

  Colleague. So she’d been right. “It’s nice to meet you.” Cassidy offered Noah her hand first since he was closest. He was cute, b
ut his touch didn’t ignite a fire in her the way Santiago’s did. Plus, there was no way she stood a chance with a guy like him when he was already with such a beautiful woman. Ethney wasn’t a Barbie by any means, her beauty was natural and unique.

  “And this is my assistant, Cassidy,” Santiago continued when Ethney took Cassidy’s hand. “She’s been a godsend for sure.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

  Any secretary could do what she did. She was replaceable, which was why she really needed to be more timely. Her sister had always made being a parent look so easy--it was anything but. God, she loved her nieces, but they were a handful and parenting them was a full-time job. How her sister had ever gotten anywhere on time looking like a million bucks was beyond her.

  She missed her sister so much. This would be the first Christmas without her and, even though she had the girls, she never felt so alone before. Sure Santiago was a friend, but he was a work friend, even if she would like him to be more. If she could have one thing for Christmas it would be him under her tree wearing nothing but a bowtie. That probably wasn’t going to happen though, but hey, who said a girl couldn’t dream.

  Santiago waved her off, drawing her attention back to him. “She’s the most organized person I’ve ever met.”

  Well, she was pretty organized, just not timely.

  “I have the files you asked for.” Cassidy nodded to the papers he’d taken from her earlier.

  “Perfect. Thank you.” Santiago shifted through the papers then looked at the couple. “Let’s step into my office.”

  Cassidy heaved in a deep breath and let it out once the room was empty. She made her way to her desk and went to work checking emails and getting Santiago's schedule ready. Things had picked up the past few weeks. It seemed the closer they got to the holidays the more people suspected their spouses of cheating. Many people watched credit card statements looking for random purchases and never once considered the purchase could be for them, instead of some random lover. Was the world really so jilted? She didn’t have much to go off of having never had a long-term relationship before. Her parents had been happily married, so had her sister. The past few years she spent in night school while working full-time as a temporary secretary during the day, giving her no time for a social life. When her sister and her husband passed away six months ago and she’d taken on both of her nieces, she’d decided to find something more permanent.