He reached out, his huge hand brushing my hip, the heat of his palm grounding me in place. Bram trailed his fingers along the side of my torso until he reached my chin. His thumb and index finger captured it, tilting it enough that I had to look into his eyes.
“To me you’re a tiny doll, Savannah. Easy to handle. And I rather like doing that sort of thing,” he whispered, his hold tightening.
I loved the way he spoke my name like it was a secret. That kind of promise only existed in the stories I read in the quiet sanctuary of my bedroom. Still, a romp with a stranger wasn’t on my radar even though I had my eyes on him all night, and I refused to make it easy on him. “Well, now. Don’t get ahead of yourself. You don’t know what sort of things I enjoy in the bedroom.”
He held my gaze steady, a slow, confident smile curling his lips. “I’d like to find out. Here’s my promise. No questions, no overthinking. When you’re with me, you leave all that behind.” His voice dropped, calm and sure, with an edge that brooked no argument. “No strings, no distractions. It’s about you surrendering to the moment and me taking care of the rest.”
“That’s awfully tempting.” I attempted to sound sure of myself but my voice wavered, my nerves betraying me.
He dropped his hand and leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. The noise of the party faded until it felt like we were the only two people left in the world.
“So, Savannah, are you going to take me up on my offer?”
A shiver slid down my spine, his voice curling around me like a slow-burning fire. The question hung between us, heavy with promise. For the first time in a long time, I wanted that spark. Despite my earlier hesitations, I wanted him.
“I do need to get going soon,” I murmured, trying to sound casual, but I knew I wasn’t fooling anyone.
He straightened, eyes sharp and steady. “Did you drive yourself here, sweetheart?”
I threw him a teasing smirk. “Nope. I was planning on taking a cab. However, I haven’t called yet. If you’re offering a ride, maybe I’ll think twice.”
His fingers dipped into his pocket and with a slow, deliberate press, and a beast of an SUV growled to life outside. Through the large picture window, the headlights flickered on, casting a warm, golden glow across the snow-dusted ground. Steam curled from the exhaust like smoke from a chimney, promising heat and escape.
He turned, all Viking arrogance made flesh, that faint northern burr roughening the edges of his words in a way that went straight to my knees. “My ride’s heating up and waiting.” His gaze swept down and back up again, slow as sin, like he was already unwrapping me in his head. “What’s your answer, little elf?”
I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw the Christmas lights flickering inside my head. “Really? You’re gonna keep calling me that? You’re lucky it’s the holidays, or I’d have walked away.”
Bram smiled, confidence wrapped in holiday cheer, stepping closer so I could feel that heat radiating off him like a roaring fire. Arousal pooled between my thighs, and that hadn’t happened from someone speaking to me without touching me, ever. I didn’t do hookups or entertain holiday mischief with strangers.
Especially not with strangers who looked like they stepped out of the pages of a Norse legend. He rubbed a hand across his mouth, like he somehow guessed what sort of trouble I was.
“Let me drive you home. The offer stands. You don’t have to invite me in.” He paused, locking those ice-blue peepers on me. “Unless you want to.”
I swallowed hard, trying to talk myself out of that plan, but my brain didn’t listen. “Fine. Yes. I’ll let you drive me home. But you’re not suddenly in charge of my life.”
His grin was slow, wicked, and it lit something wild inside me. “Understood, Savannah. Let’s go before you startoverthinking again. I can practically see the reasons behind your eyes why you believe this isn’t a good idea.”
“Let’s go.”
Bram held out his hand and I laced my fingers in his. As he led me toward the front door, I waved a hasty goodbye to my friends, grabbed my coat, and allowed him to help me into it. He buttoned it for me without my asking, his large but delicate fingers brushing the collar. It took a lot of focus not to imagine those same fingers brushing against other parts of me. Holiday magic or not, I had a feeling that agreeing to one night was already more than I’d bargained for.
Two
Savannah
Sitting in my driveway in the large black SUV, I watched the snowflakes dance through the night sky, increasing in their volume and speed. Soon it wouldn’t be a matter ofifBram stayed since the roads wouldn’t be safe and visibility sucked. “Thank you for driving me home.”
“You’re welcome.”
Bram exited first, rounding the front to assist me out. He held out his hands so I had stability. I may have needed it on a regular night since it was a large step down, but placing my palms in his gave me a jolt, like a spark of chemistry. We carefully navigated up the steps to the front door and I was thankful for his lack of pressure in regards to the next step. Either I invited him in… or we parted forever.
Way to be dramatic, Savvy.
“May I have your phone number, little elf? I’d love to get to know you better,” he said quietly as I glanced back and forth between his gorgeous eyes and the keypad lock.
“Sure, Bram.” I told him my digits, and he sent off a text so I’d have his number as well. Though I wasn’t sure I’d ever get the nerve to reach out. No matter what happened next.
“Have a good night, Savannah. I need to go before the roads get any worse,” Bram stated though his demeanor showed hesitation.
