“You’re just saying that.”
I grab her chin and shake my head. “No, I’m not. Before you came to work for me, I wasn’t in a good place. You’re the best part of my day and the only reason I’m able to stay sane running this place.”
She licks her lips and suddenly jolts forward, bumping into me.
“Apologies,” the heavily accented voice says, the horns a dead giveaway.
Krampus.
Ladybird bites her tongue as the horned man walks away, searching the crowd for someone in particular.
“Can we please get the fuck out of here?” Ladybird asks.
“I have already made my speech.”
“There are no babies to kiss, everything is handled. Make Love take care of it,” she says and I smile.
“You’re always making sure I’m taken care of.”
“Is that so bad?” she asks, dragging her hands along my chest and I grab her wrists.
“I’d like to take care of you too,” I say and she swallows thickly, looking away. “I know that’s difficult for you, giving up control, letting someone take care of you. But I want to, Birdie. I want to make sure you feel spoiled and precious, because that’s what you are to me.”
Her pink cheeks darken a shade and she laces her fingers into my tie.
“Go get our reaper and let’s go the fuck home.”
I smirk, leaning down and placing a soft kiss against her lips. She sighs with contentment as I pull away, but I don’t move.
“If I take you home, will you let me take care of you?”
“What does that even mean?” she asks, and I can tell she isn’t being difficult. She genuinely just doesn’t understand.
I slide my hands on the back of her neck, loving the feel of her soft hair.
“It means you’ll let me make sure that you’re happy. That I’ll cook you pancakes in the morning and wash your hair in the shower. It means you’ll be my girl and you’ll want for nothing.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” she says, and I can’t help but laugh.
“I want you. I want him. I was stupid for thinking we could slow down this speeding train. I’m all in, Birdie.”
She tugs my tie, kissing me again.
“Then let’s get the hell out of here.”
“He’s a great boss, Candy. Plus, he has a huge fucking house in Purgatory. You’ll love it,” Gloom says, trying to sell Candy on the Head Reaper known as Mortem.
I can’t decide if he wants to win the bet more, or if he just wants to play matchmaker.
“Leave us, Gloom. Unless you want to be on call for natural disasters for the unforeseeable future,” Mortem tells him, making Gloom back away with raised hands.
“Have a good night, you two,” Gloom says, spinning around. “Oh, there you two are.”
“Are you ready to leave?” I ask him, and he looks me up and down, and then does the same to Cupio. “Does leaving mean that we’re all going to have fun together and you’re going to uh…?” he questions, glancing down at his crotch.
“What am I missing here?” Cupio asks.
“You’ll see shortly. Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I nearly plead.
