Outside, a soft snowfall drifts with a full moon in the sky. It paints a silver glow over the tall pines swaying in the night. Make that midnight. Through the window’s corner, I glimpse the silhouette of the greenhouse, its glass panels fogged from the cold. And just beyond the trees, the distant ocean glimmers through the gaps—quiet, dark, and endless.
“How are your piercings?” he asks, reaching to his right for his glass of bourbon.
“A little tender.” I shrug. “Gets a bit itchy sometimes. Clit’s fine.”
“I’m well aware of that.” Pleased, he lightly thumbs the nub through the dress, and I hiss.
He was right. Hypersensitive. They put it to the test earlier today, seeing if I could orgasm from their breath and a little kiss. They took bets, too.
Jude won. Again.
But talk about the royal treatment!
If I weren’t so exhausted, I’d probably hump him right now and trigger another climax. He’s all Black King in his black slacks and white collared shirt, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and collar unbuttoned to show his upper muscles.
Look up gentleman dom in the dictionary, and his picture would be there. Splash in Daddy Doctor.
With a yawn, I lean my head against Jude’s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, my eyelids heavy from this beautiful, wild, and glorious day.
“Briella?” Jude rumbles into my ear, resonating in my chest.
“Hmm…”
“Day’s not quite done.”
I raise my head. “There’s more?”
“Much,” the new voice utters.
I snap my eyes to Raphael, who seemed to appear out of thin air on the staircase. Seth is following him with a long, narrow object wrapped in messy pink wrapping paper.
I laugh softly as he says, “Bet you can’t guess what this is, Briella Darling.”
I don’t get off Jude’s lap, but I stretch out my arms, eager to see the new cane. I practically rip the paper off with claws and teeth.
“Oh, Seth, it’s beautiful!”
The cane is every bit as perfect as the last—sleek and black this time, with silver chains and intricate flowers spiraling up its length like creeping vines. Only one change: near the top, just beneath the chess piece handle, a new flower—a small lily of the valley symbolizing hope, renewal, and new life.
It feels like it. This whole place, everything, all of us, we’re surrounded by new life.
“Thank you.” I hug him with the cane still in my hand, but I’m too tired to get off Jude. “Is this what you’ve been working on all those long nights in the woodshop?”
He shakes his head. “This one didn’t take me long. But I have something else for you.”
“You all have utterly ruined me for any other holidays, you know that, right?” I glance at all of them with my big, goofy, glazy grin.
“I’ll ruin ye more with these beauties,” Rory announces, sweeping into the room with a tray of cupcakes. But the second I try to steal one, he pulls it to one side and clicks his tongue. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such an impatient woman. These are to celebrate. But Seth’s other gift first.” He winks and lowers the tray to the coffee table.
“Fine,” I pout a little but smile at Seth, who excuses himself, heading for the hall and opening the closet door.
Raphael approaches me, and there’s this…I don’t know how to describe it.
With the firelight and shadows, his eyes remind me of twin soul flames. Like something ancient just woke up and recognized me again. It’s not surprise in his expression. It’s knowing. Possession. His gaze drips with it, wrapping around my ribs and squeezing my heart.
What’s going on?
His head tilts ever so slightly, eyes flaring. My soul already belongs to him—from the second that arrow penetrated me—but now there’s something else in the way he looks at me. A flicker of something primal. Protective. Terrifying.
