The parade went perfectly. The sorhoxes performed flawlessly, the crowd cheered, and even Thrakul enjoyed theattention. Children waved and called out to Santa, and I found myself genuinely enjoying the experience.
Afterward, we returned to the function hall to get ready for the children. Our rebuilt Santa’s workshop looked almost as good as the original, and no one seemed to notice the hasty repairs and improvised decorations.
“Somehow, it all worked out fine,” Carla said as the last family left. She shut the entrance door and strode back to join me where I still sat on Santa’s throne. “Despite the snow and the mess and my nerves.”
“We make a good team,” I said.
“The best.” She glowed with accomplishment and exhaustion. Her hair might be frazzled, and her cheeks flushed from excitement, but she was the prettiest woman I’d ever seen.
“Carla.”
“Yes?”
I left the throne, stepping closer to her. “Today was?—”
“Completely insane?”
“Perfect.”
Her breath caught. “You’re sure?”
“Working with you. Solving problems together. Building something important.” I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “All of it.”
“Becken—”
“I know you’re leaving. I know this is temporary. But right now, I don’t care about any of that.”
Her eyes darkened. “Whatdoyou care about?”
“You. The way you feel in my arms.”
The space between us disappeared. I cupped her face in my hands, studying her expression for any sign of hesitation. Instead, I saw a hunger that matched my own.
“The door,” she whispered.
I strode past her and turned the lock, then returned to back her against the wall. She fisted the front of my Santa costume and pulled me closer, and I braced my arms on the wall on either side of her head.
“I want to kiss you,” I croaked.
“I want more than a kiss.” The desire in her eyes undid me.
I kissed her, pouring all my pent-up need into the contact. She responded with equal intensity, her mouth hungry and demanding against mine. When I lifted her against the wall, she wrapped her legs around me and tugged me closer, deeper into the heat that had been building between us since we left the cabin.
“I want you,” she gasped against my mouth.
“I’m already yours.”
Chapter 19
Carla
The wall kissed goosebumps up my spine, but Becken’s body was made up of all wildfire and heat. Hot enough to scorch away the chill. His hands framed my face, his dark eyes searching mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.
His mouth claimed mine, each kiss threaded with something reckless. I responded with equal hunger, fisting the front of his Santa costume, pulling him closer, needing more contact, more of everything.
“This outfit has to go,” I gasped against his mouth, tugging at his red velvet jacket.
“Rip it off me. I don’t need it.” His grin was as wicked as sin.
