Smirking to myself I grab a bottle that looks fancy without reading the label. Peeling the plastic seal from around the cap, I twist it off and take a hard swig. I nearly spit the vile liquid back out but force myself to swallow it. My throat is on fire and my belly is burning as well.
I drink until my fingertips and my lips are as numb as I feel inside. It’s growing dark outside and the automatic timer for the Christmas lights goes off. The outside and interior of the house comes alive with Christmas but all I want to do is shout, “Bah Humbug.”
I look down at my wet shirt and grab my bag. I take it upstairs to one of the bedrooms and start dumping the contents out on the queen-sized bed that has a cream-colored duvet with pink roses embroidered on it. It matches the one I have back at school. I wonder if my father intended this to be my room at some point. I suppose whatever his intentions were, they don’t matter now.
Looking down at the bed I let out a groan of frustration when I see that I took my dormmates bag instead of my own. Her candy cane striped tights and red velvet sexy Santa dress is staring back at me instead of my jeans and my sweaters. Maybe it’s all the twinkling lights and decorations but I say screw it and change into the ridiculous ensemble. My phone goes off from inside my purse. At least I got that right. It’s a message from Phoebe.
I’m so sorry! I have your bag. —Phoebe
I dial her instead of texting. “Hey. It’s no biggie. Just an excuse to go shopping.” I don’t tell her it also gives me something to do.
“Are you sure? I feel terrible.”
“It’s fine but what are you going to wear for the play?”
“I dropped out.”
“Phoebe…did you take my bag on purpose, so you could weasel out of the play you volunteered for?” I laugh under my breath.
“Maybe, but I was only doing it to impress, Manuel.”
I sigh. “He is married and like thirty-five. Not to mention your teacher. Don’t be gross.”
“I know,” she whines.
“Suck it up and do the play.”
“Yeah…yeah,” she groans, and I smile to myself. Suddenly I see headlights coming down the driveway.
“I gotta go.” I end the call and hope it isn’t my stepmother. As depressing as the thought of Christmas alone was sounding, I would much rather spend it alone than with a woman whom I have never met. I know she didn’t love my father. She didn’t attend the service I held for him and my grandmother. Some of my father’s friends paid their respects and were disappointed to learn that the family business was in her care. They thought things would fall to me—a child they were hoping to manipulate. Joke was on them. I am happy that Stephanie inherited a problem I never wanted. I know my father had hoped for a son to leave his dynasty too. Stephanie is pregnant but says the child isn’t his.
I rush down the stairs and make it to the foyer just as the door swings open. I skid to a halt, sliding on the marble floor in these stupid candy cane tights. Before me stands a tattooed and muscled wall of biker. He smirks at me and looks up at the mistletoe centered above his head in the entryway. A patch on his black leather vest reads the name Axel.
I freeze in place, but he winks at me then pulls me in close to him before I can register the feel of his arms around me. His lips come down bruisingly hard on mine. I’m taken by surprise but decide what the hell. My lips move against his. This strange guy has lips soft as pillows. Just when I am getting into the kiss he pulls back. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” His thumb brushes under my lip, wiping away my smeared lipstick.
“Um… you’re welcome.” I say the first thing that pops in my head, sounding like an idiot.
He chuckles softly then pulls a pack of cigarettes from the inner pocket of his biker vest and lights one up.
I study him unsure what to do. I hope he isn’t one of the men responsible for murdering my father.
Did Santa really just bring me a biker for Christmas?
Chapter 4
Axel
I roll through the gates of the estate Hades, the Prez of the Devils Rejects said I could crash at until shit gets squared away with this merger between the BRRMC and DRMC. There isn’t supposed to be anyone here, but the place is lit up like the Griswold house in that Christmas movie my Mom loves to watch every year. I knock on the door, but no one answers. Twisting the handle, I throw the door open to find a sexy Mrs. Claus sliding across the floor coming straight toward me. I look up thinking maybe I am in the wrong house but am distracted by the sight of mistletoe. I smirk at the hot chick. She has gorgeous dark hair that rests on her shoulders in silky waves. Her breasts are spilling out the top of her red velvet Christmas dress.
Wrapping my arms around her waist I bring her into my chest, then slam my mouth down hers. I have no idea who she is but damn she is a pretty little thing. Her lips taste like bourbon. As I pull back and stare at her I am sure I have kissed her silly. I tell her merry Christmas and she says you’re welcome in response. I chuckle under my breath as she peers up at me with wonderment evident in her doe eyes.
Finally, she says, “Who are you and what are you doing in my house?”
I hold my hand out to her, cocking my head to the side and study her features. She has a tiny freckle under her right eye. “Name is Axel. I was told I could crash here and that no one would be here,” I explain, tempted to kiss her again.
“Well…you were told wrong. Did Stephanie send you to babysit me?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Don’t tell me you need a babysitter? How old are you?” I frown hoping she doesn’t say something crazy that will get my ass locked up.