Page 28 of Candy Cane Chains

And for the first time since arriving here, since meeting Julian, since losing Travis and the future I thought I wanted... I feel like I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.

The thought hits me as I sink into Julian. I want to be here. So much so that I can't remember the last time I plotted my escape. I think if he gave me my car keys and told me to leave, I'd ask him if I could stay.

The penthouse doesn't feel like a prison anymore. I'm not sure it ever really did. Even the locked doors don't bother me - I know Julian holds every key, and somehow that knowledge settles me rather than sets me on edge.

"You're thinking too hard." His voice cuts through my thoughts as he drags his lips along the column of my neck. I tilt my head for him.

I've never been one for sex, not really. Probably because I had learned to not expect it. But with Julian, I feel insatiable. Like I want to constantly take whatever he wants to give me, as long as his attention is on me.

"I was thinking about you." The words slip out before I can catch them.

He trails back up my neck until his lips brush mine, and I cling to him. His palm cups my face, thumb tracing my bottom lip. "Tell me."

It's not a request. The command in his voice makes my knees weak. "I like this. Being here. With you."

"Continue." His other hand settles on my waist, pulling me tighter against me.

"When you're gone, I miss you. The way you... the way you take care of everything. The way you see me." My voice drops to a whisper. "No one's ever really seen me before."

His grip tightens, possessive but not painful. "Because they didn't know how to look."

The truth of it washes over me. Travis looked through me, past me, around me. Julian's gaze strips me bare, sees every layer, every shadow, every light.

And it's all I ever wanted.

14

JULIAN

Ivy stands at the counter, a gingerbread house kit sprawled out before her. Her eyes gleam with concentration, tongue peeking out the corner of her mouth. She's so fucking adorable that is scrambles my damn brain.

I lean in, my voice a low rumble near her ear. "Every perfect piece earns you pleasure, Ivy. But mistakes..." I let the sentence hang, watching her swallow hard. "Mistakes earn punishment."

She bites down on her bottom lip, pink rising to her cheeks, telling me how eager she is for this game. I've always loved how responsive she is, how much she loves the games we play. Her hands are steady as she begins to assemble the walls. I step back, watching her work. She's meticulous, precise. Good. It's what I expect from her.

I fetch the whipped cream from the fridge and a bowl of hot fudge from the counter. Her eyes flick to the items, curiosity piqued.

"Sensation play," I explain. "Hot and cold can enhance pleasure." I scoop the hot fudge onto a spoon, blow softly to cool it. Her eyes widen as I trail the edge of the spoon down her neck,leaving a warm, sweet trail. She gasps, but doesn't falter in her task.

The first wall goes up perfectly. I reward her by licking the fudge off. She sighs as she leans back on me, and I surprise her with a cool dollop of whipped cream on the nape of her neck. She shivers, laughs. "That's cold, Julian."

"And?" I ask, lifting a brow.

She grins. "And... I like it."

Her eyes meet mine, bold and challenging. I feel a rare smile tug at my lips. She returns to her task, placing the second wall with careful precision. Again, perfection.

This time, I lean forward and suck the spot on her neck, laving it with my tongue until it's clean. She sucks in a breath, her grip tightening on the gingerbread.

Then, a mistake. A piece of the roof slips, crumbling slightly. She freezes, eyes darting to me. I tut softly, reaching for the hot chocolate. I dip my finger, tracing her shoulder. She tenses, chills breaking out around her skin.

I grip her hips to hold her in place as I lean forward and bite down on her shoulder. Hard. Her skin nearly breaks beneath my teeth, and she squirms a little as I suck even harder. When I pull away, there's a large purple mark on her skin from me. It makes my cock hard, and I push my hips against her.

"Mistakes have consequences, Ivy," I murmur as she bites down on her bottom lip, arousal written all over her face, but I'm grinning now, enjoying this game more than I thought possible.

She sticks her tongue out at me, a playful gesture that makes me want to kiss her senseless. I should spank her for the insolence but I find that she has been confusing me more and more these days. I want to steal every smile, every laugh, every moan and orgasm. I'm barely getting any work done.

I nod towards the gingerbread. "Keep going."