Page 24

I stilled.

But it was too late. She thrashed about, then sat bolt upright, breathing hard.

“You.”

The weight of a restless dream was packed behind that word. Whatever she’d been doing, seeing, and feeling carried over into the real world.

“Yes, my sweet Rose,” I whispered, the sound of my voice gravelly. I’d been trying not to talk like myself, because Uliva was damned and determined that we meet in daylight. Rosetta was smart enough to recognize me, which meant I needed to be careful if I wanted this game to continue. “It’s me.”

Rosetta promptly threw a pillow at me. “You’re being creepy.”

I arched a brow, even though she couldn’t see it through the heavy shadows. “Am I?”

Something in the shift of my tone must have caught her attention, because she sighed and raked her hands through her hair.

“No…but why are you just standing there?”

I spoke without thinking. “You looked peaceful.”

“Oh.” She fidgeted with the edge of the blanket. “Well…um…why didn’t you come in? The chair has to be more comfortable.”

“I bet it is,” I agreed. “But you read vampire smut. You know how this works.”

Rosetta pulled back in confusion. “What?”

I ran my hand over the doorframe. “You have to invite me in.”

I felt her stare harden. I waited. What she needed to realize was that she was in complete control.

She shook her head. “You’re crazy.”

“Probably.”

Pulling back the covers, she swung her bare legs to the floor. “So, what I hear you say is that you won’t come in here?”

“I won’t.”

“But this?” She gestured to the elf and the gift.

She thought she had me. Technically, she might. But I wasn’t letting her call it a win.

“That’s Christmas magic. I know nothing about it.”

“Really?” she deadpanned and took a step closer. “You just expect me to believe that the elf waddled his ass in here and hopped on the nightstand by himself?”

“With a gift.”

Rosetta crossed her arms under her chest, pushing those gorgeous tits higher. A few more feet, and I could grab her. The idea of hauling her into me was tempting.

“Don’t patronize me, mask guy.”

“That’s the farthest thing from my mind, Rose.”

She huffed. “You came into my room.”

“Fair, but only on official elf business. I haven’t been invited in on my own accord.”

Rosetta took a moment to process that. “So, you won’t come in here?” she repeated.