Such Violent Delights: A Holiday Paranormal Romance Anthology Read online

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  About Stacey Marie Brown

  Also by Stacey Marie Brown

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  About Chantal Fernando

  Also by Chantal Fernando:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  About Jessica Florence

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  About Amelia Hutchins

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  About S.L. Jennings

  Also by S.L. Jennings

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Also by Amo Jones

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  About Graceley Knox & D.D. Miers

  Also by Graceley Knox & D.D. Miers

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  About Kim Loraine

  Also by Kim Loraine

  Author’s Note

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  About Anne Malcom

  Also by Anne Malcom

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  About R. Scarlett

  Also by R. Scarlett

  Chapter 1

  About Alice K. Wayne

  Also by Alice K. Wayne:

  Descending Into Madness Copyright © 2018 by Stacey Marie Brown

  Suck Me Copyright © 2018 by Chantal Fernando

  Hero Holiday Trials Copyright © 2018 by Jessica Florence

  Oh, Holy Knight Copyright © 2018 by Amelia Hutchins

  Devil’s Darling Copyright © 2018 by S.L. Jennings

  Dyavol Copyright © 2018 by Amo Jones

  Deck the Demons Copyright © 2018 by Graceley Knox & D.D. Miers

  On A Cold Winter’s Night Copyright © 2018 by Kim Loraine

  Buried Destiny Copyright © 2018 by Anne Malcom

  The Winter Solstice Copyright © 2018 by R. Scarlett

  The Nutcrackers Copyright © 2018 by Alice K. Wayne

  All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Cover Design by: Jay Aheer at Simply Defined Art

  Chapter 1

  A heavy sigh puffed from my lips as I leaned back in my chair, crossing my red and white striped legs on the fireplace, the bells attached to my curved green booties tinkling. The humiliation of my current situation turned my cheeks as bright as the red trim on the very inappropriate elf costume I adorned. I helped sit kids on Santa’s lap, while fathers stared down my low-cut costume and ogled at the shortness of the skirt. My boss was a sleaze, and I had no doubt he picked these outfits on purpose. Funny how many fathers brought their children here to take a picture with Santa…multiple times.

  At twenty-five, I thought my life would have been way past this. Life had laughed loudly at my lofty dreams: to be a hat designer with my own store, a sexy boyfriend, and enough money to at least afford me a studio apartment in the city. My last job was as an assistant to a thirty-five-year-old executive, who I had been stupidly sleeping with as well. He decided the twenty-one-year-old new employee was more to his liking and determined the best way to end things was to fire me. Oh, sorry, his secretary had fired me. He didn’t even have the balls to tell me face to face.

  Unemployed and not able to afford rent or even groceries, I came home with my tail between my legs. I returned to my parents’ house for the holiday season, giving me time to decide the best way to get back on my feet. My younger sister, by over eight years, Dinah, had gotten me the job here, adding to my mortification. She was the one who always had a good head on her shoulders. She was logical and wise beyond her years, while I was a dreamer. She had a steady, caring boyfriend and worked here to save money for college and a used car. I had none of those things. I never thought about the steps it took to get what I wanted. I just jumped.

  Hence the reason I was dressed up like a tarty elf, assisting a high as shit Santa, and had already been thrown up on twice today.

  “Alice,” a gruff voice barked at me, turning my head. Gabe’s fake white beard was pulled down under his chin, the ill-fitting Santa suit sagged on his frame, and an unlit joint stuck out of his mouth. “Going on my break.” He tilted his head at the back door.

  I nodded, wiggling my fingers at him, and returned to the book open on my lap, twisting my long straight dark brown hair around my finger. It had been extremely slow tonight, but we couldn’t even think about leaving for at least another two hours. We were not located conveniently in a warm mall. No, we were attached to a large Christmas tree farm on the far outskirts of town. The snow fell heavy tonight. People who came all the way out here expected the Santa Workshop to be open with warm cider, hot chocolate, and a happy elf to greet their kids.

  Groaning, I rubbed my head, wishing I had the means to stand up and walk out the door. The pay was barely okay, but it was steady, and I had no room to turn my nose up at it.

  I lifted my arms, stretching, trying to keep myself awake. The city college catalogs my mom stuffed into my bag slipped off my lap, sticky notes protruding from the business section, along with the fantasy novel I found myself far more drawn to than fi
nding classes for the spring semester.

  Anyone who saw my designs said I had a gift, a natural talent in creating and fabricating hats. I couldn’t even say what drew me to my love of hats. I had always adored them, the look, and how they could change an outfit or your outlook. From crazy whimsical hats women loved to wear to derbies, to something simple like a newsboy cap, I spent hours sketching different looks, tweaking an old design into something new.

  The problem? I had no business background, and no schooling past high school, which everyone always told me would hinder me. I understood this, yet I still had no desire to go. I wanted to create. To dream. Every time “business class” was even uttered, I felt a piece of me die inside. Almost all told me my dream was impossible, but it never stopped me from believing in the unachievable.

  Slumping back in the chair, I grabbed my book off the floor, opening it to the page where I left off. The cold wind howled through the cracks of the door and windows, making me feel even more isolated in the small cabin. It was like Christmas threw up all over and then pooped out tinsel. It was adorable and cozy, but I had hit my limit with Christmas songs and cheer.

  “Why don’t they have any hot toddies or mulled wine here? Not even spiked hot chocolate.” I grumbled, putting my legs up on the hearth to keep warm. “No one should have to deal with this sober.” I rubbed at my eyes. I had been working doubles for the last week, trying to get as much money as I could. I could feel the hours adding up and pressing down on my shoulders and eyelids. Propping the novel on my knees, I stepped back into the dark, twisted world of fae and sexy beasts, where everything felt like paradise to me. Not shocking, fantasy was my favorite type of book. Where bad equaled sexy as hell men I wanted more than the supposed nice guy. I let myself get lost in the story, pretending I was living in the realm of fantasy.

  A muffled noise next to me made me lift my head. Out of the corner of my eye, a small red light flickered by the window, along with the silhouette of a man walking by. My lids narrowed, a strange shiver running up my spine as I watched the figure slip by the next window. His strong shoulders and tall physique secured in my mind it was not Gabe. Gabe was barely two inches taller than my 5'8" stature and not at all fit.

  Santa’s workshop was situated far enough to the side of the Christmas tree lot with very little traffic, outside of families and people seeking hot drinks, ventured over here, especially tonight in this chilling snowy weather. But still, it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.

  Intrigued, my legs stood me up. Like a magnet I moved to the window, a buzz I couldn’t explain humming in my chest as my gaze searched the night. The man had moved quickly, in a great hurry, heading for the tree farm, the red light he held like a flashlight cutting through the haze of the snow. He looked to be wearing only brown cargo pants and nothing on top. What the hell? It has to be below thirty degrees out there!

  Curiosity soared through me, and the pull to follow him itched at my muscles. What was he doing? Where was he going? I have always been a curious person, sometimes to my detriment. Tonight seemed to be one of those times. He was a few yards away from the trees, and once he stepped in, I knew I’d never know.

  Without a thought, I darted for the door, afraid I’d lose him. The icy wind blasted me full on, prickling my skin with heavy goosebumps. I shivered, regretting not taking a moment to grab my jacket. Pattering through the icy snow, my elf boots crushed the powder as I ran around the building, my breath billowing in front of me. I came around the side seeking out the red light. The clouds covering the sky allowed no moonlight, and it took me a moment to realize no lights shined from the tree lot like they usually did. A tinge of alarm coiled around my neck, puffing my chest faster.

  The man was gone. Dammit. But another uneasiness gripped me.

  “Gabe?” I called out. Usually, he stepped out to smoke a few puffs before he leaped back in, grumbling about his balls freezing off. He was nowhere out back. “Gabe?”

  Silence echoed around me, the Christmas music that usually blared from the loud speakers dotted around the lot were off. Along with the lights.

  Curious.

  What was going on? Did the electricity go out? I stared inside the workshop to see the lights were on in there.

  Curiouser.

  A light from the corner of my eye jerked my head back around. A red beam danced through the tree farm, making my breath hitch.

  Hurry. Run. Follow him! The voice in my head jolted my body into action, propelling me toward the light. I slowed once I hit the trees, the heavy fog from the snow clinging to the trees and ground. Seclusion coated me like a jacket, the desolate sensation prickled my skin.

  Where is everyone? The owner of the farm had five grown sons who were always walking around, making sure everyone was okay. No lights. No people. What the hell is going on?

  Standing in place, my teeth chattering, fear laced around my stomach and twisted it into a knot. Something felt very off. The dark night pressed down on my shoulders, creating distinctive shadows off the trees, looming and dripping off the limbs. Branches creaked against the wind, swirling up the white powder, making me feel even more isolated.

  In front of me, red glowed through the dark, and I bolted forward with eagerness. Numb and shivering, I couldn’t stop myself from continuing deeper in the forest instead of turning around and going right back to the toasty cottage. My inquisitiveness was greater than my sanity or logic.

  Moving forward, I wove through the trees, darting and snaking closer to the red light like it was a beacon.

  The man’s outline became clearer as I moved closer. He was definitely bare-chested. And holy jingle bells, he was fit. His back rippled with muscle. He stood at least six foot, with short, wavy brown hair. My gaze kept catching on something on either side of his head. Pointed and twitching like they were listening for sound.

  Are those ears? This night was getting stranger and stranger. Was he in costume or something? Who wore deer ears but no shirt in the snow?

  He progressed quickly, rounding a tree, losing me for a moment.

  “Hey!” I yelled out to him. “Wait!” I went around the corner, seeing him stop and turn his face back to me. A small gasp came from my mouth, and I stumbled back. What the hell? Did I somehow get a contact high from Gabe’s joint?

  The man was beautiful, but his nose protruded farther than a human’s, the tip black, his eyebrows, eye color, and thin lips the same color as his nose. Small antlers grew out from behind his long ears.

  “Late,” he rumbled lowly. “I’m very late.”

  “Holy shit.” I blinked, my mouth gaping.

  Fear widened his eyes, and he took off, disappearing into the forest the tree farm butted up against.

  “No, wait. Stop.” I fumbled after him, my limbs so cold I could barely move. Grunting, I pushed myself forward, trailing after the red light that was my only guide through the darkness. He moved with quiet precision. Like a ghost.

  “Hey, Mr. Deer Man, wait up!” I yelled, my lungs aching from the cold air, snow churning around my ankles, the bells on my shoes jingling as I bolted after him. The red glow popped through the twisted branches and snowcapped leaves. “Wait!”

  He turned, looking at me again before darting deeper into the woods, leaping over a log like he was on springs. I didn’t think. I ran faster, desperate not to lose him. I twisted and zigzagged, my eyes thinking they would see the red light, but with each tree I curved around, the deer man was nowhere in sight.

  “Dammit.” My fists hit my legs in frustration. I circled around, searching the darkness for the flicker of light. The forest loomed, shadows making it feel like it was alive, bending and curling toward me. The feel of dozens of eyes watching me chilled my backbone, clenching my lungs.

  Alice, go back. What are you doing? Get out of here. A voice in the back of my head warned. Forget you saw anything.

  I rubbed my exposed arms, shifting in place trying to decide what to do when the red light peeked through the woodland.


  I should have pretended not to see it. I should have turned around and forgotten all I thought I imagined.

  But as usual, my curiosity won out.

  Running toward the light, I saw the man walk up to the base of a large tree and in a blink, he disappeared.

  What the hell?

  Heart pounding, fear icing my spine, I jogged up to the same tree. Where did he go? What the crap was going on? I touched the tree, needing to feel the bark under my palm.

  Suddenly everything shifted.

  The world dropped away from my feet. Literally. A scream caught in my throat as I felt myself plummet. Descending down a dark, dark hole.

  Chapter 2

  My body fell like a rock. Scrambling, limbs swung out, trying to grab onto anything in the darkness, a cry baying from my throat. I flipped and twisted in the air, my teeth clamping together as I waited for impact.