Once Upon a Fiery Christmas (Return to Avalore Book 3) Read Online Free

exactly what I mean. You’re playing with fire, beautiful.”
    Gooseflesh rose on her skin as his hulking frame blocked the sun’s rays from her again. “And what if I am?” She had been making promises with her body from the moment he had entered her backyard, and she was more than happy to deliver on them.
    “Maybe you should go inside and put something else on.” His energy slid over her, testing, savoring hers.
    “I don’t think that’s what you want, Sebastian.” She rested her hand at his waist, tugging on his T-shirt, freeing it from his waistband before slipping her fingers under it to the patch of skin that had tormented her all night. His muscles contracted under her touch.
    He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes. “What I want and what I’ll allow are two very different things, honey.”
    She pulled her hand away as if she’d been burned. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make unwanted advances. I’ll go change.”
    Turning on her heels, she all but ran to the door. She was such a fool. She made it all the way into the kitchen before Sebastian caught up with her. “Wait, Chantelle, please.”
    She didn’t want to look at him, she didn’t want to turn around and have him see the shame sure to be flaming her face, but she wasn’t a coward. Chin held high, she looked him in the eye. “It’s all right. Really, I understand.” And she did. He was attracted to her, she had no doubt, but he didn’t want a relationship.
    “What is it you understand, Chantelle?”
    She crossed her arms over her chest, desperate to cover at least part of herself up. “I... I really need to get dressed.” Not waiting for his response, she made it to her bedroom before the first tear fell.
    Damn it. None of it had gone as planned. He had intended to come help her with the tree, flirt a little, and then go. He should have known it was doomed from the moment he’d landed in her back yard. Her skin, glistening in the sunlight, had driven him insane, and he’d been powerless to look away.
    Sebastian hung his head, and resisted the urge to follow. If the shine in her eyes was to be trusted, she was most likely crying in her bedroom. Part of him wanted to leave. He could gather enough energy to lift the tree into the air and out of her yard in a matter of minutes, but he wouldn’t do that, at least not yet. He’d stay and make sure she was all right, and then make himself scarce. Helping her with the Christmas celebration would be tricky, but he’d find a way to manage without hurting her more than he already had.
    As much as he wanted—needed—Chantelle, he couldn’t put himself through the heartache. It was just a matter of time before she asked the Elders to name her mate. He’d heard her say those exact words to Rhia just last week. He’d done all he could to keep her at arm’s length, but she’d gotten under his skin. If the Elders came back from their meditation and named another man as her mate, it would kill him. His feelings for her already ran too deep. Seeing her joined to another man would be the hardest thing he would ever have to do, and there was no escaping it, but at least he wouldn’t have the memory of her body writhing in pleasure beneath his to torture him. While he lay in his bed alone, he wouldn’t have to think of the sounds she’d make while making love to her new mate.
    When she finally emerged, she had a long, loose-fitting T-shirt on over modest pants. The look shouldn’t have been sexy, but it was. She could cover herself in tree bark and still make him ache for her. She had washed her face, but nothing could hide the evidence of her tears. Her red, puffy eyes made him want to rush over and wrap her in his arms, but that would only make things worse, and so he stayed where he was, shuffling his feet like an awkward youngster.
    “You didn’t have to stick around.” She looked everywhere but at him.
    Sighing, he hung his head. “I wanted to. Can we talk?” He couldn’t stand the